I have often read that happiness is a state of mind. We can actually choose to be happy even in the midst of a storm. Even though, the struggle for a thankful heart is real. However, I find when I choose to focus on the things that I have, my attitude begins to change. I challenge you to choose to be grateful.
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:” 1 Timothy 4:4.
Focus on the positive…
When we have a grateful heart, we become stronger. Gratefulness is good for the soul and for our health. Have you ever found yourself singing songs of praise throughout your day?
I challenge you…
I challenge you this week to take some time to think about things that you are thankful for. Find creative ways to be grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends! Thank you for stopping by and checking out my blog at kamzinsser.com.
When I was a little girl, my dad would buy gingersnap cookies. I wasn’t a big fan because I felt the spices were too strong. However, now I am grown up, gingersnaps are probably one of my favorite cookies. So, with this recipe, I am putting two of my favorites together to make the best little gingersnap pumpkin cheesecake bites! Your family will love these!
Ginger health benefits…
Aside from the sugar, ginger really does have a lot of health benefits. Ginger is a flowering plant that grows in warm climates. We often think of ginger spice but you can certainly buy the ginger root at your local grocery store. Ginger helps to prevent nausea, muscle and joint pain, and lower blood sugar. Many people also add it to their teas and water. Since we are so near to Christmas, gingerbread is certainly a popular bread to make.
Pumpkin health benefits…
Pumpkin is an excellent source of Vitamin A which is great for the eyes and the skin. I love to buy a pie pumpkin this time of year and roast it in the oven. The great news about roasted your own pumpkin is the no added sugars. I usually freeze my pumpkin in a baggie for later.
So if you are interested in trying the best little gingersnap pumpkin cheesecake bites, I included the recipe below. I know your family will love these as much as mine did! Also, this would be great to make for Thanksgiving!
Gingersnap Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites
Ingredients
Crust
- 24 Gingersnap Cookies
- 3 T. melted Butter
Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling
- 1 package 8 ounces Cream Cheese softened
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 egg
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a food processor, grind the gingersnap cookies to crumbs. Add melted butter and pulse until mixed. Add a couple of tablespoons of mixture to a lightly sprayed muffin cup. I used a 12 count muffin pan for this recipe.
Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, sugars, vanilla, salt, and spices with an electric mixer on medium until well blended. Add eggs and beat until just blended.
Spoon cream cheese mixture into mini cheesecake pan on top of gingersnap crusts. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until set. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. Serve with cream or cool whip.
If you want to try other recipes, please check out my blog at kamzinsser.com
One of my favorite movies from the 80s was “The Karate Kid.” In this movie, Daniel was being bullied and wanted to learn the art of karate. Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi who is a martial arts master. Daniel asked Mr. Miyagi to help him but in the beginning, Daniel was assigned to do work around Mr. Miyagi’s house such as waxing his car, sanding the floor, and painting the fence. Yet, Daniel didn’t realize that all of that work was training him for victory. God gives us what we need to have the victory. Don’t forget to put on the armor of God!
If you want the victory…
God uses the mundane things in life to train us for victory! Never say what you are doing in your life is unimportant. I used to think that because I was a stay at home mom, I wasn’t important. I didn’t have a purpose. If you are a stay at home mom, you are training up your children to become mighty warriors for God. No matter where you and what you do, you have a purpose and you are the light! So don’t forget to put on the full armor of God!
Friends, we are in a war! A war not with a person but “but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places” (Ephesians 6:12). We must never forget to put on the armor of God!
So don’t forget to put on the full armor of God even if you are at home. The Bible says, “So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation. Above all, lift up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6: 14-17
I want to end this blog with a reminder to pray! So don’t forget to put on the full armor of God and then PRAY!
Thank you for stopping by today. For more inspiration, please check out my blog at kamzinsser.com
