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
No comments:
Post a Comment