upgrading!

Hello, dear friends! :)

I thought I'd give you all a quick heads up that, you guessed it ...

I'm upgrading. ::happy dance::

One of the things I wanted to accomplish this New Year's was to upgrade this blog. I've been wanting to do this for a long while, because I wanted to change the design, combine this blog with my old cooking blog, and change the title as well. :)

... Aaaaaaaaaaand so I have!

I am still figuring out how to add a follow button for Blogger-users, so, for now, you can only sign up via email.

And, don't worry, I won't delete this blog or my old cooking blog, but from now on I will be updating all my posts here.

I hope to see you there! ::grin::

grace, for dealing with people

via

People hurt us. People’s words hurt us, and the things they do hurt us.

And we just can’t forget. We just *can’t* forget what they did to us, oh, that crime is just too big to even forgive.

But what ever happened to ‘forgiving those who trespass against us’? Does the Lord really expect us to show grace to those who do us harm?

There once was a woman who wondered the same thing, after the time of war in Germany and that evil man who would crush & torture God’s people. And this is her story …

     
    “It was in a church in Munich that I saw him—a balding, heavyset man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken, moving along the rows of wooden chairs to the door at the rear.

It was 1947 and I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives.

It was the truth they needed most to hear in that bitter, bombed-out land, and I gave them my favorite mental picture. Maybe because the sea is never far from a Hollander’s mind, I liked to think that that’s where forgiven sins were thrown. ‘When we confess our sins,’ I said, ‘God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever. …’

The solemn faces stared back at me, not quite daring to believe. There were never questions after a talk in Germany in 1947.

People stood up in silence, in silence collected their wraps, in silence left the room.

“And that’s when I saw him, working his way forward against the others. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights; the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor; the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister’s frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were!

“Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: ‘A fine message, Fräulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!’

And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course—how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women?

But I remembered him and the leather crop swinging from his belt. I was face-to-face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.

“ ‘You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk,’ he was saying, ‘I was a guard there.’ No, he did not remember me.
 

‘But since that time,’ he went on, ‘I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fräulein,’ again the hand came out—’will you forgive me?’
And I stood there—I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?

It could not have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.

For I had to do it—I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us.

‘If you do not forgive men their trespasses,’ Jesus says, ‘neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.’

I knew it not only as a commandment of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.

And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too.
 

Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.

‘… Help!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’

And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart!’

For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely, as I did then…

But even so, I realized it was not my love. I tried and did not have the power. It was the power of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Romans 5:5… “because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.” “

~ from Corrie ten Boom in Tramp for the Lord

Corrie ten Boom wasn’t perfect. She was made of bones and flesh, and faced temptations just like you or I do. But she still learned that lost art of showing God’s unfailing grace to those who deserve it the least.

Just like we have hurt God, over and over again, He still loves us, He still shows us His mercy & grace. And, you know what? We don’t really deserve it either.

It’s a way to share the gospel, to witness, to those who don’t know Christ.

Just like the martyrs.

The martyrs never fought back against their persecuters, but boasted in Jesus Christ alone and showed off His grace, love, and forgiveness to those who hurt them.

And then great things happened. Things like prison guards falling to their knees in prayer before the most High God, and when kings and nobles and whole countries bowed their heads in worship of the King of Kings.

Could there be a greater reward for giving grace?

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” 

~ Colossians 4:6 NKJV

breaking free (rom. 6)

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

… knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him], that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

For he who has died has been freed from sin.

 … Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord … For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin [leading] to death, or of obedience [leading] to righteousness? But God be thanked that [though] you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. “

~ Romans 6, NKJV

I did not do this. For a long time, at the end of the day, I would always whisper ,”Tomorrow,” and did nothing about my sin. I was guilty, and in pain, but I just Couldn’t. Let. Go. Not on my own.

I tried. I can at least say I tried, with my own power, with my own strength, determination. I mean, don’t those words make sense to the soul, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”? If I tried, if I really, really tried, I could overcome my sin. No problem.

Until it was.

But I tried. I tried my darn hardest, but I would only just fail and fail all over again, and why, Lord, is this not working? I tried again. And failed. Tried some more. Failed. And I would *not* learn my lesson that, just maybe, I couldn’t do it on my own?

I tried and tried. And for a while I succeeded. But that did not last long.

You see, I’ve always been the independent kind of girl. I don’t take help from anyone, no matter how much I need it. If you ask for help, I will jump up and help you immediately, no questions asked. But you help me? Nuh uh. Noooo way will I ever let you do that. I’m strong enough. I’m capable enough. I can do it, gee wiz. Why do people doubt me?

But someone can do that for only so long, until they break.

But I don’t break, I can’t break, I won’t let myself break. I’ll stand firm, I’ll stay strong, I’ll overcome this, by golly, and no, God, I don’t need Your help, I don’t want Your help, and I don’t need You, I sputter.

But you do, My princess.

These words of His caress my weary soul, as my lip quivers and tears of surrender trickle down my cheeks. Because I know I do, and I know every word, every denial for help is slowly & painfully breaking me. It’s a form of torture, really.

And I couldn’t go on any longer like this.

So I closed my eyes, whispered a prayer from the heart, and reached out my hand.

And I break free from my bonds.

I don’t know much about this thing called grace, the hows and the whys, but I know that I need it, and it’s something I could never live without. It’s something I can’t get until I completely dump my worries, my sin, my fears, my guilt, and, really, everything, at the foot of the Cross, that place where grace and suffering meet. And it’s not a one time thing, where you do this and that’s it.

No.

It’s something you have to do every year, every day, every hour, every moment. Every day you throw your cares and concerns, and run with reckless abandon to the One whom your soul loves. That’s the meaning of, “Go, and sin no more.”

To this day, I still struggle, I still sin, I still flail in the flood of chaos and corruption, but I always know where to turn to.

And, because of this, my life couldn’t be any better. And I close my eyes and worship Him until the day He takes me home.

as soft as clay

 

“But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand”

Isaiah 64:8

I look back this past year, and see how far I’ve come. The Lord has shaped me, and molded me, and I am slowly becoming more and more like Him.

I cannot boast.

I cannot boast in myself, but only that the Lord has taught me many, many things that have challenged, changed, stretched, and grown me.

But one thing I thought I’d share, one of the first steps I made on my journey.

Throughout my life, I had let myself stop growing, to become stale clay, clay that is not easy for the 

Potter to mold, to work with, to perfect.

I refused to let the Lord shape me and mold me into a better person, because I was afraid it would hurt too much. 

And you know what? It did hurt. I’m not gonna lie.

But you know another thing?

It’s worth it.

It’s worth it because I love Him so, so much and I just couldn’t bear to to see Him disappointed in His creation, and I want Him to be happy with what He sees.

So my lips whisper over and over this year, “He is the Potter, I am the clay.”

If we are to be clay, we must be willing to let go, of our plans, what we want, and give ourselves up to be made holy in His sight, and to completely surrender to His soft, loving hands. If we are stubborn, if we are unteachable, if we are hard, stale clay, why should we expect God to do great things with us?

But we cannot become soft by own free will.

It is up to the Potter to make us soft & teachable again.

Romans 9:21, “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”

And you know, I know it hurts. I know it’s something we don’t want to do. I know we don’t want to give up our dreams, and our pride, and our lives for Him.

I know.

But, this year, I want you to ask yourself this question, really and truly, in all honesty …

“Am I obstinate, or unyielding, or am I as soft as clay?”

for all those who are weary (matt. 11:28)

 

Morning comes early. I roll over and turn off that annoyance which is screaming at me to wake up.

And I groan.

Just *one* more minute.

Please? Oh please, just one more minute. But I don’t take another minute, because, inside, I know that for me one minute ends up being forty minutes.

My hand fumbles around for the phone, and I squint at the number glaring at me through the darkness. 4:03 am.

Insert another groan.

I slide off my bed and stumble over at least a hundred things before I reach the door 6 feet away. I then walk into the kitchen, the cold grating against my weary bones and I stare blankly at the coffee machine having no idea how this thing works.
I sigh. Life without coffee is hard. Especially at 4 o clock in the morning.

I walk into the living room, and grab the stack of messed up papers and books and sit down to study for that dreaded time of year …

FINAL’S WEEK. Gulp.

So I study as hard as my coffee-deprived brain can function.

6:00 am.

I put everything down so I can get ready for school. I go to the mirror, and feel bad for anyone who ever saw me. My eyes, bloodshot, from that almost four hours of sleep, and my skin pale, but contrasted with the accented dark circles under my eyes.
Good morning, sleeping beauty. (Not.)

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Five days in a row. Stress and lack of sleep weakening my body, functioning with the bare minimum. I look pale, thin, sickly, and, in another word, scary.

And I feel awful.

Where can we go when we are in need of peace and rest from the chaos this world gives us?

Usually, we go to sleep. And that is not a bad thing. However, whenever we feel exhausted, over-loaded, overwhelmed by the burdens we have to carry in our day to day lives, there is only One place where we should go.

Not to sleep. Not to the T.V. Not to food, nor the computer.

Before all that … we should go to the One who refreshes our souls and brings life to our weary bones when our knees are about to give and our bodies shake under the stress we try to hide.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28

No matter how busy, or how tired or weary we are, the Lord is our Hiding Place, our Rest, our Peace, our Comfort, in hard times <3

…Amen?

country style cherry tarts

 

{alteration: raspberry}

This is seriously one of the BEST dessert recipes I ever have. The kind that your Grandma would give you in her best handwriting, old and faded by time’s unwearying touch, as you quietly slip it into the old family cookbook, and hold it to your chest to treasure it for years to come. The recipe that brings back the nostalgia of your childhood, coming inside from mud and play to see mom pulling them out of the oven, and inhaling deep that divine goodness that tickles your nose and seeps into your then young, curious mind, back in those days when it never took much to make you happy.

Who doesn’t want that kind of recipe, honestly?

So, behold, my dearest friend, I bestow upon thee the golden recipe that which shall rock thine world.
Not to be dramatic or anything ::grin, wink::

cherry tarts

the cast of characters-

-> 1 large box of nilla wafers

-> 3 eggs

-> 1 tsp vanilla

-> 1 lb cream cheese

-> 1/2 cup (granulated) sugar

the outsiders-

-> canned/homemade pie filling (you can NEVER go wrong with cherry, but you can also use lemon, raspberry, blueberry, marionberry, etc.)

-> optional: whipped cream for garnish + for more sugar you don’t need, haha

the plan-

1) Put on a cute apron (if you are a girl, of course).

2) Preheat your oven to (*gasp* can you guess?!) 350 degrees F.

3) Line muffin tins with two cupcake liners each and center the nilla wafers on the bottom, like so…

Now, this is when you awaken that little perfectionist in you that I know you all have and make these gorgeous. This recipe does not require a whole lot of effort over all, so channel a little more effort into how these look. If you do it right, these will literally look like you bought them from a professional bakery or from Bakerella or something.

4) Mix the rest of the cast of characters together (but not the outsiders), until completely smooth. If there are any little lumps in it whatsoever, keep mixing. This is probably the one part of this recipe that takes the longest, maybe 15 or 20 minutes total. It doesn’t show very well in my pictures, but the color of the batter should have like an *almost* yellow-heavy-cream look.

Now, if you are indeed a girl after MY own heart you will NOT mix this by hand, please, no matter how pioneer-womanish you feel. PLEASE. I’m begging you from this side of the computer monitor. Unless you want to get a pretty good few-hour arm work out, please use a kitchen aid or an electric hand mixer (which is what I have). I guarantee you will get enough of a workout just by using the hand mixer.

Thank you very much.

4) Spoon mixture over the wafers, being careful to keep them centered, until the liners are 2/3 full. These tarts are going to rise quite a bit, so, DO NOT OVERFILL. You will be sorry, haha. And this takes practice, but try not to drip any of it onto the pan or on the cupcake liners, just because it looks prettier that way

Now, after you’ve filled up the entire cupcake pan, grab the edges and tap it on the counter to release any little bubbles that might be trapped in there. You don’t have to do it for very long; just a few minutes is good enough.

 

5) Bake 15-20 minutes, but just remember the tarts do NOT have to be brown, but just *slightly* firm and a little springy to the touch.

6) Remove from the oven (without burning yourself), and cover immediately with a large spoonful of pie filling each. For the cherry ones, the best rule of thumb is two put about three cherries in each, or maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyybe four if there’s enough room, but just be sure not to cram them, okay?

7) Now at this point, please do NOT eat them yet, as tempting as it is. You must refrigerate them first for several hours, in order to taste them in their full glory.

8) Serve them cooled. Oh, yeah, and you can garnish them with the last, poor outsider, Mr. Whipped Cream, if you so desire, but I usually don’t use him at all.

9) Serve these jewels to your best friends or to those cranky people in your life. Eat them. Enjoy them. Field marriage proposals as needed. If you have any questions, just let me know

awkward and awesome: moments from the new year (and a little before)

awkward

~  When you’re *so* afraid of spiders, you had to close your eyes anytime you saw the spiders in the new Hobbit movie. And you might’ve started shaking too.

~ When you have to go a day without coffee after you were up past 12 in the morning….and so you’re just like super tired the whole day.

~ When you and your cousin try to toast to the New Year, and try to take a drink of sparkling cider but you can’t because you keep looking at each other and start laughing too hard…so eventually you have to face away from each other just to be able to take one sip.

~ That time where you can’t decide if you’re too hot or too cold, so you keep putting your jacket on then taking it back off.

~ Trying to sing “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Housten…and let’s just say it doesn’t work very well, and a couple of dogs run out of the room. Ahem.

~ When everyone starts staring at you for no known reason.

~ Getting a a semi-expensive manicure and ruining it after only having it for three days, and when you try to salvage it by touching it up it looks even worse. And this might happen every single time you get your nails done.

awesome

~ Getting to see the Hobbit ::happy dance::

~ Having your sister over for Christmas!

~ Grandma’s food. Nothing beats it.

~ Homemade body scrubs.

~Work Out Update: *drum roll* I got up to 1000 (yes, one thousand) sit ups without stopping…whoa I still can’t believe it!

~ A great start to a new year

What’s awkward or awesome about your week?

who else stayed up past midnight last night?

We say we’ll do so many things. Go to Hawaii. Lose weight. Be a better sibling. We like to make resolutions to live the next year to the fullest.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. Really there isn’t.


But what if we all looked back on the previous year, and saw how much we’ve grown in Christ? And saw the new year as another year to yearn and desire to become more and more like Him? How much would that really change things?

I think a lot.

The New Year is a clean slate, a fresh start, and a reminder of how far we’ve come from the year before, and a blossoming of our hearts in a renewed passion for the Lord.

Maybe, in addition to the small goals you make this year, maybe even add some ones that will impact your soul…for eternity? It could be anything like reading the entire Bible this year, making a commitment to pray more, just…anything to draw closer to Him.

I’m about to start one of John MacArthur’s One-Year Devotionals, a gift I cherish from this Christmas. To read this in order to learn how to be a Mary rather than a Martha. And I’m taking the Dare, a challenge to write down 1000 things I’m thankful for that the Lord has given me. I want to draw closer to my King this year.

 Of course, I also want to overcome my fear of spiders ::ahem::

So what are your New Year’s Resolutions? Can you share some ideas?