Monthly Archives: May 2010

No Words without THE Word

Last weekend, I spent Friday night and Saturday on a retreat at Lake Wateree with the young singles group from church.

We had a great time! 

 

 

And now I want to live on a lake.  In a house complete with a beautiful porch, perfect white rocking chairs, and a glorious view.  Seriously.

But as is not altogether uncommon for me, I didn’t sleep well.  Most of the girls were asleep by around 1:30, but I managed to lie awake until about 3:00 (not to mention I woke up every half hour after that until almost 9:00 when I couldn’t handle it anymore and sought refuge in a cup – or two – of coffee).

As irritating as the inability to fall asleep was, around 2:00, I began to think that maybe the Lord was keeping me awake for a reason; perhaps to pray for something or someone specific.  But while my mind was filled with unrest and pulled in several different directions as I recalled the stresses and uncertainties of the previous weeks, the words and the energy to pray just weren’t there.

So I began reciting Scripture. 

(Quietly, of course, since the other girls in the room clearly were sleeping.)

In those moments, I was able to recall sooo many verses filled with truth and promise.  It was incredibly powerful and deeply meaningful.

And as I began to process all the words from Scripture filling my heart and mind, this thought began to fill my very being:

I have NO words without THE Word.

Immediately, I was reminded of this passage:

 

“All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

because the breath of the Lord blows on them.

Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the Word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:6-8 (New International Version)

 

I love to express my thoughts through the written word, but my words are as insignificant and fleeting as the grass and the flowers.  In contrast, the Word of God is both significant and eternal.

As I processed further, this thought followed:

I am NOTHING without Christ: THE Word.

And with that, I was reminded of this passage:

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God. 

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made;

without him nothing was made that has been made. 

In him was life,

and that life was the light of men…To all who received him,

to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God –

children born not of natural descent,

nor of human decision or a husband’s will,

but born of God.”

John 1:1-4; 12-13 (New International Version)

 

Not only are my words void and meaningless without being grounded in THE Word (Scripture), my very identity as a child of God is because of THE Word (Christ).

While I still may not have slept well, that night I was filled with a sense of release and peace as I was overcome with the reassurance that I don’t have to plan every part of my life, and I don’t have to know all the details or the “whys”.  Rather, I am to surrender to the One who already has it planned and knows all the answers.  

After all, I have NO words, and am indeed NOTHING, without Him.

Study Habits: No Rhyme or Reason

My brain functions best when things are organized and logical.  I like rules, guidelines, and details, and I tend to over-analyze everything.

So it surprises even me that my study habits are rather random and meaningless.

When I’m studying, I make all sorts of marks in my textbook:

 

I use brackets. 

 

 I underline words…

 

 

And phrases.

 

I highlight…

 

In various colors no less.

 

 I use boxes.

 

 I write notes or questions in the margins…

 

 Or sometimes just question marks.

 

 I even place tabs on pages to refer back to…

 

 Even if it’s just a reference to a hymn.

 

But there is absolutely NO particular rhyme or reason to any of these marks.  I have no set “rules” for what type of text is underlined vs. bracketed vs. highlighted. 

And for once, the content of my studies is worth it, and I’m okay with my unorganized approach.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake Cookies

On Sunday evening, I had an intense craving for chocolate, but didn’t feel like making anything overly complicated.  I considered just making brownies, but didn’t have a box mix in the pantry.  (And yes, I actually prefer brownies from a box to any made-from-scratch recipe that I’ve tried.  I know; it doesn’t make sense…)

So my search for chocolate led me to this FABULOUS recipe for chocolate chocolate chip cake cookies on allrecipes.com!

 

 

I mean…YUM!  These cookies are rich and moist and wonderful!

 

 

 

Except for a couple of minor ingredient substitutions (regular salt instead of kosher salt and salted butter instead of unsalted) and one omission (no nuts – I’m allergic), I followed the recipe exactly.

Ingredients:

          1 cup butter

          1 ½ cups sugar

          2 eggs

          1 teaspoon vanilla extract

          2 cups all-purpose flour

          ½ teaspoon salt

          2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

          2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy (for 8-10 minutes).  Add the eggs one at a time.  Add the vanilla.

3. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder in large plastic baggie.  Seal bag and combine until no separate ingredients are showing.

4. Add the flour mix to the butter/sugar.  Mix together until completely combined (about 3 mintues).  Add the chocolate chips.

5. Drop by tablespoons onto cookie sheet.

6. Bake for 11 minutes.  Let cool on cookie sheet for a minute or two, then remove to cooling rack to cool completely.

 

 

Enjoy!

All Consuming Thoughts

[While I don’t have an official schedule for blog posts, I do typically try to post devo thoughts for the week within the 48-hour window surrounding Thursday. Meaning anywhere between Wednesday afternoon and Friday afternoon is deemed appropriate. For the sake of my calendar (and perhaps sanity), let’s assume the 48-hour window has been extended and this still counts…]

This week, I have been on a sole mission: to complete a paper.

In some ways, my thoughts have been completely wrapped up in all things analyzing, writing, and editing. But sitting in one place for an extended period has also left plenty of time for my mind to wander and explore other highly intellectual and theological topics, such as braces.

Yes, braces.

Braces are still new to me, and I have noticed over the past couple of weeks that I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about these foreign objects that have taken up residence in my mouth. They just plain don’t feel “right” and have consumed much of my thoughts.

Thus earlier this week, it struck me:

If my thoughts were even half as consumed with the Lord as they are with braces, my life could be radically different.

Consider this:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,

set your hearts on things above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above,

not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:1-2 (New International Version, emphasis added)

I somehow don’t think braces are included in the “things above” category. But why is it so important to turn our hearts and minds to things of the Lord?

Consider this:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s

will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2 (New International Version)

Do we purposefully position our minds to be renewed and transformed? According to Paul in Romans 12, this is essential to knowing and doing the will of God.

Have a few extra minutes? Check out Colossians 3:1-17 and Romans 12:1-8 for some practical guidance regarding where to set our hearts and minds!

At different times in my life, my thoughts have been consumed with various topics; some of great eternal importance and others quite trivial, like braces. But interestingly enough, since making this connection, when my mind has wandered to my braces, while sadly not always turning immediately to the Lord, I have begun to re-direct my thoughts to other things of greater significance.

What area of your thoughts needs to be re-focused on the Lord?

When those all-consuming thoughts threaten to take over, will you commit to purposefully and intentionally “set your minds on things above” and let your mind be consumed with the Lord instead?

[Oh, and for the curious souls: yes, I did finish the paper. Hallelujah!]

The Best Banana Bread Muffins EVER

I love to make banana bread and typically have frozen bananas on hand, so banana bread shows up in my house frequently.  

Over the past several years, I have tried various recipes for banana bread in an attempt to find the perfect one.

After trying about eight thousand different recipes, I finally combined the elements I liked from each to create what has become my favorite banana bread…in muffin form.

 

I do have 3 secrets to making the best Banana Bread: 

  1. Always add extra bananas
  2. Always add extra vanilla
  3. Always add extra sugar

[I guess I should mention that I take after my great-memaw and tend to think the rule about sugar applies to just about any recipe!]

So without further ado, here’s my favorite banana bread recipe with the above “secrets” already applied.

Ingredients:

3 cups sugar

1 cup butter, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs

3 ½ cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

8 medium sized, very ripe bananas, mashed

 (optional topping)

½ cup rolled oats

5 tablespoons brown sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

2-3 tablespoons butter, chilled  

 

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and either grease 3 muffin tins OR place paper liners in 3 muffin tins (which is my preferred method).
  2. If the bananas are frozen (in the peel), let them thaw for about 5 minutes, then cut the ends off, slice the banana in half lengthwise, remove the peel, and mash.
  3. In a [very] large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter.  Add the eggs a couple at a time.  Beat well. Add vanilla and mashed bananas until well blended.
  4. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir (not beat) half of the dry mixture into the egg mixture, then add half of the buttermilk and stir, the remaining dry mixture and stir, the remaining buttermilk and stir until almost combined.
  5. Beat the mixture for no more than 60 seconds, then pour/spoon into muffin cups.
  6. For topping: combine oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.  Sprinkle on top of muffins.
  7. Bake for about 20-23 minutes.

 Enjoy!

Sola Scriptura

Over the past few days, my mind has been on overdrive and my thoughts have been scattered.

So today it seems appropriate to keep my commentary to a minimum, and rather allow the Scripture resonating in my heart to speak for itself.

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’

‘O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?’

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

1 Corinthians 15:54-58 (English Standard Version)

Even when we feel defeated, we can be assured of the promise that our Lord Jesus Christ is always victorious. 

What specific Scripture has been resonating in your heart recently?

Leave it in the comments below!

Weekend at the Beach

My roommate, B, and I spent a low-key and relaxing weekend (well, Saturday to Monday) at the beach. 

At my favorite beach to be exact: Ocean Isle Beach, NC.

On the trip down, we… 

Started the trip off right with dark cherry mocha Frappuccinos from Starbucks…yum!

Had front row seats (seriously, they made us get off the road) to watching a house being moved on a trailer.  Not a modular home.  A house.  With a man sitting on the roof.  A highly useful and practical conversation followed about how one would go about moving the power lines out of the way without dying from electrocution while sitting on a house.

Drove behind a truck hauling 3 young cows in a trailer.  Every time the truck rounded a curve, they all shifted on top of each other.  It was comical.

Observed a boat being transported on a trailer.  By boat, I really mean a swanky yacht that was entirely too large for the highway.  And while I know one of my uncles would just say, “A boat is a hole in the water you throw money into…” I still think it would be all shades of awesome to live on a boat for several months.

Drove through a field.  At least according to the Garmin…she was a little confused by the new(ish) bypass.  I muted her.

When we got there, there was no room parking at the inn.  So we parked in the public lot right next door (with our parking permit for the inn clearly displayed). 

Except for the 4 minutes I spent talking our way out of a parking ticket the next morning (I mean, was it really our fault that the wedding guests took all the parking spaces at the inn?  I think not.), we spent all day Sunday on the beach.

It was a perfect beach day!   

And we only suffered minor burns. 

Here’s the thing: I have this slight obsession with sunscreen.  I apply liberally and reapply often.  But apparently I still manage to miss a few spots, so for the first time ever, my fingers are sunburned. 

How does that even happen?

And for your amusement, here’s a sample conversation that could be overheard in our hotel room: 

B: Can you write with your toes?

Me: <giving an I-know-you-did-not-just-ask-me-that look> No. Can you???

B: I don’t know.  I’ve never tried.

…I go back to reading theology, and a few minutes later I hear…

B: Yep, I can write with my toes!

 HA!

For all you fellow beach lovers, am I the only one with a favorite beach?  I like new adventures and road-trips, but when I go to the beach, I prefer the familiar.  Do you tend to go to the same beach over and over, too, or do you try new ones?