Not long after I met Katie Dorband she told me that I reminded her of the verse “feed my sheep”. Because I’m always cooking for so many. It’s my gift. I’m the Jon Whaley in the kitchen. It is how I worship. That might seem so incredibly stupid to you, but I love it and embrace it, because if Jon Whaley never ate… he probably wouldn’t be worshipping because one can only go so long without food. And I rock it in the kitchen. I make the best mashed taters ever!
Honestly, it’s obvious that there isn’t much in this world that brings me more joy than feeding people. I mean, the moment I find out there might be something I have to work around, it brings me incredible joy to feed someone something that I know that they will love. I never just want a vegetarian to have to just not eat the meat part of the meal because it’s easy… I want them to ENJOY the meal. I want them to know that they are loved! By me and by God and that I appreciate them.
There was this time a few months back after I worked A LOT one weekend, all I wanted to do was make dinner. I mean, I stopped at Kroger and got chicken, but I threw together some yummy mashed potatoes, and Alfredo sauce with raviolis (and yes, I know ravioli is singular and plural), and some broccoli. After a long working weekend, I just wanted to cook for my family. Cooking brings me joy.
I love throwing a party, mostly so I can cook. But sometimes as much as I love to cook, sometimes I get tired. And worn out. In my kitchen there is some stenciling that says “ ‘ Feed my sheep’ – Jesus”. If I get tired I look up and remember… the gift of cooking really is a gift and Jesus has asked me… and my life is worshipping and serving Jesus. I read that and remember that to whom much is given, much is required.
But feeding God’s sheep doesn’t just mean with food. I am learning more and more that loving people is about telling them how valuable they are. Telling them that I love them and the things that are amazing about them. Telling them when I see Jesus at them. Feeding their souls not just their bellies. People are starving for love. I was listening to a sermon today to a sermon, and the pastor (he was a guest speaker at Elevation Church) said “if you know your purpose, you know your value.”
For so much of my life, I coveted other people’s gifts, I saw other people and wished I had their gifts… and let me tell you that was… DUMB! And I robbed myself from an amazing joy that God had for me. What a bonehead!
Truly, until you’ve really grasped and truly enjoy the gifts that God has given you, you won’t know what I’m talking about. I know who I am, I know who made me. And I know my value.
Numbers 7:3 They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle
1 Cor 12
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
 |
| My kitchen |
Honestly, it’s obvious that there isn’t much in this world that brings me more joy than feeding people. I mean, the moment I find out there might be something I have to work around, it brings me incredible joy to feed someone something that I know that they will love. I never just want a vegetarian to have to just not eat the meat part of the meal because it’s easy… I want them to ENJOY the meal. I want them to know that they are loved! By me and by God and that I appreciate them.
There was this time a few months back after I worked A LOT one weekend, all I wanted to do was make dinner. I mean, I stopped at Kroger and got chicken, but I threw together some yummy mashed potatoes, and Alfredo sauce with raviolis (and yes, I know ravioli is singular and plural), and some broccoli. After a long working weekend, I just wanted to cook for my family. Cooking brings me joy.
I love throwing a party, mostly so I can cook. But sometimes as much as I love to cook, sometimes I get tired. And worn out. In my kitchen there is some stenciling that says “ ‘ Feed my sheep’ – Jesus”. If I get tired I look up and remember… the gift of cooking really is a gift and Jesus has asked me… and my life is worshipping and serving Jesus. I read that and remember that to whom much is given, much is required.
But feeding God’s sheep doesn’t just mean with food. I am learning more and more that loving people is about telling them how valuable they are. Telling them that I love them and the things that are amazing about them. Telling them when I see Jesus at them. Feeding their souls not just their bellies. People are starving for love. I was listening to a sermon today to a sermon, and the pastor (he was a guest speaker at Elevation Church) said “if you know your purpose, you know your value.”
For so much of my life, I coveted other people’s gifts, I saw other people and wished I had their gifts… and let me tell you that was… DUMB! And I robbed myself from an amazing joy that God had for me. What a bonehead!
Truly, until you’ve really grasped and truly enjoy the gifts that God has given you, you won’t know what I’m talking about. I know who I am, I know who made me. And I know my value.
Numbers 7:3 They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle
1 Cor 12
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
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