Atmosphere of growth

We planted the aubergine seeds at the same time as the courgette seeds. We’ve just transplanted and potted on the courgettes, which are growing before our eyes. The aubergines have sprouted. That’s about all there is to say about them.

We’ve never grown either before so aren’t sure when they might flower and fruit. (veg?) We have high hopes but the weather has to co-operate, too.

God’s Spirit is growing his fruit in my life. Some of it germinated quickly. I can occasionally be surprised to notice that I was more patient than I used to be, perhaps, or kinder. Other characteristics of God’s nature, which I long to have growing in my life, haven’t quite popped through yet, or if they have, they are certainly needing a lot of sunshine and nurture to do much growing. I could do with a bit quicker growth of the self-control fruit, I notice sometimes.

We are all different, and the soil of our lives feeds God’s fruits, which grow at different rates in each of us. May these trying times create a hothouse atmosphere in which we all be blessed with a spurt of faithfulness, with a boost of joy which others ‘catch’, with a generous dollop of peace and love, and with significant growth in all the other fruits of the Spirit. Happy Pentecost!

Grated Courgettes and Rice Flour

An unlikely combination. Grated courgettes and white rice flour. The required baking tins did not lie in my cupboard, so I substituted what I had, reduced the layers from three to two, and set to work. 

Result? Disappointing. I thought it would have risen much better, but now it was too late to do much remediation except supplement a rather flat cake with some Betty Crocker cupcakes. Oh well. He’s only turning 1. Surely he won’t mind? A few extra hundreds and thousands should do it...

Some of our best laid plans disappoint. Thankfully, this is not the Great British Bake-off, but still, I wanted the cake to look great. 

Life is a challenge. Even when we have the correct ingredients and the right size tins, it doesn’t always turn out as we hoped. 

Thankfully Jesus’ invitation to us is not conditional. We don’t have to measure up. We don’t have to fit into conventional moulds. He celebrates weird ingredients, unlikely combinations. His standards are as high as they come, but he’s already met them himself. 

Grateful, ever grateful.