What's For Dinner?

Do you really believe God cares about the little things in your life?  Do you?  We all say we do.  When something horrific or monumental is happening, we claim faith in the passages that say your hairs are numbered (Luke 12:7), the sparrows are seen when they fall (Matthew 10:30), and the lilies are gloriously clothed by His hand (Luke 12:27-28). We staunchly submit faith that if God cares about those small things, then surely he is in control of what is happening in our lives.  We may even claim them when we lose our car keys, misplace our watch, or some other smaller thing.  And, to our credit, we give thanks appropriately, but what about those things that seem too insignificant to even mention?  You know those things you just assume God doesn't have time to hear about? Your haircut? Your fashion sense? Your cleaning routine?  Your menu? Really. What if we truly believed God cares what's for dinner?

This thought came to me on a cold, icy morning as I was struggling with my stressors, mentally listing all the things I have to do, musing about how the household runs only through my genius.(Maybe we'll address vanity one day!)  I felt crazy overwhelmed.  And a voice just seemed to whisper this thought to me, "Do you think God doesn't care what's for dinner?"  Well, that set me back a step.  Does he?  Does he care about these little things that I just assume he doesn't? Let's see. He took the time to whisper that question in my ear.  He took the time to adjust the number of hairs on my head after a handful came out with my brush this morning. And he gave me the wherewithal to fill the bird feeder outside before the cold snap so the little birdies (sparrows and more) would have a few grains of something that wasn't frozen.  Yes, I absolutely believe he cares what's for dinner.

I believe God cares what we put in our physical bodies. (No, this is not a diet post, I promise!)  I spend hours poring over recipes and cookbooks trying to come up with good, healthy, enticing meals for my family.  Often, we are on the run so much that it slips.  I need to work on that.  If our bodies are the temple of God, we need to do a better job caring for them.  Would YOU want to live in a rundown house?  More importantly, is it good stewardship of the body God gave you to treat it unhealthily?  Not likely. 

What about dinner for your soul?  Are you scrimping on the meat and looking only for the milk?  That's a problem. (Hebrews 5: 13-14) Milk is great, but it doesn't carry all the nutrients you need to thrive. And that's the goal, isn't it?  We should thrive spiritually.  The good news is, all you need to thrive is a Bible and your prayers.  Bible reading and prayer will feed your soul and make it strong.  But you need to spend more than just two minutes at it if you want to grow strong. And I challenge you to read the whole Bible--not just the easy, pleasing bits.  Slog through the "hard books".  I remember reading the book of Joel one time and actually saying to God, "I'm trying, but I need something here."  Guess what?  I got it.  Curious?  Go read the book of Joel and see what's there.  Go find meat for your soul because God absolutely cares what's for dinner!

I know this is an unusual post.  I rarely, if ever, write on the fly...which is exactly what's happened here.  But I wanted to share this here for my own good and hopefully yours too.  May we remember that whatever decision we have to make--from our hair color, your necktie choice, the dinner menu, or that fourth cup of coffee--God is supremely interested in every aspect of our lives. (I Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22)  Let's go out and live like it!

And, by the way, what's for dinner??

Buying Love

           I have recently become deeply intrigued by the Old Testament story of Hosea and Gomer.  The reason eludes me. Perhaps it’s because I embody the phrase “hopeless romantic”, always rooting for the “happily-ever-after”, severely disappointed when it fails to occur.  Maybe it’s because I’m just as appalled as you are that God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. (Yep, it’s right there in Hosea chapter 1.) Most likely it’s because I am completely overwhelmed, totally astonished, and unendingly humbled by the epic tale of God’s intense love toward horrifically unworthy humanity.  

            Seriously, Hosea must have been just as appalled as us when God said, “Go marry a woman of whoredom.” (Hosea 1:2, paraphrase mine)  I wonder if Hosea did a double take.  Sort of a, “What!?!” Yet no matter how odd the command seemed, he does it.  He marries Gomer.  They have children together--and I’m starting my happily-ever-after dance--only to have Gomer throw it all away and return to her former lifestyle. What?!? What could she possibly be missing?  Insecurity? Uncertainty? I am deeply disappointed by her lack of staying power. I had hoped for more.

            As angry as I am that Gomer bolted, my pique is calmed and soothed by the beautiful response of Hosea. In spite of his anger, hurt, dismay, he does something worthy of residence in the great annals of romance. Working with divine inspiration on his side, he pulls out the most stunning response imaginable. Hosea goes out and buys her back.  You read that right.  He BOUGHT her back.  Amazing. Inspiring. The epitome of grand romance. But it’s the imagery that really catches my attention. 

            It takes a minute for it to fall in place, but I see it.  Israel is Gomer. They had strayed so far from God, continually playing fast and loose with grace.  They have no staying power.  They keep walking away. He could dump them, allow them to be eradicated, or annihilate them himself and create new people who would do exactly as they should.  But he doesn’t. He’s not even interested in doing that.  His love for those particular people is too intense, too overwhelming.  His longing for them is too deep.  His desire for them is too powerful for him to abandon them.  So he doesn’t. He keeps holding out an olive branch, hoping they’ll grab hold.  (Hosea 6:1, 14:1-7)

            The story echoes with familiarity. Deeply saddened, I realize that I too, am Gomer—not the prostitute, but the one who has no staying power. I am guilty of playing fast and loose with God. Filled with self-contempt, I admit that I deserve to reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). I deserve to reap iniquity. (Hosea 10:13) Awestruck, I find that God has bought me back. In spite of what I deserve for past indiscretions, the enormous God of the universe has chosen to extend mercy.  He has chosen to love me freely. (Hosea 14:4) Suddenly, I am the leading lady in the greatest romance I will ever know.   

            Simple words fail to properly express how I feel about this revelation.  I deserve so much less.  I was a hot mess.  Yet God loved me so intensely that he chased me down, followed me into the dark alleys of my life, whispered love words in my ear, and sang a song of forgiveness so sweet it won my heart.  Unrestrained love cascaded over my broken soul, healed my self- inflicted wounds, and made me whole.  Mercy, grace, and the greatest love I’d ever known.  

How about you? Do you see yourself in Gomer? You should. Everyone is guilty of sin, of playing games, of turning aside for something so much less than what God has to offer. (Romans 3:23) You are no different. Like all of us, you are undeserving of his love, his grace, his redemption. Perhaps you have purposely opted out. Yet, in spite of your shenanigans, the great God of the Bible who created the world, turned water to wine, healed the leper, and gave sight to the blind is unfalteringly, unfathomably, unerringly in love with mankind.  No matter where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or how many times you’ve ditched your staying power.  You are the object of his desire, his deepest love, his greatest choice. 

           Need proof? See it at Calvary where your sins—that list of things that should count against you—are nailed to his cross and forever wiped away. (Colossians 2:13-14) Hear it in the words he whispers, “Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)  Know it as you cast your road ravaged self on his mercy, bathe your bruised heart in his love, and recognize the undeniable truth that you are complete in him. (Colossians 2:10)  In an act of achingly intense love, Jesus chose to buy you back when no one else would have given a dime for your redemption.  Because he is enamored with you, you were worth everything he had.  And he gave it so that you could feel his love.

           Will you love him in return?