Cookie Advent week 2

Cookie Advent day 8 - Peppermint Meringues. A delicate little bite of wonderful! No flour in this little gem of a recipe...
The Lord, who is powerful and mighty and awesome. Is also delicate and loves beauty. Just take a close look at any flower that He designed!
He is also intimate in His love for His sheep. He longs so much for an intimate and close relationship that He held nothing back to purchase it!
He loves us. Just dwell in that thought... the God who created heaven and earth, loves YOU!

Cookie Advent day 9 - Italian Ricotta cookies. These cookies look a little lumpy and bumpy, but taste wonderful ! (or so I hear)
Isn't that a lot like life; lumpy and bumpy? Looking at this cookie picture reminds me of two things; life is messy, but we need to give it our all, no matter what!
The Lord wants to take our lumps and bumps and use them to His glory. He can create something wonderful out of chaos and brings beauty out of ashes. I know this for a fact, because that is exactly what he has done (and is doing) in my life! Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

Cookie Advent day 10 - Gingerbread cookies. Did you ever make gingerbread men when you were a kid? Wasn't it easy to have that special cookie cutter that made uniform shapes of little people? How thankful we should be that God didn't shape us out of the same cookie cutter...
You are unique, one of kind, not made with a cookie cutter! You are you. God loves you just the way you are with all your quirks and eccentricities. He designed you with love. He knew you before you were born and He (God of the universe) planned YOU.
Are you comfortable in your own skin? Are you striving to be someone or something else? Don't. God loves you for you.
Today just reflect on that realization... and talk to Him about those personal issues that you are trying to deal with... He is the great Counselor!

Cookie Advent day 11 - Oreos
The cookie with something for everyone; chocolate and vanilla, it's a classic!
Because of our colorful household, my hubby and I joke about having a "White" and "Black" Christmas... (perhaps you need to know us to really 'get' it!). But recently we were driving some kids home from church and I mentioned that our household has an "Oreo Christmas"!
People can get so hung up on skin color... now granted, respect for all ethnic groups is a must, but deep down we are all the same. Sinners in need of a Savior.
I used to say that when it came to people, I was 'color-blind', but corrected myself when I realized that ethnicity needs to be respected. It's disrespectful to sum everyone up and not recognize the struggles that have brought our America to the melting pot that it is today. Not all American's came here willingly. And those that were traditionally here first were ostracized and treated like 3rd class citizens. These facts are truly a blight on our nation's history.
Having said all that, I will step down from my soapbox and simply Praise the Lord that He loves us all the same. Jesus died for us, all the same. God has a longing desire to save us, all the same.

Cookie Advent day 12 - Cocoa Thumbprints
Have you ever seen artwork that included a thumbprint from the artist? Often this is seen in primitive stoneware. An artist that works with their hands, can't help but leave their unique identification on their designs.
I often say that each individual life is as unique as the respective persons thumbprint. No two people are exactly the same.
God did this. He has uniquely crafted each and every person. He also does this in nature; i.e. leaves, snowflakes, flower petals, etc...
You are you, uniquely designed by God to have a personal and intimate relationship with your Creator.
Just bask in that realization today... and enjoy a cookie!

Cookie Advent day 13 - Brown Sugar cookies with Mint Chocolate Glaze
Not your average sugar cookie...
As a person, are you the 'typical' or the 'not your average' person? Especially this time of year, the typical impulse is to be overwhelmed, over stretched and over extended... totally lacking Joy and Merriment.
Have you noticed that it takes effort to say "Merry Christmas"? Personally I've been trying to say that as I meet up with people throughout the day.
Merry Christmas = strange looks because it's not yet the actual day of; but I believe it should be the heart of this season. To celebrate and relax and be merry.
So today I say to YOU, Merry Christmas!

Cookie Advent day 14 - Nutella Hazelnut cookies
I know a young man who loves Nutella so much that he asks for his own jar of it for his birthday! That made me smile when he shared that with me recently...
We 'love' a lot of things now a days... cell phones, tv shows,shoes, etc... I think you get the point. I am at great fault for overusing this sentiment on the material things in life, too.
But true love is sacrificial. True love says "I love so much that I am willing to give up something just to secure it or to prove it". Jesus is the ultimate example of sacrificial love. God demonstrated His sacrificial love through Jesus... His birth was miraculous, that is a fact. But His life and death were entirely for the benefit of others. Jesus lived His life as an example of sacrificial love. He gave up His life in the ultimate sacrifice. Now that IS love!

Oh how I am enjoying this season!  Each day I read "rediscovering-the-christmas-season" on YouVersion... then I launch into posting on facebook the cookie of the day.  It's really fun!  I am trying to have 'fun' this month. Bound and determined to not let anything steal my JOY!  How about you?

This weeks cookie recipes are located at  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cocoa-thumbprints-recipe/index.html  and http://www.thisheartofmineblog.com/2011/11/16/25-days/