Tender Warrior

“We must combine the toughness of the serpent with the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

For 4.5 years I have uttered prayers for my boys. Make them Tender Warriors, Lord. Who fight for the heart of the King. Make them compassionate for the hurting and the lost. Let it be not that they just fight, but that they fight for what is Right and Good and according to your Word, Oh Lord. There are enough warriors in this land, but please make their character tender.

I saw the work of God in C's heart this week (and an answer to prayer). Weekly he tells me of a little girl in his class whom the other kids are cruel to and daily make her cry. It took me a while to see it as a compassionate heart. Until one day he had learned about the word honor at church. Each kid was given a gold medal and was told to give it away to someone that needed to be honored. Someone who may be under-appreciated and needed to be shown respect.

Monday morning C decided to give his medal away to the little girl in his class who "cries a lot."

There were tears in my eyes as I watched him and as I tried to explain to his mother what it was all about. I finally saw that God has been growing a heart that is tender and compassionate in my son and that he is able to hear God's still small voice speak to him and obey.

Thank you Father for bending down and listeneing to me

In honor of my son, I baked a cake:)

White Chocolate Almond Cake

Melted butter for greasing the pan
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup finely chopped white chocolate

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Using a pastry brush or kitchen towel, lightly coat a 10" tube pan with melted butter.
Sift together flour and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or with an electric beater, cream together the softened butter, cream cheese and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. This will take about 5 minutes, being sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl periodically. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides again and beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and almond extracts.
With the mixer on low, add the flour in two additions, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined. With the mixer still on low (or with a rubber spatula), stir in the white chocolate. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, mounding the edges up slightly and leaving a bit of a furrow through the middle. Hit the pan against the counter to remove any trapped air bubbles.
While cake is baking, combine the water, sugar and almond extract in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup becomes thick.
The cakes should be done after 75-85 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean and the top is golden brown. Allow to cool in pan, on a wire rack, for 10 minutes.
Turn the cake out onto the rack (see note) and, use a pastry brush to coat the cake entirely with the syrup. Allow to cool completely.

and to close with this...........

Prayer for His Son, A
by: Douglas MacArthur, More Sower's Seeds

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, Build me a son, whose wishes will not take the place of deeds... Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenges. Let him learn to stand in the storm; let him learn compassion for those who fall. Build me a son, whose heart is clear, whose goals will be high a son who will master himself before he seeks to master others; who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past. And after all these things aer his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor so that he may always be serious yet never take himeself too seriously... Then, I, his father will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."