Friday, January 31, 2014

Act of Love or Wedding Prep

Anna and Elsa have nothing over the Gherkins act of  love for the soon-to-be-wed-Gherkin in Oregon (BreAnne).

I always suspected it. I resisted for as long as I could. I joined that innocent little obsession so many sing praises about - Pinterest. Yep - Pinterest is pure EVIL for those of us who are not crafty or don't have 30 hours to make a little craft look perfect for a post.

We volunteered to make little candies for "The Wedding."  How hard could it be? Looks easy peasy on Pinterest. All the comments say how easy they are to make - and how CUTE.

Stick the candy canes into a 300* oven for 3 min.

Pull them out and "gently squish them with your fingers."

Fill with white chocolate and sprinkles.....

We've got this! Stacia got started unwrapping 300 mini-candy canes.....Arielle and I melted chocolate and lined pans with parchment paper.



We had high hopes! Millions on Pinterest sing the praises of this little craft - alright, allow me and my scorched fingers a bit of hyperbole! 

What could go wrong????? 

Just this - have YOU ever tried to gently squish melty, hot, sugar with YOUR fingers??????

Some of the charm of THIS project wore off after the first batch.....Arielle tried spoons and tongs to squish the candy canes and they just don't look like pretty hearts unless you squish them with your fingers.

My theory is a touch of seared flesh transfers a hint of love to them.

It took us three pans to realize we'd have to use our fingers, cut the time in the oven to two minutes and WORK FAST....it also became clear *I* would be the one squishing all these candies.... ME...the one who doesn't EAT processed sugar...We did discover I am  able to sing, "Ouch, ouch, ouch" in many different octaves.

I maintain our making of these is as true an act of love as Anna's for Elsa.

We've finished 25. They'll be fine when we tie a cute ribbon around them, wrap them....

Seriously, we are thrilled to be working on wedding projects...and I figure my blistered fingers will heal before 14 Feb.....we have many more to make...on another day. Maybe I'll trick invite some local ladies to a candy making party.

 There MUST be a way to do this without using fingers...my fingers really are sore. No-one else mentioned this problem. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Endure to the End

"But the one who endures to the end; he will be saved." Matthew 24:13


The context of this verse is the end times. Yes, I spent a significant amount of time outlining Ch. 24 and 25. I made a couple of lists. I noted the key points. I studied the logos (written word).

However, verse 13 was a rhema word (light bulb word for the moment) for me today.  Holy Spirit had impressed on me, as I read through the NT in November and December, my personal focus for the year is endurance. I will camp on this focus when it is revealed in Scripture throughout the year.

The one who ENDURES to the END will be SAVED.

The one who keeps going, stays in the pool, stays in the fight, keeps standing in the storm, dances in the rain, bears up under the pressure - THAT one will be saved.

The one who endures not just this storm, this incident, this day....the one who endures all the way to the END...the completion, the finish line. In context this could be speaking to the end of the persecution or the end of a life....in any event God wants me to be a person who stands in the storm, dances in the rain, all the way to the END.When the dance has quit being fun and is a grueling test; He still calls me to ENDURE...to dance in the rain; stand in the storm. 

THIS enduring, standing, finishing person will be SAVED.  The word soso/sozo, translated saved, means:
  •  delivered
  •  made whole
  •  preserved safe from danger, loss, and destruction
  • preserved from physical death
  • preserved from spiritual death

Context is used to determine the meaning of the word. In this context, I think any of the above "could" apply, though most commentators lean towards salvation from spiritual death. I rejoice that I have been saved from the penalty of sin, am being saved from the power of sin, and will one day be saved from even the presence of sin!

There are many areas in my life which are works in progress. God, through this verse, challenges me to ENDURE to the END, trusting Him for deliverance, wholeness, safety, SALVATION. God will finish the work He has begun. I cooperate with Him when I  endure, by grace.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...