A couple of years ago I shared a story that I had never publicly voiced. It was the story of the trial of the still birth of our second daughter, Ashley Marie. Today, July 2nd, makes that experience 23 years old, but the tenderness of the loss and the sweetness of God’s presence are just as fresh today as they were all those years ago. It took me three days to tell my story. I shared it Here, here and here – in case you didn’t read it. Continue reading “Sweet Memories” →

A couple weeks ago I listened to a broadcast on Revive our Hearts and was truly captured by the topic. The guest that was on the program talked about being at a ladies’ retreat where a woman stood and quoted the book of Ephesians! As this lady sat and listened to the Scriptures that had been hidden in the retreat speaker’s heart she said, “I realized how shallow I was spiritually. I realized how little of the Bible I had memorized and I was ashamed.” It seems that she had been saved a great number of years, but found at that moment that she wasn’t very mature in her Christian life.

As she left the retreat, she endeavored, by God’s help, to memorize His Word. The day I heard her on Revive Our Hearts, she quoted the first chapter of the book of Ephesians. She knows the whole book from memory now!

As I listened to her talk about what memorizing passages of Scripture has meant to her, I knew that the Lord was urging me to do the same. II Timothy 3:16,17 tells us that the Word of God is profitable. It will definitely profit me spiritually if I hide it in my heart.

To memorize the Word, we don’t have to add another thing to our already busy day. The key to memorizing is to study the Scripture while we’re doing other things. For instance, if I take the verses I’m working on and write them on cards, I can look at it while I’m drying my hair. I can review them while I’m waiting in traffic. I can rehearse them while I’m cooking or washing dishes. So you see, I’ve not added an hour to sit and work on memorization, I’m working on the verses while I’m busy doing things that occupy my hands and not my thoughts.

I’m currently striving to memorize the book of Philippians. I chose this book because it’s one of my favorites, it’s shorter, and I’m familiar with many of the verses. My goal is to memorize a verse a day. Can I tell you – it’s already been such a blessing to me! I’m up to verse 14, and it’s been easier than I thought it would be, and it’s truly a treasure in my heart!

Why am I telling you about this? Not to build myself up – it’s only by the grace of God I’m able to hide His Word in my heart! I’m sharing this with you to encourage you to join me. Would you take the challenge to memorize a passage of Scripture? A chapter? A book? You’ve probably heard the adage – How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! That’s how you memorize a passage – one verse at a time.

Let’s link arms and get mature by knowing the Word! Make yourself accountable to someone. Have them check your progress. Say your verses to them. It won’t harm you; it will profit you! Are you in this with me? I’d love to hear from many of you that will commit yourself to the memorization of God’s Word!

Praying for you,

I found this quilted pillow sham at Dollywood marked down to practically nothing a couple years ago. It looks a bit like a little throw without the pillow in it, so I placed it across the back of my bench in the kitchen. Liza Jane is showing her allegiance by taking her afternoon nap below it!

You’ve seen this shelf many times. It’s my main display place for seasonal decorations. It’s best to bunch similar themed things together for a display, rather than scatter them all over the house. It makes a more powerful statement (learned that the hard way!).

Just below the shelf is my counter where these place mats sit. This is our breakfast place. I love it!

I love old books, and the one in the picture below has the sweetest picture of children displaying the American flag.

Isn’t the picture precious? This book is really special to me because it includes many holidays with sweet pictures like the one above.

I also enjoy setting the table to coordinate with the red, white, and blue theme. I have a set of the blue tin plates, and I use red and white napkins with it. I also add red chargers for a bright addition of color.

Last night was a happy/sad night. It was happy because this group of ladies gathered to finish our study of A Woman After God’s Own Heart. We started this study last August. These dear ladies stuck with it and were there to see the last lesson. It was sad because we hated to see it come to an end! The fellowship has been sweet and the lessons encouraging. We’ve been spurred on to grow in our relationship with the Lord and have been given the tools to be women that will strive after a purpose for the next ten years!
We ended the study with a Chocolate Fountain Fellowship! Talk about delicious! We dipped strawberries, angel food cake, bananas, pretzels, apples and marshmallows in that luscious melted chocolate.

We skewered the treats on a stick and dipped to our heart’s content! A “professional” dipper showed some the best technique for getting lots of chocolate with as little mess possible!

What a blessing my friend Angie was to me. I’d never used a chocolate fountain before and she set it up and got everything running smoothly. I would have made a mess of it without her help! She was a reminder of the blessing of each member in the body working to make the church function as God intended.
There was a method to my madness in having the fountain. I wanted the ladies to remember a truth we’ve learned in this study. As we are growing in our relationship with the Lord and being filled with knowledge from His Word, our lives are like that fountain – we fill up and then begin to flow over. Our lives touch others, then those people touch other’s lives and the spilling over effect just continues and continues.

Oh, that we will each endeavor to be women after God’s heart and allow Him to use us to give to others. Let’s:

• Reach out
• Give liberally
• Determine to withhold nothing – give the smile, the encouraging word, the hug
• Look out for the one who’s hurting
• Go touch some sheep!
• Write notes of encouragement – Remember, all you need are three sentences:

I miss (appreciate, am thankful for) you

You are special, and here’s why…

I’m praying this verse for you…

The banner in the picture above is hanging in our church. When the ladies finish their study, I’ve asked them to sign it. It’s there to encourage them to finish strong. I’m cheering each of you on!

Thank the Lord for Women After His Heart! I love each of you,

Hey Friends! I’m back in the blogging world! What a busy week is behind me. I always thought that when I got to this stage of my life things would slow down, but so far the only thing I can say is I think I’m spinning faster than I ever have! God’s grace is sufficient, however, and I’m glad I can rest in Him to accomplish each day what He desires! Psalm 90:17 is a frequent prayer of mine – Establish the work of my hands… When there’s much to do and only so much strength and 24 hours, we must have His enablement and help. Then, too, I need His direction. Some things I think I need to do, the Lord does not, and I’m grateful when he redirects my steps.

I got the opportunity to go to Kentucky for a few days last week and visit with my family; what a blessing that was. I’m learning that it’s never convenient to run off for a few days, but it’s a sacrifice that’s not only necessary, it’s wonderful. Family will not always be near and we need to seize the opportunities to be with them when we can.

I did do a good bit of cooking last week, spite the fact that I was away. Starting with dessert first is a great plan, so let me share with you a Dark Chocolate Cherry Brownie I tried from Cooking Light. My husband and I are tying to steer clear of desserts when it’s just the two of us here, but I can’t have company for dinner and not have dessert! This brownie square only has 5.4 grams of fat, so I didn’t feel bad about adding a dollop of whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce!

I also baked some cookies to give away. We have a new neighbor, a newly married couple that has come back to Johnson City to live, and a daughter serving at camp, all who could use a plate of cookies! I made these – Lemonade Cookies, only I made them Limeade because that’s what I had on hand. They tasted great!

I also made up Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cheese for the young couple that just moved here. This recipe makes up plenty, so I had enough for our Sunday dinner as well!

I paired the pasta dish with a Mandarin Orange Salad and bread sticks. Sunday dinner was on the table in a snap since the pasta was made early. It only had to bake 30 minutes and I put it in the oven on self-timer, so it was hot when we got home from church. The salad ingredients were made up on Saturday night, so all I had to do when I got home was warm up the bread sticks! Our dinner guests got cancelled last minute due to sickness, so it ended up just being the two of us.

Lemonade Cookies (Limeade too!)

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 can (6 oz) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed, divided

Additional sugar (I use the coarse sugar for the tops)

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar; add eggs. Combine flour and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture alternately with 1/3 cup of lemonade concentrate. Mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 40 degrees 6-8 minutes or ’til lightly golden. Remove to wire racks. Brush with remaining lemonade concentrate; sprinkle with sugar. Cool. Yield: 6 dozen

Mandarin Orange Salad

1/4 cup wine vinegar

1/2 cup oil

1 tbl sugar

salt and pepper to taste

3 3/4 oz. slivered almonds

2 tbl sugar

1 head lettuce, chopped

1/2 cup chopped green onions w/tops

1/4 cup chopped celery

1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained

Combine vinegar, oil, 1 tbl. sugar, salt and pepper in bowl; mix well. Combine almonds with 2 tbl sugar in skillet. Cook over low heat until sugar melts and almonds are coated and light brown, stirring constantly. Cool to room temperature. Combine lettuce, green onions, celery, mandarin oranges, and caramelized almonds in salad bowl. Add dressing at serving time, tossing gently to mix well.

Don’t sign off without leaving me a comment (if Blogger will let you – grrr!). Tell me what has kept you busy this summer and what you’ve been cooking!

With a happy heart,