Bible Study and Sweet Potatoes again

good morning my lovelies.          first off, I don't know who prayed for me to have a good night's sleep and rest, but I appreciate it!!!!         thank you so much!!!!!        it looks like we're in for a wild ride this week.      we got 7 inches of rain over the weekend, lots of flooding and now, possibly 4 to 6 inches of snow or more.       well, God is in control so I'll let Him decide what's gonna happen.       and in the mean time, I'll try not to worry about, and just let Him take care of it.       please do pray for the families that have lost loved ones due to flooding.        it's so heartbreaking.          on a different note, I have 3 baby pepper plants that just sprang forth  over the last 2 or 3 days.         I'm quite excited about that.        I have 12 tomato plants too.      the tomatoes are doing really good.        I planted 12 seeds and all of them were good ones.      yay!!!        I don't know if all my peppers will come up or not.         I'm using my 2 hydroponic units from amazon and they each hold 12 seed pods.         so getting 12 out of 12 tomatoes, is fantastic.        but I don't think the peppers are gonna be that prolific because it takes a lot longer for them to sprout and I think some of my pods already have mold growing in them.          so I may have to toss the pods and start more.       I really don't want to do that, but I'll keep hanging with them for another few days and see what happens.  

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let's have the "giggle for the day": 

what do you call an angry carrot?

a steamed veggie!

😂😅😁😅😂

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let's do a quick "2 minutes in the kitchen with me" again.         I needed to get more sweet potatoes in the freezer, so I got out my "starfrit" peeler from amazon and used it on my sweet potatoes.       it does a fantastic job on sweet potatoes that are still nice and plump.         but if the peel is the least bit wrinkled, it want's to kick the blade down the potato and skips the peeling.        these were good, non wrinkled potatoes.        hahaha         plus the peel is good to just drop in my composter and make compost.     

so as I'm peeling, I'm dropping them in a bowl of water to help keep them from turning dark.         and it also washes them.             once done with all that, I start dicing to about the size of my thumb joint.     some are a little smaller just because of the size of the potatoes.          once I get them all diced, I put them in a bowl and put about 2 tablespoons of avocado oil, depending on the amt of sweet potatoes.      then I put a bit of salt and pepper, then my dehydrated minced onion and garlic.       

once I get them all coated nicely with oil and seasonings, I'll put them on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper and try to make a single layer.       I had so many this time that I had to make 2 trays of sweet potatoes.          so I bake them at 350* for 45 to 50 minutes.        these are about as close to candy as you can get.

I hope to get several more bags of these in the freezer before the spring garden push sets in.        I'm also doing regular potatoes for my husband.         I do them the same way.         as a matter of fact, I have another 5 lb bag of each to get done this coming week and get them in the freezer.        I just put them in the freezer, on the baking sheet, to freeze.         then when I take them off the baking sheets and put them in the zip lock freezer bags, they won't be frozen in a big hard ball.       they be easy to get a serving out and seal back up.       there will probably be between 7 or 8 servings per bag of frozen potatoes, of both kinds.       when I get read to use them, I'll drop them in the air fryer along with what ever meat we're having and crisp them up and get some color on them.         wowzers, they are good.         I hope you give it a try.

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picking back up in Nehemiah today.         when I was thinking about what all I've read this go around when doing my bible reading for the year and my bible study, I'm thinking about where Jesus is in the Old Testament and about the sinful nature of God's chosen people, then and now.        at one point in time, in  the book of 1 Chronicles, we see Jabez and he prayed for God to enlarge his territory so that there would be more people for him to have a good influence on.        Jabez isn't talked about much in the bible, but he made a request of God that God honored and answered.        he made a request that was seeking the heart of God.       he wanted to have a good influence on those who need help.        he just had a heart that was  seeking God.        Nehemiah had  that same heart that was seeking the heart of God.       that has become a theme for me.        it really hit me hard this time around while reading thru the bible.       I've been a Christian for many years, 47 years this year, and I praise Jesus Christ for His sacrifice that covered my sins.       now, I have had to re-evaluate if  I am  seeking after the heart of God.       I see some semi strong areas in my life, but I also see a lot of weaker areas in my life that I will need to address.        I hope while you're doing your own study, that you're asking God to show you where your weaknesses are and He will show to you in His word, while you're reading it, if you're serious about it.       we want to be able to boldly come to God with our requests, like Jabez and Nehemiah did.       I don't know what your service to the Lord will look like any more than I know what mine will look like, but God does.       and regardless of the ridicule we get from those around us, like the ridicule that Nehemiah got, we need to stay strong.       we can't stay strong in our own strength, but we can if we rely on and call on God for each breath we take.        I said earlier about looking for Jesus in the book of Nehemiah.          well we see Jesus all over this book.        Nehemiah was all about restoring the temple and getting the people back to worshiping God.         it is thru worship that we find redemption.        Jesus is all about restoration and redemption.        that's  what the   book of Nehemiah is all about and that's what Jesus is all about.        I truly  believe  that's what we  should be all about too.         we may be the only Jesus that some will ever see.        that's why it's important for us to always be seeking the heart of God.       I need to be more aware of the needs around me.          I need to show more compassion over the needs I see.        Lord help me to be the woman that you designed me to be!!

and be very aware, that when you do start seeking the heart of God, the devil will be all over you at every turn, with every breath just about.        he will be using his scare tactics on you.         he will be doing everything he can to destroy your testimony and scare you and make you weak.        stay strong and stay in the word.         just like the Israelites, we can worship our holy God in a holy way.      

next time we start in Esther.

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well, that's just about I have for today.         let's seek the heart of God in all we do.       let's praise and worship God for all He does for us.        I pray we all have a great day today and we will tell someone that God loves them  and wants to be in right relationship with them thru the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.        blessings of peace and strength be ours today.          hugs and love, patty

Bible Study and our favorite side, again

good morning from the deep dark tundra this morning.          with all this crazy weather and the snow in Louisiana yesterday,  I don't know what to expect any more.         hahahaha         but we'll take what we get and like it.         that's my Momma used to tell us.         you'll take what you get and like it.         so we'll hang in there with that.        hahahaha          the lowest I seen this morning was 2 degrees and at 7:40am, it's now a whopping 8 degrees.          who knows, it may get to 20 degrees today.        I'll take what we get and thank God for it.         right about now, I'd like to ask someone about their global warming theory.         what's up with that?         I don't know about anyone else, but I do know for sure that God knows what He's doing.          the global theorists, nah, I don't they know what they're doing.        but what do I know.         I know that God is in control, that's what I know.           what about you, what do you know?

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this is one our favorite sides to go with any meal.          so, let's do this quick "2 minutes in the kitchen with me".        this is one of the easiest sides for me to make and it's also one of the most delicious.       I take a bunch of russet and sweet potatoes and peel and dice, then I put them in a bag, separately, and put about a tablespoon of avocado oil in with them and a dash of salt and a dash of pepper and than about a good palm full of dehydrated minced onions and dehydrated minced garlic.

I put them on a sheet pan lined with parchment.         it prevents sticking and easy cleanup.         I'm all over that.          I pop that in a preheated 400 degree oven for 45 to 60 minutes, just depending on the size of the dice that I make with the potatoes.          for us, the darker they are when I take them from the oven, the better.           the sweet potatoes doesn't get as crunchy as the russets, but they are like eating candy!!!   

once they are done, I let them cool for a bit and than I scoop them off the sheet pan and into my lock and lock containers they go and they are good for a week.          I wouldn't keep them any longer, but if you're like us, you won't have to worry about that.         they'll be gone all too soon.         hahaha

this is just one more dish that I use to try to keep from buying ready made of something that has bad oils in it and other things.            so, as long as I make these, I no longer have to use store bought frozen fries,  I use these instead.       

when I get ready to use them, I'll put a scoop of each in the air fryer and heat them up.        they will get even darker than they are now and more crispy.          they are so good!!!!         all I have to do is make sure I have russets for hubby and sweet taters for his sweet tater, me.         hahaha         yes, it's a little more work, but it's worth it.        at least as long as I'm able to do it, I'll keep doing it.        and I also love that I'm using my own dehydrated minced onions and dehydrated minced garlic.        it's wonderful way to use these.          what are you making from scratch that's healthier for you, that you are no longer buying ready made?           I hope you're doing something like this.         maybe this will the inspiration that you need.         I hope so.  

next time I throw some in the air fryer, I'll try to remember to take a pic and show you the difference.  

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we're at Deuteronomy 9 this morning and we can see that Israel is already at it again.         God is reminding them, thru Moses, that any victories they have, is NOT because of their righteousness, but because of the pagan countries wickedness.        that's exactly the way it is now.         anything God does for us is based on God's righteousness only.        we are stubborn just as they were stubborn.         we are still stubborn, even after accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior.          Moses is continuing to remind them of God's faithfulness thru everything they had been thru.         Moses told them that God expected them to fear God, walk with God, love God, serve God with their whole being and to keep His commandments and statutes.          Moses is reminding them of what they have witnessed with their own eyes.         they had lived thru all that Moses was telling them and he was reminding them to remember how faithful God is.        he was telling them to remain faithful to God.      he was telling them to stay strong in the face of what was waiting for them.         it was going to be difficult for them, but not difficult for God.           Moses again tells them to remember what God has done.         tie the words God has spoken, to their hands and to their forehead.         for their hands to put the work in and for the heads to remember God and all He has done for them to this point.       Moses was also telling them to pass all this down to the generations after them.         keep telling the stories of how God saved the Israelites.      keep passing down the legacy of God's provision and protection and promises.          instead of telling fairy tales and jokes, pass down the legacy that God had given to them first hand.         the more we tell of the goodness of Jesus Christ in our lives, the more people will come to know Him.          when we tell others, we're planting seeds of hope.       once again Moses is telling them tear down any and all forms of false god worship that they see in the land that they are to possess.         if they don't, they will be cursed, just like the pagans that worship the false gods.         Moses keep reminding them NOT to do as the pagans have done.         are we still reminded today to not live as the world around us lives?       we are.         we have been called  out and set  apart to live  different lives to that  of what we see in the culture.         but so many are drawn to the temptations of the culture.         when a Christians life looks just like the worldly life around us, something is wrong and more than likely, that so called Christian probably isn't a Christian.         just a wolf in sheep's clothing.        so, we still have to be aware today.        do we need to be reminded today to reject idolatry?           we sure do!!!        there will always be people in our lives that are trying to pull us away from the truth of the word of God.        don't let them.        there is a church here in my community and their tag ling on the their church sign says "we are a welcoming and affirming church".         that tag line came about  when they joined cahoots with another church that was mostly from Sodom and Gomorrah.       that tag line is saying that we will welcome and affirm you right straight to hell.       that's not a church.    it's a cult at best, maybe even a club, but it's not a church.     they did not heed scripture at all.       are you strong enough to get up and walk out of a church like that and never look back?         are you strong enough to try to take a few people with you as you leave?      this is what Moses is telling the people, do not let paganism infiltrate all that we know to be true, by the hands and words of God.       are we strong enough to stand firm?         I ask these questions for myself as much as anything.        because, the time will come when I will have to stand up for something and I pray that I am strong enough to stand for God!!!          Moses goes back into some of the same laws already discussed and goes over them again.         why is that?         because most humans have a very short memory and we need to be reminded again and again of what God has done for us.         again, Moses tells them to observe the Feast of Passover, Feast of Weeks and Feast of Booths.         these are 3 feasts that they were to celebrate as a reminder of the goodness of God forever.         we would do well as Christians, if we could figure out how to observe these today.        some churches actually try to do this.      it's very meaningful for them and symbolic of what God has done for HIs people.       and again, Moses is telling them about justice and administering justice.         he also told them that "when" they decided they wanted a king for themselves, and they eventually would, that the king was to copy all of the laws and all of what Moses was going over them with.          that would be one of the duties of their king to copy all of this and then study it for the rest of their lives.         that sounds like a good idea.        wonder how that would work for today?         yeah, right.

next time well pick up on Deuteronomy 18, till them God bless you all.

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I guess that's about it for the day.        I pray we all have a great day and that we keep God first place in all the we do.          hugs, love and warm blessings to all, patty