The Gospel in a 'Mater Sandwich

Image by Pam Carter from Pixabay

I love a 'mater sandwich. There are three necessary ingredients. You will need your favorite bread, a homegrown tomato, and Dukes mayonnaise. I don't toast my sandwich like the picture and I don't put cheese on it. Just the three ingredients and a little salt and pepper will satisfy a hungry soul. Go ahead and make your sandwich before you finish this post. I know your mouth is watering.  

As you put that first bite in your mouth, think about the first thing on your pallet - the bread. 

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. ~John 6:35 NKJV

The next taste is the pure white Dukes mayonnaise, spread on both pieces of bread. Jesus wasn't a duke but he is the King. 

Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth  ~Peter 2:22 NKJV

Between the bread and the mayonnaise is that big slice of homegrown tomato, red and juicy and full of seeds.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ~I John 1:7 KKJV

If you forgot to put the salt and pepper on the sandwich, it's still pretty good, but to be the best it needs that extra touch of flavor.

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.     ~Matthew 5:13

It's not just good enough for us to savor the flavor of the sandwich. A sandwich is so much better when you can make one to share. While you share that 'mater sandwich this week, don't forget to share the gospel. The seeds of the tomato you just ate are like the seeds of the gospel that has been planted in your heart. Seeds are made for planting. 

But others (seeds) fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! ~Matthew 13:8,9 NKJV

Heavenly Father, help me see you in the creation around me whether a tree, a bird, or a 'mater sandwich. Help me make the effort to share your gospel with those I come in contact with this week. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Do you have a favorite recipe you enjoy sharing with others? How could you use your recipes to share the gospel with friends? Here are a few ideas.

Make a lemonade stand. (The sweet sugar changes sour lemons into the best drink) 

Cookies (The ingredients by themselves may not be tasty but mixed together they make a great treat)

Identifying how ingredients are like the gospel can be a fun conversation with siblings and/or friends. Sharing the treats with others makes the activity even more special. You might even think about sharing the treats with elderly neighbors or a nearby nursing home. Everyone is sure to reap the benefits.

 

Worms

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 

Psalms 8:4

Have you ever rejoiced in seeing an earthworm? I've been mounding up my garden beds and noticing how many earthworms are in my soil this year. I'm thanking the Lord for every one of them. Why? They are so important to a good garden! Earthworms aerate the soil so the rain can trickle down to the roots of the plants. They decompose the matter and create compost that feeds the plants. Just one of them can create more earthworms. Even if you chop one in two it will restore itself into two more.

Have you ever sung this hymn by Isaac Watts published in 1707?

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Watts called us worms. He meant it as a derogatory term. He meant we were lowly destructive worms like cankerworms and palmerworms described in the book of Joel 2:25. However, if we look at the work of earthworms maybe we could learn a lesson in soul winning. 

The way we approach people, worm our way in if you will, by showing love to others and living our daily lives softens and opens the hearts of the world for the Water of Life to trickle in and begin His work of salvation. The Word of Life that we share in the same way feeds the world with the Bread of Life. Satan cannot stop the gospel from going out. It is seen throughout history the more the church is persecuted the stronger it becomes and the more it multiplies. 

The Water and the Bread are not just for the lost but also for those of us who know the Lord. Worms have to be fed. They need water. So we also need the Holy Spirit and God's Word in our lives that we might continue to grow and give life to those around us. 

So I'm thanking the Lord for every little worm I see in my garden and remember that I too need to be a worm.

Blessings,

Gail

Come to the Water

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelations 22:17

Children love playing in the water, skipping rocks, wading, splashing, swimming. Our grandchildren are drawn to water like maddogs. The attraction is so strong we can barely draw them away. It's almost as much fun to watch kids in water as to participate, but not quite. Participating in anything fun is better than watching. What is it about water that is so special? It's refreshing. It's enjoyable, especially with others. It's cleansing. It's needful for life itself. 

We are so used to water used as a metaphor in scripture, we may just pass over it without thinking. "Take of the water of life freely; whosoever drinketh of this water shall never thirst; well of water springing up into everlasting life," are common terms in Christian circles, but how deeply have we considered these terms. How will taking of the water of life freely allow us to live, not just in the realm of eternal life, but what about now? Think about enjoying a cool stream or even the ocean. You will likely relax and enjoy the experience, especially with friends and family. Are you enjoying your salvation in the same way? 

Jesus told the woman at the well if she drank of the water He would give her, she would never thirst. Of course that was another metaphor. She would not be looking for life, she would find eternal life and peace in Jesus, the Water of Life. She took him at His word and shared it with others, just as we would beckon others to join us in a cool refreshing stream. 

This week won't you think of how the Water of Life can affect your life? Relax, enjoy, call others to join you in this exciting experience. Allow Jesus to bring a refreshing into your hectic life and know He is in control. 

You are welcome to share pictures and comments.

Blessings,

Gail 

Hey Kids:

Do you know the difference in a metaphor and a simile? 

If I say, "The trees in the swamp looked like old men with gray beards," I am using a simile to help me understand how trees look with Spanish moss  hanging from the limbs. 

If I say, "Old men stood in the swamp, gray beards hanging to the waters." I am using metaphors to describe the trees and the moss.

The Bible uses lots of similes and metaphors. Try figuring some of them out.

Here's some starters. The Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2)

The Bread of Life (John 6:35)

Water of Life (Revelation 22:17)

You are welcome to share your discoveries with us.  :)