Green Hair Vs Red

Her sharp eyes met mine, and she blurted out, “What are you looking at?”

How could I help but see her? Her entire being was crying out, “Look at me!”

I was actually thinking that this girl needs attention, and she is demanding it in the wrong way.

I won’t say multiple piercing, but a few anyway, and her green hair was certainly striking.

Not wanting to be rude, as I looked her in the eye, I replied, “I just think your hair is awesome.”

Her countenance softened and she weakly said, “Well thank you.”

Now green is not MY color at least not for hair. I once told the girls where I worked, that I might consider red if I ever want to change my blond hair to something else.

To be honest, I don’t need the attention that a new red hair color might bring to me.

For me, I gained my acceptance by performance. I worked very hard in school for good grades not only to please my parents, but to feel better about myself.

Being the best at what I did was an attempt to perhaps even please God. I am not always the best, but I endeavor to be, not better than, but at least, “as good as.”

As I reflect, I know that God loves us just as we are, but as someone has said; “He loves us too much to leave us that way.”

We can do nothing of our selves to earn favor with God. His love is unconditional and all God’s gifts are free, although there are some conditions that he places of his gifts.

Perhaps number one, He desires that we be willing and obedient. There is a difference about obeying but not really wanting to. God yearns for our attitude to be of a willing nature as we obey Him.

1Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.

As I have grown older it is not carelessness, but I suppose that I actually “Care Less” what people think of me. I do care more about what God thinks of me

What I really desire is for others to see, Jesus in me, and that is what I strive for.

Paul said, “Look at me,” and follow me as I follow Christ.

Turkey Day? – NOT!

I hate it when I hear someone say, Turkey Day, instead of giving the day its’ proper name, Thanks Giving Day!

Thanksgiving is the day we bake our turkey, or goose, or chicken and give thanks to God for all our bountiful blessings. We call into remembrance all the goodness of God to us and to our families.

As we go around the table allowing each person to declare what they are thankful for, it warms my heart to realize that I am thankful for my family and for those we hold dear.

Some would say, I am glad for my home, or my clothes, or my car, my computer, or other possessions, but all this would pale in the light of being grateful for our loved ones.

Thanksgiving Day, is only one day out of the year, and truly we should find something everyday to be thankful for. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!!

All this reminds me that I am mostly thankful to God, for sending His Son Jesus to be our redeemer so that we might inherit eternal life.

Thanksgiving is only a few days away, and after our turkey has been baked, and we have all fellowshipped together and enjoyed the day; if there is any turkey left over, here is my amazing recipe for Turkey Enchiladas.

Swiss Turkey Enchiladas

Set aside 1 dozen soft flour tortillas, to be fried in hot oil, first skillet

In large second skillet or large pan, warm until room temperature
6 bouillon cubes dissolved in 3 cups light cream. (I use 1 can evaporated milk and the balance sweet milk.)

In another separate skillet number 3,
Sauté 1 chopped onion in 2 tsp oil.
Add 1 clove garlic crushed.
2 cans tomato puree, Salt and pepper to taste.
One 4 oz can diced green chilies
2 cups chopped cooked turkey and simmer 10 minutes. Divide into 12 portions.

Fry each tortilla in hot oil, then dip it into the milk mixture, and place it on a plate.
Put 1/12 of the turkey mixture into the tortilla, roll it up and place into a baking dish.
We use two baking dishes with six enchiladas in each dish.
Pour the rest of the milk mixture over the rolled tortillas.
Top with 1/2 pound of grated Jack cheese.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. If there is any is left over seal in zip lock bags and freeze.

This article has been entered on Food on Fridays at http://annkroeker.com/
and also entered on: Pot Luck Friday at:  http://www.ekatskitchen.com/ check out some great recipes on both sites.

Trust Me

Looking for a way to earn some extra money; my husband decided to purchase a used pick-up truck so he could do odd jobs.

He shopped and compared prices and finally decided on a used truck that was in excellent condition. The car dealer was having it checked out, and we had not yet taken delivery.

A few days later around noon time, my door bell rang. When I opened the door, it was the car salesman, who I recognized as the person who had sold us the truck.

In his hand he held a contract and a pen, and asked if my husband was home. Naturally my husband was at work, he was not available and I told the salesman so.

The salesman suggested that I could sign the contract for my husband. I hesitated mostly because the contract was blank. I told him of my uncertainty to sign a blank document because it was not filled in. He explained that the girl at the office would type it in as soon as he returned and all he needed was a signature.

“Trust me,” he said, as he offered me the pen. I was young and gullible, so I took the pen and scribbled my husbands name to the paper. The Salesman was happy, and he left.

A few days later, a payment book arrived in the mail and as I inspected it, I realized something was not right. I told me husband that the amount was not what we had agreed to pay for the truck and instead a much larger amount was due.

My husband made a quick trip to the dealership and asked for the manager. He tried to control his temper, but he told the manager that in no uncertain terms, we were not going to pay what we were now being charged. The manager smirked and went to his filing cabinet and pulled out the contract, and holding it out to my husband, he said, “Is this your signature?”

My husband emphatically told him, “NO it is NOT.”

To make a long story short, we eventually took delivery of the truck, and a new and better payment book, after they received a bonafied signature on a new contract.

Perhaps you have learned to hesitate when someone says to you, “Trust me.”

I certainly have! I also have become skilled at researching things out and may I suggest that you do so also.

Spiritually we should be aware that it was Satan that told Eve to “Trust me.”

If someone tells you a “new truth,” it would be a good idea to search it out in the Bible to be certain it lines up with Scripture.

When we do our research into the Word of God, we discover His truth revealed as it is written there, a Word that we can always trust.

God is the one who is always Trustworthy.  When God says," Trust ME," we can take it to the bank!

This post has been shared at Bonnie's Faith Barista site
http://www.faithbarista.com/2013/02/why-the-smallest-movements-can-bring-god-the-greatest-pleasure/

 

Grab and Hold or Release?

Not far from where we lived in Oakland, California was a small bargain Thrift store that helped in the support of the Fred Finch Home.  I took my girls to the store, many times and we would find lovely articles, many were brand new, that we could enjoy for a small price.

The store was located at the edge of the property belonging to the Fred Finch-Youth Center. A home like setting was provided by the Youth Center for hurting youth who required services not available from other agencies.

I found this interesting that one of its most prominent early residents was Pulitzer Prize winner and academy award winning writer: William Saroyan, who wrote about his experiences while living with his siblings at the Fred Finch Center in the early 1900s.

At the Thrift store, I discovered two lovely carnival glass bowls that I purchased there. The volunteer told me that they had gone through the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. I still have one of the bowls today in my possession.

One day, it seemed the Lord was telling me to give one of the two bowls to Ethel, a young girl that I worked with, becaise I knew that she was interested in old carnival glass. Ethel was being transferred to another department, and the team members were giving her a little going away party, so I brought the dish all wrapped up nice, and gave it to her.

She was very surprised and asked, how could I part with such a treasure? I hesitated a bit, and then I told her, “You may not believe this, but God told me to give this to you.”

She accepted my answer without question, because she knew I was a Christian and that I listened to the Lord.

There are many things (possessions) we hold dear, and some belongings we tend to clutch more tightly. It is the holding that which is ours, in an open hand that will bring us peace if we find it suddenly snatched from us.

Another way of saying this would be to “Let things go with no regrets.” To enjoy them while you have them, but to be willing to release them, if the need arises that they are taken away.

I am reminded that God released his very own son from the glories of heaven and allowed him to become flesh, and to eventually be crucified as a sacrifice for our benefit.

Were it not for God’s open hand to give us His Son, we would be lost, but because of His love, we have been found.

As Jesus prepared to return to heaven, He released to us His Holy Spirit so that we, each and every one of us can enjoy daily, His presence within our heart.

I Failed the first Test

Our Drivers Ed class at my High school consisted of learning the rule book so we could pass the exam for our learners permit.  At that time, the age to obtain your drivers license was 18, but it has since been lowered to 16.  Many schools now offer an instructor and special cars to teach the students to drive properly.

Our High school did not provide us with a real car and a trainer, so my dad became my instructor. Dad worked for the railroad and he often did switching of the box cars at the Safeway warehouse. Their parking lot was large and he knew that on the week end it would be empty.

One week end, Dad drove me there in our old Chevy, with its clutch system, and started my lessons. Naturally I jerked the old car many times before I learned to gently release my foot slowly from the clutch pedal.

When Dad decided I was ready to drive in traffic, he taught me to safely make a left turn and how to judge the distance of other drivers. The hard part was learning to back into a parallel parking place. We practiced with only one car that was already parked, and I learned to pull in behind it with only a few smooth moves.

My mother took me to the DMV for my scheduled driving test, and the lady seemed nice as I took her for my test ride. She had me make a left turn, and in those days, you stuck out your arm to signal your directions. I did fine. Then she had me do the parallel parking and I made some stop and go attempts that did not please her.

Sorry to say, I failed my first driving test, and was rescheduled for a later date; at which time I did pass with flying colors.

Just because I failed once, that did not stop me from trying again. I was determined to leave behind any fears, and to press on until I reached success.

That sort of attitude is a good one to latch on to. If you fall, get up!

If you spill something clean it up and make a new effort.

If at first you don’t succeed, Try, and try again; is an excellent truism to keep in mind.

If you fail at something, it may be time to study some more, and do extra research on your project.

Your part is to study, to learn and to practice, and God promises to help you. God’s part is that He will bring to your remembrance those things that you need to know.

Failure doesn't mean you are a failure... it just means you haven't succeeded yet. ~Robert Schuller

You always pass failure on your way to success. ~Mickey Rooney

Dirty Hands

Why are your hands so dirty?

The words came flowing from the mouth of a three year old child in the beginners Sunday school class. My husband was substituting for a vacationing teacher that Sunday, and he had no ready answer for a three year old to help her to understand why his hands appeared so dirty.

My husband worked in the roofing industry and the sharp sandpaper like granules of the asphalt shingles bit hard into his flesh leaving asphalt scars. The tar and gravel roofing also did its dirty work on his hands, and at times would burnt parts of his body.

No matter how hard he scrubbed and rubbed, with Lava Soap, or his mainstay, “Sta-Lube Cleaner,” there was always a residue that remained on the palms of his hands.

Children often speak what is on their mind, and there was no embarrassment for this child to ask him this simple question. Why are your hands so dirty?

I hesitate to consider this, but does God ever ask us, “Why are your hands so dirty?”

Hopefully we are not dabbling in something, touching something, planning something, to get our hands dirty - - in a manner of speaking.

I won’t elaborate, but we could go a long way to illustrate situations that would demonstrate how our hands could get us into myriads of trouble.

God knows our actions, and our very thoughts, and he sends the Holy Spirit to ask us the hard questions that may startle us. When He does, we do need to stop, sit up and listen!

Is there something you are allowing in your life that is soiling your hands?

Understand that it is not too late. You can come to the Lord, repent, and request that he use his best cleaning solvent to clean up what should not be there.

The blood of Jesus will wash you whiter than the snow, and you can present to him your clean hands!

1John 1:7 But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Aprons by Hazel

Aprons by Hazel was submitted to Food On Fridays.

There they hung on a hook behind the free standing stove in our large family kitchen. Home made aprons.

My mother sewed and made most of our clothing. One item she made for both my sister and me were aprons; and she wore one herself as she cooked.

For each meal, we slipped our apron over our head and enjoyed our eating as we kept our dresses clean. Our wardrobe was limited and it was simpler to launder an apron than it was to wash and iron our dresses.
I can remember back in sewing class in High School, one of the first items we made was an apron.

I don't wear aprons much anymore, and I have one tucked away somewhere. It would probably be a good idea for me to get it out and use it especially when I bake!!

My daughter tells me that her granddaughters, and even her grandsons, know what an apron is for. She informs me that they love to use them especially when baking or cooking. The children love to assist and the aprons keep their clothes clean as they help.

Although the myriad of uses have dwindled, aprons are still a needed item in our home! I will slip on my apron as I create my famous Date Nut Cake.

Submitted on Food on Fridays at http://annkroeker.com/
Check out the many great recipes recorded there:

Best Date Nut Cake

2 cups sugar, ½ tsp salt, 3 T Cocoa, 1 tsp Cinnamon, 1 cup real whole egg mayonnaise, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 cup chopped dates or raisins, 1 tsp soda, 1 cup boiling water, 2 cups sifted flour.

Mix first 4 ingredients into a bowl. Add mayo and blend. Add soda to boiling water. Pour over nuts and dates and let stand a few minutes. Add to the mayo mixture. Gradually add the sifted flour and mix well. Bake in 12x8x2 glass pan at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes. This cake is a collectors item.

LA LA LA LA LA

Have you ever seen a child (or wife) put their hands to their ears and cry out La La La La La La La?

They simply did not want to hear what was being told to them.

The words were probably good words and worth hearing.

In the case of children it was probably something they needed to hear.

In the case of wives – it is often good to listen to a husband’s wisdom!

Have you ever said La La La to God when he is speaking to you?

It may be that God is speaking to you through the Bible and definitely it is worth listening to.

OR it may be the minister at church who is giving out a good message that strikes to your heart.

OR it could be a friend just sharing; what ever the case – next time you are tempted to put your hands over your ears and say La La La, it might be better to stop and listen to what is being said. Because - - -

It could be just the very thing you need to hear.

Check out our other site at: http://moonsview.wordpress.com/

Butting Heads by Hazel

Entered into the “One Word at a Time Carnival.” The Word is: Reconciliation.
Please check out the other great entries at: http://www.bridgetchumbley.com/ 

Butting Heads

It must be normal for some mother-in laws and daughter-in-laws to butt heads from time to time.

In our case, my sweet mother-in-law and I got along quite well, because she always did everything I told her to do!

I remember one time, my young 4 year old brother in-law who was just a tad older than my own children, and he spit out the F word, at my mother-in-law. I grabbed him up, turned him over my knee, and gave him three swats quick as your eye can blink.  His mom, (my Mother-in-law,) said, “He doesn’t know what he is saying, and he is just a baby.” I told her, he knew enough that it was disrespectful, and as I looked him in the eye, I told him to never speak to “B” like that again.  All of her children called her “B”, and I think it was because she thought she was too young to be called mom.  Anyway, that is another story.

Then my children grew up, got married, and I found that I was now the Mother-in-law.

I have always been good at telling people what to do and taking charge, and I really do not plan to change, but things were different with my new daughter-in-law.  She had been raised in a rather large family, with brothers to tease her, and hurt her feelings.

Some of the things I said, were not taken lightly, and were misinterpreted.  In her way of thinking, she was certain that I did not like her; and that I thought she was not doing a good job of raising my grandchildren. Those were her thoughts, not mine, although I did have some good suggestions.

As it was inevitable, one day without realizing it at the time, I spoke in haste, and hurt her feelings deeply. The next trips to our place, she found an excuse to stay home, and only the boys and our son visited.

Sometimes, I am dense, because I tend to give others the benefit of the doubt, but I finally realized that I had offended her, and she was not about to forgive me. Thinking back, I could even point to the event that must have triggered the whole thing.

Finally in desperation, I knew I must at least take action on my part to bring about reconciliation. If she did not respond, that would be “her problem and not mine.”

So, one day, I called her cell phone, and left a message for her to return the call. Shortly she did, and I proceeded to remind her of the event, and told her I realized that I had hurt her feelings, and I asked her to please forgive me. I told her I missed her when she did not visit, and I wanted her to understand that she was always welcome at our home.

“Yes, I forgive you,” she said, and that was enough for me.

I must recognize that she is the mother and I am the Mother-in-law, and there is no reason for us to butt heads.

White and Bright

In the early 1950s I went to work in the office at a Chemical Company that produced Laundry detergents in large 50 pound bags.

The enterprise was new, and had started in the owner’s garage, but when the business grew, he was forced to move to a larger location. The warehouse was usually full of smelly dust from the grinding machine and even though the worker wore a mask, his eyes were always red.

Our records could not be in alphabetical order because almost every customer was named Launderette, so the simple answer was to file by address.

In those days, the launderette businesses would wash and fold your clothes, using the soap purchased from our company.

The bags were heave and bulky, but after sampling the detergent, I discovered my white laundry came out much whiter and brighter than ever before.

Times have changed and now most Launderettes have vending machines with small boxes of supplies available for the customer at a price.

When I left the chemical company job, I continued to purchase their soap.

My friend asked me to care for her baby while she worked, and we were both surprised as her babies dingy diapers began to change to white and bright from the use of my soap.

In life, there are dingy wrongdoings that may cling to us, but the Bible tells us that if we come and confess to the Lord, that He will WASH us whiter than the snow.

Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

God makes it simple, just your desire to be free from the dirt and smelly filth; and to talk to him like you would talk to your friend. Tell Him all about it and ask Him to clean you with his special cleanser

It will seem like magic, as in no time at all you will be white and bright.

Revelations 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.


John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.