Savory Winter Soup
1 Jan 2007
A Sensational Year Ahead
Happy New Year! Have you made resolutions or set any goals for 2007? Every year many of us determine that the coming year will be different. We make plans to eat healthy, read the Bible through, exercise more, spend more time with friends and family, and/or expand our minds and learn new things. It’s easy to take time in December and make our resolutions, but by February, many of us belong to the “resolution drop out club.” My resolution this year is rather general. As a speech-language pathologist who wrote specific goals for my patients and had specific ways to measure progress, this is most unusual for me. But my focus this year is for the Holy Spirit to awaken my senses to God’s love and direction for me and to be sensitive to His plans and purposes for managing my life. Having just celebrated holidays filled with stimulation of our senses, I thought about the senses that God wants to awaken in me.
God wants me to taste. He wants me to savor His Word bit at a time and really apply what He tells me to my life, not just study and learn.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)
I believe that the Lord is also reminding me to look in the right places for contentment and joy. I need to be reminded that His Word is my standard for my protection and provision and it’s impossible to look at His face when I am looking elsewhere. It’s easy to attend a pity party, rely on self-sufficiency and even the support of friends and family, but the Bible says,
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” (Psalm 105:4)
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm 119:18)
Hearing is the third. There is so much noise in our culture. Some opportunities are good things, but others take me away from God’s plans for me, even for just a day. I need to sharpen my hearing.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10: 27)
“Turn your ear to wisdom and your heart to understanding.” (Proverbs 2:2)
We are wired to smell. Our sense of smell triggers memory and emotions. One fragrance I want to be sure to wear this year is the fragrance of Christ. I want His unmistakable fragrance to linger in my environment—from my family to a supermarket clerk.
“But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2: 14-15)
Finally, touch. A popular commercial tells us to “reach out and touch someone.” I want to remember as God’s daughter, to touch Him first when I am faced with a decision or grateful for an experience, and to know that His arms carry me always even when I don’t feel it.
“The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
(Deut.33:27)
“Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.” (Psalm 119:73)
New Year’s resolutions—have you made any? Won’t you consider praying about a sensational year and ask God to awaken your senses in 2007? (c) Marilyn Nutter
January recipe
This is a tasty soup that will awaken your senses! We enjoy it on cold snowy nights with a salad and a loaf of Italian or French bread.
Savory Winter Soup
1 lb Italian sausage; (cut links and cook and drain)
1 10 oz. package chopped spinach, cooked and drained
6-8 potatoes, boiled and cubed
2 cups white sauce (your recipe for medium white sauce)
4 cups chicken broth
Mash half of the potatoes. Add sausage, spinach and remaining potatoes to white sauce. Add broth and stir well. Let the soup come to a boil. Turn temperature down and let soup simmer. Serves 4-6.
Marilyn Nutter
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