Since Election Day falls on Tuesday, I have decided to mesh Taste Bud Tuesday with some thoughts on Jesus. Here’s the connector: comfort. Comfort Food; Comforting Thoughts.
Let’s start with Jesus.
I was reminded tonight when my friend Kristen forwarded me an email she’d gotten about Obama being the anti-Christ and possible links between him and Revelations, of what fear really is. Her email was only one line, “What do you think about this?”
Honestly, my first thought was anger. Must we also ‘persuade’ people using fear as a cattle prod? Thankfully my indignation dissipated quickly into thoughts of what Jesus had to say. After telling his disciples about his soon impending death, which had to have been scary on levels we cannot imagine (seriously, what if you’d spent 3 years traveling with Jesus, watching Him perform miracles and teach and baptize and turn the religious notions of the day on their head- and then he told you He was going to die and you couldn’t go where he was going- seriously people- now that would’ve been frightening!) Jesus said this to them:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am..”
So even if, for the sake of argument, Obama is the anti-Christ, that is certainly no more frightening for us than it must’ve been for Jesus’ disciples to hear He was departing from them in death YET Jesus encouraged them NOT to fear. So this whole spirit of fear that I’ve been hearing and you’ve been hearing around the water cooler at work and maybe even in your church, its not from God.
I know that’s a strong statement and I don’t normally say things so definitively, but I feel confident that its just not from God. Fear is something people use to get desired responses; its a human condition based on a lack of trust and the plain uncertainty of life; its an affliction that should be reserved for our Enemy who actually has something to be afraid of!
I can’t find the location of this verse, but I know at one point or another I put it to memory “For God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power love and a sound mind” (Maybe its not an exact verse, but it was at least a Scripturally based song on Gospel Bill years ago, ‘member that? *grin*) Romans 8 reminds us that we’ve no need to be made a slave again(because its what we are called out of!) to fear but to remember we our sons and daughters and can come to God with the intimacy of being His Children…
Before Jesus even came to earth, Isaiah prophesied He was “a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” and that there would be no end to the increase of His government or peace. If you start freaking out today, remember that. Remember that even if the anti Christ is near and the beginning of the end is upon us, that what is being ushered in is the Kingdom of God! We aren’t to be shaking in our boots and wringing our hands over which measly, earthly man we are going to call President- NO! We aren’t to be feeling the Enemy’s fear for him! If the end is upon us, then let our Enemy feel his own dread and fear while we stand confident before the throne of the Wonderful Counselor, our MIGHTY GOD, the EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
Let your mind really consider Who is letting us breathe His air and Who is the One who has set the planets in orbit and has numbered each of the days…this well of all Wisdom and Counsel, the One who is All Powerful (much more than even the ‘leader’ of the free world), the Father (’Abba’: think on Him with the tenderness of that word) who has no beginning and no end (kingdoms will come and go, but God is Alpha and Omega!), think on the Prince of Peace…and let not your hearts be troubled, my dear friends.
Tomorrow our country ‘decides’ what God is His Great Provision has already set into motion. We who love Him and obey His commands can wake up in the morning without an ounce of concern, because we know one way or another He is coming back to get us someday so we can be with Him. If that happens in our lifetime, than so be it. Come even now, Lord Jesus!
Ok. Whew! Now make yourself some warm soup and snuggle down in some good , comforting and true thoughts about Jesus, ok?
FRESH TOMATO SOUP w/ Crispy Herb Toasts
8 slices of whole grain baguette, 1/2″ thick
1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
2 tsp of chopped fresh oregano
4 tsp grated Parmesan cheese
4 tomoatoes
2 tsp cold pressed olive oil
1/2 small yellow onion, diced
1 tbsp tomato paste
1.5 cups low fat milk
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
Preheat broiled. Arrange baguette slices on the broiler pan and top each slice with a sprinkling of basil, oregano and cheese.Place about 4 inches from the heat source and broil until cheese melts, about 50 seconds. Set aside.
Peel, seed and dice tomatoes. In a large, heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and paste and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and summer, uncovered, until soup thickens, 20-25 minutes.
In a blender of food processor, puree the soup in batches until smooth and return to pan. Stir in milk, salt and pepper and reheat gently. Ladle into individual bowls and serve with toasts.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear…. that’s from 2 Timothy 1:7, one of my favorites (thanks in part to Gospel Bill too)
ha! I knew someone would help me out…thanks Kara:)
Oh, and great post by the way. My best friend and I were talking about this same subject after she stood in line for forty-five minutes for early voting.
“We aren’t to be shaking in our boots and wringing our hands over which measly, earthly man we are going to call President- NO! We aren’t to be feeling the Enemy’s fear for him!” I like that.
You know, I am still hemming and hawing over who to vote for. There have been hateful words and fear tactics used by both parties, I have serious concerns with both of them, and I have even looked at the underdog canidates to see if they could do any better. I like certain things but not all, but I want my vote to count. I have decided that I will trust God with whatever happens. Whoever wins, He places there, He has allowed it to happen. Even if one of them is the antichrist,( which I highly doubt and think is totally riduculous, but who am I?), God allowed them to be there. That is what gets me, if God wants me alive to see certain things play out, then I will be there, it is His choice even though I may be very uncomfortable. I am not going to sit down here with knocking knees thinking that something awful is happening and God is not doing His job. God knows all, he knows how it all will turn out, and we must stand firm by Him through out. Now, if I could only figure out who to vote for!
several things here…first MAN are you on a blogging roll tonight or WHAT???
2Tim is the bible verse you are looking for. my kids memorized it to say when they are afraid in their beds.
I am comforted by the fact that even in the Bible, God used the most horrific men/people to bring about His will and plan and used them to bring Him glory EVEN WHEN those men didn’t know it.
And uhm… could you just make me some of that soup please and spoon feed me? I want to eat it but I am too tired to make anything and it sounds soooo good!!!!
I memorized that verse and was comforted and God was good in answering my prayers.
Today was an interesting dayI saw three people on the bus and metrorail reading the bible. One was reading Hosea and the other was reading Malachi. And when I looked over at someone they had a bracelet that had praying hands on it. God’s way of telling me to read the BiBle and Pray which I really need to do more of. And I also saw a someone leading a
construction worker to Christ.
I even had my prayer answered to have enough strength to move to sofa out to the street today.
I memorized that verse and was comforted and God was good in answering my prayers.
Today was an interesting day I saw three people on the bus and metro rail reading the bible. One was reading Hosea and the other was reading Malachi. And when I looked over at someone they had a bracelet that had praying hands on it. God’s way of telling me to read the BiBle and Pray which I really need to do more of. And I also saw a someone leading a
construction worker to Christ.
I even had my prayer answered to have enough strength to move to sofa out to the street today.
On my blog links, a friend Joey (who you’d LOVE) just wrote a great blog about God’s Politics, check it out. I think the link is http://roddy-life.blogspot.com She’s a writer too, working on a novel! Looking forward to connecting with you whenever you have time to call me:) I’ve got nothing but time!
Can I use canned tomatoes for this recipe? I’m not into peeling, seeding, or dicing, it takes too much time! That recipe sounds good! I’m totally into soups for fall weather!
Thanks for being so transparent in your last post! I agree, you need to heal before you take on this journey. Fill up, get your wounds mended, and put on some good walkin’ shoes! Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I think the journey’s going to be long and rocky…
As random as this thought is…if Obama really is the anti-Christ, doesn’t he have a part to play in history as well? (Kind of like Judas?) In other words, God isn’t going to wake up tomorrow, surprised by the outcome of this election. If Obama is the man that God wants in power (for whatever purpose), then he will be the man elected. That doesn’t mean that I won’t pray or I won’t vote (or that I will like him), it just means that I often do not understand why God allows what He allows. Which is just one of the many reasons why He’s God and I am just karen.
enjoy the day!
karen
Well said, Kate! I loved the “shaking in the boots” thing. When I feel myself getting freaked out, I make myself dwell on the majesty and power of God and have been breathing deeply of his presence. God already knows….His plans were set in motion long before I was even born, and they will be carried out to his specifications.
Also, thanks for your sweet note on my blog! We took a walk in the woods yesterday so we could take some holiday photos AND my ulterior motive was to focus on those things which really matter. It was beautiful watching the leaves fall like rain. My camera didn’t quite capture that in action, but my heart sure did!
Enjoy your day!
By the way, Starbucks is giving out free coffee to those who have voted. I think Krispy Kreme is giving a free doughnut to those with a vote sticker…and also Ben and Jerry’s is giving away free ice cream scoops from 5-9 this evening!!
Kate, I’ve been following your blog for a while now, just never commented. I’m a voting virgin *giggle* because this is the first time I’m old enough. I definitely agree with the “shaking in the boots” thing. God is ultimately in control. Thank you for your words.
MacKenzie
I agree with Karen’s comment – she’s right… I don’t have to like it, but it is in God’s hands – and will ultimately be the outcome that fits in his plan for our country and the world. We just have to trust in him, and know that he knows more than we do about how this ultimately plays out.
The recipe looks great. And is perfect for this time of year. Thanks for stopping blog. I really like your wordpress blog/new blog.
Blessings.
Wonderful words for the day! Thanks, Kate. Many well-spoken comments, too.
If God is for us, who can be against us? Who should we fear?
Let Him orchestrate.
Let Him reign.
Let us trust that His Will be done.
I agree, Shane Barnard is really good too! Sorry it took a bit to get back to you. Glad you had an interesting time at the cabin, God’s pretty wierd like that, huh? I’m thankful that he does what we need, and not what WE think we need.
So I saw that the tour is coming through Phoenix, you’re going to have to get me some V.I.P. passes! (Not sure what that would be at a baptist church;) )
Have a good day,
-J
Perfect post for today! I keep telling myself that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is still on his throne and reigning over all!