EAT, PRAY, LOVE

Note: Since we will not be meeting next month because of Bethany’s Power of God Convocation, all those who take the time to answer the questions below will be entered into a drawing for dinner & a movie
(for 2)

There is a guest we see at most celebrations. The very special ones like weddings, funerals, and birthdays. And little private ones like a new job or a dance recital. It’s a pleasant companion at baby showers with the anticipation of birth, and oddly enough, it’s also around just before prisoners take their last breath.
Food – it is a part of every aspect of our lives. We like food because it brings comfort. It is the one thing that can bring every part of us subject at the same time as good and bad cuisine appeals to our sense of sight, smell, touch, taste and even hearing with just the smallest morsel. Relationships revolve around it; even our relationship with God.

• The Fall of man happened by eating the forbidden fruit; and so our restoration had to revolve around food too. God instructed them to EAT grain, wine and oil with the sacrificial lamb.
38 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. 39 Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. 40 With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. 41 Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD.
42 “For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you; 43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. (Ex 29:38-43)

• It was this same meal that God used to respond to the PRAYER of backslidden Israel in Hosea 2:8-23.

• It was also these same ingredients present when Jesus shared his last meal where he instructed us to memorize how much He LOVED us by remembering what He was about to sacrifice. Luke 22:10-20

So God established a pattern we could follow if we ever felt disconnected or distant. He said taste & see that He was good.

Ps 33:22 Love us, GOD, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re depending on.
34:1 I bless GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise.
2I live and breathe GOD; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy: 3Join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out.
4GOD met me more than halfway; he freed me from my anxious fears. 5Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him.
6When I was desperate, I called out, and GOD got me out of a tight spot. 7GOD’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.
8Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good GOD is. Blessed are you who run to him.
9Worship GOD if you want the best: worship opens doors to all his goodness.
10Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but GOD-seekers are full of God.

In other words, He wanted us to EAT, PRAY, LOVE. This is also the title of the next movie we will explore.

The film opens with our heroine Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) riding her bike along a grassy roadside in Bali. She reflects on a friend of hers who was called to offer help at a refugee camp; the friend was so uncertain of how she could possibly relate to the tragic background of the people. Yet she quickly discovered the ongoing topic of conversation was not their physical despair, but Love and broken relationships.
Liz proceeds to have many moments of reflection throughout the film. So I would like to know what they were.

1. Define the different levels of awareness on her journey/ her moments
(example) What relationships were void of fellowship? (When did she feel alone with people around her)
Which ones were void of love?
Which ones were void of happiness?
In other words, when did she recognize the problem and when did the breakthrough come.

2. Share a moment on your journey of life that if you could, you would take a moment, come aside and figure things out. And share when you broke through. Or if you haven’t, share that too, and let’s see if we can’t help you EAT, PRAY, LOVE.

We will be answering this question and others like it during our live discussion at the Girls Night Out at Bethany Baptist Church tonight, Friday, May 20th at 7:30pm. Join us for food, fellowship and fun!

As always, feel free to bring your favorite dessert and friend.

Looking forward to your answers,
Minister Charmette E. Brown