Pantry Revisited

Today faith is on my mind.  Are you firm in your faith, or struggling?  Faith plays a very important role in our religious beliefs.  It is the belief that things will turn out well and that we can enjoy our "now" because we know we have a future. The dictionary tells us that "faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing or belief that is not based on proof."  In the Bible we read, Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. God's word (the Bible) can give us knowledge to live a good life.  But along with that knowledge, we need faith to enjoy God's promise of eternal life. Atheists and agnostics refer to faith as superstition and put it in a category with other material concepts.  I believe we can have faith in God the same way we have faith that Joan of Arc was burned at the stake or George Washington cut down a cherry tree.  While we cannot see God, we have the Bible to guide us, which is ...

Hope.  What is it?  Hope is the feeling that what is desired can be obtained or that future events will turn out for the best.  We all need hope and yet it seems to be a vague concept for many people.  Hope deals with the things we cannot see and also with the things we have not received.  Without hope, how can we move forward?  When the world says give up, hope whispers within our hearts to keep trying. Hope is never passive in the Bible. It is life sustaining. We do not have to look hard to find verses in the Bible showing us positive results in the lives of those who believe and live accordingly.  It is not an escape from reality or problems.  Our hope, if based on God's promises, will strengthen us and lift us up! In the following verses, we find that hope has rewards and blessings.  It gives us courage, joy, protection, peace, strength, comfort, and confidence.  Psalms 33:22 May your unf...

This is day two of sharing my daily devotional with you, the readers.   I will have seven days of these and then return to my food posts.  Please leave comments if you agree or disagree.  We can learn together. Let's start by defining love.  Most of us think of love in romantic terms or having to do with family members.  Love is an "intense feeling of deep affection."  Love is "an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment." The Greek uses four words to describe love. 1.Eros, meaning sexual or romantic love. 2.Phileo, a brotherly love. 3.Agape, the deepest love. 4.Storgay, which is the love of one's relatives. When most people today speak of love, they generally are referring to the love of a mate, parent or child. Most Christians believe God is the source and essence of love.  In 1 John 4:8 we read "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." Jesus called these two the greatest commandments:...

My blog has been used for the primary purpose of sharing recipes with my friends.  This week, however, I would like to share my thoughts and have a daily devotional with all of you who read on a regular basis.  I am not a professional in these matters.  My only intent is just to blog about matters of the heart and share my own personal feelings. Yesterday I spent five hours in the emergency room.  I'm okay and hopefully my doctor will get my medicines straightened out soon.  If you have ever been to an emergency room, I know you will agree with me that being there gives you plenty of time to think while you are waiting. . and waiting. . and waiting. One subject that came to my mind yesterday was "forgiveness."  Have you ever needed forgiveness and it did not come, or knew you needed to forgive someone but you did not want to?   If you are human and you are reading this post, at some point in your life you have been hurt.  S...

One of my favorite blogger friends, Margaret of Tea and Scones is hostess this week and she chose Ellie Krieger's Tuscan Chicken.  I'm hardly ever disappointed in Ellie's recipes, plus I always know I am eating healthy when I prepare one. This is basically a chicken dish loaded with good vegetables - zucchini, tomatoes, fennel.  I love fennel - so licoricy.  Is that a word?  You can google the recipe or you can find it at Margaret's webpage. Going into the oven: And the finished product was a delicious, healthy dinner! We loved this!  Thanks Margaret for a great pick this week.

Hostess this week is Mary of  Popsicles and Sandy Feet .  You can find the recipe for this fabulous loaf cake - prepared the "correct" way at her webpage.  Sandy is in a couple other groups with me and she always has delicious goodies to share on her webpage.  Check it out. Would you believe Publix did not have any dried dates?  I used to remember always buying Dromedary dates that came in a box.  I wanted to make this so I ended up getting dried apricots.  Dorie's recipes are usually very adaptable so I figured it would work. The recipe says your mix will look curdled at first and not to worry.  I'm glad it said that because mine looked really curdled in the bowl until I added the flour. I have to say that the smell coming from my oven was heavenly.  It was a mix of almond flavoring and apricots.  You have to love those smells!  It seemed like it took a long time to cook, but bread loaves usually do.  I couldn't wai...

We are starting a new group and we need you to particpate!!  Yes you.  All of you!!  If you love Ina Garten's (the Barefoot Contessa) recipes and are willing to cook along with us twice a month, please join in!  All you have to do is cook the recipe and then link up below.  As a courtesy, we do ask that you mention in your post where you linked up.  It is as easy as that! Once per month we cook together what that month's host has chosen and two weeks later we choose what we want to cook from a "theme."  April of 21st Century Housewife chose Comforting and Delicious Chicken Recipes for the theme this week.   Check out April's blog to see what wonderful chicken dish she cooked this week. I chose the Chicken Piccata.  Made for a delicious dinner for the two of us.  You can fine the recipe here .  It is a fairly easy recipe and oh so delicious.  I'm a huge fan of Ina's.  My breasts were huge.  Se...