You're Invited

Person 1: “I can’t believe she drinks decaf coffee…”

Person 2: “Yeah, but she’s still a person.”

Person 1: [confused] “What?”

Does that sound stupid to you? Like a completely ridiculous conversation? How does someone drinking their coffee differently from me suddenly make them not a person anymore? That’s dumb, right?

And yet we tend to have those thoughts about people who differ from us in what we consider more important ways.

“She’s a lesbian.”

“He’s a drunk.”

[whispered] “That guy is White/Black/Hispanic/Jewish/Deaf/anImmigrant/Republican/Democrat/Libertarian..."

At what point does a person not count as a person anymore in your eyes? What disqualifies someone from personhood to you? All people are created in the image of God, and deserve to be treated with kindness. All people deserve to be told about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:1-6
(1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
(2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
(5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
(6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

There are ways we can minister to those around us that show the love of Christ, and give us opportunities to share the Gospel. But if we are unwilling to do so because we have disqualified them from receiving our compassion, how can we say we are children of God?

1 John 3:17-18
(17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
(18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

The word ‘good’ in verse 17 means life. And yes, it can mean physical things pertaining to daily living. But more importantly, we have the Word of Life, eternal life, the Gospel. Sometimes it’s obvious when a person has this need, and other times it isn’t so clear. But how can we say we are the children of God if we are withholding His gift from those we think don’t deserve to hear it?

Do we not share because we don’t think they will listen? Because we think they will react in an ugly way toward us? Because we don’t want to be rejected? How selfish is that? We put someone else at risk of missing out on eternal life because of how it might affect US.

It’s like hosting a party, and not inviting someone because we don’t think they will come. We see they’re busy, and instead of sending them an invitation, we decide FOR them that they’re not coming. (Just an fyi, no matter how busy I seem, I want to be invited!!)

We have to let people decide for themselves whether or not they come to the party.

And sometimes we get to send them an invitation by making them a meal. Or by helping clean up their house, or their yard. Or taking care of their children when they have an emergency. Or praying for them when they are facing hard things, and then offering to step in and help carry that burden.

Because the invitation to the party looks like love. Because the Host of the party IS love.

This song by Casting Crowns “If we are the Body” is such a challenge to look beyond myself and reach out in the name and love of Jesus for the sake of the Gospel.

“If we are the Body- why aren't His arms reaching, why aren't His hands healing, why aren't His words teaching? If we are the Body, why aren’t His feet going, why is His love not showing them there is a way? Jesus is the way.”

The song goes on to say:

“Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come..."

Where might you be today if someone else had deemed you unworthy of hearing the Gospel?

If you don’t know Who Jesus is but you want to, let’s talk. Send me a message. Consider this an invitation to the party.

Sourdough Pancakes 🥞

Sourdough Pancakes

My new favorite way to make and eat pancakes is sourdough! I don’t think I have ever had a fluffier pancake in my life! The pancakes have an incredible texture, and taste just as amazing. I found the original recipe online on the King Arthur Flour page. Everything that I’ve tried from there is fantastic! 

Obviously, I put my own tweaks on the pancake recipe, and changed it to fit my family’s taste buds. 

Something I like about these is that they are just as fantastic even if you don’t let the batter sit out all night. Whipping up the ingredients 20 minutes before you start cooking the pancakes works just as well! They aren’t any less tasty or fluffy! 

Combine the “overnight/ 20 minutes before cooking” ingredients in a large bowl. Cover with a towel and allow to rest over night or 20 minutes. 

Add the rest of the ingredients, and mix well. Unlike normal pancakes, you want this batter smooth. It will be thicker than normal pancake batter, but that’s ok. If it is too difficult to spoon out the batter, add some water until you are comfortable with the thickness. 

Cook as you would normal pancakes. Enjoy! 

Amber Wells

Papua New Guinea

🇵🇬

These are seriously so easy to make! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! I’m definitely making these for breakfast tomorrow! 

Sons of Kohath

Have you ever just thrown your hands up in the air and said “For the love of Pete, I KNEW I was going to end up a son of Kohath!!!”?

No? Just me?

Alrighty then…

The sons of Kohath were called to bear the things of the tabernacle on their shoulders. When the high priest had everything all set and wrapped and ready to move to the next place, the sons of Kohath were the ones who carried everything.

Numbers 4:15 “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.”

So Aaron and his sons had to clean up and tear down, and wrap up everything from the tabernacle when they were ready to move, and Kohath’s sons would carry it all to the next place.

I was reading in Numbers 7 recently and it really stood out to me that the sons of Kohath could have felt like they were getting a bum deal. Here carts and oxen are being handed out to both of the other sons of Aaron (Gershon and Merari)…

“(9) But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.”

Some days don’t you feel like a son of Kohath?

Like, “Why am *I* the one who has to carry everything? How come THEY get carts? And how come they get oxen too? Why do I always have to handle all the holy stuff from the tabernacle? And how come it has to be on my shoulders when dragging it would be easier?”

We can sometimes feel like we’re the only one without a cart. Like we have to bear all the hardships, and everyone else gets to cruise on by us on their oxen-drawn carts.

And it can even seem like other people experience God in a deeper way than we do, even though their burdens seem light and easy.

Numbers 4:18-20
(18) Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
(19) But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:
(20) But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

The sons of Kohath got to carry the holy things, but they weren’t allowed to see them. They weren’t allowed to help wrap them up, or handle them. Or even be in the room when they were wrapped. They just had to carry them.

And you know what? The things from the tabernacle were much too precious to just be thrown on the back of a cart like common goods. (Think flour sacks, laundry, foodstuffs.) They were holy. They had been designed by God for a special purpose, and weren’t for just anyone to be responsible for.

Did the sons of Kohath know WHY they had to carry the stuff for the tabernacle? Nope. At least we’re never told in scripture why. But it glorified God. It was a huge responsibility and honor.

Maybe God is calling you to do a hard thing. Maybe he is calling you to bear a burden on your shoulders when everyone else around you got carts and oxen. You may never know why God has chosen you to bear the burden you have, but it is a holy thing. It can glorify God. It is serving a purpose.

Never doubt that our good God is working. Never doubt that He is helping you through whatever you're facing, and that He will use it for your good, and the good of others who are watching you walk through it.

See, the awesome thing about the sons of Kohath is that they weren't alone. They had each other. There wasn't just one son carrying everything all piled on his shoulders. They were all bearing burdens. But they didn't all have the same burden either- some carried candlesticks, some lavers, some censers, etc.

The same is true about our family in Christ. We don't all have the same burden, but everybody's carrying something. Find your sons of Kohath. Let them know you have a burden too, and walk the journey together. Don't try to take their burden from them, as that is their lot, and you have your own to carry. But you can make the journey easier just by being present.

Many times we get through hard things because we know we aren't alone. How much faster do the miles pass when we're in fellowship, and singing joyfully, reminding one another about who God is, and what He has done?

(And by the way, oxen poop. Like, a lot. [And it smells bad.] And they have to be fed, and watered. And tended to when they are injured or ill. And cart wheels break. And carts tip over...)

No one's journey is without difficulty, even if it looks that way to you.

2 Cor. 4:5-18
(5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
(6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
(8) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
(9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
(10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
(11) For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
(12) So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
(13) We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
(14) Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
(15) For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
(16) For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
(17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
(18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Sourdough Donuts 🍩

Sourdough Donuts
Now that you've got your sourdough starter ready and active, here is an amazing donut recipe for you!
Something I love about sourdough, is that you can mix up your dough before you go to bed, and then bake/fry/cook whatever it is in the a.m.! Or you can mix things up in the a.m., and bake/fry/cook whatever it is in the p.m.!
Sourdough seems very daunting. You have to keep the starter alive, and for some reason that seems scary and impossible. I've been working with sourdough since 2012, and I dont know how many starters I've killed. Sometimes it is because we were in the bush for a month, or cause things were so crazy I didnt feed my starter. Sometimes it was because of some random reason that I never could figure out. But that's ok, because the starter that Kayliegh posted about last time is super easy to make! Out of the many starters my family has tested, this one is our favorite! It doesn't call for potato flakes or carrot juice, it doesn't need hours and hours to activate, and it tastes so much better!
One more thing that may convince you how amazing sourdough is, is that some of the gluten intolerant missionaries that are here in PNG have discovered that they can eat sourdough bread if it has rested/risen for 8 hours! Apparently, the sourdough eats most of the gluten, and makes the gluten content extremely low! So, if you're GF, do some research and see if this will work for you! I dont know how GF it is, but I hope it is GF enough for some you out there!

Combine all of the ingredients except the baking soda (which is optional). In a stand mixer (or by hand, but it's much less messy in the mixer) knead the dough for 10 minutes. It will be a loose dough, and probably won't form a ball. Thats ok!
After you're done kneading, let the dough rest on the counter for 6-12 hours. My favorite is around 8-10 hours, thats overnight for me.
The dough will have doubled in size. If you want a less sour taste sprinkle the baking soda on at this time and gently knead it in. Gently roll it out until it's about a finger width thick. (Yes, I know, that is a very scientific thickness.) Using your donut cutters, cut out your donuts! We like these better without the holes, but that's up to you.
Let the donuts rest for 45-60 min. Then fry, and flip when they start to brown.
I find that flipping the donuts with chopsticks is much easier, and doesn't leave weird marks on the donuts like tongs do.
If you're coating with Cinnamon Sugar (like I did here), dont let the donuts dry. Dip the donuts in the sugar as soon as you can touch them without screaming in agony. If you're dipping in a glaze, you'll still want to dip them while they're hot. If you're filling them with cream or pudding, allow to cool completely.

I hope you enjoy these amazing donuts!

Amber Wells
Papua New Guinea

Default Behavior

Have you ever noticed yourself reacting a certain way to certain stimuli? Like something habitual?

For example:
-If a person cuts you off on the road, you then tailgate them to show your displeasure.
-If someone confronts you about an issue, or challenges your thoughts, you get defensive instead of taking stock and really listening.
-If someone says something ugly to you, you let the fire in your belly form your response to them.
-Your way of medicating after bad news is shopping. Or food. Or sex. Every single time.
-If someone 'slaps' you, you respond in kind, and the whole thing turns into a Three Stooges slap fest.
-If your family (or someone at work) neglects their chores and you clean up after then AGAIN, you make sure everyone knows it by being a noisy martyr.

We all have default behaviors. We all have things we do that are habitual responses to any stimuli. If we think about it, we probably don't even know when this became our default. But at some point it was programmed into us.

The definition of default is very interesting!

Default:
A preselected option adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified by the user or programmer.
Something that is usual or standard.

All the examples I listed are obviously wrong responses. But how often are they what we do without even thinking about it?

See, we can get into a habit or pattern of wrong behavior because we aren't inputting anything else. Our 'preselected response' is according to the flesh. But it is still a choice!

If we are in Christ, we ought to be different than the usual or standard. We ought to let the Word of God reprogram us so we have good input guiding our responses instead of what is usual (our flesh).

Do you need to take time to reprogram yourself? To make better choices? The good news is, if you're alive it isn't too late!!

Lord help me have godly responses to everything that comes my way. Help me reprogram myself according to Your Word!

2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Psalm 51:10-13
(10) Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
(11) Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
(12) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
(13) Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Ephesians 4:20-24
(20) But ye have not so learned Christ;
(21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
(22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
(23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
(24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

We Rest on Thee, Our Shield and Our Defender

I’ve mentioned before that our furlough is drawing to a close.  My husband has already returned to our field of service.  I stayed a little longer for one last visit with family and a little more time with our first grandchild.  The sweet little girl is named after Elisabeth Elliot.  Her mother was listening to a Revive Our Hearts podcast recently and recommended it to me.  

The series this week is with Valerie Elliot Shepard.  They are discussing the life of her parents.  It has been such an encouragement to me at this time.  I don’t face death in Japan like these servants of God did with the natives where they were called to serve.  My challenges seem like nothing when lined up with what they faced.  During the second podcast, a choked up Valerie quoted a hymn that the five men who died sang that last Christmas before their death.  It was a rebuke and an encouragement to me.  

I’ve never heard this hymn sung before, so I looked it up.  What powerful truth!!  What encouragement!!  I wanted to share this with you, my fellow missionary women.  I hope that it will be a blessing to you as it has been to me.  May we rest on God, our Shield and our Defender!!

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender;

   We go not forth alone against the foe;

Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender.

   We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

Yea, in Thy Name, O Captain of salvation!

   In Thy dear Name, all other names above;

Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,

   Our Prince of glory and our King of love.

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,

   And needing more each day Thy grace to know;

Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing;

   We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

We rest on Thee, our Shield and Our Defender:

  Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise

When reigning in the Kingdom of Thy splendor;

   Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

~Edith Gilling Cherry

Sourdough: How to Get Started

Sourdough Starter

My sourdough adventure started with a request from my husband for a thick, crusty bread to eat with soup. I quickly got discouraged while looking for recipes online. All the recipes seemed so complicated, and the sourdough community seemed a bit snooty and confusing. 🙂 They all used special flours and terms I didn’t understand, and made it sound like keeping your sourdough alive was a tricky business and required a lot of attention.  

A friend of ours gave us some sourdough starter, and I found a recipe that had a lot of pictures and made some sense to me. And guess what? It worked! I made a beautiful loaf of thick, crusty bread that tasted amazing too! Using just white flour, water and salt!

Sourdough is good for so many recipes: breads, pretzels, pancakes, English muffins, etc. And did you know that even if you’re gluten-free you may be able to eat sourdough bread? The carbohydrates and proteins in the wheat get broken down and made easier to digest. 

I have come to realize that there is a lot of wiggle room with the sourdough recipes and how you handle the starter. It’s actually pretty low maintenance and doesn’t have to be treated with precision.  You do have to plan ahead for many of these recipes, but it’s definitely worth it!

So now you probably want to eat some sourdough, but maybe you don’t have a friend to share a starter with you. Start your own! This recipe uses simple ingredients, and only takes 5-7 days to start, and you only need to feed it once a week! 

To make a sourdough starter, start with a large jar or container. Take 1/4c of water and 1/4c + 2tbsp of flour, and mix it well. Cover it with a tea towel or cheesecloth and let it sit in a warm-ish place (the top of the fridge is a great place). Every 24 hours, add another 1/4c water and 1/4c flour. Continue to do this for 5-7 days, until a small spoonful of your starter floats in a cup of water. 

If you are having trouble getting your starter going, try feeding it every 12 hours instead. 

Once your starter passes the float test, it is ready! Use some now to make some delicious bread or pancakes, and put the rest in the fridge. 

Each time you use your starter, take it out of the fridge and feed it. Aim for at least once a week (but I’ve let mine go almost 2 weeks before 😬).  I take my starter out, pour half into a bowl. I add 1/2c water and 1/2c of flour to the bowl and let it sit until it’s ready to make bread, and then I add 1/2c water and 1/2c flour to the jar and put it back in the fridge. 

If your starter gets a brown liquid on top, that’s means it’s hungry! I usually pour that liquid off the top before I feed the starter again. 

So go mix up a starter and let it start the souring process! Over the next few weeks we will be sharing some of our favorite sourdough recipes! 

-Kayleigh 

I Don't Need Help- I'm Fine...

Have you ever had a problem/project that you just couldn't figure out, and even though you have a friend who is pretty much an expert, you say "no thanks" when they offer to show you how or help you?

Why do we do that?

Maybe I should rephrase- Why do *I* do that?

Why do I wave my hand at them and say "I'll figure it out", confident that I can handle it, when they could so easily just show me or teach me how to do it? Why do I stubbornly act like I don't mind all the time it is taking me, or the way my teeth are wearing down from being clenched in frustration, or the waste in materials from all the ways I've done it wrong so far?

Because I have a pride problem.

Pride says "I can do it! I don't need help! I'm FINE."

I was looking for a scripture the other day (yes it was during the Sunday sermon, but I promise I was paying attention- it was related) and instead of finding the one I was looking for, God led me to this one:

1 Peter 5:6-7
(6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

It's a pretty familiar verse. But God showed me again that context is so important. There's a : there for a reason. And a : means more explanation is coming, so pay attention.

The next verse says:
(7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Hmmm...that really made me think. If I am not casting my cares on God, then I am acting in pride. I am not trusting that He is able. That His hand is mighty. That He cares for me.

I am taking upon myself that which I was never intended to handle. All my burdens, my worries, my problems, my fears...all are to be given to a God who is more than capable of handling them. And then in due time He will exalt me.

The word exalt means 'lift up'. When I've given my burdens to God, in the right time He will lift me up above them. He will give me victory through His power. He will help me focus on Him and His strength. He will speak shalom into my life regardless of whether or not I 'figure it out.'

Also when we refuse help, we are not allowing those who have a gift to use it to be a blessing. We are preventing them from ministering. Even if it's just sitting and listening to us share our heart, and praying with us. There are people super good at that. Or someone who knows about installing floors who can help, or guide you through scripture when you're confused, or help you plant a garden...

The church is equipped by God to love on and help each other. Maybe you've heard we should be the hands and feet of Jesus. How often have I quenched someone's gift by refusing to humble myself and ask for help? God gave us good gifts for the edification of the Body. I don't know it all. I can't do everything well.

Admitting that and asking for help isn't weakness. It isn't sin. These verses actually tell us that when we DON'T come to God for help that we are acting in pride. Perhaps the way He wants to answer or help you is through your family in Christ.

I am so thankful for a loving God who gives me gentle reminders of His faithful goodness, even when I was looking for something else.