Feeding on Caviar

It is wonderful the effect of a single verse of Scripture when the Spirit of God applies it to the soul. What power would come upon the soul if we would grasp a single line of Scripture and suck the honey out of it till our soul is filled with sweetness?  ~C. H. Spurgeon

Caviar, unfertilized eggs of sturgeon fish, has been one of the delicacies the great leaders in the world dined on.  I'll spare you the details of how it is harvested since I'm not into cutting fish apart.  In the 2nd century during Rome's greatest influence, the price for a jar of caviar was 100 sheep.  Throughout many centuries, it remained rare and expensive.  Then in the 19th century, when industrialization and mass harvesting of natural resources arrived, you could find caviar in every restaurant in major cities. Then the source dried up and supply was limited.  Caviar prices soared and today it is again a luxury -- with Kaluga Caviar costing $447.00 for a 1.75 ounce jar (1-2 servings).

Caviar -- luxury food for the body.  I can do without it.  But the caviar of God's Word?  It's as necessary to me as air.  I crave the luxurious words found only within the leather cover of my Bible.  I find myself meditating -- contemplating -- on them throughout the day.  We're commanded to meditate.   Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do (Joshua 1:8).

All throughout the Psalms David promises to meditate on the Word of God and in particular on:

 God's unfailing love (Psalm 48:9)
God's work and mighty deeds (Psalm 77:12)
God's precepts (Psalm 119:15)
God's wonders (Psalm 119:27)
God's commands and decrees (Psalm 119:48)
God's promises (Psalm 119:148)
God's glorious splendor and majesty (Psalm 145:5)

And:

In spite of gossip (Psalm 119:23) and though wronged without cause (Psalm 119:78)
Because he loved it (Psalm 119:97), gained wisdom from it (Psalm 119:99)
During the day (Psalm 1:2) and night (Psalm 119:148)
While reminiscing on God's help in the past (Psalm 119:143:5)
With rejoicing (Psalm 104:34)
With a desire that his meditation be pleasing to God (Psalm 19:14, 104:34)

 I'm such a practical person.  I love the beauty of the lyrical words and the joy of reading its prose.  But if I can't apply it to where I am living, it doesn't draw me in.  Just like if we bought a jar of caviar but didn't eat it, the luxuriousness of God's Word is not effective if we don't apply it. 

A couple ways I've found to claim the Scriptures for myself:

1.  Substitute my own name:  Blessed is Pamela who walketh not in the council of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But (my) delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth (I) meditate day and night.

Soren Kierkegaard said,   "When you read God's Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, "It is talking to me, and about me.'"

2.  Use a different version:  How well God must like (me)— (I) don't hang out at Sin Saloon, (I) don't slink along Dead-End Road, (I) don't go to Smart-Mouth College. Instead (I) thrill to God's Word, (I)chew on Scripture day and night.

3.  Categorize the verses: 

• Is there a command to obey? 
• Is there a promise to claim? 
• Is there a warning to heed?
• How does this apply to my life today?

4.  Pray the verse:  Lord, I am so blessed.  Keep my heart from ungodly influences, loving the ungodly, sinners and scornful, but not allowing them to affect my relationship with you.  My delight is in Your words to me; may I joyfully meditate on them as I go about my day.

5.  Sing your joy:  Sing a song throughout your day.  Learn The Meditation of My Heart.



On my wish list



The meditation of my heart,

The thoughts I ponder through the day,

May they be pleasing to you, Lord,

And keep me steadfast in your way.

When worries weigh upon my mind,

And make me restless in the night,

Then may I meditate on you

And things I know to be upright.

Whatever things are chaste and true,

Whatever virtue they may be,

Whatever things well spoken of,

May thoughts of these bring peace to me.

How precious are your thoughts, O God,

 Beyond all counting is their sum.

 So may I ponder your own words,

 Absorbed in them may I become.

During the years caviar was plenteous, it was served frequently, thus became commonplace and ceased to be precious.  It was only when it became scarce again that rising prices sent it back to its luxurious status.  There are many books written about the Bible, but I've found I need to read the Bible more than simply read about the Bible.  I still read the truths Beth Moore, Anne Graham Lotz and Nicole Johnson dig out, but only after the Bible has saturated my mind.

I need God's Word.  Like caviar, it's luxurious.  Even more, it's essential to my soul's daily nutrition. 

* * * * *

Cowboy Caviar is such an easy dish to fix.  And we have the perfect friends to share it with.  DeWayne and Renee are such a blessing, not only in our church music program, but as friends.  Somewhere along the way they have acquired a taste for hot, hot, hot.  I sneaked in a bit more of the hot sauce than what this recipe called for.  They'll probably still be dousing it with the flamin' hot sauce they bring back from Mexico.

I turned one of Ethan's picture sepia, then ordered it in a wallet size.  Using a purchased tag for stability I covered it with scrapbook paper, added the picture and a brad or two. 

There was a small bowl left, but most of it fit into this jar from Walmart. (I had to leave the avocado out since it was brown when I cut into it.)  Hobby Lobby has glass jars cheaper -- especially when they are half off (or you use your 40% off coupon) but I found them after I purchased the one at Walmart. 

Cowboy Caviar

1 avocado, chopped

1 can corn, drained

1 can black eye peas, drained

5 Roma tomatoes, chopped

Mix together and set aside

6 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/4 tablespoon pepper

2 tablespoons hot sauce

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Mix and pour over pea mixture.

Linked to:

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