LEATHER UPPERS NOT A DOWNER

Definition:  "The upper is the part of the shoe attached to the sole.  Therefore a leather upper is one made of leather.  It is normally made of several pieces, some or all of which may be leather."

I must remember that there is more than one view here:  God sees our dear feet, no matter how they are shod, and says that they are beautiful if they carry "the gospel of peace" to others.  

How the world needs the peace Christ gives; for it is the peace which no man can take away, this peace which proclaims man need no longer be at war against God.  

He came walking on feet like ours, He the Prince of Peace; sinless feet pierced, opening the way for us to follow in His footsteps.  

Christmas is so much more than the world would have us believe, or could fathom, without faith in the One it is all about.

These thoughts came as I contemplated leather uppers on the Sunday afternoon before Christmas.  Perhaps you will connect with other "figures of the true" being walked out in the world around you this week.  They whisper of Him, our Christ who came and walked among us with beautiful feet.

Let us approach and celebrate His Nativity in Holy Peace. 

MORE WHITE-ON-WHITE TO SOOTHE A STRESSFUL DAY

And may God give His deep peace

in the midst of all the 

happy preparations.

photos murmuringcottage

FOR CHRISTMAS MORNING

EASY CHEESE DANISH

photo and recipe: kitchengirljo

My dears, there is still time to run to the store for the items needed for this scrumptious-dilliumptous recipe!  It could even become a tradition in your family--think of it, the smells of  this wonderful Danish baking and wafting through the house as everyone rises to greet the great day of celebration.

2 cans ready-to-use refrigerated CRESCENT ROLLS

2 8-ounce packages CREAM CHEESE

1 cup SUGAR

1 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT

1 EGG

1 EGG WHITE

Glaze:

1/2 cup POWDERED SUGAR

2 Tbsp MILK

1/2 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.  Lay a pack of crescent rolls in the pan and pinch the openings together.  Beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg together until smooth.  Spread the mixture over the crescent rolls evenly and then lay the second pack of crescent rolls on top of the cheese mixture and brush with egg white.  Bake 35-45 minutes until the top is golden brown.  Top with glaze after cooling for 20 minutes.

Easy-peasy!

Thought:  This might also be a good recipe for a little person in your home to help with or, depending on their size, to do solo.  Very nice with fresh fruit and a nice steaming cup of hot chocolate as found in previous post.

APPROPRIATE TO THE SEASON

SUSAN BRANCH VIA TUMBLR

TREASURED RECIPE

BRAN MUFFINS

For years we have enjoyed these moist, healthful bran muffins, and I feel it's time now to bequeath

the recipe to you.  However, as a friend warned who loves them, "Enjoy in small quantities!".

3 cups WHOLE BRAN

1 cup boiling WATER

1/2 cup CANOLA or COCONUT OIL

1/2 cup BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES

2 cups BUTTERMILK

2 EGGS

2 1/2 tsp BAKING SODA

1/2 tsp SALT

2 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED FLOUR

3/4 cup HONEY

1/2 cup RAISINS

Optional:  1/2 - 2/3 cup CHOCOLATE CHIPS

(Personally, I feel the chocolate chips send these

already delicious muffins "over the moon").  If not adding, use 1 cup raisins.

Pour boiling water over bran and let cool.

Add all ingredients except dry ones, beating well.

Blend dry ingredients and add.  I add the raisins (you can also use dried cranberries, or any dried fruit) and chocolate chips last.

This mixture can be stored in a tightly-covered plastic container in your 'frig up to 5 weeks--use out of it as you desire OR make all at once!  They freeze well.  If frozen, I microwave them about 40 seconds (depending on your microwave's power), and this makes the chocolate chips all melty.  If not frozen, I still microwave them for, say, 30 seconds.

TO BAKE:  using a 1/3 cup measure makes around 20 REGULAR muffins.  Bake 20 minutes at 425 degrees.

Using GIANT muffin tins the recipe will make 12 muffins.  Bake 25 minutes at 425 degrees, or until done with a cake tester.

Let baked muffins rest in tin 5 minutes, and then remove, unless you're using paper inserts and then they can be removed immediately.   Cool on rack.

This is a keeper!
Like you.

WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?

murmuringcottage via tumblr

INNOCENTS UNAWARE

Have you ever watched, really watched, your children or grandchildren, while they were sleeping?  It reminds one that God watches over all of us, and tenderly loves us in this most vulnerable state.

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And in death, He watches, and covers us
with His great soft wings.

"The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save:
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17

THE BEAUTY OF LIFE IN CHRIST

"To a man who lives unto God nothing is secular, everything is sacred.

He puts on his workday garment and it is a vestment to him.

He sits down to his meal and it is a sacrament.

He goes forth to his labor, and therein exercises the office of the priesthood.

His breath is incense and his life a sacrifice.

He sleeps on the bosom of God, and lives and moves in the divine presence.

To draw a hard and fast line and say, 'This is sacred and this is secular,' is, to my

mind, diametrically opposed to the teaching of Christ and the spirit of the gospel...

Peter saw a sheet let down from heaven in which were all manner of beasts and 

four-footed creatures, which he was bidden to kill and eat, and when he refused

because they were unclean, he was rebuked by a voice from heaven, saying, 'What

God hath cleansed that call not thou common' (Acts 10:15;11:9).

The Lord hath cleansed your houses, he has cleansed your bed chambers, your 

tables...  He has made the common pots and pans of your kitchens to be as the 

bowls before the altar -- if you know what you are and live according to your high

calling.

You housemaids, you cooks, you nurses, you ploughmen, you housewives, you

traders, you sailors, your labor is holy if you serve the Lord Christ in it, by living

unto Him as you ought to live.

The sacred has absorbed the secular."

"In that day 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD' shall be engraved on the bells of the horses."

Zechariah 14:20 (see also vs. 21)

CAN'T HELP IT--THIS TICKLED MY FUNNY BONE

month of sundaes

Personally I think you've already arrived

without any practice at all.

A VISUAL RECIPE FOR CONTENTMENT

With Christmas busyness going into full swing,
doesn't it seem like the perfect day

for toasted cheese sandwiches?

Perhaps in front of a hot crackling fire?

With a nice cup of hot cider or your
favorite cup'a?

As I stoke the fire, and my imagination,
I am there with you.

murmuringcottage via tumblr