Prayer of the Week

Dear Lord,
I would like to thank you for the wonderful day you gave us. I thought the weather was nice and we had some enjoyable family time.

I need your help to become an uncommon Christian. I know I need to choose only your choices for me and I need to submit myself unreservedly.

Show me what worldly thought and desires I need to shut out. I will submit myself to you, so you can begin to cleanse me. I know with your help I can be an uncommon Christian.

In your name, Amen.

Sweet Sour Cabbage

5 cups shredded cabbage
4 slices bacon
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ cup water
1/3 cup vinegar
salt and pepper
1 small onion diced

Cook cabbage in boiling water with salt for seven minutes. Fry bacon until crisp and remove from grease. Add sugar and flour to grease and blend. Add water, vinegar, and seasoning. Heat through. Crumble bacon over cabbage and serve at once. Serves 4.

Kidnapped by River Rats by Dave and Netta Jackson

Kidnapped by River Rats is a Trailblazer Book by Dave and Netta Jackson and copyrighted in 1991. This 112 page, Christian historical fiction was published by Bethany House Publishers and is for kids 8-13.

In 1881, Jack and Amy come to London with their mother to look for their uncle. She dies and they try looking keep looking for their uncle. As they search, they become involved with the Salvation Army. After Amy is hurt and then disappears, Jack earns money for his food by throwing things at the people in the Salvation Army. He is supposed to be finding Catherine Booth, one of the leaders, who might help lead Jack to his uncle, not throwing things. Jack is able to find his sister and he knows he needs an army to save her. He enlists the help of the Salvation Army. After Amy is rescued by the Salvation Army, they make friends and are adopted by a couple living there. Jack’s adventures show him what evil there is in the world and how sometimes you need an army to fight it.

The authors, Dave and Netta Jackson are a husband/wife team who have written many books on relationships and other Christian heroes of the past. They have approached this book as historians, but add fictional characters to flesh out the story. Their son, Julian, is the illustrator for the Trailblazer series. The illustrations were well drawn. I did think Mrs. Witherspoon looked a little strange.

This story gives us the reminder that we are all part of God’s army and the Salvation Army is one way that people can help. We can even help as an army against the issues in this book, white slavery and gin houses, sin businesses.

I did not like how the Amy was taken by white slavers. I thought that was extreme. I did like how Amy and Jack had their happy ending.

I would recommend this book, so that everybody can learn more information about the Salvation Army and the people who started it, William and Catherine Booth.

Good Night God illustrated by D'reen Neeves

Good Night God is a cardboard book illustrated by D’reen Neeves and published in 1985 by Lion Publishing. This story is about a young child getting ready for bed. The illustrations are realistically drawn, but it is difficult to tell if the young child is a girl or a boy. I thought the Ark was very nicely drawn. At the end of the book it shows the whole family together praying. It is important for little children to see other children praying. I think it is a good book to read often to young children so they can see a good bedtime routine.

Jabez's Prayer

When I was walking around my house looking at our different Christian books I came across one about The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson. In his book Mr. Wilkinson discusses who Jabez is and how the Jabez's prayer has helped him.

Jabez is only mentioned in two verses in the entire Bible. His two verses are from 1 Chronicles 4:9&10. "And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Isreal, saying Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."

Mr. Wilkinson has had a great deal of fortune with this prayer and it has been helping me too. I have change the words so it fits me specifically.

Pray Jabez's prayer and I pray it will help you as it has me.

Crispy Rice Cookies

Crispy Rice Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ¼ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups quick oatmeal
2 cups crispy rice
½ cup coconut

Cream the shortening and sugars. Add the eggs and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients. Roll the mix into small balls and roll in the oatmeal, crispy rice and coconut mixture. Press onto greased cookie sheet with forks. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.

Home on Stoney Creek by Wanda Luttrell

Home on Stoney Creek, book one of the Sarah’s Journey series, was written by Wanda Luttrell and copyrighted in 1995. This Christian historical fiction book was published by Chariot Family Publishing is 204 pages and is for kids ten and up.

Pa decides that Sarah and her family will be moving to the Kentucky wilderness. Sarah does not want to go and when her family comes back in a year he takes her back home to Virginia. In 1775, Miller’s Forks, Virginia, each Moore family member felt they had their own destiny with God. Nate felt sure his destiny was with the freeing of the colonies there in the East and Sarah did too. Pa thought it was in Kentucky with the untouched farmland. Nate goes to fight and Sarah gets to move to Kentucky with the rest of the family. It is a month’s journey on foot and they make it safely. They are able to build a cabin, grow a garden and God keeps them safe despite several encounters with Indians and bears. During the year while Nate is gone, Sarah is always bitter and asks God why she has to live in Kentucky. When Nate comes back, Ma doesn’t want her to leave, but Ma and Pa let her to Virginia with Nate. It took Sarah leaving her family and seeing the house at Miller’s Forks to learn home is not a building, but where her family is.

Wanda Luttrell was raised and still lives on Stoney Creek. She has a husband and five children. Mrs. Luttrell has added a map of Kentucky from 1775 and there is a historical section is the back of the book too. There is a couple of paragraphs about the book in the very front.

This book can teach all readers that a home is where your family is and not the building with its things. On the back of this book courage is stated as the value.

I liked how the Indian’s, Little Captain, medallion kept Ma safe as she was about to be scalped by a group of Indians. The medallion meant that Sarah’s family was good like Daniel Boone. I did not like how Sarah looked down on the first forts that were built in Kentucky. Perhaps if she had not been so bitter she would have seen how hard the people worked on them, not how poor they were.

I would recommend this book to a reader who was interested in learning more about Kentucky and American history during early American Revolution.

Thank you!!!

I would like to say thank you to all those who read my blog yesterday. I hope you are all enjoying the festivities in Washington D.C. today. Join me as I pray for President Obama.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the sunny skies and temperatures that were not too cold as the United States of America welcomes their new president. I ask you to be with President Obama and his family as they move forward into their new life. Be with them and guide them as a strong family. Guide Miss Malia Obama and Miss Sasha Obama as they go to school and meet new children. Help First Lady Michelle Obama be a strong mother and wife so she may support her family when they need it. Guide President Obama as he makes new and difficult decisions. Help him to guide the United States of America as the founding fathers did. I will leave you with this verse about wisdom from Proverbs 8:30; "Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him."

Moses and the Very Special Basket

Moses and the Very Special Basket was written by Sunny Griffin and was illustrated by Linda Welty. It was published in 1993 by Landoll and has 22 pages.
This book is a very simplified version of Moses’ life from birth to when the princess took him home. Each page begins with the phrase, “Did you know?” and then it goes on to finish the question. The book uses the questions as a method of telling the story of Moses. It works very well.
This story does an excellent job of showing children that if you do hard things, trust in God and be thankful; God will always be there for you. This also shows children if their parents trust in God that they should to and the trait can be passed from generation to generation.
The illustrations were realistically drawn, which children will enjoy. I did not like how almost everyone’s eyes were closed all the time. They all also looked so young.
The text of this story was large which makes it fun for beginning readers to read. There were not very many words on the page, which made it fun for my 2-year-old. The 4-year-old enjoyed the story as he enjoys the story of Moses.

Weekly Prayer

I am starting a weekly prayer every Saturday evening/night. I hope everybody enjoys the prayers and finds one that may work for them. If anybody has a comment feel free to leave one. I welcome and enjoy getting them.

Dear Lord,

I’m comin’ to talk to you today. I want to git to know you in the way I hear everybody talkin’. I just don’t see how you have ‘nuff love for everybody, especially a poor uneducated fool like me. Please give me the courage and the knowledge to get to know you.

In your name I pray, Amen.

Busy Day Casserole

Busy Day Casserole

1 can corned beef hash
Put into a baking dish and pat it into a crater shape.
In a bowl mix:
Chopped onion (any desired quantity)
Parsley (dried or fresh)
1 can drained whole corn
1 can condensed soup (creamed chicken, celery, mushroom, etc.)
Pour mixture into hole in the crater and spread shredded cheese on top. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes.

The Mystery of the White Elephant by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

Book one of the Three Cousins Detective Club is called The Mystery of the White Elephant and was written by Elspeth Campbell Murphy and illustrated by Joe Nordstrom. It was copyrighted in 1994 and published by Bethany House Publishers. This Christian mystery is 64 pages long and is for children ages 7-10.

Ten-year-old cousins, Timothy, Sarah-Jane and Titus need to solve the mystery of the missing cookie jar, a white elephant, before the church auction begins. The children solve the mystery by finding the missing bag. The kids begin their adventure by learning that a “white elephant” is something somebody has, but does not want or need. They need to find their “white elephant” to take to the church auction. They find that Mrs. Foster has taken a white elephant cookie jar, which they all would like to have. The cookie jar disappears after they see a lady wearing a rain poncho, sun hat and carrying a bag. They talk to Pastor Parry and they decide to search for it. They find the clothes in the lost-and-found. Timothy remembers the bag has a red maple leaf on it. The kids think it might belong to Mrs. Foster’s friend from Canada. After they children find the bag, they go tell Pastor Parry all they know and give him the bag. Pastor Parry is able to fix the problem. Mrs. Foster’s friend and Timothy, Sarah-Jane and Titus learn that God has no “white elephants.” He loves everybody and the church can love everybody, like Mrs. Foster’s friend too.

Elspeth Campbell Murphy has written more than 100 books the past years. She is a graduate of Trinity College and Moody, Bible Institute. She currently lives in Chicago and received a Gold Medallion award for Do You See Me, God?

The theme for this book is love. We must treat everyone with love, and never like “white elephants.” There was nothing to dislike in this book. I enjoyed reading all of it. I especially liked the part where everybody at church was so kind to Mrs. Foster’s friend, even though she took the cookie jar.

I would recommend this book to all to read. It is fun to with its white pages, large letters, and fun black and white illustrations.

God's Way by Mabel Niedermeyer McCaw

God’s Way was written in 1961 by Mabel Niedermeyer McCaw and was illustrated by Carl and Mary Hauge. It was published by Whitman Publishing Company and has 23 pages. It is an easy reader.
This story talks about everything God given us. He has given us food, animals, plants and people who have service jobs, like doctors. The author would like us to make sure that we know that God has planned it that way for us. The narrator, a young boy, is glad that the world is so wondrous and he is glad God made him.
The illustrations were realistic and well drawn. The colors are bold and the children will enjoy discussing the extra things to look at in the pictures.
The verses would alternate between the second and fourth lines rhyming to the third and fifth lines rhyming. My 2-year-old and 4-year-old enjoyed the rhythm and rhyming words.

Cheese Soup

Cheese Soup

2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons flour
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon dry ground mustard
1 cup milk
1 can (10 ½ ounces) condensed chicken broth
2 cups shredded medium or sharp cheddar cheese
Paprika for garnish

Melt butter in 2 quart saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion in butter, stirring occasionally, until clear and tender.
Stir in flour, pepper and mustard. Pour in milk and broth slowly constantly stirring. Stir constantly until it comes to a boil. Boil and stir one minute.
Stir in cheese. Cook over low heat until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with paprika.
Makes 4 servings, about 1 cup each.

Lost Beneath Manhattan by Sigmund Brouwer

Bethany House Publishers published Lost Beneath Manhattan, by Sigmund Brouwer, in 2004. It is 143 pages and is one of the books in the Accidental Detective Series. The age group for this Christian fiction book is boys, ages 9-15.

Ricky and his class are going on a field trip to New York City. To get part of the funding from a benefactor they will have to take Ricky’s little brother Joel along. This would be a trip they will never forget. When they are at the Museum of Modern Art Joel runs away and now Ricky has to find him. After Ricky prays for Joel’s safety and for his ability to find him, he realizes that to find Joel he will have to think from Joel’s perspective. Ricky is not too worried about Joel’s safety until he learns that a street person named, Mean Gene Delaney may have him. Mean Gene uses kids to do his begging for him. With the help of other people who live on the street, like crazy Lyle and the preacher at a local mission, Ricky and his friends are able to find Joel, hidden money and new friends. Ricky and his friends learn from their adventures that not all people who live on the street are bad people.

The author, Sigmund Brouwer, who has won many awards, has written this book with easily recognized characters and a clear plot line.

The main issue that I saw in the book was, the strong need to help the weak. In this story the weak are those that are homeless and are unable to help themselves. This was shown when Ricky asks Brother Philip about why people suffer if God can help. Brother Philip said that people have the choice; they can live with evil or with God. Other people can’t help their suffering, because they are mentally ill and those are some of the people that we can help.

The part of this book that I liked the best was how much Ricky and his friends care about Joel. The other favorite part was how Ricky always prays strength for Joel when Joel is lost.

This paperback book has small print, but it does not harm the story, it made me want to keep reading. I would definitely recommend this story to read, to help us remember to help those who cannot help themselves.

God Made Them All illustrated by D'reen Neeves

God Made Them All, is a cardboard book illustrated by D'reen Neeves. It was copyrighted in 1981 and published by Lion Publishing Corporation. This short book is filled with colorful cartoon-like illustrations of different animals, insects, vegetation and people. The book states that God has made these different things.
The only illustration I thought could startle a young child was the caterpillar, because of its red eyes and strangely colored body.
My young children enjoyed the illustrations and the size of the book is perfect for their hands.

Brownies

Brownies

4 oz. Baker's chocolate
2/3 cup shortening
Melt together
Beat in
1 ½ cup sugar
4 eggs
Mix in
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup nuts
Grease a 9x13” pan, spread mixture in pan. Bake 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees (moderate temperature)