God is in a Class by Himself

Day 8: God Is in a Class by Himself

Heart Prep posted on 10.01.08 by Kimberly Wagner

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 44
“I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone.” —Isaiah 44:24, NASB

In the book of Isaiah, God repeatedly makes statements like this: “I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God” (45:5, NASB). It seems as if that should be obvious. We may feel like responding, “Duh! Of course there is no other!”But God does not waste His words, and He has good reason to include this significant point and repeat it multiple times throughout the book of Isaiah. It is necessary to remind us that He is God, because we so quickly act as if He is not. At times, we even try to be our own god.Rarely do we admit it, or are probably even aware of it, when we are attempting to play God or step into His position. But every time we choose to disobey Scripture, every time we take things into our own hands or decide to go our own way, we are dethroning God and stepping into that role ourselves. God does not need our help in running the universe—He stretched it all out and put it into place all by Himself. But we sure try to give Him advice all along the way! What are some ways we might attempt to play God? Perhaps you can relate to some of these:

• When we accept a job offer without seeking God and asking Him to lead us . . . we are playing God.

• When we need to clean our house but choose to lie in front of the TV instead . . . we are playing God.

• When we know God commands us to treat our husband with respect but we choose to speak to him with demeaning words or attitudes . . . we are playing God.

• When we choose to spend time visiting with friends when our children need time from us . . . we are playing God.

• When we are rude to a store clerk because we think we deserve better treatment . . . we are playing God.

• When we try to force God to make exceptions for us or to change His plan for our life because things aren’t going according to our plans . . . we are playing God.

Take Time to ReflectAsk God to open your eyes to any ways you may be attempting to instruct, argue with, or disobey Him. Prayerfully read Isaiah 44.

It's time to make the doughnuts!!

I had a itty bitty hankerin' for doughnuts yesterday, but I got through it. It was so chilly and cloudy this afternoon that I didn't quite make it through it today! Don't days like these just get you in the mood for cooking and comfort foods or is it just me?

I'm not a good doughnut maker! I have tried so many times, but always come up with too firm a dough, not cooked enough (the reason for that is that the grease is too hot!) or soggy. I don't make good glaze for doughnuts either! I've never been a fan of "day old" doughnuts, b/c of this factor. The frosting "weeps" and makes the whole thing tough and just a ball of too sweet dough, so if you ask me, yeast doughnuts only have a small window of time where they are good...right after you make them.

Okay....this afternoon, I started searching online for THE "perfect doughnut" recipe. Many, MANY searches led me back to the same chef, Alton Brown. I've watched him on The Food Network and I'll have to say that he's not one of my fav's but I guess he has a good recipe for doughnuts since his reviews were over the top. So....I printed it out and headed for the kitchen. Determined that we were not going to WAY overeat nice warm glazed doughnuts, I chose to make 1/2 a recipe. (that's also incase they flopped, but honestly, if you're going to heat up and waste that much oil you might as well make a full batch!) Below is my yeast proofing...making sure it's good. My mamma taught me to do that a long time ago so's I don't waste all the ingredients if the yeast is not good. I also use freshly grated nutmeg which makes a big difference in cooking! (See that little bowl above the yeast? That's honey butter!! I made a little batch of that last night to go with the Trader Joes Cornbread...and girls...that was tasty!!!) Okay, back to the doughnuts...

The yeast is good! I've got my countertop floured and ready to go. Don't get grossed out ladies. I clean it off good before I start, but I'm way too uncordinated to use one of those pastry mats. I just make a mess!
Doughnuts cut and ready for raising! I always use the little center cuts too...it makes PERFECT bite sized nibblin's! I'm sure there is only 1/2 point in each of those little things! ; ()
Okay, I'm NOT going to get that oil too hot this time! Got the candy thermometer out and there is a line at 365 degrees that says "DEEP FAT FRYING". (I wish they wouldn't put it THAT way! "Frying doughnuts" would be nicer, don't ya think?) It just drives me bonkers when I get that far and the silly things get sunburned before they get done! Makes for hard crusted doughnuts with a stretchy center. Nobody likes that! By the way...I use lowfat oil!
Did ya fall for that? There is no such thing as lowfat oil! If you're going to fry , just DO IT for goodness sake! Walk an extra mile in the morning! I don't fry much, but I can't imagine baking doughnuts. I did find a recipe for it, but as you might expect, there was not one star shining by it!
Now...this is the "cooks treat" or for some of you girls, this would tide the kiddo's over until Daddy gets home! I sprinkled these with powdered sugar. Cinnamon sugar would be sweet too!
This is the best glaze recipe ever!!! The only thing I did different than my own glaze recipe was to heat the milk and vanilla up first, then whisk the sifted powdered sugar into that and glaze! Also, the directions told me to let the doughnuts cool 15-20 min. before glazing. Normally I don't do that. This may keep them from soggin? I don't know.
Oh...aren't they swell looking? The glaze was a little hardened like Krispy Kreme's! But the doughnut wasn't sickening sweet like K.K.'s! So...this one is a winner!! Here is the recipe of you want it. If you'd like the glaze recipe, you can find it here. It'd be fun to make doughnuts with the kiddo's! Not too healthy though. I'm sure I won't make doughnuts for another year. Usually one time in the Fall and I'm good for a year! Aren't we thankful for that?

Now, I don't want you to think I didn't make one thing that was healthy for dinner tonight!!! See those little things circled below?? Well, those are carrots, peas and corns! Perfectly healthy dish! I just went a little overboard on the carbs tonight, but the comfort food worked for me!
I'm comforted!

Oh yeah...one more thing...

I found this little thing for Ally to help us with THESE:

AHHH...Ice Cream Sandwiches!!

NOW...wasn't that a sweet deal for only $2.35!!!

Thriftin Treasure for Today!

Okay, you girls got me going again! I wasn't out to LOOK for a chairside table, but this one was available and it found it's way home to my garage! It wasn't free at the curb, but I only had to give $10.00 for it. Honey doesn't think it was such a good deal yet, but he's seen me at work and is excited to get rid of the "cute" little table by his recliner and trade it for a more "substantial and useful" piece of furniture! (this will actually HOLD his TV guide (like WHAT'S that matter?? He surfs channels all the time anyhow!) and a couple magazines, AND he can put his "equipment"? in the hideaway! (maybe that's where he can hide his DOZEN or so remotes!) Anyhow...I discovered something new today. If I were 4 yrs. older, I could have gotten a Senior Discount! Well, I guess that's a trade off..but there was a little something in me that made me want to be older for just a minute...then I snapped back into reality! 4 yrs is NOT only worth $1.00! Ha! I'll post the "after" on here too...come back and see it! Come on Kris...lets get ta painting! I think I'll paint it BLACK...what do you girls think?

A Fall Day in the Country!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

On Praying...

Good morning Girls! I had to share another devotion that I am receiving from ROH. I get these daily b/c I signed up for the 30 days of prayer preceeding the True Women Conference held here in Chicago Oct. 9-11. Carolyn and I are going together and I'm so looking foward not only to her company, but to a weekend filled with Biblical teaching and fellowship with other believers in Christ. Wish each of you could be here with us...oh...a tiny glimpse of heaven! These devotions just hit me exactly where I'm at! This one in particular. I've been praying as I walk in the mornings...not that this is wrong in and of itself, but I had to slump a little further in my chair when I got to the part about "half-hearted prayers". Sometimes I think I have been praying so long about certain things that I have lost my "fervor". It's just a "here I am again Lord, asking for the same thing, so incase you forgot...". I need to be much more intentional in my prayer life! There are certain things that I DO get on my knees for but normally, my morning prayers are spent sitting in the computer chair after reading my normal online devotions (NOTHING substitutes YOUR Bible in YOUR hands!) and my mind often wanders, having to reign it back in for the "grand finale". Now you know a little better how you can pray for me! I'm sure reading the following will make you sit a little "taller" when you come to the throne of Grace as well! Press on my sisters!

Prayer
Heart Prep posted on 09.26.08 by Kimberly Wagner

Scripture Focus: Colossians 1

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” —Colossians 4:2, NASB

“Devote” is a tame rendering of the actual meaning in the original Greek text. The following phrases do a better job of communicating what Paul is calling for here: “Be courageously persistent!”

“Hold onto and don’t let go!” It brings to mind the way Jacob held on and refused to let go when he encountered the Lord at Peniel (which means “face of God”) in Genesis 32.

This is radical praying! Not half-hearted, groggy phrases offered in whispering tones with no real faith. No, this kind of praying is what Paul is referring to as he gives instructions for spiritual warfare: “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18, NASB).

Courageous praying is done with a conscious awareness of who we are speaking to. It is praying that believes there really is a God who hears and answers prayer according to His good pleasure. It is prayer that seeks His glory supremely, above every other human desire.

This type of praying isn’t satisfied to drift into idle thoughts or inattention but is alert and intense. The woman who is careful to practice this discipline will be watchful and sensitive to what is taking place around her, stopping to pray with a friend in need, whether in a public place, on the phone, or on a crowded street. She will also be careful to listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings to pray. Throughout the day and night, she will always be ready to respond to His call to prayer.

The attitude of thanksgiving frames this type of praying. There is no place for a sense of entitlement or a demanding spirit. Gratitude is the fountain from which each request flows, since every good and perfect gift comes from the Father.

Take Time to Reflect
Drop to your knees, if you are physically able, and ask God to give you a greater level of intensity and focus in your praying. Ask His Holy Spirit to fill your mind with the needs of those around you, to give you an awareness of what you should be interceding for. Be sure to express your gratitude to the Lord. Use Colossians 1 as an outline in praying for others; insert personal names in appropriate places.

chores, Chores, CHORES!!

Well Kath, if you ever need motivation to get those chores done, just come back here for a short visit b/c this little precious can tell you how to "Git ur done"! Almost as much encouragement as Sarah Edwards, wouldn't you say? :) I LOVE this little cupcake! Can't wait to see her in 3 weeks!

UPDATE:
I had to laugh when I went back and looked at this again after Amy's last email. She just ran the sweeper and now feels worse. I expect the bathroom to be her next stop, but not for cleaning! Hope little Rylie doesn't sing this merry little tune to her when she arrives this week! Please pray for Amygirl...that she will endure this time and have a couple days a week that she can do her own chores! Ahhhh...I remember the feeling!