Bake at 350 for 25 minutes
As it cools dose it with Hershey's syrup
Each day make a joyful noise in this backWORDZ world. Choose to live life moment by moment in the extravagant love of your Father.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
A Deeper Faith and A Widow
How many times do we see God at work, hear His truths and see His power displayed miraculously and yet still we live in doubts and questions?
Faith is child's play.
Faith is foolishness.
Faith is something to work out through fear and trembling.
1st Kings 17:7-24 Tells the story of Elijah meeting with the widow at Zarephath
During the encounter Elijah tells the widow God has promised to provide for her physical needs despite the drought in the land.
The story does not go into detail. But I wonder, did the jar not run dry and the flour not get used up just in a completely miraculous way that they just never ran out OR was it that despite all of her neighbors crops drying up and shriveling or failing to produce due to the drought that yet hers continued to flourish and grow so she could glean when others could not? Either way, I imagine the miraculous event occurring in front of her day after day would cause her Faith to be secure, solid and even unmoved.
Yet, just like the widow, we can see the miraculous taking place right before our very eyes day after day and we can still choose to walk in willful unbelief. We can choose to walk in doubts. And we can choose to allow questions to cloud out Faith!
The widow sees Gods miraculous promise fulfilled. Yet, as time went on the woman's son became ill and died. When he died she cried out. In her desperation she gave her dead son to Elijah.
Then, Elijah cried out!
And it was after this miracle that the woman finally relented in her doubts and turned toward Faith.
"Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth." -The Widow At Zarephath
God, in what areas am I living in doubts and questions rather than allowing my faith to rise up? Where am I walking in unbelief? Show my heart the areas you desire me to grow and develop a deeper Faith. Help me surrender my doubts and questions and fears and unbelief to You and trust you even when I can't understand or comprehend. Please forgive my unbelief and help me overcome it! Please open my eyes to see you at work in the miraculous all around me! Let my Faith rise up!
In Jesus name, amen!
Faith is child's play.
Faith is foolishness.
Faith is something to work out through fear and trembling.
1st Kings 17:7-24 Tells the story of Elijah meeting with the widow at Zarephath
During the encounter Elijah tells the widow God has promised to provide for her physical needs despite the drought in the land.
The story does not go into detail. But I wonder, did the jar not run dry and the flour not get used up just in a completely miraculous way that they just never ran out OR was it that despite all of her neighbors crops drying up and shriveling or failing to produce due to the drought that yet hers continued to flourish and grow so she could glean when others could not? Either way, I imagine the miraculous event occurring in front of her day after day would cause her Faith to be secure, solid and even unmoved.
Yet, just like the widow, we can see the miraculous taking place right before our very eyes day after day and we can still choose to walk in willful unbelief. We can choose to walk in doubts. And we can choose to allow questions to cloud out Faith!
The widow sees Gods miraculous promise fulfilled. Yet, as time went on the woman's son became ill and died. When he died she cried out. In her desperation she gave her dead son to Elijah.
Then, Elijah cried out!
And it was after this miracle that the woman finally relented in her doubts and turned toward Faith.
"Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth." -The Widow At Zarephath
God, in what areas am I living in doubts and questions rather than allowing my faith to rise up? Where am I walking in unbelief? Show my heart the areas you desire me to grow and develop a deeper Faith. Help me surrender my doubts and questions and fears and unbelief to You and trust you even when I can't understand or comprehend. Please forgive my unbelief and help me overcome it! Please open my eyes to see you at work in the miraculous all around me! Let my Faith rise up!
In Jesus name, amen!
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Unknown seed...
Before we moved, Seana was playing in the area on our lot she called "the up-woods". While she was there she found a small oblong black seed. To me it looked like some type of bean seed. I don't remember ever seeing a seed exactly like it before. We made some guesses of what it could be...
A tree
A pea
A bean
A flower
But truly we had no idea of what exactly the seed would develop into.
Seana was so SO excited! She wanted to plant the seed, water and care for it and watch it grow-all-by-herself! I thought it would be a great experience for her so I said sure and we found a container for her little seed.
She planted it.
She watered it.
She brought the seedling under cover when it stormed.
She cared for it and watched it grow.
A tree
A pea
A bean
A flower
But truly we had no idea of what exactly the seed would develop into.
Seana was so SO excited! She wanted to plant the seed, water and care for it and watch it grow-all-by-herself! I thought it would be a great experience for her so I said sure and we found a container for her little seed.
She planted it.
She watered it.
She brought the seedling under cover when it stormed.
She cared for it and watched it grow.
As it has grown, we have been able to identify it as what we believe is a Sunflower plant!
This is the lesson God has been speaking to my heart in this...
Sometimes we too, plant unknown seeds.
Seeds of unknown origin and unknown outcomes, with uncertain results.
The thoughts, the lies, the fears, the beliefs, the hurt and pain we bury deep down unsure of what it may become.
When we water (or allow to fester and grow) those thoughts, beliefs, fears, lies, and hurts can grow and develop into deeply rooted, growing plants... Plants we weren't even sure what they'd become.
So, how do we keep the seeds we are planting in check? How do we stay alert and awake to what we are planting within our hearts, minds and body's?
1 Peter 5:8-9
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
So we can be aware of what seeds we are planting by standing firm in the faith and staying ALERT! This passage also goes on to say that GOD HIMSELF will restore us if and when we fall prey... So, we can turn to God asking Him to restore us and protect our hearts and minds from planting seeds that may grow deep roots and develop into unhealthy unknown thought patterns, beliefs or hurt that lingers. We can ask God to bring us healing, His truth, hope, love, light and strength! We can ask Him to deeply, firmly plant within us roots that grow into plants we know well and that will develop into beautiful strong parts of us!
What we plant, matters. It WILL grow into something.
What we think, matters. It will grow into something.
What we believe, matters. It will grow into something.
What we do, matters, it will grow into something.
What seeds are you planting today?
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
So we can be aware of what seeds we are planting by standing firm in the faith and staying ALERT! This passage also goes on to say that GOD HIMSELF will restore us if and when we fall prey... So, we can turn to God asking Him to restore us and protect our hearts and minds from planting seeds that may grow deep roots and develop into unhealthy unknown thought patterns, beliefs or hurt that lingers. We can ask God to bring us healing, His truth, hope, love, light and strength! We can ask Him to deeply, firmly plant within us roots that grow into plants we know well and that will develop into beautiful strong parts of us!
What we plant, matters. It WILL grow into something.
What we think, matters. It will grow into something.
What we believe, matters. It will grow into something.
What we do, matters, it will grow into something.
What seeds are you planting today?
Monday, May 9, 2016
SET CAPTIVES FREE (vision)
As I ran this weekend God showed me a vision of a multitude of runners.
The running crowd all carried weights, like shackles or large unlocked key pads on their bodies. Some only a few, many carried multiple weights. They were as rod iron looking, heavy padlocks. The runners were hindered by these weights. But they ran so close together like a crowd in a marathon that soon I noticed as they ran they were actually unlocking one another's shackles as they ran. In fact, the closer they ran one to another, the more and more pad locks fell off.
Why?
Because community matters.
Intimacy matters.
Vulnerability and honesty and truth and grace matter.
And a willingness to "run alongside" matters. To be willing to not "run ahead" and willing to stop "lagging behind" and instead a willingness to partner, to support, to be one with each other.
IT WILL SET YOU FREE! IT WILL SET US FREE!
Then I saw devils. They were grasping tightly around the feet of those trying to run, weighed down by many shackles. And each demon had their finger up to their lips "shushing" and quieting the truth tellers. Some were blinding the crowd. The blindfolds could very well say any "good" thing because the demons were using "good" to darken the eyes of those in bondage and captivity.
Then I saw some of the runners in the crowd holding on the weights and padlocks too, like the demons were... But they were proud and were inciting the pride of those they were keeping in bondage by glorifying the locks and chains. As if they were something glorious to be boastful in.
My heart began to cry out NO! Set them free! Why would we keep them in their captivity? And a heaviness and burden for those in captivity swelled within me.
WE ARE CALLED TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE!
WE ARE CALLED TO BREAK CHAINS TO LIBERTY!
WE ARE CALLED TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE!
And this passage rang through my ears like bells of freedom, like a trumpet call!
The running crowd all carried weights, like shackles or large unlocked key pads on their bodies. Some only a few, many carried multiple weights. They were as rod iron looking, heavy padlocks. The runners were hindered by these weights. But they ran so close together like a crowd in a marathon that soon I noticed as they ran they were actually unlocking one another's shackles as they ran. In fact, the closer they ran one to another, the more and more pad locks fell off.
Why?
Because community matters.
Intimacy matters.
Vulnerability and honesty and truth and grace matter.
And a willingness to "run alongside" matters. To be willing to not "run ahead" and willing to stop "lagging behind" and instead a willingness to partner, to support, to be one with each other.
IT WILL SET YOU FREE! IT WILL SET US FREE!
Then I saw devils. They were grasping tightly around the feet of those trying to run, weighed down by many shackles. And each demon had their finger up to their lips "shushing" and quieting the truth tellers. Some were blinding the crowd. The blindfolds could very well say any "good" thing because the demons were using "good" to darken the eyes of those in bondage and captivity.
Then I saw some of the runners in the crowd holding on the weights and padlocks too, like the demons were... But they were proud and were inciting the pride of those they were keeping in bondage by glorifying the locks and chains. As if they were something glorious to be boastful in.
My heart began to cry out NO! Set them free! Why would we keep them in their captivity? And a heaviness and burden for those in captivity swelled within me.
WE ARE CALLED TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE!
WE ARE CALLED TO BREAK CHAINS TO LIBERTY!
WE ARE CALLED TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE!
And this passage rang through my ears like bells of freedom, like a trumpet call!
Malachi 4:2New Living Translation (NLT)
2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.[a] And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
GO FREE! Do not any longer hold fast to the chains weighing you down.
GO FREE! Do not any longer look back to the things of old that held you back.
GO FREE! Do not any longer be distracted by the worries and lies.
GO FREE! Do not hold onto anything of this world, not your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, your son, your daughter, your wife, your husband, your home, your land, your sexuality, your gender identity, your gifts, your friends, your wealth, your possesians, your future, your past, your present... More than you hold on to HIM!
LET not lies, distractions, lesser loves, an illusion of good, an illusion of love, enslave and capture us into lofty and worldly thinking that keeps us enslaved to the sneaking demons grasping at our feet to hinder our run! Let us not partner with them in their devious scheming but let us go and...
SET CAPTIVES FREE!
~blessings
Abi J. D.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Vision, Are You Seeing Clearly?
Vision.
Are you seeing clearly?
Or, are you struggling?
Vision impairment?
Yesterday I had the joy of spending time with a wonderful friend of mine. She is a spectacular mother and filled with so much love and care. I admire her strength and beauty in the way she has dealt with one painful situation in particular. Her daughter was born with vision impairment. She struggles with a genetic condition that has affected her ability to see. That has not slowed this sweet beautiful little girl down too much though, she fights to still do as much as possible. And she is a fighter. In many ways it has affected her life and shaped her. But not only her, it has also shaped her mom, and their relationship.
As my friend shared with me yesterday, my heart began to break. She shared about the difficulty in their ability to bond early on. Normally around the age of two months old an infant will begin smiling in response to being smiled at. Three days ago we spent the evening with my brand new niece, born in January, who is already responding to being smiled at by giggling! So precious and joyous! But my friend never had the joy of experiencing that with her sweet little girl. Because of not being able to see well, her daughter also struggled with fear, especially of fast moving objects or animals. Because of her vision impairment, there is often difficulty to face and struggle to overcome. Yet, the good news is she recently had surgery, which has made a huge improvement and difference for her. Instead of walking in fear and instability and struggling with balance, she now can walk and run with more confidence and less falls! She smiles when smiled at!
She can see more clearly!
Her vision changes everything!
God began speaking to my heart and reminding me of some things He has laid on my heart. He reminded me that, like this precious little ones vision impairment affected her ability to trust, to walk securely, to find joy and peace and safety and a feeling of bonding or closeness, so too, our ability to find these things is affected when we remain blinded or vision impaired spiritually.
Spiritual vision impairment affects our entire being. It affects our ability to trust in God or anything around us. It affects or joy. It affects our peace. It affects our ability to walk without falling or run without fear, or live without limitations.
So how do we receive vision improvement or vision surgery?
We cling to God! We strive to KNOW Him better so that we can trust Him more BY seeing Him better! We see Him more clearly by seeing who He is in His Word and by connecting with Him in prayer! When we get to know God better we fear less, we walk more securely, we bond more deeply with Him and we find more joy!
God wants us to find the joy, peace, deeply satisfying relationship and security that come from seeing without impairment!
Vision.
Are you seeing clearly?
Blessings,
Abi
Are you seeing clearly?
Or, are you struggling?
Vision impairment?
Yesterday I had the joy of spending time with a wonderful friend of mine. She is a spectacular mother and filled with so much love and care. I admire her strength and beauty in the way she has dealt with one painful situation in particular. Her daughter was born with vision impairment. She struggles with a genetic condition that has affected her ability to see. That has not slowed this sweet beautiful little girl down too much though, she fights to still do as much as possible. And she is a fighter. In many ways it has affected her life and shaped her. But not only her, it has also shaped her mom, and their relationship.
As my friend shared with me yesterday, my heart began to break. She shared about the difficulty in their ability to bond early on. Normally around the age of two months old an infant will begin smiling in response to being smiled at. Three days ago we spent the evening with my brand new niece, born in January, who is already responding to being smiled at by giggling! So precious and joyous! But my friend never had the joy of experiencing that with her sweet little girl. Because of not being able to see well, her daughter also struggled with fear, especially of fast moving objects or animals. Because of her vision impairment, there is often difficulty to face and struggle to overcome. Yet, the good news is she recently had surgery, which has made a huge improvement and difference for her. Instead of walking in fear and instability and struggling with balance, she now can walk and run with more confidence and less falls! She smiles when smiled at!
She can see more clearly!
Her vision changes everything!
God began speaking to my heart and reminding me of some things He has laid on my heart. He reminded me that, like this precious little ones vision impairment affected her ability to trust, to walk securely, to find joy and peace and safety and a feeling of bonding or closeness, so too, our ability to find these things is affected when we remain blinded or vision impaired spiritually.
Spiritual vision impairment affects our entire being. It affects our ability to trust in God or anything around us. It affects or joy. It affects our peace. It affects our ability to walk without falling or run without fear, or live without limitations.
So how do we receive vision improvement or vision surgery?
We cling to God! We strive to KNOW Him better so that we can trust Him more BY seeing Him better! We see Him more clearly by seeing who He is in His Word and by connecting with Him in prayer! When we get to know God better we fear less, we walk more securely, we bond more deeply with Him and we find more joy!
God wants us to find the joy, peace, deeply satisfying relationship and security that come from seeing without impairment!
Vision.
Are you seeing clearly?
Blessings,
Abi
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