Day One Hundred Seventy-Four “Oatmeal”

            What an impressive food!  Benefits of this staple include improved heart health, lowered blood pressure, and improved cholesterol levels, all while strengthening immunity and decreasing cancer risks.  But that slimy taste and pasty texture doesn’t always fill my taste buds with glee, and although I do make a morning bowl of oatmeal part of my daily regimen, I wanted to add more options. The challenge-make it palatable.  Enter homemade granola: toast up some oats, throw in some dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate, and I’m definitely impressed!   My recipe includes only three liquid ingredients: oil, raw honey, and vanilla, but I have found that those three simple items have absolutely no intention of blending together without putting up a fierce battle.  They just don’t mix well.

God, self, and pride are similar to that oil/honey/vanilla concoction, they DEFINITELY don’t mix.  No sin is more offensive to a majestic, all-powerful, sovereign God than a pride that attempts to dethrone Him and steal the glory due Him.  Pride reared its ugly head long before humans walked this earth, as Lucifer, that beautiful and gifted cherub, became so infatuated with himself that he arrogantly proclaimed, “I will exalt my throne,”  Soon after the creation of man, self-will replaced God’s will as pride cost our first parents their home in the Garden of Eden, their own personal paradise.  Later, God would remind the young nation of Israel of the dangers of pride as they stood at the threshold of the Promised Land.  “Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God…and say in thine heart, my power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth.”  And in today’s Bible account, pride will destroy the kingdom of Moab.

Descended from Abraham’s nephew, Lot, the people of Moab shared a rich history with the nation of Israel, their distant cousins.  Moab would deny access to Israel on their wilderness journey, forcing a detour for those redeemed children traveling from Egypt.  As if that were not enough to warrant the ire of God, Balak, Moab’s king, would attempt to call down a curse upon God’s chosen people. When that attempt was futile, the “daughters of Moab” infiltrated and intermarried with the Hebrews, subtly drawing the children of God into false worship.  When Moses finally arrived at the cusp of the Promised land, he would view Canaan through the lens of Mount Nebo, located in Moab.  God would ultimately destroy this heathen nation, and although they would have given ample justification for this fiery judgment, it would ultimately be the sin of pride that would cause their demise, for “his (Moab’s) loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart…because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.  The prophet Jeremiah warned Moab that humiliation and shame would soon replace her pride and haughtiness.

God warns us that in the end times “Men shall be lovers of themselves, boasters, proud…highminded.”  Pride was on hand at the beginning of the history of man, and will sadly be our ending legacy. Will it be said of our generation, “O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up?” Let’s be reminded today to stay humble, giving glory to the One Who deserves all of our praise. He is the only One Who deserves the throne of our life.

James 4:6   Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Homemade Granola: Preheat Oven to 300 Degrees. Mix in large bowl 3 cups rolled oats (not instant), 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar, 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon, 1/4 Teaspoon Salt. In separate bowl blend 1/4 cup Oil, 1/3 cup Honey, and 1 Teaspoon Vanilla. Add to Dry Mixture and Blend Thoroughly. Spread on Large Baking Sheet and Bake for 15 Minutes, Remove, Stir Well, and Continue Baking for Additional 10 Minutes. Remove from Oven and Stir until Completely Cooled (The More You Stir, the Less Large Clumps You Will Have). Add a Variety of Dried Fruits, Chopped Nuts, Seeds, Chocolate or Candied Chips, Raisins…Suit Your Own Taste…Great Topper for Yogurt!

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