Daily Wisdom 10-11-2002 Come and Get It

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Come and Get It

Don't you hate it when your pantry is full of stuff, but you can't seem to make it into a meal? I was staring blankly into the pantry one afternoon, thumping my fingers on the door, trying to figure how I could make dinner for a family of seven from half a bag of noodles, the creams from a box of assorted chocolates (all pinched), and a packet of sauce mix from a missing box of Rice-a-Noodly. I dug up some cocoa mix, a box of potato buds and a handful of chocolate chips. I thought Iíd hit the jackpot when I found a dozen hot sauce packets from Taco Boy, some stale crackers and a box of Cat-n-Caboodle--no wait, that last one was cat food.

I couldn't even see a microwaveable casserole coming together, so I ate the handful of chocolate chips for strength and moved from the pantry to the fridge. There were about the same number of possibilities in there. Dozens of containers but none I was willing to actually open. Through the clear-ish one I could make out some fuzzy purple ravioli. I didn't remember ever having ravioli. That was scary. I poked at it, but I think that just made it angry, so I gently put it back. Wasn't there anything in there I could microwave for dinner?

You might have guessed that I support heavy use of the microwave oven. I realized I might have taken it too far the other day when we were getting ready for company and I actually had to DUST the stove. I thought about getting rid of my stove altogether, but a friend told me that I was deranged. ("De-ranged." Get it?) Besides, it's a great place to hide dirty dishes if company stops by unexpectedly.

The "What's for dinner?" question remains a toughie for me. Even when my pantry is filled with wonderfully zappable cardboard boxes, I find it difficult to choose. I'm so glad that my Heavenly Father didn't have to stare into the "pantry" of the world, trying to put together something redeemable. No, I picture Jesus Himself saying, "I'll take that one," as he plucked me out to make me into something special.

I'm not special because of anything that I can do, mind you. I'm special because the Lord chose me and because he lives in me. Ephesians 1:4 says, "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." Verse 10 says, "that... He might gather together in one all things in Christ..." Gathering together. Almost sounds like a casserole, doesn't it? I'm so thankful that our all-powerful Father looked into his grand pantry and started his holy gathering "in Christ."

That's reason for celebration. I decided to celebrate by calling 1-800-PIZZA GUY. Still, you're welcome to drop by for dinner sometime. If you stop by unexpectedly, please don't look in the oven.

Contributed by Rhonda Rhearrhea@juno.com
Visit Rhonda's site atwww.rhondarhea.net