~Ministering through Food!~

If you have been reading my blog for any time, you know that you see A LOT of food on here!

That is because I LOVE to cook and bake!

As my Dear friend Luann said about me...

"You go to the kitchen for your therapy!" :-) 

 ~Fresh Scottish Scones I made (with Elijah and Mary's help) to enjoy with some jam and tea. ~

 It's true! I get my "pick-up" by making something special in the kitchen and then serving and enjoying it with someone, whether that "someone" be my FAMILY or OTHERS.  :-)

To me, cooking food isn't just "Something that HAS TO BE DONE."
Sure, it does have to be done, for my family has to eat, but it is much more.

To me, this is my opportunity to make something yummy, to present it in a fun way, and to make each meal time a very special time of being together!  To me, Meal times are a time to uplift our spirits, giving us a break from school or "work" or real life. :-)

Please know that there are times when we are in a hurry and we just throw sandwich fixin's on the table and gobble them down before we run out the door somewhere. :-)

I LOVE to surprise my family with a little treat.  i.e. muffins, scones, cookies, pies, cakes, cream puffs, etc. and often serve those with hot coffee, or hot tea. 

 ~Of course, our kids LOVE to cook and bake now too, and often join me in the kitchen!
Elijah and Mary helped me make some Scottish Scones.~

 ~ When your kids help you make scones, your scones take on SHAPES-NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN-ON-SCONES! :-D ~

  ~Flour on his face.~

 :-)

 ~All done...and ready for...

 ~Some powdered sugar or  jam. ~

  ~The other day Noah and Elijah made French Toast for our breakfast. We served the French toast with applesauce:-) ~

 

On the evenings of our English classes each week, Phillip does the English practice with the Chinese children and our kids using Bible questions, games, etc.  That is one of his MINISTRIES.  He is good at English, he is a good teacher and loves to invest in their little lives through praying for them and teaching them.
My MINISTRY on these English class nights is making yummy food for the crowd and presenting it in a fun way.  :-) 

Preparing tasty food helps to feed people emotionally, not just physically.  When we are on the mission field sometimes we feel lonely for our family, friends, and country, so making something delicious helps my family's (and my) heart.  I love to "Make My Family's and Other people's Day" by the food I serve them. 

We all have different gifts.  Yours may not be cooking.  I know some ladies who do not enjoy cooking.  Their gift probably lies in some other area.  God has given them some other way to show His love to others besides cooking and baking.  

My cousin Susan put it this way. 

"If some lady had the gift of running errands for people and tried to persuade me to join her in "serving others" in this way...I'd be exhausted in 20 seconds...that's not my gift! 
I believe God gives us gifts to use for Him because He needs to use our hands literally.  
I would encourage (each of you) ladies to simply use (your) gift(s) with joy no matter what they are and not feel guilty or under bondage to other ladies who have different gifts. 
If a lady (who) doesn't enjoy cooking can serve Campbells' soup and her family feels extremely loved, then the goal has been accomplished."

A humble home with some hearty food feeds one 's body, mind and soul more than a feast in a palace. 
                                                                                                 Susan
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I LOVE to have company over!  I love to serve them my food, to visit with them, talk to them about God and spend quality time with them.
My house isn't always spiffy or squeaky clean, and I may not always make something fancy, but even just sharing a simple snack with someone else can make them feel loved and included.

This is a HUGE part of my ministry; feeding those who God puts into my life.  :-)

As a little girl I learned the little song,

"Jesus, and Others, and You, 

what a wonderful way to spell J-O-Y!"   

 I have found this to be very true!  When you serve Jesus, and give of yourself to others, it brings MUCH JOY!

I think it's neat that even an Angel made food for Elijah, to help give him strength for the task that God had laid before him.

1Ki 19:5  And as he (Elijah) lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
1Ki 19:6  And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
1Ki 19:7  And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

 So, when you see these food pics and recipes, that I do,

and colorful fun tablescapes, more than a few... :-)

Just know that, SURE I had a BLAST doing it, but it wasn't just for fun,

It's my way to show God's love to Every One!

 ~HEATHER~