Slime down my Leg

My puppies bring me joy.  All day today I identified with Psalm 42.  I felt downcast.  And it was just now when my puppies came in and gobbled in water, licked my legs and I felt their slime and water drip from their mouths that I felt some weight lifted from the clouds within me.  There is this book that I am upset that I forget the name of- it's about how this daughter tastes how her mother was feeling when the mother was cooking the food.  It sounded really interesting and I think about that concept often.  "Can you taste how I was feeling when I baked this?"

The cupcakes turned out tasting pretty AUTHENTICALLY DELICIOUS, if I were asked.  I had one that wasn't quite cooked all the way through when they came out of the oven...oh it was delicious not cooked all the way...
And filling cupcakes is way fun and not difficult!
Frosting, pre-made and with emphasis, homemade, is a terrifying element.  I find it unpredictable and insecure.  Humph.
Greek yogurt worked as a fine alternative to sour cream in these cupcakes.
The pans were filled 3/4 of the way for good reason.  ;)

I am tired.  And thankful.  Bon nuit.
http://youtu.be/sAhdmfcVK9s  (this is my favorite David Crowder Band song)

"But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life."  Psalm 42:8

You are my joy, You have every reason to be my every joy,

Miss Rae

Job: pronounced JO-BE (?)

Good morning!
This morning I asked a sister of mine what was one of her favorite books of the Bible.  She replied, "Job."  This book reminds me of Odyssey Tapes- these cassette tapes I remember listening to as a child that had stories from the Bible and their own cast of characters like Eugene and Mr. Whittaker and Connie...  Anyways, there was a story they did on Job.  :)  And on how to pronounce the book correctly.

I came across chapter 9, "Job Has More Questions."  It was revealed to me that Job didn't question the existence of God when he was in pain.  He knew there was a God, He knew that He was Almighty, a Giver and a Taker.  It wasn't a question of "If there was a kind and loving God, why would He let this happen?"  Really, I find this fascinating.  That has been one of my questions when I feel upset, sorry for myself, or sorry for the world...Is there a God?  Why would He let this happen?  Why didn't He do life this way?  But no, even when Job doesn't feel taken care of, there's no question of atheism- God exists!  He just isn't doing what Job thinks is fair or right.  I thought this was and is, fascinating.  Doesn't it say somewhere in the Bible that all people know there is a God?  That God makes himself known to everyone, even if he or she has not heard of Jesus or what not?  I'm googling it...

http://www.theologicalstudies.org/page/page/1572381.htm
http://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/stewart.cfm?id=377 (blue letter Bible?  huh.)

I think what I was thinking of is Romans 1:19-20

"For the truth about God is known to them instinctively.  God has put this knowledge in their hearts.  From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made.  They can clearly see his invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature.  So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God."

"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear."

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

And it continues from there!  Wow!  What does this mean for people who deny there is a God?  Me!, for instance.  I went to Africa with a group from my church in the High School Ministry, my junior year of High School.  I was pettily upset, but it was all I could feel at the time.  I was uncomfortable- uncomfortable with the people I was with, that I was only there for a short time- more to have a cool experience and "bless" others, but I was also uncomfortable because I was ready to go home when it came time to do so!  I was coming from America, where everyone wants to go and which is a great place, to help out for a little while, but I was still given food and water and housing, and then left soon after to go back to my comfortable home in America!  Only 10 days later.  I talked with a woman who helped lead the trip with how I was feeling and she brought up, Thomas- a follower of Jesus who is known as "the doubter".   Unfortunately, I could and still can, identify with this man.  Doubt.  Doubting a Good plan God made for mankind, doubting the love and care God has for mankind, doubting the purpose of life.

Anyways, I didn't mean to go so far into this.  I wanted to share something I thought was really cool- how the question of the existence of God did not hinder Job during his trials.  That's all for now.  :)  Thanks.

Okay!  Back to baking intentions:
Firecracker Whoopie Pies
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting  (for upcoming cupcake practice- remember I must consistently practice cupcakes!)

Ttyl.  Sharing bird whistles and warm sun,
Miss Rae

Is it God-honoring to HATE mosquitoes?

Ugh...can I say this?  I hate mosquitoes.  Fine!  Suck my blood, but you have to make me agonize in itchiness?  NOT KIND!  I also am not content at the thought of attending college in the fall.  Exactly.  Someone may or may not have the right to yell at me because 1. it's still June.  why are you complaining about the Fall?  2.  college is a gift.  And that someone would be correct...except if I want to get out of college, I have to find another pursuit.  :)  Here are some of my dreams/options for the future:

1.  live and serve at an orphange!
2.  talk to friend who mentioned she stayed someone in Europe where they spoke French and it was good...
3.  apply to a YWAM thing...hmm...
4.  WOOF!, preferably in Ireland (work for food/shelter)
5. go to a different kind of school:  Baking/Cooking school, Massage Therapy school,  Flight Attendant school (um, not feeling it?), or a Bible school?  (my friend went to a year Bible school in Wyoming!...the name forgets me ;) )
6.  Work for ACMNP!  (This has intrigued me since I have heard of it, BUT would they hire me beyond the summer?)
7.  Go to school?!

At some point I would like to share/expand my "21 b4 21" list.  But not now.  :)
Kisses :*,
Miss Rae

Cupcakes

I now understand why I haven't been "big" into creating cupcakes before: they are so messy!  Next time, and there will be next times, I need to just enter into the kitchen with a mentality of becoming "in sync" with the dough...with the recipe...because it's going to get all over anyways.

So, like I mentioned, I followed the recipe for Banana Cupcakes from that book.  I, um, accidentally put in a cup of buttermilk instead of 1/3 C...therefore I added 2/3 C more flour and 1/2 teaspoon more vanilla than what the recipe requested.  Did this help?  I don't know...

I am finishing this blog post several days later than the above typage.  Yes.  The Banana Cupcakes did turn out very good.  I mean, kind of plain, but "nice".  Yeah, about the frosting...didn't get to that.  And about giving these cupcakes to those who were baptized at my work...didn't get to that either.  No, instead, my family and I have been eating them.  On their own.  So one could either take this as lazy, selfish, inconsiderate.  Or one could take this as: banana cupcakes can be successful and perhaps those who got baptized may just have a delicious surprise (Jo Dee Messina has a song "Delicious Surprise", right?) in their future- much less delicious than salvation, however.  I'm choosing the latter.  We can talk more about food later.  Right now, I got home from work, and an hour later, I'm full of food.

I tagged along with one of my sisters to a church in Chicago last night.  The church is called, Missio Dei.  I find it to be a wonderful church.  Last night the Pastor spoke from the Biblical book of, Joshua.  He taught on how to be the Church and to have character like Joshua.  As I reflect on my notes of the service, I notice that the last point on how to be like the church is to put away foreign gods.  This specifically sticks out to me because a sister of mine checked out books on Wicca and I flipped through it, read some things, and I can see the appeal for it.  But the attraction to worshiping nature or the goddess we can each be, is a foreign god.

Moreover, I read Joshua 3:5.  Joshua is telling the Israelites to purify themselves for the following day the Lord is going to perform "great wonders" for them!  The Holy Spirit, I would like to say, highlighted this verse to me.  I am practicing a faith that trust that God is going to perform  (and He has performed) great wonders for me!  Therefore, I must be pure!  Out of respect for this G*D who was and is and is yet to come- He will...He does provide for me!!  So what ways can I be pure?
My eyes.  ears.  my MOUTH (it makes sense why cursing feels good.  sinning feels good.) touch (not in anger or in lust or other).

These are just some of my thoughts.  I'm going to go- I look forward to another time. 
Kisses :*,
Miss Rae