Recipes for Life

This summer at my church, we have a sermon series that is called "Recipes for Life". They have requested submissions for not only food recipes but also "Recipes for Life: Ingredients for Life". I thought it would be a good time for me to reflect on the questions they have asked for this submission and to make one as well. I may be only 22, but I sure do feel like I have learned about some pretty important life ingredients.

What specific "ingredients" have you used throughout life that have helped you overcome obstacles?

When I read this question, there are several ingredients that come to mind first. These include: Faith, Love, Perseverance, Grace, and Trust. You see, it is very easy for me to come up with this list
because I am in a season of my life right now that requires to me to add large amounts of these ingredients every single day, several times a day. Listed are a brief description of why I believe each of the specified ingredients have helped me overcome obstacles, as well as scriptures discussing those ingredients that I have leaned heavily upon during times of trial and tribulation.

Faith gives me an unshakable foundation. When the storms of life swarm around me, I know that my faith can NEVER be taken from me. My faith is knowing that God has a plan for me and that if I truly love him and seek him, he WILL NOT let go of me. Though my faith has been small at times, the scripture says "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Love is the fundamental foundation of Christianity. It was God's incredible love that allows us to have our salvation and as Christians we are called to exhibit the same love towards all people. The Bible mentions at least three times that we can have an incredible faith or everything else imaginable, but if we do not love we truly have nothing. Paul also tells us that "These three things remain forever: Faith, Hope, and Love; the greatest of these is Love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Perseverance is like vitamin B12 of spiritual ingredients; it is the ingredient that when you want to throw your hands up and say "I QUIT" that gives you that extra boost you need to keep pushing and not give up. James tells us too that we "Should consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything." James 2:2-4

Grace I have learned recently, is absolutely essential. I heard in one of our sermons in this series actually, that if anger and bitterness is ruling your life and Grace is not, then God is not in control of your life. Without Grace, we would be living in a life full of resentment and anger. Grace is also what allows us to have our eternal salvation, without it, we would be nothing.  ^"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:12-14

Trust is one ingredient that I constantly crave and one in which I always seem to be in short supply. If we cannot trust God and his promises for us, what good is our faith? By trusting God, I know that if I am seeking him wholeheartedly, God will work out details and blessings I will never be able to comprehend. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6


What do you think makes for a zesty and tasteful life? Which ingredient do you consider most important in life? Why?  
I believe that life ingredients are seasonal just like many food products are; sometimes the ingredients will be plentiful and they will overflow in our lives but then there may be other ingredients that are not as plentiful to come by so we must work harder to obtain and hold onto them.There are some seasons in our life that may require patience where as others may require more grace, thus I cannot say that one is more ingredient is more important than another. God is continually teaching us new lessons and if we are seeking his will in all situations, the end result will be a zesty and tasteful life.