Peace -- What is it?

Acts 12: 1-11

There is a beautiful story in Acts that I feel speaks to peace. Peter is a wonderful example in this portion of Scripture.

When we (people) have something on our minds, we tend to hash it over and over, sometimes worrying and fretting.

Not so with Peter.

From the shrinking coward in the denial of Jesus in John 18,

to the man who determined to return to fishing in John 21,

to the godly man of God,

                                                      Peter was a force to be faced.

He saw James, John's brother killed and knew that as he was arrested, his fate would probably be the same unless God intervened. However, he did not worry or fret. The Scripture says he was so sound asleep that the "angel" of the Lord had to slap him on the side to awaken him! He was chained to guards and had 4 squadrons (16) guarding him. I wonder why? He wasn't a real menace to society. They must have believed that God would do something?  Maybe they knew they were in the wrong for arresting him!!! Anyway, Peter was sleeping, as the old saying goes, "like a baby." Now that's PEACE of mind, heart and soul. God looked on that and rewarded with intervention.

Peter knew what sometimes you and I lose sight of, that is, God is always in control whether we see it or feel it! He doesn't always deliver the way we think He ought to (James died), but He promises to always be with us to see us through. WE CAN TRUST HIM. Everything that happens to us has to pass through HIS hands, therefore we can thank HIM for it.

 

L. Diz

 

Giving Credit Where Credit's Due

Last week, I shared about the race that God had called me to run.  I’m afraid, however, that I didn’t emphasize enough where credit should go for accomplishing what the Lord called me to do.  Please forgive me for that. 

I need to let you know that the ONLY way that I completed the training and the race was by the grace of God – “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”  (Philippians 4:13)

I was never a runner…in fact, I quit basketball in 7^th grade because they told me I was going to have to run track.  I am overweight (working on that) and have never run any farther than it took to grab one of my children whose curiosity got the best of them.  The idea of running even two minutes at a time was ridiculously intimidating.  When I started, I couldn’t imagine running three-plus miles!

So, each time that we ran, I reiterated to the Lord and to myself that what I was doing was for His honor and His glory.  “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  (2Cor 10:31)  That was my goal.  As we would jog the stretches that got longer and longer, I sang in my head, “Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory.” 

That’s all I wanted to say.  This endeavor is not about me, but about bringing the Lord glory, about saying, “I never, ever wanted to do this or believed that I could, but the Lord called me and took me farther than I ever imagined possible.”  If He will do this for me, He will do this for you!  Is He calling you to do something that you feel is way out of your league?  Trust Him to work in you to accomplish what He’s called you to do.  Really.  He’s truly trustworthy.

That’s all.  J

 

Trusting Him,

Carrie

Cooking for a Crowd

As I walked in the church door Tuesday evening, I felt like I was back at my grandmother's house at suppertime. The smells coming from the kitchen made my mouth water & the smiles & hugs made me feel like I was coming home. Those who attended the HeartLife seminar 'Cooking for a Crowd' got a lot more than ideas for cooking for lots of people!

Lottie, Lou & Carla planned a simple evening showing by example how little effort it takes to show hospitality. They served fresh, hot, home made soups with tasty bread & crackers. Our dessert was sprinkled on the tables - every girl's favorite: chocolate! We served ourselves enjoying the great food & company.

As we finished eating we were very blessed to hear a beautiful trio, Angie, Becky & Carrie. I heard them twice in the evening - once as they practiced before the meeting & again during the program. I could have heard them sing many more songs, & I hope they'll sing together again soon.

Angie, Becky & Carrie going through their song once more before the program.
I am sorry for the quality of this photo but I had to include Carrie's sweet baby!

Our speakers each shared ideas on cooking for a crowd.

Lottie, Leah & Linda in the church kitchen of course!

Leah gave so many practical suggestions on serving lots of food in small spaces. She also talked about budgeting & how to feed guests on a small budget. I took notes & filed away a lot of new ideas to try. My favorite suggestions she had were ideas for serving tasty meats on a budget & making a vertical buffet instead of the traditional spread. She had some really gorgeous presentations.

Linda talked about the joys of cooking for others. We may decide to show hospitality in order to be a blessing but you can't share God's love without it reflecting back on you. Linda made me want to have a family of teenage boys over just to enjoy feeding them! I also took notes on Linda's potato salad - she says she doesn't really follow a recipe. I wrote down her list of ingredients & drilled her afterwards on how she puts it together. I'll be trying my best to copy it soon.

Lottie gave us such a clear picture of showing hospitality in spite of ourselves. I loved how she laughed at her cooking blunders & went on to enjoy her company. We laughed a long with her, & I realized people DO matter more than a perfect house or meals. Opening your heart & making people feel welcome really is the most important part of hospitality.

I left feeling so encouraged, with soup recipes & a “round tuit” - no more excuses, just do it!  I was also very happy to leave with a centerpiece! – a jarred soup mix complete with recipe, wooden spoon & autumn pot holder. I have a nice ham bone in my freezer, & I'm looking for the perfect opportunity to cook my soup.

Jenny

My Own Race

“And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”    Hebrews 12:1c

Saturday I ran my first 5K!  “Ran”…I use that term loosely….runner, I have never been.

The day of the race, my dear friend and I lined up at the back of the masses, the gun sounded, and off we went. 

We stayed at the back of the pack…all the way through the race. 
And we finished last…dead last.

As I stood looking in my bathroom mirror after cleaning up from the run, chuckling that I was glad I finished the race, but not necessarily finishing as anyone else would want to finish the race, the Lord spoke to my heart – “You ran the race I called you to run.”  I wasn’t called to win the race or to beat anyone else.  I was called to run the race the Lord set before me.

It made me think of something I had seen on Facebook, “Comparing your life to what you read on Facebook or a blog is like comparing your gag reel to someone else’s highlights.”   Ain’t that the truth?  My gag reel of a life looks pretty messy compared to the highlights of many others’ lives.

What race has the Lord set before you?  We all have them, don’t we?  Some races are ones that we run with joy and abandon.  Others are races that we run with pain, each step slow and jarring as we trudge up the hill or slog through the valley.  “…let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.”  We’re called to keep on keeping on, not sprint to the end, not even compare how we’re running with the others in the race.

Whatever Your or My race is that is set before us, we are to run with endurance, not looking at how anyone else is running the race that has been set before them.  It does make it so much easier to run together, though.  So lace up those sneakers, and run the race that the Lord has set before you – maybe you can be the encouragement that keeps a Sister going when the race gets tough. 

Trusting Him,

Carrie

Winter Flowers

Our first garden post!  Jenny is coming on board with a monthly garden tip for us all.  Her first post is about winter flowers, and hers are LOVELY!  I might try some this year. 

Trusting Him,

Carrie

Winter Flowers

We're in the middle of my favorite time of year! From fall through the clear cold winter days & into spring is my favorite time to be outside enjoying creation. It's also my busiest time with so many things going on away from home. To be sure that I always get my daily reminder that God loves me through the winter, I plant winter flowers. As I go in & out, I see them blooming on my front steps. Through the fall they grow strong digging in deep roots to help them through the winter. When winter comes & sometimes covers them with snow & ice, I know they're under there waiting for warm days to push back out again. Even on cold clear days, they open their faces to the sun & shine to encourage me, and when early spring creeps in, they thrive again.


pansies & one small violet viola from 2008-09

My favorite flowers to plant for winter blooms are pansies & violas. Pansies have larger blooms but violas make more flowers. I break off the spent blooms two or three times a week so they bloom even more. Plant them in a container with good potting soil or in the ground in your garden beds. Add Jobes or Miracle Grow plant spikes for healthier plants & more blooms. I usually put 5 to 7 spikes for each container. Make sure they're kept watered through the winter if it doesn't rain or snow, & let them remind you that God's love for you gives you flowers through the winter.



freshly planted yellow violas

 

Enjoy!
Jenny

If I Can See It, It's Not Faith

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1

A famous tightrope walker had strung his rope out over Niagara Falls.  People came from miles around to see him make it safely from one side to the other.  He asked the crowd, “Who here believes that I can make it across safely?”  People cheered as most of the hands shot into the air.  He then asked a second question, “Who wants to sit in this wheelbarrow while I push it to the other side?”  Not a hand was seen, and crickets could be heard chirping through the silence.  They “believed” him, but they didn’t trust him.

Aren’t we like that?  “Lord, I believe your promises!”

He replies, “Great!  Step out of the boat…stretch forth your hand…take up your bed and walk….go fish for a coin….”

And all of a sudden, we have something else that we need to be doing somewhere very far away.

I was 33 when I got married, and I let my husband know that I needed to keep XXXX amount of dollars in the bank as a cushion for me to feel secure.  This past year, the Lord led us to leave my husband’s job and move to my hometown…with no job.  We were to go into full-time ministry, but not with an organization.  How does that work???  I really don’t know, except for the fact that several times through this last year the Lord has asked me, “Where is your trust?  Is it in Me or is it in your bank account?”

God has promised that He will provide.  My part is to have faith, and I’m learning that faith means I can’t see how it’s going to work out.  If I can, it’s not faith.  Simple enough to say, but so much more challenging to live.

“I believe!  Lord, help my unbelief!”

Trusting Him,

Carrie