Pizza Crust

1 c. warm water (105-155 degrees )

1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 package dry yeast

3 to 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1 to 2 teaspoons yellow cornmeal

Combine water, oil, and salt in large mixing bowl; sprinkle yeast over water mixture, stirring to dissolve. Add 1 1/2 cups flour; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until blended. Gradually add enough remaining flour to make a firm dough, mixing well.

Pour dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes). Shape into a ball, and place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease all sides. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.

Punch dough down, and divide in half. Ball one half to a 1-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer dough to an ungreased pizza brick or pizza pan sprinkled with cornmeal. Fold over edges of dough, and pinch to form crust. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Fill and bake as desired. Yield: two 12-inch pizza crusts.

Grace

When God gets a grip on our lives, nothing is left untouched.

That is what makes His grace dangerous. It unsettles

our preconceived ideas, uproots our ingrained habits,

redirects our security- but He is never "safe." He is determined

to make us the very best we can be, and He will never let us

rest comfortably in our weaknesses and sins. He works

ceaselessly to remake us into the image and character of Christ.

~Nancy R. Pearcey

Introduction to A Dangerous Grace by Charles Colson

Courtship Talk

Relationships between young men and women can be a hot topic. I have mentioned before that as a young girl I thought you had to date before you got married. It was all I had ever seen or heard of. As a teen I began to read and hear about courtship and within a short amount of time was convinced that courtship was the only right way to go about getting to know a prospective spouse. I was adamant; courtship was the only way to go. Period.

I began to discuss the topic with my friends and found it very frustrating that they did not see eye to eye with me. Some agreed that you should wait until you were of a marriageable age before pursuing any close relationships with someone of the opposite sex, but they did not all agree that courtship was the only way. It used to make me want to shout at them, "Don't you see? You are wrong. I am right!" Over the years the topic has come up time and again with my friends, probably in part because it is one of those topics I do not have the sense to stay away from. I found it interesting to hear what my friends thought about courtship versus dating, what they have read, and what they have been taught on the subject, and yes, there have been a few hot moments.

As time has passed I have come to see my friends' points of view are not "all wrong." They have taught me that no one's relationship is going to look just like someone else's. I have learned that it is not so much about what you call your relationship, but what your definition of that relationship is. Still, even though I do agree that relationships will vary as each person's circumstance varies, I believe that there are a few key guidelines that couples would be wise to follow.

My mom has always emphasized the wisdom of waiting until you are ready to marry to pursue any kind of romantic relationship. She meant several things when she told me this. One, that a young man does not seriously pursue a girl until he is financially able to support her. Second, that both the young man and the young woman are mature enough for marriage. It is easy to become infatuated with someone, but it is a lot harder to love someone faithfully for the rest of your life. If a young person is not ready to be responsible or commit to marrying someone, then they are not ready to seek any type of romantic relationship. I have not always agreed with this but over the last few years have found it to be a sound bit of advice. Why pursue a relationship with someone and potentially get emotionally attached if you are not ready to consider marriage. This road will lead you to break-ups and heartache. To my way of thinking, there is no point in such a relationship and it can set a harmful pattern of getting together and breaking up, a pattern that is just setting you up for divorce.

Another thing I have read many times that makes so much sense, is if you are going to get married and you know it, than do it. Why wait? This only opens the door to temptation. You began to think of the other person as belonging to you. You think, "Oh, it is okay if we kiss all the time, after all we are going to get married." Next thing you know, this logic has taken you to far and there is no turning back. God meant for intimacy to be special, and He meant for it to be saved for marriage. Whether or not you plan to marry one day or not is not the issue. Being faithful to God is. If you know you are going to get married, do it. Do not drag it out, if you are not ready for marriage financially or emotionally, then you should not have allowed your relationship to escalate to this point.

As a guy, if you are not ready to support a wife, but a certain girl has caught your eye, maybe you even feel God is telling you that she is the one, then do the honorable thing, wait. Do not pursue a deeper relationship with her that will awaken emotions better left sleeping. Waiting will make the prize all the more precious in the end. Are you afraid that if you do not say something someone will steal her away? Look at it this way. If she is God's chosen one, then you have nothing to worry about. Right? Everything will work out in His timing.

If you are a girl, and you know that a guy is the one for you but you also know that he is not ready for marriage, do not push him. Keep your distance. You can be friends, but do not try to be more than that to him. Wait on the Lord, and pray for your special guy. If he really is the one, then God will open his eyes to you all in good time. Do not make the first move. Let him. It is all about God's order and the way He meant for things to happen. In the end, your young man will love you more for knowing that you waited patiently for him to grow up and get to a place where he could support you. In the end, you will be happier then you ever thought you could be.

The number one issue in my book would have to be, do not pursue a relationship unless you have the blessing of your parents, and you feel that God has given you the green light. God gave us parents and godly counselors for a reason, if we refuse to seek wisdom when we are looking for a spouse, we may end up covenanting our lives to a person we will grow to hate. Our parents know us better sometimes then we know ourselves. They may be able to spot something in the other person that we cannot see because we are too close. We are infatuated, but they are not. They are not looking through rose-colored glasses. They see the whole picture, right past the good looks and charming manners to the heart. No, I do not believe in arranged marriages, nor do I feel that parents are always the best judges, I am just saying, that if your have godly parents, or mentors, they sometimes can spot things that you will be unable to see, and the wisest thing you could possibly do is seek their advice.

Often times young people reach their twenties and wonder where their Mr. or Miss. Right is. They start looking at everyone of the opposite sex as marriageable material. Instead of being able to enjoy the company of others as just friends, they feel pressured to always be on their best behavior just in case so and so is their future spouse. If that is not ridiculous, I do not know what is.

I love spending time with two of my friends because I can tell when they interact with guys that the last thing on their mind is marriage. They are kind, considerate, and always willing to help out or have some fun, but they look at guys as brothers in Christ, not marriageable material. That is the way all young folks should view each other. Not as future mates, but as children of God.

I do not claim to be an expert on relationships, nor do I claim to always be right (I have hopefully learned my lesson in that area), but I am always looking for opportunities to share the wisdom that has been passed on to me in hopes that it will save someone else some heartache and help to guard them from those emotional scars which are much to common these days.

If you are longing for someone to love and share your life with, may I encourage you to think about what I have shared today? As you pursue a relationship, remember that though your story will be different then others, and that there is really not one "right way," that there are some steps you can take to guard your heart, and make your season of courtship or dating be one of the best seasons of your life.

Keep your eyes upon the Lord and seek His will.

In Christ,

Kaomi

L. P. Jackson's Grape Ambrosia

1 6oz. box of strawberry Jello

2 c. seedless grapes (halved)

1½ c. chopped walnuts or pecans

1½ c. miniature marshmallows

11oz. can of mandarin oranges

1 c. or more toasted coconut (optional)

1 c. sour cream

Mix Jello with 2 cups of hot water until dissolved.

While Jello is hot, stir in sour cream. Cool to room

temperature ( Approx. 45 min.). Add other ingredients,

except the coconut. Pour into 9x13 inch casserole dish,

and chill in fridge until firm. Sprinkle coconut on top

if desired and serve.

Note: Do not drain the oranges!

This is my great-grandfather's recipe and one of my personal favorites.

It is a good light dessert after a big meal, and I can never eat enough

of it. Try it out and enjoy.

At eighteen I was getting ready to graduate from high school, and I was worried because I did not have any real plans for what I would do next. I had always assumed I would go straight from high school into college, but as the time drew near, I became more and more unsure if college was the right choice for me.

Soon after graduation I got my first job and started working full time. I was a bit burnt out with book learning and decided to take a break. Though, the break from school was nice, I never stopped worry about what I should do about college. I looked at many colleges and many degree plans, but nothing seemed to be right.

I prayed and prayed asking God to show me what it was He wanted me to do. I always received silence, which I interpreted as a signal that I was to wait. So, I waited, worried, and worked. A year passed. "God, surely now is the right time. I am tired of not knowing. Won't You just give me a hint." Still nothing.

I kept working and I kept looking. Several times I thought, "Oh, this is it. I have found it!" Then as I pursued that path further every door was closed. This kept happening until I came to the point of, "You know what, Lord? I am not going to worry about this any more. This is Your deal, it should have been Yours all along, and I am not going to worry about it any more. I trust You. I will wait on You another ten years, just walk with me."

Then one day, almost two years after I had begun working, I knew. God showed me the perfect path, and not only that, but He also made a way where I thought there was no way. He proved to me again, that He is an awesome God. He knew His plan all along. He just wanted me to learn a lesson in trusting Him. Think of all the time and worry I could have saved if only I had trusted Him from the start!

In the next few months I will begin a new journey, called college. I know that there will be tough times, but I also have peace because I trust that my God can, and will, see me through.

This is just one more story about how God has revealed Himself to me. This is just one more reason why I know that God is real. It feels so good to say I have no worries, because my God is in control.

Valentine's, A Few Days Late

Due to my being busy with work, I was unable to post this on time. Hopefully it is just as enjoyable a few days late. :)

----

Let me ask you a question. What is Valentine's Day about? Is it about getting flowers, candy, and sweet little notes? Are you single and pitying your plot in life because you have no lover, flowers, candy, or sweet notes? Let me shoot straight with you. You have got it all wrong. Valentine's Day is not about what you receive. It is all about what you give. It is a day to celebrate your love for others, especially your sweetheart or spouse. Valentine's Day is all about showing others how much you love them.

As a single it is easy to get all wrapped up in what you do not have. You fantasize about how your future spouse will bring you flowers and write you poems. It is so easy to get lost in dreams about "then." Sometimes it easy to forget that when "then" comes along things will not be perfect. Your love may not have money for dozens of roses or diamond necklaces. He may not be able to write a rhyme, much less a poem. He may forget about Valentine's Day all together. But those things will not mean he does not love you. Love is not about one day of the year when your man feels pressured by the world to buy you flowers. It is not about what he does or does not give you. It is not even about whether or not he remembers Valentine's Day, your birthday, or your anniversary. It is about his being there when you need him, and sticking by you no matter how hard things may get. It is about those little things he does for you, like washing the dishes when you have had a super long day, or holding you when you cry, or praying with you when you are worried. Love is not something measure in gifts, it is something measured by words and actions, and not just for one day of the year either, but for every day. I know it is tempting, but do not over fantasize about "then." Instead, focus on now.

Yes, I said now. Think about what you do have, not about what you wish you had. Think about how much you are already loved. Even without "Prince Charming." There is family, friends, and God. Even if no one else loves you God does. In fact, He loved you so much He sent His Son to die for you (John 3:16), and that is being loved more then you can even imagine. Dwell on that.

Are you smiling yet? No. Then it is time for step two. Think of ways you can show those around you how much they are loved. In loosing yourself in efforts to show others you love them, you will forget about how lonely you are. After all it is more blessed to give then to receive (Acts 20:35). When you get busy doing for others you forget about yourself in the joy of bringing them joy.

If you are still feeling a little down, pray. Pray for yourself, pray for your family and friends, even pray for your future spouse. Tell God all about the loneliness in your heart. Share all your dreams with Him. Ask Him to be with you as you wait. God is always faithful. He may not always give us everything we ask for, but He always answers prayers. And He will always, always be with us because He loves us.

Happy Valentine's Day! Share the love.

Kaomi

Happy Valentines Day!

Love is something we all need, want. Love is something
we all long for and, consequently, strive for.

We all know that we do not deserve God's love, and that it is the greatest love we could ever experience. But I was reminded the other day that we don't deserve any love. I have
heard all my life that there is nothing I could ever do to deserve
God's great, unconditional love. But don't I deserve to be loved by
my family and friends? C.S. Lewis said:

"There is something in each of us that cannot be naturally loved. It is no one's
fault if they do not so love it...You might as well ask people to like the taste
of rotten bread or the sound of a mechanical drill...All who have good parents, wives,
husbands, or children may be sure that some times and perhaps at all times, in respect of some one particular trait or habit, they are receiving [love]. They are loved not because they are lovable, but because Love Himself is in those who love them."

Wow! I love the way C.S. Lewis said this! I am not lovable, but Christ love, through my family,and friends, helps them love me. The opposite is true as well. Even those people that may seem hard to love, I can love because Christ loved me first. Even though I am so unlovable! Love loves not because of...but in spite of. Happy Valentines Day!

Hot Hats

Hot Hats

4 c. flour

1 c. scalded milk

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 large egg

3/4 c. oil

1 tbsp. dry yeast

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water. In separate bowl, mix 2 cups of flour, salt, oil, and an egg. Add dissolved yeast and beat again. Pour in scalded milk. Beat while slowly adding the remaining flour, until dough is the consistency of stiff biscuit dough. Divide dough in half. Roll into rectangle, or just spread on greased cookie sheet with hands. Put spaghetti sauce and other pizza toppings on dough. Roll up ends and seal edges. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Slice and serve. Quick, easy, and a good way to use up left over spaghetti sauce.

There Will Be Pain

Things weren't going well, for Kelly Callahan. Everything in her life seemed to be falling apart. She had just lost her job, her grandmother's health was going downhill at an alarming rate, her college classes were overwhelming, and worst of all, at twenty-three, there was still no prince charming in her life.

"God, why is everything falling apart? Why does life have to be so hard? Why can't life be perfect? I mean, would it be so bad if everything went right for once, if I could always be happy? I don't understand. Why must we hurt so much? What is the purpose of living just to die? God, I have so many questions, but right now I just want to know, why must I hurt so much?"

Kelly was at her wits end. She was exhausted, and feeling so helpless. All she wanted was for things to be good again, for life to be full of joy. Tears ran down her checks as she cried out to God.

"I believe in You Father. I know You have everything under control, but why must life be full of such sadness and pain?"

Kelly sat on her bed rocking back and forth and hugging herself. She wanted to be strong, but she was so tired, so worn out, and she felt so helpless to change anything. She longed for the joy that she had once known, for the seemingly perfect life she had once lived. Now that her world was in shambles, her faith was shaken. She still believed in God, but it did not feel like enough.

~*~*~*~

We have all been in that place. We have felt so pushed down and abandoned, that God seems so far away that we fear we will never reach Him again. Life has a way of testing our faith. Sometimes it is all we can do to hold on and believe. I do not know why life gets so hard, or why hardships are so much a part of life. I do not have all the answers, but the other night as I sat pondering a situation much like Kelly's, I had a thought that put a little sunshine into my day.

If it was not for hard times, my joy would never be so full as it is when I have just come through some great trial. If it was not for tears, I would not treasure those moments of laughter so much. If it was not for doubts, certainty would not feel like such a victory. If it was not for pain and sickness, being well would not be such a blessing. If it was not for death, life would not be such a gift. If life was not so hard, we would not look forward to Heaven with such great anticipation. And if life was "perfect" we would still want more because that is just a part of our human nature. If things are good, we want better, and if things are better, we want best. We will never be satisfied here on earth, because we are always seeking that which we will only find in Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you are going through a tough time, let me remind you that better days are ahead. If not in this world, then in the next. We will never understand why so many must suffer, but we can look for the sunshine in every dark valley.

Cling to the hand of the Master, never let go. Be mad at Him if you must. He is a big boy and He can handle your anger, but do not let go of His hand because you cannot handle this life alone. You need Him like you need air. Life may be hard, but it is better, and easier, with God.

"We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;

we are perplexed, but not in dispair;

persecuted, but not forsaken;

struck down, but not destroyed."

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Waiting, Not Dating

I am concerned. Yes, I really am. I see so many young girls who are all wrapped up in their boyfriends. That is all they ever think or talk about and you can tell that they have lost their hearts to these boys.

As long as I can remember my uncles and aunts have asked me, "So, do you have a boyfriend yet?" I always laughed and said, "No." I knew that it was stupid for an eight-year-old to even think of such things, for to my way of thinking if you had a boyfriend that meant you were dating, and if you were dating that meant that the next thing in line was marriage, and at eight, getting married was a long way into the future. But so many girls and boys feel pressured into this mode. It is supposed to be something cute and amusing, and maybe it is for the grown-ups watching, but those poor little girls are getting hurt. They feel that if a boy breaks up with them they have a problem. Something is wrong with them. Their hearts are being scarred, and for what?

I recently have been hurting for a friend of mine. She isn't even eighteen yet and she is very emotionally involved with a young man. He is nothing more then and boy. He is not capable of giving her the love or support she is looking for, neither is he ready to make a life-long commitment to her, yet she has given her heart to his keeping. I hurt for her because I see heartache in her future. Yes, he seems like a really good kid, but he is just that, a kid. It will be years before either one of them is ready for marriage. So much could happen between now and then.

Why do parents allow, and even push, this type of harmful behavior? Do they not see what it does to their daughters and sons emotional well-being? And think of how many teens could be saved from poor mistakes if they just did not date until they were ready to consider marriage.

I wish I could talk to every girl in the world about this. I wish I could tell them to wait. To guard their hearts, to wait on the Lord, and to use their energy to serve Him.

So, for those of you who agree with me, that waiting and not dating is the key to greater future happiness. Join me in getting the message out. Talk to your friends. Encourage them to wait. If this concept would catch on, I think our world would be a better place.

For those of you who are waiting and not dating. Do not loose heart. You are not alone. Keep your eyes on The Prince. Waiting can be hard, but in the end, it will all be worth it.

In Christ,
Kaomi

For the Rest of My Life

As has always been the case, when the end of an old year draws to a close and the beginning of a new year is hovering closely on the horizon, I began to think about all the things I did, or had left undone in the previous eleven months. Honestly, my list of the undone is always a whole lot longer then my list of the done. I am never totally satisfied with my efforts, because I always know that I could have done better.

I could easily allow myself to get all wrapped up in the grief and mourning of those tasks left undone, but what good would that do me? The only thing wallowing in sorrow would do for me is waste more of my time and so when I reach the end of next year I will have just as long a list of things left undone as I had the year before.

I decided a while back that New Years resolutions where of little consequence, and since then have not bothered to write out the long lists I used to be in the habit of writing. Instead I have made one resolution. It is not just a resolution for the coming year, but rather for the coming years. It is a life resolution. And that resolution is to live my life for the honor and glory of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To me this means, seeking Him through His Word, through prayer, through godly counsel, and it also means striving to always put Him first before all else in my life. I know that this is a resolution that will be harder to keep then any other I could make, but it is also the only one that will ever really matter.

These last few weeks I have really been asking myself about what God's purpose is for my life, and I have come up with one answer and only one. God's purpose for my life is for me to serve Him with everything I have got. That may not seem like much when you read it, but when you get to thinking about what it means, that is when it hits you. That is when you realize that this is a really big deal.

To serve God with all I have means: Loving my neighbor as myself. Loving God with all my heart, soul, and mind. Sacrificing my comfort, my dreams, and maybe even my life. Being a light to a fallen world. I have got to keep pushing forward when things seem impossible. I have to completely surrender my life to His will.

In the year ahead, I will come across hardships, sorrows, and even enemies, but God will see me through if I am faithful to Him. It seems like an impossible resolution to keep doesn't it? Well, it is not, because God is by my side all the way.

What are some steps I am taking even now to reaching my goal. First, I am starting out by disciplining myself in those basic areas where all Christians must discipline themselves if they wish to reach the goal. I am digging into God's Word, the Bible, spending more time in prayer, and identifying and removing those things which I know are distracting me from giving God my all.

I would like to challenge you in joining me on a life changing journey. Do not make a commitment that will only see you through the next year. Make a commitment that will see you through the rest or your life. What good does it do to commit to excellence for tomorrow, if you live out the rest of your life after that in the mode of mediocrity?

Make a resolution that will count.

In Him Who was, is, and always will be,
Kaomi

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

"Being diligent to present yourself approved to God,

a worker who does not need to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength

is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

"Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,

Who walks in His ways" (Psalm 128:1).

Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal Cookies

3 c. flour
4 c. oats
1 t. baking soda
5 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
2 eggs
2 c. sugar
2 c. butter
2 T. molasses
1/2 c. milk
1 c. pecans

Mix. Drop. Bake (350 degrees, until done).
How easy is that? My recipe card says to bake the cookies 15-20 minutes. That sounds a little too long, but I don't really know. You will just have to play with it and find out for yourselves. My sisters do a lot of the cookie making around here and I haven't made these in a long time, if ever. I hope they work out for you. Enjoy!