Tasty Thursdays: Pineapple stuffing!

I got this recipe from my sister in law Mandi and she made it last Easter as well as 2 Christmas's ago...and let me tell you, it is amazing!! This absolutely goes great with Ham!!

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar

8 eggs
2 cans (1lb 4oz. each) crushed pineapple--drained
10 slices of bread--cubed

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar. Add one egg in at a time. Beat well. Fold in pineapple and bread cubes.  Pour in a greased 13x 9in bakeware. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Not the healthiest, but it is sooo delishious!

My entry into the Share It Link Party at The Winthrop Chronicles is sponsored by Appliances Online and their best Range Cookers.

Tuesday Tips and Tricks: SPRING CLEANING!



• To removing heel marks , take pencil eraser and rub them off.
• Wall cleaner, mix 1/2 c. ammonia, 1/4 c. white vinegar, and 1/4 c. baking soda to 1 gal. warm water.
• Dust blinds by wrapping a cloth around a ruler. Spray cloth with a dusting spray and run the flat end across each blind.
• Glass shower doors will sparkle if cleaned with white vinegar.
• Lemon furniture oil will remove water spots on metal frames.
• Dust your book shelves, taking out all books to get all dust. - To protect books from dust, crisp lengths of linen can be hung from shelves.
• Tired of dried and hard to clean candle wax stuck on votives? Place the glass candle holders in the freezer for a few hours. Once frozen, the wax will shrink just enough to pop right out.
• Keep your fabric lampshades dust-free with an adhesive lint roller, hold lamp shade steady and roll roller over the exterior.
• Remember to Dust the tops of light fixtures, bulbs and the top of cabinets (while also in the inside).

More to come next Tuesday!



Do We Really Believe What We're Saying?

Do We Really Believe What We're Saying? from The Church at Brook Hills on Vimeo.

Tasty Thursdays: Baked Oatmeal

If you're looking for a delicious baked oatmeal that is easy to make, you've come to the right spot! It's a huge hit in our house and doesn't last long. Plus, it makes the whole house smell heavenly! With the recipe below, take note that you can use applesauce instead of butter and cut down on the brown sugar if you want to a 1/2 cup-- if you do that, check it after 30 minutes to see if it's done or needs more time.

Be Free of Worry

Matthew 6:24, 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

So many of us worry about many things. If you let it, it will completely consume you. Worry of finances, job security, not finding a job, health and so on. Notice in the sentence before I said, if you let it, it will completely consume you. Worry is not from God. We ourselves make ourselves worry.
Luke 21:34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware"

So, do you want to be free of worry? Here is how you do so...

Replace your constant work and worry with an overflow river of refreshing rest and peace that can only come from God. Trust, and seek wisdom from the heavenly Father. Trust. That is something easier said than done. If you put complete trust in God, your life will be so much more stress free, and also free of worry! God will provide all of your needs, but you also have to learn to be content with what you have and how much you need; to not want more.
1 Peter 5:7 "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you".

God is our provider, for our physical and spiritual needs. Seek freedom of worry through His spiritual provision by meditating on the Bible (God's word!) and getting alone with God in prayer. Ask Him to free you of worry, and be prepared for situations that at first might want to make you want to worry, but put complete trust and faith in God to provide and for Him to come through.
Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus".

I once heard that "worrying is the same as not having faith in God". Think about that statement, I believe it to be true.

You already have everything you need to overcome worry! Praise God! Living a life full of worry will take a toll on your body and mind! Don't put yourself through that!
Overcoming worry:
By the power of prayer and praise
By the power of the Holy Spirit
By the power of God, with His love and care

You don't have to go through worry and tough times alone! Turn to your Heavenly Father and let Him take it all from you! But also, I am here if any of you want to talk. By phone, Internet or in person!

Now, go and be free!

Wednesday Web Deals!

JCPenny.com GO TO DEAL HERE

$10 off coupon
Amazon.com GO TO DEAL HERE

Tuesday Tips & Tricks!

Have you ever peeled garlic or handled it and your hands smell to high heaven? The next time that happens, take any stainless steel bowl, pan or other stainless steel kitchen gadget (silverware) and rub your hands on it. It will take away the smell of garlic.

 To keep cat litter fresh smelling, mix baby powder in with the litter.

Include a few tennis balls in each dryer cycle. The tennis balls not only cut drying time by 25% - 50%, but also fluff the clothes to a delicate softness, and towels will be especially fluffy.

To make a zipper slide up and down more smoothly, rub a bar of soap over the teeth.

We are their mirror

I found a post on a blog I follow about parent's being a mirror for their kids and got inspired to a similar post. Thanks Becoming a strong woman of God blog.

Do you ever feel like you pray to God everyday over your kids and it seems like nothing is happening? Do you want to throw your hands up because you have told your kids a million times not to do that? Or are there times when you ask yourself, why am I praying its not working, they are not being answered anyway?

We are our children's mirror. They look to us for reassurance in their lives. We have to be the role model of Christ so when it comes time for them to chose how to deal with certain situations, especially with temptations and sin, they will look to us and see God through us. They see how we live, act and what we say. If you are living and striving to be like Christ, they will see that. If you are choosing to be negative, react in anger and be lazy, you kids will see that. It is so important to have one on one time in God's word and spending time in prayer, however I think it is also very important for your kids to see you doing that daily as well.

The road of raising kids was not meant to be easy, however, I do practice Deuteronomy 6:5-7  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

This is a reminder that I as a parent will never stop teaching my children, Gods ways. I will do my very best to show them God through my life. I want my daughter & God willing my future kids, to see Christ through me, which I pray in return will reflect on them as a mirror would, and they will follow God with all their heart.
Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it". By following God's word as a parent we are setting up the mirror for our children to look to Christ through us. We can raise children who avoid evil and serve God faithfully by walking with Christ ourselves in front of our kids and by impressing upon them day and night Gods truth.

Even if you don't see your children walking the walk so to speak doesn't mean that God is not working in their lives, it just means God is working in His perfect timing. You will see God work!! Continually pray that your children will find their way to God, and choose to love and serve Him. Because it is a decision, excepting Jesus and serving Him isn't something we can "reflect" on them as a mirror, but do your best to be Christ like, showing that through your life and kids will see that, while praying day and night for them.

See the mirror this little girl is looking into as she tells the story of Jonah. Its amazing!

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.


What kind of mirror are you when your kids look at you?

Tasty Thursday: Tofu Chili!

This recipe is my hubby's! It is sooo good, and you would NEVER know that Tofu is in it! Seriously, we made it for family and didn't tell them to they were done eating it and they were surprised. Tofu is very healthy and is a great meat alternative!

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg of firm tofu (wrapped in a dry towel for a few hours to soak out water)
• 1 small-medium onion-diced into bite size
• green, red, orange and yellow bell pepper (as much as you like, any color you like!)-diced into bite size
• 1 pkg of fresh mushrooms-diced into bite size
• 1  29oz tomato sauce
• 1  15oz black beans-drained
• 1  15 oz red kidney beans-drained
• 1  can bushes "chili starter" mild or texas
• 2 gloves of garlic
• 1 TBSP chili powder
• pinch salt & pepper
• 1/2 bottle of tiger sauce (near hot sauce, or substitute with a sweet hot sauce)
• 2 TBSP olive or veggie oil for cooking pan

Directions:

Crumble drained tofu in large bowl. Mix tofu with tiger sauce, salt, pepper. Let sit 15-30 mins in fridge.

In large pot add olive oil, chopped onion and crushed garlic. Heat on low until onions are caramelized.

Add Red and black beans, chopped peppers and chopped mushrooms. (let simmer until mushrooms are tender

Add Chili starter and simmer for 5 minutes

Add large can of tomato sauce and chili powder, mix continuously and simmer on low

While pot is simmering take a large skillet and 2 TBSP olive oil, salt and pepper and add tofu mixture, cook for about 10 minutes on medium heat

Add tofu to chili pot, stir and let simmer for 10-15 minutes

Add more chili powder, spices and salt and pepper to taste if you think it needs more

Serve over white or brown rice, top with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.

Enjoy!!

Tuesday Tips & Tricks

Burner pans are difficult to clean because they collect cooked-on food, which is so hard to scrub off. Place your burner pans in a heat-safe bowl, soup pot, or casserole dish. Pour boiling water over them and let everything sit for 5 minutes or so. Now wash them in the sink with soap and water. They should easily wipe clean and look brand new!

To clean all the splatter and gunk from inside your microwave, squeeze a whole lemon into a bowl with 2 cups water. Microwave on high for 4 minutes. This loosens all the dried up gunk so all you have to do is wipe it off. Not only will your microwave be clean, it'll smell lemon fresh! If you don't have a lemon, don't worry the lemon is just for nice scent, this trick will still work with just water.

If you get sharpie or ink pen on your microfiber couch, use rubbing alcohol! It brings it right out without smearing or leaving a water mark! Also works on walls and carpet!

Feed His Sheep

John21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep".

Today is Monday, most people hate Monday's because the weekend is over and they have to go back to work. I like to think of Monday's as a start to a brand new week, and fresh start. I really do like Monday's.
Before I started this post, I was thinking of what I could write about and I just wanted to share what is on my heart this cold and cloudy Monday. I came to the thought of "Feed His Sheep". His as in Jesus. Jesus commands us to feed His sheep. Who are the sheep you might ask? I'm not talking about farm animals some of  you might think because I grew up in Lancaster county. No, the sheep are all of us. Jesus is our Shepherd and we are all His sheep. The unsaved are His lost sheep and us Christ followers need to feed them the Bible. We need to tell them about His love. We need to give them the shirt on our back and feed the hungry. We need to show people Jesus through us. Be like Jesus. As I was in prayer last night, I kept telling God I want to be more like Jesus, change my heart and my mind, I want to be more like Jesus. That is another post in itself.

There are millions of lost sheep in our world today, that are seeking for something to fill their empty selves, and that are dying and going to Hell. Jesus didn't command us to live our lives the way we want, to go to church on Sundays and live the rest of the week going to work/school and keeping Jesus to ourselves. To hide in our closets praying for Him to save the lost. To shake our heads at how sad our world is today and say "That's just a cryin shame, look at that girl sellin herself for money, look at that homeless man beggin for change, look at that Atheist convincing people there is no God, look at that young boy who just joined a gang, look at that young girl who just became pregnant and isn't even old enough to drive a car, yeah that's a cryin shame". 

WHERE ARE THE TEARS PEOPLE? YES, YES IT IS A CRYING SHAME. WHERE ARE THE TEARS?
I know Jesus is crying, and he is probably saying as loud as he can "Feed my sheep!".  Are people choosing not to listen? Isn't that kinda like saying "no" to Jesus without saying it out loud? I mean let's be real people.

I'm not saying that I am a perfect person, because no one is perfect. For the longest time I was one of those people shaking their head at people and not helping them. You only have one life on this Earth, and we each have a purpose. We all have a voice and a light that we need to spead. Jesus is coming back soon. There are so many people dying and going to Hell each minute of every day. Doesn't that break your heart? If it doesn't, then are you truely striving to be like Jesus?  I want to make Jesus happy and follow His commands. Will you?
Please share your thoughts- good or bad, I want to hear from you! You don't have to have a blog to comment.

Live Loud, Be Bold!

Over the weekend, a classmate I graduated with from high school (Nate) died in a car accident. I knew him since 9th grade and had a couple classes with him that year. I had one class with him in 10th grade and then after that none. It's weird how you know someone and then they die and they're not here on Earth anymore. Even though I haven't seen him in five years, I still hurt for his loved ones and friends. It must be so hard for his parents to lose a son, or any parents to lose a child. I think back about his life from what little I knew about him, and remember him to be a funny and nice person. From what I have seen on facebook, he had a girlfriend that was also in the crash with him and she's not doing to well in the hospital. I think her name is Nicci, keep her in your prayers as well as Nate's family.

This morning I was talking to my husband about when I first learned that Nate had died and the heartache I felt at the time and feel now. I wasn't a close friend of his, but I still talked to him in my first 2 years of high school, and never once did I talk to him about my faith/Jesus. I don't know if Nate was saved, and hope that he was. I then got to talking with Phil about why it's harder for me to talk to people I know about Jesus then strangers? I think with most people it's easier to talk to strangers about God then people they know because maybe they won't see you again, or if they judge you it doesn't matter to you as much? I am tired of "being shy" with my faith and basically just learned that yes I do have a harder time with talking with people I know about God. I don't want to be that person anymore. I'm not ashamed of Jesus at all, I just need to open up more I think.

The truth is, we don't know when each of us or our loved ones and friends will die. It really could be any second. I've hear that my whole life and never really took it seriously because I always thought, nah everyone I know will die really old. Which is not always true. I and we all, need to be on our knees daily praying for our loved ones to come to the Lord, because guess what readers, there really is a Hell, and it's a place where I wouldn't wish one single person to go to. We need to be open and LOUD about our faith and share what Jesus did for us and His love for us. We are in the last days whether you want to admit that or not. I don't want to see anyone I know go to Hell.