Itching for more...

Well, I haven't posted anything for four weeks, and a strange four weeks it's been!  Because of all the "projects" I did, with so much painting, I developed tendonitis in my elbows, aka Tennis Elbow.  How in the world?  Anyway, doc said to take it easy, it just takes time for it to heal.  You know it's bad when lifting a mug a coffee to your mouth causes pain.  Unfortunately, it's in both elbows; fortunately, one is not as bad as the other; unfortunately, the worse is my right arm (I'm right handed.)  I've felt pretty useless lately.

To fill time and to help prevent that useless feeling as well as save us some mullah, I've begun couponing (it has become my part-time job.)  I discovered there is a huge community of frugal financiers in the world of canny commerce and prudent purchasers of product.  I'm just glad I have a paper cutter because using scissors at this point would be of no use to me (see first paragraph.)  If you are interested in saving this way, I recommend the website that was recommended to me: www.southernsavers.com. Couponing is time consuming but can be worth it. I've saved almost 50% on three separate shopping adventures (and believe me, they do become adventures!)

Good news, our Bo-flex has been moved upstairs from the basement where it was collecting much dust, into my son's old room.  My thighs are thankful. Because its quite versatile, I've set it up similar to a rowing machine except the strap goes around behind my hips so that I can use my legs to push against the resistance.  Until my elbows are mended, that will probably be the extent of its use.  Of course sit-ups don't stress elbows either. :o)

It's a beautiful sun-shiny day today, and after all the rain we've had in the last few weeks, it's a very welcome sight. You can practically see the grass growing! The last time we had some real sunshine, I got the urge to purge the yard of pesky privet.  I shouldn't have, but the ole elbows were feeling better, and I did anyway.  I'm not going to today though, because I'm still suffering the consequences of last time.  Re-injurged elbows you wonder? No, I stopped in time to prevent that. Itchy poison ivy is my consequence.  Personally, I think the stuff pounces on me via the faintest whisper of wind.  I'm so careful not to touch it.  And it I see I MAY have accidentally done so, IMMEDIATELY, I go wash thoroughly with ivy wash, dish washing liquid, and anything else I can get my hands on that will get the oil off.  Never seems to help. Cold compresses have become my very good friends. 

Well, I've succeeded in throwing a pity party for myself.  I'll share a couple of blessings from the garden as reward for enduring.

Palest pink peonies...such an ambrosial aroma (Thank you thesaurus.com.)

Purple reticulated iris...if you look closely, you can see a baby praying mantis peeking out from behind the lower right petal.  She's so cute...

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory!"  Isaiah 6:3

That's Good Bread!

I’ve been baking bread. 

Thanks to…Pinterest…I found the recipe I’d used almost 20 years ago.  I mixed my sourdough starter a couple weeks ago. I often get "inspired" and jump right in without taking everything into account.  Well, midway through the 10-day process, I had to stop because we went out of town for Easter, so I put the starter in the frig until we got back.  I wasn’t sure if it’d still be good, but I hoped it would be! (Found out for sure today that it was!)  I left it out that first night back, fed it the next morning, and had been stirring the frothy mixture daily until last night.  At last, I was ready to make bread.  

 

I mixed up the dough (recipe also found on Pinterest) and let it rise overnight.  This morning, I punched it down and split it into loaf pans and let it rise again while I was at church.  This afternoon, I popped them in the oven and pretty soon, the house smelled really good!

 

That wonderful aroma has lingered all day which kept me thinking about bread all day as well, and in particular about the Bread of Life.  (No, I didn’t eat it all day, but it was tempting!)  So I did a search on where that passage was located and found it in John 6:25-59.  I encourage you to read the whole thing; I’ve decided to just print what stood out to me the most.

 

Jesus the Bread of Life 

²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” 

²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

 

Well, I have to stop right here.  The ladies’ study group I’m in is about to finish the Bible study called Believing God. I think I mentioned it in an earlier post.  Isn’t it interesting how I’m just thinking about bread, and God brings it around to believing Him?  I just love that God sneaks in little reminders for me here and there in the most pleasant ways. 

 

³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”  

³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

^   There it is again.   v

⁴⁰ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day...” 

⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only He has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 

⁵² Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹ He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Now, I can kind of understand why the Jews grumbled about this.  I mean, Jesus is using some pretty graphic word pictures here, which He often does.  He knows just how to grab our attention, perk up our ears, and make us ask “Beg your pardon?” or as I often say, "Huh?" 

(Insert slightly unrelated weird thought:  I’m a movie buff – I like sci-fi, action, fantasy, and drama, though I’m not much at all for horror.  I often wonder if script writers realize just how much Bible they’re using when making films.  It might not be “in context” but just about every single film has some sort of quote or concept that is based on a biblical idea or event.  I mean, even horror films.  I’m just sure that the guy who thought up zombies had been reading the above passage first.  I mean, if you warp the meaning of what Jesus is saying, zombies are exactly the picture you’d get.) Told ya it was weird…

Anyway, it’s only a few chapters later that Jesus is breaking bread with the disciples for the Passover meal and explaining to them what is about to take place.  Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 what He said to them and what it meant:

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 

Now even though Jesus used unleavened bread at Passover (leaven often represents sin in scripture), I guess it’s okay that my sourdough bread (which definitely has leaven) can remind me of all Jesus did for me as well.  It’s the perfect Easter bread.  After all, I have to mix it and let it rise overnight, then punch it down the next morning, separate it into loaves, and let it RISE AGAIN!  ;o)  Happy belated Easter.

Hope you’re remembering, believing, and receiving the Bread of Life today.

Aren't they pretty?  I wish computers had smell-a-vision so I could share the aroma with you!

Bird's Eye View

I met a small goal this morning.  I'm back down to doing 5K in under 40 minutes (just barely) on the elliptical! I'd do a happy dance if I still had the energy...I love to run, but I have developed some problems in my feet that keep me from it at present, so the elliptical is now how I "run." I put in my earbuds and play tunes from my phone and just go for it.  Not quite the same as running outside, so its good I'm blessed with a good imagination! It's amazing how small things can make you feel great.  :o)

On the way home from the gym, I stopped by Wally World to pick up a few items off the grocery list.  When I came back out to my car, I spotted this little guy...so cute!

Poor little fellow - all fluffed up and hugging close to a warm tire just trying to stay out of the frigid wind and spitting snow! This is the south; it's not the norm to be this cold right now!

I got in my car, and reached to turn the key in the ignition, then noticed these three little guys in the multilevel warming chamber right in front of me.

If you're a nature lover like me, I know this gives you a little thrill and makes you smile.  It did me!  They were just another reminder to me that God knows all my details and is watching over, caring for, and encouraging me.

Matthew 6:25-26
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

I hope you are encouraged today! [[grin]] 

Count it all JOY!

Today I find myself wanting to gripe about a few things, but since I've never enjoyed reading other peoples gripes, I'm not going to do that to you.  Besides, James 5:8-9 (NASB) says, "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.  Do not complain, brethen [or sistren as the case may be] against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door."  

Hmm..So instead of griping, I am going to look for what I can GRIP of the GOOD and strengthen myself as James advises. 

...So...how do I do that? I guess I will start with the little things that gave me joy today:

• woke up slowly, nice and toasty, in a warm bed this morning.
• had the privilege to study and worship with fellow believers at church.
• stayed warm and dry in front of a happy wood fire as it stormed outside.
• had a restful afternoon.
• received a visit from my son and granddaughter this afternoon. (Put stars by this one!)
• noticed that my favorite oak tree now has buds on it.
• discovered who has been making a mess on the car that stays parked in the drive. (This seems like an odd one, I'm sure, but the culprit is a beautiful bluebird who is nesting in what is supposed to be a martin house, though martins have never nested there.  The bluebirds come back every year.  Anyway, the bluebird lands on the side mirror, hops down to the top of the door under the window and looks at himself in the reflection, then hops back onto the mirror. Ya gotta admit, that's kind of funny.)
• had a good study about exhortation this evening in growth group.
• had dinner and good conversation with friends after church this evening.
• enjoyed seeing the waterfall in our front yard. (We have a dry ditch that cuts across the front of our yard where all the water from rain flows down to from the hills in the neighborhood into the drain, and there was so much water that it flowed over, as well and under, the extra drive.)
• just went outside to see if I could catch a picture of the budding oak to share with you, but it's too dark. But what do you think was looking down on me from the sky tonight? A bright, happy, full moon.
• Now I'm enjoying a cup of hot peach passion tea.

Wow, counting my blessings sure did help me put small irritants in perspective.  Thank You God for patiently reminding me to Count it all JOY! 

Sorry it's so dark, but here's the full moon, the favorite oak (left) & the martin house (aka bluebird house on the right.)

I'm odd, I know, pretty tea pot and hippy mug full of Peach Passion tea!

My energetic granddaughter, who loves to play on Grandma's stairs, wearing new bunny bow. Our basement is full of "stuff" now and she discovered her old bumbo seat.  She's a bit too big to fit in it, but made of game of getting stuck and unstuck.  She finds fun in just about everything. I could learn a few things from this child.

   

...He loves me...He loves me not...He loves me!

You ever feel like God couldn't possibly love you?  So many mistakes, so many lies, so many bad or even hateful attitudes, so many things gone wrong in this life...the list goes on and on.  We're currently studying how to manage money, time, relationships and the environment in the youth department at church (I'm a leader not a "youth" though compared to eternity, I'm still pretty young.)  Anyway, in today's lesson, one key point is that God loves us and it got me to thinking.  I've heard that for years and only in the last decade have I really started to believe it a personal way.  So, I thought that I would share how I finally began to grasp this truth, (say it out loud) God loves me.

I hope you have a good imagination because we are going to be using it.  I love the beach and this may be part of the reason why.  Imagine you're on the beach looking out at the ocean (you pick your favorite one.)  Close your eyes and feel the cooling breeze as the sun warms you.  Wiggle your toes in the sand then look out across the sandy beach. Now pick up a handful of that sand and let it sift through your fingers. Look closely at your hand and concentrate on one grain, then look at the beach again and imagine how many grains it takes to make that beach.  Are you seeing it?  Okay, now look at the ocean again.  Imagine you are a fish (you pick which kind) in that ocean.  Did you know that there are places, if you rest on the ocean floor, underwater, that there would be a mountain to your right and a crevice as deep as the mountain is high to your left?  Hugeness!  Are you feeling small?  Now think of a drop of ocean water then look around at how many drops it would take to fill that ocean you are swimming around in. I think you're getting the picture.

Okay, now come up for air - you're human again. Psalm 139 says *you are "fearfully an wonderfully made." God knows we are not perfect, but he tells us in **Romans 5:8 that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  He covered the debt I owe.

Now the verse I'm about to type is the one that finally drew back a curtain so that I could begin to see how much He loves me.  And here it is:
I pray that YOU, being rooted and established in *love, would have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the **love of Christ, and to know this love which surpasses knowledge that you will be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:17-19

Did you catch the ocean analogy?  Now, we're back in the ocean, drenched through and through.  If our family, friends, even our acquaintances, well hello - everyone on the that crowded beach, join us in the water and get drenched too, do we feel any less surrounded by the water?  That's exactly how God's love is, after all, Jesus gives living water (John 4.)

I hope you caught it.  Even at times when circumstances or people make us think "He loves me not," we can trust Him at His word when He says, "I love YOU." (John 3:16)  I pray YOU too will grasp how wide and long and high and deep His love for you is and that you'll be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (That's a lot of grains and drops!)

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

I woke this morning to a text from a friend which contained a link to an encouraging, upbeat, happy song (Jamie Grace's Show Jesus.)  It so inspired me that I got up on the right side of the bed!  (Same side as every morning, but it's amazing how sometimes that can be the wrong side. Hmm...)

Q ended up having to go in to work this morning, so I moved very leisurely.  After a healthy breakfast of blueberries, Kashi, and skim milk (only five points - yes I'm counting and doing Weight Watcher's again, and I'm on a roll - worked out four days in a row) and of course, a cup of coffee, I continued my homework from the Bible study I'm doing (Believing God.)  Today's lesson is all about "taming the tongue" and speaking the word of God, speaking life.  That is exactly what my friend did with that text message to me this morning.  God also spoke life to me in my homework by including the Bible verse I chose yesterday to memorize.  His timing never ceases to amaze me.  I can't count the number of times He has confirmed something or smiled at me through His word by having that very word show up in something I'm reading or listening to after I've taken a step of faith.  He knows I need those little reminders that He knows every detail.

The sun was streaming through the front windows, and the breeze was blowing a tune on my wind chimes, so I decided to get out in the warmth of it and explore some of the fascinating things God put in nature for us to find.  I took my camera with me and took pictures of as many kinds of moss I could find just walking through the neighborhood.  You are probably looking just like my neighbor did when I was blocking her from getting in her driveway and I explained that I was looking at her wonderful collection of moss.  

[Insert conversion from Disney's Beauty and the Beast between father and daughter:

Belle:  Papa, do you think I'm odd?

Maurice:  My daughter...odd? (He is peering out from under a machine wearing a bizarre pair of boggle-eyed glasses.)  Where would you get an idea like that?

Belle:  Oh, I don't know.]

Actually, I am working on a project for my correspondence writing course, and it has to do with moss.  So, there was a method to my madness! Anyway, the day is gorgeous!  The sun is filtering through the trees casting wonderful shadows on the ground below.  The breeze is spreading sweet scents of blooming daffodils as they gracefully dance in the wind. Tiny flowers and little green sprouts are shooting up everywhere.  Do you know how many kinds of moss there are?! I love that God has such a great imagination (kind of helps explain some of my wild ideas since we are all made in His image!)  God not only speaks to us through His written word but through nature as well.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made...Romans 1:20 (NIV)  Hence why I love birds and bugs, flowers and trees; some of my favorite things are these.

I'm really just kind of rambling, but I do pray God uses my mouth to speak life to the people around me. I hope you have a wonderfully blessed day.

Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Ephesians 4:7 (ESV)
Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need.   Hebrews 4:16 (NASB)

This little piggy...

My dad celebrated his 81st birthday this past Thursday, but we didn't celebrate it until Friday.  My sister and I left Friday morning to drive the three hours to our folks' house.  Q came down after he got off work...just in time for a birthday dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, white acre peas, and salad.  As my sister and I were traveling, she asked me again about making Dad's cake.  She was frying the chicken so I needed to make the cake.  For some reason, when she'd asked me earlier in the week, the thought overwhelmed me.  As we were talking, though, I had an epiphany of what kind of cake and how it would be decorated.  Hence, this is another recipe post. :o)

We settled on a hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting.  Dad's favorite is coconut, but many of the family do not share his affinity for it, so we went for next favorite.  I searched the web and found a recipe which I will type out below.  I did change a few  things, as I almost always do.  I don't know why, but I seem to adjust recipes often.  Anyway, catching the hummingbirds is the hardest part.  They are very hard to sneak up on.  [Just kidding, no animals were harmed in the making of this cake.]   

Before making the actual cake, you'll need to make some fondant.  My favorite recipe is a marshmallow fondant which actually tastes good (I'm not fond of the taste of other fondants.) Here is a link for Marshmallow Fondant.  I adapted this recipe just a bit by adding one teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and I used butter instead of vegetable shortening.  (Looky there, I did it again!) Shape fondant into little piggies as seen in the picture below.  Use a toothpick to make eyes and belly buttons.  You will have quite a bit of fondant left over, but it will freeze nicely until the next time you need to make some fun, editable decorations.

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE (adapted)
3 cups all-purpose flour  (sifted)  
1 teaspoon baking soda  
1 teaspoon salt  
1 1/2 cups sugar (this is cut from the original 2 cups, but it could probably be cut another 1/4 cup)  
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)  
3 large eggs, beaten  
2 sticks softened (very soft) butter  
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract  
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained  
1 cup chopped pecans  
3 mashed bananas

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Blend in the beaten eggs and softened butter until the mix is moist. Gently stir in remaining ingredients, then pour equal amounts into two 9" round pans that have been greased and floured. [Hint: I'm not sure where I learned this 'trick," but I always cut a piece of waxed paper to the round shape of the bottom of the pan and lay it in the bottom after it's been greased and floured, then pour cake batter in.  I never have cakes stick anymore.  Once the cake is done and out of the pan, I simply peal off the waxed paper for a very smooth cake bottom.]

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes (when toothpick comes out clean.)  Cool on racks for 8-10 minutes, then remove from pans [& peal off waxed paper.] 

Now, I used cream cheese frosting, which is a favorite in our household, but I'm sure your favorite frosting/icing would work equally as well.

Here is a link to a Cream Cheese Frosting recipe.

The fun part of this cake comes in with the decoration.  I saw a picture of this idea on...wait for it...Pinterest, and I adapted it.  It was originally on a chocolate cake with a chocolate "tub" or "fence." (You'll understand that when you see the picture.)  The problem was, my dad is not particular to very chocolatey things.  So for the tub/fence, I used sugar wafers and pirouette cookies (the named brand) as poles. These were put on after the cake was frosted on the top (lightly) and sides.  The wafers were then stuck to the sides of the cake - four wafers, one pirouette cookie (shortened by 1 1/2"), repeat all the way around cake.  I tied a ribbon around the tub for a festive look (and to make sure the fence stayed stuck.)

In the top of the tub (cake top) I put in more frosting to which I had added 1/2 cup of minced and toasted coconut and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.  I also added about one tablespoon of cocoa for that "dirty" color.  I wish I had added a teaspoon of cinnamon as well so as to make it more of a red Georgia clay "dirty."  Oh well, you know what they say about hindsight... 

Apply the previously made piggy figures just as if they were playing in the mud.  This cake will be a hit.  As my sister said, "that cake tasted good enough to squeal about!"  My dad thoroughly enjoyed it (the look and the taste) and we had a good time sharing in the festivities.  I'm very thankful for my family.

Desserts like this always remind me of these verses from God's word:
Psalm 38:4 (NIV) Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
Psalm 119:103 (NIV) How sweet are Your words to my taste; sweeter than honey to my mouth.