See

Lighthouses don't dot the landscape of central Kansas. My "skyscrapers" are windmills and grain elevators.

But for Thanksgiving, we visited our son, Brent, who is pursuing a master's degree at the University of South Carolina. Before we joined him for our shrimp and grits Thanksgiving meal in Columbia, we did some sightseeing in historic Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C.

One of my favorite stops was Tybee Island, a few miles from Savannah, where we watched the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean.

The day before, we had climbed the 178 stairs to the top of the Tybee Lighthouse. Ordered by General James Oglethorpe, Governor of the 13th Colony in 1732, the lighthouse has been guiding mariners' safe entrance into the Savannah River for more than 270 years. While it's been rebuilt a number of times, a lighthouse has been a constant on the landscape.

We hadn't specifically planned to go to Tybee Island, but when I saw the brochure about the lighthouse in our motel lobby, I asked to go.

There's a mystery to lighthouses. We envision the beacon of light leading boats to safety. We imagine the lighthouse keeper dutifully climbing the circular staircase to keep the light shining and protect sailors from crashing on rocky reefs.

In the light of day, you don't see the bulb and the glow until you reach the pinnacle of the lighthouse. But it's there, ready to shine when the day turns to night.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

Soon after we returned home from our trip, I opened an email Advent devotional from Guideposts, which made me again think about the lighthouse:

Vision. That's what faith is all about - vision to see beyond the bleakness that surrounds us to the brightness of better days; vision to see the possibilities, and not just the problems, in people. Vision to believe ... and wait. If you are struggling with an "unanswered" prayer, take heart. See God bending toward you in love. Then believe that He is working on your behalf - because He is!

God is like that lighthouse. When we were at the top, we had 360-degree vision. The view stretched for as far as the eyes could see.

He's always there, shining his Light. He will open our eyes. Whether we are about to hit the rocky reefs or are sailing along on calm seas, He is there. We just need to look and truly see.

***
Vision in the Kitchen

You've heard that carrots are good for eyesight, right? So here's the food portion of Food for Thought this month. I eat plenty of carrots, but, unfortunately, they don't seem to be working on me. But it's a tasty dish anyway.

Roots at 500 is better than the photo looks, I promise. It's chockful of root vegetables - russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, beets and, yes, carrots. Enjoy!

Shine Through Me

Stafford (KS) First United Methodist Church

Our church sanctuary has a stained glass ceiling. If you walk into the dark sanctuary, you might notice it. But it's not until the lights are on that you truly see the beauty.

I think we're like that, too. I used to sing a song called "Shine Through Me." (It's old enough that I couldn't find it on youtube, so I could share it with you.) But it says, in part:

It's not enough to know it
We've got to somehow show it
Or love is like a candle in a tomb
Whose fainting heart will soon be gone
Without new breath to urge it on.
To be the ray of peace in place of gloom.

Shine through me, shine through me.
Lord, make my life
A stream of light
For everyone to see
A glowing, reaching, loving light
It's what I need to be
So take control, ignite my soul
Shine through me.

Great Bend (KS) First United Methodist Church

This Christmas season, we again celebrate the arrival of the Light of the World.

Jesus said:

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8: 12

Scott City United Methodist Church

How best do we celebrate the arrival of that Light into the world?

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5: 14-16

St. Teresa's Catholic Church, Hutchinson, KS

Sometimes the light wakes us up. It might even scare us. Think about those shepherds in the field, "keeping watch over their flocks by night." There they were, minding their own business, and a bright light and a multitude of angels show up. This was no ordinary moonlit night, and they were terrified.

Messiah Lutheran Church, Lindsborg, KS

But they overcame their fear, and they went to the manger. Then they spread the word.

So what's the Light of the World calling you to do? Just like the stained glass windows, we become what we are meant to become only when the Light shines through us.

In the midst of this hectic holiday season, when the to-do list is larger than the time to accomplish it, remember to SHINE. That's the best way to spread the good news that the Light has come to the world.

**

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Need a way for your cookie trays to shine this holiday season? Try Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Bars. Click here for the recipe.

Check out my last year's Vine Press December post about how to host a cookie exchange. There are lots more recipes for your holiday baking needs.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Dancing Angels

The breeze through the open kitchen window made the angels dance and sing. And each random melody reminded me of the angels in my life - both past and present.

The angel windchimes are a fairly recent addition to my kitchen. When my grandparents' home was torn down in May, my Dad rescued them from their perch between the dining room and living room. I had given the windchimes to my Grandma for a long-ago birthday. I brought them home and hung them in my kitchen window. And while I certainly thought about Grandma as I worked in the kitchen, I soon became used to their presence. So often, we no longer truly see the everyday, familiar things around us.

But last month, with the windows flung open to celebrate fall after a summer of record-breaking, 100-degree-plus days, the wind chimes began to dance. I heard them all throughout the house. Even from my downstairs office, I could hear the music of the angels.

And I remembered.

I remembered all the people who have left this life, but who left a legacy of love for me and my family.

And I was thankful.

But as I listened to the angels sing, I was also reminded of the "angels" still in my life.

I love Josh Groban's song, Thankful.



It says, in part:

Some days we forget
To look around us
Some days we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

This past month, there were plenty of people who were "the change" for me. They danced into my life and made a difference.

• My Mom made a crib dust ruffle for our granddaughter-to-be. My sewing skills aren't the best, and it was a blessing for her to do that for Jill and the baby.

• Mary, one of my Bible study friends, brought me an angel that my late mother-in-law made as a gift for her years ago. She asked that I give the angel to my daughter, knowing that the handmade treasure would mean more to our family. (Marie, my mother-in-law, passed away 15 years ago in October.)

• Vi, one of my Facebook friends, offered to sell me a toddler-sized K-State cheerleading outfit before putting it in her garage sale pile. Before I know it, our little granddaughter, who is due in January, will be cheering for our family's alma mater in a little outfit that has never even been worn.

Those three ladies were among many people who blessed me with love, care and special kindness throughout the month.

Read the words of the song once again:

Some days we forget
To look around us
Some days we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

During this month of Thanksgiving, look around you. Stand awestruck at God's creation in every sunrise and sunset and all the moments in between. Truly see the little kindnesses that come your way through family, friends and even strangers.

And then give it back. Give it back to the person who made a difference for you. Or pass it further along with a random act of kindness to someone else.

Like the song says, "It's up to us to be the change." It's what God calls us to do in Colossians 3: 12-17:

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

**

It's Thanksgiving Month. So there has to be a food part to this Food for Thought!

Herbed Turkey Breast

Maybe you don't need a full-sized turkey for your Thanksgiving celebration. A turkey breast may be just right for a small family gathering. Actually, this Crockpot meal is good anytime of the year. Click here for the recipe.

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Stovetop Ham Casserole

Stovetop Ham Casserole is the perfect way to use ham leftover from your holiday table. Click here for the recipe.

Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless You!

Who's Flying the Plane?

I'm a homebody. There. I said it.

So what's a homebody to do when the theme for the month is "EXPLORE?" Let's be honest here: I don't think I would have been the first to sign up for a berth on the Santa Maria. Ol' Chris Columbus would have pulled away from the dock without me when "in 1492 he sailed the ocean blue."

It's not that I don't enjoy seeing new places and experiencing new things. Once my husband drags me away from my well-oiled routine, I always enjoy the journey.

So what's the hitch? Maybe it's that I don't know what lies around that twist in the road.

It just might not fit into my to-do list. And we Type A personalities all know how satisfying it is to firmly draw a line through the next item on the list. (True confessions: Sometimes we write an item on the list after it's done just for the satisfaction of crossing it off! Come on now ... I know I'm not the only one!)

But here's the thing. No one can tell you exactly what's around the bend. Only one thing is sure: God is already there for you.

This summer, one of my forays outside my normal realm was a trip with my sister and brother to help our Chicago sister celebrate a milestone birthday. As we flew back home, I had a window seat on the airplane.

At times, the clouds obscured the scene below. I certainly couldn't "see" where we were going. And even if I could have picked out the landmarks, I don't have the skill or training to fly the plane.

I once saw a quote that said:

If God is your co-pilot, switch seats.

Hmm ... That's pretty powerful for someone who craves control.

When we go through the security line at an airport, we certainly don't intend to walk up the breezeway and into the pilot's seat - or even the co-pilot's seat. We leave the navigating to the experts. We settle into our seats. We make sure our seatbelts are fastened. We assure that our tray tables are in a locked and upright position. We good girls make sure we pay close attention to the safety message. Then we settle back in the seat and open our book until it's time to crack open the Diet Coke and pretzels.

Is there sometimes turbulence? Yes.

Does the plane sometimes have to make an unscheduled detour around stormy weather? Yes again.

Are there sometimes delays? Most assuredly.

But we trust the pilot to get us there, even if it's unfamiliar territory to us.

So maybe there's a lesson there. My Pilot longs to guide me on the journey He has planned for me. It's a matter of giving up control and letting Him lead me through the turbulence and rough patches of my life. He wants to lead me outside my comfort zone. He wants to challenge me. He wants to be No. 1 on my all-important list.

One of my Facebook friends periodically has a status report titled, "Message from God." Sometimes those posts seem like they are directed right at me. My friend, Keva, who blogs at Hope in Jesus on Lovely Branches' Ministries Vine Press might call it a "God Wink."

One of those Messages from God has stayed with me. It was on change:

On this day, God wants you to know that change is the very nature of life. Welcome it!

No glass ever became sand again.


No bread ever became wheat.

No ripened fruit ever became a flower.

Welcome change.
Let God choose what kind of glass you create,
what kind of bread you bake,
what kind of fruit you harvest.

Sounds like a good plan, doesn't it? Especially for we sisters who love our to-do lists. It's a reminder to turn the pen over to our life's Author and Pilot and let him fly the plane.

***

And since we're talking about twists and turns, I have the perfect recipe for you this month that will leave you fit to be tied.

As the weather gets cooler, making soft homemade pretzels is a great activity to do with your children or grandchildren. Just click here for the recipe. Enjoy!

The Lord Is My Shepherd: A Photo Essay

The 23rd Psalm is more about living than dying.

Though it's probably the most quoted Scripture at funerals, shouldn't this Psalm of David be our guidepost for how we live our lives daily? It's a psalm many of us learned as children. Has it become something we say by rote or is it something we can take to heart and live each and every day?

It's only around 118 words, depending upon the translation. For me, it paints a word picture of PEACE, our Lovely Branches theme this month. It's full of imagery that gives me comfort: The Lord will take care of me. He'll give me rest when I need it. He'll lead me along the paths I should take. He gives me everything I need for daily living. Even when I face hard times, He's there beside me. And best of all, this relationship isn't just temporary: It's forever.

Psalm 23 shows us a caring shepherd, secure sheep, and a tranquil scene of quiet meadows and still waters. But it is Jesus who gives us peace, not the green grass or the flowing stream or the abundant table.

I love seeing our Creator God all around me as I go throughout my day. He's in the sunrises and the sunsets. He's in the touch of a loved one's hand. He's in the phone call from a friend. He's in the cool breeze as I walk. He's in a table filled with food and a house that shelters me. He's in the big moments ... and in the small little blessings, too. I just need to keep my eyes - and my heart - open to Him.

As you look through the images, I hope you'll listen to the words and melody of Christian artist Laura Story's Perfect Peace (Just click on the underlined song title to listen. )

Wishing you the peace that you find only in the Good Shepherd.

Psalm 23: A Psalm of David

¹ The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.


² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;


He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;


He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.


⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;


For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.


⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;


My cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.

***

It may be a stretch to translate PEACE to PIECE.

But for the food part of Food for Thought this month, try a PIECE of homemade Banana Bread. (Click on the underlined title to go to the recipe.) It's a recipe from a cookbook compiled by the ladies of my childhood church, which just closed its doors in June.

Or make this easy Texas Sheet Cake. It makes a big cake, so you'll be able to share a PIECE with friends and family!

The recipe is similar to the chocolate sheet cake recipe everyone seems to have. It was one of the cakes we served this summer at a church baby shower.

My daughter made it for a very special announcement for our family this summer. Click here to read about the Best Cake EVER!

Me and My Shadow

Me and my shadow
My shadow and me
We're always together
As close as can be.

As I walk our country roads on a sunshiny day, I often think about the song, "Me and My Shadow" from the musical, Peter Pan.

I heard that song dozens of times when Brent was little guy. We had a VHS tape of Mary Martin starring as Peter Pan on Broadway. It was Brent's absolute favorite movie. He watched it so much that the tape actually wore out in one spot. His Grandma Marie made him a Peter Pan outfit for Christmas.

As I walk, a shadow is my constant companion. Most days, it's my only companion, unless you count my four-legged friends who sometimes make the four-mile trek, too.

As I move, the shadow moves. It's connected to me. It's impossible to separate myself from it.

It got me to thinking about God.

The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand. Psalm 121:5
How would my day change if I remembered that God is as close to me as my shadow? Would it change how I act? Would it change what I say? Would it change what I do?

God sent us His Holy Spirit so that we would have a constant companion. You don't have to "friend" Him on Facebook. You don't have to dial a telephone number to reach Him. We don't need to send Him a Hallmark card to commemorate National Friendship Day this August.

He's as close and as constant as a shadow on a sunshiny day.

Proverbs 18:24 - New Living Translation (NLT)
²⁴ There are “friends” who destroy each other,
but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

The Holy Spirit can be a holy model for our earthly friendships. It is a gift to have a friend to call when we're happy or grieving, mad or glad.

Thanks be to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. And thanks be to God for the gift of human friendship!

If you want to celebrate Friendship Day with a special friend or group of friends, try this recipe for a Friendship Torte. Dark chocolate, nuts, white chocolate drizzle ... They'll be your friends for life!

The recipe is from Artfully Done Across the Generations: Recipes of Carlene Banks and Friends with Art from the Wichita Art Museum. Besides tasty recipes, there are lots of photos of the artwork on display at the museum. One of my friends surprised me with this beautiful book several years ago, and I've enjoyed using it ever since.

Decadent Glazed Chocolate Torte

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped walnuts (you may substitute pecans, if you prefer)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Glaze:
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
White chocolate or almond bark (opt.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and corn syrup in the microwave. Stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth (If you need to, you can heat in the microwave again at 70 percent power, taking care not to burn the chocolate.)

Add sugar and eggs to chocolate mixture, and stir until well blended. Stir in flour, nuts and vanilla, mixing well.

Bake in a 9-inch buttered, floured, wax paper-lined cake pan for 35 to 40 minutes or until center springs back to touch. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Loosen and turn out onto wire rack.

Glaze: Prepare glaze by melting all ingredients in the microwave, heating at 70 percent power at 1-minute intervals until it's melted. Take care not to burn the chocolate.

Place a piece of waxed paper under the wire rack. Pour the warm glaze over the cake and spread with a spatula. Chill about 1 hour before transferring to serving dish. Torte freezes well glazed.

If desired, melt white chocolate or almond bark and drizzle over glazed torte with a decorator's tube.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

***

Some recipe notes, complete with photos:

When I'm making a layer-type cake like this one, I always line the bottom of the cake pan with waxed paper cut to fit. This is a step I added to the original recipe.

I often use a heart-shaped pan to make it unique.

I tore off a piece of waxed paper and then used a pen to trace around the cake pan. Then I used scissors to cut it out.

I put the heart-shaped waxed paper on the bottom of the cake pan before pouring the batter in. I had sprayed the pan with cooking spray before putting the waxed paper in.


This is how it looked in the pan after baking. It is supposed to cool 10 minutes before attempting to remove it.
Even with the waxed paper and going around the outside of the cake pan with a knife, I had a little trouble getting the cake to release. I ended up sticking a small spatula underneath the corner of the cake. That finally did the trick.

But I probably should have dusted the pan with cocoa powder as well (I prefer that over flour if I'm making a chocolate cake.)

After you get the cake out of the pan, simply peel the waxed paper off the bottom.

I put the torte over a waxed paper-covered cookie sheet to catch the drips from the glaze.

After it cooled, I used a decorator tube to make the design. I should have tried harder at the sides so that it would look neater.

But, then again, no one complained about the sides that were less than perfect after they got a taste of the torte.

Enjoy with a cup of coffee and a friend!