[better late than never]

Belated presents.

If you know me.. you know that these are one of my fortes. Better late than never? I think so. SO, if you too are a belated gift giver.. fear no more, for I have the perfect gift idea for you.

Homemade Strawberry Jam

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
• Personally, I'm going with store bought lemon juice. Oops.
• 3 tbs lemon juice = 1 medium sized lemon
• Kerr Mason Jars.. whatever size you so desire
• 1 1/2 pints fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
• If you are an inexperienced 'huller' as I am, the picture below is for you. (You're just cutting out the top middle part of the strawberry.)

 

 

Ingredients

 

Special Instructions Before You Begin:

You're in need of some jams while you make your jam, I can tell. By the way, the pun was intended. I strongly recommend the following video

 

 

Directions

1. Combine the sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over very low heat for 10 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved.
 

 
 
2. Add the strawberries and continue to cook over very low heat for 20 minutes, until the strawberries release some of their juices and the mixture boils slowly.
 



Before

 



After

 
3. Pour carefully into your mason jars and either seal or keep refrigerated. Use immediately, or follow proper canning guidelines below.

 

Sterilizing Directions:

• Jars should be made from glass and free of any chips or cracks. Preserving or canning jars are topped with a glass, plastic or metal lid, which has a rubber seal. Two-piece lids are best for canning, as they vacuum-seal when processed. I got mine from Wal-mart - they're Kerr's.
• Boil the jars and lids in a large saucepan of water for 15 minutes.

Happy cooking!

[homesick]

Do you ever go through funks where you feel inadequate, pointless, and/or insignificant?

No..? Just me? That's awkward.

If your answer is yes, I feel your pain. I'm totally not saying that this world is overflowing with hardships and negativity, BUT on the other hand, you can't deny that it's not always blue skies and butterflies. Why is living in this world so hard to do at times? Why does it feel like I am away from home when I'm sitting right here in my queen sized bed in the heart of Tulsa, Oklahoma?

Oh, that's right - I wasn't made for this world. And neither are you.

Once we realize this, two things come to mind. The first being the fact that it sucks to live in a world I wasn't quite created for - take me home! The second: it doesn't altogether suck because..

 

a.      Jesus promised to be with me through it all (Note: Jesus does not break promises)

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." -Matthew 28:20

No longer are you inadequate. Jesus is with you.

 

b.      He's already been through life here on Earth and overcome it all, so why can't we?

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

No longer are you insignificant. Jesus resides in you.

 

c.      Life is GOOD. Yes - we go through hardships. Yes - we experience pain. But in the end.. it's worth it. Our time here on earth molds us into a person who is hopefully becoming increasingly more like Christ with each day, and that my friends, is what counts in the end.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. -2 Corinthians 3:18

 

d. In HIM we live on purpose. Beats haphazardly floating through the day with the only purpose of pleasing oneself.

Therefore, we are the Messiah's representatives, as though God were pleading through us. -2 Corinthians 5:20

No longer are you pointless. You have meaning through Christ.

So.. I'm totally reading right off of my Pinterest; nevertheless, these quotes are straight BALLIN.. not to mention the fact that they fit this post perfectly:

The older I get, the surer I am that I'm not running the show.

-anonymous

Faith is the art of holding on to things despite changing moods and circumstances.

-C.S. Lewis

 

If I find in myself desires in which nothing in this world can satisfy, I can only conclude that I was made for another world.

-C.S. Lewis