Recipe as requested

FireFly’s FireCracker (Hot Pepper) Jelly

½ cup hot peppers ground or chopped very fine
½ cup bell peppers ground or chopped vey fine
6 cups sugar
1 -1/2 cups white vinegar
6 ounces liquid Certo
Few drops red or green food colouring

Mix sugar and vinegar, bring to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and add Certo, peppers and food colouring. Stir for one minute. Ladle into hot sterilized jars. Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Makes 8 or 9 half pint jars.

If using red peppers, use red food colouring, or green food colouring for green peppers.

Cafe Chat Week of December 27

Kim's question this week again takes much thought to answer:

What is one thing you will commit to do in 2009 that will draw you closer to Jesus? (This is not a New Year’s Resolution)

This year I have committed to learn
Learn more about who God is (Exodus 34:6)
Learn more about who I am in Christ (Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Learn more about how to accept Christ's invitation to abide in Him (John 15:4)
Learn more about how to allow His love to move through me to touch others (John 13:34)
Learn more about how to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10)
Learn more about to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Luke 10:27)

Join us at Cafe Chat and add your answer this week.

Merry Christmas

From our home to yours, may the dawning of Christmas morning fill your hearts with the wonder of God's great love.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, unique] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, _but_ shall be having eternal life!

John 3:16

Cafe - Holiday Recipe Bazaar

This week we're sharing favorite holiday recipes, and the one that first came to mind for me was Fresh Cranberry Relish. I was never a lover of cooked cranberry sauce, whether jellied or not, but when I found this recipe on an OceanSpray cranberry bag I had to try it. It is ridiculously simple to prepare and goes well besides meats, over ice cream or even mixed into vanilla yogurt for a heathy snack!

Take 1 bag fresh cranberries, 1 orange (with peel) cut in quarters, 1/2 cup sugar and mix in food processor. Add more sugar to taste and mix again.

That's it. Couldn't be any easier could it?

I'm sorry that I don't have any pictures, so you will just have to imagine the sparkling ruby colour of this tasty delight. Or make it, and see for yourself!

For more tasty reading, join us at the Internet Cafe

Cafe Chat Week of December 13

This week Jill asks:

What are you currently doing (or can start to do) to put the focus of Christmas on Jesus?

I find that I am able to align my heart and mind with the true reason for this holiday season when I spend time in the Word. For as John tells us in his version of the Gospel, Jesus Himself Is the Word!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." John 1:1-5

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

During this season I enjoy reading the accounts of Jesus birth, my favourite being in Luke 2.

I just finshed writing out our Christmas cards and we have made a tradition of asking the Lord to give us a scripture to declare over each of our friends and to write inside their card. This way we can all be blessed by His truth!

My prayer for all of you is that you remain firmly rooted and grounded in His love, and that this season draws you ever closer to the heart of Jesus.

And the winner is.....

It's time to announce the winner of my Holiday Expo Gift Giveaway. There were twenty-six wonderful women that left comments. I used a random number generator and #15 was selected:

"sailorcross said...
Oh~~you know how i love music--God speaking to me through music. I almost rear ended someone the other day because I forgot and closed my eyes in prayer while listening to a song!! Not a good combination!! I can't say I have a very worship song or artist--I love so many!! Right now I'm listening to MercyMe--Spoken For. And also, Adonai--love that one!! My list could fill all the available space left on your computer!! So, I'll stop with those two. Wonderful giveaway!! Beth"

Congratulations Beth! I will be sending out your copy of "Hear My Cry" by Todd and Melanie Toews straight away. May you be blessed as they lead you into the throne room of our God.

Holiday Home Tour

This week we are taking a tour around the internet world to peek in on how we have decorated our homes for Christmas. To check on all the other homes click here.

Welcome to snowy Manitoba. It certainly has begun to look like Christmas this week!

Our front yardOur back yard

This year's tree

Nativity scene from last year's trip to UgandaMay peace fill your homes and may the Holy Spirit fill your hearts with the love of God this Christmas and always. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5

My Ten Things for Tuesday December 9

Paul taught us "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5:18, so in the midst of a nagging illness I present my list of gratitude.

1. Today I am thankful for cough drops that give me momentary periods of relief
2. Today I am thankful for a reliable furnace and electricity to keep my home warm
3. Today I am thankful for a husband who starts my vehicle in the morning and cleans the snow and ice off the windshield. I guess Rick is my own sort of remote-start!
4. Today I am thankful again to live in a rural area where the fresh fallen snow stays clean and white
5. Today I am thankful that my parents have lived to see their 61st wedding anniversary. What wonderful role models of making a marriage work.
6. Today I am thankful for Christmas lights shining brightly in the darkness, reminding me of the One true Light and His call on us to shine as well
7. Today I am thankful that God blesses obedience as I responded to His call to resign from my job, in faith, not knowing what lies ahead, but throwing myself into His hands
8. Today I am thankful for the sense of relief and peace that flooded me as soon as I emailed in that letter of resignation this morning.
9. Today I am thankful that God promises in His Word "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11
10. Today I am thankful for love, His abundant, extravagant love.

What are you thnakful for? Join Jill at Xbox Wife and share your 10 things.

Cafe Chat December 6

This week Kim asked us "If money were no option, what gift would you give to who and why?"

I have been pondering this question all morning, and I cannot think of a thing I could buy that would be more valuable than the gift I have finally chosen, I gift I truly wish I give to all, including myself.

If I could, I would give a pair of spectacles that would allow the person wearing them to see themselves the way God sees them. If only for a moment we could truly know how precious we are in His sight our day to day walk in the world would never be the same.

I cannot give such a grand gift as that, but I can pray that our eyes would be opened and that God would pour out fresh revelation about the great love He holds for each one of us.

Let the truth of His Word saturate you today:

“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

“I have loved you with an everlasting love” Jeremiah 31:3

God's love is a gift we must learn to receive before we can give it away.

Come join us at Cafe Chat and share your answer to this week's question.

Holiday Expo

It's an exciting time at the Internet Cafe holiday expo gift giveaway this week!

I have chosen to give away a worship CD titled "Hear My Cry" written and recorded by Todd and Melanie Toews. Todd and Melanie are gifted prophetic minstrels and their music will lead you straight into the heart of God.

Here's the rules:

Leave me a comment telling us about your favourite worship music. Make sure to leave a name and email address or link and check back after December 12th at the Internet Cafe to see if you are the lucky winner.

Winner must reside in North America and will be picked at random.

Only one entry per person please.

Why not join the rest of the fun at the Internet Cafe this holiday season?

My Ten Things for Tuesday December 2

1. Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Tea, hot and strong with a splash of milk
2. The birds that have chosen to feed in our yard for the winter. Their beauty and antics add life and colour to what could be a much duller view from our kitchen window. It is well worth the cost of feed and suet and seed bells to care for these creatures God created.
3. Kleenex! I'm not sure how many boxes I've used in the past week fighting a head/chest cold. Never mind that I already go through so much because of the tender heart God gave me that weeps without a moment's notice.
4. Cough syrup that helps me rest through the night.
5. A loving husband who agreed it was a good idea for me to take a "sick-day" today and stay home to rest, heal and study.
6. 3 - 1/2 weeks of revival meetings ended Sunday night. Now we have time to process all that God was trying to say and do in our lives and communities. Though I will miss the nightly gatherings, I am thankful for the time to get on with what God is asking us to do next. My prayer is that we do not simply return to "business as usual".
7. God accepts us just as we are, but He loves us too much to let us remain that way. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18
8. Life in a free nation. In the midst of turmoil (see here) I have liberty to state my opinions without fear of persecution. I pray that I would be as bold even if the stakes were higher.
9. The approaching Christmas season. This is the one time of year I can say God bless to you to everyone and no one seems to take offense!
10. Snow crystals that sparkle like diamonds in our headlights as we drive down our lane coming home at night. They remind me that I am nothing but a lump of coal that God is continually working on to create a thing of beauty that reflects His light.

What things are you thankful for today? Join Jill at Xbox Wife to share your list.

A Nation Shakes

Nine years ago God called me to Canada, not only to be united in marriage with my beloved Rick, but also to stand on guard as a watchman for this nation.

These last days the news headlines seem ridiculous and disturbing.

Liberals, NDP, Bloc sign deal on proposed coalition

I emailed the following letter to various National and local newspapers yesterday:

"The thought of another election so soon after the last is appalling, yet not nearly as disturbing to me as the political games being played by the opposition. Mr. Layton and Mr. Dion are not representing the people. The people voiced their opinion with their votes on October 14th, and from what I have been reading about recent polls, the people are not in any way favourable toward the moves the opposition is attempting. As for the Bloc, they will help to support anyone who can suit their purposes at the moment.

I believe in a unified Canada. I pray for a unified Canada. If games such as this are allowed to prevail, the only thing I have left to hold on to is my belief that God is in control. With people’s lives hanging in the balance, I can only say God help us. God help Canada."

For news and prayer points visit 4MyCanada