Best Ever Blueberry Coffeecake

Oooo.  I just popped this recipe into the oven for the very first time and all I can say is I cannot wait to taste it.  I sampled the batter and it was the most amazing batter for coffeecake I have ever made.  Here's the recipe if you want to sample this little piece of heaven...I just know it is going to be good!
Best-Ever-Blueberry-Coffee-Cake

Expectation or Expectancy

I am discovering there is a difference between expectation and expectancy leadership.  And that realization makes all the difference in the world to me.  Let me explain.

I have loathed the expectation kind of leadership all of my life.  And I know I have a donkey kind of attitude when I see that kind of leadership.  (Seriously!  I would like to bray and kick the expectation leader between the eyes!)  Expectation leadership places a yoke around a person's neck.  Some one who uses expectation leadership expects one to get things done-- expects one to do what is right -- expects one to PERFORM.  Expectation leadership breeds performance based acceptance.  Sometimes I call it legalism.  Sometimes I call it snobbery.   And sometimes I even do it to myself -- you know, get down on myself for not being able to do what I think I should be able to do.  It always stems from self focus in whoever employs it...and is wholly undesirable.   

Expectancy leadership is a whole other brand of leadership.  I think it is the kind of leadership Christ used.  Certain people exemplify an expectancy kind of leadership.  Of course they expect you to show up.  Of course they expect you to get things done.  The difference is they do not condemn you when you are unable to do it all.  They make you feel welcome and they are genuinely happy you are there.  That kind of leadership makes you want to get stuff done.  Matt Jolley uses this kind of leadership.  I loved working for him and trusted him to do the right thing.  My husband, Jeff, also uses this kind of leadership.  I love being around him.

I finally realized this morning why there are certain people that I do not want to spend time with.  They have expectations for me.  They want me to fit into their mold of how they think I should be.  And they make me feel condemned when I cannot do what they think I should be doing.  But God broke the mold on each of us and gave each of us different talents and abilities.  No two of us are alike.  We may have some of the same talents, abilities, and gifts.  But we will never be alike.

Conversely, I realized that I have expectations for them.  I expect them to see things the way that I do.  I expect them to just enjoy me for who God made me to be. And, most humbling of all, I realized I condemn them if they put expectations on me. 

I want that to change in me.  I want to enjoy others for who they are.  I want to care for them and encourage them to keep looking to Christ and to keep walking the path Christ is leading them on.

I also want to know God so well, that when others try to put their expectation brand of leadership on me, and expect me to be what they think I should be, I can smile, encourage them, and pray they are open to allowing God to work in them as well. 

Lord, help me to utilize expectancy.  Help me to not make others feel condemned when they do not do what I "expect" them to do.   Give me your love for others, not my kind of love.  Remove the pride in my life that makes me think others have to act a certain way for me to care about them.  Lord, humble me.

Fortresses

As of late I have been studying the Beth Moore book, Breaking Free.  This week's chapter, "The Steadfast Mind," has dealt specifically with tearing down the areas in our minds that tend to keep us captive -- the fortresses if you will.  We all have them.  Sometimes we think we are not good enough, or maybe even sometimes we think too highly of ourselves.  Whatever they are, they are that deep inside spot that no one wants to reveal to anyone -- the spot that affects what we think and do and how we react to situations.  Beth Moore spent a lot of time talking about Second Corinthians 10:4-5 and how we get rid of those fortresses.  "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Cor 10:5 NIV) 

You're probably thinking what I thought at first.  "Huh?  What?  How do we do that?"  Well, without taking you through a whole week of study, let me just say Beth Moore does a terrific job of explaining it all.  The reason I write about this is because Jeff and I discussed all of what she was talking about in the study last night before going to sleep.  This morning we sat down to spend some time encouraging our boys, cracked open the devotional, Sparkling Gems from the Greek, and laughed out loud at the subject matter.  "Fortresses in Your Brain," was the title and the verse Rick Renner chose to talk about on December 1 was...you guessed it...Second Corinthians 10:4 (refer to the verses above).


We got an extra shot in the arm today, straight from God above.  I love how He does that.  "No really, Karen.  I want you to think about this.  I mean REALLY think about it.  Meditate on it.  Get what I am trying to tell you."  God is so good that way.  So, if you feel like a good read, here is what Rick Renner had to say about  Second Corinthians 10:4:

Break My ♥ for What Breaks Yours

A friend wrote this about a young man who decided life was not worth living anymore.

"I remember...When you would sit there and try to help me memorize my lines..♥ When you would text me and tell me not to forget ♥ When i would be sitting by myself and you would be the first one to be there to talk to me ♥ When we would talk about life ♥ When you would bring me up when i was down♥ when i would run over to you saying i want a picture of your handsome face ♥ when you told me not to let the little things get to me ♥ Your voice ♥ The way you would smile when you sang a funny song.. How you were all around a sweet person and so kind. ♥ I remember telling you i love you and you would respond♥ I remember you ♥ and i always will..Your in my heart Zac, i hope one day we meet again ♥ Rest In Peace♥"

So much to live for.  Oh, the deception.  My heart breaks.

Whatever is προσφιλής (Lovely)

Life is slowing down for me (in a sense).  I am staying closer to home these days.  Seems I have a tummy issue.  What's that issue, you say?  Well, it hurts and I get nauseated and coffee is a big no-no.  So, as I go through coffee withdrawals (oh boy), I will spend more time getting things taken care of at home.  But that is not all bad -- I have been feeling drawn to home for a long time. 

So, yes, I have had an ultrasound and it doesn't seem to indicate gall bladder issues other than my gall bladder is a little distended.  So, no, I don't know what is wrong.  An ulcer?  Who knows?  But God knows and I am going to rest in that.

God knows.  That is one of those thoughts that I get to meditate on.  I am learning what it means to, "think about such things things."  You know, Philippians 4:8: 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things."

My friend Beth reminded me of this verse today.  And I am going to cling to it, because the alternative is to think altogether yucky thoughts.  Cancer, ulcers, scar tissue from previous surgeries, never eating again....  See what I mean?  Going there is way too easy.  Therefore, I am determined to --  think about such things.

So, first off, I want to know what those words mean.
True:

1) true 

2) loving the truth, speaking the truth, truthful 

Noble:

1) august, venerable, reverend

2) to be venerated for character, honorable

     a) of persons

     b) of deeds 

Right:

righteous, observing divine laws

     a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God

1) innocent, faultless, guiltless

2) used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life

     a) only Christ truly

3) approved of or acceptable of God

 Pure:

(a) "pure from every fault, immaculate," 2Cr 7:11 (AV, "clear"); Phl 4:8; 1Ti 5:22; Jam 3:17; 1Jo 3:3 (in all which the RV rendering is "pure"), and 1Pe 3:2, "chaste;

 Lovely:

1) acceptable, pleasing

 Admirable:

 primarily, "uttering words or sounds of good omen," then, "avoiding ill-omened words," and hence "fair-sounding," "of good report," is so rendered in Phl 4:8.

Excellent:

(2) any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity

Praiseworthy:

It means what you think it means. (((smile)))

That is a lot to chew on.  A lot to think about.  That ought to keep me busy for a while.  Don't be surprised if I practice this kind of thinking on you!