Pumpkin Cranberry Almond Dump Cake

1 can pumpkin

1 can evaporated milk

3 eggs - mixed well

1 T PC Cinnamon Plus

1 cup sugar

1 cup dried cranberries 

1 PC Almond Pound Cake mix

1 stick of butter (or more if desired).

Fully combine first 5 ingredients.  Add in cranberries + 1/3 of the cake mix.   Mix well.  Pour into ungreased 9x13 baking dish.

Sprinkle remaining cake mix evenly over batter.   Either melt butter and pour over the top or generously dot with butter pats.

Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 35-40 minutes.

Allow to cool some before serving.  Serve warm with a scoop of Vanilla or Pumpkin Ice Cream.

Serves 12.

Tozer

I wonder if there was ever a time when true spiritual worship was at a lower ebb. To great sections of the church, the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the "program." This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the public service which now passes for worship among us.

A. W. Tozer

Fostering Love

 I'm a Pollyanna, I know... but I just can't wrap my head around what a child taken into foster care must feel.  Often times it's abrupt, not a planned thing, there's no time to prepare.  Just throwing items in a garbage bag usually is all there is time for.

Then the jostling from one landing place to another.   And what if they forgot those essentials?  I don't know about you, but I don't like to go to bed without brushing my teeth...

So I had an idea to prepare little kits that can be handed out to kids when they are first removed from their home.  Kits that have essential items, brand new, just for them.  That's what this fundraiser is for.  I have a few places that I can hand these kits off to and they will be given out right away.  Before some sort of placement is made into a home that has the other things they will need.

It's called dignity.  Even children thrive when it is offered.  Their most basic needs are all I can provide, but at least that is something I can do from the sidelines.

I'm asking for donations to help me reach a goal to provide 50 bags.  I've started to purchase the items and look forward to getting these ready and donated.  Will you join me?

I am purchasing these items at my cost and am not making any profit off of this effort.

America's Kids Belong

#avoncares #fostercare

Women in Apologetics

www.zionbic.org/wia2022

#apolochix

I first heard of Women in Apologetics last year when I stumble on a book entitled Mama Bear Apologetics. 

It was a very inciteful book that I wish I had available when I was raising my kids.

I'm an apologist by heart (I just didn't realize it).  Which, simply put, is believing the bible and using biblical principles to defend one's faith.

People have all sorts of opinions, but when our views are based on biblical truth, the arguments stop there. It's no long your opinion, it's truth as revealed by God Himself.

By reading this book, I realized I  made mistakes raising my children.  I taught them the Bible with a long handled spoon and failed to teach them to reason through arguments against it.  This was inpart because I was an infant Christian (I was saved when my children were 7 & 2) and I had a lot of worldly views that needed dealt with by the Holy Spirit.

Bottom line, we all do the best we can at the time, with what we know.  Thank goodness for the grace of God!

I really encourage you to attend as much of this conference as you can.  It will be a blessing to you.

 “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

She's here!

 A not so great Monday at work ended with fun mail!  My cookbook arrived!  Now to get planning this #betterwife #cookbookcookthrough adventure!

My plan is to cook 2 recipes most weeks (with a few exceptions).  What I don't know is how to plan?  Do I just work through the book from start to finish or mix and match the recipes?

I don't know yet, but I'll figure it out before my first cook day, January 8!

Something fun for 2022

 I don't do new year resolutions... 

That being said I'm challenging myself to cook more this year.

I've chosen the latest Pioneer Woman cook book with 120 recipes.  I believe this will ease me into a new level of domestication while keeping up with everything else I do in life.

The book will be here Tuesday and my plan will begin to take place...

FRC Blog: Thinking Biblically About Safety - https://frcblog.com/45101/

FRC Blog: Thinking Biblically About Safety - https://frcblog.com/45101/: www

Lamentations 3:23

Purpose

Purpose is less about what we do professionally and more about stepping into the person God created us to be. 

1 Corinthians 10:31

Lakanto Fall Baking Party

Super fun having my first ever #tryazon #lakanto #sweetresponsibly #discoveryourchi @zoom party!

I invited friends and family to watch as the hubster tasted sweet goodies I made.  He gave them all a thumbs up! Yay!

I made a frappuccino, flourless almond cookies and millionaire bars!  All were yummy but the millionaire bars were the bomdiggity! Thanks to my friends who took time to participate!

At the last minute I switched to a zoom party and had the hubster as my official taste tester ('cause if he likes it, it must be good)!  

As a baker who is interested in cutting out sugar, I am always on the lookout for decent alternatives. My problem is I don't like the aftertaste of most alternatives or the consistency is not to my liking.  So I was very excited that I was selected to be one of the party participants!

I was intrigued to try this product and I must say, I have found my answer! This product does bake well, measures pretty much like regular sugar (I use a bit less than most called for, by choice) and no aftertaste, at all! It's a win win all around!

The Millionaire Bars were by far the favorite goodie of the day!

https://www.lakanto.com/blogs/recipes/sugar-free-millionaires-shortbread

Philippians 1:6

I am not a mess. I am not a failure. I am not a mistake. I'm just unfinished." (Philippians 1:6)

El = God

The Hebrew word El (which is derived from a root word meaning “power, might, or strength”) is the most basic Hebrew word for god (referring to pagan gods) or God (referring to the God of Israel, the one true God). It is rarely used by itself in the Bible. Almost always, it is joined with additional descriptive words for Israel’s God. Take, for example, these names for God:

- El Echad (“one God,” Malachi 2:10)

- El Hanne’eman (“the faithful God,” Deuteronomy 7:9)

- El Emet (“God of truth,” Psalm 31:5 KJV)

Clearly, it takes a lot of names to describe an infinite God! But El is more than just a prefix. As stated previously, it connotes the mighty, relentless power of God. It refers to His omnipotent strength. And when combined with other names (or attributes) of God, it works to magnify them.

Jehovah-Ra’ah = The Lord Is My Shepherd

The primary meaning of shepherd (Ra’ah) is to feed, to tend, to lead to pasture. To do all this, a shepherd has to be up close and personal, intimately aware of the needs of his sheep. Also a shepherd is the protector of his flock. This is why he carries a rod—to fight off predators that would harm even one of his rams, ewes, or lambs.

If all that is what a shepherd does, what’s the job description of sheep? Easy. A sheep trusts its shepherd. As sheep, we follow. We go where our Shepherd leads. We do what He tells us to do. We look to Him to supply all our needs.

ABBA = Father

If you grew up with a father who was consistently there for you, let that earthly dad point you to the Father who is beyond good. And if you grew up without a good father, let that experience drive you to Abba, the One who perfectly meets the deepest needs—and desires—of our hearts.

Names of God study

The Names Of God 14-Day Devotional From Rose Publishing

http://bible.com/r/Wg

Alpha and Omega = The First and the Last

The Hebrew prophet Isaiah wrote that God was there in the beginning—“with the first”—and He will be here “with the last” (41:4). In other words, God serves as bookends for history. What a comforting thought in a world where nothing lasts and everything constantly changes! The One supervising when the world began will be the superintendent at the consummation of all things.

El Olam =The Everlasting God, the Eternal God

God is the great exception. He is the one CEO, if you will, who reigns forever and ever. His kingdom is the one entity that will never end. This is because he is El Olam, which is Hebrew for eternal, everlasting, or forever. God is impervious to time and change. As the everlasting God, He will never cash in His stock options and hand over the reins to someone else.

El Chaiyai = God of My Life

One of the awesome teachings of the Christian faith is that we are not defined by what we do. Our identity is rooted in the everlasting God who made us, not in the things we make (careers, families, mistakes, etc.). As the One who designed us, God is the One who defines us. Before (and after) we are anything else, we are redeemed people who are beloved creatures of God—made by Him and for Him, built for His glory.

El Elyon = God Most High

We love being above others, which makes things interesting when we see God described as “God Most High” (El Elyon) in Genesis 14. This distinct name sets God apart from all would-be “competitors” or “rivals.” As the Most High, the God of the Bible is supreme. He is lifted up, exalted, positioned far above mere high things or even higher things. As the Most High, He surpasses all else. No one can go toe-to-toe or see eye to eye with the Most High. No one can raise himself or herself above God and look down on God.