A Recipe for Peace
For when things don’t sit well
1) Melt 2 tablespoons (¼ of a stick) of butter. Soften that which has been hardened from the cold. Notice how things can change texture in comparison to what they once were.
2) Add 1 teaspoon of salt. Be honest with what you’re feeling and how salty the situation is. For gluten free baking, add 1 tsp of vinegar, trusting that even acidic things can serve a purpose.
3) Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla to help bring sweetness to the batter.
4) Add 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 2 eggs. You’ll need them to help rise above the anxiety.
5) Add 3 cups of flour and mix well, letting it bind together the ingredients, knowing the Prince of Peace can bring together the scattered parts of your heart when life feels unsettling or chaotic. For gluten free baking, substitute with 1 cup of white rice flour, 1 cup of brown rice flour, and 1 cup of tapioca starch and add 2 teaspoons of xanthan gum as a binding agent. You will also need 1 tbsp active dry yeast activated in 1 ½ cups of warm water and 2 tbsp of sugar to add to the batter.
6) Optional: Add three heaping teaspoons of cinnamon. Knowing that peace follows trust, let trust overflow from the spoon you measure from and mix in thoroughly.
7) Bake at 360° for 1 hour, trusting that anything can turn around at the right application of heat.
8) Let cool while the scent of your creation calms your heart and mind.
9) Thank God for what God has done in your life, praying that the peace which surpasses all understanding would guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.
10) When you are ready, consider sharing your creation with someone else as an overflow of the peace you've cultivated in your own heart.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8 (NIV) “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” – Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)