Recipes from God: Reflections of a God-Fearing Grandmother

By Faye Watson

Ever sit on the arm of the throne? Ever had a french fry picnic with the Father? Are you ready to be lifted up?
This thought-provoking book will lead you on a spiritual journey, a journey of joy and devotion. You will encounter recipes to feed the body and recipes to feed the soul. You will encounter Jesus and prayerfully work out your relationship with Him through object lessons presented in a quaint, easy-reading, loving manner.
You will learn as you experience the joy of a grandmother spending time with her grandchildren. Come along now, time for you to sit on the arm of the throne, time to go on a french fry picnic, time to be lifted up, time to get ready for what lies ahead.
Endorsements
Imagine a woman who loves her husband, loves her children, loves her grandchildren, and, more importantly, loves the Lord with all her heart and soul. These are the ingredients that make up Faye Watson. Reading her book, Recipes from God, will force you to rethink your priorities and remind us that its the simple things we do in life that matter most to God!
Carl Rhodes, Minister, Northside Christian Church; Vandalia, Illinois
Faye has managed to write a sweet, tender book full of a grandmothers love of her grandchildren, yet also a book filled with love for others. This is a book that reaches out to draw the Christian to a closer walk with his Savior but also reaches out to the one who is unsaved to lead his heart to Christ.
Kevin Bonifacius, Minister, First Christian Church; Brownstown, Illinois

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490871905

Faye Watson

Faye Watson is an experienced bible teacher currently teaching women’s class and is head of Women’s Ministry and Ladies’ Fellowship at her local congregation. She also organized and taught Sonflowers, a class for young girls that taught them to cook, sew, and study God’s word. Faye has written over 300 Bible lessons that have been used over a period of forty years. An excellent cook and seamstress, she loves to spend time with her family. She loves to travel and loves to study God’s word.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Preparing Our Children

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates (Deuteronomy 6:4–9).

Ingredients

1 young girl about seven years old.

1 older neighbor woman.

1 car (any make or model will do).

1 beautiful Sunday morning in the fall, a day only God could make happen: the leaves are vibrant; the air is crisp and cool.

1 Savior.

First John 4:14

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Yes, there our neighbor woman was again. Sitting outside our house in her old car. She came every Sunday to take my brothers and me to church. Her name was Mrs. Carter. She was faithful, devout, and unwavering. I have to admit that I did not always go to church; and my brothers had almost stopped going altogether.

But this particular Sunday, my mother made me go to the door to wave our neighbor on, to tell her I was not going—a huge responsibility for a seven-year-old. You see, I was afraid that if I went to church, Mom would fix one of her delicious Sunday dinners and I would miss out. Perhaps she would make meat loaf or fry a chicken. We rarely had meat, but sometimes on the weekend, Mom would make a great meal—and if you weren’t there, you missed out. At least I did, and nothing was saved for me. So I did not go to church. When I waved Mrs. Carter on, she looked so disappointed and hurt. I wanted to change my mind, but I was not dressed to go to services. So off she went without me. But I will never forget her hurt expression.

By the way, we did not have a delicious meal that day. We barely had leftovers, probably beans. It was one of those days. And there were many of them in my childhood—too many.

Mrs. Carter often took us to special activities such as vacation Bible school and Sunday school. She rarely failed to show up. She picked up any neighborhood children who wanted to go. This went on until I was about thirteen and decided I was too old for Sunday school.

While Mrs. Carter drove the two miles to Haley Chapel, she would talk to us about Jesus. My family—you see—well, let’s just say we were dysfunctional. Yes, that’s a good term: dysfunctional. Of course, I did not know what dysfunctional meant; and I was sure that the secrets within those four walls of our very small house were locked away and no one ever knew. One Sunday, it was just Mrs. Carter and me in the car on the way to the chapel, and she drove extra slow, even for her. Faye, she said, you know you can talk to God about anything and He will hear you. You don’t even have to say it out loud. And no matter what is going on around you or happening to you, you can talk to Him, and no one else will even know.

Wow! I thought to myself. No matter what is happening, I can talk to God and no one will know! You see, my every thought and move were controlled. Often, when I was alone crying, I thought to myself, I wonder if God cries? Are You crying with me, Father? (In fact, that is the title of my first book: I Wonder, Does God Cry?) Then I snapped to attention. I thought, Does Mrs. Carter know what goes on in our house? She must know!

I sat stiffly all the way to the little chapel on the outskirts of our small town. I pondered whether Mrs. Carter knew or not. But I was overjoyed to hear that I could go to God and no one would know. And I did not have to inform them. I could tell Him anything, and He would listen and take care of me.

Mrs. Carter made such an impact on me, that little seven-year-old girl. She gave me a way to deal with life. I could go to God anytime, anywhere, about anything, and He would hear and comfort me. Without going into detail, let’s just say my life was not the best for a little girl. I heard, saw, and experienced things that no little girl ever should.

The years passed. I seldom attended services in the three years after I turned thirteen. At age sixteen I became a Christian. I wish I could say that since then I have always been faithful, but unfortunately, I have drifted in and out of my devotion to God. However, thanks to the amazing grace of Jesus and His wonderful forgiveness, the blood of the Lamb has redeemed me. Yes, folks, I have been redeemed and will always remember dear Mrs. Carter for those few precious words she spoke to me.

How much time do you spend with your children?

With your grandchildren?

Have you spoken those few precious words that may touch their hearts?

When you are taking a walk or driving them somewhere

When they sit on your lap, sharing macaroni and cheese

When you are having a french fry picnic—

Do you talk to them about Jesus?

It may change their lives;

It may be just what they need to hear;

It may bring them to salvation.

My friends, do not neglect this recipe, for it may lead someone to salvation.

Keep all the recipes of this book in your heart.

Go now, and have a good life,

A life of joy.

And oh yes:

You can talk to Him anytime, anywhere, about anything.

Psalm 139:7–10

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for dear Mrs. Carter.

She has been Yours now for several years.

She probably never knew the impact she had on me.

I did try to tell her when she was elderly and frail—

Too late, I fear.

But You know, Father; You know.

Father, I pray that time spent with my grandchildren,

And now great-grandchildren,

Will bring them the joy of knowing You.

May their lips sing Your praises.

May they praise You all the days of their lives.

The greatest thing I can give them is You.

The greatest thing I can teach them is Your Word.

In the name of Jesus, I pray.

Amen.

Chapter 2

How to Get the Most from a Recipe

Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105).

Ingredients

1 worried guest

1 seemingly confused homemaker

1 heavenly Father

various other ingredients

Joshua 24:15

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Imagine that I have invited you into my home. A plaque on the front door greets you with As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. There is a welcome mat on my porch. You knock on the door. I answer, greeting you, and I invite you into my living room.

The floors are hardwood, and my home is simple in décor. I hope my home feels warm and inviting because it reflects Christ in me; that is, everything in it is given to the service of God. I ask you into my kitchen, where you will also see a plaque with the same words as on the front door. I take your wrap down the hall to the master bedroom. While I am gone, you notice that the kitchen is decorated in sunflowers. The walls are a cheery yellow, and there is a country-inn feel. The shelves of Armetale plates hanging overhead may intimidate you. No need to fear; they have been securely in place for many years.

Upon my return, I offer you a glass of tea. As you sit down at the table (avoiding the chair that is directly under one of the shelves), you notice that I am in the middle of making something of food, but you are not quite sure what.

From observing the clutter and miscellaneous equipment on my counter, you are not sure that even I know what I am doing. Setting the tea before you, I engage you in conversation; seemingly I am not too interested in what is going on with the cooking task. Being a polite guest and not wanting to impose, you inquire as to what I am making. I reply nonchalantly that I do not know yet—I just thought I would make something. Maybe a cake, cookies, or a pie.

You are somewhat perplexed and ask me how I could make something if I do not even know what I am making.

Oh, I’ll just figure it out as I go, I reply.

You are finishing the last of your tea as I wander to the counter and resume my cooking. I decide I am going to make a cake. Should I make a butter cake or should I use Crisco? I opt for the butter cake, and since the butter will have to soften, I sit down and visit with you as the microwave does the work for me. Ding! I am back up again. Do I want to use white sugar or brown sugar? A quick look through the cabinets determines that for me; since I am out of