“Ready or Not- Here I Come!”

The neighborhood games of hide and seek when I was a kid were epic. 
Most evenings of the summer we’d play games with the neighborhood kids and hide and seek was a favorite. There were few fences. Neighbors’ properties blended from one to another creating endless physical boundaries to roam, run, and play. 
Each evening, the parameters would be set-
Deciding whose lawns were in bounds or out. And then a little rhyme determined first to seek and the game was in motion. 

My common hiding spot was lying beneath the leaves of the potato plants in our backyard garden. Being undersized had its advantages as I laid still between the rows of maturing plants. 
I was near the central “base” and could hear what was happening with the game. 
The only opportunity cost-
That it was a bit itchy. 😉

I could hear counting….
Then “Ready or not, here I come!”
Then silence as the person “it” began to run across several connecting properties looking for someone to tag. As soon as they ran passed my fortress of leaves, 
I would check to see if anyone else was running to base so as to not divulge my hiding spot. 
When the path was clear, I’d run to claim freedom of not getting tagged. 
I usually got there first. 

The fun-filled images of playing this game have circled back lately as I ask myself-
“Why does my discipleship matter?”

My answer begins with the tagline from our childhood game, but I envision it as though the Savior is saying-
“Ready or not, here I come.”
We’ve been promised of His return in scriptures from ancient and modern-day prophets. 

A few years ago I was on a (less formal) airline flight. The flight attendant was diligent in presenting the safety briefing. At the end, in the seemingly same rehearsed dialogue, he added-
“And these safety procedures apply to those paying attention as well as to those who are not.”
A few quips of laughter scattered the plane- likely from the few who were still listening to him at the end of the safety briefing. 

The invitations to prepare for Christ’s returning are the same- 
Call them warnings, prophecies, or encouragement to action. 
Christ is returning-
To those paying attention and to those who are not. 
He is coming again to earth-
“Ready or not…”

So I’m asking myself “What do I need to do to better prepare…?”

The answer includes discipleship with greater effort. 
To seek the one-
To see the one-
And then to commit to-
Be the one-
Who loves as He did. 

I know I’ve been a bit lazy. I’ve been hiding as though there are potato leaves giving me coverage from being seen and asked to help. 
And where does that leave me?
Mostly lonely with a hint of lazy. 

Those two components might win a round of hide and seek-
But they won’t lead me to being ready to meet my Savior again knowing I’ve done all I can to help prepare the world for His return. 

So today is a recommit-
To try a little harder to be a little better. 
Better in my discipleship-
Better in my love for my brothers and sisters-
Better in study, effort, and commitment. 

I want to be ready and rejoice when I hear the Savior proclaim-
“Here I come…”

“Here I am…”

-JC

Banana Cake Bars

Nilla Wafer Crumble
Crush 11oz. of Nilla Wafers. Mix with 6 Tablespoons melted butter and ½ teaspoon salt. Reserve ⅔ cup mixture. Spread the rest evenly into the bottom of a 9”x13” baking pan. 
Bake the reserved ⅔ cup wafer mixture at 350 degrees for 8 minutes to make a baked crumble.

Make the Banana Cake batter:
½ cup soft butter
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
3 medium ripe bananas, smashed

Cream butter with sugar on medium-high mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in eggs, sour cream and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until well combined.  Stir in mashed bananas.
Spoon Banana Cake batter over Nilla Wafer crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45+ minutes or until done.  Let cool completely. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting. Sprinkle with baked Nilla Wafer Crumble.
Let set. Share!

Cream Cheese Frosting
8 ounces softened cream cheese
½  cup soft butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons whipping cream
3 cups powdered sugar
Dash of salt

Mix cream cheese and butter until smooth. Stir in cinnamon. Add vanilla extract, whipping cream, powdered sugar, and salt. Mix until fluffy.