The Grace Card

Everything can change in an instant ... and take a lifetime to unravel.
When Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, the ensuing 17 years of bitterness and pain erodes his love for his family and leaves him angry with God ... and just about everyone else.
Mac's rage stonewalls his career in the police department and makes for a combustible situation when he's partnered with Sam Wright, a rising star on the force who happens to be a part-time pastor and a loving family man.
Mac's home life is as frightening as anything he encounters on the streets of Memphis. Money is tight and emotions run high as he constantly argues with his wife and his surviving son Blake, who is hanging with the wrong crowd and in danger of flunking out of school.
Sam Wright also never expected to be a police officer. He has a calling—to be a minister like his Grandpa George. But leading a small, start-up church doesn't always put enough food on the table for a young family, so Sam doubles as a police officer. With his new promotion to Sergeant, Sam starts questioning if his real calling might actually be police work rather than the pastorate.
Can Mac and Sam somehow join forces to help one another when it's impossible for either of them to look past their differences—especially the most obvious one? Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God's grace. Offer THE GRACE CARD ... and never underestimate the power of God's love.
www.thegracecardmovie.com

YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Pernigotti
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
• 1 tablespoon liquid red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• Red Velvet Frosting, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.

In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed for 1 minute, until light. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients alternately in 3 parts, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, and mix until combined. Stir with a rubber spatula to be sure the batter is mixed.
Scoop the batter into the muffin cups with a 2 1/4-inch ice cream scoop or large spoon. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Cool completely in the pans and frost the cupcakes with Red Velvet Frosting.

Red Velvet Frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (3/4 pound)

Place the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and mix on medium speed just until combined. Don't whip! Add the sugar and mix until smooth. 

I hope you enjoy these. Recipe courtesy of Barefoot Contessa via: www.foodnetwork.com

Soul Surfer

SOUL SURFER

My family and I just watched this movie. WOW, what a dynamic story of inspiration and triumph over devastating circumstances. How could this precious young lady overcome such odds you might ask?

ONLY through the faith and HOPE in the ONE who made her;

JESUS CHRIST

If you have not seen this movie I highly encourage you see it today.

www.soulsurferthemovie.com

Candied Corn



This dish is a family favorite and is perfect for the holiday's.
I hope you enjoy it.






Ingredients

6 ears corn
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons diced shallots, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions
Cut the corn off of the cob. Put 1 tablespoon of butter in a saute pan on medium-high heat and cook the shallots until they are translucent with salt and pepper; about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the corn and cook until tender
In a bowl add brown sugar, honey and cayenne pepper. Mix well to combine and stir into corn mixture to cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly.

This recipe can be found at : http://www.foodnetwork.com/
Courtesy of the Neeley's

Our Deer Friends

What a lovely surprise when I looked out our window to find two deer visitors.
Wow, they are a-m-a-z-i-n-g to look at aren't they?

What beautiful creatures they are.

It almost looks like they are kissing. Don't look !



I l-o-v-e these deer visitors and I hope they come back soon.

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir


The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir is directed by Carol Cymbala, the wife of Senior Pastor Jim Cymbala and the daughter of the church founder, the late Rev. Clair Hutchins. Although the Choir is composed of vocally untrained church members, it has been used by the Lord to present the love of God all over the world. The 285-voice choir has recorded three videos, three DVDs, and numerous albums, winning six Grammy Awards. “The choir represents all different walks of life and every kind of sin,” Pastor Cymbala says. “You name it and we have someone who has been saved out of it, standing next to another one who has grown up in the church.”

In the early 1980’s, Carol Cymbala decided to “make a little tape for the church,” and when she had trouble finding enough appropriate songs, she began writing them. Although she cannot read or write music, the Lord has given her a special gift to direct and create from the heart through the power of the Holy Spirit. After 25 years of recording and live performances, the Lord continues to use the Choir to carry the message of the Gospel around the world.
It is a highly unlikely ensemble, a mixture of ethnic and economic backgrounds, in the heart of a city synonymous with coldness and decay. The choir is made up of attorneys and street people, nurses and ex-crack addicts, a unique cross section of humanity. Pastor Cymbala explains: “None of us would have met if it weren’t for Christ. Our backgrounds are just too diverse. But all of us have one thing in common: we have all been lifted up and saved. So the Choir sings—not about a theological position—but about what has happened to them. It’s not a theory; it’s a reality.”

Starting each practice with prayer reinforces that principle. Even the rehearsal prior to the Sunday services are all closed in prayer as the choir asks the Lord to bless their music and anoint their songs for the service. “The great evangelist D.L. Moody found that the tender strains of the Gospel could open people’s hearts to the music of the soul,” Pastor Cymbala says, “and I find that the choir greatly facilitates the ministry that goes on here. In their own uniquely sincere and almost vulnerable way, some by not being trained singers, while others are coming from totally non-religious backgrounds, they are able to display an openness, a transparent ‘heartfeltness’ that opens up and triggers the same thing in other people.”
The Choir’s latest album project is entitled "Declare Your Name". Their concert venues in New York City have included Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, the Paramount Theater, and a sold-out performance at the Madison Square Garden Theater. “I just want to see people drawn to Jesus Christ,” Carol Cymbala says, “I want the music to be the arrow that points them to Him.”

www.brooklyntabernacle.org

This article and more can be found by visiting their website.
I  l-o-v-e this choir!
Their newest album is g-r-e-a-t!

The Beauty of Nature

Like I said, it is NOT unusual for me to have a camera in my hand taking pictures of something.
Today I was inspired by nature. I am anticipating the arrival of Fall.  Are you?

I hope you enjoyed looking at these as much as I enjoyed taking them.

I am of the opinion that God smiles at us through His creation.
He makes nothing alike. Everything He made is unique just as you are.
Today, bask in God's love for you and His everyday reminders of His most unique creation...... You.

Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients

House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Olive Oil, for tossing
5 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch long slices, then 1/4-wide inch strips, using a crinkle cut knife
Oil
1 tablespoon House Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon paprika

For the House Seasoning:

Directions

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Line a sheet tray with parchment. In a large bowl toss sweet potatoes with just enough oil to coat. Sprinkle with House Seasoning and paprika. Spread sweet potatoes in single layer on prepared baking sheet, being sure not to overcrowd. Bake until sweet potatoes are tender and golden brown, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.



My family really l-o-v-e-s this dish. I hope you will come to enjoy it too.

Recipe for the Perfect Woman

4 cups of love 1 tbsp of laughter
2 cups of wisdom 1/4 cup of patience
1 pinch of understanding 1 tsp of attitude & beauty

Mix love and understanding together until no lumps of misunderstanding are seen, then add patience and laughter to create a batter that will last until thereafter, and a tsp. of attitude and beauty just to make her real.
~ Grease the pan with wisdom and guidance.
~ Bake for 1 hour
Make one beautiful woman who has nothing but love to give, full of patience and understanding that lasts a lifetime topped with a warm loving smile.
Serves one large family and world.