New Year, 2013

(Recipe: Tomato Tortellini Soup)

We’re standing on the brink of another New Year. Where has this old year gone? Think of all that has happened in your life during the past twelve months. Some of those things were good and exciting. Others brought sorrow and pain. But all saw the mighty hand of God working on your behalf, whether it felt like it or not.

As you plan for this New Year, what is the one thing you wish for? Happiness? Peace? Joy? Contentment? Love?

I can guarantee you will have all of these this coming year. How? Because God has promised them all to you, perhaps not in the way you are thinking, however.

Let me share directly from the mouth of God his thoughts toward us regarding each of these desires.

Is your New Year’s wish for happiness? Here is how to assure you will receive it. Psalm 86:4 – “Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you.” We tend to look for happiness from what the world has to offer. When Jesus becomes a part of my life, real happiness begins.

Are you wishing for peace? Peace, “a state of tranquility or quiet”. In our world today we do not find peace. We find lots of turmoil. We find lots of heartache. We find lots of selfishness. Where do we find peace that fulfills? Quiet? John 16:33 says, “I (Jesus) have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” There is peace to be found in the arms of Jesus.

Everyone wants a life filled with joy. We want a successful life, because we think this will bring us joy. The perfect job will bring us joy. We look throughout the world to find this kind of joy and all along, God has the answer for us. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, “After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy.” Find Jesus for Jesus brings us joy!

All of us want to experience contentment. When things don’t go as expected and life takes a turn, we long to be contented in that situation. However, contentment is usually not the first emotion we experience. For me, the first thing I do is more likely complain. If anyone knew what it meant to be contented it was the Apostle Paul, who experienced more adversity than any one man should have to. Yet he was able to write in Philippians 4:11, 13 – “…for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have…..For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Contentment is learned through difficulties and trials, because we come to realize that God ALWAYS gives us the strength to persevere. With God I can be satisfied.

Finally, everyone wants to be loved. We go to all kinds of measures to experience it. Some of those experiences are morally good; others are not. As my mother used to say, “people go looking for love in all the wrong places.” This is what the world tends to do. Look in all the wrong places. True love is found in only one place – Calvary. John 3:16-17 says, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” No one has ever loved us like God loves us. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “…I have loved you with an everlasting love……” Do you know how long that is? Indefinitely! God has always loved you. He loves you like no one else ever will. If love is what you are looking for this year, God holds the answer. He loves you, why not love him in return?

So whether you are hoping for a 2013 year filled with happiness, peace, contentment, joy or love – you can find it all in Jesus.

Tomato Tortellini Soup

1 9 oz. package refrigerated cheese tortellini
2 10-oz cans reduced sodium condensed tomato soup, undiluted
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups 2% milk
2 cups half-and-half cream
½ cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried basil
½ tsp. salt
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook tortellini according to directions. In large pan combine soup, broth, milk, cream, tomatoes and seasonings. Heat through, stir frequently. Drain tortellini; carefully add to soup. Stir in cheese. Top with additional cheese, if desired. Serves 10.

How Do You Spell Christmas?

(Recipe: Cookies and Peppermint Ice Cream Cake)

C …..is for the Christ Child, born on Christmas Day
H …..for heralded angels, who sang Hallelujah!
R …..for my Redeemer, my sacrifice for sin,
I …..His name Immanuel, the name his Father gave him.
S …..for Shepherds lowly, who worshipped at his feet,
T …..for Three Wise Men, traveling far the Babe to meet.
M …..is for the manger, which beheld this Heavenly King,
A …..is why he came; to give his life for All men,
S …..his birth and death mean Salvation, my sins forgiven.
(m.k.m.)

This is how you spell CHRISTMAS. A gift (Jesus) given so long ago. He left his home in heaven to come live among us, dwell with us, teach us, love us, play with us, laugh with us, eat with us, and ultimately die for us. As I receive this Gift, I receive forgiveness from my sin, acceptance as God’s child, the promise of eternal life, and a life filled with hope, joy and peace.

Christmas is a time for giving and receiving. God gave. Now he is asking you to receive. Reach out and take this wonderful Gift that he has for you and experience the best gift you will ever receive this Christmas……the assurance of sins forgiven and the promise of eternal life – all made possible because of Jesus.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you. Love to each of you.

Cookies and Peppermint Ice Cream Cake

30 cream-filled chocolate Oreo cookies
1 cup butter
1-3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
9 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
½ gallon peppermint ice cream (or flavor of your choice)
Take several cookies and pulverize them in a blender until fine. Pulverize the last 5, then set these crumbled cookies aside. Place the first 25 pulverized cookies into a bowl. Soften ½ cup butter. Mix well into the crumbs. Press evenly into the bottom of a 9 x 12 pan.

Melt remaining butter in saucepan over low heat, and stir in the confectioner’s sugar, cocoa, and vegetable oil. Stir to a smooth consistency. Pour in the beaten eggs, and whisk constantly until the mixture is hot (do NOT boil) and thickened to a fudgy consistency (about 5 minutes). Pour the thickened fudge over the crushed cookie crust, smooth into a layer, and freeze cake at least 30 minutes.

Set the ice cream out to soften for about 10 minutes. Cut the softened ice cream into slices, and place the ice cream slices over the fudge filling. Smooth the ice cream into an even layer, and sprinkle reserved crushed cookies on top for garnish. Freeze the dessert for 1-2 hours before serving. Can serve with a dab of whipped cream and cherry on top.

THE SON
(Recipe: Lime Mint Ice Cream Bars)

Yesterday I gave the devotional for our Seniors In Action group. (Love this group of people!) So many shared how meaningful my words were, I would like to share part of what I said with you. I read them an old story I had entitled "The Son".

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Both father and son became experienced art collectors.

As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. A few weeks later the father received a telegram stating his son had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.

Distraught and lonely, the man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with sadness. It would not be shared with his son.

On Christmas morning there was a knock on his door. As he opened the door he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He said, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in? I have something to show you. As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man’s son had told everyone of his father’s love of fine art.

I’m an artist, and I want to give you this. Inside the package was a portrait of the man’s son. Overcome with emotion the man promised to hang the picture above the fireplace.

With the picture hanging above the fireplace, the man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given. The father would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the heroic stories continued to reach him, the painting became his most prized possession.

The following spring the old man died. The art world was in anticipation. His paintings, worth millions, would be sold at auction. According to his will, this auction would be held on Christmas day, the day he received his greatest gift.

Anxious art collectors arrived. The auction began with the painting of the son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent. “Who will open the bidding at $100?” Minutes passed. No one spoke.

Someone yelled, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s forget it and go on to the good stuff.”

No, said the auctioneer, we will sell this one first. Now, who will take the son.

Finally a friend of the old man spoke. Will you take $10 for it. I have $10. “Do I hear a higher bid” called the auctioneer. Silence. “Going once, going twice, sold.” The gavel fell. Cheers erupted, someone exclaimed, “Now we can bid on these treasures.”

The auctioneer announced the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. “What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. What about all these paintings? I demand an explanation?”

The auctioneer replied. “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father….whoever takes the son….gets it all.”

Puts things into perspective, doesn’t it. Just as those art collectors discovered on that Christmas day, the message is still the same.

The love of a Father….a Father whose greatest joy came from his son
A Son who went away and gave his life rescuing others
And because of that Father’s love…..whoever takes His Son, gets it all.

As we celebrate this Christmas season, remember, Jesus came as a babe for one reason only. To live among sinners. He had to do this in order to identify with them (yet He himself was without sin). He had to show them how they could have their sins forgiven and the assurance of eternal life. He did this by loving them, teaching them, walking with them, listening to them, forgiving them, healing them and ultimately dying for them.

Just as the man in our story received millions when he simply “took the son”, so, we too, can receive millions when we take “The Son”. Who can put a price-tag on:

the assurance of sins forgiven

the hope of heaven

a heart full of joy and peace

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not do so today. Simply ask Jesus to forgive your sin, believe that he died and rose again for you, then reach out and take the Gift that God so lovingly and graciously offers. Scripture tells us in Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death – (eternally separated from God forever) – but the gift of God is eternal life THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.”

If you will reach out and take “The Son” today, you will "get it all."

Lime Mint Ice Cream Bars

36 gingersnap cookies (about 9 oz.)
¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups heavy cream
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
½ cup sour cream
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
½ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
1 Tbsp. grated lime zest

Heat oven to 350. Line a 9 x 13 pan with nonstick foil, leaving a 3” overhang on two sides
Process cookies until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until blended. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until golden, 8-10 minutes. Let cool completely

Beat heavy cream, condensed milk, sour cream and vanilla in a large bowl until thick, stiff peaks form (3-5 min.). Fold in the mint and lime zest.

Spread over the cooled crust. Cover and freeze at least 8 hours, and up to 2 weeks. When ready to serve, use the overhang to transfer to a cutting board and cut into bars.