Keep On Learning

Hosea 4:6″My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge[of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.”

As most of you know I love to be in the kitchen creating foods and baked goods. Lately I have been canning and baking for friends. It brings me so much joy to share with others. The responses from them have confirmed to me that this a talent that God has given me. I have dreamed of being able to afford to do this all of the time and give it away, or to find away to cover my costs and maybe make a little extra money. But right now that door is not open. What am to do in the wait? Should I just allow the dream to die, be “destroyed”? I thought about another dream that was placed in my heart years ago, to preach and teach. At the time I had no idea of how to even begin to make this happen. But I did know God had put it in my heart, and that it was a dream that would bring Him the glory. I also knew that when the time was right He would open the door. Yet I knew that I could not just sit around and wait.

Is there a dream that you have, that allows you to use one of the talents that He has gifted you with? A dream that from where you are standing today just seems like it is not possible? That has some obstacles to you achieving that you feel overwhelmed? The scripture above states that “My people are destroyed by lack of knowledge” could it be that our dreams are destroyed by our lack of knowledge? Or by us “rejecting knowledge” thinking we already know or posses the skills and talents, because they are God given? When I had felt confident that it was God who had given me the dream of preaching and having a ministry, I asked one of my trusted leaders, what I should do. I remember her saying to me look at all the skills and knowledge you will need and finds ways to grow in your knowledge. I knew that God had gifted in public speaking, even as a child I had been able to get up in front of crowds ( I had done some acting through a talent agency as a preteen and teen) . I was already a leader (lay pastor) in my church in a few areas. But on her good Godly advice I searched for ways to gain more knowledge. I joined a world wide organization called Toastmasters. They are a recognized public speaking and leadership development organization. I competed in public speaking contest and won a few times and lost a few times. Lots of new skills learned while I waited for God to open the doors. I also studied His word more. Today I have been gifted with a Women’s Ministry in my home church (S.E.W, Spiritually Empowered Women) and just recently I have been offered to preach at another local church on a frequent basis. (Thank -you Lord for the open door) So what about the cooking and baking dream? If God’s word, says that lack of knowledge is what destroys His people, and stops them from being His priests ( chosen in sharing Jesus, and meeting the needs of others to bring glory to God) 11 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Then clearly we need to keep on gaining knowledge, and not just for us but for our children. This past week I signed up for a class on safe food handling in Ontario. When I am done I will have be certified by the government as a safe food handler. That is me gaining knowledge so that while I wait for an open door and God’s perfect timing I do not let the dream be destroyed.

What ways are gaining knowledge is that your God given talents, and dreams are not destroyed?KEEP ON LEARNING ! Remember God’s laws through the learning. Jesus (Mathew 22:36) says the greatest law or command is to love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and second is to love your neighbor as yourself. In other words don’t hurt or step on others, to get what you want. Lift others up, if your rise to the top, leaves a trail of hurt and destruction of others dreams or tarnishes their character, manipulates them to use their resources to promote yourself, you likely will not see the dreams you want, have the favor of the Lord or come to be.