I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully mad
Living 4 Jesus 4 Life: #21 December 17, 2011
Marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth ri
In this Issue....... prayer requests
from our readers
Christmas special
****Reader Feedback:*********************
I really enjoyed the "Living4Jesus4Life" that I received yesterday! It is my favorite so far! ~ Mary
Thanks for this week's newsletter! I enjoyed reading it! :) ~ Cora
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{Prayer Requests}
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." - Philippians 4:6
- Pray for all the people who don't know Christ that they will come to know Him and be saved - Rachel
- Please pray for a lady in our church who has breast cancer. Erin has 3 kids: 4, 3, and 18 months. You can read about her at erinfray.blogspot.com. - Artiss
- Please continue to pray for Rebekah's cousin Karen, who has breast cancer. She has five children, and her husband is in the military! Thank you!
- Pray that God will show Himself to a girl in Elly's gym class and He will change her heart!
- Please pray for my cousin who was in a car accident. She was not injured seriously, her face was just scraped up and she has a sore jaw from the impact of the head-on hit. Thanks!
- Two of my friends are getting married at the beginning of the new year, and just wanted to pray for no last minute disasters, and a long and happy marriage. ~ Cora
- Please pray for a Chinese family who is under a lot of pressure. Thanks! -Loice
- Don't forget to send us your prayer requests so we can publish them, or keep them a secret!
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Christmas- From Our Readers- We usually make cookies with our grandmother. ~A Friend
- Christmas is a time to think of Christ's being born on this earth as a baby.....and that he came from heaven to earth for us. Our family tradition is we have egg cassorale and sticky buns as a brunch then we whatch a show on TV while the dishes are being done, and then we go downstairs to open gifts. then our mom comes up and does pizza for supper while we play with our new things. (Incase some of you were wondering why it takse from brunch to supper I have nine siblings so it takes a while to open the gifts.) ~RuthAnn
- Christmas morning my mom and I make home-made cinnamon rolls and pigs in a blanket for breakfast.Christmas to me means a time to get together with friends and family and having fun and celebrating Jesus being born. ~Elly
- We make Kringlas in the morning and people can participate as they get up (people can sleep in)!!! It's a fun time!!! ~Loice
- As we celebrate Christmas with family and friends, our hearts are filled with joy.At the same time, however, there is a solemnity about it.Jesus humbled Himself and left His home in heaven, the place He had always known and loved, and came to earth in the form of a helpless Baby. He came to die for our sins, for MY sins, and YOUR sins, thousands of years before we were even born!Because of His great love for you and me, He allowed Himself to be hurt by people and forsaken by His Father. Do we even nearly recognize how much He gave up for you, and me?! The reality of this should make us want to do anything to please Him, yet because of our sinful nature we still often do things we know He would not like.Let's remember how much Jesus sacrificed for us, and seek to pass on to others this love. Be a giver of His love this Christmas! Philippians 2:-7 ~Mary
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What Christmas Is All About
Bethlehem, House of Bread, Place of Jesus birth,
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Christmas. Definitely my most favorite time of the year. Not just because its a time when families seem to draw closer together or because there are lots of fun decorations everywhere. Christmas means so much to me. For me its a time to be reminded of our Savior's birth. I mean just think about it. The King of King's gave up His home in Heaven to live here on earth. He was born in a manger in a barn. That shows me so much about how much God loves us.
This time of year most people are so caught up with Santa Clause, money, gifts. They are so worried about what to get for their family and friends. Who is spending the most this year. How are they ever going to get enough money for all that they need to get. The children are caught up with what Santa is going to bring them. Sure its fun to get family and friends gifts. But we need to focus on the REAL gift of Christmas. God's Son. Jesus. He did so much for us. And all we do at the time of His birth is worry about presents and who is being naughty or nice! What's up with that? Christmas is about Jesus' birth and God's love. It's about sharing the love of God with others. Let's keep the true meaning in Christmas this year and all the one's to come.
In our family we don't have too many Christmas traditions. We just have a few little ones. On Christmas morning the younger kids will get up really early and look through their stockings and then eat all sorts of candy and junk food. They can't wake the rest of us up until 7:00 or 7:30. When we are all up and in the living room Dad will get out his Bible and read the Christmas story from Luke 2. When he gets to the part where the Angel's are speaking to the Shepherds I always quote it "Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And then my favorite part "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will toward men." After the Christmas story is read Dad will ask the younger kids questions about what He just read. Then we all take turns opening one present at a time. There are 8 of us kids so it takes a while. It teaches all of us to be patient and to appreciate our gifts more and the gifts that the others received as well. After all the presents are unwrapped we go into the kitchen and have mom's homemade Cinnamon Rolls that she and my younger sister made the night before.
Family traditions are fun. Some of them have a serious and important side that make us think and appreciate all that we have. And others are just fun and are memory makers. No matter what your traditions are at Christmas don't ever forget about God's love. Keep the true meaning in Christmas! :)
<3SarahElisabeth
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Christmastime is my {favorite} time of year. (Regardless of the political ties my name might have towards fall) ;). In Texas, we have four seasons: almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas. I LOVE it! In a way my family has tons of Christmas traditions.... but at the same time we celebrate them in a totally untraditional way. For instance, I have only ever known one other family who does presents like we do - dig in! This year has been pretty different so far, and it's taken some adjustment for sure. My cousin for one thing let his fiancee schedule their wedding on the same weekend we've been celebrating my Grandmother's Christmas for over twenty years... ouch! But going with a good attitude, it was fun! My sister also got married this year, so tomorrow will be our first Christmas to celebrate with an "outsider," her husband. My brother's girlfriend is also joining us... different. But it's all in your attitude :)
No matter how Christmas goes, I always feel SO loved. Sounds lame, I know. But I'm not sure how else to put it. I really do. We celebrate the birth of Christ, who came and died for us to make it all possible. Almost one week ago, I celebrated my ninth birthday as a born-again baptized Christian, and that just makes Christmas that much more special to me! I want to thank God so much! At times, I feel like my life is absolutely perfect. Times like tonight.
It is a time not only to remember God's love for us, but to follow His example in showing our love for our family and friends. And it's such a time of peace and joy because even those who do not believe in Jesus find ways to show their love for each other.
Christmas makes me so crazy before it gets here, and then it comes and leaves me sooo happy and content! I don't even mind knowing that it won't be back for 365 more days - and trust me I can be pretty impatient about some things! I just feel good. Every year I see specific instances that are definitely answered prayers and God's direction in them. This year my new favorite brother-in-law flew my little sister and I to Florida to surprise my older sister for Christmas - she had no idea! It was the coolest present ever, and then we got to roadtrip back home for Christmas with them after a few days. It was super fun, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season! Have a very merry Christmas girls! Love you all!
keep smiling,
autumn clare
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A Christmas Song:
Bethlehem:
House of Bread
BETHLEHEM'S TREASURE
Pointing me to who He is, Showing me His worth.
Jesus Christ, Bread of Life, I need you to live.
Nourishment for health and strength You alone can give.
Manger bed, feeding trough, Place where Jesus lay,
Pointing me to who He is, Then and still today.
Jesus Christ, Bread of Life, Rest and joy You bring.
Your Word speaking to my heart Causes me to sing.
Hungry heart, needing Bread. Place designed for God,
Urging me to seek Him now, Toward Him me to prod.
Jesus Christ, Bread of Life, You are who I crave.
You alone can satisfy. You alone can save.
~Valori E. (Morrison) Liu
This song is what my Mom wrote last Christmas (2010)!
She had really noticed how Bethlehem means "house of bread", and how Jesus is refered to as "the Bread of Life".
So she wrote this beautiful song! I wish I could sing it to you...but at least you can see the script! I really like it!!! :)
~Loice
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Recipe Corner!!
Mini Molten Cakes -- submitted by Cora
Ingredients: Unsweetened baking cocoa
6 oz semisweet baking chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 whole eggs
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour*
Additional powdered sugar, if desired
Sugared kumquats, if desired
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 450°F. Grease bottoms and sides of six (6-oz) custard cups with shortening; dust with cocoa. In 2-quart saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring frequently. Cool slightly.
2. In large bowl, beat whole eggs and egg yolks with wire whisk or eggbeater until well blended. Beat in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar. Beat in melted chocolate mixture and flour. Divide batter evenly among custard cups. Place cups on
cookie sheet with sides.
3. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until sides are set and centers are still soft (tops will be puffed and cracked). Let stand 3 minutes. Run small knife or metal spatula along sides of cakes to loosen. Immediately place heatproof serving plate
upside down over each cup; turn plate and cup over. Remove cup. Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar. Garnish with kumquats. Serve warm.
Tips:
Be sure to grease the custard cups with shortening and dust the cups with cocoa. Baking the cakes at the correct oven temperature for the right time are critical to the success of this recipe. If the centers are too cakelike in texture, bake a few minutes less the next time; if they’re too soft, bake a minute or two longer.
Do not use self-rising flour.
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Wheat Snaps -- submitted by Marissa and LoiceStart by making tortillas. This is the recipe we like to use:
2 c. whole wheat flour
4 c. white flour
1 ½ c. of water
¾ c. oil
1 ½ t. baking powder
Mix with hands. Roll into golf balls. Let sit 5 minutes. Roll out. Place rolled out tortillas on baking trays. Cut with pizza cutter into the desired cracker size. Sprinkle with a little salt and sesame seeds. Bake at 170º C or 350°, 8-10 minutes or till slightly golden brown.
Now the Wheat Snaps are ready to be served. They taste great with a mouth-watering dip. Have fun baking!
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Kringla -- Submitted by Mary
A Norwegian pastry
My mom's grandparents were Norwegians, so this recipe has gotten passed down to us. We normally make this on Christmas morning. People can sleep in if they want, and then as people get up they begin making the Kringlas with the dough Mom chilled the day before. They are really fun to make, and even yummier to eat! We like to make shapes besides the "proper" shape. Initials, "scenes", etc. :) They are especially good with butter and hot chocolate. Have fun!
Cream together:
2 beaten eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 c. butter
Alternate, beginning and ending with flour mixture:
1 1/2 c. sugar/3/4 c. honey
4 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. buttermilk
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
Chill. Then take in small amounts and roll like a snake, then twist in middle. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-10 min.
Makes 3 dozen
Here are a few pics so you can get an idea of what the "proper" shape is. :)
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Christmas {Special} submitted by Cora Thornquist
The days leading up to Christmas are very exciting.
It all starts the day after Thanksgiving. We get out ourChristmas tree, and all of our Christmas decorations, and spend that daydecorating and watching Christmas movies. We started this tradition in ourfamily, where, instead of hanging up Christmas lights outside where we can’tsee them, we hang them around our living room so that we can enjoy them. They are lovingly called “Red-Neck Lights.” Wealways start watching Christmas movies in June, but we watch a lot more inNovember and December. One of our favorites is Elf. We have seen it so many times, but it is still funnyevery time! Another thing, is the National Finals Rodeo. I think theanticipation for that can be more exciting than the anticipation of presents.Watching the rodeo is so much fun.
Wrapping presents ismy worst enemy. I try to do a good job, and it just turns out a mess! So whenin doubt, put it in a bag and staple it so you don’t have any peekers! Keepinggifts a secret is very hard sometimes. I get so excited to give the person thegift, that I almost end up telling them what it is, and I have ended up accudently telling the person, or just giving it to them early. Thinking of what I want to do for everyone is also hard sometimes,because either someone else is doing it for them, or they got it already, orthey don’t want it anymore. So typically, I don’t have Christmas gifts planneduntil about a week before Christmas. Except for this year, I have everything ready to go!
I love the Christmas Eve service our church has. It isbeautiful, the singing is great, the church is decorated with Christmas decorations,and I love the Christmas Eve message. Going to bed used to be impossible.When my sisters and I were younger, wewould be up practically all night, we’d talk and giggle. But now, we go to bed,and sleep all night. I think we grew up. It is still really exciting, but weneed our ‘beauty’ sleep. When we first wake up, we lay there and talk for a fewminutes, then wake mom and dad up. Tradition is, that my sisters and I hang outin our room until mom and dad have their coffee, turn the heater on, and haveeverything set up.
Becky, Calista and I all sit in a circle and wait as each ofus are handed a gift. We each take turns opening a gift, so that we can seewhat each other got, plus it makes it last longer. Cricket our dog, has a great timetearing up the already torn up paper, but she makes a huge mess. After we aredone opening presents, we hang out, typically read or watch Christmas movies.
My mom is an awesome cook, she never fails to make us agreat Christmas dinner! It typically is ham, scalloped potatoes, dinner rolls,green beans, and some sort of delicious dessert afterwards.
-Christmas to me, isn’t just about getting and giving stuff.To me, Christmas is just another time to remember our Savior’s birth, and whathe did for us, and that is the greatest gift of all.-
~Cora
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