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Psalms 65:8

From where the sun rises to where it sets, You inspire shouts of joy  ~ Psalms 65:8

For such a time as this ~Esther 4:14

     All little girls and boys have heard the story of brave and beautiful queen Esther.  How she was chosen to be queen and saved her people from evil Haman's plan to annihilate them.  She was placed in the kingdom for such a time as that.  A time when God would use her to save millions of people.  She did not do anything great or spectacular, she simply followed God and let Him use her to save his people from destruction.  
    God can use us too.  Just like he did Esther.  While we were more than likely not place in our current role in life to save an entire race of people, God can and will use us to do extraordinary things if we will just let Him.  Look for the opportunities that God places in your life.  Live life to the fullest and keep your eyes open, continually seeking out the open doors that He places before you.  Ask Him for the strength to walk through them.  Ask Him to use you in whatever situation you find yourself in at this very moment.  Our God is great and He can use the smallest most mundane moments in our life for His glory.
     Your "for such a time as this" moment could be helping an elderly lady across the street, or holding the door open for the mom with three toddlers and a crying baby at Chik-fil-a.  It could be as simple as smiling at the person sitting next to you in class.  If God can use you in just one persons life, to bless them in just one simple way, to encourage them and show them the love that God has so mercifully lavished upon us, then that day, no matter how hard, or boring, or routine it may have seemed was in God's plan and was used to glorify Him.

(my sweet little cousin on her 5th birthday)

the first day back to college and chocolate chip double doozies

     Well, yesterday was my first day of classes for this semester and I am happy to announce that all went well.  This semester is going to be new for me.  It is my first semester of education classes, and it is the first semester that my mom has not driven me into town.  Also, I have a mixture of both on campus and on-line classes which is going to take some work to juggle.  But God is good and faithful to His children and He blessed me with His peace and joy as I stated this semester of changes.  To celebrate the smooth start of this semester I made some chocolate chip double doozies and curled up and watched JAG.  Growing up, these delicious double doozie cookies were my treat for when we would take my grandmother shopping.  We would stop by the cookie shop in the mall and I would always pick these fluff-stuffed cookies for my payment.  Now that I have gotten older and am no longer rewarded with these sweet treats when I sped my afternoon shopping with my grandmother, I have decided to try and recreate them on my own.  I must say, I did a pretty good job.

The Cookie:

2 sticks butter softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 1/4 cup flour
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 375 F.
Beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl until it is creamy.
Add eggs and beat well.
Mix in the baking soda and the slat.
Add the flour, a little at a time.
Stir in the chocolate chips.
Drop by tablespoon full onto an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes or until they are golden brown and delicious.
Allow to cool on baking sheet for a couple of minutes and then transfer onto a cooling rack.  Allow to cool all the way before you ice.

Butter Cream Filling:

1 cup shortening
1 pound powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring
10 teaspoons water
1 pinch of salt
Cream flavoring, shortening, and water.  
Add dry ingredients and mix on medium speed until all ingredients have been mixed together thoroughly.  
Blend an additional minute or so until creamy.

Now for creating the sandwiches.  Smear the frosting on the bottom side of a cookie and smash another cookie on top. Continue until all of the cookies are partnered up.  Now, enjoy your chewy, fluff-centered cookies. 
Yields: 30 sandwiches

Back to Normality

     The Christmas tree has been taken down and the strings of sparkling lights have been wound up until next year.  All of the Christmas decorations have been placed back into hibernation until next year.  The Christmas goodies have been gobbled up with the exception of just a few chocolate covered pretzels that have survived and are sitting on the kitchen counter tempting me to finish them off.  I have bought my textbooks for the up and coming semester and am starting to prepare for classes starting next week.  The magic of Christmas is over for another year and it is back to normality.

"Born that man no more shall die"

     Green Christmas trees are sprouting in windows of both homes and stores.  Red ornaments are hanging on every branch, reflecting the glowing, white lights.  Sweet, ivory candy canes are wrapped in crimson stripes that await being licked off.  Silver bells are chiming at every store, asking you to show love to the less fortunate this Christmas season by dropping your change in a shiny, red bucket.  Presents that are wrapped in red are slowing beginning to cover the floor under the tree.  Gingerbread men are lovingly dressed in shiny red frosting. 

     Red is the color of Christmas, but it is also the color of the reason for the season.  Red is the color of Jesus’s precious blood that He shed on the cross for everyone who would believe in Him.  It is the color of the sweat drops of blood on His brow when he prayed in the garden.  This is the whole reason that God gave His only begotten Son to be born of the virgin Mary that silent night so long ago.  It was so He could die a horrible death on the cross at Calvary, shedding his blood in a crimson flow so none should perish, but all should come to know Him and receive everlasting life.   The Christmas story doesn't stop in that dirty little stable in Bethlehem, but it continues.  It leads us to the old rugged cross, and one day it will lead us to Heaven, where we will spend eternity, forever praising and worshiping at God's nail pierced feet for that small and heavenly babe that was laid in a manger that first Christmas.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

     Mom and I have put up the Christmas tree and we have decorated the house.  The old family nativity set has been set in a place of honor were all can see on the desk.  Christmas lights are starting to appear in town and you can see Christmas trees sprouting in the windows of the houses that you pass on the road.  Christmas presents that wrapped in glossy paper are starting to appear under the tree and Bing is wishing us Merry Christmas.  Secret meetings are taking place where we  plot about Christmas morning surprises in hushed whispers with occasional over excited screech .  Christmas cookies are in the oven filling the house the the rich smell of cinnamon.  Grant is watching Christmas with the Kranks and his laughter in ringing throughout the house.  Silver bells are being rung at the door of every store in town and everyone is wishing you a merry Christmas.  Nativity sets are being constructed on church lawns to remind us of the reason for the season in the midst of the bustle, making sure that every one has a special gift under the tree.  Yes it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!