Friday, September 1, 2017

Thirst No More

Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw." John 4:13-15 NASB 

What a promise! A well that provides living water—eternal life. What more could anyone ask? People have been searching for centuries for a fountain of youth—a way to live forever. They just missed the boat…and should have been looking for a person who could provide eternal life. They should have been looking for Jesus. Of course, the eternal life He has to offer doesn’t mean that we won’t get wrinkles or gray hair…but if we believe in Jesus as God and the Son of God, we will spend eternity in His Heavenly home—actually in a home that He has gone to heaven to build just for us.

That woman at the well is nameless—but Jesus her, knew her heart and her past. He knows us just the same—better than we know ourselves. Read her encounter with Jesus, John 4:1-42. She was shunned by society for her lifestyle. Five husbands. No one wanted to be around her for fear that she would steal their husband. So off to the well she trudged in the heat of the day at noon when no one else was there to draw water. With Jesus eternal water she would never have to draw any water again! In the day of having to haul every drop of water used in the home that would be a big thing. Then she discovered He was the Messiah. She left her water jug behind and ran to tell everyone in the town that the Messiah was there—well not in so many words, but she did want them to come and meet Jesus, the Man with the Living Water.   
Prayer ~ Jesus… Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty...  Like that woman at the well I long to hear Your voice and continue to drink Your water that provides eternal life. Your words are everlasting and satisfy my thirst.
Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 18-20

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table
You’ve often heard…You are what you eat. Have you ever considered…You are what you read?
Think about it…Fill your mind with good things. That is the benefit of reading God’s word. Feasting on His goodness.  Do you make it a daily habit?
Have you read any good cookbook lately? One of my favorite authors of memoirs with recipes is Ruth Reichl. Her books include:
           Mmmmm: A Feastiary
            Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table
            Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table
            Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise
            For You, Mom. Finally
            My Kitchen Year
She also wrote Delicious! A Novel, which includes some tasty recipes. She started cooking when she was about seven as I recall. That is about the same age I was when I baked oatmeal cookies for the first time without help from anyone. My Mom and sister were gone someplace and I asked Dad if I could make oatmeal cookies. “Can you read the recipe…do you know how to do it?” he asked. “Sure,” I confidently replied and set about measuring all the ingredients into a bowl. I didn’t really follow the recipe directions. You are supposed to cream the butter and sugar together, add the eggs, and then stir in the dry ingredients. I had everything in the bowl and then mixed like crazy with a big wooden spoon. They turned out OK. From then on, I followed the directions.

What recipe would you include if you were to write your memoirs? I would have to include the Quaker Oats Oatmeal Cookies recipe from the Quaker Oats website and as printed on the Oatmeal Box. It looks like the recipe hasn’t changed in 60 years since my first adventure in solo baking.
Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies  
Ingredients
½ cup (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2        eggs
1        tsp vanilla
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp salt (optional)
3 cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins or chocolate chips 

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins (or chips); mix well. Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.
Enjoy with a tall cool glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
© 2017 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

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