Enjoy!

and burn the whole ram on the altar. 

It is a burnt offering to the Lord. 

It is a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.

Exodus 29:18b

You shall also take the fat from the ram and the fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails, and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and the right thigh (for it is a ram of ordination), and one loaf of bread and one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before the Lord.  You shall put all these on the palms of Aaron and on the palms of his sons, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord.  Then you shall take them from their hands and burn them on the altar on top of the burnt offering, as a pleasing aroma before the Lord. It is a food offering to the Lord.

Exodus 29:22-25

Enjoying Life Through the Eyes of a Kitten

When we first got married and had our own house, we wanted to get a kitten.  We went to an animal hospital where we heard the sad story of two kittens that were dropped off on their doorstep.  They were brothers.   One was a shorter haired orange and white calico and the other was longer haired orange kitten.  We were only planning on adopting one and asked if we could take one.  Because of their sad story, they said they didn't want to break the brothers up.  So we took them both!  We named them Flapjack and O.J. - the Breakfast Brothers!

And they did love their food!  Roast chicken or roast turkey in particular.  Whenever the aromas would fill our kitchen, Flapjack and O.J. would start circling around in the kitchen meowing.  One year, my parents brought my grandmother up for Thanksgiving.  Flapjack and O.J. sang their turkey song.  At the end of the meal, when there was just drippings and some pieces of turkey left on the platter, we put it down on the floor.  Well, you would think it was the the call of the wild!  There would be violent licking sounds and growling.  My grandmother was a little taken aback!  lol.  Within minutes the platter was licked clean with no evidence of turkey or drippings anywhere!  They would go off and lay down on our beds with their full, recently expanded bellies off to the side.

The picture could be the same of me in a bakery.  I don't know what it is about bakery smells, but I just LOVE them!   I don't start meowing - lol - but I anxiously anticipate eating a cupcake!

Enjoying Life Through the Eyes of God

I recently finished reading through the book of Exodus.  I think it took me about six months.  As the Lord always does, He showed me many new and wonderful insights.  And the insight gleaned from the Scripture passage I shared above was one of the most enlightening.

I've always found these verses interesting regarding the Lord receiving a "food offering" - puzzling really.   I didn't think of the God of the Old Testament as being hungry, eating food or enjoying the smells of it.  Maybe I'm alone in this.  lol.

Indeed when Jesus came to earth, it certainly added human characteristics to the God of Heaven.  Jesus ate and drank and enjoyed food.  And certainly Jesus tells us of that great day when we will eat and drink at the banquet table in Heaven with Him.

Yet my original thinking has no basis, for it was the God of the Old Testament who provided food for the Israelites in the desert.  It was God who provided the recipe for the unleavened bread.  It was God who provided food through His creation.  God is the creator of food!

The recent epiphany I had was that all that we enjoy here on Earth comes from the Lord's own enjoyments!   What a personal God we have!  We truly are made in God's image with His desires ingrained within us.

I was walking the other day with my husband on one of the first warm days after a very, very long winter and cold early spring.  I was noticing everyone out walking - all shapes, sizes and ages.  I commented to my husband that indeed the Lord had built into EVERY person a love for the outdoors and His creation.  Even if you are not a huge fan of exercise, EVERYBODY seems to enjoy a walk in the nice sunshine to take in all the sights and sounds of God's wonderful creation.

The Lord not only created us to enjoy what He enjoys, but He is the Creator of ALL that we enjoy!

The Lord truly desires for us to enjoy life!

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10

Enjoying Life Through the Eyes of Jesus

The Lord died an agonizing death on the cross so that we would have life and have it abundantly.

I've been convicted at times when consumed with worry or fear that I am devaluing the great sacrifice Jesus made so that I could have abundant life.   In so doing, I am wasting the life Jesus died for and the enjoyments He has provided for me.

The abundant life does not mean one that's all fun and games, but one that in every circumstance, even the fiery trials, has God's built-in ability to enjoy...

Enjoy the sun streaming through a window, the sound of bird's singing, feeling the breeze on your face, the touch of a loved one's hand, hearing the laughter of a child, smelling a delicious meal, reading a verse that brings great encouragement, and on and on...  There is always something, however small, that can bring us enjoyment.

When we live a life of enjoyment seen through God's eyes, the joy of the Lord truly becomes our strength.

For similar posts, click on the following:

5 Biblical Ways to Enjoy Life and Have Fun

Day Dreaming

How to Experience A Pleasant Life

How to Live IN the Blessings of God

How to Experience Joy in the Christian Life

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