July 16, 2008

The Homesteader in Me

Regarding the last post- I have read and studied Job. Still, it wasn't God who brought bad things on him, it was Satan. Why He allowed it I am not entirely sure of- need to do more studying. I just know that His desire is for good- we mess up yes, we are tempted and sometimes take the bait yes, but, it is not His design for us to fall away and sin. He is there to help us when we do mess up, which I do daily, but I don't think He needs to teach us anything while resorting to the devices of Satan. Jesus Himself prayed in John 17 that we would be kept from all evil. All pretty much sums it up- anything that is hurting us in anyway.

Sorry for the confusion about relating that to birth control. I guess I didn't clarify what I meant. Basically it was on my mind because in the past a lot of people will tell me God won't give me more than I can handle when arguing pro quiverful. Then we had teaching on that same phrase, so that's where it all came from. For us another baby would be a mixed up soup of emotions. I would be happy to have another baby and hopefully a boy, BUT, it's not great timing. When is it ever great timing though? Again, those of you who are trying to get me to reconsider, I have had three c-sections, they are costly, they are painful- I have special needs child that is far behind and I already do not have a lot of time to spend with her- I feel stretched already. Don't try to convince me because my husband and I are agreed. I just wanted to know what others thought about the subject. I don"t plan on debating over it


Ok, now on to what I wanted to post about. BUTTER!!! I made it. Cool huh?

Here is the cream I skimmed off of our raw milk.

I used my standing mixer. This is what it looks like after a few minutes of mixing at high speed.


I had a quart of cream and it took around 15 minutes to get it whip up into regular whipped cream, which is my next picture.

Then, it took forever to go into the butter stage. At least it seemed that way because I was standing there watching it the whole time :)
The volume of the cream reduced drastically and I noticed it was watery which is the buttermilk, so I stopped it and took the bowl into a brighter light. Aha- butter curds!!

I did my best, but I didn't get all the buttermilk squeezed out. I mostly pressed it out with my spoon, then put it in a tea towel and squeezed for along time.

Butter and buttermilk! I did not add salt to the butter and I tried to make it into a ball shape. oh well. It tastes like butter! Tomorrow I am going to buy more milk and get some frozen so I don't have to make the trip so often. Even though I skimmed the cream off the milk, the skim milk still tastes good. I can't believe I finally had raw cream to work with. Fun stuff.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your right that sin and trials weren't in his original desighn. Before the fall there wasn't sin. sadly due to sin we have all been affected, this world and most of all we have been affected by sin, our hearts, emotions, our physical beings.

But this to God knew. I can't wrap my mind around it all but though it was Adam and eves free will He knew what would happen before the foundations of the world.

I wanted to say also that for the christian all things work for the our good but most of all His glory. So who am i to tell god not to allow this or that. The fall and sin has braught sickness to our bodies and evil in men to harm and hurt and sin has destroyed what once was a perfect flourishing garden. Our country by His grace is blessed but if you go to other countries in the far east that have little gospel or even a name for God you see what the people and the land without God looks like. The devil certainly has his hold there and in the land and people.

I think there is a combination of 2things at work in this world because of the fall. We have listened to the devil lie and sin came to the world. Then we are born with sin. The devil does all he can and probably greatly attacks those who really love God in many ways. But for the christian we have the lord who won the race so when his attacks and trials do to the fall and sin itself come we have the Lord on our side and in a mysteriouse way (His ways aren't ours and we can't even begin to figure him out he is so holy and great and he knows us better then we know ourselves) usses that which was meant for bad in this worlds view for the christian is meant for our good.

Im so thankful and humbled that he sent his son to dye not for fallen angels but for mere man. we are nothing in the gretater picture and in this huge,vast universe we are but a little dot and he sent his son to die for us. Wow! Amazing love indeed.

Do you beleive all the bad in this life and evil is all attributed to the devil? Thats where i would disagree because man had a choice and chose to believe the devils lie and they wanted to be like God knowing good and evil. Maybe that just summed up and shortened what i meant to say in this long post- sorry!! LOL!!!

Anonymous said...

By the way I have really enjoyed these discussions. And I apologize for writing so much!!!! This has helped me think through and understand and express the things I beleive but also seek to open my mind to what others and what you feel the spirit is teaching you. Sometimes we can see things one sided so im happy to listen and seek his word to make sure it's not my opinion or view on it. I know though tis all the spirits work so maybe i won't see it now but maybe in 2 years I will. =) Im willing to be of a borian spirit and serach his word out.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

From my recent study of Job & what I have learned Job's trials brought about the temptation to sin. Being tempted is a privilege because it gives you the opportunity to reject Satan and obey God.

God knew Job was a God fearing man & knew Satan was planning an attack on him.... look at what God says about Job .... The Lord said to Satan . "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." Job 1: 8 I think about this verse....replace Job's name with mine/or yours ......wouldn't it have been a privilege if our great God said that about us. I know people that have been through tough trials and that is the way they feel about. "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." James 1: 2-3

I find it very difficult to think about going through the trials Job went through.....the thought of it is scary. I have a hard time seeing something like that as a privilege.I can imagine God's grace in the moment is the only thing to get you through.

Anonymous said...

His tender mercies: I totally agree and you have explained it very well, thank you! =) This verse says it all "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." James 1: 2-3
Thank you for pointing me to that. =)


If we look in the new testament and all the trials the apostle Paul went through he counts it as a blessing to suffer for christ name even unto death- wow what great love! He went through many,many trials.

Christ himself understands our sufferings and gave His life for us, he paid the ultimate price on the cross and didn't deserve it. The king of kings suffered Gods wrath for us and he is our ultimate example.

Rachel said...

Raw milk and making butter! What fun!!! I only buy real butter and it TASTES, so I can only imagine what fresh-made, raw butter tastes like. YUMMY. I looked on that link you gave.. no raw milk near me. Guess I'll have get a goat- a cow is too much to feed LOL

Jen said...

One summer for a Youth Confrence we went on a trek with handcarts and had butter churning in canisters attached to the carts. It was delicious.

I made a post, inspired by your post, featuring trials and more then we can bear. I'd love to know what you think.

Anonymous said...

Now, that is really cool!

Anonymous said...

Yum, real butter is always delish! :)

I love the comment that temptation is a privilege, I agree! I find comfort in the hardest times of my life knowing that those times draw me closer to my Father. :)

I feel no need to debate the quiverful issue but I do discuss & stand out in faith with I feel a Christian is misusing scripture for their own selfish desires. Don't get me wrong here, it is not what I think your doing. I think your just overwhelmed. But hear me.....we all are at times. Your 3 costly c-sections, a child is not progressing are really no different than the struggles of many parents, regardless of family size or quiverful stance. I personally have had 2 costly c-sections and have to have them hear on out and have a foster child who is severely delayed and a child who has a few delays. But listen when I tell you.....these are but things, nothing is more powerful than God himself. I do not doubt you are overwhelmed and have a lot on your plate. But you must ask yourself.....why does God not deliver me from this? We know your not being punished but your being ALLOWED to do through it. He is stretching you and you have to trust in HIM that He is the one who knows best for you. And I am not speaking in just terms of family size but in all things. Self desires are a slippery slope. Once we think we are entitled to do something we might question that might be out of favor from God, then we open ourselves up to that thought manifesting in our minds. Like I said, a slippery slope.
We are all sinners, no one is perfect. But I do believe God wants us to make an EFFORT to be Christ like. When in doubt of anything just as the motto goes ask yourself....What would Jesus do? Would Jesus make the same choices as you have? It is a great way to keep ourselves balanced in Christ.
God Bless,
Michele

Anonymous said...

Could you post the directions for making the butter with a mixer. I would love to try this at home.
Ruth