My Baloney Sandwich

God’s table is huge. It is filled with countless choices. From homemade chocolate pies with mile high meringue and perfect crunchy and juicy fried chicken, to the best potato salad you have ever put in your mouth. There are times when you show up to that “picnic” and all you have to offer is a small, barely edible baloney sandwich. Isn’t it awesome to think that God would invite us to mix it all together and share in the feast of all that He has brought to the table?

Since I was about 7 years old, I have always been told that I have a good singing voice. For years I believed it, and I guess I still do, but what has overtaken even the remotest inklings of pride is the knowledge that it is God-given and therefore, His to do with as He pleases. Additionally I bring a whirlwind of self-doubt, musical shortcomings, unorganized dreams, and a desire to have God fix it all by throwing it all together; the good and the bad, mixing it up and pouring forth a marvelous new creation of worth and majesty so that all who experience its display would be drawn to the true Creator of what they have experienced…and not the simple man who just gave a little of all that was required to make it happen.

He has invited us to bring all that we are, mix it with all that He is and share in the total feast. You are eating like a king when you came as a pauper. God’s grace is always sufficient to allow the reformed to even share in the feast. It is His mercy that keeps Him from pointing out the fact that all we brought was a stale, unappealing baloney sandwich to the greatest picnic there could ever be. His love is what drives Him to share His creativity with the created. His longing to provide the guidance of His Spirit is what allows us to even sit at the table and be considered family. I am constantly amazed at how God provides, even in situations we did not know that He needed to provide. At the moment we fixed our baloney sandwich, we knew it was all we had, so we were happy with it. But
that inner longing to be a part of something greater, to partake in the best that we can have, overtakes us when God shows up with His basket of goodies and the sweet smell of things promised, mingles with the strange smell of our human offering and what is wrought is the aroma of acceptable praise and furthered spiritual formation. So, if you are looking down at your hands and all you have is a baloney sandwich and you think its not much to bring to the table or your gifts to the picnic won't really make a difference to the greatest feast ever...bring them anyway. Don’t keep it to yourself. Wait and see what He will do when He mingles the divine with the "dirty". It is something quite remarkable and more importantly, filled with grace.

God, I am humbled by the thought that you would even desire to mingle the heavenly with earthly. I am even more grateful that despite my many attempts at creating a five-star, six course feast, you have shown me how much more satisfying it would be to feast on the simple, bread and living water that you offer. Words seem absolutely inadequate to voice my thanks, but I thank you just the same and know that you have heard my heart and have understood the deepest part of me. Amen