Mix By Hand

 Do you remember sitting in the kitchen with your mom?

I loved watching my mom make meatloaf.

First she would put in the chopped meat, then the breadcrumbs, ketchup, and an egg. I would watch her take her rings off as we spoke about the things of a teenager life. Then, she would put her hands in the meatloaf and mix it all up. When it was the perfect consistency, mom would put it in the loaf pan and into the oven at 350 degrees for one hour.

Oh, it would smell so good when it was almost done!

Just as I watched my mom as I grow up, my kids are watching me.

They are filling their brains with the things they would like to do just like me when they grow up and they are making mental notes about the things they would like to try differently. I think it is neat when they drop tidbits of things here and there of things that I have taught them.

It is so awesome that our Almighty Father has done the same for us.

He made it possible that we can sit in the “kitchen” and watch the way He does things. He has sent Jesus as a model of how we should live our daily lives. He sent the Holy Spirit as our mentor to guide us through our decisions and exactly how it is that we are to respond in certain situations. I am thankful for that because I would not navigate this world very successfully on my own.

When I was about 14 years old, I needed to bake a cake. My mom and dad were both with me in the kitchen, but they were having a conversation and not really paying attention. I was old enough to be able to handle this on my own.

I put the cake mix, egg, and oil into the bowl. I checked the box to see what the next thing to do was. The box clearly stated… “Mix by hand”.

I bet you can figure out what happened next.

One thing I should tell you before I go on, I do not like to get my hands messy and especially not slimy. I had watched my mom take off her rings a thousand times. I even asked her if I really had to do this. But, you know the answer when mom thinks you know what you are doing and is talking to someone else.

You guessed it!

I took off my ring and put it on the counter. Then, held my breath, and stuck my hands into the batter. I was horrified. I remember the expression and laugh on my Mom’s face. Apparently, that is not what the directions meant when it said “Mix by Hand.”

If I had taken the whole situation in context, I would have known that a spoon would be the best route to go. I certainly did learn by experience and never did I do that again.

I believe the same goes for the Bible.

So many people take verses out of context and forget the rest of the passage.

One example that sticks out most in my mind is when people tell me “God won’t give you anything more than you can handle.”

I can share many stories where I was most definitely not strong enough.

The actual verse is found in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me”.

Ah, now that makes sense and takes a lot off of me!

Another one is Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good to those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.

I have found, many people like to drop the words ‘according to HIS purpose’ from the verse.

God chose the exact words to create a masterpiece. He created a road map with specific

instructions for us to follow. He was so detailed in every nail that went into the ark, every step the Israelites took, and every lash that Jesus took for our salvation.

He did this so that we can be closer to Him because He loves us more than we could ever imagine. He does not want us to end up with a mess on our hands as I did when I was a teenager.

Take the time to investigate, read, learn, and know scripture so you know the exact way that God meant it for this season in your life. Knowing the facts and what God is telling his people could mean the difference of mixing meatloaf by hand and mixing cake batter by hand.

1 Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the Lord and His strength, Seek His faith continually.”

Kellie Maguire

Kellie has been married for 17 years to her husband, Kevin. Together they have three children and she has a step-son (who lives with his mom). They have moved around the country many times and are finally growing their roots in their small town.

Kellie’s faith in God is extremely important to her. She has been through many mountains and valleys and the Lord has gotten her through. She loves to ride her bike, write, watch movies, and is very involved in her children’s lives. Being a Mom is her favorite role in life. She values her faith, family, love, and friendships.