Answer The Call

To Come. To Follow. To Believe. Part – 3

Christ needed then–
And still needs today–
Those who were and are willing to answer the call:
To come, to follow, to believe, and to love, as they had never understood before. 

At a young age, I had heard many stories of Jesus Christ. I had also been encouraged to live as He had in service to others out of His love for God.

I had been invited to follow Christ’s example and be baptized, committing to do my best to obey the commandments and remember Him.

At times, the path to choosing the right felt difficult, like waking in knee-deep snow. It’s in those moments, I needed only to remember that the footsteps were there- truly they were everywhere.

It’s a concept I under see and better as the memory is reflected in the rear view mirror. I needed then, and moreso today to work to stop struggling on my own and heed the call to follow Christ.

Christ still needs disciples today. We don’t need to reach a level of success, wealth, or intelligence to accept the call. Christ needs those willing to follow Him as He answers the call to follow God, the Father. He needs those who are willing to leave behind what does not serve God and step into a life of service. He needs one with a trusting heart and working hands.

Christ invites you. He invites me.  He needs all who will try to love without judgment to bring a friend and neighbor to His light and truth. 

In the flickering light of an old Midwest street lamp, I now know that the choice to follow was deliberate. It would later help me understand the importance of deliberate decision-making in choosing to follow Christ.

The Savior invites us to come and follow Him, and to believe in Him. He asks us to enter the unknown of true discipleship just as He asked the fishermen- Peter, Andrew, James, John, and his other disciples. 

We are invited to follow Christ onto a path that may feel unknown to us. Doing so will change the trajectory of our lives.

Could it be that choosing discipleship and answering the call to follow Christ can be simplified to following a course previously laid out ahead?

The invitation:
To come
To follow
and
To believe

Each one of us has been extended the privilege to be counted as a disciple – one who works to see each other as Christ sees each of us. We are then enlisted to care and love for each other as Christ loves us.

You are ready- just as you are to learn to follow…

Sometimes, multiple steps, followed one at a time, create a result well worth the extra time and attention administered.
Become motivated by love for others. 
Put aside what you thought you knew- and enter the unknown.
Yes-
We are talking about Cookies and Christ.

-JC

Biscoff Fudge Bars

Biscoff Cookie Crust:
8 oz. Biscoff Cookies, finely crushed
2 oz. softened cream cheese
Dash of salt
—
Cookie Butter Fudge:
1- 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 ½ cups vanilla baking chips
1- 14 oz. jar cookie butter, divided
Dash of salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• Use a food chopper or processor to finely crush Biscoff Cookies.
• Mix in cream cheese and salt until well combined. 
• Press into the bottom of a parchment lined 8″x8″ square baking pan.

• Combine sweetened condensed milk, white baking chips, and salt into a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute and additional 10 second intervals until the mixture is melted and can be stirred smooth. 
• Set aside 3 tablespoons of the jar of cookie butter. (Spoon into a freezer strength Ziploc.)
• Stir the remaining cookie butter into the fudge mixture..
• Pour the fudge mixture onto the Biscoff Cookie Crust. Spread evenly. Top with reserved (warmed for ease of use) cookie butter drizzle. Garnish with additional pieces of Biscoff cookies.
• Refrigerate until serving. (2+ hours) 
• Remove bars from baking pan and cut into 36 squares.
• Share!