A Woman Carrying Vessels and the Weight of Past Mistakes

Lean Into Curiosity – Part 2

It began with leaning into curiosity for truth. 
What was she supposed to learn of Christ that would aid her on her journey?
What did it mean to become a woman of faith?
What encompasses Christ’s invitation to “Come unto me”?

Centuries prior to the day I returned to the concrete basketball court, a woman was going about her daily tasks. She too, experienced a pivotal moment on a day that began as ordinary and routine.

Jesus was traveling through Samaria. He sent his disciples to a town nearby for food. Tired from his journey, He stopped to wait for them at a well. A woman, carrying her vessels, and the weight of past mistakes, comes to the well. Christ, a Jew, asks her for a drink.
She is a Samaritan. In that day, Jews and Samaritans avoided each other and men did not typically speak to women in public. Upon Christ’s request for water, the woman cautiously tells Him that He should not have asked.
Christ’s response invited deeper understanding. He tells her that those who drink of the water in the well get thirsty again. He offers her “living water”- referring to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He tells her that those who drink of it won’t thirst again. 

She is initially hesitant of His teaching.  Christ continues by telling the woman at the well things about her that only a God would know. She leans into her curiosity.
Christ tells her who He is – that He is the promised and prophesied Messiah. As a woman, striving for faith, despite past mistakes, she wants to have hope. She leans into this and chooses to believe. Change followed that choice. Undeniable freedom and joy filled her soul. The woman of faith, overcome with truth, left her water pot. She returned to the city to tell others of her experience with Christ.

Faith begins with Christ meeting us where we are.
He invites us (me, the woman at the well, and you…) to come with questions, assuring us that- right where we are- is the perfect place to begin to deepen our understanding. 

What’s your question?

-JC

S’mores Cookie Bars

1 cup soft butter
1 cup granulated sugar
⅔ cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
—
3 cups milk chocolate chips
¾ cup whipping cream
—
10 oz. jar marshmallow creme
12 standard size marshmallows
—
1.55 oz chocolate bar

• In a large bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until well combined. 
• Mix in the eggs and vanilla just until combined. Do not overmix.
• Add dry ingredients: flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, and salt. Stir until just combined.
• Press dough into a greased 9” x 13” aluminum baking pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 28-30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and use the back of a fork to press down raised crust edges.
• Melt chocolate chips with whipping cream. Stir until smooth and shiny.
• Top cookie bars with dollops of chocolate mixture. Carefully spread evenly.
• Spoon dollops of marshmallow creme onto the chocolate layer. (Return to the oven for one minute to make the marshmallow creme layer easier to spread evenly.)
• Toast marshmallow creme layer in the oven on broil setting for 30 seconds, or until toasted.  Watch closely!!
• Cut the marshmallows in half.
• Layer marshmallows on top of marshmallow creme (sticky side down)and toast in the oven on broil until tops are toasted. (Watch Closely!!)
• Garnish top with small pieces of chocolate bar.
• Let set. Share!