Taste & See…He is Good (and a Giveaway)

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!” Psalm 34:8 a

With all the talk here on my blog lately about food and calories and the counting thereof, I thought we’d chat today about a different kind of tasting. This one does not leave you hungry for food or craving unhealthy carbs and sugars.

Oh, no.

Instead it fills your heart and satisfies your soul.

I am referring to forging a real, honest, and intimate relationship with the God who created you. 

While many people, even those in Hollywood, talk about matters of faith or mention their “spiritual” side, do they really understand what it means to have a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus?

I know for years before I gave my life to Christ, I thought being a Christian meant you strictly followed a list of “don’t”s. Like that old silly cheer we used to chant “We don’t smoke or drink or chew and we don’t go with guys who do”

Boy, was I wrong.

You see, it is easy to follow a list.

It is brainless.

You just find out what is on the “do list” and do it.

Then you carefully check the “don’t list” and avoid those behaviours. 

Ta Da!!! Instant “good girl” (aka Christian).

Unfortunately, it just isn’t that easy.

Or should I say “Fortunately”?

You see God was not content to make us robots who follow a list. No, He longs to have a life-giving, close friendship with us; to allow us to get to know Him and His character; to see Him work in fantastic ways as we daily discover the plan He has laid out for us. He wants to take us on a wild ride of faith! (For more info on how to enter into a real relationship with God, click here.)

And it all begins with tasting. Yes, tasting and then discovering that the LORD is good.

I had my first taste at 16 when I was challenged to read the Bible for myself. Although I was willing to try, I hadn’t a clue where to begin. Then someone gave me a devotional. It had entries that told a little story, asked a few questions and all tied into a verse or two of the Bible. Through reading it, I received direction and came up with a plan; a plan that became a habit; a habit that has now become a lifeline.

This week I want to encourage one of you to “taste and see that the LORD is good.”

Perhaps you’ve never tried to read the Bible.

Or maybe your Bible reading has been sporadic.

Maybe you haven’t ever attempted to have a relationship with God.

You might even think all this “Jesus stuff” is for the birds.

That is okay. I only want to challenge you to “taste”.

Then, I want to give you something to help you taste. I know if you do, you’ll see that He is good.

devogiveaway

I am giving away a copy of the Proverbs 31 Devotional book God’s Purpose For Every Woman by general editors Lysa TerKeurst and Rachel Olson, along with a fun and funky “Hot Chocolate” notebook for recording Bible truths you discover, a cd of the English Standard Version of the Bible’s book of Romans narrated by Max Lucado a $5.00 Starbucks card and 7 Dove dark chocolates.

I want you to eat one chocolate each day for a week.

After……you have read a devotional entry for that day.

I’ll bet the time with God will be even sweeter than the chocolates.

Now, in order to be entered in this giveaway, leave a comment today on one of two topics.

  • Either tell us why you haven’t ever read the Bible consistently or have steered clear of spiritual things.
  • Or, if you are already follower of Christ and doing fine in the Bible-reading category, tell us who you’d give the giveaway to if you won and why. (You have permission to keep the Starbucks card for yourself! :-))

The winner will be announced later this week.

Taste and see…. you won’t be sorry.

Sweeter-than-Chocolate Blessings,

27 Comments

  1. There’s a new mom in my mom’s group who just joined us and just moved from the United Kingdom to the United States. She has a delightful British accent.

    But she’s not a Christian AND she’s very lonely.

    I would give the basket to her to help her not miss her old life in the UK so much and to give her some tools to learn about the very best life of all — a new life with Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.

  2. I try to start the day with my bible but it doesn’t always happen. I would like to be more consitant with my quiet time with God. Once I start reading God’s word I tend to enjoy myself I just don’t always follow through.

    Deb V

  3. I am like many of the posters. I get started off reading, but I can’t keep it up. Once I start, I enjoy what I read, and I can find so many answers and help in the Bible. Like hopeful says, the days I start off right are much better. The chocolate idea sounds like a great way to get me motivated. Thanks.

  4. Days I start off with my Bible are so much better days than if I do not! Great blog today! Appreciate all that you do!

  5. Hi! I too am inconsistent. Unfortunately instead of wanting too, I tend to “need to”. Something comes up and I need something. So sad. It hurts to say that outloud. But the fact is I know who the Almighty is and I am a follower of Christ. I have a friend who is so close, but hasn’t given her heart to Christ. I gave her a Bible this week, but a devotional might be a nice starting point. :)

  6. I need to slow down and spend more time reading God’s word. And a little piece of Chocolate to go along with it sound wonderful!!

  7. What a thought provoking post that has truly hit a mark with me. Though I have been reading the bible (and following Wendy’s blog), here’s what happens-I miss a day, or maybe two or three. Then I feel a mad push to get caught up in a hurry. I’m a very fast reader and I’ve really had to consciously make myself SLOW DOWN to really listen to the words that I am reading. I definitely like the daily devotional concept, it provides me with direction, a little chocolate never hurt either! Thank you for offering the wonderful gift!

  8. What a sign…I am a Christian but God has been working on my to lighten my load as I’ve been on overload and it’s been causing me to drift from Him in our time together every morning. Thank you for the reminder I needed-again! I’m so thankful He is always waiting for me…;)

  9. I tend to like a daily devotional or The Bible in a Year type quiet time because it helps me spend time daily in the Word. A weakness of this type of QT I like it probably because I do not have to do the digging myself and am more spoon fed. Even if I process through what the Lord spoke to me about I am still not analyzing the scripture for myself.

    If I won the giveaway I would give it to my friend Catherine. She is one of my best friends, prayer partner, and “what I put in my mouth”/weight accountability partner. We get together almost every week to chat and pray together. She encourages me and inspires me. I would love to give her the gift as a small thank you for impacting my life not only in important earthly fellowship, but also in eternal ways.

  10. Hi Karen, I know the Lord, have been walking with Him for just over 11 years; He’s done so many miracles in my life, and some I won’t even know of until I am in Heaven, but I struggle with spending a daily time with Him. The reason, the hard truth, laziness. Thanks for putting me in check today.

  11. I have never been able to be consistent with Bible ready. I might have 2 great weeks, but then I fizzle out for 2 months. And a similar cycle continues. For me, it’s about perfectionism. I have a reading plan for each day of the week. If I miss a day, I beat myself up and feel like I have to start all over again. I don’t know why I continually do that to myself. Right now we’re in the middle of adjusting to a cross-country move and it seems like I should be in the Word every single chance I get. Instead, I make up excuses and find other things to do that are enjoyable at the time, but ultimately drain my energy. I appreciate your post and for the reminder to lean into my lifeline.

  12. I know this is going to sound lame, but after several years of daily Bible study, I have completely shut down. So many things have happened in my life — and God feels so far away! After a totally unexpected divorce, having to move from the town I lived in for nearly 50 years, losing my church family and being unable to feel a connection in my new one and now my son is facing a divorce and I may lose a lot of my contact with my grand-daughter, I miss my quiet time, I miss the closeness I once had in my Walk, but I can’t find my way back. Maybe the Proverbs Devotional and the chocolate would help!

  13. I’ve been a Christian since a kid. But I let the busyness of my day take over and let my Bible reading slide to the side. Sadly, I put off Christ. Thankfully He never puts me off to the side. I also need to be more consistent. I would love to read through the entire Bible – but more importantly apply it to my life.

  14. I am a believer and while I pray fairly consistently, my Bible time as of late is definitely lax…2 kids who get up at various times each morning plus too many other “have-tos” seem to constantly get in my way. This is a great reminder that I not only need, but want to be more consistent!

  15. Thank you for this post. I am inconsistent at best. I am great at starting, but maintaining my habit of daily reading is always challenged by schedules, family needs, work, you name it. I find myself so enriched and encouraged when I do spend time in the Word. I often beat myself up for NOT spending more time in it. I know that isn’t the answer. I like the chocolate idea! Maybe I’ll have to try that. I would likely share the prize with my sister, who says she’s spiritual, but I know is not a follower of Christ.

  16. I am sporatic in my Bible reading. I have begun reading the P31 Devotions on a daily basis, but have not put Bible reading back into my schedule. I do read the Bible out loud to my daughters each morning before school.

  17. I, like another poster above, have let the busyness of life get in the way of my time with my Lord each day. I desire to spend time with Him in His word. I need to get my life back on track where He wants me to be. I desire to find His purpose for my life. Thank you for your blog and this wonderful give away. It will be a wonderful blessing to whomever the winner will be.
    Blessings.

  18. I’ve been a follower of Christ for many years but have never read the Bible entirely. I love Bible studies and even learning on my own. I’ve found that the more I read a passage, the more I receive. So, maybe it’s time for me to read all that the Bible has for me.
    I think I would share this with my daughter. She is not in church at this time and I think it would help her see and remember what she is missing. Plus since we live about 1000 miles apart, when she sees it she will think of me also!

  19. Hello! I don’t read my bible as much as I should, I have let busyness get in my way. I have no excuses just need to get to doing it, because God wants to speak to me. I forget that alot. I mess up and I don’t run back into the arms that want to hold me and make it better for guilt. I know this is not true, but why do I do it? I know God loves me and I love Him, and I make a committment today to read His word, one line at a time to hear His voice. If I win, I will give the gift to my husbands cousin that has recently gone through a divorce and is now raising two little girls alone. We actually moved her into their new 1 bedroom apt yesterday and they were all so excited and so grateful! Didn’t realize how self-centered I had become. God has a way of opening your eyes, huh. I know she could use a little uplifting, but I can see God in her, and she is perservering and praising God through it all. :-)

  20. What a great gift! Each morning I read a devotional and write my thoughts in a notebook. (Not as cool as the giveaway one!) I would pass this along to my twin sister who is struggling right now. She is a Christian, but I think it would be meaningful to get back into reading the bible and jotting down what God whispers to her heart.

  21. I would pass this along to one of the girls in my Bible study group. We’ve been studying Hebrews for the past few months, and two have commented that they don’t know their Bible as well as they thought they did. They’re thinking about jumping in with Wendy Pope next year, and maybe this would be a good incentive to get a head start!

  22. Thank you for this post. My husband and I are helping his brother and wife through a marriage crisis. Neither of them are Christians. I would love to be able to give my sister-in-law this book to help her develop a relationship with Christ.

  23. Karen,
    Thank you so much for this post. I do read by Bible every day, although lately God has been revealing to me that I am doing it more out of habit than desire. I don’t want that! I am seeking God more. I have been reading Lysa’s book Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl and am loving it! If I win I would give this to my 20 year old daughter. She has walked away from God. Has really had a bad couple of years. Quit school, quit her job and is now pregnant with no father in the picture. My heart is breaking for her. I was thinking about trying to get her to do Lysa’s study What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. If you have any other suggestions, would love to hear them. Thanks for all you do!

  24. I might have to try that chocolate idea to keep me more consistent! But, I have four sisters who do not live for Jesus and I would love to be able to gift one of them with these tools.

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