How to tell if Your a Kitchen or Living Room Person

Test me: O LORD and try me, 

examine my heart and my mind for your love is ever before me, 

and I will walk continually in your truth. Ps. 26:2-3

I found another tit bit today while reading Joanna Weaver's book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World".  I thought the concept was particularly neat...(p182,183).  In this book she talks about service as being in the kitchen, like Martha was and the Living Room where Mary was listening to her LORD filling up her spiritual side.

Listening to your soul a balance Checklist... (don't you just love checklist, it's easy to tick off and you don't have to think about where you are up to).

Because we were created for balance, we feel the difference in our souls when our lives tilt too far in one direction or another. The imbalance will show in our attitude, our energy level, and in the way we interact with people.  Any of the following could be an indication that you need to tilt more toward either service or devotion.

Signs that you may need more time in the Kitchen

• Slight depression - You feel a vague unhappiness, a sense of being down.
• Resentment of intrusion - Rather than welcome people into your life, you find yourself wishing they'd go away. 
• Frustration over direction of life - You feel a sense of purposelessness and sometimes wonder,"Is this all there is. "
• Increased self- indulgence - You feel and itch to treat yourself to your favourite food or shopping.
• Apathetic attitude - You find that very little moves you. You know your compassion level is low, put part of you doesn't care.
• Low energy Level - Like the Dead Sea, you have many inlets, but no outlets - and therefore you are growing stagnant.

Signs that you may need more time in the Living Room

• Irritability and frustration - You find yourself snapping at people, wound so tight your about to 'snap' yourself, and especially short tempered with those you perceive as lazy or unco-operative.
• Uncomfortable with quiet - silence makes you nervous, so you quickly turn on the TV or radio.
• Low joy threshold - It's been a long time since you've sensed that undercurrent of joy and abundance running through your heart.
• A sense of Isolation - You feel all alone - as if no one is there for you and no one understands.
• Increase drivenness - You're haunted by a sense that you must do more and more.  You keep volunteering for more projects and for more committees, even though you know your plate is full.
• Sense of dryness and emptiness -  No wonder! You have many outlets and demands, but no inlets or source of strength. 

The Recipe Song

For ages I have been looking for the lyrics to this song.  I finally found it.  I remember my sister having this one on a video that she used for worship with her kids at school.

I hope you have a blast from the past with this song and remember that it came from Vol. 9 of Psalty the Singing Song Book.




The Recipe


Gonna make a recipe
I just can't wait to start,
It's not the kind you serve at meals,
you make it in your heart.
If you've never tried it
you've got to have a taste,
so come into the kitchen and 
we'll make a batch of praise.

First you take a cup of faith
and stir it all around;
add some joy and laughter
till it makes a bubbly sound. 
Mix in some agape love
till it begins to ring
Pour into a willing heart
and serve it to the King!

Glass or Water

It's just amazing where you find information these days.  I read this quote on FB and just had to share it with you all.

‎" Is the glass half full or half empty? Neither; 

I just keep filling it up. Be happy. Think positive. 

Life is a great experience for all to enjoy. 

When the glass loses water, it's up to you to fill it up. 

Put some flavor in there and enjoy the taste. 

It's FANTASTIC!!"

-Allen Steble

Energised by Eating the Word

This week the book of readings I use as part of my devotional time had this reading in it.  It was too good to keep to myself, so here I am sharing this with all of you.

Your words were found, and I ate them, 

and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; 

for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. 

Jer. 15:16 NKJV

NOTHING COULD BE more mundane and universal than eating.  Yet everyone loves it!  If only we loved the eating of the Word as well.

Eating is a fine art in the Orient, where the proper balancing of the different kinds of foods is important: salty, sweet, spicy, sour, M-m-m, what might the Word look like as a sample Menu? Piquant Proverbs Appetisers; Fragrant Genesis Soup; Kings and Chronicles Fibre-rich salad; Isaiah Sweet-and-sour; Four-Gospel Casserole; Revelation Rhubarb Pie; Creme Brulee a la Galatians; Philippians Sparkling Beverage! Have you eaten a healthy balance today?

What it takes to enjoy the  Word is similar to what it takes to enjoy food.


"Your words were found." Real food preparation requires personal effort.  "Finding" entails seeking and seeking takes time.  Food preparations demands time with appropriate tools and strong flame.  You've got to put yourself into the cooking before you put the cooking into you!  Do you see the parallel to Bible study?

"I ate them."  To eat means to put food in your mouth, chew, and swallow.  Fibre-rich foods yields only to patient mastication.  Preparation remains unfulfilled purpose until the food touches your tongue, teeth, and stomach.  And just as physical digestion can be hindered by distractions, trying to do too many things at once also hinders the digestion of the Word.

"Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." You can't taste how good a dish is until your nose, lips and tongue have done their work.  Only then can a deep savouring sigh and a smile emerge.  Real joy is a whole-body experience.

Ingest the Word; put the Word in you as you put yourself in the Word.  For example, put your name into Ps. 91:14 - 16 and experience the energising effect.

Because (Name) has set (his/ her) love upon Me,

therefore I will deliver (him/ her);

I will set (Name) on high, because he/she has known My name.

(Name) shall call upon me and I will answer (him/ her):

I will be with (Name) in trouble; 

I will deliver (him/ her), and honour (him/ her).

With long live will I satisfy (Name), and show (him/ her) my salvation

Did you feel energised after reading yourself into Scriptures?
That's what eating the Word is all about!

Ruth E Burke

(Kuzma. K. (2005). Fit for ever. One day devotionals for Body, Mind and spirit.  Review and Herald Publishing Association.Hagerstown USA. p.298).




Places to go and get ideas to study the bible.

Various methods of studying the bible

Getting started
How to Enjoy Bible Study
How to Bible Study clip.

Bible versions/ Commentaries

Bible study tools
Bible Gate way
Bible Keeper

If you are one of those who likes to study themes then there are some awesome sites that I know allow you to actually study deeper and find meaning in the Word.

Discovery Courses
Voice of Prophecy
Amazing Facts


Have a go and enjoy a change of pace and direction in your study.  May it be a delight to you, something that you look forward to every day.