Autumn….Pumpkins…..and Dreams!

Homemade Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Bread from a fresh homegrown pumpkin!  Just some of the wonderful things that come from this Autumn season!         
Yes!  Starting the season off with some baking!  What a great way to kick-off the Fall season than with baking some fabulous and delicious pumpkin flavored treats!   

     Leaves changing colors and falling to the ground.  The weather is changing and we are bringing out our Fall clothes, our winter coats and sweaters, boots, scarves, hats and gloves as we prepare for the winter season to come.  
     While it may be snowing or preparing to snow in certain parts of the country…here in Cali we may get down to just about freezing…and for here…that is cold for us Cali people! Then there are those of us who have had the chance to experience living in a state where it actually snows in the winter! We may have had a slight weather shock when we saw our first snowfall and actually seeing snow stick to the ground for more than 2 seconds. Having lived in Indiana for a couple years we may have not got the most snow of the 50 states but compared to California’s Central Valley…it seemed like a lot! Especially the year of the ice storm when we had a layer of ice….snow…and more ICE! YES! it may be horrible to drive in but it makes for some awesome sledding times with friends using the lids to our storage tubs!    There’s always a lot of fun to be had in the snow.  Whether it’s sledding or building a snowman, as long as we were around good friends! 

     I recently read a quote from someone that said, “why is it that the Fall season makes me want soup and something pumpkin flavored every singe day? I’m worried it’s becoming an  addiction.” Isn’t that so true? I think it is for me at least.  From Pumpkin Spice Latte’s, Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Bread to anything pumpkin flavored that we grab while we like to curl up in a big, soft and warm comfy blanket while watching an amazing holiday classic movie, and just maybe with a large cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows and maybe even a hint of pumpkin spice sprinkled on top. :) Another great way to spend the season with loved ones. 

    While we are watching the leaves change colors and the seasons change we sometimes stop and just stand in awe in amazement as we ponder God’s wonderful and amazing creations and masterpieces.  Could this be how God views his children? As wonderful masterpieces of his own creation. After creating and molding each and everyone of us into just the way he wants us to be, and he looks at each of us knowing that he created each one of us as different as the next.  As he holds each one of our life stories in palm of his hands.  He knows every detail in our lives, every step we are going to take and every move we make.  God has a plan!   Jeremiah 29:11 says that -- I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. (MSG)  I LOVE this verse! I love the way the Message Bible writes it out! God has a Plan! I was listening to an inspirational message the other day and the woman that was speaking based her message around Jeremiah 29:11, and how God has a plan for each and everyone of us in everything we do and will do in our lives.  He knows what’s best for us, he knows our life story and every move we make and every thought we think, and through it all…He Loves us!  Because…God has a PLAN!  He has a plan for our lives, for our future!   He knows are story, He is writing our story.  When we surrender our life to Christ we are giving him complete control because we know we can’t do it on our own, no matter how hard we try or may want to live our lives by ourselves, it’s just too much for us to handle…it’s overwhelming! We are being prepared for greater things…Because…..GOD HAS A PLAN! 
It’s like the song “Surrender” by Barlow Girl says to surrender our life and dreams to Christ to hand them over, to ask for help…
        Say you have a plan for me, And that you want the best for my life. 
        Told me the world has yet to see What you can do with one
        That’s committed to your call.  I know of course what I should do
        That I can’t hold these dreams forever.  But if I give them now to you
        Will you take them  Away forever?  Or can I dream again?

        Surrender, surrender
        You whisper gently
        You say I will be free
        I know but can’t you see
        My dreams own me, My dreams own me.

YES! We can dream! We can still have our dreams, but we often feel like we have to fulfill our own dreams, but when we surrender our dreams to Christ, he helps us fulfill our dreams and goals, and he does it better than we ever could on our own.  He gives us ambition and strength to make it through tough times that we can’t get through by ourselves. It’s because of Christ’s love for us that we CAN DREAM!  When we are committed to what Christ has called us to do, we can do anything, because he gives us the strength to do it!