WFMW - Dustbuster

Oh, I can't believe I almost forgot Works for Me Wednesday. I even really thought about it today.

What works for me is my Dust Buster. I use it to pick up the cereal my child just scattered all over the floor, or in the car, or at church, or.... (do you see a pattern here?) But the AMAZING thing I discovered today is that it also picks up cobwebs.

No, I don't normally have cobwebs all over my house. However, we did just move into a house that had sat vacant for a year and a half. My dust buster gets in there and just sucks them right up. I don't have to worry about. :D

And that's what Works For Me!

Hugs,
Melinda

[Edited to Add -- I just realized I missed WFMW altogether. I guess I'll save this for next week. LOL]

Cardboard Testimonies

First off, I need to say thanks to Natalie Grant for posting about this on her blog.

Have you seen this video? It is so powerful, so moving, and it really makes you stop and think. I don't know where this church is. I don't even know what "denomination" they are. But the truth comes down to this: we are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. We all know about sin, and probably participate in more than one of the sins shown in this video.

But, we also have the same God. The same loving God who sent His son to earth. Who sent His son to DIE for me. He's the only one who has the power to flip over my cardboard sign and give me a fresh start.

It reminds me of this beautiful story/modern day parable I've read. (I'm sorry, I don't know who to give credit to for this story. If you know, please help me rectify that.)

The Quilt

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth.

The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."

Remember, nothing is so much that God can't overcome it. Isn't today a wonderful day to give it all to Him? What will your cardboard testimony say about the King of kings?

Hugs,
Melinda

Mercy Me Blog

How many of you know the song "I can only imagine" ? It was sung by the band called Mercy Me. Here's the deal. They are performing in Shreveport tomorrow night (October 24). And they are showing the concert online. For free. (Free is always good, right?) The show starts at 7:00 Central time. Here's the link to their online video player. Do me a favor. Hop on over there, and see a great show, hear a great message, and just have fun.

This is one of my favorite songs.


This one is quickly becoming another favorite. But you'll have to click on the link. I can't embed this one.

Hugs,
Melinda

Works for Me Wednesday: Lump free gravy

So, after a L-O-N-G break from Works for Me Wednesday, the carnival hosted by Shannon where bloggers from all over blogosphere get together and share the tips that work for them, I decided to share my secrets for how I make perfect lump free cream gravy.

And no, it's not canned. I actually got the technique from my Betty Crocker cookbook.

Tip #1: Invest in a good whisk. It's so much easier than a wooden spoon or fork.

Tip #2: Remember your proportions. 2 Tbsp fat, 2 Tbsp flour, 1 cup liquid. For cream gravy, this is 2 tbsp butter or margarine, 2 Tbsp Flour, 1 cup milk. For brown gravy it would be 2 tbsp fat drippings, 2 tbsp flour, 1 cup beef broth or other appropriate liquid.

Tip #3: And this is one of the biggest secrets. When you get ready to make your gravy, put your liquid in the freezer and get it REALLY cold. I have pulled milk out with a ring of milk crystals. It works people!

So..... Put your butter in the pan and melt it on medium high heat. When it is bubbling, whisk in your flour. This mixture is called Roux. When that is bubbling (it sort of looks like pancake batter. Sort of.), then pull your milk out of the freezer and slowly and completely whisk that into your roux. If you are using a whisk, you are almost guaranteed lump free gravy. You almost have to boil this for about a minute to get your gravy.

Now, here is the twist. You sort of have to watch it at this point. You don't want it too thin, but if it boils too long, it will get too thick and be like glue. Remove it from the heat when it is the consistency you like.

Personally, I don't add salt or pepper when I'm making my gravy. My husband doesn't like salt, and I don't like pepper. But if you add nutmeg when you're cooking, this makes the basic bechamel sauce in a lot of Italian dishes.

And that's all of my secrets to a perfect lump free cream gravy. Serve over biscuits, toast, whatever your imagination desires. :D

Hugs,
Melinda

Yeah.....

And if that doesn't work, try this link.

Hugs,
Melinda

All I want for Christmas is.....

A problem free computer.

I love my husband and I'm glad he enjoys his IT position, but I'm getting very tired of the problem computer at home.

Hugs,
Melinda

P.S. The first time I tried to post this, the computer crashed.