Goodbye 2010

I cannot believe we have come to the end of another year. Five more days and we will be celebrating 2011. As you reflect back upon 2010, what kind of year was it for you? For all of us, we experienced those moments of joy, sorrow, excitement, laughter, fun, disappointment, encouragement and – hopefully – Spiritual growth. I know all of this has been true in my own life.

I also know that during each of these moments I have felt the presence of God in my life. And, God delights to be a part of each of these moments as well. I could never have walked through 2010 without Him, and I know I cannot walk whatever journey God has for me in 2011 without him either.

As you look forward to 2011, consider the words of Psalm 121 and claim them as a promise from God to you, then walk this New Year with confidence knowing God is watching over you.

121 1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

“Father, thank you that I can confidently enter this New Year knowing you watch over me, you will not sleep, you will protect me, you will watch over me, you will keep me – now and forever – amen.”

Butternut Squash Gratin

Salt (to taste)
1 butternut squash (2-2-1/2 pounds) peeled, seeded, and cut grosswise into ½” half-moons.
½ c. chicken broth
1 Tbsp. butter, cut up
½ cup planko (Japanese-style bread crumbs)
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Grease 2-qt. dish. Sprinkle ¼ tsp. (or less) salt over all squash. In prepared baking dish, arrange squash in overlapping layers; pour broth into dish. Dot squash with butter. Cover tightly with foil and bake 35 minutes or until a knife pierces through squash with only slight resistance.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, oil, thyme, red pepper, and ¼ (or less) tsp. salt until well mixed.

Uncover squash and sprinkle evenly with panko mixture. Bake, uncovered, 12-15 minutes longer or until crumbs are golden brown. Garnish with thyme springs.

JOSEPH’S STORY

At Christmastime we have no trouble viewing the birth of Christ through the eyes of Mary. A very young woman who sacrificed everything – her reputation, her family, her fiancé – for the sake of obeying her God and bearing a Child she did not conceive naturally. We sympathize with her, admire her, love her and lift her up – and rightly so.

How often have we stopped to think about what Joseph was dealing with? His fiancé was pregnant, and he was not the father. He had every right to put her away. Yet, he too was a godly man and obeys a Voice who spoke quietly to him. His story is found in Matthew and I would like to take a few minute for us to consider his thoughts. He too dealt with the pressures of the day in a way we cannot imagine. He had the added pressure of taking care of a woman, and her Child, while claiming them both as his own. I admire Joseph. A lot of responsibility was thrown on his young shoulders, yet he handled them all with grace and courage. I share this Scripture from The Message:

Matthew 1:18-25

18 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) 19 Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

20 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. 21 She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus — 'God saves' — because he will save his people from their sins." 22 This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term:

23 Watch for this — a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Emmanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").

24 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. 25 But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

How Joseph loved Mary. How Joseph loved his God. And, although Scripture does not tell us, I know Joseph loved Jesus as only a father can love his son.

Recipe for Friendship

2 cups of patience
1 heart full of love
2 handfuls of generosity
2 cups of loyalty
1 cup of understanding
dash of laughter

Mix ingredients well. Sprinkle generously over a lifetime. Serve everyone you meet.

Merry Christmas to all my Blog friends. Thank you for visiting my page. God bless you in the New Year.

WISDOM
(Recipe: Date Cookies)


I checked the calendar this morning. There are 12 days until Christmas. Many of you are still trying to find that “perfect” gift for your friend or loved one. How often during the Christmas season have we heard someone say, perhaps to you or another friend - “please give me a little wisdom on what I can buy ___?___.” I have said those same words to my children as I was trying to think of something to buy their dad.

What we are asking them is this. “HELP. I don’t have a clue here and I need some good advice!”

Sometimes their advice on what to buy is good, and we pick out that perfect gift which causes the person to say “ahhhhh, just what I wanted” – like the year I gave my husband his Kindle Reader. He absolutely LOVES it!

At other times, their advice on choice of gift has not been received quite as well. We realize too late we made a mistake and rather than hearing the words “ahhhhhh, good choice” we get the raised eyebrow, the confused expression, and a very cool “oh, thank you”. My advice – take seriously the words of wisdom you are given, and then pray before you act.

It’s a little different when we ask God for wisdom. James reminds us that when we ask God for wisdom, he gives it to us generously – James 1:5 reads – “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” Will his wisdom always be right? Yes. Will his wisdom always cause us to say, “ahhhhh, good choice?” Absolutely.

Again, we read in James 3:17 these powerful words – “But the WISDOM from above is first of all PURE. It is also PEACE LOVING, GENTLE at all times, and WILLING TO YIELD to others. It is full of MERCY and GOOD DEEDS. It shows NO FAVORITISM and is always SINCERE.”

Think about it. When I need wisdom; when I ask God for HIS wisdom; he gives me the best kind of wisdom. It is always pure (perfect). It leads to peace. It is gentle. It will cause me to live harmoniously with others. His wisdom extends mercy and leads to good deeds. AND God gives this wisdom to anyone who asks and it is given with a loving and sincere heart. I dare say, the advice and wise counsel I get from my friends can’t even begin to compare to this, for they give counsel out of their own experience and understanding. God gives wisdom out of his character and who he is –

El Shaddai – All Powerful God
El Olam – Eternal God
El Gibbor – The Mighty God
Yahweh-Yireh – The Lord who provides
Immanuel – The God who is always with us.

The next time you cry “Help – I need a little wisdom here” don’t go to your friend, rather go to the source who can give wisdom to you perfectly – Our Awesome, Almighty Heavenly Father – Jesus the Messiah, and he will give you wisdom generously!!

Date Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
16 oz. package dates – either chopped or pitted and cut into pieces
1 cup white sugar
1 cup boiling water

Cream shortening and the first two sugars together. Beat in eggs. Add the dry ingredients and vanilla. Stir or beat until a soft dough. Refrigerate several hours.

Boil dates in water and sugar until thickened – cool

Divide dough into two or three sections. Roll out between wax paper. Divide date mixture between the sections of dough. Spread date mixture over dough. Roll up and wrap in wax paper. Chill.

Heat oven to 375. Slice dough into cookie size slices, place on baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool slightly. Remove to cool