Right now, I’m sitting in Tampa after spending the last seven days cruising the Caribbean with three friends. More to come, but for now, enjoy this photo from the beautiful island of Roatan.
Photo of the Week: Seven
1
Extra Large Chocolate Chip Cookie
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a photo of an extra large chocolate chip cookie as my photo of the week.
Well, it was then brought to my attention that some of you may actually be interested in the recipe for that cookie. And I must admit, I loved the recipe, so I’m more than happy to share! Instead of one large cookie, you could easily roll the dough into four smaller cookies and bake for a few minutes less as well.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons beaten egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Place butter and sugars in bowl and mix with spoon until combined. Add beaten egg and vanilla and mix well.
2. Add flour, baking soda and salt to sugar mixture, then add chocolate chips until combined.
3. Place all of dough onto parchment-lined cookie sheet (or a baking stone, which is my preference) and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
4. Let cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes.
Enjoy!
**ps: this week’s photo of the week (Caribbean style) will be posted on Sunday!**
The Word
I love all things related to Bible Study and I’m pretty much head over heels in love with Scripture.
But I’ve fallen {way} behind on this Bible-in-a-year reading plan, and last week I found myself sighing with resignation as I approached the four chapters for that day. Just wanting to get through the reading and move on, I half-heartedly prayed for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, quickly read the selected passages, and honestly didn’t give it much greater thought.
At least until later when I realized that I had let this experience of more consistent and disciplined intake of Scripture become more of a chore – something to cross off my list - than a way to deepen my knowledge of and love for Jesus Christ, the Word who dwelt among us (John 1:1).
“We need the person of Jesus himself whom we find in and through the Scriptures…We can never afford to settle for anything less than the words of the Bible, but extreme as it may seem, our souls need more than words, more than facts, more than studies and new head knowledge. We need the Word himself.” – David Mathis (Desiring God Blog)
Reading the Word for any other purpose than seeking to know The Word simply isn’t enough.
Photo of the Week: Six
I’m really not a big risk taker and I’m really not all that adventurous, but I felt a little bit of both when I realized that I took this photo shortly after “breaking in” to an unused chapel (in all fairness, the property is pretty much abandoned and the door/lock was already broken…), about the same time as a dead rodent was discovered on the altar just to the right of where I was standing, and just before being scared out of the building by something flying around in the rafters. So apparently, photo excursions make me uncharacteristically bold.
Discouragement, Zombies, & Truth
It’s been a hard few days. Not exactly bad, but hard.
I ended last week completely, mind-numbingly, feel-like-a-zombie exhausted. Then on Sunday afternoon, as I was finalizing preparations to teach a Bible Study lesson on marriage last night (which as a single, is not exactly my area of expertise), I was battling some intense and inexplicable frustration. Then yesterday, as the pace of incoming work was so insane that I could barely keep up and my mind could barely process the cases that needed attention, I was left feeling overwhelmed. And bonus, my fridge died (gross!) and this morning I had an oh-so-fun orthodontist appointment that ended with my orthodontist saying to his assistant, “Stop. This isn’t going to work and we don’t want to hurt her or pop the bracket off or make her teeth any more sore. We’ll just finish it next time…”
In short, I have been dealing with some fierce and pervasive discouragement.
But y’all, in the moments when the zombie-like exhaustion and crippling discouragement have threatened to take over, God has repeatedly shown up (as if He ever left…)!
Not in dramatic or everything-immediately-becomes-so-much-better-and-easier ways, but in ways soft and subtle and full of truth…
Through the prayers and assistance of a sweet new friend at just the right time,
Through the constant reminders to pray when I have felt most out of control (just to be clear, that is NOT my typical first reaction, and the conviction in this regard has been poignant),
Through an encouraging Valentine’s Day card from the preschool ministry at church,
Through a thought-provoking and meaningful night of Bible Study despite the prior frustration and feelings of inadequacy, which ultimately led me to wholehearted dependence on Christ (which, ironically, was a huge emphasis in the study in regards to striving for a Biblical marriage),
Through a “Happy Valentine’s Day” text from a dear friend,
And even through a Skinny Mocha from Starbucks.
Yes, the past several days may have been hard and I may have been battling discouragement, but God is faithful and loving and SO good, and by His grace, I am not in this battle alone!
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
Photo of the Week: Five
If you follow me on twitter (or facebook), you may recall that last weekend, I had a bit of a baking fail. I tried a new recipe for peanut butter chocolate bars, then totally forgot to add the vanilla to the chocolate layer (worse, I didn’t even think about it until the pan had been in the oven for about 5 minutes), and then I ended up not loving them anyways.
So in an effort to redeem myself (um, yes, a baking fail one weekend absolutely requires a baking success the next), I finally got around to purchasing brown sugar this week so I could try another new recipe that I found for one extra large chocolate chip cookie. Win!
For Glory, We Wait
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us…And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Romans 8:18, 23-25 – ESV (emphasis added)
I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I don’t spend much time thinking about heaven. About how beautiful it will be or about how my relationship with the Lord will be there.
Even when I speak of eternal perspective – of choosing to live in such a way that acknowledges the weight of eternal reality and all that entails – I don’t often consider the fullness of the glory that is to be revealed.
I’m even more embarrassed to admit that (especially recently) I am often much more pre-occupied with the reality of hell … of ensuring it is understood as Scriptural truth that cannot be ignored and how that should affect the way I live as a witness to those around me. And while that’s not necessarily bad, it’s simply not enough.
But as this past week’s Bible Study lesson led me to reflect on the perfection of the Garden of Eden – both the physical perfection and the relational perfection – and as I approached Scripture with the challenge of drawing comparisons between the Garden and Heaven, I couldn’t overlook the beauty and the glory that awaits me.
The beauty and fullness of relationship with Him. The glory and richness of being with Him. In His presence. Fully restored. Perfected. Forever.
So for glory, I wait … eagerly and patiently … hoping for what I cannot see.
Praise Him!
