The Challenge of a Chocolate Pie

Last week I stood before a large, intimidating mountain and dared to climb.  Here's my story.  Before I married my wonderful husband, my last name was Smith.  Being raised a Smith means certain things.  Smith's love Jesus.  Smith's support the Dallas Cowboys.  We laugh a lot and food is at the center of it all.  Our family gatherings revolve around a menu of traditional Smith favorites.  Who is cooking what, when will we eat it and how soon can we plan the next meal are central questions to be addressed.

Among our food traditions and addictions, there is one special dish that rises to the top.  My mother's chocolate pie.  Everyone who knows my mother knows she is a great cook.  People love my mama's cooking.  The woman can prepare anything she sets her whisk to.  In our family there are several recipes we always want mom to fix but none can compare to...The Chocolate Pie.

That's why no one else in our family ever dares to make it.  Until one day last week I decided to climb that mountain. We had special guests staying at our house.  As an expression of my love for these friends, I wanted to make a special dessert.  It doesn't get any more special than The Chocolate Pie.  I'd had my mom's recipe for years but never dared to actually attempt it.  How could it possibly compare?! No way!!  My mom laughs at my trepidation, but my apprehension was justified.  I was scared to follow in my mom's footsteps.  Has anyone ever heard of Picasso, Jr. the great painter or Einstein the second, the great thinker?  I didn't think so.

In the Old Testament, a guy named Joshua had his own mountain to climb.  He'd been trained up under Moses to succeed him but when the time came...well, holy cow, how do you follow freaking Moses?!  In Joshua 1:1-9 God boosts Joshua's confidence with these words, "(v.3) I will give you every place where you set your foot..(v.5) No one will be able to stand up against you; I will never leave you nor forsake you...(v.6) Be strong and courageous...(v.7) Be strong and very courageous...(v.8) Be careful to obey everything I tell you...(v.9) Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Does God know how to give a pep talk or what?! Yes, Joshua had big shoes to fill.  Who could blame him for feeling a little intimidated?  God said Joshua could do it.  Joshua believed God.  Joshua obeyed God.  Joshua saw God come through. 

Well, it doesn't quite compare to entering the Promised Land, but I made that pie.  After several calls to my mom for support it was finished.  By listening to her encouragement and following her recipe the pie turned out great. 

What mountain stands in front of you?  What is God asking you to do that scares you?  If God says you can do it, then you can!  Believe Him.  Obey Him.  See God come through then we can celebrate.  I'll bring pie!

Who, Me?

Last week, on a hot and humid day, I met some girlfriends for coffee - just the beverage everyone wants to drink on a hot and humid day, right?  We South Texans may be hot and sweaty but by golly, we love our specialty coffees just like those folks in the chilly Northwest.

But, I digress.  As I was saying, I met some quality girlfriends for some quality chat time.  I had just received my favorite sugar and espresso infused beverage when I promptly spilled the blasted thing.  Coffee went everywhere: the table, the chair, the floor, my shirt and even my shoes (the real trauma).  Now, spilling any coffee is bad enough but, this was 'designer' coffee (meaning I purchased it at a well-known coffee establishment at a designer price).  Here I had spilled designer coffee on my designer shoes - POO!  Not the way to start girl-time. 

So, what do you think I did next? Everyone could see that I'd spilled it.  It would be ridiculous to deny it.  I could feel the burn through my clothes.  The sweet scent of salted caramel drifted in the air as a sad reminder of what could have been. What if I decided to ignore it?  What if, when my friends were staring at the mess in front of them, I just said, "What are you staring at?  I didn't spill any coffee.  Who, me?"  They'd think all those latte's had burned my brain cells.   

I'm not so sure we don't act just like this when we brush over our disobedience and rebellion against God.  The effects of our disobedience, like a spilled drink, can be seen and felt - broken relationship with God, ineffective ministry, broken communication and relationship with our spouse or children.  We've made a mess but instead of owning it and asking God for help in cleaning it up, our pride steps in and we quickly put up a wall of denial.  "Who, me?"

King David was a rock star.  He had it all going on until he stole something that didn't belong to him. (See 2 Samuel 11.)  Rather than owning up to it he kept sinning to cover his tracks.  He took that spilled coffee and spread it around, but good.  His mess affected a lot of people and left a trail of carnage in it's wake.  Instead of being the spiritual leader for his people, he became an ineffective leader.  Eventually, a friend helped him see what he was doing and when David finally acknowledged his sin he was broken of his pride.  This was a turning point for David.  He got free of his sin by acknowledging it.

Look at David's prayer in Psalm 51 - 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.

You want to be a great wife and mom?  Acknowledge your sin.  Want to be a faithful friend or have an effective ministry?  Acknowledge your sin.  It's easy to point to someone else's mess but what about yours?  God wants to do radically, life-giving things in our families and in our country but we are a prideful people (I'm afraid I'm first in that line).  Let us own up to our mess and run back into the arms of a loving and forgiving God. 

With the help of my friends, I cleaned up the coffee mess. 
With the help of some strong chemicals I cleaned up the stains on my shirt and shoes. 
With the help of the Holy Spirit, I am convicted of my sin. 
By the love and sacrifice of Jesus, I am led to repentance and forgiveness. 

Friends, we don't have to live with the stain of sin.  We don't have to deny it's existence.  It is by his kindness that we are led to repentance and back into sweet fellowship with our loving Father.