September 21, 2007

This morning I took a basket of produce from my garden to school to talk about personal value and the importance of appreciating one’s unique contributions to life. My talk went like this.

When I picked this pepper I ignored its thick, tough skin and concentrated on the rich, smoky flavor it gives to my salsa. When I picked this tomatilla I ignored the sticky, paper shell and took it for it’s color and snappy, sour flavor.

When I picked this little red pepper, I was very careful of it’s fiery heat, but that’s exactly what I wanted from it. When I picked this yellow tomato, I knew I could throw away this woody stem and take it’s juicy, succulent meat for my salsa.

You see, each of the ingredients for my salsa has a down side. But that’s not why I use them. They each contribute something unique and delicious to my meal. Just ask my daughter. We relished almost 1 gallon of goodness yesterday.

We can each find defects and downsides in ourselves and about others. But that isn’t the point of what God wants to do through us. Use what God has made you for His glory.

“I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” Job 42:5-6

Rejoicing in hope,
Pastor Steve