♥ I SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS ♥

Letter that could be from Jesus about Christmas

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.


How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.


Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.


Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.


If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:


1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.


2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.


3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.


4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.


5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.


6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient
with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families


8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.


10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.


Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :


I LOVE YOU,  ♥♥♥JESUS ♥♥♥

Pretzel-Tailed Turkey Treats

Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 (10 ounce) package marshmallows, about 40 or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups COCOA KRISPIES® cereal
creamy peanut butter
COCOA KRISPIES® cereal
pretzel twists
pretzel sticks
canned frosting or decorating gel
assorted candies

Directions
1.In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2.Add 6 cups KELLOGG'S® COCOA KRISPIES® cereal. Stir until well coated. Cool slightly. Cut warm cereal mixture into two different sized circles using two sizes of circle cookie cutters for the turkey bodies (depending on size of cutters). Cool.

3.Spread peanut butter on bottom of the smaller circular pieces; attach this to a larger circular piece to form the turkey body. Insert pretzel twists into body for tail feathers. Insert pretzel sticks for legs. Use frosting to attach candies for eyes and beak. Best if served the same day.

4.MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

5.NOTES.

6.For best results, use fresh marshmallows.

7.1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.

8.Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.

9.Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in single layer on wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Tuesday's Thot

Faith doesn't get you around trouble;
It gets you through it.

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." Heb. 11:6.


"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:17.


The word of God declares faith, a necessity to harmony with the mind of God; and its reasonableness will be apparent, when it is seen that it could not be other than impossible, to be at peace with God without it; and not only so, but it will then appear beautiful in its simplicity, as part of the grand plan of the ages, for the gathering together in one all things under Jesus.

HORRAY IT IS THE WEEKEND

Chicken Church Casserole Recipe

Ingredients
20 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 package (2 pounds) elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
6 jars (6 ounces each) sliced mushrooms, drained
2 jars (4 ounces each) diced pimientos, drained
2 large onions, chopped
2 large green peppers, chopped
4 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted
4 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2 pounds process cheese (Velveeta), cubed
1-1/3 cups milk
4 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons lemon-pepper seasoning
2 cups crushed cornflakes
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions

In several large bowls, combine the chicken, macaroni, mushrooms, pimientos, onions and peppers. In another large bowl, combine the soups, cheese, milk, basil and lemon-pepper; add to chicken mixture.

Place about 12 cups mixture in each of four greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Combine cornflakes and butter; sprinkle over the casseroles. Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 15-20 minutes longer or until bubbly. Yield: 4 casseroles (12 servings each). This recipe is from Taste of Home recipes, and it is a hit at all church functions.

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY

God bless them all who served proudly to keep America safe and out of harms way, my prayers and my respect go out to all the men and women who have so bravely fought the fight to keep us safe and free, and let us always remember our freedom did not come freely, many lives and much blood was shed to keep us free from the enemy, just like with Christ, he shed his blood to keep us free, and to keep us out of hell. He paid a debt he did not owe, to pay a price we could not pay. We do not have a special day to honor him, to wave flags and to brag on him, but all of us Christians can make him proud, and stand tall, and stand on his holy word, let us praise God more than man, and give honor to them who deserves it, but give even much more honor to HIM that really deserves it. He laid down his life for you and for me. Thank you Jesus for dying in my place, Thank you Jesus for taking the burden of sin off me and bearing it yourself. Thank you.

Lets Define a Veteran:



Whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for an amount up to and including their life. That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.


-Author unknown-

HAPPY TERRIFIC TUESDAY

This is true Love...

You know my dear husband and I have been married 49 years, the better part of my life, I can hardly remember before we were married. Now that is a special love, we were very young and every one told us it would not last, that we were too young to know true love, well not sure if it will last or not, but we got a good 49 years in any how. LOL  Doncha love it when you are right.  We had plenty of ups and downs, but God prevailed in our marriage and give us a long life together. But your know our love for each other is nothing compared to the love Christ has for us.
1John 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
God says we have his love in us, and we prove it by loving the brethren, now I do not think any one is going to ask us to lay down our life for them, but we have to be willing none the less, that they may know we are the sons of God.
1John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
God gives us rules to live by, he has a whole book that shows us exactly how to live our life, that we may be happy, and we may bring honor to him.
Luke 11:42  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
John 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Let us love God, and let us love our neighbor, and let us love the brethren as ourself.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"

It never ceases to amaze me how much God loves me, there is not another soul that would lay down his life for me, and to leave his home in Glory to come down be a humble servant so as I may be saved. Wow, what a wonderful saviour we serve, how can we give him anything less than our best, when he has given his best for all. God bless you this wonderful Lord's day, may the blessings of God flow abundantly and over your expectations.  

I MADE THESE DELICIOUS LITTLE BITES TODAY

PECAN PIE BARS

INGREDIENTS

2 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS

HEAT oven to 350°F. Combine flour and brown sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press mixture into bottom of 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
BAKE 10 to 15 minutes.
COMBINE pecans, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and lemon juice in small bowl; pour over partially baked crust.
BAKE 25 minutes or until filling is set. Cool. Cut into bars.

I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN

My dear husband is an avid soul winner, he loves visiting more than eating,  in fact he is out on visitation with our church right now. But he loves fishing for fish too.
These were taken yesterday when he went fishing. He took our boat down to Borrell Creek, and caught these beautiful Red Bass.

                RED BASS YESTERDAY

RED BASS TONIGHT FOR SUPPER, THEY WERE DELICIOUS

THANKSGIVING IS APPROACHING QUICKLY

1.Should I buy a fresh or frozen turkey?

Frozen turkeys are widely available and often on sale during the holidays. Some are prebasted to enhance juiciness. You can buy them well in advance of Thanksgiving, but you'll need to allow enough time for them to thaw.

Fresh turkeys are preferred by many people but are usually more expensive, have a shorter shelf life, and may need to be special-ordered. Don't buy one more than two days ahead.
2.What are other differences in types of turkeys that I should be aware of?

Kosher turkeys are salted as part of the koshering process, so no additional salt is needed. This process makes the meat very tender and juicy, similar to the results you'd get from a brined bird.
Organic turkeys are raised and fed without the use of antibiotics, hormones or artificial flavors or colors It is against the law to use hormones on any turkey, so even your frozen nonbranded will be hormone free.
Free-range turkeys are raised and allowed free access to feed outdoors.
Prepackaged turkeys have water added to keep the meat moist.

3.How do I figure out what size bird I need?

The rule is 1 pound of uncooked turkey per person. That gives you enough for everyone to have a generous serving, with leftovers for the weekend.

If you'll be cooking for a large crowd, consult our handy chart for the amounts you should buy.

4.What if most of my family wants white meat?
Cook an additional turkey breast. If your family prefers dark meat, on the other hand, cook two small turkeys instead of one large one.

5.I bought two turkeys last year but used only one — the other is in my freezer. Can I cook it this year?

Properly wrapped poultry can be kept for up to one year if it is frozen below 0 degrees F. Keep whole uncooked turkeys in their original packaging when you freeze them.

6.How do I thaw a frozen turkey?
The best way: Place frozen turkey (still in packaging) in a shallow pan on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Allow 24 hours thawing time for every 4 to 5 pounds. A thawed bird can keep up to 4 days in the fridge.

Last-minute solution: Place a still-wrapped turkey in a large cooler or bowl and submerge in cold water. Allow 30 minutes of thawing time per pound and change the water every 30 minutes. Cook turkey immediately.

7.How can I stuff the bird safely?
The best way: Bake stuffing separately in a shallow casserole in the oven alongside the turkey. If you prefer to stuff the bird, follow these guidelines:

Make sure the turkey is fully thawed.

Mix ingredients just before using and pack stuffing loosely into cavity to allow room for expansion.

Roast turkey about 30 minutes longer than an unstuffed one.

Check that the internal temperature of the stuffing reaches 165 degrees F.

8.What's the best roasting method?
Place the turkey (breast side up) on a rack in a large roasting pan in an oven preheated to 325 degrees F. If you don't have a rack, place 2 or 3 large carrots crosswise underneath the bird to ensure good heat circulation.

For moist meat, cover with foil from the start — but remove foil during the last hour of roasting for browner, crispier skin.

Basting with pan juices isn't necessary, but it will help with browning after the foil is removed.

Roast turkey 3 to 3 3/4 hours for a 12- to 14-pounder. (That's around 15 to 17 minutes per pound for an unstuffed bird.)

Use an instant-read meat thermometer to test doneness. Turkey should be taken out of the oven when the thickest part of the thigh (next to but not touching the bone) reaches 175 degrees F and the breast reaches 165 degrees F. Keep in mind that temperature will rise 5 degrees to 10 degrees F upon standing.

If the turkey is fully cooked earlier than expected, wrap the entire bird and pan with foil and place a large bath towel on top to keep it hot and moist for 1 hour. Never leave at room temperature longer than 2 hours.

9.Everything I'm making will be done at different times. How can I get it all on the table at once?
Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold: Bacteria growth increases when food is kept between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F for more than two hours. Figure out which cold dishes and desserts can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator. When possible, use shallow baking dishes for side dishes — they can often fit on the lowest rack of the oven while the turkey is roasting. To keep food warm, reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees F and wrap dishes with aluminum foil. The microwave can be used on less than full power to reheat smaller dishes that have been refrigerated.

10.We have a lot of leftovers this year. How long will they stay fresh?

Cooked poultry should be kept refrigerated for a maximum of three to four days; stuffing and gravy are good for one to two days. Reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.


Great Thanksgiving tips and treats They have great tips for cooking, recipes, and making crafts too