Little Inconsistencies and Book Giveaway

The steady discipline of intimate friendship with Jesus results in men becoming like Him. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick


Our sweet Emily finished her sophomore year yesterday of college (and may I brag -- with a 4.0). To mark her achievement I whipped up a pan of penuche. In my haste to have it waiting for her when she walked in the door, I grabbed the vanilla and poured some into the pan. Only it wasn't vanilla -- it was hickory flavor! Believe me, one teaspoon of hickory can make a big difference in taste.  If someone was judging my cooking by that pan of fudge my score wouldn't be very high.

As I was reflecting on my mishap, the Holy Spirit gently reminded me how one small sin can ruin my Christian testimony. An unkind word, a bad attitude, gossip -- and if one was judged my Christian life by my words and actions, I would be stand guilty of hypocrisy -- proclaiming myself to be a follower of Christ, yet not being like Him.

I have found more and more that people don't judge us on the big things. We all have that down pat. We read our Bibles, we don't steal or kill. We live pure lives and attend church regularly.  

But jealousy -- even though we try our hardest to keep it hidden, it shows as much as if our eyes really did turn green. Gossip masked as concern. Snippy responses to or about those who annoy us. Ingratitude for our blessings. Paul Gilbert wrote: 

You are writing a Gospel, 

A chapter each day,

By deeds that you do, 

By words that you say.

Men read what you write,

Whether faithless or true;

Say, what is the Gospel

According to you?

Questions I ask myself  are, "If I say this is my light shinning?" Will this attitude help others see Jesus?" "Will the joy of the Lord be evident in this action?"  

In 1893, Thomas Chisholm read Hannah Whitehall Smith's book, A Christian's Secret of a Happy Life.  Although he was only 27, this book so impacted Chisholm's life, giving him a yearning for living more like Christ, that he wrote a hymn -- one of my favorites. 

Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

I'll be more careful about the flavoring I use in my cooking. But more importantly, I'll be careful of the little inconsistencies in my life -- those that keep me from being like Jesus.

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SuzyQ won Knit Together by Debbie Macomber 

Leave a comment if you would like to be entered to win 

Homemade with Love: 

Simple Scratch Cooking from in Jennie's Kitchen

by Jennifer Perillo.

Free Printable Tag

To gift this book I made a simple apron, tucked it in a canning jar and added a cookie scoop. You could use any utensil -- wooden spoons, a spatula, etc. 

Apron:  Four fat quarters in coordinating fabrics.  

1. For the main part of the apron measure 2" from a dinner plate, cutting one from your main fabric and one from the 2nd fabric. You may wish to add more inches, mine was for a "little cook."

2. Cut top of circle off 2". Right sides together sew, leaving top open.  Turn.  

3. Cut 3rd quarter in 3 pieces, sewing short ends together. I frenched my seams so there wouldn't be raw edges. 

4. Sew shirttail hem on one long end. Fold top and sew gathering stitches. Gather to fit and attach to apron.  

5. Cut 4th quarter in thirds and sew together.  Iron in half, wrong sides together and then turn up 1/2 in on both long ends. Tuck top of apron in band, sewing close to edge from tie end to the other.  

Linked to:

Say it Saturday

Make Your Heart Sing Monday