trust

Child-like Faith

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The blessings of teaching children in Sunday school are abundant.  I get lots of hilarious lines to add to my list of “
Sweet Sayings,” I have the opportunity to read passages of Scripture over and over in preparation for teaching it to young ones, and.I am humbled at their  faith.

Last Sunday I reminded the children, as I do each week, about the missionary for whom we are collecting offering.  We have chosen to support The Harrell’s, serving in Peru.  I’ve shown the children  pictures of their family, of the country of Peru, and of the ministry they are endeavoring to begin in their second term – that of an orphanage.  Each week as the children drop their coins into the jar, the sensor on it calculates each coin that is added and gives the total on the top of the jar.  The children get excited each week as they see the total increasing.  I told the children on Sunday that we had almost $30, and when it reaches $50 we would send it to the Herrell’s.  One little boy asked, “Why don’t we just wait until the jar gets full?”  “Well,” I answered, “the Herrell’s need this money now.”  “Oh” came his thoughtful reply. 

A few minutes later I was taking their prayer requests and this same little boy said, “I want to pray that God will give me money for the offering this week so we can send that offering to the Herrell’s even sooner!”  My heart was so touched by his longing, and my heart was rebuked at his great faith.  Wow! 

My prayers this week have been, not just for the Herrell’s, but also for this full-of-faith 5 year-old.  I’m asking God to supply abundantly so He can give generously in our Sunday school offering next Sunday.  Oh, may that $50 mark jump up there in the next week!  God can do it…this little child reminded me of that truth!

What do you need to trust God to do, that to a child would seem so small?  Is your faith great as you trust our Great God?  Maybe we alll need to sing that little chorus:

He is able,
He is able,
I know He is able.
I know my Lord is able to carry me through!
Trusting in the God Who is able,

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Freshen Up Friday

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Fall is a great time to add little lights around your home.  There’s something so inviting about a flickering candle, votive, or lantern brightening up an otherwise dark corner.  Refresh your home by adding one or more lights.  Need some inspiration?
Lanterns come with LED lights now.  All they require is a battery. 

Get a branch of lights (Michael’s has battery-operated ones) and find a clever container.  A tall bucket like here…

or you could use a ceramic pumpkin, or a tall vase.  Even placing these on top of the fridge would give a nice glow in an otherwise dark spot!
Here’s a strand of white Christmas lights inside a wire pumpkin.  Cute!

This is cute on the table, but would look great on a mantle or shelf!  The nuts hold the taper candle in place.  I love the candy corn in the mason jar.  This is an inexpensive and adorable centerpiece!

Hope you’ve been inspired!

See you in church Sunday.

Refreshed by the Light of my world, Jesus Christ,

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A Peek Inside the Parsonage

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You couldn’t peek inside my parsonage for long without seeing my furry little friend, Liza Jane.  If you came inside and sat down, she wouldn’t jump into your lap, but she would be waltzing around your feet sniffing at your purse, nosey as Mrs. Kravitz (remember her?)

She could very possibly be the cutest cat on the planet. She’s not a piggy cat that wants to eat all the time, but every time I bring home a bag of cat food this is what she does…

I think Kit and Kaboodle needs her as their catertizement, don’t you?!  =)
From my parsonage window,
waiting

In Time to Come

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In this “instant world” we live in waiting can be difficult to handle.  We tap our foot in the “fast food” line if we’ve waited over a few minutes.  We wait for the repairman that was supposed to have shown up hours ago.  We crane our necks to see the traffic problem ahead of us if all we see are brake lights, indicating a halt in our mobile progress.  Even though we don’t like these kind of waiting times,we know they’ll come and we adjust.

I don’t know about you, but waiting for things in my spiritual life seems much harder.  I mean, this is a good thing I’m asking for or anticipating.  Why would God wait to allow it to come to pass?  Isn’t His promise to us that we’re to call and He will answer? We’re to sow seed and He will bring the reaping, right?  Here’s what God told me in response to that question.

Recently I was waiting for God to deliver on one of His promises to me as a woman.  I foolishly and selfishly had the mentality, “I’ve done my part. I’ve obeyed.  I’ve applied Scripture. Shouldn’t I see the fruit from this now?”  One morning in my waiting, I read Proverbs 31 – a chapter I have read many times.  As I read, I saw a verse in a completely new light.  It was almost as thought I had never read it before.  Verse 25 says, Strength and honour are her clothing (the virtuous woman’s); and she shall rejoice

in   time   to   come.

This is said of the virtuous woman!  She’s the example of doing it all, and doing it well, and having a right heart in the midst of her activities!  If our doing well would assure us of getting what we’re asking for now, surely this lady would be at the front of the line.  However, she is now my reminder that it doesn’t depend on me, but on my God.   I can trust Him when He says, “Wait.”

When will the rejoicing come?  Not now.  Not when I think I’m ready for the fruit.  Not when I think it’s best, but in time to come.

I can’t tell you the joy that flooded my heart as I read that.  The Lord so sweetly spoke to my “tapping foot”.  “It will come…but not now.  I will bring rejoicing to you, but you need to be a woman of strength.  Don’t be weak and question Me.  Be a woman of honor and don’t quit while you’re waiting.  I hear you.  I will answer you.  Wait.”

If you’re waiting for a need to be met, a mate to be brought into your life, a child to return to the Lord, a husband to be saved,or some other answer to a specific prayer, let me encourage you to be a woman of godly strength and honor and keep that smile in your spirit.  One day you’ll be able to burst out in joyous laughter and rejoicing.  When?  In time to come.

Under His wings,

main dish

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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My gift from the Lord.  How lovely. 

Isn’t God abundantly good?  He gives so many sweet blessings that are directly from His hand.  There are no explanations for these gifts,  other than His love and goodness. 



My weekend front porch

This past weekend I experienced a piece of manna from heaven.  I got the privilege to go away and retreat by myself!  This was a first!  I had planned this get-away about two months prior, but it was the Lord that caused the timing of it to be exactly when I needed it.  I got to rest, hear wise, biblical teaching, meet new Christian friends, enjoy the beauty of God’s world, and eat someone else’s cooking!  I debated whether the food was so good because it was some of the best stuff I’d ever eaten, or if it was because it was made by someone else.  At the end of the weekend, I realized that it was that this dear lady is an absolutely wonderful cook!  She was gracious enough to share her recipes, so I get to share my favorite dish of the weekend with you.

One evening we had:
Candlelight Chicken
Long-Grain and Wild Rice
Peas
Homemade Bread
Fresh Strawberry Pie
Yeah, it was a lot, but if you’d have been with me, you would have tried it all too!  Wow! 

This chicken dish is a great meal for Sunday dinner because it has to bake for three hours.  I’m so glad to have a new recipe that will be ready when we get home from morning services!  You have to try this!

Candlelight Chicken
4 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless) (or 8 half pieces of chicken)
1 can Cream of Mushroom or Chicken Soup
1/2 pint sour cream
8 thin slices of ham (Virginia Baked) – Someone told me you can also use dried beef
Bacon slices
Wrap each chicken breast in a slice of ham.  Arrange in a buttered baking dish.  Lay a bacon strip over each wrapped chicken breast.  Carefully pour combined mixture of soup and sour cream over the meats.  Bake at 300 degrees for 3 hours.  Cover dish except for final half hour browning.
I am refreshed as I begin this new week, and so thankful for the blessings of the Lord that make me rich! Proverbs 10:22  What blessings have you enjoyed this weekend that were from the Lord’s hand?  I’d love to hear about it or a new recipe you tried!
With love,