Relationships and Resolutions

This morning as I was praying for my children and grandchildren I had an epiphany. Tears were welling up as my heart was missing each and every one of them. I love every one of them with my whole heart. I would give my life for any of them. I love them equally! There may be some that would deny that but I know my heart. I do have a closer relationship with some of them more than others. Why is that, because my love is the same? It is because some work on our relationship more than the others. When I am the one that has to do most of the work on a relationship, (which may be just my opinion), it keeps from having the closeness I long for. It doesn't change my love for them, it just keeps us from that intimate relationship.
So here comes the epiphany...is this how God sees it. Is that why King David was "the apple of His eye"? Is that why Abraham was considered a "friend" of God. The Bible never says that God loved them more than the rest of us. But he had a closer relationship with them because they worked on it. It wasn't a once or twice a week communion with God. They longed for a relationship with God almost as much as God longed for a relationship with them. These were VERY flawed humans. A liar, an adulterer, a murderer. But they still desired to be intimate with God. Just them having that desire had to make God's heart sing.
I desire also to have an intimate relationship with God. I know that I am also a VERY flawed human. I know that God loves me as much as He loves anyone else. I know that it won't make Him love me more than He already does. It will make ME love HIM more. I want to be His "friend" and "the apple of His eye". I know it will take work on my part. More digging into His Word. More praying and communing with Him.
My New Years resolution is...to keep striving for that close intimate relationship that I know God longs for, just like I long for with my family...
The love is there, now for the relationship...

Chex Mixes

I love trying new recipes. Not all of them turn out very good. I get so excited when they do. Here are a couple of them that did.

INDIAN SPICED CHEX MIX
3 cups each of Rice, Corn, and Wheat Chex
1 cup cashews
1/2 cup almonds

Mix together in a large microwavable bowl set aside

In a small microwavable bowl melt;
1 1/2 Tbs butter

add:
3 Tbs. light corn syrup
3 Tbs. honey
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. ground cardamom (This is expensive but you can substitute 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. nutmeg)
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
dash cayenne pepper

Microwave 10 more seconds, stir well, pour over cereal mixture stir well to coat.
Microwave 3 min. stirring after each min.
Spread out on wax paper to cool. Store in airtight container.

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CHILI-LIME CHEX MIX

8 cups Corn chex
1 cup corn nuts
1 cup mini pretzel twists
1 cup corn chips

Mix in large microwavable bowl set aside.

In small microwavable bowl melt;
6 Tbs. butter

Stir in;
1 Tbs. lime juice
1 tsp. lime zest
2 tsps. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Pour over cereal mixture, stirring to coat. Microwave 5-6 mins. stirring every 2 mins. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container.