YET

It's a small three letter word that can change a life.  Yet.  Mr. Webster defines "yet" one way as "nevertheless" and "one more time".  Yet is a small word but can pack a punch and change a life and an attitude.

My morning devotion brought this word to mind this morning with one of the scripture references being one of my very favorites in the whole Bible.  Well, you my faithful blog readers, might argue that I say that a lot about various scriptures and you would be correct.  I have a world of favorite Bible passages!  I hold them very dear to my heart.  This one is one I only discovered a short time back from a book in the Bible I would NEVER read before, mainly because I couldn't pronounce the name or find the book easily in the Old Testament and couldn't figure the book had anything that would benefit me.  Boy was I wrong!  Here is what the scripture says:

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."   Habakkuk 3:17, 18

This passage in verse 17 reminds me that as I heard a woman say many years ago, "Everybody's got a problem."  Ain't that the truth?  Some issues might not be a problem to me but might to you.  And maybe your problems to me might seem little compared to others, and vice versa.  Either way, no matter what the problem or issue one can be facing, YET....nevertheless....one more time and always, we can rejoice in the Lord.

There could be financial problems, physical sickness, loss of a loved one, loss of a home, fear for those we love, uncertainty in important decisions, and just plain uncertainty of what life will hold.  In spite of problems and uncertainties, YET we can rejoice in the Lord.

I will drop in here a couple more of the three letter words in that verse....joy for one.  No matter what life dishes out, we can still have joy in our hearts and in our salvation and in our GOD (important three letter word).  Always remember, for joy it's Jesus first, Others second, Yourself third.  And never ever forget the Lord GOD as He has proven himself over and over and over, even when He didn't have to.

Yet will I trust HIM.  Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord.  Consider.......

CHEESECAKE

Before you think this is becoming a cooking blog, I will assure you it is not.  I have a different post swimming around in my mind even now that has nothing to do with cooking but it involves finding a certain picture so for now, I decided to share this recipe.

Through my many years of cooking--did I say MANY years of cooking?--every cheesecake I have ever made has fallen in the middle.  Every. Single.  One.  So you can imagine my joy when one didn't fall.  It merited a post of it's own on my blog and a recipe to share.

PECAN PRALINE CHEESECAKE

1.5 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 stock butter or margarine, melted
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 t. cinnamon (this is optional...I never use as I can't stand smell or taste of cinnamon)
4 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup chopped pecans
3 T. all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted margarine, granulated sugar and cinnamon.  Press mixture into bottom and sides of a 9" springform pan.  Set aside.  Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until fluffy.  Stir in brown sugar, nuts, and flour, stirring just to combine (do not use mixer for this step).  Pour filling into crust, smoothing flat with spatula.  Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool well and then refrigerate.  Loosen side as cools and remove side before refrigerating.

Happy cooking!