Psalm 121.1-3
I lift up my eyes to the mountains —
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip —
he who watches over you will not slumber . . .
THE PROCESS:
As you reflect on the area of Spiritual Discipline in your life, what are some of the first thought and feelings that you have come to mind? What in your life has contributed to this viewpoint? After reading this months meditation on Psalm 121, how would you define healthy Spiritual Discipline?
READ THE MOMENT:
In looking back at Psalm 121, what are some of the ways you are tempted to look to other things to provide for you other than God? What seems to be your most common ones? Are there any correlations between an increase in temptations and life situations or events?Write them down – it helps.
REFLECT ON THE MOMENT:
How would you describe your past and present experience with Spiritual Discipline?
What are some of the lies concerning this topic that may have been prevalent in your life?
What truths may need to be applied in order to help foster a healthy view of Spiritual Discipline?
RESPOND TO THE MOMENT:
Who is one person that with whom you could have healthy discussion on Spiritual Discipline?
What is one area where you may need help in not looking to other things to satisfy instead of God?
WEEKLY REFLECTIONS:
Week 1: How would you define healthy Spiritual Discipline?
Week 2: What are some of the main ways we as a culture look to other things to satisfy us other than God?
Week 3: What are some small, tangible ways that you can apply the truth of the gospel in your life? (example: writing a truth you struggle with on a small card and keep it in your wallet)
Week 4: Who are people in your life that you can invite into your practice of Spiritual Discipline?
QUESTIONS FOR THE TABLE:
Opener: What does Spiritual Discipline look like to you? How do you define or describe it?
Main: What has been your experience with the topic of Spiritual Discipline? As a culture, what do you think our view of this topic is?
Closer: How can we help each other to value, keep and practice Spiritual Discipline?
Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
If doctors would prescribe baking to their patients, one might say “that the world would be a happier place.” I know, I know, don’t judge me for possessing a bit of childlike whimsy. But what if cookies had the capability of curing the worst of illnesses? And what if you could choose the type of cookie that cured your unwanted illness or disease? What if a chocolate chip cookie were capable of curing the chickenpox , a simple sugar cookie doused with sprinkles could cure pneumonia or just maybe a salted peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal cookie took away your cancer?
My cookie choice for this year’s Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap was inspired by this notion, the notion that cookies have the power to heal. And it was my desire to chock this cookie full with all of my favorite things from chocolate to peanut butter and a warm bowl of oatmeal in the morning. So needless to say, these cookies are best enjoyed fresh from the oven. And don’t cut your self short, I used Ghirardelli chocolate chips, Good Spread Peanut Butter, Dixie Crystals brown sugar, local eggs, and Land O’ Lakes unsalted butter. Lets cut to the chase, if you’re trying to cure an illness or disease, you should probably use the best ingredients available.
If you’re not familiar with the Cookies for Kid’s Cancer, its a non-profit formed to fund research for pediatric cancer, the #1 disease killer of children in the U.S. It’s an organization that is near and dear to me since my father in law, and wife have both fought the disease and my mother in law was currently diagnosed with it. We never plan on life handing us these tragic occurrences but when they do, a cookie in hand couldn’t hurt anything.
When these cookies came out of the oven, I couldn’t help but to smile. For One, they smelled like an autumn day from my childhood — two, they were purty, and when cookies come out looking beautiful and idea, it always puts a smile on this ol’ heart and its my hope that they will do the same for you. Be sure to eat your fair share of cookies, they may keep you from an unwanted illness…fingers crossed and prayers up.
Salted Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup AP flour – unbleached
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp kosher salt
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, room temp
½ cup Good Spread peanut butter
½ cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
½ teaspoon Nielsen Massey vanilla extract
1 medium egg
½ cup Quaker old-fashioned oats
1 cup Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon of kosher salt for sprinkling
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheet pans with Dixie Crystals silicone baking sheets.
2. Whisk together the AP flour, baking soda & salt; set aside.
3. On medium speed, cream together the butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract, about 2 minutes or so. Add the egg and beat to combine. On low-speed, slowly add the flour until just combined. Stir in the old-fashioned oats, and then the chocolate chips.
4. Use a large ice cream scoop (roughly 3 tablespoons) & drop dough onto silicone baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with kosher salt according to your preference. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden (slightly undercooked). Cool completely on the silicone baking sheet & then store in an airtight container. Do not put cookies in the fridge…unless you like cold cookies.
--Recipe provided by Nashville Chef and Owner of The Salted Table: Charles Hunter III