Acts 15:32 says:
“Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.’

Our words can hold life or death in them. They can bring someone up or down. They can give someone hope or dash it to pieces.

It is well documented that I have a slightly “Toad of Toad Hall-esque” nature – in that I delve into fads occasionally. My latest mini obsession is with a show called ‘Cake Boss’ that I found on Youtube. It is an American TV programme loosely documenting the life and work of an Italian American family bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey.

What I love about the show is the creations that Buddy and his team of cake sculptors, decorators and bakers make for the wealthy, famous and illustrious people in America. The show reminds me that nothing is impossible… a car wash cake where a car made of CAKE moved through an actual car wash and appeared to be ‘washed’ at the end… a life-size shark… or a 14 tiered, 14 flavoured bridged wedding cake. Nothing seems to be too hard for the team to accomplish.

They have a huge amount of discussion, (and because they are Italian, often, argument too) about the right way to construct each confection. But each time, the finished article really wows me.

We have nothing like this over here. Novelty cakes in the UK appear to be simply a cake cut in the shape of a handbag. Or a T shirt…Nothing like Buddy’s outlandish moving-on-treadmills- craziness. I love the brash confidence that their experience brings. “Remember when we made the cake under water? Remember when we made the cake that had to be eaten by the skydivers in midair?”

It is true that achieving something once gives us confidence to try again. What someone says to us after the ‘first time’ is crucial.

We may well be key to someone else’s “possibilities” just by the way we encourage or discourage them. The first time I preached I was so nervous I was nearly sick. I was hard hitting (to the point of smashing a tea pot with a hammer on stage) I had no gentleness and very little idea of how I was coming across. I was awful. But, those mentoring me through the process helped me to realise that I had potential in that area and encouraged me forward.

I guarantee you that today there will be people around you at work, home, school, or church who are attempting something for the first time. Look out for it. Seek to encourage them and help them on their journey.

The way that Buddy learnt to make cakes was from his Dad. I am guessing his Dad was someone with a LOT of imagination!! I mean just look at the size of the car cake in the inset picture… sheesh!!!

If you see someone trying to attempt something God is teaching them, get on board and add your voice of encouragement and hope.

Right, I am off to try and create ‘turrets’ for my daughter’s Princess Castle birthday cake…