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A Peek Inside the Parsonage

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My husband takes terrific photos on his very nice camera, but I just take shots of happenings of our trip along the way.  I like to journal with my pictures so I won’t forget anything we did while on vacation.  Here are a few of my favorite photos so far.

These swings are part of the public park right next to where we’re staying.  We’ve enjoyed them so much.
 We walk to this pier at least once each day.  I think it’s so pretty – even from underneath.
Allison – ever our  entertainer, is being silly while playing miniature golf.
The pirate golf where we played had some really lovely places – including this garden area at the end of the game.
 This little baby bunny was by the pool area.  Adorable!
This early morning shot made the pier look really neat.  It reminds me of the verse I read in Psalm 113 –
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.
I praise Him for the time He’s given us to be away this week.  It’s been a blessing.  I also praise Him for His provision, opportunities to witness while away, His Word, family times, the sunshine, His creation, and for eyes to behold it. 
I pray you’re having a great week too!  What can you praise Him for today?

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A Heart That is Fixed

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He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.  Psalm 112:7
What a perfect picture I saw of this verse as my husband and I were walking the shoreline yesterday.  A young man was swimming parallel to the shore taking sure, steady strokes.  He was making good progress forward.  Swimming like that in the ocean seemed a dangerous place to me.  He was alone.  There were no lifeguards.  Then I saw it – bobbing along behind him was a rescue buoy that was tethered to the swimmer. He could swim knowing he had safety just behind him.   He didn’t have to fear huge waves, bad weather, or fatigue.  He had a place to which he was fixed, and he trusted in it.
This verse in Psalms is describing the righteous man.  He does not need to fear evil tidings, bad news, or frightening statistics.  Why not?  His heart is secure; buoyed in the Lord.  Anything that might touch his life will be cared for by the One to whom his heart is fixed.  That allows us to be at rest, doesn’t it?  He is there and He has you and me tethered to Him.  There really are no dangerous waters when we are under His care – in the center of His will.  Swim on and don’t be afraid – trust in the Lord.
With love,
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The Works of the Lord

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The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Psalm 111:2
We are at the ocean on family vacation!  I love waking up early – even on vacation so that I can enjoy the early morning time on the beach.  When I wake up around 6:00 and remember where I am, I am driven out of bed because I know what is outside my window – a sunrise!  Our normal routine is to take coffee out to the balcony and have devotions, then we head down to the beach to walk.  It’s amazing to me that there are so few people out there!  It’s the prettiest at the time of day because the sand is all smooth, the beach isn’t littered with chairs and umbrellas, and everything seems fresh and new. There are new shells that have washed to shore; treasures waiting to be discovered.  The air is cool and crisp.  A couple early morning fishermen have their poles in the water awaiting a catch.  It’s spectacular and truly invigorating.
The same anticipation I have for the early morning at the ocean is what the Lord says we should have about seeing His works that are great (present tense). The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Each day as we arise, God’s works are new and will be great.  I wonder if we really look with anticipation to see where He will be working? He’s doing more than creating the sunrise the first thing in the day.  He’s saving souls.  He’s speaking to His children.  He’s healing the sick.  He’s encouraging the downhearted.  He’s giving wisdom to those that seek it.  He’s answering prayer.  He’s providing for the needy.  He’s comforting the hurting.  He’s giving grace to his saints.  He’s convicting the heart of His children.  He’s calling out servants.  He’s giving hope to the hopeless. Yes, His works are great.
I seek out the sunrise because I have pleasure in it.  You and I should seek out God’s great works in our life today and have as much pleasure in them as we do other things.  Then when we see God at work, share it with someone else in the same way that I detailed for you the beauty of the morning at the ocean.  God’s works are all wonderful…to those that have pleasure in them.  Watch for them today and take pleasure in each one!
With love,

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What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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Going on our little trip to Amish Country a couple weeks ago gave me the opportunity to browse in some neat shops.  The one thing I brought home as a souvenir is one of my favorite things…a cookbook!  You’d think it would be an Amish food cookbook, but it wasn’t, because I already have a couple.  Instead I found a Taste of Home Cookbook with reduced fat and calorie recipes.  I really enjoy Taste of Home Magazine recipes, and when I scanned through this book, I found that the ingredients weren’t strange things like tofu and alfalfa!  This is real food – as a matter of fact, these are called Comfort foods.  We’re all about that kind of food, aren’t we?  I am too, but I like to see where I can cut out extra fat without cutting out taste.  I tried two new recipes from this book this past week and they were really good!

The one pictured below is Lemon Thyme Chicken.  I used a fillet of chicken breast and a thigh.  This cooked up very quickly, but tasted like it took lots of time and effort.

To go along with the chicken I made Barefoot Contessa’s potatoes.  I used red-skinned potatoes instead of the Yukon.  So very good!!!!

The other new recipe from my cookbook is Dijon Crusted Fish.  This was so delicious – also quick to prepare. I enjoy fish, but it seems like white fish cooked at home doesn’t usually have lots of flavor.  The Dijon, mayo and horseradish give a great taste while the crumbs on the outside give it a nice crunchy texture.  To accompany the fish I fixed baked potatoes and roasted asparagus (fresh from a friend’s garden and out of this world tender!). 

To roast the asparagus, simply trim the asparagus and place it on a baking sheet.  Drizzle it with Olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Roast at 400 degrees for 6-7 minutes.

We’re headed to the beach this week (yahoo!), so I baked up a batch of brownies to take with us.  I’ve mentioned these before, but they bear repeating here.  Dark Chocolate and Cherry Brownies are so moist.  I found the best jar of cherry preserves at Big Lots.  They really make the brownie gooey.  I also add one extra ingredient – instant coffee.  Barefoot Contessa encourages the addition of coffee in chocolate recipes to enhance the chocolate flavor.  It sure does the trick.  You don’t taste the coffee, it just makes the chocolate even better. (Yeah, I didn’t think that was possible either!)

I’ll do my best to post this week.  It will just depend on what kind of Internet connection we get where we’re staying.  God is so good to allow us this time away.  Our bodies and minds need the rest.  I’m taking three books to read just for fun, all casual clothes, and a swimsuit.  Not much else will be needed. =)

What have you been cooking up in your kitchen?  I’d love to hear. 

Praying for lots of sunshine here and where you are too,

Christian Life

The Light That Shines

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But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Proverbs 4:18
My husband and I were recently driving through subdivisions just looking at houses and yards, commenting and dreaming as we drove along.  “Oh, pretty landscaping!  Lovely wreath on that door!”  Then we came to a house and my husband commented about how he’d like to live in a place like that.   “No, that is too shady!” was my reply.  “I have to have the sun pouring in my windows and doors!” 
I love the sunlight.  I need the sunlight.  I guess that’s why I stopped and pondered over the proverbs at the top of this post when I read it in my quiet time yesterday.  What a sweet reminder that the Lord shines His light on the path of the just.  The “just” is simply the person who has been made right by the blood of Christ and have received Him as their Savior.  As we are guided by the Word of God, we can walk in the light as He is in the light. 
This is not just any light – it’s a shining light.  When I walk in it, it’s noticeable not only to me, but also to others.  So let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16
This week I had a need for someone to go visit my aunt who has had a stroke and is in a hospital many miles from here.  She was alone, and I wondered if a pastor in that area would go see her.  A call was made to the church and we were assured that someone would go.  I also mentioned the need to a friend of mine who lives in the same area where my aunt is hospitalized.  She told me she and her husband would go when they were able.  I told her to do what the Lord led her to do…it was in God’s hands.
Later that evening my friend called me.  She and her husband were on their way home from the hospital.  They’d been able to visit my aunt, but the blessing of it all was the way the Lord directed them there at just the right time.  While they were in her room, her son called from the Atlanta airport.  Due to some mitts they’ve had to put on my aunt’s hands, had they not been there, she wouldn’t have been able to answer her phone.  The other blessing of that phone call is that the Lord has especially burdened my heart for this cousin of mine that called.  We’ve recently added his name to our prayer list at church.  My friend’s husband was able to tell him why they were there visiting. Surely my cousin saw the shining light of their good works.  I’m praying that this will be a part of drawing him to the Savior!
Praise the Lord for the light He gives so we can obey his bidding.  Praise Him, also, for the way the light of the just can shine for others to see so that they, too, might trust Christ. If you’re praying for some one’s salvation, be encouraged that the light of your life and other believers can help direct that lost person to the Light of the world!

With love,