I am back and ready to go!!!!!!

I’m back and ready to go!!!

I have neglected my blog for so long I feel the need to delete it and begin again.  But, I cannot do that because I would lose a lot of information.  In real life we never really get a ‘do over’.  So, I choose to begin where I left off and bring you up to date by continuing to make my posts with more regularity. 

For those who have been following my health issues, I am well.  I go to the cardiologist in July for my annual check-up and I am looking forward to not seeing him again for another year.  Throughout this entire battle with my heart issues God has continued to use me in so many ways.  I never dreamed I would receive calls from total strangers wanting to talk about what it is like to live with A-fib or to have the ablation surgery.  Five very close friends have gone through ablation surgery in the past year and I am happy to report all are doing well.

I am continuing to write for www.MyJourneyofFaith.com and I am really enjoying the time I have alone with God and my journal.  I am actively seeking God’s will in two areas of ministry; to teach an on-line Bible study and to begin writing a devotional book or a devotional cookbook.  I think it would be wonderful to open a cookbook and to read a devotional or Bible verse with each recipe.  I still have a lot of praying to do on both of these.

March and April were very busy this year with retreats.  Bob actually let me speak at a couple’s retreat he led in Branson, I loved it.  The most exciting part of March was when I was asked to go to First Baptist Church in Cabot and record my testimony.  The video was first played at the Inspire Conference in March with 650 women in attendance.  To God be the glory as people came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  The video made a Facebook debut this past week and was very well received.  I am setting it up under the “About” button across the top.

I don’t want to bore you today, so I guess I had better say ‘God Bless’ for today.  Take time to explore God’s world and don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers.

Wisdom Is......

Wednesday morning I was preparing the lecture for our ‘The Best Yes’ book study.  I wanted to use something different than what the leader section suggested, so I began looking.  The study for the week was about wisdom and I wanted to use “godly wisdom”.  I knew there was a passage in Exodus about when God gave Moses instructions on how to build the tabernacle he also told Moses that he had given two people the wisdom they needed for their task.  When in doubt on where to find a word I always go to the concordance in the back of my Bible.  I found ‘wisdom’ and immediately went over to the Book, Chapter and Verse.  It was there!  I knew it was Exodus but nothing was listed.

Then I heard that still small voice.  You know the one that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  The voice said “you are asking the wrong question”.  I was asking ‘Where is wisdom’ the correct question should have been ‘Wisdom is’.  The voice also told me to READ what the concordance said about wisdom.  This is what I discovered about the word WISDOM.

WISDOM IS:

The justice that comes from appointing wise judges

What Solomon as God for

What we should ask God for

Having wisdom and knowing how to act upon it

Not limited by age

Found only in God

Comes from reading the Bible

What comes from listening

Takes effort to find and use it

A constant process of growth

What parents must encourage their children to strive for

You must decide to go after it

Wisdom is the opposite of foolishness

Tapping wisdom of the elderly

What comes from walking with God

We had a good time Wednesday night discussing knowledge and wisdom.  I wish everyone could have been there.  Have a blessed day in Jesus and enjoy your flowers on this rainy day.

God's Insights

Yesterday when I awoke it appeared my day was going to be very casual and laid back.  Then I open my devotional book “Jesus Calling”.  I read the first few words and quickly closed the book.  I didn’t want to read the words.  So I picked up my Bible and began reading.

I kept thinking about the devotional but didn’t go back and read the rest of words.  If you are like me, there are countless times that you pick up your devotional book and the words on the page were exactly what you needed to hear.  Or, you just open your Bible and begin reading where the book fell open and it was exactly what you needed for the day.  I call these “God’s Insights” they are the believers horoscope for the day.

No one has more insight into my life than God.  After all, He knew before I was ever born what would happen everyday of my life.  Therefore, the term “God’s Insights” has become a part of my everyday life.

Yesterday the first words of the devotion were – “Expect to encounter adversity” that is where I closed the book and just began praying for whatever was on it’s way into my life.  Before bedtime I knew what the adversity was and I could do nothing, it is completely out of my control.  I still didn’t go back to the devotional.  At 3 a.m. I was reading my Bible and decided to go back to the devotional because at this point I needed to hear from God.  Little did I realize that I was the reason I wasn’t hearing from God because I wasn’t listening.

The devotional read – “Expect to encounter adversity in your life, remembering that you live in a deeply fallen world.  Stop trying to find a way that circumvents difficulties.  The main problem with an easy life is that it masks your need for Me.  When you became a Christian, I infused My very Life into you, empowering you to live on a supernatural plane by depending on Me.

Anticipate coming face-to-face with impossibilities:  situations totally beyond your ability to handle.  This awareness of your inadequacy is not something you should try to evade.  It is precisely where I want you – the best place to encounter Me in My Glory and Power.  When you see armies of problems marching toward you, cry out to Me!  Allow Me to fight for you.  Watch Me working on your behalf, as you rest in shadow of My Almighty Presence.”

It was there when I needed it complete with the scripture that I found on my own.  God is there waiting for you every second of everyday.  All you have to do is to stop and seek Him and He will respond with the fatherly love He has for you.

 Today’s devotional begins with “I continually call you to closeness with Me.”  Are you checking your daily “God Insights” to hear and experience His love for you? 

Enjoy the rest of your day and enjoy the flowers.  God Bless

Staying in God's Will

This morning as I went through my email and now scanning FB, I have noticed a lot of people are posting verses asking God to help them to do His will in their lives.  I don't know how many Bible verses there are about doing God's will but I imagine there is a great number.

This is probably one of the most difficult things to accomplish in our everyday life.  We leave our home in the morning on fire for the Lord and ready to tackle anything that can possibly come our way.  After all we did ask God to help us find and do His will.  Maybe we should be asking Him to "Keep" us in His will. When we walk out the door of our home we will be constantly bombarded with worldly ways and some are presented to us in such a way it is easy to just say yes and forget about our talk with God.  I am guilty of having the best intentions of remaining in God's will but I become distracted and easily enticed through out the day.

If you think it would be easier to remain in God's will if you stayed home 24/7 you would be wrong.  God tells us in Matthew 28:19 to go out (out of your comfort zone) and make disciples of all nations,..  His commands are His will for our life.

Begin today to sincerely pray that God will keep you in His will as you go out into the world.  Don't forget to put on your armor you will need it to make it through the day.

Enjoy your flowers and enjoy your new found life in the will of God.

Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

I promised to share my Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie recipe and this is my first attempt at sharing a recipe on my website with step-by-step instructions.

I like recipes with stories and this pie has a story behind it.  Several years ago Jennie James and I were on a road trip and we discovered a hidden jewel in the tiny town of Leslie, Arkansas (population 469).  Leslie is located at the Junction of Highway 65 and Highway 66.  We had originally stopped at the Serenity Farm Bakery and asked where we could eat lunch and the cashier suggested the Skylark Cafe and it was just around the corner.  The Skylark Cafe is located in a quaint Victorian home that is over 100 years old.  We were hooked from the building alone.

Seating is limited but we did find a booth to sit in.  The sweet waitress told us off the bat that if we wanted dessert we needed to order it first.  She began naming off the desserts (yes, many) for the day and we were totally lost.  She suggested we go to the cashier register and 'read the wall'.  We decided on two different desserts, then we could share with each other.  I ordered the Strawberry Cheesecake Pie and I honestly don't remember what Jennie ordered.  The pie was a slice of heaven.

Being the cook, I dissected the pie when I got home and tried to duplicate the recipe.  The following recipe is what I came up with on a rainy Saturday afternoon.  The complete recipe is at the end.  You can skip all my ramblings and go directly to the recipe or you can stick around and learn how not to make a big mess in your kitchen, when you use the wrong size pie crusts.

These are the ingredients you will need:  8 ounces cream cheese, two prepared pie crusts (this recipe makes two large pies), 1 small box of Strawberry flavored Jell-O (I use sugar free), sugar, Cool Whip and two 16 ounce containers of fresh strawberries quartered and cornstarch (I forgot to put it in the photo).

Begin by letting the cream cheese soften until it is at room temperature...and prepare your pie crusts and bake according to your package or recipe directions and let cool.  You can use a prepared graham cracker crusts but they really aren't big enough to hold all of this wonderfulness.  If you prepare your own graham cracker crusts be sure to use 9" pie pans.  Anything smaller and you will have strawberry filling all over your kitchen...this is experience talking.

Place the softened cream cheese in a bowl and add the 3/4 cup of powdered sugar and blend until it is well combined.

Now add the Cool Whip and blend.

When the Cool Whip is blended with the cream cheese, set the bowl aside

Looks good, doesn't it?

In a medium saucepan empty the box of Jell-O, dash of salt and sugar.  Add 1 cup of water to the Jell-O.  Mix cornstarch and 1/2 cup of water together until the cornstarch is dissolved.  Add this to the Jell-O and cook on medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to thicken it will also turn to a clear red when it is ready.

Now it is time to get to work.  Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly between the two baked pie crusts.  Refrigerate while you prepare strawberries.

Slice/quarter the strawberries into a large bowl.  There should be four cups of strawberries maybe a little more and of course you have to make sure they are good by tasting a couple.  Pour the Jell-O mixture over the strawberries and stir, be gentle you don't want to bruise the berries.

Almost finished, now spread the strawberries over the pies dividing as evenly as possible.  Refrigerate at least three hours.

When cool top with whipped cream of Cool Whip and enjoy.  I took these to a July 4th cookout and didn't get a photo of just a slice of the pie.  Sorry.


 FRESH STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE PIE

Makes 2 - 9 inch an

Ingredients:

2 prepared 9 inch pie crusts, baked according to package or recipe instructions
8 ounce package cream cheese, softened (I used reduced fat)
9 ounces Cool Whip (I use Lite Cool Whip)
3/4 cup powdered sugar
4 cups fresh strawberries, quartered
3 ounce box of Strawberry flavored Jell-O (I use Sugar Free)
1 1/2 cups water (divided)
Dash of salt
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar (or you can use Splenda granulated)

Crust:  Prepared crust according to directions or your favorite recipe.

Filling:  Mix the cream cheese and powdered sugar together in a medium size bowl.  Blend in Cool Whip.  Spread evenly into the two pie crusts.  Set aside.

Topping:  In a large bowl quarter the strawberries and set aside.  Mix Jell-O, sugar, salt and 1 cup of water in a medium size saucepan.  Dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining 1/2 cup of water and add to the Jell-O mixture.  Cook until the mixture begins to thicken and changes color.  Pour over the strawberries.  Divide the strawberry mixture between the two pies.  The juice may run over, it it does just put the pie plate on a regular plate to catch the overflow.  Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.  Top with whipped cream or Cool Whip and enjoy.

You may copy and paste to print this recipe.  I am still trying to figure out to make it 'printer friendly'.

Bring Back the Family Table

One of my objectives in life is to bring back the family table. When I was growing up we had dinner (supper) together as a family every night. When my children were growing up we had dinner together every night. Some nights it may have been at the baseball field (original tailgating) but we ate together. With the busy lives of today's families this family tradition seems to be going to the way side. You know it is a problem when there is a television commercial urging everyone to turn their phones off on Sunday night and enjoy a meal with their family. I am not naive enough to believe that the family table will return overnight. It disappeared over several years when we began getting busy with outside activities. Even if the food has to be 'take out' it should be eaten together.

My husband, Bob, sent me the following article. I wish I knew who to thank for the article but I don't.

She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household. - PROVERBS 31:15

R. V. Brown was the sixteenth of 17 children. As he and his siblings arrived at the dinner table, he never understood why his mother stood in the corner with a bowed head. When he was older, he learned that she was praying that the butter beans and cornbread would make it to one end of the table and back without running out!

Of all the rich memories forged in his childhood home, this was the best: dinnertime. Everybody gathered around. Talking, listening and enjoying the laughter and noise of family togetherness.

He can still hear the older kids talking about the work they'd been doing that day. Or about what had happened at school. Another might tell a story he remembered from his stint in the army. And before they finished, R.V.'s daddy, who couldn't read or write, would lean back in his chair and begin sharing from his heart in that soft, arresting voice of his. Little bits of wisdom. Nuggets about how to treat people. Pearls about how to always give your best, settling little problems by using some patience and understanding and not hurting anybody.

I hate to think what the pace of life in today's families has done to memories like these. How many kids, when they grow up and look back on their childhood, will reflect on how much it meant for them to wolf down a fast-food hamburger in the car between ball practice and youth group? I think that what we stand to lose by consistently eating on the run may be a generation that has learned to value activity over relationship . . . and continues to feed self when they could be feasting together.

Give your children something they'll always remember: Give them dinnertime.

Be honest about your dinnertime habits. Are they what they should be? What's one thing you want to do differently about your dinnertime?

Ask God to help you place more value on being together than on doing it all.

These flowers were a gift from my friend, Joan Tornquist, she picked them from her rose garden. I 'had' to use one of my vintage table cloths for these beautiful flowers for dinner that night. Pick some flowers from your garden or from the side of the road and use them for your centerpiece at 'The Family Dinner Table'. Have a blessed day.

Happy Fourth of July

I would like to take this time to wish each of you a Happy Fourth of July.  I am sharing from an email I received this morning and a post from my son, Scott Lacy​.  Stay Safe.

As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. — Galatians 6:14

A gift like no other, it has become the ultimate symbol around the world for freedom and democracy. Erected in New York Harbor and dedicated in October 1886, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from the people of France. For millions of immigrants drawing near to New York City after long ocean voyages, Lady Liberty was one of the first glimpses of America. On the day she was dedicated, the tricolor French flag veiled her face. In a dramatic flourish, the designer and sculptor himself climbed the 354 steps within his own creation to release the flag and unveil the noble, now-familiar face. The statue is 151 feet high, from base to torch — 351 feet with pedestal and foundation included. The seven points on her crown represent the seven seas and the seven continents of the world.

In other words, Liberty is a universal yearning, not just a national symbol.

At the turn of the twentieth century, the great structure fell under the jurisdiction of the United States Lighthouse Board because the Lady’s illuminated torch served as a navigational aid for ships entering the harbor. The statue became, then, a symbol and something much more.

It is the same with the cross of Jesus Christ. Across the world, it is an easily recognizable symbol of Christianity. In reality, however, it is a real and powerful navigational tool that has guided untold millions out of darkness, superstition, selfishness, addiction, and despair, bringing them into relationship with their Creator. To those who live apart from Christ, the cross is a religious icon or decorative emblem. But for those who have experienced its mighty transformational power, the cross is more like a shining torch lifted high on a dark night, welcoming them to safety.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the cross. If it wasn’t for that place and time in history where You laid down Your life for me, I would have no hope at all. But now I have every hope — of meaningful life today and a future in Heaven.

The cross marks the place in time and space when humanity was truly set free.