“Can I help you? ” Are you able to use my skills, imperfect though they be?

Little eyes and tongues beg me to say yes.  I cannot resist.

Clambering onto the counter, they thank me as I hastily make room for them by moving out of reach anything with potential messiness or fragile-ness.  They sit there, grinning away.

“May I stir it?”  Please let me do more than observe.  I want to be doing something for you.  I want to be useful.

I hand them the wooden spoon, knowing full well that afterward I will have to scrub them, the counter, and very likely myself, not to mention finishing stirring what they could not.

The joy on their faces reminds me of the reason I handed the wooden spoon to them on the first place.  It is not about my wants or desires.  Not about the cookies or a clean kitchen either.  It’s about teaching and encouraging little ones to be capable, hard working adults who glorify God in their daily lives.  It is about showing them by example what journey down the path of sanctification looks like.

Stirring, pouring, laughing and scooping, they give me a dim reflection of how I look, striving to do good works.

Just as they are unable to truly assist me, I am unable to truly do anything good.  The little bits that I do do are only there because of God’s work in my life.

And yet just as I thank them for their willingness,  God promises all rewards in heaven for all believers.

“The giving of a whole day’s wages to those that had not done the tenth part of a day’s work, is designed to show that God distributes his rewards by grace  and sovereignty, not of debt...because we are under grace, and not under the law, even such defective services, done in sincerity, shall not only be accepted, but by free grace richly rewarded.”  – Matthew Henry: A Commentary on the Whole Bible  (Volume 5, pg.284 on Matthew 20)

Despite the fact that I am by nature rotten to the core, utterly dead in sin, and a hater of God, He has chosen to redeem me and justify me.

Despite my disgustingly petty efforts, He promises not only to continue to santify me, but to reward me for these efforts!

Hallelujah for God’s wonderful grace!

The frosting is poured on while the cake is still warm, allowing it to seep into the cake a bit. If you want, you could add more cocoa powder to make it more dark chocolatey-ish. Not overly sweet.

Texas Chocolate Cake

Combine:

2 cups flour (I use whole wheat pastry)

2 cups sucanat

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. salt

In a small saucepan, combine:

¾ cup water

½ cup butter or coconut oil

¼ cup cocoa powder

bring to a boil, stirring often. Remove from heat and pour into flour mixture. Beat with a mixer at medium speed till well blended. Add:

½ cup buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

Pour batter into greased and floured 15×10* and bake at 375 for 17* minutes.

Icing

Mix, in saucepan:

6 Tbsp. Butter

1/3 cup milk

¼ cup cocoa powder

bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and gradually stir in:

3 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla

Spread on top of hot cake. Can add ¼ cup pecans.

*can be baked in 9×13 at 375 for 22 min.