trust God – Page 10 – Meghan E White

Pumpkin Mousse

November 17, 2023 meghanewhite

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If you love pumpkin like I do, but want something different, then this mousse will satisfy that desire. It’s easy, light, and deliciously sweet. You could layer this pumpkin mousse in a trifle, use it as a pie filling, or just eat it all on its own. Do whatever you like with this amazing mousse, just please make some. It’s so good!

This pumpkin mousse would be a wonderful addition to a Thanksgiving dessert table. I made little portions in small glass containers. Easy to grab, and small portions mean less guilt with plenty of room for other desserts. Or grab two because you should. I love dessert so I say life is too short to not enjoy a sweet treat. Enjoy this yummy pumpkin mousse.

Happy Thanksgiving!

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

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Pumpkin Mousse

Yield: 6 cups

Ingredients

1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ginger

1 cup milk

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree

2 Tbsp. maple syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

1 pint (16 oz) heavy cream

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the pudding mix, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
Add milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and vanilla. Beat until smooth and well combined.
In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold in 1 1/2 cups of the whipped cream to the pumpkin mixture.
Pipe the mousse into serving bowls. Top with remaining whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!

Notes

Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar to the heavy cream before whipping if you like a sweeter whipped cream.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

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Perseverance

The Struggle Bus Is Real

November 3, 2023 meghanewhite

Bolton bus by Alan Murray-Rust is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

I was waiting for a bus, a party bus. It was going to be lovely. The destinations were fun, happy, relaxing places. No stress or troubles were in sight. My bag was packed ready to go as I sat at the bus stop. Several buses came whizzing by, but they didn’t slow down. Surely my party bus would arrive soon.

Finally, my moment had come. A bus pulled up right in front of me, yet it didn’t look at all like the party bus I was waiting for. This bus was kind of odd looking and definitely not fun at all. The door opened and the driver motioned for me to get in. I hesitantly stepped up and found a place to sit. The seats were worn out and torn. The bus smelled funny, and there was no one else on board. Oh no! It was the struggle bus.

I’ve been riding the struggle bus for some time now, even though it was supposed to be just a short ride. The trials keep piling on with each roll of the bus wheels. There is nothing special about me or my troubles. I am not unique in going through hard times. It happens to all of us. I wouldn’t choose the struggle bus, but this is where I need to be right now.

I am learning to accept where I am as I wait for God to answer my prayers and teach me what I need to know. There is plenty for me to do as I’m riding along. My faith is being stretched and tested. Each day I say, “I trust You, Lord”, when I can’t see anything in front of me. He knows every detail and wants me to trust Him, and I do.

The struggle bus is not so bad. Though there are days, and times that are gut wrenching. The party bus is my kind of ride, but that’s not for me today. In the struggle is where God is etching away my pride, fear, and doubt and replacing it with humility, faith, and perseverance. I have to rely on Him to get through, because He will bring me to the other side better, with a little less of me, and more of Him.

If I only rode the party bus my faith would never grow. I wouldn’t need Jesus. I would be a terrible, soulless person. It is in the struggle that faith muscles get a much needed work out. It’s not pretty, but the results are amazing. So today I’m enjoying my ride. It can get bumpy, and I may get car sick, but I will make it by the grace of God.

Enjoy the ride.

Love you all,

Meghan

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4, NIV

Food

Apple Crisp

October 27, 2023 meghanewhite

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The smell of cinnamon and butter fills the air as the apple crisp cooks in the oven. It gives all the fall feels with each warm, crunchy, sweet bite. You get the goodness of an apple pie, without the fuss of making a pie crust. The most time consuming part of making this dessert is peeling and slicing the apples.

Use your favorite apples. I have made this with galas, honey crisp, and Granny Smiths. All are good, just depends on your preference. Pecans or walnuts would be a wonderful addition to the topping for some extra crunch and flavor.

For a simple delicious fall bake apple crisp is a winner. Your taste buds will thank you for taking the time to make this satisfying treat. Top it off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for perfection on a plate.

Happy Eating!

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, Psalm 17:8

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Apple Crisp

Filling

6 apples peeled, cored, and sliced or chopped

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Topping

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup cold cubed butter

1 cup old fashioned oats

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°.
Butter a 2.5 quart baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl add the apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, and sugar. Toss until evenly combined.
Place prepared apples in buttered casserole dish.
In a medium bowl add flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, and oats. Using a pastry cutter, or your hands, mix together until it gets crumbly. Spread evenly over the apples.
Bake for 45 minutes until the topping is golden brown and bubbly.
Let cool for a few minutes before serving. It’s best enjoyed warm.

Notes

Store apple crisp covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat bake in a 350° oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until warm.
You can also warm up individual servings in the microwave.

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Prayer

Silent Before the Lord

October 20, 2023 meghanewhite

**My soul waits in silence for God only; Psalm 62:1**

I am a pro at giving God my laundry list of “to do’s”. I talk, and talk, and cry out to Him as I am supposed to as His daughter. We are to cast all our cares on Him. What an incredible blessing to give all of our concerns to God, knowing He will take care of whatever concerns us.

There are times when we need to stop talking and just rest in Him.

When was the last time you were silent before the Lord? I don’t mean not knowing how or what to pray. I mean sitting before the Lord in silence. Not asking, or pleading, or begging Him to do something. Just being in His presence and letting Him, through the Holy Spirit, do the talking.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26, NASB

This may sound weird, or uncomfortable. After all, we are supposed to bring our requests before the Lord, and we absolutely need to do that. What if we hit the pause button on the requesting every now and then, and just sat at His feet, and waited for Him to talk to us. I am learning to do this more and more, and it’s quite remarkable what happens to me. I get more peace just being with the Lord.

Being silent before the Lord takes some discipline, and you can’t have distractions. Turn off the phone, or place it out of ear shot. No music, no noise, no screens. Allow nothing that will grab your attention. Close your eyes and ask the Holy Spirit to speak. Now, be still, wait, trust, and let Him speak to your soul.

As we sit in silence with the Lord our confidence in Him grows stronger. He already knows what we need before we ask Him, so ultimately, every problem we have He has an answer awaiting at just the perfect time. We can take this time to find refuge in Him, knowing He will take care of us.

My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. Psalm 62:1, NASB

God is our salvation. While we wait for His perfect answer to our prayers we can be confident in the God of the universe. Waiting in silence is placing our complete trust in Him. This is not passive. While we wait, God will refresh our souls, give us new strength, and new perspective.

He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:2, NASB

We can trust God.

He will answer. He will come through. He is the Rock.

Love you all,

Meghan

Photo credit: Meghan E. White

grief

The Compassion of Jesus

October 13, 2023December 24, 2023 meghanewhite

There is no end to the love and compassion of Jesus for the hurting. He still acts the same today as He did two-thousand years ago. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. No one has the amount of compassion that Jesus does, and as His kids we get the benefit of that compassion. It’s unbelievable to experience the love of Jesus through His compassion. What an amazing Savior!

A beautiful illustration of Jesus’ compassion is when He healed the widow’s son. It’s just another example of His many miracles that appear in the middle of an ordinary event, yet it was all part of God’s perfect plan.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

¹¹Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. ¹²As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Luke 7:11-13, NIV

Jesus stopped everything to help this hurting woman. She had already lost her husband, and now her only son was dead. This poor woman had twice the pain and heartache, and Jesus saw her. His heart went out to her, even though He was surrounded by a large crowd, probably wanting His help. Jesus had compassion on the widow.

It does not say she had been praying and asking God for a miracle. Maybe she was asking for a miracle, we don’t know, but God intervened. There was a perfect meeting between Jesus and the widow at the exact perfect time. Jesus felt her pain. His loving words, “Don’t cry,” say it all.

It gets even better.

¹⁴Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” ¹⁵The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Luke 7:14-15, NIV

Jesus touched the coffin (bier) with His mighty power and brought the young man back to life. In an instant the widow, and all the mourners, went from sorrow to celebration. He brought life from death, joy from sadness. Only Jesus can do that.

It doesn’t end there.

¹⁶They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” ¹⁷This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. Luke 7:16-17, NIV

Because Jesus stopped and helped a hurting widow by bringing her only son back to life, the good news spread. It wasn’t just about helping one person. God can multitask like no one’s business. He can accomplish one million things in a nanosecond.

Jesus’ heart went out to the widow. In the middle of large crowds of people all clamoring for His attention and help, He saw the widow. Jesus helped a grieving soul with His words of comfort and compassion. And then He performed a great miracle by raising her dead son back to life.

Jesus’ compassion for the widow changed everything for her. The moment He came on the scene a great miracle happened with one touch. A young man sat up in a coffin, a mom’s heart was filled with joy, and many people learned about this wonderful Jesus. Lives were forever changed.

Jesus sees you. He knows when you cry. He knows when you are hurting, devastated, and hopeless. He sees, and He knows. His compassion for You is powerful, and life changing, because He loves you and will help you.

Love you all,

Meghan

Photo Credit: Meghan E. White