Outcast

Our Daily Bread
You have seen them in church.  You know those people.  The ones who don't "belong" in our church.  Isn't it funny how we judge folks by how they look.  It is even worse when we know more about them.  Here is a song that I ran across a few years ago called "If we are the body":

"If We Are The Body"

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girl's teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgemental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road

Jesus payed much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ

Jesus is the way

Yes, Jesus is the way.  It is our responsibility as part of the body of Christ that we welcome all and have compassion for all.  Yes, even "those people"!

Lord, thank you for showing us compassion. Help us show it to others.


Foodie Friday
A friend asked me how difficult it was for me to cook for one when I am trying to change my eating habits.  I told him that in most ways it is easier because I only have to worry about myself liking what I make!  ha!  Whether you are cooking for one or for twenty, I feel like I need to plan my meals better than I ever have before.  It makes it easier to buy groceries, not buy junk food, use all of what I buy to avoid waste, and eating healthier than ever before.

I think the hardest thing about cooking for one or two is portion control.  It can be difficult to scale back recipes to two or three reasonable portions.  As I have time to cook, I usually make something that will last a few days.  After cooking, I immediately portion out the different meals before I start eating so I don't overeat.  This really seems to work for me.

You might ask: why is this topic in the Foodie Friday entry instead of Workout Wednesday?  I am writing this entry so everyone can have tasty, wholesome meals without spending a fortune and without overeating.  I understand that some folks don't like leftovers.  That is understandable.  My joke is that I eat what I like and I eat a lot of it!  If I make a large pot roast (my favorite), I portion it out to last several days.

You can be a foodie by planning and being flexible with your tastes and habits.  It has worked for me!

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Let go, my friends!  God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!