Only By God's Grace, Learning To Live Humble

  God has given me the gift of being able to cook well as well as the gift to enjoy it, a lot! Well today I figured I'd make up a batch of Duncan Hines brownies, Duncan Hines NEVER disappoints me! NEVER! Well I must have overcooked them, because they were the driest brownies EVER!! No wonder no one at the party ate more than one! But the good part about this is, tomorrow they will be covered in vanilla ice cream and hot fudge!! They will be yummy, even if I have to add 1000 calories to them to make them editable!! lol
  I believe that I have been too proud of my cooking. I also believe that God is humbling me in this regard.  I know that pride is the fastest way to Hell and the fastest way to lose friends.  The Bible says: The pride of man will be humbled And the loftiness of men will be abased; And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, Isaiah 2:17 (NASB) . I know that just as easily as God  gave me this gift he can take it away in a heartbeat.  I do not want to tempt him, yet I catch my self boasting that I am a good cook or I find myself comparing my food to my friends food. How audacious of me to think that my skills or gifts are better than someone else! James says this, But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. James 4:16 (NASB) or How about this in Jeremiah 9:23 (NASB)

Thus says the Lord, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; But in Romans, it shows us that boasting in the Lord is good; Romans 15:17 (NASB) Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.

   I have a friend who doesn't have a Gift for cooking, she does a good job but admits to lacking in that department.  She is the most creative person, OMGoodness, she pulls ideas out of her head for craftiness that I only wished that I could do what she does. But I would NOT trade my cooking ability for her crafting ability, no way, no sir!!  Being able to put a good tasty meal on the table for my family is part of the fabric of who I am!     Here is a great thing about friendships and family, we can play off each other strengths and talents.  We can help one another, teach one another, go to one another for ideas and help. Isn't that what being a christian is all about? Helping each other strive and grow through the love of Jesus Christ. Check out what Paul says in his second letter to the church in Corinth, For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;  2 Corinthians 5:14 (NASB). I am so incredibly grateful that God has given us his infallible word to live by! With out it, With out Him I would be LOST!!  I love being christian!!  God is So Good, All the TIME!!

God Bless!