COMFORT FOOD…plus A SERVING OF “SOUL FOOD”

ARE YOU like me and think that, on a cold winter’s blustery, snow-flurry night, there’s just not much better than comfort food? Found this easy-peasy recipe for cheddar jalapeno cornbread and have made it twice with no flubs, no Sahara-desert-dry results, and no smoke alarms going off! Winner-winner-chicken-dinner!

PAIR WITH pot roast or your favorite soup (please share a recipe in the comments!). Or make a meal of it on its own, slathered with pure butter. It’s *that* good.

ONE OF MY OLD new year’s resolutions is to conquer the sugar beast. To stop bowing to the idol of inflammation. Sugar and wheat (gluten) are two of the worst things to ingest. Two ingredients found in anything tasting delightful. But there’s a price to pay.

SOMEWHERE in there is a spiritual lesson. God says: “Because I love you. Because you are my representative. Because I have work I want you to do on my behalf. That’s why I want you to get the toxic out of your life.” It encompasses whatever’s toxic to our bodies and especially to our minds and our eternal souls.

YET TODAY’S culture shouts with pride: “Do whatever you wish! Anything goes! God is love. He loves you no matter what.” That’s a half-truth, one of the enemy’s favorite temptations. True, God is love. But salvation requires authentic-action-oriented repentance and an actual turning away from what a Holy God warns us about.

THE MOTIVATION to change must not stem from obligation and “shoulds.” But because we are eternally grateful to have been saved by Jesus’ incredible sacrifice on a bloody and beautiful cross. And because we want to honor Him in all we say and do.

THIS MORNING God gave me an example of how today’s crazed culture promotes that relationships should contain no rules and no requirements. Many claim to be Christians but they don’t want any requirements from God in order to get into heaven.

THE EXAMPLE WOULD BE somewhat tantamount to my husband and I having a relationship but one or both of us saying: “We don’t want any requirements. We want to do as we please. Come home at 2 a.m.? Betray? Don’t give a rip how that dishonors? How that makes either of us feel? Ignoring is okay?” No requirements. What a twisted recipe for disaster!

BUT ISN’T THAT the kind of relationship today’s culture wants with Jesus? And even is preached from a growing number of lukewarm, culture-caving pulpits? The message is that we can betray Jesus with our actions, lifestyles and silence, not give a rip how things such as the killing of innocent babies rips at his heart, and still expect we’ll retain a “Christian” crown and be allowed into the gates of heaven. It’s jacked-up thinking and will ultimately land people in a terrible place. satan gives that Christianity Cafe’ five stars.

CAN ANYONE honestly imagine any relationship worth having which has no requirements? Aren’t relationships supposed to be two-way streets, by divine design? Despite what this world says, there’s only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus. [John 14:6]. As the days get darker, expect to see more push for “all roads lead to heaven” on a global basis.

I AM UNABLE to serve up any concocted-culture-comfort food. Supporting the popular, nauseatingly immoral road? Beware. Don’t blame me, see Matthew 7:13-14. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

THOSE WHO HAVE a real relationship with Our Creator can see so many Truths of the Bible coming to fruition today. Digital I.D., tracking and banking — it won’t be too long before no one will be able to buy nor sell without taking what’s referred to as “the mark of the beast.” Mock or rationalize this at your own peril.

THOSE revelations may not “taste good” to today’s society. But it is the type of food nourishing to, and protective of, the soul. Soul food.

THE KIND of fine dining you’ll enjoy in heaven, if you choose to make a reservation. There’s a seat at the table waiting for you. — Renee’ for the Republic, M.S., StarSpangledChick.com