what wondrous love

think 1 john 3 / galatians 4. amazinggg!

"What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it - the fact that he knows me. I am graven on the palms of his hands. I am never out of his mind. All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me. I know him because he first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, one who loves me; and there is no moment when his eye is off me, or his attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when his care falters. This is momentous knowledge. There is unspeakable comfort - the sort of comfort that energizes, be it said, not enervates - in knowing that God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love and watching over me for my good. There is tremendous relief in knowing that his love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench his determination to bless me. There is, certainly, great cause for humility in the thought that he sees all the twisted things about me that my fellow humans do not see (and am I glad!), and that he sees more corruption in me than that which I see in myself (which, in all conscience, is enough). There is, however, equally great incentive to worship and love God in the thought that, for some unfathomable reason, he wants me as his friend, and desires to be my friend, and has given his Son to die for me in order to realize this purpose."

-J.I. Packer (Knowing God)

trifle!

this weekend, my sister in law gave me a great- & simple- chocolate trifle recipe... a bonus to hanging out w/ her, brother, & their 4 sweet ones! (the only damper- realizing the years have flown, as nephew is due to turn ELEVEN this may!?)

okay, trifle:
first layer- crumbled brownies (choose any chocolate-y boxed mix)
second- drizzle chocolate syrup
third- chocolate pudding (large box)
fourth- whipped cream
repeat
top w/ crushed whoppers

chill until ready to serve. and you'll love the level of difficulty to taste ratio here!

it's friday! have a recipe

recently had the fortune of learning a new poppyseed bread/cake. friend & hero in the kitchen christy bequeathed the recipe to me & i feel honored- apparently it's a longtime family favorite. which makes sense because i brought some to the office & the co-workers couldn't get the recipe fast enough. and christy has allowed it to be passed on...

2 c unsifted flour

1 t salt

1 T baking powder

1 1/2 c sugar

1 T poppy seeds

2 eggs

3/4 c oil

1 c milk

1 t each of almond, vanilla

mix dry ingredients. combine other ingredients in separate bowl, then add to dry. bake in greased loaf pan 1 hr at 350.

this is where it gets funnn! leave bread in pan, & while still warm, drizzle over the following:

1 T oj concentrate

1 T water

6 T sugar

1/4 t each almond, vanilla

then try not to eat the whole loaf in one sitting. and good luck!