on creating: paleo almond joy bars

About two years ago I wrote about this same topic, I believe. Or maybe more recently. Maybe it's this time of year, this time that just grabs me and melts me and flutters my heart every hour or so. And certain days seem more glorious and heaven-glimpsing than others, like today. They just hover above you, bringing perfection closer to you for just a few hours, and you just erupt in gratitude and jump in excitement, but afraid to move too abruptly because then you might snap back into real life and turn to stress and anxiety and schedules again.

It's on these days when I put my foot down, my stubborn stomp, and I refuse to let those things get in the way. Because no matter what I do today, I know that it is God-ordained. Whether I have my quiet time or not, I know He is calling me to glorify Him in some way. And it's on these days when you simply can't resist it. It's like they're our purpose-calling days. Our glory-manifesting days. Our time to use the gifts God has given us, because there's nothing more that gives Him glory than doing exactly what He hardwired us to do. And so today, I create. 

It doesn't matter in what capacity. Today it might look like cleaning the house and listening to Josh Garrels loud as can be and crying while I create a peaceful place of this apartment. It might mean grocery shopping and taking the time to browse the aisles. It means writing, getting my hands dirty in the kitchen, and staring at the perfectly baby blue skies. It also will mean moving my car every two hours so I don't get more tickets. And taking a shower, which sometimes just feels like the most dreadful task. It means shamelessly embracingly this beautiful autumn through a cozy Starbucks drink and a scarf and driving by myself.

All of these things, I have found, are bits and pieces of the wholeness that God has crafted as me. They're not just characteristics that I have chosen to embrace as my own. I can't create soul-fillers for myself. I can't connect myself to something deeper. I've got nothing on my own. Yesterday at church, this, my pride, was challenged. Am I really living in gratitude of God's gift of life towards me? Or do I daily just suppose upon His mercy, grace, and love? And then later He said this to me: "I have not given up on making you new. I will never give up on making you a new creation." Weep. And then today is this day, this new day, this day where He woke me up in gratitude, where's He's giving me the opportunity to not only say thanks, but to live thanks. I love the way He works.

Whatever you do. If you run, if you sing, if you help people, if you paint, if you organize, if you decorate, if you solve problems. Do it. Do it in thanks, because without the Lord, we wouldn't be doing it at all. And because He delights, He laughs, He smiles when you do. Thanks, God, for your love and your loveliness.

Paleo Almond Joy Bars
(Slightly adapted from Detoxinista)

Crust:
1 cup almond flour/meal
2 Tbs maple syrup
1 Tbs melted coconut oil
1/2 tsp almond extract
Pinch salt

Coconut filling:
2/3 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup coconut flour
3 Tbs maple syrup
2 Tbs melted coconut oil
1 Tbs water

Chocolate topping:
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
2 Tbs maple syrup
85% cocoa chocolate bar, to top

Line a bread pan with parchment paper. Mix the ingredients for the crust in a bowl until it becomes a pasty ball. Press into the bottom of the pan. Do the same for the coconut filling. For the chocolate, stir together all the ingredients and pour/spread on top of the coconut filling. Break up your chocolate bar and arrange on top of chocolate. Freeze for about an hour; cut and eat!
Note: I would probably double the crust amount. Mine turned out thinner than I'd hoped!