community...
A revolving door. A campfire circle. Kids playing as the moms sip coffee. Community to me is a tribe of people that do life together. We worship together, pick each other up when we are down, and come together at our darkest hours. We celebrate and laugh together; we vacation and cook out together. We build snowmen and sip cocoa. We pray together and grow together. God built us for the type of fellowship we see in the book of Acts. Life is too short not to love others - to create community with those around you and truly value friendships. With all that is going on in this world, we could all use a little bit of this kind of community. Just think about who we all could reach for His kingdom if we were truly His hands and feet.
“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:44-47)
raspberry rhubarb crisp...
INGREDIENTS:
4 cups of sliced rhubarb (1/2 in slices)
2 cups raspberries (could also use strawberries or blueberries)
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbsp corn starch
Zest of one orange
1 cup flour
1 cup of rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice)
2 sticks of cold butter cut up
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix together first five ingredients in a bowl. Spray a 10x10 or a 13x9 inch pan with cooking spray. Pour rhubarb mixture into pan. Set aside.
- Take the last five ingredients and combine until a crumble/crisp mixture forms. Top Rhubarb mixture with crisp topping.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
This recipe and article was first published in Issue No. 2 of By Design Journal. Since it's original printing, we've learned this recipe has become a favorite amongst our readers, being baked in every season with a variety of different fruits! Please let us know when you try it out!
chrystal harless
Chrystal and her husband, Chad, are raising their four beautiful children in southern Michigan. The Harless family exudes community - opening their home up to crawfish broils and bonfires whenever the opportunity arises. Chrystal is on staff at her church, but also volunteers her time serving at Bloom, a women's retreat designed for women to experience the love and presence of the Holy Spirit in a very real way. And what would an introduction of Chrystal be without mentioning her passion for baking the most delectable desserts.
Photographs provided by Chrystal Harless.