Lunch with Libby

I’ve had the privilege of spending time with my almost two-year-old granddaughter for the past month. Mommy had a brand new baby girl, and I came out to witness the happy event and help for a few weeks. We’ve been enjoying many activities together – tea parties, stroller walks when the weather permits, reading books, singing favorite songs (The Little Drummer Boy and Frosty the Snowman are continuing well past the holiday season), and delighting in each other’s company. I wouldn’t trade this time for the world, and just as I am hopefully teaching a few things during this treasured visit, I am learning some valuable lessons as well.
Just like many grandparents I like to treat my grandkids to out-to-eats and occasional “just because I love you” presents. So, out on errands one day, Libby, Mommy, Baby Bekah and I planned to stop at a fast food restaurant to have a little lunch. Libby was excited to hear we were going to have a meal at one of her favorite eateries. Her menu choices are usually the same – fries with “dip” (ketchup) and yogurt parfait. Mommy and I ordered side salads and water – we did just wade through a couple weeks of holiday fare, after all – and with those, I brought Libby’s preferred food items to the table. After prayer, we began to enjoy our meal. Libby slowly and methodically ate her food. She started with the fries, switched to the parfait, went back to the fries, drank some water, etc. My daughter and I finished within 20 minutes, but Libby continued eating. I was beginning to think that things were dragging on, but I wasn’t sure if it was out of the ordinary until my daughter said, “This must be the longest lunch time anyone has ever taken!” We both began to laugh hysterically. Seriously, Libby finished her last bite about an hour after she had begun. Had we known the stats ahead of time, we might have called Guinness for a world record attempt. The funny thing is, Libby was not dawdling because she was loath to eat what was set before her. She was thoroughly enjoying every bite! To her it was a banquet to be savored, not rushed, a repast to be appreciated for as long as possible.
As I thought about what was probably the longest lunchtime I’ve taken in, well forever, I was reminded of something else that provides us with a feast which many of us take for granted and do not appreciate as we should: The Bible. It is a banquet for the soul that we should delight in every day. We ought to approach the time we spend in it with eager anticipation, but sometimes we are reluctant to even open its treasured pages. We should relish its principles and promises, but we often choose to ignore the wisdom it provides. We can linger over the passages we’re reading, but we may routinely plow through it, quickly scan it, or even neglect to view its contents all together. Like ungrateful, spoiled children we waste the provision set before us, not regarding or understanding the consequences of our poor choice.
Psalm 119 is a beautiful chapter in the Bible that is filled with verses that speak about the value of God’s Word. Here is just a portion of it to pray out to God and ponder:
“Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me Your decrees.
With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth.
I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways.
I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word.” Psalm 119: 12-16
Entering a new year often seems to give us renewed determination to change something in our lives. Perhaps 2014 can be the year to make the Word a focus and a feast that we eagerly anticipate, taste delightedly, linger over and savor, and then appreciate and apply to our lives. Let your “lunch” be like Libby’s, deliberately long and enjoying every bite!
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Dangling Carrot

You have likely had an experience that could be labeled “a dangling carrot.” You’ve been looking for a new job in a new place when from out of nowhere comes an opportunity. You do well in the interview and feel really good about your prospects, when you receive an email revealing that the position has been filled by someone else – a dangling carrot. You have been desperately trying to sell your house for far too long. Finally, a prospective buyer has enough interest go beyond a showing and inquiries to make a bid. You respond with a reasonable counter, and the buyer walks away – a dangling carrot. Someone promises to provide support for your beloved charity project. You make plans based on their interest, and for whatever reason, they do not follow through – a dangling carrot.
A dangling carrot is a circumstance that develops when one is led to believe that a certain result is likely, which leads to increased expectations and even presumptive actions based on the anticipated outcome. It is born out of the proverbial carrot dangling before the horse to get it to move because it continually thinks the carrot is within reach. Frustration, bitterness, terrible disappointment and a prevalent lack of trust can grow in a person who sees too many carrots and not much fulfillment down the paths they attempt to take. Those who trust in the Lord know that their hope is not in the new job, the house sale, or the benevolent prospect, but in God alone to meet their needs and walk them through what may be a difficult time, believing that He is doing the best for them in their lives.
That said, I was recently reading in the book of Matthew the passage known as “The Beatitudes.” The word comes from the Latin for blessing, and Matthew 5:3-11 lists those who will be blessed and the blessings they will receive. Each verse begins with the words, “Blessed are…” This is God’s promise. When He says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, (those who recognize their own inadequacy and dependence upon God) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 5:3, He is making a guarantee that will not fall short of completion. It is fully realized by those who depend on God. All that the Kingdom offers is theirs, and the promise will be completely fulfilled when we are face to face with Jesus. One can go through each of the blessings and know that: those who mourn will be comforted; those who are meek, will inherit the earth; those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, will be filled; those who are merciful, will be shown mercy; those who are pure in heart, will see God, those who are the peacemakers will be called sons of God; those who are persecuted because of righteousness do have the kingdom of heaven. These are their assured blessings because when God guarantees something, it is irrefutable.
In God’s Word, there are no dangling carrots. God’s presentation to us is the most heavenly recipe served on a silver platter for our consumption. We can be sure that the promises in the Bible will come to pass in the time that He has chosen for us. His Word will not frustrate us, cause bitterness, or be disappointing because we can trust the One who is the Word, Jesus.
I know I will still follow “dangling carrots” occasionally. But, pass me the silver platter so I can partake of that heavenly dish and taste the goodness of the Lord. There’s plenty for all; don’t let it pass you by. “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” Psalm 34:8
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