Gentle and Quiet

Hey Surfers! This week I have the joy of bringing you another guest post, written by my friend Kaylen Richardson! She is crazy-nice and a great Spiritual leader. I hope you enjoy her wisdom, as you read this post on "gentleness." 

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

This summer I did a fairly intense study on 1 Peter. Of all the things I learned, this verse hit me pretty hard. I have heard this verse a million and one times, but I can honestly say I have never been known to be the quiet type. So this summer, when I heard this verse again, I really had to ask myself: "do I have a gentle and quiet spirit?" WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? Then I realized that God isn’t telling us that if we are not the quiet type that we are not worth anything. But he is asking us to be more like him.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:22-23.

When you decide to live out a spirit-filled life, you will become gentle and quiet. You have to start letting the Lord rule over everything you do. I pray that I am living a spirit-led life every day, and I can tell that there is a difference. When I am ruling over my own life I become very self centered, I get stressed really easily, and I become someone that not many people want to be around. Nothing about that is gentle or quiet. Nothing about that is Jesus. We are told to be gentle, because Jesus is gentle. People are turned away by harshness.

If we are living out our purpose in life as being God’s hands and feet and bringing more people to him, then we have to start striving to look more and more like him. This is just one way we can do that. It’s very clear by the last part of that verse that God finds joy in seeing us look and act like Him. I want to please the Lord; I want Him to find favor in me.

So I pray that you find encouragement in this. I hope you can look at this verse as a goal to be working on your inside spirit more than your outside looks. David prays a prayer in Psalm 18:35 that I really love: “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.”

Let’s make it our goal to be GREAT.

-Kaylen

04383f4b8052dae40468a41ffd2c690fdcab49023515c02639

WHIP IT!

Hi everyone! Today I have two fun treats. They are belong in two very different categories - one is a kitchen treat, and one is for bath time - but they are both decadent, delicious, and whipped to perfection!

Let's get started:

The first recipe I have to share with you is a delicious treat, perfect for when you are craving something sweet. If you haven't been enlightened on the perfection that is the "Forgotten Cookie," today will be a game-changer. Forgotten cookies are light and airy meringue cookies. They are lower in fat and calories, making them a perfect candidate to sneak into the "health and wellness" section of my blog. ;) They are a great alternative to a regular, heftier cookie, and (BONUS!) they're sooo so easy to make! 

I remember my mom (Becky homecky, as we call her) making these when I was a little girl; they have always been a favorite of mine. They are the perfect thing to make for a party or shower, and they are always a hit! 

Now, for the recipe!

Forgotten Cookies

2 egg whites 
1/8 t. cream of tartar
1/8 t. salt
2/3 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (I like the minis)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper OR lightly grease.

Beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt in a small bowl until soft peaks form. (for new bakers: aka- when you pull the whisk out, the peaks fall.) Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form (when the peaks hold their own shape and do not fall.) Gently fold in the vanilla and the chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoons on cookie sheet. 

Place cookie sheet in preheated oven; immediately turn off oven, and allow the cookies to remain in oven at least 6 hours, or overnight, without opening the oven door. After at least 6 hours, remove cookies and VOILA!

I told you….SO EASY! And SO delicious!
This recipe yields about 30 cookies. 
Store in an airtight container.
Another bonus: they are also gluten-free!
…and perfect.
I feel like I've already mentioned that. ^

ENJOY! Let me know what you think of them after you make them!
Bonus points to anyone who pipes them into cool shapes and sends a pic. 
I'm thinking of doing my next batch as ghosts.
:)