Its Fall! There are pumpkin cakes, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin doughnuts & just pumpkins everywhere! How about pumpkin cookies? Let’s make some!
Why are we making pumpkin cookies? Because the process of making them is similar to something the Lord does.
THE PROCESS
STARTS WITH A DREAM!
Doesn’t most everything start with a dream? Our dream can be anything we would love to do whether a small idea, a goal or a big vision. What’s my cookie dream? To make delicious cookies that I can share!
How about our lives? Whose dream, are we? We are the Lord’s dream. Think about that for a moment. We are each the fulfillment of the Lord’s dream to form someone He loves – us!
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well,
Psalm 139:13-14
NEXT SELECT & COMBINE!
What’s next in the process of creating a good cookie? Selecting the right recipe! Then, of course, we select and combine each ingredient needed in the recipe, in order to attain the cookies we desire.
Didn’t the Lord do the same when He created us?
Yes! However, He didn’t select a random recipe off the internet like many of us do. With intention, He created a special recipe for our design lovingly selecting every single detail about us to create the person He desires us to be. The Lord does not create mistakes. In His love for us, He combined our gifts, abilities, appearance, intellect and every little detail to attain His recipe for us.
For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them,
Ephesians 2:10 ESV.
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS
Since I’m not a MasterChef, I need to follow the recipe’s instructions to make good cookies. It doesn’t mean nothing will go wrong, but I can have faith that if I follow the recipe, the results will be good.
To fulfill the Lord’s plans is like following the cookie recipe’s instructions. We may have some challenges, but we can have faith that the Lord can even use our mistakes for good. The Lord’s plan for us was made with His love and desire that we live an abundantly blessed life.
For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord,
“Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future,”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
IT’S TIME TO SHAPE!
All the ingredients are mixed and it’s time to shape my cookies! What shape do I want my cookies? Do I want to use a cookie cutter so they are all alike or make another shape?
When it comes to our gifts and abilities, the Lord does not use a cookie cutter. Even when there are similarities as in twins, there will be some differences in personalities, gifts or abilities. We are each uniquely designed for His special purpose and can be lovingly shaped by the Lord to be the person He dreamed we would be.
But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand,
Isaiah 64:8
When we allow the Lord to shape us, we can fulfill His plan, have peace in the midst of storms and faith rather than fear. In His love for us, He desires that we have a relationship with Him and be filled with all the fruits of the Spriit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law,
Galatians 5:22-23 NAS
TRANSFORM!
The final step to transform my batter into an edible cookie, is to turn on the heat! The heat activates reactions which firm the ingredients, melds the flavors, causes them to rise and transforms them into a new creation.
As we experience the heat of trials, they activate reactions in us as well. Like changes to the cookie’s texture, our trials can strengthen and firm up our beliefs. Like cookie flavors meld, our thinking can meld with the knowledge of God’s Word.
When we give our trials to Jesus and follow His instructions, He will cause us to rise above the trials and transform our lives.
Do not be conformed to this world
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may discern what is the will of God—
what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 TLV
REFLECTION
Are you using the ingredients the Lord selected in His recipe for you?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Ephesians 2:10 and say it aloud, show me how to use the gifts and abilities from Your recipe for the plan You designed for me. Please give me the faith to follow Your plan. In Jesus name. Amen.
IN FAITH,
USE THE INGREDIENTS IN THE LORD’S RECIPE
Comment!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Faith, Love, God’s plan, God’s design, Trials, Transform*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photo pumpkins, MaxxGirr
Photo child, sirange00
Photo cookies finished, Tikovka1355 (I forgot to take a photo myself!)
