A DIVINE BAKERY

1 cup uncooked oats

1 ¼ cup boiling water

 1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

¾ tsp cinnamon

Pour boiling water over oats and let set 20 minutes

Beat butter and sugar together in separate bowl. 

Blend in vanilla and eggs

Stir in the oats mixture

In another bowl, sift together flour, soda, salt and cinnamon.

Add this mixture to the creamed mixture.  Mix well.

Pour into a greased 8” square pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes in a 350-degree oven.  Check after 25 minutes…as this may be sufficient baking time, depending on your oven.

Hello!  Just about now, you may be wondering why I’ve posted a recipe.  Am I right about that?  Actually, this is a favorite “oatmeal cake” my grandma shared with me many years ago.  When I feel a little nostalgic, I make this cake, and I make certain to invite others to join me, so I don’t consume it all in one setting.

 In a funny sort of way, this recipe is what I’d refer to as an “emotional cake” because eating it brings back a variety of happy memories.  Maybe you have recipes that hold emotional memories for you as well.

But this story isn’t about memories or deserts.  It’s about how God works His will and plans into our lives.  One theme of encouragement I often refer to is this: 

Our lives are designed by God to “live out His plans and purposes” in our lives.

It’s not until we acknowledge in our life that, from birth, we came into this world as a sinner.  Two-year-olds need never be taught to misbehave…it’s automatic.  It’s not a large word, but most everyone finds it difficult to let it exit their mouth.  

I know I did for years, until God worked in some very difficult circumstances in my early twenties which woke me up to my need of forgiveness, and the opportunity of becoming His child through His adoption by accepting what His Son, Jesus, did for me on the cross.   My decision to repent (change my mind of the direction I was going and yield my life to Him) and place me in a better direction for my life here; and to prepare me for spending eternity with Him.

It all began with the first human couple, Adam and Eve.  They walked with God in perfection and in a perfect garden atmosphere… that is until they disobeyed one directive given by a loving Creator.   They could eat and enjoy any food in the garden, but stay away from just “one tree,” (the Knowledge of Good and Evil).   Our Creator-God never wanted them to realize or be exposed to evil.  It was a test for this first couple, and both of them failed the test and disobeyed God’s instructions.   That was the beginning of sin and this couple passed this inborn nature down to all of us.  

My goodness, they had everything one could desire all around them, but they couldn’t resist Satan’s temptation to taste of the fruit of that tree.   God calls that disobedience sin.

Well, back to the title of this story…. A DIVINE BAKERY.  I’m imagining you on the other side of this computer screen as I share some of what’s been going on in the life of my husband and I.

A medical challenge took place that went on for about six weeks.  There’s no need for specifics, but it left me weak, frustrated, in pain, loss of sleep and fearful at times.  We’ve all experienced these kinds of days, or weeks or months, haven’t we!  Maybe you’re there right now.

But one particular night as I was reading a book by Dr. Tony Evans, “Pathways…From Providence to Purpose.”  It’s an excellent book on the Providence and Sovereignty of God.  I was only reading the book to take my mind off the inability to sleep.   It wasn’t long before I was gripped with the many truths from God’s Word on how God works in and through our lives. My yellow highlighter was on high alert to all the truths and applications saturated in this book.

If you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, no doubt you’ll be aware of the Scripture in Romans, chapter 8, verse 28 for followers of Jesus.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

I’m not the brightest button on the blouse, but through the last four months, Jesus has helped “piece several components” of the events of my journey together in an astounding manner.  Most all of the outcome has come as a “huge surprise.” 

God seemed to work “underground” for weeks, when nothing of my circumstances made any sense; and bakery-speaking, didn’t taste good either.  The Scriptures I found that kept me talking with Jesus and leaning into Him were:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; but in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.”

Isaiah 64:4 declares that “God is uniquely faithful acting on behalf of those who trust in Him, in a way that is beyond human comprehension.

Isaiah 64:4 NIV “Since ancient times no one has   heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.”

Let me park back on Romans 8, verse 28 for this “Divine Bakery” story.

There’s no need to list all the areas of His care, redirection, attentiveness, but when I came to the section in Tony Evans’ book on how God weaves all our circumstances for our good, (and His purposes for our life), God began this journey to a surprising end.  And yes, He even uses our “mistakes” and weaves them together.

Here’s the focus of what I wanted to share about the cake recipe at the beginning of this story.   As I stated earlier, oatmeal cake is just about my favorite cake, but when you think about consuming each of the ingredients “individually,” they have absolutely no appeal on their own.  In fact, each ingredient tastes AWFUL (in my cake-opinion).  I’d never wish to consume any of them on their own.  But when put TOGETHER and placed in a heated oven………………AMAZINGLY, they are delicious and delightful.

Are you coming along with me on this, seeing what I began to see as the unpleasant, painful, discouraging, confusing and tiring events began to paint a picture……involving a “transition of surprise” that both myself and my husband never imagined or planned for.

This transition is beginning to unfold and we’re walking with the Lord Jesus, trusting Him to make a way that we cannot yet see.  But where He guides, He also provides. 

This journey brought to mind the illustration that we are in God’s Divine Bakery…. where He is using all the events He knew were coming our way (His Sovereignty and knowledge and control of all things), and using each of them (His Providence – carrying out His plan for our lives) in ways we would have never imagined. 

And like the cake recipe, each event/ingredient was and is working together for our good and His glory.   We’re not at the end of the story, but it’s in His “oven of care and direction” to show us the next step.

By the way, if you make that cake, let me know so I can “ooh and aah” with my taste buds.