Fingerprints

I lay on the couch sandwiched between pillows and a quilt. A Kleenex box, hand sanitizer pump, books, and a tall glass of water are by my side. "Lord, you know best," I pray silently.

As I look at the circumstances that surround this cold, I see the fingerprints of God. These are not cruel fingerprints, but rather the loving pat of a Father's hand. Some of the pats are soft and gentle. Take the provision of time, for example. My plan had been to be baking full swing last week when I was starting to feel the drain of my cold. That is until, prior to any cold symptoms, I made the decision to stop my farmers' market season one week early. God's direction.

Another pat, this time a bit harder, is having a forced break. My body is in need of time to heal after an intense summer of baking, but there is no time for that right now. Or so I thought. God knew better and is showing me otherwise.

Now for the hardest, most firm pat. "I direct my life. I go where I want to go. I am invincible." Such statements would bring a scoffing laugh to my lips if I uttered them out loud. I know they are not true. Yet there are times I unconsciously believe them. That is when God stops me in my tracks.

Some will say, "You were worn down. You were exposed to a germ. You got sick. It is all very natural." Yes, that is true. But where did nature come from? I believe it came from God and is even now being directed by Him. Evidence? There is plenty of it, but in the end it comes down to faith. Isn't it also faith to believe there is no God? Doesn't it take an overwhelming amount of faith to believe this complex world just happened by random chance? I believe so.

"God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'"

Acts 17:27-28

It is a common misconception. Baking does sound like a relaxing, homey occupation. But the reality is, well, far from relaxing.

To give you a little picture into one of my days of baking, this is last Friday's schedule. But wait! This doesn't include the set-up before hand nor the hours of clean-up and packaging after the schedule ends. It also doesn't show the dishes being washed, the restocking of ingredients, the book-keeping being done in every spare moment. Nor does it show the four and sometimes more hands needed to keep it all running smoothly. The schedule looks more like a skeleton than a body filled out with flesh. Oh, well. You can have a look anyway. (The schedule is a bit cryptic, so don't try too hard to understand it all. :)

7:00 Mix Dill #1

7:30 Mix Dill #2

8:00 Mix Dill #3 (4)

8:30 Mix WW

9:00 Mix Cran-Orange #1 (4)
375F

9:10 Form Dill #1 (4 sand, 2 round)

9:30 Mix Cran-Orange #2 (6)

9:40 Form Dill #2 (sand)

10:00 Mix Sourdough
Bake Dill #1 – Top & Bottom

10:10 Form Dill #3 (round)

10:30 Mix French #1
Bake Dill #2 – Bottom

11:00 Mix French #2
Bake Dill #3 – Top & Bottom
Form WW (sand)

11:30

12:00 Mix Multigrain #1
Bake WW – Top
Form Cran-Orange #1 (round)

12:30 Mix Multigrain #2
Pre-form French #1 (batard)
Form Cran-Orange #2 (sand)

12:50 Form French #1 (batard)

1:00 Mix Black Pepper #1
Pre-form French #2 (sand)

1:15 Bake Cran-Orange #1 – Top & Bottom

1:20 Form French #2 (sand)

1:30 Mix Black Pepper #2
No baking – Top & Bottom

1:45 Bake Cran-Orange #2 – Bottom

2:00 No baking – Bottom

2:30 Bake French #1 (Temp Change!) – Top & Bottom
Pre-form Sourdough (2 sand, 4 round)
Form Multigrain #1

3:00 Bake French #2 (Temp Change!) – Top
Form Sourdough (2 sand, 4 round)
Form Multigrain #2

3:15 Bake Multigrain #1 – Bottom

3:30 No baking – Bottom
Form Black Pepper #1

3:45 Bake Multigrain #2 – Top

4:00 No baking – Top
Form Black Pepper #2

4:30 Bake Black Pepper #1 – Bottom

5:00 Bake Black Pepper #2 – Top

5:30 Cinnamon Scones

6:00 Bake Sourdough – Top & Bottom

So there you have it -- the schedule of a baker. Is it worth all the work? Why do I do it? My prayer is that as I use the gifts my Creator has given me, He is glorified. Yes, it is worth it, every one of the fourteen hours per day.

Sufficient Grace

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

~II Corinthians 12: 9

This verse was taped to the cupboard door in front of me yesterday, as I worked in the kitchen over 12 hours. More than inspirational talk, it was hard core truth. I was challenged with two questions.

Question #1: Was I going to cave into my weakness and let the tense situations, the sore muscles, and the tired body running on less than 5 hours of sleep make me crumble?

Question #2 (actually the flip side of the first question): Would I admit my weakness to God and let His power work through me to give me a gracious spirit in all things?

As the day progressed the answers were given to these two questions. I did not live out the verse perfectly, but it did give me hope. No, more than hope. It gave me a heart to surrender to God and eyes to see Him working. His grace was sufficient.

Do you need power? Be weak. Do you need grace to handle life? Find it in Jesus. His grace is sufficient.

Thinking...

I sit at the counter, computer in front of me, whole wheat bread at my side. A few minutes ago granola was sitting where my computer is now. A customer's order? No. Simply an attempt to keep up with my family's need for nourishment. As I worked on making these two things, my mind went to the farmers' markets...

I look at the calendar. June is hard on its way, and when it comes I must be ready. Ready to delve into a season of baking and selling. How will I manage it this year? Last year was pretty hectic. I think about the schedule I hope to put into action - Saturdays at the Detroit Lakes farmers' market and every other Tuesday at the Pelican Rapids farmers' market. Will this work? I don't know. We'll see as we go along.

My oldest sister, Maren, helps me clean up the kitchen after noon. While we work, we talk about the summer baking. She once again expresses her desire to help out more. We talk over what her jobs might be.

I look at the sunshine outside and feel the slightly cool breeze come through the open window. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). This is the summer the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!