I am tired of timidity, I'm tired of caring what others see. Just imagine if you walked talked and lived with the authority of Christ! Yet we do not, for some reason we cannot. Has the old nature not been put off? Am I not a new creation in Christ Jesus? I 'm positive that I am. I cannot ever deny the saving grace of Jesus, I will never turn to unbelief. Still without passion I live! This lament does not bring resolution, but only more longing for change. So I give you this text:

50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."[g]
55"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"[h] 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57

Now sit back and read that passage again. Flesh and blood have no inheritance in the Kingdom! The fingers with which I type will be rendered useless. The feet you walk on will be gone. Yet the text says we will all be changed, there's no specification between believers and unbelievers. All will be judged. All should be warned. So what are we holding back for? The death that is brought on by sin has been erased. Jesus took our sins, he forgave them! If we are in him, and he in us then our imperishable spirit is assured a place in eternity. So fear nobody but his majesty!

Now that you can see the end and what it holds, where do you stand? Do not fear the one who destroys the body but fear the one who destroys the soul. Can you walk in the authority of Christ?

Drunk

Recently I heard a sermon on this text, 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2

The speaker ended the sermon by telling me to get drunk off of the spiritual milk. Like a newborn baby craves milk, that's how we are supposed to crave the things of God. Then to get drunk off of spiritual things would to have them in excess. This became even more real to me yesterday as I was waiting for the bus. A drunk women came and sat beside me and proceeded to talk to me and I talked back. She then sat beside me on the bus and talked to me until she got off the bus. She was drunk, she was talking. If we are drunk off the spiritual milk we will be talking.

"Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". Is your hearts desire something other than the cup that Jesus drank? Does your speech edify Christ? I'll pray that it does.

Summer

I had been planning to cook at camp again this summer, I'd even asked for a leave of absence. This did not work out though, so I will be in Winnipeg. It wasn't the way I had worked things out in my head. I had already expected to go to camp because I thought that was where God wanted me. Then again what do I know about the will of God.

At first I took it pretty hard, but I soon found peace in knowing it was above me. Knowing that the things of this life are passing away, to sulk on this would prove my faith shallow. I don't know the plans he holds for me, but I trust and obey.

From one sheep to another

Hello fellow sheep! We are all sheep following one Chief Shepard.

2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-3

We are all sheep, whether we believe or we do not. Some sheep are lost and need to be brought back into the fold. Be examples to the flock because you never know who's watching your every step. Yet do not lord yourself over those entrusted to you. In other words do not see yourself as higher than anyone but see them as equal. And do it all with the hope of eternal glory. It's just a good verse, check it out.

Resolution

In Self seeking blindness I couldn't see the impact I was having on other people. I went to work and talked to my Sous Chef today. He assured me that I was doing well in my position and that he would be disappointed to see me leave before I was finished. God showed me that I was having an impact on the people around me. That was reassurance enough to know that this is where God wants me. It's all about Him and not about me.

Step out on the Water

I've been having some doubts lately about continuing in the cooking industry. It's probably been bothering me for about 2 months now. Originally, when I started schooling my mind was not where it should have been. When I decided to go to college my original intention was to run away from God. Only by God's grace did was I returned into his fellowship.

While at school I decided that I would use my cooking to serve the Lord. I found school interesting and I liked learning about cooking, but that's changed now in this apprenticeship. I have had no desire to continue learning, the food industry seems hollow to me, only glorifying the temporary things of this world. So basically it feels like I should be doing something else.

Studying the bible takes up more of my time than studying food so logically I made the decision that bible college would be the next step for me. I'm just putting this out there I have made no decisions yet. Is it ignorant to step out to nothing on what feels like faith? Don't most people change career paths a few times? If you ask me how I got into cooking I can't honestly tell you. Please pray for me and give me some of your insight, especially those who have life experience.

Cast it all

You know what it's like, your job is stressing you out or God's vision for you isn't clear. I know I've been feeling it. The truth of the matter is that christ came and died to take those burdens.

1 Peter 5:6-8 (New International Version)

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

When you find humility you'll find anxiety that will comes with it. Humility is essential to any successful christian walk. In your anxiety is where your character is tested, it's tested for patience and for perseverance. It will take patience to wait on God's direction but it will take perseverance to remain steadfast in the Lord. It means looking to God in his Word, in your prayers and in fasting.

In your time of anxiety it's important to keep alert because in your selfish anguish doubt will come and the devil is always waiting to confirm your doubts. Hold on he's strong.