Christian Chefs Fellowship - Devotional Articles

Before God threw me into the foodservice industry, He allowed me to take part in many different types of work...including everything from roofing, factory work, laying underground cable, and farming to the vast extremes of insurance sales and going to college for 2 years attempting to become a commercial airline pilot! In prior years, I never had the urge to be a cook. I didn't even like cooking at home. There was just one day that I went up to a resort to get the average college student's job of waiting tables. While waiting for the personnel lady to arrive for an interview, an enormous, intimidating-looking and -sounding chef came around the corner, yelled something to the banquet servers' department, and caught sight of me. First, he asked if I was looking for a job, and I, of course, said "yes," and then he asked me if I wanted to cook, and I answered "sure." Three hours later, after a short interview and a class at college, God started me on the long, and interesting road of the cook's life.

At the time, I had been fallen away from God for about a year, but praise God, He says our lack of faith does not, by any means, nullify His faithfulness in where He wants us (see Romans 3:3). If instead, God had used "that small voice inside me" telling me to be a cook, I'd have probably gotten discouraged by my whole preconceived idea of having to start as a dishwasher, and moving up through the ranks so slowly that I probably would never have done it. Looking back from then to now, I see that God has really worked a lot in my life through His leading me to cook. He taught me an unbelievable amount of knowledge about food and cooking through culinary school, and I've gained valuable experience through the chefs I've worked under (including European and Australian just recently).

Through all this, He's been the one opening ALL of the doors. At first, it was very hard for me to enter those open doors (because I wasn't completely focused on Him at the time). But He still brought me through to where He wanted me. He brought my focus back to Himself shortly after that, and I began striving for those open doors rather than having to be pushed through them. That's when God started to reveal His vision for my life. First, to temporarily lead the Bible study/Christian club on campus at the Culinary Institute of America; next to start CCF, and now continuing with CCF and watching God grow it daily!

Therefore, in our lives as Christians, no matter where we are, God truly is faithful at all times. Oftentimes, we deny Him. Oftentimes, we straight out reject Him. Oftentimes, we continue in sin, following our own desires (of the flesh) rather than God's. As Paul states in Romans 3:3-6, "For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: 'That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when you are judged.' But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?" (NKJV)

Praise God for all that, and because of it, strive to be obedient to His good and perfect will for your life. Not so He WILL give blessings to you, but rather because He already HAS!

Ira Krizo

If God is speaking to your heart about these things, and you need somebody to talk with, please don't hesitate to e-mail us about your need and somebody from the Fellowship will contact you as soon as possible. If you have a prayer request or would like to start a theological discussion on this or any other topic please feel free to post it in our Message Boards.

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