Savory Oreo Truffles...

Ingredients

45 Oreo cookies , divided (1 package)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese , softened
2 (8 ounce) packages semisweet baking chocolate , melted

Directions

1. Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in a food processor; reserve for later use. (This can also be done in a resealable bag with a rolling pin.).

2. Crush the remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs and place in a medium bowl.

3. Add the cream cheese and mix until well blended.

4. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1" in diameter.

5. Dip the balls in the melted chocolate and place them on

a wax paper covered baking sheet.

(Any left over chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.).

6. Sprinkle the tops of the truffles with the reserved cookie crumbs.

7. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

8. Store leftover truffles, covered, in the refrigerator.

9. Eat to your heart's delight.

And think of me - I gave up sweets for lent this year!

Ahhh...the joy of friendship...

Those cookies were excellent! Mmmm!

Enjoying each other's company...

Dena, Mary Sue, Beth, & Christina

Yep, its true. These girls are my best friends and they truly exemplify the body of Christ. Living with these women has taught me a great deal about what loving God means, the power of prayer, and what my job is as a daughter of the King. They have stood with me through the thick and thin - through victories and heart aches, through mistakes and goofiness. Together, we are the body of Christ - His bride - and what a priviledge it has been. As we continue on in life seeking God's will and His heart, I don't think any of us will forget our friendship or the growth that has taken place in each of us over the past four years. Although very different each one of us are, we are all connected by a blood that goes much deeper than that which is vitally supporting our physical bodies. We are connected through our redemption in Christ - and what a beautiful thing that is. It's because of His intentional love and guidance, His sharpening, and His careful watch over each of us.

May we continue to change so that we are mistaken for Jesus.

Shalom, friends and sisters.

And the adventure continues...

So, I have been documenting on my bedroom door the adventure I am having with God. At the top, I have a card that says, "My adventure with God" and then a corresponding card for every victory and triumph God has brought to bring me closer to China. How exciting it is! To know that I am not only on a physical journey, but a faith journey - that my faith is being deepened and I am learning to trust Him more fully - it is so exciting! Praise Him! He is good!

The last card I posted was "Pre-Interview with Dr. Bassett, ISC" - and next to it is a check mark! The next challenge will be to complete my "disposition" sheet with my practicum supervisor. Pray that I can finish it soon! I have to turn it in ASAP, and they have all been so patient.

The cool thing about this adventure is that I am living a whole other life outside of my China adventure and that ITSELF is an adventure. I am preparing to speak at a purity conference in March. The Lord has asked me to do this, and I really didn't want to at first. There is such joy in obedience though! Although there has been a lot of opposition and attacks from the enemy, God has been stepping in and giving me truth and a gameplan for the direction of my talk. I will be speaking for two sessions and sharing my testimony. I am glad that I am able to do this - I just pray that HE would so heavily lay upon my heart the things that need to be said, as well as continue to manifest Himself to me through His Word - so that when I share, I can share with a humble heart and honest spirit. Many girls are isolated in regards to purity. They've done things or whatnot and it is hard to bear one's soul and tell the truth - for fear of rejection or humiliation. However, I want to share truth with them - and I want to bring to light that when we expose satan's plans to the LIGHT - he has lost his foothold. For where there is LIGHT, no darkness can prevail. I pray that freedom may be found for these women. AHH!! There is such joy in freedom from the past, from sin, from who I thought I was! FREEDOM. Drink it in, brothers and sisters!

STAND FIRM, Handmaiden of God!

Satan will come and say, "that's a sin, how could you do that?"

Then he will turn around and say,

"it's only a little sin, go ahead, no one's watching."

He discredits God's character in our minds and tries to convince us that it's true - that God is not faithful, not all knowing, not all powerful.

Isolation is Satan's tactic. Cling to the Body.

Any disobedience to the known will of God - sin.

He accuses the brethren. Thats Satan's job.

I want to feel God at all times - like a little toddler that clings to His mother...

...He wants me to walk by faith, trusting that my sins have been forgiven,

regardless of if I feel Him or not.

Satan is the worst travel agent - all of his trips are full of guilt.

He will take you no where heavenbound.

"On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, ALL other ground is sinking sand, ALL other ground is sinking sand."

Regardless of the sin you have been trying to get out of or feel that

you cannot let go of - even after repentance -

LET Christ be your ROCK. CONSCIOUSLY GIVE IT TO HIM.

Give your will to Him.

The Parable of the Lost Son...

Who are you? The prodigal son? The older brother? The father?

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' " (Luke 15:11-32)

Today has been a testing day. It's been hard. I have had a hard time forgiving someone and remembering who I am in Him. I read one of my other friend's blogs (Carol Hobbs) - and although she was talking about something different, the truth written there resonated with me and I was able to relate it back to my situation. Here it is:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. . . to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:3-6

I am accepted. I still don't know about the dreams. The desires. The plans. The future. But I am accepted. Jeremiah does quote God as saying, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you. . ." I surely don't know them, but God does. (Check out Jeremiah 29: 10-14 and note all the times God says, "I will. . . ".)

And so, I am comforted today knowing that God knows the thoughts He thinks toward me and to top it all off: I am accepted in the Beloved. That's my Jesus.

Here is the line I especially took courage from...
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid rock I stand. . . all other ground is sinking sand."

I am a Handmaiden of the King. I am His Flower. I have been grafted in. I am His.

I hope you don't mind that I borrowed this, Carol!

GUESS WHAT!?!!
I just received an email from Dr. Bassett from ISC (after meeting with him),
and he said he would love to have me come and do my student teaching with them if they can find me a placement!!! Please help me in praising GOD!!!
WOO HOO!!!! YIPPIE!!!

Now, I just have to wait a little while longer to see if I am officially accepted from our education department...

Yay! The adventure continues!

Beloved of Christ...

Today, God has thrilled me with His presence. I love the Body of Christ that surrounds me here at school. How amazing the God is that has brought such awesome brothers and sisters into my life. In edifying the Body through obedience, all for His Glory, we are encouraged and given strength to continue on in this world. Last night, at World Christian Fellowship, or more commonly called WCF, Bob Brock visited from VOM - Voice of the Martyrs - and shared God's vision for us as young people. How awesome God is. In the midst of uncertainty and a future left to be defined by the upcoming days of my life - I stand knowing that He is God and I am not - and all that is - is in His hands. Oh, that I might trust Him with every moment of my day.

God has been teaching me so much. As He continues to tend to the wounds of the past, healing is coming! What was once severed, defective, and damaged - He is restoring! Instead of having a ton of brokeness from the past and all that happened - I have scars - but no open wounds left for satan to pour salt on. Cover me with your hedge, Father! The other night I re-lived the past - the mistakes and hurt. It was about 2 a.m. and I layed in bed weeping. Everyone was sound asleep and there I layed - alone - or so the enemy was trying to convince me of. As I re-lived the hurt and questioned God, He stepped in. "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4) Praise God! He turned my thinking around! I could have fallen asleep hopeless and seemingly forsaken - but He stepped in and rescued me! He is petitioning on my behalf! He didn't stop with just comforting me and letting me cry out to Him. He began to pour healing waters on my heart once again and spoke - reminding me of who He is and who I am. I am His Flower that has been grafted back in - I am His gem! My heart is just flooded with Him. Praise God! He also gave me visions for the purity retreat that I will be speaking at in March. Pray for it! Pray that God would work wonders! Pray that He would speak through me and would help me to be obedient. Satan is raging war against my heart and mind - pray that God would give me scripture to build a wall around it.

He will not forsake you, dear friends!

Spiritual Warfare...

Our weapons are not of flesh, but of the Spirit.

God, I pray that you would strengthen me. So many times, I have went out onto the field and have been scared away by the enemy's gruling faces or have not have the strength to hold up my sword and stand firm in Your truth. Or, I fear to confess, given my surrender to the enemy. Forgive me, God! Please, make me a warrior who knows how to do battle. Prepare my feet for the trip, prepare my mind and heart, prepare my hands and eyes. Let me not be taken aback by hidden blows cast by the enemy in the midst of fog. Help me to have clarity. You are not a god of confusion, but a God of truth. War is happening now. In my heart. On this earth. With the body of Christ. Many a fatal blow have wounded Christ's bride. Help me to fight it, God.