Red Christmas cake with Waldorf Astoria Cake Frosting!

 My family has had Red Velvet Christmas cake for years as one of our traditions.  My brother, Brad, was born Christmas Eve in 1960.  Since he was small we have had this yummy cake at Christmas to celebrate both the birthday of a special brother and to celebrate the birth of Christ!  Our whole family loves it - especially with the unique frosting!

I wanted to get a good picture of the cake we made this year but I wasn't as quick on the draw as I wanted to be.  This picture shows, at least, what it

looks like.  The brilliant red color is so fun! I am sharing the recipe!

Red Christmas Cake

1 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup Crisco or shortening - cream these two together.  Then add:

2 eggs

2 cup flour

1 cup buttermilk ( I use powdered buttermilk to make the cup of buttermilk.)

1 Tbls cocoa

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ounces (2 bottles) red food coloring

Put in three round layer cake pans.  Cook at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. When the cakes are done, I let them cool, remove them from the pans, and freeze them in the freezer on greased sheets of wax paper.  This makes the cakes easier to frost.  The crumbs stick to the cake and keep the frosting cleaner.  

Waldorf Astoria Cake Frosting

3 Tablespoons flour

1 cup milk - Cook flour and milk until thick, stirring constantly. Cool. I usually do this when I make the cake and let it cool in the refrigerator overnight.

Mix until well blended and fluffy:1 cup sugar

                        1 teaspoon vanilla

                        1 cup butter (NOT softened- but since it is cold you may need to cut it in chunks.)

Now add the milk/flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture.  Continue beating with the mixer until it looks like whipped cream.  This may take about 8 to 10 minutes depending upon your mixer. 

I usually make this recipe and then 1/2 it again so that there is plenty of frosting for the cake. 

It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO yummy.  It gives this red cake a completely different taste than the cream cheese frosting that is often used.  

Through a child's eyes....

 

This year we had a very beautiful and meaningful nativity area up in our living room.  I so very much enjoyed and appreciated it every day of this Christmas season.  Our family had a big Christmas celebration at our home a week before Christmas.  We wouldn't have company the rest of the week.  Gail and I were planning to leave to go to Arizona where he could rope the day after Christmas.  So - before Christmas even came - I began to 'undecorate' the house.  I was a little depressed doing this.  Who takes the decorations down before Christmas????

I was babysitting for Austin and Missy that particular day.  I thought I could take down the decorations while the children played.  I didn't think they were watching or knew much about Christmas yet. Then..... the angels reappeared!

Little Lucy had gone over and gotten them and climbed up the stepstool to replace them where they were. This was a God moment for me.  Just as she was watching me - God is watching us.  He cares for us and loves us.

As it turns out we won't be leaving for Arizona for a little while now AND I have a new and beautiful spot that shows me Christ's love and the reminder to see through a child's eyes! 

When your family members irritate you by the little things they do....

  I am blessed to get to teach Sunday School to the kids at Cowboy Church.  Last Sunday I stepped out of the room for just a second and when I returned two of the brothers were in a disagreement.  I found out one of the brothers wiped his face on the other brother's napkin.  AND the napkin owner was mad!!  As I talked to the boy, I said it that really anything to get all upset about.......

This started me thinking this morning as I folded the laundry.  For years now Gail had taken his undershirt off over his head so it is turned the wrong side out when he throws it in the laundry.  Years ago this used to irritate me.  I'd think "Doesn't he know this takes my precious time to turn these right side out every week?"  I have two options here:

I can suggest to him (at just the right time) that he could help me out a little and not turn the shirt the wrong side out every time he removes it. This would help me in the end with my time management.

OR I can use this as an opportunity to pray for him.  Every time I fold the undershirt I can pray for Gail  - for our marriage, for him to grow spiritually, to him to be a Godly leader, for safety, for wisdom, and the list goes on and on.

We are growing older - I am not so busy.  I will choose the second option at this point in life.

What are others doing that annoy you?  Choose one option or the other. Show love.  Enjoy peace in your life. 

Idolatry - What are our idols today?

I have been reading in I and II Kings where idols are often mentioned.  It said the good kings walked in the way of the Lord.  Some of them took down the high places and destroyed the idols.  Others were good but did not remove the idols.  II Kings 23 talked about Josiah, a good king, who took down all the high places that Solomon had put up over 300 years before Josiah's reign.  The footnotes in my Bible said that we as parents should be very careful what we allow in our homes as our children will carry on with many of our traditions and ways.  

This started me thinking about idols.  What would our idols be today in our current world?  To answer my question I found an article entitled 'What are some modern forms of idolatry?' on Got Questions.org. I will summarize the article below.

1.  Materialism - is an idol today.  Acquiring stuff that we don't really need.  It is actually covetousness. God knows we will never be satisfied filling our materialistic desires.  Doing this is Satan's ploy to keep us focused on ourselves rather than God.    You shall not covet your neighbor's house.  You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:17

2.  Our own pride and ego can be idols.  Often seen in trying to get to the top in our careers and jobs. We spend time pursuing them rather than taking care of our children and families and teaching them about God.    21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 What has a man from call the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For dall his days are full of sorrow, and his ework is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 2: 21-23

3.  We idolize mankind. We do this through science ( environmentalism, evolution, naturalism). Our focus shouldn't be on these things but on living holy lives while waiting for the Lord's return.     But the day of the Lord will come like a thief....What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the of God ... 2 Peter 3:11,12

4.  We worship making self first to the exclusion of others and their needs and desires. We see this in self-indulgence by way of alcohol, drugs, and food. "The self-control we so desperately need is spurned in our insatiable desire to eat, drink, and medicate more and more. We resist any effort to get us to curb our appetites, and we are determined to make ourselves the god of our lives. Man's desire has been to be God. The worship of self is the basis of all modern idolatry." (Got Questions)   5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Genesis 3:5

Our hearts and minds must be centered on God and others.....Matthew 22:37 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.    When we do this, there will be no room for idolatry. 

I am asking myself what are my idols. My desire is to love and serve and glorify God. What must I change in my life to do that better? What might you need to change in your life? 

 Last year I wrote a blog about leaving your flower pots and flower gardens covered with the old plants through the winter until spring.  This keeps the tiny seeds that have fallen from the old plants in the planters or garden and lets them compost in so they come back up in the spring.  

This flower garden was one that I built in the driveway a few years ago using lasagna gardening.  You put down cardboard where ever you want to plant.  Cover it in layers with leaves, manure, straw, grass clipping, and/or peat-moss.  I took the old-growth off of it in the spring and all of these flowers came back by themselves.  Most of them are annuals that I originally planted there about four years ago and that have come back by themselves but there are a few perennials too. 

In the spring I laid two soaker hoses in the flower garden that are attached to one hose that goes to the hydrant. When I water I just turn the hydrant on and let the soaker hoses run until the water runs out at the edges of the garden.  So easy and quick! 

Fun and easy way to garden! 

Four o'clocks - so fun, pretty and easy

I have had fun with four o'clocks for years! When we lived north of  Genoa we had them on the east side of the house and they came back year after year.  Then a few years ago my grandson gave me some seeds.  I planted them on the west side of the garden so that we see them from our house and yard.  They also have come back now for several years from the seeds that have dropped on the ground each fall.   I think they provide a little shade from the afternoon sun for the cucumbers I grow in the garden. 

Four o'clocks open up in the morning and again in the late afternoon.  They bloom from June to late into September and October. They can get about four feet tall if they are well watered. They have rather large seeds that can be picked up as they fall to the ground so that you can plant them elsewhere fairly easily.  I just let my seeds lay on the ground through the winter and they compost in and the new plants come up by themselves.  

Such fun and beauty that God has blessed us with!!

 This has been a great summer for my potted plants. I am never quite ready for it to freeze and ruin them. Can I give you a few hints for keeping them going for another year? As repotting starts from your summer plants....saves you money and brings so much enjoyment the next summer.

It will soon be that time of year to start potting some of the 'ice plants' that are in my summer planters. I do this so that I can bring starts inside and keep them to replant next spring.  It just takes a few little pieces in a planter in the spring to fill and make the planters look beautiful by summer.  It is a great way to save money when spring comes and needing plants for the planters.  I am always amazed how they spread out and add so much to the planters.  

There are three different kinds of ice plants in these pictures. If you want any starts and live close let me know, I'd love to share them with you. If you don't watch for some of these plants next spring when you are shopping for your plants and then you'll have 'starts' for years to come. 

Depend on God.....Peace follows

 

These ARE troubling times - covid/vaccines/mandates; unrest within our country; much going on outside our country; many unknowns.......These things tend to make us on edge and unsettled. 

Let me share briefly from Charles Stanley's devotion from Sept. 27, 2021.

All that is going around us challenges our security and peace. What are we doing about that?  Are relying on ourselves and human strength to find a way through OR are we calling out to God? 

Stanley's ideas:

1) one of the purposes of prayer is to make us aware of our own dependence on the Lord

2) nothing is too small to bring to Him or too big for Him to handle

3) we are told in Phil. 4:6 not to worry about anything

4) after we take our concerns to the Lord we WILL have His peace - Phil. 4:7 - even though the circumstances may not have changed. 

It was exciting to think that praying does make us aware of depending on God.  

So - come to the Lord in prayer, humbly asking and seeking Him and His will.  Bring all your concerns to Him and He will give you peace!

Powdered buttermilk....a handy staple to keep on hand!

Just want to share with you briefly about powdered buttermilk....How many of you all out there have heard of it or keep it on hand?

It is a great staple to keep on hand for the times your recipe calls for buttermilk.  There are a few recipes out there that do.  I found two this summer that needed it and then the red Christmas cake calls for buttermilk too! This comes as a powder and all you have to do is mix it with water.  I even keep it in my freezer sometimes so that it stays fresh because I don't use it often but am excited that I have it when it is needed! 

Just a thought!! Happy baking!

A easy way to clean up when cooking a meal......

 Sept. 22, 2021

Lots of meals are fixed in our kitchen.  There is usually a big meal cooked every day with extras eating at our table.  We are grateful for this!  

Today I want to give you a hint about cooking and cleaning up.  It is a simple one!  Have the kitchen cleaned up and the pots and pans and baking utensils all washed and drying before you set down to eat.  This usually means some very last-minute dishwashing of the pans as you take the food out of them and set them on the table in the serving bowls.  This only takes a second of your time as the pans are usually warm and the food will clean off quickly and easily.  It makes doing the dishes after the meal a snap!!

This way when the meal is over you only have a few plates and bowls to load in the dishwasher.  Such an encouragement when the meal of over!  Have a good day!

Easy and quick one dish meal

 Sept. 22, 2021

This time of year I like to make this one dish meal.  The recipe can easily be adjusted depending on what garden vegetable you have on hand.  

We had a few extras here this morning doing some roping and they came in for lunch.  I put this together quickly using fresh corn, tomatoes, mild chili peppers, and zucchini.  It was great.  The mild peppers gave it great flavor.  The chili powder is a must. I don't usually put in the pimentos or parsley. Sometimes I add tomato sauce if I think it needs more moisture.  It is very adaptable and delicious! 

The spiritual aspect of being a grandparent....We have a wonderful opportunity and responsibility to help our grandchildren!

 Sept. 19, 2021

My last blog talked about being a good grandparent. It had lots of generic ideas that were good.  I was blessed to grow up with both sets of grandparents.  They both challenged me spiritually. One of my grandfathers could often be found sitting in his living room reading his Bible.  He would say, "Millie Jo where have you been reading in your Bible?" He held me accountable and also displayed to me that he read often in his Bible. When I was at my other grandparent's home, I would listen every morning as my grandad led in a devotion. I was so blessed to have spiritual guidance from my grandparents!!! In this blog, I want to address what the Bible says about our responsibilities as grandparents. 

Last year I spent some time with a grandmother and her grandchildren.  They were very distanced from one another and not close as a family.  It hurt my spirit that the grandmother was not able to love on and teach her grandchildren. I felt that the grandchildren were a little bit orphaned and left on their own.  

Soon after this experience, I heard on Family Talk a message by Dr. Dobson and Dr. Josh Mulvihill about grandparenting and ordered their book Equipping Grandparents.  Finally, I have gotten around to reading it. I have been very encouraged by it to be a more intentional grandmother spiritually.

The book says culture today says when you have raised your children and have gotten up in years that your work with the family is essentially done.  Culture says it is your time to kick back and enjoy life and live for yourself.   

However, the verses we read from the Bible would indicate otherwise. 

Deut. 4:9 Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

^{Deut 6:2} so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

4 Psalm 78:4-6 We will not hide them from their descendants;
    we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
    his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
    and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
    to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them,
    even the children yet to be born,
    and they in turn would tell their children.

The book says grandparents have an inherited faith they are to pass on to their family. (Ephesians 6:1-4; Psalm 78) It says grandparents should be disciple-makers of the future generations by focusing on the salvation and sanctification of their family. This goal can be reached by 1)having a multigenerational vision,  2)telling of the Lord's work through testimony, and 3) teaching obedience to God's commands based on the Bible.

There are approximately 30 million Christian grandparents in American. If we were all intentional in leading as Christian grandparents we could start a revival in America! No one loves a grandchild like a grandparent! May we be REALLY concerned and intentional about training them up in the Christian faith so that we may spend eternity with generations of them in heaven!!

Resources for you to look up and learn from: Legacy Coalition - it has many helpful resources; Josh Mulvihill also has grandparenting resources; Courageous Grandparenting by Cavin Harper.

LISTEN to the Holy Spirit

This morning - 

I read an article this morning about quieting our souls.  It said Satan tries to pull us away from God by keeping us busy.

My granddaughter who is in college wrote a paper this week entitled "Does Google make us dumb?"  It had some very good points saying that Google is great in that we can get knowledge readily and easily but it does not let us dig deep into articles so that we learn to think and be quiet and take in what we read.  Rather it hurries us along where we skim articles but don't really learn and have quiet in our souls.   

This morning as I was home I saw an advertisement for a job that paid $25/hour from home.  I thought I could do that.  Then the Holy Spirit reminded me that was not what He had for me.  

Then I saw a sale ad for the type of shoes I like.  Went to look in my closet to see what size I might wear and was convicted that I did not need any new shoes.

Saying all this to say:

Draw near to God.  He, through the Holy Spirit, will guide you in the path you should go.  Don't get caught up in the world - in the media, the hype of everything - but keep a quiet and close relationship with the Lord, listening to and obeying His voice.  You will have His peace and you'll be blessed beyond measure. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7

Apple Bread and Bread Pans....

 

Hannagan's Market has some excellent large apples this year.  My grandson thought they looked wonderful and picked out several for us.  I came across this recipe for apple bread and decided to use them for this as they would be easy and quick to peel being rather large.  

AND THE BREAD WAS EXCELLENT!

So I decided to share it with you since it is fall and apple season.  

I also wanted to tell you about bread pans.  Somewhere along the way I read that bread pans should be hand washed and not run through the dishwasher.  If you wash the pans in your dishwasher, it pits the aluminum pans, rusts the regular metals ones, and takes the Teflon finish off of the Teflon pans.  Any of these pits, rusty places, or missing finish causes the bread to stick to the pan so that it doesn't easily fall out of the pan.  I really don't enjoy washing the bread pans though.  It is easiest if you will put a little dish soap in the pan and fill it with water just after you take the bread out of the pan.  Then in just a little bit they will wash up easily. If you take care of your pans, you'll have them for years.  

Grandparents - hints for being a GREAT one!

August 27, 2021

The book I read and blogged about recently called Doing Life With Your Adult Children also had a section about grandparenting.  I love being a grandparent!  We currently have 23 grandchildren.  Each one is so special and so unique and so loved.  It is such a special blessing to get to spend time with them.  They do take lots of energy! But they grow up so quickly!  Any help I can get to better a "Nanna' is great.

The book listed the following practical ideas for influencing your grandkids:

1.  Be present. Be fun. Be generous.

- be the chief babysitter when one is needed

-your fun and generous presence matters 

- attend their games and recitals and birthdays

2.  Build lifelong memories and traditions

- some suggestions were to spend Sundays together, host a cousin's camp, vacation together, plan a special trip

-have a back to school sleepover before school starts, go to the mountains or to a cabin with the grandkids,

-make sure the grandkids have some special places in your home with things for them to play with and places to play

3.  Offer grace - constantly

-our job as a grandparent is to offer praise and support, not to give advice on everything

4.  Celebrate everything!

-this lets them know you are there for them and you are cheering them on

-celebrations make memories

5.  Recognize your role as a mentor

-a mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor

-these teaching moments come from your years of wisdom and they often come spontaneously

-your positive influence can be their hope in times of turmoil

6.  Keep supporting your adult children in their role as parents

-your job as a parent and grandparent is to come alongside the parents to help

-don't meddle

-don't talk negatively about the parents to the grandchildren

-remember your relationship with the parents is the gateway to your grandchildren

-parents are the gatekeepers and as a grandparent, you are to honor that

REMEMBER - grandchildren are your opportunity to transform the next generation. Use every opportunity to teach them Biblical morals, history, and wisdom.  Show and tell them of the love of Jesus and how to live for and serve Him.  Let them come alongside as you serve!

Watch for another blog coming soon about the importance of grandparents as Spiritual mentors!!

 

Adult children - Help! What do we do now?

September 18, 2021

Seems as though we can never get caught up and life figured out.  First it is marriage.  How do we do it? My husband won't mind me.  Help! Then - the children come.  Goodness, now what do we do?  This question goes on until they leave home.  Phew good!  NOTTA! Now you have adult children to deal with!!!

I recently read a good book: Doing Life with Your Adult Children - Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out by Jim Burns.  I read this because I was needing it now that we have grown children and grown grandchildren. I think it had some practical advice. I will share a few of things it said with you all - just in case you might 'some day' need some help too!😟

Four strategies the book gave to help you embrace your new job description as a parent of adult children 

1.  Be encouraging but not intrusive

-be caring and supportive, mentor only when called upon, and be a great cheerleader

-being intrusive means inserting yourself into your child's life in ways that aren't invited or are unwelcome; which often means keeping your ideas to yourself until your opinion is asked for

2.  Be caring, but do not enable dependency

-show loving care to your child but don't keep your child dependent on you

-let the adult children take full responsibility for their finances, actions, relationships, and growth

3.  Invest in your own emotional, physical, and spiritual health- be proactive in caring for your mind, body, and soul

-working on improving these things for yourself will make you stronger for your children 

-they will also help you develop a better perspective on issues you may be facing 

4.  Have serious fun by creating fun and enjoyable experiences you can share with your adult child/children

-this will help lead from a parent-child relationship to an adult-adult relationship

Chuck Swindoll was quoted in the book as saying, "Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."  Just because your children are adults don't stop making wonderful memories with them.

Four guidelines to help you keep your relationship strong and to avoid giving advice when not asked:

1.  Trust that experience is a better teacher than advice

2.  Give respect: no adult wants to be told what to do

3.  Remember you are now a mentor and a coach

4.  Know that your words have the power to bless and to curse

Three principles you can use to help communicate with your children:

1.  Ask open-ended questions

2.  Talk with them, not at them

3.  Speak words of grace

I hope these ideas will give you some guidance and help.  May you have a blessed, easy, smooth transition with your children. So blessed to have them as children and then as friends!!!

Enacting the Nativity - another tradition

December 2021

Another tradition that has been carried over from my childhood was to have a Nativity scene play during our Christmas eve celebration.  On Christmas eve we would eat our meal and

then settle in for the evening's activities.  The FIRST THING for those activities was the Nativity Scene.  My mom had a sack full of costumes that the kids would pick from to dress up as the characters from the nativity scene.  Then when the kids were all dressed up, an adult would read the Christmas story.  The most fun we had with this was the year one of the girl angels was hung from a loft above everyone at my parent's house.

Our family has now carried this tradition on.  Every year it is different!  Different kids - different outfit combinations - different baby Jesus but always it is done first before any gifts. Some years we use a doll for Jesus, some years it is a live baby.  This last year it was all grandsons with only a one year old Mary.  It was so special! 

The costumes aren't elaborate.  Men's short sleeve shirts and scarves work great for the shepherds, men's t-shirts or graduation robes work for the angels, old robes are great for the wise men.  Crowns from Burger King work great for the wise men too! Look around and you can sure come up with your clothes that will work for the kids in the scene.

Usually, the grandkids are really wound up and it seems very chaotic. But I am sure these nativity scenes are making memories and also reminding us all of the meaning of Christmas.  We try to have a few minutes of seriousness and quiet and a time to thank the Lord for His coming to us as a babe. So thankful for this tradition....

Another tradition .....baking Christmas cookies

 August 27, 2021

Another tradition is to get together with our daughters and grandchildren to make Christmas cookies for all of us to eat and to give away as gifts. Every age of grandchild gets involved in the process in some way. 

We pick a day in early December and come to the ranch to bake and fellowship.  We have some standard recipes that we use again and again each year for the goodies we just love to eat and make. We each have our 'specialties' that we excel at making.  We keep two mixers and two ovens and lots of cookie sheets going in and out of the oven. Seems we are always in a hurry but we make the most of whatever time we have. When we are done baking we make a big tray of goodies for each family to eat as they celebrate Christmas.  We also box up dozens of goodies to take to friends and neighbors.

We even get the boys into the spirit of Christmas!

Traditions - we all love them

 August 27, 2021

TRADITIONS!

Do you have some traditions that your family does together on a regular basis?  I think traditions can be important to the whole family to hold it together and make it feel like 'This is what WE do!'

One tradition my parents had with our family was to have popcorn and shakes on Sunday nights. Gail and I carried on this tradition with our girls.  I have kept the popcorn in this old pail of my grandmother's for about 20 years. Recently I got a new popcorn popper for my birthday.  We eat the popcorn in the same bowls we were given for a wedding gift almost 50 years ago!! Those are some traditions.

Sometimes the grandkids come by on a Sunday evening and they know what the menu will be - popcorn and shakes! One time we had a neighbor stay all night at our house as he had no electricity.  He thought he was going to starve with this meal but I didn't weaken and served it and he did just fine!! It made a memory for him that he talked about for years!

One of our girls and her family have pizza and watch a movie on Friday nights.  The kids really look forward to this time. 

The definition of tradition is the transmission of customs from generation to generation.  Can I encourage you to start some traditions of your own within your family? These new traditions will bond you together and bring you closer to one another.  The tradition puts a stamp on your family saying: This is who we are!

Watch for more fun pictures of our traditions!

Refreshing your petunias....

 Aug. 26, 2021

In the fall I wrote a blog about getting your petunias to come up again in the spring.  I said to leave the old follage in the flower pots until spring.  Then it could be removed and watered and soon the tiny plants would begin sprouting.  Well - I took the folage off of mine and watered the pots this spring.  I was gone from home a few days and when I returned my sweet little dog had dug all of the dirt out of my pots!  

So I had to buy new potting soil and plants for the pots this year.  They have looked beautiful all summer but were starting to get spindly and strung out.  

So I want to tell you that about this time of year you can clip your petunias back.  Just trim the long stems off and they will start growing new ones again.  This way they will look fresh and good until the freezing weather comes. 

I trimmed these pots back about a week ago and they are starting to grow and bloom again.  

I did find out that the petunias I planted this year had more color and were prettier than those that came back from seed but then they also cost more money.  Hope you are having fun gardening too! So therapeudic and rewarding!

Having Faith Through the Fire - recap from John MacArthur

September 25, 2021

Recently Gail and I both listened to a broadcast by John MacArthur from his August 17, 2021,  radio program entitled Having Faith Through the Fire.  Seems like we end up in 'the fire' regularly in this old sinful world we live in.  These are the notes I took as I listened to the broadcast.....

There are four things we need to do if we want to be triumphant in the fiery ordeals we go through.

1.  Expect it

2.  Rejoice in it

3.  Evaluate it's cause

4.  Commit and entrust yourself to God 

The scripture he used was I Peter 4:12-19 where Peter talks about not being surprised WHEN fiery trials come. MacArthur said the early Christians were accused of burning Rome and were then hated, imprisoned, persecuted, and killed in terrible ways for about 200 years. Peter was writing his letters about the time Rome burned. Our lives aren't near that threatened but our troubles are big to us. We need to come through them victoriously!

He compared out hardships and trials to the smelting that was done to silver.  Ps. 66:10 "For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried."  The composition holding the silver was melted down time and again to get the pure silver product as the end product.  It was a process that involved heat and time and the end product was pure and beautiful.  We are like the silver - we must go through a process to come out tried and true as a person living for Christ.  

Trials will come but we can come through them victorious!!!!  Remember the four points above and come through strong in the faith. 

Biographies for kids...

August 26, 2021

Biographies - LOVE 'EM!!! Can you remember some you read as a child? I can!

A friend posted some books on Facebook recently that I thought looked good as reading books for children.  I purchased some and want to share this 'find' with you all.  They are a great length to read, they tell the facts accurately and historically - which can lead to good discussions with your kids. They tell things the way they were.  We might not agree with the belief held by the person in the book but that can lead to discussions of what we do believe. 

The company is called Rainbow Resource Center.  I was able to purchase the books for $4.50 each.  I just found out they are approved for reading books for school children.  It is SO GREAT for our children to be able to read good, uplifting, truthful books. 

Each book starts out with the wording: Who was ___________?  I think it is great to have books both boys and girls can be interested in that are actually about real life events!

Can I do enough for the Lord? Should I be doing more?

 August 25, 2021

I recently read a newsletter by Charles Stanley that gave me peace in my heart.....I am using parts of it to relay to you what he said.

I love the Lord! I want to serve and obey Him! I want to glorify Him in all I do! I want to make Him happy with me? I struggle with thinking I cannot do enough for Him.(My thoughts!!)

Charley Stanley essentially said the same thing in his August newsletter.  But then he found hope. The answer was to ABIDE - not to strive.  Abide would mean "trusting Christ for the power to overcome wrongful ways, resting in His unfailing love, and being ever conscious of the joy of complete salvation from all sin."

He used the illustration of John  15:1-11 where it tells us He is the vine and we are the branches.  The answer was to ABIDE - "to let Christ's life flow through us and not to use our own self-empowered efforts."

John 3:24 says, "The one who keeps His commandments remains (abides) in Him, and He in him.  We know by this that He remains (abides) in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."

We often try to live the Christian life in our own strength but this does not work.  We need to ABIDE and to practice ABIDING - to let the Holy Spirit lead us.

Jesus said in John 14:10 "I do not speak on My own, but the Father, as He abides in Me, does His works." So Jesus didn't do things from His own power but through the abiding of the Father in and through Him.

Let Christ have control of your life. ABIDE in HIM.  Then you'll find "rest for your soul,  fruitful service and character, answered prayer, confidence in God's love for you, and fullness of joy." Let go of the control of your life and trusting in yourself.  Surrender your worries and yourself to God and let His peace fill your life.  He will give you the energy and direction and peace for everything that comes your way.

Happy ABIDING!

Keep things picked up at home....

 August 27, 2021

Today I want to encourage you mothers and wives to keep your home picked up and to keep it tidy!

Because:

- you never know when someone will stop by

-you never know when your husband will bring someone in to see something in your home

My husband shot an elk when he was sixteen.  It has massive horns and is a beauty.  The horns hung in our bedroom.  A few years ago he was able to get the horns put in a mount.  This big beauty wouldn't go through the door to go back in our bedroom so it is now in the living room - for which I really am thankful! He is so proud of this elk and he often brings people who stop by the ranch in to see it.  

I try to keep the house picked up and looking good.  This not only makes me feel better but I think it shows respect to Gail also.  He can rest assured that things will look pretty good if he brings someone in to see his trophy or to have a cup of coffee. It makes him proud of our home and of my housekeeping.  

I think it is also a good witness to our Lord!  We can be good managers of what He has given us. We are blessed!

Save time and money - check your appliances out

 August 25, 2021

Just an encouragement for you to pay attention to your appliances because it can save you time and money and make the appliances last longer.  

1.  Check your dishwasher.  Is it getting the dishes clean?  I have a fairly new one and I wasn't very happy with the job it was doing on getting the dishes clean.  Many of the newer ones have filters that need to be taken out and washed.  Make sure you do that fairly often. I was washing my filter after every three or so loads but still the dishes weren't clean.   After some examination of my dishwasher, I found that a few of the openings on the arms where the water sprays out were plugged up.  It was not difficult to take the arms off and clean them out.  It works much better now!

2.  Remember to clean out the dust under your refrigerator with a vacuum once in awhile.  It lets it run cooler and will keep your house cooler during these hot days.

3.  Is your clothes dryer drying quickly?  If it takes a long time to dry you may need to clean out the vent hose on the back.  Sometimes it get too much lint in it.  In the winter I put an old nylon knee high hose on the back where the big hose goes to vent the dryer out of the house.  This puts heat and humidity in the house.  Because of lint it may need to be taken off and cleaned a couple of times during the winter.  You can gauge how often it needs changed by the amount of time it takes to dry a load of laundry. If the load is taking longer to dry then clean the nylon hose. Be sure to empty your regular lint filter too after every two or three loads of laundry  AND make sure there are no holes in it.  If there are you can take a needle and thread and sew the hole shut. It will help your dryer to keep the lint out of the vent hose. By taking care of these things your laundry time will less time and your electric bill may be lowered.

4.  Clean your washing machine.  I have seen some videos about disgusting washing machines.  I can't think most of them are that bad! But be proactive in keeping it clean and wiped out.  Mine is a front loading machine and it tends to mold.  To prevent that I use some spray to prevent mold and I keep the door ajar.

5.  Keep your oven wiped out on the bottom so it doesn't smoke the house up or cause a fire.  I purchased a mat that goes in the bottom of the oven.  If something spills over I can just take the mat out and wash it off.  It is an easy way to keep the oven clean.     Once we had a visitor who was helping to cook.  He was making biscuits.  He used powdered sugar instead of flour and the oven caught on fire and burned the element up that heated the oven.   I was able to replace it myself by going to ApplianceRepair.com and order the part.  So if you have an issue with some of your appliances you may be able to figure out the problem and fix it yourself. (I have now labeled my canisters after the powdered sugar was again used to make gravy!)

Just a few ideas to encourage and energize you!! Have a great day!!

Summer is winding down....we need to wind back up.....

 August 22, 2021

My blogs have been nonexistent since the spring.  This was not intentional.  Summer gets SO busy! My favorite time of the year is fall - when things begin to slow down, routines get back in place, and I can feel the presence of God in a fresh way.

Today I want to encourage you to use this time as an opportunity to start afresh with your walk with God.  It is so easy to procrastinate - soon I will .......  I had procrastinated on several things I needed to do in the office- phone calls I needed to make.  Friday I sat down and made those calls and I felt so good about life.  

In the same way, get back in touch with God NOW - TODAY - this fall.  IF you have been sidetracked by the busyness of summer be sure to:

  -  get back in His Word reading it and fellowshipping with Him daily

  -  try to get into a Bible study group or get a book and do a study by yourself if that is what works

  - read a book that will strengthen your faith

  -  tune into Him however you can and whenever you can.  Listen to daily devotionals on your phone or         listen to sermons on the radio every chance you get. ( I love the In Touch phone app that will talk             to me and give me daily devotions and also sermons.  I also have Sirus in the kitchen so I can                 listen to sermons while I am fixing meals.  We do lots of driving so I try to listen to sermons on             the radio as I drive.)

We must be INTENTIONAL in everything we do to strengthen our walk and fellowship with our wonderful Savior and Lord.

So if you have gotten a little off track through the summer, jump back on board and get in sweet fellowship once again ......  

So thankful for fall and starting over😉

    

More on sowing/gardening/ being a laborer.....

 April 14, 2021

This is a continuation blog about being a person who sows the gospel with others.  Today's thoughts are from the book Finding Common Ground  - How to Communicate with Those Outside the Christian Community While we Still Can by Tim Downs.  

This book said we are in the middle of a cultural earthquake that may become more violent with time.  It is a difficult time for Christians and it may get worse.  The way Christians are able to share Christ with others is changing.  We need to change with the times and seek ways to share with others.  We must know that bringing people to Christ will not come about only with those in harvesting positions - church and parachurch workers - but it will come because of the laborers, or those who are sowing the seeds, or gardening the patch. 

"In short, we must revalue the role of the sower.  We must encourage a new generation of Christian sowers that their work matters to God, that we are true partners in ministry, and that the fate of future harvests depends on their efforts." (page 32)

One idea emphasized in the book was that we must work at sowing wherever God has planted us.  People working in jobs may have a greater opportunity to witness to many more people than those in the ministry.  So be a sower everywhere you are and to all you come into contact with.  Build relationships where you are and look for ways to share Christ and His love and Truth.  Nehemiah and Esther (both from the Bible), and William Wilberforce (who was in the British parliament and worked to abolish slavery) were mentioned as people who worked from the inside out in that they worked from within their jobs to making a lasting impact for Christ. 

A sower focuses on....preparing the way, persuasion, gradual change, team impact, common ground, questions, and using love, wisdom, and shrewdness.  

The times are different today in that what worked for evangelism in the 1960's and 1970's doesn't work now. At that time spiritual tracts were used as a way of bringing people to Christ.  Today the ground work needs to be laid differently.  The ground is not as ready for harvest as it was in in prior years.  That is why it is all the more important that we begin sowing now and preparing the ground for harvest to come later.  

We may not be able to say things in terms of evangelism that we used to say before but we can say something to everyone we meet. That is what sowing is.  The sower looks around him and sees his neighborhood, his office and sees that there is fruit there.  Some of the fruit is almost ripe and some is very immature to bear fruit yet.  As a sower he knows that he can tend to the fruit in different ways and can encourage the growth in every plant and that none of his efforts will be in vain.  He may not see the fruit of his efforts and someone else may.  That is ok.  The important thing is to cultivate, plant, and nurture where you are! These need not be long drawn-out conversations with a few people but think of this lifestyle as something you do every day, with everyone you meet.  It may be a conversation here, a chat there, listening to someone's problem and showing you care,  or asking a question of someone else. Some times it is just sharing Christ's love with others  without words as the Holy Spirit leads.  

May we see the importance of sowing/gardening/ being a laborer for Christ in all we do!

AND OF COURSE the Holy Spirit MUST be working and leading in all of this!

1 Corinthians 3:5-9

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

It takes a lot of sowers or gardeners and fewer harvesters.....

 April 14, 2021

I am so excited to get around to writing this blog that is from notes I took when listening to a video study called TACTICS by Gregory Koukl.  The study was about how to effectively discuss your Christian convictions with others.  

1. I was very relieved when he said most of us are gardeners in terms of sharing the gospel.  It takes lots of gardeners sharing the word of Christ in many different ways before it is time to harvest ( when a person makes a decision to follow Christ). Koukl said most people are not harvesters.  So don't pressure yourself to present the gospel to everyone and then expect a decision. Just be a gardener.  Scatter some seed, feed some seed that someone else has sowed, water the seed, maybe weed a little but keep continuing to garden and let the harvesters harvest your sowing.  

2.  It is good to be able to converse with those who don't believe in Christ.  One good way is to gather information about that person.  

    - I remember learning many years ago to do this with the acrostic FIRE - Family, Interests, Religion.  Ask the person you are visiting with questions.  Examples: Family -  Are you a native of this area? How long have you lived in this community? Are you married?  Have children?  Interests - Do you have any hobbies? Do you like to sports? Reading?  What kind of books?  Religion - Do you have a church background? Do you have any religious influence in your life?

- this Tactics study said that it is great to get to know a little about the person.  When you find out about them and something they believe in then ask the questions: "What do you mean by that?" or "Why do you believe that?"  Be engaging with the person.  Don't tell them your thoughts or beliefs but get them to think about what they do believe. Keep asking questions. 

 - this process was said to 'put a stone in their shoe' - in that questioning them may make them start to question what they do believe.  It may get them to see what they believe might not be right and it is done without ever telling them what they need to believe or what you believe.  It is just the tip of the iceberg to get them to examine their beliefs and perhaps seek the real Truth.  

I think we must keep trying to serve our Savior in all we do.  This is an encouraging way to try to do just that.  And it takes the pressure off of us to bring everyone to Christ in every encounter.  

More to come on this issue of communicating with those outside the Christian community from the book FINDING COMMON GROUND. 

Life without the Lord

 April 6, 2021

Not long ago I made a batch of banana bread.  I was excited to make it and use my grandmother's recipe.  Wellllll - it was not good! It was my fault and not my grandmother's.

I made a mistake in reading the directions and omitted the soda.  

In baking, always follow the directions.  Look the recipe over and double check to make sure you included all the ingredients.  In this case leaving out the soda was disasterous to the end product. It tasted as bad as it looked!!

Spiritually I was able to draw a few conclusions from this mistake. If we want to be all He has intended us to be:

- we must follow God's directions and do things His way in our lives

- we must have a relationship with Jesus in our lives for us to look and be what we need to be. When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and He is our fragrance.  He gives us a pleasant aroma, we look and become different from the world.  We become pleasing to HIM!

Have you accepted Christ as your savior?  His benefits are out of this world and the work He does in our lives is so exciting and wonderful! 

Let Him give you direction!

Taste and see that HE is good!

Psalm 34:8

New International Version

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.