Spinach Dip is one of my favorite appetizers, but I don’t eat it very often because it’s pretty calorie-rich. The recipe I most enjoy calls for generous amounts of sour cream (You can substitute Greek Yogurt for the sour cream for a lower fat option.) and mozzarella cheese, so there's plenty of fat in this dish.
But talk about good!
Well, Saturday, the mood struck me and I just had to have some Daily Cup family.
Since my husband Kenya was heading off to the store to grab a few items, I added the ingredients I needed to make my beloved dish to his list. When he returned, I could hardly wait to get started whipping up the creamy, delightfully good concoction.
First, I thawed and drained the spinach. Then I emptied the sour cream from the container into a separate bowl and began pouring in the Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Vegetable Soup Mix.
At least that’s what I thought I was pouring in until I noticed that the powdery substance looked and smelled different. A bit confused, I picked up the box and read it for the first time.
“Oh no!” I shouted out reflexively. Kenya had purchased Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix. It was the wrong flavor—one I happen to detest—and I hadn’t noticed until it was too late.
Although he did grab two boxes of Lipton Soup, one of which was the vegetable soup mix I prefer, I had already added a packet of the herb and garlic flavor.
I was totally bummed about it, but I wasn’t about to throw everything away. “I’m psyching myself up right now,” I told my husband, “because I’m eating this and I’m going to like it.” We made a pact that we both would eat the dish, no matter what. So I went ahead and mixed the flavors.
Then, after everything was prepped and ready to go into the oven, I dipped the tip of my finger in to taste the spinach dip again.
“Yuck,” I winced and shook from disgust.
About an hour later, it was done and I was determined to force it down my esophagus into my stomach. So I scooped the steaming hot dip out of the pan and onto a plate, stuck a nacho chip in it, and bit down.
Oh my goodness.
To my surprise, it was de-li-cious!
It was the kind of delectable flavor that makes you involuntarily close your eyes and say “Mmmm,” and tell everyone else, “No, I’m serious. You’ve got to try this.” Even the kids, down to the most finicky of the four, liked the dip.
Kenya and I both agreed the accidental recipe gave our original and favorite some new competition. I have officially named my newest mixture “Serendipitous Spinach Dip” because it was a happy accident that turned out wonderfully in the end.
In our walk with the Lord, unlike fallible humans that stumble into things, with God, there is no such thing as serendipity. There is only divine destiny. Everything is strategic, predestined, and purposeful.
Even when we go through changes that seem unpleasant and appear to be a recipe for disaster, God has knowledge of the end from the beginning. He knows the conclusion of the matter and how things will be resolved. While you and I are still baffled by issues, circumstances, and seeming setbacks, the Lord is fully aware of the outcome.
God’s recipe for our lives, though a mixture of pain and pleasure, is always just perfect in the end. If we submit to His will and way, He can take unfavorable ingredients, blend them with His favor, and create something great that far exceeds our expectations.
His methods are certainly not like ours and yet, God does all things well.
So today, if things seem to be out of sorts in your life and you’re momentarily going through unpleasant changes, know that God is up to something. He is still in control and when He gets through, everything will come together.
To combat discouragement, anxiety, worry, and preoccupation that is rooted in our flawed human understanding, I’m stirring 1 Corinthians 2:7 NLT into your cup of inspiration. It says, “No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God--his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.”
When you drink down the contents of your cup of inspiration, may you be reminded that the knowledge of man is not greater than the wisdom of God. Even though you may not understand His process, if you take heed to the lesson in today’s post, you will confidently accept what God allows knowing that, according Romans 8:38, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
God’s recipe is always perfect! Just wait for the outcome.
You'll see.
Now let’s pray together.
Father, I thank You for reminding me that You are in control of my life even when my path is not clear. Through difficult seasons of uncertainty and challenging times of turmoil, please help me never to lose confidence in Your sovereignty. Right now, I praise You for full assurance that Your way is best and for the understanding that You do all things well. My life is Yours, oh Lord and so I pray for grace to trust You more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
