The Skewer Test
If it comes out clean it means the cake is cooked all the way through.
Reference: v.7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (TNIV Bible)
Explore: I don’t bake very often but when I do I quite enjoy it. I’ll pick a delicious sounding recipe and step my way through the instructions to make sure I get everything just right. After the cake is mixed and constructed I’ll put it in the oven to cook. This is my least favourite part in the cooking process… the waiting. The minutes seem to creep along and I’ll constantly check the oven door to see if the cake has started to rise. When the time of cooking is nearly up I will always bring the cake out prematurely so I guarantee that I wont burn it. I’ll get a skewer and stick it into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean it means the cake is cooked all the way through. If it comes out with wet mixture on it I’ll need to put it back in the oven. As I always bring the cake out too early I’ll need to put it back in then do the skewer test a second time (and no doubt a third and fourth time too!). The other day I became so impatient that I brought the cake out too early. When I went to cut the cake up I found that it was fine on the outside but it was still all gooey in the middle. I was too embarrassed to serve it to anyone so my family got the second rate cake.
Application: When it comes to trusting in God He will often ask us to be patient. It must be difficult for most people to be patient as the Bible regularly addresses this issue. If it is important for me to be patient with my cooking so that my cake turns out well, how much more important must it be for us to be patient with God so that our lives turn out well? God does not make us wait to torment us but because we need to take the best possible amount of time so we are not soggy in the middle.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I think that I know the best timing. May we trust in You and Your sense of timing. Amen.
What are you waiting for?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.
4 comments:
Well, 2 things actually.
1. For Emily to start eating properly so Kathy doesn’t have to top her up through her feeding tube. Then she will hopefully sleep through the night.
2. For our extension to be built. We are putting on a rumpus room and study out the back as we have outgrown our 17 square house. Unfortunately we cannot do this till Kathy goes back to work in 2013, when Emily starts school.
In the meantime we just have to continue being faithful and trust God to provide for us while we wait.
Sounds like two very big things to wait for.
My family is in the process of international adoption from China. China has the most strict adoption regulations in the world. Since we have started the process we have had times of trying our patience. We had to apply through an adoption agency in or to start the adoption process. The application was very lengthy. Once the application was complete it was sent to the adoption agency for approval. We waited…and waited…we were approved! Adoption is a very costly process. It requires money my husband and I do not have. Every penny we make takes care of our families needs. It is a humbling experience to receive from others gifts of money. We also are making glass bead jewelry as a fundraiser. We have been raising money for three months now and have paid around an eighth of the adoption fees. Praise God!!! We know that there will b more times of trusting God and His timing through the rest of our adoption journey. Pray with us…for patience and provision.
We have friends who are currently going through a similar thing with a different country. Praise God that you are nearly there financially, please pop back and tell us when you are successful. Maybe even upload some pictures to our Facebook Group.
Blessings,
Cameron