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December 2004 ETC Corner
Oatmeal Christmas Pancakes
This month's issue of the P31 Woman features an article my Karen Ehman, author of Homespun Gifts from the Heart. Below is a simple but tasty holiday project from Karen's book.
Wake up your family on Christmas morning with the tantalizing scent of these home-made pancakes, or bottle the mix and give as a gift to neighbors and friends.
The Mix:
4 cups of quick cooking oatmeal
2 cups flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
3 tablespoons baking powder
2 tablespoons cinnamon
5 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon cream of tartar.
Run oats through blender to make powder-like consistency. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Fill gift jars and attach directions below for making the batter. Yield: 5 pint-sized jars of mix, or 2 quart-sized jars with one pint left over.
The Batter:
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup of oil
1 cup of water
To 2 cups of this mix, add the above ingredients and stir well - alternating the addition of oil and water. Pour batter by ¼ cupfuls onto a slightly greased skillet at medium-low heat. Flip after 2 minutes and cook until brown. Makes 10 pancakes.
Celebrating Christ at Christmas
Are you looking for ways to remember the reason for the season? Proverbs 31 Ministries Vice-president Sharon Jaynes has written a beautifully illustrated book titled Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas. Here is one idea, excerpted from Sharon's book, for keeping Christ at forefront of our holidays:
The prophets of old anticipated the coming of the Christ-Child. Simeon and the prophetess, Anna, waited their entire lives in the Jerusalem temple to see the promise of His coming fulfilled. We too can create an atmosphere of expectancy in our homes by setting out a nativity scene but leaving the manger empty.
Each day of December, as the children walk by the empty manger, they will ask, "Where's baby Jesus?" And we can reply, "He's not here yet. But He's coming soon."
To enhance the idea of preparing for His arrival, have the children add a few sprigs of straw to make Jesus' bed cozy. Then, on Christmas morning, before little feet make their way to the crèche, place the baby Jesus in His manger bed. The children will bound into the room with cries of, "He's here! He's here! Baby Jesus is here!"
But one word of caution: Don't forget where you put baby Jesus!
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Into the Word
By Rachel Olsen, Speaker Team Member
The holidays are a wonder-filled, yet extremely busy time of the year. For many, the eventfulness of the season causes time spent in bible study to fall to the wayside. This is such a rich time of year, however, to study God's Word!
Did you know, for example, there are over 300 Old Testament prophecies about the birth and life of Christ? At Christmastime I love studying the various ways Jesus has fulfilled the prophecies of old. It creates in me a renewed sense of awe and appreciation that God came to Earth as a vulnerable babe, and died as a guiltless yet persecuted man so that we could be redeemed.
The Book of Luke is another great place to spend some time, curled up before the flickering light of the fire or the tree. The early chapters of Luke contain the account of Christ's birth, often referred to as The Christmas Story. I suggest reading it in several different translations to deepen your grasp of this precious miracle. If you don't own multiple translations, they can be freely accessed online at www.crosswalk.com.
Have you made resolutions for the New Year? Is more time spent in bible study one of them? Here are some ideas for where to dig in come January:
The Book of John:
It can be especially good for new believers, or anyone seeking to understand the claims of Christ.
Proverbs:
It's practical advice in short chapters that can be read one-daily for each day of the month.
Philippians:
It reveals Christ as the true source of lasting joy and unity.
James:
It could be considered a "how-to" book on Christian living.
The Book of Esther
It's the only book not to mention God by name. Featuring a woman as the main character, it reveals God's divine oversight of our life and families.
Whether you dig in at the beginning of a specific book, or tackle a topical study on a subject close to your heart - like marriage, perseverance or prayer - engaging in in-depth bible study can make 2005 a very enriching year.
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