Memories

I awoke a bit earlier this morning so that I could take the time to snip a few blooms from my peony bush. I stepped out onto the moist sidewalk in the early morning air, eagerly waiting to choose from all the beautiful buds. I harvested two beauties and headed inside to make an arrangement to enjoy on my desk. In that moment, I remembered my Grandma Purves.

Her back yard was lined with peonies. As a child, going to her home on the river was a trip into a fantasy world. In that place, I was a princess and I explored nature with a woman of grace and tenderness. Her home represented an oasis away from the every day life. My life was already great as a child, but going to Grandma's became almost magical.

She loved to garden and I would spend hours outside with her, barefoot in the garden, harvesting delicious treasures to eat and store away for the long winter days. I would nibble little morsels of vegetables and fruits as I "helped" Grandma with her gardening chores.
Somehow I would wander away from the garden and end up at the rivers edge or better yet,  I would end up laying in the grass, mystified by the puffy white cloud shapes passing in front of my eyes. All the while, Grandma stayed steady, hoeing and harvesting.

Sometimes I would head the opposite direction towards the back of the garage. This was an area of beauty. Peony bushes grew in abundance along the run down building. They also extended onto the lawn and created a natural fence from the neighbors. I would walk along the peonies, in awe of their beauty and wondered how a flower could be so large.
Then, I would spot the myriad of ants scurrying in and out of the velvety petals as though they were running through a maze. Later as an adult I learned that the ants were necessary to open the buds, but as a child, I just thought my Grandma had a huge insect issue that she needed to attend to.
This walk along the peonies became a royal walkway in my princess mind. It was a place of majesty. In it, I felt loved, cherished, and a sense of awe and wonder. Beauty and comfort surrounded me. The sun was shining and I was loved.... life was good.

Now, when I see peonies, those memories and thoughts come flooding back. Unfortunately, there are many things in our lives that can bring back "bad" memories, but I choose to fill my life with memories of the "good old days". I choose to keep the memories alive by keeping reminders nearby. And once again, I re live my days of youth and feel like Grandma is right near by, with thoughts of love.

What's a great memory that you have?

What do you do to keep it alive?

Marvelous Muffin Memories

Me and muffins get along really well. They are a trademark of the Molenaar home. Ever since I was first married, I have enjoyed making muffins. My kids spent many hours at my kitchen counter with me, making muffins. I used to make teenie tiny little muffins for them to stuff a bit of nutrition and goodness into their small tummies. Sending them to school with a little muffin felt like I was sending a bit of comfort and love from mom wrapped in a delicious batter.

Muffin making started out as a adventure to learn to be domesticated and to "wow" my husband.
Then, as I was making them, God would bring someone to mind who needed prayer. All of a sudden, they became more than just muffins. It became an opportunity to create, think, ponder and pray.

Sometimes I knew who they were for, sometimes they were just for me, or for us. Other times they were a token of love and prayers for those who were struggling, in need or just feeling ill or down.
Our family has many marvelous memories of chats over muffins and tea or coffee. I think every one we have ever mentored has a Molenaar Muffin Memory. A bit of comfort food, warm tea, a listening ear, a word of encouragement blended with some wisdom truth goes a long way towards investing in someone else's future.

Over the years, I've learned to "store up" for times of need. When the impulse to bake comes upon me, I open my freezer and go on a treasure hunt for the sorry looking, black bananas that get lost and buried under other frozen goods. The more black, the better the muffin.

Some times when you open my freezer, there is a carnage of dead bananas everywhere! Every once in while my husband gets fed up with avalanche of bananas that try to escape from the freezer. So, he pulls out a few huge large freezer bags and gathers them carefully, knowing that they are preserved treasures that produce tantalizing morsels. He'll remind me nicely that there a lot of bananas in the freezer. Then he asks the question:

"When are you gonna make some more muffins?"
"Soon" I say.

Then, a day or many days later, the urge hits me, and I pull out all the blackened bananas, and make a triple or quadruple batch. I start thinking and humming and sometimes I ask:

"Who will enjoy these morsels God?" or
"Who are you thinking about God? What do they need?
"Can You blend in a big dose of love and encouragement into this batter?"

He can, He always does. And that is what turns these muffins into something more.... something marvelous.

Helen Keller said:

Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

Everyone can understand the language of kindness, and sometimes it can come in the form of a muffin.
(Recipe below picture)

                                 

Marvelous Banana Muffins

3 large bananas (I use really ripe ones that have been frozen and gone black)
3/4 c. white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1/3 melted butter (don't use margarine... its not as good)

Mash bananas. Add sugar and slightly beaten egg.
Add the melted butter.
Add the dry ingredients and bake at 375 for 20 min.

Cheryl's adjustments:

Often I substitute 50% of the butter for applesauce to reduce fat.
The ones above, I used 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 regular flour.
And I dumped a blump of natural bran. Yup.. a blump.
If I had to guess
the measurement, I would say.... hmmm... 1 blump = 1/2 c.

Sometimes I add chocolate chips into the batter or put a few little
morsels on the top of the muffin.
I almost ALWAYS use paper muffin cups... cause I hate clean up!

Enjoy!

Mothers Day Thoughts

Now that I've been a mother for 22 years, I have come to appreciate my own mom in ways I will never be able to express.

There are many days as a mom where I've felt like I have no idea what I'm doing, and most certainly convinced that I am missing the mark, by a long shot. That is when I wrestle with God and say things like:

• HELP!!
  
• WHY?
• HOW? or
• I DON"T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!

So, if you're like me, you RUN to Jesus and beg for His help. You bring your human efforts to Him and ask for mercy.
Then........He reminds you, that You - were custom made by God. You were created to be His child and you were created to mother your child.

Psalm 139 is my very favorite psalm. Verse 13-16 says:
¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

We may think we planned our pregnancies or for some, we may think it was a surprise, but these verses speak the real truth. God predestined us. He decided who our mother would be, and what day we would be born and what we look like.

God, thank you for choosing me, for creating me, for giving me a mother, and for allowing me to be a mother. You ordained it, before time began. Give us courage to be like you, to carry your heart of love and teach us to mother our children. For those who are not mothers in the natural, teach us to love others and be a spiritual mom to many.

Simple Pleasures

I love it how God is in every little detail of our lives. I love nature and the beauty of God that is reflected in plants and flowers. I am mesmerized by how intricately He created so many beautiful flowers and plants.

This is one of my favorite indoor places in Kelowna. Its called Art Knapp. I have never seen so many spectacular flowers and plants and greenery. It is my indoor oasis.


It makes me happy, and stop to thank God for all of the simple pleasures in life.
I have many..........



I am grateful for Lindsay's simple mind. She has been my greatest teacher. She shows me how to be child-like and lean on God to take care of all my needs. She never worries and always loves and smiles. She is simple, and I love her that way. I need to be more like her.

Simple trust, simple joy, simple pleasure.

Riches Beyond Measure

I am a rich woman. Rich, because I am beginning to receive and understand the depths of His great love.

I am also rich because I have 3 wonderful kids who bring me so much joy. (and heartaches too!)
I often chat with mom's who are in the early years of parenting. I remember those days so well. Due to having a handicapped child, I have had the blessing of changing diapers for over 19 years. God has just released me from that responsibility and I am truly grateful!!

My oldest will be 20 years old in a few weeks, and I have been reminiscing about my journey with her. So many times when she was young, I felt like I was not able to give her the time she deserved. Due to her sister being very ill, and severely handicapped, my time was allotted differently than I had dreamed of in being a mom.
I would often worry how she would "turn out". I used to pray and ask God to make up for the lost time, or send someone to help pour into her.

He heard my cry and, He never let me down.

Although I was not always able to see with my natural eyes, He was working.

Today I often look at her and I am amazed. Amazed that she is my offspring. I am amazed how God stepped in and covered every little detail, and even more amazed at the beauty of Jesus that is reflected in her life.
Although she had to be exposed to many difficult situations as a young child, God met her at each one. I had to learn to let go of her, and place her in the the Father's hands. She in turn eventually learned to go to God to help her solve her problems and deal with her issues. I am only a secondary parent. God is her perfect Father.

Yesterday Alyssa made me a card. She carefully plucked all the petals from 2 daisies that were in an arrangement that she bought for me. She intricately glued them to the homemade card, and wrote scriptures and words of encouragement just for me! I was overwhelmed at the detail and the accuracy of the words that she expressed to me.
This is the scripture she wrote in it found in Phil. 3:12-14

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

She reminded me that even though I have days where I struggle... when she sees me going to Jesus (with all my faults), she has hope. Hope that I am choosing to allow God to break strongholds, and hope for greater freedom for her. This makes me want to keep pressing on, knowing that all I learn in Christ WILL bear fruit in my children.

To all the mom's who are weary, or discouraged or worried. Remember that despite your greatest efforts, or your greatest failures........... He is there with you, watching over your children. He is guiding them and you. He will not leave you, or forsake you, even when you miss the mark.

Ps 27:10

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.

If you are overwhelmed with the daunting task of parenting...... ask Him to step in and make up for lost time. He is the restorer of all things. He can do what no one else can, not the greatest parenting book, or even Super Nanny.

Good Friday

It's a Good Friday alright!
My bluebird couple are back!

This morning they were busy courting and basking in the warm Kelowna sun.

Because I live in a semi-arid desert region, we never get the rain that is always in the news for greater BC. I am enjoying the sun and watching my perennials grow like mad. The magnolia trees will be popping this weekend.
I love the cool mountain air evenings and warm sunny days.

Funny how I said "my" bluebirds isn't it?
The thing is.... God special ordered these birds for me. He knows I love the color of them, and I really enjoyed watching them last spring and summer. They perch on a huge tree in my neighbors yard that is right in front of my deck and bedroom window. Talk about special treatment! He enjoys lavishing His love upon us in ways that carry great depth, only to us.

God is into special orders. It is very evident to me, through reading the various blogs of my friends, that He is into "special orders"
We are all so uniquely wired, and express His creative heart in such different ways. I love that about God. Thank goodness we are not all alike, what a bore that would be!

Today I celebrate the unique qualities and strengths of my family and friends!

Thank you God that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" and that Your thoughts are so precious towards us, that they outnumber the grains of sand! No matter where we go, you are always there with us.(Ps.139)

Thank you God, that we each carry a unique fragrance of Jesus.

Thank you that You love to spoil us with Your kindness each day

The Antidote For Fear

Fear is an enemy of love. It takes us captive and makes us a slave to its bitter effects. It is what stops us from walking in the understanding of His love. Fear will become your companion in an instant, and will be difficult to get rid of.

The effects of fear are doubt and unbelief, anxiety, worry and dread. Fear takes us away from His divine purposes for our lives, and can limit our thinking.

For over a few months now, I have been reading, meditating, and listening to God and allowing Him to show me how I have chosen to allow fear to operate in my life. Here are some definitions of fear.

Fear

---

A painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger; apprehension; anxiety; solicitude; alarm.

---

To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude.

---

To be anxious or solicitous for.

---

To suspect; to doubt.

---

To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety on account of some expected evil.


Fear can become a way of living, due to the environment we were raised in, or difficult things that have happened to us, or because we have chosen to believe our opinion, over the truth of His word, and that His love is enough.

The bible says that nothing will ever be able to separate us from His love, and yet we often choose to believe the lies that fear tells us.

Fear has damaging effects, and for centuries it has ravaged relationships, has destroyed confidence and most importantly our belief in who God really is.

Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fear does not come from God, and He cannot be a part of it. It is anti-love.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and sound judgment 1 Tim 4:7

The only thing that can drive out fear, is God's love. There are no other solutions that will work.
Positive thinking alone will never bring lasting change and deliverance from fear. It will only cause us to lean on our own abilities to push away fear, and brings exhaustion, striving and eventual failure.

God has good news for all of us. There is an antidote to fight fear.

The remedy, is in knowing and accepting His love as enough, and the only answer. God's love brings confidence and an ability to see our lives, and others lives from His perspective.

Lord, help us to truly receive and walk in the revelation of Your great love.
Help us to see that as we continue to walk in this truth, Your love will drive out the fear in our lives.

Help us to see that Your love alone will bring with it great spiritual and emotional rewards.

The Secret To Success

I am discovering the power of ancient secret. Its free, and available to us all.
It carries the key to success in every area of our life.
We do not need an education to have it, and you cannot fail with it.

It will bring power, freedom and joy to all who use it.

The bible says that LOVE NEVER FAILS.
For those of us who struggle with issues of perfectionism, or desiring to be right, this is a sure-fire route to success. Love, never fails.


When we feel like we are failing or others are failing, is this because we are not choosing to look at ourselves or others with eyes of love? Are we failing to love?
Jesus felt that the issue of love was so foundational that He made it a first commandment.

Matthew 22:34
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

The love of Jesus compelled Him to come and pay for every sin we will ever commit. His sacrifice is enough.
God wants us to change our perceptions of love in for His. We are worth what God paid for us. Our limited view of love, has caused us to function in limited beliefs that only cause us to fail.

God's word is the absolute truth. The truth is that love carries great rewards.

LOVE

1. Keeps us connected with God (John 15:19)
   
2. Does no harm to its neighbor (Romans 13:10)
3. Helps us function in the benefits of 1 Cor. 13
4. NEVER FAILS ( 1Cor. 13:8)
5. Is the greatest gift (1 Cor.13:13)
6. It compels us (2 Cor.5:14)
7. It is the first fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22)
8. Surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:19)
9. Holds the body of Christ together (Eph. 4:16)
10. It is a virtue that brings unity (Col. 3:14)
11. Brings encouragement to others (Phm. 1:7)
12. Makes us a child of God ( 1 John 3:1)
13. Makes us know God ( 1 John 4:7)
14. Drives out fear and punishment (1 John 4:18)
15. Causes us to love our brother (1 John 4:20)
16. Makes us known to the world

God, Help us to know that You chose to love us first. We cannot escape Your precious love.

Help us to lay down our wrong perceptions about love and accept it first for ourselves.
We know that Your love will teach us how to love ourselves and then love others.

Help us to truly accept this ancient key, so that we can walk in all the great rewards that only Your love has to offer.

He Is Jealous For Me

Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Ex. 34:14

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deut. 4:24

I've found a new song to sing. The words have been absolutely blowing me away, and my spirit has been agreeing with them.

It is written by a guy named John Mark McMillan. Here is his website http://www.thejohnmark.com/

As I slept last night, the words to this song were playing through my mind and spirit. I have been pondering the truth of them for a few weeks now. Here is one verse.

He is jealous for me.
Love like a hurricaine, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden
I am unaware of these afflictions eclypsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me

O how He loves us so
O how He love us, how He loves us so

He love us, whoa how He loves us, Who how He loves us, Whoa how He loves"

Its a very unusual song with unusual lyrics, but I have discovered that I am also unusual and peculiar.

1 Peter 2:9 says
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" KJV

Here is the same verse from The Message

"But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you -"

We all have been called to be worshippers, whether we can carry a tune or not. We are unique and peculiar, and need to "speak out" for Him and describe who He is to others around us.

From now til eternity there will be musicians creating songs that will speak of His endless love. This unmeasurable love is beyond words, and yet our lyrics will somehow give us some kind of a way to express how we feel about Him.

For all who sing little spontaneous songs to Him, as you are doing your daily chores or as you sit at His feet........... keep writing, keeping singing, keep thinking.......... keep being inspired by His love and His attributes, and share it with all of us who long to live a lifestyle of worship.

It Should Be Valentines Day Everyday!

One of my favorite songs lately is the one by Josh Groben called
Don't Give Up.

Listen to these lyrics and imagine Jesus saying this to you.

Don't give up, its just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy, I, I will lift it for you

Don't give up, because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you I , I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be love
Don't give up

Because YOU ARE LOVED

Don't give up, it's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside, I, I'll be there to find you
Don't give up, because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you, I, I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be love
Don't give up

Because YOU ARE LOVED


The world all around us is desperate to be loved, to be heard. We oughta tell our special ones how much we love them every day. Love is truly the greatest gift of all. Its non returnable, it is always the right size and you can never have too much of it. It lasts forever, it is eternal, and everyone needs to be loved. So spread the love around, each and every day.

What's Love Got To Do With It?

"What's love but a second hand emotion"

Remember that song, by Tina Turner I think? What a pile of crap! So often, love is treated like a second hand emotion. It is a rarity anymore to see love valued in marriages or even friendships.
Often, I don't value the great love that Christ has for me. If I did, I probably would love myself a whole lot more. If I really knew how great His love was for me, I would be a lot more secure in who I am. Do you ever wonder why that is?

Many of us know all the scriptures that speak of His great love, yet we only know it in part.
Learning to walk in the fullness of God's love is a life long journey I think. Thank God he is patient with us. Lately it seems like everyday, I am even more aware of His great love for me, and His attention to every little detail in my life.

Oprah Winfrey says, "love is in the details" and I would have to agree with her whole heartedly. I love it how God, knows all the little things that matter to me, and He pays attention to them.

1 Cor. 13 says "Love is patient, love is kind..................... Whoa, some days, I'm not displaying either one of those attributes. Isn't it funny that the people we love the most, we often forget to show them the fruit of love. Patience and kindness. Some days I don't have the patience that I need for my kids, let alone my husband. And yet, I expect them to have lots for me!!!!

Webster's says Patience means- "calm endurance of hardship, provocation, pain, delay etc" Yikes! Its sounds like alot of the days of my life............ except sometimes I miss the CALM part! The cool thing about God is that He lets us try and try again. You can't get any better than that!
Kind means-"of a gentle or benevolent nature, friendly in one's conduct, considerate. Well, it depends on the day huh?

My challenge is to show the same kind of patience and kindness towards my family and friends as God does to me, and others show me, when I deserve it the least.

Lord, teach me to be patient and kind.