Chaos and Pain

Chaos and pain, falling like rain
Everywhere I turn, it's always the same..
The hurting, the crying, the sick and the dying.
The sadness, the tears... all those wasted years.

Everywhere I go, everyone I know,
Always the same, chaos and pain...

No mercy, no grace, no love in this place,
I scream in pain, why don't they know Your NAME???
Can they not see, what it means to be...
Loved. By You.
Held. By You.
Saved. By You.

All these thoughts, swirling, whirling, spinning out of control
Rescued from a pit of despair,
No longer dreaming of someone to care.
Hope and Love, Joy and Peace...
only found at Your Feet.

Rest.... Exquisite rest,
Unlike we've ever known.
The feeling of knowing You are our best,
accepting the love You've always shown.

Clinging to You, and the hope that You bring,
seeking Your guidance in everything..
Being obedient to all that You ask,
Letting go of the things we clung to in the past.

Learning and growing,
seeking and sowing,
Listening and showing...
Your light is already glowing.

Hearing the cry...
Stopping. Not passing by.
Trusting in You, do.... or die.

Die to self and wealth, sickness and pain
Awakening with love, joy and no shame. 
Knowing You are there, that You love and You care.
Knowing... You are always there.

Sanctification Cookies

You are probably thinking, what in the world is this girl going to talk about? Sanctification Cookies? What does that even mean??? Well, sometimes Papa talks to me in the most interesting ways. This would be one of them.

Last Thursday, Snowtorious B.I.G., or Snowpocalypse 2013, or whatever you want to call it, happened. The prediction of lots of snow on top of a little ice led to the school system cancelling for the day, before it even hit. That never happens, people. Sure enough, a metric ton of beautiful icky nasty fell from the sky, mid morning throughout the day. We were stuck in the house for seven full days. One day, we made cookies...

I found the recipe on pinterest and was intrigued. I love shortbread cookies, and these sounded perfect, with two whole cups of butter. Yum!!! Nati and I followed the recipe perfectly. They smelled amazing and looked pretty too! We were so excited, until......

Dun, dun, dun....

They were terrible!!!! They tasted great, but were so dry and crumbly, you couldn't pick one up. You also couldn't eat one without a huge glass of milk or water. Even the smallest bite felt like a dry gummy mess in your mouth. So disappointing!!! I was upset, because I hate to waste ingredients like that. That's what it felt like, a waste. So they sat on the counter as I tried to figure out what to do with them.

In the meantime, a dear friend wasn't feeling well, so I offered to send her family dinner. As I was cooking for them, God whispered in my ear, "Send her some of the cookies." But, Lord!!! They are awful, why would you want me to give them to her?!? They aren't fit to eat as they are!!!

His reply? This:

These cookies are like your lives. Sometimes they crumble, and you feel like a failure for being unable to hold onto what you know. But they are sweet, and there are tiny moments that taste absolutely amazing. They are also dry at times, and it feels as if you are in the desert with no end in sight. They are very delicate.. the least touch can break them, but they can be reformed into something amazing with the Creator's hand, when He's ready to make that change. 

So I sent my friend the cookies, with the note Papa had given me. She and I had a great conversation via text about the message He had sent us.  He is always with us, even when it seems like life is crumbling around us. He is God with us, Emmanuel. He holds everything together, even in the midst of what to us is major chaos. Always there, always loving us... Always holding on to us, and waiting to change our lives into something amazing.

Here's the recipe to what my friend dubbed "Sanctification Cookies". They may turn out perfectly for you, but if they don't... if they fall apart and crumble, remember this post. He can reform you and your chaotic life into something beautiful and holy, if you will let Him. He is waiting... On you. If you will heed His call, when the time is right, He will make those changes in and through you.

All because He loves you........



Sanctification Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
 
Topping:
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Instructions:

In a medium sized bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch and salt. Set aside.

Using a bowl fitted with a mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract and slowly add the flour mixture and continue mixing until incorporated.

Cover with saran wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour or until firm.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place the rack in the center of oven.

When dough is firm take out of the refrigerator, uncover and form into 1 inch (2.5 cm) balls and place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets spacing about 1 inch apart.

Bake for about 12 - 14 minutes or until the edges of the cookies start to brown. Baking time may vary depending on altitude so be sure not to burn the cookies.

Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, line another baking pan or tray with parchment or wax paper. Sprinkle about half of the confectioners powdered sugar onto the bottom of the pan and then place the slightly cooled cookies on top of the sugar. Put the remaining sugar in a fine strainer or sieve and then sprinkle the tops of the cookies or just roll the cookies in the sugar. 

Oh, and if you are wondering what is to become of the rest of the cookies? They are going to make a lovely shortbread crust for a pie for Christmas. Change is good, y'all ;)

Merry Christmas, sweet friends!!