Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Our Beautiful Daughter

Today seems to be the day of doubt and the feeling of defeat for so many and for different reasons. For our family it is financial crunch time as the hubby works for the RV Company, called Keystone, which is shut down for 2 weeks for the 4^th of July. For others it may be personal reasons I cannot share.

Praise Him Through Your Storm

Friday June 26, 2015 many were celebrating the fact that same sex marriage is now legal in all 50 states, however, for the Bible and Jesus believing Christians it is a huge set back for our nation.

It grieves me to think how many people think that being gay and or homosexual is quite normal, even people who claim to be a Christian or attend church. How does it make God our Father, the creator of the world and author of the Bible feel?

Many places in the Bible it is quite clear that living a homosexual life is a sin. It is not a bigger sin than any other sin, however, still a sin. How can Christians turn their eyes against God and his word? How can they say drinking and or drug use is wrong and a sin and yet agree to the homosexual lifestyle simply because they know the person. Yes love that person and it is the greatest commandment, however not the sin.

“Praise You in this Storm” by Casting Crowns came to my mind Friday morning and “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” to my sister while she was at work.

Our family, a big family with 10 siblings, was raised going to church and believing in God the Father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ the son. It has gotten us through many a hard time and I often wonder how others do it without a faith-based life.

Newsboys Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus 

Now, while the song she first remembered was the old hymn we once sang in church, Turn your eyes upon Jesus, the Newsboys a few years back, took that song and gave it an up beat and even a better song. Many will be familiar with the old hymn; however, in case you do not know the words, here are the lyrics to follow along with the You Tube video.

 

Our family has undergone test and trials, however, we know where to place our trust, turn our eyes and give praise, do you?

Freezing or Canning Tomato Salsa

With the garden season upon us, and tomatoes growing and coming on faster than you can eat them fresh the thoughts of making your salsa recipe comes to mind.

Once you have made your tomato salsa or your zucchini tomato salsa; there is a good chance you will be unable to eat it all, however, why should you? By freezing or canning your salsa, you will have that fresh summer taste all year long. Make your tomato salsa or zucchini tomato salsa either using my recipe or using a recipe of your own. 

Instructions to Freeze or Can Tomato Salsa

1. Wash your freezer container and or canning jars. I do not care if they are brand new or old containers you have used for years. Wash them in hot soap water.
2. If you are freezing your salsa, put the hot salsa into your freezer containers leaving an inch head space. It will expand when in the freezer so if the container is to full it will pop open the lid. Let it cool completely and place in the freezer. ** Don't forget to label (so it is easier to identify when looking for it) and date so you know what year it was frozen so it is not kept to long.
3. If you are using the water bath canning method, use a large stockpot or pressure cooker with enough water in it to cover the jars, heat the water until boiling. While that is heating pour, your hot salsa into hot pint canning jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Take a wet paper towel and wipe off the lip of the jar so you will have a clean seal.
4. Put the warmed canning lid on and tighten the canning ring. Snug it on. Place it in the hot water bath (with the lid of the pot on) and process for 40 minutes. If you are using the pressure cooker without pressure do not tighten down the lid. Simply cover to keep heat in.
5. When you take the jars out of the hot water bath, set the hot jars on a dry towel to cool. Keep the jars separated, so the air can circulate though them to cool evenly.
6. Let your jars set out on the counter for at least 24 hours to make sure the jars remain sealed before putting in your pantry. Mark the lid with the name of the product and the month, date and year.  

Read More: Salsa Recipe made from Scratch

Salsa Recipe: First Attempt from Scratch

Usually when I have tomatoes coming on too fast to eat fresh, I make either tomato juice or salsa. However, I usually take the easy way out and use Mrs. Wages Salsa Mix. I opened the cabinet and low and behold, I did not have any. Well I had too many tomatoes and I needed to do something, therefore I tried my hand at making salsa from scratch. 

 

Ingredients for Salsa made from Scratch 

• 15 fresh tomatoes 
• 2 cloves of fresh garlic
• 1 large onion2 large green bell peppers
• 1 large sweet red, orange or purple bell pepper
• 2 banana peppers; yellow, green or red
• 4 fresh jalapeno peppers; whole thing for heat 

 

 

Step Two for Salsa made from Scratch 

• 1 large onion, purple or white; minced or finely chopped 
• 1 large sweet pepper; red, purple, orange or yellow; minced or finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar or sugar substitute
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cumin 

 

Instructions for Salsa made from Scratch

1. In a large stockpot, mix the tomatoes, onion, green bell peppers, red bell pepper, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers and garlic. We like a smoother consistency so I ran it through a ricing mill just like making tomato juice.
2. Stir in the chopped onion, sweet pepper, vinegar, sugar, and season with chili powder, cumin, and salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, and simmer 1 hour or until the desired consistency is reached.
3. Transfer salsa to sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch headroom, and seal. Process jars in a hot water bath 15 minutes. Store the unsealed jars in the refrigerator.