Apricot Chicken Potjiekos

Food Design Loves!! Apricot Chicken Potjiekos 

Ingredients for Potjie:

• 12 chicken thighs
• TT salt and pepper
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 3 onions, sliced into rings
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 250g fresh button mushrooms, wiped clean
• 500g baby potatoes

Sauce:

• 410g tin apricot halves
• 200ml apricot juice
• 10ml soy sauce
• 1 juice and rind of a lemon

Method how to:

1. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper add a little oil to the potjie pot and fry the chicken till brown. 
2. Sauté the onion and garlic till soft and add the whole mushrooms. Fry till brown. 
3. Arrange in layers in the potjie pot, alternating with the chicken thighs and potatoes. 
4. Drain the apricot halves and reserve the syrup. Add enough apricot juice to the syrup to make 400 ml. 
5. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and pour over the chicken. Cover and simmer slowly till the chicken and potatoes are done. 
6. Add the apricot halves just before the end of the cooking time and heat through. Serve with fresh breadrolls.

10 Tips for Flying With a Toddler...

Flying With A Toddler

Get To The Airport Early - Yes you want to be there early to check your bags and get your tickets, but it's also nice to have some time before you have to board the plane. I have found if I have about an hour between going through security and boarding the plane my son is more likely to fall asleep faster. He needs that time to run around! We have to travel two hours to get to the airport so if I get to the gate 10 minutes before we board that hardly gives him enough time to release some energy!
Fly Off-Peak - You are more likely to have an open seat next to you.
Avoid Long Layovers - I always travel SAA. I love the leg room, the TV and all the snacks my son could ever want or possibly need! I also love the fact that they have a direct flight from JHB to Cape Town. The downfall is Cape Town is two hours away, but I would much rather have a little extra drive time then have to switch planes.
Check Stroller At Gate - This kind of seems like a no brainer, but some people don't do it. It's so nice having a stroller waiting for me as I exit the plane, instead of having to carry my son to baggage claim.
Be Prepared To Entertain - If you have your heart set on napping you may be disappointed. I've found if I'm mentally prepared to entertain my son for the first two hours he is more likely to fall asleep soundly for the final two. It's those flights where I'm hoping to can relax that turn into a nightmare.
Dress In Easily Removable Layers - Airplanes can get hot then cold and then hot again. So make sure you either dress your child in layers, or that you have a sweater near by. I also prefer to dress him in an outfit that I can change a diaper in quickly if I need to.
Change of Clothes - You never know when your child is going to hit the tray while his milk and your Sprite are sitting on it. Opened. That happened. Sprite everywhere...including my new shoes I had never worn before. At least it wasn't Coca Cola, right? Luckily I had a spare shirt and pants for him to change into.
Headphones - Get your child some headphones so they can play a game or watch a movie. They have infant head phones. We found some that fit over his head. He does have a big head though.
Games/Movies - Buy a cheap portable DVD player, or take your iPad or iPhone with a DVD or two downloaded. Before we had our own iPad we were flying home and Ahnree was begin very fussy and nothing we did consoled him! Luckily we just happened to be on a flight with one of my husband's old friends from high school and he let us borrow his iPad. Life Saver!
Portable Mobile Charter - My husband got one at a conference, I haven't had to use it yet but it says it keeps charging for up to two hours. All you do is plug it into your phone or iPad and you're set. No cord or electricity needed. Just make sure you charge it before hand of course.

Live, Laugh, Love

Live, Laugh, LoveBy J. Johnson

" Live, Laugh, Love "

LIVE. Let yourself live, don't always hold back and shelter yourself from taking risks. Be adventurous, be spontaneous, explore new worlds and new places that you would not otherwise see without taking the initiative to. Take advantage of the fact that you were able to wake up this morning, because not everyone else can say the same.

LOVE. Choose to love, but let love find you. Be proactive in searching for someone that you are compatible but don't rush to be in love. Love your family, and friends daily, by spending time with them, and treating them in a manner in which you want to be treated. Never run away from love, because no matter what, love conquers all.

LAUGH. Spend time everyday doing things to make you laugh and smile. Catch a good comedy, watch a funny sitcom, or simply converse with some friends or family members that you know will give you a good laugh. A few laughs a day will keep the doctor away!

Good Morning !

Good Night

White Chocolate Cupcakes with Truffle Filling

Cupcake Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups (425 mL) cake flour
• 2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder
• 2/3 cup (150 mL) full Cream milk
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) Double-Strength Vanilla
• 4 egg whites, room temperature
• 6 tbsp (90 mL) butter, softened
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) sour cream
• 12 round white or dark chocolate truffles, unwrapped

Frosting & Garnish Ingredients:

• 6 oz (175 g) white chocolate, chopped
• 1 pkg (8 oz/250 g) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) butter (1/2 stick), softened
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) Double-Strength Vanilla
• 2 cups (500 mL) Icing sugar
• White chocolate curls (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Place paper liners in wells of Muffin Pan. Whisk flour and baking powder in Small Batter Bowl. Combine milk and vanilla, In Mixing Bowl, beat egg whites on high speed of electric mixer until stiff peaks form. In bigger Mixing Bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy; beat in sour cream until smooth. On medium speed, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with milk mixture in two additions, mixing until smooth. Whisk in one-third of the egg whites with Stainless Whisk. Fold in remaining egg whites using whisk. Using Large Scoop, divide batter evenly among liners.
2. Bake 17-20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centres comes out clean. Remove pan from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack. Immediately snip a 1/2-inch-deep (1-cm) “x” into top of each cupcake using Professional Shears. Press one truffle into each cupcake until flush with top of cupcake. Remove cupcakes from pan. Cool 30 minutes or to room temperature. (Truffles will melt into cupcakes.)
3. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 1-1 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is mostly melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Let stand 3 minutes or until slightly cooled. In clean Stainless (4-qt./4-L) Mixing Bowl, combine melted chocolate, cream cheese, butter and vanilla; using clean beaters, beat on medium speed until well blended. Slowly add powdered sugar; beat well.
4. Place frosting in Pastry Bag fitted with open star tip. Pipe frosting evenly around tops of cupcakes. Garnish cupcakes with chocolate curls, if desired.

Quick & Easy Basic Cheesecake

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 packet Tennis biscuits 
• 15ml butter 
• 1 tin condensed milk 
• 1 tub fat-free cottage cheese 
• 125ml lemon juice 

TOPPING:

• 1 tub fresh strawberries 
• 15ml icing sugar OR a tin of fruit jam (such as raspberry) OR a tin of passion fruit /granadilla pulp 

METHOD:

1. Crush the biscuits and mix with the butter to use as a base. Press into a shallow dish. 
2. Mix the condensed milk, cottage cheese and lemon juice together, and pour over the biscuit base. 
3. Pick your favourite topping; heat up a tin of jam over a stove until it’s runny and glaze it over your cake, or decorate it with fresh fruit and a sprinkle of icing sugar. Alternatively, glaze a tin of passion fruit / granadilla pulp over your cake. 
4. Let stand in fridge for at least two hours before serving, and keep any leftovers in the fridge as well.

Names of God in the Old Testament

Word God

I saw this on a poster at church in a Sunday School room. I wanted to share this with you. It is how God is referred to in the Old Testament. Along with each one is a verse the references to that verse. These names are Hebrew. I saw this poster during our Vacation Bible School last month.

Even our pastor at our church will use a lot of these names especially Elohim. I also hear our pastor say Jehova-jreh too.

There is even a Christian song with Yahweh in it. It is by Phil Wickham called At Your Name (Yahweh, Yahweh).

Elohim (Hebrew name for God) Genesis 1:1
Jehovah/Yahweh/Lord (Self-Exist or God of Israel) Genesis 2:4
El Elyon (the most high God) Genesis 14:18
Adonai (Our Master, Lord) Genesis 15:2
El-Olam (Everlasting God) Genesis 21:33
Jehovah-jreh (The Lord will provide, it shall be seen) Genesis 22:14
Jehovah-rophe (Lord who heals) Exodus 15:26
Jehovah-nessi (Lord our banner) Exodus 17:15
Jehovah-M’Kaddesh (Lord who sanctities) Leviticus 20:8
Jehovah-Elohim (The Lord God) Deuteronomy 6:4
Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord our Peace) Judges 6:4
Jehovah-Saboth (Lord of Host) 1 Samuel 1:11
Jehovah-rohi (Lord my Shepherd) Psalm 23:1
Jehovah-Tsidkenu (Lord our righteous) Jeremiah 23:5
Jehovah-Shammah (Lord is present) Exodus 48:35

It was blasphemy to say God’s name so it was only written in that time.

Good Morning

Good Night My Friend

Gues Who?

Graphic by Billie

Guess Who?

There is surprising talent here, in many varied forms.

A welcome blessing in a place where every heart just warms.

When you first see a name you think now what is that about?

And then you get the point when someone puts the story out.

Sometimes it can sneak up on you and make you think a bit.

That thinking is the reason that your Friend has chosen it.

My own name is a fluke I guess. It’s really no big deal,

By now of course I’ve seen some names that I would like to steal!

I’ll have to stay the course for now, I’m stuck with what I chose,

Too late to get a better one to post with, I suppose.

If you have yet to choose one I will give you some advice.

Keep your name real short or no one ever types it twice.

NicknamedBob . .© 2004

Step-by-step fish cakes just like Grandma used to wish she could make Fish cakes...

Makes about 24 depending on size 

Sauce:

• 150ml good quality mayonnaise 
• 15ml (1 tbsp) green peppercorns 
• 15ml (1 tbsp) creamed horseradish 
• 15ml (1 tbsp) mustard 
• 1/4 onion, very finely chopped 
• 5ml (1 tsp) fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped 
• 2,5ml (1/2 tsp) lemon zest 
• 400g skinned hake (or other SASSI-approved sustainable fish) 
• 180ml milk 
• 2 fresh bay leaves 
• 350g potatoes, peeled and diced 
• 15ml (1 tbsp) fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped 
• 5ml (1 tsp) fresh chives, snipped 
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 
• 1 large egg 
• 60g (V2 cup) cake flour 
• 100g day-old breadcrumbs 
• vegetable oil, for frying 
• butter, for frying 
• micro salad leaves, to serve 

 

Step 1. Mix all the sauce ingredients together in a bowl and set aside until needed. Step 2. Place the fish, milk and bay leaves in a saucepan and simmer over medium heat until the fish is just cooked, about 20 minutes. Lift with a slotted spoon and put on a plate to cool. 
Step 3. While the fish is poaching, cook the potatoes in plenty of boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and return to the pot. 
Step 4. Mash the potatoes together with 15ml (2 tbsp) of the sauce. 
Step 5. Stir in the parsley and chives and season well. 
Step 6. Using a fork, flake the cooled fish into large chunks. 
Step 7. Using your hands, gently mix together the fish and mash so that they just combine without going mushy. 
Step 8. On a floured surface, shape the fish-cakes into discs of your desired size. 
Step 9. Beat the egg in a bowl. Place the flour in another bowl and the breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
Dip the fishcakes in the flour, then in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs.
Heat the oil and butter in a large, non-stick frying pan. Fry the fish cakes over medium heat until crisp and golden, about 5 minutes on each side.
Serve the fishcakes hot, with the sauce and a few micro salad leaves. 
Cooks tip:
Once they are well coated with flour, egg and breadcrumbs, the fishcakes can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 day, or you can freeze them for later use. 

Compiled by Jodi-Ann Pearton, Photographs by Graeme Wyllie. 

This Article was taken from the January 2011 Issue of Food & Home.

Browsing stuffed bookshelves

For that just-right next read

So,so many choices

So,so many voices

Looking high, looking low

A detective at work

As if sniffing out clues

As if handling jewels

Searching for something new

To fit my current mood

Something light,something dark

Something soft,something hard

Finding just what i need

In the lines that i read

New found inspiration

New found destination....-,,,,,

Claire-Eugene Denton Bear © copyright

Good Morning!

Sweet Dreams All...

Here is a little prayer for tonight:

~ So Tired ~

Little friend so soft and warm

What did you do all day,

Getting up to mischief, all done in

What then did you play

Your paws are drooping on the edge

Softly flopping out of beat,

Leave the keyboard, say your prayers

Before you fall asleep.

Mmm, unless--you fetch a cozy quilt

And pull up a comfy chair,

If we're going to sit up half the night

Sharing all our cares.

Let's just make ourselves a coffee

What better shall we do tonight,

Than get our sighs and yawns in tune

Until the morning light.

Later on we'll send our hugs, good nights.

Soft Whispers from Derry's Heart Poems © 2005

Pineapple-Pecan Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

• 3 c. chopped cooked chicken breasts
• 1 c. finely chopped celery
• 2 green onions, sliced (about 3 T.)
• 2 T. finely chopped green pepper
• 1 tsp. salt
• Dash of black pepper
• 1/2 c.Low fat mayonnaise
• 1/2 c. chopped pecans
• 1 (20 oz.) can pineapple tidbits, drained
• 2 T. lemon juice

Directions:
Combine chicken, celery, green onion, green pepper, salt, black pepper, and mayonnaise in a bowl; mix well. Stir in pecans, pineapple, and lemon juice.
Chill for about 30 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

How to keep your baby entertained

See things from a baby’s point of view - as if for the first time...

Household tip type: BabyBabies are like little sponges for information – things like colour, sounds, different textures – all of these are intriguing to your little one and can keep them occupied as well as help them to develop important skills too. 

Baby toys, swings and vibrating bouncers all go a long way in keeping your baby occupied, but there are also everyday household items that can come into play once your child is old enough to need a bit more stimulation.

Electronics
Keep old phones and computer keyboards – babies love to play with things they see you busy with every day. Just be sure to minimise damage by giving them things which you don’t mind breaking!
Mirror, Mirror on the wall...
Babies don’t recognise their own faces in the beginning and can be thoroughly entertained by the baby staring back at them. If there is a mirror within their reach then make sure it is secured to a wall or on the floor so that they can’t pull it down or break it.
Dance like nobody’s watching
Put on your favourite tunes and introduce your baby to the world of dance. Babies love moving their little bodies to the beat of music and you can be there to share in the fun.
Tupperware
Tupperware is very useful in the kitchen but also in keeping your baby occupied. Dig out all your plastic and let them stack and unstack all the bowls and dishes - you may even find your Tupperware cupboard packed neater than before...

Just remember that your child is looking at things as if for the first time: what may seem boring and mundane for you might mean a world of delight for your child.

Hello, I'm back.......

How to calm a crying baby

Not sure why your baby won't stop crying? Try these tips.


Household tip type: BabyThere’s nothing more frustrating than when your newborn just won’t stop crying… You’ve changed their nappy and fed them and made sure that they’re as comfortable as possible, but nothing helps. Most people write this off as colic, said to be related to digestive issues in newborns. However, Dr Harvey Karp, a paediatrician and associate professor of paediatrics at the University of California’s School of Medicine, believes that this crying is related to the fact that the baby needs the calming reassurance it had in the womb, while it acclimatizes to being in the outside world.

In order to simulate the womb, Dr Karp suggests the 5 S’s.
Swaddling: Wrap your baby tightly in a blanket with their arms at their sides to recreate the snug fit they had in your womb. Make sure that they aren’t getting too hot. They may initially cry even harder at this treatment but continue with the process until they are calm.
Side or Stomach: While supporting their heads, turn them either on their left side to aid in digestion or onto their stomachs. This is the position they would have taken in your womb. When a baby is on their backs they can feel disorientated which will make them cry more.
Shushing: Inside your womb your baby would have been entertained by sounds 24 hours a day. The gurgling of your stomach and beating of your heart creates white noise or background noise which your baby would have found comforting. Outside your womb sounds can seem too harsh and silence too lonely. Make calming “shhh” noises louder than their cries until they calm down.
Swinging: By gently rocking or swinging your baby you are simulating the movement they would have felt in your womb. Use a sling, dance or use a ball to help with this gentle movement to calm your baby.
Sucking: Sucking stimulates a calming reflex in your baby so give them something to suck on like a dummy, your finger or your breast.

Just one of these steps may calm your crying baby, or you might need the whole process. Just persist until you find the right combination.

Layered decadent surprise !

Ingredients:

The first layer is a Tennis Biscuit crust:

• 1 x 200g Tennis biscuits crushed
• 125g butter
• 1/2 cup sugar

Second layer:

• 2 x 250g cream cheese
• 1 cup Icing sugar
• 1 container Orley Whip
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup peanut butter
• whipped together and spread on top of crust

Third layer:

• 2 pcts. chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups milk
• mix and pour over cream cheese filling

Fourth layer:
1 container of Orley Whip....topped with chocolate syrup and sprinkled some heath bits.

Granny Mouses House/Ouma Muis se Huis

Following God's Divine Order:........

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me,

then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."

~ C.T. Studd

Biblical submission is:  a beautiful gift for your husband and a precious offering to God.

Have you ever wondered why God used the bone from the man's rib to form the woman? Why didn't God use a piece of bone from the man's head so the wife could be over her husband? Or why didn't God use a bone from the man's shoulder so the wife could have equal roles and duties as her husband? Why didn't God use a bone from the man's thumb so his wife could be under his constant pressure? Or why didn't God use a bone from the man's foot so the wife could be used as a feeble and dirty doormat?

Why did God use the rib?

These questions and many others regarding what a true woman looks like, what biblical submission really means, and how the ancient text of the Proverbs 31 woman is still relevant and much needed in today’s world; are studied, examined and answered in My Second Love: A Proverbs 31 Study.

This is an exegetical study of Proverbs 31:10-31; an acrostic poem based on the Hebrew alphabet, an oracle taught to King Lemuel (meaning: "devoted to God"), by his mother (Proverbs 31:1). Most scholars reason King Lemuel is King Solomon since Solomon was also called Jedidiah which means "beloved of the LORD" (2 Samuel 12:25).Every chapter is based on a verse of the Proverbs 31 woman. In this study, you will gain insight and understanding of the spiritual essence of every verse as well as be provided with practical ways you can apply these biblical principles to your life.

At the end of each chapter, you'll find soul-searching questions to help you: grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, see yourself and your life with eternal perspective, and view others as God our Father sees them; with His infinite wisdom, love and compassion rather than with our introspectively-skewed and finite understanding.

Following God's Divine Order:

A wife's biblical submission is vital to the family unit and a wife's effectiveness in her role as help-meet to her husband, therefore we will follow God's divine order of things (1 Corinthians 14:40): 
GOD FIRST: 

Matthew 6:33 and 10:37-39; Luke 14:33; Mark 12:30-31; Proverbs 31:30; Psalm 88:13; Psalm 1:1-3 

SPOUSE SECOND: 

Genesis 2:18-20, 3:16; Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Corinthians 11:3, 8-9; 1 Timothy 2:13, 3:4-5; Titus 2:3-5 

CHILDREN THIRD: 

Psalm 78:3-5; Titus 2:4; Deuteronomy 6:7; Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 29:17; Malachi 2:15; Hebrews 12:8 

HOMEMAKING FOURTH:

Proverbs 31:10-31; Titus 2:3-5 

"MINISTRY" FIFTH: Volunteering (at church & children's school), work, others (extended family, church family, friends) and hobbies:

1 Timothy 2:10, 5:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:7: Acts 9:36; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; Romans 12:10 & 13: 1 Peter 4:9-11 Living life out of God's order is asking for chaos to reign in our lives, causing us to be unfruitful and living in constant haste (2 Peter 1:3-9).

Remember: A woman of faith, doesn't live in haste.

Morning Prayer

Being Thankful

Dear Lord, thank you so much for another day of life on Earth. Thank you for another beautiful sunrise to enjoy. Thank you for the wonderful sounds of nature, from the cool breeze brushing through the trees to the birds singing melodies. You are a wonderful God, full of grace and mercy. I praise you for allowing me another day to spend with my family. I love you Father! Amen.

“The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come,

and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”

Song of Solomon 2:12

Good Night...

Pick your month of birth and receive your blessing...

Pick your month of birth and receive your blessing :

January :: May God grant you good health

February :: May you have joy in your relationships

March :: May God give you inner peace in your life

April :: I declare wisdom

May :: May God use you to advance His Kingdom

June :: I pray for open doors regarding work and/or education

July :: may God bless your family

August :: You are a pillar and God will give you strength

September :: May God break you free from curses

October :: may God deliver you from all the enemy's plans

to bring you down..

November :: may God keep you safe and under His protection

always

December :: may you find everlasting favor!!!

Mine is February month :) 

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

This makes 12 large-ish meatballs. My best self would’ve let the meatballs freeze at this point you see above (after initial 15-minute bake) then frozen them for future Tumultuous Tuesday use, on which day, my best self would’ve transferred the frozen meatballs to the fridge in the morning, then heated them up in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes (before proceeding with broiling) upon her return later that night. While she was at it, my best self would’ve also ordered all the Halloween costumes and thrown away the sad, dried-out mums in the backyard that have been there since last fall and that perennially remind her of her worst self.

You will need:

• 1 1/4 pounds ground chicken
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup Pecorino (or Parm)
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 egg, whisked
• zest of half a lemon
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 14-ounce can storebought pizza sauce (such as Don Pepino’s)
• about 4 ounces fresh mozzarella (a dozen thin slices; to pile on the cheese would be to cancel out the fact that you were virtuous enough to replace fatty beef with lean chicken)

How to:
Preheat oven to 400°F, setting rack to upper third part of oven. In a large bowl, using your hands, gently mix together first 11 ingredients. Shape into lacrosse-ball size balls (that would be somewhere between golf and tennis) and place a few inches from each other on a foil-lined baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix one spoonful of your pizza sauce with olive oil. Brush this mixture on top of each meatball. Bake for 15 minutes.

Remove meatballs from oven, spoon some sauce on top of each meatball, and cover each with a slice of cheese. Broil another 3 to 5 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden. Heat remaining sauce in a small saucepan. Serve meatballs with a dollop of sauce and a raw Tuscan kale salad that has been shredded and tossed with shallots, Pecornio, olive oil, salt, and pepper.                                             Enjoy!

Love is . . .

Always...

|

I some how got the idea to search the word “always” to see what the Bible says we should always do. It was an interesting study and mostly it says we should always pray. I like Acts 24:16 which says we should always have a conscience void of offense toward God. And while I could write about that, it’s not the verse that stood out to me today.

1 Cor. 15:58 – “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” That’s the New Living Translation which I enjoy reading; however, my favorite is the Amplified which says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].”

• Be firm
• Be steadfast
• Be immovable
• Always abounding in the work of the Lord

Always being superior in any work that we do for God. Superior in quantity. Superior in quality. Superior in attitude. Ouch! My attitude is not always good when it comes to do things for God. I detest lack of preparation on other’s part. I hate it when people are not on time and honoring God. My attitude shows towards them and I’m learning to pray instead of getting frustrated.

Always excelling in any work we do for God. Excelling at my skill of playing piano, leading worship, teaching others about God. Sigh…I’m not always practicing as I should. I just get tired after teaching all day and don’t want to practice at night. Some how God will show me how to fit more practice time into my tight schedule. I could stop playing FB games at night but that’s when I’m too tired to think about anything else. I guess if I just went to the piano and played it would energize me. It’s like exercising, once you get there and start doing it, it feels good. I will be more determined this year to get to the piano. How can I be an excellent piano teacher if I don’t practice what I teach!!

Always doing more than enough in the service of the Lord. Okay, I think I’m doing well on this one. Though I could have more music ready for worship time than what is required but that would require more practice time with the worship team. Two hours is a lot already. I need my team to step up in excelling at their instruments and voices so that we can have more productive rehearsals. With 10 songs to prepare each week, it requires a lot of time and review. I get bored doing the same worship songs and so I need new, exciting songs to sing. Can’t do that unless the team knows the ones we are trying to learn now. How frustrating this could be if I allowed it. So instead I’m reducing the number of songs for worship so that we can concentrate on learning the songs well. Repetition is key to excelling in anything including worship. The congregation will learn the songs too, if they show up each week that is!

Interesting how one word, “always”, made me think and be aware of what I need to change so I can “always be abounding in the work of the Lord”.

Have a Wonderful Day !

Sweet Dreams !

Sermon on Sleeping

This is a post about trusting God. You can rest knowing God has your back. Let’s look at …

Psalm 3:1-8 NKJV

1. Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!  Many are they who rise up against me.
2. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.”
3. But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.
4. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
5. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people wWho have set themselves against me all around.
7. Arise, O Lord;  Save me, O my God!  For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8. Salvation belongs to the Lord.  Your blessing is upon Your people. SelahSleeping is a place of rest. In verse 5 of Psalm 3; David fell asleep trusting in the Lord. We need to be like David and come to peace with the turmoil of the world. True peace will never come until Christ returns.

Peace of mind is based on strength of mind.Sleep comes when are mind becomes weary and we need to be restored, we are tired. Sleep reminds us that we are not God. God never sleeps. Remember we are helpless. We must rely on God.

Saving faith is rest in Him. You can rest in His protection. David slept despite big turmoil in his life. David even still worshiped God weeping through tough times of his life. See 2 Samuel 15:30. Instead of fear David had faith.Faith can over come fear!

Joab the nephew of King David was amazed by his uncle. He asked King David, what are you doing sleeping? We are about to be taken over by an army.Selah which means There, Lift Up! (Hebrew) It can also mean Stop and Listen! The Amplified Bible says “pause and think on that.” This was first used in the 3rd Psalm and used throughout the book of Psalm.

God wants us to pause. He wants us to Be Still and Know He is God. AsPsalm 46:10 shows us.

God is our help. He answers me. God always hears us. The answer is in God’s control On His time. When we pray we should pray the Will of God.

Verse 8 tells us that salvation is the will of God. God can deliver even in the deepest times of trouble. We might think we have too much trouble. We may endure a lot of personal attacks as well. Even at the work place. Remember it is not you, but God who used you to climb the corporate ladder.

Don’t be CEO church goers. What does CEO stand for? It means Christmas, Easter Only. As in you only go to church on Christmas and Easter Only. Or only special times.Today as well churches are becoming battle fields due to hardening hearts. Don’t allow your heart to be harden.

2 Names of God, as used in the Bible 

Jehovah (God keeps covenant) 

Elohim (Powerful) 

God is the only one who can give us true encouragement. But, we can help to give others encouragement. Be encouragers, lift up people. Don’t put people down! God never tears us down. He is our shield, our protection. We need God to complete protect us.

Now rest in knowing that God has your back. I remember this sermon from last year. I remember I came home and took a good nap after church. After all the Sabbath is a day of rest. I remember other church members sharing they went home and had good naps too. More than likely one of the best naps they have had in a long time.

Flowers

The flowers wink

With ruffled eyes

Flirting with my muse...

To write of their grandeur

Words to be erased

Insignifcant phrases

To dull to express

The blossom perfection

How can i describe their majesity

When even the water 

Ceases it's bubbling to act

As their hand mirror?

Their perfection 

Of red petal blush

And wedding white 

Shines on it's surface

My winter spirits

Rises from it's frost

To be renewed 

By flower blossoms 

I cannot write with justice

The glory of your blooming

I lay down my pen

And bow to your beauty.......

Claire-Eugene Denton Bear © copyright

Love is......

English Toffee Bites

English Toffee BitesIngredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 360g milk chocolate, melted
• 1 cup unblanched whole almonds
• 1 cup finely ground walnuts

Instructions:On a foil lined baking dish or in a silicone brownie bite pan (with 24 bites)- arrange almonds in a single layer. Set aside.
In a heavy pan, combine butter, sugar, vanilla and salt. Cook over medium-high heat with a wooden spoon until butter melts, stirring constantly. (REALLY STIRRING CONSTANTLY)! Bring mixture to a rolling boil. Continue boiling (AND STIRRING) an additional 5-7 minutes until candy turns the color of almonds (about 150 degrees). Pour over almonds. If using the brownie bite pan, I use a small metal scoop to get toffee into each bite, working quickly!
Cool completely.
When candy is cooled and set (about 2 hours), spread chocolate over top of toffee. Sprinkle generously with ground walnuts. If doing both sides, use only half of the chocolate and walnuts. Allow top to set before flipping over and doing bottom. When set, pop out of silicone pan and store in a airtight containers. OR cut into pieces. ENJOY!
**tip- when I say stirring, I'm talking taking that wooding spoon and whipping it! haha!! I have an electric stovetop and turn my heat on 7...and it remains on 7 through the entire boiling process.
**If you choose to scoop into brownie bite pan vs.pouring into a baking pan, your butter might separate a little bit by the time you get to the 20th scoop! Don't worry about it. I use my scooper to slightly stir as I take a scoop of toffee.
ENJOY!

God : The Perfect Father

A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances, said: “My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes!”

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty losing a finger.

Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said “Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger.” The slave replied: “My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows “why” of all these things. What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!” Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.

Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices. In the altar, ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages found that the victim had not one of his fingers, so he was released. According to them, it was not so complete to be offered to the gods.

Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave that he received very affectionately. “My dear, God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?”

The slave replied: ”My King, if I had gone with you in this hunt, I would have been sacrificed for you, because I have no missing finger, therefore, remember everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong.”

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose. Every morning, offer your day to God, don’t be in a rush. God is the perfect father.

Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong! You know why this message is for you? I do not know, but God knows, because he never makes mistakes. He is the perfect father and He uses imperfect people.

The path of God and his word is perfect, without impurities. He is the way of all those who trust in Him.

Read more at Stories | Christian Songs Free Download | Jesus Christ Wallpapers - Part 3

Splashing down like a drop of rain...

Splashing down 

Like a drop of rain

Liquefied by 

All her pain

Treading thoughts 

In the water 

Her life 

No does falter

Once again solid

Can see ever be 

Instead of 

What others see

Everything now

Seems muddled

Melting away

Into a puddle

Falling high 

As from a cloud 

Just trying 

Not to drown

Waiting for the skies

To true blue

Still not knowing 

What to do

Tears running down

She does cry

All she wants 

For them to dry

To stand up 

To shake it off

T0 walk in the sun

Never to be lost......

Claire-Eugene Denton Bear © copyright 

Good Morning Quotes...

Rum and raisin chocolate ice cream

Deliciously moreish and no churning required! 

Serve with a cherry or two if you like.

Ingredients:

• 3 extra large PnP eggs, plus 2 extra egg yolks
• 5 ml vanilla extract
• 250 grams PnP castor sugar
• 200 grams dark chocolate chips, 2 slabs or milk chocolate melted
• 500 ml PnP cream
• 125 ml PnP seedless raisins
• 125 ml spiced rum, such as spiced gold or dark rum

Method:
Place eggs, extra yolks, vanilla and sugar in a heatproof bowl.
Place over a saucepan of simmering water (don’t let base touch water). Beat with an electric beater for 6-8 minutes or until thick and pale.
Remove from heat and cool slightly.
Stir through melted chocolate and fold through cream until well combined.
Steep raisins in rum.
Strain off excess rum and stir raisins through ice cream mixture.
Freeze in a plastic tub for at least 8 hours before serving.
More good ideas...

• Soak raisins in brandy or orange juice (for a non-alcoholic version).
• Ripple a little PnP chocolate sauce through the ice cream custard before freezing.

Lord's Day...

If God be with us, we are in ennobling company, even though we are poor and despised.

If God be with us, we have all-sufficient strength, for nothing can be too hard for the Lord.

If God be with us, we are always safe, for none can harm those who walk under His shadow.

Oh, what a joy we have here! Not only is God with us, but He will be with us.

With us as individuals; with us as families; with us as churches.

Is not the very name of Jesus, Immanuel—God with us?

Is not this the best of all, that God is with us?

Let us be bravely diligent and joyously hopeful.

Our cause must prosper, the truth must win, for the Lord

is with those who are with Him. All this day may this sweet

word be enjoyed by every believer who turns

to "faith's checkbook." No greater happiness is possible. 

-CH Spurgeon 

Sunday Blessings! 

"God shall be with ye." 

~Genesis 48:21

                                                                                                                                                By: Miss Jen

Hot Chocolate, Soft Pillow and Off to Bed....

ITALIAN BAKE..

by:  Granny Mouses House/Ouma Muis se Huis

One of those dishes you can stretch at family gatherings.

You will need:

• 1 Kg chicken breasts (cooked & cut into bite size pieces)
• 200 g Sliced Salami
• 2 cans Rhodes Tomato, Basil Mix, mixed with 1 chicken stock cube
• 500g of pasta, penne, macaroni, shells or whatever you like
• 200g Mozzarella cheese and 100g Cheddar Cheese mix
• 1 onion
• 2 peppers - red & green, cut into chunks

How to:
Cut up chicken, onion, peppers and salami
Boil pasta and drain (don't overcook)
Mix pasta, salami, onion, peppers, chicken and sauce.
Put in a large deep dish. If it won't all fit, make a little side dish to freeze for lunch later.
Top heavily with cheese.
Bake at 170 degrees C for about 45 minutes or until golden

Being content...

How many of us would like to change our circumstances? 

Our health, our finances, our relationships, those who have hurt us, those who have walked away...disappointment.

In Philippians 4:10 Paul is writing from prison and is rejoicing. He has learned to be content no matter what the circumstances. He has learned the secret. Like us, he did not always know that secret.

In verse 11 Paul states "he has learned." Yes, in prison he is still learning.

The terrible circumstances he cannot change... death may come at any moment for him. Nothing is in his control.

For two years he waits not knowing what tomorrow may bring. But he is content.

Focusing on Jesus, rather than the circumstance is the clear lesson. He is in prison rejoicing that Christ is being proclaimed. Rejoice, rejoice he repeats over and over in chapter four. Over and over he talks of Jesus. 

As he writes the letter, he is rejoicing and focusing on Jesus.
How sad that we do not think of Jesus when we open our eyes each morning, as we get ready for the day and as we go about every minute of the day. As we learn to stay "focused" we can rejoice even in dark circumstances. 

Paul's attitude soars above the dark clouds and focuses on Jesus.

If he dies, he will be with Jesus. If he stays alive, he can continue his mission. Christ IS his life. Either way he is a winner.

As a born again Child of God, saved by His grace, I can be content that I am a winner either way.

God allows certain circumstances in my life, often for the benefit of others. Are we focused on our loses?

Sure it is upsetting to lose job, home, finances, friends, loved ones.

But as His child, I know that what awaits me in eternity is worth it all.
My focus is on CHRIST. He knows my heartache and suffering here and now. 

He is my peace, my anchor, the most important person in my life!

God can change any circumstance if and when He chooses. He is working every day in our life.

Molding us...often we do not even realize He is at work through us.

I will allow Him to work through me, because I know it is for my good or for the benefit of someone else.

Either way, Lord, go ahead and work in my life!

by: Simply Sharing and Serving

Why You Need to Laugh !