Christian Life

God’s Virus Protection

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There was a recent death in our family – my computer!  Oh the sadness. I knew it was coming, so I had braced myself.  Then the new baby (computer) came home – several months later.  With my purchase came a 30-Day free virus protection.  At the end of those 30 days, I got a notification to tell me that my computer would no longer be protected unless I bought the plan.  Keeping the computer free from harmful attacks of viruses or hackers was important, so I took them up on the discounted offer and purchased the year agreement.

At that moment after hitting “purchase,” my computer got a work over.  Scans were run to make sure all was clear.  Files were checked.  Programs got a once-over.  When all was said and done, I got a note telling me that I could rest easy – my computer was free of anything harmful, and my computer’s future was also safe.

I’m thankful for those kinds of protections!  I have no way of knowing when harmful things come into my computer, so it’s a blessing to have this kind of technology to run interference for me!

As a Christian, I know that God’s Holy Spirit is my personal protection against sinful “viruses,” if you will, entering my life.  Its potential is to destroy all that is good and right.  Jesus purchased every believer’s “protection plan” when He died on the cross.  We read in John Jesus’ words that He would send a Comforter – the Holy Spirit. Here’s how that plan works in my life:

  • Each morning I start my day in prayer, asking God to run a scan (check my heart) to detect what sin is there.
  • When the Spirit of God points to a sin in my life, I acknowledge it, rather than arguing about its presence.
  • I call it what God calls it – a lie (not a little fib), gossip (not a prayer request), laziness (not just being tired), etc.  I John 1:9 If we confess our sin…
  • He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. After I call it what it really is, then I ask God to get rid of the infected files (sin and ask Him to forgive me).  He promises He will!

Without the Spirit’s work in my heart, just like my computer, I, too, would be rendered inoperative.  Effectiveness would shut down.  Testimony would be shut down.  Rewards in heaven – shut down.  But praise the Lord, God’s protection plan isn’t just for a year, it lasts my entire Christian life!  My renewal is just my daily walk and desire for Him to keep my heart pure.  We must turn the computer on (pray) and seek God’s face each day.

Are you walking in close fellowship and keeping your heart pure by the Spirit’s cleansing? Are you wondering why “things just aren’t working right now?”  It could be that there is sin that needs to be dealt with!  He’s just a notification away!  Call and He will hear, cleanse and forgive!

With love,

 

 

baking · Uncategorized

Breakfast Muffins To Start Your Day!

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Muffin 1

I love to look at the reviews of recipes I’m going to make, but I have to laugh at people who give a great recipe a horrible review and then go on to share how they did NOT follow the directions!  Hello?  That’s what directions are for!
Try a recipe once.  If you don’t love it, then you can tweak the it a bit, then try again.  But give the recipe a chance!!

muffin 3

Saturday night I went strictly by the recipe I found in my Cooking Light Cookbook and I made their Lemon-Blueberry Muffins.  They were supposed to be used for Sunday breakfast.  I baked them   and “someone” smelled them from his office and came in for a taste!  Two muffins later  he returned to his office, declaring them, “Absolutely scrumptious!”  There were plenty for breakfast – and I love it when he wants to try what I bake!

Here are a few pictures of the process:

Be sure to add a tablespoon of flour to your blueberries before you add them to the batter. This will keep them from falling to the bottom of the muffin.

muffin 5

muffin 6

Some people who reviewed this recipe said they left the glaze off and served them plain.  I would definitely add the glaze!  It makes them so good!!!  Here they are cooling, waiting to be drenched in that lemony glaze…

muffin 4

This is what I’m talking about….
Why would you leave that off???

Muffin 2

Finally, here’s the recipe.  You need these muffins in your morning routine!

Lemon-Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cups low-fat buttermilk
1 large egg
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
1 cup blueberries
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (flour through nutmeg) in a medium bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Combine buttermilk, egg, and rind; stir well with a whisk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moist. Gently fold in blueberries.

Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until the muffins spring back when lightly touched. Remove muffins from pans immediately, and place on a wire rack to cool.

Combine lemon juice and powdered sugar in a small bowl. Drizzle glaze evenly over cooled muffins.

Note: You can make these muffins up to 2 days ahead and glaze them the morning you need them.

Muffin 2a

When you bake, do you go strictly by the recipe when you first try it?
Let me know if you make these!

With love from my country kitchen,

Home decor

Transitioning Into Spring

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Now that it’s March, it’s time, in my estimation, to begin making that turn – the metamorphosis into Spring. I’m referring to areas of both home and wardrobe. Throughout this week I’ve worn bright yellow, lime green and hot pink (again, each on different days! ).  I’ve also added some changes to my home and I’m loving it!

Are you ready to add some spring into your life?  Here are a few ideas to do just that:

Wardrobe:  Since the temperatures can fluctuate and you still need to dress warmly, add some color to your layers; that will take away the winter look.  Take off the wools, too.  Layer more, if needed, but stay away from the heavy winter fabrics.

yellow sweater
I’m not a fan of these jeans, but I love the pop of yellow with the scarf!  Also the canvas shoes are a nice spring touch!

I love this next combo of colors, patterns and layers from White Coat Fashion...

I read a post about how helpful a denim jacket is in transitioning from one season to another.  She has some great outfit combos with a denim jacket.  Check it out!

Now how about adding some Spring at home?  

Start with color at the front door!  Either paint the door or add a colorful wreath.

I’m still in love with my front door color!  It makes me smile every time I pull into the driveway!

Or even a chalkboard can add spring decoration…

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I love how airy and light this look is:

Check out this beautiful home decorated for Spring on Jenna Sue Design | Friday Favorites at www.andersonandgrant.com:

HGTV added floral stems and a pop of color for this look:

Spring Decoration for your Luxury Home | colorful decor | decorating ideas | interior design | home decor ideas | bedroom design | bedroom decor. For more inspirations go to www.homedecorideas.eu.:

How about you?  Are you ready to add some Spring to your life?  What have you done so far?  I hope this has inspired you!

Have a great weekend!

Stay refreshed,

 

Christian growth

Don’t Swallow a Lie

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I feel like I’m just not doing a good enough job.

I don’t feel like I know how to effectively minister to people.

Those words (and others like it) poured from my mouth yesterday.  I began preparing lunch while mulling over my  feelings.  Disgusted with myself, discouraged, and feeling like I should just go crawl back to bed, I stood at the counter and prepared veggie quesadillas for my husband and me.  The assembly had been done; now was the mindless task of grilling them on the stove.  My mind wandered back to my words, and the Spirit of God rebuked me, using His Word.  The verse He used was Philippians 4:8 – perhaps you have wisely memorized it:

 

If I feel something, does that make it true?  No.  So I had to remind myself of what I knew to be true.

  1. God works in me to will and do His good pleasure.  If He’s doing the work, then it’s good.  Period.  
  2. When I give someone the Word, it is always profitable – even if my own words are not.

I let it go.  I knew better than to hang onto my feelings, but here I was doing just that.  I had to shake my head at myself – just hours before I had given that very advice to someone else.  Now here I was having to tell myself the same thing!

If you’re using words today like,

  • “It seems like…”
  • “It appears…”
  • “I think…”
  • “I feel like…”
  • “She looks like she…”

Stop.  Run to Philippians 4:8 and tell yourself only the Truth rather than believing the lies the devil is feeding you!

I have to say, lunch was a whole lot sweeter without the bitterness of those lies in my heart!

Believe the truth, friend!

With love,

Christian Life · Prayer

The Little Pink Shoe Box

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shoes

I had a fun day of shopping yesterday.  From Aldi’s to Kroger and Target, I meandered my way through my lists.  It was when I got to Target that something unexpected happened – my emotions got hijacked!

As I was walking through the store, I passed the children’s shoes and I saw a pink box, labeled, Sam & Libby. That box immediately took me back to the time that God provided shoes for our older daughter, as miraculously as when Jesus fed the 5,000 on the hillside.

When our girls were growing up, it seemed that finances were nearly always a huge issue (can you relate?!).   We home-schooled, so we had the expense of books and curriculum, as well as the normal expenses of doctor visits, dental bills, piano lessons, insurance…you get the picture.  If I’m not mistaken, I believe the need for Whitney’s shoes fell at Easter.  We had no money to purchase something for her, so I did what I always did – I prayed.

To be honest, I don’t remember all the specifics today -like how long we prayed and waited, but I do know that used an individual who ordered and had shoes shipped to our house!  God  provided for her; they were Sam & Libby shoes – beautiful and perfect in every way!

Yesterday when I saw that box, my heart flooded with gratitude again, even after all these years.

 “Lord, you have always taken care of us!  Thank you!”

came the cry from my lips and my heart, right there in the shoe department in Target.  Someone walking by probably thought I was upset that they didn’t have what I needed, but oh no – I DO have what I need.  I had it in all my yesterday’s.  I have it today, and I’ll have it in all my tomorrow’s because I have  a God in heaven Who hears my cries and answers prayer!

For all those answers, I’m so glad there was a need, so I could witness my God at work in this family’s life!  It’s also a sweet blessing when a pink shoe box transports me back to the memory of His great love and provision for us!  What an awesome God we serve!

Do you have a need today?  It’s not too great OR too small for God.  Take it to Him and then trust and wait for Him to answer in a way that will be perfect!

Call unto me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.  Jeremiah 33:3

Lovingly,