"Sticky"

"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes, cease to do evil." Isaiah 1:16

Goodmorning beautiful soul! If you have come for a "daily refresh" with God followed by a yummy recipe, you have come to the right place! Take a breath and a moment to "pause." This is the day of the Lord! Let us rejoice in it!

I grabbed another baby wipe. We would need to take a bath. The sticky goop of childlike wonder was everywhere. Smeared across my pants, my shirt, under his fingernails, up her nose.

My stack of wipes continued to grow just as quickly as my frustration. Rubbing my temples I sighed. "Alright, shower time!" My voice rang out high pitched and with a bell whip of forced excitement. Sometimes, despite my best-efforts parenthood can be a burden. Not literal, my children are my greatest joy. But so much goes into the "cleaning up" of children and it can be exhausting.

This is just a season. I tell myself. The sticky fingerprints will fade, replaced by running and stomping feet from the house. On a mission God has set before them.

The shower runs, and the steam builds as I cycle four silly voices in their excitement through the water, scrubbing quickly as bubbles and water now soak my pants and shirt. What was the sticky mess? I'll let your imagination run with it and decide.

Was it boogers? As they all say "EWWW."

Was it paint as their voices declared "AHHHH" and paintbrushes were thrown unceremoniously into the sink?

Was it baby food? As their voices declared "UGGHH" while Nomade stomped around with a spoon flinging it everywhere?

You make the call, but I will say it was sticky and everywhere.

When the kiddos were done, dressed, and put back together with a new activity, I looked at myself. I was a mess. I sighed. Breathe it in mama, just a season. I thought as I piled wipes higher than the "ceiling" to get my own self clean. The thing is, I couldn't even get it all.

Pretty sure I didn't get everything off the kids either, despite my best efforts. It reminded me of a devotional I had read about "missing behind the ears" of a friend of mine.

We had so much fun in our activity, but it really turned the wheels of acknowledging and humbling ourselves before the Lord. I can use wipe after wipe, bleach, vinegar, rags, paper Towles, use the washer.... the list goes on and on with the cleaning supplies available in the world. Both natural and un-natural. You can walk into a grocery store and there are isles dedicated to cleaning.

But we can never get it perfect. You still get sick. You still sometimes have a mess. (Or like me at this moment I have laundry baskets and a chair full of laundry to fold.) The key is YOU can never get yourself (or your life in this metaphor) perfect. But, when we wash ourselves and plead the blood of Jesus Christ over ourselves- though it may not be easy walking in the tribulation of being a Christian, it is absolutely worth it.

The dirt we can't even fathom to reach "behind our ears" Yeah, He's got that too. The sliver of sin hidden deep in your heart? Yeah, He has that too. Even when you keep picking the shame, doubt, anger, disgust, insecurity, trauma-- back up. Keep laying it at the foot of the cross- keep "cleaning" yourself with the GRACE of the Father-

Just as I love my children enough not to leave them a grimy mess after our careless and silly antics.... God feels the same about us. He loves us enough to wash us clean and loves us enough to expect MORE from us.

How do you need to "clean up" today? What have you picked up from the cross and are holding onto?

Sourdough Waffles!

These are sure to be a yummy addition! Replace the powder with these easy waffles you can make in advance and freeze! Remember, start by praying over and into your ingredients. Thank God for the food you are able to prepare and provide for your family. Give Him glory for His provision, and then Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 tbsp dairy free butter or coconut oil (melt in a little bowl prior!)

3 cups of flour

2.5 cups of milk of choice (higher protein use soy milk, if you don't like the taste I suggest oat milk)

2 tbsp baking powder

1 cup of discard (sourdough starter)

2 eggs

1 tbsp sugar or honey

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

**Melted coconut oil (about a tbsp) to grease the waffle pan! I used a rubbery brush (for basting) and "painted" the pan with each waffle I made.

Directions:

Grab yourself a mixing bowl and spatula. Add the discard, milk, eggs, vanilla, sugar/honey, and melted butter (or coconut oil)

Mix till everything is dissolved and incorporated.

Add in the salt, baking powder, mix well.

Start folding in the flour so you don't get clumps. (I made these super-fast today, so my batter was clumpy) so definitely add the flour last LOL.

These are perfect for pancakes OR waffles. So, after your batter is mixed, either pour into a pan for pancakes or into a waffle maker. (make sure to brush the oil with each one you make so they don't stick)

Let cool and enjoy with your favorite toppings! For healthier, do a nut butter spread and some fruit! For "yummy" indulgence I did a powder sugar dusting and some frozen fruit on top. ENJOY! And have a blessed day!