Starting Monday, February 7, I will be having "Recipe Monday". I will be posting a new recipe every Monday, most likely, mid-morning.
February's recipes will be salads.
Feel free to comment and share your favorite salad recipes and or variations of the recipes I post and how you like them.
So, be watching MONDAY for the first recipe!
About Me
- LampstandbytheFire
- Hello! I am 25 and a Mom of 2 wonderful children, a boy and a girl. I have been happily married to my husband for 4 years. I am glad you are here and hope that you can be blessed and/or helped in some way by my blog.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Ohh the things children say...
My husband was holding our daughter (1 1/2 yrs old) the other day and he says, "Sweetheart, Daddy wants a kiss." Our daughter, oh so sweet and ornery, tilts her head to the side and in the sweetest tone replies, "Sorry." She then giggled up a storm. She thought it was hilarious...yes, like I said, she is ornery.
A few days ago I was making funny faces and singing to make my son (3 yrs old) laugh. I then ask him to do the same. He starts busting out laughing and says in between laughs, while shaking his head no, "Mommy...you're so crazy!" and then continues laughing...
I know you parents, out there have funny stories about things your children have said or done!
Please Share!
A few days ago I was making funny faces and singing to make my son (3 yrs old) laugh. I then ask him to do the same. He starts busting out laughing and says in between laughs, while shaking his head no, "Mommy...you're so crazy!" and then continues laughing...
I know you parents, out there have funny stories about things your children have said or done!
Please Share!
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Lost Stuffed Animal...
Many of you parents out there I am sure can relate to this story...
Naptime: my daughter lays down in her bed with very little fuss (about 5 seconds of whining) and then is content. My son, however, will not go to sleep without his favorite stuffed animal (Curious George). He is whining and crying and will not stop unless we find him. I turn the house practically upside down and no such luck. I ask, "Where did you put him?" Son's reply, "In the toy box." But it's not in the toy box. I say many things to try to get him to take a nap without it: "Maybe he is hiding. We will find him when you wake up." "You must have lost him but when I find him I will bring him to you." "Later we are going to have lots of fun, but you have to take a nap first." This goes on and on. ha ha. Okay so then we resort to, "Stop crying, it is okay, you have Elmo, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey, Lion King, and Stripes (all of his other stuffed animals almost). You will be fine. We will find him later." Son still crying... Finally I go back to the living room and find the missing animal hiding behind the couch. I take him the animal and he is a new boy and more than willing to lay down and take his nap!
Whew! The day is saved!
Just all in a day's work!
Thank you!
Naptime: my daughter lays down in her bed with very little fuss (about 5 seconds of whining) and then is content. My son, however, will not go to sleep without his favorite stuffed animal (Curious George). He is whining and crying and will not stop unless we find him. I turn the house practically upside down and no such luck. I ask, "Where did you put him?" Son's reply, "In the toy box." But it's not in the toy box. I say many things to try to get him to take a nap without it: "Maybe he is hiding. We will find him when you wake up." "You must have lost him but when I find him I will bring him to you." "Later we are going to have lots of fun, but you have to take a nap first." This goes on and on. ha ha. Okay so then we resort to, "Stop crying, it is okay, you have Elmo, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey, Lion King, and Stripes (all of his other stuffed animals almost). You will be fine. We will find him later." Son still crying... Finally I go back to the living room and find the missing animal hiding behind the couch. I take him the animal and he is a new boy and more than willing to lay down and take his nap!
Whew! The day is saved!
Just all in a day's work!
Thank you!
One Recipe I think every one should have on file....
This recipe is technically for homeade tortillas, however I used it also for the crust for mini pizzas. A friend of mine also used this recipe to make homeade poptarts by cutting it in rectangular pieces and spreading fruit preserves in between two of the rectangles and baking them.
So what is this 1 Awesome Recipe???!!!
Homemade Dough for Tortillas/Pizza Crust/and More!
3 Cups Flour (Wheat or White flour, both work great!)
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Warm Water
In a large bowl blend the flour and oil with a fork. Dissolve the salt in warm water and slowly add the salt water to the flour mixture until the dough comes together. Shape into a ball and knead for 2 minutes. Cover and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Divide dough into 12 golf ball size balls. Roll each piece into 8 inch rounds using a rolling pin. Next, cook the tortillas in a preheated skillet over Medium-High heat until each side is lightly browned. Unused tortillas can be stored in the fridge or freezer.
Now, something very important to know, it says to knead and let rest. However, both my friend and I have used this recipe without kneading it and letting it rest. It turns out great either way.
If you want to use this for the Pizza Crust then follow the same recipe however you will be rolling the dough out in to the size and thickness you want for the pizza. Next prebake the dough until it is about halfway done and either freeze or add the sauce and toppings and finish baking.
If you want to use this for the Poptarts then follow the same recipe and after rolling out the dough, cut it into the size of rectangles you desire. Place the rectangles on a cookie sheet and spread fruit or other desired contents and then place another rectangular piece on top and pinch the edges to seal. Bake at 350 until golden brown.
Try out this recipe and let me know if you like it. Also, if you have found other great foods this recipe can be used for then let us know!
So what is this 1 Awesome Recipe???!!!
Homemade Dough for Tortillas/Pizza Crust/and More!
3 Cups Flour (Wheat or White flour, both work great!)
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Warm Water
In a large bowl blend the flour and oil with a fork. Dissolve the salt in warm water and slowly add the salt water to the flour mixture until the dough comes together. Shape into a ball and knead for 2 minutes. Cover and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Divide dough into 12 golf ball size balls. Roll each piece into 8 inch rounds using a rolling pin. Next, cook the tortillas in a preheated skillet over Medium-High heat until each side is lightly browned. Unused tortillas can be stored in the fridge or freezer.
Now, something very important to know, it says to knead and let rest. However, both my friend and I have used this recipe without kneading it and letting it rest. It turns out great either way.
If you want to use this for the Pizza Crust then follow the same recipe however you will be rolling the dough out in to the size and thickness you want for the pizza. Next prebake the dough until it is about halfway done and either freeze or add the sauce and toppings and finish baking.
If you want to use this for the Poptarts then follow the same recipe and after rolling out the dough, cut it into the size of rectangles you desire. Place the rectangles on a cookie sheet and spread fruit or other desired contents and then place another rectangular piece on top and pinch the edges to seal. Bake at 350 until golden brown.
Try out this recipe and let me know if you like it. Also, if you have found other great foods this recipe can be used for then let us know!
Are You Awake and Watching???
Matthew 25:1-13
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
[ “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return." ]
Are we awake and watching? Did we bring enough oil to wait as long as it takes? The 5 foolish were apparently only willing to wait a certain amount of time because for they ran out of oil. They didn't bring enough 'extra oil' to last. If you remember from the post on Feb. 3 titled, "I am the wick...", as talked about, the oil represents annointing. The Scripture says, that all of them 'got up' and all of them 'prepared their lamps' but only the five wise had enough to keep the fire burning. Remember, they couldn't let the fire go out. What did the 5 foolish do? They tried to get the oil (annointing) from the others. It doesn't work that way... You have to be kindling your own fire, you have to watch and wait. Remember if the candle was not trimmed a certain way and have just the right amount of oil (as talked about in that previous post) the fire would not radiate the glory of God. If the 5 wise gave the 5 foolish some of their oil then none of the 10 would have the correct amount. The 5 wise, as you can see in the Scriptures, kept the fire burning, they did not let their annointing die, they tended their spirits and they were accepted into God's Kingdom. The 5 foolish let their fire go out, they only wanted to wait to a certain point and because God doesn't work on our time table, He works on His own time table, they let their fire go out. They wanted it to happen their way and because it didn't, they let their fire go out.
Keep the wicks trimmed just right and the oil filled and let God's light shine through us!
Let God continue to rid us of all the excess we don't need and shouldn't have in our lives, and let Him fill us where we are empty; let us keep our focus always upon Christ and Him Crucified and continually be filled with the Holy Spirit and fire; and may we let Christ shine through us that we all be living testimonies of Him!
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
[ “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return." ]
Are we awake and watching? Did we bring enough oil to wait as long as it takes? The 5 foolish were apparently only willing to wait a certain amount of time because for they ran out of oil. They didn't bring enough 'extra oil' to last. If you remember from the post on Feb. 3 titled, "I am the wick...", as talked about, the oil represents annointing. The Scripture says, that all of them 'got up' and all of them 'prepared their lamps' but only the five wise had enough to keep the fire burning. Remember, they couldn't let the fire go out. What did the 5 foolish do? They tried to get the oil (annointing) from the others. It doesn't work that way... You have to be kindling your own fire, you have to watch and wait. Remember if the candle was not trimmed a certain way and have just the right amount of oil (as talked about in that previous post) the fire would not radiate the glory of God. If the 5 wise gave the 5 foolish some of their oil then none of the 10 would have the correct amount. The 5 wise, as you can see in the Scriptures, kept the fire burning, they did not let their annointing die, they tended their spirits and they were accepted into God's Kingdom. The 5 foolish let their fire go out, they only wanted to wait to a certain point and because God doesn't work on our time table, He works on His own time table, they let their fire go out. They wanted it to happen their way and because it didn't, they let their fire go out.
Keep the wicks trimmed just right and the oil filled and let God's light shine through us!
Let God continue to rid us of all the excess we don't need and shouldn't have in our lives, and let Him fill us where we are empty; let us keep our focus always upon Christ and Him Crucified and continually be filled with the Holy Spirit and fire; and may we let Christ shine through us that we all be living testimonies of Him!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
I am the wick...
Welcome to my blog! As you can see this is my first post and I will begin by talking about where my username "Lampstand By The Fire" came from and talk a little bit about the picture I have at the side of my blog titled "Stirring the Waters".
The link I have provided is the website where I got my information; it is from
All Nations Bible Study Resource Center.
They have done an in depth study about the Lampstand and its representation of Christ in the Bible. The lampstand was more than just a way to give light to a room.
They state, "Ex. 25:38 "Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold." Why the wick trimmers? God must have anticipated trouble with the wicks. The lampstand is Christ the oil and the fire are symbolic of the Holy Spirit, but the wick is representative of us the believers. We as the wicks were to be submerged, literally baptized, in the Holy Spirit and set ablaze by His fire. The fire does not go to the oil but to the wick. Unfortunately the wick is always the cause of the problem. As it burns, it chars and no longer allow the oil to flow to the flame. This introduces impurities. It no longer matters that the lampstand is pure gold, that the oil is pure olive oil, and that the fire is God's fire, for the wick is now impure because it is charred, and instead of light, it gives off smoke and odor. That is why we have the golden tongs to cut off the charred portion and to lift the wick up to a fresh relationship between the oil and the fire. As on the day of Pentecost the Spirit comes to them, the fire comes upon them, and the oil flows through them. But unless the wick of the humanity is kept clean and held in right relationship to the oil and the fire, there will be far more smell and smoke than light. If pride elevates the wick too high, the flame will not burn correctly; too much smoke. If self-depreciation causes the wick to lower itself too low, it will either extinguish the flame or cause it to burn so impurely that more odor than light is produced. It is the untrimmed individual who is causing all the smoke and smell. If the goal is to burn, then it doesn't matter whether we get trimmed or not. But if the goal is to radiate His light, it does matter. Remember that the instructions for the lampstand was to "shed its light before the Lord" (Ex. 40:25). "
(I have added the emphasis on the certain areas of the paragraph. To see the full message please go to the link provided.)
So, my username I have chosen, Lampstand by the Fire, is talking about a continual burning of Christ and His Holy Spirit annointing in us Christians. I heard preached in a sermon years back that the Lampstand in the temple was not allowed to go out 24/7. It had to be continually, around the clock, trimmed and properly tended to in order for it to never die out. I think about how God is continually working in us and 'perfecting' us Christians throughout our walk before Him. He is continually watching over us, helping us, trimming off the old just right so that we radiate His glory! WOW!
Now, about the picture I have up at the side of my blog, the painting I have titled, "Stirring the Waters". There is more inspiration to the painting I have done than just the Scriptures but for certain reasons, I will share the other half of the inspiration. Now, if you read John 5:3-4 it talks about the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. The Scripture states, "In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." (KJV) I believe God is wanting to move in a powerful way through His church and he is preparing us. He is going to stir the waters and we have to be watching. You think about these precious people gathered around this pool...they weren't just standing or laying around chatting; they had to keep their constant focus upon the water, watching with expectation for the moving of God to come. If they took their focus away for even a minute, they could miss it. We need to be continually focused upon the Lord and what He is doing and when He begins to move we will be ready and the moving of the waters will come upon us.
These two things lead into the next Scriptures I will talk about in Matthew 25 talking about the 10 virgins.
The link I have provided is the website where I got my information; it is from
All Nations Bible Study Resource Center.
They have done an in depth study about the Lampstand and its representation of Christ in the Bible. The lampstand was more than just a way to give light to a room.
They state, "Ex. 25:38 "Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold." Why the wick trimmers? God must have anticipated trouble with the wicks. The lampstand is Christ the oil and the fire are symbolic of the Holy Spirit, but the wick is representative of us the believers. We as the wicks were to be submerged, literally baptized, in the Holy Spirit and set ablaze by His fire. The fire does not go to the oil but to the wick. Unfortunately the wick is always the cause of the problem. As it burns, it chars and no longer allow the oil to flow to the flame. This introduces impurities. It no longer matters that the lampstand is pure gold, that the oil is pure olive oil, and that the fire is God's fire, for the wick is now impure because it is charred, and instead of light, it gives off smoke and odor. That is why we have the golden tongs to cut off the charred portion and to lift the wick up to a fresh relationship between the oil and the fire. As on the day of Pentecost the Spirit comes to them, the fire comes upon them, and the oil flows through them. But unless the wick of the humanity is kept clean and held in right relationship to the oil and the fire, there will be far more smell and smoke than light. If pride elevates the wick too high, the flame will not burn correctly; too much smoke. If self-depreciation causes the wick to lower itself too low, it will either extinguish the flame or cause it to burn so impurely that more odor than light is produced. It is the untrimmed individual who is causing all the smoke and smell. If the goal is to burn, then it doesn't matter whether we get trimmed or not. But if the goal is to radiate His light, it does matter. Remember that the instructions for the lampstand was to "shed its light before the Lord" (Ex. 40:25). "
(I have added the emphasis on the certain areas of the paragraph. To see the full message please go to the link provided.)
So, my username I have chosen, Lampstand by the Fire, is talking about a continual burning of Christ and His Holy Spirit annointing in us Christians. I heard preached in a sermon years back that the Lampstand in the temple was not allowed to go out 24/7. It had to be continually, around the clock, trimmed and properly tended to in order for it to never die out. I think about how God is continually working in us and 'perfecting' us Christians throughout our walk before Him. He is continually watching over us, helping us, trimming off the old just right so that we radiate His glory! WOW!
Now, about the picture I have up at the side of my blog, the painting I have titled, "Stirring the Waters". There is more inspiration to the painting I have done than just the Scriptures but for certain reasons, I will share the other half of the inspiration. Now, if you read John 5:3-4 it talks about the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. The Scripture states, "In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." (KJV) I believe God is wanting to move in a powerful way through His church and he is preparing us. He is going to stir the waters and we have to be watching. You think about these precious people gathered around this pool...they weren't just standing or laying around chatting; they had to keep their constant focus upon the water, watching with expectation for the moving of God to come. If they took their focus away for even a minute, they could miss it. We need to be continually focused upon the Lord and what He is doing and when He begins to move we will be ready and the moving of the waters will come upon us.
These two things lead into the next Scriptures I will talk about in Matthew 25 talking about the 10 virgins.
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