(Monday)
I was really looking forward to supper. Bill had brought home a beautiful tenderloin a few days earlier, and I had been anticipating the mouth-watering treat ever since. Tonight was the night. I turned the oven to preheat knowing I would cook the pork slowly over the next few hours.
To ensure it would be moist and tender, I spent my next few minutes preparing the meat to be seared. Of course, the best way to sear a special piece of meat is in a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. As the pan heated on the stovetop, I added just the right amount of my favorite flavored Southern oil (also known as butter), and dried the meat to ensure any excess moisture would not interfere with sealing in its own juices.
Finally, the moment came. The butter was sizzling, the tenderloin was patted dry, and I lifted the meat to gently place it into the pan. My mind drifted to the now-heated oven waiting to begin its work, and I began to anticipate the tantalizing aroma that would soon fill the kitchen. I was so distracted by the prospect of future deliciousness that I failed to realize the heavy piece of meat was slipping from my grasp.
When a three-pound pork loin accelerates into sizzling oil, the result can be disastrous. The best one can hope for is to escape a painful burn. A secondary hope would be to avoid a hot, greasy mess of splashed oil on the stovetop, countertop, kitchen walls and floor. I dodged neither.
In the moment, though, there was no time to address either issue. Yes, in that split second, the kitchen was a catastrophe and my arm was moving from tender to throbbing; but searing meat is a rapid process. I was intent to stick with my chore as I was unwilling to ruin our beautiful meal over a little mess or a little (although increasing) pain.
Once the pork was seared, removed from the pan, covered with lovely seasonings, wrapped in foil and placed inside the oven, I could turn my attention to my arm. By this point, it was clear the kitchen mess would have to wait as I was in urgent need of something cold to offset the burning. What I had thought was one tiny spot of discomfort was already showing signs of blistering in three different places. My little mishap is going to cost me a few layers of skin, and slight scarring now seems likely. Fortunately, this body is designed by God for perfect healing.
In Ephesians 2, Paul describes a different type of cost and scarring, but a similarly perfect kind of healing. When I took my focus off my cooking, I faced the destruction of my physical well-being and was left with dead tissue which needs attention in order to heal. Paul writes about taking our focus off our Creator and being like a dead person because we followed “the rule of a destructive spiritual power.” When we allow the weight of our disobedience to plunge us into sizzling sinful behavior, the result is a disastrous mess and wounds that need the attentive, healing balm of Jesus Christ.
The good news, Paul says, is that God is rich in mercy. When we refocus our attention and accept God’s love, we are restored back to spiritual health and our souls are healed. It’s as if we are seared by God’s love, and the goodness is sealed in ensuring our lives are flavored to perfection. All this simply because God loves us. We are brought back to life – saved by God’s grace! “We don’t do a thing to help it along. Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.”
Bill said the pork tenderloin was deliciously seasoned and perfectly prepared. I pray my life may be headed toward the same. Throughout these days of Lent, may I be more focused on each moment and offer my healing self as a continuous praise to God.
Cooking up goodness,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM Ephesians 4:
You, O God, are rich in mercy. You brought me to life with Christ while I was dead as a result of those things that I did wrong. You did this because of the great love that you have for me. I am saved by your grace and you raised me up and seated me in the heavens with Christ Jesus. You did this to show future generations the greatness of your grace by the goodness that you have shown me in Christ Jesus. I am saved by God’s grace! Thank you, Holy God! Amen.
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 77 – But I will remember the Lord’s deeds; yes, I will remember your wondrous acts from times long past. I will meditate on all your works; I will ponder your deeds. God, your way is holiness!
Job 4 – Think! What innocent person has ever perished? When have those who do the right thing been destroyed?
Ephesians 2 – You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html
I was really looking forward to supper. Bill had brought home a beautiful tenderloin a few days earlier, and I had been anticipating the mouth-watering treat ever since. Tonight was the night. I turned the oven to preheat knowing I would cook the pork slowly over the next few hours.
To ensure it would be moist and tender, I spent my next few minutes preparing the meat to be seared. Of course, the best way to sear a special piece of meat is in a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. As the pan heated on the stovetop, I added just the right amount of my favorite flavored Southern oil (also known as butter), and dried the meat to ensure any excess moisture would not interfere with sealing in its own juices.
Finally, the moment came. The butter was sizzling, the tenderloin was patted dry, and I lifted the meat to gently place it into the pan. My mind drifted to the now-heated oven waiting to begin its work, and I began to anticipate the tantalizing aroma that would soon fill the kitchen. I was so distracted by the prospect of future deliciousness that I failed to realize the heavy piece of meat was slipping from my grasp.
When a three-pound pork loin accelerates into sizzling oil, the result can be disastrous. The best one can hope for is to escape a painful burn. A secondary hope would be to avoid a hot, greasy mess of splashed oil on the stovetop, countertop, kitchen walls and floor. I dodged neither.
In the moment, though, there was no time to address either issue. Yes, in that split second, the kitchen was a catastrophe and my arm was moving from tender to throbbing; but searing meat is a rapid process. I was intent to stick with my chore as I was unwilling to ruin our beautiful meal over a little mess or a little (although increasing) pain.
Once the pork was seared, removed from the pan, covered with lovely seasonings, wrapped in foil and placed inside the oven, I could turn my attention to my arm. By this point, it was clear the kitchen mess would have to wait as I was in urgent need of something cold to offset the burning. What I had thought was one tiny spot of discomfort was already showing signs of blistering in three different places. My little mishap is going to cost me a few layers of skin, and slight scarring now seems likely. Fortunately, this body is designed by God for perfect healing.
In Ephesians 2, Paul describes a different type of cost and scarring, but a similarly perfect kind of healing. When I took my focus off my cooking, I faced the destruction of my physical well-being and was left with dead tissue which needs attention in order to heal. Paul writes about taking our focus off our Creator and being like a dead person because we followed “the rule of a destructive spiritual power.” When we allow the weight of our disobedience to plunge us into sizzling sinful behavior, the result is a disastrous mess and wounds that need the attentive, healing balm of Jesus Christ.
The good news, Paul says, is that God is rich in mercy. When we refocus our attention and accept God’s love, we are restored back to spiritual health and our souls are healed. It’s as if we are seared by God’s love, and the goodness is sealed in ensuring our lives are flavored to perfection. All this simply because God loves us. We are brought back to life – saved by God’s grace! “We don’t do a thing to help it along. Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.”
Bill said the pork tenderloin was deliciously seasoned and perfectly prepared. I pray my life may be headed toward the same. Throughout these days of Lent, may I be more focused on each moment and offer my healing self as a continuous praise to God.
Cooking up goodness,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM Ephesians 4:
You, O God, are rich in mercy. You brought me to life with Christ while I was dead as a result of those things that I did wrong. You did this because of the great love that you have for me. I am saved by your grace and you raised me up and seated me in the heavens with Christ Jesus. You did this to show future generations the greatness of your grace by the goodness that you have shown me in Christ Jesus. I am saved by God’s grace! Thank you, Holy God! Amen.
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 77 – But I will remember the Lord’s deeds; yes, I will remember your wondrous acts from times long past. I will meditate on all your works; I will ponder your deeds. God, your way is holiness!
Job 4 – Think! What innocent person has ever perished? When have those who do the right thing been destroyed?
Ephesians 2 – You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html