Psalm 104:2-4

² The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
³ and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
⁴ He makes winds his messengers,^a]">[a]
flames of fire his servants.

Sanctuary
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary; pure and holy...tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you.

When He comes with shouts of glory and our work on earth is done; how I long to hear Him saying "Faithful servant, well done."

The other day, I was feeling pretty discouraged and I was thinking how nice my dog's life must be. "She has nothing to get discouraged about...or stress about...or feel sad about." Then, I realized the only thing I think might make her sad or discouraged would be when she thinks that my family and I don't love her. But that's ridiculous, I thought because we do love her. Then it hit me that that's really where the root from my discouragement, depression, etc comes from. We see things happening to us that don't seem to be "good things." When those things happen, we forget that God loves us. BUT, HE DOES! In Romans 8, it says "And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." God loves us all the time. We really have no reason to be depressed or discouraged because "if God is for us...who can be against us?"

^{Matthew 6:28
28} “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Poundcake

Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Preheat oven to 350.

1 1/2 cups of softened butter
3 cups sugar
8 oz. cream cheese 6 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2/3 cups strawberry glaze
(I pureed and cooked down strawberries for this.)

1-Beat butter with electric stand mixer until creamy.
2-Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy.
3-Add cream cheese, beating until creamy.
4-Add eggs (1 at a time) beating just until blended after each addition.
5-Gradually add flour to butter mixture.
6-Beat until blended.
7-Stir in extracts.
8-Pour 1/3 batter into greased pan.
9-Dallop 8 teaspoons strawberry syrup on top of batter in bundt pan.
10-Use a skewer to swirl the strawberry mixture until marbleized.
11-Add remaining batter on top.
12-Repeat steps 9-10
13- Bake for 1 hr at 350 degrees.
14-Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 min.
15-Flip cake out of pan and cool on wire rack for 1hr.
16-ENJOY!