Incredible No-Bake Pumpkin Pie for a Non-Pumpkin Pie Fan

To be honest, pumpkin pie, the traditional version, makes me yawn.

So, the possibility of an upgrade sounded intriguing. After all, pumpkin pie goes right up there by The Mayflower, and guests expect the dessert to appear on a traditional Thanksgiving menu, right?

Well, thanks to DiAnn Mills at diannmills.com, the dilemma resolved itself, and pumpkin pie earned a place stay. After serving this delicious alternative last year, I made a mental note to share it with you.

No-Bake Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

16 ounces cream cheese

1 - 15 ounce can pumpkin

3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

16 ounces Whipped Topping, Cool-Whip

One 9-ounce graham cracker crust, store-bought MUST USE DEEP DISH

Instructions:

Using an electric mixer, blend the cream cheese and pumpkin purée.

Next, add the pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, sugar, and vanilla.

Fold the whipped topping into the pumpkin mixture by hand until blended.

Pour into a DEEP DISH graham cracker crust.

Refrigerate overnight for best results.

Note: This recipe comes from DiAnn Mills who declares, “This is incredible!” DiAnn is both an excellent cook and a creative writer. Visit her blog at diannmills.com

A Holiday Travel Guide for Decoding COVID-19

"COVID-19 makes every choice so very complicated.”

My friend Cheri nailed it with her bottom-line clarity in the above quote! And she is not alone. All around me — in my neighborhood, in my family, in my Zoom meetings — I hear conversations confirming that indeed, COVID-19 makes every choice so very complicated. Take that confusion forward and see how it colors our holiday planning.

We ask:

• Should we travel for the holidays?

• Should we stay at home?

• Do we invite family over?

• Do we celebrate alone?

• What about a drive to visit our aging parents?

• How do we respond to input from authorities like Dr. Fauci who remind us that each family has to do their own risk assessment and weigh the benefits against the risks?

• If we go, will our visit compromise their health, or will our presence serve to boost their immune systems?

And on and on and on.

However, — and here is the great News — God offers a different Holiday Travel Guide for Decoding the COVID Dilemma. In His Word He provides a holy and secure GPS.

With this thought, a collection of decision-making verses provide much-needed solid ground for us to stand on. While outcomes will indeed vary as we individually offer our situations to Him, His wisdom and guidance remain consistently available. We need only to take time to pause, ponder, and pray our way forward in this holiday season.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”(John 10:27 ESV).

“My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest”(Exodus 33:14).

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with My eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 5:5-6 NKJV).

“Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You” (Psalm 143:6-8 NKJV).

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

“This is what the Lord says — your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go” (Isaiah 48:17).

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).

“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

“Thy will be done …” (Luke 11:2c KJV).

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

Do you find yourself in a boondoggle over the holiday decision-making process?

Which Scriptures in this collection speak peace to you?

If you had to make a decision regarding your plans in the next five minutes — to gather or not to gather, to travel or not to travel — what would be your decision?

How to Rethink the Will of God

Sometimes life takes us places we never wanted to go and requires us to live lives we never dreamed we would live. For this reality, the Scriptures offer much needed comfort and direction: “… even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7, 10).

Allow the words penned by an unknown author to wash over you, inspire you, and infuse you with hope.

THE WILL OF GOD

The will of God will never take you,

Where the grace of God cannot keep you.

Where the arms of God cannot support you,

Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,

Where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,

Where the spirit of God cannot work through you,

Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,

Where the army of God cannot protect you,

Where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,

Where the love of God cannot enfold you,

Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,

Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,

Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,

Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,

Where the Word of God cannot feed you,

Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,

Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

-author unknown

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? … even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7, 10).

At this moment, describe the even there in your life and circumstances.

Which line of this poem brings you the most encouragement?

How does this unknown author’s writing motivate you to Rethink the Will of God?