Out of curiosity, I checked the ingredients on the box to see if there were any differences from my version. To my shock, the first step of the directions instructed me to preheat the oven to 350°F. I thought, “Where did that come from?” I stopped reading the directions and immediately called my mother. “Mama, did you know that the Nilla Wafer box says to heat the oven to 350°F for banana pudding? What’s that all about?”

She responded that my grandmother used to make a meringue to top her banana pudding, instead of whipped cream. I was astonished! After quickly skimming the directions again, I realized that was the reason for using the oven—to cook the meringue. Who knew? Since I didn’t, I decided I was going to make banana pudding with meringue. My husband, however, doesn’t like change; he’s accustomed to Cool Whip or whipped cream on top. So, I planned to make a small one with meringue and a larger one with whipped cream.

While preparing the pudding, I decided to post a video on Facebook asking my friends, “What am I making?” I enjoyed the responses; with a couple of people correctly guessing it was banana pudding. Some of the other guesses included:

– Making dirty dishes (which was funny)

– Lemon meringue

– German chocolate cake

– Custard

– Cream pie, and others.

As I enjoyed the responses and stirred the pudding, I heard the Lord say to me, “Aren’t you glad you have a strategy and plan?” My eyes lit up with excitement and I had a Samuel moment where I said, “Woohoo, God! (well not that part, LOL!). Speak Lord, for your servant is listening! (this part! LOL!)

God went on to say to me, “Be careful about listening to people’s input when you are working on something (i.e. a project, a strategy, a business plan, or whatever God is telling you to do).” Why did he tell me that? Because God knows his child! When I started seeing the responses like German chocolate cake and lemon meringue pie, I immediately wanted to make one of those desserts and you know what? That was going to distract me, not from the current project I was working on, but from the things I was going to do after making that dessert. Things like working on this blog OR revising my resume OR contacting folks regarding events for the family reunion I am planning, etc, etc… You get the drift. DISTRACTED. I would have been focused on the GOOD and not the GREAT. I have heard it said that Good is the Enemy of GREAT! As Philippians 3:14 says, we must “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  

So it is with life!! We start out to make something and we feel pretty good about it so we let folks in on what we are doing and invite input. Those ideas and thoughts start you to question or maybe change course on what you were sure about accomplishing…Whew! Like I sometimes do. Maybe I share too much too soon out of excitement, but can I tell you what I am learning? Stay the course no matter what people say or the good suggestions that people give. You’ve got to stay the course and make the banana pudding that you were supposed to make! God may have awakened you at 3 or 4 in the morning (anybody else get awakened like that??) to give you the guidance and wisdom needed to get started. Stay the course! Press toward the goal for the prize!!!

It is so much easier for us to stay disciplined and press toward the goal when we have a strategy or plan. When you have one, nobody can talk you out of what you’re making, building, creating, or establishing.

While discipline is easier when you have a strategy, you also need to rely on discernment. As you chart out a path that you want to take, someone may come along and tell you about a different topping that you could put on the banana pudding. I have been eating banana pudding with whipped cream for more than 40+ years, but it wasn’t until I talked to my mother today and looked at the recipe on the side of the box that I realized that you could put a meringue on top!

That, my friends, does not change my strategy. It just allows me to make an adjustment to something that I’m already making. It opens my mind to the different possibilities I have available to use. Because, who knows, whipped cream may not be what the audience or your customer or your business needs at the moment. They may want meringue! You need to know about both so that you can give people what they need or desire and not only what you know. That is the power of a growth mindset.  This is what Proverbs 16:9 is saying: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Don’t be so rigid that you are not humble enough to make the adjustments that God sends your way…even on a cookie box!

Carol Dweck says, “And why seek out the tried and true, instead of experiences that will stretch you? The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.”

So be careful to not throw every idea out, but have the discernment that you need to be able to take what you need to make it better and grow. Romans 12:2 ESV says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The adjustments will work for good! Why? God’s word says so and it is yes and amen!!!

“Now thanks be to God who ALWAYS LEADS us in TRIUMPH in Christ and through us diffuses the FRAGRANCE of HIS knowledge in every place. For WE ARE TO GOD THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (II Corinthians 2:14-15, NKJV)

#SeasonedWord

#SpicingUpYourSoul

I realized I didn’t make enough pudding for a “no-banana”pudding. Yes, instead of making a banana pudding, I made one with just cookies and pudding because my darling husband does not like fruit in desserts. That’s right. No fruit. And he especially does not like cooked fruit. No peach cobbler. No apple pie. If the fruit is not in its original state (or close to it, like a smoothie), it is a no for him… But, I digress. :>)

As I poured the pudding over the cookies, I quickly recognized I would come up short. Upon realizing and remembering this happened the last time, I asked my husband “When I made this dessert the last time, didn’t you think I put too many cookies in the dessert? He said, “Yes.” My son came over to look at the dessert and said, “Yeah mama, there is not enough pudding.” 

DANG!

I was ready to sit down. “Once I put the Cool Whip on top, it will be okay,” I thought. “No worries, it is good enough”, I said to myself. So, I asked the question to which I already knew the answer. “Should I make more pudding?” There was a resounding yes. 

DANG! 

So, I pulled out the sugar and flour to mix it up. I then got the eggs and mixed those up. Then I said, “Oh goodness, do I have enough milk?” Whew! I did. I commenced making another batch of vanilla pudding to complete the dessert.

As I stirred the pudding again, I said, “God, please speak to me. I know there is a lesson in this.” And oh, did God speak…I kept thinking about the fact that I didn’t make enough pudding. While talking to my husband, the question hit me!!

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU COME UP SHORT???

Earlier today, my husband and I had a conversation with our sons because there seemed to be this dark cloud hanging over everyone’s heads, and they were worried about something going on in their lives.

I won’t divulge everyone’s concerns, but to sum it all up, it really boils down to coming up short. We all have a plan on how we will accomplish a goal, but sometimes, the final product comes up short. It just didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to. Maybe you didn’t get the grade you wanted. Maybe you didn’t get accepted into the school you wanted. Maybe the project didn’t work the way you designed it. Maybe your blood work shows your numbers going in the wrong direction. Or maybe you don’t have enough pudding to cover all the cookies. :>)

Sometimes in life, we might come up short. What should we do? Do we give up and believe the lie that this is all there is? Do we say, “Oh well, this is as good as it will get?” Do we throw the whole thing away and say to ourselves, “I should have never done this in the first place! When I did this the last time, I got the same result.” No. Instead, there are three things you should do.

1. Keep Going!!! Make Another Batch! 

Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap a harvest, if we faint not!

Yes, it may require you to use up some additional resources, but nine times out of ten, you already have what you need anyway to finish. And if you don’t, I promise it will show up as you move in faith! I didn’t know if I had enough milk, but I had more than enough!

2. Give Yourself Grace

IT IS OKAY! In this life, we might come up short. Don’t beat yourself up, and don’t join in with the devil speaking lies about and to yourself. I forgot to adjust my recipe and write down that note. It doesn’t make me a bad person. It doesn’t make me a dumb person. It doesn’t make me a failure. It doesn’t mean I should never make another pudding again. It simply means I am human, allowing me to learn a lesson. I wrote it down this time. Either I will use half the amount of cookies for this pudding or double the recipe!

3. Ask God to Speak to You About the Situation

God ALWAYS wants to talk to his children. Still yourself so you can hear from God. Ask Him what you should learn about your situation. Ask Him to give you a new and different perspective on it. If God gives you direction, obey him no matter what. You will always win if you are in God’s will!

So, friend, it may look like you have come up short, but that is not true. Actually, you just haven’t arrived yet; keep going. There is so much to learn. And please, please, don’t forget to be gracious to yourself.

Spicing Up Your Soul

I was proud of his determination and staunch resolve, however, I couldn’t help but be focused on the hurt that I also saw. He felt rejected. I told him that his steps were ordered by the Lord and that was not a door he wanted Joshua to walk through. I told him this wasn’t a rejection, but God’s redirection!!

Y’all I started a praise dance in the kitchen, and said, “C’mon God…SPEAK!” My son smirked then smiled and said, “Here she goes! I am going to take a shower!” Lol! He had just returned from the gym.

So you know me! I said, “God what are you saying! Show me how to apply this as I cook chicken and waffles!”

I got out all of the ingredients and realized I didn’t have any buttermilk for my chicken. I was also going to use up the last of the eggs and milk with my change in the dinner menu! (Yes, I had other plans for dinner but changed them when I realized it was National Waffle day! Lol!)

So I changed the plans that Michael and I had talked about. (I had changed them in the morning but no one knew but me! Lol.)

Then I had the nerve to say, “Michael will you go to the store for me?” To which that awesome man said, “Okay.” Y’all he is used to my cooking shenanigans and actually waits in the parking lot to see if I will call for more items to pick up! (Yep, I am prone to act spontaneously…often!!) 

While he was gone, I began preparing the food and stilling myself to hear from God about the lesson. It hit me!

I wonder if Michael felt rejected since I changed the plans for the meal he came up with? I was like, “Oh yeah, I bet he is harboring some rejection.” So I asked him and he had the audacity to say, “No, I didn’t feel rejected at all. I can make it tomorrow. I don’t mind having chicken and waffles!” 

WHAT!!!! “Dude!! You are messing up my theory”, I said! He said, “My bad!” Y’all we are funny!!

But did he really mess up my theory!! No!! In the grand fashion that God always reminds me why Michael and I need each other, He showed me that the way Michael responded is how we should respond!!! (Side note: Michael means who is like the Lord!) When your plans don’t go the way you planned, please do not see it as rejection. It is God’s redirection. The redirection might just allow someone to do some work for you and give you a much needed break.

The redirection just might be the detour you need to keep you from going down a path that God did not want you to go down. Honestly, how many of us just take off and start in a direction that we think is good, only to find out it was the wrong path or we took a wrong turn? I have! 

I am so thankful for the MANY redirections in my life. We makes plans for our life but it is God that DIRECTS our steps. He is the good and loving shepherd that leads us beside still waters and restores our soul! He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:2-3). Maybe that path we wanted to go down is not where we need to be, so…He redirects us. 

Friend, if something does not pan out the way you hoped, sometimes it is not rejection, it is God’s redirection.

When it happens, just roll with the flow because we know God knows the best path forward. He has plans to prosper us, not to harm us, to give us a hope and a future! (Jeremiah 29:11)

In the end, we really must let God be God. His plans for us are sooooo much better than our plans for ourselves. He loves us so much and wants us to get to the place He has destined for us!! He placed that desire in our heart anyway!!! So let God be God and trust his redirection!!

Don’t believe the lies that the devil will tell you. It is not a rejection. God did reject the devil’s plan and He just used that person or event as part of his redirection plan for you!! If I was in your presence, I would say, “Lift up a shout of praise and say AMEN!”

Oh how He loves us!

#Spicing Up Your Soul

I decided I wanted some lasagna this week and was looking for the recipe that I use. Now that we are in this digital age, I have thrown a lot of my paper recipes away and stored them in some fashion electronically. It could be on my computer or Pinterest. This particular recipe was on Pinterest but is no longer available. Only the picture could be found but with no recipe.

I started to panic just a little bit, not really, but I REALLY wanted to find the recipe.  I looked in every possible location…no luck. I looked at similar recipes and finally had an AHA moment! I said to myself, “Girl, you have made this lasagna soooo many times and you have even altered the recipe to make it better. Why do you think you still need the recipe? It is time for you to let go of that crutch and make the lasagna that you’ve been making all these years!”

Why did that stop me in my tracks? The Lord told me, “Yes, daughter, let go of the crutch.  I have given you everything you need.” Friend, God has given us everything we need. We have trained long enough for that thing and we don’t need the crutch anymore. What we need to do instead is just move out with the confidence and assurance that we have mastered the training! Class is over!! Go do the thing!!!

What is so funny is that I have been making that lasagna for years so I pretty much have the recipe memorized. Heck, I never really followed the recipe exactly as printed. I made tweaks and changes along the way.

So, I browned some Italian sausage and ground beef with finely chopped onions and garlic. I seasoned it up really well.  I added tomatoes with garlic and onions and also a garlic and onion spaghetti sauce. (Yes, I love garlic and onion!) I let that cook for an hour or so. While that was simmering, I made a cheesy bechamel sauce (as you can probably guess, I had to make a sauce that did not involve cottage cheese..Yep, hubby strikes again! LOL!) After I cooked the sauce, I shredded all of my cheese. I boiled my lasagna noodles and set up my stations to assemble the lasagna! I put it in the oven for about an hour and BBAABBBBAAAYY it was sooooo good!  All that worry and fuss for no reason because I thought I needed a recipe when I had it memorized all along. I had already created some muscle memory and I knew what to do!

Let me encourage you to step out in Faith and do the thing that you’ve been trained to do!! You don’t need the recipe anymore! You know what to do! Now walk out in confidence Hebrews 10:35 says, “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.” CONFIDENCE!!

It goes on to say in verses 36-39;

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,

“Yet a little while,
    and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
    and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

It’s verse 38 for me! We don’t have time to shrink back! We are righteous because God is righteous and we LIVE BY FAITH! We don’t need no stinking recipe anymore! :>)

How will we know if we’ve mastered it if we don’t move out? How do we know if we’ve mastered the craft if we don’t try it without the crutch? It’s time to move out and quit hanging onto the crutches. Hang onto the Master instead! HALLELUJAH!!!

As the Lord would have it, always perfect with HIS timing, a song came on Pandora that made me stop what I was doing and dictate this part of the blog! The song by DeWayne Woods, entitled “Let Go” is powerful!! The chorus says:

As soon as I stop worrying..
Worrying how the story ends
I let go and I let God
Let God have His way

That’s when things start happening
When I stopped looking at back then
I let go and I let God
Let God have his way

Friend, I had to stop worrying about how it would end. Of course, my previous cake escapades could cause me to be fearful and freeze BUT I let go and I let God and He had his way!!!  He was so sweet to me! He said, “Crystal, let go of the crutch!”

Friend, I say to you, let go of the crutch and quit worrying about how the story is going to end! Instead, let God have His way. He’s already trained you and you just need move out!! God, your heavenly father TRUSTS YOU! Everything that He has put in you, He will cause it to come out!! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

#Spicing Up Your Soul

While Cooking…

I got the same results as last week!! Some of my cake was stuck in the pan…AGAIN!

I made, what I thought was, the right correction. However, I got the same results! What in the world is wrong with me??? I have been baking cakes for over 40 years!! And I have messed up this cake twice…in less than a week!

I made the cake so that I could take some to a friend! When it turned out the same way, I said to myself, “I cannot take her any of this cake!!!” HOW EMBARRASING!!! She will talk badly about me!! She might even wonder if I know what I am doing?” When I write about this one, some folks may think I am messing up stuff on purpose to write about it! (Side note: Catrina, look at all of these cognitive distortions I am using. We need to do the podcast soon!)

I started taking pics and sending them to my friends asking them the below question:

“What do you do when you have corrected your mistake (so you thought) in order not to have the same results as last time AND you just knew it was going to work out this time; YET, it still didn’t work?”

I got varied responses!

“You messed up another cake?”

“All good sis! I am certain it is still da bomb!”

“Wish I lived close so I can enjoy the mess up with you?”

“What type of grease are you using?”

“Tell Joshua to get the ice cream!”

“It tastes like it was made with love.”

“I’m sending my son down to get some cake.”

“Bring me a piece with some ice cream.”

Well, while I was shaking my head and “wallowing” in my pain (despite the merciful responses), Michael was taking pictures of me trying to put the cake back together … unbeknownst to me. I found out when I called my son to let him know that I messed up another cake. 

He burst out laughing saying, “Oh that is the picture that Daddy put in the chat!”  

I said, “What chat?” He replied, “The Heartbeats Chat (which is what I call the family chat).” He then realized that it was a private chat between them (my husband and sons) not the family chat!! My son sent me the picture and I just rolled my eyes though I was slightly beside myself thinking, “No, He didn’t!”

I thought, “Ohhhhhhh (in my high-pitched voice)!!! Is that what we are doing now? We are sneaking around and taking pictures of people. Sniggling and giggling and carrying on!!”

It was funny at the moment because we often make fun of each other in my family (all in fun).

However, it is not so funny when this happens to be your life right now. You keep making mistakes or keep trying to correct it, but nothing is changing. It is not so funny when the costs are greater than your pride or when the ridicule and shame are more public. It is not so funny when the people who ridicule are your friends or family and they make jokes at your expense. It is not so funny when people start talking about you or start thinking differently or negatively about you!

It makes you not want to try AGAIN because who would want to go through the embarrassment AGAIN?

It makes you wonder where is God and why would He allow you to be embarrassed again?

Why wouldn’t He work it out for you this time? You thought you heard Him correctly on what you needed to do to render a better outcome, however, you get the same results! What do you do?

James 1:2-4 (NIV) says, “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

That’s right. When you mess up… AGAIN…count it all joy. Have some cake and ice cream with your son this time. Take a picture of you enjoying the mistake because you know you are one step closer to being mature and complete!

I know messing up and “messing” up your life are two totally different things. But did you REALLY mess up your life? Probably not! Yes, you used up some time that you cannot get back. Yes, you used up some resources. Yes, you made a mess. But, Yes, You also learned. This time, I didn’t get too mad! I actually called a friend or two and shared it with them and I received encouragement! They wanted to eat the cake with me! A couple knew I was going to probably write a blog and they couldn’t wait to see what God tells me. So, I will try this cake again. I am looking forward to it!

I want to encourage you to try again. I want to encourage you to figure it out again. In this life, we are learning perseverance and patience. Both of which are perfecting us. We cannot be perfected unless we go through a trial. We can’t learn something if we arrive at the destination on the first try every time!  Sometimes we have to do things two, three, maybe 10 times before we get it right.

I want to encourage you to not give up but to continue pressing through!! There was a gospel song that our adult choir used to sing a lot when I was younger, and the chorus was:

Fight on soldier, don’t give up the journey.

Fight on soldier, don’t give up the journey. (go up an octave)

Fight on soldier, don’t give up the journey. (go up another octave)

If you fight a good fight down here, when you get over there, you know you won’t have to fight no more!!

That song speaks so differently to me at 52 than it did when I was 12. We serve the God of a second, third, fourth, and another chance!!

As Psalm 23:6 (KJV) says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” That is good news to me because I know in life, I will mess up and I will continue to mess up sometimes. But my God loves me unconditionally and whether I get it right or whether I get it wrong, I am still on the path for which He has destined for me! That is good news.

Just because I’ve messed up, it doesn’t mean that I am doomed to never make it. It doesn’t mean that it is not meant for me. It just means that I’m learning. It just means I’ve learned one more piece of the puzzle and how to place it correctly!

Yes, it’s just like when we put a puzzle together. Sometimes we turn those pieces in all kinds of ways trying to make them fit or we join it to the wrong piece!! We just move to another piece until we have more of the puzzle and find the right spot.

So it is with a mistake! It is just a wrong turn or place for that puzzle piece. That piece is meant to be in the big picture! Hallelujah!! The mistake doesn’t mess up the picture. Just try again!!

Fight on soldier!! James 1:12 (ESV) says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him!” Don’t give up too soon! We’ve got to persevere! We’ve got to keep going!  Don’t let the mistakes stop you! Just take a picture of it and count it all joy! Enjoy what you just did! Have your cake and ice cream…then…try again!

#Spicing Up Your Soul

He pleaded with this sad look, “Mama, I am packing (he was moving back into his dorm room the next day).”

I didn’t want to ask my oldest son to go because he was cleaning the kitchen. My husband was at work. My neighbor was out to dinner for her birthday. I couldn’t just change my mind and not make the cake. I already had the mixer going with butter and sugar. Plus, I told my co-workers I would bring a cake. I am not a fan of too many store-bought cakes…

So, guess who had to go to the store?

Yep, yours truly. I left the butter and cream cheese on so that it could get creamy and fluffy while I was gone. I made it to the store and back in 10 minutes! I said to myself, “That wasn’t so bad.” When I looked at my butter and cream cheese mixture, I beamed with pride. It was so light and fluffy!!!

Then I realized I didn’t put the sugar in with the butter and cream cheese, so I had to add my sugar and wait for it to get light and fluffy!! Oh, the horror! I finished mixing all the ingredients and thought, “You have too much grease in your bundt pan,” so I wiped some off!!! Should have not done that!!

I poured the cake batter into the pan and put it in the oven. I cleaned up my mess and was trying to figure out what the lesson would be. I left the house to take some clothes to the cleaners still thinking about what the lesson might be and forgot my glasses. Too lazy to turn back around, I just try to stay on the well-lit streets! LOL! I was on my way back home before I remembered I had an extra pair of glasses in my son’s car.
 
While trying to figure out what to write, I thought to myself, “Dang Crystal, you are batting 1000 today with all these little missteps!” Because, of course, I started recounting my day and began focusing on all the things I didn’t get done that I wanted to and how I had to bring some work home to finish. I began thinking, I am not going to get into the bed until around 11:00 because the cake didn’t get in the oven until around 8:45 pm! 15 minutes before my wind-down time to bed! Why did I even volunteer to make a cake? Why didn’t the men in my house cook since they were all home today? Why can’t I get out of this peri-menopausal state? Who half-cleaned the pot?  
 
Fast forward an hour and a half later, I have a beautiful honey-brown colored, cream cheese five-flavored pound cake. I took it out of the oven and let it sit for about 10 minutes. When I turned it out of the pan, it didn’t slide out…I gave it a couple of bangs, and then the top of the cake came off! Oh no! I turned it back over and loosened the sides a bit. I flipped the cake back over and only ¾ of the cake came out!! I just shook my head and said over and over again, Lord Have mercy…Unh! Unh! Unh!! Lord Have Mercy, Unh! Unh! Unh!!

I called my sons to look at the cake, and they were like, “Ahhh man!!! Well mama, is the cake fair game now? You can’t take it to work like that.” All the while,  I am still saying, “Unh! Unh! Unh!! Lord Have Mercy!” I thought to myself, “What a way to end this day. It ended in crumbles!

Then I just burst out laughing. My son went and got ice cream out of the freezer. I finally said sure, its fair game. I guess I will have to make a Sam’s run! My son was eating warm cake and ice cream at 11:00 pm touting, “Mama this is the best one yet!”
 
Lord, there must be a lesson in this…My husband said, the lesson is don’t make cakes during the week after 8pm. LOL.

What do you do when a situation crumbles right before your eyes? What do you do when it seems like your life is crumbling and tearing apart and it finally does?

Donnie McClurkin asked the question through singing “What do you give when you’ve given your all and it seems like you can’t make it through?” He answers by singing , “Well you just stand, when there’s nothing left to do. You just stand, watch the Lord see you through. Yes after you’ve done all you can, you just stand.”

Yes, we should stand. Oxford Languages defines stand as having or maintaining an upright position!!! You don’t move! You don’t advance forward or backward. The word “stand” is translated from the Greek histemi, and in this context it means “to continue, endure, or persist.” In my mind when you put the two together, you continue standing on God’s promise (your upright position) that He will work this out for your good!!

Don’t look at the situation, stand on the promise! The cake does not look good but that doesn’t negate the fact that it STILL tastes good!!! Whew!! I shouted right there!!! We get so caught up on how the situation looks instead of the fact that it will still work out FOR GOOD!! Stand on the promise not the look. And then remain UNSHAKABLE!!

I often listen to Robert Madu; He and his wife are the founders of Social Dallas, a church in Dallas, Texas. For the past couple of years he has given a word and a verse for his church. His word for this year is UNSHAKABLE and the verse that goes with it is Hebrews 12:28-29 and when I tell you, it is powerful, honey, it is powerful!!!

Hebrews 12: 28-29 MSG says, “Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!”

Know the word of God (what are His promises) so you can stand on the word of God and be UNSHAKABLE when the vicissitudes of life come!! When they come, not if (because we are told they will come), be thankful because though your situation looks like it may be crumbling, you are part of an unshakable kingdom. It did not catch God by surprise and He is not thwarted by the enemies attacks! Our God knows how to turn the enemies attacks against him. So I just stand and watch the good show happening before me! Heck I grab the popcorn because I know God is going to show out!!!

It’s like watching your favorite movie, knowing the bad parts will happen, but you know victory is assured in the end. So you watch the movie with anticipation and excitement knowing they win. So it is with us! We win! You know the story. Satan will try to attack and defeat you. He will deceive you! BUT YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE KING! So we can be thankful and full of worship!! Because we know the end!!! GOD IS ACTIVELY CLEANING HOUSE!! TORCHING ALL THAT NEEDS TO BURN AND HE WONT QUIT UNTIL IT IS ALL CLEANSED!! GOD HIMSELF IS FIRE!!!

So Stand and be unshakable!! Looks can be deceiving, but that is not our focus!!! Nor is that the purpose of the cake!!! That is another devotional!!

Spicing Up Your Soul

I was meditating on the devotional I read earlier this morning about God’s Grace—The God Who Stays by Matthew West.

After gathering my ingredients, I started cutting up the butter to melt it. I placed it in the microwave, and I watched it melt. The past has told me to stay with my butter, because I have let it bubble up and spill over too many times to count because I am multitasking! So now….I wait and watch it transform. I stay with it as it is transforming. I took it out of the microwave and stirred the butter around and put it back in so it could finish melting. And guess what, I continued to stay.

I teared up because isn’t that what Jesus does? He stays. When we cut up things, He stays. When we have a meltdown, He stays. When we mix things up, He stays. When we chop things up, He stays. When when we get into hot situations, He stays.

When Jesus was on the cross, He stayed.

Wow. I tear up at this beautiful and awesome fact…Jesus stays. No matter what we do, say or think, He stays. In John 8, a beautiful story unfolds showing how Jesus stays.

A woman is caught in the act of adultery. “She was dragged out into the street and surrounded by a crowd of accusers who were ready to stone her to death. When the angry crowd asked Jesus His opinion of this disgraced woman’s fate, the words He spoke made the stones fall to the ground. “Let any of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” With that, her accusers walked away and left her all alone. Well, not completely alone. Jesus stayed. Because that’s what Jesus does. He stays. He stayed to sing a grace-song over a disgraced woman who desperately needed to know she wasn’t doomed to a life of guilt and condemnation.” (Matthew West, The God Who Stays)

Jesus stays.

Well, I’m not done.

I got convicted while making these muffins.

My son came into the kitchen to tell us he was leaving for some recovery and therapy before the game. He was still angry and somewhat discouraged from the loss they took yesterday evening. So my husband and I said, “Hey, we have some food for you to take with you!” He grabbed the food, but not with a smile on his face. It seemed more like it was an irritation to him.

Now granted, he was picking someone else up so he was trying to be on time.

But, in my mama mind, I immediately spun up and said, “Hold up little boy!” This attitude you are displaying is disrespectful and it shows ungratefulness. Yes, you lost. Yes, you were not your best. Yes, it sucks…BUT don’t be ungrateful and disrespectful to us. We are trying to showing you love. If baseball is going to have you acting like this every time you lose, then maybe this isn’t the sport for you!”

Yep, I went there!

I further told him to fix his attitude or else today’s outcome would be the same. Then I said, “Bye” and he left.

I began to fume to the point that I said, “He can be at the game by himself!” Yeah, I was big mad.

Thank God for Michael. He always calms this fiery woman down.

“Crystal, calm down and quit taking it personal.”

Ouch.

I calmed down. Then God went to work on his child.

He said, “Crystal, I stay with you when you are mad and discouraged and I am teaching you to do the same.” This message was to show you that I stay. Guess what? You will need to stay with people and show grace also. You need to be my hands and feet in this space too.

So, I teared up again and said, “Thank You God!” You are right! You always are!”

So my friends, stay. Jesus stays with us and we need to do the same. We will mess up. They will mess up. But we need to show grace…

When we stay, we get to reap the rewards. A lifted up head and tasty muffins!

We get to taste and see that the Lord is good!

I just finished Day 1 of that devotional, join me on YouVersion to read the rest of it!”

Jesus stays! Isn’t that good to know on this Easter weekend!

#seasonedword

#awordindueseason

Spicing Up Your Soul

“But the previous night, God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him, “I’m warning you—leave Jacob alone!””‭‭Genesis‬ ‭31‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

While Meditating…

I had just finished reading the above scripture, which stirred my heart. After reading Genesis 30-31, I looked for a cross-reference verse. The Lord dropped in my spirit when Joseph received in a dream that he had to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to flee Herod and his decree!

I was struck with the fact that nothing stops God’s plans. They survive time and evil plans. No matter what, they do not fail and come to pass! It doesn’t matter what environment you are in – hostile or friendly, peaceful or stressful, boring or fun, scary or courageous – you can flourish when in the will of God!

I began thinking about what I cook that mimics this! The Lord laid on my heart baking cinnamon rolls.

I use a bread machine to make the dough when I cook cinnamon rolls. I put all the ingredients in the machine, set it on the dough setting, and let it do its work, which consists of mixing the dough up and letting it rise. That takes 1.5 hours. That is the first environment that is rose in!

When that time is up, I take the dough out that has gone through a chemical change, looking totally different than when I put it in the machine.I put the dough on a floured surface, knead it, and then roll it out into a large rectangle. I add my filling and then roll up the dough. I then cut it into individual rolls and place them on a pan. I cover them up and sit them in a closed-up space in my kitchen so they can rise again. That takes another 1.5 hour hours. That is the second environment that it rose in!

When that time elapses, I put them in a preheated oven to cook for about 15-20 minutes. So that is the third environment that it rose in!

After I remove them from the oven, I spread icing on them and eat them up! It rose in this fourth environment because it rose to my mouth! Lol!!

I had a watchful eye on the entire process! But even more important, the dough flourished and transformed in each environment. It went through some stirring, heat, and just sitting in one environment, but it rose!! It went through some kneading, rolling, smothering, cutting, covering up, and sitting in another environment, but it rose! It went through extreme heat and sitting in another environment, but it rose!! Finally, it went through some decorating and enjoyment in the last environment, and it rose!!! HALLELUJAH!!

Yes, it went through a lot, but it flourished in all environments! AND IT ROSE!! EVERY. SINGLE. TIME!!!

Just like the cinnamon rolls, we are made to flourish and transform no matter the environment! As Maya Angelou says, Still I Rise!! That environment, which may be challenging, sets us up for the next phase and is all under our Father God’s watchful eye! It’s all a part of His Will. And we rise every time!!

What I love about Mary, Jacob, and Joseph is that they had a relationship with God. God instructed and guided them to bring His plan for their lives to fruition!

Can I encourage you to focus on God and spend time with him throughout the day, EVERYDAY, so that you know his voice, experience his love, and hear his commands.

You are meant to flourish no matter the environment! Stay close to God so that you can!

Yes, it is hard! Being in God’s will is difficult. In fact, Jesus told us we would have tribulation, but to take heart; He has overcome the world! James told us, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Yes, you may have to walk a long distance while pregnant! Alright Mary! Count it all joy!

Yes, you may have to get up in the middle of the night to start the long journey. Alright Joseph! Count it all joy!

Yes, you may have to work 20 years for your wife and wealth and be cheated all the while. Alright Jacob! Count it all joy!

But God!!! He sees it! He sees who is trying to harm you, and He won’t allow it! He told Laban, LEAVE JACOB ALONE!!!

Count it all joy!

Stay close to God so you can see things from a different perspective, and Count it all joy!

You were meant to flourish no matter the environment!

Crystal M. Heard

Speaking an Encouraging Word to the Weary

#spicingupyoursoul

I was reflecting on the meeting I had with some old and new sister friends yesterday. I was introduced by one sister as one who could bake. Another sister co-signed saying and “She writes a devotional about what she has cooked.” I was immediately convicted. I was convicted because I had neither baked as much this season and nor had I written that much this year.

I decided I was going to finally bake these cookies and write a devotional…TODAY.

I said a quick prayer, “Speak to me Father and teach me a lesson.”

I seasoned the chicken to make a brown sugar stewed chicken. While that was marinating, I got out all the ingredients to make snickerdoodles AND sugar cookies. I whipped up the cookie batters pretty quickly. While the snickerdoodles were cooking, I was jamming to and singing along with Whitney making the sugar cookies. Once the snickerdoodle cooled some, I moved them to the cookie rack. I then rolled and sugared the sugar cookies; putting them in the oven. I sent some snickerdoodles to my sister neighbor as she had been asking me when I would make them. It was then the Lord spoke.

Crystal, you have delayed making these cookies and delayed writing because you were not motivated. People are waiting on your cookies and they are waiting on your books. I am waiting on you! (Ouch!) You had everything you needed to bake the cookies and you have everything you need to complete the books. I have deposited a word in you that I want you to give to the people. Heck Crystal, I just deposited another in you. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!! Move Out Crystal!!! Get to baking and let people enjoy the cookies (books). You have everything you need.

What you think you don’t have, I have it already waiting for you. Just move in faith! Just start and the motivation will come. You started out only wanting to make the snickerdoodles but the motivation came to make sugar cookies also. The same will happen when you finish the books…

So, as I stand here chewing on one of the good cookies, I want to encourage to move out in what God has placed in you to do. You have everything you need.

seasonedword

spicingupyoursoul

I decided to make two different pancake batters: one buttermilk and one pumpkin.

I love pumpkin pancakes with chocolate chips and the men in my house love old faithful…fluffy buttermilk pancakes. However, Joshua likes chocolate chips in his while Michael and Joseph do not. Sooooo… being that person that wants to make everybody happy (that’s another sermon), I meet everyone’s needs which takes a little bit more time. Since I am the only one eating the pumpkin batter I add chocolate chips before cooking. Since Joshua is the only one eating chocolate chips in his pancakes, I add them to each individual pancake while cooking the buttermilk batter. I know there are more efficient ways, but hey, I now see why I do that…To teach a lesson!

Side by side, someone may be tempted to think, “she must not have enough chocolate chips for the buttermilk batter.”

While that could be true, it was not for this case. Simply, it just was not time…yet.

Have you ever compared your life to someone else’s wondering why they have “chocolate chips in their batter” and you don’t? I have and it has done so much harm to my thought life. I have asked questions like, “Why them and not me?” OR “Why me and not them?” OR “Am I not good enough?” OR “What resources did they have or get that I don’t have?”

It sends me and my thoughts spiraling downward!!

When I have had those questions, the answer has almost always been…it’s simply not time yet.

Wow!!! Not time yet. It’s not the lie that I am not enough, it is plainly not time yet.

With this newfound truth, I must have patience and GRACE for myself. I must keep myself focused on my own race. I must remember that just because someone else is getting their “chocolate chips” now or before me doesn’t mean there is not enough for me. My God owns everything! To believe He doesn’t have enough for me places limits and constraints on a limitless and unconstrained God. And to think that He doesn’t have enough for me or nothing at all contradicts the fact that I am his child.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…”

1 John 3:1 ESV

And what good parent does not give their children good things? If we give good things to our kids when they ask and if we are able to discern when to give them what they ask for, then doesn’t our Heavenly Father do so even better? As Luke 11:9-13 ESV says

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!””

God is able to do EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL we can ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

So it’s just not time yet. And we are enough. As Daryl Coley says, He is preparing us and getting us ready! And as we learn from Sarah and Abraham, it is dangerous to go ahead of God and do our own thing. There are long lasting consequences. See Genesis chapters 16 -21.

I just wanted to encourage us all to not mistake not yet for not enough. And to wait patiently like my son Joshua does. He sees the differences in the batter, but he knows his mama has some set aside for him. He watches as she meticulously places them on the batter to ensure he chocolatey goodness in every bite. And she does it at least five times because this young man can EAT!!! He waits EXPECTANTLY and walks away with confidence…Knowing his “chocolate chips” are coming!

So wait expectantly and confidently instead of looking at others.

Getting us to look at what others are accomplishing is one of the tactics of the enemy. He wants us to think we are not good enough, we are running out of time, and that there is not going to be enough!

ALL OF WHICH ARE LIES.

You are enough.

God has not forgotten about you.

God is not shortchanging you.

He is simply saying not yet. I have chocolate chips for you also; I just put them in at a different time.

In the end, everyone got their chocolate chips. It didn’t matter when they were put in.

And also, those who didn’t want chocolate chips, got their pancakes also. God specializes in customizing your blessing!!

So….

Don’t worry!

Don’t compare!

Don’t get discouraged!

Your chocolate chips are coming!

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:6 ESV