I almost poisoned six women at a pot luck.

I didn’t do it intentionally. I wasn’t even supposed to bake. Normally, I just buy a desert, but the gal who’d promised to bring the sweet treat ended up breaking a tooth. At the last moment, she had to back out, and I was short 1 tray of brownies.

I decided to go hunting in my pantry for a last-minute brownie mix. Surely, I’d find a box of Pillsbury something lurking in the back corner.

Now, I should warn you that our pantry is a mess. Bruce likes to buy in bulk, and the shelves are crammed full with too many cans of everything.

But, I was a woman on a mission. I needed brownies, and I needed them fast.

So, I asked Bruce to be brave and do a reconnaissance mission in the cluttered closet. “Find me a brownie mix. It’s hiding in there somewhere.”

I was delighted when he emerged 10 minutes later holding a box of double chocolate loveliness. I had eggs in the fridge, and we found a half empty bottle of vegetable oil on the top pantry shelf.

I declared a dessert victory and started mixing my ingredients. We would have double fudge yummy squares in 20 minutes. Yay!

The doorbell rang, and soon I had a house full of friends chatting away. My kitchen counter was covered with a hodgepodge of homemade dishes, and each woman walked through and picked her poison — piling up her plate for a fun night of food and fellowship.

At some point after we’d stuffed our faces, I opened up the Word and started to discuss our homework for the week. We gabbed like girls do — and I got lost in time.

An hour later, I finally remembered my duties as hostess with the mostest and realized I’d never served dessert. I’d left the chocolate goodness forgotten on the kitchen counter.

I walked over to the stove, grabbed the warm dessert and a knife and headed back to the table to share the sugary treat. I noticed one piece was already missing, and I guessed Misty must have stolen the piece in advance because she suddenly got the giggles and excused herself for a breath of fresh air.

I continued chatting away about our homework as I sliced the squares and served each woman still seated a piece.

The last square sat before me, and I took a bite and then continued with the lesson.

I posed a discussion question for the group and waited for a response. In the. meantime, I took another nibble of my brownie.

Normally, I devour a brownie in  less then 20 seconds, but as I chewed and swallowed, I slowly realized something was awry. Underneath I could still taste the chocolate, but a bitter ingredient was overpowering the sweetness.

That’s when I realized everyone else had stopped eating. And, Misty must have left the table out of embarrassment. She didn’t want to tell me my brownies were inedible.

Let this be a lesson to you, friends: If you leave oil unused for an extended period, it apparently goes rancid.

The tainted oil left a repugnant aftertaste that nearly poisoned six beautiful women.

You will be happy to know I threw out the old oil, and then I cleaned out my pantry. As I tossed half-empty spice bottles, unused tea bags from 2008, and canned goods way past expiration, I contemplated the importance of stopping to take inventory. It’s a necessary exercise to clean house every now and then.

Here’s the thing: I can run around trying to produce a beautiful meal for my family. I can slave at the stove and spend countless hours planning, but if I am working with stagnant ingredients, the taste will always lack a fresh, savory taste.

Last week, I decided to take a few hours to slow down and examine the condition of my life. I grabbed a chair and sat outside in my backyard for a quiet afternoon with my Bible, my calendar, my journal, and my favorite pen. I spent the first few minutes just letting the fresh wind of the Spirit fill me up with His goodness and grace.

I need new oil. I must stop piling my plate high with poison and ask the Holy Spirit to pour a fresh anointing into my heart.

Is bitterness boiling over in your right heart right now? Rest is the remedy.

4 Ingredients to Counteract the Poison

Relationships

Conversation with good friends combats bitterness in our core. A regular coffee date with a friend who can pour grace into your life is needed. Make sure you make room for fellowship on your calendar.

“I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.” (Colossians 2:2, NLT)

Exercise

Never forget your heart is an organ requiring continual exercise. Cardiovascular activity not only impacts your physical well-being, but this important ingredient also elevates your mood and mind. (And, you will sleep more soundly.)

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (I Corinthians 9:24-25, NIV)

Sabbath

God set the example for us — He created a masterpiece in six days, and then He set aside 24 hours to truly enjoy His handiwork. We need to make room for celebration and recalibration.  

“So we conclude that there is still a full and complete ‘rest’ waiting for believers to experience. As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works, just as God celebrates His finished works and rests in them. So then we must give our all and be eager to experience this faith-rest life, so that no one falls short by following the same pattern of doubt and unbelief.” (Hebrews 4:9-11, TPT)

Thanksgiving

Complaining and comparison will quickly poison your life. Cultivate the fruit of gratitude in the garden of your heart. Take time each day to sow this seed by writing down how you see God at work in your surroundings.  

“Let your hearts fall under the rule of the Anointed’s peace — the peace you were called to as one body, and be thankful. Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives. With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another. Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing—sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness.” (Colossians 3:15-16, VOICE)

You can sweeten up your life by just adding more these 4 simple ingredients to your life. Don’t skimp on the serving size, friends. Measure wisely and be generous with yourself.

To help you get started, I’ve created a one-page printable for you to count your blessings from A to Z this month. Download a copy and grab a cup of tea. Then, find a quiet spot to sit down for a spell to reflect on how God has shown up for you in unexpected ways this past year. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.

Bonus: I’m also going to count my blessings from A to Z on my Instagram and Facebook for the first 26 days in November, and I’d love for you to join me there and share yours.  

As we create room for rest in our week, the oil of the Spirit will penetrate our lives and overflow to sweeten up the world around us. Our lives will invite others in to taste and see that He is good.

Counteract the poison of bitterness by presenting your life to your sweet Savior.  

Are you struggling to find the sweetness in your life right now? CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO HELP YOU develop a plan to Refuel with rest and soul care.