Wednesday, November 14, 2007

A Good Beef Stew

We have probably all had beef stew, most good, some really bad and occasionally one that is great!  What makes the difference?  Most will have beef, potatoes, carrots, maybe onions that are all easily identifiable.  But much of the flavor comes in the stock or gravy of the stew and it is those ingredients will make it great, good or not so good!  A cook may keep those ingredients secret.  I see a marriage, and for that matter a ministry, much like the stew.  

We can all identify the main ingredients, but many times it is the things that we add in secret that make the marriage great, good or even bad.
     David says in Psalm 101, “...I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.  I will set no worthless thing before my eyes;...”.   It is those things that we do and think when “nobody else” can see us that will flavor our “stew” / marriage or even ministry.  They set the conditions of the heart and will either sour and poison it or keep it clean and free, flowing with peace.  Jesus said: “Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life...” Luke 21:34.