Would You Care for a Scone?

Good day, friends!
I have a recipe to share with you. Why don't you grab some tea or coffee and enjoy these delicious little morsels.  :)

 

 To make these, you will need: 

- 2 cups flour

- 1 tablespoon baking powder

- 2 tablespoons sugar

- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

- 6 tablespoons butter

- 1/2 cup buttermilk

- 1 lightly beaten egg

- blueberries (optional) 

 Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients together. Cut in 6 tablespoons of butter until mixture resembles a coarse cornmeal. (I used a pastry cutter, but you can also use two knives.) Make a well in the center and pour in buttermilk, or if you don't have buttermilk, you can use regular milk. (I use regular milk every time and they come out great.) Mix until dough clings together and is a bit sticky. Be sure not to overmix. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and shape into 6-8 inch round circle, about 1-1.5 inches thick. (These will rise, so you can spread the dough out on the thinner side.) Cut into pie wedges or use a round biscuit or cookie cutter to cut circles. Try not to handle the dough too much. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, (parchment paper works great as well). Brush with egg for a shiny, beautiful scone. 

Note: Right before brushed the dough with egg, I pressed a few blueberries into the scones. If you wanted to flavor your scones, you could use chocolate chips, blueberries, cranberries, orange, or almond flavoring.

Bake for 10-20 minutes, or until light brown.  

These taste great plain, with butter or jam.

Enjoy! 

I would love to know, have you made scones before? 

What's your favorite way to enjoy them?  

The Old Rugged Cross

 The Old Rugged Cross

By: George Bennard

 On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suff'ring and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. 

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; 

I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

 Oh, that old rugged cross so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above, to bear it to dark Calvary.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

 In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; 

For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me. 

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

 To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then he'll call me some day to my home far away, where his glory forever I'll share. 

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

George Bennard was born on February 4, 1873 in Youngstown, Ohio. He was the only son among four daughters. While he was still young, his family moved to Lucas, Iowa, where George accepted Christ as his Saviour at the Salvation Army meeting. George's father died when George was sixteen years old, and he assumed the responsibility of providing for his sisters and mother. George joined the Salvation Army and served alone until he married. Then, both him and his wife were officers in the Salvation Army until George resigned and became a traveling evangelist for the Methodist church. He conducted revival campaigns in Canada and in the northern and central United States. 

One day in his Michigan home, George reflected on the meaning of the cross in the life of a believer, in light of Galatians 6:14. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
Upon mulling on this verse, George Bennard became convinced that the cross was the very heart of Christianity, and not just a symbol. He reported that as he meditated upon this, the words, "the old rugged cross" came into his mind and then the notes of a melody ran through his head. After writing them down, he tried for several weeks to compose words to fit the tune. Finally, four verses and the chorus flowed from his pen. George took the hymn over to his friend's house, Reverend and Mrs. L.O. Bostwick and sang it for them. The Bostwicks were so enthusiastic about the hymn that they offered to pay the fees to have it printed. "The Old Rugged Cross" was published in 1915. 

George Bennard traveled and preached for another forty years after writing this hymn. And although he composed several other hymns, none became as popular as his first. IN 1958, at the age of eighty-five, George Bennard "exchanged his cross for a crown." Near the house where he died, the city officials erected a wooden cross that stands twelve feet high. On it is a plaque that reads: "'The Old Rugged Cross' - Home of George Bennard, composer of the beloved hymn."

I hope and pray each and every one of you will have a good and godly week.

your friend in Christ,
Ashley

Ephesians 2:15-17

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

Creation Moments

Hi Friends! 

I recently realized that I have not shared Creation Moments with you in quite a while, so I thought you'd enjoy reading a couple today. :) This first one is called Orchids and Bees, and the second article, More About Amazing Aspirin. 

Psalm 103:15-16

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 

 When I was a science teacher, in government schools in England, I used to like to show a particular video to my classes. This video featured some unusual plants that had strange reproductive methods. The most unusual of all was the bucket orchid.

This orchid grows in Central and South America. The flower forms a bucket, which fills with a sticky secretion from the plant. The flower then has to sit and wait for a bee. But it is not just any bee that can pollinate this plant. It has to be the special, beautiful, green orchid bee. The bee is attracted by the sweet liquid, but slips and falls into it. The exhausted bee eventually climbs out, through a passage way of Goldilocks proportions—not to big, not too small, just right. 

As the bee tries to escape through this passage, the flower holds it tight, and glues two pollen sacks on its back. After holding the bee long enough for the glue to dry, the flower releases the bee. 

If a bee arrives at the orchid, with pollen sacks already on its back, the flower lets it quickly through the system, and takes away the pollen sacks, before the bee can finally escape. 

Evolutionists maintain that this is an example of co-evolution—two organisms evolving so that they cannot do without each other. Which evolved first? It is difficult to see how one could have evolved before the other. It is far more sensible to take the biblical presupposition, that both were the work of our Creator.

More About Amazing Aspirin

Psalm 147:3 

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.  

A few years ago we aired a "Creation Moments" program about how plants seem to have pain and alarm responses similar to humans and animals. Of course, we don't know if plants have feelings as we know them. But when a plant is injured, it produces a chemical called jasmonic acid. This acid produces a vapor, similar to the jasmine in commercial perfumes, that is sensed by surrounding plants. They, in turn respond to the signal.

When humans feel pain it is due to chemicals totally unrelated to jasmonic acids. As we all know, aspirin is important to pain management for many people. Aspirin works by disabling the chemicals that cause our pain. Now scientists have discovered that aspirin also works to shut down a plant's response to injury. Aspirin shuts off the plant's production of jasmonic acid, even though jasmonic acid is not at all similar to human pain-causing chemicals. More amazingly, aspirin's chemical reaction is of the same kind in plants and humans. So the next time you accidentally injure your favorite house plant, it might appreciate a small dose of aspirin!

While we can be thankful that God placed substances in the creation which help us manage pain, we should never forget that nothing in this creation can deal with the underlying cause of pain. Only Jesus Christ can bring healing from our sinful condition that results in both spiritual and physical pain.

creationmoments.com 

I hope you all have a good and godly rest of the week! 

praying for you all,

Ashley

Thankful Thursday

A cheery hello and good day to you all, world changers! 

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Psalm 118:24

Today, I'm thankful for:  

 

 -the precious time our family spent in Pensacola with Sarah over Easter and the good memories that were made.

(((We spent Friday and Saturday touring the National Naval Aviation Museum...

 and climbed the Pensacola Lighthouse on Saturday. Here's a few facts about the lighthouse you may enjoy: 

 *Construction on the lighthouse began in 1856; it was lit on January 1, 1859 and is still in use today. It is 191 ft. above sea level and its visual range is 27 miles. This lighthouse replaced the original one which, aside from being built in 1824, was the first lighthouse on the gulf coast.

 

 The view from the top is really quite beautiful.

And of course we had to make one stop at Petland. Lauren and Deborah absolutely love that place. They held the little Shih-Tzu puppy in the picture above...it looked (and acted) just like Lacy did when she was a puppy. :) And that giant turtle, well, he just roams around the building.)))

-the four new adorable chicks our neighbors gave us yesterday. 

What are two things you're thankful for this week? 

Psalm 9:2

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

Tea Cup and Mug Exchange Sign Up

Good morning, friends! 

I just wanted to pop in with a quick reminder and let ya'll know that the tea cup and mug exchange, hosted by Stephanie, is beginning today. The sign up form is only open until Sunday, so if you are interested in making a new friend and swapping a tea cup or mug (or both), head on over to Stephanie's blog to sign up. :) If you want to read more about the exchange or to read all the details and rules, click here to read her post. I hope you will join the fun! Feel free to tell your family and friends...anyone can participate. 

Have a wonderful, good and godly day! 

Jesus Is Alive!

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! 

Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia! 

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply: Alleluia! 

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! 

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won? Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!

Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia! 

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! 

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! 

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! 

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! 

Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bless, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, thy pow'r to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!  

Happy Easter, friends! I hope you take a moment to let the words of this hymn sink deep into your souls. What a joyous thought it is that Jesus is not still in the grave. All the miracles He did, all the prophecies He fulfilled, all the compassion He bestowed, all the horrendous suffering He endured prior to the cross, all the shame and loneliness He felt when God the Father turned His back on His only Son as Jesus took on Himself the sins of the whole world would have been all for nothing if Jesus had not risen. We would still be lost in our sins without a Saviour. Paul tells us some good news his epistle to the Corinthians. 

1 Corinthians 15:12-22

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raise not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

Today, we're celebrating the fact that Jesus victoriously rose from the tomb, conquering death and conquering Satan. And because He rose, people can now glorious become children of God and will indeed rise again one day. Enjoy your day as you happily celebrate our risen Lord!

 

Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;

He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord! 

Up from the grave He arose; with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!   

~~~~~~~~~~

Sing above the battle's strife, Jesus saves, Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life, Jesus saves, Jesus saves! 
Sing it softly thru the gloom, when the heart for mercy craves,
Sing in triumph o'er the tomb, Jesus saves, Jesus saves!   
   

Matthew 28:5-6
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.