A Ministry of Christian Chefs International (CCI)

Monday, October 5, 2015

Happy Autumn! ...Remember? Back to school...Welcome CCA Students of 2015-2016!

 “Remember the LORD your God”, I was very pleased and excited as this is at the forefront of much of my devotions as I am ...forgetful...lest we forget...It, remembering, was also important to the Lord Jesus.. as when He did what He did in sending the Holy Spirit...and while explaining that to His disciples (and us by the way) In John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have told you.” (ISV). At this time of the year we are reminded of one thing for sure ….Back to School time!  
As we welcome the new students and begin again to "Go and make disciples" Much of the time we also have to go “Back to School”ourselves...its a never ending process  learning as we go...growing as we learn and are fed our spiritual food...
. In our journey with the Lord and in seeking His Kingdom, His Knowledge, His Wisdom, and His Presence we sometimes have to start at the beginning, and start remembering... Proverbs 1:7 says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (KJV)

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 8:18, “Remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (NIV). So it makes sense that God wants us to be productive...sharing the wealth and abundance of God from the beginning... to be “fruitful” So why “Remember?” well Sisters and Brothers it is simply because we forgot...Many events in the Bible I believe are there to “Remind” us of Gods plan and days are set aside to “Remember” He knew we are forgetful, and even unorganized or uncaring or all three! So He made a way...and even in the reconciliation of the world through Jesus' magnificent victory over sin, death and the enemy God sent a Helper! A memory helper so if we have the Lord in our hearts we also have the Helper...there so Simply listen and take heed of what the Spirit would have us remember. I am also reminded...that we pray to God as is done in the Psalms imploring the Lord to not “Forget” us...in Mark 4:26 “Then Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows—he has no idea how it happens.” So no matter what we forget God's plan for that seed goes on….
we also are encouraged in Psalm 103:12 that God forgets our sin “He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.” (TLB)
Funny as we go to school to learn to remember or retain or receive knowledge or struggle is always not so much as to remember but as to NOT forget!
Either way He sent us a Helper...the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost! The third person in the trinity is important as Father is as Son is...they are one Now they are one together they are one for each other they are one in and for us…
So if anyone ever says you have a memory problem just say… “Forget about it!” I may have a reception problem like a bad TV...But I have help with my memory!  Students all are we and let us Rock and Roll this Autumn...and beyond!  He is the same in the past present and the future ..forever into eternity...


Sunday, August 30, 2015

Before you can have Revival ...you have to have...Vival!

REVIVAL
When the Natural and Supernatural meet... and what happens is an explosion of God's Power, Grace, and Love that is expressed by the body of Christ in our calling out to God, His hearing, Jesus interceding and the Holy Spirit Moving! Like Heaven meets earth
As a Cook I was thinking of this theme REVIVAL and what would a Recipe for Revival would be. Now oddly Godly this is not a new concept! I read quite a few “recipes” and let them digest in my heart and mind. I can only thank God for the multitude of writers inspired to do such a recipe and for all the little tidbits of each that fill this...recipe...
As a musician who loves Bluegrass music as I was waiting on the Lord what came to mind was a favorite song called Revival by the group ...New Grass Revival! What a coincidence ;).  listen to this    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk-jn9AMlCE
I really enjoy the lyrics and sentiment...as we all get older we get more tired, as we are engaged battle with the darkness and principalities in this world we tire...and as the songwriter states to “I am going to take these feelings and put them in this song...Right Now!” We all know Psalmists put their hearts on the scrolls...for a relationship with God is not all ink and paper (or papyrus) ...Its a new song of Revival.
Paul tells us of our physical “tents” that are wearing out, or at the very least wearing thin! And in our Spirit Person we also weaken occasionally experiencing battle fatigue and damage. We then need Rest, Recovery, Rehab, in short we need Revival! If we have been seeming half beaten to death we need to be brought back to life. Many years ago the Lord put this into my vocabulary and since than I have always said “ Before we can have Revival...we need to have...”Vival” The RE in revival, resurgence, revitalization, redo, revisit, remodel, reconstruct, remake, and revivification... means “once again” Vival as in the root of vivification animation, activity, quicken, and Revive! Bring back to life or energize empower what is left there! That “Vival”is that new life when we are born again. Revival also refers to the Act, the meeting, Rally, and gathering where that experience can be magnified and shared...often becoming a beacon to the light of Jesus Christ shining in those of us in whom He lives.
As a Recipe has Ingredients, and method/instructions I humbly present this.
REVIVAL, A Recipe
YEILD: For 2 or more gathered in His Name
INGREDIENTS: Please use Organic ( From the Creator), Free Range ( Made Free indeed by Jesus Christ), and pesticide/principality free (Cleansed by the Holy Spirit).

Prep work: 2 Chron. 7:14 There is always prep to do in this verse we find our basket of “ingredients” that need to be made manifest before we can cook!
2 Chronicles 7:14 New Living Translation
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
It's a great verse chock full of ingredients for us. The first thing I see is deeply comforting to us. We are a needy people. We are a sinful people in need of a savior! We sin; We fall short and sometimes...We fail, but look at the personal note the verse starts out with. "And my people"! What a comfort! We are God's people! He is our Father. He is our God. David says in Psalm. 23, "the LORD is my shepherd." What a comfort... We belong to God. He is our God.
1st ingredient; A sense of Belonging
Reading on we read “who are called by my name” Wow as persons in this day and age in relationship with Jesus who has told us time and again...”IN my name” We are IN His name...Not only called Christians ( little Christs') ..."Who are called by my name.” The concept of God's name is very important in Scripture. It is filled with significance. It says we are called by God's name. There is ownership there. There is security and safety there. There is comfort there for us. There is another concept we need to see. God is very jealous about the honor or dishonor of his name. In the Bible there is a very real sense in which our lives bring either honor or dishonor to our Living God and heavenly father. What an incentive for us to live careful, consistent, holy lives in order to bring honor to God's name...Our name...Amen? Doing all things in My ( now our) name…
2nd ingredient; A sense of Identity
the next phrase that jumps out is ”will Humble themselves”. One of the conditions for revival is humility. Humility is so important in our lives. Humility is also very elusive. If we think we have it, we don't! Humility is related to meekness which speaks of one's life being perfectly controlled by God's grace, and that is power enough to attain such a lofty goal. Another facet of humility is teachableness. The proud man thinks he knows it all. He can't learn because he doesn't think he needs to. The humble person is teachable. They realize their limitations. We must be willing to be taught. God can use us because we are teachable. How do we do? Are we teachable?
3rd ingredient; A sense of Humility
The next word is “pray”...enough said... it is that special quality time we spend when we exercise our faith muscles and are IN that relationship in communion, communication, and yeah consumption...we we consume the food and drink the Jesus is. We walk, talk, and breathe each other in...Abiding and Being in Love…Actively being believers...Pray for revival.

4th ingredient; Praying
While prepping grab some “seek my face” ha ha now you may say “ How do we do that?” OK and this is just my personal take and insight but I believe worth sharing...OK we all know it is a “Love” thing...God is Love. Jesus, His expression of Love ...We are IN Love, having fallen and in that relationship that is described as the paradigm of the Bride and Groom. In that intimate relationship one would kiss their spouse...Amen? All I can ask is “ Have you ever kissed your spouse in the dark? At night? Invariably you reach out to find where you are going to kiss in that same process reaching out to the lover of your soul creator of your being...and even as those who kiss their parents Yes seeking reaching thirsting panting hungering,,,all words in the Bible expressing the passion of “seeking his face”...Reach out...

5th ingredient; Seeking

Next up is the active phrase turn from their wicked ways” We have to keep turning not like a piece of meat being grilled, or an egg in a pan, but in our souls sense turn as in Repent...Turn around and head in the right direction...leave the wrong behind and go with the righteousness the right way...He will lead we follow. Revival is on the way!

6th ingredient; Repenting

So take all your ingredients and mix them well carefully adding each one after carefully examining them...folding them together like you fold your hands in prayer...placing them carefully together...then lift them up to the Lord for completion.

The Groovy thing about all this prep work is that once done Jesus does all the work...in fact He has already done the work...accomplished and finished the work His Father started at Genesis 1:1 at the Cross! And we go on from there the great CO-mission...and yes humans being that we are we do get tired...and nothing wrong with that All things in the physical wear out fall apart as our bodies do while waiting on the resurrection morning when union with Father Son and Holy Spirit commutes into eternity we can get a preview...Revival, not only a supernatural get together , but an earthly resurrection of purpose and power, providence and empowerment, restoration and recovery, healing and rehabilitation but also a glimpse of heaven on earth where the body is working together and doing His Will. Born Again New Creations doing the Word of God all those awesome miracles! Bring more New Creations into the family...…A place like heaven where a New Song is sung!, a New dish is prepared!...and the Wedding feast of the Lamb is where you want to be …Rock and Roll! Jesus is the Rock and we Roll! As the Glory Boys sing “ The Kingdom of God is a Party!” Yeah were going to have a Revival ...OH Yeah!  PLease oray for that for the Christian Culinary Academy and the students God brings to it...


Saturday, August 1, 2015

IN times like these..It is good to know there have always been...Times like these!

Forgive the little hiatus as the Lord and I have been dealing with physical issues for which I thank the many prayer partners and humbly ask for your continued prayerful support of Christian Chefs International, the Culinary Academy, myself, and family.  As we apply layers of flavor to our culinary creations Our Father also adds layers of experience to those of who are His creations.  During this time the words "Promise" and "Promises" have come up in my spirit to meditate and feed on.  I was blessed by this excerpt from Charles Spurgeon and I share it with you as it so eloquently speaks on this topic in a way that edified me and gave me more to "feast" on!  Taste and See!
  "Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn."

Ruth 2:2

"Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean today in the broad field of promise. Here are abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet your wants. Take this one: "He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax." (Is 42:3). Doesn't that suit your case? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, he will not break you; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen you. You are like the smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from you; but he will not quench you; he will blow with his sweet breath of mercy till he fans you to a flame. Would you glean another ear? "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mat 11:28). What soft words! Your heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore he speaks so gently to you. Will you not obey him, and come to him even now? Take another ear of corn: "Fear not, you worm Jacob, I will help you, saith the Lord and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." (Is 41:14). How can you fear with such a wonderful assurance as this? You may gather ten thousand such golden ears as these! "I have blotted out thy sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud thy transgressions." (Is 44:22). Or this, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Is 1:18). Or this, "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely." (Rev 22:17). Our Master's field is very rich; behold the handfuls. See, there they lie before you, poor timid believer! Gather them up, make them your own, for Jesus bids you take them. Be not afraid, only believe! Grasp these sweet promises, thresh them out by meditation and feed on them with joy."  
I have always tried to be true to the vision of "looking to the fields" as Jesus shared in John 4:35 ..and now I see a more full  "field"  fields of Promise, opportunity, and revelation of Him...White and ready for harvest indeed!  
Rock and Roll!  Jesus is the Rock and we Roll!  


Saturday, July 18, 2015

Look up!



Colossians 3:1

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.





God has given us a brand new life. Our spiritual rebirth has made us citizens of God's kingdom and put us under His loving protection. Though our bodies are on earth, our real life is in Heaven. Keep your eyes fixed on God and He will help us cling to things of everlasting value. As we focus on our invisible life our visible life will also change. We will begin to shed unrighteous anger, unforgiveness and pride. Our lives will shine with increasing kindness, humility and love. Others will seek the light we reflect. God is here, eager to teach us about this authentic life. So... look up!

Friday, July 17, 2015

Of people and "things"...

 Great Word today from Bible Gateway…We have to believe that the Holy Spirit is sending messages to all and blessing those with that “second touch”…and we have to Trust, Believe, and be reminded to do so! 
“It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.”” Romans 1:16
At this point I feel led to share that while we search to be in that place… the place of “Right Standing”…I know in my often slipping in to “ Its all about me right?”  I forget   as is often the case  and need to be reminded that “I” am not alone in even that   I am in unity and partnership and relationship with Jesus in my heart …Cat shares that her Dad would often say in tough situations that “God and me can do anything”  speaking from his heart which was filled by his knowledge and belief in the Word which says many many times in it about “things” “anything” and  “All things”  I encourage you to seek out those words from Genesis to Revelation.  Ponder what those “things” are…as they are many and as individual as we are…taste and see how that Word spoken by God to all through the ages even now speaks to us…and indeed through us as we let Jesus speak, work, and live through us.  In ALL those “things” we have to believe that Our Father is God over all…those….things! 

Please keep in trusting prayer, and in thanksgiving for His providence, the Ministry of Christian Chefs and the Christian Culinary Academy.  Let us remain vigilant in prayer for “All things” …that they be ultimately used by God to glorify Himself, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit which guides our prayer and empowers that line of communication. 
God Bless you all!  Lifting you up in His Perfect Timing, Perfect Will, Perfect Plans, and Perfect Love…
Rock and Roll Sisters and Brothers!


Jesus is the Rock!   …and we Roll!

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Professional 'Wait-ers"

Waiting on the Lord says much on our day to day living and breathing and walking relationship in this world...a nugget to nibble on...
Isaiah 64:4
Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Psalm 36:9
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
It is so much better to walk close to Jesus, depending on His strength and trusting Him in every situation. If we live in this way, we will do less but accomplish far more. Our unhurried pace of living will stand out in this rush-crazed age. Some people may deem us lazy, but many more will be blessed by our peacefulness. Walk in the light with Jesus, and we will reflect Him to the watching world.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Our Father....Daddy!



Another tag team from Cat and Leo...

from Cat:

Ephesians 5:1-2

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

We are taught in this scripture to be imitators of God. So however God is, that is the way we should desire to be. God sees the desires of our hearts and will help us become more and more like Him in our behaviors.
Do you think God is sitting in the heavens today angry and crying and depressed? NO. That is not God's nature. God is joyful and He is strong: therefore we should imitate Him.
God is also merciful and slow to anger. If you get angry at people over an injustice, one way to get over it is to imitate God and choose to give them mercy--forgive them even if you don't think they deserve it.
We can become more and more like God because His power and character is in us. Begin to imitate God in your life, doing what you believe He would do in situations, instead of what you feel like doing.



From Leo and thanks to Dr. G. David Boyd who confirmed and wrote about the same thing gotta love the Holy Spirit!

Imitate reminds me that…Just as a child wants to grow up just like their Dad....this speaks to the essence of that relationship in a paradigm that we can totally understand ...Family! Even in its imperfect states ...dysfunctional perhaps, unique definitely, bad, good...and as individual as we are... so is our relationship with Our Father. Jesus, The Son, reminds us in the parable of the Prodigal…that as a Daddy, God will always seeks us to return if we have “left” the relationship and turn His affections toward us and respond to the attention we give Him. Like a child who wanting attention for something they did they may yell out...“Daddy, Look at me! Come See What I did!” And although, yes Daddy has other things he is doing ( so many kids you know ) He will always "drop everything" and respond to us...and the work we do when we put it into His hands, with His perspective, His plans, and His perfect Will. Father and child have something in Common… As Cat said “God is joyful” and as He rejoices over His creation (despite all the many times His human creation has given Him fits) He still loves us always has always will…and so Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to work we go!

There is joy in work. There is joy in production. There are times that we can look at what we do and say. “Daddy, come see what I did!” As human creations we were designed for love and relationships, and community. However, we were also designed for work and creativity. Vocation is the process by which we find a role in the world where we can do work in which the Father is pleased. This work is not limited to our service for the church. This work is not limited to being a pastor, priest, or church worker. The Father is not more pleased by pastor than the Cook, Chef, Server, or Dishwasher. Work is using our gifts and talents…ultimately for His Glory and for His Glory to pour out from us into the place He “placed” us…

There are times when I want to go to my Father and say, “Daddy, come see my work.” I want Him to share in my joy. I want Him to be delighted in me as His child. I want to be united with Him as we seek a goal together. IN the seeking we find the goal…IN the seeking we find affirmation… IN the seeking we find …each other…

Find that connection today with your Father. Ask your Heavenly Father…Ask Daddy… to come and see your work.

Rock and Roll Sistren and Brethren!



Jesus is the Rock…and we Roll!

Monday, July 13, 2015

From my Coffee with Jesus this morning....

      I read a couple things today…one was Philippians 2 in the Message paraphrase.  I encourage you to read it in the Message…It shares a part of a very personal letter to a family of believers…read it and hear and feel Paul writing his heart out, passion on a page, Love as its authority and yearning to express insight into their knowledge and relationship with Jesus.  I attach it here if you need to do so.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2&version=MSG
He had a message to convey and he so wanted it to get into their hearts.  And great messages indeed!  Read and feed Sisters and Brothers.  That got me onto a “rabbit trail” of sorts.  I began to seek Jesus the Teacher and Preacher…and as Paul was a well-educated student of Hebrew History, culture, and relationship with Jehovah God, was also a follower of Jesus he had to ultimately share that message.
      I always respected the “co-writer” of the Message.  Pastor Peterson’s insight and understanding that as a pastor he was doing what all pastors do in sharing the Good News with congregations…taking Biblical text,  and with the aid of inspiration of the Holy Spirit, preparing sermons to indeed express scripture  without the hindrance of language which is  subject to mistranslation, misinterpretation, semantics, syntax, Grammar, and implies a working knowledge of the writer or speaker or preacher*…*(… In a nutshell syntax is structure, and semantics is meaning…all things even many Christian scholars question and argue about. Important especially as these things have tried to express a deeper meaning and even founding doctrines on their interpretation…Amen?)
We all know some of the ways Jesus taught…especially Parables.  We also have to know that Jesus knew intimately the rabbinical methods of instruction as from early on we read of Him in Luke 2:46-48
“The next day they found him in the Temple seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers. But his parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt.”
As He was Son he was obedient to the Wisdom that came from knowing of His Father and learning from those teachers…He must have known He would be a Teacher and that would be an important part of His ministry.
So Sisters and Brothers  all this to say as I have my coffee with Jesus and observe the birds of the air walking about the field before me …looking and eating that which God has provided for them.  That we also must come to our landing place in that place where God has our food ..His word in the good soil…placed there for us…and like these birds  talking and singing and communicating….I imagine them saying  “Taste and see!”   “Eureka here it is!”   Excited as they find it…Rejoicing they also shout “Praise God!”…flying and playing in the sky…Taking my last sip of coffee ( for now anyway)  I see my wife stick her head out of the window and excitedly say “ You have to look at this Word God gave me to share today!” …and so I do…Praying you are blessed as you  seek Him in who He is in All you are….Rock and Roll!
From Cat today( especially as our current Pastor shared a message about the Arc of the covenant):  Joshua 3:3-4 The Message also  GMTA!  God minds think alike?  Holy Spirit does!
“When you see the Covenant-Chest of God, your God, carried by the Levitical priests, start moving. Follow it. Make sure you keep a proper distance between you and it, about half a mile—be sure now to keep your distance!—and you’ll see clearly the route to take. You’ve never been on this road before.”


Pay particular attention to these words in the scripture: "You’ve never been on this road before.” Whether it is a job, a place to live, a relationship, an addition to your family, a position of influence, an exercise program, a church, a hobby, or a way of serving your community--if you have "never been on this road before,” it is new to you. You may not know how to get there or what to do when you arrive, but if you follow God, you will arrive at your destination and He will direct you in everything you need to do. You have no need to be afraid of new things because God is always with you and He will never leave you. Be courageous and trust Him to help you. When God leads you into a new situation, trust Him to provide everything you need.

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Praying you all are having a great SonDay!



It is good to gather with the family of believers and to be fed, encouraged, edified, educated and challenged, and ...well if that's not enough! It is Good! To Worship together I was reminded that Jesus WITH us was also doing what His heart led Him to do ....Worship Our Father! ... the Bible in Hebrews ch 3 and ch 10 speak of gathering and assembling...to be devoted to that and to encourage each other daily...It is a living relationship that grows when fed...I just wanted to share some food for thinking about and to share...I have heard T.D. Jakes call the Bible his "Lunch Box" funny but a apt description of one aspect of the Bible....Wanted just to share the word Abide...the Greek word Meno ...I encourage you to look it up in Strong's. I also encourage you to read 1 John 2 and notice all the mention of that word....and for "seasoning" the word Anointing...as mentioned in verses 24-26


Let Truth Abide in You

24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

I like how the definition of Meno calls it an "Active Verb" So be Active in this relationship and let the Glory of God shine as we who are in His Will...lets it out...into the world of darkness the Light...

Have a blessed SonDay...and another tomorrow!

Rock and Roll!

Jesus is the Rock... and we Roll!


Saturday, July 11, 2015

Sometimes a little "Comfort Food" is on the menu...and warms the soul

As like a person in the hospital gets "hospital food"  ( and thankfully they have greatly improved over the last 30 years or so...)  And as there are quite a few Sisters and Brothers in the fellowship of CCI going through the healing process...I repost this from my wife and I from a time back in 2013 where there was much intense medical issues and all that goes with it...Suffering, anxiousness...lots of "Why's?"...but with the resounding testimony that By His Stripes we ARE healed!  We just have to go through the process   and He promised... For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  in the darkest Valley...Enjoy this Comfort Food...it will settle your spirit and feed your soul...
Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Jeremiah 33:3

 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

"We must be willing to go out on a limb with God. If that is where He is leading us, it is the safest place to be. Our desire to live a risk-free life is a form of unbelief. Our longing to live close to God is at odds with our attempts to minimize risk. In order to follow God wholeheartedly we must relinquish our tendency to play it safe. As long as we stay close to God, His Sovereign Presence protects us wherever we go." ~ Cat
"Great and mighty things!  as He prepares a table before me...even though it may be a surgical table! So thats a half dozen surgeries since last May... Lord let this "Sword talk" be enough! As His Word cuts also let His healing and restoration come through the surgeons hands and their "knives"  Co-healing through the Healers touch!  For His Name's sake! ~ Leo

Friday, July 10, 2015

When the Lord Gives you bread.....

Isaiah 30:20-21
Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
2 Corinthians 4:17


For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
When we are plagued by a persistent problem--one that goes on and on--view it as a rich opportunity. An ongoing problem is like a tutor who is always by our side. The learning possibilities are limited only by our willingness to be teachable. In Faith, thank God for our problem. Ask Him to open our eyes and our heart to all that He is accomplishing through this difficulty. Once we have become grateful for a problem, it loses its power to drag us down. On the contrary, our thankful attitude will lift us up into heavenly places with God. From this perspective our difficulty can be seen as a slight, temporary distress that is producing for us a transcendent Glory never to cease!

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Some nuggets....or nibblets....Taste and see!



Maybe comparing God's Word to a preformed meat like substance is not ...quite right ;) ...but in the sense of little bites....Chew on these today and speak it in your mouth as we "speak" it to those God puts in our sphere of influence...Taste and See!




Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.

Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal

And a great reminder to say " I trust God,I am not afraid"
Rock and Roll y'all!  
Jesus is the Rock and we Roll!

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

A little Intermezzo....

Just to keep focus  and to remind us all that we are followers of the great Role Model Jesus!
From something my wife reminded me of....

" I've never seen myself as a leader though. This morning I 
was reading Romans and these verses jumped out at me. I 
don't have to be a leader... just a good follower of Jesus!!

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for 

dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good 

friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert

 servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in 

hard times; pray all the harder. "  Thats Romans 12 9 - 13

Amen 


Chew on this for awhile and let the Word the true food get 

into your heart and mind...

Rock and Roll Sisters and Brothers   followers of the true 

"Roll" model...

Tuesday, July 7, 2015



God Morning Saints...Yes thats you all!...what a great Word this morning...
Psalm 18:30(AMP)
As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.


I apologize for yesterday as I went in for a medical procedure and was pretty much sedated all day ;) Thank you all for the prayer and continued prayer that this procedure "takes" I know it is God Will, and because He cares so much for us so much He gives us all we need as He heals through Miracles, Prayer , a touch from His Holy Spirit Followers and ...yes Doctors...that they ALL may know Him in the co-healing they practice...Doctors do call it a practice don't they? So as they practice we know when they find God in what they do they will be more accomplished.


And that we are a way for them to experience Him by our faith and trust..as the Word shared The Word of the Lord is Tested and Tried! Once again reminded to lift you all up and all those who come in contact with Christian Chefs International and the Christian Culinary Academy. Be encouraged that you are being prayed for daily and there is no better "thing" we can do for each other! How strong we can all be...as humans we marvel at the ant a creature ( creation) they are said to carry 50 times their body weight and as a record her is a pic of one lifting 100 times its body weight as posted in a Science Magazine..."The photo shows an Asian weaver ant hanging upside down on a glass-like surface and holding a 500mg weight in its jaws.


It was captured by Dr Thomas Endlein of Zoology department at the University of Cambridge who was investigating the sticky feet of ants and other insects."







But as strong as these creations God created one stronger! Through our Lord Jesus Christ we can lift up a world! We can lift up amazing things like healings, deliverance, and even resurrection! Since Jesus His followers have prayed and God has brought back the dead to life...Wow! There is Power in the Blood! There is wonder working power in the Blood...if yu need a toe tapping tune to carry you through check this one out ...Many of you know I do like Bluegrass...so be ready ..to receive that wonder working power...Victory is ours and the price has been paid...

Rock and Roll Sisters and Brothers...

Jesus is the Rock and we Roll!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AU0VUt9v98

Friday, July 3, 2015

Taste and See....Devo 3

...While we wait upon the Lord...like waiting for dinner..full of expectation and anticipation...thought you would enjoy this little Amuse'..for the palate that yearns for more of Him and to taste Jesus'  food...

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. Ephesians 5 1-2 MSG

Although for cooks and Food service folk this is not a three day weekend  know we pray for you all daily and pray that you all enjoy this Freedom weekend...and the day when we were made free..and Free indeed...to Love like that...
Rock and Roll!  

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Salad Course devo2





Now that you have tasted let us…Hey!  Lettuce!  Sounds like a salad course with a Holy Spirit dressing….Mange!

Romans 14:17
for the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

Paul wrote that meaning that God never intended for us to sit in judgement against others over matters of eating and drinking, or going to church on Sunday, or a host of other things all designed to divide us from one another.
Jesus brought the royal, ruling power of God into our world to make things right, not religious. Righteousness means set right with God and man. The immediate result of righteousness is always peace; for we are no longer striving to control one another into doing something the way we suppose it should be done. And the result of peace, is always joy — the happiness of healed relationships…..

Rock and Roll Sistren and Brethren

Jesus is the Rock and we Roll!

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Taste and see...Devo Ap


First course the appetizer  enjoy this plate of 3...

Psalm 63:2
I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.


2 Corinthians 5:7
For we live by faith, not by sight.

John 11:40
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Miracles are not always visible to the naked eye, but those who live by faith can see them clearly. Living by faith, rather than sight enables us to see God's Glory.
Just believe, and listen and look and taste and see and share ...release that Glory...think about that with Jesus in our hearts...it is a matter of releasing Him...Letting Him go...Like God's Word never returning void ...rest assured  Jesus will "return"  we are not throwing away we are letting go ...releasing Glory!  And its coming back  ;)    
Get ready to receive!

Are you ready?

Thursday, June 4, 2015

With the upcoming holiday speeding towards it is time again to reflect on ..well...what it is....    
 Happy 4th!  
Happy Independence Day!  
No matter how you label it… It means something special to us who not only live in this country but who have fallen in love with a country and served even unto death for that connection to the founding spirit that makes patriotism real.  We have shared the same faith walk of the founders of this country…and found God in our Love and devotion to our country.  Yes like politics they argued…that religion and politics sometime meet and agree so we also  in our walk testifying and sharing the Good News…the same good news I may say that the founders of this country came here to express…each group in their own way But one thing…one thing remains from that day…what we have in common is the journey and legacy of religious freedom to worship, and a new beginning …It would seem to be very hard to express what that means in one thought.  After reading writings from the Founding fathers it occurred to me that it’s all about one thing …a person named Jesus.  They were all  called out to be Christians…and what they believe in is justification by faith - that through their belief in Jesus as the Son of God, and in his death and resurrection, they can have a right relationship with God whose forgiveness was made once and for all through the death of Jesus Christ…as revealed in the Bible and testimony of many followers who have gone before us.    They believed God in His Word and when they read in Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” They knew the key to success of this fledgling country was in founding it firmly on His principles …they felt God had brought them here …that they were chosen for His own inheritance… God So loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…Jesus so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
     Now I was blessed to live for a season near the Jamestown colony and got to visit and study the cuisine of those first settlers. Also ate colonial inspired dishes in Williamsburg.  So I humbly submit this recipe as it is one of my favorites.  I hope eating something like this could inspire dinner table conversations about such a time when people who made gigantic sacrifices to be free...and how God was there  working His plans for us, and seeing the Love for country begins with true Love …and we know God is Love…Independence?  Yes! but by Dependance on Our Father’s provision... “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”  Psalm 34:8. 
This colonial recipe is called Apple Tansey.  If you have cooked an omelet this will be helpful.  But I have some tips to make this recipe more…user friendly?  I quote from the originalThe Compleat Houfewife: Or, Accomplished Gentelwoman’s Companion,1742 ( the first cookbook published in the US)
 “Take three pippins, slice them round in thin slices, and fry them with butter; then beat four eggs, with six spoonfuls of cream, a little rosewater, nutmeg, and sugar; stir them together, and pour it over the apples; let it fry a little, and turn it with a pye-plate. Garnish with lemon and sugar strew'd over it.” 

The tips being: 1) if no pippins are available any sweet apple with a little tartness.  Core them before slicing.  ;)
2)Over a Medium Hot burner in a large (10"inch) straight sided saute or cast iron pan
3) Use 3 tablespoons of butter & heat till melted and starting to get to the "tan" stage... add apples and turn often till apples start browning.  
Now making a custard…beat eggs and heavy cream. Don’t worry about the rosewater it is a delicate flavor if you have some make sure it is CULINARY rosewater only about 1/2 teaspoon.  About a third of a nutmeg or a good teaspoon of already ground, and 2 Tablespoons sugar.  OK so now you are making an omelet or frittata... reduce heat to medium and stir it often till it starts to come together, check for brownness on the underside.  Flip it or turn it by putting a pie plate over the Tansey and turning it over in one quick motion, then sliding it back into the pan. Make sure it is very brown.  You want this a little darker than Golden)
For a no flip option place it under your oven’s broiler until the top is very brown. remove and slide off onto a plate. 

 Now personal tips...( If you are at home) since I had to get a ½ pt minimum of cream for the 6 teaspoons for the Tansey, whip the rest of it as sweet as you like and top the Tansey with that or powdered sugar and serve with small lemon wedges to garnish. 
Ask your guests to squeeze a little lemon over the Tansey…And remember the struggle where a well cooked meal or treat, dessert made your life special.  Love food!  Oh yeah...Don't forget the Fireworks!  Oooooooooo  Ahhhhhhhhhhhh  

Thanks to Tori Avey and her blog/website "The History Kitchen" for the pic...