Monday Motivation

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He did descend, and led captivity captive. Paradise (Abraham’s bosom) was taken to heaven.  Only torments are left down there now. All saints go immediately into the presence of the Lord now because He finished it!  Pope Francis knows the Truth now – doesn’t he? 

Saturday Bake – Sour Cream Bundt Cake!

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This delicious cake has a simple jam filling.

2 c. All purpose flour

1 t. Baking powder

1/2 t. Sea salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 & 3/4 c. Granulated sugar

2 large eggs at room temp

2 t. Pure vanilla extract

1 c. Dairy sour cream (I always use Daisy)

3 T. Strawberry jam

Heavily grease and flour a ten cup Bundt pan. Sprays will NOT work for this cake. I use Crisco, but lard will also work. I do not recommend coconut oil, as it will impart that flavor to the cake. Set the pan aside.

Preheat oven to 325, and set oven rack to the center.

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. 

Beat butter and sugar together in a medium bowl  till creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and sour cream.

Fold the dry ingredients into the sour cream mixture by hand. Do not use a mixer for this step. A large rubber spatula is ideal for folding. And do not overwork the batter. We do not want to develop the gluten! 

Spoon battet by large dollops into the prepared pan. This batter is thick. Half the batter should go in, then with the back of a spoon, smooth the batter till it is level. I use a soup spoon.  Now, using a measuring tablespoon, dot the half filled pan with the three tablespoons of jam.

Jam is lumpy and that is what you want. Just keep it towards the center as shown here.

Next, dollop the rest of the batter into the pan, and using the back of a spoon, smooth it gently over everything, covering the jam and going all the way to the edges. It should look like this…

Now place your cake into the preheated oven for 60 – 70 minutes. A pic should come out clean, and a few moist crumbs are fine. Here is how it looks when perfectly baked in the pan:

Set on a rack to cool for 15 full minutes!  Then, turn pan over, let sit for a couple of minutes and tap it on the rack. The cake will come out, provided that the pan was properly prepared.

Very good cake.  Very good.  Just cake, no glaze or frosting. It can stand alone!

sage

The Purpose of Proverbs

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This is a series which is installed every Friday, focusing on the Proverbs.  Undertaken  for another blog,  I intend to re-post these – ultimately finishing  what was begun.  The beginning of Proverbs explains their purpose – starting with the greeting:

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

The next five verses lay out the purpose:

2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The essence of the Book of Proverbs is the teaching of moral and ethical principals. The peculiarity of this Book is that it is largely given over to teaching by contrasts. It has 31 chapters, 915 verses, 15,043 words.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverb 1:7

One can possess great intelligence – yet still be completely lacking in wisdom. IQ is an inherited ability, but wisdom comes from God. Without the fear of God – there can be no great wisdom – only man’s corruptible wisdom.  Those that do what is right in their own eyes – are bereft of wisdom, because they do not fear God.  God is not our buddy, nor our “co-pilot.”  He is the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Sovereign King, Holy and Righteous Judge,  Beautiful Savior,  and Creator of the Universe.

28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job 28:28

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever. Psalm 111:10

sage

Friday Proverb – The Fruit Never Lies

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The short list of how the righteous labor towards life:

  1. They stay married when the going gets tough.
  2. They pray constantly for their children.
  3. They turn the other cheek in petty arguments.
  4. They forgive the unforgivable.
  5. They  love the unlovable.
  6. They work hard at their jobs.
  7. They appreciate what they have.
  8. They give without hesitation.
  9. They share the Gospel continually.
  10. They know this world is not their home.

The short list of the fruit of the wicked is sin:

  1. They indulge every desire of their flesh.
  2. They want others to sin along with them.
  3. They use every opportunity to gain materially.
  4. They expect return on their giving.
  5. They love their sin more than God.
  6. They choose to ignore the Holy Spirit.
  7. They mock the things of God.
  8. They endorse evil.
  9. They covet what others have.
  10. They enjoy the failures of others.

Like I said – it’s the short list.  Feel free to add on.

sage

Treats & Tracts

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Treats are all homemade, wrapped, and topped with a tract. Based on our Lord’s teaching of the Sower and the Seed, and as we are avid gardeners, we view the treats as “soil conditioner.” 

We know that seeds grow better in softer soil, without weeds and rocks. We add soil conditioner every time we plant something in our garden. That is the idea behind Treats & Tracts.

Today hubby is delivering Treats & Tracts to neighbors and business associates. God is good, all the time. Be exalted Lord Jesus! 

sage

Saturday Bake – Crusty Italian Loaves!

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1 & 1/4 c. Warm water

1 T. Olive oil

1 t. Sea salt

3 c. Bread flour

2 t. White sugar

2 & 1/2 t. Yeast

1 egg yolk

Place all ingredients except egg yolk in pan of bread machine.  Be sure to make a well in your dry stuff to put the yeast into!

Set bread machine to “dough” setting. Allow the full cycle to run and then remove dough to lightly floured surface. Using a bench knife or sharp knife divide the dough into two. Shape into long loaves, cover, and let rise in a warm place for a full hour.

I have a pan made specifically for this kind of bread as you see in the picture. But you can get good results without it. A baking couche will also work well. I like my pan because it allows steam to escape.

When rising is compete, brush the loaves gently with the egg yolk beaten with 1 T. water. Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 – 30 minutes. The longer the  bake, the crustier the bread.

This bread is for hubby’s birthday today – Italian beefs, made from beef that has cooked all night in the crock pot, with lots of spices! The bread is crusty, but also absorbant for all those juices! 

All things done well to the glory of GOD! 

sage

Friday Proverb – True Riches

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It saddens us when we see prosperity preachers at work.  Just like state run lotteries, and “legalized” gambling casinos – the participants in these schemes are most often those who can least afford it. 

Our blessed Savior lived His earthly ministry in poverty.  His life was to be an example to us.   There is no place in Scripture, that equates material wealth with spiritual wealth.  Money is not evil – the love of money is. 

Proverbs 10:22

 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.

jesus-christ-wallpapers-4

Our spiritual father – Abraham – lived a spiritually rich life, in such close fellowship with the LORD, that he was allowed to speak directly to the pre-incarnate Christ!  When we think of the faith of Abraham, leaving his comfortable life and venturing to an unknown land, and then offering his beloved son on an altar to the LORD, we must be humbled.  How can we have this kind of richness – with no sorrow added?  We must walk as closely with the LORD as Abraham did.  With no interference from the world and its trappings.  Abraham’s life in the desert, was “separated” from the surrounding heathen nations.

That kind of rich life, may entail separating your “tribe” from the pagans that surround you.  He lived among them (surrounded actually!) but he did not live with them.  That is an important distinction everyone needs to make note of.

Beloveds – do you live with the pagans? Or among them?  If you separate yourself from the world – you will be spiritually rich, with no sorrow.  We’re talking about overflowing abundance,  so glorious that you are praising Him from morning till night – in any and all circumstances.  This rich life may require you get rid of your cable, if you can’t  watch it in good faith [ you know what I’m talking about.]  It may entail purging yourself of many possessions – if they are controlling you.  How much mental space is devoted to your source of bondage?  Bondage being anything from your hair, your children, even to your mortgage payment.   Abraham was willing to place his son on the altar – what are you willing to place on the altar?

Decide now to live for him, and only him, and you will be richly blessed – with no added sorrow.

sage

Saturday Bake – Oatmeal Power Bars!

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Now this is what I call instant breakfast!  They also can be cut, wrapped, and frozen. 

6 eggs

1.5 c. Honey

1 c. Regular olive oil

4 t. Vanilla extract

4 c. Quick oats (not instant!)

4 c. Old fashioned oats

1 c. Chopped walnuts

1 c. Chocolate chips or chunks (I really like ALDI chunks) 

Blend eggs well, blend in honey, oil, and vanilla. Stir both kinds of oats in, finishing with the nuts and chunks.

Spread into a 9 x 13 pan that has been greased or sprayed. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes.

Wonderful when warm!

Friday Proverb – Words Can Feed Souls

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Can we think too much about what we say?  Not according to the Book of Proverbs.  Almost from start to finish, the Proverbs contend that our words have great ability to do harm or good.  I think of parents who speak unguardedly in their children’s presence, and then are shocked when later, the little ones repeat verbatim EVERYTHING their parents said! 

Well, it’s not just children who record our words – our every thought and word is recorded in heaven.  Thankfully – if we are saved under the Blood of Christ – we will not have to pay for our verbal refuse.  But that does not give us license to say whatever pops into our heads. 

I beseech you to have the mind of Christ – and filter everything you say and do through the Bible.  And you can only do that by being immersed (baptized) in His Word to the point that His Word becomes a part of you.  You are what you eat – after all! 

pharisee and the publican

Proverbs 10:20-21

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver:the heart of the wicked is little worth.

Indeed – the Pharisee and the Publican are an exemplary picture of this Proverb.  As Christ said – the Publican was “justified.”  That means his humble words were – “as choice silver.”  The Pharisee’s self aggrandizing was of very “little worth.” 

21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Certainly, Paul is our master example of Christian speech and behavior.  His written words, authored by the Holy Spirit,  have “fed many.”  Just with his Epistles, we can lead a sinner to a saving knowledge of Christ.  Think how remarkable that is.  In China – people are happy just to have one page out of the Book of Romans!  They are known to sleep with it, love it, and memorize it so they can pass it on to another.  Are the words of Mohammed, or Joseph Smith, revered in such a fashion?  Hardly.  Those who feed on the words of false shepherds will “die for lack of wisdom.”  And that death will be ETERNAL DEATH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE! 

Which brings to mind what the work of a believer is.  To spread the Gospel of Christ to the whole world.  It is not righteous or wise to keep it to yourself.  If you are reading this, and you do not know what it means to be “saved,” please read the following:

(1).  Admit you are a sinner (have disobeyed God). 

 Sin separates man from God.  Imperfect man cannot come into the presence of a perfect God. 

       “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  -1 John 1:8

(2).  Repent (be sorry for and turn from your sins, to a new life in Christ).

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”-Acts 3:19

(3).  Salvation is available only through Jesus Christ.

       “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes unto the Father, but by me.”  -John 14:6

       “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  -1 Timothy 2:5

       “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”        -Acts 4:12

(4).  Accept the free gift of eternal life through Christ.  

You cannot earn salvation by your own efforts.

       “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  -Romans 6:23

“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves;  it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.”                    -Ephesians 2:8,9 

       “That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness;  and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  -Romans 10: 9,10  

(5).  Do it now. 

“…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  -II Corinthians 6:2

  (Jesus said) “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,  and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  -Revelation 3:20

       Receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour Now

http://www.prayerfoundation.org/plan_of_salvation.htm

sage

Wednesday Wisdom

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1 Samuel 15:22-23 KJV [22] And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams. [23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king.

Friday Proverb – Mischief Makers

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Proverbs 10:23

 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief:

It would be presumptuous and proud to think that only the behavior in the illustration qualifies as mischief.  Any act of mischief  – vandalism,  gossip, back-stabbing, pilfering, cheating, cruelty, bullying, flirtations, or the host of evil things that people do qualify as mischief; because the persons who do such things, never think that what they are doing is of any consequence.  It is “sport” to them. 

They are fools! 

but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Living Water

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is where true wisdom and understanding is to be found.  As we can not sit at His physical feet at this moment in time, we can sit at His spiritual feet by going to church and reading His Word.  The more His Holy Spirit fills us – the less chance we have of playing the fool.  If we put Him on the back-burner, there is every chance that we will commit some sort of mischief, that we do not think is very serious. 

If we think in our minds that “It’s not that big of a deal.  It’s not like I killed somebody,”  then we are making sport of the mischief we are doing, and are counted a fool. 

Fill your time and mind with His Word – and there will be no chance for mayhem and foolishness. 

sage

Friday Scripture

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1 Peter 4:7-10 KJV

[7] But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

[8] And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

[9] Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

[10] As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.