In Due Season
By Shannon Parish (JoyfulArt@aol.com)

While on the way to Jerusalem with His disciples, Jesus sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to get things ready for him.  However, the people there did not welcome him, or care that he was coming.   More than slightly annoyed at the unwillingness of the people to help Jesus in His journey, James and John asked Jesus if He wanted them to call fire down from heaven to destroy them.  (Luke 9:51-54)

 Ever been there?  The call is great and you are well aware of the fact that you need help along the way.  Someone has to clean the bathrooms, paint the walls, do praise and worship, visit the sick, pay the bills …and well, when people refuse to help, it’s tempting to want to call fire from heaven down to consume them!

 Jesus turned and rebuked the disciples for their unloving and impatient attitude and simply changed His direction to go to a different village.  Great strategy!  Rather than destroy God’s children, He  merely avoided them and went to others who were more willing to help.  We too could learn from this when we encounter uncooperative people.  Just take another direction to get the job done.

 Now, as they were walking along that road, one of the men who might have been moved by Jesus’ compassion, said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”  Then Jesus said to another man, “Follow me.”  But the man, knowing what Jesus was saying in following him, was not too sure he could do that right then because of the cost.  So the man answered Jesus, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  Their conversation continued regarding the price of following the Lord and the men wrestled with their hearts as they listened to Him.  Finally, Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

 In this passage of scripture (Luke 9:55-62) we see the disciples wrestling with emotions and feelings that are not unfamiliar with our own.  Over and over as pastors we are tempted to look back and wonder if we hadn’t gotten in over our heads.  How much easier it would be to just call fire down upon those who resist us, or put off what God is instructing us to do for something we would rather do instead (well intentioned as they might be).

 Jesus then appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two to do what He alone could not do.  He told them to go to every town and place where He was going, and to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send workers, because true workers are so few.  Jesus knew that there aren’t enough people who care about His journey, or His coming and He knew that we must have the right laborers to bring in the harvest.  

 He told them, “Go!  I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.  Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.”  I take this to mean that He was warning them that this journey was not going to be an easy one, there was a cost, and that there would be those who would try to devour, shred and eat us alive.  He was telling us to focus on the journey ahead, and to not get distracted, not worry about our day to day things, and to look for provision wherever we went.  Furthermore, he told us that it was not for us to pass judgment on those who did not assist us, but for us to ‘shake the dust (offense and hurt) off our feet, and go on.  He commanded us to bless them BEFORE they gave assistance, and if they did not help, to know that the blessing we gave would come back upon our own heads.  

 Yes, the cost is high.  But the journey is simple.  Jesus said, “Go!”  He didn’t tell us to change the life of everyone we met.  That was something that each person had the responsibility to receive for themselves.  We are only vessels of His love.  He knows we can’t do it alone.  So the next time you are moved to ‘call fire from heaven’ upon an unwilling person, know that there is a season to harvesting, and move to where the harvest is ready.  Don’t try to do everything on your own, pray for others who are willing workers to help you in your journey.  Bless those you meet and shake offenses and hurt from your feet, don’t carry the offending person’s ‘dirt’ with you!  And if you cannot find workers, then consider your way – you may need to change direction.

 Jesus told His disciples further that, “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”  Once the seventy-two grasped their role in this journey of Jesus’, returned with great joy and proclaimed, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!”  Now ….THAT’S what I’d call a good word in due season!

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Gal 6:9-10

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

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RETREATS!!

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This is a recipe I received from an online friend who has a reputation for being a wonderful cook.  When I receive a recipe from her, I know it is good!   I made this for a Bible study group at our house this week and used it as a birthday cake for one of the gals.  The frosting is delicious and turned out perfectly for me.  My friend said she had a little trouble getting it to set up.  If that should happen, just add a little more powdered sugar.   I think you'll really like it!      

 CARAMEL CAKE

1 pkg. (18.25oz) plain white cake mix
1 c. whole milk
1 stick butter, melted
3 large eggs
2 t. vanilla extract

 1.  Preheat over to 350* and place rack in center of the oven.  Generously grease  two 9 inch round cake pans with solid shortening then dust with flour.  Shake out excess flour.

 2. Place cake mix, milk, melted butter, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl. Blend with electric mixer on low speed for 1 min.  Scrape down the sides with rubber spatula.  Increase mixer speed to med. and beat 2 min more.  The batter should look well blended.  Divide batter between prepared pans, smoothing it out with spatula.  Place pans in oven side by side.

 3.  Bake cakes til golden brown and spring back when lightly pressed with your finger, 27-29 minutes.  Remove from oven and place on wire racks to cool for 10 min.  Run dinner knife around edge of each layer and invert each onto a rack, the invert again onto another rack so they are right side up.  Cool completely 30 min. more. 

 QUICK CARAMEL FROSTING

1 stick butter
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. whole milk
2 c. powdered sugar, sifted
1 t. vanilla

 1.  Place butter and brown sugar in heavy saucepan over med. heat.  Stir and cook until mixture comes to a boil, about 2 minutes.  Add the milk, stir, and bring the mixture to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Add the powdered sugar and vanilla.  Bet with a wooden spoon until the frosting is smooth.

 2.  Use immediately (while still warm) to frost the cake or the frosting will harden.  If it does harden while you are frosting the cake, simply place the pan back over low heat and stir until the frosting softens up.

 (Can be stored, tightly covered, at room temperature for up to 1 week--but it won't last that long!)

Dot loves to hear from you and answer your questions.  
You can reach her by writing to: DOTMI@aol.com 

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Submitted by Kristi Smith

Back in the 1800s, the Tates Watch Company of Massachusetts wanted to produce other products and, since they already made the cases for pocket watches, decided to market compasses for the pioneers traveling west. It turned out that although their watches were of finest quality, their compasses were so bad that people often ended up in Canada or Mexico rather than California. This, of course, is the origin of the expression, "He who has a Tates is lost!"

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Joy in The Kitchen Volume 4 Issue 34