• A hot shower
• Clean water to drink
• Medicine
• Nourishing food
• Adequate clothing
• A Bible
• A church to attend

On June 7, 2002, in a firefight between the Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf Group, Martin was killed. Gracia was wounded, but was freed.

Reading Gracia’s story is a reminder that all we have can be snatched away at a moment’s notice.  It could come through terrorists, illness or accident. When Gracia returned home, she was so thankful for the opportunity to attend her church service and prayer meeting.  She had longed for these opportunities while she was in the jungle.

How about you and me?  Are we anxious for the next opportunity to meet in God’s house?  Or are we mulling over whether or not we will go because we have other things we want to do?  What if we knew this was our last chance to meet in God’s house for a year?  Would it change our perspective?

I challenge you to get a copy of Gracia’s book and let your eyes be opened to many wonderful truths.  You may think reading about terrorism is morbid, but if you watch crime shows as a past time, I would argue with you that reading about this kind of crime will benefit your spiritual life…something a crime show isn’t likely to do. 

What are you thanking God for today?

In closing, here’s an invitation/reminder about our upcoming ladies’ meeting at BCBC:

With love,

I’m going to highlight a dish I’ve already shared for three reasons:

1. We got home late last night! =)
2. It’s a great 30 minute (or less!) meal.
3. This dish is so good, it’s worthy of being repeated!

We always buy fresh local shrimp when we go to the beach so we can have this Barbecue Shrimp.  The shrimp we buy are huge  (kind of an oxymoron, isn’t it?)  =)  There’s nothing “barbecued” about it – at least not for a southern barbecue point of view. So I’ve renamed it, “Cherry Grove Shrimp” because that’s where we stay, and that’s where I fix this great meal! I found the recipe at Cooking Light.

All that sauce in the bottom of the bowl is soaked up with toasted French Bread you serve with it.  Mmmm!

Cherry Grove Shrimp

1/2 cup fat-free Caesar dressing

1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon dried rosemary

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

5 bay leaves

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 pounds large shrimp

1/3 cup dry white wine (I used chicken broth)

10 (1-ounce) slices French bread baguette

10 lemon wedges

Preparation

Combine the first 11 ingredients in a large nonstick skillet; bring to a boil. Add shrimp, and cook 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add wine, and cook 1 minute or until shrimp are done. Serve with bread and lemon wedges. 

Oh, I want to go back for more shrimp! (I miss the ocean, too!)  It was a great time.  We’ve come home rested and refreshed!

What was cooking in your kitchen this week?

From my parsonage kitchen,

Here’s the finished pie…

So, what do you think?  Did you learn anything or get inspired?  I pray so!

Thanks for taking time to stop in!

 

So, it ends up that I really did have what I needed for my Lemon bars.  No need to fret. 

That reminds me that whenever the Lord calls us to do something for Him, we will have everything we need!  Of course I’m not talking about sugar and flour, but abilities.  When we’re ready to quit and run for it because we’re sure we’re clean out of that ability or gift, when need to stop and remember that when the Lord calls, He equips.  There are so many examples of this in Scripture – from Moses to Paul.  Your spiritual pantry will have everything you need to do what He has led you to do – teach a class, give a testimony, share the Gospel or lead a group of stubborn people!  Don’t quit!  Watch how the Lord will provide everything you need – even without Google!

How have you seen the Lord equip you when you didn’t think you had what was necessary to do a difficult task?

With love,

Since we’re not in the parsonage this week, I thought I’d give you a peek today at a little of our vacation. 

For the most part, while on family vacation, we go away to lay low, play it easy and rest.  That doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping in, however.  When I’m at the ocean, I’m usually up early because I love to walk the beach in the early morning.  Here’s what I saw yesterday around 7:00 am:

Those clouds cleared away before I got back to our condo and it was absolutely beautiful the rest of the day!  We rested and read here for most of the day – right beside the Lazy River.  It is appropriately named! 

I finished my book, Lost December, while I was sitting here.    I have to tell you, the story was good.  It shared the events of a young man who had it all, but foolishly spent up his inheritance by bad choices and wrong associations.  He and his friends were looking for the meaning of life, but never found it.  As I read the book, I kept waiting for someone to give this young man and his friends the Gospel, and was so disappointed that that never happened!  It had a fairy tale kind of ending, but the young man never learned the meaning of life, that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for His sins to give him a relationship with the Lord, and also a home in heaven.  How sad that the opportunity was missed.  But wait…

This was a reminder to me of how many times I have had people around me that needed to hear the Gospel, yet I didn’t take the opportunity to share it with them.  A believer who was watching from a distance would shake their head and say, “what a shame that she didn’t share the truth.”  So, thank you, Richard Evans, for a great story that taught me a needed lesson.

How do you approach people with the good news of the Gospel?

Enjoying our vacation outside the parsonage windows,

Denise