Spiritual Gift Cards

GIFT CARDS:  Think of it this way:  the Savior has paid for a monumental, never ending number of spiritual gift cards—so to speak—just for you!

            Metaphorically, these spiritual gift cards were given to you when you received the gift of the Holy Ghost as you were confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

            Some of our most important prayers are when we pray to know what to pray about!  So, pray and listen.  Read D & C 46:7-12, 13-26, 33

-  If you’re too negative with your children, your friends, or your spouse, ask for the gift of hope, of optimism.

-  If you lose your temper and are cruel in what you say to those you love, ask for the gift of mildness or understanding.

-  If you have started the same diet every Monday for the past three years and are still overweight, ask for the gift of self-discipline.  Or the gift to be healed.  Ask for the gift of peace so that anxiety, fear, frustration, and fatigue will no longer drive you to the fridge or to the fast food pick-up window.

-  If you’ve never been able to keep your home tidy and clean—and you know that the Holy Ghost enjoys a clean environment—ask for the gift of self-discipline.  Perhaps the gift of better time management or the gift of discernment would help so that you are spending your time on things that really matter.

-  If you are easily discouraged, pray for the spiritual gift of persistence, of endurance.

-  If you find that you are increasingly anxious about many things, ask for the gift of peace.  His peace surpasseth all understanding and cuts through the fear of every situation.

-  If you are shy and have never been very good at reaching out to others, pray for the gift of listening, even discernment, so you can really hear and know what is in someone’s heart.

-  If you are easily hurt by others, pray for the gift of faith.  Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a spiritual gift that will be a shield to you against the unkind words and actions of others.

-  If life has always been pretty easy for you, and you’ve always been the best and the brightest, pray for the gift of humility and for the ability to learn from everyone you meet—and I mean everyone.

What are some other gifts that may help you in your quest to increase in holiness?

- The gift of a cheerful countenance so that people are drawn to you. 

-  The gift of true conversion so that nothing can distract you or dissuade you from living the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

-  The gift of selflessness.

-  The gift of forgiveness.

-  The gift to be healed.

-  The gift of wisdom—even the wisdom of angels.

            Now, will a casual prayer or a casual presentation of your gift card—so to speak—to your Heavenly Father be enough for you to acquire the spiritual gift you are seeking?  Never!  Zero chance!

What Would A Holy Woman Do?

WHAT WOULD A HOLY WOMAN DO?

Sunday July 7, 2013 Presidency Message

            In thinking about how to learn about holiness, I’m wondering if for three days you would be willing to, just once each day, purposely choose one of your daily activities and try to “be holy” while doing it, or do it as a holy woman would do it.  For example, how would a holy woman start her day?  What would be on her “to do” list?  How would a holy woman approach a difficult assignment or a new overwhelming project?  How would she read to a child, or exercise?  How would she talk with a friend, or shop, or play or pray, or do laundry?

            How would a holy woman handle a conflict or avoid a conflict?  What would she read, or say, or listen to, or watch, or wear?  What would she do in really difficult situations?  If someone said something to you that was confusing, or hurtful, or demoralizing, how would a holy woman respond?  What would she do?  If she were betrayed, or misunderstood, or falsely accused, what would a holy woman do?

            How would a holy woman respond to her own success or failure?  How would she respond to the successes and failures of others?  How would a holy woman use her time and energy and money?  How would she prepare to partake of the sacrament each Sunday?

            How would a holy married woman welcome her husband home? Or how would she help him to welcome her home so they both felt loved, adored, wanted, and needed?  How would a holy single young woman date, or use her time when not dating?

            Would you be willing to try that?  Choose one thing a day for three days—a different thing each day or the same thing—you can’t do this wrong.

Why modesty is Important

I came across this clip on swimsuit modesty but the principles talked about apply to modesty in general.  I think it has a great message and another example why modesty is important.  I hope you enjoy it.

 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201373174636163

Quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley, shared by Sister Royer

"Woman is God’s supreme creation. Only after the earth had been formed, after the day had been separated from the night, after the waters had been divided from the land, after vegetation and animal life had been created, and after man had been placed on the earth, was woman created; and only then was the work pronounced complete and good.

"Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth." 

--President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, September 1988

Father's Day

Slow Cooker Black Bean and Corn Salsa Chicken

1 (14 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14 oz) can corn, drained
1 T taco seasoning or 1 oz package taco seasoning
1/2 lb chicken breasts
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup Water

Place all ingredients in resalable gallon sized freezer bag.  Mix together in bag and zip closed.  When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours.  

Cook on high for 3-4 hours or Low for 7-8 hours.  

When finished cooking, shred chicken and serve over rice, with tortilla chips, over a salad, in tortilla shells, or wrapped in a soft tortilla (this meat is so versatile).  Garnish with cheese, sour cream, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and hot sauce.  

Shortcake Biscuits, Lemon Curd & Lemonade From Cindy Bingham

Shortcake Biscuits

Ingredients

2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons sugar

4 tablespoons butter

2/3 cup milk

1 egg yolk, well beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add butter and cut into dry ingredients using a fork or pastry cutter. Mix wet ingredients and add to dry. Mix as little as possible until dry ingredients are just moistened. Dump onto lightly floured surface and knead very lightly, 4 or 5 times and pat dough into 1/3 to ½ inch thick sheet. Use biscuit cutter, cookie cutter, or glass cut to cut out rounds (or squares).  Move to lightly oiled cookie sheet. Brush tops with milk and sprinkle on sugar. Bake @ 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Lemon Curd

Ingredients

3 lemons
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 pound unsalted butter, room temperature
4 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup lemon juice (3 to 4 lemons)
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions
Using a peeler, zester, or grater remove the zest of 3 lemons, being careful to avoid the white pith. Put the zest in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the sugar and pulse until the zest is very finely minced into the sugar.
Cream the butter and beat in the sugar and lemon mixture. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and then add the lemon juice and salt. Mix until combined.
Pour the mixture into a 2 quart saucepan and cook over low heat until thickened (about 10 minutes), stirring constantly. The lemon curd will thicken at about 170 degrees F, or just below simmer. Remove from the heat and cool or refrigerate.

Stabilized Whipped Cream

1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1 Tablespoon cold water
1 cup cold heavy or whipping cream
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a small bowl put the 1 tablespoon of water and sprinkle the gelatin over it. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Microwave for 30 seconds. Gelatin should be clear and melted.

 In the bowl of a mixer, beat the cream until it gets thick and starts to form peaks. Gradually make your way to high speed otherwise you will be wearing it. And so will your counters, ceiling, floors, you get the idea.

Gradually add in your sugar and the vanilla. When the cream is whipped, stream the gelatin over the whipped cream, while you are beating it. This makes it so your whipped cream won’t weep or break until it is used. It can sit in the fridge for a couple of days and still be usable.

LEMONADE 

1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup) (I reduce so it isn't so sweet)

1 cup water (for the simple syrup)

1 cup lemon juice

3 to 4 cups cold water or lemon lime soda (to dilute)

 Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely.

 While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons, enough for one cup of juice.

 Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

Serve with ice, sliced lemons.