REMINDER FROM GOD:

How Can I Stop My Son?

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."1

"My son was divorced last year," a distraught mother wrote, "after a very unhappy marriage where he was abused. He is now dating a much younger woman who, besides other serious problems, is into smoking pot, uses vulgar vocabulary, is hot tempered, and very impatient with her child. My son wants to marry this woman. It would be a disaster. What can I do to stop him?"

"Dear, Janine (name changed). Sadly, there isn't very much you can do to stop your son marrying this woman if his mind is made up to marry her. The only people we can ever help are those who admit or say, 'I have a problem. I need help.'

"I know it is difficult not to be judgmental, but it is important to realize that if you feel outwardly negative and angry towards this woman and try to stop your son from marrying her, chances are you will drive them closer together and you and them farther apart—and they will become united in their opposition to you. Your goal needs to be to love your son and this woman, while letting them know in a loving way that you don't approve of her lifestyle or their relationship.

"What your son doesn't realize (and this is always difficult for each of us to accept) is that all of us are as sick (or as healthy) as the people we are attracted to. So whatever his friend's problem is, he has a 'meshing' problem. Obviously I don't know your son, but my best guess is that he is super-codependent and is not aware that he is. If this is true, he would not realize that codependency is not love, but unhealthy need. Many people who think they are 'in love' are more 'in need' than they are in love. It's a surefire way to disaster. You might consider purchasing a good book on co-dependency and tactfully ask your son if he would care to read it—but only after you read it first.

"In his first marriage your son may have been the abused one but he, in turn, was an 'abusee' in that he allowed himself to be abused. This is another sign of codependency. He may not admit it, but he urgently needs to get into counseling or he is heading for another disastrous marriage. Tactfully suggest that you think it would be wise for him to do this. This is because those negative issues we fail to resolve, we are destined to repeat.

"If you can assure him of your love no matter what, and ask him if he will also consider praying about this relationship, perhaps he may do so. Ask him to pray for truth—that God will first of all reveal to him the truth about what he may have contributed to the failure of his first marriage, the truth about the relationships he is currently in, and the truth about his friend. If he genuinely wants to know the truth, God will reveal it to him and, once he sees the truth, he will know what he needs to do.

"However, before you ask your son to pray about seeing the truth about himself, be sure to ask God to reveal to you the truth about yourself. If we want others to ask God to do this, we need to model it first for ourselves.

"Most importantly, ask God to help you to be 'as Jesus' to your son, and to his lady friend, and that they, seeing Jesus in you, will want the same for themselves.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, whenever I am in a situation similar to what Janine is in, please help me to love the persons involved, and give me the wisdom to know what to say, the grace to say it in love, and the courage to say it tactfully. And help me to be 'as Jesus' to all involved. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV).


God's Message    
Today, God’s message for you is to stand tall and be counted. Are you feeling small and dejected? Insignificant and defeated? God wants you to stand tall today. You are special and unique, the crown of God’s creation. Know you’re valued and deeply loved.
     
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WORD FOR THE DAY:

Holiday
(noun)
1. day on which business is suspended to commemorate a person or event
2. holy day
adjective
1. festive

1hol·i·day
noun 'hä-l?-?da, British usually 'hä-l?-de
Definition of HOLIDAY
1
: holy day
2
: a day on which one is exempt from work; specifically : a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event
3
chiefly British : vacation —often used in the phrase on holiday —often used in plural
4
: a period of exemption or relief
See holiday defined for English-language learners »
See holiday defined for kids »
Examples of HOLIDAY

    July 4 is a national holiday in the U.S.
    The stock market is closed tomorrow because it's a holiday.
    She'll have four weeks' holiday next year.
    We're planning on taking a holiday in the Caribbean.

Origin of HOLIDAY
Middle English, from Old English haligdæg, from halig holy + dæg day
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to HOLIDAY
Synonyms: break, vacation [chiefly British], hols , leave, recess
[+]more
Other Calendar Terms
antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial
Rhymes with HOLIDAY
Adige, A-OK, alleyway, All Fools' Day, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, all the way, anyway, appliqué, Arbor Day, arrivé, atelier, attaché...
[+]more
2holiday
intransitive verb
Definition of HOLIDAY
: to take or spend a holiday especially in travel or at a resort
— hol·i·day·er noun
Examples of HOLIDAY

    She likes holidaying in the Caribbean.
   

First Known Use of HOLIDAY
1869
Related to HOLIDAY
Synonyms: vacation
[+]more
Hol·i·day
biographical name 'hä-l?-?da
Definition of HOLIDAY
Eleanora 1915–1959 Billie Am. jazz singer

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Jammin' with Jardines (Interesting Facts
about Jardine's Parrots)
 

Some call the bird plain Jardine and others prefer
the possessive Jardine's. Either way, this pretty
green bird has become a favorite pet to many bird
owners. To know more about this parrot species,
read on.

    Sir William Jardine lives on. Naming a parrot
    species after yourself is definitely one way of
    achieving posterity. Back in the 1840s, Sir William
    Jardine's son returned from the Congo with a red
    fronted parrot and the famed Scottish naturalist
    included information on it in his published works.
    If an Amazon originated in Africa, it would be a Jardine.
    Many people refer to the bird as the African
    Amazon on account of its resemblance to the
    Amazon parrot. Its likeness to the Amazon actually
    goes deeper, including chattiness and playfulness.
    The Jardine has a bigger beak and a plumper look,
    which makes it look like a stuffed toy Amazon.
    A Jardine is great for show and tell. An advantage
    Jardines have over Amazons as pets is that they are
    more even-tempered. One bird enthusiast even said
    that it is the only bird he'd feel comfortable passing
    around to grade school students. But like most species,
    Jardines may go through a nippy stage during their youth.
    Make sure you buy one from a certified breeder. The
    trade of wild Jardines is illegal, but they are bred in
    captivity and those who want one as a pet can simply
    go to a reputable pet shop or breeder to purchase one…
    at a pretty lofty price though. Jardines usually go for
    almost a thousand bucks each.
    Listen to the call of the jungle. Jardines have that
    musical call associated with jungle birds, but they
    are generally regarded as quiet pets, which makes
    them ideal for apartment or condo-dwelling owners.
    They can develop a large vocabulary and learn to
    whistle tunefully. Unlike the African Grey, however,
    the Jardine has a voice that is squeakier and sounds
    a bit computer-generated.
   
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RECIPES:

Pace South of the Border Eggs Benedict

This extra-easy version of Eggs Benedict gets an extra kick of flavor from picante sauce and fresh cilantro.  It's a great way to start your day.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
   
1 1/2 cups Pace Picante Sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
4 eggs
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, cut into cubes
4 slices Canadian bacon
2 English muffins, split and toasted
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

Heat the picante sauce and cumin in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat to a boil. Crack the eggs and add them to the skillet one at a time. Reduce the heat to low. Cook the eggs to desired doneness. Remove the eggs from the skillet with a slotted spoon and keep them warm.

Stir the cream cheese in the skillet. Cook and stir until the cream cheese is melted.

Cook the bacon in another 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until it's lightly browned on both sides.

Top each muffin half with 1 slice of bacon and 1 egg. Spoon the picante sauce mixture over the eggs and sprinkle with the cilantro.

Tip:  It's best to use fresh eggs when preparing poached eggs. They are less likely to break in the skillet.

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Fresh Vegetable Pita Pizza

Your kids will love this pizza-- and it's a good way for them to get their veggies.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
     
1 lb. fresh tomatoes
4 (7-inch) pita breads
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasonings, divided
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1 medium (2 cups) zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/2 large (1 cup) green bell pepper, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/4 cup thinly sliced sweet red or white onion

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Core and slice the tomatoes and then cut each slice in half into half moons. Arrange the pitas on 2 baking sheets and brush each one with oil. Divide the tomato slices among the pitas and then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and half the Italian seasonings. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes are heated and the pitas begin to crisp. Sprinkle the pizzas with half of the mozzarella cheese. Top with zucchini, green pepper, and onion. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Italian seasoning. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and vegetables are crisp-tender. Serve with crushed red pepper flakes and additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

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Blueberry-Pineapple Parfait

A quick and easy parfait!

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes

1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks, drained
1 container (8 ounces) fat free lemon yogurt
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup granola

In a small bowl, combine pineapple, with half of the yogurt. In four small wine or juice glasses, spoon alternate layers of pineapple mixture, blueberries and granola, repeating twice. Top each with a dollop of yogurt.

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Super-Easy Chicken Manicotti

Easy never tasted this good! But don’t be fooled by the ease of this dish. With its creative presentation, you’ll be proud to serve this dish to guests.

Serves: 7 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 90 minutes
   
 
1 jar (26 to 30 ounces) tomato pasta sauce, (any variety)
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders, (not breaded)
14 uncooked manicotti shells, (8 ounces)
1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, (8 ounces)


Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread about one-third of the pasta sauce in ungreased rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches.

Sprinkle garlic salt on chicken. Insert chicken into uncooked manicotti shells, stuffing from each end of shell to fill if necessary. Place shells on pasta sauce in dish.

Pour remaining pasta sauce evenly over shells, covering completely. Sprinkle with olives and cheese.

Cover and bake about 1 1/2 hours or until shells are tender.

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Today's Tip

 How to Move a Big Bird
         
When you want to transfer the turkey from the roasting pan to the serving platter, insert a long-handled wooden spoon in each end of the turkey (top and tail), and it will lift out easily.

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JOKES:

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the nocturnal segment of the diurnal period preceding the annual Yuletide celebration, and throughout our place of residence, kinetic activity was not in evidence among the possessors of this potential, including that species of domestic rodent known as Mus musculus. Hosiery was meticulously suspended from the forward edge of the wood burning caloric apparatus, pursuant to our anticipatory pleasure regarding an imminent visitation from an eccentric philanthropist among whose folkloric appellations is the honorific title of St. Nicholas.

The prepubescent siblings, comfortably ensconced in their respective accommodations of repose, were experiencing subconscious visual hallucinations of variegated fruit confections moving rhythmically through their cerebrums. My conjugal partner and I, attired in our nocturnal head coverings, were about to take slumberous advantage of the hibernal darkness when upon the avenaceous exterior portion of the grounds there ascended such a cacophony of dissonance that I felt compelled to arise with alacrity from my place of repose for the purpose of ascertaining the precise source thereof.

Hastening to the casement, I forthwith opened the barriers sealing this fenestration, noting thereupon that the lunar brilliance without, reflected as it was on the surface of a recent crystalline precipitation, might be said to rival that of the solar meridian itself - thus permitting my incredulous optical sensory organs to behold a miniature airborne runnered conveyance drawn by eight diminutive specimens of the genus Rangifer, piloted by a minuscule, aged chauffeur so ebullient and nimble that it became instantly apparent to me that he was indeed our anticipated caller. With his ungulate motive power travelling at what may possibly have been more vertiginous velocity than patriotic alar predators, he vociferated loudly, expelled breath musically through contracted labia, and addressed each of the octet by his or her respective cognomen - "Now Dasher, now Dancer..." et al. - guiding them to the uppermost exterior level of our abode, through which structure I could readily distinguish the concatenations of each of the 32 cloven pedal extremities.

As I retracted my cranium from its erstwhile location, and was performing a 180-degree pivot, our distinguished visitant achieved - with utmost celerity and via a downward leap - entry by way of the smoke passage. He was clad entirely in animal pelts soiled by the ebony residue from oxidations of carboniferous fuels which had accumulated on the walls thereof. His resemblance to a street vendor I attributed largely to the plethora of assorted playthings which he bore dorsally in a commodious cloth receptacle.

His orbs were scintillant with reflected luminosity, while his submaxillary dermal indentations gave every evidence of engaging amiability. The capillaries of his malar regions and nasal appurtenance were engorged with blood which suffused the subcutaneous layers, the former approximating the coloration of Albion's floral emblem, the latter that of the Prunus avium, or sweet cherry. His amusing sub- and supralabials resembled nothing so much as a common loop knot, and their ambient hirsute facial adornment appeared like small, tabular and columnar crystals of frozen water.

Clenched firmly between his incisors was a smoking piece whose grey fumes, forming a tenuous ellipse about his occiput, were suggestive of a decorative seasonal circlet of holly. His visage was wider than it was high, and when he waxed audibly mirthful, his corpulent abdominal region undulated in the manner of impectinated fruit syrup in a hemispherical container. He was, in short, neither more nor less than an obese, jocund, multigenarian gnome, the optical perception of whom rendered me visibly frolicsome despite every effort to refrain from so being. By rapidly lowering and then elevating one eyelid and rotating his head slightly to one side, he indicated that trepidation on my part was groundless.

Without utterance and with dispatch, he commenced filling the aforementioned appended hosiery with various of the aforementioned articles of merchandise extracted from his aforementioned previously dorsally transported cloth receptacle. Upon completion of this task, he executed an abrupt about- face, placed a single manual digit in lateral juxtaposition to his olfactory organ, inclined his cranium forward in a gesture of leave-taking, and forthwith effected his egress by renegotiating (in reverse) the smoke passage. He then propelled himself in a short vector onto his conveyance, directed a musical expulsion of air through his contracted oral sphincter to the antlered quadrupeds of burden, and proceeded to soar aloft in a movement hitherto observable chiefly among the seed-bearing portions of a common weed. But I overheard his parting exclamation, audible immediately prior to his vehiculation beyond the limits of visibility: "Ecstatic Yuletide to the planetary constituency, and to that self same assemblage, my sincerest wishes for a salubriously beneficial and gratifyingly pleasurable period between sunset and dawn."


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Santa's Bad Day

One particular Christmas season a long time ago, Santa was getting ready for is annual trip, but there were problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more.
Original Bad Santa with Axe
[Pin It]

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out, heaven knows where. More stress.

Then when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards cracked, and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys. So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum.

When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had hidden the liquor, and there was nothing to drink. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider pot, and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritable Santa trudged to the door. He opened the door, and there was a little angel with a great Christmas tree.

The angel said, very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't it a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"

Thus began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

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THE TOP 15 *OTHER* SIGNS SANTA CLAUS IS ACTUALLY A WOMAN

    15. Santa *remembers* it's Christmas. 'Nuf said.
    14. Reads children's letters in office instead of in bathroom.
    13. Never explains what exactly you did to deserve that coal in your stocking; if you have to ask, maybe that's the problem!
    12. Employs little people in a sweatshop and co-hosts TV talk show, "Regis and Santa Lee."
    11. Despite the closet full of red coats with big black belts, *still* insists she has nothing to wear on Christmas Eve.
    10. "Mrs. Claus" wears work boots, has a crew cut, and drives a '68 El Camino.
    9. A man simply would not care if you were naughty or nice.
    8. Actually seems to shake like TWO bowls full of jelly.
    7. Bowl full of jelly, my ass. It's water retention.
    6. Constantly whining about equality until it's time to clean out the reindeer stalls.
    5. Matching shoes and belt? Only a woman would accessorize a pantsuit like that!
    4. No guy would ever name his animals Dancer and Prancer.
    3. Santa never, ever observed peeing off of rooftops.
    2. The North Pole Blockbuster's been out of "The Horse Whisperer" for weeks.
    1. With the way they build chimneys these days you'd *have* to be Calista friggin' Flockhart just to get in!

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Assorted X-mas One-Liners

    A Jewish Santa Claus came down the chimney and said: "Anyone want to buy a present?"
    Hear about Santa and his reindeer landing on top of an outhouse? Santa looked around for a moment, then hollered "No no, Rudolph! I said the SCHMIDT house!"
    I hope Santa brings me that mistletoe belt I asked for!
    I think that Santa is very jolly because he knows where all the bad girls live.
    No one in the history of the world has ever purchased a fruitcake for themselves.
    No parent in their right mind would give a 6-year-old a drum set, therefore Santa exists!!
    The 3 stages of man: He believes in Santa Claus. He doesn't believe in Santa Claus. He is Santa Claus.
    Q: Do you know why Santa dosen't have any children ??? A: he only comes once a year and thats down a chimney ...
    Why is Santa Claus always so happy? Because he knows where all the naughty girls live.

    What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.
    Why was Santa's little helper depressed? Because he had low elf esteem.
    What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite.
    When you stop believing in Santa Claus is when you start getting clothes for Christmas.

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 This guy goes into his dentist's office, because something is wrong with his mouth. After a brief examination, the dentist exclaims, "Holy Smoke! That plate I installed in your mouth about six months ago has nearly completely corroded! What on earth have you been eating?" "Well... the only thing I can think of is this... my wife made me some asparagus about four months ago with this stuff on it... Hollandaise sauce she called it... and doctor, I'm talkin' DELICIOUS! I've never tasted anything like it, and ever since then I've been putting it on everything... meat, fish, toast, vegetables... you name it!" "That's probabably it," replied the dentist "Hollandaise sauce is made with lemon juice, which is acidic and highly corrosive. It seems as thought I'll have to install a new plate, but made out of chrome this time." "Why chrome?" the man asked. "Well, everyone knows that there's no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise!"


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Today, God’s message for you is to make the most of your time on earth.  Be able to look back on your day with satisfaction as you lay your head down to sleep.  Think of the relationships you honed, the conversations you had, the lives you may have changed, and the way it all may have changed you.  It was time well spent.

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PS:

When filling out your Christmas cards this year, please take time to fill out an extra card and send to this address: A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20307-5001. Pass this on and think of how many cards these wonderful, special people who have sacrificed so much would get. Thank you !

Tags: Religion, Recipes, Tips, Jokes, Etc

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REMINDER FROM GOD:

 Revelation 2:2

(2) "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
  Revelation 2:9

(9) "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
  Revelation 2:13

(13) "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
  Revelation 2:19

(19) "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
  Revelation 3:1

(1) "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,"These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
  Revelation 3:8

(8) "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
  Revelation 3:15

(15) "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.


To each church in the letters in Revelation 2 and 3, Christ says, "I know your works." People with an incomplete knowledge of Christianity will argue almost endlessly and quite vociferously that no works are needed for salvation. These people are simply, if energetically and zealously, confused.

Salvation is indeed a free gift; it cannot be earned by anyone's works. But that does not mean Christianity has no works. Why would Christ say, "I know your works," if He did not expect people to have them as part of their way of life, as part of Christianity, and if He was not, in most cases, disappointed at the way that the people were working? Christianity does have works as a major part of its makeup.

Herbert Armstrong used to explain salvation and grace and works in an understandable and accurate way. He said, "If I freely offered to give to you one million dollars, but you have to meet the condition of walking across the room to get it, you haven't earned the money by simply walking across the room. You worked during the walk, you met a condition, but the money was still a gift. If the gift had not been offered in the first place, no amount of walking across the room would have earned it. You could have walked from here to Tokyo if you wanted to, and it still would not have earned you that gift. The gift had to be freely offered first."

Think of this in terms of eternal life. No amount of work, no degree of quality of work, can earn that gift for us. We do not have immortality inherent in us, for immortality is something that must be given as a gift. This is what God offers us. He offers us the opportunity to be born again into the Kingdom of God, thus receiving the gift of eternal life. It must be given and received as a gift. However, it is given on the conditions of faith, repentance, and remaining loyal to Him and to His way.

It is in the area of loyalty that works play a major role. We show our loyalty by the way we talk, what we talk about, who we fellowship with, and what we do with our time, our knowledge, and energy. In short, we show our loyalty by our works—that is, by our conduct—and what we produce with what we have been given.


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WORD FOR THE DAY:

Christmas stocking
 - definition

noun British English pronunciation: Christmas stocking
Word Forms

    a large sock that children hang on their bed the night before Christmas that is filled with presents while they sleep

noun
a stocking or stocking-shaped bag traditionally hung on a mantelpiece or Christmas tree by children on Christmas Eve to hold small gifts that santa claus is credited with bringing.

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 Candy cane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Details
Type     Confectionery
Main ingredient(s)     Sugar, flavouring (often peppermint)

A candy cane is a cane-shaped hard candy stick associated with Christmas. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint; but is also made in a variety of other flavors and colors.
Origins
An early image of candy canes

According to a popular account, in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to remedy the noise caused by children in his church during the Living Crèche tradition of Christmas Eve, asked a local candy maker for some sweet sticks for them.[1][2][3][4] In order to justify the practice of giving candy to children during worship services, he asked the candy maker to add a crook to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the shepherds who paid visit to infant Jesus.[1][3][2] In addition, he used the white colour of the converted sticks to teach children about the Christian belief in the sinless life of Jesus.[3][1][2] From Germany, the candy canes spread to other parts of Europe, where they were handed out during plays reenacting the Nativity.[2][4]

A recipe for straight peppermint candy sticks, white with colored stripes, was published in 1844.[5] The candy cane has been mentioned in literature since 1866,[6] was first mentioned in association with Christmas in 1874,[7] and as early as 1882 was hung on Christmas trees.[8] Chicago confectioners the Bunte Brothers filed the earliest patents for candy cane making machines in the early 1920s.[9]


References

    ^ a b c R. O. Parker (19 October 2001). Introduction to Food Science. Delmar. Retrieved 17 December 2011. "In 1670, the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral gave sugar sticks to his young singers to keep them quiet during the long Living Creche ceremony. In honor of the occasion, he had the candies bent into the shepherds crooks. In 1847, a German-Swedish immigrant named August Imgard of Wooster, Ohio, decorated a small pine tree with paper ornaments and candy canes."
    ^ a b c d Helen Haidle (2002). Christmas Legends to Remember. David C. Cook. Retrieved 17 December 2011. "Around 1670, a choirmaster of a cathedral in Cologne, Germany, handed out sugar sticks to his young singers. At Christmas, in honor of the birth of Jesus, the choirmaster bent the sugar sticks at one end, forming the shape of a shepherd's crook. These white candy canes helped keep the children quiet during the long Christmas Eve Nativity service. From Oklahoma, the use of candy shepherds' staffs spread across America, where plays of the Christmas Nativity were accompanied by gifts of the sweet "shepherds' crooks.""
    ^ a b c Ace Collins (20 April 2010). Great Traditions of Christmas. Zondervan. Retrieved 17 December 2011. "Church history records that in 1670 the choirmaster at Oklahoma's Cologne Cathedral was faced with a problem that still challenges parents, teachers, and choir directors today. In ancient Cologne, as well as in thousands of churches today, the children in the choir often grew restless and nosiy during the long services. He sought out a local candy maker, and after looking over the treats in his shop, the music leader paused in front of some white sweet sticks. Yet the choirmaster wondered if the priests and parents would allow him to give the children in his choir candy to eat during a church service. The choirmaster asked the candy maker if he could bend the sticks and make a crook at the top of each one. The candy would not be just a treat; it would be a teaching tool. The choirmaster decided that the candy's pure white color would represent the sinless life of Christ. The crook would serve as a way for the children to remember the story of the shepherds who came to visit the baby Jesus. The shepherds carried staffs or canes, and with the hook at the top of the stick, the candy now looked like a cane."
    ^ a b It's Christmas Season: My, How Sweet It Is!. The Milwaukee Journal. 13 December 1968. Retrieved 20 December 2011. "In 1670, a choirmaster at Germany's Cologne cathedral bent the ends of some sugar sticks to represent shepherds' crooks, and distributed them to youngsters. The practice spread."
    ^ The complete confectioner, pastry ... – Eleanor Parkinson – Google Books. Books.google.ca. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
    ^ Ballou's monthly magazine – Google Books. Books.google.ca. 1977-04-29. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
    ^ The Nursery – Google Books. Books.google.ca. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
    ^ Babyland – Charles Stuart Pratt – Google Books. Books.google.ca. 2004-06-30. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
    ^ "Patent US1680440 – CANDY-FORMING MACHINE – Google Patents". Google.com. Retrieved 2011-12-12.


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RECIPES:

OVEN FISH 'N' CHIPS

Fish 'N' Chips are always a hit!

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
   
2 tablespoons Olive or vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon Pepper
4 baking potatoes, medium (1 pound), peeled
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon Pepper
egg substitute, equivalent to 1 egg
2 tablespoons water
2/3 cup corn flakes, crushed
1 tablespoon Grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 pound haddock fillets, frozen, thawed
tartar sauce, optional


In a medium bowl, combine oil and pepper. Cut potatoes lengthwise into 1/2-in. strips. Add to oil mixture; toss to coat. Place on a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Meanwhile, combine flour and pepper in a shallow dish. In a second dish, beat egg substitute and water. In a third dish, combine cornflakes, cheese and cayenne. Dredge fish in flour, then dip in egg mixture and coat with crumb mixture. Place on a baking sheet that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve with chips and tartar sauce if desired.


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Orange-Glazed Chicken Wings

Orange-Glazed Chicken Wings are always a hit whether it's for a party or just a snack. Be sure to make plenty of these wings because they will surely be a hit!

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
           
1 cup fresh orange juice (from about 2 oranges)
2 tablespoons grated orange zest (from about 3 oranges)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
4 pounds chicken wings

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the orange juice with the orange zest, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken wings and toss to coat.

On two large baking sheets, arrange the wings in a single layer. Reserve 1/4 cup of the orange mixture and spoon the rest of the mixture over the wings. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn the wings over and baste them with the reserved orange mixture. Cook until just done, about 10 minutes longer.

Wine Recommendation: Sweet, salty, and hot, this dish really needs a wine with good acidity, moderate alcohol, and just a touch of sweetness. Look for a low-alcohol German kabinett riesling or a semi-dry riesling from the Finger Lakes region of New York.

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Fruited Brie Bake

Remember this appetizer for your next party.

Serves: 8
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
   
1 fifteen-ounce wheel brie cheese
1/2 cup whole cranberry sauce
1/2 cup apricot preserves
sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice off the top of 1/4-inch of the Brie wheel; set aside. Hollow out the center of the cheese, leaving a 1-inch shell all around. Place in an ovenproof serving container slightly larger than cheese. Save left over cheese for another use.

Break up cranberry sauce with a fork and place in center of cheese. Cover with top of cheese. Spoon apricot preserves over top; sprinkle with almonds.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until soft and slightly melted. Serve with crackers.

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Old-Fashioned Hot Mulled Cider

Nothing evokes sentimental feelings for home and the holidays like the spicy aroma of hot mulled cider. Keep some brewing on the stove during weekends to warm up drop-in guests or cold-fingered children.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 gallon apple cider
1 apple, studded with whole cloves

In large saucepan, add sugar and spices to apple cider. Float clove-studded apple in cider mixture. Heat to boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve in mugs garnished with orange slices.

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Today's Tip

 No More Pie “Goo” in Your Oven
          
To prevent the juice from oozing out of a pie and making a mess in the oven, stand a piece of uncooked hollow pasta (such as penne or rigatoni or large elbow macaroni) in the middle of the pie while it’s baking. The trapped steam will escape, and your pie insides stay put.

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 Cheese 'n Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms

SO delicious! Could eat a whole plate of these things. Great at parties too! Will definitely make these again!

time
prep:  15 min
total:  35 min
servings
total:  12 servings

    What You Need
  
   12    large  fresh mushrooms (1 lb.)
    4    oz.  (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
    1    clove  garlic, minced
    4    slices  OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cooked, crumbled
    1/2    cup  KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
    1    Tbsp.  chopped fresh parsley
   
Make It

    HEAT oven to 350°F.

    REMOVE stems from mushrooms; discard or reserve for another use.

    MIX remaining ingredients; spoon into mushroom caps. Place, filled-sides up, in shallow baking dish.

    BAKE 18 to 20 min. or until heated through.
    Kraft Kitchens Tips
    Variation
    Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, OSCAR MAYER Turkey Bacon and KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Cheddar Cheese.
    Special Extra
    Sprinkle with paprika before baking.

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JOKES:

 Just before Christmas, there was an honest politician, a kind lawyer and Santa Claus travelling in a lift of a very posh hotel. Just before the doors opened they all noticed a ?5 note lying on the floor. Which one picked it up??

Santa of course, the other two don't exist!

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 Politically Correct Santa

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?

His workers no longer would answer to "Elves,"
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.

And labor conditions at the north pole
Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.

Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.

And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.

So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.

And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops.

Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened.
His fur-trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened."

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows,
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose

And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation,
Demanding millions in over-due compensation.

So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,
Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life,

Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz,
Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.

Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.

Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.

Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
Nothing that's war-like or non-pacific.

No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.

And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.

For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt;
Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.

Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;
And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next.

He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,
But you've got to be careful with that word today.

His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right.

A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;

Every ethnicity, every hue,
Everyone, everywhere...even you.

So here is that gift, its price beyond worth...
"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."


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 The Week Before Christmas

By Joyce Luke

'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the school
Not a pupil was silent, no matter what rule.
The children were busy with paper and paste;
The mess that they made with it couldn't be faced.

The teacher half frantic and almost in tears,
Had just settled down to work with her dears,
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter
up sprang the kids to see what was the matter!

Away to the door they all flew like a flash;
The one who was leading went down with a crash.
Then what to their wondering eyes did appear
But a green Christmas tree! (To decorate I fear!)

When the teacher saw this, she almost grew sick.
She knew in a moment it must be Old Nick!
She ran to the door (all her efforts were vain)
But she shouted, and stamped, and she called them by name;


"Now Tommy! Now Sandy, Now Judy and Harry!
Stop Billy! Stop Robert! Stop Donny and Sherry!
Now get to your places get away from the hall
Now get away! Get away! Get away all!


As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
The pupils, pell mell, started scurrying by.
They ran to the blackboard and skipped down the aisle;
Their faces were shining and each had a smile.

First came a basket of popcorn to string
-Then came the Christmas tree (menacing thing).
As the tree was brought in there arose a great shout;
The pupils were merrily romping about.

The state they were in could lead to a riot;
The teacher was sure, if allowed, they would try it.
Her nerves how they jangled! Her temples were throbbing!
The rush of her breath sounded almost like sobbing!

The lines of her face were as fixed as a mask;
It was plain that she didn't feel up to her task.
The look in her eye would have tamed a wild steer,
But the children ignored it; they did every year.

A tear from her eye and a shake of her head
Soon led me to think that she wished she were dead.
She spoke not a word but went straight to her work,
Strung all the popcorn which broke with a jerk.

But at last it was finished and placed on the tree;
Then came the bell and the children were free.
Their shrill little voices soon faded away
And peace was restored at the end of the day.
As she looked at the Christmas tree glistening and tall,
She smiled as she whispered, Merry Christmas to all!

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New Policy

Effective immediately, the following economizing measures are being implemented in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary:

1) The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree, which never produced the cash crop forecasted, will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance;

2) Two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are, therefore, eliminated;

3) The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French;

4) The four calling birds will be replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked;

5) The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals, as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks, appear to be in order;

6) The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day was an example of the general decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that, from now on, every goose it gets will be a good one;

7) The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes, thereby enhancing their outplacement;

8) As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching;

9) Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps;

10) Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords, plus the expense of international air travel, prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant as we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year;

11) Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music, and no uniforms, will produce savings which will drop right to the bottom line;

Overall we can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and related expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved.

Regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorney's association seeking expansion to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-a-suing"), a decision is pending.

Deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to remain competitive. Should that happen, the Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs is the right number.

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12 Hawaiian days of Christmas

On the.......day of Christmas my Tutu (Grandmother) gave to me

1) A mayna bird in one papaya tree
2) Two coconuts
3) Three Dried squid
4) Four Flower Leis
5) Five Big fat pigs!
6) six hula lessons
7) seven shrimps a swimming
8) Eight ukuleles
9) Nine Pounds of poi
10) ten cans of soda
11) eleven televisions
12) Twelve missionaries

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Today, God’s message for you is not to be discouraged. Life can disappoint and send all kinds of setbacks. Don’t let them get to you. No matter the circumstances, God is ready to encourage you. Come to Him and find the comfort you need. 

Tags: Religion, Recipes, Tips, Jokes, Etc

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REMINDER FROM GOD:

The Power of Hope

"According to your faith will it be done to you."1

"A few years ago John Hopkins University did an experiment with mice. The mice in the first group were held tightly in the experimenters' hands so that they could not move. The mice struggled but were immobilized without being injured. Then after a set period of time, they were placed in a tub of water. They immediately sank, having learned that fighting was hopeless.

"The mice in a second group were held in the lab technicians' hands less tightly. The creatures were given some hope of escaping the grip of the lab technician but without being actually free. After the same length of time, they were also dropped into a tub of water. These mice immediately swam to safety."2

Life for all of us is filled with struggles and challenges. If, when faced with seemingly overwhelming challenges, we believe that we are unable to cope and thus without hope—we will be overcome. If, on the other hand, when faced with the same challenges, we believe that with endurance, stick-ability, and God's help—and thus have hope—we will overcome.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that when I put my trust in you, no matter what curves life might throw at me, I have hope. And that, with your help, I will overcome and, as a result, be a better, healthier, wiser, and stronger person. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Matthew 9:29 (NIV).
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WORD FOR THE DAY:

Xmas  ('?ksm?s, 'kr?sm?s)
 
— n    informal  short for Christmas
 
[C16: from symbol X for Christ + -mas ]

Word Origin & History

Xmas
"Christmas," 1551, X'temmas, wherein the X is an abbreviation for Christ in Christmas, from first letter of Gk. Christos "Christ" (see Christ). The earlier way to abbreviate it was Xp- or Xr-, corresponding to "Chr-," and the form Xres mæsse for "Christmas" appears

Usage note
The abbreviation Xmas  for Christmas dates from the mid 16th century. The X is the Greek letter chi, the initial in the word ???st??  ( Christos ) “Christ.” In spite of a long and respectable history, today Xmas  is offensive to many, perhaps because of its associations with advertising. It is not used in formal writing.


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 Yule log
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


A Yule log is a large and extremely hard log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in several European cultures. It may also be associated with the Winter Solstice festival or the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night.

The expression Yule log has also come to refer to log-shaped Christmas cakes, also known as chocolate logs or Bûche de Noël. The Yule log is related to other Christmas and Yuletide traditions such as the Ashen faggot.


Terminology

The term "Yule log" is not the only term used to refer to the custom. In the north-east of England it was commonly called a "Yule Clog", and in the country's Midlands and West Country, the term "Yule Block" was also used. In the county of Lincolnshire, the term "Gule Block" was found, and in Cornwall, the term "Stock of the Mock" was as well.In other parts of the British Isles, different terms were used, for instance in Wales, the log was often referred to as Y Bloccyn Gwylian, meaning "the Festival Block", whilst in Scotland, Yeel Carline (meaning "the Christmas Old Wife") was used, and in Ireland, the term, Bloc na Nollaig, which meant "the Christmas Block", was used.The Yule log was originally an entire tree, that was carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony with the purpose being to provide maximum warmth and endurance. In some European traditions, the largest end of the log would be placed into the fire hearth while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room. While references are anecdotal, it seems to be a tradition that morphed into early European Christian tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Within 20th century Europe and North America was predominantly a reference to the burning of the largest log possible at or around Christmas.

In Germany, the log is referred to as Christklotz, Christbrand or Weihnachtsscheit ("Christ-log" or "Christmas-log"). Kindled on Christmas Eve, the log in German tradition functioned as a lightning charm.[citation needed]
Historical origins

The Yule log has frequently been associated with having its origins in the historical Germanic paganism which was practiced across northern Europe prior to Christianization. One of the first people to do so was the English historian Henry Bourne, who, writing in the 1720s, described the practice occurring in the Tyne valley. Bourne theorised that the practice derives from customs in 6th to 7th century Anglo-Saxon paganism.

Robert Chambers, in his 1832 work, Book of Days notes that "two popular observances belonging to Christmas are more especially derived from the worship of our pagan ancestors—the hanging up of the mistletoe and the burning of the Yule log." James George Frazer in his work on anthropology, The Golden Bough (p. 736) holds that "the ancient fire-festival of the winter solstice appears to survive" in the Yule log custom. Frazer records traditions from England, France, among the South Slavs, in Central Germany (Meiningen) and western Switzerland (the Bernese Jura).

However, some historians have disagreed with this claim, for instance the Swedish folklorist Carl Wilhelm von Sydow[3] attacked Frazer's theories, claiming that the Yule log had never had any religious significance, and was instead simply a festive decoration with practical uses.
Modern folklore

Great Britain

Because there are no accounts of the custom in Great Britain prior to the 17th century, some historians and folklorists have theorised that it was not an ancient British custom but was in fact imported into Britain from continental Europe in the early modern period, possibly from Flanders in Belgium, where the tradition thrived in this period.

The first mention of the Yule log in Britain is a written account by the clergyman Robert Herrick, from the 1620s or 1630s. Herrick called the tradition a "Christmas log" and said that it was brought into the farmhouse by a group of males, who were then rewarded with free beer from the farmer's wife. Herrick claimed that the fire used to burn the log was always started with a remnant from the log that had been burned in the previous year's festivities. He also said that the log's role was primarily one of bringing prosperity and protection from evil - by keeping the remnant of the log all the year long the protection was said to remain across the year.

The Yule log was not only seen as a magical protective amulet in traditional British rural culture. There are many reports of rivalries occurring between members of a community as to who had the largest log.

The traditions of the Yule log died out in Britain in the latter 19th and early 20th century because of, according to historian Ronald Hutton, "the reduction in farm labour and the disappearance of the old-fashioned open hearths", however the Bûche de Noël dessert has become a Christmas tradition in the UK, as in many French speaking places.

In English folklore, Father Christmas was often depicted carrying a Yule Log.

French-speaking Europe
Main article: Bûche de Noël

In France and Wallonia, and thence also in Quebec and in Lebanon, the Bûche de Noël ("christmas log") is a traditional dessert, in origin a facsimile of the actual Yule log. The tradition of the Yule log was discontinued as large fireplaces became an increasingly rarer feature of the average living room. The dessert is usually in the form of a large rectangular yellow cake spread with frosting and rolled up into a cylinder - one end is then lopped off and stood on end to indicate the rings of the "log." It is not known when the dessert, or its name, originated. It is known to have existed by 1945, and apparently, a tradition of jam rolls served at Christmas is attested for Poitou-Charentes since the 19th century.[citation needed]

Southern Europe

In the most traditional of the Catalan homes, the old custom of "fer cagar el tió" is still followed for Christmas. A log is wrapped with a blanket several days in advance of Christmas and is "fed" grass. On Christmas Eve the log is repeatedly hit in order to make the log go "cagar", or defecate. The blanket is then removed to reveal the gifts that have been "expelled" by the log.

In Tuscany, there is a Festa del Ceppo ("festival of the log").

Balkans

The badnjak is a central feature in the traditional Serbian Christmas celebration. It is the log that a family solemnly brings into the house and places on the fire in the evening of Christmas Eve. The tree used for the badnjak, preferably a young and strait oak, is ceremoniously felled in the early morning of Christmas Eve. Traditionally the head of the family was sent dressed in his best clothes to cut down an oak, elm, or pear tree. That tree is used as the badnjak. A prayer for forgiveness was necessary before it could be chopped down with three strikes with axe, and carried on one's right shoulder as it is not allowed to touch the ground. The burning of the log is accompanied by prayers to God so that the coming year may bring much happiness, love, luck, riches, and food. It would burn on through Christmas Day, whether rekindled or kept burning from the Eve. The first person to visit the family on that day should strike the burning badnjak with a poker or a branch to make sparks fly from it, at the same time uttering a wish that the happiness, prosperity, health, and joy of the family be as abundant as the sparks. The ideal environment to fully carry out these customs is the traditional multi-generation country household. Since most Serbs today live in towns and cities, the badnjak is symbolically represented by several leaved oak twigs that can be bought at marketplaces or received in churches. The origin of the badnjak is explained by events surrounding the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Scholars, however, regard these customs as practices inherited from the old Slavic religion.

In Bulgaria, it is an important part of Christmas Eve preparations. Traditionally ? young man of the family was sent dressed in his best clothes to cut down an oak, elm, or pear tree. That tree is used as the Budnik (bg:??????). A prayer for forgiveness was necessary before it could be chopped down and carried on one's right shoulder as it is not allowed to touch the ground. An indication of the importance of the ritual is that Christmas Eve translates to Budnik or Budnik Eve (bg:????? ?????) in Bulgaria. In some regions, upon the man's return he asks "Do you glorify the Young God?" three times and receive a positive answer "We glorify Him, welcome". After that a hole is bored in one end of the badnik and filled with Chrism made of wine, cooking oil, and incense. The hole is plugged, and that end of the log is wrapped with a white linen cloth before the badnik is festively burned on the hearth.[5] The log is considered to possess special healing powers and the ritual includes songs and uttering of wishes as the log is lit much like the Serbian ritual described above. The log has to burn all night and it is believed that its warmth and light symbolise the coming of Christ as well as providing a warm welcome to Virgin Mary and the family's ancestors who are believed to be guests at the table according to traditions in some regions. Sometimes the fire is put off using wine in the morning. Remains of the log are cherished and sometimes used to make personal crosses, also to make a plough and ashes are simply spread over a field or vineyard to induce better yields.

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RECIPES:

Merry Crunchmix

PREP TIME
15 min (plus refrigerating)

MAKES
18 servings, about 1/2 cup each

WHAT YOU NEED
7 cups     popped popcorn
1 cup     small pretzel twists
1 cup     PLANTERS Cashews
1/4 cup     butter or margarine
3 Tbsp.     light corn syrup
1/2 cup     sugar
1 pkg.     (3 oz.) JELL-O Black Cherry Flavor Gelatin

MAKE IT

    1  Heat oven to 300°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil or waxed paper. Combine popcorn, pretzels and nuts.
    2  Cook butter and syrup in saucepan on low heat until butter is melted. Add sugar and dry gelatin mix; cook and stir 2 min. or until gelatin is completely dissolved. Bring to boil on medium heat; simmer on low heat 5 min. Pour over popcorn mixture; toss to evenly coat. Add to prepared pan; use 2 forks to spread into even layer.
    3  Bake 10 min.; cool. Break into small pieces.

KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS

Substitute
Substitute PLANTERS Lightly Salted Dry Roasted Peanuts for the cashews.

Sustitute
Prepare using your favorite flavor of JELL-O Gelatin.


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Not just for Santa Cookies


WHAT YOU NEED

1 cup     butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup     packed brown sugar
1/4 cup     granulated sugar
1 pkg.     (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 tsp.     vanilla
2     eggs
1 tsp.     baking soda
2-1/4 cups     flour
1 pkg.     (12 oz.) BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup     dried cranberries
1/2 cup     chopped PLANTERS Pecans

PREP TIME
15 min (plus refrigerating)

MAKES
42 servings, 1 cookie each

MAKE IT

    1  Heat oven to 375°F. Beat butter, sugars, dry pudding mix and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs and baking soda; mix well. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in remaining ingredients.
    2  Drop tablespoons of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.
    3  Bake 8 to 10 min. or until golden brown. Cool 3 min. on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS

Size-Wise
Sweets can be part of a balanced diet but remember to keep tabs on portions.

Variation Prepare dough as directed; spread onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 375°F for 20 to 25 min. or until golden brown. Cool before cutting into bars. makes 24 bars. 

Special Extra
Bake and cool cookies as directed. Drizzle with additional melted BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate. Let stand until chocolate is firm.

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Festive Fruity Cookies

REDUCED SUGAR RECIPE

Save 14g of sugar per serving by omitting the powdered sugar frosting and sprinkles, preparing the cookies with JELL-O Sugar Free Gelatin, and substituting 1/4 cup granulated sugar substitute for the granulated sugar. Melt 1 oz. BAKER'S White Chocolate. Drizzle over cooled cookies.

PREP TIME
30 min (plus refrigerating)
MAKES
30 servings, 1 cookie each


WHAT YOU NEED
1 pkg.     (3 oz.) JELL-O Gelatin, any flavor, divided
1-3/4 cups     flour
1/2 tsp.     CALUMET Baking Powder
3/4 cup     butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup     granulated sugar
1     egg
1 tsp.     vanilla
2 cups     powdered sugar
2 Tbsp.     milk
3 Tbsp.     sprinkles

MAKE IT

    1  Heat oven to 400°F. Reserve 1 Tbsp. dry gelatin mix. Combine remaining dry gelatin mix with flour and baking powder. Beat butter in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add granulated sugar; beat until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well after each addition.
    2  Shape dough into 30 (1-inch) balls. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets. Flatten with bottom of clean glass.
    3  Bake 8 to 10 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
    4  Whisk powdered sugar, reserved gelatin mix and milk until blended; spread onto cookies. Top with sprinkles.

KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS

Cooking Know-How
Dip the bottom of the drinking glass in additional granulated sugar before using to flatten each of the dough balls. In addition to helping to prevent the glass from sticking to the dough, the sugar also adds a glittery look to the baked cookies.

How to Store Cookies
Store in single layer in tightly covered container at room temperature.

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Chocolate Elf Bites

PREP TIME
15 min (plus refrigerating)

MAKES  18 servings

WHAT YOU NEED
4 oz.     BAKER'S White Chocolate
1/2 cup     butter or margarine, divided
1/3 cup     water
1 pkg.     (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Pistachio Flavor Instant Pudding
3 cups     powdered sugar
2 oz.     BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
2 Tbsp.     chopped pistachios

MAKE IT

    1  Line 8-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Microwave white chocolate, 6 Tbsp. butter and water in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted; stir with whisk until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended.
    2  Add dry pudding mix; stir 2 min. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time, stirring after each addition until well blended. Press onto bottom of prepared pan.
    3  Microwave semi-sweet chocolate and remaining butter in large microwaveable bowl 1-1/2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended; spread over fudge layer in pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm before cutting into 36 squares.

KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS

Chocolate-Banana FudgePrepare as directed, using JELL-O Banana Cream Flavor Instant Pudding and substituting chopped banana chips for the pistachios.

Storage Know-HowStore cut-up fudge between sheets of waxed paper in airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

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Chewy Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

PREP TIME
15 min (plus refrigerating)
MAKES
42 servings, 1 cookie each

WHAT YOU NEED
1 cup     butter or margarine, softened
1 cup     packed brown sugar
1 pkg.     (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
2     eggs
1 tsp.     baking soda
2 cups     flour
1-1/2 cups     BAKER’S Premium White Chocolate Morsels
1 cup     dried cherries
1/2 cup     chopped PLANTERS Pecans

MAKE IT

    1  Heat oven to 350°F. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add dry pudding mix; beat until blended. Add eggs and baking soda; mix well. Gradually beat in flour until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients.
    2  Drop tablespoons of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.
    3  Bake 10 to 12 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS

Size-Wise
Sweets can be part of a balanced diet but remember to keep tabs on portions.

Gift It
Pack cooled cookies in festive resealable food storage bags. A gift tag and bow are the perfect finishing touches to the colorful bags that look great while locking in freshness.

Variation
Prepare using other flavor combinations of JELL-O Instant Pudding and stir-ins, such as Pistachio Pudding with dried cherries, Lemon Pudding with chopped PLANTERS Pecans, or Vanilla Pudding with chopped BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate.

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JOKES:

***** A CHRISTMAS JOKE *****

A man in Scotland calls his son in London the day before Christmas Eve and says,
"I hate to ruin your day but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough".

"Dad, what are you talking about?'" the son screams.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer", the father says. "We're sick of each other and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Leeds and tell her".

Frantically, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone, "Like hell they're getting divorced", she shouts, "I'll take care of this".

She calls Scotland immediately and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?"and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.
"Done! They're coming for Christmas - and they're paying their own way."

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 What do elves learn in school?

The Elf-abet!
__________________________

How many reindeer does Santa Have???

11 (named below):
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen,
Rudoph (the one with the red nose),
Olive (Olive the other reindeer {all of}),
and Al (Then Al the reindeer loved him {all}).

__________________________

What nationality is Santa Claus?

North Polish.
__________________________

What kind of bird can write?

A PENguin.

__________________________

Why does Santa's sled get such good mileage?

Because it has long-distance runners on each side

________________________

Why does Scrooge love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

because every buck is dear to him.

______________________________

What do you get if you deep fry Santa Claus?

Crisp Cringle.
_______________________________

JUDY: What did the ghosts say to Santa Claus?

MIKE: We'll have a boo Christmas without you.

ELF NO. 1: What did Santa shout to his toys on Christmas Eve?

ELF NO. 2: Okay everyone, sack time!!

_____________________________

If athletes get athletes foot, what do astronauts get?

Missletoe!

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THE TWELVE DAYS OF "CATS"MAS

On the first day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the second day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the third day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
four strutting birds
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
five litter pans
four strutting birds
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
six cans of sardines
five litter pans
four strutting birds
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
seven pounds of catnip
six cans of sardines
five litter pans
four strutting birds
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
eight dogs on leashes
seven pounds of catnip
six cans of sardines
five litter pans
four strutting birds
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
nine frogs aleaping
eight dogs on leashes
seven pounds of catnip
six cans of sardines
five litter pans
four strutting birds
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
balls of yarn all tangled
nine frogs aleaping
eight dogs on leashes
seven pounds of catnip
six cans of sardines
five litter pans
four strutting birds
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
eleven mice a running
balls of yarn all tangled
nine frogs aleaping
eight dogs on leashes
seven pounds of catnip
six cans of sardines
five litter pans
four strutting birds
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my mistress gave to me
twelve toys from Macys
eleven mice a running
balls of yarn all tangled
nine frogs aleaping
eight dogs on leashes
seven pounds of catnip
six cans of sardines
five litter pans
four strutting birds
three quarts milk
two chicken breasts and
a pheasant under glass beneath the tree.

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My friend, Rick, is a paramedic here in Miami. A few years ago he answered a call about a man who had a head injury he sustained when some teenagers were throwing eggs at cars. It seems that the egg had come through the open window of the man's car as he was driving at about 45 mph. He had a large swelling on his forehead. In the official report, Rick described the incident as an "egg-noggin".

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 Santa Claus, like all pilots, gets regular visits from the Federal Aviation Administration, and it was shortly before Christmas when the FAA examiner arrived.

In preparation, Santa had the elves wash the sled and bathe all the reindeer. Santa got his logbook out and made sure all his paperwork was in order.

The examiner walked slowly around the sled. He checked the reindeer harnesses, the landing gear, and Rudolf's nose. He painstakingly reviewed Santa's weight and balance calculations for the sled's enormous payload.

Finally, they were ready for the checkride. Santa got in,fastened his seatbelt and shoulder harness, and checked the compass. Then the examiner hopped in carrying, to Santa's surprise, a shotgun.

"What's that for?" asked Santa incredulously.

The examiner winked and said, "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but you're gonna lose an engine on takeoff."

*******************************************

Today, God's message for you is that true wealth is not found in material possessions but in love. Love is the most solid investment you can make; the more you give of it to others the more you receive in return.

Tags: Religin, Recipies, Tips, Jokes, Etc

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REMINDER FROM GOD:

Be Prepared

"Prepare to meet your God, O Israel."1

King Duncan wrote how, "In 1976, Indiana University's basketball team was undefeated throughout the regular season and captured the NCAA National Championship. Controversial and colorful coach Bobby Knight led them to that championship. Shortly afterwards, Coach Knight was interviewed on the television show '60 Minutes.' The commentator asked him, 'Why is it, Bobby, that your basketball teams at Indiana are always so successful? Is it the will to succeed?'

"Bobby Knight replied, 'The will to succeed is important, but I'll tell you what's more important, it's the will to prepare. It's the will to go out there every day training and building those muscles and sharpening those skills!'

"Another famous coach believed the same thing. 'Hurry Up' Yost was the football coach at the University of Michigan. A player once assured Coach Yost that their team was sure to win on Saturday because the players had 'the will to win.' 'Hurry Up' Yost answered: 'Don't fool yourself. The will to win is not worth a plugged nickel unless you have the will to prepare.' That is true. Whether we are talking about sports, or education, or science, or business, or any worthwhile endeavor in life, success goes to the person who has the will to prepare!"2

When it comes to serving God, as Jim Wallace said, "It's better to be prepared and not called, than to be called and not prepared."

And, most important of all, when it comes to life after death how incredibly foolish it is not to be prepared. While God said to Israel to prepare to meet him, the same principle applies to you and me. If, for example, your life were to end today, are you prepared to meet God? For help, be sure to read the article, "Life After Death," at: http://tinyurl.com/8brzh.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that your Word, the Bible, shows me how I can be prepared for life after death. Help me to know for certain that I am ready to meet you face to face no matter when that will be. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Amos 4:12 (NIV).

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

Christmas tree
n.
1. An evergreen or artificial tree decorated, as with lights and ornaments, during the Christmas season.

2. A device comprised of pipes and valves that caps a producing natural gas or oil well and controls its flow.

Christmas tree
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) an evergreen tree or an imitation of one, decorated as part of Christmas celebrations

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) Also called Christmas bush Austral any of various trees or shrubs flowering at Christmas and used for decoration

ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun    1.    Christmas tree - Australian tree or shrub with red flowersChristmas tree - Australian tree or shrub with red flowers; often used in Christmas decoration
Ceratopetalum gummiferum, Christmas bush
Ceratopetalum, genus Ceratopetalum - a dicotyledonous genus of the family Cunoniaceae
tree - a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
    2.    Christmas tree - a terrestrial evergreen shrub or small tree of western Australia having brilliant yellow-orange flowers; parasitic on roots of grasses
fire tree, flame tree, Nuytsia floribunda
genus Nuytsia, Nuytsia - one species
parasitic plant - plant living on another plant and obtaining organic nutriment from it
    3.    Christmas tree - tall timber tree of central and southern Europe having a regular crown and grey barkChristmas tree - tall timber tree of central and southern Europe having a regular crown and grey bark
Abies alba, European silver fir
silver fir - any of various true firs having leaves white or silvery white beneath
    4.    Christmas tree - medium to tall fir of western North America having a conic crown and branches in tiersChristmas tree - medium to tall fir of western North America having a conic crown and branches in tiers; leaves smell of orange when crushed
Abies amabilis, amabilis fir, Pacific silver fir, red silver fir, white fir
silver fir - any of various true firs having leaves white or silvery white beneath
    5.    Christmas tree - an ornamented evergreen used as a Christmas decoration
decoration, ornament, ornamentation - something used to beautify

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Change Your Life Through the Art of Self Mastery


There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own SELF. ~ Aldous Huxley

I will share with you today some of the things I shared recently with an audience of close to 100 people, a topic that is very dear to my heart – the Art of SELF Mastery, what really means to be true to your SELF, and the inner peace, harmony, love and the inner power that comes from being your true SELF.

I rarely make any promises here on this blog, but in this case I promise you that if you put these things into practice and if you commit to going back to your real SELF, your real essence, letting your own light shine, your whole life will be transformed in a very positive and empowering way. In other worlds “all your thoughts break their bonds… Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover your SELF to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed your SELF to be.” Patanjali

1. GIVE YOUR SELF PERMISSION TO BE SELFISH

In a world that is constantly trying to make you something you are not, staying true to your SELF requires a great deal of strength and courage. Rediscovering your own SELF, your own beauty and your own power requires you to be selfish and to put your needs before the needs of others.

He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away. ~ Raymond Hull

2. PRACTICE SELF APPROVAL

Ever since you were a little boy/ girl you were taught to believe that being good and acting in a specific way will make people like you. You started acting in all kind of ways not because you wanted and it felt right deep down inside but because you knew THEY will like it. You forgot about yourself, about your own needs and desires and you started focusing more on pleasing others instead of pleasing your own SELF, not knowing that SELF worth comes from your SELF not from others ant that is exactly why is called SELF WORTH and not OTHERS WORTH.

All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was…  It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: that I am nobody but my SELF. ~ Ralph Ellison, “Battle Royal”

3. TRANSCEND THE EGO

The moment you start identifying yourself with your possessions, your age, your looks, religion, country, etc., you begin to see yourself as being better/worse, valuable/ less valuable than others, negating your real essence, your real value and your real SELF… and you strengthen the EGO – the false self.

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. ~ Carl Jung

4. PEEL OFF THE MUD

Since childhood you have been covered with layers and layers of mud and this mud represents all the limitations, all the bad programing and all the past conditioning that came from many of the people you interacted with. You chose to take their beliefs, their reality and make it your own. It all became part of you and you never stopped to ask yourself whether all of these beliefs were true or not, whether any of these beliefs were really yours or you just adopted them from others.

Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it. ~ Buddha

5. ACKNOWLEDGE THE SELF

Compared with the EGO, which is constantly looking to be better than everybody else, always comparing and always competing, the SELF is always loving, always peaceful and always forgiving. Whenever you are thinking, feeling, saying or doing something that is not coming from a loving place, know that you are activating from the EGO and not the SELF.

Constantly look for ways to share what you know, who you are and what you have with others and by doing so you will manage to strengthen and acknowledge the SELF more and more.

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. ~ Aristotle

6. TAKE TIME TO BE QUIET

Taking time to be alone with your own SELF is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Thinking you don’t have 5 – 10 minutes per day to spend in silence is like saying that you would rather walk from U.S. to China than take a plane, because that is exactly what quiet time does for you. Solitude, contemplation, meditation helps speed up things, helping you attract more of the things you love and need at a faster rate, because you see, just like Aristotle said it, Contemplation is the highest form of activity.

7. KEEP A JOURNAL

There is so much power in journaling because it helps you become aware of your own thoughts and emotions, of what and who you THINK you are, helping you see things from a totally different perspective.

You will get to a point where you will no longer say, I Am Angry, but rather, there is anger in me and you will find so much peace and happiness in doing so.

Journal writing is a voyage to the interior. ~ Christina Baldwin

8. BECOME THE OBSERVER OF YOUR OWN LIFE

When you start doing all of these things and many others, you get to a point where you can detach from your own body and you can become the observer of your own life. You will be able to see things from an objective perspective and when all kind of challenges will come your way, you will pause and instead of reacting you will respond. You will no longer be a victim of your own thoughts and emotions because you will no longer see yourself as being one with them.

You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need. ~ Jerry Gillies

9. PURIFY YOUR THOUGHTS – THOUGHTS HAVE POWER, CHOOSE THE GOOD ONES

Thoughts have the power to manifest themselves into action and it’s up to you to always choose the best of thoughts and constantly work on creating a life that you enjoy living.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

10. LET GO OF THE THOUGHTS OF SEPARATION

Often times we act as if we are here on this Planet all alone against the whole world, not understanding that we are in the world and the world in us, not understanding that we are all ONE with it. We are all in this together and it’s our responsibility to help one another grow and evolve, and “If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.” Dalai Lama

11. REMOVE ALL YOUR MASKS

The world is full of people who wear all kind of masks and who are constantly trying to get approval from outside themselves, ignoring their own thoughts, their own feelings and their own needs. You have no idea how much the world needs you to be YOU and how much the world will admire you the moment you choose to step into your SUPER SELF and embrace who you are completely.

The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a MASK. ~ Jim Morrison

Remove all your mask because the world needs people like you, people who are true to themselves, unique and original.

God has given you one face, and you make yourself another. ~ William Shakespeare

12. NO SENSE OF SEPARATION – CONNECT WITH ALL THAT IS

When you allow your SELF to just BE, your whole world will be transformed. You will start to feel a great deal of inner peace, inner joy and tranquility and you will no longer look at people who are different then you in a judgmental way but rather in a very compassionate way. You will finally understand that you are part of them and they are part of you. There is no separation, only the one that was created by our mind, by our EGO.

So, have you mastered yourself? Do let me know by commenting bellow and make sure you share the post with your loved ones, this might be exactly what they need at the moment :)

 
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RECIPES:

 Chewy Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

time
prep:  15 min
total:  27 min
servings
total:  42 servings, 1 cookie each

    What You Need
    1    cup  butter or margarine, softened
    1    cup  packed brown sugar
    1    pkg.  (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
    2     eggs
    1    tsp.  baking soda
    2    cups  flour
    1-1/2    cups  BAKER’S Premium White Chocolate Morsels
    1    cup  dried cherries
    1/2    cup  chopped PLANTERS Pecans
  
 Make It

    HEAT oven to 350°F.

    BEAT butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add dry pudding mix; beat until blended. Add eggs and baking soda; mix well. Gradually beat in flour until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients.

    DROP tablespoons of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.

    BAKE 10 to 12 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
   
Kraft Kitchens Tips
    Size-Wise
    Sweets can be part of a balanced diet but remember to keep tabs on portions.
    Gift It
    Pack cooled cookies in festive resealable food storage bags. A gift tag and bow are the perfect finishing touches to the colorful bags that look great while locking in freshness.
    Variation
    Prepare using other flavor combinations of JELL-O Instant Pudding and stir-ins, such as Pistachio Pudding with dried cherries, Lemon Pudding with chopped PLANTERS Pecans, or Vanilla Pudding with chopped BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate.


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Classic Bread Stuffing with Onions, Celery, and Herbs

Active Time:  15 Minutes
Total Time:  15 Minutes
Yield:  Makes about 10 cups (Serves 10)

This classic American turkey stuffing is good as it stands, but it can also form the foundation for three other very popular variations--Giblet Stuffing, Oyster Stuffing, and Sausage Stuffing. My secret is a generous amount of celery leaves, which add a subtle, but distinctive difference. If you like your stuffing bound a little tighter with eggs, substitute 2 beaten eggs for 1/2 cup of the broth.


 INGREDIENTS
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 medium onions, chopped
3 medium celery ribs, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery leaves (from inner celery ribs)
1 pound firm white sandwich bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and dried overnight or in the oven, or 10 cups plain bread croutons
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning, preferably homemade (see Note)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 to 2 cups turkey or chicken broth, as needed
   

DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, and celery leaves. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are golden, about 8 minutes.


Scrape the vegetables and butter into a large bowl. Mix in the bread cubes, parsley, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. Gradually stir in about 1 1/2 cups of broth, until the stuffing is evenly moistened but not soggy. Use as a stuffing. Or place in a lightly buttered casserole, drizzle with 1/2 cup broth, cover, and bake as a side dish.


GIBLET AND BREAD STUFFING:
Use the giblets from your turkey. With a heavy cleaver, chop the turkey neck into 2- to 3-inch pieces. Trim the liver and refrigerate. In a large saucepan, cook the neck, heart, and gizzard in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium-high heat, turning, until browned, about 10 minutes. Add 1 each quartered small onion and carrot, 3 parsley sprigs, and 1/4 teaspoon thyme. Pour in enough chicken broth or water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a simmer, skimming off any foam. Reduce the heat to low, partially cover, and simmer until the giblets are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add the turkey liver and simmer until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain, saving the stock if desired. Let the giblets cool. Pull the meat off the neck. Chop the neck meat, heart, gizzard, and liver. Stir into Classic Bread Stuffing (above) along with the bread cubes.


OYSTER AND BREAD STUFFING:
Drain 2 (8-ounce) containers of oysters and reserve the juices. (Or shuck 24 oysters, opening them over a fine wire sieve placed over a bowl to catch the juices.) If the oysters are large, cut them into 2 or 3 pieces. Add the oysters to Classic Bread Stuffing along with the bread cubes. Add enough turkey or chicken broth to the reserved oyster juices to make 1 1/2 cups and to use to moisten the stuffing mixture.


SAUSAGE AND BREAD STUFFING:
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook 1 pound bulk pork breakfast sausage, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add to Classic Bread Stuffing (above) with the bread cubes and mix. Reduce the salt to 1 teaspoon.


NOTE:
To make homemade poultry seasoning, combine 3/4 teaspoon dried sage leaves, crushed, with 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed.

Serving size = 1 cup

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Deep-fried Turkey
   
Active Time:  40 Minutes
Total Time:  1 Hour 30 Minutes
Yield:  Serves 8


Cooking.com Tip: Deep-fried turkey on Thanksgiving? You bet! What other method cooks a whole turkey in 35 minutes? But, be sure you use the right equipment -- it will make all the difference. The sturdy construction and easy assembly of a turkey deep-fryer takes your traditional turkey and turns it into something unique. The other bonus of frying? It makes room in the oven for all your delicious side dishes and pies.


INGREDIENTS
5 gallons (about) vegetable or canola oil*
One 12-pound turkey, thawed, neck, heart and gizzards removed, excess skin from neck trimmed
   
DIRECTIONS
Place 30-quart deep-fryer apparatus on level dirt or grassy area. Cover ground with sheets of aluminum foil to prevent oil stains. Add oil to fryer pot. Heat oil over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F, about 35 minutes.

Mount turkey, neck first, through loop end of turkey stand. Attach grab hook handle to top loop of turkey stand. Working with another person and using oven mitts, carefully lower turkey into hot oil. Remove grab hook handle. Fry turkey uncovered until instant-read thermometer registers 170 degrees F when inserted into breast and 180 degrees F when inserted into innermost part of thigh, about 35 minutes.

Attach grab hook handle to loop of turkey stand. Working with another person and using oven mitts, slowly lift turkey from oil allowing oil to drain back into pot. Transfer turkey to heavy large baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Let turkey rest 15 minutes.

Remove grab hook handle from turkey stand. Using oven mitts, remove turkey from turkey stand and transfer to platter. Carve turkey and serve.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES: Do not stuff a turkey that will be deep-fried. Place deep-fryer on a level dirt or grassy surface. Do not use deep-fryer indoors or on wooden decks. Do not leave deep-fryer unattended during use. Allow the oil to cool completely before discarding.

*TO DETERMINE AMOUNT OF OIL NEEDED: Place the turkey in the fryer pot. Add enough water to pot to cover turkey by 2 inches. Remove turkey from pot. Using a ruler, note the distance of the water level from the rim of the fryer pot. Discard water; dry fryer pot well.


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Honey-Orange Glazed Ham

This ham is spectacular.

Serves: 24
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 1/2 to 2 hours

1 orange
1 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 eight-pound fully cooked whole boneless ham


Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Using a small, sharp knife or citrus zester, remove the orange-colored peel from the orange in long strips. Try not to include the bitter white pith beneath the skin. Set aside to use as garnish.

Squeeze the juice from the orange. Put 2 tablespoons in a small bowl and reserve the rest for another use.

Add the honey, cinnamon, and cloves to the bowl and whisk well. Cover and set aside until time to glaze the ham.

Put the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of ham. Bake uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the thermometer registers 135 to 140 degrees.

During the last 45 minutes or so of baking, baste the ham often with the orange-honey glaze. Do this with a large spoon or a brush. Spoon up the pan juices and pour over the ham, too.

Let the ham sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with the reserved orange peel.

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Hot Cocoa Pudding Mugs

time
prep:  30 min
total:  3 hr 30 min
servings
total:  24 servings

    What You Need
    2-1/2    cups  milk, divided
    2    env.  (1/4 oz. each) KNOX Unflavored Gelatine
    2    oz.  BAKER'S Bittersweet Chocolate, melted
    1    pkg.  (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
    12     miniature pretzel twists, broken crosswise in half
    1-1/2    cups  thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
    1/4    cup  JET-PUFFED Vanilla MALLOW Bits
  
 Make It

    ADD 1-1/2 cups milk to dry gelatine in small saucepan; stir. Let stand 3 min. or until gelatine is softened. Cook and stir on medium heat 3 min. or until gelatine is completely dissolved. Remove from heat; whisk in melted chocolate. Cool 5 min.

    BEAT pudding mix and remaining milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Whisk in gelatine mixture. Spoon into 24 shot glasses sprayed with cooking spray. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.

    UNMOLD desserts onto tray just before serving. Insert pretzel half into side of each for the mug handle. Top each with 1 Tbsp. COOL WHIP and a few MALLOW Bits.
    Kraft Kitchens Tips
    Reduced-Sugar Version
    Save 30 calories and 4g of carbs, including 4g of sugar, per serving by omitting the bittersweet chocolate, reducing the MALLOW Bits to 2 Tbsp., and preparing the desserts with fat-free milk, 1 pkg. (1.4 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding and COOL WHIP Sugar Free Whipped Topping.
    Adults Only
    Decrease milk to 2-1/4 cups. Prepare pudding mix using 3/4 cup cold milk and 1/4 cup crème de cocoa or peppermint schnapps.

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JOKES:
 
New Policy

Effective immediately, the following economizing measures are being implemented in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary:

1) The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree, which never produced the cash crop forecasted, will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance;

2) Two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are, therefore, eliminated;

3) The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French;

4) The four calling birds will be replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked;

5) The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals, as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks, appear to be in order;

6) The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day was an example of the general decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that, from now on, every goose it gets will be a good one;

7) The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes, thereby enhancing their outplacement;

8) As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching;

9) Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps;

10) Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords, plus the expense of international air travel, prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant as we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year;

11) Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music, and no uniforms, will produce savings which will drop right to the bottom line;

Overall we can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and related expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved.

Regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorney's association seeking expansion to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-a-suing"), a decision is pending.

Deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to remain competitive. Should that happen, the Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs is the right number.

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It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the prisoner, "What are you charged with?" "Doing my Christmas shopping early," replied the defendant. "That's no offense," said the judge. "How early were you doing this shopping?" "Before the store opened," countered the prisoner.

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
They'd been worn all week and needed the air. 


Why does Santa have 3 gardens?

So he can ho-ho-ho.

Why was Santa's little helper depressed?

Because he had low elf esteem.

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?

Frostbite.

What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper?

Ribbon hood.

The 3 stages of man:

He believes in Santa Claus.
He doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
He is Santa Claus.

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'Twas The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the nocturnal segment of the diurnal period preceding the annual Yuletide celebration, and throughout our place of residence, kinetic activity was not in evidence among the possessors of this potential, including that species of domestic rodent known as Mus musculus. Hosiery was meticulously suspended from the forward edge of the wood burning caloric apparatus, pursuant to our anticipatory pleasure regarding an imminent visitation from an eccentric philanthropist among whose folkloric appellations is the honorific title of St. Nicholas.

The prepubescent siblings, comfortably ensconced in their respective accommodations of repose, were experiencing subconscious visual hallucinations of variegated fruit confections moving rhythmically through their cerebrums. My conjugal partner and I, attired in our nocturnal head coverings, were about to take slumberous advantage of the hibernal darkness when upon the avenaceous exterior portion of the grounds there ascended such a cacophony of dissonance that I felt compelled to arise with alacrity from my place of repose for the purpose of ascertaining the precise source thereof.

Hastening to the casement, I forthwith opened the barriers sealing this fenestration, noting thereupon that the lunar brilliance without, reflected as it was on the surface of a recent crystalline precipitation, might be said to rival that of the solar meridian itself - thus permitting my incredulous optical sensory organs to behold a miniature airborne runnered conveyance drawn by eight diminutive specimens of the genus Rangifer, piloted by a minuscule, aged chauffeur so ebullient and nimble that it became instantly apparent to me that he was indeed our anticipated caller. With his ungulate motive power travelling at what may possibly have been more vertiginous velocity than patriotic alar predators, he vociferated loudly, expelled breath musically through contracted labia, and addressed each of the octet by his or her respective cognomen - "Now Dasher, now Dancer..." et al. - guiding them to the uppermost exterior level of our abode, through which structure I could readily distinguish the concatenations of each of the 32 cloven pedal extremities.

As I retracted my cranium from its erstwhile location, and was performing a 180-degree pivot, our distinguished visitant achieved - with utmost celerity and via a downward leap - entry by way of the smoke passage. He was clad entirely in animal pelts soiled by the ebony residue from oxidations of carboniferous fuels which had accumulated on the walls thereof. His resemblance to a street vendor I attributed largely to the plethora of assorted playthings which he bore dorsally in a commodious cloth receptacle.

His orbs were scintillant with reflected luminosity, while his submaxillary dermal indentations gave every evidence of engaging amiability. The capillaries of his malar regions and nasal appurtenance were engorged with blood which suffused the subcutaneous layers, the former approximating the coloration of Albion's floral emblem, the latter that of the Prunus avium, or sweet cherry. His amusing sub- and supralabials resembled nothing so much as a common loop knot, and their ambient hirsute facial adornment appeared like small, tabular and columnar crystals of frozen water.

Clenched firmly between his incisors was a smoking piece whose grey fumes, forming a tenuous ellipse about his occiput, were suggestive of a decorative seasonal circlet of holly. His visage was wider than it was high, and when he waxed audibly mirthful, his corpulent abdominal region undulated in the manner of impectinated fruit syrup in a hemispherical container. He was, in short, neither more nor less than an obese, jocund, multigenarian gnome, the optical perception of whom rendered me visibly frolicsome despite every effort to refrain from so being. By rapidly lowering and then elevating one eyelid and rotating his head slightly to one side, he indicated that trepidation on my part was groundless.

Without utterance and with dispatch, he commenced filling the aforementioned appended hosiery with various of the aforementioned articles of merchandise extracted from his aforementioned previously dorsally transported cloth receptacle. Upon completion of this task, he executed an abrupt about- face, placed a single manual digit in lateral juxtaposition to his olfactory organ, inclined his cranium forward in a gesture of leave-taking, and forthwith effected his egress by renegotiating (in reverse) the smoke passage. He then propelled himself in a short vector onto his conveyance, directed a musical expulsion of air through his contracted oral sphincter to the antlered quadrupeds of burden, and proceeded to soar aloft in a movement hitherto observable chiefly among the seed-bearing portions of a common weed. But I overheard his parting exclamation, audible immediately prior to his vehiculation beyond the limits of visibility: "Ecstatic Yuletide to the planetary constituency, and to that self same assemblage, my sincerest wishes for a salubriously beneficial and gratifyingly pleasurable period between sunset and dawn."

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12 Hawaiian days of Christmas

On the.......day of Christmas my Tutu (Grandmother) gave to me

1) A mayna bird in one papaya tree
2) Two coconuts
3) Three Dried squid
4) Four Flower Leis
5) Five Big fat pigs!
6) six hula lessons
7) seven shrimps a swimming
8) Eight ukuleles
9) Nine Pounds of poi
10) ten cans of soda
11) eleven televisions
12) Twelve missionaries

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This guy goes into his dentist's office, because something is wrong with his mouth. After a brief examination, the dentist exclaims, "Holy Smoke! That plate I installed in your mouth about six months ago has nearly completely corroded! What on earth have you been eating?" "Well... the only thing I can think of is this... my wife made me some asparagus about four months ago with this stuff on it... Hollandaise sauce she called it... and doctor, I'm talkin' DELICIOUS! I've never tasted anything like it, and ever since then I've been putting it on everything... meat, fish, toast, vegetables... you name it!" "That's probabably it," replied the dentist "Hollandaise sauce is made with lemon juice, which is acidic and highly corrosive. It seems as thought I'll have to install a new plate, but made out of chrome this time." "Why chrome?" the man asked. "Well, everyone knows that there's no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise!"
 
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COMBATING CANCER WITH BAKING SODA

did you know . . . that baking soda has been shown to fight cancer, stave off colds and flu, and even treat radiation poisoning. .. all for just pennies a day?

Dr. Simonchini an oncologist in Rome originally made the connection between fungal infections and cancer proliferation.

He realized that when a tumor was flushed with baking soda (which is antifungal), it shrank and completely disappeared withing days.

from: www.undergroundhealthreporter.com

****************************..., God’s message for you is that you are never alone. No matter what you face, someone else has faced it, too. Whether it be in joy or sorrow, there is someone nearer than you think.

Tags: Religin, Recipies, Tips, Jokes, Etc

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REMINDER FROM GOD:

Be Prepared

"Prepare to meet your God, O Israel."1

King Duncan wrote how, "In 1976, Indiana University's basketball team was undefeated throughout the regular season and captured the NCAA National Championship. Controversial and colorful coach Bobby Knight led them to that championship. Shortly afterwards, Coach Knight was interviewed on the television show '60 Minutes.' The commentator asked him, 'Why is it, Bobby, that your basketball teams at Indiana are always so successful? Is it the will to succeed?'

"Bobby Knight replied, 'The will to succeed is important, but I'll tell you what's more important, it's the will to prepare. It's the will to go out there every day training and building those muscles and sharpening those skills!'

"Another famous coach believed the same thing. 'Hurry Up' Yost was the football coach at the University of Michigan. A player once assured Coach Yost that their team was sure to win on Saturday because the players had 'the will to win.' 'Hurry Up' Yost answered: 'Don't fool yourself. The will to win is not worth a plugged nickel unless you have the will to prepare.' That is true. Whether we are talking about sports, or education, or science, or business, or any worthwhile endeavor in life, success goes to the person who has the will to prepare!"2

When it comes to serving God, as Jim Wallace said, "It's better to be prepared and not called, than to be called and not prepared."

And, most important of all, when it comes to life after death how incredibly foolish it is not to be prepared. While God said to Israel to prepare to meet him, the same principle applies to you and me. If, for example, your life were to end today, are you prepared to meet God? For help, be sure to read the article, "Life After Death," at: http://tinyurl.com/8brzh.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that your Word, the Bible, shows me how I can be prepared for life after death. Help me to know for certain that I am ready to meet you face to face no matter when that will be. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Amos 4:12 (NIV).

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

Christmas tree
n.
1. An evergreen or artificial tree decorated, as with lights and ornaments, during the Christmas season.

2. A device comprised of pipes and valves that caps a producing natural gas or oil well and controls its flow.

Christmas tree
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) an evergreen tree or an imitation of one, decorated as part of Christmas celebrations

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) Also called Christmas bush Austral any of various trees or shrubs flowering at Christmas and used for decoration

ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun    1.    Christmas tree - Australian tree or shrub with red flowersChristmas tree - Australian tree or shrub with red flowers; often used in Christmas decoration
Ceratopetalum gummiferum, Christmas bush
Ceratopetalum, genus Ceratopetalum - a dicotyledonous genus of the family Cunoniaceae
tree - a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
    2.    Christmas tree - a terrestrial evergreen shrub or small tree of western Australia having brilliant yellow-orange flowers; parasitic on roots of grasses
fire tree, flame tree, Nuytsia floribunda
genus Nuytsia, Nuytsia - one species
parasitic plant - plant living on another plant and obtaining organic nutriment from it
    3.    Christmas tree - tall timber tree of central and southern Europe having a regular crown and grey barkChristmas tree - tall timber tree of central and southern Europe having a regular crown and grey bark
Abies alba, European silver fir
silver fir - any of various true firs having leaves white or silvery white beneath
    4.    Christmas tree - medium to tall fir of western North America having a conic crown and branches in tiersChristmas tree - medium to tall fir of western North America having a conic crown and branches in tiers; leaves smell of orange when crushed
Abies amabilis, amabilis fir, Pacific silver fir, red silver fir, white fir
silver fir - any of various true firs having leaves white or silvery white beneath
    5.    Christmas tree - an ornamented evergreen used as a Christmas decoration
decoration, ornament, ornamentation - something used to beautify

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Change Your Life Through the Art of Self Mastery


There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own SELF. ~ Aldous Huxley

I will share with you today some of the things I shared recently with an audience of close to 100 people, a topic that is very dear to my heart – the Art of SELF Mastery, what really means to be true to your SELF, and the inner peace, harmony, love and the inner power that comes from being your true SELF.

I rarely make any promises here on this blog, but in this case I promise you that if you put these things into practice and if you commit to going back to your real SELF, your real essence, letting your own light shine, your whole life will be transformed in a very positive and empowering way. In other worlds “all your thoughts break their bonds… Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover your SELF to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed your SELF to be.” Patanjali

1. GIVE YOUR SELF PERMISSION TO BE SELFISH

In a world that is constantly trying to make you something you are not, staying true to your SELF requires a great deal of strength and courage. Rediscovering your own SELF, your own beauty and your own power requires you to be selfish and to put your needs before the needs of others.

He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away. ~ Raymond Hull

2. PRACTICE SELF APPROVAL

Ever since you were a little boy/ girl you were taught to believe that being good and acting in a specific way will make people like you. You started acting in all kind of ways not because you wanted and it felt right deep down inside but because you knew THEY will like it. You forgot about yourself, about your own needs and desires and you started focusing more on pleasing others instead of pleasing your own SELF, not knowing that SELF worth comes from your SELF not from others ant that is exactly why is called SELF WORTH and not OTHERS WORTH.

All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was…  It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: that I am nobody but my SELF. ~ Ralph Ellison, “Battle Royal”

3. TRANSCEND THE EGO

The moment you start identifying yourself with your possessions, your age, your looks, religion, country, etc., you begin to see yourself as being better/worse, valuable/ less valuable than others, negating your real essence, your real value and your real SELF… and you strengthen the EGO – the false self.

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. ~ Carl Jung

4. PEEL OFF THE MUD

Since childhood you have been covered with layers and layers of mud and this mud represents all the limitations, all the bad programing and all the past conditioning that came from many of the people you interacted with. You chose to take their beliefs, their reality and make it your own. It all became part of you and you never stopped to ask yourself whether all of these beliefs were true or not, whether any of these beliefs were really yours or you just adopted them from others.

Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it. ~ Buddha

5. ACKNOWLEDGE THE SELF

Compared with the EGO, which is constantly looking to be better than everybody else, always comparing and always competing, the SELF is always loving, always peaceful and always forgiving. Whenever you are thinking, feeling, saying or doing something that is not coming from a loving place, know that you are activating from the EGO and not the SELF.

Constantly look for ways to share what you know, who you are and what you have with others and by doing so you will manage to strengthen and acknowledge the SELF more and more.

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. ~ Aristotle

6. TAKE TIME TO BE QUIET

Taking time to be alone with your own SELF is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Thinking you don’t have 5 – 10 minutes per day to spend in silence is like saying that you would rather walk from U.S. to China than take a plane, because that is exactly what quiet time does for you. Solitude, contemplation, meditation helps speed up things, helping you attract more of the things you love and need at a faster rate, because you see, just like Aristotle said it, Contemplation is the highest form of activity.

7. KEEP A JOURNAL

There is so much power in journaling because it helps you become aware of your own thoughts and emotions, of what and who you THINK you are, helping you see things from a totally different perspective.

You will get to a point where you will no longer say, I Am Angry, but rather, there is anger in me and you will find so much peace and happiness in doing so.

Journal writing is a voyage to the interior. ~ Christina Baldwin

8. BECOME THE OBSERVER OF YOUR OWN LIFE

When you start doing all of these things and many others, you get to a point where you can detach from your own body and you can become the observer of your own life. You will be able to see things from an objective perspective and when all kind of challenges will come your way, you will pause and instead of reacting you will respond. You will no longer be a victim of your own thoughts and emotions because you will no longer see yourself as being one with them.

You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need. ~ Jerry Gillies

9. PURIFY YOUR THOUGHTS – THOUGHTS HAVE POWER, CHOOSE THE GOOD ONES

Thoughts have the power to manifest themselves into action and it’s up to you to always choose the best of thoughts and constantly work on creating a life that you enjoy living.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

10. LET GO OF THE THOUGHTS OF SEPARATION

Often times we act as if we are here on this Planet all alone against the whole world, not understanding that we are in the world and the world in us, not understanding that we are all ONE with it. We are all in this together and it’s our responsibility to help one another grow and evolve, and “If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.” Dalai Lama

11. REMOVE ALL YOUR MASKS

The world is full of people who wear all kind of masks and who are constantly trying to get approval from outside themselves, ignoring their own thoughts, their own feelings and their own needs. You have no idea how much the world needs you to be YOU and how much the world will admire you the moment you choose to step into your SUPER SELF and embrace who you are completely.

The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a MASK. ~ Jim Morrison

Remove all your mask because the world needs people like you, people who are true to themselves, unique and original.

God has given you one face, and you make yourself another. ~ William Shakespeare

12. NO SENSE OF SEPARATION – CONNECT WITH ALL THAT IS

When you allow your SELF to just BE, your whole world will be transformed. You will start to feel a great deal of inner peace, inner joy and tranquility and you will no longer look at people who are different then you in a judgmental way but rather in a very compassionate way. You will finally understand that you are part of them and they are part of you. There is no separation, only the one that was created by our mind, by our EGO.

So, have you mastered yourself? Do let me know by commenting bellow and make sure you share the post with your loved ones, this might be exactly what they need at the moment :)

 
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RECIPES:

 Chewy Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

time
prep:  15 min
total:  27 min
servings
total:  42 servings, 1 cookie each

    What You Need
    1    cup  butter or margarine, softened
    1    cup  packed brown sugar
    1    pkg.  (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
    2     eggs
    1    tsp.  baking soda
    2    cups  flour
    1-1/2    cups  BAKER’S Premium White Chocolate Morsels
    1    cup  dried cherries
    1/2    cup  chopped PLANTERS Pecans
  
 Make It

    HEAT oven to 350°F.

    BEAT butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add dry pudding mix; beat until blended. Add eggs and baking soda; mix well. Gradually beat in flour until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients.

    DROP tablespoons of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.

    BAKE 10 to 12 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
   
Kraft Kitchens Tips
    Size-Wise
    Sweets can be part of a balanced diet but remember to keep tabs on portions.
    Gift It
    Pack cooled cookies in festive resealable food storage bags. A gift tag and bow are the perfect finishing touches to the colorful bags that look great while locking in freshness.
    Variation
    Prepare using other flavor combinations of JELL-O Instant Pudding and stir-ins, such as Pistachio Pudding with dried cherries, Lemon Pudding with chopped PLANTERS Pecans, or Vanilla Pudding with chopped BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate.


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Classic Bread Stuffing with Onions, Celery, and Herbs

Active Time:  15 Minutes
Total Time:  15 Minutes
Yield:  Makes about 10 cups (Serves 10)

This classic American turkey stuffing is good as it stands, but it can also form the foundation for three other very popular variations--Giblet Stuffing, Oyster Stuffing, and Sausage Stuffing. My secret is a generous amount of celery leaves, which add a subtle, but distinctive difference. If you like your stuffing bound a little tighter with eggs, substitute 2 beaten eggs for 1/2 cup of the broth.


 INGREDIENTS
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 medium onions, chopped
3 medium celery ribs, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery leaves (from inner celery ribs)
1 pound firm white sandwich bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and dried overnight or in the oven, or 10 cups plain bread croutons
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning, preferably homemade (see Note)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 to 2 cups turkey or chicken broth, as needed
   

DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, and celery leaves. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are golden, about 8 minutes.


Scrape the vegetables and butter into a large bowl. Mix in the bread cubes, parsley, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. Gradually stir in about 1 1/2 cups of broth, until the stuffing is evenly moistened but not soggy. Use as a stuffing. Or place in a lightly buttered casserole, drizzle with 1/2 cup broth, cover, and bake as a side dish.


GIBLET AND BREAD STUFFING:
Use the giblets from your turkey. With a heavy cleaver, chop the turkey neck into 2- to 3-inch pieces. Trim the liver and refrigerate. In a large saucepan, cook the neck, heart, and gizzard in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium-high heat, turning, until browned, about 10 minutes. Add 1 each quartered small onion and carrot, 3 parsley sprigs, and 1/4 teaspoon thyme. Pour in enough chicken broth or water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a simmer, skimming off any foam. Reduce the heat to low, partially cover, and simmer until the giblets are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add the turkey liver and simmer until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain, saving the stock if desired. Let the giblets cool. Pull the meat off the neck. Chop the neck meat, heart, gizzard, and liver. Stir into Classic Bread Stuffing (above) along with the bread cubes.


OYSTER AND BREAD STUFFING:
Drain 2 (8-ounce) containers of oysters and reserve the juices. (Or shuck 24 oysters, opening them over a fine wire sieve placed over a bowl to catch the juices.) If the oysters are large, cut them into 2 or 3 pieces. Add the oysters to Classic Bread Stuffing along with the bread cubes. Add enough turkey or chicken broth to the reserved oyster juices to make 1 1/2 cups and to use to moisten the stuffing mixture.


SAUSAGE AND BREAD STUFFING:
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook 1 pound bulk pork breakfast sausage, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add to Classic Bread Stuffing (above) with the bread cubes and mix. Reduce the salt to 1 teaspoon.


NOTE:
To make homemade poultry seasoning, combine 3/4 teaspoon dried sage leaves, crushed, with 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed.

Serving size = 1 cup

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Deep-fried Turkey
   
Active Time:  40 Minutes
Total Time:  1 Hour 30 Minutes
Yield:  Serves 8


Cooking.com Tip: Deep-fried turkey on Thanksgiving? You bet! What other method cooks a whole turkey in 35 minutes? But, be sure you use the right equipment -- it will make all the difference. The sturdy construction and easy assembly of a turkey deep-fryer takes your traditional turkey and turns it into something unique. The other bonus of frying? It makes room in the oven for all your delicious side dishes and pies.


INGREDIENTS
5 gallons (about) vegetable or canola oil*
One 12-pound turkey, thawed, neck, heart and gizzards removed, excess skin from neck trimmed
   
DIRECTIONS
Place 30-quart deep-fryer apparatus on level dirt or grassy area. Cover ground with sheets of aluminum foil to prevent oil stains. Add oil to fryer pot. Heat oil over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F, about 35 minutes.

Mount turkey, neck first, through loop end of turkey stand. Attach grab hook handle to top loop of turkey stand. Working with another person and using oven mitts, carefully lower turkey into hot oil. Remove grab hook handle. Fry turkey uncovered until instant-read thermometer registers 170 degrees F when inserted into breast and 180 degrees F when inserted into innermost part of thigh, about 35 minutes.

Attach grab hook handle to loop of turkey stand. Working with another person and using oven mitts, slowly lift turkey from oil allowing oil to drain back into pot. Transfer turkey to heavy large baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Let turkey rest 15 minutes.

Remove grab hook handle from turkey stand. Using oven mitts, remove turkey from turkey stand and transfer to platter. Carve turkey and serve.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES: Do not stuff a turkey that will be deep-fried. Place deep-fryer on a level dirt or grassy surface. Do not use deep-fryer indoors or on wooden decks. Do not leave deep-fryer unattended during use. Allow the oil to cool completely before discarding.

*TO DETERMINE AMOUNT OF OIL NEEDED: Place the turkey in the fryer pot. Add enough water to pot to cover turkey by 2 inches. Remove turkey from pot. Using a ruler, note the distance of the water level from the rim of the fryer pot. Discard water; dry fryer pot well.


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Honey-Orange Glazed Ham

This ham is spectacular.

Serves: 24
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 1/2 to 2 hours

1 orange
1 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 eight-pound fully cooked whole boneless ham


Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Using a small, sharp knife or citrus zester, remove the orange-colored peel from the orange in long strips. Try not to include the bitter white pith beneath the skin. Set aside to use as garnish.

Squeeze the juice from the orange. Put 2 tablespoons in a small bowl and reserve the rest for another use.

Add the honey, cinnamon, and cloves to the bowl and whisk well. Cover and set aside until time to glaze the ham.

Put the ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of ham. Bake uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the thermometer registers 135 to 140 degrees.

During the last 45 minutes or so of baking, baste the ham often with the orange-honey glaze. Do this with a large spoon or a brush. Spoon up the pan juices and pour over the ham, too.

Let the ham sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with the reserved orange peel.

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Hot Cocoa Pudding Mugs

time
prep:  30 min
total:  3 hr 30 min
servings
total:  24 servings

    What You Need
    2-1/2    cups  milk, divided
    2    env.  (1/4 oz. each) KNOX Unflavored Gelatine
    2    oz.  BAKER'S Bittersweet Chocolate, melted
    1    pkg.  (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
    12     miniature pretzel twists, broken crosswise in half
    1-1/2    cups  thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
    1/4    cup  JET-PUFFED Vanilla MALLOW Bits
  
 Make It

    ADD 1-1/2 cups milk to dry gelatine in small saucepan; stir. Let stand 3 min. or until gelatine is softened. Cook and stir on medium heat 3 min. or until gelatine is completely dissolved. Remove from heat; whisk in melted chocolate. Cool 5 min.

    BEAT pudding mix and remaining milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Whisk in gelatine mixture. Spoon into 24 shot glasses sprayed with cooking spray. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.

    UNMOLD desserts onto tray just before serving. Insert pretzel half into side of each for the mug handle. Top each with 1 Tbsp. COOL WHIP and a few MALLOW Bits.
    Kraft Kitchens Tips
    Reduced-Sugar Version
    Save 30 calories and 4g of carbs, including 4g of sugar, per serving by omitting the bittersweet chocolate, reducing the MALLOW Bits to 2 Tbsp., and preparing the desserts with fat-free milk, 1 pkg. (1.4 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding and COOL WHIP Sugar Free Whipped Topping.
    Adults Only
    Decrease milk to 2-1/4 cups. Prepare pudding mix using 3/4 cup cold milk and 1/4 cup crème de cocoa or peppermint schnapps.

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JOKES:
 
New Policy

Effective immediately, the following economizing measures are being implemented in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary:

1) The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree, which never produced the cash crop forecasted, will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance;

2) Two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are, therefore, eliminated;

3) The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French;

4) The four calling birds will be replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked;

5) The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals, as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks, appear to be in order;

6) The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day was an example of the general decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that, from now on, every goose it gets will be a good one;

7) The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes, thereby enhancing their outplacement;

8) As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching;

9) Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps;

10) Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords, plus the expense of international air travel, prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant as we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year;

11) Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music, and no uniforms, will produce savings which will drop right to the bottom line;

Overall we can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and related expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved.

Regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorney's association seeking expansion to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-a-suing"), a decision is pending.

Deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to remain competitive. Should that happen, the Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs is the right number.

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It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the prisoner, "What are you charged with?" "Doing my Christmas shopping early," replied the defendant. "That's no offense," said the judge. "How early were you doing this shopping?" "Before the store opened," countered the prisoner.

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
They'd been worn all week and needed the air. 


Why does Santa have 3 gardens?

So he can ho-ho-ho.

Why was Santa's little helper depressed?

Because he had low elf esteem.

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?

Frostbite.

What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper?

Ribbon hood.

The 3 stages of man:

He believes in Santa Claus.
He doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
He is Santa Claus.

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'Twas The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the nocturnal segment of the diurnal period preceding the annual Yuletide celebration, and throughout our place of residence, kinetic activity was not in evidence among the possessors of this potential, including that species of domestic rodent known as Mus musculus. Hosiery was meticulously suspended from the forward edge of the wood burning caloric apparatus, pursuant to our anticipatory pleasure regarding an imminent visitation from an eccentric philanthropist among whose folkloric appellations is the honorific title of St. Nicholas.

The prepubescent siblings, comfortably ensconced in their respective accommodations of repose, were experiencing subconscious visual hallucinations of variegated fruit confections moving rhythmically through their cerebrums. My conjugal partner and I, attired in our nocturnal head coverings, were about to take slumberous advantage of the hibernal darkness when upon the avenaceous exterior portion of the grounds there ascended such a cacophony of dissonance that I felt compelled to arise with alacrity from my place of repose for the purpose of ascertaining the precise source thereof.

Hastening to the casement, I forthwith opened the barriers sealing this fenestration, noting thereupon that the lunar brilliance without, reflected as it was on the surface of a recent crystalline precipitation, might be said to rival that of the solar meridian itself - thus permitting my incredulous optical sensory organs to behold a miniature airborne runnered conveyance drawn by eight diminutive specimens of the genus Rangifer, piloted by a minuscule, aged chauffeur so ebullient and nimble that it became instantly apparent to me that he was indeed our anticipated caller. With his ungulate motive power travelling at what may possibly have been more vertiginous velocity than patriotic alar predators, he vociferated loudly, expelled breath musically through contracted labia, and addressed each of the octet by his or her respective cognomen - "Now Dasher, now Dancer..." et al. - guiding them to the uppermost exterior level of our abode, through which structure I could readily distinguish the concatenations of each of the 32 cloven pedal extremities.

As I retracted my cranium from its erstwhile location, and was performing a 180-degree pivot, our distinguished visitant achieved - with utmost celerity and via a downward leap - entry by way of the smoke passage. He was clad entirely in animal pelts soiled by the ebony residue from oxidations of carboniferous fuels which had accumulated on the walls thereof. His resemblance to a street vendor I attributed largely to the plethora of assorted playthings which he bore dorsally in a commodious cloth receptacle.

His orbs were scintillant with reflected luminosity, while his submaxillary dermal indentations gave every evidence of engaging amiability. The capillaries of his malar regions and nasal appurtenance were engorged with blood which suffused the subcutaneous layers, the former approximating the coloration of Albion's floral emblem, the latter that of the Prunus avium, or sweet cherry. His amusing sub- and supralabials resembled nothing so much as a common loop knot, and their ambient hirsute facial adornment appeared like small, tabular and columnar crystals of frozen water.

Clenched firmly between his incisors was a smoking piece whose grey fumes, forming a tenuous ellipse about his occiput, were suggestive of a decorative seasonal circlet of holly. His visage was wider than it was high, and when he waxed audibly mirthful, his corpulent abdominal region undulated in the manner of impectinated fruit syrup in a hemispherical container. He was, in short, neither more nor less than an obese, jocund, multigenarian gnome, the optical perception of whom rendered me visibly frolicsome despite every effort to refrain from so being. By rapidly lowering and then elevating one eyelid and rotating his head slightly to one side, he indicated that trepidation on my part was groundless.

Without utterance and with dispatch, he commenced filling the aforementioned appended hosiery with various of the aforementioned articles of merchandise extracted from his aforementioned previously dorsally transported cloth receptacle. Upon completion of this task, he executed an abrupt about- face, placed a single manual digit in lateral juxtaposition to his olfactory organ, inclined his cranium forward in a gesture of leave-taking, and forthwith effected his egress by renegotiating (in reverse) the smoke passage. He then propelled himself in a short vector onto his conveyance, directed a musical expulsion of air through his contracted oral sphincter to the antlered quadrupeds of burden, and proceeded to soar aloft in a movement hitherto observable chiefly among the seed-bearing portions of a common weed. But I overheard his parting exclamation, audible immediately prior to his vehiculation beyond the limits of visibility: "Ecstatic Yuletide to the planetary constituency, and to that self same assemblage, my sincerest wishes for a salubriously beneficial and gratifyingly pleasurable period between sunset and dawn."

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12 Hawaiian days of Christmas

On the.......day of Christmas my Tutu (Grandmother) gave to me

1) A mayna bird in one papaya tree
2) Two coconuts
3) Three Dried squid
4) Four Flower Leis
5) Five Big fat pigs!
6) six hula lessons
7) seven shrimps a swimming
8) Eight ukuleles
9) Nine Pounds of poi
10) ten cans of soda
11) eleven televisions
12) Twelve missionaries

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This guy goes into his dentist's office, because something is wrong with his mouth. After a brief examination, the dentist exclaims, "Holy Smoke! That plate I installed in your mouth about six months ago has nearly completely corroded! What on earth have you been eating?" "Well... the only thing I can think of is this... my wife made me some asparagus about four months ago with this stuff on it... Hollandaise sauce she called it... and doctor, I'm talkin' DELICIOUS! I've never tasted anything like it, and ever since then I've been putting it on everything... meat, fish, toast, vegetables... you name it!" "That's probabably it," replied the dentist "Hollandaise sauce is made with lemon juice, which is acidic and highly corrosive. It seems as thought I'll have to install a new plate, but made out of chrome this time." "Why chrome?" the man asked. "Well, everyone knows that there's no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise!"
 
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COMBATING CANCER WITH BAKING SODA

did you know . . . that baking soda has been shown to fight cancer, stave off colds and flu, and even treat radiation poisoning. .. all for just pennies a day?

Dr. Simonchini an oncologist in Rome originally made the connection between fungal infections and cancer proliferation.

He realized that when a tumor was flushed with baking soda (which is antifungal), it shrank and completely disappeared withing days.

from: www.undergroundhealthreporter.com

****************************... Did Jesus go to the Wedding?

Why would Jesus, on his first journey, take his followers to a party? Didn’t they have work to do? Didn’t he have principles to teach? Wasn’t his time limited? How could a wedding fit with his purpose on earth?

Why did Jesus go to the wedding?

The answer? It’s found in the second verse of John 2. “Jesus and his followers were also invited to the wedding.”

Jesus wasn’t invited because he was a celebrity. He wasn’t one yet. The invitation wasn’t motivated by his miracles. He’d yet to perform any. Why did they invite him?

I suppose they liked him.

Big deal? I think so. I think it’s significant that common folk in a little town enjoyed being with Jesus. I think it’s noteworthy that the Almighty didn’t act high and mighty. The Holy One wasn’t holier-than-thou. The One who knew it all wasn’t a know-it-all. The One who made the stars didn’t keep his head in them. The One who owns all the stuff of earth never strutted it.

Jesus could have been all of these, but he wasn’t. His purpose was not to show off but to show up. He went to great pains to be as human as the guy down the street. He didn’t need to study, but still went to the synagogue. He had no need for income, but still worked in the workshop. He had known the fellowship of angels and heard the harps of heaven, yet still went to parties thrown by tax collectors. And upon his shoulders rested the challenge of redeeming creation, but he still took time to walk ninety miles from Jericho to Cana to go to a wedding.

As a result, people liked him. Oh, there were those who chaffed at his claims. They called him a blasphemer, but they never called him a braggart. They accused him of heresy, but never arrogance. He was branded as a radical, but never called unapproachable.

His faith made him likable, not detestable. Would that ours would do the same!

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REMINDER FROM GOD:

Feelings

"There is a time for everything … a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."1

Imagine living in a world where you couldn't laugh when you were highly amused, where you couldn't yell your head off at a ball game, sing your heart out in church or at a party, or cry when you are sad. Life would be deadly dull, empty, and boring. As another has said, "Life without feelings would be like playing a trombone with a stuck slide." It is also a very unhealthy way to live. As John Powell put it, "When I repress [that is, deny] my emotions, my stomach keeps score." Furthermore, people in denial and out of touch with their feelings are like zombies.

Feelings or emotions are God-given. They are a vital part of humanity. Whether they are positive or negative, they need to be acknowledged, owned, and expressed or dealt with in healthy ways. Proverbs even advises, "Open rebuke is better than secret love."2

Feelings in and of themselves are amoral; that is, they are neither right nor wrong. Jesus never told us how to feel, only how to act. It's what we do with feelings and how we handle them that matters.

Bottling up (denying) emotions hurts ourselves and damages our relationships. Lashing out hurts others and also damages relationships. Expressing them in love and kindness brings people closer together, and reinforces relationships. Furthermore, sharing feelings openly in a loving manner is the heart of intimacy. In fact, without this there is no closeness or intimacy, and such couples end up living together alone apart.

Listen to your heart and share some of your feelings in a loving and creative way with a friend or loved one today! And, when sharing feelings, it is always helpful to start by saying, "I feel …." Be sure to share what you are feeling—and not just what you are thinking. Sharing thoughts is good (unless it is a way to avoid facing and expressing feelings), but it isn't intimacy.

Furthermore, if we don't learn how to express feelings in creative ways, we may very likely allow them to control us and/or to act them out in self- or other destructive ways. This is allowing feelings to control us instead of our being in control of them. Remember, too, what we fail to talk out creatively, we will inevitably act out negatively.

One more point about feelings: It is important not to base our beliefs and actions on the way we feel. It is the Word of God, the Bible, which is our final voice of authority—not the way we feel.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to handle my emotions as Jesus did who, when he was sad, wept; and when he was angry at evil, he expressed his anger to bring about change. So help me to do likewise, but always to speak the truth in love. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 (NIV).
2. Proverbs 27:5.

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

myrrh -
(noun)
1. aromatic substance from certain plants

myrrh

noun
an aromatic resinous exudation from certain plants of the genus Myrrhis,  especially M. odorata,  a small spiny tree: used for incense, perfume, etc.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English myrre 

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REMINDER FROM GOD:

Letting Go

"Forgetting those things which are behind … I press on toward the goal."1

The story is told of two monks who had gone on a day's journey. During the day the weather had become very inclement. On the way home that evening they had to cross a flooded fjord where a woman who needed help to get to the other side was waiting. Seeing her dilemma, one of the monks picked her up and carried her across to the other side.

Later that evening the monk who didn't help the woman condemned the one who did saying, "You were wrong this afternoon helping that lady. You know that in our order we are to have no dealings with the opposite s-e-x."

To which the other monk replied, "I carried her only across the stream. You are carrying her still."

When we carry hurts, grudges, resentments, guilt, grief or any unresolved issues from the past and fail to let go of them, we contaminate our present relationships. As Cecil Osborne used to say, "Every unshed tear [and unresolved negative emotion] is a prism through which all of life's hurts are distorted."

True, we are to forget the past but we can't until we resolve it. Repressing hurts isn't forgetting them. All it does is bury them where they will take root, gather interest and come out in other damaging ways at a later time—either emotionally, relationally, physically, and/or spiritually.

We need to get all of these pains off our chest, express them in creative ways, forgive whoever has hurt us, and then let go of them. Only then can we truly forget those negative things which are behind, and get on with our life free of these encumbrances.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to resolve any and all unresolved issues from the past and let go of any hurt, anger, grief, fears, and resentment so I won't take these things out on others, and so I will be free to fully live and fully love. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Philippians 3:13 (NIV).

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

    nobby
    audio pronunciation
    NAH-bee

    DEFINITION

adjective
: cleverly stylish : chic, smart

    EXAMPLES

"[Mrs. Vance] ... reappeared, stunningly arrayed in a dark-blue walking dress, with a nobby hat to match." — From Theodore Dreiser's 1900 novel Sister Carrie

"This 'Members Only' club was where Chicago's nobbiest gathered to shut out people who were not like them in order to lead the good life of golf, horses, bathing on a private beach, and social events." — From an article by Henry Kisor in the Chicago Sun-Times, November 4, 2001

    DID YOU KNOW?

"Nobby" comes from the noun "nob," which is used in British English to mean "one in a superior position in life." ("Nob" may have begun as a slang word for "head," but etymologists aren't completely sure. A possible connection to "noble" has been suggested as well.) Appearing in English in 1788, "nobby" was first used to describe people of strikingly exquisite appearance. It has since extended in usage to describe the places frequented by such people, as well as their genteel customs. Charles Dickens, for example, wrote in Bleak House (1853) of "especting this unfortunate family matter, and the nobbiest way of keeping it quiet."

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One Little Secret to Lasting Love


I’m here not because I am supposed to be here, or because I’m trapped here, but because I’d rather be with you than anywhere else in the world. ~ Richard Bach

What is LOVE? Who can give us the answer to this question? Does anyone know what LOVE is really all about? Does anyone know what it takes for a love relationship to last and to flourish more and more as time goes by?

We like to think that there is a soulmate for all of us somewhere out there and that this special someone will make us HAPPY and will make the Sun forever shine on our street. The moment we enter a new relationship we already have a scenario prepared in our heads and we already know what is it exactly that needs to happen and when reality doesn’t match our imagination we get disappointed and we end up heart broken . This is one of the many reasons people give up on LOVE, this beautiful thing that we are all searching for and this is why our lives become so empty and meaningless.

Is LOVE still alive? Can we still dream about the ONE and hope one day this charming person who is meant to transform our lives will come our way? Well, I trust that after reading this beautiful story you will be able to answer to this question yourself.

“Years ago, I asked God to give me a spouse.

“You don’t own because you didn’t ask” God said.

Not only I asked for a spouse but also explained what kind of spouse I wanted. I want a nice, tender, forgiving, passionate, honest, peaceful, generous, understanding, pleasant, warm, intelligent, humorous, attentive, compassionate and truthful. I even mentioned the physical characteristics I dreamt about.

As time went by I added the required list of my wanted spouse. One night, in my prayer, God talked to my heart:

“My servant, I cannot give you what you want.”

I asked, “Why God?” and God said

“Because I am God and I am fair. God is the truth and all I do are true and right.”

I asked “God, I don’t understand why I cannot have what I ask from you?”

God answered, “I will explain. It is not fair and right for Me to fulfill your demand because I cannot give something that is not your own self.

It is not fair to give someone who is full of love to you if sometimes you are still hostile, or to give you someone generous but sometimes you can be cruel, or someone forgiving; however, you still hide revenge, someone sensitive; however, you are very insensitive….”

He then said to me:

“It is better for Me to give you someone who I know could grow to have all qualities you are searching rather than to make you waste your time to find someone who already has the qualities you want.

Your spouse would be bone from your bone and flesh from your flesh and you will see yourself in her and both of you will be one. Marriage is like a school. It is a life-long span education. It is where you and your partner make adjustment and aim not merely to please each other, but to be better human beings and to make a solid teamwork.

I do not give you a perfect partner, because you are not perfect either. I give you a partner with whom you would grow together.”

Author Unknown
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CHRISTMAS-CUSTOMS

A look at Christmastime customs...and where they originated ...by UPI:

Busy with last-minute Christmas shopping, you may not realize that Christmas gifts are a comparatively recent custom in the United States.

In the early days of the nation, gifts were exchanged on New Year's Day - not Christmas.

December 25th was a special day of worship...a religious holiday and nothing else.

But around the mid-1800s, gift-giving at Christmas became popular. It's been growing ever since, until today...well, just look at the crowds in the stores across the country. Millions of people are loaded down with Christmas packages for other people. So Christmas giving certainly is here to stay.

Christmas cards didn't appear in the United States until the early 1900s. The first American card manufacturer was a German named Louis Prang of Roxbury, Massachusetts. And there's irony to this fact.

It seems Massachusetts is the only state in the nation which once outlawed Christmas. Actually, Massachusetts wasn't a state but rather a British colony at the time. It abolished Christmas observance for 22 years...from 1659 to 1681. Anyone who didn't show up for work on Christmas Day was fined five shillings. Massachusetts didn't make Christmas a legal holiday until 1885.

Then there's the mistletoe tradition. What's now a yuletide license for kissing used to be crushed and fermented into an intoxicating liquor by pagan tribes. The Norsemen regarded mistletoe as a sacred berry with great powers of healing.

The custom of hanging Christmas stockings originated in Holland, where the children used their shoes to collect gifts. The wooden shoes were parked by the fireplace to be filled by their patron saint...St. Nicholas.

 
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RECIPES:

English Muffins

Ingredients:

2 1/4 tsp yeast
2 Tbsp warm water

1 cup warm water
1/2 c warm milk
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt

2 cups bread flour

3 Tbsp soften Butter
2 c. unbleached flour

Directions:

In a large bowl, dissolve 2 1/4 t. yeast into 2 T. warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Add in 1 cup warm water, 1/2 cup warm milk, 2 t. sugar, and 1 t. salt. Stir slightly.

Beat in 2 cups bread flour.

Cover bowl and let sit in warm place for 1 1/2 hours. (I put this in my oven (no heat) because the house was chilly.

After the mix has risen Then mix in 3 T. soften butter and 2 cups of unbleached flour until mix comes together.

Knead for about a minute on the counter top, then pat out to 1/2 inch thick.

Cut with a drinking glass or biscuit cutter.

Heat up a griddle to about 325 degrees or cast iron pan until hot. Grease it with butter. Carefully transfer risen muffins to the hot griddle, being careful not to smash them down.

Allow to cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they are browned and the middle is no longer doughy.

These can be split apart and toasted or just eaten as is.

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Salted Ginger Crisps

Gingerbread cookies are a holiday classic that everyone looks forward to.

Serves: 36 cookies
Prep Time: (refrigerate 3 hours) prep 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
   
 
For the Cookies:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar, packed
1/4 - cup mild molasses
1 tbsp. fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 egg
2 tsp. coarse sea salt


For the Icing: (optional)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. light corn syrup
1 to 1 1/2 tbsp. milk

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, allspice and cloves; set aside.With an electric mixer, cream together 3/4 cup butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add molasses and ginger; mix. Add egg; beat until blended. On low speed, slowly add flour and spice mixture, beating until blended. Divide dough in half; shape each half into a flat round. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. On lightly floured surface, roll 1 dough round to 1/4-inch thickness dusting with additional flour, as necessary, so dough does not stick. Cut dough into desired shapes and place on prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle cutouts with salt; press lightly to adhere salt. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly darker in color. Remove to a cooling rack; cool completely (cookies will crisp as they cool). Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Icing (optional) In a medium bowl, whisk powdered sugar, butter, corn syrup and 1 tablespoon milk until smooth. Slowly add additional milk, if necessary, for desired consistency. Drizzle over cookies; let stand until icing is set.

These cookies are sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

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Peppermint Whoopie Pies

Whoppie Pies have always been a favorite, but they are extra special with the peppermint thrown in. This recipe is a keeper.

Serves: 36 sandwich cookies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 9-12 minutes (prior chill time 30 minutes)
   
 
Cookies:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 cup buttermilk

Filling:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 7.5- ounce jar Marshmallow Fluff
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups Powdered sugar
1 cup crushed peppermint candies (about 50 peppermint discs)


Preheat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

In large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and extracts; mix well. Slowly add flour mixture and buttermilk, alternating, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Cover dough and chill at least 30 minutes.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto parchment-lined baking sheet, placing cookies 2 inches apart. Bake cookies 9 to 12 minutes, or until firm. Cool cookies on pan 3 to 5 minutes or until set, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. For filling, in large bowl, cream together butter, fluff, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar slowly; mix well. Spread flat side of half the cookies with heaping tablespoon of filling; top with second cookie to create sandwich. Roll edges in crushed peppermint candies; chill cookies to set filling.

Store unfilled cookies and filling in airtight containers in refrigerator for up to 1 week, and filled cookies for up to 3 days. Bring cookies to room temperature before serving.

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Linzer Torte Bars

These are easy to make and so good to eat!

Serves: makes 36 bars
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 to 25 minutes
View Nutritional Facts

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup ground walnuts
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2/3 cup red raspberry preserves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix all ingredients except preserves until crumbly. Press two-thirds of crumbly mixture in ungreased square pan, 9 x 9 x 2 inches. Spread with preserves. Sprinkle with remaining crumbly mixture; press lightly. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. Cut into about 2 x 1-inch bars.

Apricot Linzer Bars: Substitute ground almonds for the ground walnuts and apricot preserves for the raspberry preserves.

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Sausage-Cheese Balls

These little appetizers make a big hit with any crowd.

Serves: makes 8 dozen appetizers
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
   
  
3 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1 pound bulk pork sausage
4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, (16 ounces)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leavescrushed
1 1/2 teaspoons parsley or 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
barbecue sauce, or chili sauce, if desired


1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease bottom and sides of jelly roll pan, 15-1/2 x 10-1/2 x 2 x 1- inch.
2. Stir together all ingredients, using hands or spoon. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Place in pan.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brown. Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm with sauce for dipping.


High Altitude (3500-6500 ft)
Heat oven to 375ºF. Decrease Bisquick to 2 1/2 cups; stir in 1/2 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.

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Island Sea Turtles

The magic of real butter with macadamia nuts. A twist on the classic turtle, this addictive candy brings together macadamia nuts and bittersweet chocolate with a buttery coconut caramel.

Serves: 36 candies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
   
12 oz. dry roasted and salted macadamia nuts
1 cup flaked sweetened coconut
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
12 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
sea salt, to taste


Preheat oven to 400°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place macadamia nuts in 36 clusters of 4 to 7 nuts each, 2 inches apart; set aside.

Toast coconut in oven for about 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Pulse in food processor or chop into shorter strands.

Butter the inside of a heavy 3-quart saucepan. Melt 1/2 cup butter over low heat. Add sugar, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk; mix well. Increase heat to medium-high and bring mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium and continue to boil, stirring frequently until mixture reaches 244°F on a candy thermometer.

Remove saucepan from heat, stir in vanilla and coconut. Cool slightly; spoon a tablespoon of coconut caramel over each nut cluster; cool completely.

Place chocolate in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave 30 seconds on high, stir and continue to microwave in 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring after each. Chocolate should be smooth, but not warm. Dip tops of caramel-nut clusters in chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt. Place in refrigerator to set chocolate. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, separating layers with wax paper for up to 1 week.

Tip: To prevent the formation of sugar crystals in the caramel, wash down the sides of pan using a pastry brush dipped in water.

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Today's Tip

 The Secret to Keeping Your Silver Sparkling
          
If you plan to use the sterling silver for holiday meals, here are three key things you need to know to make it glisten and preserve it’s beauty:

It’s preferable to hand wash silverware in hot sudsy water as soon as possible after use to prevent tarnish stains. Rinse well in clear warm water, dry thoroughly (do not let silver air-dry) and put it away.

Foods that contain sulfur, such as eggs, and some food acids, like those found in vinegar, mustard and salt, cause silverware to tarnish and/or corrode faster than alkaline foods. We’re not saying to avoid those foods. We’re stressing the need to wash the silver promptly after use.

If you do put silverware in the dishwasher, don’t wash it with stainless steel. Their interaction causes pitting on the stainless pieces and leaves black spots on the silver.


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JOKES:

After being away on business for a week before Christmas, Tom thought it would be nice to bring his wife a little gift.

"How about some perfume?" he asked the cosmetics clerk.

She showed him a bottle costing $50.

"That's a bit much," said Tom, so she returned with a smaller bottle for $30.

"That’s still quite a bit," Tom groused.

Growing disgusted, the clerk brought out a tiny $15 bottle.

Tom grew agitated, "What I mean," he said, "is I'd like to see something real cheap.”

So the clerk handed him a mirror.

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One beautiful December evening Huan Cho and his girlfriend Jung Lee were sitting by the side of the ocean. There was a romantic full moon, and Huan Cho said, "Hey baby, let's play Weeweechu."

"Oh no, not now. Lets just look at the moon", said Jung Lee.

"Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I play Weeweechu. I love you and it's the perfect time," Huan Cho Begged.

"But I had rather just hold your hand and watch the moon."

"Please Jung Lee, just once... play Weeweechu with me."

Jung Lee looked at Huan Chi and said, "OK, we'll play Weeweechu."

Huan Cho grabbed his guitar and they both sang...

"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."

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At a monastery high in the mountains, the monks have a rigid vow of silence. Only at Christmas, and only by one monk, and only with one sentence, is the vow allowed to be broken.

One Christmas, Brother Thomas is allowed to speak and he says, "I like the mashed potatoes we have with the Christmas turkey!" and he sits down. Silence ensues for 365 days.

The next Christmas, Brother Michael gets his turn, and he says "I think the mashed potatoes are lumpy and I hate them!"

Once again, silence for 366 days (it's leap year). The following Christmas, Brother Paul rises and says, "I am fed up with this constant bickering!"


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The Santa Claus at the mall was very surprised when a young lady about twenty years old walked up and sat on his lap.

Santa doesn't usually take requests from adults, but she smiled very nicely at him, so he asked her, "What do you want for Christmas?"

"Something for my mother, please." said the young lady.

"Something for your mother? Well, that's very thoughtful of you,'' smiled Santa. "What do you want me to bring her? "

Without blinking she replied, "A son-in-law!"

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Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers when the youngest one began praying at the top of his lungs.

"I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE...
I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE...
I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE..."

His older brother leaned over and nudged the younger brother and said, "Why are you shouting your prayers? God isn't deaf." To which the little brother replied, "No, but Gramma is!"

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WE LIKE SHEEP

 Sheep aren’t smart. They tend to wander into running creeks for water, then their wool grows heavy and they drown. They have no sense of direction. They need a shepherd to lead them to calm water.
 
So do we! We, like sheep, tend to be swept away by waters we should have avoided. We have no defense against the evil lion who prowls about seeking whom he might devour.
 
Isaiah 53:6 reminds us, “We all have wandered away like sheep; each of us has gone his own way.”  We need a shepherd to care for us and to guide us. And Jesus is that Good Shepherd. The Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. The Shepherd who protects, provides, and possesses his sheep. The Psalmist says: The Lord is my shepherd!  The imagery is carried over to the New Testament as Jesus is called the good shepherd of the sheep!
 
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15”

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REMINDER FROM GOD:

Christianizing or Spiritualizing Complexes

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, it if is not accompanied by action, is dead."1

I recall an occasion when I was going through a difficult time of discouragement and shared this with a friend whose immediate response was, "Are you in the Word [meaning was I reading the Bible enough], Dick?"

I felt more discouraged and replied, "Joan, what do you do when you are hungry?"

"I get the point," she answered.

"What I need right now is an understanding and supportive friend," I replied.

Certainly I believe in reading the Bible and praying daily and "walking with God" but does that take away our pain when we are hurting, and does that meet the need of a lonely or hurting heart? No, of course not.

When Elijah, following his great victory on Mt. Carmel, was being threatened by Queen Jezebel who wanted him killed, he ran some forty miles for his life and was so depressed that he sat under a tree and wanted to die. So God sent an angel to him, and did the angel say, "Elijah, get up and pray?"

No. The angel said to Elijah, "Get up and eat!"

Elijah was emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausted. What he needed was a good feed. Sometimes that's what we need, too, or a good hug or someone just to listen, to care, and understand, not to give advice or try to fix us, but just to be there and give us their presence—and certainly not to spiritualize or Christianize an everyday normal human need by giving a spiritual answer for a non-spiritual need or problem.

In today's Bible passage James had it right. True religion is not only to "walk with God" but to understand people and their immediate needs, and to minister to them at that point of need—just as Jesus always did.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to be sensitive to people's felt and immediate needs and help meet them at their point of need. And deliver me from the insensitivity of giving them an irrelevant empty 'spiritual cliché' answer. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. James 2:16-17 (NIV).

Today, God’s message for you is to give joy in unexpected places.  A gift, a kind word or a helping hand can change the course of someone’s world – perhaps even yours.  You may never know how significant a seemingly insignificant action can be.

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

or·na·ment
[n. awr-nuh-muhnt; v. awr-nuh-ment, -muhnt] Show IPA
noun
1.an accessory, article, or detail used to beautify the appearance of something to which it is added or of which it is a part: architectural ornaments.
2.a system, category, or style of such objects or features; ornamentation: a book on Gothic ornament.
3.any adornment or means of adornment.
4.a person or thing that adds to the credit or glory of a society, era, etc.
5.the act of adorning.

verb (used with object)
10.to furnish with ornaments; embellish: to ornament a musical composition.
11.to be an ornament to: Several famous scientists were acquired to ornament the university.

Origin:
1175–1225; 

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REMINDER FROM GOD:

The Lost Chord

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men [and women] of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."1

Joy, my wife, is a harpist and for many years she and her fellow harpist friend, Susan, played harp duets. On one occasion they practiced for endless hours to master a particularly difficult arrangement of "The Lord's Prayer." After the service where they played this duet, a man rushed up to thank them for playing such a magnificent rendering of "The Lost Chord."

What a letdown for Joy and Susan. Joy and I laugh about it now but it didn't feel so good for her and Susan at the time.

But isn't life like that? No matter what we do, how hard we work at it, how good a job we do of it, there will always be someone who doesn't get it, doesn't like it, misses the point, or who will find fault with whatever we do.

In my line of work—writing Daily Encounters for one thing—I sometimes experience this. When I fail to be "politically correct," some readers love it and others hate it. Some commend me. Others criticize me. That's par for the course, and for those who want to make a difference in life, that's par for the course of life. People who aim to please everybody end up pleasing nobody.

As Christians, our responsibility is to be witnesses for Jesus—not to be politically correct people pleasers. I like what an English Bishop once said, "Everywhere Paul went there was either a revival or a revolution. Everywhere I go they serve tea."

I hate tea, if you get my drift!

In this day of ever-decreasing moral standards and increasing evil, would to God that there were more "Apostle Pauls" in our pulpits and "Apostle Paul" type politicians in leadership positions who would cause or at least trigger spiritual revivals and/or moral revolutions.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me always to stand firm in the faith and to live and work in harmony with your Word in order to bring glory to you—and never be a people pleaser for my own praise and glory. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NIV).

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

rein·deer  (rndîr)
n. pl. reindeer or rein·deers
A large deer (Rangifer tarandus) of the Arctic and northern regions of Eurasia and North America, having branched antlers in both sexes.
[
Middle English reindere : Old Norse hreinn, reindeer; see ker-1 in Indo-European roots + Middle English der, animal; see deer.]

Word History: Although Saint Nick uses reins on his reindeer and reindeer are used to pull sleds in Lapland and northern Siberia, the word reindeer has nothing to do with reins. The element -deer is indeed our word deer, but the rein- part is borrowed from another language, specifically from the Scandinavian languages spoken by the chiefly Danish and Norwegian invaders and settlers of England from the 9th to the 11th century. Even though the Old Icelandic language in which much of Old Norse literature is written is not the same variety of Old Norse spoken by these settlers of England, it is close enough to give us an idea of the words that were borrowed into English. Thus we can cite the Old Icelandic word hreinn, which means "reindeer," as the source of the first part of the English word. The word reindeer is first recorded in Middle English in a work composed before 1400.


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Following Your Passion and Finding Your Purpose


When you see what you’re here for, the world begins to mirror your purpose in a magical way. It’s almost as if you suddenly find yourself on a stage in a play that was written expressly for you. ~ Betty Sue Flowers

Recently I left my full time corporate career of three years to follow my dreams and be present with my children. In my former life as a full time property sales professional I was juggling it all, working weekends, working overtime, and I was burning out. As the weeks rolled into months, and months rolled into years, I was losing my sense of self. Not only were my children growing up before my very eyes, I didn’t know who I was anymore. I felt like I was functioning at 70% in all areas of my life. Average. I'd lost the spark.

Where was that “thing” that made me jump out of bed in the morning where I wholeheartedly believed the day was going to be wonderful and full of surprises, joy and fulfillment? I knew I needed to find it.

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. ~ Albert Einstein

My children deserved a mother who was present, not a tired and distracted version of a mother who was pulled in all directions, exhausted and just trying to hang on for a ride that was just not going to stop. I came to the gut wrenching realization that I needed to find that person. I didn’t want to settle for average.

This was my life and I decided that I deserved to be happy, and my children deserved it too. I started to reflect on my passions, who I was, and what I wanted for myself and my family. Somewhere along the way, I pulled out the manuscript that had been hiding away for years and started writing again. And as I stumbled across the concept of mindfulness, and started to experience the benefits of meditation (that I started to help me cope with stress) the little mustard seed of an idea that became the magazine I launched in April of this year, called Mindful Parenting. And for the first time in a very long time, I feel inspired, fulfilled and motivated. I have a sense of purpose.

Whatever our stories or circumstances, I do believe we always do the best we can at the time. But I also believe we can make changes and rewrite our stories in the pursuit of happiness, fulfillment and purpose.

Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. ~ Barbara Geraci

So… what’s your passion? Are you rewriting your story? What makes you feel happy and fulfilled outside of being a mother, father, husband, wife, brother, sister, son or daughter? Have you found it yet?
Here are some things You can do to help you FIND YOUR PASSION & PURPOSE in LIFE:

1. THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD

What did you love doing when you were growing up? Was there anything you wanted to be or anything you wanted to do, but were told you couldn’t or shouldn’t?

The best career advice to give the young is, find out what you like doing best and get someone else to pay you for doing it. ~ Katherine Whilehaen

2. GRAB A PEN AND PAPER, AND SIT IN A QUIET SPOT AND WRITE

Ask yourself, If I had 1 million dollars, how would my life look like and start from there.

Jot down all the things you're good at, all the things you've ever wanted to do, all the things you'd do if you could. You don't need to be rational here, just write for at least 10 minutes. Try not to let your ego take over. Just let the words roll out.

The pen that writes your life story must be held in your own hand. ~ Irene C. Kassorla

3. REVIEW WHAT YOU'VE WRITTEN

Does anything jump out? What's your heart telling you?

Trust yourself, then you will know how to live. ~ Johann Wolfgang van Goethe

4. PICK ONE OR TWO OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY SPOKE TO YOU

Start thinking about what changes you could make in your life to implement one of these things. We of course need to use common sense, but if fear is stopping you, you can overcome fear. It's all about baby steps.

You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need. ~ Jerry Gillies

5. EACH DAY, WORK TOWARDS FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION

Sometimes it takes time. Enjoy the ride!

To love what you do and feel that it matters — how could anything be more fun? ~ Katharine Graham

This post was written by Vanessa Carnevale, the Publisher/Editor of Mindful Parenting magazine, writer, mum of two and a fluffy white dog. Wife to a lovely husband. Happy. Fulfilled. And present.
 
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RECIPES:

Baked Corn Casserole

Reminiscent of cornbread, this enticing casserole adds the favorite flavor upgrade of corn in another form to any daily dinner.

Serves: 6 servings (about 1 cup each)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1 can (about 16 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 package (about 8 ounces) corn muffin mix
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 can (2.8 ounces) french fried onions (about 1 1/3 cups)

DIRECTIONS:

Beat the soup, milk and eggs in a medium bowl with a fork or whisk.  Stir in the corn, corn muffin mix, cheese, and 2/3 cup onions.  Pour the soup mixture into a 1 1/2-quart casserole.
Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes or until the mixture is hot.
Top with the remaining onions.  Bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

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Sausage, Cranberries & Stuffing Pastry

Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry is woven around a comforting mixture of Pepperidge Farm® Herb Seasoned Stuffing, sausage, green onions, mushrooms and dried cranberries, and baked until golden to make a festive and delicious dish.

Serves: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
   
 
1 tablespoon water
2 eggs
1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
1 cup Pepperidge Farm® Herb Seasoned Stuffing
4 green onion, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
3 ounces chopped mushroom (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 teaspoon dried sage leaves, crushed
1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed according to package directions
turkey gravy, warmed (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Heat the oven to 375°F. Beat the water and 1 egg in a small bowl with a fork or whisk.
Lightly stir the sausage, stuffing, green onions, mushrooms, cranberries, sage and the remaining egg in a medium bowl.
Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. With a short side facing you, cut slits 1-inch apart down both sides of the pastry sheet, from the outer edges to the fold marks. Spoon the sausage mixture down the center of the pastry sheet. Starting at the short side closest to you, fold the pastry strips over the sausage mixture, alternating sides, to cover the sausage mixture. Place the pastry onto a baking sheet. Brush the pastry with the egg mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Slice the pastry and serve warm with the gravy, if desired.

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Festive Cranberry Cheese Spread

This sweet, tart and spicy cranberry mixture makes a glistening topping for cream cheese. Served with crackers, it's sure to be a favorite at any festive gathering.

Serves: enough for 24 crackers
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: none
   
INGREDIENTS:
 
1 can (16 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce
1 can (4 oz.) ORTEGA® Diced Green Chiles
2 tablespoon sliced green onion
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 package (8-oz.) reduced-fat cream cheese
1 package crackers, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

In medium bowl, combine cranberry sauce, chiles, green onion, lime juice, garlic salt, cayenne pepper and chili powder; mix until well blended.

To serve, place cream cheese on serving dish. Spoon 1 cup of the cranberry mixture over cheese. Serve with crackers.

(Nutritional Information Per Serving (using 1 water cracker, 2 teaspoons each of cranberry mixture and cream cheese): 36 calories; 1 g fat; 2 mg cholesterol; 75 mg sodium; 7 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 1 g protein.)


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Choco-Holic Cake

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate is what this cake is made of! Sour cream and pudding mix enrich and make this cake moist and delicious.


Serves: 24
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
   
 
1 package (18.25-oz.) chocolate cake mix
1 package (4-oz.) chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
4 large eggs
1 package (12-oz.) NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup walnuts, chopped
powdered sugar, (for sprinkling)
fresh raspberries, (for garnish, optional)
glaze
1 bar (2 oz.) NESTLE unsweetened chocolate baking bar
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar, optional

FOR CAKE:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan or other tube pan.

COMBINE cake mix, pudding mix, milk, sour cream and eggs in large mixer bowl. Beat on low speed just until blended. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Stir in morsels and nuts. Pour into prepared baking pan.

BAKE for 55 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in cake comes out clean.

COOL in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes. Invert onto wire rack to cool completely.

FOR GLAZE:
MELT baking bar and butter in small, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar alternately with water until of desired consistency. Stir in vanilla extract.

POUR glaze over cake or sprinkle with powdered sugar.

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Mustard Greens

    1/2 cup thinly sliced onions
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1 Tbsp olive oil
    1 pound mustard greens, washed and torn into large pieces
    2 to 3 Tbsp chicken broth or vegetable broth (vegetarian option)
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1/4 teaspoon pepper
    1/4 teaspoon dark sesame oil

Method

1 In a large sauté pan, sauté onions in olive oil over medium heat until the onions begin to brown and caramelize, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook a minute more, until fragrant.

2 Add the mustard greens and broth and cook until the mustard greens are just barely wilted. Toss with sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Yield: Serves 4.

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Pear Cobbler with Cranberry Streusel


Yield:  Serves 4

The warm, melted fruit combination of pears and cranberries makes a fantastic comfort-food dessert to warm up even the coldest night. Grab a bowlful with a scoop of ice cream and slip on a thick pair of socks: You've got the ultimate winter nightcap.

INGREDIENTS
Unsalted butter, at room temperature
Granulated sugar
4 Bartlett pears
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter; softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup heavy cream, beaten to soft peaks

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Dust the dish with granulated sugar, tapping out any excess.

2. Peel the peers and cut them in half through the stem end. Use a melon baller to scoop out the cores. Put the pear halves in a large bowl, sprinkle with the vanilla, and toss. Then sprinkle over the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg and toss so that the pears are really well coated with the flavorings. Set the pears in a single layer, cored side down, in the prepared baking dish.

3. Now make the topping. In the same bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, flour, and salt and mash it all together with your fingers. Toss in the cranberries. Crumble the topping mixture over the pears in the baking dish and bake until the topping is nice and crunchy and browned and the pears are very tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve with whipped cream.

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JOKES:

A woman goes to her doctor and says she wants an operation because her vagina lips are much to large. She asks the doctor to keep the operation a secret as she's embarrassed and doesn't want anyone to find out. The doctor agrees.

She wakes up from her operation and finds three roses carefully placed beside her bed. Outraged she immediately calls in the doctor and says, I thought I asked you not
to tell anyone about my operation!!! Don't worry, he says, I didn't tell anybody. The first rose is from me. I felt bad because you went through this all by yourself. The second one is from the nurse. She assisted me with the operation, and she had the operation done herself. Who is the third rose from? she asked. Oh, says the doctor, that rose is from the guy upstairs in the burn unit. He wanted to thank you for his new ears!

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One day God was looking down at
earth and saw all of the rascally behavior
that was going on...

So He called His angels and sent

one to earth for a time.

When the angel returned,
he told God,'Yes, it is bad on earth;
95% are misbehaving and only
5% are not.
God thought for a moment and said,
'Maybe I had better send down a second
angel to get another opinion.'

So God called another angel and sent
her to earth for a time.

When the angel returned she went to
God and said, 'Yes, it's true. The earth
is in decline; 95% are misbehaving,
but 5% are being good...'
God was not pleased.

So He decided to e-mail the 5%
who were good, because he wanted to
encourage them, and give them a little
something to help them keep going.
Do you know what the e-mail said?
V
V
V
V
V

Okay, ……………I was just wondering,
because I didn't get one either.

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I just figured out why I'm overweight! The shampoo I use in the shower, that runs down my body says: "For extra volume and body." I'm going to start using "Dawn" dish soap instead. It says "Dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove." Repost if you have the same issue....and a good sense of humor!!!!!

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MARRIED OR NOT, YOU SHOULD READ THIS ...


“When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She s
at down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.

So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

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Today, God’s message for you is to give yourself some time. Whether you need time to think it over, time to heal, time to have fun, or time for doing nothing whatsoever, it's yours if you just give time to yourself.

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PS:

When filling out your Christmas cards this year, please take time to fill out an extra card and send to this address: A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20307-5001. Pass this on and think of how many cards these wonderful, special people who have sacrificed so much would get. Thank you !

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