Sunday Scripture

 I've been posting  Sunday Scriptures on both of my blogs this December, taken from an Advent study I did in 2013 with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This week's verses are focused on Joy.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 20.

S= "Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a crowd of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."  (Hebrews12:1-2)

O= The writer of Hebrews is not known, though to me the epistle has the definite flavor of Paul's writing.  C.I. Scofield notes, "The occasion of the Epistle was the need of special exhortation for Hebrew readers who had professed faith in Jesus as the Messiah, some of whom were wavering in their attitude.'

Scofield has titled Chapter 12 "The worship and walk of the believer-priest" and has titled verses 1-2 "Jesus is the perfect example."  So, since they were encompassed by a great cloud of witnesses, the believers were encouraged to run their Christian race (laying aside every weight, laying aside sin, running with patience) looking to Jesus.

Jesus, the believer's perfect Example, endured the cross, despising the shame, because of the joy that was set before Him.  He is the Author of our faith and is also the Finisher of it, now set down at the right hand of God's throne.

A= I am to follow Jesus' example.  I'm to run the race of the Christian life with patience, unencumbered by weights and sin.  I can do this as I consider the example of the Author and Finisher of my faith.  He ran a race that included dying a shameful death, but He did it for the joy that was set before Him.  He ran His race triumphantly and is now seated at God's right hand.

P= "Lord, I thank You for these precious verses that make it so clear how believers are to run the race of life.  Help me to lay aside the weights and sin that could cause me to stumble and falter in my race.  I thank You that You are helping me to understand what some of these weights are, and that You want me to lay them aside.

"I praise You for the example of Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith.  He ran His race well, and endured the cross, despising the shame, because of His joy in what He was accomplishing on our behalf.  I have joy awaiting me as well.  Help me to run my race as You would have me to, each and every day.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is this week's simple (but meaningful) Sunday Scripture!

Coffee cake du jour

 

Photo is from Pixabay.

 Last Saturday,  when we had four grandkids over for brunch, the coffee cake of the day (and I wish I had taken pictures) was a favorite basic recipe customized with some leftovers from cookie baking.  I was pretty pleased with myself for coming up with the idea that utilized some components we seldom know what to do with.

When you make as many cookies as we do at Christmas time, you end up with leftover things.  Glazes, toppings, frostings.  In our house these things tend to accumulate in custard cups or plastic dishes in the fridge.  So on the day in question, I was thinking specifically about a crumble topping my hubby had made for these cookies: Gingerbread Coffee Cake Cookies.  He had so much of it left over that he made a second batch of the cookies, but he still had leftover topping.

I decided to make our old favorite which I consider the World's Easiest Coffeecake.  I would top it with this crumble topping instead of the cinnamon sugar the recipe calls for.  So I did and it came out of the oven looking fantastic.  

When the cake cooled, I made an eggnog glaze for it by heating leftover frosting from Eggnog Log Cookies.  I may have thinned it out a little with half and half, but if I remember right,  the frosting thinned to a glaze-like consistency simply by heating.  I then drizzled this glaze over the coffee cake and it set up nicely. 

It looked beautiful and was delicious.  A new favorite which I would try customizing with other cookie-baking leftovers in the future!

Bits and pieces

 

Many, many years ago I read a little idea for making an Advent calendar and I was smitten with it.  The idea was to arrange 25 foil tart tins in the shape of a Christmas tree on a large piece of gift-wrapped cardboard and to fill each one with little bits and pieces of Christmas -- snippets from cards, little poems, a candy or two or other little things like Christmas pins or tiny ornaments.  If I remember right one glued a piece of gift wrap over the circular opening of each little tin and then the child opening the calendar would tear the cover away each morning.

I did make one of these and at the time thought I would refill it every year.

Of course, that didn't happen and eventually it was thrown away.  But fairly recently, while sorting vintage Christmas cards for sale, I came upon a plastic sandwich bag filled with little vintage bits and pieces I had saved for this project.  A couple of them are poems.

I plan to share the poems, at least, here this month.  For today, I thought I would just show a few of the random snippets that this little bag held.    The sleeping mouse under a patchwork quilt is especially sweet!

A Christmas Wish

 

 I just looked back to see if I have ever blogged about this vintage Christmas card before.  It seems that I haven't.  This card just sold in my Etsy shop so I will share about it while it's fresh on my mind.

This is a very pretty card from the 1950s.  I have never seen one just like it.  The sweet red house at the top left, the charming candlelit Christmas tree at lower right, the touches of colorful holly and the silver filigree framing the wish, all against a soft green background -- I love them all.

The charming message is 

"Within your home -- around your tree
May joy and gladness, too
Spend the very happy hours
of Christmastime with you--".

Inside the card, the verse continues: 

"May all your wishes be fulfilled
Throughout the coming year
May only good things come to you
And those you hold most dear."  

Just a lovely little poem.  I especially like the part on the front and think it's just a sweet thing to wish for someone at Christmas.

Cinnamon Apples

 

 This year I made a little tweak to the cinnamon apples I usually prepare for our annual December breakfast tradition with four of our local grandkids.  I have most often used a skillet recipe for cinnamon apples.  

This year I tried a slow cooker version suggested by a friend, and really liked it.  There were also a couple of flavor tweaks that made a huge difference.

FAVORITE CINNAMON APPLES

1 3-pound bag apples (I used Cortland), cored and sliced but not peeled
2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all in slow cooker and cook on Low for 3 hours.  

So yummy and they smell so good while cooking!  My other version uses cinnamon only -- I found that the nutmeg and the vanilla made such a difference in the flavor.  This will be my go-to from now on.

It might make a delicious addition to Christmas breakfast or brunch at your house!

The ever-versatile Chocolate Butter Cookies

 

 I've blogged about this recipe before, but it's been over a dozen years and, since no one commented on that post, I feel it's pretty safe to share it again.  Also, last time, I hadn't found this very fun vintage recipe clipping which at some point I had tucked into the front of a Christmas recipe and craft book.

You can see at a glance that one can make a half dozen varieties of chocolate cookies from the basic recipe: pressed cookies; log or square shapes; cherry-filled, and round cookies rolled in powdered sugar.  

In comparing this recipe with the newer one I had printed out, I see that the Land-O-Lakes people have made a change.  The old recipe called for 1 egg yolk; the newer one calls for 1 egg.  The writers of the newer recipe have compensated for the extra liquid by increasing the flour to 1 2/3 cups and the cocoa to 1/3 cup.  It makes it easier not to have to separate an egg, and I appreciate them making that change.  You can find the updated recipe here: Chocolate Butter Cookies.

I've begun using this recipe for my Sacher Torte Cookies (use almond extract); my Chocolate Spritz Cookies (use vanilla extract) and anywhere else a shaped or molded chocolate cookie is called for.  It just seems easier than so many of the recipes out there.  

If you're looking for a good chocolate cookie recipe, give this one a try.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.

National Christmas Card Day

Who knew there was such a thing?  Apparently it was December 9, so I'm a bit late.  But I'm very well acquainted with Christmas cards, having an Etsy shop full of them and boxes of them yet to list.  Joyce, over at From this Side of the Pond, asks:

Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? 

I do still send Christmas cards. 

Our cards do not include a photo.   I guess you would say we send cards that are more traditional.  I like all sorts of scenes on Christmas cards, but the one I chose for this year is a real favorite.  I just like all  of the elements -- the birds, the holly and berries, the twig frame, the sheet music and winter scene, the shadowy deer and holly in the background.

 
I have made homemade Christmas cards, but it's been a long time.

I think the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays is wonderful.  I understand postage has gone up over the years, and it can be a real expense.  But I also think that it's a relatively inexpensive way to stay in touch with people one seldom sees, and it's much more personal than an ecard.  (Although I have nothing against ecards, and often send them for birthdays, praying for you occasions, and more, I just like to send a Christmas card through the mail.)  

Most of the people we send cards to must feel the same, because we receive about as many Christmas cards as we send!