Here comes February!

Happy February!  No, I can't believe it either that January is simply gone!  It happened so fast!  Have you had enough of the cold weather yet?  Me too, but I think winter is not quite done with us.  Darn!  When we moved here I mistakenly thought that Kentucky was in the South.  It gets cold here, way colder than I thought it would.  That's OK though.  That is what winter clothes and heat are for, right?  Thank goodness we have that.  Imagine the settlers.  Oh, poor things!

Well, how are you coming along on your study?  I'm thoroughly enjoying it and I know you are too.  Sarah's discussion on circumcision last week was informative and entertaining at the same time.   It totally makes sense to me now!

Interesting February Facts:

Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States, born in Tampico, Ill., February 6, 1911.
British novelist Charles Dickens born February 7, 1812.
Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, February 6, 1952.
Galileo, Italian astronomer and physicist, born February 15, 1564.
George Washington, first U.S. President, born in Westmoreland County, Va., February 22, 1732.
Thomas A. Edison, American inventor, born February 11, 1847.
Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, born near present-day Hodgenville, Ky., February 12, 1809.
Charles Darwin, British naturalist, born February 12, 1809.
Grant Wood, American painter, born February 13, 1891.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet, born February 27, 1807.

In case you're interested in the history of Valentine's Day here's a fun site.....click here

Wasn't it great to see the sunshine over the weekend?  In the middle of winter I know that many of us can start to feel a little blah from all the bad weather and not seeing the sunshine nearly enough.  I know it happens to me.  I searched around and found some ideas for getting ourselves out of the winter blahs and maybe accomplishing something that might give you a good feeling.  Here are a few suggestions I stumbled upon, not in any particular order, and from several different websites:

1.  Take a day to clean out your closets.  Maybe not fun, per se....(unless you are Debbie Gahan who loves to clean out closets!).  But I actually may do this soon.  I cleaned out the fridge and freezer this weekend and you know what?  It DOES feel very good to have that accomplished.

2.  On days that it's not SO cold, open a window and let some fresh air in.  I also did this on Sunday afternoon and it felt great!

3.  Perk up the place by bringing in some live plants or other colorful things to remind you that Spring is just around the corner.

4.  Go tanning if you enjoy that.  Get a massage or a pedicure while you're at it.

5.  This is a good time to plan your Spring garden. 

6.  Put out some bird feeders and watch your backyard come to life with pretty birds.  I especially love those cardinals!

7.  If you're feeling a little down, call a friend and see if she can go to lunch or a movie and you can cheer each other up.

8.  Plan ahead for the snow days for yourself or for the kids. For the kids, take a bin and put in crayons, paint by number sets, puzzles, movies, games....stuff you don't normally do that can be special for when you are stuck inside.  Adults can do the same thing, put in our books, puzzles, movies, popcorn for your movies, a little chocolate....whatever you enjoy that can keep you busy for a day.  Hopefully there are no more snow days in our future.

9.  And as always, exercise.  Bundling up and getting outside is really invigorating and worth the effort.  Otherwise, hit the gym - try something new like a class - maybe ballroom or square dancing with your hubby!  Always wanted to learn the piano or try oil painting?  Sign up now - get out and meet new friends!

10.  Some people actually have something called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  Due to lack of sunshine in the winter some people experience lethargy and depression.  Talk to your doctor, but these days several reputable companies offer high intensity light boxes you can set up over your desk or bed to simulate sunlight.  My friend has one of these and she says it works!  Research and find one to try if you think you may benefit.

Anyway these are just some ideas.  Even today sitting here looking out at the clouds makes me really wish the sunshine would come back!

                        And now our Blogview for this week! 

Patsy Hynes



Once again I had the privilege of getting together with another one of you awesome discussion leaders.  This time I had a cup of coffee with Patsy Hynes.  Patsy’s family consists of her husband, John, whom she has been married to for 31 years.  They have two daughters, Lindsay 21, and Megan, 17.  Lindsay is getting married this Fall to a wonderful man so Patsy gets to be mother of the bride!  She is excited!

Kim:  Tell me about your extended family.

Patsy:  I have three sisters and two brothers.  I grew up in Wisconsin…we’ve been down here since 83….all John’s family lives here….my family is spread all over, but one sister lives here.

Kim:  Tell me about your faith journey, so far.

Patsy:   I grew up in a Christian home, Lutheran….and John & I were high school sweethearts….and when we were that age I kind of fell away from the Church….after ten years we had Lindsay, and so that is what brought us back to church.  It was around Christmas season and they were doing the Hallelujah Choir, and it just felt like we were “home” again.   Then we got real involved with church again and then my husband came home one day and said he had been listening to Bob Russell on the radio and he thought maybe we should try that.  Lindsay was ten at the time and had spent the night at a girlfriend’s house and they had gone to church and she came home and she had taken notes from Bob Russell’s sermon.  (strange coincidence?) Once we started going to Southeast, it just felt right.

Kim:  How long been coming to SE? 

Patsy:  Started SE the end of ’99….and were baptized July 8 of 2000.

Kim:  How long have you been a discussion leader? 

Patsy:  About five or six years.

Kim:  What made you decide to become a discussion leader?

Patsy:  Jane Chilton called me and asked me….and at first I didn’t want to do it, but she kept telling me to pray about it and once I got started I fell in love with the ladies so much that God took over.

Kim:  Is there anything in the book of Acts that stands out to you? 

Patsy:  I just love this whole study.  We have a lady who is a missionary in Central Asia and she just came back.  I just feel like this whole study has so much to do with her fascinating mission story.  She can totally relate to what Paul & Barnabas went through, and she helps us experience that more first-hand.  We walked with her and prayed for her while she was there, so the book of Acts has really come alive for me with her recent experiences.

Kim:  Is there a bible verse that speaks to you at this moment in time?

Patsy:  I’ve always loved when Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through me.”  John 14:6

Kim:  What do you watch on TV?

Patsy:  I like the police shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, Los Angeles…..

Kim:  What are your hobbies?

Patsy:  I love to golf….a friend of mine got me hooked this past summer….I’d done it here and there but now I do it once a week.  We golfed up until almost through Thanksgiving.

Kim:  What are you reading right now? 

Patsy:  I’m reading a book right now called Same Kind of Different as Me….but I don’t have a favorite genre.

Kim:  Favorite restaurant?

Patsy:  Stoney River Steak House

Kim:  Do you have a special place you study?

Patsy:  A little place in my bedroom with a chair and lamp.

Kim:  Favorite household chore? 

Patsy:  Probably my favorite is cooking. 

Kim:  Best advice ever given?

Patsy:  Marry your best friend.

Kim:  What’s your idea of a nice Valentine’s Day Date? 

Patsy:  Well, my favorite is I just like going out to eat, that’s my favorite thing to do.  (Kim:  I never get tired of that either!)

Kim:  Are you an early bird or night owl? 

Patsy:  I’m the middle of the day person!

Kim:  Do you have any pet peeves? 

Patsy:  My worst one is being late.

Kim:  Have you seen any good movies lately?

Patsy:  We just watched Secretariat….loved it.

And here’s the game.  One of these statements is true about Patsy, the others are not true.  Can you guess which is true?

 I used to be a bartender

I love to ski

I did one skydive and loved it!

Last week’s answer:  Becky won a car in a sales contest! 

Recipe of the week:  Sweetheart Sugar Cookies from Southern Living

Sweetheart Sugar Cookies From Southern Living

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons meringue powder
Pink sanding sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add egg, beating until blended.
2. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended.
3. Divide dough into 2 equal portions; flatten each portion into a disk. Cover and chill 10 minutes.
4. Place 1 dough disk on a heavily floured surface, and roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with a 3-inch heart-shaped cutter. Place 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Repeat procedure with remaining dough disk.
5. Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets 5 minutes; transfer to wire racks, and let cool completely (about 30 minutes).
6. Whisk together meringue powder and 2 Tbsp. water. Brush cookies with mixture, or dip cookies in mixture, and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
For jumbo cookies: Cut rolled-out dough with a 4 1/2-inch heart-shaped cutter. Bake at 350° for 15 to 17 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Makes: about 1 dozen.
For bite-size cookies: Cut rolled-out dough with a 1-inch heart-shaped cutter. Bake at 350° for 8 to 11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Makes: about 20 dozen.

Southern Living, FEBRUARY 2011

"What used to make us stumble, God can use to make us stand.  What once
made us bow our heads in shame,
He can use for His glory."

~ Joanna Weaver~
Having a Mary Spirit

                                          

1 Corinthians 13:4–8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails ...

Here's a little comedy love skit.  Enjoy!!

 I hope you all have a wonderful week!

The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Welcome back to the Little Blog on the Internet.  How did your week go?  I am hoping and praying it went well, and that you are more than ready for another Tuesday with your group.  Sarah's teaching was great, as usual.  I especially enjoyed the things she taught about the apocrypha, the conspiracy theories, and making our lists of the invisible qualities of God.  Also, the definition of poison is something I have never actually looked up, but it was enlightening because as I looked at that definition, it came to me that poison does not necessarily only mean something we take that can physically kill us.....things that can kill us spiritually are also things we see, hear, say, and do.  Very thought-provoking, Sarah!

Romans 7:15:  I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do.

I am finding it fascinating to walk through the steps of the beginnings of our Church with Paul and Barnabas.  I had not paid attention to Acts before in such depth.  I find that I can read the whole chapter, and then when I go back to answer the questions, I discover that I've missed so much!  Let me hear an Amen girls....I hope I am not the only one.  :)






As I write this on Wednesday, we are expecting more snow on Thursday, so I thought we could trudge into our wintery mountain church for a peaceful and prayerful experience.  What does the Lord want to tell us today... Let's take off our snowboots in the narthex, pad down the cozy aisles, slip into a pew, bow our heads in reverence, and listen for His voice.....

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Psalm 5:12
For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

          


Poison can be so pretty, eh?  Beautiful to look at, but don't touch!  That's the box jellyfish on the left and the very deadly nightshade on the right.  Sin can also look enticing.....but ouch!  When we partake.....so deadly....thank God for Jesus and His sweet grace.....

Before January leaves us completely:



The garnet is the birthstone for January.





The snowdrop is the flower for the month of January.  It often blooms in the snow.

And a few interesting January facts:

Paul Revere, Revolutionary War Patriot, was born January 1, 1735.

Flagmaker Betsy Ross was born January 1, 1863.

Fairy-tale collector, Jakob Grimm, was born January 4, 1785.

Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman governor of a state, Wyoming, January 5, 1925.

Charles Sumner, American Statesman and anti-slavery leader, was born January 6, 1811.

New Mexico became the 47th state, January 6, 1912.

First American presidential election, January 7, 1789.

Benedict Arnold, American Revolutionary War general and traitor, was born January 14, 1741.

Martin Luther King, American civil rights leader, was born January 15, 1929.

Blogview - Becky Bowling



Last week I was lucky to be having lunch with our gracious discussion leader, Becky Bowling.  While talking to her I found out that her husband’s name is Chris, she has a son Blake, 25, and son, Austin, 19.  She also told me that she has lived her whole married life in Louisville except a brief period in Cincinnati.

Kim:  Where did you grow up? 

Becky:  I was a gypsy…..moved 16 times in 16 years….My Father is a rocket scientist….written a book about it, been in the paper, retired now.  I got none of his genetic tendencies….(you hear about rocket scientists but I’d never met one….but now I've met his daughter!)

Kim:  Do you have siblings?

Becky:  two brothers, one lives outside Nashville, and one lives in Ashburn, VA, right outside of WA DC….  

Kim:  Do you have a job?

Becky:   I have my own business with a partner, called Grace by Design.  We do decorative painting, but we’re retiring soon.  (she showed me some decorative crosses they designed and painted – beautiful!)

Kim:  How long have you been a Christian?  

Becky:  I was baptized at 13, was raised in a Christian home, but not relationally Christian…..I grew up in the church, was president of the youth group and that sort of thing….was really close to the church probably until I got into college and fell off the wagon for six to seven years.  But God was with me through a whole lot of things, and when Chris and I met we started going to church and I went to the Catholic Church for ten  years….then started going to SE in the late 90s and joined in 2,000.  Really, Southeast because of bible studies and really getting into the word has just made all the difference, because it’s about being in the Word, not just going to church. 

Kim:  How was your Christmas? 

Becky:  We had a really nice Christmas but it was different from normal.  Typically our families come but this year was different and we did Christmas before the Holiday with them, so on Christmas day it was just our boys and us together – it was lovely and relaxing.  I made a big breakfast and we didn’t even open presents until 12:30.

Kim:  How long have you been a discussion leader?   

Becky:  Ten years….I was co facilitating with my partner in business for probably five years and now I do it by myself.  Being a DL has made me work harder on my study.

Kim:  Have you been together as a group for a while?

Becky:  Iit’s been a pretty good core group of ladies for quite a while.  We’re a diverse mix of culture and personalities, and we have learned a lot from each other with our different experiences in life.

(Becky told me this is her last year here facilitating, as she will be going to the Oldham Campus and being very involved there.  I’m sure after ten years she will be missed very much here!)

Kim:  Have you read any books lately you’d like to recommend? 

Becky:  I haven’t finished, but the one that I’m reading now, Radical, by David Platt…..

Kim:  Do you have a specific place where you study? 

Becky:  In my bedroom, it’s a chaise lounge that sits in a bay window and overlooks the creek and woods behind my house.  There’s a fireplace right across from it that I can turn on.  My husband likes it too.  (kim:  I can see why!) 

Kim:  What are your hobbies?

Becky:  Painting, and decorating…..I like to go out with the girls…..I love to cook, I love watching the birds in our yard and have great bird feeders.

Kim:  What gives you joy? 

Becky:  Doing for others…..being with my family….being on the beach.

Kim:  Is there anything in the Acts study that stands out to you?

Becky:    I had never studied Acts, so I’ve learned probably more than I could even talk about, but I love the mission work of the apostles.  I love to see the work of the Holy Spirit in Acts, and how God really moved through those men and changed those peoples’ hearts, even though Satan kept trying to intervene.  I just love to see the work of the Holy Spirit.  I think we don’t give the Holy Spirit enough credit in our daily lives, because the Holy Spirit, through us, can accomplish anything.  And some of us just don’t even realize that we have the Holy Spirit working within us and don’t let God work through us, and that’s what I love seeing about the apostles.  They never gave up through being stoned, etc., and they just kept plugging on and moving on.  The opposition did not stop them.

Kim:  What is your least favorite household chore?

Becky:  Bathrooms….(kim:  I would say that is probably universal….ha)

Kim:  What was the best advice ever given to you?

Becky:  Something my dad has always told me and he says it at the end of every phone conversation, “Honey, stop and smell the roses”  He’s always told me to do that, but at some point it really clicked with me and I’ve realized that there is so much in life that’s extremely trivial and I need to enjoy the day for what it is and not to worry so much about the little stuff, but enjoy your kids, creation, the sun.

Kim:  Do you have any pet peeves? 

Becky:  People who are rude…..people who are late…..people who are all about themselves…..

Kim:  Your favorite restaurant? 

Becky: Anything Seafood…..the best we have here is Fish Market and Bonefish….

Kim:  Have you seen any good movies lately?

Becky:   Actually two….the last Narnia was very good….and True Grit

 Kim:  Most memorable vacation you’ve taken? 

Becky:   Maui with my boys….

Kim:  What biblical woman do you most identify with at this time in your life?

Becky:  Right now Esther, because God has guided me for a specific place and purpose for “such a time as this.”  I’m an empty nester, moving from Blankenbaker to Oldham campus, and retiring from my job all at once.

Kim:  Your favorite bible verse(s) at this point in your life?

Becky:  I have three…

 Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Isaiah 40:11  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

And now here is the game.  Two of the things listed below are not true about Becky, and one IS true.  Can you guess which one is true?

I have bungee jumped and loved it!

I’ve panned for gold.

I won a car in a contest.

Dana Farmer’s “truth” was that she has had a dead cat in her garage for 12 years….if you want details, ask Dana.  J

Recipe of the Week - Macaroni and Four Cheeses

 

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen pureed winter squash
• 2 cups 1 percent lowfat milk
• 4 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (about 1 1/3 cups)
• 2 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, grated (about 2/3 cup)
• 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon powdered mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons unseasoned bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add the macaroni and cook until tender but firm, about 5 to 8 minutes.  Drain and transfer to a large bowl.

Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk into a large saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the squash with a spoon until defrosted. Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the mixture is almost simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the Cheddar, Jack cheese, ricotta cheese, salt, mustard and cayenne pepper. Pour cheese mixture over the macaroni, and stir to combine. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the baking dish. Combine bread crumbs, Parmasan and oil in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes. Then broil for 3 minutes so the top is crisp and nicely browned.

"It's not that the Christian faith has been tried and found difficult, but rather it's been found difficult and left untried." - Gilbert Keith Chesterton

"The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Where, say some, is the king of America? I'll tell you, friend, He reigns above."  Thomas Paine

"Those who read fast reap no more advantage than a bee would by only skimming over the surface of the flower, instead of waiting to penetrate into it, and extract its sweets."  Madame Jeanne Guyon

Turn up the volume, and follow along below.....author unknown, but this kid is great!

In Genesis, Jesus Christ is the seed of the woman.

In Exodus, He is the passover lamb.

In Leviticus, He is our high priest.

In Numbers, He is the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.

In Deuteronomy, He is the prophet like unto Moses.

In Joshua, He is the captain of our salvation.

In Judges, He is our judge and lawgiver.

In Ruth, He is our kinsman redeemer.

In 1st and 2nd Samuel, He is our trusted prophet.

In Kings and Chronicles, He is our reigning king.

In Ezra, He is the rebuilder of the broken down walls of human life.

In Esther, He is our Mordecai.

In Job, He is our ever-living redeemer.

In Psalms, He is our shepherd.

In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, He is our wisdom.

In the Song of Solomon, He is the loving bridegroom.

In Isaiah, He is the prince of peace.

In Jeremiah, He is the righteous branch.

In Lamentations, He is our weeping prophet.

In Ezekiel, He is the wonderful four-faced man.

In Daniel, He is the forth man in life's "fiery furnace."

In Hosea, He is the faithful husband, forever married to the backslider.

In Joel, He is the baptizer with the Holy Ghost and fire.

In Amos, He is our burden-bearer.

In Obadiah, He is the mighty to save.

In Jonah, He is our great foreign missionary.

In Micah, He is the messenger of beautiful feet.

In Nahum, He is the avenger of God's elect.

In Habakkuk, he is God's evangelist, crying, "revive thy work in the midst of the years."

In Zephaniah, He is our Saviour.

In Haggai, He is the restorer of God's lost heritage.

In Zechariah, He is the fountain opened up in the house of David for sin and uncleanness.

In Malachi, He is the Sun of Righteousness, rising with healing in His wings.

In Matthew, He is King of the Jews.

In Mark, He is the Servant.

In Luke, He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.

In John, He is the Son of God.

In Acts, He is the Savior of the world.

In Romans, He is the righteousness of God.

In I Corinthians, He is the Rock that followed Israel.

In II Corinthians, He is the Triumphant One, giving victory.

In Galatians, He is your liberty; He sets you free. In Ephesians, He is Head of the Church.

In Philippians, He is your joy.

In Colossians, He is your completeness.

In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, He is your hope.

In I Timothy, He is your faith.

In II Timothy, He is your stability.

In Philemon, He is your Benefactor.

In Titus, He is truth.

In Hebrews, He is your perfection.

In James, he is the Power behind your faith.

In I Peter, He is your example.

In II Peter, He is your purity.

In I John, He is your life.

In II John, He is your pattern.

In III John, He is your motivation.

In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith.

In Revelation, He is your coming King.

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!
He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be...

Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!

He was pierced and eased pain!

He was persecuted and brought freedom!

He was dead and brought life!

He is risen and brings power!

He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can't understand him,

The armies can't defeat Him,

The schools can't explain Him, and

The leaders can't ignore Him.

Herod couldn't kill Him,

The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and

The people couldn't hold Him!

Nero couldn't crush Him,

Hitler couldn't silence Him,

The New Age can't replace Him, and

Oprah can't explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.

He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.

He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.

His ways are right, His word is eternal,

His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me.

He is my Redeemer, He is my Savior,

He is my guide, and He is my peace!

He is my Joy, He is my comfort,

He is my Lord, and He rules my life!

"The Lord bless you, and keep you: The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)

So January is Here.....

Hello Sweet Ladies.  I pray and hope that all of you have had a wonderful break and are ready once again to dig into our study for a new semester and a new year!  As for myself, the break could have been better.  Our family joined us, but then again, so did sickness.  Everyone got sick except for myself and one of my daughters.  And this was a nasty sickness.  I truly believe that had my daughter and I not taken Echinacea and Vitamin C two to three times per day, we would have succumbed to the misery as well....but we kept it up, and it's got to be the only explanation, because there were many, many coughing people in my household.  So it could have been better.....but, at least we were together, and we had some good days.  Praise Him when things are good or bad, right?  Because things could always get worse! 



                          






And now in order to recover, I have holed up in my virtual cabin in the wintery woods to gather my thoughts and to pray and see what my Savior has for me.  What did I learn from disappointment over what I had been looking forward to for so long?  I know that we can take our memories and hold fast to the ones that have that sweet scent of our Master's spirit that we may not see as it's happening...but when it's over and we look back, we can clearly see the bigger picture, and remember the best times with fondness.  Cuddling a sick child, dancing around the kitchen with a toddler in my arms, playing Candyland, reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve, the five year old singing "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer" in his fancy voice....the hunt for just the right Christmas tree.  Ah you see?  Blessings in abundance were always there.  Thank you, Lord.


I invite you to come into my virtual wintery cabin with me and praise the One who makes all things possible.












Who does not need His sweet peace?

Rom 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

                               

Psalm 74:17 You have set all the borders of the earth;You have made summer and winter.

       

                                         

            

Now let's take a walk in our virtual wintery woods and reflect on being quiet and still - seeking what God has for us in this brand new year....ponder, pray, and listen on our snowy winter walk on our cold winter days in His presence:

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Philippians 3:13-14 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

Lamentations 3:22-24

The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"

From GotQuestions.com - found an interesting and helpful article pertaining to Christians and new years resolutions....

Question: "What sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make?"

Answer: The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year’s resolutions are: to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Please pardon me for having no Blogview this time.  On top of the sickness in our household, my last remaining computer went kaput....and so we had to buy a new one when we were able.  And then with all that was happening (including my mother being here and sick), I was just not doing well with my time.  Things are better now...mom is home and recuperating....all seems fine now.  But the blog did suffer, and for that I apologize.  I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year, but if you, like me, had some mishaps along the way, I pray you are able to focus where the Lord wants you to for now, and that this New Year gives you a new start, new outlook, new focus, new desire to please and serve our wonderful Creator.

I found a yummy sounding recipe that you all might enjoy from eatingwell.com:

Black Bean-Smothered Sweet Potatoes

For a quick and satisfying last-minute supper, it's hard to beat a sweet potato zapped in the microwave. The fragrant filling of beans and tomato adds protein, making it a nutritionally complete entree. Be sure to eat the potato skin; it's full of fiber.
2 servings | Active Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

1. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork in several places. Microwave on High until tender all the way to the center, 12 to 15 minutes. (Alternatively, place in a baking dish and bake at 425ºF until tender all the way to the center, about 1 hour.)
2. Meanwhile, combine beans, tomato, oil, cumin, coriander and salt in a medium microwave-safe bowl; microwave on High until just heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. (Alternatively, heat in a small saucepan over medium heat.)
3. When just cool enough to handle, slash each sweet potato lengthwise, press open to make a well in the center and spoon the bean mixture into the well. Top each with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cilantro.

Nutrition

Per serving : 351 Calories; 7 g Fat; 2 g Sat; 4 g Mono; 6 mg Cholesterol; 61 g Carbohydrates; 11 g Protein; 12 g Fiber; 468 mg Sodium; 541 mg Potassium
3 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 3 1/2 starch, 1/2 vegetable, 1 very lean meat, 1 fat

"It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion."  Wolfgang Mozart
                                   

"Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. Only God can count all the apples in one seed."  Robert Schuller

"The winds of God are always blowing, but you must set the sails."  Source Unknown

 Hope you enjoy as much as I did.....Happy New Year....a bit late.

Hope you all have a great week, great study, and great time with your group as we begin again. 

Bye For Now!

                                                        

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.
Isaiah 40:11