Do Service Points Expire?

There is a terrific blog that I follow called A Slob Comes Clean in which the author gives great tips, suggestions and advice that she discovers on her journey away from slobdom.  In one of her blog posts, which I highly recommend you read (but only if you promise to finish reading this post when you are finished) she talks about how All Housekeeping Points Expire at Midnight.  I don't want to ruin her witty prose for you, but in short she explains how those of us who tend to have difficulty keeping our house clean sometimes are ruined by a productive day.  I know for me, when I have worked really hard and made a huge improvement in one day in my home, I tend to waste away the next day.  See, sometimes we tend to rest on the efforts of the past.  We sometimes think that what we have already done gets us out of doing something else in the future.

As I was musing over this idea the other day I realized this thought can invade our service life as well as our housekeeping.  Have you ever thought, "Someone should really (insert idea here), but I'm not going to because I already (insert heroic action here) so I've done enough"?  No?  I didn't think so.  Not you, I'm actually talking to that other person.  You know, Her.  She is the one who reminds everyone of the fact that she served faithfully in her church for 10 years, 20 years ago, so she doesn't need to serve now. That is an extreme example.  I am sure most of us would not be able to relate to that.  But sometimes I am Her.  Sometimes I think, I've done enough.     

There is truth to that fact that we need to guard ourselves from overcommitment and from interfering with our family's needs.  We need to be sure we aren't taking on roles that God intended someone else to do.  Sometimes we fill a need that God doesn't want us to fill because we aren't listening, seeking His guidance. In doing so we interfere with a blessing God had intended for someone else.  There are legitimate times not to serve.

But sometimes we are using our past service to excuse things we don't want to do.  Okay, again, not you, but her.  I know I have been her.  I have thought "I don't need to volunteer to help with the Women's Ministry Christmas dinner, because I have helped with Children's Ministry."  I am certain that sometimes I have lost out on a blessing God had intended for me because I have used the excuse of past, or even current, service to avoid serving elsewhere. 

God doesn't put our skills, our gifts or our passions in a little box labeled "Children's Ministry" or "Women's Ministry" or even "Church Ministry".  God sends us opportunities to grow and be blessed disguised as service opportunities.  It seems to me that it is a rare event when God uses us to do something but doesn't have a plan to impact us in the process.

We do need to be aware of using "service" as a way to hide from the world or of taking on more than God is calling.  But we need to stop using our past service as an excuse to avoid the next thing God is asking us to do.  Or maybe that is just me.

Award Winning Raw Apple Cake Recipe

Here it is!  The moment you have all been waiting for!  I am going to share a secret, award winning recipe that will leave anyone who tries it impressed.  Yes, it is really that good.  I've never met anyone who didn't rave over this recipe.  It is amazing.  I've never seen anyone make it other than my mother in law and now me.  I know there are others of you out there, and I hope soon that there will be many more of you.  This recipe truly is killer.

Raw Apple Cake

4 c. apples chopped fine
2 c. sugar
mix together let stand 30 min. (Honestly, it doesn't always have to sit quite that long, just needs to make a good juice.)

Sift together:
2 c flour
2 tsp soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

Add dry ingredients and
2 beaten eggs to apple mixture.  Stir only to blend well.  Pour into prepared 9 x 13 pan.
Bake 350 for 40 minutes.

Topping:
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1 stick Margarine (I actually use butter, it is just as good, either works)
1 c water
(1 teaspoon Vanilla to add at end)
Cook until thick, stirring constantly.  Add 1 teaspoon Vanilla.  Pour over hot cake.

Around the edges you can see the bubbly topping.

After the topping has settled.  Best served warm!

Warning, this cake does not look good. You may have to force some people to try it. (I am one.  I didn't try it the first few times, but now I LOVE it!)

This is hands down my husband's favorite cake, maybe all time favorite dessert.  Happy Eating!  (I would love to see other fall apple/pumpkin kinds of dessert ideas from anyone who wants to post their own yummy recipes.)

Update:  The year I won the coveted Golden Spatula for this recipe, my dear friend Amanda from Cooking Three Handed also won the Golden Ladle for her Chili recipe posted here.  Check it out and say hello!

Doubt?

Why is it so easy to get discouraged despite the obvious fact that God is working great things?  How can I have such great joy in one area of my life where it is so amazingly clear that God has restored peace and hope and brought joy and excitement, and yet feel so discouraged in other areas?  How can I see God's glory as He cleans up messes, meanwhile despairing of the messes I have that yet need cleaned up?  Is my faith really so small that I cannot believe, or choose to not believe, that God is working in all the areas?  Do I limit God by thinking he only has enough time, energy or focus to fix one area of my life at a time?  Do I doubt His ability?  Or is it His desire I doubt?

These are the questions that I ask myself as I feel so distraught over some, rather tiny I suppose, issues in my life and yet simultaneously feel more joy than I have felt in a very long time. How can I see what God has done for me and those I love and despair that I cannot handle these other issues alone?  Do I forget that God isn't calling me to do anything alone?  Do I forget that He who restores hope restores finances and relationships? 
Why is it so easy to put God in this place and that situation, but forget to invite him into that other situation, the one you want to forget?

Now is the time that I need to remind myself of one of my favorite sayings: "God is good, ALL the time!" and to remind myself of a verse I need to hear from time to time: "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10.  

So I'm writing this as a reminder, God is Good!  It is His job to fix the world.  The joy of the Lord IS my strength.  I'm going to pick up and dust myself off, try not to worry about the things I can't change and try to follow what God has planned for my life.  Sounds easy enough...