Easter Story Cookies

I set about yesterday thinking and wondering what I had to blog about….NOTHING.
I had nothing. Holly even asked me…Mama, when are you going to write another post? I told her I didn’t have anything worth writing or telling. I'm boring! Nobody cares that we worked in the yards, transplanted some daffodil bulbs, got stung by yellow jackets, saw two more snakes, cut a few limbs, rescued a turtle, watched birds build in one of our boxes, and weed eated…(now that just sounds funny –weed eated!) We worked till our backs and legs were aching. The only thing interesting was my Monday morning visitors. Slowly waltzing around in my front yard were two miniature donkeys. They were enjoying my daisies among other small tasty flowers. They belong to my neighbor who was not at home at the time. Now what was I to do? Long story short which involves them running scared from a golf cart and being a little stubborn; my neighbor finally came home, called them and they went running to her!! Now they are safe, back home…on their side of the fence! By the way…they are so stinking cute!

This morning Easter comes to mind with its special story. It is not one filled with eggs and Easter bonnets, pastel colored candies, chicks, and cute hopping bunnies.

 It is one of love, forgiveness and promises. I wanted to share a special Easter Story recipe with you that I had found and saved from another blogger last year. This is not only perfect for small children to get involved in the making of but also a perfect way to share the true Easter story for anyone of any age. I can’t think of a better way to illustrate this heartfelt moment in time.

Easter Story Cookies

Ingredients/Items needed:
Bible
1 c whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 c granulated sugar
1 qt. or gal. size zipper bag
wooden spoon
tape

These cookies are meant to be made the night before Easter.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Place pecans in ziploc bag and let kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read: John 19:1-3. Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck Him in the face.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Add teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30...Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished." With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest. "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sins. Read Luke 23:27 A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8--Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him - and John 3:16--"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18--"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." And John 3:1-3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Fold in broken nuts.
Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting a guard.

GO TO BED. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy." And John 16:22 "So with you~ Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice,and no one will take away your joy."

On Easter morning, open the oven and remove the cookies. Take a bite. Notice - the
cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples:

"He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, "Greetings," He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshipped Him.

Hallelujah He is risen!!

Oh I almost forgot…I won a give away!! Yay! From Trish at Notes of Sincerity.

A bag of fabric scraps…beautiful colors and patterns, perfect for those small things that I like to sew. And to my surprise Trish included one of her cute little tissue holders. See how cute:

You can go to her Etsy shop for this and much more. She does beautiful work.

click here

I hope you all have a blessed Easter weekend with much happiness,

 fun family time, chocolate and a heart filled with Jesus.

He Answered…

I prayed….everyday for months without ceasing; day in and day out. Dear Lord You know the desires of my heart. You know what I want and I know You hear me and listen to every word. I cling to hope on the promises You gave us long ago. Every reason I can think of makes sense…it is right for everyone concerned; it’s all stacked in the right order. . I have confidence that You hear every plea in my prayer. It makes perfect sense. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts".  Psalm 139:23 KJV
I have made my requests known to You. I trust You. I know that You will answer. I believe You know what is best. You will give the right answer. I have a peace about it.

Just as an earthly father listens to his children, God hears the prayers of His children.

The answer You me gave was "NO".
That answer was not the desire of my heart. It was the wrong answer. No…not there, its too far away. You did not listen or either I did not make myself clear. Why have You squashed this dream? The plans, hopes and dreams I had cannot be fulfilled now. I prayed with faith…believing that You would give me the right answer. My answer…the one I wanted to hear. Why? I am trying to wrap my thoughts around this answer and understand it. Doubts are lingering and making me question Your answer. It was not suppose to happen like this. My thoughts have joined the pity party with the devil and his crew. The whys…the its-not-fair, the no-not-there, the no-that-was-not-it, the You-didn’t-listen…You-misunderstood-me ideas came rushing in. The tears of disappointment rained on my party, they flooded my judgment. Why did you say NO? I was so sure and my request made perfect sense. Anger clouded my faith to the point I was dancing with the devil. I labored in doubt and lost my peace. You had let me down. I became temporarily drunk on doubt and blinded by misguided thoughts. The party with the devil was in full blown form.

It was only after kicking the devil out on his butt and slamming the door in his face, that I regained my faith and spun those thoughts around in my head again. He made me question my faith and placed a doubting question on my belief in prayer.
I hate that…

I know that God promised to cause all things to work together for our good. (Romans 8:28). I found my inner strength again through You.  Jesus, I know You never make mistakes, Your timing is always perfect and there is a good reason why You answered this prayer with Your will in mind.  I now understand that my request was self-centered and self serving. Your answer was not what I wanted but what Your will had to be. You always know what is best…Your plans are perfect and I must trust and go in faith with the answer You provided. What I do with that opportunity is up to my free will. You answered my plea…it was not the answer I was hoping for because it was my plan, my desire, my hope, my dream, my belief, my will……..mine……not Yours!
I was wrong.
It was not what I wanted but what was needed. "The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will not protect you". I understand this and know this to be true and right.

I now also understand why Your answer was the right one all along. It is the best for everyone. I have a renewed faith through seeing things in a different light. It is all coming together in bits and pieces. It is Your best laid plan and the evil one needs to stay out of it, and out of my head. He caused my temporary lack of faith in You. How ashamed I am for that… I should have never doubted you and went to that party. Please forgive me. You have opened my heart. These doubts and questions will cause me to trust You even more especially with the unknown. Though no one has perfect faith I will grow stronger in mine through every life experience as I walk with You. Thank You.

I prayed …You listened ~ You heard…You answered.

It was the right answer.

"Faith grows by being exercised, and faith is not exercised

when we receive everything we want or think we need."

~ Graham Pockett

Postscript~ 

I began pondering and writing this post over a week ago. The days following its inception held a terrible tragedy for my family and our city. The questions, the hurt, the heartache and the pain of that go somewhat hand in hand with this post, but were neither the original prayer request nor the reason for my writing…This tragedy made my prior prayers and requests seem insignificant and small at this time. I have learned that no matter the request you have with God…it is not insignificant in any way. He listens to all of our prayers, considers them all, and answers them all…with the RIGHT answer. We are His children; He loves us all and wants us to trust Him with His will, not ours.
Standing in line for hours last week to speak to grieving family members gave me a renewed insight to prayer. A family member that did not know me from Adam’s house cat…thanked me for coming and told me to continue to pray for them.  I assured her that I had been and would definitely continue to do so. She responded with this: "I know you have been or we would not have been able to stand here and do this tonight".

God blesses with the strength and courage to endure and persevere.

Now I hope to beat the dust off my camera and get busy!

Thanks for listening...

In Memory

…of a young friend, a beautiful energetic loving soul…a friend to my daughter Holly. They grew up together, played together, had sleepovers together, won athletic awards together, and had fun together. They were friends, buddies, team mates, and pals. Brittany was her name. Through years of playing softball, they became a team of two...when Holly pitched, Brittany caught behind the plate. My scrapbooks became filled with pages and pages of sweet youthful memories of the two of them.

Brittany grew to become a beautiful young woman. She was our Miss Ozark and went on to become The Miss National Peanut Queen.
Brittany was 24 when she lost her precious life in a tragic automobile accident last night which involved another mother who had had a seizure while driving, when they met face to face on the road. Hearts are breaking and hurting and crying out for some understanding.

Brittany was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a friend, a teacher and a mother. A mother to a 14 month old little boy named Shep. Brittany is with Jesus, seated at the foot of His throne in Heaven, holding Shep in her arms.

Shep was in the car with his Mommy last night.

Dear Lord please comfort these families in the loss of Brittany and Shep. They are hurting and breaking apart. They do not understand and are in utter shock and pain. Give them peace that only You can offer, give them rest in these weary days and nights ahead of them. If Heaven could possible get any better than it already is….it just did when it received these two sweet beautiful angels.

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.

~Psalm 119:28

Please pray with me for the Shepard/Pugh, and Adams families.
The Adams children have lost their mother.  Life is just too short and sweet.

~The beautiful photographs found here were taken by Haiden Woodall, please visit her here.

May the Lord bless you and keep you,

and make His face to shine upon you
and give you peace.

Roller~Coaster Ride

While we are all trying to figure out what life is all about; I like Fannie Flagg’s explanation in the book I’m reading; "Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven".  Here's a little excerpt from the book where Elner Shimfissle asks God the ultimate question about life:  

"What is life all about?"   "It’s a gift!"   He tells her…plain and simply.

We should all consider this answer and view life as the gift in which it was intended…something given in love and it is up to us to take it, cherish it, live it, and make it the best ever.  God goes on further to explain to Elner that life is not nearly as complicated as people think… "Life is like one big roller-coaster ride, with all kinds of bumps and twists and turns, and ups and downs along the way."  We just need to sit back and enjoy the ride. "The problem is most people think they are steering and get so busy trying to control it that they miss all the fun parts."  We should not be the ones in control…I know that is hard for some to grasp, but it is true. We have the free will to make our own choices but we need to let God be in control of them.

Sooooo… I’m going to enjoy the ride with God as my pilot and let Him steer. That way I get to take in all the scenery, the fun, the excitement, and not miss a thing. I also get to take lots of photos because my hands are free of the steering wheel ~sweet love! 

*the song "Jesus Take the Wheel" comes to mind here…smiling*

Thanks Fannie for this perspective on life, I think it is one I can live with.

I Hope you enjoy the ride. Eat some oatmeal along the way…

 
Excerpts from the book, "Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven" by Fannie Flagg.

Bright balloons and Play dates

My word for 2011 is simple…HOPE

Yes that old familiar, simple word and the one thing we all do…Hope.

Hope is defined as a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Don’t you think hope should be an optimistic and much needed element of life? The feeling that, what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. Oh yeah I am so in favor of that... An attitude of spiritual grace...A longing and desire for all things good, certain, unquestionable, and sanguine.

When hope enters the soul it makes all things new.

 ~ James Freeman Clarke

hope is the rope we hang onto to keep from falling,
hope is a wish upon a star,
hope is a dream not yet found
hope is a promise offered
hope is a vision of something unseen
hope is the faith that mountains will move
hope is the lullaby that rocks our world
hope is a hunger in a place gone mad.

Hope is constructive and practical for our well being. It is the peace we fill ourselves with while we hope for peace here on earth. Hope is what we trust, like an anticipated dream with many expectations. Let us decorate our world with hope…

I hope you dance till you drop

I hope you laugh while crying

I hope you sing out in the rain

I hope you love…

I hope you live out loud

I hope you fly over the rainbow

I hope you give it all

I hope life gives to you silly,

fanciful wonder, cupcakes, and chewy taffy…

          an Oreo cookie dunked in cold milk,
warm sand to dig your toes in, bright balloons, play dates,
          and lots of naps.
I hope your life is as sweet as pink sugar and
          on occasion when it turns tart and tainted remember…

             there is always HOPE and no one can take that away from you.

For 2011… Hope is my word.

Simple Christmas

Christmas is not a holiday, a date on the calendar, or a week off work.

There is no need to get flustered, stressed, and bent-out-of-shape.

Christmas is a feeling...

One down deep inside the heart; an emotion that expresses love and kindness.

It cannot be found in the lights, the tinsel, or in all the hoopla of shopping and running around.

It’s a celebration of a gift that was given to each and every one of us.

It was the best gift that could be given and one that cannot be matched or out done.

It was wrapped in a swaddling wrapping, tied up in a bundle of joy and hope.

It did not cost any amount of money but remains priceless to this day.

It can be opened by anyone just for accepting it and is offered with no expectations only that we share it with others.

We only have to receive it, open our hearts, and let it fill us with its spirit…

The Christmas Spirit.

The love that came in a small package is such a great and simple Christmas pleasure. The simplest of pleasures given and seen and even felt at Christmastime.
As simple as…

A mother’s joyful tear as she watches her child
Colorful twinkling lights that shine in the night
The warmth that removes the winter cold from our hearts
The pure innocence of a little child
Believing without seeing
Homemade gifts, stitched, baked, crafted, loved
The wonder, excitement, and jingle
Carefully thought out Christmas lists and wishes
The unwrapping of love
Aromas that make the heart warm up
The reason for the season
A peace that passes our own understanding
Giving with no expectations
The gift, the ultimate gift

May you find that gift, not under your tree, but in your heart this Christmas!

Christmas Blessings,

Cora

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~ Dr. Seuss



Thoughts for the week...

There under the "thought for the week" in our church bulletin were some words about being thankful and giving thanks…quite appropriate for the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It went something like this…or rather this is my version:

It is not what a person has or does that makes him great…it is what he’s thankful for and how his relationship is with God. These show the nobler side of one's soul. Thanks are justly due for favors and blessings bestowed. The person who feels no compulsion to say thank you for the courtesies, blessings and considerations given to him is unworthy to receive more. If you have been blessed…give thanks to the Father above. When life is good…give thanks; or it is not…give thanks that you still have a life, which gives you another chance.

As we walk down the path that leads us through life, let us express our gratitude to God, the giver of every good and perfect gift. Count your blessings; name them one by one…for when we reach the other side of the mountain our greatest reward will be in Heaven.

21/30 Today I am grateful that I am grateful…being able to give thanks and realize where these gifts and blessings abound from.

We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks;

Your name is near.

People tell of your wondrous deeds.

Psalm 75:1 NRSV

I hope you have a blessed filled week!

Chatter Prattle

My sweet inspirational friend Christina caught my appetite with her mouth watering blueberry muffin photos in one of her posts so…..I had to make some of my own. I used fresh blueberries from this summer which I had frozen whole…they worked really well.

*******

I went to an estate sale one Saturday, held by the family of a very sweet woman who went to our church...Mrs. Frost; her husband’s name was Jack…really! She had an enormous collection of books and magazines….old Life magazines…they were so cool. I picked up these two wonderful vintage children’s books, both for 75 cents:

Filled with stories and poems by Robert Browning, John Keats, and Rudyard Kipling.

 The Grimms' Fairy Tales. Andersen's Fairy Tales. 

Jonathan Swift and Charles Dickens.

W.B. Yeats and Hans Anderson

Don’t you just love the old vintage graphics.

~Click on pix to enlarge~

Upon opening one of them, I found these pressed rose petals between the pages

…if only they could tell me the stories of her life.

Love this embossed rabbit on the red cover of The Children's Wonder Book

******

Sunday morning began with my husband going to WalMart in an attempt to retrieve his Mama’s walking stick which she had left in the buggy (yes I call it a buggy) the afternoon before….He was gone for a good while so I give him a quick call--he found the stick and has taken it to his Mama. When he returns home I’m sitting there eating a bowl of cereal…I wondered why he didn’t want anything for breakfast only to find out later that he had picked up biscuits and gravy for him and his mama after he found the walking stick and filled up on them during his visit with her.
Somehow that cereal just was not doing the trick for me then… *sulking*

A word for you today~Sharing a Sermon

Breaking down John 3:16-17

The Five Facts

As you probably already know, the verse John 3:16 is the most well known verse in the Bible. If not familiar with it, here are Christ’s words:

16~ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17~ For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.

1. The Fact=God Loved (the whole world)

2. The Evidence= God Gave (his son)

3. The Purpose= To Save All of Us (with the condition of belief)

4. The Proof= God Sent His Son (to earth in human form)

5. The Means= All Through Him (and only through Him)

A simple and easy way of understanding these verses even more. God is so Good!

I'm not preaching...so stay with me now...for a little humor...
Yesterday at church was our time for observing the last supper. We symbolize the Last Supper…the breaking of the bread and drinking of the wine. For the bread (Christ’s body) we use a very small flat cracker and for the wine (blood of Christ) we use grape juice. Now I know this is a very serious and respectful time and I am so there until the cracker which I had been twisting between my finger and thumb, starts to crumble…I gather the crumbs into the palm of my hand (smiling to myself) so that I will have something to eat at the proper time. I glance over to the man sitting right down from me and he has dropped his on the floor…reaching over to retrieve it, (5 second rule  applies in church too) slightly bumping his head on the pew in front of him, we make eye contact….and I get tickled. He sees me laughing and begins to laugh too (it is so hard to laugh silently while your body is jiggling). I don’t dare look at him again. Come to find out he had been twisting his between his fingers too! Thank goodness I did not spill the grape juice on me!! I would have had to leave the room after I picked myself up off the floor from laughing. Right prior to this I feel a hunger pain beginning to form and I pray my stomach does not growl so loudly that the people sitting near me will hear it. Just think….if I had had one of those biscuits with that wonderful white peppered sausage gravy on it…I would not have had this problem. But nooooooooooo….I had cereal!  The small cracker and grape juice just made it worse. God has a sense of humor too and I love that!

A friend asked me if I was OK today…well maybe today but yesterday I’m not really sure about …I not only forgot to take my Bible to church (which I never forget) I forgot to put on my deodorant…OMGosh…I checked myself and it was OK…whew…good soap is always a plus!! Man what a day!

******

We are planning a trip which involves a boat, some rods and reels and I’m in hopes of that BIG fish which is on my bucket list. This trip also will be special because it will be to Louisiana where our daughter is!! Yep, we are going to see Holly and Richard and we will all be going out to the mouth of the Mississippi where it meets the ocean for some red fishing. I can’t wait and I pray it does not rain us out. For those of you wondering about the oil spill...they have lifted the fishing restrictions. I’m also ready for some more Cajun seafood…the kind you eat with your fingers and get messy!

All kidding aside, I am really glad my husband had breakfast with his Mama

…he should do it more often.

What I’m likin’ today~

A cloudy not-so-hot day

The hum of the ceiling fan overhead

Talking to Holly

Burritos for supper tonight and you know they are homemade

Friends that share

Learned lessons

Working out the plans

Deodorant

My rat tattered Bible

And You

Source of the Five Facts: Brother Bill Hart’s sermon

Balancing Act

We need the balancing act of both blessings and difficulties.

We can easily forget what blessings we actually have… we take them for granted.  If all of our possessions were taken away, we would certainly look at life with a new perspective, realizing how much we really had…now that it’s gone. The good goes with the bad. Just when we are doing good and blessed with abundance, something difficult is thrown in our path. Why?  Why did this happen to me?... we ask.  It is all part of the evenness that God has chosen for our lives. A balance of stability least we forget Who has given us what we have and Who is carrying us through each rainstorm in life. Make sure you find shelter in the One who calms the storm. ...

When terrible things happen to us it is so easy to get angry at God and say "How could you let this happen to me!?"  Terrible things happen to people all the time. If we look at life through eyes that are not our own and learn to give up the rights we think we deserve, then our response can be pure and blameless. The only thing we’re guaranteed in life is that God will always be here for us. We all remember the old saying "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away…"  Let us all pray this prayer:

"Dear Lord, next time you take something away from me, instead of me being bitter help me to praise you and be grateful for the time you allowed me to have it. We don't realize how much we have until we don't have it anymore. Thank you for all the many blessings you have showered us with and the many storms you have carried us through…Amen."

God knows the importance of balance; that is, the importance of having both blessings and difficulties. We cannot have one without the other. We should not become too comfortable with what we have, because when we forget that the things we have are a blessing from God and when we start to assume that they are guaranteed possessions, it is quite possible that God will take them away from us in order to teach us that we need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.

What I’m likin’ today~

The 3-4 inches of rain we got

Brining

Pink painted toes

Photography as art

A date with the hubby

Sharing with the families in the NICU

Lobster and Crab stuffed mushrooms ~swoon

Balance

Have a wonderful week...

Do not neglect to do good and to share with others,

 for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Hebrews 13:16

Sources:  Christnotes and Teens4God

A Yearning

I have a present yearning for fall…some cooler weather. That cozy warm season that presents itself with an ending…an ending of one season but a beginning of a new. The changing of colors, the shifting of time. New. We are having temperatures with 3 digits so I won’t even talk about the index, which doesn’t make much sense to me…if it feels like 110 then it must be 110! We have not had any rain for weeks now. It is beginning to show~ the grass is no longer green, leaves are starting to curl, our veggie garden is slowing…almost to a stop. An uncertain time…

In all of us there is a yearning for something. Something that our heart's desire, wants, craves for; for the right reasons; with all good intentions. Do not let your yearning be confused with envy. Envy can be consuming and wicked.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 NIV

Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.

Job 5:2

Let our yearnings and desires include Jesus.

My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God.

Psalm 84:2 AMP

Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek

His face and to be in His presence continually!

1 Chronicles 16:11 AMP

Oh how I yearn for a better relationship with Him…one of complete trust and strong faith. A trust that walks with me daily, a faith that carries me through. To trust that He will bring us rain at just the right moment… To have a faith that He will bring us relief from our worries and challenges. This is my prayer. I will "Trust in the LORD with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding" Proverbs 3:5. Especially during these uncertain times.

So… with that, I welcome August, although it will still be pretty hot…its one month closer to fall…Ahhhh… My favorite scent of the year. Fall smells like cinnamon, spices, apples baking, cool crispness, cookies, and nuts! Now have I put a yearning in your pocket?

What I’m likin’ today~

The tease of rain in the cloudy skies

Plans and promises

Pink ink

Kenny G

Swedish Apple Pie~ homemade of course

A quiet country life

Paint on my brush

Living more with less.

Losing count, while trying to count all my many blessings…

******

Here's hoping you have a blessed day!

I’m Funny Like That…

Erin at  Dropped Stitches has Quiz Tagged me...

1. What's your staple, go to meal? Slices of ham. For breakfast you can eat it with eggs or pancakes, for lunch you can have a sandwich, for a snack you can roll up cream cheese and a dill pickle with it, you can eat it for any meal any way you want it.

2. What do you want to be when you grow up? I really do not want to grow up…its fun being a kid at heart. Grown–ups have too many worries, responsibilities, and decisions to make. It’s over-rated!

3. What book are you reading at the moment? A Painted House, by John Grisham, a novel set in 1952 Arkansas during cotton picking season from a 7 year olds perspective. Loving it!

4. How do you relax? In the recliner with a blanket...I like to snuggle

5. What color are the interior walls of your home? Light khaki, hopefully that will change soon. Holly’s old bedroom is a cream color and the spare BR is a creamy yellow…this is where I am now typing this out.

6. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Eating, I’m not gonna lie!

7. What time is bedtime and getting up time? 10-11 and 7-8…or what ever time I feel like it!

8. How long do you spend reading blogs? A little each day that I’m at home. There are some wonderful blogs and blogger friends out there.

We each have our own little quirks and oddities that make us unique unlike anyone else…this makes us special right? Things like taking the dust jacket off a good hardback while reading it. It just gets in my way, drives me crazy. And…

Eating salt and pepper on my fresh cantaloupe.
And vinegar on fresh cut-up cucumbers…yummy!
Raw okra with a little salt sprinkled on it! Oh yes…don’t knock it till you try it!

I hate the taste of coffee…yep I do…but I love love the smell of a just opened container of it, especially the fancy blends! I buy candles that smell like coffee.
I only like mustard on corn dogs!
I never eat all the bread crust on a sandwich…daddy used to tell me it would make my hair curl…well that never happened…so…

I get my hair cut in a barber shop. Always have…always well…by the same girl, and it’s not a man’s type of cut either…no way! Got my summer cut this morning…Ahhhhhhh…
I sneeze when I pluck my eyebrows and cough when I stick a Q-tip in my ear. Waxing the brows is much quicker…no time for the sneeze; it just takes my breath for a second! I’ll just have to live with the cough! I know I’m weird unique. Anyway…

I can really and truly relate to Jane on Drop Dead Diva. She is someone else in some else’s body! Yep that’s me! Check her out on Sunday nights on Lifetime…right before Army Wives…my fave!
I would rather watch paint dry than watch tennis, basketball, or wrestling. Grrrr

I write in the margins of my Bible…dates, names, important facts…etc…I underline a lot too. Why? It lets me know I’ve been there at least once.
I like things in their place and each thing has a place. Put. It. Back.
Norman Rockwell rocks!
So does Dr. Seuss!

And special we are…

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus…"

Ephesians 2:10, NLT

"… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Hebrews 12:5

For He loves us no matter what…

Listening From Heaven

President Harry Truman declared a "National Day of Prayer" in the United States on April 17, 1952 and President Ronald Reagan declared that day to be the first Thursday in May each year thereafter. Before the official declaration, President Abraham Lincoln designated April 30, 1863 as a day of "national humiliation, fasting and prayer” in the hope that God would respond by restoring "our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace."     I hope this is your prayer today.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon the citizens of our Nation to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us. ~Barack Obama

Today is the National Day of Prayer in America. Let's PRAY for one another! Each of us, one for the other. What can it hurt, what harm can it cause? Let us remember those suffering from natural disasters, those who serve in our Armed Forces who risk their lives in the line of duty for our very freedom to make the world a safer place. Let us pray for the other nations and countries across the world, the lost, the hungry, the suffering, the poor, and the little children, men and woman; all people everywhere.

Our church, along with many others, is participating in a Bible Reading Marathon this week on the court house steps of our city. It began Sunday with non-stop around the clock reading, ending today with every word of the Bible being read, and ending with prayer on this National Day of Prayer.

Two stated intentions of the National Day of Prayer were that it would be a day when adherents of all great religions could unite in prayer and that it may one day bring renewed respect for God to all the peoples of the world.  Let’s celebrate that intention as it was proclaimed so many years ago, by praying for the good of our country and the world as a whole. Please join me, not only today but everyday.

"The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."

~Psalm 145:18

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,

and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

~2 Chronicles 7:14

If you have any prayer requests, you are welcome to post them here and I promise you they will be shared by me with the Lord. God bless each and every one of you this day and everyday.

Source: From Wikipedia and other internet sites. 

Bunny Kisses at Easter

Cute bunnies, yellow chicks, Easter baskets with pastel colored straw, chocolates and sweet candies, with the promise of warm spring weather. I love this time of year…a time of rebirth, new growth, and perfect temperatures. Spring leaps forth with all is beauty…God’s masterpiece. And the Easter holiday is upon us. We will celebrate this Easter with our daughter Holly and hubby Richard. They will be home for Easter weekend. Yay! I can’t wait to see them and give them BIG hugs and bunny kisses! We will spend time with their pets….Jackie will take Richard turkey hunting early Saturday morning, we will eat good homemade food, and we will spend Sunday morning in church praising the fact that Jesus Lives! Halleluiah! 

What is Easter really and truly all about?

Easter Sunday is a Christian celebration of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a Christian I believe; because it is written in the Scriptures; that Jesus came back to life and was raised from the dead three days after His death on the cross. Through His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in Him, eternal life in heaven. Jesus knew the purpose for His life on earth. He endured the cross with that purpose in mind.

With Easter just days away, I find myself thinking about the death and resurrection of Jesus; the real reason and celebration of Easter. The purpose of His life was to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. The Bible tells us that Jesus gave Himself for us so that we could be forgiven and found righteous in God’s sight. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus was so certain of His purpose that He predicted when and how He would die. Matthew 26:2   He knew from the beginning that this was His purpose and it was fulfilled. The complete account of this gift to us can be found in all four Gospels of the Bible; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Rejoice in this celebration that you can be set free of your sins, be forgiven and rest in the fact and promise that He is alive today and waiting for you in eternity. If you have not seen the movie The Passion of the Christ…take to time to watch it…it will touch you in a way that is unexplainable. Please review the movie here. 

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.' Now I have told you." Matthew 28: 5-7

He took the pain and suffering and He took it just for me.

Because I know He holds the future, life is worth the living!

Blessings of a Happy Easter To All

              

I spoke with Him this morning

Forgiveness I did ask,

Miracles and wonders

For a world tired and lost.

other photos source~Google & Two Crazy Crafters