Leftovers

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.

Jeremiah 15:16 NIV

Growing up I was blessed to have remarkable, godly women in my life.  One of those precious ladies was my Aunt Ruby.  She loved God immensely; she loved her family fiercely; she loved people, especially children, sacrificially; she loved to laugh; and, oh my, did that woman love to cook. 

At least one Sunday a month, my family along with aunts, uncles, cousins and others more distantly related would gather from different parts of the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area to enjoy a home-cooked, Southern-style flavor festival…chicken fried steak, thick gravy made from fry pan scrapings, melt-in-your-mouth roast beef, made-from-scratch mac & cheese, potatoes whipped into a highly-seasoned buttery frenzy, coleslaw, sweet potatoes, slow-cooked fresh green beans laced with bacon, collard greens, eggplant casserole, and skillet cornbread that crunched around the edges before melting in your mouth.  Thank you, Lord, for Southern cooking!

 After lunch, once belts were loosened and the meal allowed to settle a bit, it would be time for dessert.  Aunt Ruby never disappointed! Her homemade cakes, pies, and puddings were of the sort that visit pastry chefs in their sweetest dreams. Seriously! 

No matter how delicious and tempting the dessert selections, the showstopper was always Aunt Ruby’s apricot fried pies. Homemade pastry dough stuffed with a breath-takingly awesome apricot filling and then delicately deep fried to a crispy golden brown made Aunt Ruby’s apricot fried pies a thing of true beauty and a delight for one’s taste buds. While Aunt Ruby’s friends, neighbors and co-workers would pay her to make the apricot-filled delicacies for special occasions, we, her family, rejoiced in the apricotty-deliciousness of her deep-fried gift of love…and in the knowledge that she always made extra for the “doggy” bags that would accompany each family home!

Fully sated, we would waddle our way to the front room to visit for a spell.  There was typically more laughter and teasing than actual conversation, but that was fine by all.  Once the tears of laughter dried, the conversation began to dwindle, and our overstuffed bodies were begging for late afternoon naps, each family would gather its belongings, including the bag of leftovers Aunt Ruby had prepared for each, and head for the front door dispensing good-byes, hugs, and kisses along the way. 

Once home, it was quick naps for all; then my mom and dad would hustle my two sisters and me into the car to head to church for the evening service.  I confess, no matter the quality of the worship and the sermon, my mind was distracted as I looked forward to a late dinner of leftovers upon our return home when the service was over. Happily, I knew that one of the apricot fried pies tucked into our “doggy” bag had my name on it and I was eager to claim it!  

As soon as we got home, mom would set about reheating the leftovers – which took a bit more effort and much longer to do in those pre-microwave days. (Clearly, I am ancient, but “no” we did not have a wood burning stove!) Finally, our patience was rewarded, and we were able to fill our plate and once again take great pleasure in the results of Aunt Ruby’s East Texas-inspired culinary efforts. 

 As much as I enjoyed dining on warmed up leftovers at home, the experience was not even close to the aroma-rich, straight-from-the-stove, sumptuous fare lovingly prepared by Aunt Ruby.  As good as it was, it simply was not as good. I realize now why my leftovers dining experience fell short; it did not include fellowship with the one who had prepared the meal.

While the food was always delicious, the best part of being at Aunt Ruby’s house for Sunday lunch was being with Aunt Ruby…talking, laughing, sharing hugs, and snuggling close to her. She was a special gift to me, to our family, and to all those whose lives she touched and whose bodies she fed.

My husband and I are lovers of books of many genres. Our daily Bible studies include writings by godly men and women of the past and present. It is encouraging to hear how God has spoken into the lives of others, how He has revealed Himself to them through His Word, and how He is working in them and through them to further His Kingdom agenda. It is good to read the insights that are shared in their writings.

And it is thought provoking to read, prayerfully consider, and weigh against Scripture the various perspectives and commentaries of different authors on Scripture and biblical truths. Studying in this manner has greatly enriched my understanding and perspective of biblical truths and principals.

However, if I rely primarily on someone else’s writings of Scriptural insights and tales of others’ God-encounters in my quest to hear God speak, I would be settling for leftovers most of the time – secondhand experiences and perspectives warmed over for my consumption.

I want the truth hot out of the oven; I want the firsthand experiences; I want the life-changing, Holy Spirit-driven God encounters. I want God’s Holy Spirit to open my ears, my eyes, my mind, and my heart to His Truth. I want to hear what God has to say to me today through His Word. I want His presence to surround me and fill me while I read His words.

I pray that is what you want as well.

To sit down to a meal of leftovers from one of Aunt Ruby’s Sunday lunches minus Aunt Ruby’s laughing, loving presence, would be an experience empty of those things that made her Sunday lunches so extraordinarily special.  Missing would be the smiles, the teasing, the silly jokes, the hugs, the twinkle of her eyes, all those things that showed her love for us and, in turn, made us love her so dearly.  Yes, the food would still be tasty, but the sweet fellowship and relationship with the one who made the meal would have been absent.

We find great hope for the future in God’s promise that we, as believers redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, will one day take part in the joyous Marriage Supper of the Lamb that John writes about in Revelation 19:6-10.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Psalm 23:5

Sister, here is great news! For you, who bear the name of Christ Jesus, a table has been made ready and awaits you NOW. A bounteous feast prepared by your Heavenly Father sits waiting for you to come to the table. The table is piled high with the promises of God, platters laden with words of love and encouragement, bowls filled to overflowing with wisdom, instruction, beauty, miracles, delights, and abundant joy.

And best of all, you will not be dining alone! The Holy Spirit of God joins you in the feast, opening your eyes, your mind, and your heart to God’s truth, enlightening your understanding and knowledge of God, filling you with His joy, love, and peace. You know, of course, that I am referring to the Bible, God’s Holy Word.

If you truly want to KNOW God – If you want to EXPERIENCE HIM – then you must sit at the table of His Word! That’s where you will FIND Him; that’s where you will HEAR Him; that’s where you will SEE Him and His mighty works; that’s where you will begin to UNDERSTAND His redemptive plan for all mankind, His glorious creation, and His plan for you.

Sister, a banquet of blessings has been laid out for you in God’s Holy Word.

“Come, for everything is now ready.” – Luke 14:17

Always fresh and hot out of the oven!

Never settle for only leftovers!

Psalm 119:103