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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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

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!

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!

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...

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

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!  

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!