Gloria shares her recipe for ‘Pie of Life’

I blinked. What was I seeing? I opened my eyes in the stillness of the night. The room had like a dark cloud all over it.

Strange.

I closed my eyes again, only to have them pop right open. With my eyes shut I could easily tell that there was a light in the room. In bygone years Daniel would give me a hard time (in fun) thinking that if eyes are shut they are shut and not made to see light, but somehow to me it makes a difference even if my eyes are tight shut. I still prefer sleeping in the dark for maximum relaxation. Now as I looked to see where the light was coming from, there was no actual light. Nothing.

Once more I shut my eyes; as I did so, that thin layer of eyelids let in a soft white light. I knew something was lit in the room. My eyes popped wide opened to see what it was- lo and behold, all was dark as the night! “God must be up to something,” I told myself, relaxing completely. I told Him He can speak to me if He has something to tell me.

In the softness of His presence there were words impressed on my heart, including those comforting words, “Be not afraid, only believe...”

Later I wondered where in Scripture those words were found. I searched for a bit, then placed it on the side for some time later. A couple mornings passed, when I decided now would be the time to find that verse. Seeing an open Bible on the desk where I had left it earlier, I glanced at it. What should I see but those very words I had been ready to go look for?! “Be not afraid, only believe.” In awe, I bowed before my Maker. “What an amazing God You are!”

The following week I had gone out after dark to check on the goat. As I walked under the canopy of the heavens above me I noticed a gathering of blackish clouds, much like I had seen that night in the bedroom before the light had moved in which I could easily see each time I had shut my eyes.

I walked back to the house with a new perspective. I knew in my heart that a glory-light would keep shining if I only close my eyes, resting in my Lord Jesus instead of focusing on the black cloud of life.

Honestly, since that night of a dark cloud in my room, followed by the glory light, I have faced things I had not anticipated, and perhaps have hurt more than I knew it was possible to hurt. This is what I am finding- don’t give up! “Lord open our eyes to see Your real light even in those hardest darkest times of our lives!”

The deep dark painful things in life, whether it be unanswered questions or prayers, strained relationships, or a gut-wrenching pain, does not feel good. They are dark, and they can hurt deep and hard, but oh glory! The light of the Lord has a way of filtering in during or after those renting times.

Even children face their own dimension of joys and sadness, I do not doubt that every child will face hard things, even those who have both parents. My cry to God is that He can lead us as parents and keep us in tune with the Himself, so that our children have something to follow. Aren’t they just created to be little imitators? On Father’s Day a brother shared how children will track their parents, even when we as parents think we are good at hiding negatives in our own lives. Now I know this brother was primarily speaking to the Fathers, but it blessed and challenged my own heart. May God lead us in an ever closer walk with Himself to give our children a greater chance to connect with Him on a real and personal level, even in their young innocent years!

I find too, that our children who have struggled the most also have the most tender hearts. Today in town one of my youngsters insisted on buying roses and chocolates for me. Really? What do little boys know about chocolate and red roses? I don’t know, but there must have been a God in heaven who wanted to show His love and did so through an innocent little boy, delighted to bring delight to his mother.

There is no recipe that will touch the glory and light of our Savior in the harder times of life, so I’ll jot down a Pie of Life you may have tried for yourself. And then for those of you want an actual pie that will refresh you during these warm summer months, try the lemon pie.

Pie Of Life

3 tablespoons disappointments

1 cup trials

2 cups unanswered questions

1⁄2 cup lack of sleep

2 cups misunderstandings

5 teaspoons insecurity

1. Mix altogether and realize you cannot handle it another moment.

2. Tell Jesus you accept the bitter taste.

3. Thank Him for taking it when He took that bitter cup at His death.

4. Generously allow Him to slather grace, healing, and mercy over all.

Let set, absorb in wonder, and taste the goodness of the Lord.

You will notice the sting of unfairness has left and find yourself coming back for liberal servings of this

soothing concoction that is sure to satisfy you.

Gloria's Luscious Lemon Pie

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup milk

3 egg yolks

½ cup lemon juice

½ teaspoon lemon extract

pinch salt

4 tablespoons butter

1 cup sour cream

Mix sugar and cornstarch and add milk. Bring to a boil and cook several minutes and add egg yolks and boil gently. Next add lemon juice, lemon flavoring and a pinch of salt plus butter. Cool a bit and add 1 cup sour cream. Pour into a baked 9-inch pie shell, top with whipped topping. Chill.