Peanut Brittle

Peanut Brittle

3 c. sugar
1 c. white corn syrup
1/2 c. water
1/2 tsp. salt
3-4 c. raw peanuts
1 tsp. vanilla
3 tsp. butter
2 tsp. backing soda

Mix sugar, syrup, water, and salt together. Cook over low heat until sugar dissolves. Add peanuts and stir constantly until mixture reaches hard crack. Remove from heat and add vanilla and butter. Mix then add baking soda. Mix thoroughly. Pour into 8 buttered 9 inch pie pans. Spread as thin as possible. Let cool until tacky, then cut in half and turn over to finish cooling. Break
and eat, or store between waxed paper and store. It freezes well.

Our dear neighbor just taught us how to make this. It might not turn
out the first time you make it. It takes practice, but once you get it
down it is soooooo good! :D It makes a great Christmas time treat, or
gift.

Friends and Proverbs

"A generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself." ~ Proverbs 11:25

I have made it a habit in recent years to read a chapter of Proverbs every morning. Just when I think I have found every really good verse, you know the ones that just pop off the page and hit you between the eyes, I find another. A week ago I was reading along and savoring the words of wisdom. I stopped now and then to ponder a verse, or whisper a prayer, as I neared the end, there was verse 25. It just popped right up off the page and socked me good and hard.

Now, all my life I have been taught how it is "more blessed to give then to receive" (Acts 20:35). So the first part of the verse was good and wise, but it was the second half that really spoke to me. "He who waters will also be watered himself."

Sometimes when you are reading God's Word, the phrases means something to you that they do not necessarily mean in the context of the scripture itself. That is how it was with this verse.

Lately I had been thinking a lot about how my friends have been really important to my spiritual growth this last year. When I read this verse I was hit with the question that while they were helping me to grow, was I also helping them to grow?

When did I become so lazy? I used to find joy in daily encouraging my friends. Through scripture, quotes, prayers, or just by discussing life's challenges with them. Looking at my friendships of the past few years I have found how empty many of them have become, and just
because I do not take the time to really care. It is much easier to just send them little updates about what I have been doing, then to ask how I can be praying for them. It is much less time consuming to just not share what I've been struggling with with them, because they might ask me questions that I cannot answer without some heart searching. Sometimes it is easier to just say "Aww" and "I'll be praying for you" and not take the time to dig to the bottom of the issue.

When I read the words, "he who waters will also be watered himself," I thought about how I desire for my friends to water me spiritually, to encourage me, pray for me, help me through what I am going through. Yet, at the same time I have not been willing to do that for them.

Friendships take work as well as love. If I am not careful, all my friends will just fade out of my life. If they do not find any encouragement in our relationship, then they will cease to put as much energy into it. With both of us not working at it, it will fade away, and I do not want to loose my friends.

So, it is my turn. I need to step up, take the time, and care for those I love. Take time to listen, time to write encouragement, time to challenge, time to listen. I need to just take time to water my friendships so that they will blossom and grow. May we grow to be like iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). And may our friendships grow sweet, and delight our hearts, like perfume (Proverbs 27:9). And in the process, maybe we can bring delight to our Heavenly Father's
heart.

What kind of friend have you been? Are there some things that you need to work on, like listening better, or encouraging others through scripture? Are your friends important to who you have become? What can you do to be a blessing to them? Don't wait until tomorrow, be a
better friend today.

Is God Number One In Your Life?

Everyday we all speak of busy schedules and rush hither and yon to get everything on our extensive lists done. But how many of those stress creating, busy makers, are really heavenward focused? How many of those "have-to-get-done-s" are done because they are expected of us by others, and we want to look good in the eyes of those same others? If I told you that you would die before today was over, which items on that to-do list would you like most to accomplish? How is that for putting your life into perspective?

I do not know about you, but I would like to die knowing that I had taken time for God this morning, and that all was right between us.

When you look at you list of things to do, do you have items like: check Facebook, watch a (specific) T.V. show, go shopping at the mall with you girlfriends. If so, maybe you need to take some time to look over you priorities and tweak your list of "to-dos." Taking time for fun is not always a bad thing, in fact it is often times a good thing, so long as we do not go overboard. We all need down times and rest, and I do not think God begrudges us either of those, or fun. At the same time, if we are not making God our number one priority each day, then I have a feeling He would have a thing or two to say to us about it. :)

"Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33).

What Are We Missing?

My brother and I were talking not long ago about how easy it is to judge others for living differently then we do, and how even how if there is nothing Biblically wrong with how others live, we often judge them harshly. False pride tells us that we are better somehow. How foolish we humans can be! As I go through each day, and each stage of life, I am finding more and more how pride plays a huge roll in the fallen-ness (if you will) of our world at large, as well as our own little personal worlds.

Again and again God brings to mind the verses from Matthew 7 that tell us to not always be jumping to point out the speck in our brothers eye, while ignoring the beam in our own. How many times I find myself saying, well she/he has a problem and this is the root of it, and this is what needs to be done to fix it. Stop. Wait! What does God say. Look at my life first. Seek out the wicked ways in me. And oh, how many there are!

God has a way of reaching down and shaking us, opening our eyes to our half-blinded view of things, and saying, "Hey, this is the whole picture."

Have you heard the song by Brandon Heath, Give Me Your Eyes? It talks about God giving us His eyes so we might see. I really like the lines where it talks about us having God's eyes. It reminds me to look deeper, to seek Him in what is happening. There are so many things that we are either too busy to see, or to prideful to see. To see others through His eyes... Just thinking about it makes me smile. How much better our world could be if we could learn to see each other through the eye of our Heavenly Father.

"Give me Your eyes for just one second

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me love for humility."

~Brandon Heath Give Me Your Eyes

Super Yummy Chocolate Frosting

1 cup butter (softened)

1 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 - 1 cup milk (I found 1/2 c. is just right)

4 cups powdered sugar

The original recipe said to add the milk last, but I found that it is best to mix 1/2 cup of milk with softened and creamed butter and the vanilla. Then add the cocoa. Mix in well. Then add the sugar slowly. Otherwise you end up with lots of clumps of cocoa and sugar. :)

This is so good you might just want to eat it by itself. Frosts a three layer round cake.

Hello to 2011 (Finally)

Dear Readers,

I know that all of you probably thought that I had dropped off the planet, but no, I am still every much on earth, and very much alive.

Wow! January is almost over already and I am just posting!

The truth is that I have thought about sitting down to write numerous times in the last several weeks, but have been so busy with some changes that are happening in my life that I have not had the time.

I am sorry if you have been checking in each week and have been disappointed at my lack of activity. I will try to make it up to you in the best way I know how. Posts here we come!

Thanks for always being so understanding.
God Bless,
Kathryn

Being a Bible

"Your life may be the only Bible that many people will ever read. Make sure others - starting with your family - are able to look at your life example and get an accurate picture of Jesus and His grace and power to transform lives!" ~ Elizabeth George (Embracing God's Grace: A study of Colossians and Philemon)

In some recent tensions with my extended family over a matter of hurt and unforgiveness that has been festering for many years between a few family members, this was the exact point that I came to.

Some of the people involved are Christians while the others are not. Who is the most wrong? I cannot say, for they all hold some of the blame. Who should take the first steps towards resolving this conflict? The answer in simple, the believers.

If we are the only "Bible" that the non-Christian family members (or anyone for that matter) ever see, and we are unforgiving and hateful, what do you think their view of Christ will look like?

This is huge! Do not let us under estimate how our grumpy, snappish, self-centered attitudes could possibly turn someone away from Christ. You are tired today, sick, it does not really matter to them. How you treat them, is how they expect the loving God you are always telling them about will treat them also.

What is your life saying about Christ today?

No-Bake Cheese Cake

No-Bake Cheese Cake

1 Pkg. (8 oz.) Cream cheese

1/3 c. Sugar (Opt.)

1 c. Sour cream

2 t. Vanilla

8 oz. Cool Whip

Combine, and whip ingredients together then pour into two graham cracker crusts. Top each with a can of cherry or blue berry pie filling. Chill in refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.

If you are looking for an easy, very yummy, holiday dessert then this recipe is for you. :) Enjoy!

Delight and Thanksgiving

This morning I was really struggling with myself. I woke up and was so groggy I was sure that I would never be awake enough to retain God's Word, so I grabbed a fiction book and read several chapters. By the time I looked at my alarm clock again I realized that I should have already been out of bed. I was tempted to put off my devotions and go eat breakfast. I could come back to my devotions when my stomach was full, but I stopped as I sat up remembering how I had planned to do that earlier this week and ended up getting distracted then busy and didn't remember to spend time in the Word until right before I lay down to sleep. Not wanting to repeat that, I grab my Bible and half-heartedly began to read.

I stopped after reading my chapter of Proverbs and said, "Lord, I feel nothing. I want to love You more, why is it that I feel no motivation to study Your Word. Why is making time for prayer so difficult?" Feelings of guilt tried to distract me as I began to read again. I had been spending too much time being entertained earlier in the week, I didn't pray enough... But God was faithful again. As I continued to read I came across this verse.

"Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:4-5).

Delight myself in the Lord. If I could but delight myself in His goodness, His faithfulness, if I could but commit my way, my very day, to Him and trust Him, then He would be faithful and give me what I so long for. A refreshed zeal for Him and for Him alone. As I began to delight in the Lord, and praise and thank Him for His goodness an awesome thing accord. I felt my passion and zeal for the Lord and His Word returning, had not the days duties stretched before me I could have laid in bed praising His name for hours. He has been so very good to me. I am truly blessed.

As Thanksgiving Day draws near, I protest the fact that many refer to it as Turkey Day. I jump at the chance to remind people about what the holiday is really about. Giving thanks to the Lord God Almighty for the great things He has done in our lives. My dear friends, as this day of thanksgiving approaches may I remind you to delight yourself in the Lord and His goodness. If you are feeling like your faith is running dry, or your passion for reading the Bible or for praying has faded to wisps of memories, do not despair. Instead, delight in the Lord, and praise Him for what He has done. Commit you way unto the Lord, trust in Him, and He shall give you the deepest desire of your heart. He shall bring it to pass that you will have such zeal for Him, that you will hardly be able to keep from singing His praises.

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD for He is good! For His mercy endures forever" (Psalm 136:1).

Fairytale It Isn't

Would you count yourself as a wise level headed young lady? Do you know that marriage is not exactly a fairytale? Surely you have had examples to watch, parents, grandparents, neighbors, someone. Surely you have seen the disagreements, arguments (I am not saying these should be the norm). Marriage is not all strawberries and cream, and lasting marriages do not just happen.

Recently I was reading a book that talked about marriage. The author said something to the effect that in every marriage, somewhere along the way the fairytale feelings of pure bliss fade away. He did not mean that you would no longer love each other, just that the "in love" feeling that our culture is so caught up in, will fade. This is when the foundation of your marriage is tested.

I wanted to deny this. I wanted to laugh and say, "Yeah, but when my turn comes..." But, the truth is, as time passes you will begin to see more of his or her faults, and if you are not careful you will begin to criticize everything he does. You will began to hold her to all too perfect standards. There may be some other reason, but the fact remains, that the complete joy that you had in your spouse on your wedding day will fade. This is where hard work and commitment have come in.

When that fading happens you need to be ready. "How can I be ready," you ask. First off, remember I am not married, but I have had some pretty awesome marriages to watch, so be patient with me and please feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but this is how I see it. The way to be ready is to take time getting to know each other before you are married. Not just what foods you like, or dislike, but you need to share what you are learning from the Lord. You should discuss theology, children, occupations, homes, everything.

If you want to be a truly wise young person you will seek godly counsel, you will take your time in getting to know your future spouse, you will move forward with caution, and you will listen to your parents!

One day, I hope you find your happy ever after, but as for me, I have already done so. Now, now, Mom, do not panic! I am not talking about marriage here. Marriage would be an incredible gift from God which I would love to experience someday, but marrying will not lead anyone to happily ever after. Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can do that.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord of you life, may I urge you to not prolong your wait for your happy ever after. He is waiting, all you need to do is ask.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have ever lasting life" (John 3:16).

My Favorite Film

I began to think about it, and it hardly seemed fair that I did not take time in my last post to mention which film at the SAICFF was my favorite. And, yes, I did have a favorite. The Runner From Ravenshead, which by the way, won the SAICFF Audience Choice Award. Below I have attached the trailer so that maybe you could get a glimps of why I like this film so much. It is cute, fresh, fun, and I look forward to seeing more from Little Crew Studios. Enjoy!

SAICFF 2010

I was very blessed to be able to attend the 2010 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF) about a week ago. Though those I attended with and I like to joke about the SAICFF's founders trying to get us to loose weight by always keeping us on the run, it was truly an awesome time of learning, fellowship, and encouragement. It is so great to see Christians out there who are re-defining the words "good movie."

I just wanted to post and say that I am 100% behind what Doug Phillips and his friends are doing with the SAICFF. If you would like to learn more about this event and make plans to attend the next SAICFF in 2012, then click here.