Author Archives: Mary Esquivel

by Gloria Copeland

 

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas with soft snowflakes falling to the ground? An abundance of snow covering any landscape is considered the perfect Christmas scene. Beautiful versions appear on Christmas cards, in shop windows and in seasonal movies. Even children dream of waking up to an abundance of snow-covered hills and trees.

There was one such boy who lived in Texas who had always dreamed of building a snowman on Christmas morning. This year, he knew he had that chance, as he was traveling to visit his grandmother in Colorado. When he arrived, there was no snow anywhere to be seen.

He was disappointed, but his grandmother prayed with him. They asked God to send snow for Christmas.

The next morning, when the little boy awoke, three feet of snow had fallen overnight! An abundance of billowy white snow covered the mountains, streets, yards and doorways!

“That’s going to make a BIG snowman!” he exclaimed.

The little boy no longer lacked the snow he needed to build his dream snowman. He had prayed to the Lord and asked Him for what he needed, and the Lord answered. I am sure that little boy has never forgotten how the Lord provided for him that Christmas!

That boy experienced what I like to call true prosperity. God provided everything needed…abundance, success, well-being and security. Some people get the idea that prosperity is only related to finances, but it is so much more.

True prosperity is the ability to use the power of God to meet every need in your life—spirit, soul and body. And the Word clearly tells us that God delights in the prosperity of His servant.

Just like the Lord provided for the boy, it is also His will for you to live an abundant life now—in this lifetime.

 

 The Journey to Prosperous

The beginning of a prosperous life is a prosperous soul.

But how do you get there?

My journey to the prosperous life began years ago when I read Matthew 6:33 in a Bible Ken’s mother had given him: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” In The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, it says to seek “His way of doing and being right.”

That’s the foundation of God’s prosperity. When I found this verse, I was ready to try God’s way. I needed a lot of things and my way wasn’t working. I discovered that God’s prosperity isn’t just financial blessings. It also includes healing, protection, favor, wisdom, success, well-being and every good thing you could possibly need—all the good things Jesus paid for you to have.

Isaiah 53:5 says, “The chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole” (The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition). The Hebrew word for peace in this scripture is shalom. It basically means “nothing missing, nothing broken,” or wholeness in every area of life—spirit, soul and body.

 

Prosperity’s Foundation

That kind of prosperous life doesn’t just happen. And it doesn’t happen overnight.

But you can begin building the foundation for true prosperity by walking in truth, tithing and sowing, and believing and saying.

1. Walking in Truth

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).

Ken and I weren’t exactly walking in prosperity when we married. I wore a $2 veil with the white cotton dress my mother made for the wedding. Ken’s friend married us at his home and his wife baked the cake. We even borrowed $100 for our honeymoon. We had no money and no wisdom.

But then something happened that totally changed our lives.

We found that the first step to increase is walking in truth. I’m not talking about just reading scriptures about prosperity. You prosper when you walk in all the words God says to you, living a godly lifestyle—in obedience to what God says is right.

That’s the wisdom of God. When we began obeying everything we saw in the Word of God, we began to increase.

And increase can come to you, too. God desires for you to increase. As you faithfully and diligently seek Him without compromise, you will see a change in your life, just as we did.

2. Tithing and Sowing

“Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency…and with the firstfruits of all your income; so shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10, AMPC).

Tithing is a covenant transaction that gets God involved in what you are doing. The first 10 percent of your income—the tithe—belongs to God. The Bible calls it firstfruits. Tithing is how you honor God with your money. It makes a way for Him to bless you supernaturally.

Ken and I never had any financial growth until we became faithful in tithing. At first it looked impossible to give that 10 percent. But when we did, the 90 percent we had left went further than the 100 percent we had before.

Whatever we do must be in obedience and faith for God to be pleased with it. We are to give with a willing heart, as an honor to God, and worship Him with our tithes. Then He is in partnership with us.

After we tithe, we are to sow according to what the Lord lays on our hearts, with the right attitude. The Hebrew word for offering comes from a root word that means to “draw near.” We draw near to God with our offering.

Scripture plainly says you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7). If you desire to be a receiver, you have to be a giver.

Tithing is supernatural—don’t miss out on the benefits. God has an interest in your finances. He desires to increase you and bless you because He loves you.

3. Believing and Saying

The Bible says several times in the King James Version, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).

Faith must be in two places—in your heart and in your mouth. Believing in your heart and saying with your mouth produce the operation of faith. Jesus said, “For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:23, KJV).

Ken and I learned that if we put the Word of God in our eyes, put it in our ears, and let it get down into our hearts in abundance, it would come out of our mouths in faith-filled words that would change our lives and circumstances.

 

Time to Increase This Christmas

The three keys I’ve shared are how Ken and I laid a foundation for the prosperous life—and this is how we maintain it. I can tell you from experience, these are the first steps to increase, no matter what you need.

This Christmas, be like the little boy who believed God to give him the snow he needed to build his snowman. Believe for God to provide what you need to prosper in every area of your life: healing, protection, favor, wisdom, success, well-being and any other area. After all, we’re celebrating the One who came to give us life and that more abundantly!

 

Dare to Shine His Light on True Prosperity This Christmas!

 

• Commit to obeying everything you see in God’s Word. If there is any area in your life where you are not walking in obedience, commit to change it today. Repent for being disobedient, then make a commitment, just as Ken and I did years ago, to obey everything you see in God’s Word.
• Begin tithing. If you have not been a tither, begin to give 10 percent of your gross income to your local church in obedience to God’s Word. Then, sow into the kingdom of God through other ministries, as the Lord leads you.
• Determine to live by faith. Place a ban on words, phrases or attitudes that are in direct contradiction to the Word of God. Don’t declare that you can’t afford something or that you feel sick. Declare that you are healed, healthy and whole (Isaiah 53:5) and all of your needs are met according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).

 

by Kenneth Copeland

 

Have you ever thought about just how powerful Christmas is? This one day is able to bring people together from all over the world for family gatherings, parties and events. We decorate our houses, neighborhoods and shopping centers. Retail stores start selling Christmas supplies in September so people can begin preparing months ahead of time. People are extraordinarily generous and give to family, loved ones and those in need like no other time of year. Generosity and goodwill to all abound. All this to celebrate one day, the birth of Jesus.

That’s the power of Christmas.

Despite all of the good things happening because of Christmas, you may find yourself feeling powerless during such a powerful time of year. Maybe you’re facing a situation and you don’t know what you should do or what direction you should go. Maybe things just aren’t working out at your job, a relationship is on the rocks, or your health is on the line. Or maybe you feel powerless to help someone else in need.

Whatever it is, you can be sure that God knows your situation, and He’s made available to you the power needed to change it. As a born-again, Spirit-filled believer, you’re meant to be a pipeline of God’s love and power. When that pipeline is open and the power is flowing, you can speak with new tongues, lay hands on the sick and see them recover, preach the gospel to every creature with conviction and power, and cast out devils (Mark 16:15-18); and walk in the spirit (Galatians 5:16).

But, there are times for all of us, especially this time of year, when the day-to-day business of life, the constant demands of our flesh and the busyness of the season seem to get in the way. Somehow our pipeline gets clogged with carnal things, and the rushing stream of God’s power is reduced to a trickle in our lives.

It’s a common problem. Even Jesus’ first disciples ran into it. Jesus had given them power to cast out devils (Luke 10:19), and they had even experienced some of this power (Luke 10:17). But in Mark 9:28, we find them stumped by a particularly tough situation. They had been presented with a boy controlled by a demon. And, for some reason, they found themselves unable to drive that demon out. Later, the disciples asked Jesus why they had failed. “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (verse 29, KJV).

Now fasting, in this instance, would not have changed God or His will concerning the boy. But it would have changed the disciples. Jesus had already directed the disciples to cast the demon out. That demon was undoubtedly stubborn, and when he resisted, the disciples slipped into unbelief. Had they been fasting and praying, they would have been strong in the spirit, and they would have been able to do what Jesus did—cast the demon out! (See John 14:12.)

 

Proclaimed Fasting

Obviously, fasting is a valuable spiritual tool. So let’s look into it a little more closely. There are basically two categories of fasting. The first category is a proclaimed fast (Joel 1:14). A proclaimed fast brings you to a place where you can hear from God. The ideal time to go on a proclaimed fast is when you need divine direction.

In 2 Chronicles 20:1-15, the Bible tells what happened to God’s people when they fasted and prayed to seek His direction. There we see the Israelites hemmed in by their enemies and badly in need of divine guidance. Their king, Jehoshaphat, proclaimed a fast that was directed toward seeking The LORD. He wanted to draw his people’s attention toward God. Why? Because God reveals Himself to and rewards people who are seeking Him, whether individually or corporately.

When the congregation was in one accord, the Spirit of The LORD came upon Jahaziel. “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (verse 15, KJV). Imagine how good that sounded to their ears! The Holy Spirit spoke and that was the reward they were seeking!

Personal Fasting

The second type of fasting is a personal fast (Matthew 6). It also yields very gratifying rewards.

In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus said, “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.  But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.  Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

You can either receive your reward from the admiration of men or you can receive your reward from God. The key is fasting in secret so that God can reward you openly. Being proud of the fact that you’re fasting will destroy everything you are trying to accomplish.

In Isaiah 58, God explains the kind of fast to which He is calling the Body of Christ. That passage will give you a good idea of the kinds of rewards to believe God for when you fast. There The LORD says, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (verse 6, KJV).

According to that scripture, you can fast for the deliverance of a friend or loved one—to set them free from oppression of the devil. You can fast for other believers who are under heavy burdens. And you can fast to break the yoke of bondage within your own life.

No matter what you are seeking from The LORD, however, decide before you begin what you wish to obtain through your effort. Find God’s promises that cover your situation and believe you receive before the fast begins. Faith brings the results you desire, and faith is born out of The WORD, not out of fasting.

It is important for you to understand that it’s not the fasting itself that brings deliverance. Jesus has already obtained deliverance through the complete work of Redemption. Fasting simply limits the influence of physical appetites so that you can more effectively hear from and respond to the Spirit. This enhances intercession; and effective, Holy Spirit-led intercession sets the captive free!

Just remember, fasting is not a method of twisting God’s arm to get Him to respond when you pray. Fasting does not change God, it changes you!

 

The Power of Fasting This Christmas

Fasting brings personal rewards like being able to clearly hear God’s voice so you can receive direction, increasing the anointing on your life, breaking chains that set captives free, and so much more. Nothing can bring you closer to God’s will than living a life of prayer and fasting. As you enjoy the power of the season, don’t forget about the power in you.

 

Dare to Shine His Light on Power This Christmas!

 

• At some point during this Christmas season, consider fasting for one of the reasons mentioned in this article. This can be for one meal 24 hours, or several days, depending on your physical condition.
• Study the scriptures referenced about fasting, and educate yourself on the benefits of fasting from a physical, emotional and spiritual perspective. A good resource is Dr. Don Colbert’s book, Fasting Made Easy.

by Gloria Copeland

 

^“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV).

One of the most recognized Bible verses of all time, this verse sums up how much God loves us in one sentence. This is the time of year when we reflect on that love. God is love. And Christmas is a celebration of the greatest gift we have or will ever receive as a result—Jesus.

In spite of this truth, sometimes it seems as though we witness anything but love this time of year. Cars swiftly pull in front of others to secure the best spot. Women fight over hand towels at Black Friday sales. Families bicker over Christmas dinner.

The devil would love to distract us from the real reason for our celebration this Christmas. He seeks to steal our joy, kill our peace, and destroy a treasured time for families everywhere. But, we don’t have to let him!

It’s time to put the focus back on what Christmas is all about.

 

Love at Christmas

Why is important to show love at Christmas? This season is a celebration of the greatest gift of love ever shown to mankind. If we truly want to honor God for sending Jesus, it won’t be accomplished through decorating, shopping and baking. There isn’t anything wrong with adding those things to our celebration, but it isn’t a substitute for what God desires most.

What does He desire most?

He told us in Matthew 22:37-40: “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

 

First, Love God

Many people claim to know God. But they are being robbed of the kind of relationship Jesus wants with them, one in which they abide in Him. They are deceived, thinking: I pray and read the Word every day. I think that means I’m abiding in Jesus.

The issue is, what it means to abide in Him. As important as it is to spend time reading, meditating and listening to God’s Word, those things alone do not qualify you as one who abides. To be a true “abider” you must take one more step. You must not only hear the Word, you must also act on it.

Abiding is obeying. As Jesus said: “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me” (John 14:21).

The Word that is truly alive in us is not the Word we know, but the Word we do. James 1:22 says people are deceived because they are not doers of the Word, but hearers only. First John 2:4-5 says it this way: “If someone claims, I know God, but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him.”

Without revelation knowledge followed by action, love lies undeveloped and selfishness continues to reign supreme in you—even though you are a new creature.

Second, Love Others

In John 15:12, KJV, Jesus summed up the commandments with one statement: “Love one another, as I have loved you.”

Exactly what is the spirit of love? How does it display itself? First Corinthians 13:4-8 gives us a clear answer to those questions.

Let’s put these verses in perspective when looking at our day-to-day activities this Christmas season.

Love endures long at the grocery store. It is patient with children even under pressure. It is kind to spouses no matter what the situation. It is not envious of another’s decorations or baking skills. It is not boastful about gifts, vacations, accomplishments or anything else this season. It isn’t rude in parking lots or toward difficult in-laws.

Love does not insist on its own way when deciding what to buy or which events to attend. It takes no account of those who cut others off in traffic, take the last piece of fruitcake or speak unkind words.

Love bears all things during holidays, and every other time. It is ready to believe the best in every person at the Christmas party, and every relative at the family gathering. It endures everything that may come with a pure heart and a godly attitude. Love never fails….

There is nothing—absolutely nothing—that is more important than learning to love. In fact, how accurately you perfect the love walk will determine how much of the perfect will of God you accomplish.

That’s because every other spiritual force derives its action from love. For example, the Bible teaches us that faith works by love. And answered prayer is almost an impossibility when a believer steps outside of love and refuses to forgive or is in strife with his brother.

Without love, your giving will not work. Tongues and prophecy will not work. Faith fails and knowledge is unfruitful. All the truths that you have learned from God’s Word work by love. They will profit you nothing unless you live the love of God.

Sounds like a tall order, doesn’t it? But don’t despair. You are a love creature. God has re-created your spirit in the image of love. And He has sent His love Spirit to live in you and teach you how to love as He loves.

 

You’re Not on Your Own

If you’re sitting there thinking you could never consistently live a life of love, that it would simply be too hard for you, don’t worry. None of us could do it on our own. But, thank God, we’re not on our own! The Greater One is in us, and it’s His love that makes us victorious.

Will you commit to learning how to love this Christmas? Determine to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself. Then, watch how merry your Christmas will be as you bless others with the love of God.

 

Dare to Shine His Light on Love This Christmas!

Show love to God and others this Christmas by daring to take on one or more of the following challenges. You might be surprised how blessed you will be when you give the love of Christ to others.

• Print out 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and put it somewhere you can see it every day.
• Volunteer to serve Christmas dinner to the homeless or pack boxes at a food bank.
• Gather a group and visit senior citizens who have no family.
• Leave a box of Christmas food and goodies on the doorstep of a family that is struggling financially. Be sure to do it anonymously.
• Donate toys at a local toy drive for kids in need.
• When others are losing their patience in the stores, show the love of Jesus by refusing to join in. Avoid arguing or vying for a parking space.
• Smile, and wish those around you Merry Christmas! It will soften hearts and remind them to do the same.

 

by Kenneth Copeland

 

Gloria is known as the cook in the family. Right about this time each year, her red cookbook comes out and she begins planning and preparing. Many of her recipes have been passed down and shared by family members over the years. The pages are worn and certain recipe cards have turned yellow. But, one thing still remains the same—those recipes still work!

I have a tried-and-true recipe that I’d like to share with you this Christmas. It is a recipe for effective prayer. Just as with Gloria’s recipes, if you leave out even just one ingredient, you won’t get the desired result.

Early in my ministry, I learned a vital lesson: For any effort to be successful, it must be backed by prayer. Effective praying is the key to success in every area of your life.

So, what are you struggling with this Christmas? What endeavors do you want to be successful at now and in the future?

I’m sure you have a long list! It’s time to back your life with effective prayer. Below are five key ingredients you will want to include in your prayer recipe so that you get results!

 

1. Adopt an Attitude of Prayer

Prayer is more than just time spent with God. It’s not just an emotional release, nor is it an escape valve. It is much more than asking God for a favor. Most importantly, it is not a religious exercise.

Prayer is an attitude.

An attitude of prayer is a state of being, in which you are living in constant contact with your heavenly Father.

The Lord instructs us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV), and “always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1, KJV).

James 5:16, NKJV, says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

These scriptures illustrate what an attitude of prayer looks like, and how to get the results you’re hoping for. When you don’t have an attitude of prayer, you’re often just shooting some scatter-shot type of prayer, and hoping something might happen.

 

2. Pray the Will of God

Praying the will of God is the only kind of praying that can consistently and confidently be expected to bring results. In order to do that, you have to grab your Bible and find out what the will of God is.

God’s WORD is His will. He has made some very specific promises, and it’s His will to fulfill every one of them.

When you’re praying about something, find promises from the Bible that apply to your situation, and pray the answer—not the problem.

Do you need healing in your body? Don’t pray what the doctor says, but instead pray, “By His stripes I am healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

Do you have financial needs? Don’t pray your problem. Pray what God has said He will do: “My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

God wants His will done on earth. So, before you pray, make sure you pray His will, and expect God to move.

 

3. Have Confidence in Your Prayer

God’s WORD says that we are to be confident that God hears our prayers and that He will give us what we ask for.

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” – 1 John 5:14-15

How can we develop that kind of confidence? John 15:7 gives us the answer: “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

His words remain in us when we meditate on them and do what He says. When we do this, we are exercising our faith and living according to The WORD of God. This gives us confidence that we are qualified to receive that for which we ask.

The next step of confidence is to believe that we receive our answer according to Mark 11:24: “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”

So when you pray, believe that your prayers have been heard and that you’ve already received the answer.

4. Thank and Praise God for the Answer

Sincere thanksgiving and praise are critical to a successful prayer life. They are more than just words, because they communicate your heart of gratitude to God and infuse your prayers with power.

Once you have believed that you have received the answer to your prayer, put your faith in action by thanking God and praising Him for the answer. Psalm 22:3 says that when you do that, God will inhabit your praises.

You can be sure that two things are present when God inhabits your praises: His presence and His power. You can’t separate His power from His presence. If you want God’s presence and power moving in your situations, begin thanking and praising Him for answering your prayers.

 

Avoid Prayer Hindrances

God’s desire is to answer your prayers when you pray according to His will. Unanswered prayer is not the result of God’s unwillingness to use His power, but is often the result of hindrances that block the answers you seek.

Below are the most common hindrances to your prayers:

 

Doubt and Unbelief

Doubt comes from ignorance of God’s WORD. For example, many have the idea that God will no longer heal people, or they think He is not interested in their financial affairs. Consequently, their prayers are hindered because they do not know what God’s WORD actually says.

To get rid of doubt, you must educate yourself about what God’s WORD says by studying the Bible.

Unbelief is when a man knows God’s WORD, but does not believe it. Instead, he chooses to believe only what he can feel and see—the natural circumstances. His prayers are hindered because He does not have confidence, or faith, in God’s WORD.

To get rid of unbelief, you must believe what God’s WORD says and make it the final authority in your life.

 

Unforgiveness and Strife

Next to doubt and unbelief, one of the best ways for you to not get your prayers answered is to refuse to forgive someone who’s wronged you and act in strife.  Mark 11:25-26 directly addresses this: “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

In this verse, Jesus was teaching forgiveness before the cross, to those trying to gain God’s approval through fulfilling the law. Today, after the cross, God forgives our sins when we accept Jesus as our LORD, so our refusal to forgive does not mean we aren’t forgiven.

So, to put this verse in perspective, we could rephrase it to say: “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, because your Father in heaven has forgiven you.”

God wants you to forgive because He has forgiven you. When you forgive, you are exercising God’s love toward others. If you are not walking in God’s love toward others because of unforgiveness, your prayers will be hindered, and you will likely begin to act in strife.

Strife is merely acting on unforgiveness. The dictionary defines strife as “angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict.”

James 3:16, KJV, tells us the consequences of strife: “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

The quickest way to stop strife is to forgive. When you do that, your prayers will no longer be hindered, and you’re on your way to seeing results!

 

A Recipe for Prayer Success

You can have powerful and effective prayer in your life this Christmas. Add the right ingredients of an attitude of prayer, praying God’s will, believing that you receive, praising God for His answers, and shaking off hindrances, and God will show Himself strong on your behalf. His tried-and-true recipe never fails!

 

Dare to Shine His Light on Your Prayer Life!

• Make prayer a family priority this Christmas. Determine things you can pray for, and go through each ingredient in the recipe for prayer success together.
• Forgive all who have hurt and wronged you. Commit to avoiding strife—even if it means biting your tongue when you think you have something to say.
• Study The WORD and take doubtful and unbelieving thoughts captive. Refuse to entertain them. You wouldn’t let a criminal come into your house and take charge of the atmosphere. Those thoughts are just as dangerous. Keep them out!
• When you pray, praise and worship God for the answer. Set a timer on your phone for every hour to stop and praise God for answering your biggest prayer. Don’t give yourself any time to doubt that what He says is true. Expect an answer to your prayer!

by Gloria Copeland

 

Are your holidays lacking the real joy you know the season should bring?

Even in what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year, we can face situations that seem custom-designed to steal all the joy out of Christmas and life.

Financial pressure. Family dynamics. Work situations. Health concerns. These are all things that try to steal our joy every day of the year.

The world will tell you that it’s impossible to feel joyful or happy all the time, especially in the midst of challenges, and if you do, something must be wrong with you.

Well, the world is wrong again, because the Bible says something different. The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and without this joy, we won’t be able to live the blessed life God has planned for us at Christmas, or any other time of year.

 

Your Joy Is Your Power

The world is always seeking happiness, but happiness is only an emotion that can come and go without warning.

On the other hand, joy is one of the most powerful spiritual forces in the world and one of the fruits of the Spirit that only comes from a relationship with Almighty God.

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.”

That strength we find in Him gives us the power to overcome trials and great obstacles in our lives.

That’s what makes joy so crucial. You can’t live a life of faith without being strong in the Lord—and when God wants to make you strong, joy is what He uses to do the job!

The joy of the Lord is not dependent upon your circumstances—it comes from your spirit. When the truth in God’s Word gets down into your spirit, the truth will set you free from bondage, depression and fear.

 

Joy Stealers

If the joy of the Lord is your strength, you can be sure that the devil is out to steal it from you. He knows that if he can get your joy, he can take everything else from you, too.

But, you can be aware of and on the lookout for his schemes. Here are three ways the enemy will attempt to steal your joy:

1. Depression

If you’ve ever faced a trying situation, such as the loss of a job, a loved one, a struggling marriage relationship, or health problems, you know that depression tries to come on you quickly.

The only weapon the devil has is lies. And he’ll use those lies to try and get you to accept what he’s dishing out instead of what God wants you to have. If you play along, he’ll defeat you.

What happens when you get down, sad or depressed because you’re believing the enemy’s lies? You lose your will to fight. You don’t resist the thoughts of the enemy, and you don’t speak words of power that could bring redemption to the situation. You lose your joy, and therefore, you lose your strength and the victory.

Instead of giving in to the temptation to be depressed, we must resist the devil and get right back into joy. How?

Go to the Word of God, and choose to believe His promises. Speak what God says about the situation aloud.

For example, say, “No, you don’t, problem.”

“Sickness, you get off my body.”

“Poverty, you’re under the curse, and I’ve been redeemed from the curse.”

“Satan, get your hands off my money!”

This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4).

God’s Word is the source of your joy. Joy is a cure for depression because you can’t get depressed and also walk in the joy of the Lord at the same time. It just doesn’t work! So stay in joy!

2. Fear

The opposite of faith is fear. Fear is putting faith in what you don’t want to happen. Fear is not a position of strength but of weakness. When you choose to allow fear to come into your life, it zaps the joy and strength right out of you.

When you’re walking by faith, you believe you receive God’s promises, and therefore, you have no reason to fear or lose your joy.

On the other hand, if you are afraid, you are not believing that you will receive God’s promises. You’ve stepped out of faith and out of the joy of the Lord, and therefore, you no longer have strength to receive what God has promised.

When you are tempted to fear, roll your care over on the Lord and refuse to worry about it anymore. Find a scripture that promises what you need, and don’t let go. Refuse to let fear and discouragement come in.

Take a stand and say, “I believe I receive my healing.”

“I believe I receive my car.”

“I believe I receive the salvation of my children. I have it. Thank You, Lord.”

3. Unforgiveness

Have you ever noticed that when you’re angry with someone who has wronged you, your joy goes out the window?

Think about it. If you don’t practice walking in love, someone is going to get your joy before dark.

The Bible says that love forgives and takes no account of the evil done to it. That’s how you maintain your joy when someone does you wrong. If you don’t forgive, you are forfeiting your joy.

One way to prevent unforgiveness from stealing your joy is to immediately forgive those who have wronged you.

 

Keep Your Joy This Christmas

Everyone can experience the joy of the Lord. The real challenge is keeping it every single day. As you prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, don’t let the pressures of the season and everyday life steal your joy. Instead, choose to be full of joy, and strong in the Lord. Draw on the supply of the Holy Spirit within you, and you’ll come out on top!

 

Dare to Shine His Light on Joy This Christmas!

• What situations threaten to steal your joy this Christmas? Defeat your enemy by the strength that comes only from the joy of the Lord! Spend time building yourself up in the truth of His Word concerning your situation.
• Use a concordance, the index in the back of your Bible, or the internet to search for all of the Bible verses that contain the word Then meditate on these scriptures as you seek to make them a reality in your life.
• When you find yourself tempted to grumble, complain, or feel sorry for yourself, declare aloud, “The joy of the Lord is my strength!”

 

by Kenneth Copeland

 

Christmas is supposed to be the most joyous time of year, and for many, it certainly is. But, for many others, it is a season of deep loneliness and sorrow instead. That empty place at the table or those missing packages under the tree leave a void that cannot be denied.

You may be experiencing the loss of a child, spouse, parent, marriage or relationship, and this time of year only accentuates the pain you’re feeling, maybe even to unbearable proportions. You may feel like no one understands your grief, but I assure you there is Someone who comprehends the depth of your sorrow.

Jesus intimately knows your pain because Scripture tells us He died on the cross carrying it (Isaiah 53:4). He has felt every bit of the pain that you have.

When Jesus died on the cross, He defeated the curse of grief and sorrow. Today, the enemy uses grief and sorrow to steal our hope and our joy…if we let him.

As a believer who’s been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, you can learn how to resist the enemy and experience the joy of The LORD this Christmas! Allow me to explain…

 

The Danger of Sorrow

It comes disguised as a simple, “healthy” emotion. Then, little by little, it drains you dry. It is devious and destructive, and it’s the constant companion of death itself.

Grief and sorrow are dangerous. In fact, grief and sorrow were part of the devastating, satanic barrage Jesus took on Himself when He died on the cross.

Isaiah 53:4, KJV, says: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” That phrase, “griefs and sorrows,” can also be translated sickness, weakness and pain. But any way you translate it, they’re all pieces of the same destructive puzzle.

Grief and sorrow are part of the devil’s game. They are the ever-present, shadowing companions of death. Yet countless Christians are still shouldering them today.

As a believer, you’ve been given hope through Calvary concerning your situation. And you cannot have hope and sorrow at the same time!

“But, Brother Copeland,” you may say, “aren’t grief and sorrow just natural emotions?” Yes, they are. That’s what makes them so dangerous.

 

Are You Hanging On to Grief?

We’ve seen them as such a natural part of life that we haven’t even questioned them. Some believers will even fight for the right to be sad.

When I was teaching a series of meetings on prayer in Oklahoma, a woman was there who was grieving over the death of one of her children. Although it had been several years since the child had died, she was still deep in sorrow and grief when I met her.

After one of the sessions, she came up to me to tell me how she’d prayed and prayed over that child and it hadn’t done any good. She was crying as she spoke. Again and again, she sobbed, “My baby died…my baby died….”

When I opened my mouth to reply, the Spirit of God came on me and I said to her, “God didn’t take your child. You let the devil beat you at the game of life, and he’s still whipping you today.”

Suddenly, she was furious. She wasn’t about to let me or anyone else take her grief away from her. Her husband had to take her out, she was so mad.

The next night, however, she came back with a smile on her face. Something had obviously changed. “Brother Copeland,” she said, “please forgive me. How can I ever thank you? For all these years I’ve been so caught up in grief that I’ve failed my family.

“I haven’t been a wife to my husband or a mother to my children. When I got to thinking about what you’ve been teaching on prayer, I remembered all the unbelief we cried and prayed over that baby. We thought it was prayer, but there wasn’t any real prayer to it.

“We just all agreed she was dying and kept hollering about it. We didn’t release any faith to keep it from happening. I did let the devil beat me, back then, and he’s been beating me ever since. But I’m telling you this: I will never let him do it again.”

If you’ve ever been seduced by grief, like this woman was, you’ve experienced an addictive kind of agony. You’ve found that even though the sorrow hurts, there’s something in it that makes you reluctant to let it go.

 

Grief Is a Burden, Not a Blessing

Webster defines grief as “a heavy emotional weight resulting from loss.”

That’s how it feels, isn’t it? Like a heavy weight on your heart that’s aching for release. When you give in to it, there’s a rush, a wave of emotion that rolls over you and the tears overflow. It feels good.

Your friends nod, pat your back and say, “Go ahead…just let it all out.” So you do, and the pressure lets up for a while.

Then later, when all the mourners and the back patters have gone home, that grief comes rising up in you again. Only, this time it comes with an overwhelming pain of loneliness that is almost unbearable.

Contrary to popular belief, grief and sorrow don’t come to help you. They come to hurt you. They’re deceivers sent for one purpose: to choke The WORD of God out of your heart.

Most of us have assumed that the lust of the flesh, as described in Mark 4:18-19, refers only to sex and pleasure. But the Holy Spirit has shown me plainly that the spirits of grief and sorrow fall into this category. If you’ll look up the word lust in the dictionary, you’ll find that it literally means “applied pressure.”

Sorrow comes when the devil applies pressure to our emotions. He pressures us to give in to the fleshly tendency to grieve—to lust after and long for that emotional flood and release that sorrow initially provides.

 

It’s Time to Show Sorrow the Door This Christmas

If grief and sorrow are not inevitable—if, in fact, they’re part of the devil’s bag of misery and death—how do we get rid of them?

Isaiah 51:11, KJV, says, “The redeemed of The LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and [grief] shall flee away.”

Did you hear that?

It said sorrow and grief will run from us! As a believer, you’ve been redeemed from the curse of grief and sorrow by the blood of Jesus Christ. You don’t have to put up with them any more than you have to put up with sin, sickness or disease. So, if you’ll follow the instructions in James 4:7 and resist them, they’ll have to flee from you!

Psalm 107:2 tells you how to do that. It says, “Let the redeemed of The LORD say so!” That means when sorrow and grief start bearing down on you, say, “Oh no, you don’t! I’m the redeemed of The LORD. I’ve been delivered from the likes of you. So you just get right on out of here!”

What I’m telling you is this: You’re going to have to stand against grief and sorrow. They don’t belong to you. They are not from your heavenly Father. But the devil’s a scoundrel. He’ll put them over on you if you’ll let him get away with it.

If the devil is trying to burden you with grief and sorrow, trying to make you forget the reason for the season, stand up and resist him!

Remember who you are! You’re the redeemed of The LORD. Don’t you think it’s about time you started saying so?

Yes, it is.

Say it aloud, and sorrow not!

 

Dare to Shine His Light on Sorrow This Christmas!

• Choose to take your stand against grief and sorrow. You may have to walk the floor all night long. But instead of worrying and crying, walk the floor and quote The WORD until that heavy spirit leaves and the joy of The LORD comes.
• Resist the devil’s attempts to discourage you by declaring aloud that you have been redeemed from sorrow and grief by the blood of Jesus.
• Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who will uplift and encourage you. Start a new tradition you can look forward to, and even honor an old tradition that will bring back positive memories of your loved one.
• Volunteer to help families in need this Christmas season. This puts the focus on others, which will lift your spirits as you carry out the work of The LORD and make a positive difference in your community.

 

by Gloria Copeland

 

This time of year can bring wonderful reunions with loved ones. One of the things I cherish most about Christmas is getting to spend time with friends and family members I haven’t seen much throughout the year. If you’re like me, you’re probably looking forward to reconnecting with certain people and catching up on life’s events.

Or…are you?

Well, maybe you’re not actually looking forward to having parents, in-laws, siblings, aunts and uncles in close quarters because it is not always a positive experience. Or maybe the thought of that Christmas office party where you’ll be expected to mix and mingle with some co-workers you don’t necessarily see eye to eye with is upsetting.

If that’s the way you feel, you’re not alone. Whether at home or at the office, strained relationships can undoubtedly put a damper on a celebration meant to bring great joy.

 

How It Is Meant to Be

Think of what your Christmas party or gathering would be like if you had great relationships with everyone there! Imagine—if there were no family disagreements, and no misunderstandings with friends or co-workers.

Sound impossible?

Well, I am here to tell you that it is certainly not impossible. In fact, this should be every believer’s reality, and God wants to help you make it yours.

But before He can help you, there’s one thing you have to get right first.

 

Get This Right First

The most important relationship you have is with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. If you don’t have this relationship right, it’s going to be difficult to get the others right.

The good news is that this relationship is the easiest of all relationships to get right because the Lord is waiting on you with unconditional love. You don’t have to convince Him you are worthy and you don’t have to argue about who was right or wrong from a previous disagreement.

So, how do you know if your relationship with the Lord is right? See how many of these statements you can answer yes to:

• I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
• I am seeking to know the Lord by studying His Word and praying every day.
• I am putting into practice what I learn from reading and prayer.
• I look to the Lord for His guidance and protection in every area of my life.

When you’ve got this kind of intimate relationship with the Lord, you will be in a position to let Him help you develop, repair and nurture your relationships with family, friends and co-workers. Next, let’s talk about three keys that will help you improve your relationships.

 

3 Keys to Improving Your Relationships

Once you’ve got your relationship with the Lord right, three more principles from God’s Word will help you improve every relationship you have.

 

1. Forget Your Naughty List

Do you have a naughty list? I am not talking about a physical list of things you’ve done wrong. What I’m talking about is a list of people who have done you wrong.

You probably silently carry this list around in your heart every day, and when someone’s name on your list comes up, you immediately associate them with how they’ve hurt you.

Just the thought of having to face them at Christmas or any other time could range from unpleasant to absolutely horrifying. If you find yourself in this position, the next thing you need to do is to forget your naughty list.

How? By forgiving them.

You may be wondering…How on earth do I do that, Gloria? You have no idea what these people are like and what they’ve done to me.

No, I don’t. And frankly, it doesn’t matter.

The Lord commands us to forgive those who’ve wronged us and to pray for our enemies (Matthew 6:15, 5:44). To forgive them is not to condone their actions, but to release you from bondage. It sets you free, and it keeps you in line with God’s Word.

It’s so simple, and so easy to say: “I obey! I forgive!”

Now, every time negative thoughts of that person cross your mind, say it again: “I obey! I forgive!”

Don’t let that mental conversation play over and over in your mind about what that person did. When you catch yourself doing that, stop IMMEDIATELY, and say, “I obey! I forgive!”

 

2. Love Others Like God Loves Them

In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam just one “do not.” It was, Don’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God only gave one command, but it certainly covered a lot of territory.

Today, if you think about it, you and I still only have one “do not”—Don’t get out of love. That’s our one commandment. We are to walk in love, which covers a lot of ground. In fact, we see in this passage that our love walk is connected to everything we do in life as believers, including our faith. Faith—without love—is going nowhere.

God wants us to walk in love because love never fails. He wants the best for us, and since the best is found in love, you and I must walk in love in order to receive God’s best.

You can choose to love those who irritate you and act ugly toward you. Don’t sit around waiting for a warm, fuzzy feeling—just pray for them. Ask God to help you see that person the way He does.

 

3. Pray Over Your Relationships

Prayer is a powerful force and can change your relationships. God promises that the prayer from the heart of a man (or woman) who is right with God has much power (James 5:16, NLV). Speak promises from the Word of God and declare that each relationship is blessed.

Ask God for His wisdom to know what to do in each relationship. Listen for His instruction, and then be obedient.

 

Have a Merry Christmas

God desires that all of your relationships are blessed. Put these three principles into practice as you prepare to celebrate Christmas with your family, friends and co-workers. Don’t settle for the idea that certain relationships have to be uncomfortable. Pray and expect God to do great things this Christmas!

Dare to Shine His Light on Your Relationships!

• Make a list of everyone who has wronged you. Bring that list before God and forgive them. Then, tear that list up as a symbol of your commitment to forgive everyone on it.
• Determine to love everyone with God’s love, even those who have wronged you.
• If you have a relationship that continues to challenge and frustrate you, then you may need a second opinion or someone to stand with you (Proverbs 11:14). Talk to your pastor, a trusted mentor or a friend. You can even call KCM’s 24-hour Prayer Line at 1-817-852-6000 for prayer.

 

by Kenneth Copeland

 

Have you ever opened a wrapped package and inside was another, smaller package, and then another, and another, until you finally found a gift in the last box? If so, why did you keep unwrapping when the first box held nothing but another box?

The answer is: You had faith. You had faith that if you kept at it, you would finally unwrap the real present.

When a child wakes up on Christmas morning, he tumbles out of bed and goes barreling down those stairs to find out what’s under the tree. The night before, there was nothing under the tree, but he knows with certainty that on Christmas Day, what he’s been asking for will show up!

These are examples of the kind of faith God is looking for in His people. Faith that doesn’t complicate things, but keeps them simple. The kind of faith that knows with certainty, whatever it’s believing for will happen.

When things look complicated, it can be very tough to exhibit that kind of faith. But, Jesus said the answer to any problem you come up against is really as simple as four little words— “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).

Leave it to Jesus to solve today’s complex problems with a scripture so simple even a child can understand it, and so broad it covers every possible situation.

“But Brother Copeland, what are we going to do about the economy?”

Have faith in God.

“What are we going to do about the government?”

Have faith in God.

“What are we going to do if countries around the world go bankrupt? What will we do if there’s a flu pandemic? What will we do if oil prices continue to skyrocket?”

Have faith in God.

“Oh, come on, that can’t be the answer to everything,” someone might argue. “Jesus said those words 2,000 years ago, and this world is in a bigger mess now than it was then.”

I know it. That’s what’s so great about Mark 11:22. The person who bases his life on it never has to change his lifestyle to suit the times, the economy or anything else.

Faith in God never changes because God never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever!

Gloria and I can personally attest to it. We first started learning how to live by faith 50 years ago, and we haven’t looked back. I’m going to share with you in four steps what it took us years to learn, so you can start enjoying victory today and enjoy it every day!

 

1. Faith Hopes

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV).

What are you hoping for this Christmas season?

The bare minimum? Just what you need to eke by? Just enough to buy your family presents and pay your bills?

If faith is the substance of things hoped for, then the first thing you’ve got to do is start hoping for something better than what you’ve got now! We aren’t supposed to be the “ekers by,” we’re called to wear the victor’s crown. And it starts with believing for, hoping for and expecting MORE.

How do you know what to hope for? Look in The WORD of God. All of His promises, and there are many, are laid out for you to take hold of and hope for, expect, and see come to pass in your life.

 

2. Faith Acts

Faith is movement. It’s a mouth in motion. Here’s an example of what I mean.

Let’s say my body is being attacked with symptoms of sickness. Thousands of years ago, God spoke a promise about healing in Isaiah 53:5 and Galatians 3:13. These scriptures describe Jesus lifting the curse of sin, sickness and death from our lives.

Now, here I am with symptoms attacking my body. What do I do?

Remember, faith is what gives substance to what I hope for, and I’m hoping to be delivered from this sickness. So, now I need to make a draw on God’s WORD. I do this by speaking The WORD and then acting as though it is done. I speak from Isaiah 53:5:

“By His stripes, I am healed!”

Faith must act. The faith stored in our hearts must come out of our mouths. Otherwise it is dead and of no use. You put your faith into action with your words.

 

3. Faith Loves

Love isn’t just a feeling. It’s a living being. God is love—all that He is, all that He can do, all He ever was or will be. Without a revelation of the love of God, you’ll never have close fellowship with Him, and you’ll never walk in faith to the fullest extent.

Faith is dependent on receiving the love of God, and showing love to others. Jesus’ teaching on faith in Mark 11 begins with Him telling the disciples that they can speak to a mountain in faith and have whatever they said. Then, He continues in verse 25:
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” (NKJV).

Jesus is saying that faith is connected to love. First Corinthians 13:2-3 shows us how much:

“…if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.  If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

God wants us to walk in love because love never fails. Since the best is found in love, you and I must walk in love in order to receive God’s best.

 

4. Faith Waits

Anytime you find faith mentioned in the Bible, you’ll also find patience. Faith and patience are power twins. Together, they produce every time.

The definition of patience is “being constant” or “being the same way all the time.” If we want faith to produce, we must respond to our circumstances the same way every time—with The WORD of God.

Hebrews 6:12, NKJV, tells us that we are to “imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

That means, no matter what trial you’re facing, let patience have its perfect work, and avoid slipping into fear and doubt. Patience says, “I will not be moved by what I see or feel. I know God’s WORD is true!”

 

Grow Your Faith This Christmas

Those four steps are vital to living a life of faith. Just like when you opened that layered package, if you’re willing to put these four steps into practice, faith will bring forth treasure. Remember, this is a season that began with faith that God would deliver a Savior to His people. Those who were willing to hope, act, love and wait were the ones who saw it come to pass. You can put those principles to work in your life, too.

And remember…It doesn’t matter what you’re facing right now—you already have the answer that never changes:

Have faith in God!

 

Dare to Shine His Light on Your Faith!

• Write a letter to God, and let Him know what you are hoping for this Christmas. Search for one to three scriptures that back up your hope.
• Each day, act on your faith by speaking out loud God’s WORD concerning what you’re hoping for.
• Meditate on the love God has for you. Ask God for a deeper revelation of that love.
• Practice God’s love toward others by forgiving and staying out of strife.
• Exercise patience. When you feel yourself fearing or doubting, answers those fears out loud with The WORD of God.
• From now until Christmas, commit to a fast from speaking anything contrary to The WORD of God regarding your situation. That’s a tough one, but with God’s help, you can do it!

by Gloria Copeland

 

For many people, family traditions are a cherished part of the Christmas season. Whether it be attending a candlelight Christmas Eve service, driving around town to look at the sparkling light displays, or gathering around the fireplace to read about the birth of Christ—traditions give everyone something to look forward to each year.

A tradition is simply a custom passed from one generation to the next, linking a family together and creating a lasting bond. Its sole purpose should be to draw your family together in unity and create lasting memories. Even if you’ve initiated new traditions in your family, your children and grandchildren will likely continue them for years to come.

 

The Most Important Tradition

There is nothing more important than passing down the tradition of faith. The greatest legacy you can leave is of a family that honors the Lord in everything they say and do. That tradition comes by training your children and modeling for them a life that is pleasing to God.

If this was not lived out before you as a child, you have the honor and privilege of being the one to establish this tradition in your family. When you teach and train your children and grandchildren in His Word and His ways, you are creating a family custom of living in victory!

 

Everything in Its Place

You’ve heard the saying, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Well, that’s true of our traditions, too. It’s fun to have things we know we can expect at Christmas, and other times, and God loves for us to enjoy ourselves. But, we need to make sure that we keep traditions in the proper place.

Jesus spoke of displeasure with placing customs and traditions above following Him. In Matthew 15:3, NIV, Jesus said, “Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”

If we get into a habit of doing or saying things because “we’ve always done it this way,” we may miss what God has to say about it. For example, perhaps your family watches a certain Christmas movie every year, but God is nudging at you and signaling that the content isn’t what He’d like you to be putting into your eyes and ears. Time for a new tradition! Don’t be hesitant to replace those customs that are not pleasing to the Lord.

 

Traditions and Food

This Christmas, I’d like to invite you to join my family in one of our favorite family traditions—food! Many of our family traditions at Christmas involve old family recipes. I’ve always loved cooking. I learned from my mother. She taught many members of our family how to cook, and we’ve created a great tradition of food and fellowship over the years.

This year, I went digging through my old cookbook that I put together years ago and found some of my favorite recipes. I’d like to share those with you and your family, and I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we have over the years. Many, like my recipe for John’s Jell-O, have been a staple at our Christmas dinner table for years. This is one I think everyone should have in their life!

For this recipe, and many others, please visit my recipe page.

From our family to yours, wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

 

Dare to Shine His Light on Traditions This Christmas!

• Are you carrying on the most important tradition of teaching your children and grandchildren how to live for the Lord? If not, ask God how you can begin training them today.
• Evaluate your family traditions and determine if any should be eliminated because they are outside of God’s best for your family.
• Seek the Lord for new family traditions, and choose one or two to begin this Christmas.

Mother’s Cornbread Dressing

Ingredients:

1 loaf French bread, crumbled

9-by-13 inch pan of day-old cornbread

1 cup finely chopped onion, sautéed

1 cup finely chopped celery, sautéed

2 tablespoons sage

1 cup half-and-half

Chicken broth

2 eggs

 

Directions:

• Mix bread with sautéed vegetables.
• Pour half-and-half, broth and eggs over mixture.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Let mixture sit for 30 minutes.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.
• Note: Do not put sugar in cornbread.

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Aunt Shirley’s Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

2 cups flour                             4 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 cups sugar                            1 teaspoon baking soda

1 stick of butter                       2 eggs, beaten

½ cup shortening                     1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup water                             ½ cup buttermilk

 

Directions:

Sift flour and sugar together. In a small saucepan, combine butter, shortening, water and cocoa powder and cook until melted and blended. Add to flour mixture.

Add baking soda, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk. Mix well. Pour into greased, floured loaf pan. Batter will be thin.

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

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Carrot Cake (Arkansas Gazette)

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1½ teaspoons cinnamon

1½ teaspoons nutmeg

2 cups sugar

1¼ cups salad oil (or coconut oil)

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs, separated

2 cups finely shredded carrots

1 small can crushed pineapple with juice

1 cup chopped pecans

 

Directions:

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside. Cream together sugar, oil and egg yolks. Add vanilla. Add dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Add carrots, pineapple and pecans. Beat egg whites until stiff, then fold into batter.

Bake in a tube pan at 350 degrees for 80 minutes, or until done.

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

Melt 1 stick butter. Cream in 1 8-ounce package cream cheese. Mix in 1 box powdered sugar. Spread on cake.

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California Casserole

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef

1 green bell pepper, chopped

¾ cup chopped onion

1 16-ounce can cream-style corn

1 8-ounce can tomato sauce

1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles

1 4-ounce can mushrooms, undrained

1 10-ounce can condensed tomato soup, undiluted

1 2-ounce can sliced ripe olives, drained

1 4-ounce jar chopped pimiento, drained

1 teaspoon celery salt

½ teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon dry mustard

¼ teaspoon pepper

8 ounces wide egg noodles, cooked and drained

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

 

Directions:

In a large skillet, cook ground beef with green pepper and onion until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain.

 

Add next 11 ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Add noodles, mix well. Pour into a Dutch oven or large baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; return to oven for 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

 

Yield: 12-16 servings

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John’s Jello

Ingredients:

2 packages strawberry-banana jello

1 ½ cups boiling water

3 or 4 bananas, crushed

1 12-ounce can crushed pineapple (½  cup juice)

1 10-ounce package frozen strawberries

1 cup pecans (optional)

 

Topping: Mix 8 ounces sour cream with 8 ounces Cool Whip, then spread on top.

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Waldorf Astoria Red Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

½ cup creamery butter

1½ cups  sugar

2 eggs

1½ ounces red food coloring

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 heaping teaspoons cocoa powder

1 cup buttermilk

2½ cups cake flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

 

Directions:

• Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. Mix well.
• Make a thin paste of cocoa powder and food coloring. Add to the creamed mixture.
• Sift flour and salt together, then add flour mixture and buttermilk to creamed mixture, alternating one tablespoon at a time—beginning and ending with flour.
• Mix baking soda and vinegar and blend into mixture last.
• Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

 

Fluffy White Frosting

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons flour

2 cups milk

2 cups powdered sugar

2 cups butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

 

Directions:

Make a thick paste of flour and milk and gradually add remaining milk. Cook in double boiler, beating constantly until thick. Cool. Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and beat until fluffy. Then add cooked milk mixture and continue beating until you achieve a whipped cream-like consistency. If icing is yellow, it hasn’t been whipped long enough. Frost only a cooled cake.