Wake up America

This month we have chosen to post something from a gifted guy instead of a gifted girl. This gifted guy is a very special uncle of both editors, and he has a firm grasp on the true freedom that Christ offers, no matter what the circumstances.

Wake Up America

Oh, God, wake up America, the land of the free
And help her to remember that her strength lies in thee.
If her people Your guidance in all things they do seek
Then as a nation “under God” they will never be found weak.

Strong as a people, united they will stand
If Your laws are upheld all over this great land.
Yes, “Righteousness exalts a nation” the Holy Book does say,
But “Sin is a disgrace,” so for righteousness let us pray.

May we never forget who it was that made us great
And turn our hearts back to God before it is too late.
The most powerful nation on earth may someday cease to be
If its people turn their backs on the strength that made them free.

May we truly uphold our motto, “In God Do We Trust,”
And do away with greed and selfishness, our idols, and our lust.
As you wave that flag of freedom held high so all can see
Live so that God does bless America, and keeps this land forever free.

Gaylord E. Gardner Jr.

July 4, 2005

God’s flower arrangements

Matt. 6:28-30 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith.”

Photos submitted by Sharon Deacon

Simple Italian Fish & Vegetables

Prep Time:
5 min
Total Time:
1 hr 20 min
Makes:
4 servings

Ingredients
1 cup SEVEN SEAS VIVA Italian Dressing, divided
1 lb. whitefish fillets
2 cups assorted sliced vegetables, such as zucchini and red pepper

Instructions
POUR 3/4 cup of the dressing over fish and vegetables in shallow glass or plastic dish; cover.

REFRIGERATE 30 minutes to 1 hour to marinate. Drain; discard marinade.

PREHEAT greased grill to medium heat. Grill fish and vegetables 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork and vegetables are crisp-tender, turning and brushing occasionally with the remaining 1/4 cup dressing.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Use Your Broiler
Marinate fish and vegetables as directed; drain, discarding marinade. Place fish and vegetables on rack of broiler pan 4 to 6 inches from heat. Broil until fish flakes easily with fork and vegetables are crisp-tender, turning and brushing occasionally with the remaining 1/4 cup dressing.

Patriotic Poke Cake

Prep Time:
30 min
Total Time:
4 hr 30 min
Makes:
16 servings, one slice each

Ingredients
2 baked round white cake layers (9 inch), cooled
2 cups boiling water, divided
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Brand Strawberry Flavor Gelatin, or any other red flavor
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Brand Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

Instructions
PLACE cake layers, top-sides up, in two clean 9-inch round cake pans. Pierce cakes with large fork at 1/2-inch intervals.

STIR 1 cup of the boiling water into each flavor dry gelatin mix in separate small bowls 2 min. until completely dissolved. Carefully pour red gelatin over 1 cake layer and blue gelatin over remaining cake layer. Refrigerate 3 hours.

DIP one cake pan in warm water 10 sec.; unmold onto serving plate. Spread with about 1 cup of the whipped topping. Unmold second cake layer; carefully place on first cake layer. Frost top and side of cake with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve. Cut into 16 slices to serve. Store leftover cake in refrigerator.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Jazz It Up
Serve with colorful fresh berries, such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.
Substitute
Prepare as directed, using COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping.Variation – Patriotic Poke Cake with Cream Cheese FrostingPour gelatin over cake layers and refrigerate as directed. Unmold 1 of the layers onto serving plate; set aside. Beat 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) softened PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese and 2 cups powdered sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed or wire whisk until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping until well blended. Spread onto cake layer on plate as directed; top with second cake layer. Continue as directed.

All-American DELI DELUXE Cheeseburgers

Prep Time:
10 min
Total Time:
22 min
Makes:
4 servings, one cheeseburger each

Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
4 KRAFT DELI STYLE American Cheese Slices
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Mayo Real Mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Thousand Island Dressing
4 kaiser rolls, split, toasted
4 CLAUSSEN Kosher Dill Burger Slices
4 lettuce leaves
4 slices tomato
4 red onion slices

Instructions
PREHEAT grill to medium-high heat. Shape meat into four patties.

PLACE patties on grill; cover grill with lid. Grill 4 to 6 min. on each side or until burgers are cooked through (160°F). Top burgers with cheese; continue grilling until cheese is melted.

MIX mayo and dressing. Spread evenly onto cut sides of rolls; fill with cheeseburgers, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and onions.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Healthy Living
Save 60 calories and 8 grams of fat per serving by preparing with KRAFT 2% Milk Singles, KRAFT Mayo Light Mayonnaise and KRAFT Light Thousand Island Reduced Fat Dressing.
How to Use the Stove
Cook patties in large skillet on medium heat 7 to 9 min. on each side or until cooked through (160°F). Top each burger with 1 cheese slice; cover. Continue cooking until cheese is melted. Continue as directed.
Substitute
Substitute hamburger buns for the kaiser rolls.

Pierce my heart to enjoy freedom in Christ

Galatians 5:1 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

Americans celebrate the nation’s freedom every year on July fourth, but as Christians, we should enjoy our freedom in Christ every day!  We will go through tough times and we will make mistakes, but we can still take comfort in knowing that no matter what happens to us, Jesus is there every step of the way.

This month, grab a glass of lemonade, sit back, and join us in exploring the joy of the freedom that only Christ can give.  We’ll post many new articles throughout the month, so check our Monthly Issues often to see what’s new.  You can also subscribe to Pierce My Heart by using the bar on the right, so updates will be sent straight to your in-box!

I pray that your heart will be pierced to become free in Christ if you aren’t already, and so you can enjoy that freedom every day.

Living Free,
Davonne Parks

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Firecracker Cupcakes

Prep Time:
10 min
Total Time:
10 min
Makes:
2 doz. or 24 servings, one cupcake each

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups BAKER’S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut, divided
4 drops each: blue and red food colorings
24 yellow cupcakes
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
24 red string licorice pieces (4 inch)

Instructions
PLACE 1/2 cup of the coconut in each of two separate resealable plastic bags; set remaining 1/2 cup coconut aside. Add blue food coloring to coconut in one bag and red food coloring to coconut in second bag. Seal bags; shake until coconut is evenly tinted.

SPREAD tops of cupcakes with whipped topping. Sprinkle with red, white (uncolored) and blue coconut as desired; press coconut gently into whipped topping to secure.

INSERT licorice piece into top of each cupcake for the firecracker’s fuse. Store in refrigerator.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Jazz It Up
Divide whipped topping into thirds. Color one portion with 4 drops red food coloring and second portion with 4 drops blue food coloring. Leave remaining portion white. Spread onto cupcakes and continue as directed.
Family Fun
Have children decorate their own cupcakes.
Substitute
Prepare as directed, using your favorite flavor of cupcakes

Grilled Chicken with Savory Summer Vegetables

Prep Time:
10 min
Total Time:
30 min
Makes:
4 servings

Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb.)
1/4 cup KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing, divided
1 zucchini, cut into chunks
1 red pepper, cut into chunks
1 cup chopped asparagus
1/2 of a red onion, cut into chunks

Instructions
PREHEAT grill to medium-high heat. Brush chicken with 2 Tbsp. of the dressing. Let stand 10 min.

MEANWHILE, poke holes in bottom of disposable aluminum foil pan. Toss vegetables with remaining 2 Tbsp. dressing. Place in prepared pan.

GRILL 20 min. or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are crisp-tender.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Use Your Grill Basket
Omit foil pan. Place vegetable mixture in grill basket. Grill as directed, shaking basket often.
Creative Leftovers
Toss leftovers with hot cooked pasta for a quick Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Pasta.

Show Your Freedom

Top ten ways to show your freedom in Christ:

10. Invite people to church, gospel meetings, youth activities, and anything else going on in your church.

9. Show others Christ’s love by serving them (Matthew 25:35-40).

8. Act like a daughter of Christ, because actions speak louder than words.

7. Dress appropriately, because it is hard to convince someone you’re a real Christian when you don’t look like a Christian.

6. Talk with your brothers and sisters in Christ about your lives so you can help each other grow.

5. Befriend people you want to share the gospel with. People are more likely to listen to someone who they know cares about them.

4. Avoid unchristian-like places and activities such as alcohol parties and unchaperoned events, because if you’re at these events, people will automatically assume you’re not a sincere Christian.

3. Read your Bible in public (be careful to not be self righteous or condemning).

2. Share the Bible passages you’re reading about with others around you.

1. Pray with others, for others, and for yourself, that you will have the strength and knowledge to share God’s word.

By Kim Cook

Pizza on the Grill

Prep Time:
2 min
Total Time:
20 min
Makes:
5 servings, one slice each

Ingredients
1 (24.8 oz.) DI GIORNO Thin Crispy Crust Supreme Pizza

Instructions
PREHEAT grill, setting all burners on low to medium-low (about 400°F).

REMOVE wrapper and cardboard from frozen pizza. Place pizza directly on center of grill rack; close lid.

GRILL
13 to 15 min., rotating pizza 1/2 turn with spatula after 8 min.
Continue grilling, covered, for specified time or until cheese is
melted and crust is golden brown. Let stand 2 to 3 min. before serving.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

How to

For best results, use a gas grill. Due to differences in grills and weather conditions, grilling times can vary.
Keeping It Safe
For best results, do not allow pizza to thaw. Do not eat pizza without cooking.
Keeping It Safe
Because
DI GIORNO bakes up fresh and HOT on your grill, please use care when
handling the pizza. Let stand 5 min. before enjoying.