Greetings friends! Today is a beautiful day in Missouri; a day full of sunshine, flowers and greenery, and a light breeze. I hope everyone is having a sunny day too, if not outside than in your heart. 🙂

Well, as the title suggests I had a very long week. I work at a Christian camp as a cook and spend my day preparing and serving breakfast and luch as well as preparing for dinner. You wouldn’t think cooking could be hard, but it is! I really enjoy my job for the following reasons- I work with godly people, I am able to be a blessing to campers and fellow staff, and I am learning valuable lessons (both physical and spiritual) I can use later in life. I find peace and joy because I know this is where God wants me to work. Why? Because He found and brought me to it! We had been living in Missouri for a few months and had been visiting a church in town. I was hoping to apply as a waitress at a nearby resteraunt, but a dear lady suggested I apply at the camp. Well, I didn’t; I procrastinated for a few weeks (feeling guilty the whole time). But praise the Lord I eventually ended up with an interview. And it went on from there! I know that my finding the camp was by God’s grace and I am so thankful to Him!

Anyways, this week as been long and hard due to the humidity, the size of the group (about 45 expectant, hungry mouths), and the fact that this was our first, official camp of the season. I had to adjust from my easy winter work apron and quickly jump into my busy summer apron (figurativly speaking :). However, this was such a rewarding and beautiful week! God is so good in taking us when we cannot offer any more and, by His grace, making us into beautiful sacrifices reflecting Him. I was blessed by my sweet camper’s thankfulness and kindess, the kitchen crew’s willingness and diligence in their work, and by supportive family and staff. God was so good! One special thing the Lord taught me this week was not to fear man and not to worry about my reputation. 

My stressing and fretting were and are sin. Why am I stressing out–because I am afraid of what other’s think of me. “Will they think I’m a good cook” and so on. This is sin and indeed, the fear of man does bring a snare. Phillipians 4:6-8 speaks of the wonderful and Fatherly love of God. He cares about every tiny detail in my life (Yes, He knows I don’t want the hamstrips to burn and yes, He knows how badly I want the gravy to turn out). God heard my every sigh, praise, and grumble this past week and all the while He wanted me to know that He alone controls this universe and yes, that He alone is in control of my kitchen!

Beyond the fact that God is in control, he loves me and lovingly uses every success and failure in my kitchen for my good.

P.S. The definition (which I love!) for humility is taken from Bill Gothard’s list of character qualities. Please go check it out at this link.