Scriptures: Proverbs 14:1, 31:10-31 & Psalm 128
Song of Praise: Doxology
Devotion:
In days gone by, many homes directed their day around the preparation and culmination of the dinner meal.
Long before feminism grew to its current strength, most Christian women derived a deep sense of satisfaction from their domesticity.
You may have heard the old adage, "so goes the church, so goes the culture".
This statement is true, and worth dissecting.
As the church corporate became a slave to the rising feministic agenda, Pastors shied away from teaching Biblical gender roles. The church became more egalitarian, individualistic, and less familial.
Biblical gender roles, as outlined in Scripture, have largely been tossed to the proverbial trash heap.
As Christian women bought into the feminist lie, they were urged to abandoned their battle ground domain.
As a result, the home, and specifically, the table, have been woefully neglected.
This pattern of misguided meals is as old a tale as is Eve and the serpent.
The Proverbs hold much wisdom about the wise woman. It speaks to how she prioritizes her home by fortifying it through her taskings.
This busy woman is not an incompetent fool.
The feminists like to gossip and cackle on about the wise woman, all the while, their own houses are on fire.
The wise woman operates with as much cunning as a counter insurgency operation.
She has joined the fight against God's enemies by diligently managing and strengthening her home.
Her home has become an aid station for the needy, she provides nourishment and encouragement for her little soldiers; and she even welcomes her enemies to dine, in hopes of making a new alliance.
Her table is well prepared with carefully crafted food. She welcomes her family, her employees, and the needy, dying world around her.
The Proverbs 31 woman is marked by hospitality and diligence.
Her days are spent maintaining, organizing, and expanding her home.
Her tasks are not done for the sake of building her own kingdom or fortress, but in an effort to expand God's kingdom.
She doesn't long to be at the city gates, fighting and ruling as the men do,
that is her husband's battleground.
She is content to wage war against the enemies that seek to destroy the home she is building.
While her husband is busy leading and protecting his home, the wife is busy turning a profit on the resources given to her by her husband.
Because of this well-ordered team effort, the home flourishes.
The husband is blessed by his wife's fruitful disposition, and he blesses her; as do her children.
The Psalmist describes God's blessings as a fruitful home.
A man is blessed when his wife is a fruitful vine, producing good fruit, and when his children are like little vines, growing up around his table.
Have you noticed how many of God's blessings are displayed around a table.
Food, fellowship, and hospitality are tangible ways that the Christian can display God's favor, and war against the enemies of God.
At the table prepared, guests are treated to a meal and fellowship.
It is the result of Christian men and women building a Christian culture.
This is an outpouring of Christian charity; taught to us by Christ's own selfless acts.
We are guests at His table, and His offer to us is one of sweet fellowship.
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 Question:
How does the Proverbs 31 woman tend to her home?
Psalm 128 describes what two unique blessings that God gives to a man?
How does hospitality and fellowship mirror Christ's redeeming acts?
Meal: Lilah's Fajita Pasta, Baking Powder Biscuit, & Snickerdoodle Blondie
Recipes:
Lilah's Fajita Pasta
Prep and Cook Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 6
1 pound Penne Pasta
2-3 Chicken Breast
1 large Bell Pepper
1 package Taco Seasoning
1 ½ cup high fat Milk or Cream
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 small Onion
1 can Rotel
1 can Chicken Broth
½ cup Colby Jack Cheese
Olive Oil to drizzle
Instructions:
Dice chicken into small, bite-sized cubes, sprinkle them with enough olive oil to coat each piece.
Sprinkle them with half of the taco seasoning.
Set aside for later.
Chop pepper and onion into bite sized pieces.
Toss into a large pot and cook them on medium heat, with olive oil, and the remainder of the taco seasoning.
Cook until veggies are barely soft.
Add to pot the prepared raw chicken and coo mixture together until the chicken is fully cooked.
Add to your pot the pasta, rotel, and broth.
Stir to make certain your ingredients are incorporated.
Add just enough milk or cream to cover the uncooked pasta, about 1 ½ cups.
Cook everything at a medium/high heat until pasta is fully cooked.
Add cheese and serve.
Baking Powder Biscuits
Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yields: 8-10 drop biscuits
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Sugar, if desired
3 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
½ cup Shortening
¾ cup Milk
Instructions:
In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well.
The dough will be sticky. On a sprayed sheet pan, drop 8-10, even, blobs of dough.
They don't have to be pretty.
Bake at 450 F for 10-15 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Serve warm or cooled and with butter
Snickerdoodle Blondie
Prep and Cook Time: 45-60 minutes + 1 hour to cool
Yields: 20-24 Bars
Blondies:
2 ⅓ Cups All-Purpose Flour
1 ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
½ teaspoon Salt
¾ cup Butter, softened
¾ cup granulated Sugar
¾ cup packed light Brown Sugar
2 large Eggs
2 teaspoons pure Vanilla Extract
1 cup White Chocolate Chips
Cinnamon-sugar filling:
2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
⅓ cup granulated Sugar
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 F
Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with aluminum foil.
Leaving enough overhand on the sides to easily pull the blondies out of the pan and cut.
In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, beat butter until creamy.
Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Mix in dry ingredients just until combined. Carefully mix in the chocolate chips
Spoon half the batter into pan, it will be relatively thin layer, but try to spread it across the pan evenly.
Combine the cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle on top of the bottom layer.
Spread the remaining batter over top.
Bake for 20-26 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool completely for about 1 hour.