God Musings from Beck's Kitchen
Updated: 4 hours ago
As some of you know, I love to spend time in my kitchen! When you think about it, food and drink are the most basic of provisions for life. We can’t live without them, and they must be provided and prepared again and again and again, and for as long as we live on this earth.
In the procuring and preparation of flavorful, beautiful, and nourishing foods, I find my heart naturally turning to God from, well, soup to nuts! I find my heart flooded with thoughts of:
💖Gratitude
Wow. Just think of it! I have the means to purchase the foods and kitchen items I wish to on a daily basis. For starters, God has provided my work and through that, livelihood and the means to buy things.
"Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God." Ecclesiastes 5:18–19
From there, each and every part of food prep brings its own reasons for gratitude!
📝Planning and Making Purchases
Maybe I’m at the office towards the end of the day deciding what I’m going to make for supper that night and/or what needs to be resupplied at home. I enjoy musing over options, making decisions, preparing my list.
🛒Then, off to market!
Sometimes I know just what I want and zip from familiar aisle to familiar aisle, quickly filling my cart with the things I want to purchase.
Other times, I might enjoy more of a leisurely stroll from one point to the next. “Oh, look at that… they have fresh figs…” Taking more time to see what’s available and coming up with recipe ideas in my head as I go.
"She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar." Proverbs 31: 15
🛍️Bringing the Groceries Home
Once home and bags brought in, nestling items into their respective spots in the refrigerator or pantry brings a feeling of abundance and satisfaction – thank you, Lord!
"And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil...And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you😉: and my people shall never be ashamed." Joel 2:24-26
Wonder ──★ ˙🍏 ̟ !!
Why did God make food so, well enjoyable? The variety alone makes His exquisite Spirit of creativity and love of pure pleasure more than obvious.
Who can think of God as stern and distant when understanding it was HE who thought all of this up and by the mere instruction of His voice spun it into existence in the first place? 😮
"Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices." Song of Solomon 4:13–14
I suppose we could all be sustained on "manna from heaven," - the same food every single day - but in His delight, when it comes to variety, God has provided food that involves ALL of the following!
Textures
Crisp • Crunchy • Crackling • Brittle • Tender • Silky • Velvety • Smooth • Creamy • Buttery • Flaky • Crumbly • Chewy • Springy • Spongy • Airy • Fluffy • Dense • Firm • Fibrous • Juicy • Succulent • Pulpy • Grainy • Gritty • Gelatinous • Sticky • Syrupy • Luscious • Melt-in-your-mouth
Psalm 55:21 (KJV)
"The words of his mouth were smoother than butter..."
Tastes
Sweet • Sour • Salty • Bitter • Umami (savory)
"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103
Flavor Nuances
Tart • Tangy • Zesty • Citrusy • Floral • Fruity • Honeyed • Caramel-like • Nutty • Earthy • Woody • Herbal • Grassy • Peppery • Pungent • Spicy • Smoky • Toasted • Roasted • Rich • Mellow • Delicate • Sharp • Astringent • Refreshing • Cooling • Warming
Colors
Crimson • Scarlet • Ruby • Burgundy • Magenta • Rose • Blush • Coral • Tangerine • Copper • Amber • Golden • Sunshine Yellow • Chartreuse • Lime • Emerald • Jade • Olive • Teal • Turquoise • Indigo • Violet • Amethyst • Lavender • Plum • Bronze • Mahogany • Chestnut • Cream • Ivory • Pearl • Snowy White • Ebony
Deuteronomy 8:7–10
"For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee."
Aromas
Fragrant • Aromatic • Floral • Perfumed • Sweet • Honey-like • Citrus-bright • Minty • Pine-like • Resinous • Earthy • Woodsy • Musky • Herbal • Grassy • Peppery • Pungent • Sulfurous • Toasty • Nutty • Buttery • Warmly Spiced
Song of Solomon 2:13
"The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away."
Shapes, Forms, and Patterns
Round • Spherical • Oblong • Curved • Spiral • Star-shaped • Heart-shaped • Clustered • Segmented • Layered • Ribbed • Netted • Speckled • Striped • Geometric • Branched • Concentric • Symmetrical • Asymmetrical • Scalloped • Tapered • Elongated • Oval • Cylindrical • Conical • Lobed • Ridged • Veined • Corrugated • Honeycombed
Exodus 25:33–34
"Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers."
VESSELS - aka "DISHES, et. al."!
When I am cooking or prepping food in any way, I use a LOT of dishes and utensils. Thank GOD for my dishwasher! Even on workdays living by myself I usually run two loads, and on the weekends more, depending on what I have going on!
But. I thoroughly enjoy various dishes; bowls, pans, racks - I find the different shapes, colors, or suitability to the task pleasing in a soothing sort of way. In fact, at this moment I have a chicken dish to serve with rice simmering in my lovely crockpot and a carrot cake cooling on a rack in its royal blue cakepan. What would I do without, well, things to PUT things in! The clean dishload to the left are the "vessels" used in the latest round of cooking.
Okay, I'll admit, the "simmering" brew in the crockpot to the left looks absolutely pitiful, but it will be transformed with the later addition of cream and cheese, then served over fragrant Basmati rice. The spinach is the seaweed looking stuff on the top, with mushrooms beneath it, and chicken thighs on the bottom. The broth is bone broth I made from chicken feet, so super nourishing. The carrot cake to the right. Ah... just waiting for a delicious cream cheese frosting! A slice of carrot cake with a cup of decaf coffee is my nightly indulgent treat. Don't tell! Yum.
The Bible actually has a lot to say about "vessels!"
Jeremiah 18:1–6
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 'Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?' saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
I love that.
When you think of it, there's something comforting in knowing that when we yield our lives to the Divine Potter's hands we know we will come out better than we could have ever dreamed. ♫"Thou art the Potter; I am the clay!" ♫
2 Corinthians 4:6–7
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Lamentations 4:2
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
2 Timothy 2:20–21
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
From Prep to Plate!
Preparing any dish involves processes and time. There's:
Washing • Peeling • Chopping • Slicing • Dicing • Grating • Grinding • Mixing • Blending • Kneading • Seasoning • Marinating • Sautéing • Simmering • Boiling • Steaming • Baking • Roasting, etc.
While doing these things in my kitchen, it often reminds me of the process of SANCTIFICATION. Once we are children of God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins,* we turn onto a lifelong path of living where we gradually grow in holiness.
Colossians 2:6–7
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
This is called sanctification. Our eternal future is secure the moment we believe, but there is a life to live while we are still "down here," and how that will all turn out depends on our participation in the sanctification process!
We are cleansed of all sin, past, present, and future when we receive Christ's sustitutionary payment for those sins. All forgiven. Wow. In the Bible that's called JUSTIFICATION.
BUT... we still have - in our humanity - the sin nature inside of us. My relationship to God as His child makes me crave to be more like Him; to be conformed to the image of His dear Son (Rom 8:29). And, the Holy Spirit within helps me to want to do only those things that will please Him, as an adoring child. Not, you understand, to make me any more accepted than I already am in the Beloved (Eph 1:6), but to walk through the days of my life on earth in the closest intimate harmony I possibly can with him.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Peter 1:5–8
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [love]. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 5:12–14
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Another apt visual that comes to my mind:
I think of removing the neck lining from the clam as the "old man" coming off!
Follow the Recipe!
When it comes to continuing to grow in holiness, the best result comes from following the instructions. Think of your Bible as your Master Recipe Book for life!
I also think about how once a person becomes well seasoned in the culinary arts, how to do things just seems to come naturally. So it is with the person who soaks up the Word of God, living according to its truths on a daily basis, day after day, year after year. "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." (Ps 119:11) Doing the "right thing," saying the "right thing," thinking the "right things" just seems to come more and more easily with time!
Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Psalm 119:133
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Wrapping up "God Musings from Beck's Kitchen!"
When I am in my kitchen, I am - obviously - at home and in an atmosphere of peace. Whatever I might be doing at any given moment lends a perfect opportunity to meditate on some facet of wonder when it comes to God's involvement in every aspect of my life. And, I often think of how - if I had lived during Jesus' time on earth - I would have loved just quietly preparing food for Him in the kitchen, off in the background of whatever was going on in the "living room."
That said, I am so glad He isn't here on earth any longer, aren't you? He never has to do this again. His purpose for being here is accomplished. It is finished (Jn 19:30).
And, I am glad I didn't live then but that I live now, precisely when He intended I should. Still, He made it clear while He was here that when we serve others in His name we are serving Him. So, when you think about it, I get to have it both ways!
And so do you. 😊
*Interested in knowing how to enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Say a Salvation Prayer and Receive Jesus Christ Today.
Of course, the saying of a prayer is the reflection of a monumental and life-changing heart decision, but this is a good guide.
Unbelievable!! You are so gifted. Thank you for sharing this bountiful feast of the beautiful blessings that are ours through food and Gods Word!