Lessons Learned In My Kitchen

Happy Saturday! 

Sourdough baking was intimidating to me for years. I use to think it was too hard for me to figure out but I tried it one day and then again and again. That was the trick was to keep trying out the recipe. I like a challenge and this year has been that for me but the joy it has brought to me has far out weighed the do overs. Sometimes the kitchen is where I find creativity and see God bring joy to me. There are many things we don’t get do overs in life but I like that in the kitchen if I keep going back to the recipe and trying I can get something created like these bagels:) 

“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Following God will always bring us to goodness if we keep following His Words. It may take us awhile to get there because of our own selfish paths we follow before we realize Gods recipe is far better and will produce something good. 

Thank God for do overs and His mercy. Lessons learned in creativity are great if we keep following the One who created everything.

*If you are interested in a easy beginner sourdough bread book. This is one I enjoy using Artisan Sourdough Made Simple 

Happy Baking friends! 

Tracy 

Nothing Is As Good As The Good Shepherd

 

I keep putting off writing. I have this overwhelming desire to write each day but never do anything. I desire to write yet I still procrastinate because nothing is good enough. I put it off because I don't have the perfectly formulated plan or good enough words at the moment. Honestly maybe it is fear that holds me back but mostly I keep thinking I don't have a good enough blog site, enough readers or the perfect words. You get the idea, don't you?

The end of December 2021 I moved into the city limits of my small community. No more country scenery with animals or 1/2 acre garden beds to tend to. I have mourned the loss of living in the county but in the last three months I have seen the abundance of good in moving to my new home. It has allowed my husband and I to become debt free, we are in a beautiful home that has a lot of character that actually reminds me of a English Cottage and I will still have a raised bed garden to tend to. The scale of my new garden will be much better for my aging back and still satisfy my longing to grow food. It has been a journey these past few months and God is reminding me that following His calling doesn't keep us in our comfort zones. When my husband and I decided we were to move it was not comfortable. If you have moved ever moved your family you know what I mean. So all this leads me to my feelings of not good enough. He moves us to walk by faith and that is never easy. It is uncomfortable and writing is taking me out of my comfort zone.  

Why do I feel this way if I know God moved me from a good place to an even better place? 

 He moved me from a good and comfortable place to use me. I am not saying where I am now is not good or comfortable but God knew what I needed. There are things I think I lack when I compare my writing or blog to others but God uses us where we are to grow us like the garden grows. Seeds breaking through the ground towards the light. Little by little the outer shell is broken and then we grow. We need practice doing anything. I need to practice writing and do it whether or not anyone reads, comments or gives a thumbs up or a heart. LOL. 

My goal is to keep my focus on the goodness of Jesus not focus on what isn't perfect or good enough. I believe in the confidence of Jesus, I call it Christ confidence.  Things change and God has shown me over the last few years as the world around us has drastically changed but He never does. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) My mind is where satan can easily find a way to sabatoge my confidence. I don't want to allow Him to snatch my joy. Staying in The Word keeps me able to hear Jesus speak to my spirit. I need that to stay this course. I am thankful for His security and abundant love everyday. (John 10:28) I saw this quote from Phylicia Masonheimers blog this week and it really spoke to how I feel. "May His abundance never scare you" Yes and Amen! I am not ever going to feel good enough but Jesus is! He is the reason I am here writing now. 

This has encouraged me just getting these thoughts onto the screen. I want to continue to encourage you that our eyes can be blind to the work of God around us if we are too focused on ourselves. This self centered view I have had for months has paralyzed me from doing anything. I said at the beginning I have been putting off writing because nothing felt good enough. Well, I stopped seeing myself and started seeing that God is good enough. Jesus came to earth as the Good Shepherd to share the gospel with people who saw Him and some who did not. I am grateful He has given my heart eyes to see Him and ears to hear Him and His Word to share with you. 

Share with me what is holding you back from doing something God is calling you to?

Bless you friend

tracy 

God Can Heal Us Through Prayer

 

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15

God can heal us through prayer. God reminded me this week that I was holding onto something that only He can heal in me. I have a bad habit of holding onto issues and letting them sit inside me like an overflowing closet and when the door does open it just may spill out and make a mess. The good part of this opening up in prayer is that God can take those issues and begin to heal my heart and mind from them. God teaches me something every time in prayer whether it’s about His love towards me, His generosity, or how patient He is with me.   

So much of the Christian life is learning the character and attributes of God and letting Him refine those attributes in us. So my prayer for you and me is to not carry around what God can heal in us. Give it to God in prayer. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:2

Bless you today friends! 

tracy

Lessons About Church Family

 

 (My rainbow sparkly socks we knits with hand dyed yarn from Fibernymph Dye Works Yarn 

The Winter time is when all my hand knit socks get worn most!)

“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:9

Hi Friends! 

Currently a Winter ice storm is passing through and it’s just plan ol messy outside. Do you feel the Winter blues?  I never have until the last few years and it seems the dreariness and shorter days without sun light has affected my mood. It’s definitely a time I have to proactively find some light and sit or stand in it! 

Finding light lately has been through encouragement from my church family. I often think about these past 2 years of the pandemic we have lived through and am thankful for people in my life who text to check on me and my family. The food sent when we have been sick at just the right time. It’s those little deposits of encouragement that add up in our life to fill us when we are sometimes depleted. 

Maybe we can think of someone who might need a text to check on them? It’s a simple act of love yet even I don’t do it enough. 

Someone told me in conversation one day they liked being single and alone. They believe God has them right where they are suppose to be. I can understand that. Also, in this conversation they had heard me say church family was a blessing yet they didn’t really see the blessing of a church family at least I don’t think right away. I said, church family aren’t the same as your biological family. Your fellow believers will pray for you and sometimes be there when your biological family can’t be. When our love of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming in our lives we want to be generous to our sisters and brothers in Christ. We will be compelled to help in ways we probably never would with our Christ living in us. 

I guess the point I am trying to make is even though we enjoy being alone or our singleness we still need community, a family whether a church family or biological, and we all need the love and encouragement of Jesus Christ! 

I pray today that you seek those in your community that could use a hug, an encouraging word, or a warm place to stay this Winter. It is this deposit of love into the lives around us that in turn we are taught and learn more about Gods grace, mercy and love towards us. 

Be well ~

Tracy 

“do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of other.” Philippians 2:4