Saturday, April 21, 2012

Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread..YUM!

Here is the recipe I've started using in my bread maker and it is turning out SOOOOO GOOD!  It is half 100% whole wheat flour and half unbleached bread flour.

I put it into my bread machine in this order....
1/2 cup warm water
1/8 cup honey
2 Tbls oil (i've been using canola, next loaf I'm trying olive oil)
1/2 cup milk
1 1/4 cup 100% whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cup unbleached bread flour
1 tsp yeast (i use Fleischmanns's Bread Machine Yeast)
salt (i use 2-3 pinches)

ONCE IT STARTS MIXING I CHECK IT....both times I've made it I've had to add about a tablespoon of water....

I put the settings on my bread machine at White Bread, 2lb and medium crust...When I did it like this my crust was reallllllllly crunchy. The consistency of the bread was almost like store bought and the flavor was REALLLLLLY good!

I've been searching and searching for good sandwich, toast and whatever bread machine bread....for years...so far this is by far the easiest and the yummiest with the exact consistency and size that I was looking for!

WOOHOO!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Actions Speak Louder Than Words...

Let me clarify....I absolutely believe that when it comes to the Gospel, actions and words must be both used equally, and what we say MUST match up with how we live and how we live MUST match up with what we say.  What good is it to live a Godly life pursuing Holiness when we don't share the Gospel of Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection with others?  However, what good is it to share the Gospel with others when our lives are full of sin and we look no different to them than the rest of the world?


Today I'm just talking about our actions.


Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.


When you think about your life, and I mean REALLY think about it...what is the PURPOSE of your life?  Every action, thought, word...what is your motive behind it?  It can be a really deep, thought provoking question that many believe there is no answer to, or don't believe they know it.  But as believers and followers or the Lord Jesus Christ I would suggest this, as followers of Christ our purpose and motives should all be exactly the same...to Glorify God in ALL we do (Whether in front of others or behind close doors when no one else is around), and to bring as many souls to Heaven with us as we can when our days on this earth have ended.


Now, the way this looks in each of our lives may be radically different from one another.  But the purpose, or end goal, should be the same.  And I believe if we desperately pursue the first part of that (glorifying God) then the second part (others coming to know Christ) will be a natural by-product.


I challenge you to go through your day today and constantly ask yourself "What was my reason for saying/doing/think that, in that way at that moment"...


1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink, or WHATEVER you do, do it all for the GLORY OF GOD!


Do we recognized the importance of salvation for every single soul we come into contact with?   When we get out of church on Sunday do we leave our "walk" at the door just to pick it up on Wednesday night or the following Sunday when we walk back in the door of the church.


We are the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world!!!  For some people we are the only Gospel they will ever see.  It seems so foreign to many of us who have heard the Gospel our entire lives, but there are many in our own town that have NEVER heard it!  


What a gift we've been given!  And what an AWESOME opportunity and honor it is that God would want to use US to share it with others!  Are you sharing with others