Friday, March 29, 2013

Their Thoughts On Easter


Their Thoughts On Easter


He told us! We knew His time was coming, but we didn't want to believe it. And there in the garden as my friend, my brother, my Lord was being betrayed by one of our own, I slept... I slept and He poured out tears and sweat great drops of blood begging the Father to take this cup from him. But my Lord knew He was the one sent to save us... to save me...

A kiss... that was it, just a kiss and I would get my money. As I entered the garden I had confidence in the soldiers behind me. But now... now I stand here, sick to my stomach remembering how they dragged Him away. He was innocent! I had given an innocent man into the hands of the enemy! And all for what? Silver... silver... oh Lord, what have I done???


They mocked Him, my son, my baby Jesus! Had He not been through enough, facing all those officials, all those men who felt they had higher authority than Him? I remember looking into his eyes for the first time... I knew, just from looking at him that this baby I held was the Son of God. How could they not see? Instead of falling on their knees before him, they flogged Him, and beat Him; my son, my baby, He had done nothing wrong!

They mocked Him, as I; one of His followers stood by and watched! Perhaps they felt that if they tore Him down, they would have won, would have had power over him. And I, I stood by and watched... as they beat my Lord. When my turn came to stand up for Him, I denied him... not once, not twice, but three times, just as my Lord said I would...


Jesus? I spit on His name. I and my soldiers were more than thrilled to carry out Pilate’s orders. This man, this Jesus, had come into our land and proclaimed himself to be the Son of God! What blasphemy. We dressed Him in a purple robe, giving Him His one moment of royalty, and then we beat him. I was not the only one wanting this man dead, no. The people, I heard them shout “crucify Him, crucify Him!” and we did.

My lot was cast! I got the robe, now everyone would look more highly on me. I had the robe of this man who claimed to be the Son of God. I was more than happy to nail that sign above his head, mocking him and his claim. I looked to the people “here, your King, Jesus, King of the Jews” we laughed. If he really was the Son of God, He would have saved himself.


He was no better to them than the robbers on either side of him. The Prophet Isaiah had told us long ago that the messiah was to be numbered with the transgressors. How the tears fell as I watched my Lord, blood dripping from his thorn-crowned brow, nailed to that cross of wood. The people passed and shouted mockeries. Could they not see that this King of Kings would not save Himself so that they could be free?

My son... I looked down on Him from above. How my heart broke to see His suffering. But this was my will; nothing pleased me more than to see my Son obey me. But how hard this was, to watch Him suffer. It was time... I had to turn my face from Him; I had to put the sins of this world on His shoulders. A tear falling down my check, my eyes turned away from the sight. I heard Him screaming “Eloi Eloi, Lama sabachthani” but I loved my people too much. This was my will.


I watched this Jesus die... my heart hardened at first. I was a centurion, my job was to kill. But this, this was not killing, this was murder. I knew, somehow I knew this was Jesus, this was the king of the Jews; the King of kings! I could not understand why He would not save Himself, but all I know was that He was and is Lord, and I will forever serve Him.

I stood before the officials, begging for the body of my Lord. I knew they would not treat Him with the respect my Kind deserved. I had a tomb, carved into the rock, solid and safe, and made from my own two hands. Here I would lay His body, and roll a stone before the door so none could take my Savior. Pilate granted my wish. I wrapped His limp body in the fine linens I had brought for Him.


I wrote, some 2000 years after; behold the hill grotesquely shaped, the skull, the brow, in bold relief against the sky, a testimony to his anguish, agony and grief. How different now the open sky so bright and blue, how darkened then when God forsook His precious Son, bearing my guilt, my awful sin. Behold the hill; Golgotha’s hill. And now, look back, review that day. See Him, outstretched, bridging the gap what access here through Christ, the way!

Behold, see the empty tomb. What victory in its vacancy, what triumph in its emptiness, what sure receipt of victory. No towering shrine erected here, no gaudy work of men to spoil its sweet and plain simplicity, no worship of its stone of soil.

Empty! One word makes it unique, one word explains our joy; one word rings loud and clear; one word our tongues employ: Empty! Annulled are all satanic powers by Son of God and God the Son. Behold the tomb! Hear now this word, Empty! Praise to God, the victory’s won!


Written by Jessica Feenaughty

Monday, March 18, 2013

Joey's Revamped Roast

My dear friend Joey gave us the great recipe idea for a roast to try. I adapted it for to work in my crock pot but then I loved the flavors so much I started using it for all sorts of things!

Here is the Stew "stewing" at home while I work hard at the office


Joey's Revamped Roast

Meat - any kind of meat you like. I use steaks, stew meat, shoulder roast... take your pick!
3-4 Red Roasted Potatoes, Cubed
1c Carrots, sliced (I use frozen for practicality reasons)
1 pkg Ranch Dressing Mix
1 pkg Italian Dressing Mix
1 pkg Brown Gravy Mix
1 Cup cold water

Place the meat on the bottom of the crock pot


Layer the Carrots and Potatoes on top



Mix the Ranch, Italian, and Brown Gravy Packages together in the Cup of water and pour all over 


Let the entire thing cook on low for 8 hours and your house will not only smell magnificent when you come home, but dinner will be ready to roll. 

Thanks Joey for this fantastic recipe, it is a staple in our home. 





Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Frozen Berry Delight

Whenever we have company, I guess I try to out-do myself each time. It's not normal for me to try something new on a night when company comes over but in this case I was so excited about this recipe that I couldn't help myself!

Last night my grandparents were scheduled to stay the night while traveling between southern Florida and Texas. We were fortunate enough to have my dad fly in the same night! We decided that since dad had a couple of hours to kill we would all get together for dessert. 

Wanting to out-do any restaurant in the area, I set out to find the most lavish-looking dessert I could possibly make under 10$ - and I found it. I like to call it:

Frozen Berry Delight


INGREDIENTS:
 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker double chocolate chip cookie mix
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water
1 egg
1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries (I just used frozen berries)
4 containers (4 oz each) Yoplait Whips! Raspberry mist yogurt (you can use whatever flavor you like, I used Strawberry)
1 cup whipping cream, whipped (Heavy Whipping Cream balanced out the sweetness of the crust)
2 tablespoons hot fudge topping
1 cup fresh blueberries (Again, I used frozen)

 Mix together cookie mix, oil, water, and egg; drop 6 1Tbls cookies onto a greased tray. Press remaining dough in the bottom and 1 inch up sides of spring-form pan. Bake at 350°F for 11-13 minutes.

 In medium bowl, fold 1/2 cup raspberries into yogurt; spread evenly over crust. Crumble cookies; sprinkle over yogurt mixture. Carefully spread whipped cream evenly over cookie crumbs. Freeze 4 to 5 hours or until firm. Remove sides of pan.


 Drizzle 1 tablespoon fudge topping over dessert. Top with blueberries and remaining raspberries. Drizzle with remaining fudge topping. Store in freezer.
I served this frozen to our guests and everyone loved it! A sweet cookie crust, a mousy-yogurt center, topped with a creamy whipped topping... I could just drool!  So next time you need to fancy up your dessert for a guest, this is a top runner to choose from!


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Heaven in a Cup

Welcome to today's test

Today I made these brownies for the first time and they "melt in your mouth!" I wanted to share my own pictures but the one from this site is so much more delicious-looking. 

If you're ever looking for a way to dress up ever-day brownies, this is a great way
to make them a little more fancy for any occasion. 

The Worlds Best Oreo & Peanut Butter Brownies!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
Cookie topping:
32 Oreo cookies
3/4 cup peanut butter, creamy or nutty

Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line the muffin cup baking pans with 16 paper liners.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan.
Remove the pan from the stove.
Stir in the sugar, eggs and vanilla with a large wooden spoon.
Add the cocoa, flour, salt and baking powder, beating well after each addition.
Assemble the Oreo cakes and bake.
Spread 1 teaspoon of peanut butter on one Oreo cookie.
Place another Oreo cookie on top of the peanut butter.
Put the double-stacked cookie into a muffin cup.
Prepare the other cookies in the same way.
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the brownie batter over each stacked Oreo. Allow the batter to run down the sides of the stacked cookies.
Bake the cakes for 18 to 20 minutes until the brownie mix is cooked through.
Let the cookies cool completely before serving.

Recipe originally from here

Monday, March 4, 2013

Joyeux Anniversaire

What is it they say? Another day, another dollar? I wonder what they say about years...

Well today was my birthday - All in all, the day has been fabulous. I took the day off of work and just enjoyed being home. Here are some of the adventures of the day. 


Every Great Birthday Starts with a Good Breakfast
Bought myself a Samsung Galaxy Note to replace the broken iPad
Someone Bought me a Coffee and Left if for me at Target :) 
We took a Little Car Ride with Stella to Bayshore Blv - the longed, continuous sidewalk
in the world at 4.5 miles (7.2km) long







Enjoyed an Ice Cold Ice Tea by the Window
Dinner at  Carrabbas
Birthday Cake from Publix