If you like Biscotti, you'll love this Christmas favorite! I got it from my friend, Sarah Longanecker! :) Enjoy!
Gingerbread Biscotti
2-1/4 c. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/4c. molasses
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. chopped pecans
1/4 c. currants
Combine first 7 ingredients. In another bowl combine eggs, brown sugar, molasses and vanilla. Combine both just until moistened. Fold in pecans and currants. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Divide dough in half. Form into 2 narrow rectangles on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 for 24 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and turn oven down to 300.
Transfer to a cutting board. Cut diagonally into 1/2 in. slices. Place cut side down on greased sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned, turning once. Cool on wire racks.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Joy Like Casper ~ Fruits of the Spirit 2012
Our Fruit of the Spirit focus, for 2012, is joy! Will we have joy, this year, in all circumstances? Will we demonstrate joy to our families, our husbands, and to our children? Will our neighbors and perfect strangers see and feel our joy? Will others see us as different? Can we really make the choice to have joy? Will we respond properly in situations to exemplify joy?
Paul consistently tells us to rejoice and be glad. He wants our joy to be full and overflowing, in all circumstances. It is so hard, isn’t it? Our bad days make it a daily battle and you know what they say about bad days, “Bad days make bad years and bad years make a bad life, (or lives).” Our lives affect others, whether we like it or not. Our difficult circumstances seem to take over our hearts and souls. Hard decisions that need to be made, overshadow our joy. Lifelong problems that never seem to change or get any better, steal our joy (John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.) Sometimes our own shortcomings and our choice to dwell on them, causes us to be less joyful.
Being joyful is a choice and a difficult one. It is moment by moment, step by step, and prayer by prayer. We must stop and think before we step forward. We must choose joy.
I think one of the hardest areas in my walk with Christ, is to remain joyful. It particularly bothers me when my children see my grumpy, impatient spirit, my short tone of voice and my obvious fatigue with any on-going issue. They are around me for most of their day. When they are older I want them to think of me and remember my joy. I want them to remember that I had joy in all circumstances. I have failed so many times. Sometimes, it feels like these shortcomings will never end; that they will never be conquered. I will never be victorious. God’s Word says otherwise (1 Cor 15:56-57 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 60:12 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.) I love Psalm 21:1-7, where David gives praise to God for victory in a battle: “O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him--length of days, for ever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
We are in a battle, too. Our children’s future, our marriages, our friendships, our testimony to all is at stake, in this battle. We must fight for those we love and know that God gives the victory but we must choose to fight in the battle. God’s Word says that without love we are nothing (1 Cor 13:2-3) but without joy we show that we do not have love. We will never attain perfection, but when we choose not to have joy, not to be in the battle for joy, ultimately we give the impression that we do not have love and that we do not care. We show that we do not care about our example, our testimony to others, our spiritual health and the health of our children. Proverbs 16:24 and Proverbs 17:22 say this: “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” and “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
I find it interesting that in Galatians 5:22, love is mentioned first and then joy immediately follows. Peace is mentioned third. It begs me to think that if we truly love, our joy will be evident to all and THEN we will have peace in our hearts and in our homes. All of a sudden I am hit with fresh revelation! I have always tried to cultivate patience first, so I am able to choose joy in a situation. As an example, take any challenging situation with your children. In the situation maybe you are like me! I feel so impatient that my first thought is to stop, breathe, and be patient...then I try to speak joyfully. It doesn’t always happen. It’s a half-way good approach, I guess. Maybe all this time it was the wrong one. I wonder if a better approach would be the model of Galatians 5:22? Maybe we should stop and ask ourselves, “Am I going to choose a loving attitude, a tone of voice full of love, and to speak in love? Is love going to be my basis in what I am about to say or do?” If we can choose to love, first, in everyday situations with our husbands and children, I think that a joyful heart will follow. Maybe next, our heart and home is filled with peace and maybe THEN we are patient. I don’t know; it’s just a thought.
In inanimate situations, however, we must first choose joy. Obviously, cancer, money situations, a broken washing machine or a natural disaster are not people and cannot be loved. In these situations, I think joy must be the first focus. This will guarantee that we will be more likely to exemplify love to the people in close proximity. Without choosing joy in these types of situations, I think we all know that our frustration overflows to anyone present and this isn’t loving.
Back to animate situations! :) I am reminded of James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” If you have ever seen the old “Casper The Friendly Ghost” episodes from the late 1980’s, you know that Casper is always going through various trials. This is always because he loves and wants to help others. In one episode, Casper finds a duckling named Dudley, who has just hatched from an egg. Dudley’s mother is nowhere to be found, so Casper takes him as his own. In the next scene, evening has come. Casper finds a nest and he and Dudley are settling down to sleep. A huge storm comes and Casper shields Dudley from the wind and the rain. Surprisingly, the whole time, Casper has a huge smile on his face! :) He then puts the nest upside-down on top of his head, as an umbrella, for he and Dudley...and now with an even bigger smile! It reminded me that during our personal trials, we must shield our children with our joy. Our children will someday face enough of their own trials and we must model joy in ours. As we shield them in that joyful protection, an umbrella forms over our heads. It is the umbrella of God’s promises, his Holy Word, his loving kindness and his faithfulness. It is his truth.
Back to Casper and Dudley! In the next scene, Casper (think of you as a parent) is teaching Dudley how to fly. Dudley is so frustrated with his attempts but Casper (still with a smile on his face) urges him to persevere and to keep trying! You see the little duck set himself with determination and begin to fly. Casper rejoices and both have smiles on their faces! :)
God’s truth gives us the victory in the battle and along with that we are made blameless and pure just like it says in these verses from Philippians! If you have made it this far with me, meditate with me on God’s Word, through Paul:
Philippians 2:1-5 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 2:14-18 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life---in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
I will close in the words of John! :) 1 John 1:4 “And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.”
Paul consistently tells us to rejoice and be glad. He wants our joy to be full and overflowing, in all circumstances. It is so hard, isn’t it? Our bad days make it a daily battle and you know what they say about bad days, “Bad days make bad years and bad years make a bad life, (or lives).” Our lives affect others, whether we like it or not. Our difficult circumstances seem to take over our hearts and souls. Hard decisions that need to be made, overshadow our joy. Lifelong problems that never seem to change or get any better, steal our joy (John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.) Sometimes our own shortcomings and our choice to dwell on them, causes us to be less joyful.
Being joyful is a choice and a difficult one. It is moment by moment, step by step, and prayer by prayer. We must stop and think before we step forward. We must choose joy.
I think one of the hardest areas in my walk with Christ, is to remain joyful. It particularly bothers me when my children see my grumpy, impatient spirit, my short tone of voice and my obvious fatigue with any on-going issue. They are around me for most of their day. When they are older I want them to think of me and remember my joy. I want them to remember that I had joy in all circumstances. I have failed so many times. Sometimes, it feels like these shortcomings will never end; that they will never be conquered. I will never be victorious. God’s Word says otherwise (1 Cor 15:56-57 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 60:12 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.) I love Psalm 21:1-7, where David gives praise to God for victory in a battle: “O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him--length of days, for ever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
We are in a battle, too. Our children’s future, our marriages, our friendships, our testimony to all is at stake, in this battle. We must fight for those we love and know that God gives the victory but we must choose to fight in the battle. God’s Word says that without love we are nothing (1 Cor 13:2-3) but without joy we show that we do not have love. We will never attain perfection, but when we choose not to have joy, not to be in the battle for joy, ultimately we give the impression that we do not have love and that we do not care. We show that we do not care about our example, our testimony to others, our spiritual health and the health of our children. Proverbs 16:24 and Proverbs 17:22 say this: “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” and “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
I find it interesting that in Galatians 5:22, love is mentioned first and then joy immediately follows. Peace is mentioned third. It begs me to think that if we truly love, our joy will be evident to all and THEN we will have peace in our hearts and in our homes. All of a sudden I am hit with fresh revelation! I have always tried to cultivate patience first, so I am able to choose joy in a situation. As an example, take any challenging situation with your children. In the situation maybe you are like me! I feel so impatient that my first thought is to stop, breathe, and be patient...then I try to speak joyfully. It doesn’t always happen. It’s a half-way good approach, I guess. Maybe all this time it was the wrong one. I wonder if a better approach would be the model of Galatians 5:22? Maybe we should stop and ask ourselves, “Am I going to choose a loving attitude, a tone of voice full of love, and to speak in love? Is love going to be my basis in what I am about to say or do?” If we can choose to love, first, in everyday situations with our husbands and children, I think that a joyful heart will follow. Maybe next, our heart and home is filled with peace and maybe THEN we are patient. I don’t know; it’s just a thought.
In inanimate situations, however, we must first choose joy. Obviously, cancer, money situations, a broken washing machine or a natural disaster are not people and cannot be loved. In these situations, I think joy must be the first focus. This will guarantee that we will be more likely to exemplify love to the people in close proximity. Without choosing joy in these types of situations, I think we all know that our frustration overflows to anyone present and this isn’t loving.
Back to animate situations! :) I am reminded of James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” If you have ever seen the old “Casper The Friendly Ghost” episodes from the late 1980’s, you know that Casper is always going through various trials. This is always because he loves and wants to help others. In one episode, Casper finds a duckling named Dudley, who has just hatched from an egg. Dudley’s mother is nowhere to be found, so Casper takes him as his own. In the next scene, evening has come. Casper finds a nest and he and Dudley are settling down to sleep. A huge storm comes and Casper shields Dudley from the wind and the rain. Surprisingly, the whole time, Casper has a huge smile on his face! :) He then puts the nest upside-down on top of his head, as an umbrella, for he and Dudley...and now with an even bigger smile! It reminded me that during our personal trials, we must shield our children with our joy. Our children will someday face enough of their own trials and we must model joy in ours. As we shield them in that joyful protection, an umbrella forms over our heads. It is the umbrella of God’s promises, his Holy Word, his loving kindness and his faithfulness. It is his truth.
Back to Casper and Dudley! In the next scene, Casper (think of you as a parent) is teaching Dudley how to fly. Dudley is so frustrated with his attempts but Casper (still with a smile on his face) urges him to persevere and to keep trying! You see the little duck set himself with determination and begin to fly. Casper rejoices and both have smiles on their faces! :)
God’s truth gives us the victory in the battle and along with that we are made blameless and pure just like it says in these verses from Philippians! If you have made it this far with me, meditate with me on God’s Word, through Paul:
Philippians 2:1-5 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 2:14-18 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life---in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
I will close in the words of John! :) 1 John 1:4 “And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.”
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