My discipleship is simply between me and my Savior…

“…Lord, I will follow thee…”
Luke 9:57

33 years ago I stood next to my teammates before tip-off and listened to the familiar words of the National Anthem ring out on static-filled speakers mounted in the corners of my high school gym. 
My hands were sweaty with nerves and excitement as my heart began to race. My mind wandered as I sized up my competition and visualized the next 32 minutes of basketball. 

The cadence of the anthem slowed in the final few lines…
“O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
My adrenaline kicked into high gear as I huddled with my team ready to play some basketball. 

At 17, I thought little about my freedoms and the ability to worship whom and where I wanted. 

2020 has shaped my experience to worship in unexpected ways. And yet, my freedoms remain in-tact. 

In unprecedented details, my search for light, truth, and peace in Christ couldn’t be checked off of a Sunday morning to-do list. In every way, personal study and a personal acquisition to feel close to my Heavenly Father and Savior became more than ever a quietly individual quest. I didn’t foresee a pandemic resulting in the temporary closing and continued modification of my ability to attend church. I knew before and was reminded firsthand that my discipleship is simply between me and my Savior. If I wanted to emerge closer to Him, more trusting, and more aligned, I needed to privately study, ponder, and work to walk in His ways. 

If I choose to step into 2021 stronger in my faith in Christ and with a greater resolve to continue to grow my discipleship- my personal pursuit will include distinct choices. 

When no one is looking, when my dresses, heels, and bracelets remain in the back of my closet…
Do I believe?
How do I know?

If I am blessed to live in the “home of the brave”, How do I exercise the courage to grow my faith?
My Savior’s aide and acceptance are immediately available.The Spirit is readily available to teach truths to me. As I put the time into my acquisition of the word of God-
I am taught. 

Lately, it hasn’t been while seated in a pew amongst other members of a congregation. Instead, I’ve received truth and hope on long walks with my daughter, gathered with my family to share a meal, and staring into the bright blue eyes of my grandbaby. 

Let the anthem ring out: 

I am still free as I ever was to choose Christ.

-JC

PB & J Cookies (Chilled)

1 cup soft butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream butter, peanut butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla extract; don’t over-mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add an additional 2 Tablespoons flour for high elevation. Scoop out 24 -2” balls of dough. Gently roll and flatten slightly. 
(For a richer flavor and smoother texture refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.) 
Place on parchment paper lined aluminum cookie sheets.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10+ min.  Let cool completely.  Pipe chilled Peanut Butter Cream straight from a Ziploc bag with a 1 inch corner trimmed off. Swirl with your choice of jam. (I pipe this from a quart size freezer strength Ziploc with a ¼ inch trimmed off.) Drizzle with melted peanut butter.
Refrigerate cookies until ready to serve.  Share!

Peanut Butter Cream
8 oz. softened cream cheese
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Dash of salt
12 oz. thawed Cool Whip
Mix cream cheese and peanut butter together until well blended. Stir in vanilla extract. Add powdered sugar and salt and mix on high for 3 minutes. Fold in thawed Cool Whip. Spoon into two different gallon sized Ziploc bags. (This will make it easier to handle.) Refrigerate until ready to use.