WOW!

I can't believe how busy my life has been. God has been good and provided so much for me, but it has taken me away from writing. I am back this week!!

Troubles

I am going through some personal turmoil right now. I would appreciate any prayers that are out there! Praise God for all He does. Even this turmoil has a reason. I'm not sure what, but he would not give me something I can't handle! I don't have the heart to go in to it all right now.

God - please allow me to get through this. Continue to walk with me. You are great and shall guid me what I need to do!

Strawberry Pie

This was one of our favorites growing up:

Strawberry Pie

Crust:
1 cup flour
2 sticks melted margarine
2 Tablespoons sugar
Mix ingredients well. Press into pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 min. Let cool.

Inside:
2 pints fresh strawberries sliced

Filling:
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
2 Tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:
Boil the three filling directions, mixing with a wire wisk. It will thicken. Take off the stove. Add one small box of regular red jello. Cool somewhat. Then add the sliced strawberries. Pour into pie crust. Chill and refrigerate until serving time.

Variations:
* My mom used to sometimes do strawberries and blueberries (combined 2 pints). That makes a nice red, white, and blue pie (with whipped cream).
* She also used to do sliced peaches. If you do sliced peaches, we used to find the peach jello a little too sweet, but really liked it with orange jello.

Prayer Notebook

I had used an idea that Rebekah used (I have linked to her site in my side bar and this idea in an old post). It is a notebook of reflections on a variety of Bible topics that I find I need on a variety of topics to help me stay focused. When doing my notebook, I used a three subject notebook, 9.5 by 6 inches, 150 pages - not the standard size notebook, but the next size down. I found it helped me to have it in one notebook (I lose things). I gave each tab two pages, which allows a few extra at the end of each section (comfort, theology, and womanhood). I have included a page at the end of each seciton that is a sort of further reading, investigation, etc page if I find a book, article, etc that goes with that section that helps me or is interesting. It turns out I still have some extra pages in each area in case I want to add more. Check out the original link here: http://learningtoloveinchrist.blogspot.com/2008/04/by-his-grace-and-for-his-glory-tips-for.html#links

Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:1-2)

I always feel a special connection to Pentecost, for the obvious religious reasons, but also because I was born on Penetecost Sunday (almost in church actually). God rising in to heaven and the salvation that it brings is an amazing gift. Knowing how unworthy I am to have received that gift makes me feel even less worthy. We have been given gift after gift after gift and have done nothing to earn it. In fact, at every turn we behave in such a way to prove that we deserve it even less. I hope I can begin to earn some of this love, but know it's never fully possible.

Posts.....

I have found that posting helps me. It makes me think and examine myself. Being back in God's gracious love is a new thing for me. Ok, it's not a new thing, since God has always loved me. It's just that I walked away from it. It's something that I am not happy with and not proud of. The last few years have been wonderful and a great learning experince. I find that writing things helps keep me focused and clarify things. Yes, I know I ramble, humor me on this please. Maybe you can help me learn something - if you see something that rings a bell with you and have a similiar experience, let me know about it. And who knows, maybe something in my rambling will help you rethink something and learn something. Maybe not though.....

Anxiety

Cast all your anxiety on him [God] because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

This one is too appropriate for me today. It's been one of the longer days for me - feeling worry and stress over things that are too small. Trying to remember that God cares isn't always easy to do. After all, why should He take time to look at my problems? Stress over a situation at work, a late subway, a messy apartment, an unexpected bill, or car breakdown. These are not huge deals. Think of all the other things in the world - war, famine, floods. Those are SO much more important to Him. But the truth is, those things aren't. He loves us all and wants to protect us all evenly. We have to pray, love Him, care for Him, turn our lives over, turn everything over. That's not saying that God will make everything turn out the way we want or the easy way, but He will be there to love, protect, and care for us in our darkest day and happiest moment. Just remember to praise Him for all he does, not just when things are good. Easier said than done.....

Spring is in the air

The weather has been great! The sun has been shining, the wind has been cool, but pleasant, the temperature has been just right. It's amazing how this season roles around ever year, providing us a chance to watch flowers bloom, trees open, birds return. My spirits are always buoyed when the warmer weather returns, a true reminder of God's eternally returning love and caring! No matter what else is going on, a beautiful day will always bring me around! Opening of plants after a cold winters sleep is really amazing. Do I dare make the cliche comparison to our coldness (winter) and spring opening (God's love)? It may be a little over the top, but it's true. He keeps allowing us back no matter what we have done. If only the world could learn from God's love and treat each other the way we should be - and using his example! It takes true humility to be able bow down to God's wishes and do what is expected. We need to be able to go beyond our wishes and do what's right.

Love again?

Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. (Psalms 67:3-4)

It's amazing how we are loved! He created us in His image, an honor enough as is, but to love us after we turn around and no longer follow His way. What have we done to earn this? It's amazing how He continues to love us through it all. We can learn so much by how he treats us. :)

Prayer Closet

So, I have set up a prayer closet. Getting prayer time in an apartment in the middle of New York (even one on the 8th floor) that is quiet prayer time, is impossible. I set a few pillows on the floor for comfort and placed a small reading light in there. I also brought in paper and pencil in case I am struck to journal something, as well as a bottle of water. Since I live alone, and my apartment has 6 closets (this is the only place I looked at that had more than two, and there wasn't many that had that many), I shifted some things around, and have half my clothes closet free for it. It's fairly long, so I can stretch my legs out if I wish. When I pray, I find that I am always distracted by the noise, or work I have to do around the apartment, or whatever. I am hoping by having this space, I can have some undistracted prayer and worship time every day. My prayer time already exists, but hoping this will help make me have more of a personal time with God since it will just be the two of us (and hopefully not my whole life). It's interesting how the one day in recent weeks that I missed my morning reflection time, I had a real scramble about day.

I have worship time twice a day, and I am not sure if I'll use it both times, or just at night. In the morning, I usually read a book of reflections or a Bible verse of the day, etc. I use this time to read something a little shorter and reflect on it a little bit, setting my day on the positive word of God. In the evening, I will do a more intense time. Some nights I may work on a more formal Bible study workbook or some kind of organized reading and work. Some night I may go to favoirite passages if I am in a particular state of mind where I may need a passage, or may search for passages to handle my needs. Some nights I just open, read, and then pray, write, etc. There is no set method to my night time prayer, but I set aside at least 1/2 hour, but usually try to aim for 45 min to an hour, more if time allows. I'll keep posting to how this special space helps my special time with our wonderful Lord!

Honey Wheat Bread

This is extremely yummy and great warm out of the oven!

1 and 1/2 cups water
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup margarine
5 and 1/2 - 6 cup flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 Tablespoon sugar
2 Tablespoons salt
2 packages yeast
1 egg

Heat first 4 ingredients till warm (120 - 130 F). Lightly spoon flour into cup. Combine warm liquid, 2 cups flour and remaining ingredients in large bowl. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. By hand, stir in remaining flour to make a stiff dough. Knead on floured surface till smooth (about 2 min). Place in greased bowl. Cover and let rise till doubled (45 - 60 min). Grease 2 9x5 pans. Punch dough down, and divide and shape into 2 loaves. Place in pans. Cover and let rise again. Set oven to 350F and bake for 45 min. Remover immediately from pans.