More pantry cooking! Sugar cookies = Christmas deliciousness...

Craving something sweet or need some last minute Christmas goodies? Try these tonight! (May want to cut the recipe in half ...this recipe makes 48 cookies)

Prep Time:
15 Min

Cook Time:
10 Min

Ready In:
25 Min

Easy Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened (very important!)
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

TOP with your choice of topping!

We chose peanut butter & left over funfetti icing!

(Recipe courtesy of All Recipes)

We wear robes of white...

How many times have we fallen into sin, and then longing to reconnect with God, tried to delve into the Word? How many times after truly repenting, do we then read God's precious words as if every chastisement or criticism in the Bible is directed toward us? How often (because of Christ's righteousness) is God willing to let go of our sins, but we are not?

When we become followers of Christ, realizing that we are in no way righteous without Him, His righteousness COVERS us.

Romans 3:21 - 23 ~

 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 4:5-7 ~

5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

 7 “Blessed are those

   whose transgressions are forgiven,

   whose sins are covered.

(David’s words) Psalm 32:5 ~

 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you

   and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess

   my transgressions to the LORD.”

And you forgave

   the guilt of my sin.

When God looks upon the repentant heart, He no longer sees our sins and past regrets, He sees the white robe of our Savior.

Revelation 7:13-14 ~

 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

   And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

With truly repentant hearts, we can read the Word with anticipation of God's promises and purposes for the righteous.  We no longer have to dwell negatively on the words that are spoken about those who do not live by faith.

Thank you Lord that your righteousness covers my every failing!

99 & Love...

Two things from the Christmas Banquet (via Sherry Vaughn) 


DL Moody said something like this: "For every 100 people, one will read the Bible to learn about Jesus. 99 will read you."  We have a huge responsibility to be a reflection of Christ in all that we do. 


Also, our conversations should be made up of love. What are we saying, why are we saying it, and how are we saying it? 

"Chocolate Heaven"

My grandma is SO creative. This is her table for the Poplar Springs Annual Christmas banquet. Chocolate smelling tea lights, in a votive, with chocolate chips in the bottom. Marshmallows and chocolate chips in glasses...etc. 

The start of something...

I have no idea about the "whys" of this blog. I know nothing about blogging, but I do know that there are days Jesus puts things in my heart that I want to get out there. I'm struggling with Facebook lately because I seem to encounter more and more negativity there. I guess I'm moving a little more out of the Facebook neighborhood, and more into blog world. As you read my posts, please comment and ask more questions... because I want this to be a place of conversation. I want to "do life with people" and hear about how you are living out your faith in a real way. 


A few things I'm thinking about tonight...

• A thought: If Jesus gives us nothing else, he has already done too much for us. 
• A desire: To organize, and go on more foreign mission trips. 
• The Word: "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." - Hebrews 10:36
• A quote: "Forget all the reasons why it wont work, and believe the one reason why it will."

Life today...

1. Learning to use what is in the freezer and pantry to make wholesome/good meals for my family... Just trying to save money while I'm not working and be a good steward of what God has blessed us with. Would appreciate any recipes made with the staples and simple ingredients!

Tonight's Menu:

Baked spaghetti: Whole grain spaghetti (pantry), 1/2 lb ground venison thawed from the freezer, chopped left over green pepper, jar of marinara I bought a while back on sale (pantry), topped with half a bag of cheese (staple) from the fridge and breadcrumbs (pantry)

Candied carrots: Baby carrots (on sale last week), brown sugar (pantry), butter (staple)

Super-Simple Candied Carrots Recipe

Garlic bread: Toasted leftover buns with butter, Italian seasoning, garlic, seasoned salt

2. Prayer time with Jonathan, Haleigh and Stephanie for Brooklyn Young's family. Stephanie reminded us that God is always doing miracles behind the scenes. Clay shared this with us:

It has been said that: Death cannot kill what never dies. 
And it’s true. Some things never die…like memories for instance…memories of a warm smile or a special touch…memories of moments shared with one another…memories of a look that no one else will ever give or just a way of being that no one else will ever possess. What never dies is that part of us that is unique and unrepeatable. That part lives forever in the hearts and minds of those who cared for us…who knew us…who shared our journey through life no matter how brief. 
And when we remember those we’ve lost, we may cry or smile or even be angry because life can be so incredibly unfair. But we remember nonetheless, and when we do, the one we remember lives on in our hearts and in our minds.

3. Burkina Faso planning meeting: Matt and I are praying about taking a trip back to this precious country together. The fields there are open for harvest, and God has opened doors in a new village for a church plant!

Some of the children who received salvation bracelets made by supporters of my last trip.