Practically Pumpkin

Can I just testify that we have a widow's jar of oil in our cabinet, except it is an endless supply of pumpkin? My sweet husband bought an entire flat of pumpkin at the grocery store last year. Granted, in his favor, pumpkin is a seasonal item and one must stock up. But that was much more extreme than I intended when sending him with a list (my dad did this once with a flat of sauerkraut; trust me, I know this could be worse).

Pumpkin and curry are a great combo. There are delicious, numerous savory soups that are loaded with pumpkin. Grandma's pumpkin bread recipe is now famous in our circles, and is often a special request. While I can barely muster the idea of eating more pumpkin for Thanksgiving pie, I'm really thankful for how God has used pumpkin as a constant reminder of His presence in my kitchen.

I promise you, our supply is still brimming, even though we have put pumpkin in everything for the last 10 months. Pumpkin is our inside family joke. A super food, its been a blessing (challenge?) to find ways to use it creatively. My pumpkin journey has often reminded me of the widow's oil (2 Kings 4), as God provided for her as she paid down debt. Its just like God to use something so practical and every day to remind me that He cares about each detail of my life. Something so ordinary can abundantly remind me of God's love that is now-here, and even more abundant.

Living in the Now: Seek His Face

This verse has been on my heart a lot in the last few days. I need this reminder as I have such an "off" day that I could really damage some relationships. I want to remember that this means the Lord is able to be sought, continually. God's desire is for my best, and this command can be fulfilled. Holding onto this truth demands that I must let go of the lie that I have to wait until my "to do list" and "check list" are fulfilled. I'm in His presence, right now, humbly.

Psalm 105:4

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

I appreciate the reminder from Matthew Henry, Our devotion is here stirred up, that we may stir up ourselves to praise God. Seek his strength; that is, his grace; the strength of his Spirit to work in us that which is good, which we cannot do but by strength derived from him, for which he will be sought. Seek to have his favour to eternity, therefore continue seeking it while living in this world; for he will not only be found, but he will reward those that diligently seek him.

Living in the Now: Present Worship

A subtle trap tends to ensnare me. I clean to "create space" for friends to visit. I reorganize to "create space" for smooth preparations. I straighten to "create space" for downtime with God. All this labor can lead me into a future I never experience fulfilled.

There is a security in that, as my little categories have an even more defining line: family time, friends time, God time. Thank God they don't overlap, because that would be much too complicated....

Wait, did I just say that out loud?

The twist I'm learning to claim as truth: cleaning, reorganizing, and straightening are acts of worship. Instead of doing them so that I can have time to worship, I'm learning to participate as an act of worship. God is there with me as I de-calcify my espresso machine. He is there as I take out the trash. He is there as I scrub the toilet. He is very present. 

Brother Lawrence (at first resentful of his lowly kitchen position in the monastary) said, "We can do little things for God. I turn the case that is frying on the pan for love of Him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before Him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."

Desiring a familiar, constant conversation with God, I'm praying:

O God, since you are right here in this daily moment with me, I choose to commit my ways to this task at hand. Grant, I pray, that I may continue in Your presence, and fully experience You in the now-here. Amen.

Tips for cleaning espresso machine

Meet my new KARM find (love me some KARM...but that's another story: Link to stores), Krupps 865 dual coffee, espresso, and cappucino machine. Previously loved in this hard-water land of East TN, it needed a good decalcifying. I knew this because a serving of espresso took longer to brew than I spent in my morning shower. A few tips for your espresso machine:

1. Use one part water, one part distilled white vinegar, filling glass carafe to line 4. Pour into espresso machine water tank. 
2. Screw lid on tightly.
3. Screw frother closed.
4. Fill coffee basket up to level 2. Feel free to use cheap coffee, espresso ground fine.
5. Run cycle. Consider placing towel at the base of machine. My machine was forceful in loosening build-up, and thus sputtered a good bit of mess.
6. Discard vinegar coffee. 
7. Use all water, fill glass carafe to line 4. Pour into espresso machine water tank.
8. Repeat steps 2-6.
9. Repeat steps 2-6 a second time.
10. Wipe down and wash exterior of machine. 

Now you're good to go! While vinegar is very strong as it perks in the espresso machine, it is also thorough. The smell will rinse easily away. Once all steam has evaporated, you will no longer smell the vinegar.

Excuse me, there is a speck in your eye....

Having just dived in to the deepest depths of my walk in closet, I found myself pretty paralyzed by fear. I almost lost all ambition:

1. Is this going to be a bigger project than I think?
2. What if my family doesn't like the changes?
3. What if they won't commit to my new system?
4. If I do finish this project, what comes next?

Just so you know, in case you fell for my facade of perfection. Tackling your project is easier than tackling mine.

Its a new day....

Just made my first espresso, and not only found it to be much stronger than anything at any coffee shop I've visited at any time, I have also found it to be just the nudge to spout brilliant observations on the world around me. Better look out.