Can You Hear?

The technology of the day is so available. As Christians, so we hear the Lord well and readily? Are our habits making it harder to hear Him? We have to have quiet. I'm convinced the enemy is using the ease of shutting out quiet against the body of Christ. We are distracted and half focusing. We justify it in many ways, but the voice of Lord in our minds and hearts comes in the quiet. It's hard enough to discipline ourselves to be in His presence. How much the more when we have music in our ears continually? 

Seven Steps to Spiritual Stability

When free time is available, we often want to relax...but does that really build us up as we need? Sometimes it does, but sometimes the time is just wasted looking at useless things, or engaging in fruitless ventures. Here's a rich series to listen to, or you can read the transcript :). 

The great pastor and teacher, John MacArthur, brings Seven Steps to Spiritual Stability. 

Pray for John MacArthur and his dear wife. Here is an aged man who has been committed to truth for decades. He's encouraged thousands and thousands to follow closer to the Lord.  He has such a clear, organized method of communicating--I have learned a lot from him over the past 28 years or so. Teaching and preaching, and demonstrating his profound love for the church, he is an inspiration. When I heard him preach on his profound love for the church, it really got in my mind and I've thought about it many times throughout the years since. Do I love the church?? Really love it? So that I'm all-in even if there are problems? Because there always will be problems. Do I guard the church, build it up, serve in it, keep it undefiled by who I am and what I do? I think that lesson from John is one that will stick with me and help me through hard times more than anything else he's said that I've heard. 

Here's some good teaching, friends.... 

Series by John MacArthur 

No Refined Sugar Sourdough Discard Blueberry Bread

With all the baking, I'm working toward less sugar in the recipes. 

These are this week's Sunday bake.

Finishing Well: Quotes

"The only guarantee for failure is to stop trying." - Unknown

"It's not how you start, but how you finish that matters." - Michael Phelps

"Finishing strong is the only respectable way to finish." - Gary Ryan Blair

"Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go." - William Feather

"The last mile is always the hardest." - Joseph Chamberlain

Sourdough Journey

Like a calzone... Sourdough pizza dough

Freshly milled flour sourdough loaves

Chocolate chip sourdough discard bake 

Banana bread, sourdough discard 

Sourdough discard coffee cake