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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

No-Thank-You-Bite


Have you ever eaten a “No-thank-you-bite”?

You are eating with a friend. She offers you food, but you really don’t want to taste it. However, she looks at you with an enthusiastic smile, nudging the spoon toward your mouth.

You are eating at her favorite sushi restaurant (raw fish makes your stomach churn, and you’re there just for the teriyaki chicken) or she just made her award-winning quiche (you really don’t like eggs because the texture is slimy, but the bacon sure smells good). She is over-the-top eager for you taste the food even though you confess that you dislike it.



I do not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.



You finally take the bite because you figure that her feelings are more important than your taste buds. You smile and tell her that it’s wonderfully made and admit that you can see why people would love it. . . .yet, (unlike the green eggs and ham) it is still not something you would eat again.

I’ve realized that God also gives us “No-thank-you bites."


I remember when I had just finished grocery shopping, and I drove past a local ministry. All of a sudden, I felt a passion to help this ministry. I knew the Holy Spirit was prompting me, but I had absolutely no idea how I would fit another thing onto my already bulging plate of to-dos.


I kept thinking to myself, “I’ve never been passionate about this type of ministry before.”


I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Okay, God. Just tell me what I need to do.”

I decided to make my spirit available for God to lead, and I went on about my day. That night I told my church home group that God prompted me to help out this ministry. After I finished telling my story, my friend’s eyes bulged out of their sockets. She told us a long narrative about how that ministry has been on her heart for years, but she has never taken the first step of faith to get involved.


The next morning, I picked up my friend, and we drove to the ministry to see if we could help out. My friend chatted away, got phone numbers and took charge of a particular need they had.


I just sat there realizing that God had just given me a “No-thank-you-bite.”

My friend went on to organize a beautiful giving campaign, and I tagged along offering encouragement. God used me to “taste” a ministry, so my friend could have an all-out dinner buffet. Isn’t God so cool!


Can you look back to a time that God gave you a “No-thank-you-bite”? What did it taste like?



“They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves” (Acts 27:36 NIV).




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10 Comments:

Blogger Just Me said...

This was a wonderful devotional that I just happened to read today because of the Green Eggs and Ham picture and the title "No Thank You Bite". It intrigued me because I have 3 picky eater nephews and I thought it might be good information and helpful to my sister.

What a surprise that it was written just for me. I feel God sometimes drawing me to a place, and I just don't know what to do with it the nudging. I get overwhelmed and then do nothing. This helped me to understand that sometimes we just need to listen and let God's plan unfold. Its not always up to us to do something. Thank you for the thought.

January 5, 2010 at 5:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just love those "ah HA!" moments! You get up in the morning... give your sprit to the LORD, have no idea where he's going to take you, and at the end of the day when you lay your head on the pillow you say, "Ah HA!... I got it, I got it, I really got it!" If we allow it, God's fire just burns in us. I love those "Ah HA!" moments!

Thank you for sharing, Laura!

Anna

January 5, 2010 at 8:08 AM  
Blogger LauraLee Shaw said...

Alisa, I shared this devo on my FB page today. I LOVE It! Yes, those are moments I've experienced, both with food, with people and with ministry. I'll never forget this example!

January 5, 2010 at 9:08 AM  
Blogger Christina Ketchum said...

I have had that happen to me a few times. What a goo way to describe the situation!!!

January 5, 2010 at 9:21 AM  
Anonymous Twinkle Mom @ Sunflower Faith said...

Reshared it via FB! Love this; It was a wonderful and delightful "A-Ha, that is too true"! reading! Lol

January 5, 2010 at 10:41 AM  
Blogger Deborah Ann said...

How unfortunate it would be to be given that gentle nudge by the Holy Spirit and toss it aside. And yet, I am guilty. May we all hear the voice of God more quickly, and obey even quicker!

Another fantastic devotional, Alisa!

January 5, 2010 at 11:08 AM  
Blogger Karen said...

So very good...perfect analogy of this particular way God speaks....

January 5, 2010 at 5:45 PM  
Anonymous Laurel@FromMyHeartToYours said...

SO great to see you Alisa! I always enjoy your devotions. Thanks for taking the time to share here. What a really great example of a listening heart...

Hugs from Canada

January 5, 2010 at 7:25 PM  
Blogger Amy said...

Love how God gives us what he knows we should have. Just like when I try to get my kids to eat those "no thank you bites" because I know they need the nutrition.
LOVE IT!
Blessings,
Amy

January 5, 2010 at 10:09 PM  
Blogger Beth Herring said...

I just love your writings Alisa and this devotion was very powerful. Thanks for sharing from your heart!

January 6, 2010 at 10:00 PM  

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It is good to hear from you... thank you so very much for leaving a note on the table. That makes us smile!

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