Steve and I downsized three-and-a-half years ago, and some changes were drastic. For example, from 1650 square-feet of living space plus a full basement to a 750 square-foot apartment. We have Christmas tubs and golf clubs in a U-Haul storage unit a few miles away. Moving seems to be part of our marital DNA—we’ve relocated 11 times in 25 years! We love where we live; however, moving three things in the closet or cabinet to get to what we need is now a way of life.
Our kitchen is significantly smaller than what we left behind, and cooking can be challenging. Baking ever worse. I just can’t help myself—when the leaves start turning orange and gold, I want to bake cookies. What could be more fun than eating warm oatmeal raisin cookies and playing Monopoly or Uno with kids or grandkids? I’ll endure the cookie sheets filling up the limited counter space and crumbs all over the kitchen table to taste and share sweet treats.
Here’s a recipe I got from my mom, and they’re my son, Ray’s favorite cookies.
OATMEAL COOKIES (THE BEST)
3 eggs, well beaten
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup butter or margarine (I use Earth Balance—it bakes well.)
1 cup brown sugar (I cut it down to ¾ cup)
1 cup white sugar (I cut it down to ¾ cup)
2 ½ cups flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill whole wheat pastry flour because I like whole grain.)
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
2 cups oatmeal
¾ cup chopped pecans (optional)
Makes 6 dozen. In a small bowl, whisk eggs and add raisins and vanilla. Let stand for one hour, covered. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Blend flour, salt, cinnamon, and soda in a medium bowl and gradually add to sugar mixture. Blend well. Stir in egg-raisin mixture, oatmeal, and nuts. Dough will be stiff. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto greased cookie sheets or roll into small balls and flatten slightly on sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack and enjoy while warm.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 29:3
A wonderful way to begin our time of Bible reading and prayer is to offer the Lord our worship. How may we do that? One way that helps me is keeping a list of the names of God and their meanings on an index card in my Bible. Try entering “Names of the Lord and their meanings” in your browser, and several articles will get you started. Ignite personal worship by reading through the Psalms and Proverbs. Make note of the sections that help you express praise and create a reference list. Some examples are Psalms 25 and 73:21-26 and Proverbs 3 and 4.
As I was reading “Look and Live” by Matt Papa, I would take time to “behold,” a practice Papa describes. Setting aside time to look around and remember ways the Lord has worked in your life will spark adoration and thankfulness.
A hymnal is on the bookshelf behind me, and I’ll grab that and sing a song of praise to God or read and contemplate the lyrics.
PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
by Joachim Neander and Stralsund Gesangbuch.
Verse 1: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration!
So, let’s worship the Lord as we prepare to read His word. Take time to tell Him you love Him while you pray. Tell someone about answers to prayer. Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
Enjoy this wonderful hymn from Hymns of Grace. hymnsofgrace.com
It was during grammar school that I discovered Queen Anne’s Lace, a wildflower growing in ‘the woods’—an empty lot in the middle of our suburban block. It once contained a house, but only traces of old pottery and a big ditch remained in the middle where the house once stood. Tall trees, thick bushes, and paths worn smooth by kids’ feet made it a fun place to play hide and seek.
Studying Daucus carota, the scientific name for Queen Anne’s Lace, with its tall, lacy flowers, I discovered the distinct dark reddish-purple dot in the center. The nickname may come from a fable about Queen Anne II of England. It is said that she was a fine lace maker and once pricked her finger with a needle, causing a drop of blood to stain the lace. I didn’t learn about the origins of the name until much later. I just loved creating and wearing lacy necklaces by tying together the long stems.
The symbolism of a bloody stain makes me think about the Christ connection in all of this. The Lord Jesus, the night he was betrayed, offered His disciples a sip of wine, saying, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28. None of them understood what He meant that night.
Jesus Christ faced a bloody death on the cross, murdered for crimes He did not commit. At the time it seemed futile, and the disciples mourned. After Jesus’ miraculous resurrection, they began to understand the meaning of His shed blood. One of them wrote in the book of Hebrews that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” 9:22. And, “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” 10:10.
Blood was required all through the Old Testament as the Jewish people made atonement for their sins with the sacrifice of lambs, bulls, and goats. “When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering…” Leviticus 5:5-6 The lamb’s blood was then sprinkled on the altar by the priest.
Jesus’ sacrifice that “did away with sin” (Hebrews 9:26) was foretold by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. At God’s direction, Isaiah detailed many things that happened to Jesus Messiah, and he wrote them more than 700 years before Jesus died: “But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. . . . by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5.
Where are you at with Jesus Christ, the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)? Do you know about Him, or do you have a personal relationship with Him? He invites you today (yes, He is alive) to admit you have sinned and accept His forgiveness. It is by God’s grace through faith that you are saved, not by good things that you do. “This is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9.) Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s Good News. Please pray and accept God’s forgiveness. Then tell someone you are now a follower of Jesus.
More than 39 years ago, I came to realize I was a sinner and needed God’s grace. Prior to that, I rarely gave God a thought. After reading the Gospel of John, I realized the truth, that Christ died to pay the penalty for my sins: Using God’s name as a swear word, committing adultery, lying, stealing, just to name a few. Messiah Jesus rose again for my justification, that is, making me just right with God. I turned from my sin and decided to follow Jesus. I moved beyond living for fame, fortune, and happiness. I’ve never looked back and have no regrets, only a litany of blessings from God too long to recount here. My book, A Goldilocks Life—Not Perfect, But Just Right is in process. Watch this space for news of the publication date. It tells of God’s wonderful workings in and around me, and maybe even about Queen Anne’s Lace and pranks in ‘the woods’.
Enjoy listening to Twila Paris’ beautiful song, Lamb of God.
A Goldilocks Life 