When my friend asked me if I was busy painting this year, my response was that I was first taking time to wait on God. Last year He invited me into a greater intimacy with Him and as I didn’t know what that meant, I was taking my time to find out; I certainly didn’t want to miss out. Also, He had invited me to go deeper, so I’ve been asking if that meant deeper into Him or deeper out into the deep waters of evangelism like Jesus suggested Peter did in Luke 5. Or both? There was so much to unwrap!
Her response was a resounding laugh, saying, ‘Oh how we complicate things!’
I was a bit surprised because it had become my practice to ponder on things just as Mary did in the Bible …’Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.’ Luke 2:19 This is how I gain revelation and breakthrough but it was my friend’s next statement which blew me away.
‘I have a feeling God is going to do this no matter what you do. Especially since you are so ready for what He has!’
So I pondered, and this is what came.
Whenever I throw one of my parties, which are now established as great foodie events, I invite people and they come. I would hate it for my guests to start fretting about what they will eat, how the party will work, what food they should bring etc… No, I just want them to turn up and enjoy! In fact whenever food is bought (which is usually something grabbed from a shop), it tends to get left uneaten because people prefer my hand made feast!
I saw that it is the same with God’s invitation to me! He invited me – I said a resounding YES, so all I have to do is turn up and EAT.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalms 34:8 (ESV)
‘As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me! Song of Songs 2:3-6 (ESV)
‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.’ Psalms 23:5 (ESV)
On sharing this with another friend, she showed me this poem which I thought said it all.
LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack’d anything.
‘A guest,’ I answer’d, ‘worthy to be here:’Love said, ‘You shall be he.’
George Herbert (1593–1632).
‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on Thee.’
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
‘Who made the eyes but I?’
‘Truth, Lord; but I have marr’d them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.’
‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘Who bore the blame?’
‘My dear, then I will serve.’
‘You must sit down,’ says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’
So I did sit and eat.
It was suggested by a guest that I ceremonially cut into the raised pork pie (seen above), which I did. But when I next saw the plate there was nothing left but crumbs! I guess it was a good one!
Sometimes when I speak to my friends, like I did to you that day, the words just come forth for me to later think, Oops. But I can see how the Master put into the hands of a master, morsels of delight. You are both a master of art and words, Petrina, truly gifted and a wonderful friend.
Wow, Thank you Christine. We can thank God that He puts words in us to say albeit sometimes simply as a spontaneous remarks. But then fruit is bourne. Lovely.