The Encourager Newsletter - Vol. 4 Issue 16 - September 3, 2010 -God's Patience with a Rebel & Burnt Biscuits

And when he (Manasseh) was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. (2Chronicles 33:12-13) (See the chapter: 2Chronicles 33:1-23)

Manasseh was a smart-alecky king who had learned nothing from his Godly father, King Hezekiah. The surprising thing is that God was able to salvage him by bringing the King of Assyria against him and leading him off with a rope attached to a hook in his nose. Nothing is as helpful as a time of thinking things through.

It is the unappreciated mercy of God that arrests a man and allows him some time to think while he is uncomfortable or suffering. It is the mercy of God that reveals to a rebellious man that he has a deadly disease that is going to usher him into the presence of his maker to give an account of his life. One of my favorite commentators, J. Vernon McGee says of Manasseh:

"This man had a remarkable experience. I would have given him up, I'm sure, but God did not give him up. God sent trouble—and plenty of it—to him. He was carried away as a captive to Babylon. This should have been a warning to the nation that God was now getting ready to send them into captivity because of their continual sin.

"When Manasseh found himself in real trouble, he sincerely came back to God. God forgave him and restored him! Yet he was very much of a weakling, as such men generally are. When he returned to Jerusalem, he took away the strange gods and the idols out of the house of the Lord, and he repaired the altar of the Lord and sacrificed there."

The psalmist said: Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. (Psalm 119:67). There is more: It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. (Psalm 119:71 Ω

Burnt Biscuits—Barbara Carr

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

"My mama cooked biscuits, gravy, eggs and bacon for breakfast every morning. My daddy worked long hard hours at carpentry or the sawmill so he needed a sawmill breakfast. After retirement, she would make a big batch of biscuits and freeze them. If someone wanted a biscuit, she was ready even for a breakfast dinner.

The following is a story from the internet by an unknown author. As I read, memories flooded my mind— memories of Mama and Daddy in the kitchen cooking breakfast and the wonderful smells of coffee, bacon and hot biscuits. Make lots of memories with your children. You will never regret it. And now the story.

"When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my Dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, 'Your mama put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides, a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!' Life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.!.!.!.!" I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Love and patience go hand in hand. Seeing fault in others and expressing our views on the matter is not God's way. We expect God to overlook our faults/sins and forgive us. He has been so loving and patient with me. Let's show that love to our family and others to whom we come in contact. "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." (1Peter 4:8) Ω