A group of chefs from the Food Network set out to complete what seems like an impossible task: feed 100 people with food that was destined for the garbage.
They expect only to find scraps but as they travel to markets and farms, what they discover is stunning.
Beautiful tomatoes with the slightest imperfections in their skins.
Gorgeous corn blown over by hurricane winds that no one will pick.
Eggs that are not quite the right size or shape.
In the end, they have abundance that turns into a joyful feast.
How can there be so much waste? is the question that lingers in their minds and those of the viewers too. Are we used to rejecting what’s good but not perfect?
After I change the channel, the questions still linger.
And I realize that I have done the same in my life.
I fear what I create isn’t adequate so I don’t offer it.
I think what someone else does is better so I cast aside my strengths.
Maybe you too?
But the reality is that God wants to feed hearts through who we are–just as we are.
Let’s dare to put our imperfections in his hands and let them have his way with them, with us.
It just may turn into an abundance of joy for more than we can even imagine.
photo: Farmer’s Market by Rhett Maxwell
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Such a word for thought today and everyday.
I just read something about the chefs who are making a difference in world hunger by cooking with food-bank food, produce that’s past it’s date and addressing the wastefulness of our society. What an interesting way to look at our usefulness to nourish the soul-hungry of this world…. Thank you!
“But the reality is that God wants to feed hearts through who we are–just as we are.”
Beautiful and so true! Blessings Holley!
All. Is. For. Purpose.
I believe this.
Amen, sister!
Beautifully illustrated post with a great message:) Thanks for sharing!
I love this post, Holley. It’s so hard to offer out of a place of imperfection. I feel so encouraged to put the imperfections aside and focus on the bounty.
something i’m struggling with THIS VERY MINUTE! “WOW” at God’s timing…
Great post for me! Thanks.
That’s a great word, Holley! I definitely hold back for fear of not being enough.
Me too
Holley,
Loved that show. Hard to believe that we throw so much good stuff away–we should all try to offer ourselves-just as we are to others & show them His love! Afterall, He made us this way warts & all!!
Holley .. . .This is an amazing word straight from God’s heart through you
xoxoxoxoxo
I think the constant striving for perfection is highly overrated, and I am thankful God loves me just the way I am, and has a beautiful and perfect plan for me, knowing my imperfections and all!
I love this comment Kathy…we do strive so hard to be perfect but if we were perfect, we wouldn’t need God. And He wants us always to be needy for Him. There is a verse in Psalms that says He will rescue the children of the needy. Do you mind if I post your comment on Facebook?
Wow! Very often I feel that what I have to give isn’t good enough. Never “perfect” enough. What a lie from Satan. Thank you for sharing these thoughts today.
Wonderfully said! Holly, thank you for sharing. Today, just a few minutes ago, I pondered the significance of starting fresh (0:00:00). It comes every day. And to be aware of the freedom already here – already guaranteed and waiting for the living, it’s vital. It’s truth.
I wrote about this today on my blog. I love that I can come here, and read encouraging words of more truth. More sweet reminders of who God is, how He intricately weaves in our personal, every-day lives. How He actually cares deeply and specifically for us. How great is our God.
Thanks for reading and being here, friends! Appreciate you! 🙂
Wonderful post! I manage a food pantry for those in need and we feed people on a daily basis with fresh food that has been turned down by the grocery chains! It is such a blessing to get it! We also feed them spiritually and I just love the way you tied in how imperfect things and people can be useful. Love it!
hellothere! I have been asked to share my story at an AA meeting online. I have only done this type of thing a very few times before and always in person. I am used to sharing in meetings..bits ans pieces. I was afraid of being judged and reluctant to do this. Then I read this article..my gifts of experience strength and hope will benefit other women alcoholics and it’s a great thing to share it with them. thanks for a word of encouragement that i needed so much! love, Susan
I remember asking my mom what my dad wanted or needed for his birthday. She suggested handkerchiefs. Wee, they were so reasonable that I bought 3 packs. Well, my sister gave him a much better gift. I was so not-proud of my gift that i hid it in my purse and gave him nothing. Wow, I guess I was wrong!
Love you. Love your writing.
God bless you, girl!
Wow, this is so profoundly true of us all. Thank you for the insight xxx
I bless the Lord for giving you as a gift to my generation!! Continue the great work for which you were given to us!
Lots n lots of Love n Thanks!
As I think of this message, the song comes to my mind: “Give them all. Give them all. Give them all to Jesus. Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys. Give them all. Give them all. Give them all to Jesus. And, He will turn your sorrows into joy.” So true for me and for you. Remember also, Jesus took a little boys lunch of some fish and bread, thanked God for it, blessed it, broke it, and used it to feed 5,000 plus people. And, 12 baskets leftover; one for each of His disciples. I just love God and His Word!
Thank you for this great reminder, when just today I find myself “comparing” and thinking that maybe I’m not good enough. Blessings, Holley
Thank you so much! Needed that- i posted on my facebook for my friends. You’re a blessing, Holley
Thank you for reminding me that it’s ok to give God my imperfections. I remember seeing a poster as a child that said “Not perfect, just forgiven” and I try to remember that when my perfectionism rears it’s ugly head. God Bless You!
hi Holley,
We certainly tend to discount our gifts/talents as not beautiful enough for others to see/hear at times. But once again, you remind us that God accepts us with all our imperfections-we weren’t meant to be perfect.
Wouldn’t it be wondeful if more grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants used the imperfect, day old produce to feed the hungry? Now that would be a joyfilled feast!!!
Blessings, Sandy
Once again, thank you for being such a blessing, Holley! God Bless You!
I love all the different ways that this theme is surfacing in your writing. We need this! I quoted from your “What You Have to Give” post when I wrote “The Highlight Reel” on my new blog. By the way, thanks for all of your insights/encouragement with that. I still don’t have the design completely finished, but I didn’t want to wait for that to start writing. It’s a practice in offering something even when it’s not perfect. Thanks for always driving home this message. 🙂
Holley- you hit me right where I’m at; thank you! (I’ve actually been working on a post called Learning to Love Imperfection…) At 40, I feel like I’m finally learning not to cast aside my strengths. I just wish it hadn’t take me so long, lol!
Thank you as always for your beautiful encouragement!
Thank you Holley wonderfully said. God bless
I love how God uses the most mundane, everyday things to teach us lessons 🙂
I had one of those moments not too long ago myself, where I was taught a lesson while my kids were watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
http://lifefaithful.blogspot.com/2012/01/lessons-from-turtles.html
I just got home from a day of ministry at the prayer clinic, God breaking through places of despair and bringing hope and healing and still, Holley, I feel exactly this way. Thank you for putting it so perfectly! Depression almost always follows deep times of ministry for me. Kind of like Elijah after Mount Carmel, just without the fire. He He. This is when I need to sit and be replenished with the Spirit, get rooted and established in the love of God again and ask for the Spirit to make me brave again. It can be so hard to offer again and again and again! Time to pick up the kids from school!!!
Was just wrestling today with whether or not I’ve really got anything to offer. Thanks so much for this. Also I keep thinking about several of the things you said at the conference previously known as The Relevant Conference–Allume. I’ve been munching on the idea that humility is agreeing with what God has to say about me. Good stuff.
I learned more about this when I became a military wife. If you shop at a commissary, you quickly learn that the suppliers often send us the imperfect, low quality, soon to expire, less than normal standard produce and pantry items. I have learned that we are to be grateful for what we do have, and beauty does come from the imperfect, my imperfect, even if it is simply a tasty meal, or a change in heart! With God, all things are possible.
Thanks Holley. I really needed to hear these words and this encouragement. What a great reminder. I have a job interview next week and am very nervous about it. Thank you for reminding me that God is on my side and He has given me strengths and gifts and will place me in an environment where they can be used. I know all I need to do is trust Him!
Loved this post!
Another reminder that God made all things “perfect” and in his own
“image”!
We are all in need of change and you and me can change the world when we look beyond our own imperfections! Jesus took it all on the cross when He himself took on our imperfections and said “IT IS FINISHED”. Let us remind ourselves that we are all imperfect and we all need to show love to one another in such a way that we need to look beyond our own imperfections and to be more like Jesus. Remember how he walked amongst those with diseases of all kinds. Those imperfect saw perfection in Jesus and none of those imperfections mattered anymore. Jesus sees you as perfect and He knows what’s deep in your hearts!
Remember today to share a smile, a hand and alot of love because the greatest command that comes from God is that we love one another no matter how we look.
God bless you.
[…] For times when you feel less than perfect…Joy Feast. […]
Holley, you are wonderfully made and sent to bless this generation. Thanks so much for your words of wisdom and the simplicity of writing. The rate of striving for perfection in the 21st century is alarming. We need to pause and think. Your post has made me to do this again today. While there is nothing wrong with perfection, it has been overrated. This seems to have done more harm than good to a lot of people who has scored themselves as not good enough and therefore lack the confidence to contribute and demonstrate their God given potentials. I believe the much emphasis placed on perfection today has affected the self worth and confidence of many in this generation. Your post is good reminder that we are good enough and we should be confident and be happy with who we are and what we have to offer. We should always hold on to this truth in the scripture which says: “..God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good”(Genesis 1:31). God bless you.
Wow! What a great message Holley!
I’m someone who is afraid of saying something for fear that it will be the wrong thing, fear of doing something because I’m not good enough, this is such a great motivator for me and once again the timing is perfect.
Thank you for the blessing that you are in my my life!
Lisa
This is just what I need also, thank you so much Holley.
Ahh, Holley! This post is fresh air for the soul. What great words for me to linger on while I get down to the business of some {imperfect} writing. I love you so much!
I love your writing. I always thought of it that way my “little imperfection” over took myself.. Thank you and God Bless you Holley..
Yes, Holley, I struggle with this repeatedly. Perfect or nothing–where did I get this mentality? It’s gotta go! Thanks for the inspiration.
THANK YOU HOLLEY—SO Holy Spirit convicting…so life-changing…a life-long teaching/preaching to me, o thank you, o Praise the LORD!!
(inspired of the LORD to me: ‘Kids” Grace Concerning Meals!
Peas, beans, and cherries on my bib, I’m not old enough to chew, just spit!
Asparagus, orange will come later, with mustard, rye and wrestling gators;
but my, oh my, I hear my Gramps exclaim over blackberry pie!
Thank You, Lord God for this food and please bless farmers with best success, too!!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Thank you. This spoke to my heart. From a little girl at a Christian school, I kept asking Jesus to accept me. Not I accept Jesus into my heart–that wasn’t an issue. I just felt that no one could really love me because I wasn’t good enough if they really knew me so how could God? I still remember feeling that way and it was almost 40 years ago…
Our church holds a Pads site which means feeding people , letting them sleep overnight then serve breakfast along with a packed lunch on their way out for the day.
Our local bakery and other food stores contribute as other wise the food which is very good would be tossed in the trash cans. God watches his own .
Love you Holly Betty
Betty,
God bless you and what your church is doing to help those in need. May God continue to bless your church when you and others are doing the greatest of God’s commandments, is to love one another, no imperfections are seen in them when God enters the room!
Blessings to you and your Church, Betty.
Ana
After losing my job in July we have had to humble ourselves and participate in the food giveaways that are offered in our community. At first I was leery of what they may give us. Food that has been rejected by others. Food that has set on shelves a little to long. We are a people who only what the perfect. The unbrusied. I take these “imperfect foods” with such gratiude and joy in my heart. My husband and I bring home these imperfections, these rejects and are able to turn these foods into wonderful meals. We thank God for other’s rejects every day and one day when we get back on our feet we hope to pay back these food banks with donations of fresh vegetables from our garden that we have just started but also our time to help hand out needed food to our fellow man.
It’s timely to be reminded that it doesn’t matter if what I give to others is not perfect as long as it comes from the heart. Yesterday, I decided to bring some carrot cake I baked to my office for my colleagues to try. There were discouraging thoughts at the same time such as…. it’s too little; will colleagues think I’m stingy because there isn’t enough to go round… Well, I must say it gave me great joy to be able to share something homemade. So it doesn’t matter!
I love this thought. . Thanks!
Love what we see as imperfections…ours or others. They can feed, nurture, inspire… Even when we are much more imperfect than these tomatos! What a lesson!
[…] https://aws.incourage.me/2012/02/joy-feast.html […]
For so long insecurities and fear of what people may say have held me back. I too ‘discard’ my offing because I think it’s not good enough. I still have a ways to go but thank you for reminding me that what I have to offer is precious.
Elizabeth