1st peter 1:3

1st Peter1:3

1st Peter 3

Joke of the Day

  1) Let's Meet At My House Sunday Before the Game - God
      2) C'mon Over And Bring The Kids - God
      3) What Part of "Thou Shalt Not..." Didn't You Understand? - God
      4) We Need To Talk - God
      5) Keep Using My Name in Vain And I'll Make Rush Hour Longer! - God
      6) Loved The Wedding, Invite Me To The Marriage - God
      7) That "Love Thy Neighbour" Thing, I Meant It. - God
      8) I Love You...I Love You...I Love You... - God
      9) Will The Road You're On Get You To My Place? - God
      10) Follow Me. - God
      11) Big Bang Theory? You've Got To Be Kidding. - God
      12) My Way Is The Highway. - God
      13) Need Directions? - God
      14) You Think It's Hot Here? - God
      15) Tell The Kids I Love Them. - God
      16) Need a Marriage Counselor? I'm Available. - God
      17) Have You Read My #1 Best Seller? There Will Be A Test! - God

Recipe of the day

N'Orlins Zesty Chicken & Dip:

Malt Marinade:
1-1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken, cut into strips
1/3 cup malt vinegar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce


Pecan Breading
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
2-3 teaspoons cajun seasoning

Tangy Dip
1 cup apricot jam
2 tablespoons malt vinegar
1 teaspoon cajun seasoning

Place chicken in a bowl or sealable plastic bag. Combine malt vinegar, brown sugar & soy sauce in a small bowl, stir well. Pour over chicken & toss to coat. Refrigerate 30-40 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray pan with cooking spary. Combine pecans breadcrumbs, & cajun seasoning in a bowl, mix well. Drain chicken. Coat chicken pieces each with breading & place close together on tray. Spray chicken lightly with cooking spray. Bake 20 minutes.

For Dip: stir together jam, malt vinegar, & cajun seasoning. Serve with chicken.

Quote of the day

Core values are of no value unless they reflect God's values.

Christian Poem

What Christ will say on judgement day,
Will finally makes life's values clear,
He'll show that we were rich or poor,
By what on earth we held most dear.--D. DeHaan

Zechariah 8:12

Christian Poem

If God's creation helps us see,
What wonders He can do,
Then we can trust His promises,
For they are always true.--D. DeHaan

Quote of the day

It's good to worship God in nature, if it leads us to worship the God in nature.

Joke of the Day

Church Signs:


1) The best vitamin for a Christian is B1
      2) Under same management for over 2000 years
      3) Try Jesus. If you don't like Him, the devil will always take you back
      4) Soul food served here
      5) You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving
      6) Never give the devil a ride. He will always want to drive
      7) Reputation is what people think about you. Character is what people know you are
      8) Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case!
      9) Come early for a good Back seat
      10) Seven days without prayer makes one weak
      11) No Jesus - no peace, Know Jesus - know peace!
      12) Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due

Recipe of the day

Berry Baked Apples:
3/4 cup strawberryor rasberry, or blackberry, etc.,  jam or preserves
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons butter
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
6-8 medium apples

Preheat oven to 375,  in a small saucepan, stir together preserves, brown sugar, vinegar, butter & nutmeg. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Continue to cook 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
Core apples & place in a baking dish & spoon sauce over each apple. Bake uncovered 35 minutes. remove from oven & baste apples with remaing sauce, from the bottom of dish, bake an additional 10 minutes.

1st Corinthians 15:55

Quote of the day

To trust God is to trust in His Holy Word.

Christian Poem

The Bibl stands like a mountain towering,
far above the works of men;
Its truth by none ever was refuted,
And destroy it they never can.--Lillenas

Joke of the Day

1) The best vitamin for a Christian is B1
      2) Under same management for over 2000 years
      3) Try Jesus. If you don't like Him, the devil will always take you back
      4) Soul food served here
      5) You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving
      6) Never give the devil a ride. He will always want to drive
      7) Reputation is what people think about you. Character is what people know you are
      8) Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case!
      9) Come early for a good Back seat
      10) Seven days without prayer makes one weak
      11) No Jesus - no peace, Know Jesus - know peace!
      12) Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due

Recipe of the day

Veggies Italian Style:
2 to 4 cups brocolli florets
1/2 cup virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons chopped basil
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 small clove garlic, minced

Put brocolli in the microwave, add 2-3 tablespoons water in dish, cover & cook on high 2-3 minutes. remove cover & immediately fill bowl with ice. Add water to the top of bowl, set aside.
In a seperate bowl, combine remaining ingrediants, whick to dissolve sugar & salt. Drain brocolli into colander, transfer to serving dish. Drizzle with other ingredients & stir to coat.

Word of the Day

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left" (Ex 14:21-22).
History often remembers people because of a defining moment that took place in their life. There are good defining moments and bad defining moments. September 11, 2001 was a bad defining moment for the United States of America. Many people's lives were changed as a result. Israel had a defining moment when they crossed the Jordan River and stepped onto the Promised Land. Moses had a defining moment when he parted the Red Sea with his staff. We could go on.
How would you like to be remembered? Is there a defining moment in your life with which others will associate your name? Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus is remembered as "Doubting Thomas." What a shame. I wonder what other good things Thomas did. However, because Thomas doubted that Jesus had truly come back from the dead and needed Jesus to show the nail marks in his hands and side, he will forever be associated with this question posed to the Savior when He saw Him after he was resurrected.
For most of us we can still define our moments for the future. God may yet have a defining moment when you will discover something new or see the work of God in your life in a unique way. I think God likes defining moments. He wants you to have an experience with Him that is memorable.
Make a commitment to the Lord today to allow your defining moment to be one that has a positive faith experience, not a regret.

Our City, Winchester, Virginia

Deuteronomy 23:5

Recipe of the day

Sloppy Joes:
1/3 cup ketchup
1 can diced tomatoes
1 tsp chili powder
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
3 tabls brown sugar
1 lb ground beef
1 med onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt

In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, red wine vinegar, ketchup, & brown sugar. Stir to dissolve suger, set aside.
In a large skillet, combine ground beef, with remaining ingredients. Cook over high heat 8-10 minutes. Stir in tomatoe mixture. Reduce heat to medium & cook, uncovered 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Joke of the Day

Church Bloopers:

  1) The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare's "Hamlet": in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
      2) The 1991 Spring Council Retreat will be hell May 10 and 11.
      3) Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to church secretary.
      4) Please join us as we show our support for Amy and Alan in preparing for the girth of their first child.
      5) Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
      6) The associate minister unveiled the church's new giving campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge--Up Yours."
      7) The cost for attending the Prayer and Fasting conference includes meals.
      8) The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
      9) Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
      10) Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person(s) you want remembered.
      11) Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.
      12) Mrs. Johnson will be entering the hospital this week for testes.

Christian Poem

If God sees the sparrow's fall,
Paints the lilies short and tall,
Gives the skies their azure hue,
Will He not then care for you?

Quote of the day

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Word of the Day

It's Where You End Up 
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.—2 Peter 2:21 
Many of us are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son. But how about the story of the Prodigal Pig? That is in the Bible too:
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:21-22)
There are many reasons I know the Bible is true, and two of them are in the above passage. I have watched a dog return to its own vomit. If you have ever owned a dog, then you probably have too. As for pigs you can take them, dress them up, and even spray perfume on them. But the first chance they get, they will make a beeline to the mud. Why? Because a pig is a pig.
So when a person claims to be a Christian, here is how to know whether he or she really is a follower of Jesus Christ. Believers, even when they go astray, always will return to God. However, nonbelievers won't. Writing on this matter, the apostle John said, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us" (1 John 2:19).
So when we look at people who seem as though they have fallen away from the Lord, and we wonder whether they have lost their salvation, I suggest the possibility they were not even saved to begin with. Because the true test is where you end up.

1st Corinthians 12:27

Joke of the day

Church Bloopers:

1) Our next song is "Angels We Have Heard Get High."
      2) Don't let worry kill you--let the church help.
      3) Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.
      4) For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
      5) Weight Watchers will meet a 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
      6) Jean will be leading a weight-management series Wednesday nights. She's use the program herself and has been growing like crazy!
      7) The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev. and Mrs. Julius Belzer.
      8) This afternoon there will be a meeting in the South and North ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.
      9) Tuesday at 4:00 P.M. there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.
      10) Wednesday the ladies liturgy will meet. Mrs. Johnson will sing "Put me in my little bed" accompanied by the pastor.
      11) Thursday at 5:00 PM there will be a meeting of the Little Mother's Club. All ladies wishing to become "Little Mothers" will meet with the Pastor in his study.
      12) This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
      13) The service will close with "Little Drops of Water." One of the ladies will start quietly and the rest of the congregation will join in.

Recipe of the day

Slow cooker chicken chow mein::

8	boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 lb)
1	tablespoon vegetable oil
2	medium carrots, sliced diagonally (1 cup)
2	medium stalks celery, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
1	medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
2	cloves garlic, finely chopped
1	can (8 oz) sliced water chestnuts, drained
1	cup Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
2	tablespoons soy sauce
1/2	teaspoon finely chopped gingerroot
2	tablespoons cornstarch
3	tablespoons cold water
1	cup sliced fresh mushrooms (3 oz)
1	cup snow (Chinese) pea pods
	Chow mein noodles, if desired

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1. Remove fat from chicken. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil about 5 minutes, turning once, until brown.
2. In 3 1/2- to 6-quart slow cooker, place carrots, celery, onion, garlic and water chestnuts. Add chicken. In small bowl, mix broth, soy sauce and gingerroot; pour over chicken.
3. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 6 to 8 hours.
4. In small bowl, mix cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into chicken mixture. Stir in mushrooms and pea pods. Increase heat setting to High. Cover and cook 15 minutes. Serve over noodles.

Quote of the day

He who conquers his anger conquers a strong enemy.

Word of the Day

UNMET SPIRITUAL NEEDS 1 John 2:17
The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever

Over the last three decades, people in the West have begun to sense that there is more to life than science has revealed and their senses have experienced--and, of course, they're right. On the surface this new hunger may sound encouraging to those of us with a Christian worldview, but in fact the same people who are disillusioned with the materialistic world are also disillusioned with established religion. Instead of turning to Christ and His church, they are filling their spiritual void with old-fashioned occultism dressed in the modern garb of parapsychology, holistic health, Eastern mysticism and numerous cults marching under the banner of the New Age Movement.
Attempting to meet spiritual needs apart from God is nothing new. Christ encountered a secularized form of Judaism during His earthly ministry which was bound to its traditions instead of to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The religious leaders of the day didn't recognize the Messiah as their spiritual deliverer. They perceived the oppressor to be Rome, not Satan, the god of this world. But Jesus came to undo the works of Satan (1 John 3:8), not Caesar.
Satan's ultimate lie is that you are capable of being the god of your own life, and his ultimate bondage is getting you to live as though his lie is true. Satan is out to usurp God's place in your life. And whenever you live independently of God, focusing on yourself instead of the cross, preferring material and temporal values to spiritual and eternal values, he has succeeded. The world's solution to this conflict of identity is to inflate the ego while denying God the opportunity to take His rightful place as Lord. Satan couldn't be more pleased--that was his plan from the beginning.
Prayer: Mighty God, I renounce any inclination within me that I am capable of being the god of my life. You alone are Lord and King.

Joke of the Day

Church Bloopers::
1) Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
      2) The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.
      4) Evening massage - 6 p.m.
      5) The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.
      6) The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.
      7) Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 to 8:30 p.m. Please use the back door.
      8) Ushers will eat latecomers.
      9) The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.
      10) For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
      11) The Rev. Merriwether spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience.
      12) The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."
      13) During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.
      14) Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on "It's a Terrible Experience."
      15) Due to the Rector's illness, Wednesday's healing services will be discontinued until further notice.

Quote of the day

If you want to be spiritually fed, go to church with a hunger for the Word.

Christian Poem

O throbbing heart, be still!
                Canst thou not bear
The heavy dash of Memory's troubled tide,
    Long sternly pent, but broken forth again,
Sweeping all barriers ruthlessly aside,
    And leaving desolation in its train
                Where all was fair?

            Fair, did I say?--Oh yes!--
                I'd reared sweet flowers
Of steadfast hope, and quiet, patient trust,
    Above the wreck and ruin of my years;--
Had won a plant of beauty from the dust,
    Fanned it with breath of prayer, and wet with tears
                Of loneliest hours!

            O throbbing heart, be still!
                That cherished flower--
Faith in thy God--last grown, yet first in worth,
    Will spring anew ere long--it is not dead,
'Tis only beaten to the breast of earth!
    Let the storm rage--be calm--'twill lift its head
                Some stiller hour!        - Mrs. J. C. Yule

Recipe of the day

Watermelon Salsa:

• 3 cups finely diced seedless watermelon, (about 2 1/4 pounds with the rind) (see Tip)
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced (see Ingredient note)
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro, (about 1/2 bunch)
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup minced red onion, (about 1/2 small)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Preparation:

1. Place watermelon, jalapenos, cilantro, lime juice and onion in a medium bowl; stir well to combine. Season with salt. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

1st Chronicles 16:29

These are some pics I took of our mountain where we get our water, as well as the place we usually stop first, Richard's Farm Market....my Husband likes to pick me flowers there....it's such an awesome time we have...:-)

Recipe of the day

Maple orange Mashed Potatoes:

Ingredients

4	tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 4 pieces
2	tablespoons heavy cream
1/2	teaspoon table salt
1	teaspoon granulated sugar
2	pounds sweet potatoes (about 2 large or 3 medium-small potatoes), peeled, quartered lengthwise, and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
	pinch ground black pepper
2	tablespoons maple syrup
1/2	teaspoon grated orange zest

Instructions

1. 1. Combine butter, cream, salt, sugar, and sweet potatoes in 3 to 4 quart saucepan; cook, covered, over low heat, stirring occasionally, until potatoes fall apart when poked with fork, 35 to 45 minutes.
2. 2. Off heat, mash sweet potatoes in saucepan with potato masher, or transfer mixture to hopper of food mill and process into warmed serving bowl. Stir in pepper, maple syrup, and orange zest; serve immediately.

Joke of the Day

  1) How will you spend eternity -- Smoking or Non-smoking?
      2) Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives
      3) It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin.
      4) Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church.
      5) If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again.
      6) Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon.
      7) This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?
      8) Forbidden fruit creates many jams.
      9) In the dark? Follow the Son.
      10) Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up.
      11) If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.

Christian Poem

Christian, lookup? thy feet may slide;
    This is a slippery way!
Yet One is walking by thy side
    Whose arm should be thy stay,
Thou canst not see that blessed form,
    Nor view that loving smile
With eager eyes thus earthward bent--
    Christian, look up a while!

Christian, look up!--what seest thou here
    To court thy anxious eyes?
Earth is beneath thee, lone and drear,
    Above, thy native skies!
Beneath, the wreck of faded bloom,
    The shadow, and the clod,
The broken reed, the open tomb,--
    Above thee, is THY GOD!

Look up! thy head too long has been
    Bowed darkly toward the earth,
Thou son of a most Royal Sire,
    Creature of kingly birth!
What! dragging like a very slave
    Earth's heavy galling chain,--
And struggling onward to the grave
    In weariness and pain?

What wouldst thou with this world?--thy home,
    Thy country is not here,
'Mid faded flowers, and perished bloom,
    And shadows dense and drear!--
Thy home is where the tree of Life
    Waves high its fruitage blest,
'Mid bowers with fadeless beauties rife,--
    Look up, and claim thy rest!        - Mrs. J. C. Yule

Quote of the day

As light overcomes darkness, goodness can overcome evil.

Word of the Day

The rainstorm had been terrific. Torrents of rain had fallen, drenching everything. Now, the clouds began to part. Shafts of bright sunlight stretched to the earth, causing all foliage to sparkle with droplets of water. On the horizon, a rainbow stretched from earth to earth. The clouds climbed high into the sky, turning rosy pink with the sunlight. God's creation gives testimony to His truth all the time. All His wonders unfold through the course of one day. From the sunrise through the course of one day. From the sunrise through nighttime starshine, God's glories unfold. Take time to view God's handiwork. Search the daytime skies and see the majesty of the Almighty. His hand is ever upon His creation.
Prayer: All praise and hone belongs to You, Lord. For the magnificent works of Your hands. You have made such beauty, and You have loved us enough to share it. Thank You, Father, Amen.

1st Corinthians 6:20

Quote of the day

To find salvation, you must admit that you're lost.

Christian Poem

Jesus came to seek and save the lost,
Left Heaven's glory, minding not the cost;
Looking high and low and far and wide,
The Son of Man for all was crucified.--Hess

Joke of the Day

Church Signs:

      1) A man's character is like a fence. It cannot be strengthened by whitewash
      2) K-Mart isn't the only saving place!
      3) Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary
      4) Delay is preferable to error
      5) Prevent truth decay. Brush up on your bible
      6) It's hard to stumble when you're down on your knees
      7) What part of THOU SHALT NOT don't you understand?
      8) A clear conscience makes a soft pillow
      9) The wages of sin is death. Repent before payday
      10) Can't sleep? Try counting your blessings
      11) Forbidden fruit creates many jams
      12) Christians, keep the faith... But not from others!

Recipe of the day

Sunday Morning Pancakes

• 1 cup spelt flour or whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup unbleached white flour
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup almond milk or rice milk
• 3 free-range eggs , separated
• 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 small container fresh raspberries or blueberries

Directions

Combine the flour, flaxseeds, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl.

Whisk together the almond milk, 1/2 cup of water, egg yolks, maple syrup and vanilla, and add to the flour, mixing well.

Whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks and gently fold them into the pancake mix. If you like, you can add the berries to the pancake mixture or you could serve them on the side. (I prefer not to cook raspberries.)

Spray or drizzle your pancake pan with olive oil, coconut oil or butter, and drop or pour the pancake batter into the pan, making whatever size pancake you wish. Allow to cook for a couple of minutes before turning over to cook the other side. You can peek under the pancake by lifting the edge with a spatula to see if it's nicely browned before turning.

Serve drizzled with extra flax oil or veggie butter and extra maple syrup.


Variations:

• In place of flaxseeds, you can add other ground or chopped nuts or seeds such as ground almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pumpkin or hemp seeds.
• If you don't eat eggs, you can use the flaxseed egg substitute (see my gluten post), or just omit them and add another 1/2 cup of rice or almond milk. They will be a bit more dense, as the egg white lightens them up, but still delicious.
• Other fruits can be added such as strawberries, chopped banana or pieces of lightly stewed apple or pear.
• For a special treat, you can top with some whipped cream or natural yogurt.
• You can make a gluten-free version by substituting a mixture of 1/2 cup tapioca flour, 1 cup rice flour and 1/2 cup ground almonds or other nuts.

Fall

Ahhhhhhhhh,,,fall, my favorite season. The leaves turning their bright colors, the nice, crisp, clean air, letting us know that winter is on it's way...I just love it. I love to take pictures of the beautiful trees, and their leaves..there is not any better season, in my opinion.

1st Corinthians 1:18

Joke of the Day

Church Signs:
  1) Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!
      2) Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins.
      3) Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!
      4) An ad for a Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads, "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets.
      5) When the restaurant next to the Church put out a big sign that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."
      6) Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons -- come hear one!
      7) Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!
      8) Sign broken. Message inside this Sunday.
      9) Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world.
      10) If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.

Christian Poem

Love is an attitude, love is a prayer,
For someone in sorrow, a heart in despair;
Love is good will for the gain of another,
Love suffers long with the fault of a brother.

Quote of the day

We show our love for God when we love one another.

Recipe of the day

Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins

• 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter or cooking spray
• 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 cup canned mashed pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup apple juice or cider or orange juice
• 1 1/2 cups raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease 12 half-cup muffin cups with melted butter. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, applesauce, pumpkin, and vanilla until blended. Add dry ingredients, alternating with the juice, beginning and ending with the dry mixture; mix until smooth. Fold in raisins.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each cup two-thirds full. Bake on the center oven rack until a toothpick inserted in the center of each muffin comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow muffins to cool in the pans several minutes; turn muffins out onto a rack. Serve muffins warm or at room temperature. Repeat steps 1 through 3 with remaining batter.

Word of the Day

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything..." 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)

         

Devotion:

It seems you can hardly turn anywhere today without seeing reminders of economic hardships.  During the past couple of years the unemployment rate in our country has been the highest we've seen in 60 years. Friends and family members are suffering due to the loss of jobs, investments gone bad, and cutbacks that seem to be everywhere.

Whenever I face situations I am having a hard time understanding, I have to park my mind with what I know to be true.  Keeping my mind saturated with truth, keeps Satan from being able to whisper dangerous assumptions, false accusations, and faith-eroding perspectives.

So, what is true in this situation?  What is true no matter what situation we are facing?

God is a good provider. 

This is true. This is where I must park my mind.  This is the reality that must saturate my thoughts.  This truth rises above our troubling circumstances and calls us to see life from a perspective outside our screaming realities.

God richly provides us with everything we need. 

The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8-9 that if we think on what is true, the peace of God will be with us.  And ultimately, isn't peace what we want?  

Praise God, His peace is but an utterance of truth away.  So,  park your mind with His truth today.  And watch God's perfect provision of peace flood whatever dry and lacking ache you are experiencing right now.

Dear Lord, thank You for being my provider each day. Help me not to fear these times of hardship. Rather, help me to trust in You and Your ways more each day. My desire is to focus on what is true and believe that You will make the rough places smooth.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

2nd Chronicles 7:14

Quote of the day

God's Word should shape our words.

Christian Poem

Lord, set a guard upon my lips,
My tongue control today;
Help me evaluate each thought,
And watch each word I say.--Hess

Joke of the Day

ildred, the church gossip and self-appointed arbiter of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose in the other members' private lives. Church members were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.
      
      She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon.
      
      She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.
      
      George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny; he said nothing.
      
      Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house... and left it there all night!

Recipe of the day

Cranberry, Apple, Coffee cake:

RECIPE INGREDIENTS For the Topping: 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 1/2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen, thawed, chopped (see Tip) 1 1/2 cups finely chopped peeled tart apple, such as Granny Smith (about 1 large) 1/2 cup cranberry juice cocktail, orange juice or apple juice For the Cake: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup canola oil 3 tablespoons butter, slightly softened 3/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest 3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon for sprinkling 1 large egg 3/4 cup low-fat milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Kitchen tip To make quick work of chopping cranberries, place whole berries in a food processor and pulse a few times until the berries are coarsely chopped. Kitchen note A nonreactive pan—stainless steel, enamel-coated or glass—is necessary when cooking acidic foods, such as cranberries, to prevent the food from reacting with the pan. Reactive pans, such as aluminum and cast-iron, can impart an off color and/or off flavor in acidic foods.

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DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. To prepare topping: Whisk brown sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon in a medium nonreactive saucepan (see Kitchen note) until combined. Stir in cranberries, apple and juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring. Continue to cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens and the berries soften, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. To prepare cake: Whisk all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Beat oil, butter and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, first on medium speed, then on medium-high, until well combined, about 11/2 minutes. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beating until the mixture is light in color and well blended. Add egg and beat until the batter is smooth, about 1 minute longer. With the mixer on low speed, beat in half the flour mixture until just incorporated. Gradually beat in milk and vanilla until just incorporated. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat until a smooth batter forms, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, spreading to the edges. Spread the topping in an even layer over the batter; do not stir. Bake the cake on the middle rack until the top is puffed in places and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (the fruit topping will still be moist), 40 to 50 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar over the top. Transfer the pan to a wire rack; let stand until cooled to warm, about 20 minutes. To serve, run a knife along the edge of the pan, remove the pan sides and cut the cake into wedges.

2nd Chronicles 7:14

Quote of the day

To build a rock-solid life, Follow Jesus' instructions.

Quote of the day

To build a rock-solid life, Follow Jesus' instructions.

Christian Poem

Lord, help me heed Your every word,
Commands that I have read or heard;
As You reveal Your will each day,
Help me to follow & obey.--Fitzhugh

Recipe of the day

Potato, Brocolli, & sausage skillet:		2	cups water
2/3	cup milk
2	tablespoons margarine or butter
1	box (4.9 oz) Betty Crocker® scalloped potatoes
2	cups sliced fully cooked reduced-fat Polska-kielbasa sausage (from 1-lb ring)
1/2	cup Old El Paso® Thick ‘n Chunky salsa (any variety)
2	cups Green Giant® Select® frozen broccoli florets

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1. In 12-inch skillet or 3-quart saucepan, heat water, milk and margarine to boiling. Stir in contents of uncooked potatoes and sauce mix pouches (from potato mix box). Add sausage and salsa; stir until well mixed. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Stir in broccoli. Cover; cook 8 minutes longer or until potatoes and broccoli are tender (sauce will thicken as it stands).