Acceptance

We live in a broken world and, even if life goes well for us today, there will come a time when we are faced with suffering in one form or another. The deepest lessons I have learned have come through those times in my life that I would not have chosen. Also, those who have gone through deep suffering have taught me so much. Everyone responds differently but acceptance is the key to peace.

Knowing that our lives are not at the mercy of chance but led by God gives us peace as we carry on.  Suffering is not for nothing for God has all our moments in His everlasting arms and in faith we trust. Faith is not a feeling but a willed obedience on the Rock which is Jesus Christ. He took upon Himself our sins, our griefs, our sufferings.

When we pray and ask God to remove our suffering and, if the answer is no, then we know that He has something better in store for us. This life is temporary and, as His children, we are moving toward a Heavenly Kingdom. And in the mean time, He gives us the next thing to do - dishes to wash, laundry to do, sick to visit...all for Him!

THE PLAN OF THE MASTER WEAVER

My life is but a weaving
Between the Lord and me;
I may not choose the colors–
He knows what they should be.
For He can view the pattern
Upon the upper side
While I can see it only
On this, the under side.

Sometimes He weaves in sorrow,
Which seems so strange to me;
But I will trust His judgment
And work on faithfully.
‘Tis He who fills the shuttle,
And He knows what is best;
So I shall weave in earnest,
And leave to Him the rest.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needed
In the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

~ Benjamin Malachi Franklin

No Bake Chewy Granola Bars

These granola bars are made without sugar (unless you add some chocolate chips) and are high on our boy's must have list for snacks.

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 - 1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 cup oats (I use large flake)
1 to 1-1/4 cups total of combination of add ins such as coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, raisins, cranberries, chocolate chips, rice krispies, crushed corn flakes, cocoa, flax etc....

Melt peanut butter, honey and coconut oil in sauce pan - low to medium heat. Turn off heat, add oats and let sit for a minute or two. Then add the 1 to 1-1/4 cup of add ins. (I used 1/4 cup each -give or take- of unsweetened coconut, raisins, chocolate chips, and rice krispies).

Stir well and spread in a well greased 8x8" pan, pressing mixture down.  Chill for two hours, then cut into bars. Store in fridge or freeze individually.

So there you have it - healthy granola bars with minimal effort!

Sweet Potato Recipe

These were amazing, so I had to share!

Crash Hot Sweet Potatoes

2 Medium sweet potatoes

1 T butter, melted

1T olive oil

1-1/2 to 2 T light brown sugar

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp cumin

1/8 tsp chili powder

½ tsp. paprika

¼ t. onion powder (I may omit this next time and perhaps add more pepper)

some black pepper

Peel and slice the sweet potatoes about 1 to 1-1/2 inch thickness. Boil in a large pan of water to which ½ tsp of salt has been added. Add potatoes and boil 10 to 12 minutes or until somewhat soft but not cooked through. Take them out of pan with slotted spoon and arrange on a baking sheet lined with foil sprayed with non stick spray. With a fork, mash down each potato round just a bit to create grooves on top.

Mix the butter with the oil and drizzle on each potato round. Mix the brown sugar with the spices and evenly distribute over each potato.

Bake in 350-375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

Creator Gifts

Happiness or Joy?

I am reading "Shattered Dreams" by Larry Crabb.  He writes that people who insist on happiness never find joy. Joy in the Lord and His promises. "They feel happy for a time but it's a selfish happiness. They live for the ongoing satisfaction of desires, other than the desire to know God. They become self-absorbed," he writes.

When our relationship with the Lord is not the priority of our hearts, a sense of entitlement develops, and we see ourselves as needing something we don't have and think we should have. We may be satisfied for the moment but a deeper emptiness follows and we become a slave to whatever we think makes us feel better. And Satan's deceptive ways take hold of our hearts.

Only through Jesus do we have joy in our lives, as we look beyond this world of brokenness to eternal peace with Him.  Phil.3:17 - 4:1

What Do You Use Your Freezer For?

Here is a tip that you may not know about....

Do you have potato chips/tortilla chips (any flavour) in your cupboards that are about to go stale or that you want to hide from your teenagers? :-)  Put them in the freezer - they stay fresh and crunchy. The same goes for any crackers.

I also freeze those baking supplies that don't get used up within a month...raisins, chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans etc.

Someone was surprised that we freeze raw corn (in their husks - only outer leaves and silk end off). We take the husks off when they are partially thawed, then cook in boiling water (a bit of sugar and lemon juice added) for 8-10 minutes and you have the most wonderful tasty fresh-from-the-garden type corn!

If we have an overabundance of green peppers or celery, I just chop these up fine and freeze them raw...then just take out as needed.

Have a box of crackers about to go stale? Throw the batch into a blender and freeze the crumbs to use in any recipe asking for bread crumbs.

Oatmeal Crackers

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of paying too much for a box of crackers containing ingredients that are hard to pronounce. So my first attempt at making crackers was a grand success...there may not be any left by the time the rest of the tribe arrives home. Here is the recipe:

Oatmeal Crackers

1/2 cup rolled oats (I used Robin Hood large flake)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 cup sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup butter or hard marg, melted
1/4 cup sour cream or yogurt (I used Activia sweetened plain yogurt)
salt for sprinkling

Stir first five ingredients together in medium bowl.
Add butter and sour cream or yogurt to flour mixture. Mix well, then use hands to form into a ball. Roll as thinly as possible on lightly floured surface. Cut in strips 1 x 2 inch or so. Arrange on ungreased baking sheet. Prick with fork in several places. Sprinkle with salt (I used sea salt). Bake 350 F oven for 7 - 10 minutes or until golden and crispy. Makes at least 5 dozen. These also freeze well.