Isn’t it startling to go grocery shopping and watch the amount add up as you move from aisle to aisle?  I’m leaning heavily on my coupon book to help reduce the amount I have to pay at the checkout.

Sometimes, however, I have to move to other tactics, like buying generic items instead of popular name brands.  It doesn’t make that much difference, does it?  A can of diced tomatoes is a can of diced tomatoes, no matter how it’s wrapped.  The generic will do just as well.  It will serve the purpose in the recipe.

There are some things, however, where I just have to buy the name brand because the quality is so much better – paper products is one thing.   I can’t stand using a paper product that disintegrates when it’s used!

We’ve all probably seen the advertisements for products like Brawny that claim to be tough – or Bounty – “The quicker picker-upper!”  These name brands make claims that make their product different.  They stand head and shoulders above the generic!  They are really worth the extra cost.

What type of Christianity do you and I have?  Is it generic because there’s really nothing special about it?  It serves its purpose – I mean we’re on our way to heaven after all.  The way we live our lives doesn’t set our Christianity apart from anyone else.  We look like they look, talk like they talk, worry like they worry, live for the present like they live for the present.  Is our prayer life is generic too?  We pray when it’s necessary – at mealtime we bow our head and say the same little ditty we’ve been saying since who knows when.  If there’s a tragedy going on, we pray about that,but for the most part, we handle the day-to-day struggles ourselves.  What “brand” is our church membership?  Is it generic too?  We go when it’s convenient, when nothing else conflicts with the service times.  We aren’t serving in any way – that would take too much commitment.  No, being a member is enough.

The generic products are less expensive and accomplish nearly the same thing.  I find it tempting to pull the generic off the shelf of my Christian life because it doesn’t cost as much either.  But, oh, the blessings that come from getting the name brand product that does what it claims!  Even more so, there are many blessings that come from having more than just generic brand in my walk with the Lord, in prayer with Him, and in church membership and service!  It’s rich, sweet and full of blessings!

Don’t skimp when it comes to your walk with God; generic Christianity disintegrates faster than a wimpy paper towel!

With love,

After removing chicken from the oven, mix 2 Tbl flour and 1/4 C water together, then add to chicken juices for a delicious lemony gravy for the meat and vegetables.

Chocolate Cherry Cake

This is seriously the easiest and most delicious cake you’ll make!

Chocolate Cherry Cake
1 box Chocolate Cake mix
2 eggs
1 can Cherry Pie Filling
Mix ingredients and pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 min, or until the top springs back.

While cake is in the oven make the icing:
5 Tbl. marg.
1/3 cup milk
1 cup sugar

Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add 1 cup chocolate chips. Let icing sit for 15 minutes. Pour warm icing over warm cake. Store cake in the fridge. Enjoy!

What was cooking in your kitchen this weekend? Have you tried either of these recipes yet?  If not, why not add them your menu this week!

With love from my parsonage kitchen,

One way I try to keep my heart stirred and close to the Lord is by listening to good radio broadcasts while I’m getting ready in the morning.  The other day after listening to Revive Our Hearts’ program, they said there was a video that went along with what they had just aired.  I was still fixing my hair, and needed a way to keep my phone propped up so I could see the video.  Then it hit me!  I had seen (I think it was on Pinterest) a really clever item that would make a great phone holder; a cassette tape case!

I ran to the box of old tapes that were on their way out of the house (we don’t even own a cassette player anymore!) and set my phone inside the case.  It was perfect!  My phone could sit up so I could see the video and I could continue to get ready for the day!

Here’s the old cassette case in its new function:

It’s great to have a place to put your phone – whether or not you’re watching a video.  It will keep it from getting wet or from getting knocked into the floor.  What a great idea!  Hope this will freshen up your phone use!

Today is Graduation Day for our Alli!  We’re so excited to see her march down to get her diploma. I am going to cry.  No doubt.  All graduations get to me – it’s such a milestone.  Mix all that with the joy of Alli’s completion and our joy in all that’s going on in her life.  Bring on the Puffs.  God is so good and I praise Him for the blessing of this special day!

Be refreshed as you head to church Sunday to be faithful to your local church.

With love,

Yesterday morning when I got up, the sun was rising over the hillside in all its glory.  Not to be outdone, a half moon was shining brightly as well.  It was a glorious sight!  I looked up at the moon and said to my husband, “I love thinking about how God makes the moon reflect light of the the sun.  It’s amazing!”  I snapped this picture of the moon before grabbing my cup of coffee and heading to my Quiet Place for my devotions.

Then opening to Proverbs 1, I read,

How sad when we ignore God and His ways and choose instead what we want.  This passage reminds us that it is our choice.  We learn what we will get as a result is the fruit of our own way as well as our own devices.

I thought back to the moon I had looked at earlier.  Could I make a moon like that?  Of course that is ridiculous!  If left to my own devices to create a moon, mine would look like an elementary child’s science fair project:

Yes, I would make it with Styrofoam balls and skewers.  It would not reflect, it would not rotate on its own.  It would not create the tides.  It would not travel at over 2,000 miles an hour.  It would have no astronauts footprints in its surface.  My moon would not rise.  It would not set.  It would sit be there…because that is all I can do with my own devices.

Looking into all the details of our life, how could any of us think we have a better plan than God has for us?  When we ignore His ways and His Word, we are left to our own devices.  So, how will we work out the trial when it hits us with a force, not of a tidal wave, but more like a tsunami?  Remember, if we go our own way and ignored God’s promptings, when trouble comes we’re left to the device of our own hands.  How will we provide for ourselves or our families when the money is gone?  All we have is the fruit of our own hands.  How long will that last?

The real question to answer today is, which are you trusting in, an omnipotent, creative God’s plan for your life, or your own Science Fair entry?  There’s a huge contrast, not just in looks, but in results!

Don’t be left to your own devices because of your stubbornness.  Submit to the God who loves you.  Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you.  James 4:8

With love,

Wow.  It’s May 1st – May Day!  The yard at the parsonage is coming alive.  Each morning when we walk, I love looking at what’s sprouting and growing.  The yard has really changed in the years we’ve lived here.  I took a walk around the yard yesterday afternoon to see what’s blooming or beginning to bloom.  How about walking with me?

See the bunny near the middle of the picture?  Adorable.

Thyme in the bundt pan that fits around my umbrella on the table. Love this – it’s so accessible and makes a pretty centerpiece.

Liza is only allowed to go out and stay up on the deck. I took this picture from the side of the deck floor. She’s a little irritated that I won’t let her follow me.

My HUGE Knock-out Rose Bush. I let it grow tall to hide the gutter and electric meter box.

Clematis that I bought for $1 at Lowes 2 years ago. It’s filled with blooms!

Iris hidden in the Day lilies. I think the wind blew the seeds in there.

Dogwood outside the shed

Hey, Come get me!

Chives in bloom in my herb garden

The Rosemary that will soon take over the backyard!

I love these wild strawberries down by the lower patio.

I’m still waiting!

This vine is special – it was given to me by Jim Ward, who went to heaven a week and half ago.

Daisies grown from seeds my sis gave me several years ago.

Love the way this vine is climbing the stairs.

See?  I’m still sitting here, just like you told me to!

My yard needs some major attention.  I hope to get to it very soon. I need to prune and weed and add some mulch.  I’ll also add my annuals after Mother’s Day, but still, I thank the Lord for all He is allowing to grow and bud in my parsonage yard.  

From my parsonage yard,