Midway through her pregnancy, my daughter developed a dairy intolerance. Since my cancer surgeries, I have been eating entirely dairy free and since she is my recipe substitution expert, she hasn’t had much of a struggle adapting, with one major exception. Pizza. On a recent visit, we headed to my favorite brick oven pizza restaurant, the one that carries Diaya mozzarella, the only vegan cheese shreds that melt together and don’t just sit there looking shiny. She was excited to try her favorite Thai chicken pizza dairy free, but I could tell after the second bite that it was not working for her. I had her pizza boxed up to take home and she ordered a salad.
I couldn’t see past her obvious disappointment at the time, but since then I’ve been thinking. It’s been two years since I went completely dairy free. The first time I had a vegan pizza, although the cheese texture was more akin to Alfredo sauce, the flavor was exactly what I was longing for. It had been over a year since I’d tasted pizza, having tried several variations of pizza without cheese, so my tastebuds may have been a little more desperate. I now enjoy almond milk on my cereal and coconut or macadamia nut milk in my coffee but it is an acquired taste.
With any luck, my daughter’s system will be back to normal after baby arrives but I’m dairy free for the long haul. My perspective is entirely different. I’ve gotten to the point of refusing anything that has upset my system in the past without a second thought. I’ve accepted the fact that I might not like the taste of some things anymore but I’ve also been surprised to find new things to enjoy. I’ve noticed that my spiritual appetite changes in much the same way as I walk consistently with Jesus, my Lord. I turn easily from things I once desired and what once was filling now only leaves me hungry for more.
“We were given this hope when we were saved.
(If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.
But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)”
Romans 8:24-25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.25.NLT
Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians encourages us in the life of faith as we too await the second coming of Jesus. In this letter, Paul lays out the gospel in a direct way, often referred to as the Roman Road to salvation. All have sinned. (Romans 3:23) Death is our due, but God’s free gift is eternal life in Jesus. (Romans 6:23) God did not wait for us to be good enough, as if we even could. Jesus died a substitutionary death while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8) Everyone who believes and calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. (Romans 10:9, 13) By faith we are justified and have peace with God in Christ, and condemnation no longer awaits. (Romans 5:1, 8:1) Nothing can separate us from God’s love displayed in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39)
God did for us in Christ what we could not do. He brought us into right relationship with Himself. We are justified, declared righteous in God’s sight by the blood of Jesus. We are being sanctified, purified from sin, day by day as we walk with Christ. And we will be glorified on that day when Christ returns to make all things new. The believers in Paul’s day thought this would be in their lifetimes. We recognize that it may well be in ours, but Paul writes, encouraging us to maintain our hopeful anticipation.
““However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.
Only the Father knows.
When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.
In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.
People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away.
That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left.
Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 24:36-42 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.24.36-42.NLT
“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.
But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”
Galatians 6:7-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.6.7-10.NLT
“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out.
Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here.
So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.
Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
Romans 13:11-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.13.11-14.NLT
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Galatians 5:24-25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.5.24-25.NLT
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.
The Lord be with you all.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT
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