Daily Archives: July 27, 2012
The God Of Comfort
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…” (Isaiah 66:13, NIV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Osteen
Oftentimes, when people face challenges, they seek comfort by surrounding themselves with things that are familiar. It may be work, a sport or hobby; it may be relationships; or of course, we all know about comfort food. But those things are only temporary, and they can only bring temporary comfort. True, lasting comfort is available, and it’s only found in a personal relationship with God, the Father through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
According to Webster’s dictionary, comfort means to give strength and hope; to ease grief or trouble. No matter what difficulty you may be facing today, God wants to bring you comfort. Like a mother cares for her child, He longs to give you strength, hope and confidence. Make the decision to put Him first in every area of your life. Let go of those things you know are holding you back. Let Him be Lord over all! As you surrender to His grace, you will be filled with His peace and joy. You’ll be empowered to overcome every obstacle, and you will live in victory all the days of your life.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, I come to You today and invite You to fill my whole being. Give me Your lasting comfort and strength. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to live in the victory You have established for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen
© 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – Quiet Encouragers
READ: Acts 11:22-26
[He] encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. —Acts 11:23
One of the qualities I most admire in others is the gift of quiet, behind-the-scenes encouragement. I remember arriving home from a stay in the hospital and finding that my friend Jackie (who had surgery a few days earlier) sent me a book of God’s promises.
My Uncle Bob was so thankful for the people who cared for him at the cancer center that he sent hundreds of complimentary notes to their work supervisors.
My cousin Brenda experienced the agonizing loss of a child almost 20 years ago, and now her quiet deeds of compassion are treasured by many.
Often it is the very people who have experienced the most suffering—physical and emotional—who are the most abundant providers of encouragement to others.
In Acts, we read about Barnabas, who was known as the “Son of Encouragement” (4:36). He was “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (11:24) and encouraged others so “that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (v.23). His acts of encouragement must have had a wide and strong sphere of influence.
Just as we have been blessed with encouragement, let’s be a modern-day Daughter or Son of Encouragement to others. —Cindy Hess Kasper
Teach me to love—this is my plea;
May all the Spirit’s graces shine through me;
Tear from my heart all hate, foolish pride;
Help me to live like Christ the crucified. —Peterson
The human spirit rings with hope at the sound of an encouraging word.
Copyright © 2012, RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA.
Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
This recipe takes me back to a time when I was a little girl and my mom would buy these Sara Lee Coffee Cakes. We would warm it up and eat it for breakfast or as a after dinner treat. Oh the memories. How I hold them so close and dear to my heart. Love You Mom!
Ingredients
CAKE
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ cups milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted
CINNAMON TOPPING
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
CREAM CHEESE GLAZE
2 oz cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons milk (may need more)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350
Step 1: Cake
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Beat in milk and eggs. Stir in melted butter. Pour the cake batter into a greased 9 X 13 inch pan. Set aside
Step 2: Cinnamon Topping
In a medium bowl, mix together all of the cinnamon topping ingredients until creamy. Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon topping mixture on top of the batter. Use a knife to swirl the cinnamon mixture into the batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Step 3: Cream Cheese Glaze
Make the glaze by mixing all of the glaze ingredients until silky. You may need more milk or more powdered sugar to reach a desired glaze consistency. Insert a toothpick into the cake part to check for doneness. Allow cake to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Drizzle on the cream cheese glaze. Serve warm.
* CHEF’S NOTE – This coffee cake goes perfect with your morning cup of Joe, Hot Chocolate or OJ (my fave). This would also make an excellent brunch dish too! Feelin’ nutty? Just add a cup of finely chopped pecans to the cinnamon filling.
Source: Divas Can Cook
Porter House Italian Salad
Who doesn’t love the Olive Garden? Not anybody I know. Any time we get the chance to go there it is one thing in particular we REALLY look forward to. That lovely bowl of fresh salad and warm garlic breadsticks. Oh I can just taste it now. That’s why I googled the recipe until I found a close replica that I could make at home. May not be exact but it’s pretty darn close. Divertiti! (Enjoy!)
Ingredients
Salad:
1 large head romaine lettuce
slices red onion
black olives
4-6 banana peppers
2 small tomatoes, quartered (I actually used grape tomatoes, cut in half)
½ c. croutons
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salad Dressing:
½ c. mayonnaise
1/3 c. white vinegar
1 tsp vegetable oil
2 Tb. corn syrup
2 Tb. Parmesan cheese
2 Tb. Romano cheese
¼ tsp garlic salt – or one clove garlic, minced
½ tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp parsley flakes
1 Tb. lemon juice
1 tsp white sugar
Instructions
Mix all dressing ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If this is a little too tart for your own personal tastes, add a little extra sugar, but don’t overdo it!
Chill one salad bowl in freezer for at least 30 minutes. Put lettuce in bowl. Place on top of lettuce red onions, black olives, banana peppers, tomatoes, and croutons. Add some freshly grated Parmesan cheese if you like, and add plenty of Salad Dressing on top
* CHEF’S NOTE – Using fat-free mayo and light corn syrup, this dressing is only 34 calories for 2 tbs of dressing!
Source: Vittles Divine
McDonald’s Customer Dies At Counter In Croatia
Restaurant Reportedly Keeps Making And Serving Food
A McDonald’s restaurant in Sibenik, Croatia, is drawing international attention today after workers there reportedly continued to make and sell food after a female customer collapsed and died at the counter.
Croatian newspaper 24sata reports that, despite the death of the McDonald’s customer, “employees continued to work as if nothing had happened.”
An ambulance, called by the woman’s husband, responded quickly, though emergency personnel could not revive her. While relatives mourned, adds 24sata, the woman’s body was covered with a sheetuntil the coroner reportedly arrived an hour and a half later. All the while, the fast food eatery apparently stayed open for business.
Restaurant officials have countered the claims, attributing them to overzealous reporting in the Croatian media.
According to the Daily Mail, McDonald’s officials say that after the woman died only the drive-through remained open. They say the walk-in portion of the restaurant remained closed until the body could be removed.
At least one customer disagrees, telling The Sun, “No-one closed the restaurant, which would normally have been done at any other place, especially a fast food restaurant.”
I Am Lady Fab 