I recently provided the cookies for a family event. I wanted several kinds because you never know who will like what. You would think everyone would go nuts over a super-rich Triple Chocolate, but it has only been a few years since I encountered someone who doesn't like chocolate! Hard to believe, I know.
For variety's sake, and because I know that my younger grandson adores them, I added Unbelievable Peanut Butter Cookies. Chocolate and peanut butter at least cover the bases with the younger set, I thought. But I also thought a few "adult" cookies might be nice as well, so I whipped up a batch of Ultimate Ginger Cookies. Between the molasses and the chopped crystalized ginger, I was certain they would not appeal to the children at all, so I only made one two-dozen batch. So much for presumptions. My older grandson and his good friend fell in love with those things. These were not small cookies, but they ate three each, then begged for the leftovers!
And that reminded me of the times my blogpost file has gotten thin and, despite a complete lack of inspiration, I made myself sit down and come up with something, however mediocre it seemed to me. Then, lo and behold, when I posted it, I received more than one comment, many in private messages, saying how that particular message was exactly what they needed that particular day. And here I thought it was just filler.
We should never be so arrogant as to presume that we know God's mind or exactly how He will use us in this life. He never explained anything to Job, for example, He just expected Job to trust Him. Some of the roles we fill (wife, mother, child, neighbor) may have innate purposes specified in God's Word, but our own unique and individual purpose is never identified with the rare exception of a few like John the Baptist. So what do we do? How do we even know what to do?
I would never have known my grandson's new favorite cookie if I had not chosen to serve the family by baking them. I would never have helped those blog readers if I had not made myself write when it was difficult to do so.
I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with...I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live (Eccl 3:10,12).
This is how we fulfill our purpose. We live with the joy we have based upon the hope Peter mentions (1 Pet 3:15), and we do whatever good we have opportunity to do for as long as we live. Then we trust God to use our meager efforts to accomplish His grand design. That's what faith is—trusting God, even if in this life we never know the results. Our God is so powerful He can use the smallest efforts to accomplish the largest things.
Bake your cookies. Write your blogposts. Serve your neighbor. Take care of those little ones—day after day after sometimes tedious day. Do whatever God puts in front of you that day to do. Then let God take care of the rest.
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always (1Thess 5:15-16).
Dene Ward
You can find the recipes for Unbelievable Peanut Butter Cookies and Ultimate Ginger Cookies on the recipe page.
For variety's sake, and because I know that my younger grandson adores them, I added Unbelievable Peanut Butter Cookies. Chocolate and peanut butter at least cover the bases with the younger set, I thought. But I also thought a few "adult" cookies might be nice as well, so I whipped up a batch of Ultimate Ginger Cookies. Between the molasses and the chopped crystalized ginger, I was certain they would not appeal to the children at all, so I only made one two-dozen batch. So much for presumptions. My older grandson and his good friend fell in love with those things. These were not small cookies, but they ate three each, then begged for the leftovers!
And that reminded me of the times my blogpost file has gotten thin and, despite a complete lack of inspiration, I made myself sit down and come up with something, however mediocre it seemed to me. Then, lo and behold, when I posted it, I received more than one comment, many in private messages, saying how that particular message was exactly what they needed that particular day. And here I thought it was just filler.
We should never be so arrogant as to presume that we know God's mind or exactly how He will use us in this life. He never explained anything to Job, for example, He just expected Job to trust Him. Some of the roles we fill (wife, mother, child, neighbor) may have innate purposes specified in God's Word, but our own unique and individual purpose is never identified with the rare exception of a few like John the Baptist. So what do we do? How do we even know what to do?
I would never have known my grandson's new favorite cookie if I had not chosen to serve the family by baking them. I would never have helped those blog readers if I had not made myself write when it was difficult to do so.
I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with...I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live (Eccl 3:10,12).
This is how we fulfill our purpose. We live with the joy we have based upon the hope Peter mentions (1 Pet 3:15), and we do whatever good we have opportunity to do for as long as we live. Then we trust God to use our meager efforts to accomplish His grand design. That's what faith is—trusting God, even if in this life we never know the results. Our God is so powerful He can use the smallest efforts to accomplish the largest things.
Bake your cookies. Write your blogposts. Serve your neighbor. Take care of those little ones—day after day after sometimes tedious day. Do whatever God puts in front of you that day to do. Then let God take care of the rest.
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always (1Thess 5:15-16).
Dene Ward
You can find the recipes for Unbelievable Peanut Butter Cookies and Ultimate Ginger Cookies on the recipe page.
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