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Fudge Pie for the 4th of July

A big birthday waits just around the corner. July 4th, the mid-summer U.S. holiday, distinguishes itself with picnics, parades, patriotism, fireworks, family, and food. If you find yourself asking, "What am I going to take to the feast on the 4th?”, consider baking this Fudge Pie for the dessert table; it is simple and simply delicious.                                                

                            Fudge Pie for the 4th of July

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups sugar

2 ½ T. cocoa

½ stick butter, melted

2 eggs, beaten

2 t. vanilla

¼ t. salt

1 small 5 oz. can of evaporated milk

1 unbaked pie shell

Instructions:

Melt the butter and set aside

Beat the eggs and set aside

In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar, cocoa, and salt; remove any lumps

Stir vanilla into the can of evaporated milk; add eggs, then add butter

Slowly pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir vigorously (If you prefer, mix for 30 seconds with an electric mixer.)

Pour into a pie shell that has been pricked and briefly baked. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve warm or room temperature, but definitely with ice cream.

Then say, Ahhhh…

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

What is your preferred dish to take to a 4th of July celebration?

Do you have a favorite pie recipe you could share with us?

[Sharing a recipe is a joy for me; long ago, the Lord prompted me to add this request: “Would you please pray for me when you make this recipe?”]

Don't Forget to Pack Your Attitude

Packing My Suitcase

In the rush to get out the door with our bag packed in peace, typically we go through the litany of questions:

  1. How many of this, how much of that?

  2. Needed and necessary, or silly and superfluous?

  3. Number of days, number of vitamins?

  4. Do I roll, or do I fold?

  5. And the weather, what about the weather?

Yet, there is so much more to travel than tossing stuff into a bag, right? “If 90% of life is attitude and the other 10% is perspective,” as has been said, then attitude deserves our undivided attention. You and I take ourselves with us wherever we go. A plane trip does not make a better me.

Packing My Attitude

So, in the suitcase of our minds, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work to prepare us to take off. Using Galatians 5:22-23, we ask Him to fill us with His attitude of:

  • Love

  • joy

  • peace

  • patience

  • kindness

  • goodness

  • faithfulness

  • gentleness and

  • self-control

Against such things there is no law.

Now, Bon voyage takes on a whole new purpose when we allow the Lord to guide us in packing both our suitcase and our attitude! Without Him, we can do nothing. (paraphrase John 15:5). Jesu Juva.

“We take ourselves with us wherever we go. A plane trip does not make a better me; only God can accomplish this. ”

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

Will your summer include staying at home or traveling?

How do you make sure your attitude is ready to travel?

My Unwanted Friend

Guest Post by Floyd VanDeburgh

About a year after losing their adult son, Matthew, Floyd wrote the following poem.

My Unwanted Friend

He came pounding on my door one evening

I opened and he barged right in

I said,

Stop, you are not invited

He ignored me

pushing past

scattering his stuff everywhere

turning on lights

banging around the place

Loud, boisterous

refusing to be ignored

I said to Grief

You are not welcome here

I want you to leave

He only laughed

and said, I’m here to stay

And so he has been

He intruded obnoxiously

in everything at first

He got in the way every time I moved

He followed close everywhere

hovering over my shoulder

even with friends and loved ones near

always whispering in my ear,

Don’t forget I’m here

And during quiet

he was loudest

I always sensed him pestering and watching

And trying to sleep?

Those were the times that he was most annoying

refusing to be quiet

He got his wish with me

I weep in his presence

I nurse my regrets

I stoke my yearning

for the days before he showed up

I try to get him out of mind

I stick him in the spare bedroom

and tell him not to come out

He ignores me

bursting out the door at the most inappropriate times

I try to shove him back in

but my efforts fail

He refuses to cooperate

He’s here to stay

I’ve resigned myself to that

But he’s not as loud

or intruding as at first

Though he still demands my attention

he’s become like a routine passing train’s

noise you become used to

and sometimes forget is there

And strange as it seems

—it makes no sense to say it—

I’ve almost gotten to the point that

I want to call him Friend

Like other pains and struggles

he has taught me to loosen my grip

on all that I think everything should be here now

He’s made me realize it never will be

I’m resigned to the fact that he’s here to stay

But I’m not

because he’ll be left behind

when I move out of here

to another place

my true home

And then I’ll wave goodbye forever

to Grief my unwanted friend

and all my tears will be wiped away

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:20).

One reading of this poem is not adequate, is it?

When have you found yourself coming face to face with Grief?

What would you add to these aching realities that Floyd has so beautifully articulated?

Meet Floyd VanDeburgh. Floyd and his wife Sharon have been on a journey through life together for the last 45 years and give leadership to Strategic IMPACT International.

As he explains, “During those years we have lived in 5 states, served on college campuses, in churches, and in many countries of the world.

We've had ups and downs, successes and failures, joys and heartache, laughter and tears. We are partners in life and ministry, parenting, and grandparenting.

Most of all, we are followers of Jesus, growing to know Him and being transformed by Him more and more each day. We are grateful for many colleagues and friends who have been with us on our journey over the years. We invite you to come along to make a true difference in our world.”

You can read more of Floyd’s gifted writing at vandeburghjourney.com