By Shirley Prihoda
The Bulletin
Faith is like a good mystery book. Once you begin to savor the nuances and possibilities, you can’t put it down.
Since God knows us, He knew we would love a good “who done it” to challenge us to search for scintillating clues to uncover the villain and the hero in our story of life.
The occasions for faith in 2022 have grown exponentially. First, it’s how easily we can carry $100 of groceries to the car in one arm. Another one on the Top 10 is wondering when did my car develop this embarrassing drinking problem?
Did the tiny CRV always drink like this, and I was too distracted to notice?
Maybe, it’s a glandular problem. I like to think that my weight may be attributed to that.
However, confirmation from my doctor has been slow forthcoming. He usually rolls his eyes as he says something along the line of, “You need to push away from the table.”
This month marks 51 years since I was saved loud and proud in the First Baptist Church of Freeport. There have been many detours over the years as I pursued the possibilities of faith.
I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way, one of which is to turn off the news. That can sometimes be a problem in the Prihoda household since my husband likes to “be in the know.” Frankly, I don’t need to know Social Security may not be around much longer and that milk and gas may be going to $10 a gallon.
This has frequented many conversations between us, usually beginning with me having my “head in the sand,” or something similar. Not to be outdone, I respond: “I have been young and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” Thank you very much, Psalm 37:25.
I choose to walk in faith since I have a covenant with the God of heaven, and He doesn’t lie. He has no need to. He said, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” says the Lord of Hosts. “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10.
While I am not oblivious to the fact that I couldn’t hold my own with Einstein in single or double Jeopardy, I am smart enough to know which side my bread is buttered on. And I know it’s being a faithful tither. Tithing has never been about money. Why would God need money?
Does he need a new pair of shoes from Walmart or a gallon of almond milk? I sincerely doubt it. It’s simply trusting that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.
The cynic looks at tithing as a waste of time and energy or the quid pro quo of give to get. This misses the faith aspect entirely.
It’s the faith in God’s word that He will take care of us, regardless of a bull or bear market, who’s in the Oval Office, or who’s holding the microphone on the TV news channel. When you have confidence in The Lord of Hosts, peace floods the heart of a believer and allows them to sleep at night and awaken with hope and confidence.
Once the need and benefits to tithing has been settled, we can proceed on to the deliberation of proper baptisms. Which one will get you a first-class ticket into heaven? Like any good mystery, there are two sides to consider, the (water) dunkers and the (water) flickers. I think it’s time to curl up with the book.
French Breakfast Puffs
These French Breakfast Puffs are delicious, or so I’m told, since I can’t have sugar. They are made extra-special after baking when they’re dipped in butter and coated in cinnamon sugar.
Ingredients
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, or ground, if you don’t grate your own. (I do.)
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 cup milk
Coating
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 sticks unsalted butter
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350F and prepare the mini muffin pan by spraying it with cooking spray or greasing with butter.
Into a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg together. In a mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the shortening and sugar together. Beat in the eggs and combine well. Alternately, add the flour mixture and the milk, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Pour batter into mini-muffin cups filling to about 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly golden.
Coating
Melt 2 sticks of butter in a microwave proof bowl. In another medium bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon for the coating. Quickly dip the muffins into the butter, making sure to completely cover and then roll in the cinnamon sugar.
(To contact Shirley, please send emails to john.bulletin@gmail.com or write to The Bulletin, P.O. Box 2426, Angleton, Tx. 77516)
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