Iron Rose Sister Ministries

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Published: 17 August 2013

Since the LSU CSC and the campus ministry there is so much on my heart and in my prayers this week, I will share this God story from my time there...

While serving as women's campus minister at LSU, I would often go to campus to meet with a student and would then walk back through the Student Union and the most people-filled places on campus to see how I might run into.

On one such day, I met a student on campus and ran into no less than eight students or former students of the LSU Christian Student Center (CSC).  It was always a joy to "happen" to run into people and catch up, say hello, share an encouraging word, or hear what was going on in their lives.

On that day, I was also delivering copies of the 40 days with Jesus, 40 days of Prayer booklet that our students had helped write.  I had one copy left and was finally headed back to the CSC to hop in my car and make a later appointment with someone.

Walking out of the Student Union, I paused to reply to a text and while I'm fairly good at texting and walking, I felt like the Spirit kept urging me to stop, send the text, and then continue on my way.  I finally stepped to the side of the sidewalk, at the end of a stone handrail, and finished my text.  As I hit send, I looked up and just a few steps ahead of me was one of our students, Walter.  I called out his name and he turned, confirming his earlier suspicion that it was me standing there.  He said the Braves shirt I was wearing was his biggest clue ;)

He never walked through that part of campus, especially not at that time of day, and was thrilled to have run into me.  We chatted for a while, I was able to give him the final copy of the 40 days with Jesus, 40 days of Prayer booklet, and encouraged him about some challenging life situations he was facing.

We both continued on our way uplifted and encouraged, knowing that God had provided a divine appointment, not a chance meeting.

It can be hard, at times, to discern the Spirit's leading, but sometimes it's as simple as following the urge to pause on the sidewalk and send the text before hurrying on so that God can use you to bless someone's life - to let them know that they are important enough to God to send someone along their path with an encouraging word, the good news of the gospel (like Philip in Acts 8), or a simple smile and a hug.

May we be open to divine appointments God may place along our path and may we share the God stories, giving Him the glory for the way He works even in the smallest details of our lives :)

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Published: 16 August 2013

It was one of those nights when all conditions are perfect to laugh so hard you are drawn to tears and can't even talk.

Last Friday night, my sister, Kim, wanted to make a test cake for Kadesh's 1st birthday, which will be September 30th.  She started making the cakes and I looked up a fondant recipe.  Marshmallow fondant seemed to be the popular option, but we didn't have any marshmallows, so I trotted over to the grocery store, maybe a half-mile away and picked some up.

When I returned, while Kim put Kadesh, to bed, I decided to tackle the fondant.  Things started out well microwaving the marshmallows, stirring in the water and vanilla... ok,                   now to adding in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, blending well with a hand mixer.  And there began the real fun.  Said hand mixer happened to be a family heirloom, handed down from the mother-in-law -- the faithful mixer of many a cake in its day.  However, on that fateful night, fondant was a bit much for it and not only did it fall apart with the beaters still going, but the fan started eating my shirt!  I know, I know... I should've taken pictures.

I panicked, wondering if up or down on the switch was off, but I got it switched off (with a spark), unplugged it and detangled my shirt from the fan.  I then released the beaters and proceeded to mix more of the powdered sugar in by hand, using the beaters.

Assuming that the strength of the aged mixer was not an issue, I looked at the bag of powdered sugar and feared the worst.  I had added too much already and that was what caused the mixer's downfall and my shirt's partially stained demise.

I glanced back at the recipe on the iPad and saw "16 oz bag" on the list and was affirmed in my error of adding too much powdered sugar.  Since I already had too much, I coated my hands with butter, as instructed, and proceeded to pour the mixture onto a cookie sheet for kneading.    The mixture stuck instantly to the pan and no matter what attempt I made at kneading, the stickiness and the messiness got worse.

Don't forget that the sticky, messy hands were unable to open the iPad to confirm the recipe or give hope of redemption for the mixture that in no way resembled fondant.

Thankfully, Kim came back down and asked, "Are you laughing or crying?"  "Laughing!" but I could barely get that out.  I tried to recount to her what had happened, but I was laughing so hard and balancing sticky hands over a cookie sheet that I had tears streaming down my face.

She patiently waited for me to collect myself and then understood that I needed her to open the recipe.  Thankfully, I had misread which bag was a 16 oz bag (marshmallows vs. powdered sugar) and all was not lost.  I kneaded in the remaining powdered sugar and eventually washed my hands and the dishes of all stickiness.

Even though I am now very much more experienced with marshmallow fondant (I have the powdered sugar laden clothes to prove it), I'm not sure if I can be trusted to mix it when it comes time for the real birthday cake! ;)

Grace abounds and tomorrow is another day.

May your weekend be filled with family, food, and memories to last a lifetime :)

(The picture is of the test cake, decorated by my sister with the fondant I made.)