Ladies Cookie Exchange

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Dec 9, 2009 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

Several years ago, the ladies of the congregation where we were located, got together to have a cookie exchange during the holiday season. Before they gathered together the idea of having a short devotional was brought up and agreed on, the problem was no one knew what to say. So, after a few moments of discussion, I was “volunteered” to provide them with some words to consider on the occasion. I always enjoy speaking, but they did not want me to speak (much less be around cookies); they asked that I write some thoughts they could read together and consider. I ran across these thoughts yesterday while I was searching through some articles I had written long ago. I wanted to share it with you and get your thoughts. Take a moment and let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance.

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It’s Not Just a Cookie Exchange…

written for a Ladies Bible Class & Cookie Exchange

“I want you to go home, take two cookies, a glass of milk and call me in the morning,” that would be my ultimate cure from a doctor, cookies and milk.

Cookies have a sense of comfort; maybe it is the comfort of the depressed and stressed, but they still bring comfort. I am not exactly sure what causes the “cookie comfort,” but it does. It could be the sugar, maybe the chocolate, maybe even the flour, I am just not sure, but something causes comfort. It is amazing that many of us find great comfort in food, maybe its an American thing, but it holds true.

The gathering of Christian ladies into one home for a brief moment of devotion and fellowship is comfort. To come together as a group of believers and followers of Christ to encourage each other is a comfort the world does not know. Notice, the cookies can bring comfort, but a gathering of Christians is comfort.

What each person brings tonight the fruit of their labor. A cookie is the result of various ingredients; some are made with eggs, some with flour, and some with sugar and whatever candy you can toss into the batter. Using a blender, every ingredient is mixed together and the batter is created. After placing the batter on a cookie sheet and sliding it into the oven, you wait…and wait. As you wait, you begin to smell the sweet savor of your creation. The smell does not stay in the kitchen, but it trickles through the house. Your husband, your kids and even your pets are drawn to the kitchen to catch a glimpse of the creation from your hands.

I often think of the church when I think of cookies. I know it sounds odd, but stay with me.

The church is made of many people. Every person is different and needed. Just as every ingredient is needed in cookies, just ask anyone who has forgotten flour. Every person is needed in the church. The blending of more than just people, but heart and souls is what the church is all about.

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul…” (Acts 4:32, New King James Version)

Just as the smell of baking cookies is a sweet savor, the gathering of saints is a sweet smelling savor to our Father in Heaven. Christ became our sacrifice as a sweet smelling savor before God.

“And ??walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God ??for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:2, New King James Version)

A gathering of people in the name of Christ is a sweet smelling savor before God. Just as your husband, children and even pets come to see the creation of your hands, the world will come to see the creation of God’s hands – the church!

Tonight is not just a gathering to exchange cookies, but an exchange and union of hearts and souls.

Just my thoughts,

Chris