Did the spicy aroma of warm Chex Party Mix drift through your holiday kitchen? That aroma evokes childhood memories of my family baking it during the holidays.
Although we followed the original 1958 recipe, now that recipe has 60 varieties! Actually, there may be more, but I stopped counting at 60. The varieties include flavors such as sweet, salty, savory, Asian and even pickle juice.
Each version of the recipe adds various ingredients, flavors and spices to the one common ingredient; Chex. When it comes to Chex Party Mix, the saying is true, “variety is the spice of life!”
Chex Party Mix may have numerous recipe variations, but people are the ultimate variation of recipes!
Think about our families.
SPICEY, SWEET OR FIERY?
During the holidays what spices up our lives? Our family’s varieties of personalities! Our siblings and children may have similarities, but no two are exactly alike, are they?
God created us each using a unique recipe of personality, gifts, and temperament. One sibling is spicy, another is sweet, another is constantly a fiery surprise. Each child feels like a different recipe!
Faced with these variations, parents quickly learn that one recipe for raising their children does not fit every child.
So, the ingredients, timing and methods to enable children to flourish are different. Some through gentle encouragement, others through challenges.
Doesn’t the Lord do the same with us?
His love for each of us is the same,
but the ingredients, timing and methods
to help us flourish are different.
For example, let’s take healing. In the scriptures, the Lord heals in a variety of ways.
PRAYER
After his prayer of faith, King Hezekiah received what many of us hope for: immediate healing. When our prayers for healing are answered instantly, perhaps God is reinforcing our faith or drawing others to salvation.
‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father:
“I have heard your prayer,
I have seen your tears; surely, I will heal you,”
2 Kings 20: 5b
GRADUAL HEALING
In an act of faith, friends who brought a blind man to Jesus saw his sight restored gradually. Sometimes our healing comes gradually with the wait longer for some than for others. As we wait, God is continually working shaping our hearts, developing our character and growing our faith.
And when He, (Jesus),
had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him,
He asked him if he saw anything.
And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”
Then He put His hands on his eyes again
and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly,
Mark 8:23b-25
REPENTANCE
Naaman, an army commander, went to Elisah seeking healing from leprosy. However, when Elisha gave him instructions, Naaman’s pride prevented him from obeying.
Elisha sent a messenger to say to him,
“Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan,
and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
But Naaman went away angry and said,
“I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand
and call on the name of the Lord his God,
wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy,
2 Kings 5:10-11 NIV
Once Naaman repented by humbling himself and in faith washed in the Jordan seven times, he was healed.
Sometimes our pride, unforgiveness or disobedience can stand in the way of the healing breakthrough God wants to give. Humbly seeking the Lord’s forgiveness, surrendering our expectations and trusting His way can open the door for the blessing of healing.
As you see, the Lord uses various methods, ingredients and timing to heal in these and many other scripture examples. For some, physical healing isn’t found on earth, but it is found as our ultimate healing in heaven.
EXPECTATIONS!
Whether it’s for healing or answering any prayer,
the Lord doesn’t always act
using our ingredients,
methods and timing.
Sometimes we find a surprise!
Yet, how often do we expect
the Lord to answer in our timing
using a certain method?
I must admit, that I do. Fortunately, since He knows what we need even when we don’t, He doesn’t always follow my plan.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts,”
Isaiah 55:9
His ways are perfect so we can have faith that He will act in the perfect way at the perfect time.
THE LORD ALWAYS USES
THE INGREDIENTS
METHODS
&
TIMING
THAT ARE PERFECT FOR US!
REFLECTION
Can you have faith to trust in the Lord’s ways?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Proverbs 3:5-6, and say it aloud strengthen my faith to trust You to use the ingredients, methods and timing that are perfect for me. In Jesus name, Amen.
BY FAITH TRUST GOD’S WAYS
Comment!
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Chex recipe; @generalmillshistory / generalmillshistory.tumblr.com
Photo healing, rcascoherrera
Photo cat, Oli Zubenko
Photo sisters, jty11117777
