Fudge Truffle Cheesecake

Yesterday I mentioned in my post (My Morning) that I helped Bethany make a Fudge Truffle Cheesecake. My online friend, Under Southern Skies , asked me to share the recipe, and since it is very good I thought I would oblige her. Like most cheesecake recipes, it is very rich so a little piece will satisfy. I hope you enjoy it!


Fudge Truffle Cheesecake

CRUST:
1 1/2 c vanilla wafer crumbs*
1/2 c 10x sugar
1/3 c cocoa
1/3 c melted butter


FILLING:
3 (8 oz.) cream cheese softened
1 can (14oz.) sweetened condensed milk
2 c (12 oz.) simi-sweet chocolate chips melted
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

Combine all crust ingredients and press into the bottom and sides of a 9 inch spring form pan. Chill.

Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually add milk. Beat until smooth. Add melted chips, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well. Pour into crust and bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes. The center will jiggle slightly when you take it out of the oven. Cool for 15 minutes. Carefully run a knife between crust and sides of pan. Cool for 3 hours at room temperature. Chill overnight. Serve it with cool whip if desired.

*For a home made recipe to make your own Vanilla Wafers go to my mom's blog.

Letting the Devil Win

A few months ago I posted about a great mission conferance where I heard 4 native missionaries preach and sing. The next week I wrote the missionary to Chile to tell him what an encouragement I recieved from seeing him. I knew he wouldn't be back to his country until May, but I guess I was hoping his wife would write back. Weeks passed and I heard nothing. I started to think I shouldn't write the other families until their father/husband was back. Then I started to wonder if it really mattered. Would they care that a young girl from America took the time to write them? Does a little letter make any difference in thier busy life? Don't they have more important things to do anyways? As bad as this sounds, I was starting to think this way.

At first I prayed for them every day. Sometimes I would even think about a certain family throughout the whole day, praying for them diligently. But . . . the devil slipped in once again. I got busy and my mind started thinking about other things. Although I didn't forget them, I did forget how much they had blessed me and how much I desired to be a blessing to them. I went from praying for them every day to praying for them when I thought about them.

Today while I was out side washing the van and my car with Bethany, the missionary I had wrote called from his home in Chile! I was a little dissapointed that I didn't hear the phone ring, but I did get to listen to the message he left on our answering machine. I was absolutley thrilled that he took the time to call! It was such a blessing! The letter I sent must have been a blessing to him, not what the devil had been telling me.

At the same time that I was rejoicing over this blessing from God I also felt convicted for not praying for them as I should have. Now I can't wait to write the other 3 families and try to be an encouragement to them . . . I know they'll be an encouragement to me! Praise the LORD, the devil didn't win this time!

Lesson From a Bad Week

This Friday through Sunday our church had a youth revival for everyone in the community. Ever since I heard about it months ago I have eagerly waited for the days to arrive. I have looked forward to this revival more then any other revival I have been to in a long time because the last meeting (with the same preacher) was such a blessing and this time I would get to hear his son (a young man who I grew up with) preach out of the word of God.

But I don't think the devil wanted us to have revival. In fact I know for sure that he was against the whole thing! All week I have been struggling to keep my mind on God and everything seemed to be going against me. One day I was in a really bad mood, the next night I couldn't' sleep, then my back started hurting. . . I'm not trying to start a pity party for myself, I'm just making a point. The devil was fighting all week!

By Thursday (the day before revival started) I knew I needed to get through to God and let Him refresh my heart. So I went to the book of Job to see what he did when everything seemed to be going against him. Let me remind you what he went through just in the first chapter of Job. All his oxen were taken my the Sabeans, his sheep were killed by fire from heaven, (there goes everything that made him money and provided his living) the Chaldeans carried away his camels, (no more transportation) most or all of his servants were killed, and worst of all his children died. What did Job do? Did he curse God? Did he ask God "Where are you?" Did he give up on serving God? What did Job do?

"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped. And said, Naked came I our of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1. 20-21

So there I sat, feeling like everything was going wrong but still realizing that my troubles were nothing compared to Job. What did I do? I worshipped. And you know what? Everything was okay after that! Blessed be the name of the LORD!

Sarah's Laugh

This evening I was reminded again of Sarah's story. The story of God's faithfulness to keep His promise to her and Abraham has always been very special to me, something I hope to see in my life one day.

Tonight I read the passage where three men came to Abraham and told him Sarah would bear him a child like they have always wanted. After waiting so long for a dream that seemed would never come to pass, God has now reassured them again that they would have a child even in their old age.

Sarah laughed. I believe that she laughed not only because she and her husband were old, but because she couldn't see God fulfilling His promise. You see, Sarah and Abraham had already been told by God that she would have a son, and I believe she believed Him with everything that was within her. She wanted a child so bad she was willing to believe anything and grasp on to any little glimpse of hope. But that was long ago.

With every year that passed she began to doubt more and more. Little by little the dream she so badly wanted God to fulfill now seemed impossible. I can just imagine what the devil was telling her. "So God's going to give you a child, huh? He sure is taking his time, isn't he? How long are you going to wait? Maybe that wasn't God's voice after all." No doubt she thought about those words often. It really didn't seem like God was fulfilling His promise. Yes, I can see why Sarah laughed.

Then one of the three men said unto Abraham, "Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is anything to hard for God?" (Gen. 18.13) Wow! What a great question! Is anything to hard for God? Obviously Sarah's problem wasn't too big for God to take care of because Sarah did bear Abraham a child just as God had promised.

Now I doubt there are any 90 year old women reading this article that are still praying to have a child, but sometimes our problems do seem that big. Is it too big for God to handle? Are you laughing at God by not having faith in His power? Before you answer these questions think about how your actions speak, for they have already answered.

Later in this story we see that Sarah is laughing again. "And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me." (Gen. 21.6) This time Sarah is not laughing at God or because she is doubtful. This time she is laughing because of the joy God had given her. Those years of trusting, believing, doubting, struggling, seeking God with tears, and waiting, had strengthened Sarah and made the birth of her son Isaac so much more wonderful! She witnessed a very rare miracle that God performed through her! It was not an easy road to travel and Sarah and Abraham both made their mistakes, but God was faithful to fulfill His promise even when it seemed impossible, and the benefits were amazing!

If you are going through a similar situation in your own life, remember what the man asked Sarah, "Is anything to hard for God?" I know without a doubt Sarah would tell you, No! Nothing is to hard for God.

"And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." Luke 18:27

Biblical Courtship

True Biblical Courtship is loving God with all your heart and He then gives you His pure love to share with someone. Infatuations is taking a little bit of your love from God and giving it to another - this is selfish love. ~ Author Unknown

God is in Control!

Once again God has shown me that only HE knows what is going to happen in my life. As soon as I think I know what is going on and have everything "figured out" (even when it seems to line up with the Bible and past experiences) God proves me wrong. I could get mad and tell God "I dont' want it to be this way!" or "Now I will look foolish because I acted like I had everything under control!" But I know there is no use in doing so. God is in control in my life and the easiest way to be happy is to let God have His way.

So I sit back and say, "Yep, I was wrong again," and enjoy the journey. I wonder what miraculous thing God will do next?

Sword Searcher

Several years ago a friend gave us a copy of a Bible software called Sword Searcher. We quickly learned to love this computer program! It is so easy to find the scripture you need in a flash just by typing in a word in the search or look it up by topic by using the Nave's Topical Bible. But the options don't stop there! You can also read Surgeon's and many other commentary's notes, look up a word in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary, see what words mean in Hebrew using the Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and even find an image or illustration to go with your study. Also included is Charles Surgeon's morning and evening devotions and Fox's Book of Martys. This is a great tool to help any Christian study the Word of God. I have to admit, there are a lot of negative things about today's technology, but this is definitely one of the benefits!