Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Someone gave me this recipe about 18 years ago. It was written on a small piece of pink paper. Over the years the recipe got oil and other liquids spilled on it. I copied it onto an index card for safe keeping. I still have the pink piece of paper with the original recipe on it for keepsake. I make this cake every year at Christmas time.

Recipe:
3 cups of cake flour
3 cups of sugar
6 eggs
2 sticks of butter
1 stick of margarine
1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese
1 envelope of dream whip
1 Tbsp of vanilla flavor

Grease and flour bundt pan. The butter, margarine and cream cheese should be at room temperature. Cream butter, margarine and cream cheese. Add sugar and eggs. Continue to mix. Add cake flour and dream whip. Beat well. Add vanilla flavor and continue beating. Pour batter in pan. You may have to smooth the cake out with a rubber spatula.

Bake @ 325 degrees for one and a half (1 1/2) hours.

After the cake is done, I melt a half a stick of butter and pour it over the top of the cake. Especially in the cracked parts. Enjoy!

Friday, December 17, 2010

The Radiator, Submission and an Unexpectant Blessing

What does a radiator and submission have in common? Nothing really. Unless, you consider the fact that through a broken radiator, I had to decide whether or not I was going to submit my will or His.

Early one morning my husband came home and informed me that something was wrong with the car. With a big heavy sigh, I asked him if he let the car warm up. Then I proceeded to tell him 101 reasons why he should have let the car warm up. 

During the night we had one of the coldest nights thus far. The last thing we needed was a car that was broken. We had just brought it. Things were perfect because I was just issued my driver's license after not driving for some time.

Why would this happen?

Surely, if I get up and go down there the car would start. Yes it started, but idled high and over heated right away.

Don and I talked about what we were going to do. We looked at the money we had in the "car" envelope and there wasn't much there. We didn't know what was wrong with it. He had an idea that it was the radiator. Sure enough, it was.

I asked him if he wanted to have it towed somewhere. He said that wouldn't be necessary because he was going to fix it if I would hold the flashlight.

I just stood there. Outside on a cold November morning watching everything encircle me as I played those words over and over again. My husband has never fixed a radiator, at least I didn't think so.

I opened my mouth to ask him if he had ever fixed a radiator, but before I could finish my sentence, he said, "Honey, because you tell me all the time that I can do anything, I believe I can fix this radiator."

*Side Note: Ladies, please tell your husbands how much you believe in them. Other people can tell him that, but what really matters to him is if you believe in him.

We ordered the radiator. The part came in the next day.

We spent the following morning taking the old radiator out. It was a grueling task. I took the word helpmeet to a whole new level. I did manage to keep my cute skirt clean in the midst of it all.


On the third day, we spent another cold morning installing the new radiator. Got it in but the car wouldn't start. By this time, I was cold, tired and frustrated. Surely he would have someone to come fix it or have it towed.....

We came in and talked about our next move. I had a solution to the car problem. The neighbor next door had just gotten her car fixed by the mechanic down the street. She raved about him. A sister from church highly recommended her mechanic. She really trust him.

I presented my solution to take it to either one of these mechanics. He said no because there's no more money left in the car envelope. That was fine because we could use credit. I don't know why he didn't think of that. If only he would really listen to me. Our car problem could be solved in one day.

My husband said no because he felt that wasn't the answer. That was a quick fix and would put us in debt.

At this point not only did God had to control my tongue. He had to control my neck too. I'm a sistah girl from the ghetto. I know how to roll my neck and tell somebody off. I was very good at it BC (Before Christ).

He asked me to trust him in this situation. I panicked on the inside. I did manage to control my tongue and my neck! My flesh hurt though because I wanted to give into it and usurp his authority as head of our home.

It's easy to submit when you agree. It's when you don't agree that shows what you're really made of. I had to decide if I was going to practice what I teach other women to do. Submit, even when you don't want to or when you feel your husband is wrong. During these times, what's in your heart is really exposed.

Was there something in me that needed to be exposed? I had to step back and pray.....

Day four: We went out there trying to figure out what was wrong with the car. I had to remind myself to not only watch what I said, but my body language. (Note: A whole lot can be said without a spoken word. The body language will say it all.)

Day five: We went out there trying to figure out what was wrong with the car. Car didn't start. I suggested that maybe we should have someone come here to look at it verses towing it to a shop.

He looked at me and said, "That's a great idea."

Our friend couldn't come for another 2 days.

He came. He couldn't figure out what was wrong.

I wanted to bring up having it towed again. I heard a still small voice say, "Shhh....."

Laid down that night later than usual. We all had to get up early and ride in my sons cars to church.

My silent prayer, "Lord you said that if we would be faithful, you would open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that we won't have room to receive. You said that men would give unto us. You said that I'm to reverence my husband and submit to him. I really don't understand, but I trust You."

I kept saying, "I trust You...."

I had to go back home. On my way back to church, Don called me and said a couple wanted to talk to us.

When I arrived at church, Don and I talked to the couple. They had just gotten a new car and wanted to give us their old one.

Our mouths dropped! Tears started to flow.....

They gave us a car! No strings attached. A nice car too.

Had I not come under the submission of my husband, even when I didn't agree with him, I would have missed out on what God was trying to teach me. He was teaching me to trust Him. Trust what the Scriptures say about my role as a wife.

Also, one can say that my husband should have just taken it to the shop. He decided to trust what God said in His word to owe no man nothing.

As a wife to my dear husband, I can trust him as head of our home because God is his head. There's safety in and submission. The rewards are great. Just look at my new car.

By the way, I named her Ginger because she's golden and very pretty!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the dealer where we brought our car from is sending their mechanic to our house to look at the broken car. I'll keep y'all updated ;)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Words of Wisdom

Today I went to a bridal shower for a precious young lady that I've come to really admire. Her desire to please God and do what's right has captivated the heart of a man. She and her beau will make a covenant to one another on 1-1-11 at 11am.

After the games were played and the gifts were opened, it was time for "words of wisdom." During this time, married women share words of wisdom to the bride to be. Advice on communication, forgiveness, prayer, etc., are shared with the new bride.

Well, it was my turn. I wasn't sure what I was going to say at first. I knew in my heart what I wanted to say, but I didn't know how to convey the words without being accused of bringing condemnation. Flashbacks quickly ran across my mind about the last time I shared my "words of wisdom" at a bridal shower regarding ministering to your husband.

When the video camera came my way, yes they did tape it, I said, "Don't say no."

I breath a sigh of relief after I got the words out. I know that the women knew exactly what I was referring to. Relief didn't last long. Someone asked if I would explain that. I gave a quick version as my heart started to beat at a faster pace. Quickly glancing around looking for tomatoes. I already have enough salsa from the last time tomatoes were thrown at me. Ahhh, no tomatoes in sight. Just love from my sisters in Christ.

I can't remember what I said word for word, but here's my "words of wisdom"....

"As a wife, only you can minister to your husband in a way that no one else is suppose to do. He can go to church every Sunday, listen to the preacher preach God's Word and leave church feeling good. He can go to work 5 days a week and have the boss pat him on his back for a job well done. But what he really needs is for you, his wife, to minister to him by giving yourself physically."

In plain English, I would tell a young lady getting married that her husband will need sex. I would tell her that God has chosen her to minister to this need that her husband will have. A man can get sex from anywhere, but only you, as his wife can minister to him. It's a need that only she was designed to fulfill.

I'm really speaking here to my sisters in Christ. I can't speak to the women in the world. I don't want to pattern my marriage after the world. If we, as Christian wives treat our husbands like the world, we shouldn't be shocked when they act like the world.

I've jumped off the world's bandwagon a long time ago. I no longer string that out of tune guitar while belting out the loud roar of a song that's left many women my age lonely and empty. Instead, I've chosen to embrace God's plan for me. I know my body is not my own. I won't deprive my husband and not minister to him. (II Corinthians 7:4-5)