What's Your Favorite Christmas Cookie?

Proverbs 3:1 My child, never forget the things
I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
2 If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.

Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

8 Then you will have healing for your body

and strength for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth

and with the best part of everything you produce.

10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,

and your vats will overflow with good wine.
There are some instructions in the recipe for a long life…a long and satisfying life for you and I. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients.

Store my commands in your heart
Your heart is like a pantry. The pantry holds all of the things that we use to put together our Christmas cookies. The things that Lord has given to us through His Word, through prophecy and through personal revelation are to be stored in the pantry of our heart.
I think about this as a reminder to keep important things in your home…your home should be a safe haven, a fortress, a refuge. But notice what it says in verse 3…
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
You take these good Words with you…like a muffler(scarf) you bind them around your neck. Notice that the scarf protects your throat…the conduit by which you speak…so when you have a healthy supply of the Lord’s commands in your pantry and on your person, your words will be guarded. You won’t speak words of doubt or harmful things because loyalty and kindness are right there with you!
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
THEN….you will find favor…and can I tell you, favor will find you too! So you savor the flavor and enjoy the favor! You’ll earn a good reputation. Let’s move on to the TRUST I referred to earlier…
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.

Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

8 Then you will have healing for your body

and strength for your bones.
You can deduce from this scripture that when you place your trust in the Lord, your body will be made whole. Again, you cannot fully trust someone you do not fully know. TRUST is exercised by depending on Him. By looking for His way and His purpose. By not trying to figure this all out on your own. You see its how well we rely on Him that determines how well we get by in our life.

There is a reason to store up commands in the pantry of your heart. Its so that they can be used to guide you, guard you and to give glory to God in each and every situation. The pantry does not always remain full. You have to keep putting things in there if you are going to keep making things. Which brings us to this last piece of wisdom…
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth

and with the best part of everything you produce.

10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,

and your vats will overflow with good(new)wine.
What we have, our time, our talents and our treasure(our wealth) has been given to us by God. Your job was orchestrated by the Lord. Your paycheck is provided by God. Even your unemployment check is covered by the King of Kings. What God requires of us is that we give back to Him the firstfruits…the first tasting of the great cookies that come out of our kitchens. By giving back to Him we honor Him. And to honor Him we must first humble ourselves and realize that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. He will fill our barns with grain…grain is what you need to live. Your pantries will be full so that you can eat and so that you can help others eat too! Barns that are full and vats that are overflowing with NEW wine. God cannot give you another supply until you use the supply that you have already been given.
What are your favorite cookies? If you really want to experience a delightfully tasty holiday, you need to find your own cookies…spiritual cookies and Christmas cookies. The best part is that you can taste His Word anytime and you will always be satisfied. So follow the recipes…mix thoroughly…let the heat begin to shape you and bring out all that is good in you. Taste and see what the Lord has been cookin’!