My team can testify to that statement. I sometimes like cooking, but I am definitely not a chef. I once made “pancakes” that ended me up on toast duty the rest of the race! Since I’m such an awful cook, I was pretty surprised when Jesus took me to the kitchen.
On the race, I have grown in confidence in talking to the Lord. Not only do I hear Him in the busyness of my day, but I also sit down with him and talk face-to-face. He takes me to the weirdest places; fields, Lake Highlands hang out spots (lh people, Jesus took me to 420 lookout!), lakes, restaurants, downtown Dallas, and many more. All make me fall more in love with Jesus and the conversations we have when we hang out!
A few weeks ago, Jesus took me to the kitchen. Jesus has taken me to my dream kitchen in my future house before, but this kitchen was a mega restaurant sized kitchen. It was completely cleaned and deserted. I laughed and asked Him what in the world He wanted to teach me in this place! He then said “Lets make tomato soup.” As Jesus was directing my cooking, He started pointing out how specific the ingredients are. He told me that the ingredients He used to make me are just as meticulous. He started pointing out his favorite things about me. He spoke life into the giftings he’s given me. Once I started feeling pretty good about myself, He asked “Now, how has sin and the world taken these gifts away from you and turned them into destructive behaviors?” Wow. That question was kind of a punch to the stomach. Sometimes I doubt if I’m hearing God or if its just in my head, but I know my flesh would never ask me something like that.
I was reminded of this day when I read Amos 2:11-12 this morning. It says,
” I raised up some of your sons as prophets
and some of your young men as Nazirites.
Is this not the case, Israelites?
This is the Lords declaration.
But you made the Nazirites drink wine
and commanded the prophets,
‘Do not prophesy.'”
Just as the Israelites, my gifts have been distorted and oppressed due to my past worldly outlook. My gifts became destructive, when they were simply intended to be gifts.
I view spiritual giftings like getting a dog for Christmas. WHAT A GREAT GIFT! When you get a dog, you can either train it to be loving and nurturing, or you can let it run wild. My gifts used to be the dog that would poop on neighbors lawns and bite the mailman! But now, the Lord is showing me how to steward my gifts in a way that not only is healthy to me, but also benefits others and helps spread the kingdom.
I encourage everyone reading this blog to ask Jesus to take you to your own kitchen. You never know what gifts He has given you that have been distorted by the way sin manipulates the world!
