Saturday was my Birthday, I turned 45.  Traditionally on my special day I lolly-gag around the house and talk to my brothers and sisters, spend a relaxing day in my “jams,” and Todd cooks up a magnificent dinner,and this year, my sweet daughter whipped up an exquisite dessert.  Though I usually go for Baklava, this year it was Italian Sponge Cake by request.  “Little Chef” did a fabulous job with a challenging recipe.  

Saturday was also the day before Easter, and preparing dishes for church and our family was both unavoidable and my delight.  Entering a market or store of any kind was not on my plan.  Tabbouleh is always a standard side dish to our roast lamb every year and this year was no exception. 

Prep time 15 minutes

1/3 c bulgur rinsed and drained

3/4 c boiling water

1tb evoo

1 tb fresh lemon juice

1/2 ts. grated lemon peel

1 tb. chopped fresh cilantro or mint

1/2 ts. salt

1 c of English cucumber …diced

1/4 c diced green pepper

1/4 c finey shredded and diced onion

Pour boiling water over bulgur…let stand…whip together the rest and combine and chill till serving.

Atkins For Life, pg. 309  Robert C. Atkins, M.D.

Chopping up all my ingredients, cilantro, green pepper and onions I reached into my crisper and pulled out a zucchini.  Zucchini is not in my recipe, cucumber is.  Reluctantly I diced the unwanted veggie and tossed it in my bowl.  Sauntering over to grab the bulgur wheat out of my pantry, I noticed we were out, but hey, I had sesame seeds.  We recently moved and replenishing cooking staples seems to be a never ending battle for me.  We frequently eat pancakes from the Better Homes and Gardens cook book (p. 88) and “kicked it up a notch” with the bulgur wheat (as well as flax seed, chopped nuts, berries, whatever adds interest and nutritional value).  Substituting the sesame seed for bulgur wheat, and the zucchini for cucumber, I proceeded with my preparations.  It was an experiment in making do, and my family knew it…hey, I knew it.  Just because something looks like something else doesn’t mean it has the same nature and characteristics.  My tabbouleh was sub-standard.  Edible yes, tasty…sort of. 

Do you have any make do spiritual practices?  A book you’ve grabbed a hold of and become so excited over you reference it more than the Bible, or give it greater authority that the word of God.  Maybe it becomes you daily devotion instead of sitting with God’s word.  Spurgeons’ The Soul Winner has been that for me.  The book is boxed up and sitting in the never-never land garage attic right now.

Spurgeon speaks directly into the crevices of my life unhindered in ways that other books never can, but its not the eternal breath of God, no matter how close.  If God’s word is the real thing, don’t make do with the faux-tabbouleh’s of the literary world.  The Word of God stands alone in its authority, and must be directly piercing into you, just like the Sword that it is.  Great authors like Spurgeon are excellent mentors and teachers along your journey, but never substitutions for the real deal. 

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” 

John 10:27 KJV

Rest in Him, Trish