Posted in Blessings of Habit, Inspiring, Scripture, Wisdom

Sunday Scriptures – Self Portrait

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

Posted in Believe it or not!, Good ol' days, Inspiring, Scripture, Wisdom

The Best Gift I Ever Received

Receive

You can build
On sand and be filled
With hopes that just wash away.

But there’s a Rock
That will unlock
All the fears you have of dying.

He wants to give life to you
And all He’s asking of you
Is to receive.

All the time
That you’ve been blind
He’s opened His love to you.

And now He’s here;
He’s calling in your ear,
Asking you to love Him, too.

He’s breathing life in you
And all He’s asking of you
Is to receive–

Receive.

Your life.

I never thought it could happen,
What happened to me:
That I could see Jesus
And be set free.

Oh, but I saw Him.
I loved Him.
And I saw me.
I saw the real me.

And so I got down on my knees
And I asked Him to help me believe
And I received.

I received.

My life.

Annie the Poet

Christian singer/songwriter, Annie Herring sin...
Annie
Posted in Brothers, Inspiring, Photos, Scripture, Wisdom

Sunday Scriptures – Celebration

Rembrandt, The Return of the Prodigal Son, 166...
Rembrandt. The Return of the Prodigal

. . . the father said to his servants,”Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.  –Luke 15:22-24

Posted in Herbs, Inspiring, Photos, Scripture, Wisdom

. . . They Brought to Him Gifts . . .

Adoration of the Magi by Fra Angelico and Fili...
Adoration of the Magi by Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi

The first recorded baby shower in the world, perhaps, was when the Magi brought to Joseph and Mary, and their new baby, Jesus, three amazing gifts from their traveling treasure chests.

Gold

What? No gift card for Baby Gap? No.

Gold.

  • Gold cannot be canceled and is the standard for all worth. Just as Jesus is.
  • Gold never tarnishes, never rusts, never becomes corrupt in any way. Again, like Jesus.
  • Gold is the decoration of kings, the drapery of kings, a symbol of kings. Which is what Jesus is: King of Kings.

Frankincense

No Lysol Spray? No.

Something much nicer and much more meaningful.

  • The aged sap of the boswelia bush, obtained by beating and cutting it, frankincense was considered as precious as gold. Okay, so Jesus is more precious.
  • Frankincense was both appealing and purifying. As is Jesus.
  • Priests burned frankincense to mingle with prayer. Jesus is our High Priest and ever lives to pray for us.

Myrrh

No Mennen’s?

No. Something much more foretelling.

  • Myrrh was a valuable resource from the Middle East, a fitting gift for such an extraordinary birth as Jesus’.
  • Myrrh was a healer and lifted pain. It was offered to Jesus in a drink during His crucifixion.
  • Myrrh speaks of death and was combined with aloes inside Jesus’ burial shroud.
  • It’s bitter properties also foretold the rejection Jesus would face.

How could these three wise men have known their gifts were perfect?

Probably the same way they knew when and where to find the Babe.

They paid attention to the things of God.

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Image via Wikipedia

Posted in Believe it or not!, Health, Inspiring, Photos, Pre-schoolers, Scripture, Who's the mom here?, Wisdom, Womanhood

Sunday Scriptures – Family

A monument dedicated to the unborn victims of ...

. . . Defend the cause of the fatherless . . . Isaiah 1:17

Isn’t this what families are for? We stick together and help the weaker among us. Right?

I’m not a Catholic, but we’re all part of the family of man, right?

This from Life News:

“Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is at it again, bashing Catholics for their pro-life position when she has promoted abortion in defiance of Catholic Church teaching at every turn.

“This time, Pelosi is upset that the nation’s Catholic bishops are protesting a potential O**** administration decision forcing insurance companies to cover birth control, contraception and drugs that could cause abortions. They say certain religious groups may not be exempt from providing the insurance, which would violate their moral and religious views.”

And then Pelosi added, ” . . . they have this conscience thing . . . ”

Read more here.

And be glad if you have a conscience. It is not a bad thing to have, no matter what anyone says.

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Image via Wikipedia

Posted in Blessings of Habit, Health, Homemaking, Photos, Recipes, Scripture

Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

fruit-salad-737096_640

Fruit Salad

6 c. diced mixed fruits
1 c. chopped celery
1 c. nuts
1 c. coconut
1 Tbs. cinnamon
1/4 c. frozen orange juice concentrate

Mix well and enjoy. Serves about ten.

Overnight Dinner Rolls

2 pkg. dry yeast
2 c. warm water
1/2 c. sugar
6-7 c. flour, divided
2 t. salt
1 egg, beaten
1/4 c. oil

Mix yeast, water, and sugar together. Let rest 5 minutes. Mix 3 c. flour and salt and add yeast mixture to it. Add beaten egg and oil. Add 3 – 4 c. flour to make a stiff dough. Knead. Let rise. Punch down. Shape into 24 rolls and place into well-greased 9×13 pan. Refrigerate, covered, overnight. Allow to warm about 20 minutes before baking at 350 degrees until brown. Yield: about 2 dozen large rolls.

World’s Best Pie Crust

3 c. flour
1 1/4 c. butter, softened
1 egg, well beaten
5 T. water
1 T. vinegar

Cut butter into flour. Combine egg, water, and vinegar. Pour liquids into flour mix, all at once. Stir with spoon or fork until doughy and mixed. Easy to roll and re-roll. Enough for 2, two-crust pies, or 4, one-crust pies.

Winter Squash Pie

1 crust
2 c. cooked, mashed winter squash
2/3 c. brown sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. clove
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. cream

Mix all together, adding cream last. Pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Serves 8.

Whipped Sweet Potatoes

2- 3 large sweet potatoes
1 t. salt
1/2 to 1 c. milk
1/4 c. butter

Wash, peel, cut up potatoes. Cover with water in deep pan. Add salt. Boil until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain. Place in large bowl. Mash or beat with mixer. Add milk and butter. Whip until fluffy. Serve with butter and cinnamon/sugar or honey. Serves 6 – 8.

Go you way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy unto our lord . . . Nehemiah 8:10

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