Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Bread

I love making bread. This is my Mom's recipe, with my own touch added for good measure. :-)
Photo courtesy of Lydia Rose.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Persecution

Attributes of the Persecuted Christians of North America
1: It's their favorite topic of conversation.
2: They have a few friends... who are as persecuted as they are.
3: Their children are usually older, still living at home or have “rebelliously” left and married.
4: They are happiest while debating.
5: “Joy... hmmm... What's that?”
6: If their homechurch has over 30 people in it, there must be something wrong!
7: Pleasure (movies, music, etc) is considered a sin.
8: They dwell on their sinful past instead of the victorious future.
9: They have to control someone.
10: Their favorite Bible verses are probably listed among the following:

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely...

Except the LORD of hosts had left unto a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom... (emphasis theirs)

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy be ye...

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
Woe unto you,...! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers... within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

...wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth until life, and few there be that find it.

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Replace the word “all” with “any” and you'll get the idea...)

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Our pastor was talking about persecution on Sunday and it got me thinking. The Bible says that if we're Christians and living godly lives, we will suffer persecution. How that adds up for me is still a mystery, because although I love God and try to live like it, I've never suffered persecution.
For the record, there are probably some people in North America who are being persecuted. But I believe that most of the Christians in North America who consider themselves persecuted... are not. In all reality, a lot of them bring it on themselves. They forget that, “A man that hath friends, must shew himself friendly...” They ignore common courtesy and act like irritating salesman selling their product.

They forget about 1 Corinthians 13...
“Though I speak with the tongues of man and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing... Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth...”

They forget about Jesus and the little children and how He treated sinners.
They don't realize that they are the modern day Pharisees. The ones Jesus referred to as vipers.
We have our religion and ourselves. We have our standards... a long list of do's and don'ts. But while we cast stones at folks that don't follow our list, we don't look down at ourselves.
I speak from experience because I used to be among the 'persecuted'. Now, I'm coming out. I feel free for the first time in all my years. But I have questions.

Yes, we need to be loving, but where do we draw the line? Yes, we need to touch the world, but how can we not allow the world to touch us?
What is worldy?
The Bible says the spiritual judgeth all things... but where do we cross the line into casting stones?

Thoughts, please?

Friday, December 26, 2008

Friends...

I am convinced that I have the best friends in the entire world. They make me laugh, they make me think, they make me pray, they encourage me...

Abigail said: I desire above all to do God's will and to learn all that He has for me... If it draws me closer to Him and brings Him glory, it will indeed have been worth it all! I cling to that hope, knowing He will redeem everything He has allowed in my life and work it together for good.

Loretta said: God allows nothing to touch your life that won't somehow perfect and mold you into a truly beautiful vessel for His glory!

Lindsey said: Love you and remember that God is always there for you! *hugs*

Am I not among the blessed?
Thank you for your encouragement and wisdom, girls. Love you!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Robert Burns

Thou knowest that Thou has formed me
With passions wild and strong;
And listening to their witching voice
Has often led me wrong.

Where with intention I have erred,
No other plea I have,
But Thou are good; and Goodness still
Delighteth to forgive.

--Robert Burns

Monday, December 22, 2008

Picture

I love this picture. Sister Hannah and horse Millie...

Whoever Said Money Can't Buy Happiness...

...didn't know where to shop!

It was late Saturday evening when the phone rang at Pastor Neal's home in TN. He picked it up and a voice said, “Hello! This is The Sermon Outline Service. If you have to preach tomorrow and don't have a sermon prepared, just pull out your credit card. I can sell you a sermon outline for only $4.99!”
The caller turned out to be a fellow minister and good friend of the Neals, who is, to quote our pastor, “always cutting up like that.” LOL!

I am happy today... for several reasons. One of them being that I have mastered The Poor Girl Waltz. It has so many chords in it that I had almost given up on trying to memorize it, but finally decided to really tackle it. Now that I have the chords memorized, I face the challenge of memorizing the melody! The Poor Girl Waltz is such a beautiful song... Andy de Jarlis truly was the waltz king. :-)

Can you tell me your thoughts on Philippians 4: 6-7? Those verses have been a tremendous blessing to me lately. There's something so comforting knowing that God holds us in the palm of His hand. Even when things happen that are far from pleasant, you can trust that He does love you. And He knows what is happening and it's for a reason.
Sometimes it's hard to trust, isn't it? I know first hand because that's what I've been dealing with all this past week. I still don't understand the whys and wherefores of what's happened but I don't need to. He loves me. Isn't that such a wonderful thought?

This is my story. This is my song, praising my Savior all the day long...

Ok, I'm getting off my applebox now. ;-)

Monday, December 15, 2008

family annual newsletter...

I've been thinking about doing the family newsletter for awhile and last night offered me an oppurtunity to work on it. :-) It's now completed and emailed to folks. But, if you're not one of them and you're feeling in the need of an overdose of silliness, drop me a line and let me know where you want it sent. :-)

Our snow came and it's staying. We got several inches. The weather isn't too cold but it's a bit nippy. While walking to the library, I had to keep watching out for ice. I did slip once but I caught myself. Hopefully the walk back home will be as uneventful.

Today, the family went out and walked the horses to a different pasture. It's nice to have animals for them to work with! It helps with the boredness. ;-)

Friday, December 12, 2008

The weathermen are safe!!

Because I am counting snowflakes... they are predicting a storm for tonight and cold weather after that.
Maybe we won't have to worry about global warming after all. :-)

I just watched a short clip of Victor Borge. Everytime I see one of his videos, it makes me smile. Anyone else a fan of his?

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Snow... or the lack thereof... and pictures

Yep, that's right. No snow yet! And, miraculously, I haven't heard of any weathermen lynchings. :-) It's been very cloudy here and the wind has come up a little bit... as I was walking to the library today, it sprinkled on me. But no snow.


Global warming, here we come!!!

Anyway, here are some pictures...

The family...

Lindsey and me.
Miss you!
My sister Ellie and me

Friday, December 5, 2008

December is upon us!


And no snow so far! The people who enjoy skiing are casting dour looks up at the sky. But *news flash* the weathermen are predicting some to fall tonight.


If there isn't white stuff on the ground in the morning, I fear for the health of the weathermen! LOL!


My parents offered on a place not far from here. We should hear the results on Monday. I am praying we'll get it but at the same time, I trust God knows best, no matter what happens.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Home again!

After it being rather quiet at the S. home, it's a bit of a shock coming home to 9 siblings. ;-) But I'm getting over it. I am actually very glad to see them again... and listen to the laughter... the squabbles... the discussions...

The road was good. We didn't have any trouble at all, PTL!

It feels odd not seeing Lindsey and Erin. When I woke up this morning, I couldn't figure out where I was!