Christmas · Gifts

A Gift for Jesus

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Image result for wrapped christmas gift

I’m sure most of us are consumed right now with Christmas preparations, and that includes buying and giving gifts. We give gifts to those we care about with the desire to give something that will display our love.

While you’re thinking about what to give, have you considered what you’ll give the Lord this Christmas? It is, after all, His birthday! What could you and I give that would demonstrate our love for Him?
Need a few suggestions?
  • A monetary gift to a missionary
  • The provision for a child to go to Christian camp this summer
  • A Christian book or CD to an unsaved friend or loved one
  • How about sharing a tract with the people standing at the Salvation Army posts?
  • Take Christmas cookies to the waiting rooms at the hospital on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and share God’s love and care for them
  • Deliver goodies to the Fire department on Christmas Day and include Gospel tracts
  • A donation to the Christian radio station that has encouraged you this year

We give gifts to each other because God gave us the greatest gift – His Son. Let’s thank Him by remembering to give Him a gift this Christmas!

Do you have any other good suggestions for a gift to give Him? Tell us about it!

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Dates · Family life · memories

Turn Responsibilities into Special Events

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We had the blessing of going to Michigan last weekend where my husband officiated a precious wedding for a couple that are members of our church.  The bride’s hometown is in Michigan, so that was the location for their beautiful wedding.  I lived in the Detroit area until I was 13, so it was fun to go back to a place where I have childhood memories.

The wedding itself was just magical. It snowed the day of the wedding, making it the perfect additional touch!  Isn’t the Lord good?!  Christmas weddings can be beautiful just because of the church and its decor.  Their church was a rented church, so it would be both of their weddings, not just the bride’s.  I loved that!  Plus, this church was gorgeous, as was the bride and her attendants.

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After the wedding event, we had the blessing of going to Greenfield Village for their Holiday Nights.  What a fun time we had!  It was romantic, musical, cold, snowy, festive, and fun!  We absolutely loved the whole night!

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No, we didn’t skate, though I really, really wanted to!

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As we were traveling home, my husband stopped for coffee, and beside the coffee shop was a gourmet popcorn shop, Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn Company.  My husband slipped inside while I was in the car.  He bought three different flavors and of the two I’ve tried, I can attest to the fact that their popcorn is some of the best I’ve had!!

It was a busy weekend, but we were so thankful for all the times we had to share special memories together, such as our evening at Greenfield Village, coffee at a new-to-us place, and popcorn on the long trek home.  That wedding weekend wasn’t just special to the couple who got married, it was special to us as a couple!

It’s so important to make special events out of the things that are responsibilities.  Turn an errand to town, a trip to the grocery store, an evening at school performance or ball game by looking for the fun in each of those things.  Put your phone down.  Look at the people around you.  Stop for the caloric Krispy Kreme doughnut and hot chocolate – or the yummy gourmet popcorn!  Enjoy the brief snow flurries by getting out and watching them come down.  Hold hands with your husband while you’re out.  Do the sporadic thing that pops into your head.  Enjoy each moment.  Turn the small things into big things!

Refresh yourself and those around you by turning the little things into big, special things this weekend!

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baking · Christmas · Gifts · Uncategorized

Hot Chocolate Mug Cake

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How does this sound – Hot, gooey, fudgy cake ready in 90 seconds?! Not only is it really delicious cake, it can also be assembled to give as a special gift for the chocolate lover in your life!  Can you think of anyone who would appreciate a hot little cake that is ready except for three little ingredients?  Mix it up, pop it into the microwave, and in 90 seconds the cake is ready to eat!

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I found this recipe for Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug Cake in the recent edition of Southern Living Magazine.  I whipped up four of these for my neighbors this week and they were super easy and cute as well!  Each mug makes a really generous portion – so you could even share, but hey, it’s Christmas, right?  You might want to enjoy the whole mug yourself!

Here are the ingredients:

Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug Cake

Ingredients

DRY MIX

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
  • 2 tablespoons chopped toasted pecans
  • 2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons mini marshmallow

 

How to Make It

Step 1

For each cake, combine all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, kosher salt, unsweetened cocoa, chopped toasted pecans, bittersweet chocolate chips, baking powder, and cinnamon in a small food-safe gift bag. Place mini marshmallows in a separate bag. Place both bags inside a 12-oz. microwavable mug.

Step 2

To prepare each cake, stir whole milk, canola oil, and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients in mug. Microwave on HIGH until cake rises and is cooked through, 60 to 90 seconds. Remove from microwave; sprinkle marshmallows on top. Microwave on HIGH 5 more seconds. Serve immediately.

Here’s how I wrapped mine up to give away:

 

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You might not be able to have everyone you love over for chocolate cake, but with this simple recipe, you might be able to give them all a cake of their own!

You can watch a video of the process here:

Happy baking/Gift-giving!

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Christmas · Home decor · Uncategorized

My Simple Christmas Decor 2017

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We’re down to the Twelve Days of Christmas!  Rather than giving you  three french hens or six geese a-laying, I thought I’d share some pictures of my Christmas home decor.  I’ll give you a few glimpses into most rooms, which have just little touches here and there.  Step inside…

The entryway ~

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My foyer has no outlet on this side of the wall, but it needs a soft light, so I love using these battery operated strands to brighten up the hallway!

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Just a simple drawing on the closet pantry chalkboard. (You can go here to see how I put the chalkboard on the door.)

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My Gingerbread Coffee House is on the buffet.  After 10+ hours of work, I had no intention of eating this confection, even though everything about it is eatable! It still smells gingerbread-y and delicious!

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All the front windows of our house have a wreath, red bow and battery operated candle hanging from them.  You can see the back of the wreath from this guest room.  I’ve added just little touches in here – Christmas pillow, greenery on the shelf above the bed, and Christmas magazines in the tray.

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You may remember my post last week stating that I wasn’t putting up a tree this year, due to time constraints.  Well, when we were out of town last weekend, Santa’s elves came and put up this adorable and beautiful tree in our bedroom!  It was exactly what I’d hoped to do.  I guess I’ve been a good girl this year after all!

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Now you see what I mean by that fact that I was just adding small Christmas touches here and there.  But you know, I love it and it looks festive enough for us!  Simplifying is a good exercise!

Thanks for taking a tour of my home, via these pictures!  Was there a favorite spot you enjoyed?  Are you finished decorating your home for Christmas?

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Uncategorized

Overshadowed

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Because of our great height difference there are times when I feel absolutely overpowered by my husband. His frame towers over me and I feel very small and insignificant. In Luke 1:35 reads,

“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

When Mary was told that she would be the mother of the Christ child she learned that the way this would happen would be because of the “overshadowing” of the Holy Spirit. She, too, felt small and insignificant, but He would come upon her and make this thing come to be.

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Have you ever been faced with a situation and wondered the same thing that Mary asked – “How will this come to be? How am I going to be able to do this?” The answer is the same for us as it was for Mary ; it happens by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. In a much greater way than when my husband’s presence towers over me, the Holy Spirit takes over and does the thing that no person could do.

Does a trial seem too difficult? He will overshadow you.

Do you feel alone? He will overshadow you.

Does a task seem too great? He will overshadow you.

Does the circumstance seem hopeless? He will overshadow you.

Then we’ll see, just as Mary did that with God nothing is impossible!

Here are the words to an old song that I love. It is entitled just that – “Overshadowed.”

Overshadowed
How desolate my life would be,
How dark and dreary my nights and days,
If Jesus’ face I did not see, To brighten all earth’s weary ways
I’m overshadowed by His mighty love
Rest is mine, serene, secure.
He died to ransom me from sin,
He lives to keep me day by day,
I’m overshadowed by his mighty love,
Love that brightens all my way.

If you know Him personally as your Savior,He will overshadow you, too, and He will do what only our great God can do.

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