Be Still my Soul

Be Still my Soul, and Know that He is God!

I was awakened the other morning hearing the angels sing - - Not with my "ears" but in my spirit I heard repeated over and over again - -

'Be still O' my soul, and know that He is God! Be still O' my soul, and know that He lives within my heart.'

Not being a song writer and not much of a singer either, this was a new experience for me. I rejoiced as the anthem rolled and flowed over my spirit.

As a child I remember asking my mother, “Why does our church spend so much time praising God?” She replied, “When we get to heaven we will do a good deal of praising, so we might as well get in practice now by worshiping the Lord with our mouth”

I can imagine the angel choir singing praises to God, and one day we will join with them in song when we reach heaven. However Mother’s suggestion is a good one, begin NOW to get in practice with your praise.

Through out the day I discover my lips saying, “Thank you Jesus.” I am reminded of the verse, “Bless the Lord O’ my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”

There are many reasons to Praise God!

1.  First and foremost we are grateful that God sent His only begotten son Jesus, to die for us so that we might be saved from destruction.

2.  We praise Jesus for being willing to leave heaven’s glory, to lay down his life, and to become the supreme sacrifice so that we might inherit eternal life.

3.  We give thanks to the Holy Spirit for filling us, and coming along side us to be our guide comforter, and teacher.

4.  On the earthly and material level we then give thanks for everything and anything that brings us pleasure and joy, and for which we can be grateful.

List making is not my forte and never has been, (except for an occasional grocery list.)

However there are many who join with Ann Voskamp taking their Inventory of One Thousand Gifts to be thankful for.  Her book by that name has been a best seller and also has been translated into six languages. Amazing isn’t it?  Click on her name above to visit her site. :-)

Ann’s record taking is of simple things that most of us overlook. Might we begin to be thankful for a delicate flower discovered in the path, a smile or a giggle from a child, or an unexpected hug from a friend?

In our hurry and scurry to get things done and finish the tasks that we have put on our “To Do list,” may we somewhere in that rush - - STOP and take time to BE STILL and reflect on God, and give Him the praise that is due Him.

'Be still Oh' my soul, and know that He is God!

This post has been linked to Laura’s, Brag on God Fridays  

Turkey Chili

Chili topped with a dab of low fat sour cream

Making New Years resolutions often includes a change in diet and a hope to loose weight. At least it was at our house!!

We had purchased an extra turkey when they were on sale at Thanksgiving time and placed it in the freezer. Last week we decided to roast it.

Neither of us is fond of the dark meat, so we saved the dark for our dogs. They are getting a chopped handful on top of their regular dry food and are very happy with it.  Woof Woof !!

The rest of the white meat was packaged into meal size portions and most of it went back into the freezer. We have enjoyed turkey stew, turkey on top of a green salad, turkey soup. 

Today I made Swiss Turkey Enchiladas.  Click to view my old post and get the recipe for the Enchiladas.

Our HMO sent us a delicious recipe for Turkey Chili which my husband made yesterday and I must say it is scrumptious. You could use chicken, or ground beef.

This chili is even better the next day!

Turkey Chili (Serves 8)

1 tablespoon canola or olive oil

2 onions, diced

6 cloves garlic, chopped (we used 3T chopped from a jar we have)

1 jalapeños, seeded and chopped (or substitute a small can chopped green chilies)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 tablespoons chili powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 heaping teaspoon dried oregano (we used Italian seasoning)

1 1/2 pounds leftover turkey, cut into pieces (try 1 pound white meat and ½ pound dark meat), or ground turkey sautéed until no longer pink

4 cups turkey stock or home-made chicken broth

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (we used two 15 oz cans)

1/4 cup farro or pearl barley (we used 1/2 cup dry brown rice cooked separately in 1 1/2 cups water for 30 minutes)

2  15-ounce cans chili beans, or beans of your choice

1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro, chopped. Salt to taste

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over a low flame. Add the onions, garlic, and jalapeños, and cook them until the onions soften, about 10 minutes. Stir in the cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and oregano. Stir in the turkey. Add the stock or broth, tomatoes, rice, and beans. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for about an hour. Stir in the chopped cilantro near the end of the cooking time. Season with salt to taste.

This post is linked with Ann Kroeker’s, Food on Fridays
Do visit her site and gather up some delicious recipes.

The little boy next door

image courtesy photobucket.com

In my young opinion he was just a little monster.

What a spoiled brat of about 5 years old, was the boy next door to where I lived.  From what I could tell, he never obeyed his mother.  

More than once I saw him stand in the middle of the street, and play policeman. He would stretch out his arms and the car would stop, then he would laugh and run into the house.

One day he waited longer than usual to run out in the street to stop a car. The car was going the speed limit, but the driver was caught off guard when the child ran in front of him with his arms out stretched.

I remember the car bouncing as the driver slammed on his brakes trying to prevent hitting the lad.

However there was no avoiding the boy and the child was struck and knocked to the ground. Fortunately the driver quickly hitting his brakes had lessened the impact, and the boy was not badly hurt. For one thing it sure did knock some sense into him.

Because I was a witness so when the police came they asked my mother if they could speak to me.  She quickly agreed.  I told them the truth that the boy was in the habit of playing a game with the cars, and this time he ran right out in front of the car, and the man tried very hard to stop.

Soon after that the family moved away, and I doubt that the police did anything more than just lecture the parents.

As I think about that event, I wonder how many times in life, we rush right out in front of something and then dare it not to smash into us. I am not referring to a literal car, or bus, but simply things in life.

image courtesy photobucket.com

Often there are changes in our lives, and it is expedient that we ask God what to do next.

If we jump out too quickly without Guidance from the Lord, we can end up in a collision of sorts.


Through prayer, and searching the scriptures we repeatedly will discover answers to which path to take and what turn off is the best one.  

May we be wise as serpents and gentle as doves! Guide me gentle savior.

Please visit these linked sites for more good words!

Michelle’s Thought Provoking Thursday

And at: Laurie’s  Thankful Thursdays

Lest We Forget God



 Again I am reading my Bible through for this year, and I am now in the book of Exodus.

It always amazes me how the Old Testament Children of Israel, forgot about God so quickly. 

I get so angry at them and want to give them a good tongue lashing or some time out!  No wonder God was angry at times with them!!

How could they be so ignorant and "stupid" to change their faith so quickly? They witnessed first hand many marvelous miracles and provision from the Lord.  Then all the complaining and rebellion started when their flesh acted up.

As I look around and see some of our good brothers and sisters in Christ I am so embarrassed. Many ministers are also in the crowd of the fallen.  How does this happen? Where is their thinking?  That's the answer - It was their thinking!

We cannot afford to place our faith in man for they will surely fail. Our eyes must stay on Jesus!

The heart is simply deceitful and utterly wicked and that is why we ourselves need to stay in fellowship with other believers, to keep daily in the Word, and stay filled with the Holy Spirit.

While considering that Christians are not perfect, I must also look in my own mirror and observe that on occasion, my face is crimson red.

Our thought life continually needs to be monitored and any thinking that is not pleasing to God, immediately needs to be pulled down and tossed out.

May we keep Philippians 4:8 ever before us.  New Life Version (NLV) Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things.

Linking up with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday
And with Lori’s Wednesday Internet Cafe Devotions

Fresh Wind

Wind of the Spirit
image courtesy photobucket.com

My husband had been ill, and it had been some time that we were not attending a church.  Instead we watched some excellent Christian TV broadcasts that fed our spirits.

Then our long time friends moved from Southern California to live in our city. While they were house hunting they stayed with us, and it was nice for them to be there.

My friend wanted to find a church, so I told her I would go with her to visit churches in our town until we found one she liked. Each church seemed to have a personality. At some we were warmly welcomed, and other churches looked at us as if we were intruders.

There was one church my friend liked and she told me that she wanted to attend there. She and her husband became members of that church, and I returned home to watch TV.

My friend is very outgoing and one day at a craft fair in our down town plaza, she met a Christian lady, who told her that she and her husband were thinking of starting a church here in our city. “Oh,” my friend volunteered, “You must call my friend Hazel and she will help you.” 

To make a long story short, they did contact me and I suggested a place that would be reasonable to rent Sundays mornings for a beginning.  “What will you be calling your church.” I asked.  The Pastors wife replied, “We already have a name and it will be called FRESH WIND.  This church will bring a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit to this city.”

The first Sunday there was nine of us in attendance, and before long others joined and our ranks grew.

A year quickly went by and our Pastor had heard of a building that had recently been occupied by another church, and it was available full time. We moved. The new place was soon filled, services were good, and new people were being added.

One Sunday shortly after we were settled in, some visitors came bringing with them a framed and neatly typed prophesy about God sending a Fresh Wind of the Holy Spirit to our city, and how the Glory of the Lord would bless the efforts of the congregation. Our Pastor graciously hung it on the church wall.

When someone gives you a “WORD from the Lord,” it is best to receive it politely and then patiently wait and see if it comes to pass. While our Pastors were there, blessings, salvations, re-dedications, healings, and excellent ministry did occur.

Time went by and one Sunday our Pastor announced that he and his wife were moving to Oregon to live near their daughter.  His wife had lost her job, his heart was giving him problems, and they felt God was leading them. He stated that the next week a new Pastor would be arriving.

The people were shocked and complaints were heard, but I spoke up and told the Pastor how much we loved them, and also appreciated the fact that they would not leave us without a shepherd.

image courtesy photobucket.com

The new man arrived, and the first thing he did was to change the name of the church. Although I stayed for two more years and assisted him by teaching the children and what ever else I could do, it was evident that the lovely Fresh Wind had blown in and blown out again.

It is sad when the Glory lifts, but when it does - - it is time to move on.  It was my time.

The very next Sunday I visited one of the long established churches in town and was welcomed with opened arms.

I was ready for a FRESH start and so it was!

This post is  linked to: One Word Carnival   The Word is Fresh

In the Fullness of TIME



image courtesy photobucket.com

“In the Fullness of Time” was the Title of Pastor Carl’s sermon on Sunday. Taken from Galatians 4:2-6 where Paul was speaking of the minor child although an heir was under the care of guardians and stewards until the time appointed by his father.

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Gleaning from Pastors message, through Jesus, we inherit a kingdom that is not shaken. Other kingdoms come and go, they rise and fall, but His kingdom shall stand forever.

God is greater than the universe that He created. Heaven and Earth may pass away but His Word will not pass away.

Our Timeless God placed the sun, moon and all the millions of stars in place and holds them together by His word. He appointed the seasons, causes the birds to fly, and the ground to bring forth.

God created man and we are wonderfully made, and in Him we live and move and have our being.

God created TIME. Then God himself stepped into time. Jesus took the giant step into the darkness which included death and opened the doors to bring us light and eternal life.

Jesus stepped down to gather us up, from the lowest to the highest, taking our shame and sin upon himself. He walked our lives, and understands our temptations and brokenness.

The ancients told time by shadows and sundials, we have a stop watch, an egg timer and a rooster to crow.

There is an Appropriate Time, “When the griddle is hot," "When the fruit is ripe.”

It is of great sorrow and a tragic moment when we allow our golden chance to pass. Harken to God’s voice and act on your opportunities. Don’t allow them to slip needlessly by.

Time is relentless and limited. How many breaths, how long do we have left? Work while it is yet day, while there is yet time.

Jesus calls to us out of his great love and urges us to redeem the Time for it is short.

Take my life and let it be fully consecrated unto Thee.

Enjoy this beautiful song: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Byp7aK2DA

This post is linked to Deidra’s Sunday Jump Tandem  

And to Michelle’s  Hear it on Sunday

Zesty Lemon Bars

Last year my lemon harvest was amazing, but this year I feared that my lemons would be few and far between.

photo by Hazel

What a nice surprise to see that when I thought there was none – here and there I can now see a few ripe lemons.

Can you see them peeking through the leaves?

There is enough and more to make these wonderful Zesty Lemon Bars that a friend of mine thought I would like.

She obtained the recipe from: Martha and Amy Scherber, of Manhattan bakery Amy's Bread, and these Lemon Bars are a best seller at their bakery.

I almost laughed as they offered precise amounts with extra pieces or extra measurements on some of the ingredients.  There is a reason, but it just struck me as funny!

It takes some effort, but it is worth it -- Hope you enjoy these lovely Lemon Bars


Zesty Lemon Bars

Ingredients

• FOR THE CRUST

• 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces, plus more for pan
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt

• FOR THE TOPPING

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons plus 3/4 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees with a rack in the center of oven. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.

2. To make crust: In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and salt; process to combine. Add butter to processor and process until mixture is pale yellow and resembles a coarse meal, about 10 seconds. If you don't have a food processor, whisk together flour, confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a large bowl. Add butter and work into flour mixture using a pastry blender or your fingers.

3. Pour crust mixture into prepared baking dish, pressing down with your fingers to create a 1/4-inch-thick layer along the bottom and 1/2-inch up the sides, pressing firmly at the edges to seal. Transfer pan to freezer and freeze for 30 minutes. Transfer to oven and bake, rotating pan once during baking, until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, make the topping: In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, and flour; stir in lemon juice, milk, and salt until well combined.

5. Remove baking pan from oven. Stir topping and pour into warm crust. Return pan to oven and continue baking until topping is just set but not browned, about 20 minutes.

6. Transfer baking pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into 20 squares. Serve immediately or wrap each bar tightly with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

This post is linked with Ann Kroeker’s, Food on Fridays at http://annkroeker.com/
Do hop on over to her site and gather up some delicious and nutritious recipes.

Rock N Roll

My husband must have seen one of these apparatus at the park, similar to the one he was building in our back yard for our children. The equipment at the park was made from metal pipe, and he had to discover a different way to create one for us.

He carefully cut two identical half circles for the rockers from a large piece of plywood with a height of about 15 inches off from the ground. Then he attached a piece of plywood across them making a solid platform and then he nailed it securely.

Finally in the middle, he fastened two handle bars spaced a foot or so apart for us to hold on to ffor balance. Putting one foot behind us the thing would swing and sway nicely.

This contraption could rock with two to four persons, or even one. It was fun, a safe and relaxing piece of equipment with its soothing motion for the children and also for me.

At that time, I was a very young inexperienced mother, and the stress of life with three young children would often get to me. While the children were napping, I would retreat to the rocking platform and sing, pray and sway the blues away.

If you own a rocking chair, or a porch swing, that would probably be a good substitute.

There is just something about the rocking back and forth that is comforting and calming.

image courtesy photobucket

My thoughts are drawn to my mother gently rocking me when I was a very young child.

We have seen pictures of Jesus holding a child in His arms. And I wonder if he isn’t soothingly and quietly rocking those babies.

image courtesy photobucket

In the coming days if I feel stressed or tired, I am going to use my Spiritual imagination and see myself in the arms of Jesus as he gently and peacefully holds me



Do you wonder that God might have a rocking chair in Heaven?

Do visit the links below to discover other good words
This post has been linked to Laura’s, Brag on God Fridays
At Woman taking a stand: Thankful Thursdays

And with Michelle’s Thought Provoking Thursday

Gracie my Best Friend

image courtesy photobucket.com

“Yes one of these days I need to go visit my old friend, Gracie from school days,” I kept telling myself.

Gracie and I had lived down the street from each other, and we were best friends. We had fun, sold lemonade, swam in the local pool, got into trouble together, and were just happy kids. She often visited my church, and had received Jesus as her savior, but she did not grow up in the Lord, and remained I suppose you could call it “A baby Christian.”

We grew up - - we married our high school sweethearts and exchanged Christmas cards.

Many years went by and I had been thinking about her, so I asked my husband if he would take me the 150 miles to visit my friend. I think he did not want to be a party to girl talk, and he considered my request to be unreasonable and so he said, ‘Why don’t you get your mother to go with you?” I was very quiet, and did not say a word.  One thing I did not want to do was to "upset the apple cart." 

So I simply said to myself in my heart: “Forget it.” And so I did.

The truth was that I was healthy enough and could have made that drive by myself, but sometime back I had told my husband I would not leave him again, and he should always go with me.

The reference of leaving him was the time I had made plans to fly alone to Peru to participate in a Women’s conference. He was very upset about my trip and did not want me to go. I told him “This is something that I MUST do.” And I did.

When I returned from Peru he told me that while I was gone he had visited his doctor and the Doc asked him what was bothering him. He volunteered that he was angry with me for going off to Peru. His Doc said, “Next time you go with her.”

After Robert had told me about his Doctors visit, I answered him that I would not travel again with out him.

Remembering that comment caused me not to visit Gracie. Actually my husband was not holding me to a promise, because he simply meant for me not to be a world traveler without his agreement. It was my own misunderstanding not to go off by myself to visit my friend.

That Christmas I sent Gracie a Christmas card, and included my telephone number.

A few days later Robert and I had been out shopping and when we returned, there was a message from Gracie’s daughter that a couple months before, Gracie had suddenly passed away. I would have had time to see her if only I had acted on that gentle prodding from the Lord. I did not blame Robert - - I blamed myself for not being obedient to the urge!

There are thoughts that we receive that are nudges from the Holy Spirit, and when they occur it is not time to cast them off, but it is important to act on them.

There are many excuses that we can find to put off doing what we know should be done.

If you are ever urged in your spirit to visit an old friend, DO it. They may just need you!

Or you may truly just need to see them!


This post is linking up with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday
Linking with Jennifer at:  God Bumps and Incidences:  
Linked to the Mama Zone at Friends Day Wednesday

Give it Another Year!

image courtesy photobucket.com

Sunday is the day I usually take notes of my Pastor’s sermon - - but I was not in church that day.

It went like this; I did stop by my church to pick up a bulletin, and tell one of our dear ladies that I would not be there, as I was on my way to drive the 150 mile round trip to pick up my husband from the hospital. His pneumonia was in check, and the staff worked him over pretty good for three days. Sunday they released him, and told him to return to see his Doctor for a follow up in ten days. (He was very happy to be home.)

The bulletin I had grabbed from my church stated that the Pastors sermon was from Luke 13: 6-9. This scripture portion is about Jesus telling the story of the fig tree and the farmer who asked his workers to cut it down because it was not producing fruit. His gardener requested, “Please give the tree another year. I’ll dig around it, fertilize it, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn't, then chop it down.”

During this past year, I have followed and read after several well known bloggers. Some have written books, newspaper columns, and devotionals that knock your socks off. Yet underlying I have also noticed at times a hint of fear, thinking they are not good enough, and real doubt that they are even making a difference.

On some days, this might include all of us!!

Perhaps at times we all feel discouraged, and we wonder if we are like that fig tree who is being given another chance to revive, to pick up and begin again and to reach out in our ministry with faith and fervor.

Might I be so bold to say, to come alive with a renewed Spirit Filled Anointing that will actually make a difference in the lives we touch.

May we continually be reminded that each of us is unique? We are all different with our varied writing and ministry skills, but that is what causes us to each be distinctive and only one of a kind special in God’s eyes.

image courtesy photobucket.com

The Bible story of this fig tree does not tell us what happened at the end of the year, but I can only surmise that at the finish of the year that all that pruning, digging, compost, and nourishment was able to cause that tree to produce much fruit.  

Here we are resting on the doorstep of a New Year – a new beginning of sorts.

Let us determine to keep our thoughts full of faith, and positive - -.

To expect, and to anticipate miracles. May we use our imagination to envision fertile ground, and an abundant harvest ahead!

At this time I am asking our God to dig deep into each of us, to stir us up, saturate us with the fire of the Holy Spirit and sprinkle us with some of His “Miracle Grow,” that we may produce much fruit - - all after our own kind.

This post has been Linked with Joan Davis at Sharing His Beauty
And with Deidra at  Sunday Tandem  
and also with Shanda’s  On your Heart Tuesday

If you are not already a follower of Ann's site: "a Holy Experience" you might enjoy her post for the New Year!  http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/01/what-the-new-year-needs-most/