Oatmeal is a Power Food

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.

A picture of fitness, my dear husband is my model for healthy living. Nine years ago he taught me the secret of eating oatmeal for breakfast. Among the claims of this little power grain are that it reduces cholesterol, fights cancer and prevents heart disease. Those three reasons alone were enough to convince me to feature it in my breakfast time rotation. It took me several attempts to perfect my microwave oatmeal technique but now I am a pro. I cook my mo-mo (as Clara calls it) it three two-minute segments separated by a stir. This means that many mornings I have six minutes to use. Over a near decade I have learned that in two minutes I can:

• Write four encouraging notes on my daughters' lunch napkins


• Trade out my laundry


• Surf Facebook and send up a prayer or two for some hurting pals


• Make a list of things for which I'm thankful


• Empty the dishwasher

The possibilities of what I can do in just two minutes are many. Turns out my little oats were stuffed with more than just nutrition. They were packed with the gift of time spent two minutes at a time.

This morning's passage is Matthew 8. This section is one of miracles. Jesus' displays His power through healing the sick, settling a raging storm and commanding demons. Truly there is no task too big for God.

As I pictured Christ bringing health and peace to so many, I visualized that same power dwelling in me. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine and that the power of God lives inside us. The power living inside me gives me the option to choose what to do with the two-minute intervals that pop up throughout my day.

I may not be able to bring healing to the sick, but I can use two minutes to pray for their health. I can not calm the storms that rage around me, but I can spend two minutes penning an encouraging note to a friend in the midst of a storm. I likely will never command the obedience of demons but I can take two minutes to store God's word in my heart and prepare me for battle.

I am thankful for any health benefits that my morning mo-mo sends my way. However, the lasting potential that breakfast food grants me is the gift of six minutes spent just two minutes at a time.

Jesus, today I will have roughly 500 two-minute increments in my day. I have 500 opportunities to cherish or squander. Today I pray that I will pause whether it's over a bowl of oatmeal or my washer and dryer and use some of those 500 gifts to offer healing and hope to the world around me.