Pray for Our Wells in South Sudan!

03/11/2013 By

Water boring in Gudele, South Sudan

Do ya’ll remember the wells that were dug in south Sudan with the money God miraculously gave us when we were in the emergency room?? Read the emergency room story here.

PRAY for those wells, the church and school in Gudele, South Sudan.

Demolition of the Church, School and Borehole ( water well) is planned this week impacting 114 Christians 320 school Children and thousands that draw safe water from the well in Gudele, South Sudan. The people are from 16 tribes and have their lives stripped of everything countless times.

Please pray for them! Thank you!

Lord, You worked a miracle to give them clean water, a church and school–we ask that You do a mighty miracle for them this week and help them keep these precious things from destruction. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

http://www.Mercy-Partners.org   tells more about the mission in South Sudan.

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Why Should We Memorize Scripture?

03/06/2013 By
Tiffany's Stained Glass at St. Johns Church in Portsmouth, Va- I had the honor of speaking there last weekend

A Tiffany Stained Glass piece at St. Johns Church in Portsmouth, Va- I had the honor of speaking there last weekend

This past summer, good friends of ours were in a horrible car accident. Brandi was in a coma from head trauma. I witnessed the most amazing thing ever in those weeks we spent with their family in the intensive care unit. The doctor’s prognosis wasn’t good.  No one knew if she would come out of the coma normal. The injury was horrible. The body of Christ filled the chapel and prayed. But, what amazed me more than anything else? Her husband, Phil.  He would pace the floors quoting scriptures. He didn’t have a Bible in his hands, it was in his head, in his heart, and he was speaking it back to God. I think the majority of the time we spent there he never realized how much scripture he spoke or that he himself was ministering to all who heard him. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever witnessed.  It’s been eight months now and Brandi is walking with the aid of a walker and she’s starting to talk.  She’s a miracle.

I’ll never forget the powerful witness that Phil was- in the hardest days of his life. It was truly a lamp unto his feet and a light unto our path.

The Word is life to us.  It is powerful- sharper than any two edged sword. Hebrews 4:12

You’ve got to watch this video with John Piper.  Please you must!

    1. Memorizing scripture makes meditation possible at times when you can’t be reading the Bible. Meditation is the pathway to deeper understanding. If you’re going to meditate— you’ve got to have something in your head.
    2. Memorizing scripture increases my faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  It happens when I hear it in my head.
    3. Memorizing scripture shapes the way I view the world by conforming my mind to God’s viewpoint on everything.
    4. Memorizing scripture makes God’s Word more readily accessible for overcoming temptation to sin. God’s warnings and promises are the way we conquer the lies of the Devil.
    5. Memorizing scripture guards my mind, making it easier to detect error and the world is filled with error because the god of this world is a liar.
    6. Memorizing scripture allows me to hit the Devil in the face with a force he cannot resist to protect myself and my family from his assault. WHAT ARE YOU HITTING HIM WITH?  HE IS A MILLIONS TIMES STRONGER THAN YOU.  He hates you, your family, your marriage, your church- and God.  How anybody walks through this devil- ruled world without a sword in their hand, is beyond me.
    7. Memorizing scripture provides the strongest, sweetest words in ministering to people in need.  Have you ever been caught off guard with someone in need?  You don’t need to be caught off guard.
    8. Memorizing scripture provides the matrix with fellowship with Jesus because He talks to me from His word.  Oh how sweetly, authentically, really speaks to me HERE!  And, I speak it back to Him in prayer.  If scripture is within me, we can talk anywhere and it is sweet.  It is very sweet.
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Thoughts after Watching The Bible

03/04/2013 By

Our family snuggled up on the couch and watched The Bible last night.  We haven’t watched anything on TV in a long time, so it was fun.  I remember why I don’t like watching television; COMMERCIALS! Oh my goodness. . .

Over all I enjoyed it and will watch it again next Sunday night.

Some of the things I liked and didn’t like:

I liked Abraham and Sarah.  They were believable.  I thought the scene where Abraham leaves his country to go where God sends him(Genesis 12) and the one where he is tested to see if he will sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22), were both powerful.  Abraham was so faithful, I want to be faithful.  I want to go when He says go and do what He says do.

I didn’t like the angel scene with Lot, where the angels fought against the people in Sodom and Gomorrah. You should read the actual account in Genesis chapter 19 for yourself.   In the Bible they didn’t have a sword fight with the people- the angels just struck them with blindness.  They didn’t need to fight.

I loved that Roma Downey and her husband (and investors) poured three years of their life and money into this endeavor to bring the Bible into homes that otherwise would never have opened the Word of God.

I was so disappointed that they skipped over Isaac’s children and grandchildren.  Joseph, Jacob’s son, and Isaac’s grandson has such a powerful story.  You can read it for yourself in Genesis 37-45.   There just isn’t enough time to capture all the great stories in a short series.

I loved the parting of the Red Sea scene. Even though I already knew that all of God’s people would make it across to safety, I still felt the magnitude of it all.  Wow, if only we could believe God for the things in our life that seem as big as parting the Red Sea.  My faith is increased every time I read this in the Bible.

Read Exodus 14 for the full account. What seems like the impossible is possible with God!

Moses didn’t measure up well to Charlton Heston.

Ellie (our youngest) thought the Egyptians looked really funny.

I missed the very beginning and the last few minutes of it.

We’ll definitely watch it over the next four weeks. There were a few other things that were a bit off but overall it was good.  Let’s get in the Word and find out what the scripture says about these stories, be truth seekers.  Seeing the story played out plus reading the actual account in the Bible helps in our learning.

Did you watch it? What did you think?

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The Bible–Epic 10-Part Miniseries

03/01/2013 By
The Bible


This Sunday night an epic 10-part miniseries retelling stories from Scripture entitled, The Bible will air on the History Channel. Roma Downy and her husband, Mark Burnett are the producers. Life Way, Focus on the Family, Rick Warren and CBN are just a few who are endorsing it. Of course I haven’t seen it, but it promises to be breathtaking in scope and scale. The performances are said to be powerful and dramatic accounts of faith and courage -spectacular!

We don’t normally watch TV, but we’re going to watch this. I urge you to as well and make it part of your Easter preparation this year.

The Bible begins this Sunday at 8:00 PM and will run five consecutive Sundays through Easter.

Here is the link to the History Channel’s website for the series; http://www.bibleseries.tv/. Official Resource Website: www.BibleSeriesResources.com  

This historic television event will entertain and inspire the whole family! 

 Watch clip from first episode this coming Sunday night!

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Ten Invaluable Christian Books

02/28/2013 By
books for blog post 002

A great book is invaluable. There are a few in my collection that I return to over and over and can’t imagine being without. These books are worth more to me than great grandma’s antique china! Do you know what I’m saying? If I had to depart with all my worldly goods and could only keep one thing it would be a stack of my favorite books.

Monday night I was the guest speaker on Proverbs 31 MinistriesBible- study conference call with Melissa Taylor. We had a wonderful time! If you want to hear it, it was recorded- so you still have the opportunity. They are studying an amazing book; Let it Go, written by my dear friend Karen Ehman. At the end of the call I was asked what other books I’m reading. I think that’s a great question…

What you read really tells everything about who you are, what your desires are and what your future goals are. My response to the question; “Tortured for Christ- by Richard Wormbrand, Jesus Freaks- by D.C. Talk and The Cost of Discipleship by- Dietrich Bonhoeffer.”

In my present stack of favorite books;

The one and only infallible and inspired Word of God; the Bible is my favorite book. I love the fact that Corrie Ten Boom was able to smuggle a Bible into her concentration camp. She ministered the hope of eternity in the darkest place, and as a result- many chose Christ as their savior before their death.

The Spiritual Guide by Michael Molinos- written in 1675. There have been more copies of this book burned than perhaps any other single Christian book ever published. Michael Molinos was condemned to imprisonment in a dungeon for writing this book and he never came out. It is a phenomenal book about the deep things of Jesus; the cross and suffering. Oh my goodness, it is priceless to me.

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. This book draws you into a deep, abiding relationship with the One who “Nourishes the soul.” It’s a spiritual masterpiece exposing the roadblocks that keep us from fully knowing God. It reveals our responsibly in the pursuit, and ultimately leads us into the very presence of God Himself.

Desiring God by John Piper. Very insightful, must read!

Tortured for Christ by Richard Wormbrand. This is the story of courage, tenacious faith and unbelievable endurance. Wormbrand spent years in solitary confinement, physical torture, hunger and mental cruelty. His crime (like thousands of others) was his fervent belief in Jesus Christ and his public witness concerning his faith. Oh my goodness. . . I weep every time I read it- not because the stories are gruesome, but (oh my!) the love of Jesus will blow you up. Literally, I’ll be sitting down while I read it and find myself standing in ovation in tears to what true love for Christ looks like!

Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk. I LOVE this book. It is a collection of short stories about men, women, and children who have suffered for their faith in Jesus. We used to read a story a night to our youngest in our devotion times together. Oh my, it puts our current problems in proper perspective. You must have this book in your collection.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is on my lap right now. I haven’t read it all but the premise of it, deny self, pick up your cross and follow Him. Bonhoeffer is an amazingly brilliant man with unquenchable faith. He died for what he believed in.

George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans by Janet and Geoff Benge. Do you need your faith bolstered? Read this book! It’ll only take you a few hours to read and you’ll want to buy another one so you can give your copy away. It’s that good, I promise!

Hudson Taylor: Deep in the Heart of China by Janet and Geoff Benge. Incredible book. I loved it.

Fiction Books:

The Final Quest by Rick Joyner. A gripping story of the last battle between light and darkness. I read it at an airport waiting for my flight. I’m surprised I heard my flight called because I was so engrossed in it! It’s a great read!

The Prisoner in the Third Cell by Gene Edwards. It is a dramatic story of John the Baptist, imprisoned by Herod and awaiting death. He struggles to understand a Lord who doesn’t rescue him out of the prison. If you are a suffering Christian, or know one, this book will bring enormous comfort and insight into God’s ways. I love this easy read and it is thought provoking.

I want to give away a few of these books. Just leave a comment telling me which book you want to read (Tortured for Christ, Final Quest or Jesus Freaks) and I’ll enter your name in the drawing for that book. Don’t forget to check back to see if you won. I’ll pick a winner Friday at 10:00 AM! May the Lord increase your wisdom and understanding in the deeper things of Him! Each winner gets just one of the books. If you want a Bible I have one to give away, just let me know!

 Proverbs 4:6-7 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding (NIV).

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Preparing for Easter- Family Devotions

02/25/2013 By
I've had this basket for years, it has a flat back. I laid it on the table and made a cross from two twigs tied together. Then I placed the candles inside the handle of the basket. Use materials you already have at home. Don't purchase anything. One single candle is sufficient to light your way through the Word.

I’ve had this basket for years.  It has a flat back.  I laid it on the table and made a cross from two twigs tied together. Then I placed the candles inside the handle of the basket.  Just use materials you already have at home. Don’t purchase anything. One single candle is sufficient to light your way through the Word.

This is my favorite time of year- the days leading up to Easter.  It’s such a sacred time.  Thousands of Christians around the world are preparing their heart for our Lord and Savior’s Resurrection Day celebration.  Many of you have already started nightly devotions with your family.  If you haven’t it’s not too late.  Start this week!

When our children were growing up we always turned the lights off in the house, along with the TV, computers and phones for our devotion time. We lit our kerosene lamp in middle of the kitchen table or in the family room and all eyes watched the flickering light illuminate the pages of the Bible as it was read.

Easter is March 31 this year.  In preparing our hearts, let’s focus on Jesus.  Every night after dinner (or when it is sufficiently dark outside) turn everything off, light your candle(s), and read the Bible aloud to your family.

We’re going to be reading a chapter a night from the book of Matthew.  When we finish chapter 28 (which is the final chapter) we’re going to read the last two chapters of Mark, Luke, and John for the last week leading into Easter Sunday. Discuss the chapter each night with your family in depth and close in prayer.  I doubt you’ll want to turn anything back on.  It will ruin you for any other entertainment.  Take your time.  This is the most precious time you’ll spend with your family.

Don’t ever get discouraged if you miss a night.  Just pick up where you left off.

There are seven candles inside the arrangement.  We lit all seven candles February 13.  And each week leading up to Easter we snuff out one candle.  By Good Friday we’ll have no candles lit and we’ll focus on what Jesus endured.  Easter Sunday we’ll relight ALL candles and talk about what His resurrection means to us.

Easter is my favorite holiday!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. We must go into all the world and be this light to the nations. ”You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 

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Storage of Winter Vegetables

02/21/2013 By
Sparky is our ground hog catcher. If we hear him barking really loud that mean, "Get out here Dale, I've cornered a ground hog." Then, Dale gets his cage and between the two of them they get the rascal. Dale takes the garden eating monster to a place far away from homes and lets'em out. Sparky comes along for the ride to watch. He loves the game.

Storing Vegetables in my Root Cellar

I love the fact that vegetables can keep the entire winter in a root cellar. That is, if they are taken care of properly. Now, just to let you know, I didn’t grow all of these vegetables. We have grown all of them at one time or another on our farm. Our problem the last two years has been our stinking ground hogs.

They love to eat the garden.  They especially love things with blossoms, like pumpkins.

Sparky and  the garden eater, a ground hog

Pumpkins, guards, spaghetti, and butternut squash are the winners in keeping a winter storage.  Our cellar stays nearly 50 degrees- from fall until early spring. The pumpkins and butternut squash have potential to be as perfect as when picked, if the temperature stays 50 and under. The secret is, don’t let them touch each other! They need air circulation.

Carrots store well in sawdust (non-chemical of course). Dale has enough sawdust from all of his wood working to keep me stocked.  I pulled the carrots out of the sawdust so you can see them.

Sweet potatoes do fairly well in our cellar. If picked in September, they’ll store well until February. Most all the vegetables must not be washed before they are stored. They are cured after being pulled from the garden for a few days. Cured is another word for drying them out. You don’t want any moisture on them when stored or they’ll rot.

I go through onions pretty fast. I wouldn’t know from experience how long they last. Most people braid and hang them.

I also store white beans (photo below). They are actually just beans from green beans. Yep. Green beans (in my opinion) are the easiest vegetable to grow. After they are in the ground their only requirement is heat.

Ours seem to grow even when I don’t water them. They grow supernaturally, you pick them, and within just a few days the plants are loaded again!  So, to get white beans- let your last crop mature on the vine.  Don’t pick.  After they’re mature pull the plant up and hang upside down on the fence.  Let dry for a couple of weeks (they can’t be in rain so you may want to bring into barn to hang).  After completely dry, bang the plant inside a can or barrel and the beans will easily fall out of the shell. Or you can open them by hand.  They must be dry and have no moisture before you store them.  Store in a cool, dry area.  Unopened they store for 30+ years.  Opened, they last a couple of years. Oh, yes and ground hogs and rabbits don’t eat our beans.  :)

Kale (photo below) planted in the fall will grow until January, here in Virginia.  This year, mine is still growing and it’s February- even though our night time temperatures have been in the teens. Kale is a great winter vegetable. Even if it hibernates January through February, it awakens the first of March with tons of nutrients for your family to eat.

My thyme and rosemary are still going strong on my porch. The porch is not heated, but it is enclosed. The temperatures go below 32– but the plants are still doing well. I water them once a week and they have sun exposure.

I made Smoked Saffron Chicken and White Beans/Portugal Style  gluten-free with some of the beans and herbs. It was delicious!

Storage of winter vegetables do well in the corner of a garage on shelves. Just put covering over them for insulation. Or, if you want to be adventurous  dig yourself a hole in the ground, put the vegetables inside and cover with hay or other insulated materials.

Help yourself to fresh vegetables all winter long!

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20

Pumpkin, butternut squash, kale(fresh out of garden), herbs(from porch) eggs(from our coop), pumpkin seeds , curds and northern beans (white beans)– They’re all on the menu for this week!

 

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My One Word

02/20/2013 By
Rachel Olsen (Co-writer of My One Word, Zoe Elmore and me- after She Speaks Intensive Conference in Charlotte, NC and before our Proverbs 31 team time we had a sleep over at Zoe's house! It was so much fun. I love them dearly!

Rachel Olsen (Co-writer of My One Word, Zoe Elmore and me- Last month after ‘She Speaks Intensive Conference’ in Charlotte, NC and before our Proverbs 31 team time we had a sleep over at Zoe’s house! It was so much fun. I love them dearly!

After reading the book, My One Word by Michael Ashcraft and (my friend) Rachel Olsen, I’ve decided that my one word for this year is; Love.

This year, I’m going to be more intentional in my time with God to focus on- love. I want to burn with love for Jesus.  I want to cross over into the next level of glory in loving Him the way He loves me.  I want to love Him outrageously.  I want to be consumed with burning love in my heart for Him.

Once consumed by love, I pray that the overflow affects every part of my life.

I want to be so transformed by love that it pours from every pore of my being onto every person I meet; family, friend, or stranger.

I want to see people through His eyes and have His love for the people.  When I pass strangers on my way, I want His love to be so burning in me that I radiate His response to them.

I want to love what He loves this year.  I want to wake up saying, “I love You.”  And every morning ask Him, “What do You love?”  I want desperately to know the greater secrets of His heart. I know that when I discover more of what He loves, I will find soil rich with secrets to unfold.

I can be sure that I will find the secrets to His heart because His word says it.  “No eye has seen, nor ear heard nor has our minds conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)

This year I will spend more time in His presence.  I will spend more time in His Word and contemplating His love.  In response, I want to be like Moses after he was exposed to the glory of the Lord.

Moses had to cover his face with a veil, because the glory of the Lord was too great to behold. But we, who are in Christ, behold this glory- unveiled! 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Oh my, unveiled!  We are constantly going from one level of glory to the next.  Jesus!

Reflecting like a mirror the radiant image of the Father’s glory, we are transformed into the same image from one level of glory to the next!

I want to be a reflection of Your great Love.  Overcome me this year with a deeper revelation of Your love.  In Jesus’ name amen.

“…Apart from the Word of God, we cannot know who God is and how God is. And part from it, we don’t readily recognize who or how we truly are either. And, we don’t see our potential in Christ.

Don’t merely read verses; if that is all we do, we run the risk of deceiving ourselves. Don’t just pile up biblical information in your head. Let it soak into your heart. Let it interpret you. And then let it seep out through your actions.

…Only when we begin to let what we believe affect what we do are we able to embrace the process of formation.”  -Excerpt from, My One Word, page 61-

Reading My One Word book by the fire tonight to give me ideas on how to keep my one word in front of me every day this year.

 

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After School Valentine’s Day Cookies

02/13/2013 By
valentine cookie-pancake-eggs 016

Children will always remember coming home  to the smell of cookies baking when they grow up. Memories like those are cherished and passed on for generations.  These are as delicious as they smell.  They ooze gooey yummy chocolate, if you don’t bake them all the way. They’re especially good to have ready on Valentine’s Day when your kids come home from school. It’s a hard holiday for kids who didn’t get what others got. Make it extra special when they come home, love can erase a lot of hurts.

No one can tell there’s no flour, added fat or gluten in them! DELICIOUS!  Recipe here: Flourless Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Using a heart shaped  5 inch cake pan makes 10-12 cookies depending on how full you fill the pan.

I made one for each of our daughters. I sent them to the ones who live away from home by the mail.

5 inch heart cake pan–I got it at my local hobby store.

Dale and I mailed a box to each of our daughters– Should arrive just in time for Valentine’s Day

I piped some (all natural dye) frosting on the cookies just to make them “Pink.” Girls love pink!

 

 

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The Depth of Intimacy– Pure and Indescribable

02/12/2013 By
Valentine-card

 

Dale and me in our field

Intimacy. Hmm…

After 32 years of marriage, I still blush talking about it!  It is so private and sacred!

No expression of human communion is deeper than that of a husband and wife making love. It borders on supernatural in expression.  The sensory goes beyond flesh into spiritual depths that are indescribable.

It took me a while to fully understand this in my marriage. Intimacy on the indescribable level can only be attained through a complete surrender of your heart and mind. God intended it to be this way. A lot of people skip this part and think that the very act of making love will induce love. It doesn’t. It deepens it, yes…but only when you surrender your heart.

When I got married I had no idea what surrender meant. The only thing my mom told me before I got married about intimacy was this: Don’t ever deny him. So I didn’t.

Oh, Dale and I loved each other very much, and making love was good. For various reasons, though, I had a wall of protection around my emotions. But I was unaware of it.  And because I was unaware, I didn’t know I needed to get rid of it.

I was able to trust Dale (He had never done anything to cause me not to trust him).  Over time, the walls protecting my heart slowly started coming down.  One night, unbeknownst to him, I decided to surrender my whole heart.

Hint: You’re supposed to do that at the altar—some of us just didn’t know how!

Let me tell you what happened when I finally surrendered…

It had been a long day.  I had cooked dinner, washed dishes, bathed the kids, put a load of laundry in, and put the babies to bed. Dale had been busy working, so he didn’t know how tired I was.  The little ones were finally asleep, and I was exhausted.  I was about to collapse when he gave me that look. You know…the look.

I was too tired, but my mom’s words came to mind.

He started to kiss me. This time something switched in my mind.  I decided to not think of this as a duty, but, instead, I accepted his gestures as gestures of love toward me. Then I surrendered everything to him—every vulnerable part of my heart, mind and body.  I loved him wholly and completely—unabashedly.

For the first time ever, a floodgate opened.  The wall lifted.  My emotions left the natural and went into indescribable. I started to cry I was so overcome. (Which was a little embarrassing, because I never cried!)

We were one flesh, and it was beyond good. It was absolute abandon. Whew, that was a big deal for me!  If more husbands and wives could love with abandon and receive love with abandon, there would be a lot fewer problems in marriage. I’m talking to husbands, too!

It is the same with my spiritual life. When I love and trust God with all my heart, soul and mind, in a place of abandonment, I enter into His sanctuary and am so overcome with the union of His presence, it is indescribable.

The ecstasy of loving and receiving love with no reins, freed, uninhibited—this is God’s ideal of marriage. He is the author of romance you know!

Many people struggle with intimacy in their marriage.  I think Satan works overtime trying to destroy it.  If he can mess with the deepest and most passionate thing God intended for marriage, well, then he may just have a foothold to destroy the family unit.

Men need to know they are loved just as much as we do. Your man may have walls around his heart, too. We need to love our husbands with outrageous, abandoned love in our conversations, our actions, and in intimacy.

Sometimes we may not think he is deserving of our intimacy. Next time you think that, remember this verse in relation to him, “Love is patient, love is kind… It does not dishonor, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”  (1 Corinthians 13:4)

He may be undeserving.  Love and be intimate anyway.  Do unto him as you would have him do to you.  If you love and bless him even when he doesn’t deserve it, in time you will reap what you sow.

The Lord desires your marriage to be happy, full, pure and indescribable.

Ask Him to help you.

 

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Valentine’s Day Breakfast

02/11/2013 By
I let my butter get just a little soft--then I flatted it on my cold cutting board and with a small heart cookie cutter cut the butter into heart.

Homemade heart pancakes and eggs with butter cut in shape of hearts

For Valentine’s Day Dale and I rarely give each other gifts. I’ve asked him not to give me flowers or buy me a card(we make our own). At this moment in life it’s not in the budget. I don’t need things to tell me he loves me.Instead we enjoy doing the simple things together, like having a candlelit breakfast or dinner at home.

Making things you already have the ingredients for is the easiest, like pancakes.  Just make it prettier and more intentional.

I have two pancake recipes. The one I’m giving you today I use more often than the Best Pancake Recipe. This one is just easier because you don’t have to whip the egg whites.

Pancake Recipe

2 cups flour (I use GF Pamela’s Baking mix, if you use this, omit salt and baking soda)

2 eggs beaten in a two cup measuring cup

Add plain yogurt  to beaten eggs to make two cups

2 tablespoons oil, melted (I use butter or coconut oil)

2 tablespoons organic sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Add all ingredients and mix well. I let it sit for 10 minute’s. Heat your skillet to medium high. Pour batter, when it starts to bubble–flip it. Cook for a few more minutes and serve hot! You can buy the heart shaped pancake molds on Amazon, 2 for $10 http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Nonstick-Heart-Pancake-Rings/dp/B0000DDVWK.

I used a 5 inch heart pancake mold–I only have one–so it takes a while to make a bunch

I used the same thing for the fried eggs. I did make scrambled eggs and cut hearts out of them with a regular cookie cutter

So the egg would stay pretty on top I didn’t flip it–put a top on in the final cooking minutes and it will cook completely without flipping

I let my butter get just a little soft–then I flatted it on my cold cutting board and with a small heart cookie cutter cut the butter into hearts

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Winner of Love Potion Giveaway is. . .

02/06/2013 By

The winner of yesterday’s giveaway is Kim M. She posted her comment yesterday at
02/05/2013 at 7:22 AM. Yay! Thank you all for commenting. I wish I had a gift for each of you. Better yet I wish you all could come over to my house for coffee and we could continue the discussion on marriage. Umm now that’s an idea! We do live on a farm and have a huge barn. . . Kim M email me your address! Hugs!

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Love Potion

02/05/2013 By
Dale and me standing in front of our first apartment

 

Dale and me standing in front of our first apartment, 30 years later.

A lot of women who read The Good Wife Recipe assumed that marriage had always come easy for me. It hasn’t always been easy.

My dad left our family when I was young, so I lacked the example of a godly marriage. Being the oldest child, I was very independent. Those two factors added together equaled a negative value in my tendencies toward marriage. My learning curve took years.

I loved my husband, but I didn’t respect all of his ideas. I had my own ideas of how things should be, and naturally, I thought I was right. Overall we had a good marriage, but it wasn’t what it should be until one day, after reading the Bible, God led me to make a decision that tamed my independent mind-set. I decided to submit to Dale’s role as the leader of our home and to respect his thoughts and opinions no matter how much I might disagree. Gulp.

Our marriage started changing after that day. When Dale would share what he thought the kids needed to do about school or church, my first impulse was to say, “Are you kidding? No way!”  Instead, I said nothing. I would bite my tongue, receive his words, and follow his leading. Amazingly, good things started to happen. Dale was making decisions that led us in the right direction! Why–because  he cares about the family. Dale doesn’t rule over us with an iron fist. He lovingly considers our needs, opinions, and dreams.

Since I yielded to my husband’s lead, I haven’t always agreed with his decisions. Nevertheless, I stood firm in my commitment and followed Dale anyway. The outcome has always been positive and a sure sign that God is leading him. I am honored to follow such a man of God.

Now I find myself in awe of my husband. He is everything I could ever dream of. It is my desire to be everything he dreams of too! If he wakes me up before the alarm with kisses, then I pray that God will give me the ability to be what he needs. I actually enjoy making his favorite meals, dressing the way he likes, and sharing the same interests and hobblies as he does.

Sometimes when Dale walks by me, my heart will skip a beat. You know what I mean? It’s like  love potion has been poured on me! We are two people in passionate love—now more than ever. When we honor our husbands in every way—at home, in public, and in our conversations with others—God pours out His passionate love, and we are swept away by it.

Make a conscious decision to honor and adore your husband. You will become the woman of your husband’s dreams, and he yours and the legacy will live on in your children’s marriages for generations to come.

Today I’m going to give away a book written by my dear friend Rachel Olsen and her pastor entitled, “My One Word.” It is an incredible book about making one word represent what you most hope God will do in you, and you focus on that for an entire year. This single act will reveal clarity and concentrate your Christ-like efforts. I love the book!  Along with the book I’m giving a $25 Outback gift certificate to one name drawn from the comments today.

What is the one thing you need to work on in your marriage? If you’re single what is the one thing you need to focus on this year?

I’ll pick the winner from the comments tomorrow morning at 10AM (Wed). I’ll post the winner at that time.

 

 

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Valentine’s Day Goodies

02/04/2013 By
screen of gmos 2

Valentine’  Day Goodies- Glazed sugar cookies,Chocolate Bottom Macaroons and Meringue Cookies

This year for Valentine’s Day make your own decadent sweets that say, “I love you.”  Then sit down with the people you love and explain why you’re not joining the millions who are buying the commercial candies.

Millions of people are suffering with infertility, chronic digestive diseases, cancer, autism, and countless other unexplained illnesses.  Most of these issues were not widespread 30 years ago. What has happened?

For one thing, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) have become a normal staple in the American diet.  The scary part of it all is that the average consumer has no idea what they really are- and how bad they are for them.

In test studies, animals being fed steady diets of GMO’s showed large increase in pre-cancerous cell growth, damaged immune systems, smaller brains, livers, testicles, partial atrophy (or increased density of the liver), odd shaped cell nuclei, and other unexplained anomalies.  They also saw an increase in false pregnancies, and higher death rates. The GMO’s once consumed remain active in the body, long after eaten. They become a factory that doesn’t die, damaging intestinal walls, etc.

The more you read about these, the more you know that you don’t want to eat anything with a GMO in it. So, what foods have GMO’s?  First let me show you the top foods made with GMO’s.

Presently the top eight GMO foods are: Corn, Soybeans, Canola, Cottonseed, Sugar-Beets, Hawaiian Papaya (most), a small amount of Zucchini, and Yellow Squash.

This means that anything with a corn derivative, like corn syrup, or corn starch most likely has it in it.  This is true unless it says it is non- GMO or organic.  Organic foods do not have GMO’s in them.  Anything with a sugar derivative has great potential of being GM.

The purpose of this blog post:

Most all Valentine’s Day candy is made with corn syrup and sugar.  So, most all is genetically modified.  I personally don’t want to feed that to my family with all the side effects that can be life damaging. And, I don’t want you to be uneducated when you buy your candy this year either.  If you can afford it, you could buy organic chocolates or you could follow me and make your own Valentine Goodies!

It is more effort and money to eat healthy- but it is worth it.  The organic sugars are expensive but deserts are not our daily portion.  We’re eating deserts occasionally and on holidays.

For the Valentine Sugar Cookies, I used organic sugar and the glaze is made from organic powdered sugar, organic corn syrup, and all-natural color.

The Macaroons are made with almond flour, organic egg whites, and organic powdered sugar with organic dark chocolate on the bottoms.

The Meringues are made with organic egg whites and organic powdered sugar.

Still on my list to be made before Valentine’s Day are Chocolate Truffles…

I hope you have a happy and healthy Valentine’s Day!

You’ve got to watch the Genetic Roulette Movie–http://geneticroulettemovie.com/ shocking and amazing!

 

Romans 12:1-3 says it’s important to God how we take care of our body.

“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

 

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In His Presence- Present

02/01/2013 By
Sparky in the snow covered field at sunrise

Sparky in the snow covered field at sunrise

I stared at my computer without an ounce of enthusiasm or creativity.  A mountain of work beckoned me…  With already missed deadlines, bills to be paid, taxes to be done, text messages waiting for answers, dishes in the sink…  Then a phone call halted all of it and paralyzed my ability to do anything productive.

I prayed, but it didn’t help.

I couldn’t focus. The whole time I prayed, I was thinking too much.  You know what I mean?  So, I got my Bible out and read.  It didn’t work either.  The phone kept pinging with new messages.  I couldn’t get my brain on a different track no matter what I did!

So, I ate a piece of chocolate.  And, no-it didn’t help.  But it was good.

I went back to the computer and within  seconds, I found myself looking at Facebook posts!  Let me tell you- that never gets you anywhere!

I jumped up out of my seat, turned my computer and phone off, and said “Lord, Help me.  I’m overwhelmed and I can’t seem to get over my own thoughts.  Lead me with Yours.”

I went outside alone, without the world (a.k.a. phone).

I walked.  I just needed to decompress.  I didn’t think about urgent deadlines, people waiting for me, the phone-call, Facebook…  I walked vigorously through the field.  I saw our wood pile and decided to restock our porch for the woodstove.  I hooked the trailer onto the back of the tractor, filled it up, and stacked the wood next to our front door.

I got down from the tractor and started talking to God again.  This time it was different…  Without thinking of what I would I say- I started thanking Him.  His love overcame me and it was gone.  You know- the load I was carrying. I told Him everything that made me feel anxious.  I gave it all over to Him, everything.  He refreshed me and ignited my heart.  By the time I got back to my desk, everything was back in its proper perspective.

Everything was going to be okay, even if by human standards it didn’t look like it… It was. This time I opened my Bible and it was alive.  I came to “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” Psalm 37:3-5.

It is nearly impossible to feed on His faithfulness, delight in Him, and trust Him to bring it all to pass when all of our minutes are filled.  Our time is filled with to-do lists, social media, texts pinging.  You name it.  I can’t imagine what it would be like if television took a portion of my day.

When I turned the world off and went into His presence-present, I entered the very sanctuary of God.    And when I did, passion and creativity ignited in my spirit again and the load of this world disappeared.  Oh, to be in His presence is addicting!  My entire thought process was supercharged with the assurance of, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  And, I did.

You don’t have to have a woodpile or a field to get away from the world. Just leave your phone and worries at home, take a walk and enter into His sanctuary-present.

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