Zucchini Bread

Behold, how good and how pleasant

it is for brethren to dwell together

in unity.

Psalm 133:1

I remember the summer we planted a garden in our back yard. Our three children watched carefully for growth of veggies on a daily basis. Our green beans were doing well when we left on vacation. By the time we returned in a week, beans should have been ready for harvesting. We pulled up in our driveway at the back of the house only to see that someone(s) had pulled up all of our green bean plants. We were sooo disappointed. However, whoever had done the damage had left our zucchini plants alone. Zucchini was growing all over the place. We had zucchini practically coming out of our ears.

A dear friend had given me a wonderful recipe for zucchini bread. All I knew to do with our overload of zucchini was to get busy baking bread. We had a good food grinder so that was a blessing. We also had a freezer where we could stash the nut bread and that was a blessing as well. For several days, we breathed and slept zucchini bread. Our freezer was full of the individual loaves. I was thankful at Christmas for all of those loaves of zucchini bread because they made wonderful gifts.

As I looked at the recipe for this very special bread, I didn't understand why some things were included in the recipe. I must admit that through the years, I have tried leaving out one or two ingredients I thought wouldn't matter. Guess what?...the bread never tasted the same when I did that. It looks like a little spice here or there wouldn't matter but it did. To be successful in cooking my zucchini bread, I have had to consider every single ingredient important in the process. Sometimes, I tend to leave out or ignore what I consider might be an insignificant element. I have often done that in real life. I've been guilty of disregarding people if I didn't feel they mattered or fit in with whatever the cause, especially in the church family. We've all done that at one time or another even if it is hard to admit to it.

All we have to do is look at the church we attend, the Sunday school class we are members of, the choir we sing in and see how we view people. Let's be honest..some people just seem to be more important than others, kind of like the zucchini, flour, sugar or eggs in our recipe. Some may be no more than a bit of salt or allspice...surely we can do without them but we would be sadly mistaken. I've tried my recipe without both and let me tell you that even those small ingredients are necessary. The most important element in the bread is the zucchini but we all can't be the zucchini in our church. In fact, as important as flour is, there's only so much that can be added to the mix. All in all, every single ingredient, no matter how large or small is necessary for a good end result. The largest quantity ingredient in this baking wonder is 3 cups of zucchini. If I'm salt, I might wish I could contribute 3 cups of salt to the mixture but that wouldn't work, nor would 3 cups of cinnamon or 3 cups of baking powder. Whatever we are, God has placed us where we are to be in amount and strength as He has deemed best. We ingredients blend together in unity, each contributing to the end product for God's glory. God loves unity and wants it in our very large Christian family. A part of that happening means respecting the value of each person and respecting whatever their contribution is in this large family of God.

God loves when His people dwell in unity. A lot of our judgments come from our deciding who is worth keeping around and who isn't...who we could get along without and who can stay. We may get into disagreements with fellow church members because we value our own opinion over those of others, who may not seem worthy of having an opinion. Sounds cruel, I know, but there are some things in life that are very real. Unity doesn't come unless we face up to the facts of why unity doesn't exist.

We would be surprised all those who contribute to making our churches run smoothly. It may be some seemingly insignificant people who do the most for us and we don't realize it. I am in a small church right now. We don't have a paid staff to do things. There is a lady who cleans the building, a man comes early to unlock doors, someone sets up rooms for meetings, a dear lady is in charge of the kitchen when we have get-togethers and let me tell you, she runs a tight ship. Ushers “ush,” deacons “deek,” and greeters greet. Nursery workers watch children so that services can be orderly. If light bulbs go out, someone changes them. If there's ice on the steps, someone salts them down. I know a lady at my former church who wipes off the bathroom sink and fixtures before leaving a church bathroom. I would guess her to be in her 80's. I'm grateful for that courtesy. The list could go on and on. All are ingredients of this wonderful “unity bread” that is the end result of so many who do their part and do it joyfully.

Perhaps one of these days when at church, we ought to look around and notice all of the things that must be done by many who we may not know but who contribute to keeping things running smoothly for the benefit of us all. Maybe we need to forget petty differences and appreciate each and every member of our church family. Some may appear to not be doing anything to contribute to our church life, but we might be surprised. 

Unity is when we are functioning with loving spirits as a well-oiled machine. Every person in our church is important and needed. We need to drop the high-hat attitudes and love and appreciate each ingredient God has placed in the recipe of our church. We must also realize that the “glue” in this recipe is the Holy Spirit who indwells each believer. There can never be a true spirit of unity among Christians anywhere unless all are walking in tune with the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean, however, that we will always agree on everything. That just wouldn't make sense but we can learn to offer our opinion, step back and do a lot of praying. We can make a determination to get along with others, respecting opinions, enveloping all in God's love.

Dear Father...I thank You for my church. I know it isn't a perfect place. If it was before I got there, it wouldn't be after I got there. Help me to be a loving church member, loving each member and recognizing the value of each person. May our churches be places of unity. That will only happen in Your power. I don't have to be the flour or eggs....I'll be that ½ tsp of salt, but I want to be the best ingredient You want me to be. In it all I pray that the end product of my church will be that of a strong witness and souls won for You. Amen

 

 

I hope you'll try this wonderful recipe for Zucchini Bread, remembering the importance of each ingredient as you blend them together.
                                                                                                                                

Preheat oven to 350

Grease & Flour 2 loaf pans

Mix together:

                                          3 eggs                                1 tsp nutmeg

                                          2 cups sugar                       1/2 tsp salt

                                          2 tsp baking soda               1 tsp cinnamon

                                          1 tsp baking powder           1 tsp allspice

                                          ½ tsp almond extract          1 cup salad oil

    

Add

3-1/2 cups flour

3 cups grated zucchini unpeeled

(Add these alternately)

Add:

1 cup raisins

1 cup nuts (pecans are best)

 

Pour into loaf pans and bake 1 hour, 15 minutes