Creator God November 6, 2011

The Lord holds a monopoly on fulfillment and joy within us. Nothing else can touch the sacred place he carved for himself within us.

As he created, formed and carved us into being, he created a place, metaphorically, where only he can fill us, fulfill us, and bring us joy. No other thing, person, circumstance, or event can fill that place he created for himself. 

Any unhappiness we perceive can in fact be the natural, expected failure of things that aren’t supposed to fulfill us, NOT fulfilling us. 

Lord, I pray for self-sacrificial surrender, not surrender when it’s convenient or easy. I pray for your strength when I’m weak, not perceived strength on top of my own strength. I pray for your grace to remain, especially when I’m stubborn. Lord, help me remove junk in the places I’ve barricaded from your touch. I pray for your revealing light onto the doors I’ve locked tight. Amen.

Pumpkin Muffins: Why? WHY NOT?! October 7, 2011

Fall has officially hit the Goodnight kitchen with a bang!!  Perfectly delicious!!

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins

Adapted from Lapaz Farm http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/2011/09/16/gluten-free-pumpkin-muffins/ and
Mrs. Wdowiak’s pumpkin muffins

Dry Ingredients:
1 ¾ cup gluten free flour blend (I used Bob’s Red Mill All-Purpose Baking Mix)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
¼ tsp. nutmeg

Wet Ingredients:
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup applesauce
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
¼ cup maple syrup
1 16 oz. can unsweetened pumpkin
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Heat oven to 375 degrees. (My friend Robin taught me this makes your cupcakes crown prettier… Try it, see if  it works for you!) Stir the wet ingredients together in a medium bowl. Stir the dry ingredients together in a larger bowl. Combine the wet and dry ingredients in the larger bowl.  Scoop the batter into the muffin cups. (I made 2 dozen mini muffins and 10 large muffins. My mini muffin cups are a perfect 1 TBSP scoop and my large muffin cups are a perfect ¼ cup scoop.) Bake the mini muffins for 10-13 minutes and the large muffins 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the tops are slightly un-springy (yes, a very technical term!)

One friend suggested frosting with cream cheese icing, but I’m not sure these need anything extra! They’re moist, perfectly pumpkin-y, and the perfect dessert on a cool fall evening!!

Enjoy!!

Dear Diary, but not really… September 25, 2011

I’ve kept a journal for as long as I can remember. In my teenage years, my entries chronicled my bemoanings and teenage angst. In more resent years, memorable encounters with God. Between Jason and I, we have quite a collection of journals on our shelves. I was reading over things I’d written in the last year or so, and stumbled upon the following… I didn’t write a date, but I’m assuming it was somewhere around the end of March 2011, from the context of other entries.

Very clearly, in August (2010) as Jason and I began a flurry of new challenges: a ministry internship (which required us to attend monthly meetings, reading assignments almost daily, and monthly tests on said reading), masters level classes for me to earn an Academically and Intellectually Gifted education certification, and accelerated 2nd grade class of 17 students, and continuing Thursday night Unveiled services and Sunday night fellowship/Bible study at our house, I understood this season was exactly where where we were supposed to be. In my gut, I also knew that this fact would not make this season without struggle. Knowing I was in the will of God did not make it easy, but it was bearable knowing I was stepping directly into the will of God.

In a limited scope of hindsight, as I’m not completely finished with any of what was begun in August, though the next season has not yet begun, I can just begin to catch a glimpse of it on the horizon. The brief glimpses I catch are viewed with both anticipation and apprehension.

Talking with a dear friend, it seemed to us both that the will of God isn’t something God makes us jump into like a cosmic swimming pool, but something we consistently need to walk toward, small decision by small decision, so that one day we look around us and realize that the will of God surrounds us, that it is has risen up all around us.

I was reminded of Romans 12:2, which greatly confirmed this notion of the will of God for me:

Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to the world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what it is that is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

“Be not conformed to the world…” Decisions can not be made based on the world’s values such as greed, self-service, “I’m gonna get what’s mind”, etc.

“but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” By valuing what God values, by receiving his direction and his heart in situations, and asking for and receiving his council…

“that ye may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” By the transformation of how we think about God and life, we can know and receive the perfect will of God in our lives.

I want to live in such a way that I can live with contentment, fulfillment, and joy in the present moment and not stir up angst and worry about what’s next because it is the Lord’s great pleasure to walk with us through the ups and downs of this life. I want to live with the active knowledge that I can trust Him to lead me in the right direction.

Ephesians 2:10~For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus onto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Asparagus Risotto June 15, 2011

Last night, while Jason grilled steaks, I slaved over this delicious concoction. Well, honestly, I just stirred a lot. No slaving necessary!!

What you’ll need:
-4 cups chicken broth (or for my vegetarian friends, a broth of your choice!)
-1 cup water
-1 T. butter or margarine
-1 T. olive or vegetable oil
-2 cloves garlic, minced (I used 2 t. Of the pre-minced garlic in the jar)
-1/2 medium onion, chopped
-1 1/2 cups arborio rice
-1/2 cup dry white wine (or water, which I used)
-1/2 pound asparagus (cut into 1 in. pieces)
-1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

What you’ll do:
1. In a saucepan bring broth & water to a simmer (slow & steady small bubbles). Leave on low heat.
2. In a small stock pot or large saucepan, heat butter or margarine & oil over medium heat. Stir in onion & garlic. Cook until onion is translucent, stirring often.
3. Add the rice & stir until completely coated. Add wine (or water), and stir gently until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
4. Add broth mixture 1/2 cup at a time, stirring gently & constantly until liquid is almost absorbed, until 1/4 cup remains(about 20 minutes). At this point the rice & asparagus should be tender.
5. Remove from stove & stir in the remaining broth & the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately. Enjoy!!

Procrastination in it’s finest form! April 30, 2011

There’s nothing like a deadline to make EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD seem more important &/or more appealing than the paper that’s due in T-35 hours.

My latest time waster? An absolutely uncompromising NEED for macaroni and cheese. So what do I do?

Make mac and cheese, of course!

Of course, it would be ever so helpful if I could open a box of velveta and whip up a quick batch, but celiacs disease makes that wishful thinking impossible. No, I have to do it the hard way. But fast, ya know?? ‘Cause I’m on a time crunch, people!

Fortunately, I had some gluten-free pasta in the cabinet. I boiled up a good handful. (While meanwhile thinking about how to formulate my next paragraph, of course!)

When the pasta was done, I drained off the water, dumped some shredded cheddar cheese on top, tore a slice of american cheese in to smaller pieces on top of that, and poured a bit of milk.

Stirred it all up so everything was melted, seasoned with black pepper (no salt needed!), and now I’m not quite finished eating my bowl-full of yumminess as I type this.

Time waster–SUCCESSFUL!

Full tummy–DONE.

Paper–Well….. I’m still workin’ on it.

But as my kids at school would say, “I’m almost done!” with even a single word on their page. It’s all a matter of perspective. I’m closer to done than I was a few minutes ago!

Back to work!

Your Beauty is All Around Us April 10, 2011

Your beauty is all around us.

Your holy kiss sparks the dawn.

Your breath holds the birds in flight.

Your hand unfurls every flower.

Your heartbeat pounds the rhythm of the surf.

Your beauty is all around us.

The trees stand tall to wave in praise.

Every man, woman, and child bears your name.

Life begins anew each Spring without fail.

So too, the heart of man blossoms in Your hand.

Your beauty is all around us.

Ten perfect toes, ten wiggly fingers.

A human’s enormous personality begins with such helplessness.

Mom’s and Dad’s nurture and love self-sacrificially,

bearing the image of a Heavenly Father loving His Son.

Your beauty is all around us.

Your love never changes, constant and enduring.

Grace extended from the unlikeliest of hands;

a human man’s, callused by both work and life incarnate,

bruised and rejected, extending eternally.

Your beauty is all around us.

Unconventional beauty, love pouring forth from scars,

returning again, knowing the kick will come to the ribs,

facing rejection, defying rationality,

risking it all so we can see…

YOUR BEAUTY ALL AROUND US.

 

The Single Life March 21, 2011

Jason & his dad are the beach for a few days. I have to admit, I like “the single life” for about as long as it takes to watch a movie with Josh Dumel and Katherine Heigle in it.

Movie’s over. I’m done. And I have about 3 more days of this. Bleeeccck.

For real though, there’s something to how much I dislike this alone time stuff. I’ll be chewing on that while you go watch Life As We Know It. Cute movie…

It’s at least nice to have a Puppy around for company. I don’t know how she does it but she guilted me into taking her for a walk around the lake before I started watching the movie… That was nice, at least.

Enough rambling. I’m as bad as a 3 year old stalling bed time. Enough is enough. To an empty bed, I go. I mean, to an empty bed I go!! A whole bed to myself!!!

Nah…. Didn’t convince you either, huh?

Earthen Vessel March 10, 2011

Praying at 24-7 tonight, I kept thinking about earthen vessels.

 

How I feel dry like one.

 

The last 3 weeks have been like that.

 

Tonight, I felt flooded, like an earthen vessel dunked and overflowing.

 

Earthen vessels are made from earth, essentially dust and clay that’s been gathered together and moistened, then formed by a master’s hand.

 

Tonight, I recognized the great value of an earthen vessel considering it’s humble beginnings, that it only becomes useful and valuable with the potter’s experienced eye and hand.

 

I was formed from mere dust, moistened by His hot breath, formed by his masterful hand with His watchful, knowing eye. I derive purpose only from His intention. I am useful only so much as I trust His plan. I can hold only as much as he gives, and can only pour forth by his indwelling. I am an earthen vessel, formed by Him.

One foot in front of the other… February 21, 2011

No one wants to get “that call”.

 

We got “the call” Thursday night right before Unveiled was about to start. “Jason, your brother is gone. He passed away this afternoon. We don’t know what happened. You need to come.” That’s when the world seemed to stop.

 

It hasn’t really started moving again.

 

We went to see his mom. We cried, she cried. Jason was incredibly strong for his family, supernaturally so. We saw Kevin’s daughter, who is wise beyond her years at only 14. She is beautiful.

 

We drove to Kannapolis to tell Jason’s dad. That was the hardest part, I think. You shouldn’t have to tell a man his son has died. Again, the Lord was a great strength, and Jason had enough of everything he needed to walk with his dad through this.

 

We’ve spent time with Autumn, Kevin’s daughter. I hope we get to spend a lot more time with her in the future. I hope she sees enough of her dad in Jason to let us be a part of her life. Honestly, as much for our sake as for hers.

 

The funeral is today.

 

Sadie and I went for a walk this morning. The air was cold on my face. Sadie hasn’t been on a walk in a while–she loved it. She’s conked out in her bed already. All I’ve thought about the last few days is to tell myself “Just put one foot in front of the other…. One foot in front of the other…. One foot in front of the other…”

 

Today though, I was flooded with thoughts of my friend’s baby who will be born in September, of my MANY friends having babies, and the first buds on the trees. Then the thought, “HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL”. I don’t know where that came from, other than a great, merciful God who knows despair, but is also the very hope of life. Then, “LOVE NEVER FAILS”. There is no simple explanation for this. There is no easy answer to tell us WHY.

 

But I am so thankful for a loving, merciful GOD OF HOPE.

Add it to your “MUST READ” list… February 6, 2011

My favorite book of the year so far? (YES, I do realize it’s only February, but I have high hopes that it will still be my favorite book of the year at the end of 2011!!)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

It has a little of everything. Nostalgia, love, adventure, risk and reward, mistakes and redemption, friendship, and my favorite part, a remarkably realistic, lovable main character who tells the story of his life on the trains of a circus from his nursing home wheelchair. There’s just something about the stories of a life well-lived. You won’t regret it, friend. Add this one to your MUST READ list!