Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread Speaks Love

**UPDATE** It is pure joy to give! Loaves delivered to neighbors, teachers, friends, and some new friends under the overpass on Nees Ave. I feel so blessed to have an oven, pans, and ingredients to have made them.

Eighteen mini loaves are in the oven as I pen this post (of course while listening to Kari Jobe's Christmas album, wearing my apron from Papua New Guinea.)

The purpose of the bread: to bless others with something savory, with the desire that it will make their day and that each would sense the Lord's matchless love for them.

It is funny how the small things in life shout "JESUS", isn't it? A precious friend of mine gave me a gift a couple of months ago that permeated Christ. When I opened the many gifts within the bag, I felt the love and affection of the Lord, which brought me to tears. Everything I pulled out of the brown bag was given with thoughtfulness and intention. O how I wanted to give her gifts in return, because it blessed me so...not out of obligation, but because of the overflow of love I received from her. God, our Father, loves us this way--He first loved us, so we can now love! When we know His love for us, He fills our hearts with His love and our only response is to love others.

As the smell of fall spices fill the kitchen, my heart is swelling even more so than a couple of moments ago, that some how, some way (by God's grace) each of the 18 people receiving a mini loaf will know how loved they are by Jesus Christ. Lord, show us Your glory today!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

3 cups white sugar

1 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree

1 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup water

4 eggs

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 Tablespoon ground nutmeg (I use 1/2 T.)

2 teaspoons of baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of miniature chocolate chips (I use the normal size and I love it this way)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms of three 9 x 5 inch loaf pans (or 8 mini loaf pans).

2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, water, and eggs. Beat until smooth. Blend in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill pans.

3. Bake for 1 hour for regular loaves or 35 minutes for mini loaves. Cool on wire rack.

4. Enjoy with apple cider and give some away!

Out of the oven. Next step to write notes and wrap them up all cutsie. Then, deliver and pray.