Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
See you after the first of the year. Taking a break from blogging until then to spend time with my family.
Thimble or Thumb Print Cookies
This is it. The last day of the cookie exchange party - blog style. I would like to thank those of you that left a recipe in the comments this week. I hope you have enjoyed this and that your family enjoys some new cookie recipes this Christmas. It was hard to choose which ones to post because I have so many that we love.
Recipe
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp. almond extract
2 egg yolks
2 egg whites
2 cups flour
2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans
jam - any flavor you like
Directions
Cream butter and sugars together and add almond extract and egg yolks.
Stir until blended.
Add flour and beat until dough forms.
Roll dough into 1 inch balls and dip into egg whites and then in nuts.
Make an indention in the center of cookie and fill with jam.
Bate at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Remove to wire rack to cool.
*Jam - My favorite is either blackberry, raspberry or strawberry but you can you use any flavor of jam that you like.
Recipe
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp. almond extract
2 egg yolks
2 egg whites
2 cups flour
2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans
jam - any flavor you like
Directions
Cream butter and sugars together and add almond extract and egg yolks.
Stir until blended.
Add flour and beat until dough forms.
Roll dough into 1 inch balls and dip into egg whites and then in nuts.
Make an indention in the center of cookie and fill with jam.
Bate at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Remove to wire rack to cool.
*Jam - My favorite is either blackberry, raspberry or strawberry but you can you use any flavor of jam that you like.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Here is how this will work. Each day this week, Monday through Friday I am going to post some of my families favorite cookie recipes. I would like for you to leave some of your families favorite cookie recipes in the comments to share with me and all of my other readers. Today I am going with an all time favorite. The go to cookie recipe. Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Recipe
2 1/4 cup self rising flour
1 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 package instant vanilla pudding
2 eggs
1 package 12 oz. semi sweet choc. chips (sometimes I use about 3/4 of the bag - just my personal preference)
Directions
Mix butter, sugar, vanilla and pudding in large bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
Beat in eggs and gradually add flour then stir in chocolate chips. Batter will be stiff.
Drop by rounded teaspoonful 2 inches apart onto un-greased cookie sheet.
Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 8 - 10 minutes.
Your turn, add your favorite cookie recipes in the comments!
Click here for my Oatmeal Raisin Cookies recipe.
Enjoying a Life of Health and Healing
Enjoying a Life of Health and Healing
Just this very morning as my children were about to leave for school I stood in the driveway with them waiting on the bus and during our normal prayer for the day, I had to pray for healing for my oldest son. He woke up this morning with a sore throat and ear ache. UGH!!!
Sickness has NO place in our lives! NONE! We belong to God and Jesus and every good gift comes down from them.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Sickness is not good. It belongs to the devil plain and simple. The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus comes to give us life.
John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [a]overflows).
We have authority in the Name of Jesus to stand against the devil and his attacks on our health. I refuse to allow him to place sickness on my family and not do anything about it.
Praying healing scriptures today for my son. Here are a few of my favorites!
I Peter 2:24 He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [a][as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
Psalm 103:2-3 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits— Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
James 5:14-15 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
I urge you to pray for your children for health and healing. Your child may be totally healthy on a normal day but you can pray just like I did for healing from aches, pains, virus', the flu, etc... If your child has been diagnosed with some type of life altering disease - pray! (This doesn't mean we stop seeing our Doctor or following their advise and guidance unless we hear from God to do so. Our Doctors are here to help us and we are blessed to have them.) Pray for God's healing power in the life of your child.
The prayer of faith will make the sick person well.
What about you? Do you pray for healing and health for your children??
Just this very morning as my children were about to leave for school I stood in the driveway with them waiting on the bus and during our normal prayer for the day, I had to pray for healing for my oldest son. He woke up this morning with a sore throat and ear ache. UGH!!!
Sickness has NO place in our lives! NONE! We belong to God and Jesus and every good gift comes down from them.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Sickness is not good. It belongs to the devil plain and simple. The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus comes to give us life.
John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [a]overflows).
We have authority in the Name of Jesus to stand against the devil and his attacks on our health. I refuse to allow him to place sickness on my family and not do anything about it.
Praying healing scriptures today for my son. Here are a few of my favorites!
I Peter 2:24 He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [a][as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
Psalm 103:2-3 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits— Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
James 5:14-15 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
I urge you to pray for your children for health and healing. Your child may be totally healthy on a normal day but you can pray just like I did for healing from aches, pains, virus', the flu, etc... If your child has been diagnosed with some type of life altering disease - pray! (This doesn't mean we stop seeing our Doctor or following their advise and guidance unless we hear from God to do so. Our Doctors are here to help us and we are blessed to have them.) Pray for God's healing power in the life of your child.
The prayer of faith will make the sick person well.
What about you? Do you pray for healing and health for your children??
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
I love hosting cookie exchange parties at my house but this year I thought I would attempt to host one online. It's the perfect time of year to do this because many of us will be busy baking many different kinds of cookies throughout this month.
Here is how this will work. Each day this week, Monday through Friday I am going to post some of my families favorite cookie recipes. I would like for you to leave some of your families favorite cookie recipes in the comments to share with me and all of my other readers.
Thanks and Happy Baking!
Recipe
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour (I use self rising)
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 cups oats (uncooked)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup raisins
Directions
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
Beat margarine and sugars until creamy.
Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.
Combine flour and cinnamon and add to butter mixture and mix well.
Stir in oats and raisins.
Drop by tablespoonful's onto un-greased cookie sheet.
Bake 10-12minutes or until light golden brown.
Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, remove to wire rack and cool completely.
Ok, Now it's your turn to post your favorite cookie recipe.
Click here for my Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Here is how this will work. Each day this week, Monday through Friday I am going to post some of my families favorite cookie recipes. I would like for you to leave some of your families favorite cookie recipes in the comments to share with me and all of my other readers.
Thanks and Happy Baking!
Recipe
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour (I use self rising)
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 cups oats (uncooked)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup raisins
Directions
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
Beat margarine and sugars until creamy.
Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.
Combine flour and cinnamon and add to butter mixture and mix well.
Stir in oats and raisins.
Drop by tablespoonful's onto un-greased cookie sheet.
Bake 10-12minutes or until light golden brown.
Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, remove to wire rack and cool completely.
Ok, Now it's your turn to post your favorite cookie recipe.
Click here for my Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Why We Go To Church
Why we go to church is really simple.
God gave Moses the 10 commandments and one of them said to Keep the Sabbath Day Holy.
Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Jesus went to Church. According to scripture it was His custom to go to church on the Sabbath.
Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom....
The Bible tells us that we are to imitate what we see God do.
Ephesians 5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
John 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”
There you have it, that is my simple explanation of why I believe that Christians should go to church. God said keep the Sabbath Holy. Jesus kept it Holy by going to church. We, as believers are supposed to do what we see God and Jesus do.
Jesus went to church and so should we.
Following Truth, Rejecting Lies
The summer my son went off to camp for the first time was a HUGE deal for me. Other than the occasional night at the Grandparents or to a very close friends house my kids are always home with us. I don't let them stay away from me very often and more than one night has happened only once before and that was with their Grandparents.
I packed my son's Bible with a little note from me (his loving mother) securely tucked inside and sticking out only enough that he could see it telling him how proud I was and how much I loved him.
When he came home and I was helping him unpack, I pulled his Bible out of the suitcase. "So, did you read your Bible every day"? I asked. "Yes" he responded. "What did you read?" I inquired. Then he went on to tell me some things that he had read. As I looked at his Bible I noticed the note still inside, still in the same set of scripture, and still sticking out the same amount as I had fixed it the week before. "So, did you get my note that I left you"? I said. "NOTE?" My son questioned. "Yes, my note I wrote for you". I said By this time it was obvious that he not only hadn't read my note but that he probably hadn't even opened his Bible the whole week he had been gone.
After some talking he confessed that although he had intended to, he just hadn't gotten around to spending time in the Word. I was bothered that he hadn't taken the time to read but even more than that was that he had lied when first asked. He assumed he would get in trouble if he hadn't read and to avoid that or any conflict he chose poorly in telling his momma a lie, a fib, or whatever you want to call it.
The Bible clearly says that God and Jesus are TRUTH.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It also clearly says that the Devil is a LIAR.
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
It is important for our children to tell the truth. The Bible also says that a tree is known by it's fruit. So is a person known by the fruit they bear whether it be good or corrupt.
Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
I do as Stormie Omartian said she always did with her children and I pray and ask to show me what I need to see or know about my kids that may not be out in the open. I ask God to show me the secret things and I also ask Him to make my Spirit sensitive to His leading. God will show us what we need to see and know if we will ask and wait on Him.
Have you ever encountered lying with your children?
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I packed my son's Bible with a little note from me (his loving mother) securely tucked inside and sticking out only enough that he could see it telling him how proud I was and how much I loved him.
When he came home and I was helping him unpack, I pulled his Bible out of the suitcase. "So, did you read your Bible every day"? I asked. "Yes" he responded. "What did you read?" I inquired. Then he went on to tell me some things that he had read. As I looked at his Bible I noticed the note still inside, still in the same set of scripture, and still sticking out the same amount as I had fixed it the week before. "So, did you get my note that I left you"? I said. "NOTE?" My son questioned. "Yes, my note I wrote for you". I said By this time it was obvious that he not only hadn't read my note but that he probably hadn't even opened his Bible the whole week he had been gone.
After some talking he confessed that although he had intended to, he just hadn't gotten around to spending time in the Word. I was bothered that he hadn't taken the time to read but even more than that was that he had lied when first asked. He assumed he would get in trouble if he hadn't read and to avoid that or any conflict he chose poorly in telling his momma a lie, a fib, or whatever you want to call it.
The Bible clearly says that God and Jesus are TRUTH.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It also clearly says that the Devil is a LIAR.
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
It is important for our children to tell the truth. The Bible also says that a tree is known by it's fruit. So is a person known by the fruit they bear whether it be good or corrupt.
Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
I do as Stormie Omartian said she always did with her children and I pray and ask to show me what I need to see or know about my kids that may not be out in the open. I ask God to show me the secret things and I also ask Him to make my Spirit sensitive to His leading. God will show us what we need to see and know if we will ask and wait on Him.
Have you ever encountered lying with your children?
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From the Book
(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent")
The more lies you tell, the more you place in your heart to Satan's lying spirit, until eventually you can't stop yourself from lying.
Stormie says she prays and asks God to reveal to her anything she needs to know about her children.
Proverbs 12:22 The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
Snow and a Leaf Pile
Just wanted to share a couple pictures of my son having fun outside over the past few weeks.
My Youngest son got to play in the snow - complete with sledding, building a small snow man and a "snow day" from school before we had a chance to make a leaf pile for him to play in.
October 30th
November 16th
Proverbs 31 Woman - A Different View
As I have mentioned before some friends and I have just finished up doing the Proverbs 31 Bible study through Good Morning Girls. I have learned so much about myself and my friends throughout the course of the study. I have heard from some people that the Proverbs 31 woman is not an achievable goal, that we will never be like her. I have been told by some friends that they don't feel like they measure up to her or others of us doing the study and to that I have a little different view to add. I am not adding to scripture just simply looking at the Proverbs 31 woman in a little different light so that those of you who think you can never be like her may possibly change your thinking. I believe we can be like her - if we want - if we focus on God first and trust Him for guidance. I also believe we should want to be like her, as a Christian woman, as wives and mothers - we should desire to have her same qualities and traits and should look to her as a mentor, role model and example for our own lives.
She was human just like we are and I am sure she had rough, lazy, I just don't want to do this kind of days. There could have been days that she slept late, over slept or went back to bed. I would venture to say she had days that her plans failed and she accomplished next to nothing even though she had high hopes for the day. I am sure she had days that her children and husband got to hear her fuss or complain about not being appreciated for all she did and possibly she snapped at them in anger from time to time. She could have on occasion slipped and said something hurtful to a friend or family member. She probably had days that she burned her dinner or lacked the necessary ingredients she needed to prepare her families food for the day. It's totally possible that she spent more money than she should have on an "impulse" buy while shopping.
If you think that this view of the Proverbs 31 Woman just couldn't be true look at Jesus. He was Perfect but while He was on the earth He was human. He got mad at the people selling in the Temple and overturned their tables (John 2 and Mark 11:15-19). He got upset with His disciples for not staying awake and keeping watch while He went to pray (Matthew 26:40). He had real human emotions and feelings just like the Proverbs 31 woman and just like you and me.
BUT just as this scripture (Proverbs 31:10-31) doesn't focus on that aspect of her life - neither should we focus on that part of our own life.
If you have a bad day or a bad week don't let that get you down. You can do this and so can I.
Determine where you need work, pray and ask God for help and start now to change that area for the better as you work your way towards being the Proverbs 31 Woman. If there is one thing I know for sure it's that I need help doing this. I can't be the best person, wife or mom that I want to be or am supposed to be on my own. The Bible says that with God ALL things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
What are your thoughts on the Proverbs 31 woman?
My friend Dee wrote a beautiful summary of the Bible Study over on her blog and I encourage you to check it out. Click HERE to read her post.
AWESOME Tub and Shower Cleaner
My mother always said that blue dawn dish liquid was good for just about everything and she was right. Between it and white vinegar I have an arsenol of money saving homemade cleaners. Today I am sharing one of my new favorite mixtures.
Equal Parts of Regular Dawn Dish Liquid and White Vinegar mixed together makes an awesome tub and shower cleaner. It cuts the soap scum and dirt so easily that you hardly have to put any "elbow grease" into it. I like to spray it on, leave it set just a couple minutes then use a wet Mr. Clean magic eraser to clean with.
I mixed mine in a spray bottle and Margo from Joyful Homemaking mixes hers in a dish scrubber wand. I have been known to just mix mine in a small bowl as well. This can also be used on appliances, sinks, etc...
Equal Parts of Regular Dawn Dish Liquid and White Vinegar mixed together makes an awesome tub and shower cleaner. It cuts the soap scum and dirt so easily that you hardly have to put any "elbow grease" into it. I like to spray it on, leave it set just a couple minutes then use a wet Mr. Clean magic eraser to clean with.
I mixed mine in a spray bottle and Margo from Joyful Homemaking mixes hers in a dish scrubber wand. I have been known to just mix mine in a small bowl as well. This can also be used on appliances, sinks, etc...
Pumpkin Pie Spice
I have spent a lot of time this fall baking pumpkin recipes and sharing them here on my blog.
I found this recipe for pumpkin pie spice over at The Purposeful Mom blog and wanted to share it with you as well.
Do you have any homemade spice mixtures that you make??
Cheesy Potato Soup
This soup is quick and simple to make and is very tasty. This is basically my regular potato soup recipe but I change it up several ways to make different soups. I will tell you about them in a later post.
Ingredients:
Potatoes - diced
Carrots - I like to use either canned or shredded carrots
1 onion - chopped
Water
Chicken Bouillon or chicken broth
Cream of Chicken Soup
Milk or Cream - either work great
Cornstarch
Velveeta Cheese
Salt
Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes
In a large pot I put water, potatoes, carrots, onions, chicken broth or bouillon, salt, pepper and pepper flakes and cook until potatoes are tender. Then I add in 1 can cream of chicken soup and either 1 can of cream or about 1 cup of milk that I have mixed cornstarch with to the mixture. The cornstarch mixed with the milk will make your soup thicken up. Reduce your heat and add in however much Velveeta cheese you want. I cut it up in small cubes so it will melt faster and I usually use about 1/2 of one of the large blocks for my large pot of soup.
We like to eat ours with oyster crackers.
Check out some of my other soup recipes here.
Proverb 31 Bible Study
I mentioned back several weeks ago that I was leading a Good Morning Girls Bible Study group on the Proverbs 31 Woman. Well after 10 weeks of digging deeper into God's Word we are finishing up the study this week. I have learned so much about myself, my friends and what God expects of us as women, wives and mothers through this study.
This is definitely a study that I will revisit yearly just to refresh my vision and purpose. In the past I have read these verses many times but I had never really studied it until now. My eyes have been opened to many things that I am supposed to be and do. I have realized area's where I do well at my calling and area's that need A LOT of work. I also now know the kind of woman I am to teach my son's to look for in a wife according to scripture.
This is definitely a study that I will revisit yearly just to refresh my vision and purpose. In the past I have read these verses many times but I had never really studied it until now. My eyes have been opened to many things that I am supposed to be and do. I have realized area's where I do well at my calling and area's that need A LOT of work. I also now know the kind of woman I am to teach my son's to look for in a wife according to scripture.
If you would like to do the Proverbs 31 study through Good Morning Girls you still can. Simply go Here and Check out their archives at the bottom of the pages for the study. It comes complete with a P31 ebook, blog posts and video's, and a scripture reading schedule. I know you will be blessed by the study.
Being the Person God Created
Week 10
Becoming The Person God Created
Wouldn't it be great if we came with instructions when we were born that clearly stated what our future would look like and what God has created us to be?
I remember when I was in 8th grade we had to take tests and surveys to try and figure out what we were supposed to be when we grew up. I thought it was silly then because at the age of 12 or 13 how in the world was I to know what I wanted to be. I chose a career path and once in high school I was briskly heading down that path. I took classes that were geared toward that career and spent a great deal of time working towards that goal.
Flash forward about 20 years (shhhh, I know - I am old) and I am a MOM. Proud to be a MOM and I know that this is where my calling is for this time in my life. Those 8th grade plans never panned out and my life went in a totally different direction.
The reason? Prayer. My 8th grade plans were not covered in prayer or prayed about at all for that matter.
Throughout the past 14 years or so I have questioned my "JOB" as a MOM. I have prayed for God to show me if I am supposed to do something different. I even went back to work when my youngest started school and worked a part time job outside of my home for 3 years. I prayed about that as well and felt it was where I was supposed to be for those 3 years. God placed me in my job for that time to make a difference and I believe I did. I quit that job with the blessing of my husband for several reasons but mostly because even though I had no children at home through the day - my heart, my job and true calling are right here at home.
While my job as a MOM is right where I believe God wants me, it would have been much easier to figure that out when I was younger if I had prayed about it or had others praying for me concerning my future.
It is so important for us to pray for our children to find out the direction that God wants for their lives and then encourage them in that so they will succeed.
I want my children to have clear direction for their future and not question or doubt the path they are taking. We make sure this doesn't happen by praying for them and with them about what God has created them to be.
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Becoming The Person God Created
Wouldn't it be great if we came with instructions when we were born that clearly stated what our future would look like and what God has created us to be?
I remember when I was in 8th grade we had to take tests and surveys to try and figure out what we were supposed to be when we grew up. I thought it was silly then because at the age of 12 or 13 how in the world was I to know what I wanted to be. I chose a career path and once in high school I was briskly heading down that path. I took classes that were geared toward that career and spent a great deal of time working towards that goal.
Flash forward about 20 years (shhhh, I know - I am old) and I am a MOM. Proud to be a MOM and I know that this is where my calling is for this time in my life. Those 8th grade plans never panned out and my life went in a totally different direction.
The reason? Prayer. My 8th grade plans were not covered in prayer or prayed about at all for that matter.
Throughout the past 14 years or so I have questioned my "JOB" as a MOM. I have prayed for God to show me if I am supposed to do something different. I even went back to work when my youngest started school and worked a part time job outside of my home for 3 years. I prayed about that as well and felt it was where I was supposed to be for those 3 years. God placed me in my job for that time to make a difference and I believe I did. I quit that job with the blessing of my husband for several reasons but mostly because even though I had no children at home through the day - my heart, my job and true calling are right here at home.
While my job as a MOM is right where I believe God wants me, it would have been much easier to figure that out when I was younger if I had prayed about it or had others praying for me concerning my future.
It is so important for us to pray for our children to find out the direction that God wants for their lives and then encourage them in that so they will succeed.
I want my children to have clear direction for their future and not question or doubt the path they are taking. We make sure this doesn't happen by praying for them and with them about what God has created them to be.
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From the Book
(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent")
We become the person God created us to be when we ask God for guidance and then do what He tells us to do.
Pray for God to reveal to you what their gifts and talents are. Along with that ask for wisdom as to how to best encourage, nurture, develop, and train them to be all God made them to be. Helping them to appreciate their strengths and not dwell on their weaknesses was part of that.
Pumpkin Dip
cinnamon and pumpkin spice - to taste
1 small box cheesecake instant pudding mix
1 small box vanilla instant pudding mix
1 8 oz. block cream cheese softened
1 small container cool whip
Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth and creamy.
Disappointed in Man BUT Full of Hope in God
To say that I am disappointed in the people of our Country would be an understatement. America as a whole is much better than it is being represented.
The election is over. We have a President staying in office that in my opinion has not been good in any way for our Country.
But what is a person to do?
* We are going to continue praying for our leaders.
I Timothy 2:1 - 4 says I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
* We are going to continue trusting in God and His Power and Provision.
Proverbs 3:5 - 6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Psalm 43:5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
Matthew 6:26 - 32 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
* In the end, We WIN!
Colossians 2:9 - 15
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[a] was put off when you were circumcised by[b] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
I encourage you to put your hope and trust in God no matter if your candidate won or not. We elected a leader for our country but God is still King of King's and He is still on His Throne. Last nights election results did not change that.
Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
The election is over. We have a President staying in office that in my opinion has not been good in any way for our Country.
But what is a person to do?
* We are going to continue praying for our leaders.
I Timothy 2:1 - 4 says I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
* We are going to continue trusting in God and His Power and Provision.
Proverbs 3:5 - 6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Psalm 43:5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
Matthew 6:26 - 32 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
* In the end, We WIN!
Colossians 2:9 - 15
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[a] was put off when you were circumcised by[b] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
I encourage you to put your hope and trust in God no matter if your candidate won or not. We elected a leader for our country but God is still King of King's and He is still on His Throne. Last nights election results did not change that.
Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Developing a Hunger for the Things of God
Developing a Hunger for the Things of God
This is so important for us to pray for our children. My husband and I pray this all the time for our boys. We pray for them to have tender hearts to hear the voice of God. We pray for them to always be receptive to His teaching and for them to always seek after God and His ways.
We teach our children to have a hunger for the things and ways of God by:
The world is full of things and people that would love to see your children choose them over God but we must pray for them to love, respect and honor the Lord and to seek Him for direction in their lives.
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This is so important for us to pray for our children. My husband and I pray this all the time for our boys. We pray for them to have tender hearts to hear the voice of God. We pray for them to always be receptive to His teaching and for them to always seek after God and His ways.
We teach our children to have a hunger for the things and ways of God by:
- taking them to church regularly
- keeping them involved in children's/youth ministry at church
- praying with them
- praying for them
- taking time to do devotions with them
- reading God's Word with and to them
- living a life that honors God in front of them
- encouraging them always in their walk with God
The world is full of things and people that would love to see your children choose them over God but we must pray for them to love, respect and honor the Lord and to seek Him for direction in their lives.
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From the Book
(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent")
Proverbs 10:27 Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Start right now by praying for your child to fear God, have faith in Him and His Word, and develop the kind of heart that seeks after Him. This could be the determining factor in whether your child will have a constant struggle living in the flesh or be fulfilled and blessed living in the Spirit.
Psalm 34:9 O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear.
it's never too early to begin praying about this. Don't wait another moment.
Pumpkin Roll
If you have never made a pumpkin roll and feel a bit intimidated to try it, don't be. It really is pretty simple to do.
Pumpkin Roll
3 eggs beaten well
1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
1 Tblsp. cinnamon
1 Tblsp. lemon juice
3/4 cup self rising flour
Blend all ingredients together.
Spread ingredients on cookie sheet - see directions below.
How to Prepare Cookie Sheet
lightly spray with cooking oil spray
cover with wax paper - leaving "handles" on each end about a couple inches
lightly spray wax paper with cooking oil spray
After you have spread your pumpkin batter onto wax paper lined cookie sheet,
Bake 15 - 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
When finished baking you will flip the pumpkin roll out onto a dish towl that has been covered with confectioners sugar - using your wax paper "handles".
Peel wax paper off and roll up in dish towl while hot.
Allow to cool completely then unroll, add icing and roll back up.
Thats it! Your done!
Icing
2 Tblsp. soft butter
8 oz. block of softened cream cheese
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
Check out my other pumpkin recipes here: Pumpkin Recipes
DIY Blue Jar Soap Dispenser
What??? You can do that??? Oh yea!
So, I came home and told my dear husband all about this beautiful DIY soap pump. Since I have a big supply of old blue jars already on hand it cost me $0.00 to make this (well for my husband to make it).
One blue jar.
One dial hand soap pump - (I already had in the bathroom).
Drill.
*Simply remove or break out the porcelain inside of the lid and drill a hole in the lid the size you need for your pump to fit. Then silicone around the inside of the pump and lid to make it hold and voila!
Fill with your favorite soap and you are in business!
What creative ideas for DIY projects do you have?
Shared at www.repurposemylife.com
Snow in the Mountain State
Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, we are getting our first snow of the year on October 30th. Our ground is still pretty warm so a lot of the snow is actually melting as it falls but it is coming down so fast that some is accumulating. It is a heavy wet snow and as of 6 am when I snapped this picture we had between 1 - 2 inches and it is still falling. I will add a pic a little later when it gets daylight out. Our mountain range is having a blizzard right now. I am thankful to not live up there.
Our kids started off on a delay but by 7 am school is now officially closed for the day. First snow day of the school year! Woohoo!
While the snow is cool to have in October and a snow day is always welcome, at least at my house it is no fun for people like my husband to have to get out in this and drive to work. Asking for prayers because while the snow is beautiful it is heavy and wet and sticking to electric lines and tree's. Our neighbors electric line going into their house is down and I have heard several tree's falling close by from the weight of the snow. Also praying for the people further north and east than we are that are having a blizzard, flooding from rain and power outages.
I thought this pic that I took from my front porch was neat. My "fall" sunflowers on my porch with the "winter" snow scene in the back ground.
Praying you all have a blessed day.
Godly Friends and Role Models
This week we are praying for our kids to have Godly friends and role models.
Until my son was in about 7th grade, it seemed that all of his friends were sweet innocent kids. About half way through his 7th grade year though I started noticing a change in my son that I didn't like. His closest friends at church and school were good kids but there were a few that he had started to spend time with whose influence was not so good. These kids were nice and sweet and we liked them just fine but they were not friends that encouraged our son in his beliefs as a Christian or ones that live with the same rules, morals and principles that we teach our children.
That being said, even though we have taught our children right from wrong and how to behave, etc... doesn't always mean they are going to do everything the way we would like. We live in a fallen world where bad choices are around every corner and friends that do not have the best of intentions with our children are around those corners too. Our children will have to make the choice and hopefully it will be the right decision. For my son, a few times he chose poorly and he has been corrected, punished and prayed for over these matters.
The Bible says in I Corinthians 15:33 that bad company corrupts good character.
33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.
Since I began praying about these children and my sons association with them One has moved, One seems to have lost interest in my son, One is at a different school and we are still waiting to see what God does with another. :)
God is so good. He cares about everything and will help us with it if we will just ask.
On the role model end of this, remember you are your child's biggest and most important influence. Live the life in front of them. Read your Bible, pray, go to church, tell the truth, be careful of what you say and watch on television, stand up for what is right, use your manners, be kind and so on and let them see that in you.
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We can pray for friends to either be changed or removed from our children's lives.
Parents often have gut-level feelings about their children's friends. When that happens, ask God for Holy Spirit-inspired discernment and pray accordingly.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 instructs us not to unequally yoked with unbelievers. That doesn't mean our children can never have an unbelieving friend. But there is clear implication that their closest friends, the ones to whom they have strong ties, should be believers.
If your child doesn't have close believing friends, begin to pray right now toward that end.
Do not stand for someone leading your child astray.
Pray that God would take anyone who is not a godly influence out of his (her) life or else transform that person into HIS likeness.
Until my son was in about 7th grade, it seemed that all of his friends were sweet innocent kids. About half way through his 7th grade year though I started noticing a change in my son that I didn't like. His closest friends at church and school were good kids but there were a few that he had started to spend time with whose influence was not so good. These kids were nice and sweet and we liked them just fine but they were not friends that encouraged our son in his beliefs as a Christian or ones that live with the same rules, morals and principles that we teach our children.
That being said, even though we have taught our children right from wrong and how to behave, etc... doesn't always mean they are going to do everything the way we would like. We live in a fallen world where bad choices are around every corner and friends that do not have the best of intentions with our children are around those corners too. Our children will have to make the choice and hopefully it will be the right decision. For my son, a few times he chose poorly and he has been corrected, punished and prayed for over these matters.
The Bible says in I Corinthians 15:33 that bad company corrupts good character.
33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.
Since I began praying about these children and my sons association with them One has moved, One seems to have lost interest in my son, One is at a different school and we are still waiting to see what God does with another. :)
God is so good. He cares about everything and will help us with it if we will just ask.
On the role model end of this, remember you are your child's biggest and most important influence. Live the life in front of them. Read your Bible, pray, go to church, tell the truth, be careful of what you say and watch on television, stand up for what is right, use your manners, be kind and so on and let them see that in you.
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From the Book
(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent")
We can pray for friends to either be changed or removed from our children's lives.
Parents often have gut-level feelings about their children's friends. When that happens, ask God for Holy Spirit-inspired discernment and pray accordingly.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 instructs us not to unequally yoked with unbelievers. That doesn't mean our children can never have an unbelieving friend. But there is clear implication that their closest friends, the ones to whom they have strong ties, should be believers.
If your child doesn't have close believing friends, begin to pray right now toward that end.
Do not stand for someone leading your child astray.
Pray that God would take anyone who is not a godly influence out of his (her) life or else transform that person into HIS likeness.
Pumpkin Bread
Here I go again, with another pumpkin recipe. There is just something about October and November that makes me want to bake all things pumpkin. This tasty bread is perfect for breakfast on a cool fall morning or for an evening snack with a cup of coffee.
1 small can of pure pumpkin
2 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 & 3/4 cup self rising flour
1 & 3/4 cup sugar
1 small box vanilla instant pudding
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. allspice
Directions
** Combine all ingredients together until smooth.
** Pour into greased and floured loaf pan.
** Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour - or until a knife inserted in top comes out clean.
** Allow to sit in pan for 15 minutes.
** Cool completely on wire rack before cutting.
You also may want to check out my Old Fashioned "Soft" Pumpkin Cookies and my Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing
Check back each Friday through Thanksgiving for more great Pumpkin Recipes.
What about you? Do you have any favorite Pumpkin Recipes?
Pumpkin Carving Prayer and Bible Lesson
** Read this story aloud to your children while cleaning out and carving a pumpkin.**
First, God picks you from the pumpkin patch and brings you in from the field. The Bible says He selects us out of the world. We are in the world, but no longer of the world.
He then washes all the “dirt” off the outside that we received from being around all the other pumpkins. All the outside influences of our former life must be cleaned up. Old things are passed away and all things are become new.
Then, He carefully removes all the “yucky stuff” called “sin” out from the inside. Look at this! Yuk! Sin will not have such internal power. He then changes us from the inside out by the Power of His Word. That’s why it is important to go the church and learn about God’s Word.
He carefully removes all those seeds of doubt, hate, greed, and fear. He replaces them with the seeds of faith, hope and love. After Jesus is invited inside, you begin to experience the changing power of God’s love in your life.
Then He carves a new smiling face. Our countenance is changed by the power of His presence in our life. We then become so grateful. It can even show on our face!
Now we are going to light this candle inside. Look! This pumpkin now reflects the light from inside out. So too, when Jesus, who is called the Son of Light, lives inside of us, He shines through our life for all to see. We can let His light reflect through us to reveal His presence. “Let your light so shine before men that they may be able to see your good works and glorify your Father, who is in heaven.”
So you see, we Christians are really like this pumpkin! We will never be the same with Jesus inside of us.
The Meaning of the Parable:
Just like us, all the pumpkins were different. But there was something the same about every one of them - that yucky, slimy pulp on the inside!
The yucky, slimy pulp is like the sin that's in us. Romans 3:23 says: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That's every single one of us.
God has made a way that all our sin can be forgiven and washed away. God even says He'll cast them as far as the East is from the West. Romans 5:8 says: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
John 3:16 goes on to say: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
After cleaning out that pumpkin, the Farmer gave the pumpkin a new face! The Bible says God can make us a new creation too.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Then came the really special part. The light was placed inside that pumpkin and it glowed for all to see!
2 Corinthians 4:6 says: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
And Matthew 5:16 says: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
So we can become like that pumpkin in the Christian object lesson - a glorious sight for others to see the love of Jesus!
or here is a shorter version
John 8:12 "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
You can buy the book by Liz Curtis Higgs to read the entire story.
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