Home-made Iced Coffee

Okay, so my sister and I LOVE coffee! For a while I stopped drinking it so much, but when Bethany discovered she like the taste of coffee I couldn't resist joining her. There is just something special about having someone to enjoy your hot cup of morning brew with. We weren't satisfied to make our own cup at home, very quickly we discovered that we liked Starbucks mocha's (just not the price!) and Dunkin Donuts iced coffee. But I don't like to spend a lot of money on coffee when there are so many missionaries that I could send the money to, and the nearest Dunkin Donuts is 45 minutes away. I had to find a solution.

This week I was in the mood for some iced coffee so I got online and found a Dunkin Donuts iced coffee copycat recipe at www.food.com . What I love about this recipe is it is so fast and easy! (Isn't it terrible, we live in an era where we get instant gratification and I guess I am victim of that mentality too from time to time.) So, does it taste like Dunkin Donuts? Not exactly, but my sister thinks it's better! Is it good? Definitely! Is it better than spending $2.00 a cup? Absolutely! And with a little tweaking, such as flavored creamers, it may turn out to be just as good as Dunkin Donuts. So here is the recipe the way I make it. If you'd like to see the original recipe you can go here.

2/3 cup cooled coffee (double strength)
2/3 cup milk and liquid creamer (I  use 1/2 cup of milk and fill the rest with liquid creamer)
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
4 ice cubs

Brew the coffee, add sugar and set aside or refridgerate to cool. Add milk and creamer to coffee. Pour over ice and enjoy!

Blessings

I think it's amazing how blessed God can make me feel even in the midst of a trial. When I choose to get my mind off of the hard things in life and focus on the good I am overwhelmed with what God has given me! I think during the hard times the sweet things seem even sweeter.

Us girls on our yearly trip to the beach! I don't have a recent picture of my mom,
but she is one of the amazing people in my family that I am so thankful for!

 My family is so thoughtful! When I need someone to talk to they listen. When I need someone to have fun with they jump in! When I need to relax and de-stress they give me a foot massage : )

 

God knows just what I need. He has put people in my life who encourage me and keep me accountable in my walk with God and can relate with what I'm going through. I am seeing more and more every day what a blessing good relationships are. It is a blessing not just to receive love and encouragement in the Lord, but also to give it.

 

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"

1 Peter 1:22 

In The Gap




My teaching partner and I were teaching them not to cheat!

"Then said he [Jesus] to his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

 Matthew 9:37-38



I know this post is long past due, but here it is at last. During September, October, and November, God allowed me to work in a ministry called In The Gap. A program that teaches Christ-like character in the elementary public schools and conducts after school Bible Clubs.

One thing that I have learned in the past two months that I have been serving in Oklahoma, is that you can serve God anywhere you are. Everywhere you look there are people that need hope and love . . . they need Jesus. But in order to minister to them you have to look for the need and find a way to meet that need. There is a time to present the gospel within the first 5 minutes of a conversation, but then there are times when you have to invest in their lives long before you can expect them to receive the good news we have been entrusted with.

This session they trained 31 interns, including myself, to effectively teach character to children as well as how to run a Bible Club, also known as Good News Clubs. The word that best describes the experience is stretching. I was forced out of my comfort zone to learn new and exciting ways to serve God. I've learned that the best way to teach is to tell and show someone how to do a certain thing, and then have them do it themselves. At In The Gap we were trained and then had the chance to put it to practice.


Me with my accountability group

I saw children genuinely come to know Christ and freedom from the bondage of sin. I was surprised at how many children gave examples of how they took our challenge and went the extra mile at home. I was overjoyed when children opened up their hearts and asked question after question about God and His Son Jesus. I rejoiced over answered prayers and miracles that took place.

I learned that I can serve God anywhere, and I also learned that I could serve God in places I thought I couldn't. Like I heard so many times while at In The Gap, prayer is the work.

It wasn't in God's plan for me to go back to Oklahoma for further training and experience, but I know that God has great things in store for me. Maybe God had a deeper reason for sending me to In The Gap. Maybe I wasn't there just to reach the children in Oklahoma City. Maybe this was a stepping stone to bring my greatest dream into reality.

Apple Pie Oatmeal

A few months ago I started eating oatmeal, mostly because I saw this delicious looking recipe. I knew I wouldn't be able to start eating oatmeal unless it had lots of flavor and this recipe does. I don't feel guilty for eating this for breakfast because it has fruit and oats in it. Healthy, right? I've also substituted the apples with peaches.

Apple Pie Oatmeal

Ingredients:

1 apple, cored and chopped (I don't eat the skins)

1 cup water

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Then add the oats, apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Adjuste the heat to low and simmer the oatmeal for 3-5 minutes. Serve it with a splash of milk if desired and a little or a lot of brown sugar sprinkled on top.

Today...

Today, my expectation is from God.
It is time for thee, Lord to work.
Today I want to see God at work
in the children's lives and in my life.
Today I choose not to complain
and have determined not to fear,
For the Lord is my helper.
Today I am going to be diligent as an ant
Never stopping, always going.
Today the wicked and my enemies shall
stumble and fall when they come against me. (Ps. 27)
Today I shall be victorious because greater is He
that is within me than he that is in the world.
Today I shall remember that Christ is my life
and I am merely a servant to all but that which is evil.
Today I will thank God as much as I possibly can
and meditate on who He is.
This day belongs to God.
Today, I live a surrendered life.

Maple Butter Blondie

Several months ago I found a copycat recipe for Applebee's Maple Butter Blondie. I've never ate this at Applebee's, but the picture looked so good I just had to try it. The first time I made it my whole family was complaining because I didn't make a larger pan! Several batches later this has become our favorite dessert . . . and it's not even chocolate! It's that good! The original recipe is found at recipesecrets.net. Oh, and did I mention it is super easy and quick? It's best when eaten warm, so you don't even have to wait for it to cool!

Applebee's Maple Butter Blondie
Ready In: Under 60 minutes

Ingredients:
Dough
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour, sifted
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or more if desired)
1/3 cup butter or margarine (melted)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Maple Butter Sauce
3/4 cup maple syrup ( I highly recommend using REAL maple syrup )
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
Dough
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Add baking powder, baking soda and salt to the already sifted flour. Then sift dry ingredients again.
Add chopped nuts and mix well. Set aside.
Add brown sugar to melted butter and mix well. Then add egg and vanilla extract. Mix well.
Add flour mixture, a little at a time, until mixed well.
Stir in white chocolate chips. Spread out dough in a 9-inch pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Use a toothpick or fork to test if it is cooked in the center.
Serve warm with ice cream and Maple Butter Sauce.
Maple Butter Sauce
In a pan, add real maple syrup and butter, cook over low heat until butter is melted. Next, stir in brown sugar until completely dissolved. If you desire, add walnuts. Best served with vanilla ice-cream.

Leaving for the Ministry

This Thursday I'm flying out west to join a group of young people to work with a children's ministry. I can't help but think back to the day God told me to quit my job to do ministry work and the only ministry work in sight was one week of youth camp. Now, several months later, I'm leaving for 2 1/2 months to serve God in a way that I've never done before. A step of faith has now turned into sight. I will be stretched beyond any service I have ever worked with, forced to look at myself to see where I am lacking, and expand my outreach to others. Yes, I'll be out of my comfort zone but it's during those moments when I feel totally inadequate that I have to depend on God all the more. Like I should every day.

I always doubt if I am doing God's will. Did God really lead me to this ministry? Is this really the right time? What if I was wrong? While all these questions went through my mind yesterday I was prompted to ask God to rebuke the devil (if the doubts were in fact coming from him and not myself) and then purify my mind with scripture. Realizing that I haven't changed my calendar to September, I flipped up the next page and read the scripture that was printed on the picture. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" Hebrews 10:23-24. With that in mind I can go forward confidently knowing that God will be faithful.

I have always wanted to work in the ministry but when I actually got a chance it was hard to believe that my desire was really being fulfilled. And of all places it's in the west! Somewhere I've always wanted to visit! God is very good!

I've scheduled a few posts so that this little spot on the web doesn't go completely dormant. I don't expect to be able to post any updates while I am away, but when I return I will write of all the things God has done.

All of this started with committing my life to the Lord. Don't hold back! Surrender everything to the Lord and be willing to do His will. I'm glad I did.