An Engraved Invitation to an Elaborate Life!

I really do enjoy cooking. I just don’t have much time or need for those old time elaborate meals anymore. Danny and I are on the road a lot and when we’re home we enjoy simple fare or picking up a salad or such from a local eatery.  It doesn’t take so much to fill us up anymore.

Elaborate meals require elaborate planning, elaborate menus and elaborate recipes. You can’t have elaborate without the planning. You can ask my kids, I can throw together an awesome pot of spaghetti, but it’s not elaborate. It’s quick and it’s good, but it’s just a pot of spaghetti. On the other hand, my father, who was a true chef, worked all day to make homemade meatballs, homemade spaghetti sauce and just right pasta. He served it just so – spaghetti noodles covered with the meatballs and then sauce. Never, never would he whip up a pot of it all thrown together! His meal was elaborate!

God has given us an elaborate life! He wants us to feast with Him from His sumptuous table of blessings. He wants us to taste every dainty morsel of His Word and live in the Truth of all of His Word! This elaborate life was planned well before the foundation of the world! Your name was on the engraved invitation before He even went to the cross. Everything about your life in Christ has been planned elaborately!

In order for you and I to enjoy this wonderful life in Christ we must plan elaborately as well. The walk of faith is no thrown together at the last minute event. It’s a day in and day out work of art. We must plan our life so that Christ gets first place.  Without planning we will be throwing together something much less than we were meant to enjoy and we will be feasting on dry crumbs rather than hearty banquets. God’s Word is not fast food! Oh you can go pick a taste up somewhere, but in order to have that elaborate life in Christ, you have to spend time with the Head Chef, and let Him slow you down as you take time to ingest the menu of the Word and read the recipes for a blessed life for yourself! No one else can prepare an elaborate life for you other than Christ Himself!

Have you been running here and there doing good things, having great fun and being busy, busy busy? Are you stopping to pick up an occasional bite on Wednesday evening or Sunday morning? Maybe you just drive through the local channels and try to get a bite to eat. Do you take little tastes and throw your faith meal together at convenient moments? Maybe you’re finding that your heart, mind and spirit are feeling sluggish and drained. You’re wondering why you feel so down, disheartened, lonely, fearful, and malnourished!

Oh beloved, make a dinner date right now! Stop in at the Lord’s Banquet Table and really feast on His Word! You may think you don’t have time, but God says if you will stop and let Him feed you the Elaborate Manna of His Word you will be blessed beyond measure – you will find new strength and fresh hope for the days ahead. Not only will you be ready for what comes in the future, you will be refreshed for the present time! He is calling you to His Banquet Table and He’s speaking to your heart – Don’t stress over the time you don’t have, but let Me seat you at My Table so that you will feel My Presence! Then you will be able to take My Presence with you! Every feast I desire to serve you is elaborate and you will have to plan your time with Me! I will be your nourishment, your refreshment and your way of blessing! I AM that I AM and absolutely no one else in all the earth will give you what I AM for you!

Stop a moment and come and dine! Feast, don’t nibble, on His Word and watch as your life flourishes and your ministry to others flourishes as well! His plans for you will be even more elaborate because He loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth taking the time!

Jeremiah 15:16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven's Armies.

Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

John 6:35 Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.” (NAS)

John 4:14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.