love is blind

Love is blind. We've all heard that, right?

After a couple days in a car driving across half the country with my sister, I'm more convinced than ever that love is, indeed, blind.

And I don't mean my love for her. Does anyone want to know her faults? I've got a list. Did I mention that we drove from New Jersey to Minnesota in two days? Make that a very long list. Ask me about my faults. Well, this is embarrassing, really, but you see, I haven't got any. I haven't gotten on my nerves once. I've been perfectly reasonable, rational, and sensible.

The blind love I'm talking about is my love for myself. My self-love effectively blinds me to all my faults and sins. She is upset? It couldn't have had anything to do with my selfishness, snippiness, smart comments, impatience, etc. I get upset--it can't have anything to do with my super-sensitivity, self-defensiveness, and pride--it must be her.

Blind love is probably never very healthy, no matter who the subject of love is. Blind self-love is just plain disgusting.

Real love is others-focused--not blind, but rather patient, kind, enduring. It is based on the Gospel. The one who is forgiven much loves much. Lord, help me to love!

Augustine's Relevance--4th vs. 21st Century...People Are The Same

Sunday's message brought many powerful exhortations. Particularly convicting were Pastor Steve's comments concerning our Christian responsibility toward unbelievers.

It is often difficult, isn't it, to know when to speak and confront unbelievers in their sin and when to hold our tongues. As Pastor Steve made clear, we can only truly love people by revealing to them their desperate condition and pointing them to Jesus. (Only a few weeks ago, we heard from another pastor that any relationship we have with an unbeliever that is not redemptive in purpose is treason!)

It could be that group of moms at the park who berate their husbands or speak unbecomingly. Maybe the environment you work in constantly surrounds you with immoral banter or vulgar speech. Oftentimes it is the 'sweet little elderly neighbor' (that everyone seems to have) that gossips about the goings-on of the block. There are countless settings that provide us with opportunities to speak truth to our friends and neighbors (and sometimes even strangers). So how do we 'make the most of our opportunity' while speaking graciously and kindly?

In his classic work City of God Augustine offers some insight into the whens, whys, and hows of responding to the sinful habits of unbelievers. 

For often we wickedly blind ourselves to the occasions of teaching and admonishing [unbelievers], either because we shrink from the labour or are ashamed to offend them, or because we fear to lose good friendships, lest this should stand in the way of our advancement, or injure us in some worldly matter, which either our covetous disposition desires to obtain, or our weakness shrinks from losing.

[Christians] abstain from interference, because they fear that, if it fail of good effect, their own safety or reputation may be damaged or destroyed; not because they see that their preservation and good name are needful, that they may be able to influence those who need their instruction, but rather because they weakly relish the flattery and respect of men, and fear the judgments of the people, and the pain or death of the body; that is to say, their non-intervention is the result of selfishness, and not of love...the good as well as the wicked, though not equally with them, love this present life; while they ought to hold it cheap, that the wicked, being admonished and reformed by their example, might lay hold of life eternal. And if they will not be the companions of the good in seeking life everlasting, they should be loved as enemies, and be dealt with patiently. For so long as they live, it remains uncertain whether they may not come to a better mind.

God give us grace to take bold stands for holiness, for His name's sake. May it become the instinctive impulse of our tongues to defend righteousness and truth and to dismantle evil that we may be pleasing to the Lord. 

'Speak the truth in love.' Now that's hard!

Intentional Women

I don't know about you (especially those of you with kids), but I have often felt that my day just completely gets away from me. I'm not talking about those rare days when TR is sick or especially fussy, or I have something out of the ordinary going on. I'm talking about the normal days--when you get to 9PM and realize that you meant to do the dishes, put in some laundry, and at least wipe out the bathroom sink, but nothing got done.

Just in the past two weeks, with the help of my husband and Mark Driscoll, I've learned that it's extremely important to be intentional.

"What does that mean?" you might ask.

Well, it means that I need to be deliberate about my life. I need a schedule, and I need it for everything from cleaning, to meals, to date nights, to reading, to playing with my son, to time spent working on the church website, to getting together with other women.

I will admit a certain degree of stubbornness (which is really pride/self-righteousness: my way is better than yours), when my husband suggested that I do this. I didn't want to get tied down to something, I didn't want to go through the process, and I think there was even some good old Genesis 3:16 desire for (against) my husband. Obviously there was a lot of grace applied in the situation, mostly from my husband towards me.

We sat down together (that's key) and he patiently (also key) worked with me to get a list together of all the things I need and want to accomplish in a given month, how much time they take, and how often they should be done. Then I set about figuring out how I'd like those things to fit into my days. Know this well: I was completely overwhelmed. Written out there on the paper it looked like a lot and there was no way I was ever going to get it all done! But once it all got put in the calendar, I realized I had a decent amount of free time and quite a bit of flexibility.

So now my days are pretty ordered, and I have a set plan. That doesn't mean things don't change--for instance, TR's nap isn't always going to be an hour and a half--but it does mean that I can see better how I can move things around when life doesn't go according to plan. And at the end of the day, I can avoid that "day-got-away-from-me" feeling because I know where all the time went.

If you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed out (one end of the spectrum), or random and unproductive (the other), or really anywhere in between, I think you could benefit greatly from becoming an intentional woman. I know I have.

cool September nights

My mom was an amazing quilter/knitter/crocheter and always had some project going. When we were kids, almost every night during the warm months, my dad would take the four of us outside for a game of Everywhere Tag, a game of our own invention, while Mom would sit inside with her quilting and an opera (usually Gilbert & Sullivan's The Gondoliers) spinning on the record player. Mom had to cover all the windows of the house with quilts, all of which she had made, so that no light leaked outside to ruin our game. In the winter months, Mom moved her quilt from the living room to her bedroom, while we took over the house for a game of Whiffle-Ball Tag. I don't know how many gifts Mom was able to make during these evenings, but they were numerous.

I look back at those times and think that my parents were really wise. They were wise to see that Mom needed some time of peace and quiet. They were wise to see that Dad needed some time by himself with his kids. They were wise to see that we needed to shout and play with each other peaceably. They were wise to find appropriate outlets for all of these needs.

On this cool September night, I can picture myself running around outside with a flashlight in chase of my dad and my brothers and sister, while echoes of "Buon Giorno, Signorine" float out the window. I'm thankful to God for wise parents who deliberately worked together for these memories.

It's not ten minutes later since I first finished this, but from the house behind ours I hear screaming, violent, shrieking--a father, a mother, a child. Sin has made captives of us all. But for God's grace, I am that child. But for God's grace, I will be that mother. I cannot imagine the pain. They are suffering. Yet, we, in our way, suffered, too. John Piper says, "Therefore, God ordains suffering to help us release our hold on worldly hopes and put our 'hope in God' (1 Pet. 1:21). The fiery trials are appointed to consume the earthly dependencies and leave only the refined gold of 'genuine faith' (1 Pet. 1:7)." It was true for us. I pray it will be true for the family in the house behind ours. And I pray it will be true for yours.

Kitchen Fellowship

It is 10:05 pm and I am very much awake. Ordinarily I would have been in bed five minutes ago but tonight I am a little too wound up for that. I'm wound up from having a fun evening in the kitchen with three very good friends who I consider to be God's very gracious gift to me in ministry. I love spending time with these women.

In celebration of Debbie's birthday we got together and made dinner using recipes from the church cookbook. While we were doing that, we also made sticky buns to serve our families in the morning. The sticky bun recipe is one where you prepare the dough in stages, shaping the buns at the end of the evening and letting them rise overnight. So, in between making appetizers, salad and the main course we made sticky buns. Are you hungry yet?

For appetizers we made Tia's "Simple Ratatouille" and served it with crusty bread. We also made Christina's "Stuffed Mushrooms". Both were very, very good. Then we put together Becky's "Strawberry Spinach Salad". That recipe is definitely a keeper. Lisa taught us how to make pesto using fresh basil, which of course we stirred into pasta and had pork roast on the side. For dessert we sang Happy Birthday to Debbie with Sheila's recipe for "Carrot Cake".

I wished we'd been able to take pictures of our time cutting, measuring, mixing, and cleaning, with us chattering all the while about this and that. We were making more than a meal, we were making connections, and we were making a memory.

I learned things tonight. I learned from each one of these gals something that will help me in my cooking, in my thinking, and in my life in general. To me this is mysterious. Something routine (cooking a meal when done on my own), became an "event" that was fun and fruitful just by sharing the experience with three others.

So I'm thinking maybe we miss out on the best part of fellowship when we do all the work before the company comes. I'm going to think about that some more. I'd be interested to know what you think. Have you experienced anything like this? Do you cook with friends, family, your husband, daughters, or your mother? What have you gleaned from "Kitchen Fellowship"?

Wash Me

"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin! Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:2, 7).

The Shorey home was without water for three days. Our water pipe leading from the house to the road had become brittle and broken. Because this happened on a weekend, what might have been possible to repair in two days stretched into a three day project. But just as the plumber promised, on Monday the backhoe arrived and the digging began. By Monday evening the dishwasher, washing machine and showers were all running in full force.

We didn't suffer. Inconvenienced, yes. But suffer? Hardly. We weren't without a store where we could buy bottled water, and we had access to a nearby shower, and we spent one night with friends. All in all we cannot complain. We know God was in it. Hopefully today when the bill arrives we won't complain either.

As we were doing life here the past three days it became obvious to me how dependent I am on water. Not just for drinking or cooking but for cleaning. Not just for the big cleaning jobs, or mountains of laundry or a pile of dishes. We are dependent on water for rinsing and washing our hands.

It was interesting to me how many times my hands were in need of washing. I hadn't realized how often I go to rinse my hands. Was it just because I didn't have running water that I was especially in "need" of it? Or had I been functioning unaware of how often my hands are dirty and thereby taken for granted the blessing to walk a few steps, turn on the faucet and experience the loveliness of washed hands. Throughout a day our hands become soiled, sticky, and stained and we hardly even notice because we can easily receive cleansing from fresh water and soap. What a blessing. Even now as I sit here typing I am aware of the fresh feeling of clean hands. Again, what a blessing.

God uses the analogy of washing to describe our need of His removal of our sins. How wonderful to have His cleansing always available to us. We do not need to wait for the day of atonement, or a confessional booth. We have God's cleansing, the blood of Christ, for every sin throughout every day. So whether we have fallen deeply into sin, or need once again to be cleansed from a prideful thought, or an angry word to our children, and impatient spirit toward a husband, or a demanding spirit toward God we can and we must, go quickly to find the needed cleansing for our souls.

There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day. And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away. (William Cowper)

Just as we often experience a need to wash our physical hands, may we become more and more aware of the stains on our spiritual hands and enjoy the blessing of cleansing from the fountain of forgiveness and grace.

Life

I haven't been very good at posting comments and keeping up with entries lately. Life happens. Nothing bad really. Just stuff that distracts from the routine. So, please be patient with me. Maybe tomorrow I'll post on the blessing of running water.
Until then, I hope you are all experiencing God's kindness and favor.
"Blessed Be The Name of the Lord"

The 1 Corinthians 4 Woman

Mrs. Kershaw was an elderly woman, quite deaf, lumpy, uneducated, not terribly talented, probably not what any of us would call successful in an outward sense. She was a "helper" to Mrs. Katherine Howard, helping to run a household that included six children. The second oldest of the Howard children, a daughter, grew up to be something of a well-known author. This is what Elisabeth Elliot wrote of the dearly loved woman:

If ever a woman accepted the demands of her own life with simplicity and grace, it was she. It was a positive and active acceptance of the given. Words which have taken hold of our minds today like some noxious fungus--hassle, frustration, hang-up, put-down--were never in Mrs. Kershaw's vocabulary, nor could they have been. She wasn't interested in herself. She had nothing to say about herself or her own feelings. She lived for us.

I think of the contrasts Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians 4. It is illuminating to set them in two lists and read straight down one list, then read down the other and ask oneself which list describes his or her own life.

handicapped       never frustrated
puzzled                 never in despair
persecuted           never have to stand it alone
knocked down    never knocked out

For Paul to have said that--Paul, who had suffered the loss of all things, ought to shake up our categories of what is worth having. Mrs. Kershaw would have said the same. I doubt that it ever occurred to her that she had been deprived of anything in her life that really mattered. The Lord had made His face to shine upon her and had given her peace, and she brought that shine and that peace to our house every day.
Elisabeth Elliot, Love Has a Price Tag (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2005), 167-168.

I need to be reminded of women like Mrs. Kershaw, invaluable, lovely, homely Mrs. Kershaw. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Prov. 31:30)

Serving Others--Self Takes A Back Seat

It is really hard to be good at serving others.

I'm really good at serving myself. In fact, the moment I am in need of something, I put a lot of energy into attaining whatever 'it' is--a drink, a fuzzy blanket to snuggle up to on the couch, someone to listen to my problems...the list goes on.

Before one can serve others, they have to see what people's needs are.

I've learned that great servants are often quiet, melding into the background. But they are always active. Servants are constantly on the alert and are very aware of their surroundings. A great servant is one who is proactive--someone who not only reacts to situations, but anticipates them.

Serving is really hard work. It takes a lot of practice. It takes dedication. It definitely does not come easily for most of us--the flesh longs to be served, not to serve.

I am so thankful for role models.

Jesus came to serve. Mind-boggling and very humbling to be served by my King.

My mom served her family, church, relatives, neighbors, strangers, all with a joyful spirit.

Many at TFC I have observed serving in a myriad of ways: holding doors open, holding babies so mothers can mingle, filling others' plates and cups, purposing to verbally uplift and encourage individuals, humbly rebuking when necessary, sharing recipes, offering advice on everything from stain removal to life insurance...I could think of a thousand things...

For me the difficulty lies in seeing what needs others have. Have you ever seen someone do an act of service that made you think, 'I should have done that,' or 'Why didn't I think of that?' Often there are needs all around us that we simply do not see until it is too late.

The psalmist said that the Lord teaches the humble person His ways and instructs him in what is right.

O Lord, teach us to 'out-serve' each other, in the spirit of Your Son, Who is the Great Servant.

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'...so then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."                                                                         Galatians 5:13-14, 6:10

Ministry of Encouragement

Biblical encouragement takes many forms. But whatever the form, biblical encouragement is "ongoing, daily, and consistent. It includes the practices of strengthening, motivating, assuring, supporting, exhorting and disciplining." (Sharon Betters)

Webster's dictionary defines encouragement: "To give courage, spirit, or hope; to stimulate."

Do you see here that encouragement is so much more than a "high five", or a hug, or the promise to pray (although those are all elements of encouragement). There is much more to this than what is commonly thought. There is so much to this that I'm afraid I will not do the subject justice. My intention is to encourage you (and myself) to be encouragers. My thoughts will be largely drawn from Sharon Betters in her book, "Treasures of Encouragement."

Sharon Betters is a pastor's wife who, on July 6, 1993, lost her sixteen year old son, Mark, in a car accident. It was through this deep trial Sharon came to understand that "Biblical encouragement is soul work." When one individual extends, or receives biblical encouragement, their soul is affected for good. It is the lifting up of the eyes to see the true Help. Sometimes our eyes are so downcast we feel as though we cannot lift them. So, we need the help of another to gently lift the chin upward so the eyes can more easily see the Truth. Though Sharon's book is largely about responding to people in trial, she recognizes that at times we all need the kind of encouragement that helps us to see our own hearts, and the sin that may be gripping us. She understands that Biblical encouragement is "coming alongside" someone, as the Holy Spirit does, and giving them the Words of Life for their souls in whatever state they are in. It may be grief. It could be singleness. It could be childlessness It could be the trials of parenting preschoolers, or teenagers. It could be the loneliness of being a widow. It could be a struggle in a marriage. It could be depression. It could be doubt, fears, pride, jealousy, anger, bitterness. Biblical encouragement is stepping into any of these and others with the truth of God's word, speaking that truth with love. And it can be simply saying, "I love you," "I appreciate what you are doing," or "Thank you."

Tomorrow I will begin to answer the "how to" and "who to" questions. I'm sure you have some. I know I often do. I can go from wanting to encourage everyone, to being tired and not wanting to encourage at all, and wanting encouragement myself. I found Sharon's suggestions helpful in finding the balance and the boundaries to this ministry. I hope you will too.

Encourage One Another Daily

I was thinking this morning about this verse from Hebrews 10:15 and one like it, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up" (1 Thess. 5:11). How does this apply to my day to day living? Who am I to encourage? How do I encourage?

I remember hearing from someone many years ago (can't remember who it was) that when we walk into a room, our concern should not be, "Who will notice me, or who will talk to me, or who will encourage me?" Rather, before we meet with any person or persons, our thoughts should be, "Who can I notice, or who can I talk to, or who can I encourage when I enter the room?"

If we have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who stepped down from His Glory, humbled Himself, and was cursed by God in order to bring us to God, so ought we to step out of our "comfort zones" and step into another's life in order to bring the blessing of encouragement to another. Jesus didn't come to be served but to give His life for us.

This isn't easy. We must resist and fight against our natural instinct (our flesh), which wants to be served. We cannot begin to fulfill this command to encourage if we are stuck on ourselves and our own desire to be on the receiving end of Hebrews 10:25.

How do we do this? First of all (then more tomorrow), we need to begin each day in God's presence, being reminded of the Gospel. We cannot begin to serve our husband, our children, our families, and our brothers and sisters in Christ unless we gaze at Christ and "have this mind." In fact, Philippians 2 begins by giving us our motivation for encouragement. "If there is any encouragement in Christ..." Are you encouraged in Christ? Are you experiencing His comfort, the fellowship of the Spirit, and His affection and sympathy? If you are, then Philippians 2 is the only motive you (I) need.

It's been several months since I've spent time reading the "Gospel Primer" by Milton Vincent. I think it is time for me to return to that wonderfully clear presentation of the Gospel with its practical help for applying the Gospel to various areas of life. Let me leave you with this quote:

The more I experience the gospel, the more there develops within me a yearning affection for my fellow-Christians who are also participating in the glories of the gospel. This affection for them comes loaded with confidence in their continued spiritual growth and ultimate glorification, and it becomes my pleasure to express to them this loving confidence regarding the ongoing work of God in their lives.

Additionally, with the gospel proving itself to be such a boon in my own life, I realize that the greatest gift I can give to my fellow-Christians is the gospel itself. Indeed, I love my fellow-Christians not simply because of the gospel, but I love them best when I am loving them with the gospel! And I do this not merely by speaking gospel words to them, but also by living before them and generously relating to them in a gospel manner. Imparting my life to them in this way, I thereby contribute to their experience of the power, the Spirit, and the full assurance of the gospel.

By preaching the gospel to myself each day, I nurture the bond that unites me with my brothers and sisters for whom Christ died, and I also keep myself well-versed in the raw materials with which I may actively love them in Christ.

More tomorrow. Until then I'd love to hear if you have received this kind of encouragement from another within the Body of Christ. What was that like? What impact did it have on you?

Not What My Hands Have Done

This morning's message reminded me of this old hymn by Horatius Bonar

"Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul
not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God
not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to thee,
can rid me of this dark unrest, and set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God, to me can pardon speak;
thy pow'r alone, O Son of God, can this sore bondage break,
No other work, save thine, no other blood will do;
no strength, save that which is divine, can bear me safely through.

I bless the Christ of God; I rest on love divine;
and with unfaltering lip and heart, I call this Savior mine,
His cross dispels each doubt; I bury in his tomb
each thought of unbelief and fear, each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace; I trust his truth and might;
he calls me his, I call him mine, my God, my joy, my light.
'Tis he who saveth me, and freely pardon gives;
I love because he loveth me, I live because he lives."

hope in God!

It's been a Psalm 42 week. In a nutshell: nothing is going the way I planned. Another round of resumes have been rejected, another round of applications have been fruitless, and I keep going day after day to Wawa, where it's never interesting, never rewarding, and rarely what you would call fun. I know, all you moms are saying, "Welcome to life!"

Okay. This week I tasted a bit of hope, and it was sweet! Praise the Lord? You betcha! Then it was gone, and work, which was bearable last week, is now painful drudgery in the light of what could have been. Praise the Lord? More like, why has He forgotten me? I can do holy martyr really well.

Then the Lord led me to Psalm 42, where the psalmist feels weary, discouraged, a bit hopeless, intimidated, and almost disbelieving. I can relate! The psalmist is weeping because his own emotions tell him that God has forgotten him, and his enemies are exulting that his God is nowhere to be found.

To counter this depression, the psalmist does what CJ Mahaney calls "preaching the Gospel to yourself." Twice in the psalm, and again in the next, he says this to himself:
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

Now, I know, my work situation is not a drastic life or death situation. But it does have some importance to me. And this is how the Lord has comforted and rebuked my unbelief.
1. seek God (not a job!) earnestly and desperately, as though I am dying of thirst and He is the only water on the planet (Ps. 42:1-3)
2. remember His past goodness, deliverance, justice, and mercy (Ps. 42:4-8)
3. when I find my questions agreeing with the enemy's accusations, remember both the past and the future (I used to praise You; I will again praise You) (Ps. 42:4-5,9-11)
4. hope in God and praise Him! and repeat and repeat and repeat... (Ps. 42:5,11)

So it's been a Psalm 42 week. The Lord seemed to hide Himself, but only to bring me closer. May He ever use every circumstance in my life to do so!

Taming the Tongue

One thing I'm realizing more and more is how sharp and deadly the tongue can be. It is no overstatement to call the tongue a weapon--it is truly sharper than a sword.

It is amazing how quickly a conversation can go from pleasant chatter to hateful jabs.

It seems especially easy to lose control of the tongue with family (maybe because we feel secure in the relationship???)--especially siblings. :)



What a beautiful thing it was to spend the night with my three siblings (and my sister-in-law and little nephew!!!) and have the conversation filled with love and grace (definitely not been the case in the past...).

The topics always range from theology to politics to baseball and everything in-between--and let me tell you...we all have very different opinions on each topic. And even though tonight all was well and God's grace was manifested through our speech, I am aware that an hour (or a minute) later, my very same tongue could be speaking much evil.

If I was left to defeat my tongue on my own, I should fail miserably, and often. But no, the Lord is my Helper--He helps me in the battle and provides the ammunition I need to defeat this powerful enemy.


I believe that taming the tongue is an especially difficult thing for women to do. Our tongue is our greatest weapon: the one reached for first, as well as, most often. I suspect that the battle to tame my tongue will be a life-long one, won only with much prayer, fasting, and renewal of the mind.

Rejoice, O sinners, that we have a High Priest Who sympathizes with our weaknesses!

Cooking Challenge

Recently Jaynee and I went to see the movie, "Julie and Julia" (rated PG). I enjoyed the story line despite the brazen "in your face" outburst of vulgarity and cursing. This movie is the true story of two women and their love for cooking. Julie, a young woman who idolizes Julia Child, decides to cook her way through Child's cookbook, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in a year. She cooks at least one recipe a day and blogs about it. Julie succeeded and went on to write a cookbook of her own and thus the movie.

"Julie and Julia" has made me think of the many women in my life who have taught me to cook and bake. Beginning with my mom of course, who still effortlessly puts on a spread at a moments notice, to my sisters Jaynee, Lana and Lezlie who have taught me about popovers, French Bread and zuccini relish. I remember spending days with a friend named Theresa, cooking, baking and yes best of all... eating. My mother-in-law was (and still is) my inspiration for Fried Rice, SukiYaki and the best ever Apple Crisp and Christmas Peanut Butter Balls.

Then there are my spiritual sisters in TFC. How many meals have we shared in one another's homes? How many church suppers, bridal and baby showers have we attended? Happily, too many to count. It's pretty much a sure thing that at least one woman will walk away from any of these events with a recipe in hand. I know many times I have. Isn't it great? When I make a recipe given me by another, I almost always think of that person at some point in the cooking/baking process. I love that!! For me it is an important connection with another woman. It is a reminder that I've needed others to help round out my life, to teach me, to share with me their stories, their recipes, their techniques, their very lives.

So now I've decided to embark on a cooking challenge of my own. For the next year I am going to work my way through our church cookbook, "Homemade With Love." I've decided it is time to stop glancing through this book, and really get down to trying the recipes and in a small way get to know you all better. I won't be cooking a recipe a day. It will be more like 2-3 a week as I incorporate a few recipes into one meal.

I'm looking forward to this as I often find myself in a bit of a cooking rut. I'll be sure to let you know how it's going. Until then, as Julia Child would say: "Bon Appetit!!"