Jalapenos, Honey!

Even when you begin life in an entirely new place, things can get a little humdrum. My German sandwiches, for example, lack a certain sharpness that I've come to expect in a lunchtime meal. Granted, my own knowledge of grocery stores puts me at a disadvantage for proper culinary combinations when it comes to deli decisions. My somewhat unorthodox solution? Jalapenos, honey! I can easily recognize them in a jar and they certainly spice things up.

Perhaps you've experienced similar situations. God's people certainly did! Consider the Israelites trudging in the desert, collecting manna then complaining about the miraculous monotony (Numbers 11:4-23, 31-32). Talk about fast food: their lunch could literally fall into their laps yet they whined. God, I know you are sending bread from heaven but could you be a bit more creative?

Spiritual life can become routine, too, if we fail to take time to explore and discover what God has in store for us. God never disappoints in his provision but we seem to dismiss the everyday blessings out of hand. Just like my unappetizing sandwich, I sometimes look at my devotions, wondering what's happened to my hunger for what the Lord has in store. So what do I do?

Last week, I attended a worship service each day and got a double blessing on both Wednesday and Friday. How did I manage such a feat while working full-time? Black Forest Academy, the school where I teach, encouraged high schoolers to put emphasis on their spiritual well-being and organized all the events. They reminded me while spice is nice, we can always move closer. Jesus is present moment by moment, reaching out to you. You don't need something fancy, just enough attention to see how much God wants to lavish on his children.

Don't settle for bland when you are so blessed! Take a walk, a deep breath, a moment to savour the flavour of all his bounty. See those placed in your path to help, to support, and to build you up. Read the Bible and discover the heights, depths, and utter sufficiency that no jalapeno can rival. "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8)!