There is so much hurt in the world it is tempting to write about that every time. I have a hurting friend today and want so much to be a balm for her spirits. A rainy day friend, not just a friend when the sun is shining.
I am lacking in the right words, what to do, how to say anything to help. Having been through a time of hurting I saw God work through what people said to me or what they did for me; even though now I don't remember specific things friends said. The days seemed long, the self-questioning relentless.
Looking back now I can say for sure that God worked through that hard time. He is still working in it, using it. Though I don't know what to say or do for my friend, at least I can let her know I am here and praying. I know God is at work.
I got to paint today. I am working on an oil portrait on canvas, of a dear friend's daughter. There is such satisfaction, such deep joy, in doing what God has made me to do. It's like nothing else! It makes me want to keep painting more than a once in awhile thing. How to do that, is the thing, when so much of life is taken up with other responsibilities. I wonder how it makes God feel when I neglect the talents He's given. What talents did God bless you with, and how can you use them in the coming week?
Fidget and I had a little party today. The ladies who sit at the same table as I do at Bible study came over with their kids for lunch. They brought the lunch with them, all we did was offer our place and make some sweets. Here are the honey bunnies. Fidget loves helping in the kitchen so we picked these out to make. Though it was tough deciding on whether to make the peanut butter turtles or the honey bunnies.
The nicest part after preparing the house a little and baking, was just being with the ladies while the kids played together. It is so rare we get to lose track of time and just enjoy fellowship. There's practically nothing so encouraging to me as meeting with other believers, other women from any walk of life. I was enriched by our time together today and felt afterward I need to continue to seek out these times. For myself, yes, but for building up others, and for showing Fidget how we should practice hospitality. It isn't the grandness of the home or the dishes that make teas, lunches, or other gatherings special. It is giving time that says to the others, you are important to me. Don't we all want that?
"Let us not give up meeting together....but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25.
There is so much going on in the world that's out of our control. Okay, let's face it, none of it is under our control. Recently I caught myself inwardly fretting in an idle moment. What if...? But then the words of Jesus in Luke 9:20 from our church's ladies' Bible study came to me,
"Who do you say I am?"
I have been thinking about this, and answering this question in prayer, for a week now. It is a convicting question. I have read the parallel passages in Matthew 16:15 and Mark 8:29. Peter answered him, "You are the Christ, (and in Matthew 16 it goes on:) the Son of the living God." I have examined my heart on this. Do I really live like I believe Jesus is God? If I believed it truly, if I set my eyes and heart on Him, would I fret so about world events and have nightmares about my fears?
I love impetuous Peter of the Bible. With him I answer, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." I pray today I will take the Jesus of the Bible so closely to my heart that I do not fear the world and its chaos. I know I am not in control of it, but God assures us, He is in control. So there's no better, safer place to be, than with the God who created the world and each one of us who are walking it today.
This sorry sight is from a great recipe in my Hershey's chocolate cookbook. I've made them before and they were delicious- and looked nothing like the above! This was supposed to be the Pres' birthday espresso-filled mini cakes.
Fortunately, my anniversary baking went better. Here's the mini apple pie and tiny grape tarts, with the little peach tarts in back. They were made of dough scraps- just rolled out the dough and cut into rectangles, put a teaspoon of peach preserves on one side, folded the dough over and crimped it, and sprinkled cinnamon sugar on top. Even though Fidget has no interest in eating baked goods, I like that she wants to help. Making tiny tarts reminds me of baking when I was little. Even if she never likes baked goods, I hope Fig will bake with her kids one day.
I'm glad I started baking in the morning, so there's plenty of time to try my recipe again. I already have no present for the Pres. I'd hate to have nothing baked for him too!
