Today's Meditation, Prayer, and Activity - Wednesday, December 23, 2020

 

Wednesday, December 23

You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.  You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.  As we know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.  1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians that they, along with God, are witnesses to Paul’s “holy and righteous and blameless” conduct toward them.  How we treat others reflects our relationship to God.  Our means and ends must match, our behavior commensurate with the gospel we share.  Who have you witnessed being holy, righteous and blameless?  What about the opposite?  Write down your reflections.            

 

Prayer:

As we draw near to Christ’s birth, we wish to reflect the One we profess to follow.  We pray, God of grace and glory, to be holy and righteous and blameless in our conduct toward others.  When we fail to meet this standard, forgive us and send your Spirit to help us to do better and be a closer likeness of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN

 

Activity:

Find a new cookie or dessert recipe.  This is the perfect season for indulging our sweet tooths.  Share your new recipe with others.

Here’s mine:  Cinnamon Coins

Ingredients:

1 sticks ( 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoons cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Minced zest of 1/2 a lemon

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cinnamon chips, coarsely chopped

Turbinado sugar, for rolling

 

Instructions:

Beat the butter until creamy.  Add the granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, if using a stand mixer.  Beat in the egg, cinnamon, salt, vanilla and zest.  Add flour and mix until just combined.  Fold in cinnamon chips.  Divide the dough in half.

Generously sprinkle a work surface with turbinado sugar.  Shape each half of dough into an 18-to 20-inch long rope and roll in the sugar, adding more sugar as needed to prevent sticking.  Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight. 

Preheat oven to 350°.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  Unwrap 1 piece of dough and slice into 1/4-inch-thick slices, spacing 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet.  Repeat with the remaining piece of cookie dough.  Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes, or until crisp and golden.  Let cool on the baking sheets before transferring to cooling rack to cool completely.