Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

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If Apples Had Feelings

August 11, 2022 by Ellen Leave a Comment

It’s no fun thing to feel left out. Often, it can be downright hurtful. As a child, I was less than athletic. I was the last one chosen for dodge ball, kickball, or red rover. Nobody wants a pudgy little girl who can’t run fast.

My mind drifts back to those early years, as I peruse the  apples in the produce section. I hand select just the perfect one:  no spots; a deep, rich, burgundy color; and oh, so bright and shiny. I roll it around in my hand, and there I see it: all the bruised and battered spots. I leave the less-than apple and select a perfect one, with no signs of broken skin. I wonder “If apples had feelings, how does the mushy, bruised Gala feel right now?”

Probably like I felt as a child. Left out. Unwanted. Less than.

It amazes me that all these decades later, I still feel the pain of rejection. I think that each of us, in the deepest part of our souls, long to be wanted and known.

Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. Ephesians 1:4 NLT

But God.

In His wisdom and sovereignty, He chose me. Not because of my clear, bright skin or my athletic ability, either. He chose me BEFORE the foundation of the world. Before I was formed in my mama’s womb, He knew me. I was hand selected by Him.

Chosen. 

The Lord knows me intimately. And He chose me anyway! Why? First and foremost, because of His great love for me (and you, too!).  Isaiah sheds more light on this for us. He tells us we are chosen to know God (Is 43:10). 

We’re selected for a relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Savior. And it isn’t because of how we look, what we’ve done, or how we’ve turned out as adults. God chose us before He created the earth or any of us humans.  In addition, His purpose is for us to be holy and without fault in His eyes. This can only be done through the blood of Jesus. In our humanness, we’ll never be holy enough.

Chosen.

How does that make me feel? Well, I can tell you this: NOT like that little elementary school girl who was embarrassed and ashamed that no one wanted her! And not like that apple that was left behind because of its bruises. I’m chosen in Christ, so I choose to hold my head high! Not because of pride, but simply because I’m wanted and loved – unconditionally!

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high.” Leviticus 26:13 NLT

Chosen.

To know God. To have a relationship with Him through Jesus. To be obedient.

How does being chosen by God change your outlook?

Grace be with you,

 

 

 

Do you know Jesus?

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Soul Food: Feasting and Fasting

July 28, 2022 by Ellen 4 Comments

Fasting.

I have a love-hate relationship with it. Mostly hate, because, well, I live in the land of awesome food. South Louisiana: where fine food is revered, and there is no lack of good and tasty fare. Breakfast consists of donuts, beignets, french toast (Pain perdu), waffles with maple syrup or (heavens!) waffle bananas foster. If that carb overload isn’t enough, don’t forget the biscuits and gravy. 

Lunch can be anything from fried shrimp poboy to muffuletta to good ole southern friend chicken. And dinner? Oh, such a feast! Slow barbecued ribs, drunken chicken, or seafood casserole with sides of anything white: rice, potato, etc. A beautiful caesar salad is the green veggie of choice.

But I digress. Or maybe it’s a sugar coma. Or carb overload. Where was I? Oh yeah, fasting. Sometimes it’s a necessary evil.

Many times, food gets a hold of me and takes over. It’s all I think about (in case you couldn’t tell). What’s for lunch, what’s for dinner. What restaurants will there be on our road trip? Perusing the aisles at Sam’s, there are various taste testing samples of choice bits of, well, anything!

Breaking this food idol is hard. Food is everywhere. We can’t do without it. Or can we?

OUR SUSTENANCE

“Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat food or drink water. He wrote the Ten Commandments, the words of the covenant, on the tablets.” Exodus 34:28 CSB

Moses was with God for forty days and nights. During that whole time, he didn’t eat or drink.  Nada. Nothing. 

The Lord God was his sustenance.

Sustenance, according to Merriam Webster, is food or provision, or something that gives support, endurance or strength. 

When we fast⁠1 (not if), God will provide all we need. Oftentimes, we see fasting as a famine. No food! Oh, nooooo! Rather that look at this spiritual discipline as a scarcity of food, we need to see it as a time of great abundance. 

Fasting is not famine, it is feasting on Christ

The abundance comes when we feast on Jesus and His goodness. Fasting takes our focus off food, and puts it precisely where it needs to be: on Jesus. We remember all He has done in and for us. And we worship Jesus as Lord.

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2 ESV

FEEDING OUR SOULS

Fasting is not starving our body, it is feeding our soul. Fasting provides extra time with the Lord. Skipping lunch? Spend time with Jesus, in prayer or in the Word. 

Often during a fast, we spend “meal time” doing something – anything – to keep our minds off food. Maybe watch tv or play a game on our phone. Whatever keeps us occupied and not thinking that we are deprived of food. But we are starving and depriving ourselves in a different way: Lack of Jesus. Let’s learn NOT to replace food with other things. When we fast, replace food with Jesus. He will fill our souls!

 “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8 NASB

 Recently, I had a “forced fast” due to some medical testing. When I reached the end of myself, and thought I could go no further without food, I turned to Jesus and His Word. He sustained me, supported me and gave me endurance and strength. I have a different mindset now about fasting. 

How about you? Will you embrace fasting to feed your soul? Will you taste and see that the Lord is good?

Grace be with you,

 

 

 

Do you know Jesus?

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1 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. Matthew 6:16 ESV

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