ONE OF THOSE DAYS!
(Recipe: Swirled Pumpkin Cheesecake)

How many times have we uttered these words, “Boy, it’s been one of those days!” You know them. Everything that could go wrong does go wrong. We’ve all had them. I hate it when they come, but I don’t run from them because I have found that God is trying to teach me something – so – I persevere and go along for the ride.

Recently I had “One of those days!” It began when my husband shared with me the death of a friend’s mother. Not long after that I received an email that another friend had lost her father. My neighbor called a few minutes later to say his wife had just died. And that afternoon I opened my email to find another friend had lost her father that morning. Four dear friends had lost people they loved, all on the same day!! Yes, it was “one of those days!” I wasn’t sure for whom I should grieve first.

In reading through the Psalms, I came upon Psalm 89:48 which says, “No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave.” (NLT). There it was. We would all die someday, and God knew when that day would be. Psalm 139:16 reminds us of this when God said, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book…” I guess I should not be surprised when I learn that a friend or loved one has died. God said we all ultimately will.

The question we need to ask ourselves is this, “Am I ready to die? Am I ready to stand before God?” When we have asked Jesus to forgive us of our sins; when I have confessed and repented of that sin; when I, by faith, trust Jesus alone for my salvation I then have nothing to fear. Death, although unwelcome, will not be fearful because when I fall asleep here on earth I will wake up in the presence of Jesus in heaven. I am absolutely certain of this. How about you? For more information on how you can be certain of heaven go to www.GodLovesTheWorld.com.


SWIRLED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Gingersnap-Pecan Crust

24 Gingersnap cookies (6 oz)
½ cup pecans
2 Tbsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. melted butter

Filling

¾ cup sugar
2 - 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
¼ cup milk
1 Tbsp. flour
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup pure pumpkin (not pie filling) from a 15 oz. can
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or follow seasonings on can)

CRUST: In a food processer, pulse cookies, pecans and sugar until finely ground. Add butter and pulse to combine. Press mixture into bottom and sides of a 9” pie plate. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

FILLING: Clean food processor. Add sugar and cream cheese; pulse to mix. Scrape down sides and add eggs, milk, flour and salt; process till smooth. Remove 1/3 cup and save.

Add pumpkin and spices to food processor. Process until fully mixed. Scrape mixture into the baked crust (no need to cool crust). Spoon reserved cream cheese mixture over top and use a knife or spatula to swirl. Bake until center is set but still trembles – 30 – 35 minutes. Cool completely. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.

A WOMAN OF GOD

(Recipe: Beef Barley Soup)

I’m enjoying this beautiful crisp fall morning. Fall is probably my favorite season of the year. I love the many colors associated with Fall. Bright reds, yellows, oranges and gold. As we think about life, Fall is that season of life when we begin to contemplate how we are doing as a Christian. How faithful have we been? How obedient have we been? If there needs to be any changes, what are they and how do we go about making those changes? Perhaps we need to compare our journey to the check-list that Paul gave to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11ff. Although Paul is talking to Timothy, his advice could be given to us as well. With this Scripture in mind, I ask you this question. What should a (woman) of God look like in the various seasons of her life?

1. Vs. 11 – She would run from evil things. Paul mentions a few evils such as arguments, jealousy, division, slander and evil suspicions (vs. 4) but perhaps you could make your own check list of those evil things you need to run from that keep you from being the Christian woman God desires you to be.

2. Vs. 11 - She pursues a righteous and godly life. She lives a moral life and in that moral living reveres God.

3. Vs. 11 - She exercises faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. As you think about these four, which one do you need to work on in your life to make you a true woman of God?

4. Vs. 12 - She fights the good fight for the true faith. We can fight over many things. How well do we fight for the truth of the Gospel, for those things that concern the heart of God?

5. Vs. 12 - She holds tightly to the eternal life to which God has called her.

6. Vs. 14 – She obeys what God has commanded of her. Can you say you truly enjoy God’s commandments AND enjoy obeying them?

7. Vs. 17 – She trusts God, who richly gives her all she needs for her enjoyment. Note: Not all she wants!!

8. Vs. 18 – She is rich in good works and generous to those in need, quick to share with others.

9. Vs. 20 – She guards what God has entrusted to her, avoiding godless and foolish discussions.

Quite a list! Paul uses active and forceful verbs to describe the Christian life. Run, pursue,

fight, take hold. There are those who would think that Christianity is a passive religion that advocates waiting for God to act. This is wrong thinking, for we must have an “active” faith, obeying God with courage and doing everything we know is right. Ladies, is it time for action? Don’t wait – get moving!

Paul closes Chapter Six with these words for you: “May God’s grace be with you.”

BEEF BARLEY SOUP

2 cup sliced carrots

2 cups diced celery

1 medium onion, chopped

8 Beef bouillon cubes

1 pound cubed beef, cut into smaller pieces

1 pound mushrooms, sliced

1 gallon chicken broth

½ of 16-oz. package barley (soak overnight) then drained

½ cup vegetable oil

salt and pepper to taste

Sauté vegetables in oil until tender. Sauté meat until browned. Put into a crock-pot. Add the Add rest of the ingredients and cook several hours. Stir often.

SWEET SIXTEEN!

No, this is not a ‘Sweet Sixteen’ birthday party reminder, although it might be fun to be sixteen again. Boy, would I do things differently now that I have experienced ‘older and wiser.’

In reading 1 Thessalonians 5, I came across sixteen things that we as believers are to emulate in our lives. Sixteen commands of God which, I am afraid, we do not always keep 100% (at least I know I don’t). Yet these sixteen commands of God, if kept, will cause us to live in favor with God and man and ultimately with ourselves. They begin in verse 12 (NLT) and the verse begins…..

“Dear brothers and sisters.” You and I who claim to be a Christian, belong to a wonderful family. God is our Father; that makes you and me brothers and sisters. God is saying, “In my family, children, this is how I want you to behave.”

1. (vs. 12) – Honor your spiritual leaders. Not a suggestion, but a command!

2. (vs. 13) – Show them respect and wholehearted love. Friend, October is “Pastor Appreciation Month.” One way you could honor your spiritual leader, and show how much you love them, is by remembering him/her in a special way. Send them a card of encouragement. Take them out for lunch. Get them a cup of Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts! They work hard for you; let them know how much you appreciate them.

3. (vs. 13) – Live peacefully with each other. How often do we find ourselves in the middle of a dispute with another brother/sister in Christ? We disagree on something or refuse to forgive them and rather than try to work things out, we would rather be at odds with them. Don’t! Nothing pleases a pastor more than to know his “family” is living at peace with each other.

4. (vs. 14) – Warn those who are lazy. Especially those who are not using, to the best of their ability, the spiritual gifts that God has given them. Each believer must do their part to keep the church healthy. There must be no lazy Christians.

5. (vs. 14) – Encourage the timid. Help them step out of their comfort zone into a wonderful world of serving God in a new and exciting way. Show them by example.

6. (vs. 14) – Take tender care of the weak. Extend mercy to those who are still growing and maturing in their spiritual journey. Walk alongside them as you teach them spiritual truths.

7. (vs. 14) – Be patient with everyone. Who do you need to be patient with today?

8. (vs. 15) – Don’t pay back evil for evil. Rather, serve in love, and be ready to forgive. God says in Romans 12:18 (NASB), “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

9. (vs. 15) – Do good to each other. Treat others kindly. Treat them as you would want to be treated.

10. (vs. 16) – Always be joyful. Every church family has its Doubting Thomas or its Gloomy Gus. To see them and listen to them is like witnessing an autopsy, or diving into a cold lake on a winter’s day. God wants His family to be happy, and that means that each member must contribute to the joy. (quote from The Bible Exposition Commentary.)

11. (vs. 17) – Never stop praying. Not that you spend 24/7 praying, but keep your line of communication clear so when God prompts your heart to prayer, you are ready. You may find yourself praying quick and simple prayers throughout your day. Quick and simple is good, and pleases God!!

12. (vs. 18) – Be thankful IN all circumstances. And, yes, you can be thankful no matter what circumstance God has you in today. Find something to thank God for – then do so.

13. (vs. 19) – Don’t quench (stifle) the Holy Spirit. He longs to work in and through you. Let him. He knows what he is doing in your life and how he longs to use you. Even if you feel you can’t, or don’t want to, don’t tell him “no” but go along for the ride and see what the Spirit will do through you.

14. (vs. 20) – Don’t scoff at prophecies, but test everything. Know the Scriptures well so you are not easily led astray by some lie of the devil. Test everything against the Word of God to see if it is true.

15. (vs. 21) – Hold on to what is good. What is good comes from the Word of God. This is why it is important to memorize Scripture and hide it in your heart. Then you will discern the good from the bad.

16. (vs. 22) – Stay away from every kind of evil. A right kind of worship will help us to stay away from evil. William Temple, a late Archbishop of Canterbury said this: "For to worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open up the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.” If we follow this advice, there will be no room for evil in our life.

As you look through this ‘Sweet Sixteen’ list, where do you fall short? What might you need to begin to change in your life to bring you to that place of holy living before a Holy God? Paul closes this book with these words (my prayer to you as well):

Vs. 23-24 – “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.”

PUMPKIN CRUNCH

1 box yellow cake mix

1 15-oz. can solid pumpkin

1 can evaporated milk

3 eggs

1-1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. salt

½ cup chopped pecans

1 cup butter, melted

1 small carton whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350. Combine pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Beat well. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over all. Top the cake mix with the chopped pecans. Drizzle the melted butter over all. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool. Serve with whipped cream.

WHY?

(Baked Brie with Pecans and Brown Sugar)

Several things have occurred in my life this past week, and I am left wondering how it all fits into God’s plan for me. Have you ever wondered the same thing? We go through illness or injury and ask the question, “Why is this happening at THIS particular time? I have too much to do. I can’t be set aside NOW.” We lose someone we love unexpectedly and seem to say, “How can this be something good? They are too young to die. I’m not ready to let them go.” We face all kinds of disappointments, frustrations, the “unexpected”, a crisis – and we stand before God asking the question “Why?” “Why now?” “Why this?” “Why?”

I wish I had an easy answer for you. I don’t. Even the Son of God asked the question “Why?” Remember when he was on the cross dying for your sin and mine how He cried out to his Heavenly Father, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God didn’t respond at that moment, never answered his question, but Jesus laid the question aside and obediently carried out the task before him.

This is what God expects from us. Ask your question, then obediently lay your question aside and follow Him – even if you don’t know where God is taking you. I have never known God to lead his children astray.

Reading through Isaiah 55, I was again reminded of verse 8-9 (one of my favorites). “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

The next time you are going through a difficult time – remember - God has a purpose. God has a plan. God is doing something “far beyond anything you could imagine.” Keep your eyes on the face of God, your hand in the hand of Jesus, then ask the Spirit for strength to help you choose to obediently follow the path God has chosen for your life at the moment, even if you don’t understand and are wondering “why.” Something good is awaiting you at the end of your journey - just hang in there!!!

Baked Brie with Pecans and Brown Sugar

1 8-oz. round of brie with rind intact

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

½ cup coarsely chopped pecans

1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)

Granny Smith Apples, sliced

butter crackers or light crackers

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking pan with parchment paper for baking. Spread out puffed pastry on a flat surface.

In separate bowl, mix pecans, sugar and cinnamon. Spread nut mixture onto the center of the pastry. Place brie atop the nut mixture. Fold pastry over the brie to enclose everything like a package and pinch the pastry closed so it is sealed. Flip pastry package over and place on baking tray with folds on the bottom.

Bake in oven for 20-30 minutes or until the pastry is browned and golden. Serve with crackers and sliced apples.