Scriptures: Proverbs 25:21 & Ephesians 4:32
Song of Praise: Doxology
Devotional:
Ever since the first sin committed, mankind has been stained with the stench of death.
Sin is in our very genetic code; no one can escape death's sting.
We are born as enemies of God, and would remain as such.
By the grace of God, Jesus agreed to take on the wrath that the sinner deserves, satisfying God's justice.
Theologians call that, 'Substitutionary Atonement'.
Jesus' substitutionary atonement made us, natural enemies of God, heirs to God's inheritance.
The marvel doesn't end there! Yes, Christ took our punishment, but, additionally, He credited us with His eternal blessed standing before God.
What a swap!
The gospel is a mystery to our common senses; it makes no logical sense. Why would Jesus do this? How can a Holy God descend into His creation? Why would Jesus take on a curse to restore sinful creation?
We do not deserve any of God's kindness, yet, He displayed His love for His creation on the cross.
The redeemed of God display the same sacrificial love when we love our enemy well.
The person that causes you the most consternation is the person that God calls you to feed and love.
This feels very counter-intuitive. Why should we love our enemy? Because God, in Christ, forgave us!
We display the beauty and mystery of the gospel when we love our enemy; more specifically, when we feed our enemy. In fact, the Proverbs explicitly state that we should feed our enemy.
In His work of redemption, Christ reversed the curse of famine that was placed on the Earth.
The entire cosmos began to be renewed and restored.
The famine of the land was a thing of the past. Christ's resurrection brought with it a feast. The weekly feast, called, the Lord's Supper, was given to God's people in lieu of the old famine.
Feeding our enemies ought to entice them toward greater feasting.
The ultimate goal of our hospitality and generosity is to turn our enemies into friends, just as Jesus did with us.
Benediction:
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
Table Talk Questions:
Are we born as friends or enemies of God?
How did we become friends with God?
Why should we love and feed our enemies?
Meal: Clay's Louisiana Jambalaya, Broccoli Cheese Casserole & Strawberry Shortcake
Recipes:
Clay's Louisana Jambalaya
Prep and Cook Time: about an hour
Serves: 8-10
1 pound Smoked Pork Sausage links, sliced
½ pound Beef Tenderloin
3 cups prepared Rice
Salt and Pepper
1 bottle of Kitchen Bouquet Browning and Seasoning Sauce
1 pound boneless/skinless Chicken thighs
1 diced Onion
2 quarts of Water
Instructions:
Cut meat into bite sized pieces.
Salt and pepper all meat liberally, except the sausage.
Turn on heat and in a large pot, coated with oil, brown and cook meat separately in this order: sausage, beef,pork, and chicken.
Brown beef to medium, all others to medium well.
After all meat is removed, drain oil from large pot. (do not scrape clean yet, you just seasoned the pot).
Saute onions until clear, add 1 cup of water.
Add meat back to pot, pushing it against the edge, creating a “bowl” in the middle. The water will gather here.
Pour two capfuls kitchen bouquet into the water, mix into meat around the edge. Your making the sauce.
Pour the sauce around the meat 3-4 times.
Mix and repeat the process making a bowl.
Pour in rice and remaining water.
Mix well, lightly oversalt the water.
Pour in two more capfuls of kitchen bouquet.
Mix one more time, scraping the bottom.
Bring to boil.
Boil for 2 minutes, reduce heat to low and simmer,.
Cover for 25 minutes.
DO NOT REMOVE LID during this process.
After 25 minutes, remove lid, stir from bottom to mix.
Remove from heat, recover, and let sit for 20 minutes.
Now you are ready to eat like louisiana.
Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Prep and Cook Time: about an hour
Serves: 6
5-6 cups Broccoli Florets
8 ounces Cream Cheese cut into cubes
¼ cup Sour Cream
1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
Salt, to taste
¼ teaspoon fresh ground Pepper
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 F
Grease a medium sized baking dish with butter and set to the side.
Steam your broccoli and set it to the side.
In a mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic, italian seasoning, salt, and pepper; mix until incorporated.
Add cream cheese mixture to the broccoli and stir until thoroughly combined.
Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned on top.
Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Strawberry Shortcake
Prep and Cook Time: about and hour
Serves 10-12
Topping:
3 cups fresh or frozen Strawberries
1 cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 can Whipped Cream or 1 container of Cool Whip
Biscuit:
3 cups Flour
⅓ cup granulated Sugar
2 Tablespoons Baking Powder
¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Salt
¾ cup COLD Butter
1 cup Buttermilk * see tips to make your own
2 Tablespoons Heavy cream or Milk will do
Instructions:
Topping:
Cut any stems off of the strawberries.
Cut strawberries into bite size pieces
Stir the strawberries, vanilla and sugar together in a large bowl.
Cover and set in the refrigerator.
Biscuits:
Preheat oven to 425 F.
Mix the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl.
Mix well.
Add cubed butter and cut in dry ingredients until pea sized crumbs form.
Pour in buttermilk.
Mix until just combined.
On floured counter, roll evenly into ¾ inch.
Cut into biscuits. Place on a sprayed sheet pan.
Bake at 400 F until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before assembling.
Slice the biscuits in half and layer with strawberries and whipped cream.
Serve immediately