Pray for those in need

Dearest Reader, 

   Could I please ask you to take a moment to pray for a dear missionary friend of mine in Thailand? I know you have so much to think about already, but he is so sick. 
After an MRI and many other tests the doctor says she believes that my friend Clinton Garsee has Vertigo along with Bell's Palsy(one side of his face is paralyzed), but has no conclusion to why his arm and leg are also dull of feeling. He's very dizzy and can't walk without throwing up. Please also keep wife and kids lifted up. 

Thank you!!!

Megan

John Z. & A.W. Tozer

   
   My brother, John, is leaving for a trip to South Sudan today. He will be gone until December 18th.  The goal is to continue to see progress with the building of our new compound and the start of the village. (http://grnconnect.org/)
South Sudan is still a volatile place, but one of the main concerns is malaria, which is what he came home with last year. So, your prayers for him would be very much appreciated!

Thank you!

   On a whole other note, I found a quote I would like to share :)

"Many come up short and are satisfied with the works of God or theology, rather than pursuing the fullness of God Himself." - AW Tozer

Something to think about, huh? How often it is that we get more caught up in the works of God or what know ABOUT Him, rather than forming a relationship of actually knowing Him. It's a tragedy really. 

Rend Collective Experiment - You Are My Vision

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

   Per several requests from friends via Facebook the other day, here's a recipe for the best banana bread ever. No kidding. I'm literally not allowed to make any other kind in our house anymore. It's so good, I wish I came up with it.  

I actually don't know who created this recipe, but I can at least give credit to the giver of it, Tiffany, from Offbeat and Inspired (Check out the blog. It's awesome!!!). She made it for my family over a year ago, and it was gone in minutes if I remember correctly. I was then ordered asked to request the recipe from Tiffany. After a day of baking at her house one day, I finally got it from her and made it myself soon after, only for it to taste .... different....not the same....kind of not as good...you get the point, I'm sure. 

Something was missing. I was gypped and I knew it. By a friend no less.  What is this world coming to?  

Okay, it wasn't THAT bad. After a brief phone call I found out that I was gypped on accident. 

I forgive you, Tiffany! Whoever thought that brown sugar could make such a difference?!

It's been perfect from then on in.  And so, if you're still with me, here's the recipe! 

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:

Makes two 9inch loaves

1 Cup butter (2 sticks), room temp.

2 Cups white sugar

2 large eggs

2 Tbsp. Mayonnaise

5-6 Ripe bananas

3 Cups AP flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup chocolate chips

Brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 2 loaf pans by greasing very well and sprinkling a layer of brown sugar on the bottom.
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one by one, mixing well in between. Add mayo and bananas and mix. Whisk dry ingredients together and add to banana mixture little by little, *folding it in as you go. Fold in chocolate chips.  Pour into prepared pans and sprinkle another layer of brown sugar on the top. Bake for about 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

*Or if you have a mixing machine like a KitchenAid like I do, you really don't need to bother with the whole folding thing.

Enjoy! And please let me know what you think!

Happy Thanksgiving...Belated

   My poor blog. I'm sure it feels quite abandoned by now! Over THREE months without writing a single word :/  Even my brother finally gave up on trying to convince me to write. I often go through seasons like this with my blog. Some months I write like crazy and then I'll stop all together for awhile. Hopefully this will be a season of writing again. To make up for my absence though, I'm going to give you a little, and really easy recipe to enjoy.

 Happy Thanksgiving by the way!...a day after. (Oh well, I'm trying. )

Yesterday was loud, happy, fun, tiring, etc. How was yours?
In my opinion, Thanksgiving isn't much of a holiday without kids so that's why I decided to make a dessert just for them. You really can't go wrong with a simple cupcake. Of course with all the other desserts on the table, these were only for the kids.

 I think a couple jumped up onto the plate of an adult or two though....Okay, I had one too!

Before I even started, I already knew I didn't want the same old buttercream frosting I always use (no offense intended, Betty Crocker). And I also knew that there must be some way to boost a boxed cake mix.  After a bit of searching this is what I came up with:

1. White cake mix of choice
2.Follow the box's directions,  but add 1 or 2 more eggs ( in this case egg whites) and replace the water with milk. I seriously have never had a boxed cake mix turn out so well.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting via Bakerella (My brother used the word "Awesome" when he tasted this frosting)

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

6 cups powdered sugar
4-8 Tablespoons milk

• Beat the butter in a mixer until smooth.
• Add vanilla and mix until combined.
• Add the powdered sugar in several additions, scraping down the sides after each addition.
• Add milk a tablespoon at a time and mix together until you achieve a smooth consistency.

Hope you enjoy!

One Desire - Kari Jobe

Generous Living

   I love being generous. There are some days when I wish I had all the money in the world so I could give to every good thing. But alas, I don't, and I have often struggled with that disappointment. I am not, by any means, disappointment in the path God has taken our family, just the feeling of being limited in my ability to bless others financially more than I do.

Just being honest here :)

 I was sitting on my bed the other day, pondering my current situation and desire, and bringing it before the Lord in prayer, when suddenly I felt His presence.
I have been asking Him lately what more I can do to bring Him glory in my daily life, and now I knew He wanted to speak to me. He was like a still, small voice deep inside me.
At first I felt conviction. He asked how He could trust me with the big things, when I still struggle with the little things?
I knew there were probably some better decisions I could have been making with the money He has already given to me, and right then and there I decided to reevaluate my spending decisions and see if I could be using HIS money more wisely. But there were more little things other than my finances. "What do you enjoy most and how can you use it to be a blessing to others?".... Oh Lord, I don't really know how to do much. The only hobby I have and love is baking and -.......BAKING!

 "Use this to be a blessing to others." ...Yes, Lord, I will.

I can't really explain to you how much that moment meant to me. I no longer feel discouraged about my finances, because I believe God will lead and guide me in that situation! And I know baking doesn't sound very spiritual, but it is so exciting for me to realize that God truly cares about me and He enjoys seeing the gifts He has put into me be used to glorify Him. That moment has continued to play in my mind these last few day as I continue to seek His will for my life. Right now, it seems like I'm to be learning how to live generously. To generously and freely give of myself, whether that be watching someone else's children or baking a loaf of banana bread (with chocolate chips! There is no other kind ;)

I am also feeling more aware of how many simple things can mean a lot to someone. Along with the baking, I think of other little ways I can show love to the people I know, such as an unexpected card in the mail, a text message or a phone call. These things are available to me daily and I do take advantage of them sometimes, but, how many other times have I shrunken away from them because, for example, I don't really like to talk on the phone? I am realizing that I have, at times, been walking in a form of selfishness. I now want do these things, not just because they are good to do, but because my heart is the Lord's and I love Him. The more I seek Him, the more of His heart he shows to me. That fact is so fascinating to me.

The more I seek Him, the more I find Him.

What a humbling thing. I am thankful.

Love for free

 

   This past week had to be one of the busiest weeks I have had in a very long time. It was also one of the most fun!  I was asked to help out at a five day kids camp which prepared  the kids for a program they put on Friday evening. The week didn't come without its challenges, but those challenges were so miniscule compared to the joy those kids brought to my heart. It still amazes me of how quickly you can give a part of your heart away, in a good way. My dad has always encouraged us to "give love for free". No strings attached, expecting nothing in return. I felt like I had that opportunity last week.

I find it very interesting that the kids who caused the most challenges ended up being my "favorite" kids. They're the ones I'll remember the most because I needed to spend most of my energy trying to steer them onto the path of obedience ;)  They just wanted someone's attention and didn't really know how to get it without causing some kind of ruckus. I found it to be the same situation with some of the kids I got to know in Thailand. I am continually amazed at how God ties in experiences I had there to help me here back home. Thankfulness is not a big enough word for what I feel!

   I don't know if my life really made any impact on the kids at camp at all, but if it did, I pray that their memory of me would be that of love, kindness and patience, and they would always attach those characteristics to Jesus. I pray He uses their memories of kids camp to remind them of Him and draw them closer and closer to Him as they grow older.
 In my young age, I am learning that giving love for free is worth it, even if it doesn't seem like it in the moment. If anything, it is teaching me to be more humble and unselfish....So maybe I received something after all... :)