Captured By Grace

Captured by Grace: No One Is Beyond the Reach of a Loving God
by David Jeremiah

Grace is freely given, within reach, and available to all. David Jeremiah gives straight forward, Biblically based instructions on how to obtain the grace of God. If plagued by guilt or shame, Jeremiah reinforces your worth, explains the forgiveness offered through the death of Jesus Christ, and compels one to live debt free in God's glory.

This book was not for me. As a believer who already knows what grace is and how to obtain it, I thought that through this book I would be challenged to reexamine grace and reflect on it's power in my life. The second section, Grace for the Present, did present good information on analyzing our dangers, toils, and snares, and offered insight on why we undergo trials and the good that can come forth. Overall, I was not stimulated by this book – I thought it was dry and uninspiring. Although the writing was very well organized and presented, I am not sure I would recommend this book to others.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

New Recipe Every Week......Part Dos

One of my goals this year was to make one new recipe a week....which I didn't do really while George was in the woods :( But...I got back on the bandwagon last week and made a few fabulous recipes!

Blueberry Buckle Recipe

Cake ingredients:

* 2 cups and 1-2 Tbsp of sifted, all purpose flour separated
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 large egg
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1 pint blueberries

Topping ingredients:

* 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/3 cup sifted all purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease an 8-inch springform pan. Set aside.

2 Sift together the 2 cups of flour, the baking powder and the salt. Set aside. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg. Add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the milk. Toss the beries with the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour (to separate and scatter evenly throughout the batter) and fold in. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Set aside.

3 Combine ingredients for topping with a fork to make crumbly mixture. Sprinkle this over the batter.

4 Bake for one hour, then test for doneness by gently inserting a fork. If it does not come out clean, give the cake another 5 to 10 minutes to bake.

5 When the cake has cooled, run a knife around the edges and lift the cake out o the pan. Serve with whipped cream.


Summertime Pasta Salad

1 lb. pasta (shells, farfalle, macaroni, etc.), cooked, drained
1 medium red onion, diced
2 medium green bell peppers, diced
1 cup diced celery
1/2 lb. fresh pea pods, blanched
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1/2 cup sliced radishes
1 cup sliced pitted ripe olives
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Dressing:
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cloves minced garlic
Freshly ground black pepper

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold running water, and drain again. Prepare dressing by whisking all ingredients together. Stir some of the dressing into the pasta while it is still warm; pour just enough dressing to cause noodles to glisten. Prepare vegetables. Toss into pasta when noodles are lukewarm, adding additional dressing as needed to coat. Sprinkle and stir in Parmesan cheese. Chill until serving time.

Let's Do Lunch by Roger Troy Wilson

In this quick read Wilson presents a “dieting” plan that has worked for him and numerous others. He presents strategies and tips that can lead to a more healthy weight and lifestyle. The advice isn't new or rocket science. Roger tells readers what to eat and when to eat it, cutting out heavy foods and eating big meals at the wrong time of the day. It is a lifestyle I have wanted to adapt for some time but have postponed due to motivation.

Roger writes in a style that is easy to read and understand. He isn't a schooled expert. The information he presents is self-taught and practical. However, there are a few flaws to point out. The book is small to begin with, and only the first 92 pages are actual writing! The rest of the book is filled with recipes and a meal plan. Roger also tends to over-exaggerate points and does not write with fluidity.

In any case, I can't wait to try some recipes and start eating better! I made the Spicy Black Bean Soup last night and bought cantaloupe, watermelon, and locally grown carrots. I usually have a smoothie for breakfast or lunch already, which I will focus on for breakfast. My favorite smoothies are a few hunks of frozen bananas, frozen berries/pineapple, and soy milk blended with my Magic Bullet.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Big Two Six

Now I know what Hanukkah is like! My birthday isn't until tomorrow but it's been such a great few weeks leading up the big two six. Balloons, flowers, dinner, a headlamp, more balloons, clothes, 3D Jesus (yes, a 3D Jesus), Mike's hard lemonade, and a re-gifted i tunes gift card (any guesses who would give me that??)

George put a balloon in his mom's trunk two weeks ago, before he left for work, that she delivered today....it's the thought that counts for this surprise!

Angie/Brooks/Wynter gave me capris and a shirt, in a size 8 and small! Did I ever wear a size 8?? Do I own any small clothing that I would wear in public? I haven't tried them on yet but I know it will be close. Flattering!!!

Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

In Cast of Characters, Lucado presents a fresh perspective on stories of many characters from the Bible. Each chapter is centered on one or two individuals and recaps Biblically based details with a modern spin to help us understand what exactly happened so long ago. Each story is accompanied by a simple to read, but sometimes difficult to apply, lesson for life. He presents Biblical material in quick chapters in a way that is easy to read for teens or adults of any reading level.

My husband and I may use this as a devotional book in the near future. The end of each chapter includes a handful of study questions that would make for great discussion. Some chapters may be a bit long to use for a devotional, but the majority are a good length for us to read separately and come together to discuss.

I really enjoyed this book. The chapters are short and do not build from each other, so it is nice to be able to put this book down and enjoy another book. One small complaint I have is that at times Lucado tries too hard to drive a point home that he has already gotten across!

The Right To Lead

The Right To Lead – Learning Leadership Through Character and Courage

John C. Maxwell is the author of this beautiful, inspiring gift book. Through easy to read chapters filled with quotes and stories, he shows readers not how to learn to lead, but how to earn the right to lead. The stories are short, readable, and moving.

I filled a few pages with little quotes and tools to use to become a more effective leader, such as:

If we cannot act alone, we cannot act together.

It takes time to become worthy of followers.

I don't accept them. They accept me.

You've got to love your people more than your position.

There can be no courage unless you're scared.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has been or will be in a leadership position. You may have to try to lead once without formal training or experience, do an alright job or fail, and realize that there are tools out there to help you be better than you were. Then turn to this book.

Sewing small projects (well, at least looking up directions and planning to sew them later) has been a focus of mine lately.

Missie - any guess who might be getting which one for Christmas? There is one correct answer - one person is getting one of the above potholders.....