The best part about Christmas used to be my grandmother’s homemade cookies that she brought with her. I’m not exactly sure what you would call them, but they were some sort of sugar cookie and they had icing that had been imported from Heaven! At the end of the holidays she would send some home with us and I would literally hide them in the pantry so that my wife wouldn’t know where they were and eat them all. That is a good cookie!
A few years ago, I walked into the dessert room (that’s the fancy name for the laundry room because my mom puts all of the Christmas desserts on top of the washer and dryer during Christmas) and there they were. I quickly grabbed one of those cookies and bit into it. I immediately starting spitting pieces of cookie back into my hand. Something had gone drastically wrong with these cookies. There was a potential that Christmas may be ruined.
After some investigation we discovered that my grandmother had mixed up the salt and the sugar when baking!
Following a recipe can be a lot like reading a story. You follow a recipe one step after another and in the end, you have the entrée you desired to make. One small mistake in the recipe can change everything.
One small change in a story can drastically change the outcome of the story as well.
As you read this, you are writing your story. Who are the characters in the current chapter? How are they affecting the final outcome of your story?
At the same time, you are a character in someone else’s story. You are helping determine what their final outcome is?
You have the power to do great harm or great good in your relationships. What are you choosing?
Here are some thoughts on how to apply Philippians 2:3-4 from this week:
1. Take some time to reflect on your day yesterday. Think about the relationships you were involved in. Did you show respect to people in the way you spoke and the way you treated them? If not, determine how you are going to do better today.
2. Make a list of what you want in a future spouse or relationship. Then compare that list to your own life. Are you allowing God to transform you into the perfect spouse for your future husband or wife. Ask God to reveal one thing on your list that you can begin to change and make a plan for change.
