Dear Saddleback Family,
The Bible often speaks of "locusts" - a variety of grasshoppers that migrate in huge thick swarms and eat every crop in sight. The damage locusts can do in a few hours is unbelievable. A plague of locusts can wipe out all your hard work, investment, and legacy in a single day. That's why the Bible also use locusts to symbolize any circumstances or people that are destructive, debilitating, or discouraging,
You may have had some "locusts" in your life - forces that were eating away at your effort, your energy, your effectiveness, or your enthusiasm. What can you do? Well, until aerial spraying, the only way was to pray for change in the wind! That's what Moses did:
"Moses pleaded with the Lord. So the Lord changed the wind. He made a very strong wind blow from the west, and it blew the locusts away into the Red Sea. Not one locust was left anywhere in Egypt." Exodus 10:19 (NCV)
Always remember that what is out of your control is never out of God's control. You just need to take that circumstance to God and he will take care of it for you. "If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31 (NLT) In fact, God gives us a great promise of hope when locusts are eating away at us:
"I will restore and replace for you the years that the locusts have eaten away. I will give you back what you lost." Joel 2:25 (Amp/NLT)
This weekend, I'm speaking on "The Legacy of HOPE." If something or someone has been eating away at you, this encouraging message is for you!
There's a new wind blowing at Saddleback sent from God! You can feel it!
Pastor Rick
PS: Amazingly, God promises to keep the "locusts" from eating at you if you do one thing: tithe!
"The whole nation has robbed me. Bring to My Storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this!" says the Lord.. "I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need. I will stop the locusts from eating your crops!" Malachi 3:9-12 (NCV)
FUNNY TRIVIA. Did you know that locusts are high in protein? 69%! They are the only insect that God allowed the people in Bible times to eat! "No insects may be eaten, with the exception of those that jump; locusts of all varieties--ordinary locusts, bald locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers--may be eaten." Leviticus 11:20-21 (LB)
Here are some actual locust recipes for the adventurous! Check out the Cambodian one!
Tinjiya (Tswana recipe): remove the wings and hindlegs of the locusts, and boil in a little water until soft. Add salt, if desired, and a little fat and fry until brown. Serve with cooked, dried mealies (corn).
Sikonyane (Swazi recipe): prepare embers and roast the whole locust on the embers. Remove head, wings, and legs, in other words, only the breast part is eaten. The South Sotho people use locusts especially as food for travellers. The heads and last joint of the hindlegs are broken off and the rest laid on the coals to roast. The roasted locusts are ground on a grinding stone to a fine powder. This powder can be kept for long periods of time and is taken along on a journey. Dried locusts are also prepared for the winter months. The legs, when dried, are especially relished for their pleasant taste.
Cambodia: take several dozen locust adults, preferably females, slit the abdomen lengthwise and stuff a peanut inside. Then lightly grill the locusts in a wok or hot frying pan, adding a little oil and salt to taste. Be careful not to overcook or burn them.
Barbecue (grilled): prepare the embers or charcoal. Place about one dozen locusts on a skewer, stabbing each through the centre of the abdomen. If you only want to eat the abdomen, then you may want to take off the legs or wings either before or after cooking. Several skewers of locusts may be required for each person. Place the skewers above the hot embers and grill while turning continuously to avoid burning the locusts until they become golden brown.
This E mail invaded my box today...Well, is Rick Warren correct? If we tithe will God grant us protection/restoration? (I know he'd love it if his congregation believes this.) Seriously, though...what could be said to friends/family caught-up in this snare to counter this assertion?
The Bible often speaks of "locusts" - a variety of grasshoppers that migrate in huge thick swarms and eat every crop in sight. The damage locusts can do in a few hours is unbelievable. A plague of locusts can wipe out all your hard work, investment, and legacy in a single day. That's why the Bible also use locusts to symbolize any circumstances or people that are destructive, debilitating, or discouraging,
You may have had some "locusts" in your life - forces that were eating away at your effort, your energy, your effectiveness, or your enthusiasm. What can you do? Well, until aerial spraying, the only way was to pray for change in the wind! That's what Moses did:
"Moses pleaded with the Lord. So the Lord changed the wind. He made a very strong wind blow from the west, and it blew the locusts away into the Red Sea. Not one locust was left anywhere in Egypt." Exodus 10:19 (NCV)
Always remember that what is out of your control is never out of God's control. You just need to take that circumstance to God and he will take care of it for you. "If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31 (NLT) In fact, God gives us a great promise of hope when locusts are eating away at us:
"I will restore and replace for you the years that the locusts have eaten away. I will give you back what you lost." Joel 2:25 (Amp/NLT)
This weekend, I'm speaking on "The Legacy of HOPE." If something or someone has been eating away at you, this encouraging message is for you!
There's a new wind blowing at Saddleback sent from God! You can feel it!
Pastor Rick
PS: Amazingly, God promises to keep the "locusts" from eating at you if you do one thing: tithe!
"The whole nation has robbed me. Bring to My Storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this!" says the Lord.. "I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need. I will stop the locusts from eating your crops!" Malachi 3:9-12 (NCV)
FUNNY TRIVIA. Did you know that locusts are high in protein? 69%! They are the only insect that God allowed the people in Bible times to eat! "No insects may be eaten, with the exception of those that jump; locusts of all varieties--ordinary locusts, bald locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers--may be eaten." Leviticus 11:20-21 (LB)
Here are some actual locust recipes for the adventurous! Check out the Cambodian one!
Tinjiya (Tswana recipe): remove the wings and hindlegs of the locusts, and boil in a little water until soft. Add salt, if desired, and a little fat and fry until brown. Serve with cooked, dried mealies (corn).
Sikonyane (Swazi recipe): prepare embers and roast the whole locust on the embers. Remove head, wings, and legs, in other words, only the breast part is eaten. The South Sotho people use locusts especially as food for travellers. The heads and last joint of the hindlegs are broken off and the rest laid on the coals to roast. The roasted locusts are ground on a grinding stone to a fine powder. This powder can be kept for long periods of time and is taken along on a journey. Dried locusts are also prepared for the winter months. The legs, when dried, are especially relished for their pleasant taste.
Cambodia: take several dozen locust adults, preferably females, slit the abdomen lengthwise and stuff a peanut inside. Then lightly grill the locusts in a wok or hot frying pan, adding a little oil and salt to taste. Be careful not to overcook or burn them.
Barbecue (grilled): prepare the embers or charcoal. Place about one dozen locusts on a skewer, stabbing each through the centre of the abdomen. If you only want to eat the abdomen, then you may want to take off the legs or wings either before or after cooking. Several skewers of locusts may be required for each person. Place the skewers above the hot embers and grill while turning continuously to avoid burning the locusts until they become golden brown.
This E mail invaded my box today...Well, is Rick Warren correct? If we tithe will God grant us protection/restoration? (I know he'd love it if his congregation believes this.) Seriously, though...what could be said to friends/family caught-up in this snare to counter this assertion?