Cookie Experiment...and Recipe!

I have recently been experimenting with using natural peanut butter in place of regular butter in various cookie recipes. So far, it has been going well. This recipe is a cross between oatmeal raisin cookies, previous cookie experiments using peanut butter instead of butter, and even the concept of granola bars. I used crunchy peanut butter in these cookies and it was very good! No need for other nuts. The recipe? See below!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Raisin Cookies aka “Healthy” Cookies

½ c peanut butter	¼ c water	3 c quick oats
1 c brown sugar	1 ½ c whole wheat flour	1 c raisins
2 eggs	1 t baking soda	1 c chopped nuts (opt)
1 t vanilla	½ t salt

Cream peanut butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and water and mix well. Sift together flour, soda and salt and stir into wet ingredients. Stir in oats, then raisins and nuts if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Press down before baking. Bake @ 350 for ~9 minutes. Allow to cool on cookie sheet 3 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool.

I am not really sure how many this makes as I rarely make cookies without sampling dough and fresh cookies! =) I also usually make cookies very small to allow for times when only a small treat is desired or for guilt-free consumption of several at a time!

Encouraging Thoughts June 26, 2011

To be honest, I am really struggling with some things at present. Things are not going very well in multiple areas. These can be very discouraging and it is requiring moment-by-moment decisions to choose to cheerfully work through these challenges. I am not always successful. :( I was very encouraged today with the following sets of thoughts. God knows what I need before I do and well before I ask. He is good beyond comprehension!!!

What I read this morning and the thoughts that accompanied:

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:
“Stay calmly conscious of Me today, no matter what. Remember that I go before you as well as with you into the day. Nothing takes Me by surprise. I will not allow circumstances to overwhelm you, so long as you look to Me. I will help you cope with whatever the moment presents. Collaborating with Me brings blessings that far outweigh all your troubles. Awareness of My Presence contains Joy that can endure all eventualities.” Psalm 23:1-4 (NKJV); 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Psalm 23:1-4
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (NKJV)

2 Corinthians 4:16-17
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (NIV)

My thoughts:
God is so good! This was so encouraging and appropriate. I have been struggling to joyfully, gratefully accept another not-so-good surprise with my health-or lack thereof. I had already been meditating on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 and also that God is always with me, yet goes before me. There is no cause for worry or for fear. Instead, I must choose to yield with absolute surrender and complete trust. God brings peace and joy!

Then, the following came in an email this afternoon:

God's Hands

Today is in God's hands and so are you.

His hands are strong and will uphold you;
His hands are great and will enfold you;
His hands are gentle and will embrace you;
His hands are protective and will cover you;
His hands are reassuring and will quiet you;
His hands are powerful and will defend you;
His hands are parental and will train you;
His hands are masterful and will conform you;
His hands are compassionate and will care for you;
His hands are healing and will renew you;
His hands are calming and will comfort you;
His hands are giving and will bless you.

The hands that hold you will never let you down.

-Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer

Rejoicing in God’s love and goodness!!!

Knowing Versus Trusting

Choosing to trust in the midst of complete physical chaos. This is so hard right now. Yet, I know God is the great Physician. I know He knows all that is going on with my body right now. I know He knows the solution and can give the physicians working with me wisdom to discover what will help to get me well. But, knowing with my mind is not the same as absolute trust with my being.

Encouraging Thoughts

Encouraging Thoughts that came in an email today:

I believe...

I believe today will be a good day because God made it.
{Psalm 118:24}
I believe I have all I need to accomplish His purpose in my life.
{2 Peter 1:3}
I believe nothing is too difficult for me because nothing is impossible for the God who lives in me.
{Philippians 4:13}
I believe even the biggest challenges in my life can be redeemed for my good and His glory.
{Romans 8:28}
I believe I am loved just as I am and called to become even more like Jesus every day.
{Hebrews 10:14}
I believe that He isn't finished with me yet and is able to complete the good work begun in me.
{Philippians 1:6}
I believe I am an overcomer, more than a conqueror, and nothing will keep God from carrying out His plans!
{Romans 8:32-39}
Can I get an "amen" or a "yoo-hoo"?
--Holley Gerth; Heart to Heart with Holley

God Knows

The following came at a point where I was struggling with decisions, wondering what the next step was after a surprising response to an earlier decision. This was encouraging and exactly what I needed to be reminded of at the time.

Let God Choose

As for God, His way is perfect! Psalm 18:30

Let God choose for you, it will be the right decision.
Let God guide you, it will be the right direction.
Let God plan for you, it will be in the right timing.
Let God measure for you, it will be the right portion.
Let God help you, it will be the right care.
Let God instruct you, it will be the right teaching.
Let God prepare you, it will be the right training.
Let God counsel you, it will be the right perspective.
Let God fight for you, it will be the right outcome.
Let God work in you, it will be the right result.

-Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer

God knows me better than I know myself. He knows exactly what I need and when I need it. He provides for every occasion. There is no cause for fear or doubt. Instead, I must trust and rest in Him.

Update on Recovery

This is an update after surgery and the prayer request I posted recently regarding the pain at night.

Recovery after surgery has been progressing very well overall. After a few days, the pain that had bothered prior to surgery was gone! Within one week, I was back at work (but mostly office/computer work) and already doing most of my regular exercises-including the core strengthening exercises to support my back. By two weeks, I was doing all regular exercises, including Pilates, swimming laps, all prescribed exercises and T-Tapp. I was able to do all my housework, and I had even put in a long day in the lab on another fatty acid analysis run. I was completely off all the narcotic pain killers-even at night. There is still some residual soreness/tenderness of the abdominal muscles and at the incision sites with some activities, but this is minimal and becoming less with each day. I am still on maximal doses of over-the-counter pain killers, but that is normal state of life for me due to ongoing chronic back/neck pain. This sounds like the perfect recovery…and it is, except for one "small," but significant problem. Ever since surgery, I have been wakened in the night by severe pain in the region that was operated on. This pain never happened prior to surgery. It has not lessened with time since surgery. It does not respond to medication. It does not match with how well things are going otherwise. It completely puzzles the surgeon-she does not know what might be causing this. I ended up having an ultrasound and physical exam to check into things more thoroughly. The good news is everything checks out fine-nothing wrong. The bad news is everything checks out fine-they cannot find anything wrong to focus on to help me.

I was already in process of being referred elsewhere for the chronic pain management, so this new pain is getting added to the list. Originally the plan was to go to Mayo, but Mayo declined to see me. Now, the plan is University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha. Lord-willing the referral process goes smoothly and they are able to get me in without too long of wait.

This has continued to be a learning process far beyond anything I anticipated. I know God is the great Physician. He is in control of all of this. He knows the cause of each of the multiple conditions I currently have. He also knows the solution to each one and whether any are related or not. I am praying for wisdom for the doctors currently working with me and the ones who will be in the future, that God will give them wisdom in how they approach my puzzling health challenges.

I would appreciate prayer that the referral process goes smoothly-getting medical records collected and sent, scheduling, etc. The doctor’s office will take care of most of this, but I need to get all the actual imaging (MRI, CT, x-ray, ultrasound, and potentially endoscopy as well). Also, that I am able to survive until the appointment. The night time pain episodes are intense and the ongoing chronic pain has its ups and downs-this week has not been going so well. Another request would be quality of sleep. Broken sleep negatively impacts back/neck pain control. I have not slept through the night since surgery. I do not anticipate sleeping through the night until these severe post-op pain episodes resolve. I am so grateful that the pain only happens at night and that it only strikes once a night. Other than the tiredness, I am able to function relatively well during the day. There is no way I would be able to keep going during the day if the pain were to occur daytime. It literally leaves me unable to move until it eases. In all, God is good! He gives strength and grace for each moment of each day-and night.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)