Christian Chefs Fellowship - Devotional Articles

Do you believe? Do you really believe that God has your best interests in mind? Do you believe He will provide your needs? Do you believe He will help you sort out issues with co-workers? Do you believe He will provide finances when things are tight? When things that you have no control over go wrong (don't go according to your plans), do you believe that God knows what He is doing?

"But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the Lord. "And you are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God; there never has been and never will be. I am the Lord and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your deliverance; I declared what I would do and then I did it. I saved you. No foreign god has ever done this before. You are witnesses that I am the only God," says the Lord. "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can oppose what I do. No one can reverse my actions." Isaiah 32:10-13

How can you not believe our God when He says this!? To believe God we must know who He is! When I was asked to write a devotional I wasn't sure how I could relate to all of you out there that work in secular kitchens. Here I am on the other side of the world, Papua New Guinea -- definitely not in the loop about what the latest cooking techniques and newest products are. For those of you who may be wondering where in the world Papua New Guinea is, take a look at a world map and check out the little island north of Australia. So, as I write, I pray that God will enable me to speak to your hearts despite my location and surroundings.

I cook for people who want to know about missions. God leads and enables many to come here for a short time and learn about all aspects of missions. It is quite an exciting time to see God work in these peoples' lives. Of course these 5 week INTERFACE programs don't continue on all year round so I also find myself working in the finance office, painting, building furniture and doing anything else that people need help with.

God has been teaching me a lot about my everyday belief in Him and His Word. So that is what I will share with you today. I often find myself going about my days, thinking of what I need to get done and the best way to go about it. But do I consult God in my everyday happenings? I should. When a Papua New Guinea National comes by my door wanting to sit and chat, do I feel I have to continue what I am doing? Do I brush her off? Or is her visit part of God's plan for my day? After all, I can plan out what I will do today, but God's plan for my day is what is best for me and most pleasing to Him.

When I have no money, do I believe that God still cares and will provide for my needs? I meet people and become good friends with many who I have the privilege of cooking for. I have many friends all over the world. But do I believe God when I have to say goodbye once again? Do I believe He will continue to allow me to have wonderful "wantoks" (friends) as I live here in Papua New Guinea, where people are always coming and going? Loneliness is not very fun. Those are some of the things I have trouble believing God in. What are some of your areas?

I have been doing a Beth Moore study called "Breaking Free" with some of the other ladies here on our campus. God has been teaching me through it. She says, "Trusting an invisible God is not something that comes naturally to any believer. A trust relationship grows only one way: by stepping out in faith and making the choice to trust. This "step" can sometimes seem more than we can take. But God is anxious to help us overcome our unbelief. The ability to believe God develops most often through pure experience. 'I found Him faithful yesterday. He will not be unfaithful today.'" I continue to pray that God will help my unbelief as the father of the boy possessed by an evil spirit says in Mark 9:24.

God tells us to know Him. If we know that He is faithful, all-powerful, almighty, holy and never changing, how can we not believe everything our Lord and Savior tells us He will do? He is not like man. He will never say He will do something and never do it. He doesn't need to be reminded. We forget who our God is; He never forgets all He has promised to do for us. One of my favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, "...No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God's deep secrets... God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world's spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us." God wants us to know Him and so He has given us the Holy Spirit to teach us! We just have to desire to learn and grow and God will teach us about Himself! As we know more about Him we find ourselves believing more and doubting less. I am thankful that God is so faithful and patient with me.

For those of you who are a little bit interested in missions, come on over to Papua New Guinea! You can be exposed to all aspects of missions and even help cook, if you so desire. Check out our website: www.ntm.org/missiontrips. Or contact me at the email address below.

In His Service,
Beth Weaver

INTERFACE
New Tribes Mission
PO Box 1079
Goroka, EHP 441
Papua New Guinea
Phone: 011 675 732 1438
beth_weaver@ntm.org

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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