Gumbo

December 2, 2015 | by: Maureen Maniquis | 1 Comments

Posted in: Gospel Living

I think every now and again faith needs to be put through a strainer to filter out all the accumulated bits of grizzle, skin, fat, bones and shells that have added to the flavor of our beliefs. This Christian faith that we hold so dear can have the taste of many different flavors. It seems that so many have taken it up a notch to give a bit more spice and zest to what they perceived to be a dull and tasteless old recipe. This spiritual gumbo of individual tastes has nearly overpowered the original recipe handed down by the mouth of God, if that were possible.

Everyone knows a good gumbo is only as good as its roux, it’s all about the roux, that central ingredient that holds everything together, the Truth that gives the dish its substance. What is the roux of our Christian beliefs? Is it not the very Word of God that spells out the most valuable ingredients for a faith unshakable? For a base upon which all our beliefs can build with layers of wisdom to flavor life with a hearty goodness? It’s a stick-to-the-ribs kind of soul meal that sustains us through the lean times and nourishes us into the good ones. Yet, it often seems that these invaluable ingredients are deemed unnecessary for the shortcut versions of artificial flavorings, these imposters of reality. Our taste buds have been burned and we have grown accustomed to chewing on grizzle and choking on bones. No wonder there is so much confusion as to how this all works or if it even does. It’s time to strain out the in-edible, the un-digestible, the garbage, and start with the pure Roux of life. Only then will the taste buds begin to heal and taste wonders of great delight.

God’s people are a gumbo of his making as we all bear his image in various ways. But let’s be careful not to alter his recipe so much that his image loses the very flavor of his heart thereby leaving him unrecognizable. The culinary joys of a gumbo well-made starts with the Roux of The Master Chef and it will never disappoint.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

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Maureen Maniquis moved to Florida 10 years ago from Bern, Switzerland where she and her husband were living for 6 years while working at the American Embassy. While there, they helped plant an English speaking church in the heart of the city that still thrives today to meet the needs of expats who desire to be a part of a community of fellow believers. Maureen has been a part of the Restoration Church Core Team since its plant in 2010 and currently serves on the Hospitality Team and Prayer Team and will be a regular contributor to our blogs. She has published a book of her memoirs and is a passionate writer on Gospel living and pointing people to the heart of Jesus. maureenmaniquis-blog.com

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