How God Used A Simple Mess Of Potato Salad To Humble And School Me In His Faithfulness And Love
I know, I know, your saying to yourself, whaaat… ??? What in the world would potato salad, have to do with Spiritual Alters? Well let me explain. The year was 1989, I was young in the Lord, and desperately seeking for more from God…
From The Ancient Alters Of Sacrifice
My Life was forever changed when, at a young age, hopelessly full of rebellion and darkness, God got ahold of my life!
I accepted Jesus into my heart as Lord at the age of 17. Having at that time been on my own since the age of 14, I was well on my way to completely destroying my life, having become entangled and messed up in minor drug trafficking. I was totally bound by the flesh and poverty. That is where Jesus found me. He compelled my darkened heart and blinded eyes to open up the door. He had spent so long a time, just quietly knocking. Waiting for an invitation from me to come in. His desire was to wash me, and bind up my wounds.
I encountered this saving Grace of God through a personal relationship with Jesus that was birthed when I’d heard the Gospel preached by an anointed evangelist. I knew the words the preacher spoke were true. Truer then any other words I had ever heard any man speak. The words I later learned had their source in The Holy Ghost and were irresistable by nature of their validity. Right then and there I knelt down in my living room and wept like a baby as this preacher led me through a sinner’s, beautiful, confession of faith. I turned my — then ruined and shattered young life — over to Jesus. I was Born Again! My Lord and my God has never left me since. Jesus has been with me, my closest friend, through the good times AND the bad times ever since.
Soon after, I was baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost. Jesus began to lead me in, and teach me of, a better way. I had been pouring through the Bible which caused me to grow in faith and develop a prayer life. God chose to answer my fervent prayers for a deeper understanding of the personal dedication and call on my life to the ministry. My only desire in life was and still is to labor in the harvest. Jesus was teaching me that laying “my will” down, to have “His Will” reign over my own life was His call to every single believer. Though i possessed no special skills or talents, He would make me an ambassador of the message of His mercy, and love.
I was about to learn a lesson from The Book of Hebrews regarding The Blood of Bulls & of Goats, not being able to take away sins from our lives. I had spent several days praying and studying His Word and asking God questions like, “Well, if they can’t take away our sins then why were the priests made to offer them”? And, “Why Bulls & Goats in contrast let’s say to frogs and skunks? Or Monkey’s and Aardvarks“?
Now I should point out that my own history, at one time, had been filled with a past full of anger and addiction to rage. But I knew God was preparing me and healing me both at the same time. I also knew in my heart that the sin in my life would have to go. Jesus was making me into a worthy vessel; a brand new man! I was also learning that Jesus didn’t come to do away with the law, but rather to ratify it. As in “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…” And “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart…” There was, and still remains, a much deeper spiritual implication of authority an indisputable responsibility filled with power in the way Jesus teaches.
The acts and practices of sacrifice for instance, ceased when the temple was destroyed, however our acts of obedience never will cease. … “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams“. God was showing me how to commit in my heart, a spiritual alter of sacrifice to Him. In this case though, my offering would be obedience. Laying my will on the alter as an offering He could be pleased with.
The Blood Of Bulls And Of Goats
… “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins”. Hebrews 10:1-4
As I’ve come to understand the spiritual tenure of many things, I’ve learned how God often used parables and allegories, or more precisely, what we refer today to as types of things and shadows of things. I believe this is done for many reasons, among which explanations, we find that many of God’s lessons are “caught rather than taught”. They come to us in revelation as the Holy Spirit leads us and fills us with knowledge.
As far as types go, blood is and always will be, a type or shadow for “LIFE” ;Genesis chapter 9 and verse four tells us that: “ for the Life is in the Blood… ” A “GOAT” has an infamy in it’s personification and reputation as the icon of stubbornness. I was sharing this with a friend and sister in the Lord recently when it occurred to me that the actual symbol of satan worship is the goat’s head in the pentagram. satanism is actually luciferian-ism, which is the cult & pure religion of self. I even suspect that the symbolical use of this goats head in the pentagram implies the servants of lucifer making the gesture of their will to be self-willed as an offering to their lord and father satan. Today in our culture of “ME” or “I” and the ruling mandate to “do it if it feels good”,” If I want it I’ll take it” instant gratification and now, lifestyles, all personify the imagery of the stubborn, self-willed creature represented by the goat.
Can you picture what “The Bull is a type of”? Does it occur to you, as it did to me, that the bull, with it’s furious will to reproduce, lends an excellence in personifying it’s reflection of us when we are bound by a continual habitual sin? Again and again! God was showing me that I needed to lay my stubbornness on my spiritual alter, drain the life-blood from my stubbornness and lay it on the alter until it is entirely consumed by His Holy Fire. In the same way, we need to cut that spiritual throat of our bullish brutish and powerful dominating tendencies to reproduce sin in our lives. This is a perfect picture of obedience. As well as spiritual sacrifice. I still build alters in my life. With help from Jesus, on this journey through the desert wilderness of life, I often stop and offer my will to God. Thank you Jesus.
Potato Salad
I know, at this point you would be tempted to say “I still don’t get the Potato Salad thing“. Of course, but check this out…
While all of this was unfolding in my life, stretching my heart and challenging me spiritually, I was soon to learn God wanted me to put this, “Spiritual Alter” principal, to work in real live — day to day activities and faith. I’ve already shared with you that this revelation occured in my younger years. My daughter Ashley was only two and my son, Adam, who is maybe the greatest inspiration next to Christ in my life, was still a newborn. Part of the call I was hearing deep in my heart to sanctification that had been growing in me then, was likely born through all of our prayers offered for my children during this time. I would literally hold up my son in prayer for several days at a time shortly after his birth. Dedicating his life to God and ministry. Praying constantly for my daughter to be used of God for the kingdom of heaven and the harvest. Anyway, I was not particularly prosperous back then. I would often walk, catch ride, or use a bus in those days to get to wherever I needed to go. Ahhh… but it was a simple life.
I remember now, that I was not well employed and had a good deal of time off between pay periods, which, were usually quite small. (I mean the amount of the paycheck was quite small) I was spending most of my time studying the Word of God, enjoying Gospel Music, and learning to Pray fervently and effectively. Such, was how this particular afternoon was spent. Coming home that day after looking for some work, I was getting comfortable around the house. Taking stock of how the meals should or would unfold for the week or so, until a paycheck would arrive. We had plenty of pablem and formula for the kids, however the rest of supplies were getting pretty low. Being an optomistic and adventurous lad in my youth I concluded that although it would definately be a thrifty week, I could still put together something we could survive on. What I found left for ingredients to work with were shaping up to be a pretty fine potato salad. So it seemed we’d have to get by on making the best potato salad ever!
I peeled, washed, and boiled up the last of the potatoes. Used up the rest of the mayo and onions, pickles, mustard, eggs… etc. You know, I put everything I could find from my meager cupboards into that salad! AND a piece of my heart. It would definitely be a salad to remember! I spent the rest of the afternoon preparing that food with joy and contentment, even though it meant almost exclusively would the meals consist of this potato salad. I was very pleased as I wrapped up my days labor, putting the final touches on what truly must be the best potato salad ever made. I couldn’t wait to taste it. I grabbed that big ol’ dish and started to head to the living-room calling out to the kids’ mom, heeey it’s ready! Come and get a bite of this… That`s all the words that I got out at the time — just as I lost my grip on that salad and it crashed on the floor!
Now I don`t know if you can understand just how intensely volatile Pyrex bowls can be when they smash. I mean they don’t simply break. They disintegrate! There was not one speck of potato salad left that would be edible! Even though we kept our home spotless enough to eat off those floors (you can be poor without having to be dirty) there was no way you could salvage one bite of that salad. There were glass shards covering it.
A True Test Of My Commitment To The Holy Ghost`s Leading
That broken dish of food suddenly set fire to my universe! I wanted to burst out in rage! I wanted to swear, I wanted to smash a hole in the wall with my fist! I was already at furious, rapidly descending into a frenzied rage.
What will you do? It was as if all of hell were mocking me, with no money to eat, what would I do? Still, the Holy Ghost`s voice spoke gently, though firmly… “What will you do son? Will you trust me? Will you stop now in the middle of this horrible storm of emotion, despite the overpowering sense of loss, let-down and fear, and build me an alter here”?
My heavenly Father was asking challenging questions. The voice of the Son of God echoed in my heart, “Paul, you are my child, you are a father, a husband and I won’t have you terrifying your family… Paul give your will to me… Paul, build your alter to me and place your will on it, give me your whole heart”, is what Jesus spoke to me.
I prayed back, “Lord I will build you an alter, and if you will accept my offering and consume this wickedness that is on fire inside me I will lay it down and give it to you…”
The hardest thing I’ve faced in my life — was that trial! I would commit to offering my will that day on my spiritual alter built in the calamity of my feelings of failure as a Christian, as a father, as a husband and provider for my family. Yet when I asked for help from my Lord, somehow I managed to get my alter built. I initially laid down an obedient offering, but as each second passed I wanted to pick it right back up again. To take back my offering by making excuses. Yet, I’d pray again, “Father help me to do this, you have to take it“. I would start to clean up a bit. Then again five minutes later I would want to throw another fit! I prayed again… My rage would subside somewhat… I turned up the gospel music. I started to encourage myself… ”I don’t know how, but it’s gonna be alright“! I felt those spiritual flames begin to lick up my sacrifice … In a few more minutes the rage would pass and I felt more and more peaceful, confident that God would make a way.
Soon I had the whole mess cleaned up and I was completely convinced that it would all be OK. Somehow it was over for me. I had learned what He wanted me to learn and He had become a little more the master of my heart, more of me died that day and more of Christ became alive in me.
The Doorbell
About the time this event truly settled in my heart, and I felt the total victory, the doorbell rang. I answered the door joyfully to greet my visitor…
What happened next caused me to grow weak in my knees, sprint up the stairs to the bathroom, and lock myself inside. I cried like a baby! I laughed and worshiped God for quite a while.
You see when I answered the door to let in my guest, she was standing there with a couple of grocery bags in her hands and a confused look on her face. She began to tell me that while at the supermarket, she was moving through the aisle. When as clear as day, God spoke to her very clearly and said buy Paul Potato Salad…
Umm Hmmm! Yes, those were her exact words, “buy Paul Potato Salad! And also get some meats and bread and eggs, milk, etc. Also give him fifty dollars”. While I was dropping that pyrex bowl full of what I thought wasd my only provision, God was working out a powerful miracle on my behalf! He was also teaching me a very powerful truth about our care and ministry.
My friend I was undeniably taught the most virulent and powerful lesson that day!
God Loves us and He is working everything out for us. If we will only hear and obey, we will receive the fullness of our rewards.
