Round two: in the battle of the cupcakes!
Well atleast that's what it felt like today.
Inspiration lately has been one of my follys due to the ever impending trip to Phoenix (next week). But as I have pressed into God and the word, I realized God is way more creative and inspired than I will ever be, ahem. But there is joy in humility! See, I get to partake in Gods creative design!
So where IS this going? Haha! Drum roll please!
The Fruit of the Spirit !
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
~Galatians 5:22-23
I love the concept of the fruit of the spirit. It beckons, in me, a desire to want to do these things: have self control(uhh), to be kind(yes), to live in peace(please!) But upon second look I noticed it says: fruit of the Spirit. Huh? Well lets take it back a notch to Galatians 5:16-17
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."
This is heavy stuff! God says we have a natural tendency to do what is listed in: Vs. 19-21 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these...etc" which are the opposite of how He calls us to live. By walking in the Spirit, The Holy Spirit will be able to pacify my natural (flesh) desire to live in destruction. And the fruit this produces is good and glorifying things. Now Im no theologian, but this seems like a deeply spiritual matter. But really its this simple: Apple trees do not produce oranges and orange trees do not produce apples. We were born to do one thing.
Gal. 5:13-14: For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
Oh! Love! I get it. Were supposed to love one another, just as Christ loves us. But my natural desire is to want to punch someone in the face when they make me angry (ref vs 19!) ~because they backed into my car due to carelessness.*deep breath* And still, there is freedom in surrender. I am reminded, walk in step with the Holy Spirit, surrendering my desires, and I will have real life change in my heart so when the time comes that Im tested in my anger I will not punch people. I will give grace, have patience and be gentle. So today I read the bible as I do often, to gain a clearer vision of who this wonderful, inspiring, and magnificent God, really is.
The fruit of my labor ~ A yummy treat!
11/2 cups peeled & grated granny smith apple
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl, then mix wet ingredients and pour into the dry mix.
Then add grated apples and stir. Put in baking cups and bake at 350 degrees for 20 min.
fun bowls!
However a total win was the cream cheese frosting with caramel drizzle! Yum!
In conclusion: These cupcakes were a delicious summer treat and the caramel just gave it such character! Definitely I will try these again.
Here's my happy face
All this to say, thanks for enduring with me. Enjoy this wonderful compliment to the blog content. Here is a song by Chris Tomlin & Christy Nockels: Where the Spirit of the Lord is. I pray that you would be encouraged and uplifted!
