Apple Pie Dip

I was trying to think of what to bring for dessert to Life Group today. I had some apples sitting around getting mushy and new it was time to do something with them before they all ended up in the trash. Remembering what my good friend had made for the other small group I was in, I called her up for her recipe.

Apple Pie Dip

2 apples, diced small

2 Tbsp lemon juice

3 Tbsp brown sugar

¼ tsp cinnamon

On the stove or in the microwave, cook apples until they gets “saucy”. Once the apples have let out a lot of their juice, stir in 1 tsp corn starch dissolved in 1 tsp water. Cook until thickened. Note: 2 apples doesn’t make a whole lot, so for our group of 11 people I had tripled the recipe.

S.O.A.P. Journaling: Luke 8:42-48

Our church started going through the book of Luke chapter by chapter since our kick-off Sunday in September. My choice in passage comes from our reading that week and is something that just hit me differently this time.

Scripture: As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years, but no one could heal her. She came behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, I know that power has gone out of me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Observation: Crowds are just that, crowded, pushing against each other. I can imagine myself as the woman, believing so much in this man in front of me that if I could just touch his coat I’d be healed. He doesn’t need to see me. I’m not worthy of him. And the moment I touch him, I know in my heart I am healed and I feel like I may have gotten away with something. Only, I am stopped by his words. “Who touched me?” To be so full of power that he could tell that my touch was different from all the others around him. She bared her soul to him, all the years of sickness and pain. Expecting anger or disgust because this unclean woman touched this man, making him unclean according to law, instead she received love and acceptance. He called her “Daughter”. He saw her, really saw her, as she had always hoped to be seen. She had so much faith in this stranger, she trusted in him fully. I can imagine feeling the peace because of his words... whole again…

Application: I have my own issues that I’ve been dealing with for years: depression, sleep apnea, joint/back pain, and obesity, just to name a few. I know he can heal me with just a word, just a touch. I need to let go of my control and let him be in charge. I need to stop depending on man to fill my needs because man will fall short. I need to trust God and have faith that he will provide for all my needs: physical, emotional and spiritual.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to have faith like the woman in the crowd. Show me I can trust in you when mankind has failed me. Help me in my unbelief.

Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Buns

I was planning an out of town trip with a friend and our kids and wanted something fun to eat for breakfast on the road. I decided to try these. As an afterthought, they are too messy for the driver to eat, but if you give the others theirs on a plate, it worked fine. We ended up having to cancel our trip, but we all were able to enjoy these any way. I loved that they were yeast free!!!

Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Buns (www.kitchenmeetsgirl.com)

For the filling:

¾ c pumpkin puree

¼ c brown sugar

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

¼ c chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

For the dough:

2 ½ c all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

1 ¼ tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

1 ¼ c buttermilk

6 Tbsp butter (divided into 2T/2T/2T and melted)

For the icing:

2 Tbsp butter

¼ c packed brown sugar

1 Tbsp milk

¼ tsp vanilla extract

Dash salt

¼ c to 1/3 c powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a round 9-inch cake pan with non-stick cooking spray. For the filling: combine pumpkin puree, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl. Set aside. To make your dough: Whisk together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add 2 Tablespoons melted butter to the buttermilk and whisk to combine. Add milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until the liquid is absorbed. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until the dough becomes smooth. This took about 10 kneads for me (The original writer of recipe) Using your hands, pat the dough into a 12x9 rectangle. Brush with 2 tablespoons of the melted butter, then spoon the pumpkin filling mixture on top, leaving ½ inch border around the edges. Sprinkle nuts over the top, if desired. Press the filling down lightly so it will stick to your dough. Starting with the long side of your dough, roll the dough to form a tight cylinder. Pinch the edge to seal. Using a sharp knife or dental floss, cut the dough into 8 equal segments. Slightly flatten each bun to seal your open edges and keep your filling inside. Put one roll in the center of a 9-inch cake pan. Place the remaining 8 buns around the perimeter of the pan. Brush the tops with the remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Bake until the edges of the buns are golden brown, 23-25 minutes. If desired, remove buns from pan to a wire rack. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before icing.

For the icing: Melt butter in a small saucepan. Stir in the brown sugar and milk. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute, then add in vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar. Whisk until well blended. If needed, whisk in additional powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Remove from heat and drizzle over buns. Notes: As usual, I used part white and part whole wheat flour.  I also used fresh pumpkin puree. I had a little trouble with the dough. I had doubled the recipe, and I wonder if I didn’t put in enough flour as the dough was really sticky. I ended up adding more flour as I spread it out on the counter or I never would’ve been able to roll it.

S.O.A.P. Journaling: Matthew 4:14 and Deuteronomy 8:1-5

S.O.A.P. journaling was taught to me by a dear friend in my Life Group this fall. S.O.A.P. stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We journal once a week for Life Group, but a person could do this daily. In your personal study time, pick a scripture that spoke to you. Write out what you observe when you read it. I often pick up some great insight by reading my Bible’s study notes, too. Think about how you would apply this scripture to your life. The write a short prayer reflecting what you have learned from this passage. This is my first S.O.A.P. journal.

Scripture: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:1-4

Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these 40 years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

Observation:  I started with Luke 4:1-4, thinking this was a good reminder about my eating habits… food cannot fill the God-shaped holes in my heart. So I jumped to Matthew and again was reminded that when I allow myself to let down my guard, I am open to all kinds of temptations that are easier to stand firm against if I would spend enough time in scripture and prayer. Then I followed the rabbit trail to Deuteronomy to see what the original text was. Wow! First, it was the reminder to be obedient – I have to work on that. Next, was about the 40 years of wandering “to humble and test you” and it hit me that is why Jesus was in the desert, to be humbled as a man and to be tested. So, everybody (Israelites, Jesus, myself) was tempted by hunger to teach them to depend on God who fed them just by saying “manna”… His Word brings life! Then, the fact that for 40 years their clothes/shoes didn’t get worn out and all that walking never caused swelling! Disobedience leads to consequences whether we are 2, 12, 32 or 62!

Application: My study notes spoke volumes to me so I swiped most of my application from there: Many people think that life is based on satisfying their appetites. If they can earn enough money to dress, eat, and play in high style, they think they are living “the good life”. But such things do not satisfy our deepest longings. In the end they leave us empty and dissatisfied. Real life, according to Moses, comes from total commitment to God and living by every word that comes from Him. How can we live by his word? (1) Recognize our need for it (2) agree that God alone can truly satisfy us (3) Pray for God’s presence, wisdom, and directions as we read (4) Savor the relationship you have with him through Christ. (5) Practice what he teaches you. It’s usually easy for us to take God’s protection for granted. We seldom take notice or thank God when our car doesn’t break down, our clothes don’t rep or our tools don’t break. The people of Israel also failed to take notice, it seems, for they didn’t even notice that in 40 years of wandering in the dessert, their clothes didn’t wear out and their feet didn’t swell. Thus, they did not remember to give thanks to God for these blessings. What has been working well for you? What has been giving you good service? What has been lasting for a long time without breaking down or apart? Remember to thank God for these quiet blessings.

Prayer: Father God, I am reminded often of my love/hate relationship with food and eating, but I hardly pay attention to the reason I struggle. Lord, I have hungered for a deeper relationship with you for years. I need to remember to turn to you first when I’m tempted. Help me be obedient. Help me give thanks for all the things that are good or working in my life. I don’t want to treat you like a genie or Santa, talking to you only when I need something or when times are rough. Show me your hand, active in my life and help me remember to praise you in all circumstances and for all things. Amen.