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Once upon a time, two little grandbaby girls spent the night at MiMi’s house. Excited to play the entire next day, they barely slept that long night. Finally, when early morning came – (and I mean early), their tiny little feet hit the hardwood floor with pleas for breakfast. The Mimi needed to sip coffee while facing her lack of sleep but knew the darling littles needed food – in – their – bellies. Right. Then. Or so it seemed. 🙂
There had been a previous plan to serve oatmeal . . . But somehow, at Mimi’s house, plain old oatmeal seemed tired and typical. Now, I will say that these girls love their healthy chocolatey oatmeal their crunchy momma serves. She loads it with a plant-based chocolate protein filled with all kinds of goodness for the body. If interested, click Here for more information. It truly is good and has lots of health benefits.
However, the special day at Mimi’s begged for a different kind of goodness. And nothing makes oatmeal better than a large chunk of sweet butter and plenty of chocolate morsels. (Along with the plant-based chocolate, of course!) According to the Mimi, the trick is to cover the warm oats with chocolate while stirring until every chip is melted, topped with a second thick pouring of chips to cover the bowl’s top layer.
Then as happy as could be, the Mimi and her girls took the gooey warm chocolate (with a few oats) to the front porch swing. “Oh dear ones,” she said to her grand-girls, “I know it looks like a gooey mess, but Taste. And. See. Goodness is about to touch your life.
Friends, though the chocolate did not fail Mimi or her girls, there is another even better invite!!! Yes, even better than chocolate! Psalms 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” This is a beautiful invitation for you and me to experience a relationship with our heavenly Father. We are invited to test and experience the goodness our Lord has to offer. Matthew Henry elaborates on this idea to say, “Let God’s goodness be rolled under the tongue as a sweet morsel.”
This chapter goes on to share how the Lord blesses us. For example, we will not be lacking. (Psalm 34:9-10) We can learn from Him as He teaches and guides us. (Psalm 34:11) He will hear our prayers. He is for us and not against us. (Psalm 34:15-18) He will be close to the brokenhearted. (Psalm 34:18) He delivers us from our troubles. (Psalm 34:19-22)
Friend, whatever, you are facing today, whether you are lacking, feel fearful, or are brokenhearted, you are invited to the banquet table. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. I hope you enjoy His sweetness, roll it around in your mouth, let it drool on your face, and make a mess on your chin as you giggle with delight. I invite you to be thrilled in Him even more than my grand baby girls enjoyed their chocolaty oatmeal on my front porch.
Psalm 34:8-22 (ESV)
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. 21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.