Still learning

Recently, I’ve been trying some new things.

Especially, in the area of baking

It began with my prayer to make sourdough starter again and use it in breads for my family.

My last starter was houses in the garage fridge.

Our son discovered, when he went for something else, the fridge had died, a while ago by the contents.

He was kind enough to dump the starter and put the rest of the contents of that fridge into the garbage.

So, I was hesitant to begin again, until I found a recipe online and felt it was the Lord answer to my prayers.

So, I began the starter and after 8 days made whole wheat English muffins.

Today, I tried whole wheat crackers.

I don’t have either recipe down yet.

The English muffins are a bit too small, because I don’t have a biscuit cutter, but it’s on the shopping list!

The crackers are under cooked.

But that’s okay, I’m still learning.

I’m going to try bagels, next.

I’m hopeful they’ll turn out, but if they don’t I’ll try again.

It’s part of the gifts God gives us, learning about His creation, even if it’s something everyday like baking.

For no matter what one already knows, there’s always more to learn.

Because our Creator is infinite, His creation is incredibly detailed and complex, with opportunities to learn new things and praise Him in it.

Romans 1:20 NKJV — For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

I’m praising God for the opportunity to learn and I’m thankful for His gifts, even when things don’t turn out right, I know it’s an opportunity to praise Him.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your creation. Thank You for teaching me so many things each day. Lord, please help me to learn to make food for our family in ways I’ve not done before. Lord, thank You for the abundance of things in our lives. Please help us to use them for Your glory. Lord, let my lips be filled with Your praise! For You are great and Your invisible attributes are clearly seen throughout Your creation. How great You are, Jesus and greatly to be praised! Amen.

Endurance in the little things

That’s what bread baking has been for almost a month.

I’ve baked our family’s bread for many years.

It began as a way to save money.

Then blossomed into a way to say, “I love you”.

One of my favorite memories about homemade bread involved a young man who lived in our community when our middle girls were in highschool.

He had been a regular visitor to our home during one summer and I was baking bread regularly.

As I cut into a new loaf one day, he asked me, “Why do you buy your bread like that? Why not get bread that’s precut?”

I smiled, “I baked this myself.”

“Oh, well I guess I won’t ask you where you buy it then.”

He grinned at me, “It’s really good bread.”

I have always baked my bread in loaf pans.

It was available for both sandwiches or toast or just easy to eat with butter.

I’d never learned to make it in a round loaf.

About a month ago I began trying my hand at the round artisan bread.

It’s been a long rough lesson.

My first loaf went in the garbage, it was not able to be eaten.

My second loaf was raw in the middle, but we were able to eat the ends.

I had one set where I gave up on round and shaped them into long loaves which worked well.

When I made two round loaves that turned out nearly perfect I thought I’d finally found the correct process, only to run into more trouble.

The loaves kept rising too much and by the time I baked them turned into bread sticks, because they had fallen.

During all this I read recipes, watched YouTube videos, and prayed.

I was wear thin my patience, but I felt God tell me to try again today.

Before beginning, I gave my efforts to the Lord.

As I worked I prayed, not for the bread, but for a long list of people God brought to mind.

I’d already learned that God was going to use all my effort in bread baking, because God continued to remind me of God’s Word.

Romans 8:28 KJV — And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The Lord reminded me I had a choice: to believe His Word or not.

I knew God was teaching me to trust Him, even in my failures.

It’s an area I’m still working on.

Failing is difficult for me.

So, that was why I was praying for others while baking bread, because people are more important than bread and I want to use my time to lift up those the Lord places on my heart.

And God blessed the work of my hands as well as my heart.

Not only did the bread turn out better than any I have ever made, I got a text message with a picture.

I’ve been praying for a preterm baby and the picture was of his cute face.

The message was informing me that he’s a complete miracle and doing very well.

Praise God! What a blessing!

While I don’t really understand all the reasons God allows things, I can rest in His promises that He knows what is best and is working through it all.

And I’m glad He’s having me continue to bake bread at home.

I need the extra practice to endure through failure and be faithful in the little things.

Colossians 3:23 KJV — And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Ecclesiastes 9:10 NKJV — Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for this lesson in trust and endurance. Lord, I don’t know if I’ll be able to continue to bake bread like today’s, but I’m so thankful for the ones You helped me do. Lord, thank You for Your answering prayer. Thank You for Your patience with me and my struggles. Lord Jesus, thank You that You can be glorified even when I fail. For all things belong to You and Your ways are perfect. Lord Jesus, as I walk into each day, please help me to remember the truth of Your Word and the blessings of obedience. I love You. Amen.

When things go flat

The Lord had a lesson for me this weekend.

It actually began when I thought I’d try to bake sourdough bread using a new recipe.

It was an utter failure.

I titled it “the worst bread I’ve ever made”and threw it away.

I decided to try again on Saturday.

Hubby and son were in town.

Anne was gone.

After some prayer and another recipe, I thought things were going smoothly.

We needed bread for the week, so I made a batch of French bread for our family.

Then, God allowed me another lesson.

Not only did the sourdough follow the poor traits of the “worst bread ever”, it happened to come out of the oven just before unexpectedly, our adult children arrived.

There it sat on the counter telling all of my failure.

Thankfully, God reminded me it’s important to simply be honest.

“What happened?!”

Came the same question as different people filtered through my kitchen.

“I don’t know. I followed the recipe exactly, but obviously something went wrong.”

Of course I just wanted to throw it out and stop answering questions.

But all those involved were curious and so we cut into it to find only the ends were eatable.

My son-in-law popped two pieces in the toaster and slathered butter on them and took a bite.

“It tastes good,” he said with an encouraging smile.

I tried to be encouraged, but was still struggling with disappointment.

Our church was having a spaghetti feed and everyone encouraged me to go with them.

“I’d love to, but I have bread rising.”

My batch of French bread was covered and sitting in pans on the other counter.

“We will take separate cars so you can come back early.”

By the time I needed to leave, our grandbabies were getting restless, so our daughter and son-in-law decided to return to the house as well.

I was surprised when the rest of our family returned before I got back in the house.

As we walked in I washed my hands and glanced at my pans.

I knew something was wrong.

Upon inspection, I realized my yeast must have gone bad, because everything was flat.

My husband tried to encourage me through a comment which I knew he meant to be “funny” and lighten the mood.

I glared at him across the room and began scooping the dough into the trash.

My heart was full of disappointment.

I had a dirty kitchen and no food to share.

My husband came over and hugged me and softly reminded me to enjoy the houseful of precious people.

God pricked my heart and I knew I didn’t want to allow my baking disaster to ruin the evening.

So, I worked at what I felt needed to be done and enjoyed my family.

The next morning at church the Lord used a line in a song to speak to me.

It reminded me of Scripture:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NKJV

I really believe this is true and although I don’t know why the Lord allowed all my bread to be a failure, I know He’s going to use it.

The lesson for me was walking in faith of something trivial and choosing to believe in something momentous.

Because my faith in God is applicable to every circumstance, big and minuscule.

I can smile now when thinking about my failure, because I’m glad God used it to teach me.

Psalm 25:5 KJV — Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for the lesson this weekend. Lord, thank You for Your unending care and tireless work on our behalf. Lord, Your ways are perfect and Your truth endures to every generation. Your Word is truth and we can find joy, security, and peace through Your salvation. Your promises are always true. Thank You, Jesus for Your love. Thank You for working everything together for good, for those who are called according to Your purposes. I love You. Thank You for first loving me. Amen.

(Incase you are wondering, the bread in the picture is sourdough, the third time it worked!)

8 days till Christmas

Psalm 23:2-3a NKJV — He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.

For a sheep to lie down in green pastures means two things

First, they have eaten their fill.

Second, there’s more available the moment they want to stand up and eat again.

Jesus said, “I am that bread of life.” John 6:48 KJV

Still water is the only kind most sheep will go near. They are afraid of moving water since they are not built to swim.

John 4:14 NKJV — “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross paid for every sin and saves us from eternal death.

His life gives us abundant spiritual bread and water.

John 6:35 KJV — And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Truly, Jesus restores the soul.

While celebrating the birth of our Savior, let us recall the beauty of salvation and the joy which comes from freedom from the bonds of sin and death.

Psalm 51:12 KJV — Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Pictures today can be either hay and a watering trough, or bread and a water jar. Both would be expected in a place which housed animals and people.

Play, listen, and or sing Away in a Manger.

While enjoying this Christmas carol let your heart meditate upon the truths we’ve already looked at. First, Jesus is the Lamb of God. Secondly, the manger wasn’t a mistake, but a purposeful picture. Third, Jesus’s death and resurrection restores our souls from sin and death.