Before getting to Gatlinburg, you have to pass through another very cheesy town called Pigeon Forge. Even the name is enough proof that you can't take anything there too seriously. Go Kart racing tracks, showplaces, "As Seen On TV" stores, bluegrass music and "Honk if you love Jesus" billboards crowd the main street that stretches for maybe eight traffic lights.
Just before the eighth light or so, there is a small Krispy Kreme donut shop. This particular shop has a "hot light." You see it before you can even see the building, and it usually only comes on after 9pm. Invariably, when it is on, there is a long line of cars that continues all the way out to the main road. But trust me, the wait is worth it.
The hot light has a simple message: Krispy Kreme glazed donuts are fresh, hot and ready.
It has a simple warning: You will get fat.
This next part I can't explain. Whenever we drive near the building, it's like some natural force takes over and turns Dad's steering wheel into the line of cars. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, we just can't. Oh well.
The almost-best part is when you pull around to the drive-thru window and you get to look in and watch the donuts come out on a conveyer belt just after passing underneath what I call the "glaze waterfall."
Okay, that now leaves the best part. Eating. They literally melt in your mouth. I'm convinced God eats these things for breakfast!
I've learned the hard way that my stomach has a three donut max capacity. I would eat an entire box if I could, but as I said, I know my limit. Like most donut lovers, I've had Krispy Kremes before. They are good, but nothing compared to the ones you can get when the hot light is on.
Seeing the hot light and then getting our bakers dozen of fresh, hot donuts is always something I crave and look forward to when we go to Gatlinburg. Every time, my expectations are met: taste buds satisfied + tummy stuffed = road trip complete.
Sunday mornings are like a second "hot light" for me. I can't wait for Sundays. I absolutely love going to church, and every time I walk away "fuller" than I was coming in.
I think it is true for a lot of us that we come out of church on Sunday as if we just bought a bakers dozen of delicious Krispy Kreme donuts. Our faith is fresh and we want more and more of Jesus. Sunday mornings become something we look forward to, mainly because of how good or full we feel afterward.
Hello, Monday. You eat a left-over Krispy Kreme or two for breakfast but they don't taste anything like they did yesterday. They are stale and simply not as good.
Spiritually, getting through the week is tough. Sunday's message may still be in our mind, but often our busy schedules become a distraction and a playing ground for temptations. Enough of the "Super Sunday Spirit" will usually spill into Monday and maybe even Tuesday. Come Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, the heart can get dried up. Satan knows not to spend as much time attacking us on Sundays because our faith "hot light" is on.
The Bible talks a lot about spending time with God daily. Here are a few verses of Scripture:
Then [Jesus] said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11
Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my door, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34
Turn on your "hot light" by cracking open a Bible and spending some time with God.
Your "faith buds" will love it.
-Rachel
Just before the eighth light or so, there is a small Krispy Kreme donut shop. This particular shop has a "hot light." You see it before you can even see the building, and it usually only comes on after 9pm. Invariably, when it is on, there is a long line of cars that continues all the way out to the main road. But trust me, the wait is worth it.
The hot light has a simple message: Krispy Kreme glazed donuts are fresh, hot and ready.
It has a simple warning: You will get fat.
This next part I can't explain. Whenever we drive near the building, it's like some natural force takes over and turns Dad's steering wheel into the line of cars. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, we just can't. Oh well.
The almost-best part is when you pull around to the drive-thru window and you get to look in and watch the donuts come out on a conveyer belt just after passing underneath what I call the "glaze waterfall."
Okay, that now leaves the best part. Eating. They literally melt in your mouth. I'm convinced God eats these things for breakfast!
I've learned the hard way that my stomach has a three donut max capacity. I would eat an entire box if I could, but as I said, I know my limit. Like most donut lovers, I've had Krispy Kremes before. They are good, but nothing compared to the ones you can get when the hot light is on.
Seeing the hot light and then getting our bakers dozen of fresh, hot donuts is always something I crave and look forward to when we go to Gatlinburg. Every time, my expectations are met: taste buds satisfied + tummy stuffed = road trip complete.
Sunday mornings are like a second "hot light" for me. I can't wait for Sundays. I absolutely love going to church, and every time I walk away "fuller" than I was coming in.
I think it is true for a lot of us that we come out of church on Sunday as if we just bought a bakers dozen of delicious Krispy Kreme donuts. Our faith is fresh and we want more and more of Jesus. Sunday mornings become something we look forward to, mainly because of how good or full we feel afterward.
Hello, Monday. You eat a left-over Krispy Kreme or two for breakfast but they don't taste anything like they did yesterday. They are stale and simply not as good.
Spiritually, getting through the week is tough. Sunday's message may still be in our mind, but often our busy schedules become a distraction and a playing ground for temptations. Enough of the "Super Sunday Spirit" will usually spill into Monday and maybe even Tuesday. Come Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, the heart can get dried up. Satan knows not to spend as much time attacking us on Sundays because our faith "hot light" is on.
The Bible talks a lot about spending time with God daily. Here are a few verses of Scripture:
Then [Jesus] said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11
Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my door, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34
Turn on your "hot light" by cracking open a Bible and spending some time with God.
Your "faith buds" will love it.
-Rachel
Good stuff, Rachel. I never thought about God eating Krispy Kreme donuts....but only when the "hot light" is on. But that DOES make sense. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love Sundays, too. Can't wait for worship time. It really is easy to "run out of gas" during the week if we don't stay in the Word and make an effort to spend time with God. Believe me, I know. Happens to me a lot.
I've always heard of going to church as a time to "fill up the tank" for the week. Yup...heard that a lot.
But recently, I read a devotional that said our goal should be to stay in a close relationship with the Word and God so that we build up our excitement in Him durng the week so that, on Sunday, we EXPLODE with worship.
I can't say that I'm always ready to 'explode' on Sunday, but I DO get pretty excited about what we call "corporate" worship. I love seeing other Christians, encouraging them, playing music with them, and hearing the word that God has laid on our pastor for us to hear.
Yeah.....Sundays are pretty special.
Wait...you slipped one in there at the end that I missed. "Faith buds"? That's pretty creative! :-)
ReplyDelete- Ritchie