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Wednesday’s Word to the Wise

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Last weekend while at the ladies’ retreat at Kennerly Road Baptist Church in Irmo, SC we enjoyed talking about many foods because the theme was, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8
At one point I made an illustration using one of our family’s favorite cake recipes – Triple Chocolate Cake. It’s a recipe I got from my sister. It’s decadent non-diet food! The first time I ever made this cake I made a horrible mistake…instead of following the recipe for the stabilized whipped cream real carefully, I threw in some of my own reasoning and cooked the unflavored gelatin a bit too long. As my family was eating the cake, we had to pick out unflavored Gummy Worm-type things that were in the whipped cream! It wasn’t too pleasant. However, I’d had this cake at my sister’s and I knew how good it could be, so I didn’t let that first defeat conquer me; I made it again and this time followed the recipe carefully! It turned out great.

The illustration I made from that is when we feel we’ve failed to live the Christian life, we don’t just quit in defeat. Proverbs 24:16 says, The just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again. When we fail or sin, we don’t just lay down and give up – we rise up and keep going, by the Lord’s strength and help. I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confession of sins is part of the recipe for living the Christian life, and we must follow it.

After sharing the details of this chocolate cake, many asked me for the recipe, so I promised I would post it on my blog. This cake is rather involved, but I do one part at a time so it will turn out well. It’s truly worth the trouble! My word to the wise is follow the recipe (the Lord’s recipe for victory as well as the one to follow) Things turn out wonderfully when you do!

Here are some pictures of the retreat:

“The backdrop of Psalm 34:8 is I Samuel 22 when David was experiencing one of the most difficult times in his life, yet he could say, ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good.'”
A Kitchen Band playing “Jesus Loves Me”
We made some analogies from herbs to the common things in our lives. O taste and see that the Lord is good!
Here you go, KRBC ladies, enjoy!
Triple Chocolate Cake

Bake a Chocolate Devil’s Food cake mix in two layers. I like to do this early and freeze the layers.
Prepare Stabilized whipped cream (recipe to follow)

Layer cream between the two layers and refrigerate overnight.

Ice cake with buttercream icing.

To apply Ganache:
Place the cake on a cardboard circle the size of the cake pan – not on a cake plate yet! ***Place cake on a cooling rack that is sitting on top of a cookie sheet, then pour ganache over all. (I keep reapplying the ganache that has poured off the cake into the cookie sheet below.) Let cake set in refrigerator before serving.

Stabilized Whipped cream – I make this up the day before I need it and let it set in the refrigerator.
2 cups whipping cream
2 tsp. unflavored gelatin
6 tsp. cold water
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Place gelatin in a small saucepan. Dissolve gelatin in cold water and let stand ’til set. Place over low heat just until it dissolves.
In another bowl, whip the cream, sugar and vanilla. Beat until thick (not peaks). Pour gelatin slowly into beaters in steady stream; beat ’til stiff.

Ganache
1 cup whipping cream
Place in saucepan and bring just to boil. Remove from heat and stir in 8 ounces chocolate chips and stir well to combine. Let cool slightly before applying.

I’ve added some of my own personal notes to the recipe to help you have good success with the cake. If something is confusing, leave a comment and I’ll try to explain. Again, if you follow the recipe it should turn out to be the best chocolate cake you’ve ever had!

Enjoy!
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The Real Deal

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The preacher’s 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why. “Well, Honey,” he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. “I’m asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.” “So, how come He doesn’t?” she asked.

Ouch! Children don’t miss a thing, do they? They observe and take notes of what is going on around them even when we think they’re oblivious.

Young parents that have accepted Christ as their Savior have a desire to be an example that their children can follow. We know that we should let our children see us reading the Bible, praying, depending on God, attending church, and serving the Lord. But why so? I thought when my daughters were home that I was helping them do what I was doing. Perhaps so, but they were also under my roof, and pretty much had to do those things. We set aside time for daily devotions, we prayed as a family, we attended church together and when we served the Lord, we did it as a family.

I didn’t really understand it at the time, but all along, my girls were watching me closely. They were seeing things I didn’t realize they were seeing. They saw my motives; they understood when I did it out of a heart for God, and when I did it in my flesh. They may not have registered all of that when they were small, but now that they’re out of our home, they’re putting the pieces together. They’re connecting what I did with why I did it. Now is the time that the reaping comes; when they continue to follow the Lord. This is when I will know if I’ve passed on to them the real stuff of life – a daily relationship with their Savior that touches every aspect of their lives.

Let me encourage you young moms – be an example and let your children see you doing the right things with the right motives, and do it consistently. They won’t really “get it” until they’re grown. It will click and they will step back and evaluate what they’ve been observing all through the years. Be faithful and be real. Remember – you can’t fool a child!

Under His feathers,

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What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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I had the privilege of speaking at a Ladies’ Retreat at Kennerly Road Baptist Church in Irmo, SC this past Saturday. What a blessing to share the Word of God and have the fellowship with the dear, sweet ladies that were there. We had a wonderful time together and I thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve Him there.

One of the things I encouraged the ladies about was using their home as a place of ministry. I consider it a true joy to have guests in. Sharing a meal, and then being able to share the Gospel or disciple them in their walk with God makes the meal so very sweet.

Yesterday we had the joy of having in a couple that has been attending our church for a short period of time. We had a wonderful time talking with them about their faith in Christ and the need to read the Word and grow. Our hearts were knit together as we broke bread together, then shared The Bread of Life!

Because I was away all day on Saturday, I planned a menu that would be easy to put together on Sunday morning. Early in the week, I made dessert – a Brownie Tart by Ina Garten, and placed it in the oven. Oh my – if you love chocolate you must try this decadent dessert!

Countryside Chicken Bake

Steamed broccoli

Green salad

Crescent rolls

Brownie Tart with ice cream

Sunday morning I put the chicken dish together. When I returned home from church I put the salad together, steamed the broccoli, and baked the crescent rolls.

Countryside Chicken Bake

1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 cup sliced celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 tbl butter, melted
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
6 chicken breasts (I used a cut-up fryer)
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1 lb. bag baby carrots
paprika

Cook rice according to package directions. Combine rice and next 6 ingredients; mix well. Spoon into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch dish; top with chicken and carrots.

Combine soup, sour cream and milk; spoon mixture over chicken. Bake, covered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Sprinkle top with paprika. Bake an additional 15 minutes.

For baking on Sunday during church, place dish in a 275 degree oven before Sunday school.

What’s been cookin’ in your kitchen?

With love,

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Hear the Song

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Yesterday was another lesson from the birds (God uses His creation to teach us about Himself, doesn’t He?). My husband was walking with me this time, and as we were walking we heard a beautiful song, but as we looked up into the tree from which the sound was coming, we couldn’t find the bird! Then all of the sudden it flew out of the branches and off to another perch. It was a gray and white bird – nothing fancy, no bright colors on its breast, no colorful bill.

Then my husband said, “He wasn’t a very pretty bird, but he sure had a pretty song!”

“That’s just like me!” I squealed.

“It’s just like all Christians” he answered.

That is the truth! We’re all unlovely, sinful creatures, but because of what Christ did for us on the cross, He has put a song in our hearts. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God… Psalm 40:3a

A moment later, we heard the same song from another bird in another tree. We looked and we looked but we never could find the bird that was making the beautiful music.

I said, “There’s another example for us – it doesn’t matter if others see us – we should be pointing them to Christ.”

The end of Psalm 40:3 says, many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. It doesn’t say that many shall see me, it says they shall see “it” – the song. You see the song by seeing Christ in that person. You see, Christ is our song. I don’t matter; Christ does!

Thank the Lord for His faithful birds, pretty or not, singing their song and pointing to their God. How can we do the same thing?

  • We don’t try to promote ourselves.
  • We serve instead of desiring to be served.
  • We make His priorities ours priorities and let Him direct our day.
  • We live for eternity, not for the moment.

Let’s be like those birds and make others think about our great God when they hear our song!

Under His feathers,

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Singing with the Birds

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I have recently traded my treadmill in for the hills in the neighborhood. When it’s so gorgeous outside, I’d much rather get my exercise in the midst of the blooming phlox and tulips than my basement!

While walking yesterday I heard a bird singing loudly. I looked up to the top of a telephone pole to where a cardinal was perched. I said, “I’m with you, Mr. Bird. God made you and God made me and we have something to sing about!” I mean it – I said that out loud while walking by myself. Any onlookers would have raised their eyebrows and shook their heads perhaps – a woman walking alone and talking to a cardinal would raise suspicions! But it’s true – we have so much to sing about, so much for which to give thanks.

It’s easy to grow used to our blessings and forget to sing.

I can breathe on my own. Thank you, God.
I can swallow. Thank you, God.
I can talk. Thank you, God.
I have strength to walk. Thank you, God.
I have heard the Gospel and been saved. Thank you, God.
I have the opportunity to go to church. Thank you, God.
I have a husband and family that love you. Thank you, God.
I don’t have a migraine today. Thank you, God.
I have food in my refrigerator and my pantry. Thank you, God.
Winter is over. Thank you, God.
The flowers outside my window are blooming. Thank you, God.

Don’t let the birds be the only ones singing – Throw your window open and praise the Lord for His blessings in your life.

With thanksgiving,