Reality

Inspiration from My Utmost for His Highest Oswald hits the nail on the head:

We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing-- that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grown in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God's assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.

Often times we think that there must be this big elaborate plan for us...because well, we are who we are...and God must have something big in mind. We tend to focus and think about how great God has made US, instead of thinking about how great HE is. Truth of the matter, in the end anything great happening in our lives is because of Him, and we will fall before Him, seeing His great Glory...throwing any crowns or riches at His feet, even though it's not enough...

Look around...God is using today, working all things according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28), if you love Him....this is the big plan, that you would be sanctified (1 Thess. 4:3). Love God, Love others, these are the two greatest commandments...for NOW, not later!

Transition

There is so much change taking place in my life right now...most of it I don't even know the end result. It's the kind of change that makes you question who you are...NOT like why you were created, but more like personality issues.

Please excuse the fact (if anyone is reading this) that I am still trying to figure this thought out in my head...so it might not make sense to anyone but myself.

As humans we think we know what we want and what we like, and in reality I don't have that figured out in my life. AND it seems that as I "grow up" it's getting more confusing. (Yes, I graduated with a counseling degree)

Anywho, what I'm trying to get at is this idea...I just read this section in Francis Chan's book Crazy Love, which is phenomenal!

Each of us, to some degree, fools our friends and family about who we really are. But it's impossible to do that with God. He knows each of us, deeply and specifically. He knows our thoughts before we think them and our actions before we commit them, whether we are lying down or sitting or walking around. He knows who we are and what we are about. We cannot escape Him, even if we want to. When I grow weary of trying to be faithful to Him and want a break, it doesn't come as a surprise to God.

I desperately need God's grace and forgiveness for thinking that I know what's best...and for putting on any sort of persona to make others think anything different than just what I am. I need to be captivated by God's great love for me...not concerned in the least about what others think of me....if I am faithful to HIM, I am who I am...I am who He created me to be in the womb...I will do what He determined for me to do before the foundations of the earth!

I am overwhelmed...and scared....but still in the grip of God. In the grip of Him who holds the world in His hand...and that is a comfort...a scary kind of comfort.

Solution or Misused grace

The problem of the AIDS virus has been a profuse problem in many nations for years now. One of the worst areas is Uganda, Africa. 80% of this nation claims to be Christian. Many people who are HIV positive or have the AIDS virus might have received it through birth, from their parents. And their parents, quite possibly would claim that they were "uneducated" as to how exactly the disease was spread. Some felt they had no choice of any alternative lifestyle. Incest and polygamy are perfectly acceptable in their culture and practiced regularly.

So, a few years ago President Bush put into effect a relief effort. The United States provides pills that allow someone with AIDS to keep on living. They are called "the miracle pill" for obvious reasoning. These pills, anti-retrovirals, are expensive and no one over there would be able to afford them. So, the relief effort is doing just what it is intended to do...keeping people alive. People with the disease can live life just like you and I, completely worry free, as long as they continue to take the drug.

However, since this plan was put into place, the number of people who are HIV positive has gone back up. Why? you wonder...well, it's no longer a death sentence. AIDS was at one time a penalty for wrong actions, tolling on generation after generation, now the consequences don't seem so severe. Sin leads to death, but there is a cure. Jesus blood shed on the cross covers a multitude of sins, does that mean we keep on sinning? NO!

Paul, in Romans speaks of the law. The law comes and therefore may increase the amount of wrong doings. (The law was added so that the trespass might increase. Romans 5:20) However, in the next part of that verse, he speaks of Grace. Grace is undeserved favor in the eyes of God. He gives us a promise that "as sin increased, grace increased all the more." the reason for the increase in grace is to show God's power...verse 21 says "just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The point that comes about in the next chapter of Romans is about grace being misused. Paul asks the question: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" (Rom. 6:1) He answers that question, with all certainty and we would think it to be an obvious solution, but with any sin, it is rooted in our sinful nature and unless God changes our hearts (happening at salvation and through sanctification(being made Holy through Christ's work)) , we keep on sinning, relying on grace that is not merited. His answer: "By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Rom 6:2-3)
*verse three is another discussion altogether...another time...but stick with me.

"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. " Hebrews 10:26-27

You can see how, while watching 60 minutes, learning of the AIDS outreach, I was, to say the least, confused. I fully condone aide to underprivileged. However, I can not completely respect the process if the "answer" is turning into an even larger problem. We spend trillions of dollars to help these people...and I believe they are much more educated now as to the cause of this disease among their people, however....now that help has arrived and proven effective, the evil continues...and even increases. We are saving millions of lives, but how much more can we afford? The program will continue to provide the pills to those already enlisted, but can not take on anymore....

What are we to say then?


http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6362538n&tag=api

A Day In The Kitchen

Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.
Harriet Van Horne

Most of you who know me know that I love to bake...and cook. I love to experiment with different ideas and different recipes, combining things until ultimate palate satisfaction is achieved.
So, I thought I would give you a taste of a day in the kitchen. When the time arises, I enjoy being in the kitchen for hours on end and then sitting down to take my taste buds for a ride! However, there is a certain atmosphere which is best for creating the "mood" and I have a photo journey of that to share with you...

1st... if you are baking, you need to nourish yourself with food, as to not indulge on licking the spoon, spatula, and bowl continually. mmm...sloppy joes

Next, you'll need to have some inspiring tunes...I chose, this day, to have three new songs on repeat, and for this my roommates loved me!


You'll need to make sure you have the necessary ingredients for your recipes!! (Butter makes everything BETTER!~)

You'll also need the right apparel...the heat in the kitchen is unbelievable.








The results: Fudge Puddles, superbowl cupcakes, and homemade oreos.


I found this recipe on one of my favorite blogs: http://www.mommyskitchen.net/2009/04/fudge-puddles-for-game-night.html









It is obvious what team I was routing for during the big game!






Next time I need to make the oreos a little thinner...but they were very oreo like...crunchy with the ooey gooey cream center...but, like I said much too thick for an oreo.



Well, my quest continues for great recipes and great combinations to adequately surprise and excite your tastebuds!

Busy Bee

Oh, my dear blog...I wish I had time to tell you things...
To my few faithful readers, sorry it has been so sparse.
Life is crazy and I will hope for a few spare minutes to post some of these things:

A Day in the kitchen
A Challenge of Faith
The Famous Bun Story
The six hour first date

Until then, keep your eyes peeled for God's beauty...It's all around you!

Time is...

Honestly, what to say...time is tickin' away. So, that made me think of a dctalk song, which is funny. Obviously it goes deeper than that. Time is something that is overwhelming my thoughts these days, possibly because its slipping away. One problem with time is the well intended use of it that gets destroyed by our decisions that are made under the impulse of selfish desires.
There are things pulling us in different directions...some good and others not so good. As a Christian, I desire that what I do would honor God and as a human, I make decisions that glorify my sinful nature.
This is what Paul is talking about in Romans chapter seven. "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." (vs. 18-19)
So we struggle to do the right things with the time that we have been given.
The thing that bugs me most about it is when the struggle seems easy one day and hard the next.
What is it that keeps us bogged down if we are "no longer slaves to sin" (romans 6:6)?

It's a mystery to me...which is probably best, as it keeps me relying on the grace of God to keep me. To keep me saved, to keep me close to Him, and to keep me on the path to what He has for me daily.

"Time is tickin' away, tick tick tickin' away
Time is tickin' away, tick tick tickin' away
Right now is the time that we gotta get with it
The gift that He's given ain't just an exhibit
But a tool that He's given us to use for His sake
And just as He's given He can surely take
The signs of the times are dropping like flies
The cries of the people around us imply
They're lookin' for an answer that we already know
But time is definitely on the go
All the money in the world
Can never stop the hands of time
And a wasted day in your life
Is more than a crime"

Time Is by DC Talk

On a side note, when I was in sixth grade, this was my favorite song to rollerskate to!

Not Bitter...but aware

The other day someone asked me "Does Valentines day depress you?" The day before this questions arose, I was driving and saw a car that looked just like one that an old suitor of mine drove, and picked me up in. When I saw this car, I instantly started crying (this is not fun for me to admit). When I came to my senses, I realized I was not crying because I missed this person particularly, because I am well aware that he is not "the one" for me. However, I miss things like being picked up, getting a phone call daily, being cared for, having someone plan a fun valentines date...even if it's as simple as cooking dinner.
I explained to this person that Valentines day does not bother me, but knowing what it's like to have it be special...and now having that be gone is hard. I'm not one of those single bitter people who mope around about this day, but I am aware of what it could be: a fun day with someone special.
Not to mention... when this someone tells me on eight separate occasions that they aren't sad on valentines day, the truth is most likely that they are, otherwise they wouldn't bring it up so much.
Well, I hope you all had a great day today, mine was splendid!

Where have all the cowboy's gone?

I was reading an article that stemmed from a question concerning a lack of "good men" I simply found this quote interesting. It certainly does not sum up the article, nor answer the question, but it may make you think...as it did me.

"The good guy can be like the great restaurant that only locals know about. The tourists miss it because they fall for the “traps” of the neon sign and convenient location of the franchise, not realizing that the best is tucked away just a few blocks over. The good guy is more a discovery, finding him can take more effort because you have to work your way past all the flash of the franchise guy. He could be working in the cubicle next to you, or sitting just a few rows over in class, or playing guitar in your church small group. Take the time to get to know him. The one who might be easy to overlook could turn out to be the best kept secret."

What Guys Wish You knew
John Thomas

More thoughts to come, I'm sure.

A Heart's longing

As I sit here on a gloomy day, in between shifts of work, sipping my dark hot cocoa, I find myself longing for something. I feel like I long for what I know as "home". Maybe because it sounds warm and comforting or because I am not content with my life right now, but is that really what I'm longing for...and if so, will I be satisfied in that?
Although home feels good, it doesn't satisfy that craving deep within. Nothing will ever satisfy that, except for ONE. The desire is there for a purpose...the purpose is for it to be fulfilled, but it only will when you let God be the ONE.
God has been drawing me into a love of holiness lately. This sounds good, but if I'm honest, it's really painful. Why? This love is hard to explain because holiness is hard to explain. It is set apart, different than anything or anyone. Therefore, when trying to talk about it to people who are constantly IN the world and unfortunately swayed by their longings, it doesn't make sense. I wrestle with what it means in my life...movies, music, magazines, friends, decisions, books, time management, etc, etc, etc.
Even harder than knowing what it looks like in my own life, is seeing people that I love blatantly disrespect or go against the holiness of God. When God awakens your heart to this and you develop a genuine fear, it hurts to see people mistreat God. How do we do it? I believe it's clear in the passage below, but first you have to care. That would get us into another conversation...God must give you the Grace to understand, for we are finite...and it is only by His grace that we are drawn to Him. But, if you love Him (truly) and are seeking Him (with your whole heart) you will see, know, and understand this...and it will develop into a life changing knowledge...and your heart will long for full obedience to HIM. And you will feel right at home!

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Here it goes...

You wouldn't believe how nervous I am about starting this blog. It's unbelievable even to me. I'm not sure what it is. I have for a while been thinking of starting a blog, quite possibly because of the plethora of thoughts that pass through my mind...or maybe it's the awkward stories that are piling up and need to be shared with the world. Then my friend Shannon encouraged the idea! It took me weeks to think of a name, after a focus group of friends helped me out, I finally settled. Then, my thoughts would shift to "how would I word this on my blog". So, it is time. Time to stay connected with friends, time to expand my vocabulary, and time to challenge my thoughts...and have some fun along the way!
Because of the many compartments of affections in my life, it is almost impossible for me to have a blog that is centered around one thing. So, with each new post, if anyone reads this, I hope that they are surprised! And with each new post, be it about cupcakes or sanctification, I hope that each one is brought closer to Jesus and shares in that exceeding JOY!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13