Lamb + Oak

There is something deeply comforting about understanding the everyday life of Jesus. Not just the miracles. Not just the parables. But the simple, ordinary moments—the ones that feel a little more like our own lives. What did He eat? What did He drink? What sat on the table during quiet evenings with His disciples? Because when we begin to see those details clearly…Jesus doesn’t feel far away. He feels near. He feels like someone who sat down at a table… just like we do. The Cup at the Table: What Did Jesus Drink? When we think of Jesus, many of us picture bread and wine —especially during the Last Supper. And that picture is true. But it’s also just the beginning. In the time of Jesus, the most common drinks were: Wine (often diluted with water) Water (from wells, cisterns, or springs) Occasionally milk or fermented drinks Wine wasn’t reserved for special occasions the way it often is today. It was part of daily life. But it looked different than what we might imagine. Wine in the Tim...

Sometimes when I read the Gospels, I find myself wondering about the little details. Not the big miracles (though those are pretty amazing), but the quiet moments in between. What did the air smell like when Jesus sat down to eat? What did dinner look like when no crowds were watching and no sermons were being preached? Because Jesus didn’t just meet people on hillsides and in temples.He met them at tables. He met them in boats. He met them while walking dusty roads and sharing very ordinary meals. And I love that… because most of us live in very ordinary places, doing very ordinary things, wondering if God is still right here with us in the middle of laundry piles and “what’s for dinner?” debates. (If you’ve ever stared into your fridge like it personally betrayed you, welcome. You are among friends.) So today, I wanted to share a simple, comforting meal inspired by foods that would have been common in Jesus’ time — not bread, not lentils, but fish, olives, herbs, figs, and honey. Foo...

There’s something about cold weather that makes us crave food that feels like a hug. Not a polite side hug… but a full, blanket-and-socks -and-you-don’t-have-to-talk  kind of hug. Enter: chili. Faithful. Reliable. Always shows up when things get chilly — kind of like God, honestly. Whether you’ve had a long day, a long week, or a long season  (you know the kind), this is the kind of meal that says: sit down, breathe, and let something warm you from the inside out. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.” — Psalm 28:7 And sometimes… He helps us through a really good bowl of chili too. Amen. Cozy Faith Chili Recipe Ingredients 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey 1 small onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce 1 cup beef or chicken broth 1 tbsp chili powder (more if you like a little kick) 1 tsp cum...

I thought I would mix things up today and bring you a sweet little recipe to try for you and your family. KEY INGREDIENTS FOR MOIST PUMPKIN MUFFINS Using organic ingredients, no seed oils and brown sugar make these healthier than store bought muffins! Here’s what you need to gather from your pantry: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup coconut oil 1 cup plain yogurt 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS Preheat Your Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a muffin tin with paper liners or coat the pan with coconut oil or real butter 😉 Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. This layer of spices is what giv...

Yes! They appear in Scripture more than once. The most famous moment? Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of lentils. Genesis 25. Imagine being SO hungry you give away your family destiny for soup! (I get it… lentils are good, but Esau—buddy, choose a sandwich or something.) What kind of lentils did Jesus probably eat? Back then, the most common were brown lentils , sometimes called “Egyptian lentils.” They’re mild, cozy, earthy, and literally grow everywhere  in that region. Today we also have: Green lentils  — earthy, great in salads. Red lentils  — fast cooking, perfect for soups. Puy (French) lentils  — fancy and dramatic, like the Paris runway of lentils. Black Beluga lentils  — tiny, shiny, and basically the caviar of legumes. But for our holy culinary adventure, we’re going old-school, brown-lentil style. Think humble peasant food…but make it delicious. Health benefits (prepare to feel very righteous) Lentils are:✔ high in plant protein✔ full of iron✔ e...

Thanksgiving is here again—can you believe it? One minute we’re sweating in August, saying things like “This year I’m going to be SO prepared,” and the next minute we’re standing in the grocery aisle holding a frozen turkey like it’s a newborn baby, wondering how long it takes to thaw and if Google will judge us for searching it… again. But ready or not, here comes the beautiful swirl of gathering, cooking, laughing, and loving. Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday because it brings out something tender and true in us. It’s the one of the two days a year where the world seems to collectively pause, take a breath, and say, “Okay, let’s remember what actually matters.” Family. Friends-who-have-become-family. The blessings we sometimes forget to notice. And the loving presence of our Heavenly Father—who is never more than a whisper away. Pull Up a Chair for God If we’re honest, sometimes we treat God like the relative who lives in the guest house—close enough to call if we need Him, but no...

  When I picture Jesus sharing meals with His disciples, I think of the simple, wholesome foods of the land — fresh fish from the Sea of Galilee, figs picked from the tree, olives just pressed into oil… and always, always bread. In Bible times, bread wasn’t just food — it was life. It was made fresh daily, eaten at nearly every meal, and even used as a utensil to scoop up dips and stews. And in the Gospel of John, Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life.  I can’t help but think about the depth of that metaphor — He offered Himself as something nourishing, sustaining, and absolutely essential. Barley bread was especially common for everyday people. Barley grew well in the region and was less expensive than wheat. It was hearty, nutty, and nourishing. When Jesus fed the 5,000 (John 6:9), it was five barley loaves  and two fish that He multiplied to feed the crowd. When we think of bread in the Bible, we might picture fluffy bakery loaves, but in Jesus’ time, bread was often s...