I began in the business world when I was 17 years old working at a real estate company and I ended up working in the business for 7 years. I always had a heart for the orphan children around the world but I never had a chance with my busy work schedule to travel and see the reality for them with my own eyes.

Finally in 2007 I decided to take a trip to Lima, Peru with an organization from the states. We were there for 2 weeks and we visited 11 orphanages and teen mom homes, giving them humanitarian aid that was needed. It was such an enriching experience and I had never seen such poverty before in real life. From that moment on I knew my life would be different and that I wanted to make a change in the world.

I started making plans and in November 2007 I was off to Honduras for 2 months to learn Spanish and work at orphanages that needed help there. I worked with my good friend Stephanie at an all boys orphanage “Casa Del Niños” and I spent time at another home for abused children there.

Straight from Honduras I flew to Quito, Ecuador to start work at an orphanage. After 1 month and a half of working in Ecuador I knew I had found a place where I wanted to be. I spent another 2 months in Ecuador working for the orphanage and I just fell in love with the kids, culture and people there. I flew back to the states and planned for the next 4 months to move to Quito.

When I came back to Ecuador I never realized how great the needs here would be. It is overwhelming at times but also a challenge and humbling opportunity that I have to change people’s lives and circumstances for the better. I love the work I am involved in here and thank God that I have been given this purpose for my life. We are helping the orphanages, poor communities, the elderly, poor families, child care centers, street kids homes, single mothers and sending individual children to school. I feel that the work we are doing here is giving hope to so many that are in need.

-Carrie Beth

Spring 2010 Issue

With the onset of spring, I’d like to share some of my recent favorite outfit combinations. Because I know I hate when I’m out of ideas I love to observe others for inspiration.

Embrace the Fringe

Haven’t had the chance to take in
the edges off that dress/blouse/skirt?
Me either – own it!

Lace and Animal

Stripes!

Stripes are still in, you know…

Except this time, change it up a bit: wear it oversized, throw on a brooch, cut up the fabric somewhere on the garment.  What else can you think of?

Misfits

Finally – get in the mood for a looser pair of jeans!  I enjoyed my fitted ones – but a nice looser pair is always fun to sport with a set of heels and a lovely blouse.  Unbeknownst to my husband, while I’m still on the lookout for a fun loose pair of my own, I borrowed his.  Note – not too saggy – just looser.

(Caution: Just be sure to ask your husband.)

Spring forward!

1 pound beef top sirloin steak, cut into ½-inch cubes
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
3 tsp cooking oil, divided
1 large green pepper, cut into ½-inch pieces
1 large sweet red pepper, cut into ½-inch pieces
2 medium tart apples, chopped
½ cup plus 2 Tbsp thinly sliced green onions, divided
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup cider vinegar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp cold water
Hot cooked rice, optional

Directions: Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet or wok coated with cooking spray, stir-fry beef in 2 teaspoons oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. In the same pan, stir-fry peppers and apples in remaining oil for 3 minutes. Add ½ cup green onions. Stir-fry 2-3 minutes longer or until peppers are crisp-tender. Remove and keep warm. Add brown sugar and vinegar to pan; bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into brown sugar mixture. Return to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Return beef and vegetable mixture to pan; heat through. Garnish with remaining onions. Serve with rice if desired.  4 servings.

Enchilada Casser-Ole
From Kimberly Walters

1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups salsa
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
¼ cup reduced-fat Italian salad dressing
2 Tbsp reduced-sodium taco seasoning
¼ tsp ground cumin
6 flour tortillas (8 inches)
¾ cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheese (such as Mexican blend)
1 cup lettuce, shredded
1 medium tomato, chopped
¼ cup fresh cilantro, minced

Directions: In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the salsa, beans, dressing, taco seasoning and cumin. Place three tortillas in a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer with half of the meat mixture, sour cream and cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and bake at 400° for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until heated through. Let stand for 5 minutes before topping with lettuce, tomato and cilantro. Yield: 8 servings.

Roast Pork with Apples & Onions
From Kimberly Walters

1 boneless whole pork loin roast (2 pounds)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
3 large Golden Delicious apples, cut into wedges
2 large onions, cut into wedges
5 garlic cloves, peeled
1 Tbsp minced fresh rosemary or 1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
¼ tsp pepper

Directions: Sprinkle roast with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, brown roast in oil on all sides. Place in a shallow roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Arrange apples, onions and garlic around roast; sprinkle with rosemary. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160°, turning the apples, onions and garlic once. Let roast stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Yield: 8 servings.

Yummy Beans
From Rachel Dodge

2 cups dry beans (black, pinto, black-eye peas, navy, red kidney, etc)
Warm filtered water
(For black beans only: 2 Tbsp whey, fresh lemon juice, apple-cider vinegar, kefir, or yogurt)
Garlic, crushed or minced (several cloves or to taste)
Sea Salt
Crushed black pepper

Directions: Place the beans in a bowl, cover with warm water until a few inches above level of beans, cover, and let soak overnight in a warm spot (such as the oven with just the oven light on).  Soaking helps break down the phytic acid.  After the beans have soaked, drain and rinse the beans and place in a stock pot or crock pot.  Cover with filtered water again and simmer slowly for 6-8 hours or until beans are soft and plump, adding additional water as needed.  Gentle cooking aids digestion and nutrition accessibility.  Season with garlic, sea salt, and pepper as desired.  Making a pot of beans once a week is a simple way to ensure you always have nutritious beans on hand (in the fridge or freezer) for recipes.

Crispy Nuts
From Rachel Dodge

4 cups raw nuts (cashews, peanuts, hazelnuts, pecans, skinless almond slivers, etc.)
or seeds (sunflower, sesame, pumpkin, etc.)
Filtered Water
1 tsp. Sea Salt

Directions: Place nuts and salt in medium bowl. Cover completely with water. Cover lightly with a dish towel and set on the counter for 8 hours (6 for cashews). Then, drain any remaining water (do not rinse). Place on cookie sheets in an oven at its lowest setting (150 degrees is optimal – 170 degrees is usually the lowest in newer ovens) or a dehydrator at the nut setting. Allow nuts to slowly dehydrate for 12-24 hours until completely dry and crisp. This is a great way to fix nuts for maximum nutrition and digestibility. Use as garnish on salads and main dishes, in cookies and granola, and as a delicious snack around the house or on the road.

Blueberry Lemon Trifle
From Kimberly Walters

3 cups fresh blueberries, divided
2 cans (15-3/4 ounces each) lemon pie filling
2 cups (8 ounces) lemon yogurt
1 prepared angel food cake (8 to 10 ounces), cut into 1-inch cubes
1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
Lemon slices and fresh mint, optional

Directions: Set aside 1/4 cup blueberries for garnish. In a large bowl, combine pie filling and yogurt.

In a 3-1/2-qt. serving or trifle bowl, layer a third of the cake cubes, lemon mixture and blueberries. Repeat layers twice. Top with whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Garnish with reserved blueberries, and lemon and mint if desired. Yield: 12-14 servings.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Words can’t describe how blessed I am to have the privilege of being raised in a Christian home.  The Lord has done so many things in my life that were so amazing, and even in the 13 years that I have been alive, God has used me in ways that I don’t even know.

For me, one of the things that the Lord has used in amazing ways in my life is Metro.  When my family was searching for a church and we came across two that we really liked, one of those was Metro.  I was totally against going to Metro, but of course it was just because I didn’t know anyone.  Just three years ago, I would have never guessed that the place that I loved to be the most would be Metro.  The Lord has placed me in Metro for so many reasons, and He has taught me so much through it and through the people there.

By being in the Jr. High Youth Group, I am so happy that I have gotten to meet Travis and Meghan. One of the ways that the Lord has spoken to me the most, I think, is through the camps that I have gone to.  Two years ago at Green Valley really was my turning point. It was my first camp that I went to, and it was so amazing! The Lord really spoke to me while being there.

Last year we went to another camp, and it was so much fun.  I learned just as much. One of the things that was really cool was at the last minute my older sister was able to go as a counselor, and from that time I really have looked at her in a different way.  We grew closer because of her going.  Never in a million years would I think that one of my biggest role models would be my older sister, but it’s so true!  Now when I look back at the story of her going I can totally see God was working through it all.

I was inspired to write this for Bella Donna because I just got back from my third camp, and it was just as amazing as the others.  I really encourage the young people at Metro to go to the camps, no matter if you don’t know a lot of people or because you’re scared, and I’m sure God will meet you there just as He did for me.

I have been blessed, not only at the camps, but also during Jr. High ministry nights.  Just the other night I met a girl that came with her friend who attends Metro, and I could see how the Lord planned for her to be there that night.  I’m sure she was spoken to, but I know that just through watching her, God spoke to me.  She just had such a love for the Lord, and even though she had never been to Metro before, she was not afraid to raise her hands and worship the Lord.  Through that I was really encouraged because even though she had no idea that the Lord was using her,  He really was.  I want to be able to go anywhere and bring the love of the Lord with me.

On Thursday mornings I work in the nursery, and I have been doing it for about three years.  Two years ago, I met such an amazing woman that I have worked side by side with. We have had so many amazing conversations, she has given me such good advice and I have heard so many of her incredible stories of the Lord’s work in her life.  We have so much in common, and I always look forward to going in and being able to talk with her.

For me, my biggest goal is to be a servant of the Lord and to be like Paul.  There have been times when I have asked myself, “Am I really willing to pick up my cross and follow you Lord?” But I know that I can’t do anything on my own, and that’s why I need the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit.  It brings me to tears when I think about how wonderful the God that I serve is and His unfailing love for His children.  I thank God for picking me up and saving me.  I know that the world can be a very scary place, but through Christ I will have the power to fight this spiritual battle.

While dealing with health issues over the past few years, I have sometimes felt like God was putting me on the bench.  I have had to say “no” to things I would normally enjoy doing because I either didn’t feel well enough or because I knew that the Lord was telling me to slow down.  I have had to say no to serving in areas I would normally love to serve in.  As a result, I started to feel a bit useless for the Lord.

But God showed me a special ministry that He was calling me to be part of – a prayer ministry.  It was to be my very own prayer ministry, between Him and me.  I needed to learn.  It started small in my eyes, but I can see now that God was doing big things in even those earliest lessons on prayer.

The first of God’s plans that I was privileged to be part of as I prayed was the area of finances.  When I first began having health issues, I had to stop working and the timing, of course, couldn’t have been worse for us financially.  To make matters worse, the first week I was off work, our garage door broke, a pipe broke in the back bathroom, and both of our cars died in one day.  My stress level could not have been higher.  The worst part for me: I could DO nothing!  I couldn’t go out and make money.  I couldn’t fix anything.  I had to lay on the couch and rest.

Then God showed me that my part was to pray.  Not that I was being pulled out of the game at a crucial time but that I was exactly where I needed to be – so that I could learn to pray.

I am now convinced that there is nothing more important in the world that I could have been doing at that point in our life than be laying on that couch, praying.  I prayed God’s Word with more fervor and hope and faith in what I could not see than ever before.  I would sometimes just hold my Bible in my hands and say, “I believe that your Word is true, O God” to remind myself that God was in control.

During those pivotal prayer sessions, God gave me a verse to hold fast to through the rough waters: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19).  I pasted it up and read it several times a day, praying it out loud.

God brought us through those difficult days with amazing provision.  We staggered through it and found to our great joy that we were able to praise the Lord for even the tiniest of gifts during that time.  Through it, I learned to sit and to pray.  God gave me verses to pray and I prayed them.  It wasn’t fancy, it wasn’t sophisticated – but it was real.  I learned to press into Jesus like never before.

I would not say that I am great at praying now.  I would not say that I am a prayer warrior.  I still have trouble taking the time to pray in earnest, not just on the go, and to pray God’s Word, and there are days that I just flat out forget to pray about things that are incredibly important.  But more and more, when I hear the Lord calling me to come and sit with Him and bring everything to Him and intercede for those that He loves, I get excited; I love those sweet times with my Jesus.  I pour it all out, I pray through scripture, I marvel, I treasure, I cry, I highlight promises, I go around in circles, I lose track, I daydream, I come back again and start over.  And I learn how to pray.

Bit by bit, the Lord has taught me to pray more specifically – and to pray scripture into my life and the lives of my family and friends, verse by verse, day by day.  My prayer times are many times woven into my time reading God’s Word.  I mark up my Bible during my daily devotions with cryptic messages and code names that are between me and the Lord, and I get a kick out of seeing God at work each day.  It’s like being in on a secret, and my faith grows muscles.  I am blown out, torn up, and knocked down by the power of His glory as I read His Word and bask in His promises.  When He extends His hand toward me and allows me glimpses into His plans, I am amazed.

I am learning to get out of my bed and sit on my knees and cry out to Him (it is not easy and I do not do it enough).  The more I pray, the more I realize I need to pray more!  I sometimes tell my husband as he goes off to school in the evening after a long day of work that I have prayed him “up one side and down the other.”  By that I mean that I have spent time in extended prayer, waiting on the Lord and asking the Holy Spirit to lead me and show me every detail of a person or situation that needs prayer.  It doesn’t happen every day, but I am always amazed at what the Lord will show me to pray for during those times of extended intercession.

Through this daily prayer ministry with the Lord, I have had the immense privilege of being part of God’s plan in many ways: praying for many months for a dear friend with cancer who was healed, praying for over a year for a family member who has since come to know and love Christ, praying for days and weeks for a sister in the Lord during her darkest hours who came through to the other side closer to Jesus.  I know I am not the one who made those things happen, and I have not seen every situation I prayed for turn out peachy – many have been downright heart-wrenching.  But I pray in the power of holy Jesus’ name.

My God has taught me that sitting on the bench can actually be the best seat in the house!  It is a precious thing to sit back and watch excitedly and anxiously and expectantly as God unfolds His plans.  Sometimes my heart is breaking.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed by joy.  Sometimes my faith is hardly a mustard seed.  But the growing depth of my love for my Jesus, and my better understanding of His vast unending love for me, is a greater gift than I could have ever imagined.  My days are not perfect and I have struggles, but I know His closeness and the warmth of His everlasting arms like never before.

Sweetest of all, I am blessed to know that God can use me, even when I can’t always physically do all the things I want to do to serve Him…and it’s all because He is teaching me to pray.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” –Romans 8:26

It’s hard to look beyond the here and now, isn’t it?  I can honestly say that I have hardly thought beyond the next three years of my life.  Beyond the year 2011 everything begins to mesh into the typical: getting married and raising a family.  When I recently searched online for answers to the phrase, “What I wish to achieve before I die,” many responses came up.  Here are the top ten:

10.     Visit all the seven wonders of the world
9.      Run a marathon
8.      Fly a plane
7.      Get a degree
6.      Appear on television
5.      Go sky diving
4.      Go scuba diving
3.      Go on a world cruise
2.      Swim with dolphins
1.      Go on an unlimited shopping spree for which I don’t have to pay

Who wouldn’t want to see the world or go on an unlimited shopping spree?  Many people have accomplished all of these 10 aspirations and more, but are they any better off than anyone else?  However, at the end of the day, these seemingly marvelous adventures hold no substance or profit to your eternal life.

My simple desire for my life and myself is to walk in the good works my Heavenly Father has placed ahead of me, and make as few mistakes as possible along the way in order that Jesus may be glorified.  I wish to daily discover who I’m meant to be in Christ.

I don’t have a list of places I would like to visit or items I would like to have.  I do desire true friendships and true love.  Before I die, I aspire to turn my sinful nature inside-out, that I may possess a completely different heart and mind than the two I entered the world with.

The author wrote this as a high school senior.  She is now attending Calvary Chapel Bible College.

Le Chapeau
by Kelley Von Zboray

Do the names Fedora, Derby, Panama, Boater, Toque, Cartwheel, Cloche, or Pillbox mean anything to you? Well, just consider the following for a moment.  Prior to the 1960’s no man or woman would go out for the day without one. What is it you ask?

If you guessed hats, then you got it! Chapeau is the French term for hat. Hats are referred to in the Millinery industry as “The” major fashion accessory worn throughout the past ages. One of the most well known manufacturers of Millinery is John B. Stetson. Though his name provokes thoughts of the cowboy hat, this company also made women’s hats. Even today if you own a Stetson, you own the best.

Speaking of the best, I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Sunday Best.”  Hats are no exception!  History tells us that some church going people wear hats to church today to continue a sense of formality keeping with traditions of past generations. Past or present, wearing a hat seems to set you apart.  Put on your favorite Chapeau for all to see. Hats were made to adorn the head and there is a style for everyone.

One Sunday at Metro, I spied a beautiful young lady wearing the perfect hat.  If you too would like to wear a hat but are not sure which kind would suit your style or flatter your face, here are a few tips for inquiring minds. If you have a square shaped face, then you should slant or tilt your hat. If you have a slender face, you should avoid tall narrow hats like top hats. Wide shaped faces should consider hats that are away from the face like pillboxes or berets. Round faces should consider wearing big hats or hats with brims at a slant. If you have a heart-shaped face then you’re in luck because almost any style will frame your face beautifully.

No matter what type of hat suits you, remember that God doesn’t care about fashion or glamour. He cares about you. You are already beautiful; hats serve only to enhance what already exists.

In our search for a new home almost two years ago, we had a couple of specific requests we brought to the Lord in prayer. The first request was that the new home would have at least four bedrooms, and the second was a neighborhood full of kids. The Lord granted both requests and then some. Sure, we got our bedrooms, but more importantly, we found a neighborhood with over twenty children!

Our old neighborhood didn’t have any kids and our girls did not like that. There never seemed to be anyone around. They attended a private school in Carmichael, which was also where all their friends lived.  We thought transferring into a public school was going to be tough, so we prayed our girls would make friends in the new neighborhood, preferably Christian friends.

The girls made a number of awesome friends with some of the new neighborhood children, some were Christians and some weren’t. About a year ago, one of our neighbors moved to Rocklin. We loved this family. They had three kids and they went to church. However, the family they rented their house to wasn’t what I had in mind for neighbors.  I initially thought they were harmful.  The kids cursed, the parents were almost never home and when they were they didn’t seem to watch their kids.  And to add to my worry, their kids wanted to hang out with my kids. My heart was hard and I didn’t want to have anything to do with the new neighbor boys.

That’s when it happened.  I began to pray for the new boys and the Lord totally changed my heart. Many of the neighborhood kids were already attending church with us on Monday nights, so we decided it was time to ask the two boys if they would like to come as well. Their response was shocking. They wanted to come! I was thinking, really? Why had I not trusted that the Lord had a plan and a purpose for their lives as well? Week after week the boys came to church with us on Monday nights and soon the oldest one wanted to come on Sunday mornings too.  I explained to him how early we get there and that we stay for both services.  He said he didn’t mind and he was eager to help out.

I’ve asked the Lord often, if He would save this family. The parents haven’t accepted an invitation to come to church yet, but they are very thankful the boys are able to come with us each week. We have hope and pray for them continually. We will keep inviting them, trying to show the love of Jesus to them and their children.

Recently the youth went to winter camp for a weekend. We were told how evident the Holy Spirit was and how He poured out onto all the kids. And guess who made a decision to give his life to Christ?  You guessed it, our neighbor! How incredibly gracious our God is. My love for these neighbor boys has really grown.  They are at our home, (along with most of the other neighborhood kids) all the time!

I am sharing this story with everyone because it is easy to get caught up in looking after our own family and not see the needs around us in our neighborhood. If God can use someone like me to influence the life of another, He surely can use you too! My outlook has changed completely. Now when I see those “troubled kids”, not just in my neighborhood but outside too, I see how much they need Jesus. Won’t you be Jesus to them? Step outside your comfort box and get to know your neighbors, saved or not.  Don’t you want them to know Jesus? If we won’t do it, who will?

Matthew 9:37-38 tells us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

A friendly wave, a gift for no apparent reason, fresh-baked goods, and the like can pave the way for evangelism. Offer to mow your neighbors’ lawn or help do some painting. Perhaps volunteer to pick up their mail and newspaper while they’re on vacation. Compliment them on their landscaping and ask for gardening tips. Invite them over for a barbecue or dessert. Invite them to church! Pray for an opportunity to share the gospel and be prepared when it comes.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16

I’m on fire for Jesus.  The change in my heart is unmistakable since making the change over to Metro.  The fire for Jesus burns all day, every day.  I dutifully serve as mother, taxi driver, launderer, handy-woman, animal keeper, cook, banker, employee, church volunteer, all with minimal grumbling and a joyful heart as I remember God’s love for me through Jesus.  I take the bumps and hiccups in my days easier (most of the time, but not all!) as I remember “God’s timing, God’s plan.”

I was fairly confident that God had turned over most parts of my heart to reveal areas I needed to yield to His will.  All areas are of course a continual work in process, but revealed nonetheless.  Then I went to Bible study.  Just when you think there are no more areas of your life that haven’t had God’s light shined on it, God does the incredible (to us humans anyway) and reveals another area not yet yielded to Him.

1 Corinthians 7:3 – “Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, AND LIKEWISE ALSO THE WIFE TO HER HUSBAND.”
1 Corinthians 7:4 - “THE WIFE DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER HER OWN BODY, BUT THE HUSBAND DOES;………”
1 Corinthians 7:5 – “STOP DEPRIVING ONE ANOTHER……”

Remember how I listed all my duties?  Did you notice that “wife” was not there?  Because at the end of the day after serving in all those areas, I am ready to crawl into bed and have my down time.  Some reading, maybe a favorite TV show.  But the above verses jumped out at me that morning like a flash of light, revealing, that I, gulp, have not faithfully yielded that area of my life when the hubby rolls over and gives me “the look.”  Uh oh.  Suddenly, all of the stuff I run around doing, for the Lord (Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father), is as empty and not unto the Lord, if in the evening I take control with my selfish “not tonight.”  One of the questions in the study was “What can be the result of depriving your spouse?”  Satan tempts.

Hence God, ever so faithful, revealed that yielding that area to my husband, is yielding it to God.  Stop depriving,  in the name of Jesus, giving thanks.  God’s timing, God’s plan.  God designed marriage for the purpose of joining into one body.  Man is designed to need to join together.  Be faithful to God, stop depriving.  Stop making it about my timing, my desire.  Yield.   It won’t always be easy, as wife and moms our bodies physically go and go all day long.  But I consider God.  I consider Jesus.  I know that yielding in this area will bring reward.  A happy husband and a life submitted to God.

“While the earth remains,

Seedtime and harvest,

And cold and heat,

And summer and winter,

And day and night

Shall not cease.”
~Genesis 8:22

After the cold and wet winter, I am drawn into the garden on these sunny days.  I yearn to be outside planting in the soil.  From Genesis 8:22, I am reminded that it is God who has established the definite cycles of the seasons.  In order to have the harvest, seeds must first be planted.

Spring is just around the corner and it is time to plan what vegetables will go into garden and where to locate them.  Each type of seed has specific needs to grow well and produce its intended crop.  Thought has to be given to where each type of vegetable will go in the garden, how much sun and water it will need, and the spacing of the plants to produce the maximum yield.  Our vegetable crops are rotated so that they are not always in the same garden plot.  For instance, green beans will go where tomatoes were last year.

Gardening is one of the activities that my husband and I enjoy doing together, especially now that we have more time in retirement.  It is an example of teamwork that works well, as he can do some of the tasks that are difficult for me to do and I do some of the tasks that he doesn’t like.

The soil and temperatures are still too cold for many of the things that we plant, but we can get them started indoors or in a greenhouse.  This year, we bought a small greenhouse on wheels with shelves and a zippered doorway.  It now has tomato plants: Early Girl, Sungold, and Sausage Paste varieties.  These plants yield good amounts for salads, sandwiches, and plenty for pasta sauce.  There are several types of herbs and onion plants started for the garden next to the tomato plants.  We need to pay careful attention to these early plants to water them as they establish good root systems.  We placed the greenhouse close to the house in an area with full sun.

The other day, while we were outside looking over the garden plots, we first heard and then saw a huge flock of Canadian Honkers on their way North, a sign of spring.   Another way we know spring is on its way is to observe the changes in the berry vines.  Our garden includes thorn-less blackberry vines and raspberries.  Unfortunately, we have not been able to find thorn-less raspberries, but their thorns aren’t as difficult as the ones on blackberry vines.  If you haven’t thought of putting in blackberry vines because of the difficulty of picking the sweet delicious fruit from the thorny vines, consider the thorn-less varieties of blackberries.  The leaves are appearing on the vines that have been dormant all winter.  Soon the flowers will come and then the actual berries.

Once berry vines are established, the abundant harvest makes it worth setting aside a place in your garden for them.  They are heavy feeders and respond well to fully aged steer manure at the base of the vines along with regular watering.  Our berry vines are grown up on a trellis to make picking easy.  The cost of a berry vine is about the cost of one small basket of berries in season at the grocery store, but you will get a hundred times more in harvest every spring.  In addition to eating berries fresh, we freeze both the berries and the juice for use later in the year.  We make blackberry and blackberry-peach jam for our table and as gifts for our family.

Preparing for another season in the garden includes getting the supplies that will be needed, cleaning up tools, buying the seeds and seedlings, and waiting for the right time to get the plants in the soil.   During the waiting time, we mix soil for the container gardens and continue stocking the greenhouse.

Perhaps you only have a small space, such as a patio or a balcony, to grow something; I encourage you to put in a container garden.  There is something that is so rewarding in tending a garden.  I saw a salad container garden of different lettuces and radishes that was perfect for a small space.  Maybe all you have room for is a pot of flowers for the front porch, but you will have the opportunity to participate in something growing as you care for it.

There is always something to see in the garden.  While gardens are a lot of work, we look forward to putting in the seedlings and anticipating the harvests of fresh produce during the summer and the fall.  Gardening is so fulfilling.  We are thankful for another season that God has given us to plant a garden.

I know one of the best things we can do for our marriage is a date night: going away together or taking a marital Sabbath, if you will. Dates are a chance to put away the cares of the world and spend time reconnecting with your spouse.  A romantic date is even talked about in Song of Solomon.  So why is it so hard to go on a date!  I have two kids, a house, and a dog.  Between the balancing act that is my life – cooking, cleaning, taking care of my family, and so on – there hardly seems to be the time.  Plus, after a hard week I can feel so beat down I hardly feel human, let alone feminine enough to go on a romantic date.  Then there is the money.  We don’t have the money to pay for a baby sitter, let alone the date itself.  So all these are good reasons to not go on a date…right?  Wrong.

The remedy to many of my frustrations through the week is a date and it is the very thing I seem to make excuses not to do.  I need dates even when I think I don’t or don’t want to.  God has given us a Sabbath to recharge and to have time devoted to Him.  In the same way dates are marital Sabbaths, a recharge with my hubby.  They help me to feel feminine and beautiful – the way I did when we were dating. We need time devoted to one another and the building up of our marriage.  We need to have a conversation that does not get interrupted eighteen times by someone needing juice or help going potty.  Sometimes we need a date just to remember we still “like” each other.  We tend to forget how much fun we have together.  Nevertheless, some of our excuses are still valid.  Right now in our lives we can’t exactly hop in the car for a romantic getaway.  So, we have had to be a bit creative in getting in our dates.

To save on money and babysitters, we have many dates at home.  Some of our greatest dates have been at home with the kids asleep upstairs.  We will put the kids to bed early, relax together, and play cards.  It’s fun and gives us time to talk.  Sometimes we will watch old movies together or try to make a special dessert in the kitchen or watch a sermon on marriage.   Other times it’s as simple as a walk or a drive.  Spending time together, loving one another, being flirty and having fun.

Another useful tool for us is something we lovingly call a “mini date.”  Twenty minutes here or there just to reconnect.  We love it when the kids fall asleep in the car on the way home from somewhere. We will often take the long way home just to have quiet time in the car and a chance to talk.

As women, we may not always be able to go on romantic getaways or have a fancy date night every week. We may feel so far from our husbands or so beat down that we don’t want to. We may have kids and busy lives, but we can still set aside some romantic time with our spouses. Take the time and plan it out; make it special for the both of you.  Dates are such a special time to build up a marriage and a wonderful way to connect.  I love my husband so much and – don’t get me wrong – one day I hope to have a romantic get away with him.  But I have to say, I love all these dates in the mean time.

“Come, my love, let us go out to the fields and spend the night among the wildflowers. Let us get up early and go to the vineyards to see if the grapevines have budded, if the blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates have bloomed. There I will give you my love. There the mandrakes give off their fragrance, and the finest fruits are at our door, new delights as well as old, which I have saved for you, my lover.” –Song of Solomon 7:11-13 (NLT)

“So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’ So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.’ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.” – Exodus 15:22-27

Each year for the past seven years God has blessed me with the wonderful opportunity to be part of Debbi Bryson’s ministry in encouraging the women of Russia. Russians have historically been stripped of their freedom to worship the true and living God, but for the past twenty years God has opened doors and set captives free – the Gospel has been preached openly and churches have been planted. The Red Sea was parted and the “children of God” walked through on dry ground. When I think of what God did in a country that was so oppressed by the enemy, I can’t help but be completely awe struck. This year, more than ever, God revealed himself in miraculous ways and brought healing to the women there.

Life for most Russian women is a desert place – the number of abortions per a Russian woman’s lifetime averages four, the unemployment rate of women is seventy-five percent, sexual abuse and domestic violence occurs in the lives of three out of four women, 14,000 women are estimated to die per year as a result of domestic violence, and half of the population – both men and women – considers wife-beating a private matter. By the age of sixteen, the number of young women who have had sex and contracted a disease such as syphilis and herpes is 100 times more than in the Western World. Sex trafficking is also common, and many young girls are swept up by the Russian Mafia for prostitution in Russia and throughout the world.

I had personally met and prayed with many of these women and found great tragedies in their lives, situations, and circumstances beyond natural intervention. What could I bring these women? Gifts of clothing, shelter, food, and money only touch the surface.

But thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, He parts the seas and moves the mountains! He makes bitter waters sweet and is our healer. In Exodus 15, we see a beautiful picture of what the Lord is able to do in lives filled with issues of pain, unforgiveness, and bitterness. When the Israelites’ needed water desperately and rushed to the spring to drink only to come up spitting and spewing the bitter water out of their mouths, God made the water sweet.  When the bitter waters kept them from quenching their thirst – and kept them from life – God gave them refreshment.

We often come to a place in our lives where God wants to deal with those “bitter waters”.  Life is a mixture of sweetness and bitterness. In bitterness, the sweetness of our Savior is magnified! If our experiences on earth were only sweet, we would never be able to really taste and fathom the wonderfulness and magnificence of heaven or experience with our Sweet Savior a bit of that same suffering that He agonized on the Cross for Love’s sake. Because it would have been so natural for Jesus to be bitter. He was the perfect Son, lamb of God without blemish, without sin. He took our death penalty and agonized with the sins of the world.  He tasted bitterness on the cross for love’s sake, yet the words he said before his heart burst were: “Father forgive them…They know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

When the Israelites murmured against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”, they were not simply complaining to Moses – they were murmuring against God for bringing them there. When we find ourselves murmuring about our bitter waters, what shall we do? We know that it is impossible for us to make sweet what is so detestable and undrinkable. Bitterness poisons the soul and produces death.

In the desert, when Moses was faced with a nation of people crying out for water, he “cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree…” A tree – right there in the middle of the desert!  God didn’t create this tree on the spot… He showed it to Moses.  It was there all along.  That tree is a picture of the cross (1 Peter 2:24), which reminds us that the Cross of Calvary holds the transforming power to turn our bitter waters into sweet.  At the Cross, supernatural power was given for forgiveness. Debts were settled, death was conquered by life everlasting, and the healing process began.

We are healed when our “Springs of Marah” are made sweet at the Cross!  That is the picture we saw so clearly in the women we met in Russia. Much pain produces much sweetness, and they were drinking again of sweet waters as the Cross was cast into their Springs of Marah.  Even those women who cry out, “what was done to me was awful! Unforgivable! It is absolutely incomprehensible!” found sweetness at the Cross. God’s promise in Romans 5:20 is true: where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. Lives filled with shame and condemnation were set free during our time in Russia and bitterness was healed by the supernatural power of forgiveness, which only comes through Jesus Christ.

And the healing that begins at Marah – at the Cross – continues in our walk with the Lord, as we are washed continually in the sweetness of His Word. We must drink daily from the new springs God has given to us. This process, called sanctification, grows us and refreshes us along this long and sometimes rugged journey of life. That is key to the healing of the women of Russia and for all of His children: to be refreshed and washed daily by His Word.

The Spring of Marah is the place where healing begins, but God has even greater things in store after that: “And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the waters.” God led them to a wonderful oasis! God not only takes away the bitter waters of Marah, but He brings us to the cool wells of Elim! The palm tree is the only tree in the world that bears fruit as it gets older and survives in desert sands.  Could it be that this is the ministry that God gives to those who are transformed at the Spring of Marah? I believe so. This is the place of the mighty ones, where those called to be servants and ministers of His refreshment are gathered; those who know the secret of the mystery of God, those who are commissioned to bring the Gospel to the world. At Elim, there is no murmuring, only refreshment in the place of service.

How beautiful to see an army of Russian girls gather at the oasis of Elim! God is making them ready to bring their testimonies to the highways and hedges in a country that has been so oppressed by the enemy. Great fruit comes from the healing power of the Cross. The world has no remedies for the pain of many of these women’s lives, but the power of God through Jesus Christ delivers, saves, heals, and transforms our lives, taking us from the dungeons of oppression to the oasis of peace and joy everlasting despite the circumstances of this world.

We were waiting at the train station when an old woman came up to me through the crowd. I gave her a Gospel of John written in Russian. She kissed the pages and wiped them with her tears. Then she grabbed my face and began to kiss me. The message she wanted me to hear was loud and clear, God’s language transcends this world! In her own way she wanted to say thank you for bringing Jesus to her people. God spoke to all of us that day! Russian women may be rich in affliction but are mighty in Jesus!

This was my seventh voyage to Russia since 2002.  Some may think it crazy to go off to the far side of the world for a few short weeks of ministry, but they can’t comprehend the richness and great fruit God has bestowed on this ministry.  If only each person could see into the eternal realms of what God has done and is doing, more would certainly join the missionary throngs of servants of the living God.  Jesus said, “Go!”

God has opened great and spectacular doors to ministry in a part of the world which only a few years back was totally closed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Each year He has provided above and beyond for me to travel to Russia.  It’s been my privilege to follow my friend and leader, Debbi Bryson. We have planted churches, counseled women, comforted orphans and spread evangelism into a country where the fields of harvest are now ripe and plentiful.   Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few.”

This year was especially good as God provided a team of women to follow.  These women were able to taste the sweetness of the hearts of the Russian women. They cried with them and laughed with them.  Their shoulders were made wet with tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy.  God handpicked this team.  Lisa Cline ministered to women broken in areas of sexual sin. Kathleen Summers lead them with the joy of the Lord in her art and crafts. Evelyn Swope, a second grade teacher, rejoiced with the children as she brought the Gospel to the orphanage. Katie Welsh, a relatively new believer, filled the conference and dorms with the joy of Jesus. She encouraged all of us to walk in our first love. Courtney Cline, thirteen years old, shared a magnificent devotion with our team and encouraged us all with her maturity in Christ despite her age. Courtney did not want to leave Russia.  This is a mere sampling of the wonderful women God equipped us with.

In all there were 35 women on our team, including many pastors’ wives from around America.  We were privileged to have three amazing worship leaders, Sherri Youngward, Diana Waddell, and Christina Ozment.  We spent a great deal of time in worship. We also devoted a lot of time to the teaching and sharing of the love of Jesus. There were many first-time commitments, re-dedications and a lot of healing.  Women traveled by train from all over Russia to attend the conference.  And the orphans, we brought the Gospel to them as well.  What amazing doors He opened for us!

Please pray that God will send workers as the time may be short. Russia might soon be closed to the gospel again. Pray also that whatever work has been done for the glory of God will flourish in a vibrant underground church, quite possibly led by these believers, the very same women, orphans and outcasts we have ministered to.

Of all God’s grace I witnessed on this trip, the most impact-filled moment happened while I was waiting at the train station with our beautiful team of women. All set to show them the wonder and history of Russia at Red Square, a fun day out for us all!  Then that little old lady appeared, who I am certain had lived through the atrocities of war, genocide, atheism, communism, and dead religion.  She had prayed for her people many days, many nights and many years; an angel of the afflicted, she represents the vibrant heart of the persecuted underground church in Russia.  God most certainly sent her to me.  I can’t even begin to explain the realm of emotions I felt when she kissed my face.  It was most assuredly a kiss from heaven.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” –1 Peter 4:10

Have you ever walked along the beach, through a meadow, or simply across the street? So have I! Today, though, was different. Today, I just
walked out my front door, over the wooden step, and down onto the sidewalk.
The entire time, an object caught my eye and held it. I knew this object near my right foot was going to be a
favorite. It was a beautiful, round, flat, nutmeg-marbled pebble, the perfect
size to fit in a pocket.

Immediately, I knew it would be a great tool
 for prayer. That same instant, it also occurred to me who the subject of the prayers would
be. Upon my first touch of this pebble, I felt its course, sandpaper-like texture, one that reminded me of the
same feeling I get when speaking of Jesus around a certain someone I know and love. This someone needs a little Jesus, as I did many years back when I was walking and found my first praying stone.

Before today, I already had a precious praying stone. My first praying stone was small,
flat, smooth, and very white. I liked to carry it with me during times when
I needed a little extra prayer. Every time I touched it, its smooth texture
 would touch my heart and remind me of the love of Jesus. I found this
precious stone during my baby Christian years. I was with my beloved sister,
who first gave me the idea of praying stones; she told me that this
 very one would be good to keep, should I ever need one. Since that day, I’ve cherished that stone and I’d like to say it was perfect, but 
it wasn’t. It had a crack down the middle, which is a reminder that I am not perfect and that I need a Savior and the love of Jesus.

Of course now, I know that Jesus loves me and that He loves us all.
 But I also believe that many times He sends us reminders, so we can love on
others as He wills us to do. That might be why today, I found a new praying
stone, one that will remind me of that certain someone who has that similar
sandpaper texture in need of a little polishing, the kind only Jesus can give.  In order to pray for this someone more often, I have my new praying
 stone, a pebble from Heaven.

My daughter came back from Jr. High Winter Camp recently, obviously touched by the Holy Spirit.  It was the first time she was away for that length of time without communication to home base. I thought of her often, but knew that she would have a great time. As soon as she came home we had lunch and I listened to all she had to share.

The stories she shared were filled with awe as she witnessed the Holy Spirit moving in people’s lives, as well as feeling it in her own. She talked about “glimpses of heaven,” “feeling moved,” “being changed,” “learning new things about her friends,” and “wanting to go back,” all this in one weekend.

As I listened to her, I thought about how spiritually mature she had grown this year.  Here was my gift from God, my daughter. The relationship we share has been so wonderful, yet God was working to take it to a different level. I realize that, yes, I am her mommy and I will always be her mommy, but we can be so much more. She is now becoming my sister in Christ.

We talked about how we are both children of God – that God doesn’t have “grandchildren.” My little girl is now a sister who can come alongside me in prayer, share with me her God stories, teach me the lessons she’s learned, and encourage me in my own walk through His words.

As a mom, I would often look at her and marvel at how fast time would fly. I wanted her to just stop growing up. I wanted her to stay my little girl. Though I still treasure those moments, I am now eager for more of these moments. Moments that God will give us to grow, come alongside, encourage, share, and enjoy each other through Him.

Winter 2010 Issue

From handwritten notes in lunch sacks to personal email messages, words can say so much.  However, finding the right words can be tricky and writing often triggers anxiety rather than joy for many people.  Fortunately, this is typically due to a simple lack of experience with writing!  The good news: every writer can grow with practice.

Writing practice is all about exploration and experimentation.  The goal of practice is to gradually eliminate fear, strengthen technique, and build confidence.  It involves taking risks and trying new techniques, regardless of the outcome.  Writing just to write allows you to take Big, Bad Writing down a notch and bring it into perspective.  As you play with writing and make it your friend, the feeling that a television crew is watching over your shoulder (or a crotchety old schoolmarm) will soon fade away!

Setting the Mood
Writing is an art…and you can practice it anywhere, anytime, for any reason.  But, if you really want to get your creative juices flowing, setting up the best possible environment is helpful.  Writing takes deep thought, attention, and concentration.  Trying to write with six kids playing tag and two dogs barking may not do the trick.  To find your optimum environment, try this exercise:

EXERCISE #1: Get out a sheet of paper and answer these questions as thoughtfully as possible – Do you work best in silence or with background noise?  Does it help to have music playing in the background or on head phones?  Do you respond best to bright lighting, dim lighting, or natural lighting?  Do you like to sit at a desk, get cozy on the couch, prop up on pillows in bed, or sit under a tree?  Do your thoughts flow best in the morning, afternoon, or evening?  Do you like to scribble on a pad or let your fingers fly over the keyboard?  What drink or snack do you like to have at your fingertips?  After you answer these questions, follow your imagination and create your own personal writing space.

Worst Enemy
Nothing is more terrifying than a blank sheet of paper or computer screen to a writer.  One way to overcome this hurdle is to stop trying to write sentences and start thinking of ideas.  Before you even start to write, take time to brainstorm.  Trying to do it on the spot can be an excruciating experience.

EXERCISE #2: For one whole day (or a series of days), allow your mind to flow easily over what you want to write and begin to keep a log.  While you drive in your car, wash dishes, and fold clothes, ideas will begin to foster.  As things click and new paths become clear, jot down notes on a pad of paper.  Even when you focus on other things, your subconscious will continue to crank away.  Then, each time you have a few minutes to yourself – usually in the form of bathroom revelations for me – you will be surprised by the ideas, and even the sentences, that will bubble up.  Later, when you do sit down to write, you will have a whole pad of ideas and a direction to take.

Drafting Ideas
The primary purpose of writing a draft is to get your ideas down on paper before you lose them.  When you are in the act of writing, you are creating – polishing can come later.  Thus, capturing raw ideas and thoughts is more important thing than forming perfect sentences.  It’s important not to let grammar, spelling, handwriting, punctuation, or even “stupid ideas” get in the way when drafting.  If you stop every two seconds to fix things, you will soon lose your train of thought.  Note: Your drafts can be as long as you want with as many versions as you want (and NO ONE has to see them).

EXERCISE #3: A great tool for generating ideas – and one of the very best ways to grow as a writer – is to free write (or quick write).  To do this, choose any topic, set the timer for 5-10 minutes, and then write as fast as you can without stopping until the timer goes off.  As you write, the goal is to try to write as quickly as your thoughts flow.  Write everything you can think of, go on bunny trails – go wild.  If you get stuck, don’t stop writing!  If your mind goes blank at any point, simply write “I don’t know what to write” and repeat that until your brain clicks in and the thoughts start to flow again – just don’t stop writing!

The first time you try this exercise, it may feel uncomfortable.  You may be tempted to stop to fix grammar or worry over spelling.  Your ideas might not start to flow until the very last minute.  However, as you continue to practice free writing, you will soon learn to embrace the freedom it truly brings.  It will become your secret weapon, and you will be amazed at just how many ideas you can capture in just 5 or 7 minutes.  Soon enough, you’ll be running out of paper.  The only thing that might hold you back is a hand cramp!  Anyone who wants to grow as a writer should free write at least once a day on any topic.

Procrastinator’s Tip (not for the faint of heart): If you have cleaned the bathroom, organized your desk, and filed your nails for an hour still can’t get yourself in gear, try a writing “sprint.”  Set the timer for 30 minutes and write as much as you can, as fast as you can.  Chances are, when the timer goes off you won’t want to stop.

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation – oh my!
You don’t have to be a great editor to be a good writer.  Maybe your grammar skills stink.  Perhaps you can’t spell your way out of a wet paper sack.  Maybe your commas splice and your periods dice.  That doesn’t mean you can’t be a good writer.  You may just need to have someone else proofread your writing for a while…or forever…in order to make it more accessible.  All those signs and signals in writing help get our message across clearly, so it’s important not to ignore those things.  However, good writing also does not have to include fancy words or complex sentences.  Keeping it simple is a good thing!

Tip: To brush up on your technical skills, take it a small chunk at a time.  Write down your top 3 “problem” areas and read about one each week.  There are many helpful tutorials on the web with great examples for every learning style.  Finding an explanation that makes sense may be all that you’ve needed all along.  When you get through those 3, make another list and keep going.  In the meantime, ask a friend to proofread your work (perhaps you can teach her to make ravioli or scrapbook as thanks).

The Joy of Writing
As you practice writing, I pray that you will find joy in using the gift of writing for whatever purpose God has placed on your heart!  If you don’t know what to write about, start by writing a short testimony of how you came to know Christ.

“See, I (The Lord) have written your name on the palms of my hands.”
–Isaiah 49:16a

Chicken Crepes
Sasha Spangler

Batter:
3 eggs
1 ¾ cup flour
1 ½ cups milk
2 Tbsp. Melted butter
Directions: In large mixing bowl, beat eggs.  Gradually add dry ingredients alternately with fluids.  Continue beating until smooth.  (When using electric mixer, set at medium speed – beat about 2 minutes).  Beat in melted butter.  Cover bowl and allow batter to stand for 1 hour at room temperature or in refrigerator.  Cook crepes in a well-oiled, heated, heavy skillet (medium to large).  Place small amount of batter (1/4 cup or so) into skillet and quickly tilt the pan around to allow it to spread all the way out to the edges.  It should be thin.  Will start to bubble slightly when ready to flip.

Filling:
1 onion, chopped
3 carrots, finely diced & cooked
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 lg. can mushrooms, chopped
½ jar chopped pimento
Chopped cooked chicken pieces (About 1 ½ to 2 cups)
½ tsp. each of salt, pepper, oregano, onion salt, garlic salt, and thyme
½ cup sauce (from below)
Directions: Cook onion, carrots, and bell pepper in small amount of butter until soft.  Add chicken, mushrooms, pimento, and spices.  Heat through.

Sauce:
6 Tbsp. Butter
6 Tbsp. Flour
3 cups milk
2 cans cream of chicken soup
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. pepper
½ tsp. onion powder
3 Tbsp. Filling (from recipe above)
Directions: Melt butter in large pan.  Add flour and stir until smooth.  Add milk, stirring constantly until boiling.  Add soup and filling.  Heat through.  Cook on low for a few minutes.  If it seems too thick, you can add a little milk.

Turkey Burger Quesadilla
Kimberly Walters

1.5 lb ground turkey
8 slices mozzarella cheese
8 small flour tortillas
Guacamole
Sour cream
Fresh salsa
Nonstick cooking spray
Salt and pepper

Directions: Form into four large patties. Pat them down so they are about ½ inch thick or thinner. Salt and pepper to taste. Heat an electric skillet to Med-high heat (or use griddle or outside grill). Spray with non-stick cooking spray, and then cook your patties until desired doneness.  Cut the burger patties in half so you have 8 “half moons” and put a slice of cheese on each half, let cheese melt and keep warm.  Meanwhile, spray your skillet again and place the tortillas on one at a time lay them on the skillet to warm and lightly brown. Just before the tortilla is done, lay one of the burger halves, straight side in the middle, on the tortilla.  Remove from heat and place guacamole, sour cream, and salsa in the tortilla before your cheese cools, fold up taco style and enjoy.

Sticky chicken
Kimberly Walters

6 bone-in chicken thighs (3 pounds)
¼ cup lemon juice
½ cup honey
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 teaspoons dried oregano

Directions: Place the chicken in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Combine the lemon juice, honey, oil, garlic, and oregano; pour over chicken. Bake uncovered at 375° for 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 180°, basting occasionally with pan juices. Yield: 6 servings.

Brownies
Carol Greco

This is a recipe that I have made for years with my family.  I can remember my mother whipping up a batch of these to send with my family when we were ready to leave from a visit.  Great to have in the car on a long journey.

1 square Unsweetened Chocolate
1 square Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup all purpose flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
¾ cup coarsely chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts or mixed)
1/3 cup coconut (optional)

Directions: Melt chocolate and butter.  Mix flour with baking powder and salt.  Beat eggs well; gradually beat in sugar.  Blend in chocolate and vanilla.  Mix in flour mixture.  Add nuts and coconut.  Spread in greased 8-inch square pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool.  Cut into 16 or 20 brownies.

Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Sasha M. Spangler

1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup vegetable shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
2 cups uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugars, butter, shortening, eggs, and vanilla.  Beat until light and fluffy. Add flour, oatmeal, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms. Stir in chips. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons two inches apart onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Allow to cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

Awesome Punch
Kathleen Rua

This is perfect for a baby shower! It will fill a punchbowl and you should have a pitcher left over to keep in the refrigerator for refills. Serves 15-20 people.

2 6oz containers of Frozen lime juice
2 12oz containers frozen OJ
2 Large cans of Pineapple juice
4 quarts of ginger ale

Directions: Mix all ingredients and add to punch bowl, with ice ring if desired.  Add sprigs of mint or slices of lime and orange on top for garnish.

White Chili with Chicken
From Kimberly Walters

3 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 tsp chili powder
1 ½ tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (15-ounce) cans white kidney or navy beans, drained and rinsed
3 to 4 cups diced cooked chicken (I use a Rotisserie chicken)
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 (7-ounce) can diced green chilies
2 cups chicken broth, plus more for thinning, if desired
¼ tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter, softened
1 ½ Tbsp flour
Pepper to taste
3 to 4 Tbsp half-and-half or light cream (optional)
Grated Cheddar or Monterey Jack (optional)

Directions: Warm the oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté, stirring often, for 7 minutes. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, oregano, and garlic and sauté for another minute. Stir in the white beans, chicken, corn, green chilies, chicken broth, and salt. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and allow it to continue simmering, partially covered, for 10 minutes. Next, in a small bowl, blend the butter and flour. Add the mixture to the chili and stir until it thickens, about a minute. Add more salt and pepper to taste. If you like, add more broth to thin the chili or 3 to 4 tablespoons of half-and-half or light cream to thicken it. Serve the chili hot, topped with cheese, if desired. Serves 6.

Soup for Colds
From Kat Rua

3 brown potatoes (not greenish or with eyes)
1 large or medium-sized yellow onion, quartered
1-3 stalks of celery, cut into bite-size pieces
1-2 carrots, cut into bite-size pieces
½ or 1 cup fresh green bean, chopped (optional)
3-4 medium to large cloves of garlic, peeled (whole)
7 cups bottled distilled water (or purified)
14-oz can of low sodium chicken broth (if desired)
1 tsp Mrs. Dash, Table Blend
2 tsp parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Scrub potatoes clean and peel half the skin off each potato.  Leave the remaining skin on.   Chop one of the quarters of onion into small pieces.  Add all ingredients and bring to a boil with the lid on.  After 30 minutes, remove the potatoes, take remaining skin off, and return potatoes to the pot.  Allow soup to simmer for another 45-60 minutes, with the lid on. Optional: Take out large chunks of onion once the soup is done.  Add any other seasoning of your choice, keeping it mild to help aid digestion. This makes a large batch; keep in freezer-safe containers to give away or freeze.  The onions are good for respiratory ailments, which is one reason this soup helps.

Real Chicken Stock
Rachel Dodge

1 whole free-range chicken, including neck if possible
Gizzards (optional)
8-10 cups of filtered water
2 Tbsp vinegar
1 large onion, chopped coarsely
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
4 celery sticks, chopped
Sea Salt & Fresh ground pepper to taste
1 bunch parsley if desired

Directions: Place chicken (cut into pieces if necessary) in tall stock pot or in a crock pot.  Cover with water, add vinegar, vegetables, and seasoning.  (Depending on the pot size, add the rest of the water once it reduces if it won’t all fit at once.)  Let stand 30 minutes; then bring to a boil. Skim off any scum that rises to the top.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer.  If using a crock pot, use the highest setting to bring it up to heat, skim it, then move it down to lowest setting (10 hrs or longer).  At 1 ½ hours, the meat should be cooked.  When it is, pick the bones clean and set meat aside for soups, salads, stir fry, enchiladas, or sandwiches.  Put the bones back in the pot, check water level, and cook for at least 6 hours.  24 hours at a low simmer is ideal – this allows all of the nutritious vitamins and minerals and gelatin to come out of the bones and ligaments into the stock.

When the stock is done, strain it into a large bowl.  Refrigerate until the fat rises to the top and can easily be taken off.  Use the remaining stock for soups, stews, brown rice, etc.  Reserve in glass containers in fridge or freezer in quantities you normally use.  You can make beef stock with beef bones and ribs.  Making this stock every other week, especially if you can’t afford a lot of quality grass-fed meat, is one way to ensure you are always feed your family food that is nutritionally-dense.  You can also make this with the boney chicken parts left over from previous recipes if desired (2-3 lbs).  Stock keeps 5 days in fridge and months in the freezer.  The test for a nutritional stock is when it gelatinizes (or thickens) in the fridge when cooling; battery-raised chickens rarely are able to produce this. This stock is also wonderful for invalids or those with delicate immune systems.

Serious Chili
From Amy Piercy

*This recipe is a little more time intensive compared to others, but it’s worth the time!

2 pounds ground beef chuck
1 pound bulk Italian sausage (I prefer hot, so it gives the chili a kick)
1 (15-ounce) cans chili beans
2 (15-ounce) cans chili beans in spicy sauce
1 (15-ounce) can of kidney beans (drained)
2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 Jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped (include about ¼ – ½  of the seeds for additional flavor/spice)
4 cubes beef bouillon
1 can of beer
¼ cup chili powder
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp dried oregano
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp white sugar
Garnish: Shredded Cheddar cheese, Fritos, Sour Cream

Directions: Heat a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Crumble the ground chuck and sausage into the hot pan, and cook until evenly browned. Drain off excess grease. Pour in the chili beans, spicy chili beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the onion, celery, green and red bell peppers, jalapeño, bouillon, and beer. Season with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, oregano, cumin, hot pepper sauce, basil, salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, and sugar. Stir to blend, then cover and simmer over low heat for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

After 2 hours, taste and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. The longer the chili simmers, the better it will taste. Remove from heat and serve or refrigerate and serve the next day.  Note: I prefer to prepare and cook the chili the day before I plan on serving it.  Refrigerating the chili overnight really allows all the ingredients to meld together enriching the flavor.  I simply reheat it in a slow cooker or on the stove the next day.

Serve with your favorite corn bread recipe and garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, corn chips such as Fritos, and sour cream.  This recipe serves 12, so it’s a great excuse to invite friends/family over on a cold winter night.  I also like to bring this dish to football parties in a slow cooker.  This dish also freezes, thaws, and reheats extremely well, so feel free to freeze the leftovers for a meal down the road. (Ziploc freezer bags work well…double bag it just in case)

I was nearing the end of my run on a trail recently and along came a long, gradual uphill slope that made me groan.  Ugh, I thought.  How dare that hill be in my path.  I didn’t want to go up that hill. My heart was already pounding.  My legs were burning.   I felt mad at the hill as I neared it.  I didn’t want to run up it, I wanted to walk.  Then I thought, “Wait, let’s be positive, huh?!”

Was I going to let the hill beat me down like that?  No way.  So, I told the hill, “Thank you for challenging me.  Thank you for making my legs and my heart stronger. Thank you for strengthening me mentally, for not letting me give up and walk the hill.”

As I turned my frustration at the hill into gratitude, I found myself steadily making my way up at a slow jog.  I made the hill my partner in training.  Instead of being frustrated at the extra work, I accepted it as a good thing for me.  Then I had a thought about God.

Do I face my “hills” in life with this same attitude?  Not usually.  Could I?  Can I?  Will I? Can I take the challenges and “hills” that God places before me and look at them as a way to be stronger in my faith?  Can I accept the “hills” as part of God’s training plan for my spiritual fitness?   Or do I let frustration and negativity slow me down?

Taking on that hill and turning my thoughts to God made me realize that I need to take on my life’s challenges as a spiritual fitness training plan from God.  Those “hills” in life make me stronger, in God, in the Word, in my faith.  I was thankful for the hill.  Thankful for the reminder that everything God places before me can strengthen me and my faith, if I choose to let it.

“Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
–Romans 5: 1-4

Surely many of you have experienced moments like the following. If you have, pray for those times and these. If you have not, then perhaps you may start to look for them. The following incidents have touched my life and will hopefully touch yours as well.

Early one morning, a man came to see me in my place of work. He wanted to sell me a coat. This wasn’t unusual because I buy and sell antiques, vintage clothing, etc. I proceeded to thank him for coming in but told him I didn’t want to buy his coat.  He fumbled for a moment and then asked if I could “just” buy the coat. He only wanted five dollars for it. My mind was racing. I envisioned the coat from Dolly Parton’s song “Coat of Many Colors.” I heard the Holy Spirit telling me, “What’s five bucks? You can do without that.”  So, I smiled and said, “Sure, here’s your money.”

I’ve prayed for this man many times since then and I find others like him in my life. Maybe it’s a calling for me to pray for strangers. I’ve felt compelled to do so many times over the years.

One time, it was late afternoon and the sun was shining in the front doors of my store. It was just another day. A few customers came in here and there. Someone had been in earlier to sell me something.  Then, I saw him. He was coming through the door. He looked a little disheveled, a little lost, and a little desperate. He wanted to sell me a Bible. I looked at the black cover. I opened it. I read an inscription dated 1957. I heard him say that he just needed a few bucks. In my heart I didn’t want to buy it. I feel Bibles should be given, not sold or traded. It just didn’t seem right. However, he was so persistent. He just needed a few bucks. So, I did it; I bought the Bible.

Not more than five minutes later, there he was again. He walked right by the front of the shop with a brown bag over a can. My heart dropped at the thought of what was in that bag and how desperate he was for what a few dollars had bought him. But what could I do? Then it came to me: I could pray for him. So I did and I still do.

Last fall, it happened to me again.  I doubt that memory will ever fade from my mind. I was at a park in Stockton watching my girls play ball in a tournament. I was eating a lunch that consisted of just a few almonds and some raisins. Then I saw three desperate souls looking through the park trash cans.  They had fresh garbage bags with them and the cans were overflowing, so at first I thought they were there to empty them. However, I soon realized that those three people were starving.

I witnessed them rifling through several cans, eating all that they found as if they were at a buffet. They were doing this in front of many others, but I had the bird’s-eye view. I was overwhelmed and started praying, while each tear fell from my eyes. Meanwhile, I could see they were ready to leave and I offered them my food.  They gladly took it and then left with all the dignity they had when they came. I’m still praying for those three – and I invite you to do the same.

You see prayer can help. It doesn’t cost a cent. It doesn’t need a place. You don’t need to have much knowledge. You just need to stop, drop, and pray. Even if you only have a moment to pray it will help.  You see I could do many different things for these people, but up until now, all I’ve been called to do is pray. Join me if you’re led!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“And I (God) sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” –Ezekiel 22:30

When God calls us to intercede in prayer for people, we get to partner with Him in an intimate way.  It may just be that “none” are praying for that person — may we each be found willing!

As I walked in the valleys, where the grass doesn’t grow
And hid in the shadows of darkness below
He saw me and smiled for such plans had he mine
And he bought me and he caught me and he made my life shine

He gave me a lover I dare not pretend
He gave me a lover in life to the end
He gave me a lover beyond the sublime
He gave me a lover whose love wasn’t blind

Oh my Darling, Remember me on dark lonely nights.
Fill my senses, fill my heart with such wondrous delights
For I loved you that day, God gave you to me
We were married and together two hearts were set free

No longer I walked in the valleys alone
For God gave me a lover I could never have known
Now we travel together the highway of life
And such blessings of goodness I have found as his wife

Thirty years in the wonders of bright sunny days
Thirty years in the shadows of darkness and haze
Hand in hand with my lover we walk through it all
And trust in our Savior and answer His call

Oh my Darling, Remember me on dark lonely nights
Fill my senses, fill my heart with such wondrous delights
For I loved you that day, God gave you to me
We were married and together two hearts were set free

By the river along the pathways of life
Through the trials of the desert and windows of strife
With my lover we follow a greater of trails
For the grace and the mercy of God never fails

He gave me a lover I dare not pretend
He gave me a lover in life to the end
He gave me a lover beyond the sublime
He gave me a lover whose love wasn’t blind

Oh my Darling, Remember me on dark lonely nights
Fill my senses, fill my heart with such wondrous delights
For I loved you that day, God gave you to me
We were married and together two hearts were set free

–I want to thank the Lord for my amazing and wonderful husband, Perry, of thirty years. Some may think thirty years is a long time but it is only blink. Marriage is an awesome covenant, a place of refining, a place of growth, a place of surrender, and a place where the love of God can manifest itself in ways beyond the fathoms of this world. I love my husband. God has been doubly good to me!!!

My two year-old just had his very first major tantrum.  I can give many excuses for him… he didn’t get his nap… he’s had a busy day… he hasn’t seen me all day.  Yet in this mommy moment, I experienced a glimpse of God and His amazing, patient love for us.

I knew he was tired and spent.  He was awake, but he was very grumpy.  He was trying to do all the things he normally found fun, but with so much frustration.  So I took him upstairs to his room to settle him down.  He fought with me, trying to get to the door so he could get back to his “grumpy play.”  I tried rocking him, I lay with him in his bed, and finally I decided to just put him on the floor and physically prevent him from going to the door by blocking him with my body.  I was too strong for him.  There was no way he could get by me, but that didn’t stop him from trying.  Crying and trying to push me and crawl through my arms and legs, he continued to cry, “No Mommy!”

As I listened to his cry and saw his anguish, my heart was crushed.  Why can’t I console him?  Why doesn’t he hear my voice and calm down?  Why doesn’t he understand that I know what he needs if he would just stop and be still?

Then in a few moments, he snuggled closer to me, still saying “No Mommy” and started to settle down.  I held him close and started telling him that I loved him.  I’m not sure if he could hear me through his own cries, but he finally fell asleep.

It made me think of the times in my life when I would go 90 miles a minute.  Trying to do and take in all that I could, not considering that God knew what was best for me. God would speak to me gently saying “slow down, rest in me.”  My response would be equivalent to my baby’s “No Mommy.”  “No God, not right now.  I still want to do this or that.”

As I continued on a path that would leave me tired and grumpy, God watched, patiently saying, “slow down, rest in me.”  In my busyness maybe I wasn’t ignoring Him, but maybe I couldn’t hear Him.  Maybe from my limited perspective things were going just fine.  Finally after seeing enough, He would place something in my life that would physically stop me.  I would try to press on, but finally in the realization that I could not, I would turn to God and rest in Him (Matt 11:28).  Doing exactly what He asked me to do.  Realizing that it was exactly what I needed, and He knew it all along.  And in that time of rest and fellowship with Him, it’s as if He would give me a big hug and say, “Arlene, I love you.”

In these times, more often than not, it is me wanting to take control of a situation in my life.  I don’t remember that God only has good plans for me if I would just stop and rest in Him and find out His will (Jeremiah 29:11).  I am so glad that God loves me enough to continually reach out to me, to be patient with me, and to take drastic measures to get my attention to rest in Him.

As I type and watch my baby get his much needed rest, I kiss him on the head and say, “Baby, Mommy loves you.”

Come to me (Jesus), all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” –Matthew 11:28-30

You may not be sick, you might be thirsty!

Living here in California we have been under drought conditions for 3 years. So what does that really mean? When we turn on our water faucets, water still comes out. We may be able to water our lawns only 3 times a week instead of everyday, but everything is still green. Perhaps we have to change out a plant or two that wants more water, for a plant that will be content with less. So, what is the big deal?  Rationing is not a huge hardship, right?

Recently, I went to Folsom Lake and was truly amazed at how low the water was after all the rain we have had. We may not realize it, but when the lake is that low it changes how the whole area looks and functions. In the same way, I think we underestimate the importance and value of water for our bodies. Did you know that 75% of the body is composed of water?  This is true; the part of the body we can see and feel is only 25% of our physical make-up.

Most of us have heard something like that at some point in our lives, so we tend to think of ourselves as giant reservoirs. Something like, “So if it gets a little low that’s ok, because we still have plenty of water.”

What we don’t understand, is if we don’t maintain that 75% ratio, we are dehydrated. This dehydration can start as early as childhood and if not addressed can quickly become a chronic problem, which will have an effect on our whole body. We seem to think if we don’t have a dry mouth we must not be thirsty, but a dry mouth is the last sign the body gives for chronic dehydration.

Unfortunately, over the years we have masked our bodies need for water by altering our taste buds to crave flavors instead of plain fresh water. This is something we learn as children and carry into adulthood. How many of you think water tastes boring? Be honest. Have you ever wondered why or when you started to think water was boring? Many of the things we drink will increase our dehydration instead of alleviating it; coffee, teas, soda etc. For every cup of coffee you drink, you need two cups of water just to break even.

It is said that our brain tissue is made up of 85% water. Have you ever felt as if you were thinking in a fog or you just couldn’t think clearly? This is a sign of dehydration. When we become chronically dehydrated the body goes into serious rationing which creates strong reactions and conditions.

The body will cry out to us in many ways trying to draw our attention to a particular area that is very dehydrated. This can manifest itself through heartburn, hiatus hernia, lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, asthma, allergies and many other ailments. We often misinterpret these signs and mask them with medication, until the cry for water becomes a more serious problem. Many of these health issues can be controlled or even reversed by simply drinking more water.

Have you reached for a glass of water yet? In order to get our body to a healthier state we need to re-hydrate it, but this won’t happen by drinking a little more water for a day or two. It needs to be a lifestyle change.

I recently moved and with all of the change I neglected my house plants. This became really obvious when they started turning brown and dropping leaves. The soil had become so dry that when I watered them the water flowed right through. I had to saturate the soil with a lot of water in order to re-hydrate it and remind it how to hold moisture as God intended it to do. The same will be true of our bodies.

We need to drink a minimum of six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. We are the most dehydrated first thing in the morning. We have gone 6-8 hours without adding any fluids to our bodies, but we were losing water all night just through our breathing. We don’t think about our breath having moisture in it until we breathe on glass and fog it up. I have a bottle of water next to my bed and start my morning by drinking 16 ounces before doing anything else. [I find that if I don’t start my day this way, I will drink even less water throughout the day.]

We should also drink at least one glass of water ½ hour before eating and another glass 2 ½ hours after we eat [breakfast, lunch and dinner]. You should not have any liquids while eating as they dilute the digestive enzymes and hinder the whole digestive process. Being thirsty while you eat is another way your body is trying to inform you that you are dehydrated or possibly that you didn’t chew your food enough [maybe both]. Remember chew, chew, chew.

Your thirst mechanism will become more efficient as you increase your water intake, signaling you more often to keep your body hydrated. At this point, whenever you are thirsty drink water. You might even find that your body will ask you to drink above the minimum for a time. This small change is worth it though! The positive life change of merely thinking more clearly should encourage us enough to make a conscious effort to hydrate our bodies the way God intended them to be!

However, when it isn’t simply our thoughts that are affected by our dehydration and we are having health problems, we may feel like we are wandering in circles in a wilderness.

I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
–Isaiah 43:19b

In Isaiah, God tells us He will make a roadway in the wilderness and a river in the desert. Think about that for a moment. If you have a roadway you no longer need to wander in circles since God has given you the direction in which to go.

Question:          What happens when you add water to a desert?
Answer:            It blooms and grows, and as a result it will no longer be a desert.

This is true when we add the water of His word to our life and add water to our body.  Are you thirsty? Have a glass of water!

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
–John 4:13-14

As I was reading through the “Bible Bus” (One-Year Bible readings) in Genesis this January, I took special notice of Isaac’s journey and the wells that he dug along the way in Genesis 26.

Genesis 26: 15-19 says: “For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines has stopped them, and filled them with earth… Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham… and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.”

The term, “springing water” there is correctly written as “living water” in some translations.  This made me think about what Jesus said in John 7:38: “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink, and out of his innermost being shall gush forth torrents of living water. This He spoke of the Holy Spirit.”
When did Isaac find living water? When he was in the valley.

As we dig out old wells, isn’t it amazing how God brings those who are hungering and thirsting for Him right to the same well we have been digging on?  I love the Women at the Well in John 4 that we have been learning about on Sunday mornings. I love that Jesus is there at the well. I love that He gives us Living Water when we come to Him.

I know, too, that we need to keep digging each day as Christians. That is what studying the Bible is all about: Digging in the valleys, digging in the deserts, digging on the mountain tops. And what happens after the digging? God fills the wells that were stopped up by the enemy with Living Water! What abundant Life we have when filled with God’s Spirit! God’s Word is ignited by the fire of His Holy Spirit!

We need God’s Spirit to ignite us as we study His Word! And if you are in “the valley” spiritually, you are in the perfect place to find Living Water in those dry wells. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, (those who realize their need) for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6.

As you get out God’s digging instruments and the dirt starts to fly away, you will be so amazed at what God will do in your life as you dig into His Word!  When we dig, many things begin to happen.

First, we must realize there may be contention.  Isaac knew the names of each of Abraham’s wells and each had a special name. One called Esek means “contention.” We must understand that when we start clearing the enemy’s dirt in our lives, challenges and warfare are sure to follow. But Jesus is greater still than all of the contention the enemy can throw out our way!

Next, we must realize that we will face persecution.  Another well was called Sitnah, which means “hated.” Yes, the world is going to “hate us” because they hate Jesus! We will be persecuted. Jesus said we would because we are His children.

But then, we come to the well called Rehoboth, which means “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”  Through the digging of the wells of His Word you will be fruitful. God will make plenty of room for you and all of your friends and family. He will expand your borders and fill your territories with such amazing things!

When you say, “I want to be used to help water the flock,” the Lord will empower you in a dynamic and fresh way. You may suddenly realize that YOU are that Woman at the Well. She may have been one of the greatest evangelists in history, for she pointed all of Samaria to Jesus.  God used the Woman at the Well to begin a revival of Living Water in the wells of their hearts!  God is Amazing!

So let’s dig in to God’s Word and seek out what He has for us each day, whether we are in the valley or on the mountaintop of life.  God will meet us right where we are every day.

Jump on the Bible Bus with us and start reading through God’s Word in a year.  You can start anytime!  Click here to go to the Bible Bus, a daily schedule of 15-minute Bible readings (from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs).  As you dig in and read God’s Word each day, taking time for regular Bible Bus Stops, you will surely be blessed.

Bloom is a little coffee shop in Roseville. I had never been there until recently, but I had heard really good things about it. I had also heard that Danny Donnelly was going to be playing there one Friday night from 8:30pm -10:30pm. It sounded like fun. I had to work that night, but I figured I could go down for the last hour.

It ended up being a late night at work. I work at a restaurant and it was just one of those nights where people decided to sit and talk forever!  I finally got out the door around 9:30pm and I picked up my friend Lindsay, who was home for Thanksgiving break, and we headed down to Roseville.

We showed up at Bloom around 10pm and it was packed! We made our way through the maze to the counter to order some hot chocolate. Now I know why Bloom is so popular. It has a fun atmosphere, very artsy. The hot chocolate was good; there was a pretty design on the top. We ended up standing for a while because it was so crowded. Finally a table opened up and two girls sat down. Lindsay and I asked if we could sit with them since there were no other available seats.

We started talking with the two girls, Anna and Melody. As we talked, we found out that we had a lot in common.  Anna is at Sierra College, just like I am. They both want to go into the nursing program, and Lindsay was just finishing the nursing program. They graduated from Whitney High School, and some of the guys in the youth group attend Whitney.

As we continued talking, they commented on how it was usually never this busy. They were also curious as to who that guy was with the guitar in the front. Lindsay and I were then given the opportunity to share with them how he’s the worship pastor at my church. Many of the people there that night were from Metro and that was why it was so crowded. We ended up talking about religion. Melody was Catholic and Anna had no religious preference.

It was neat to see how God used something as simple as a coffee place and a music night to allow us to meet those girls.

Lately it seems like God has been hitting me on every side with the call for evangelism. Everywhere I go, whether a Bible study or small group, it seems like that’s what the message is.  It’s been a hard pill to swallow. Evangelism isn’t easy; it’s awkward and difficult at times. Sometimes it’s difficult to know when and how to share the Gospel.

That night at Bloom God drove home the idea that it’s not up to me to make these opportunities to share the Gospel. I’m not responsible for preparing that person’s heart or setting up the situation. God will take care of all of those details. He simply wants me to be obedient. It may not come as a flash of lightning or some supernatural force.

It may only be a desire for hot chocolate and the opportunity to hear some music at a coffee shop, but God can and will work through our everyday lives. Even as we’re grocery shopping, running errands, waiting in between classes, getting a cup of coffee, or even going to the gas station. God will present us with the opportunities to be a witness; we simply need to be willing to obey.

“And he (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” –Mark 16:15

Arriving at Metro Calvary about 6 months ago resulted in immediate blessings.  I was met by caring welcomes, small group interactions, and the best teaching from the pastor I have ever experienced.  It was obvious that many had integrated the sound biblical teaching that we are to give ourselves to God, become disciples, and then give to others. In giving to others, we find we have more and more to give.

Being “new” is an experience I’ve had throughout my life. My nomad family followed work sites in oil fields across many states as I was growing up, which resulted in my going to 13 different elementary schools and high schools.  When we’d arrive in a new town, my mother would make three stops within the first few days.

Her first stop was to the local church where she signed us up for Sunday school and signed herself up (and our dad) to help on some type of committee.  Unbeknownst to me, she always asked for a recommendation of a family with similar-aged children for us to play with.  Her second stop was to the school where we were enrolled.  There, she also signed herself up for substituting or tutoring.  Our third stop was to meet our neighbors.  My mother baked and then, with my brother and me in tow, went off to meet the neighbors and our “church family.”

I did not always share my mother’s enthusiasm for meeting new people, especially during my adolescent years.  Eventually I resigned myself to it, knowing that her intentions were golden.  She would acknowledge my reservations or fears of the unknown with this poem that I still treasure:

The mouse in the dust bin shadows
Whistles to calm its fears.
The feeling of the weight of darkness
on his whiskers and, oh, so near
the sound of something behind him.
But he laughed as there was nothing there
Only his shivering, quivering tail
So he stopped being scared.

So wise was my mother to point out that my perceptions of fear need not deter me from the positive action of reaching out and giving to others.

Another family member that provided an example of giving was my Grandpa Miller.  He was very stern and business-like until you walked with him up to the town square. His pant pockets rattled with homemade spinning tops carved from wooden spools and painted with love. Every kindergarten child in Kahoka, MO received a top from him, for over 25 years.  Anyone else new in town that we saw on our walks got one too.

Once when my Jr. High Girl Scout Troop was selected to attend the International Jamboree at the foot of Pike’s Peak, we were told that each member was to bring 100 items that represented her town to “trade with the new girls” as a get-acquainted tool.  I was clueless as to what I could take until one day I received a box from Grandpa filled with 100+ tops.  There was no message included, but none was needed.  With such love and demonstration of caring, I was blessed again by his example of giving.

Blessings kept to ourselves have no means of multiplying in the lives of others.  Please take some time today to give a smile, a welcome, a prayer, a kind word, a card, a song, or the gift of the Gospel to someone else.  When you give someone the gift of your Christian convictions, there is such blessing.

Thank you for such a warm welcome, Metro Church family!  Please join me as I pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, provide us guidance and strength to be givers.  Let us first find peace within ourselves.  Guide us not to forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May we use our gifts that you have given us and pass on your love.  Permit us the freedom to sing, dance, bask in the sun, and reach out to others.  In your name we pray, Amen.

I recently made a delightful discovery about some of my skirts, dresses, and even my dear husband’s ties!  They are hiding purposes beyond their intended use that not only add to your outfit – but also act as wonderful substitutes for the items that are commonly used to adorn your beautiful, God-given necklines.  That’s right – who knew!

I bought this dress at Love Culture after I saw my co-worker flaunting it.   It’s such a simple dress, but I knew there was versatility behind it – never expected to use it as a scarf.

In lieu of the few necklaces that I own (I’m picky when it comes to necklaces so I don’t often buy them) I scrounged up a similar effect with one of my husband’s ties.

Yes, I threw in a feather.  You don’t have to – it actually wears nicely when you wear it like you would a scarf (fold in half – pull around your neck, and put the side where the two ends meet through the side that creates a loop at the fold), but I like the extra flair.

If you don’t have a similar dress to work with, try a skirt!  It works just as well and is a great addition to a simple jeans & T-shirt ensemble.  I’ve also tried cardigans strategically wrapped around my neck.

Enjoy the possibilities while it’s still frigid, ladies!



December 2009 Issue

I also think of my grandpa.  From the time I was born, he has always read the Christmas story right out the Bible to us on Christmas, ever so sweetly with the whole family gathered around. He always wants to make sure we all remember why the gifts are being given.

My great-grandma and my grandpa are both known for more than just their traditions. My great-grandmother was a prayer warrior. She prayed long days for my family, for missionaries, and many other things. I can’t help but think that it was her prayers that helped pull me out of my desperate, hopeless teenage years and into walking faithfully with my Jesus. My grandpa is also known for his prayers and his deep, loving heart. I have seen his tears of heartache when family has fallen away and tears of joy when they have come back to Jesus.

Now my great-grandma is 94 years old and hasn’t baked in a few years. She hasn’t even been to Christmas in quite a while, due to her health. She still lives in our lives by her many prayers that have helped make us who we are. My grandfather has taught all of us the meaning of Christmas, that Jesus’ birth is the center of our gathering.

What will my family, grandkids or (if the Lord should tarry) great-grandkids remember about me? The hard work that goes into keeping traditions is meaningful, but none is as meaningful as a godly example.  Will I have such an impact on their lives as my grandparents have had on mine? This is my Christmas prayer.

“So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?” –Ecclesiastes 3:22

Why do families spend hundreds or thousands of dollars each year?  Why does the world make such a big deal out of what is supposed to be a “Christian” holy day?

Walking through the mall one Sunday this season, I heard a piano playing a simple old tune.  I knew the words:

“What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?”

Of course that is what it is about, I told myself, trying to drive away the Grinch within.  Yes, it is about Jesus, and mangers and hay and . . .  why is that really such a big deal? I felt growing sympathy for Ebenezer Scrooge; I’m almost ready to say, “Bah, humbug,”

“Why lies He in such mean estate . . . ?”

We try our best to dismiss the squalid conditions with clean, neat, packaged nativity scenes, where the virgin mother looks more like she’s just taken a shower and brushed her teeth instead of birthing a child.  What if we looked at the birth of the God-man with honesty? We must strip away the showy, gaudy, made-up face of Christmas and really embrace the essence of the incarnation of Christ.

Immanuel, God is with us. The humble God!  He washes feet. He touches lepers. He forgives the weeping whore. He will be spit upon, struck, and killed. He inhabits a fragile body, and is emptied.  He, who formed heaven with a word, gasps in air, naked and covered in blood, a helpless babe.

And we did not know what to do with Him. So, we shoved a pregnant woman and her husband into a stable. In a jealous rage, we ordered all babies killed in an attempt to shut down the competition.  We scorned the “son of Joseph,” because “we know what really happened.  Did they think that we couldn’t count?”  We sought for signs and entertainment, utterly rejecting the idea of a kingdom without physical power.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,

Christ, the everlasting Lord:

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,

Hail the incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel

Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by,

born that man no more may die:

Born to raise the sons of earth,

born to give them second birth.

This is the miracle of Christmas: while we were rejecting Him all along, He loved us, knew us, veiled His glory, and there was great rejoicing still.

We always got IOUs from our grandma on Christmas for the items she didn’t quite get finished in time for Christmas.  It became a tradition for us to all wait to find out who would get the IOU each year for her wonderful handmade items. I have a quilt that was an IOU present from my grandma that is special to me because she passed away later that same year.  I am thankful she was able to finish it. –Neysa S.

We always make a birthday cake for Jesus with our kids each year.  They help me bake it and frost it, and they always write on it with frosting.  On Christmas Eve, we eat chili and drink cider, then light the candles on the cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus.  We read the Christmas story from the Bible, have cake together, and open one gift per person. –Holly V.

When our two daughters were in 2^nd and 4^th grade we became close with a few of their teachers.  Both were single women and really struggling with life.  As we prayed for them, we talked about the idea of trying to bring a little joy into their lives during the holidays.  We invited them to church and they came.   That started a tradition that we have continued every year, what we call our secret angel.  As the holidays approach we ask God to show us someone that might be having a hard time, someone that could use some attention and love.  The Lord has brought someone to us every year.  About two weeks prior to Christmas, we start leaving little gifts or notes of encouragement on their doorstep in the evenings.  It is so fun (and was especially so when the girls were younger) to keep it a secret and be quiet when we make our deliveries each night.  It’s not expensive.  We try to give little things that would just encourage them, whether it’s a note of encouragement with scripture, a small tin of caramel corn, or a cute ornament.  Christmas is about giving; God sent us the precious gift of His Son and gave us the gift of eternal life through Christ.  This tradition has given us as a family many great memories of sharing and giving to others.  It has also given us great opportunities to talk about the different ways we can give to others and the different ways God can use us in other people’s lives. –Leann Crutchfield

We like to go see decorations around the neighborhood and take photos.  Here is one we saw of a beautiful manger scene. –Lisa V.

I love to read “The Tale of Three Trees” to my kids at Christmas time.  It’s a story about three trees on a mountain top dreaming of what they want to become when they grow up. At the end, each tree finds itself in a place they never desired to be, yet in the end -”God’s love changes everything.”  Their wishes do come true, but in a way they never expected.  It is a perfect book that has the significance of Christ’s life and his atoning sacrifice on the cross.  The powerful message that God has a special plan for each of us permeates through the story. It is simple, easy to read and a young child can easily understand it. –Kimberly W.

On Christmas Eve 2004, I woke up with a terrible pain in the lower abdomen like I never had before.  My doctor wasn’t seeing patients that day and the office suggested that I go to urgent care.  After several hours at home and the pain not subsiding, Ralph took me to the UC Davis Emergency Room in the evening.  It was packed with people.  After 17 hours in the ER waiting to be seen, it was determined that I needed surgery immediately.  So while family and friends were celebrating Christmas, I was having surgery and Ralph was praying while waiting.  We are so thankful for the doctors, nurses, and all others at the hospital that were there for us.  This is our tradition:  for several days before Christmas, I bake lots of goodies and we take them on Christmas Eve to the ER staff and the nurses’ stations on the floors where I have been treated to say thank you for being there for us when we needed them. – Carol G.

My favorite Christmas memory was having Christmas Eve dinner with a dear friend’s family about ten years ago in Santa Cruz. The mom had a stout German Heritage and was quite a character as were her relatives. My friend and I were in our twenties and loved being spontaneous at just about anything and everything – especially when it meant convincing her wonderful German mother that whatever it was, was a great idea. So after dinner, we all began naming Christmas carols that we knew (or at least thought we knew). Luckily we had quite a few elders who knew the lyrics and my friend and I convinced them all to spontaneously go caroling in the neighborhood at about 8:00. There were about twenty five of us by the end of about a two-hour stint and we had a few people join us along the way. It was so wonderful and we remember it together every year. We had no idea it was going to be so much fun and so well received. –Kat R.

Growing up, my grandparents always came to pick my younger brother and me on Christmas Eve every year to go decorate our church with luminaries.  They along brought a huge tub of sand and hundreds of paper sacks and votive candles.  The minute we pulled up to church around dusk, we would all pile out and set up quickly, bundled in heavy coats, hats, and gloves, right at dusk.  My grandpa would set up a chair for my grandma and she would use an old tin measuring cup to fill the bags with sand.  I was in charge of taking the bags and lining all of the sidewalks and paths going to and from the front doors of the church, my brother came behind with the candles, and my grandpa came behind him to light each candle.  We were always so cold and had to run like crazy to keep warm and get done before people started coming for the Christmas Eve Service, but it was so much fun.  By the time we finished it was very dark and the effect was magical.  My brother and I loved to look at the finished product: beautiful lines of lights leading up to our church from every direction.  As a young girl, I knew that it was to light the paths of all of the people who would come to church, but I always thought it would light the path for Jesus to come and be with us.  We did this every year until my grandparents passed away.  Now we do it at home every Christmas Eve. –Rachel Dodge

Make lists – if your kids are old enough, have them make a list of some things they would like to get. I have my kids put at least ten things on their list so that they end up getting something they really want or need.  Having the ten things listed still gives you the option to choose the specific gift.

Start early – if you are going to shop indoors. Malls and department stores are typically less busy during the morning hours.

Don’t forget to save your receipts – You never know when you might get a duplicate item or a broken item.

Shop online! Amazon.com is a GREAT resource. I simple-search for what I am looking for and it searches different stores for me and shows the best prices. I can order multiple things from many different stores – all on one site!  They have everything:  I found a crock pot for my mom, a pink push car for my youngest one and…..oops, I better not say what I bought for my girls  in case they try to read this article…they can be really sneaky!  The point is one-stop-shopping and no sales tax. Try it!  Plus, Amazon gives you the customer reviews for each item so you know how good (or bad) it really is.

Take advantage of the free/inexpensive gift wrap that many stores offer – free or at a minimal cost – talk about a time saver that’s worth it!

Don’t wait until last minute! Are you one of those people who add to their own stress level by doing last-minute Christmas shopping?  Look at it this way… When you shop on Christmas Eve you have to fight the crowds, choose from limited merchandise, and wait in long lines. Buy your gifts little by little, beginning in November, and you can avoid last-minute shopping fiascos.

Think gift cards – Can’t think of what to buy someone? Get them a gift card! Some people don’t like giving them because they say they’re “just not personal.”  Why not?  Who cares?  Who doesn’t like to get gift cards?  I sure do!

Save money by making your own Christmas gifts – Stationary, candles, jams, gifts in a jar, (i.e. cookies, soups, brownie mix, etc.), and/or jewelry.  Handmade gifts are very inexpensive and who doesn’t enjoy baking the goodies?

While you are out there shopping for your loved ones pray for them – lift them up to Jesus and pray a special blessing on their life.  Some of them might be saved, but it is my guess that you may know those who are not. Pray that 2010 would be the year for them to give their life to Christ.  After all, that is the perfect gift of all… the gift that was given to us over 2000 years ago.

My Horse
By Kerry Morsey

On Christmas morning one year, as other eager children were bursting with anticipation, anxious expectation, and curiosity, I climbed out of bed with a sad but heavy heart. I was eleven years-old and my mother, by unfortunate events, had just divorced my stepfather. The scene outside my window of frozen grassy meadows and old moss-covered trees was in sharp contrast to the city street lights of Southern California that I had always known. My bedroom was in the back porch of the house and the damp cold winter air left my French-pained windows wet with the dripping morning dew. I didn’t know how to explain to myself the uncertainty of life and the circumstances I found myself in. I felt like a prisoner, with a daunting and depressing future, wishing for some secret magical world.

We had moved to Northern California for safe haven and to be close to my mother’s brother and his family. The only bright spot in our move was the ranch down the road that my aunt’s father (“Grandpa Jim”) owned and where he bred horses. I found that I loved walking the winding country road to Grandpa Jim’s, which was sporadically lined with old country homes and mangy dogs. It was beautiful to see the horses running with their manes floating softly in the air as they snorted and galloped across the field. After school I cleaned stalls and helped around the barn in order to pay for riding lessons.

In the eyes of a little girl, one horse seemed to out-dazzle them all – Preacher. I fell in love with him. His neck was strong and husky and his eyes sparked with cheerful play. Perhaps I imagined he was the most spectacular horse of them all, but his hoofs seemed to glide effortlessly across the earth’s hardened ground as though he was taking flight.  I knew I could never own him, but I dreamed.  A thought, a hope, a dream, could he be mine?

By that age, I had become more aware of how hard my mother worked to provide us with a bright, happy Christmas. Our gifts were simple and we usually received one special present on our Christmas list. It saddened me that my mother had to work so hard, so I tried to be thankful.  Most Christmases, however, were uneventful.

That Christmas morning as I my feet touched the cold drafty wooden floor, my facial muscles tried to fake a smile and a light-hearted disposition. I slowly shuffled to the family room and sat by the fireplace while carefully surveying the room. Then, I noticed a red ribbon tied to a box that led to another room. I sprang to my feet, and said, “Mom, what is this?” After a pause, which seemed like minutes, she said, “Follow it.” The ribbon was carefully laid out across the floor and disappeared around the corner.  I followed it, and a moment later I was out the kitchen door and in the backyard. At the end of the ribbon was a horse with a big red bow around his neck! Shocked and surprised, I wondered if it was a dream.  I thought, is he mine? He was!

Needless to say that was my best Christmas ever.  My horse became my friend and my refuge in times of trouble. I would go out riding alone and just wander through the pear orchards and the troubles of life would disappear.  After several years, another abrupt change came and we moved back to the city.  I had to leave my horse behind, but in all of it was the unseen hand of a Heavenly Father drawing me close to Himself. The uncertainties of life and the circumstances I found myself in had created in me a deeper growing need for a Savior.

More Treasured Gifts…
The best Christmas gift I ever received cost almost nothing, but it seemed as if it came from heaven itself. I had received God’s gift of eternal life in August of the year I was nineteen. I had begun attending a church, and they knew I was a single mom, whose 22-month old son was in Sunday School every week. That year my church gave Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to needy families, but no one thought of me. They didn’t realize how little I had.  Then one night in early December, two women who were not well known in the church and who didn’t head any ministry came to my house. They brought with them what could only be described as a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It was about three feet high and had two pieces of wood nailed to the bottom, so that it stood up. They brought a string of red Christmas lights, and that one string covered the entire tree. They may never have known how much their gift meant. I was so alone but celebrating my first Christmas as part of God’s family. That little tree was a reminder to me throughout the month that He remembered me. -Carol Kennedy

The best Christmas gift I ever got growing up was an Easy Bake oven when I was 10. It was one of those little plastic boxes that had a light bulb inside. I couldn’t stop jumping up and down!!! –Kelsi M.

The best Christmas gift I ever received was the gift of a real family in 1995…the year I married my husband Robb. His family always celebrated on Christmas Eve.  They went to the evening church service, opened gifts, the whole works. We were always with his entire family, parents, grandparents, etc.  I loved it! We kept up this tradition until his grandparents passed away last year, and Christmas is not the same without them. We still get together on Christmas Eve but it is much smaller now.  I have great memories of those big family gatherings! –Kimberly W.

One of my most memorable Christmas mornings was when I got new clothes for my baby doll as a little girl.  My mom gave my brother a boy doll that year and because she knew I would want a new doll too (and perhaps because money was tight), she gave me my doll again…with new clothes that she made by hand.  When I went to the tree on Christmas morning, there was my doll dressed in a pretty wedding dress and veil. I was thrilled! –Rachel D.

I still think about it every Christmas. After a strange series of events (miracles perhaps?) there was to be no celebration together with my family that year. Unheard of! So I spent Christmas with the family of the man I had just started dating that month. They welcomed me so lovingly and I was instantly a part of the family. Suddenly had a whole family of people around me who loved the Lord. We had so much fun playing games, laughing, and staying up way too late. The Lord quietly let me know that these people would become MY family. Ron and I were engaged not long after that. We will be celebrating our 16th anniversary in just a couple months! I will never forget that Christmas. My husband and his family are definitely the best Christmas gift I’ve ever gotten! – Kathleen Summers

My husband has always loved the Christmas season and looked forward to it with much enthusiasm and very sweet delight. From the smell of pine needles and apple cider to his carefully planned lighting display in the front yard, he savors every detail.  I, on the other hand, am often so preoccupied with the busyness and practical things that accompany those eventful months of November and December that many times I forget to stop and share in the little things that bring him so much joy.

The year we were expecting our first child, we began to see the season in a whole new light.   It was so exciting to think that in the years to come our Christmas mornings would be so different. No longer would it be just the two of us, but rather we would be awakened by the excitement and glee of little ones eager to unpack their stockings and clamor to the tree with bright packages beneath it.

I wanted Todd to know how much I adored his yuletide zeal and that I did share his love for all things Christmas, or at least most of them, though I did not always take the time to express it.  In a moment of uncharacteristic sentimentality, I came home from work one evening with an early Christmas gift for him.  It was an ornament – the kind that is pieced together with colored dough, baked and glazed, with our names and the year written on the front.  At the time it was just a small gesture of love, but it started one of our most cherished family traditions.

The following year we chose our ornament together, and bought not only one for us, but also another ornament for our precious new daughter.  Hers was a little blonde-haired angel dressed in pink, because we knew she was a gift sent from the Lord, a way to change our lives and bring us closer to Him.  This December will mark the tenth year we add to our collection, and we now bring home three ornaments, one for our family as a whole and one for each of our two children.

These days, although we all enjoy finding just the right new ornaments, most of our pleasure as a family comes from unpacking our treasures from Christmases past.  As we un-wrap the tissue paper from one glazed trinket after another, we take a moment out of the chaos of the season to remember each ornament along with each year and the blessings God brought with it.  We think back and recall the reason the children chose their particular ornament at that particular time, and marvel at how they have grown.  We also consider how we as a couple have grown as well, in love as husband and wife and in our walks with our precious Savior, who we are so blessed to be celebrating.

And as we sit in the midst of crumpled tissue paper piles, next to a half-decorated tree, how wonderful it is to be reminded that no matter how much we change over the years, God will never change and all those blessings we remember, and the ones we have yet to experience, come from His very own hands.

Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. –James 1:17

This month, we interviewed the Young Married couples and other men and women around Metro to try to find some good gift ideas for spouses.  Sadly, the answers we got back were sparse.  They ranged from cologne to homemade coupon books to nothing at all (“we just buy for the kids”).  For the most part everyone was looking for ideas.

The best idea was from Dan M. who told us about an “All about Me Day” he organized for his wife, Hennie.  The day began with the gift of sleeping in and then she was sent on a progressive present day (like a progressive dinner) that included meals with friends, “treats” such as pedicures, and shopping appointments with gift cards included for favorite stores.

The “All about Me Day” is a great idea for wives (are any husbands reading this? hint, hint), but it can also work for husbands.  You can put together a special day for your husband that includes breakfast in bed, an appointment with his friends for a round of Frisbee golf, a gift card to his favorite store (Fry’s or Home Depot always work), and finally a “man” room at home set up with his favorite snacks so he can watch a sports event or action flick with no interruptions.

On the whole though, it seems particularly hard to find fun gift ideas for our husbands.  Most of us can make a Christmas list of ideas for ourselves pretty quickly; we women love pretty things, comfort items, spa appointments, cooking gadgets, and the like.  But a lot of our guys are harder to shop for.  For instance, what do you buy for that guy in your life who gives you ideas like, “Hey, I do need new socks.  You could find me some of those” or “I did like that new 65-inch flat screen we saw last week” (yeah, right)!

If you are looking for gift ideas that fall somewhere in between socks and flat screens for that hard-to-shop-for hubby, here are some fun ideas that range from inexpensive to moderate prices.  Sometimes it just takes a little creativity or some extra legwork, but your hubbies are sure to be happy with these loving gifts:

• A Massage! Many places sell gift certificates in 30-minute and 1-hour increments. You can bet these will be used. Just ask for references – you want to make sure you are using a reputable organization.
• For the motorcycle enthusiast who has not yet saved up enough for the bike of his dreams, give him his dream machine for a day! Rent a Harley-Davidson for a day and he’ll have a blast tooling around town and the surrounding countryside.
• Gift cards to home-supply stores are handy to have in a drawer for small purchases throughout the year.  When a new light fixture, new extension cords, small tools, grass seed, or seasonal plants are needed, certificates in the drawer take the sting out of the cost of everyday items.
• For the fisherman, an annual fishing license for the New Year is always appreciated.
• Gift certificates to local car washes, for gas fill-ups, and for oil changes make great gifts or stocking stuffers.
• Is your husband a sports junkie? You can give him tickets to see his favorite sports team play.
• Is he a music lover? How about two concert tickets? (Maybe he will pick you to go with him!)
• Does he like reading Bible commentaries?  Buy him a few bound volumes of one of the many great Bible commentaries that Pastor Richard is always careful to recommend while teaching.
• Give him a gift certificate to try something he has always wanted to try such as skydiving, indoor rock climbing, paintballing, or indoor kart racing.
• Stuff 5-10 scratch-off lottery tickets in his stocking for some fun – it may just be the gift that keeps on giving!
• Is he a collector? Buy Nascars, Lionel trains, or sports memorabilia for his collection.
• Does he travel a lot or spend a lot of time in the car? How about a subscription for satellite radio for a year or some audio books? Go to your local Christian bookstore or ask around for a good book that would be beneficial to him.
• Many men love to grill! Why not get him some personalized grilling tools? Or a BBQ cover (for the rainy season) and wood chunks for his BBQ.
• Now this one might sound a little funny but men love getting their feet rubbed, so get him a gift certificate for a pedicure! (It will make him feel like a king and he might just ask you to come along!)
• Put together a basket of comfort gifts and pamper him with cozy items for winter: A soft blanket for his favorite arm chair, indoor/outdoor slippers, flannel pajamas, or a new plush robe.
• Buy him his very own set of those bath items he usually “borrows” from you, such as tweezers, lotion for his chapped hands and feet (make sure it is MANLY lotion), a back scrubber for the shower, clippers for his nails, q-tips, foot salts, and body wash (again, choose a scent that makes him feel like beating his chest).
• Pool your money with his parents, your parents, or whoever else is also looking for a present for him and surprise him with one of the higher-priced gifts that he would never expect to get!
• Kitchen gadgets.  Many men enjoy working in the kitchen, especially if they have fun gadgets to use such as collapsible colanders, fancy can openers, and “uni-taskers” for slicing and dicing specific vegetables or fruits.  The next time he wants an apple pie, he’ll be happy to help if he can proudly whip out his snazzy apple slicer/corer and prep the apples while you make the crust!
• Does he have a good (or not so good) sense of direction? Do some research on a good GPS system for his car and give him the gift of smooth navigation.
• Buy a large poster-size frame at Michael’s or Bed, Bath & Beyond and frame some of his memorabilia, such as his old football jersey from high school, the rare copy of Sports Illustrated he’s had since that golden year when his team won the championships, or that box of old concert tickets and photos tucked in the back of a closet that he’s been saving since college.

Special thanks to: Michelle Kristedja for her reporting at Young Marrieds and to Kimberly Walters for her expert gift ideas.
We hope this list is beneficial to you this season as you shop for happy hubby gifts!
Merry Christmas and happy shopping!!!

What does Christmas mean to you?

Cadence: Jesus’ Birthday

Atticus: Jesus born

Landon:  Jesus’ Birthday

Krista: Jesus coming on earth as a baby

Emilee: Jesus giving His life for us

Shey: Jesus coming to earth as God

Bre: It’s about God

Alex: That Jesus was Born

Ariana: You get lots of presents

Ashley: A time of giving. Of Jesus being born.

Heather: That Jesus was born and he came to save us from our sins but he couldn’t do that yet ‘cause he was a baby.

What kinds of things do your parents do at Christmas time to make it special?

Cadence:  Put sparkly lights up and decorate the house all up

Landon:  Make pies and have mine own little Christmas tree in my room

Shey: They invite the whole family over.  I like being with them

Krista: Just being together, love our family traditions

Bre: They get us presents

Alex: Give presents to us

Ariana: Give us yummy food

Ashley: Give us presents

Heather: Go to my aunt and uncle’s by surprise

Jake: Sunday morning, see Santa Clause

What’s your favorite thing to eat on Christmas?

Miles: Sandwiches, chocolate, cookies

Daniel: Cookies, cakes

Jake: Fruit snacks

Atticus: Ice cream

Cadence:  A Santa cookie

Landon:  All the desserts because we have dessert all the time at Christmas

Krista: Pumpkin Pie

Emilee: Ribs

Shey: Mashed Potatoes

Bre: Candy

Ariana: Um, cake

Ashley: Cheesecake

Heather: Apple pie

Jake: Crackers

Diego: Snacks

What is the best Christmas present you ever got?
Daniel: Animals, lions

Jake: Just football

Atticus: Buzz Light Year

Cadence:  Glitter gooey glue

Landon:  My little basketball hoop on the closet door

Krista: My cell phone

Emilee, Shey, and Bre: Our Wii

Alex: The computer

Ariana: The tv

Ashley: Movies

Heather: Slippers and boots I really wanted

Diego: New shoes

Out of the mouths of babes!  It’s perhaps no surprise that our kids love the sweets best and go crazy for the fun electronics, but simple gestures and gifts also make an impact on their hearts.  A fun surprise…glittery art supplies…strings of pretty lights…time spent with family…they love it all.

Best of all, the one thing they all agree on is the ‘reason for the season’:
The birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

What a treasure it is to hear what our kids think about Christmas and how they like to celebrate Jesus’ birthday!

Since my husband and I were first married, we’ve had Christmas Brunch at our house and opened our home to anyone who didn’t have a place to go on Christmas.  Here are some recipes over the years that we have shared with folks.  Enjoy sharing these with those that God has put on your heart to invite into your home this year.

Mexican Brunch Eggs
14 eggs
½ cup flour
2 cups cottage cheese
16 ounces of shredded cheese (Mexican blend works nicely)
1 (7-oz) can of diced green chiles (fired roasted)
1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp garlic salt

Directions: Spray a 13×9 inch casserole dish (I use my round Pampered Chef casserole dish) with nonstick cooking spray.  Beat eggs until light and fluffy.  Whisk in flour, then stir in remaining ingredients, mixing well until combined.  Pour into prepared baking pan.  Cover and refrigerate overnight (Hint: cover a cooking sheet with foil and put covered casserole dish on top, then store in refrigerator).  Remove from refrigerator and remove cover.  Preheat oven to 350 F.  Put cooking sheet with casserole uncovered in oven.  Bake for 1 hour or until eggs are puffed, golden brown, and cooked through (You may also bake immediately after assembly.)  Serves approx. 12

Sausage and Onion Skillet

2 (12oz) packages of sausage links
1 large onion, peeled and cut into thin wedges
2 Tbsp maple syrup (pure maple syrup is a must)
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped

Directions: Cook sausages in a large skillet until halfway cooked, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Add onion; cook and stir for 15 minutes more or until onion is very soft (carmelized).  Stir in syrup and rosemary.
Serves 12

Parmesan Potatoes

6 red potatoes (skin on), cubed
½ cup of olive oil
4-6 oz. fresh Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Cube potatoes and place in a bowl.  Toss potatoes with olive oil and until potatoes are all lightly covered.  Then toss with parmesan, salt, and pepper.  Place on sprayed cooking sheet (ceramic works best).  Bake about 30 mins at 350 degrees or until potatoes are tender and Parmesan is golden brown.

Sour Cream Streusel Cake
½  cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp quick oats
2 tsp cinnamon, divided
½ cup finely chopped walnuts
1 (18.25-oz.) box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F.  Generously spray a Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.  In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, butter, oats, and 1 tsp. cinnamon with a fork until crumbly, stir in walnuts and set aside.  Meanwhile, add eggs, sour cream, oil, water, and remaining cinnamon to cake mix.  Beat with a mixer on high speed for 2 minutes.  Spread half the batter into the prepared pan and top with half the streusel topping; repeat layers.  Swirl a knife through the surface of the batter to slightly mix in the streusel.  Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool before removing from pan.  Serves 15

Ladies, it’s time to pull out all things shiny this winter, for the holidays are here once again!  It’s always fun to dazzle – literally – with your wardrobe for those special holiday events – aside from the natural joy that comes when we think of the birth of our Savior.

For me, dazzling apparel can include anything from metallic accessories and metallic fabric to heavy sequins and everything in between.  You’ll often find the cheesiest sequin-heavy/shiny fabric in the depths of the thrift store racks you often pass up, but worn right, you’ll find that they’re extremely fun to wear and are great conversation pieces – and all for thrift store prices.  Shinier pieces don’t always require the accompaniment of jewelry so accessorize sparingly – it’s nice to spend less time picking out the perfect jewelry for the festive outfit.  (As always with fashion, exceptions apply.)

Here’s how I wore my three recent finds and where I got them:

1)    Vintage rainbow sequin tank – Atelier $12.  Wear under a simple cardigan with a pair of pants and throw on some heels.  Keep the jewelry light – treasures like these speak for themselves and perform well when they’re the item that stands out most.

2)    Metallic swirl gold blouse – Roseville Hospice Thrift Store $3.50.  Fun when it has a looser fit so the movement in the fabric is easily seen.  I seldom find these items in my size and discovered that the larger sizes yield more possibilities!

3)    Metallic snake belts – Roseville Hospice Thrift Store $1.25 each.  Pair two skinnier belts with an over-sized tunic or blouse and you’re “golden.”

Have a Merry Christmas, beautiful ladies!

Currently, and I pray it will always be, our two oldest children, Emily and Lucy, love their Bibles above all other pieces of literature.  Let me tell you, I am a teacher and have gathered hundreds and hundreds of books, so that is really saying something.  Their grandma literally has 6 by 6 foot shelves in her basement filled with age appropriate books and toys that she rotates daily when she comes to our house, and yet their 12 little Bibles are the ones that are worn and loved the most.  Praise God!

My collection of children’s Bibles started before the possibility of having children was even an option, and I never thought my pretty little books would become so tattered – some beyond repair – but I have recently come to rejoice in this.

There was a time about a month ago when I was trying to get our girls to go to sleep.  I found myself lying in Emily’s bed, hoping to help them calm down their cries and fall asleep.  As we were lying there in the dark, Lucy requested her sister’s Bible.  With extreme exhaustion from their little shenanigans, I simply handed her the closest book within my reach.  She responded with, “not My-my’s Bible” (not Emily’s Bible).

Frustrated that my plan did not work, I gave her a book that felt similar to Emily’s Bible.  She again responded with the same phrase.  Now I was really irritated, because I knew the only way to appease her was for me to actually get up and rummage for a Bible.  When I finally gave her the correct book, she was content and requested nothing further from me.

That is when conviction struck!  After complete humiliation before the Lord, in the peaceful silence, I prayed my children would know and love the Word with such intensity that they, too, would be able to recognize and rebuke false doctrine.

Since their Bibles are so well loved, and may they always be, I hope and pray on Christmas morning when they open their new Bibles, an excitement that only the Lord can cause will stir amongst them.

(P.S. If you have an extra coupon for the Family Christian Store, I would love to have it!)

I grew up listening to Handel’s Messiah on my father’s record player; hearing it brings back wonderful memories of cozy winter evenings together.  Our home was always filled with music, as both of my parents are musicians and my brother and I took music lessons and were involved with music at church and school growing up.  I played the piano at church and the flute in various symphonies all the way through high school.  When I got to college, though, I decided to go in a new direction and try out for the University Concert Choir as an alto.  I fell in love with singing in a large choir that year.  After the competitive world of symphonic flute, it was bliss to ignore all the music majors vying for solos and lose myself in the music.

We sang beautiful music that year, much of it sacred.  That is common for a University Concert Choir, but I see God’s fingerprints on it as well.  At the time, I was still figuring out my walk with the Lord and my heart was filled to the brim with the beautiful choruses that we sang.  Even though I didn’t know exactly what I believed at that time, singing glorious praises to God made my heart soar.  I knew, without having to read it in scripture, that I longed for Worship.

Ever since that time, I have enjoyed sacred choral pieces even more, especially appreciating the hard but exhilarating work the altos put in as they charge through intricate patterns below the sopranos.  For a long time, the music itself was everything to me; I lived for the blend of voices and instruments in harmony. Now, I find myself drawn toward the words behind the music.  The music is still just as important but the words mean much more now that I love God’s Word.

When reading through the words to the Messiah and the corresponding scripture references, you find the Gospel.  The words in each section are straight from scripture, taking the listener on a journey from Prophesy, to Christ’s birth, to His death and resurrection, and to His revelation.  The complete text of the chorus I had been singing in my head is this: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

The words to this chorus are the words of the Prophet Isaiah (in Isaiah 9:6), as he speaks of the coming of the Hebrew Messiah or Emmanuel, God with Us.  I find such joy now in knowing that Luke 2:11 was the fulfillment of that Prophesy.  When the angels spoke to the shepherds and said, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” they proclaimed the arrival of the Savior that God had promised all those years before.  A year after I sang in my college choir, the promised Messiah that I had known of my entire life was born “unto” me, personally, for the first time, when I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life forever.

Listening to Handel’s Messiah, while reading the corresponding scriptures, is a beautiful way to celebrate Christ’s birth this season.  To start, you can listen to “For Unto Us a Child is Born” sung by the Westminster Cathedral Choir here.

My husband and I have our bedroom on a high back deck of our home, on a cliff overlooking the Bear River outside of Colfax. The night sky is beautiful and every night we see amazing wonders in the sky. We count the shooting stars and watch satellites float by. Some nights I look up and pray, wondering about the meaning behind the way God displays His handiwork in the Heavens. The Bible says that Jesus is what holds everything together, from the microscopic to the fathoms of the never ending universe.

In the Bible, God is explicit about the night skies. Today, like times of old, the enemy has made counterfeit everything God has done. Astrology, numerology, palm reading, and fortune telling are all blatant lies of the occult and we are warned in the Bible to beware of false prophets who take a little truth and bend it to become a lie.

I used to be afraid of looking into the night sky, studying the amazing wonders of God’s creation, until I started reading my Bible. God’s people have always looked up in awesome wonder of God’s glory displayed in the heavens. Throughout the Bible, God speaks of signs in the heavens and signs on the earth. What does that mean? It means that God displays His glory and writes His announcements in the sky.  That was what happened when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. God was trying to get the world’s attention and many missed the most amazing moment of God becoming man.

There was something different in the night sky that year. The stars were speaking in a peculiar way. We know this because even the Magi of old saw an announcement in the sky…an announcement so spectacular that they left their home in the East and traveled for many miles to bestow great gifts on a newborn King. A Jewish King to be born in the small town of Bethlehem. The night sky’s announcement was specific with date, time, and place.

Do you ever wonder what the night sky looked like when the Magi looked up on those nights over two thousand years ago?  Do you wonder about that star that led them to the manger and stopped right above the place where God’s Son was born?
Just as God has allowed archeological evidence to confirm that the stories in the Bible are not just stories but are historical fact, astronomy now confirms what is written in God’s Word about the night skies as well.  The Heavens declare the Glory of God!  Matthew’s Gospel tells us the exact time in history that Herod died.  Today, it is possible to use computers to track the skies as people saw them on those precise nights prophesied in scripture regarding the Messiah’s birth!

What did the Magi notice that was so peculiar in the night skies that made them leave their homes and travel a great distance to bring gifts to Jesus?  Astrologists today say that Jupiter, which was known in ancient times as the King Planet, moved in a curious pattern that year and, when tracked by interested men such as the Magi, would have appeared to have been “crowning” the King Star, Regal (or Regulus), in the night sky.  Regal signified the birth of a king to many scholars of that time, and the Magi must have known this to be a sign.  This crowning occurred in the constellation, Leo, meaning lion, pointing to the Lion of Judah.  It is likely that the Magi were of Jewish decent and knew the prophecies of the coming King of Israel, the Messiah.  Isn’t it amazing that God would bring a remnant of wise men from the descendents of the Babylonian captivity to see the Messiah in Bethlehem, just as the prophets foretold?

Furthermore, as the King Planet (Jupiter) continued to move through its orbit, it crossed paths and “met” Venus in the sky, one right above the other.  This created a star brighter than any other in the night sky.  As Jupiter then entered what is called retrograde, that bright star actually appeared to stop in the night sky.  Where do you think it stopped?  Right over Bethlehem.

Now we can know for certain that the Bible is correct and concise, confirmed in science and spectacular in depicting History.  But let us not miss His Story, as many people of that day did. They were expecting a king to come, but on that night in Bethlehem they totally missed Him. God had beautifully made an announcement, not only in the sky, but on the earth, just as the scriptures displayed from the ancient prophets.

Will we be ready to go when He calls us up or will we be asleep as many were that night in Bethlehem?  Look up, my friends, for your redemption draws nigh. It is time—God’s announcements have been made. Let’s tell the World: The King is alive and well and coming back very soon!

3 ½ cups flour
3 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp salt
1tsp cinnamon
2 cup cooked or canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 cup oil
2/3 cup water
5 eggs
2 cups chocolate chips (12-oz bag)
1 ½ cups chopped nuts (walnut, macadamia, or pecan)

Directions: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugar, soda, salt, and cinnamon; sift all together. In a large bowl, add the pumpkin, oil, water, eggs, and mix very well.  Add the dry ingredient a small amount at a time, until all of it is added; then add nuts and chocolate chips.  Grease 3 loaf pans well.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes (middle will be a little under cooked but will keep cooking after it’s taken out of the oven).  Makes 3 bread loaf-size pans of bread.  I make this every year – my family loves it!

Caramel Corn
From Emily Webster

8 cup popped popcorn
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup packed brown sugar
¼ tsp baking soda
6 Tbsp butter or margarine
¼ tsp vanilla
3 Tbsp light corn syrup
Note: I typically double the recipe.

Directions: Remove all un-popped kernels from popped corn. Put popcorn into a large plastic bowl. In a 1 ½ quart saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter melts and mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring for 5 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Pour mixture over popcorn and stir well to coat. Place on a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes; stir. Bake 5-10 minutes more or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet to cool on wire rack. Enjoy! Makes 8 cups. *If you don’t have parchment paper, you can use foil but be sure to remove popcorn from foil after baking while still hot. It can go into a plastic bowl to cool. Then break apart with wooden spoon.

Sour Cream Christmas Cookies
From Carol Greco

1 cup butter, softened
2 ½ cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp vanilla
¼ tsp lemon extract
½ tsp almond extract
5 ½ – 7 cups of flour

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs, sour cream, soda, and extracts.  Gradually add flour and mix with mixer until it’s too thick to mix anymore; then mix by hand till firm enough to roll and it doesn’t stick to your fingers when touched.  Chill dough before rolling out.  Flour board and top of dough; roll out thick and cut out with floured cookie cutters or biscuit cutter.  Spray Pam (or butter) on the cookie sheets.  Bake 9 – 11 minutes, depending on thickness.  Don’t over bake!  Bake until bottom is browned lightly.  Store in sealed container after cooling.  Optional:  Frost, decorate, and let dry, putting wax paper between layers.  You may want to cut the recipe in half, as it makes a large amount, or you can freeze half the dough for later.  My sisters and I have been making these cookies since the late 60s.  Enjoy!!!

Pam’s Banana Bread
From Kat Rua

3 mashed ripe bananas
1 ½ cups flour
½ cup sugar
½ tsp baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg
¼ cup butter, melted
5 Tbsp of chocolate chips (or more)

Directions: Mix wet ingredients until smooth. Mix dry ingredients separately. Slowly add together until dry ingredients are moistened. Bake at 325 degrees for about 45-60 minutes. Makes a small loaf of bread or batch of muffins.

November 2009 Issue

As moms, we understand that our kids will “make a scene” a time or two while out in public. It’s expected, even adored when innocent inquiring minds ask socially unacceptable questions loud enough for all to hear. I recently found myself in that situation exactly while waiting in the DMV of all places.

I was with my youngest son, James, who is nearly 3 and we had waited about 35 minutes when I had run out of ways to entertain him. He would no longer sit in the chair next to me and in an effort to keep him from rolling himself around on the floor I invited him to sit on my lap. He climbed up and looked over my shoulder to the row of people seated behind us. He lifted his arm and pointed directly at the man behind us with a patch covering one eye and loudly said, “Look Mommy, he only has one eye. Why does he have only one eye, Mommy?” I quietly shushed him and put his arm down and whispered, “I don’t know honey. Do you want to color?”

This did not satisfy his curiosity. He wanted me to turn around and look. Again, he pointed and repeated himself. “Mommy, look! That guy only has one eye. Why does he only have one eye, Mommy? LOOK!”   James then began squeezing one eye shut to imitate the one-eyed man. I knew that everyone around us could hear and that I couldn’t get away with just ignoring his faux pas.

Finally, I turned around to look and gave a smile to everyone looking back at me, including the man with the eye patch. I was relieved to see him chuckling at my vocal boy. James, still staring openly, still wanted to know why the man only had one eye. I explained that he must have had an accident and that it was a big boo-boo.

“But why!?” he insisted.  “I don’t know — Shhhhhh!” was my answer.

There was nothing I could do to distract him. I turned once more to smile at the man and shrugged my shoulders as if to say, “What’s a mother to do?”  The man then lifted his patch to reveal his scarred-over empty eye socket and chuckled at James. James quickly turned around to face forward and was quiet after that.

I didn’t hear any more about the man with one eye until Daddy came home from work — then James just had to tell him all about it.

I have a large antique trunk in our front room that I found at a yard sale on the way to church one morning and now use as a coffee table – inside it is a “change of clothes” for the front rooms of our house.  My favorite thing to do each fall is change the overall color scheme of our main living area (and again in the spring), adding other touches for specific holidays.  It is easier and less expensive than you might imagine – you just need patience, careful planning, and a touch of creativity.

The trick to giving a room a subtle “color” makeover is to keep things simple. Working off the base colors in our furniture, I have found that simply changing out accent items such as place mats, napkins, pillows, small area rugs, candles, and throw blankets makes a huge difference.  For fall, I rummage through my trunk for the deeper-hued red, gold, and burgundy accent items (pillows, blankets, place mats, etc.) that I have collected over the years.  With that color backdrop, it’s easy to add fall decorations in October, Thanksgiving pieces in November, and sparkling Christmas items in December.  After Christmas, I keep the deeper, “cozy” color scheme out for a few more months.  By early spring, I like to air out the house and exchange the darker color scheme for one that is fresh and bright (various blues, greens, and browns) for spring and summer.

When shopping for home accents, I like to search for the best deal in town. I shop at local consignment stores, antique stores, thrift shops, and discount designer stores (such as ROSS) – there I find unique items at fair prices.  I go to The Dollar Store or 99-cent Store for pretty figurines, boxes of faux fall leaves, and colorful candles to dress up our table.  Another favorite place to look for hidden treasure: the back closets in the homes of my mother, grandmothers, and aunts.  I have found (and learned) the most amazing things while sitting with them to go through the items they no longer need or want.

I have found that patience is essential when decorating my home. It’s sometimes tempting to want to go out and buy everything at once, but learning to be content with what God has given me means practicing self-restraint.  Each year, I add a few more things to my “magic” trunk, keeping in mind that the most important thing about creating a home is showing God’s love to the people inside it.

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” -Psalm 27:4

May your eyes be blessed by my life, may your ears be blessed by my song.

I’ve broken you, I’ve broken me, but your song my heart still sings. My hearts still loves and still it believes, but my feet have taken me somewhere no one should ever be. My mind is searching for safety from this – at the moment you amaze me with your grace-filled kiss. Your love, it chased me to the grave and then pulled me out of the earth. I hated you for loving me and then you cleaned the dirt. I asked you to leave me be and you said “my child be still.”

I’ve failed and been crumpled under, but I love you, Lord, and I know I always will! I still shake and run away, but your love it stays. Your arms are strong and fast, and I know they’ll always bring me back. I may give up, but when I think I’m done, you’ll show me my feet again. You’ll show me the things that got me beat and you’ll stay by my side as I run, and all along your loving arms will carry me.

Pumpkin Fall Flower Arrangement
Sarah Mayte

To create a pretty flower arrangement for fall cut an opening in the top of a small to medium sized pumpkin and clean out the seeds.  Fill it with floral foam and arrange a bouquet of fall flowers inside the pumpkin, using it as your vase.  You can also use a “funkin” if you want to avoid cleaning out the pumpkin guts, and it will last a bit longer.

It’s lovely to make two or three arrangements using different sized pumpkins to add some depth and variety for a centerpiece or to place in different locations throughout your home.

Simple Fall Creations
Kimberly Walters

There are so many quick and easy fall decorating ideas that can be done without spending a lot of money. Here are a few ideas to try:

• Create a simple display by filling a clear bowl or vase with pinecones, nuts, gourds, acorns – or a selection of all of them. Leave them as is for a natural look, or spray-paint them all the same color for a unified look.
• Miniature pumpkins lined up along a fireplace mantel are a simple, seasonal touch.



• Create a stress-free centerpiece by setting several pumpkins or gourds on a long white platter, a low basket or tray would work just as well. Garnish with a few leaves, berry clusters, or flowers to add a bit of color and texture.
• Fill a long shallow tray with nuts or acorns, then set scented pillar candles in the tray.
• Small craft trees (widely available in craft stores) make a great Thanksgiving centerpiece. Spray paint one to match the fall color scheme and then have dinner guests write down words of thanks and hang them on the tree.
• Make ornamental garlands by stringing together dried leaves and pinecones which can be hung almost anywhere in the house: over doorways, windows, fireplace mantels, and staircases are all great spots.

Fall Front Porch Ideas

In addition to indoor decorations, a front porch is one of the most appealing areas of a home, especially if it is comfortable, inviting, and well decorated. A well decorated front porch is friendly, and it provides countless ways to creatively welcome in seasons and special occasions. As fall approaches, consider decorating your front porch and turning it into a comfortable place to enjoy the outdoors while showing off your decorating style.

When decorating a porch for fall, use bales of straw or hay as a base. Visit your local garden center or major craft supply retailer for bales of various sizes. They will provide a stable surface for decorating with planters, scarecrows, colorful gourds, faux crows, and other items used when decorating for fall. A welcome sign or garden flag adds the perfect touch and is very inviting for guests.

For more fall decorating ideas, check out interior decorating sites like Suite101.com or home improvement sites such as DoItYourself.com.

It was a Thursday morning after Women’s Bible Study.  I was looking out at the swimming pool. Two days earlier, the big storm had filled it to the very top.  I noticed that several inches of water had already evaporated since the storm.  I thought about how fast water evaporates—really fast.  Then I thought about how Jesus is the “Living Water.”

If water evaporates, does the “Living Water” evaporate from me? Having just spent the morning at Bible Study, I was feeling extremely filled to the top, just like the pool had been after the rain.  I felt like I was going to overflow!  How wonderful!  But I know that the grind and distractions of everyday life can quickly “evaporate” that “Living Water,” leaving me feeling less than full; the world can drain me, evaporating the “water” that makes me feel alive and joyful.

I realized that I require filling, just like the pool. Daily filling.  Filling on Sunday mornings, Monday nights, Thursday mornings.  Being in the Word, being at Metro fills me; it keeps the “Living Water” from evaporating from me because the Word itself is what fills me up. The more I have of God’s Word, the more it overflows from me.

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” –John 7:37b-38