As you know, tomorrow is the first day of the new year, 2013. And if you're like me, you're making a mental list in your mind of things you resolve to change and improve in your life in the coming year. I have many things I need to improve, and my spiritual life is always number one on my list. I need to pray more, speak less, be encouraging, be a helpful servant like Christ, and so on. One of my biggest weaknesses is being too impatient. I'm a hurry-it-along type of person, always wanting things to happen on time and in just the right way. I sometimes struggle with worrying about whether or not things will work out, but I have gotten better at having faith that God's plans are the best. I've always known He does what is best for each one of us, but I find that difficult to believe sometimes, especially when an answer is delayed. So this next year I am going to strive extra hard to have faith in His plans for me, trust that they are for my good, and patience for when some things seem to take longer than I had hoped. If you're having difficulties with these same things, here are some verses that I looked up last night to help out the impatient person in life (like me):
"Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass... Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him..." (Psalm 37:5,7)
"Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!" (Psalm 27:14)
"In You, O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed... For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me." (Psalm 31:1,3)
"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." (Psalm 62:5)
"Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1)
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
God bless! Happy New Year!
~Courtney
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Homemade Crescent Rolls
A very dear friend and neighbor of ours' mother recently passed away, so my mom wanted us to fix some food to take to them. Today she gave me the job of making crescent rolls from scratch, a recipe we just discovered a few days ago, and they are so fun and easy to make, and taste delicious!
I mixed the ingredients and let them rise, and just before I was going to start rolling out the dough, a friend of ours came over with her two grandchildren. The girl is almost four years old, and when she saw me getting out the flour and dough, she wanted to help. So I helped her wash her hands, put an apron around her, and stood her up on a little stool.
She thought the big blobs of dough were funny. She helped me roll out the dough into a circle, and then I cut the four flattened circles into triangles like a pizza. After I showed her how to roll the pieces into a crescent, she had it down pat immediately! Her rolls turned out just as good as mine.
I so enjoyed slowing down and teaching her how to do it. She learned something today, and we both helped to give our neighbors a little something to lighten their load. I'm so thankful for such a sweet little girl in my life to share giggles, floury hands, and good times with.
Here is the recipe, if you'd like to try it sometime:
1 1/2 C. milk
3/4 C. + 1 T. sugar
1 egg
1 T. salt
2 T. yeast 2 C. warm water
9-10 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 C. butter
Scald 1 1/2 cups milk, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup butter. Add 1-2 cups flour, 1 egg, and 1 tablespoon salt. Let it cool enough to add yeast. Dissolve yeast first in 2 cups warm water and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let yeast water sit for a couple of minutes until it is bubbly. Using fork or wooden spoon, gradually stir in remainder of the 9-10 cups flour. Add 1-2 cups at a time, stirring it in carefully. When it gets stiff, stir with hands. Let rise until doubled in size. Divide into four equal-sized balls and cut into eights like a pizza, then roll like a crescent, from big end to point. Bake until done all the way through.
God bless!
I mixed the ingredients and let them rise, and just before I was going to start rolling out the dough, a friend of ours came over with her two grandchildren. The girl is almost four years old, and when she saw me getting out the flour and dough, she wanted to help. So I helped her wash her hands, put an apron around her, and stood her up on a little stool.
She thought the big blobs of dough were funny. She helped me roll out the dough into a circle, and then I cut the four flattened circles into triangles like a pizza. After I showed her how to roll the pieces into a crescent, she had it down pat immediately! Her rolls turned out just as good as mine.
I so enjoyed slowing down and teaching her how to do it. She learned something today, and we both helped to give our neighbors a little something to lighten their load. I'm so thankful for such a sweet little girl in my life to share giggles, floury hands, and good times with.
1 1/2 C. milk
3/4 C. + 1 T. sugar
1 egg
1 T. salt
2 T. yeast 2 C. warm water
9-10 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 C. butter
Scald 1 1/2 cups milk, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup butter. Add 1-2 cups flour, 1 egg, and 1 tablespoon salt. Let it cool enough to add yeast. Dissolve yeast first in 2 cups warm water and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let yeast water sit for a couple of minutes until it is bubbly. Using fork or wooden spoon, gradually stir in remainder of the 9-10 cups flour. Add 1-2 cups at a time, stirring it in carefully. When it gets stiff, stir with hands. Let rise until doubled in size. Divide into four equal-sized balls and cut into eights like a pizza, then roll like a crescent, from big end to point. Bake until done all the way through.
God bless!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Sewing
Last week I went to Walmart and bought some fabric to make a skirt from a pattern I had gotten. I worked on it Thursday night, Friday, and finally finished it Saturday morning. It turned out well and even has pockets! Here is what it looks like:
Houndstooth!
Lined pockets!
Long, modest, and feminine!
"She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple." (Proverbs 31:22)
~Courtney
"She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple." (Proverbs 31:22)
~Courtney
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Words of Promise by Ruth
I was reading this wonderful passage today and thought they would make absolutely beautiful marriage vows at a wedding! To say that to your groom and have him say it back to you would be beyond romantic. To say, "I'll stay with you always, love your family as my own, die with you, and love the one true God as you do, and nothing but death can tear us apart," would be beautiful. That's basically what all marriage vows say, but I love the way that Ruth said it, and for her it was truly an unselfish promise she vowed to keep.
Just a little something. Have a blessed Thursday!
~Courtney
Monday, December 3, 2012
Reading Through Psalms
This month I am reading through the book of Psalms. 150 chapters in 31 days is a lot of reading, but I am really enjoying it and it doesn't even seem like very many chapters a day. I try not to fly right through them, but when I get to reading I just don't want to stop.
God's Word is amazing, and I am so very blessed and thankful to have a Bible of my own, a Sword to help me get through this life and on to the next, eternal one.
Psalm 19:1-14 (NLT)
"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."
Have a blessed Monday!
~Courtney
God's Word is amazing, and I am so very blessed and thankful to have a Bible of my own, a Sword to help me get through this life and on to the next, eternal one.
Psalm 19:1-14 (NLT)
"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."
Have a blessed Monday!
~Courtney
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)