Write From My Heart / November 23, 2020 / Crackers and Cottage Cheese
Genesis 4:20-22 (NIV) Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.
Exodus 31:1-11 (NIV) Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you; the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent—the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand—and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”
Acts 16:14 (NIV) One of those listening
was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira,
who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s
message.
Acts 18:1-3 (NIV) After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.
I was a little late getting up this morning—at least late for me. I wasn’t really hungry enough for breakfast, and because it was already past 8:30 a.m., I decided to just get a quick snack of a couple of crackers with a small dollop of cottage cheese on top of each. Nothing big, but enough to go with my morning pills. As I gave silently gave thanks; it occurred to me that I wasn’t only thankful to my Heavenly Father for the light snack but for many things. You see it isn’t just about cottage cheese and crackers. Those crackers were the vegetable kind and many farmers worked to grow those ingredients. Cows don’t just work on certain days of the week; and neither do the dairy farmers who care for them--they all work every day. The ingredients didn’t mysteriously appear in the factories by themselves; truckers had to transport those items. Factory workers had to process and make the crackers and cottage cheese. Grocery stores order, stock, supply, sell items; and because I live in a relatively small city, even a bagging clerk helped carry the groceries to my car. No, it wasn’t just about crackers and cottage cheese—I was thankful to my Heavenly Father for Americans—hard-working Americans who do their jobs every day and seldom receive appreciation.
I think often about the hard-working Americans in our country. The first responders, the men in blue, our military, our medical staff, laboratory technicians, engineers, factory workers, accountants, clergy, musicians and so many other occupations. From the beginning of time, God has given talents and abilities to men to perform all manner of labor and work. King Solomon, considered the wisest of wise men, reminds us:
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NIV) I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That every man may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
Too many people focus on the “be happy” and “eat and drink” parts of this verse. However, the main focus is do good while they live and find satisfaction in all his toil, for these things are the gifts of God. Therefore, my challenge to you this Thanksgiving week, and from this day forward, is to dig a little deeper in your thanksgiving prayers to our Heavenly Father. Truly be thankful for all our blessings.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
You have not only blessed us with provisions, but also blessed us with those who have the God-given skills and talents to prepare those provisions. Thank you for hard-working Americans. Thank you for your watch-care and mercy.
In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.
