Seeing Beyond Earth's Shadows

With the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah grieved over the fall of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was once a great city and center of worship, but it was now devastated by war. "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow" (Lamentations 1:12). Can't we all relate to Jeremiah in the fact that when we are going through a tough situation, sometimes we think poor, poor pitiful me. No one has ever gone through what I am going through or feeling like I am feeling now.

But Jeremiah did not remain in despair. He recognized God's sovereignty in suffering. Later in this book of sorrow, the prophet reflected: "I have hope. Though the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are every morning" (3:21-23)

Has sorrow or suffering made you feel like a dark silhouette of what it once was? Remember, God's mercies are new every morning. He is compassionately working in your life for His glory and your blessings.

To see beyond earth's shadows, look to Christ the Light.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOOFAaUGfRE&feature=related

The link above is the link to the song by Laura Story called Blessings.

PUMPKIN CRUMB CAKE

Cake Batter

1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1⁄2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3⁄4 teaspoon salt

1⁄2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 1⁄4 cups sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup canned pureed pumpkin

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1⁄3 cup milk

3⁄4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Topping

2⁄3 cup plus 2 tablespoons rolled oats

1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour

1⁄2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

・ Preheat oven to 350°F.

・ Grease a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper.

・ To make the topping, combine 2⁄3 cup oats, flour, sugar, and cinnamon in processor. Add butter and cut in until crumbly. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons oats. Set to one side.

・ Sift the flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.

・ In a separate bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually beat in the sugar and 1 egg at a time.

・ Add the pumpkin and vanilla extract to the wet batter mix.

・ Gradually beat the dry ingredients into the batter. Slowly add the milk and stir in the walnuts (optional). Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread with the topping.

・ Bake the loaf cake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes.

・ Turn the cake out onto a rack and cool completely

For all my friends who have a kindle or a nook, I have compiled a list of all the books I have available for LendMe & Lending. If you would like the list just email me or comment on the blog with your email & I will email the list over. There are over 200 books available for sharing.

I haven't shared my favorite books I've read recently. Whew, there are SO many. I will try to just share the best ones.

The MacKinnon Curse Series

by J.A. Templeton

This is one of the BEST series I have read in a LONG time. It is a YA Paranormal Romance Series. I would compare it to Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer, except this one is way better. I have all 3 books available for lending on the Kindle!

The Volunteer

by Barbara Taylor Sissel

This books was amazing. I usually am not into this type of book, but I was captivated from start to finish. I also have this book available for lending on the Kindle.

Here is a summery.

In the fall of 1999, psychologist Sophia Beckman is compelled by the court to give testimony on behalf of a death row inmate that results in his sentence being overturned. Haunted by secrets from her past, she avoids the media spotlight as much as possible, but soon, other prisoners' families come seeking her assistance. One family in particular, the wife, children, and brother of Jarrett Capshaw, is especially insistent. Forty-one days ago Jarrett's request to die was granted by the State of Texas, and he became a dead man walking, a man they call a volunteer.

Jarrett's crimes were unusual, involving the theft of precious Mayan antiquities. Murder was never part of the plan, but murder is what happened. He pulled the trigger, and as little as he feels prepared for it, as much as he struggles with matters of the soul, he's ready to die. It is the only way his family and the families of his victims will be free to move on. While Jarrett labors to find the words to say good-bye to those he has loved, Sophia finds herself drawn into a relationship with his wife and oldest son. It is Jarrett's family she can't resist and there will be a price to pay. But not even Sophia could have foreseen the outcome when the brutal truth is exposed, the unalloyed facts that, incredibly, will deliver Jarrett's fate straight into her hands.

The Volunteer is a story about families, how they are made, and how in one single, horrifying instant, they can be broken. It is a story about mothers and the lies they tell to protect their children, to keep them from being hurt. But what happens when the truth comes out anyway and nothing and no one is spared? Sometimes the truth has the power to break your heart, and in Sophia's case it will also endanger her freedom and threaten everything she has ever believed about her life.

The Soul Guardians Series

by Kim Richardson

I believe there is also a 6th book coming out soon! This was another amazing series. The first book was free from Kindle. I am not sure if it is still available for free, but I have all the books available for Lending on Kindle.

FAMILY UPDATE

Jason, Gracie, Sophie & I have been doing amazing! We are so blessed and sometimes I just sit in awe of how much God has blessed us with.... love, family, good health, jobs, pets that adore us, church home and friends that are truly the cream of the crop. The list could go on and on, but those are just a few.

I was able to go home to Mississippi a couple weeks ago. I was supposed to be going because Jason was going to be working almost all day everyday for about 3 days for this base mat pour, but a couple days after we had already booked the trip he found out the base mat pour had been pushed back. At first, I was so upset because that was the whole point of the trip that I would get to see my family while Jason was really busy, but then I got on Pinterest for a little therapy (lol) and immediately I saw a pin that said "Trust in God's Timing". I was immediately thankful for the message straight for God himself. I did not know his plan for this deviation from my plan, but I was reminded that I must trust Him because he knows best. It was a amazing trip! I got to spend lots of time with Granny & Poppa, Dad, and Ameila. I got to see almost all my friends, PJ, Sherrie, The Girls from The Cotton Patch, Aunt Carolyn, Ms. Mickie & Mr. Earl, Aunt Debra & Uncle Buddy.... I think there are a few I am forgetting. I just cherish those times with all the people I love dearly so very much. I am so thankful God allows me to be able to take trips home to visit the people I love.

Please continue to pray for my Aunt Debra & Uncle Buddy. He has brain cancer and needs your prayers. I was so thankful to be able to spend a little time with both of them. They have been an inspiration to me & my family and I love them both so much.

I can't leave without showing a little love to Sophie & Gracie!