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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Haiku

Christmas tree with lights
Soothing, beautiful, warm glow
Calms my heart tonight

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Birthday Cake for Jesus

It has become a tradition in our family to make a birthday cake for Jesus. Here is our recipe! :)

1 Pillsbury White Cake Mix (or any White Cake Mix or recipe)
1 Deep Dark Chocolate Cake - http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=4608
(or any Chocolate Cake Mix)
Cream Cheese Icing - see below (or any white icing)
Yellow, Red and Green Food Colouring
Red Taper Candle
Box of Birthday Candles

Bake chocolate cake in ROUND pans according to directions, cool. Freeze 1 Choc cake for use later.
Mix White Cake mix and divide in 2 equal parts, adding green food colouring to 1/2 and red to the other. Bake in round pans according to directions, cool.

In the meantime, make cream cheese icing
9 oz. (250 g) cream cheese
3/4 cup softened margarine or butter
1 1/2 Tbsp vanilla
6 1/2 to 7 cups sifted icing sugar
Beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla till light and fluffy. Gradually add in icing sugar to make icing of spreading consistency.

Set aside 1/2 cup icing and colour it with yellow food colouring.

Layer cakes, starting with chocolate, and then icing. Add the red layer, icing, and then green, and ice the whole cake. On the middle of the top, use the yellow icing to make a star, large enough for the red taper candle to fit into.

Light the candle and tell the Christmas story. Light a birthday candle for each person present and put it on the cake. Sing happy birthday to Jesus. Blow out the candles and cut one slice of cake.

Explain the the chocolate cake represents our sins, and the fact that because of our sin we are
separated from God (Romans 3:23 For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord).

The red layer represents the fact that Christ died on the cross for our sins (1 John 1:7b The blood of Jesus Christ, God's son, cleanses us from all sin).

The white icing is to remind us that if we accept Christ's death on the cross and allow him to be Lord of our lives, he will wash away our sins! (Psalm 51:7b Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow)

The yellow (or gold) star reminds us that we will spend eternity with Him in Heaven! (John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. )

The green layer of the cake is to remind us that our relationship with God continues to GROW from this point on. Green reminds of of growing things like grass and trees. (2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.) The way we grow is to read the Bible and pray every day - then we like to sing the song "Read Your Bible, Pray every day."

Enjoy!!!!!!!!