Devotional - 97-06-18 - Life is Like a Pot of Spaghetti

John 16:33 "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (KJV)

I read in Guideposts about a woman who compared life with her homemade soup....since I don't make homemade soup, I'll use my homemade spaghetti ........a lot of work goes into a pot of my spaghetti.

I blend all of the tomatoes so no one else can see the chunks (my family isn't "into" chunky spaghetti sauce). I chop all the vegetables, saute them.I then put some of the spices and herbs in the pot with the tomato puree, and some in with the vegetables while they're sauting in order to bring out the full flavor......in other words, good spaghetti takes time.

Some people would rather buy spaghetti sauce already premade. Not because it tastes better, but rather because it's less trouble. But, by not having the trouble they miss the benefit of a wonderful flavor....not to mention it being better for you.

Now, life is very much like that. You have some trouble over a lifetime. You can choose to jar it up, or allow God to use it for His purposes. If you choose the first of the two choices, you get canned spaghetti, no flavor, not as good for you, and no satisfaction of a job well done.

But, ahhhhhh, to allow God to work His way in my life, to use the troubles allowed by Him to be used by Him, and glorifying Him in the troubles, life is so rich.

I believe it takes trials and tribulation to make a full person.

Jesus made his pot of spaghetti, so to speak, to show us that in Him, our life can be full of flavor, in spite of the trials and tribulations that enter in.

Dear Jesus, I thank you that You have overcome the world. I thank You that in all You did, You put Yourself second to the will of Your Father. I thank You that You showed us the way. I give to You now my life, such as it is; full of scars, nicks, and cracks. I thank You for the trials that You allow to come into my life. I thank You that You work all things for my good. Help me to allow You to use me for Your glory. Help me to be willing to stand, no matter what comes my way. So that in the day when I stand before our Father I will hear out of His mouth, "Well done thou good and faithful servant.

Amen,
Sandi