The Angels Of San Marcos December 12, 2009

A true Christmas story…

Saturday the 12th of December dawned rainy and cold in our town. At 9:50 a.m. my four youngest children and I found ourselves temporarily stranded when we smelled burning and the transmission in our family car tried to fail. Letting us out at my request, my husband went on to check on it and to take my older son to work. The little ones and I began walking, mingling among the others seeking out the local color of Christmas celebrations, sure in the knowledge that, in fifteen minutes or so, we would be reuinited with my husband. The minutes ticked by and still no dad. Somehow he went one way, we went another. Unknown to me, he now had no clue where we were. We do not own cell phones. The children and I headed towards Lowes, our original destination.

After walking for some time, we found ourselves in the parking lot of San Marcos. We had now walked over a mile and a half and were unable to safely go any further. Thinking I would take them into Hardees to get out of the rain and warm up, we turned back towards it. Our plans were wonderfully changed when the kind folks of San Marcos came out to meet us. First a ride was offered, then the use of a phone. Then shelter and cookies and milk for the children. I called home and told an older son where we were. He informed me that his dad had been there to see if we had called but had just left to continue his search. Thanking the people for their kindness, I took the little ones back outside to wait. Moments later, the door opened and we were once again invited inside. It was still before 11:00 and officially the restaurant was not yet open. Sending my children inside to warm up, I waited outside to watch for my husband. A young man came out and brought me an umbrella. He offered me a drink.

Moments later someone came and asked if they could give the children cheese quesadillas. I said yes and thanked them. After several minutes, I finally saw my husband. Unfortunately, he didn’t see me. I tried to flag him down to no avail. I went inside to use the phone to check on things at home. Once inside, I was again met with offers of hospitality. This time I accepted coffee and went to sit with my children and wait. They were happily feasting on chips, queso blanco, beans, rice, cheese quesadillas and sprite. Moments later, I was approached: did I want food, salsa, drinks? more coffee? anything? Thanking them for their graciousness, I accepted the offer of water and salsa for the chips but refused everything else. Quickly I was served; refills were offered for my children’s drinks. Then, to my surprise, a smiling woman approached the table with a large plate laden down with rice, beans and a wonderful beef burrito. She admonished me to be careful as the plate was hot.

Once again we saw my husband’s car passing by as he searched for us. Confident that the God Who was providing for us would send Charles to us, we continued to eat and wait. Several minutes later, having called home to check if we had called, he pulled in and came inside. He was astounded at what he found. We were dry, warm and fed. We quickly compared stories and wondered at God’s graciousness. He went up front to pay for our meals and was told that it was all on the house. As a lovely send-off, one of the workers passed out packets of air heads candy to our little ones.

We’ve never before eaten at San Marcos but we’ll be back when we can. The food is marvelous, the lighting and decor very pleasant, the people gracious and caring. When no one else seemed to notice a mom and four little kids out in the cold and wet, the angels of San Marcos came to our rescue. They provided warmth, shelter, food and drinks. Most of all, in showing kindness to strangers, they showed God’s love. A sticker at their front door boldly sets out the invitation to salvation. More importantly, the folks of San Marcos lived God’s Word.

We’re a large family and my husband has been out of work for several months. Times are hard. The angels of San Marcos Mexican Resataurant just made our Christmas a little brighter and our belief in mankind a little stronger. For this, we thank them.

–copy of my letter to our local editor

Thanksgiving Turkey Blues November 27, 2009

I don’t make each of these each year. What we make depends upon time, money, illness and so on. I really don’t like turkey soup and, although, creamed turkey over biscuits or toast (or potatoes or noodles) is very good, these recipes are the yummiest post-Thanksgiving meals that we have come up with.

Turkey Tetrazzini

This is so very yummy! Everybody in my family loves this. I usually double and make two so we have leftovers (which freeze well). Hhhmmm, leftovers of the leftovers….

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• 12 ounces spaghetti noodles, cooked
• 4 ounces canned mushrooms, drain liquid and save it
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 12 ounces evaporated milk
• 2 ounces diced pimientos
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine (1/2 stick)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 medium stalks celery, finely sliced
• 2 to 3 cups turkey, chopped
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Cook the spaghetti noodles and drain them. Set aside. Combine the mushroom liquid with the celery salt, cayenne pepper, chicken broth, evaporated milk and the pimento. Set aside. In a heavy frying pan, sauté the onion, celery and the canned mushrooms in the melted butter for about 5 to 7 minutes or until the onion is translucent. Mix in the spices. Cook gently until it begins to thicken, stirring frequently. Pour into bowl, add the chopped turkey and the spaghetti noodles. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, add the noodle mixture to the pan and top with the cheeses. Cook in prepared oven for 30 to 45 minutes.

Classic Turkey Sandwiches

There are many ways to make turkey sandwiches but this is our tried and true way.

 

• Mayonnaise
• Turkey
• Bread and Butter Pickles
• Lettuce
• White or Wheat Bread

This couldn’t be simpler. Simply spread the mayonnaise on your bread and layer on the turkey, lettuce, bread and butter pickles and serve.

Turkey Pot Pie

This is almost always our day after Thanksgiving Day dinner. This is so good. We never have any leftovers. I could make more (and I usually do) and they would eat it (and they always do). The amount can be halved if your crew isn‘t as hungry as mine is. You can substitute chicken for the turkey. It’s equally delicious. You can also play with this and adjust it as you need to (more of the vegetables and less of the turkey, if that’s what you have more of). Serve with rolls and cranberry relish or sauce.

When ready to cook, preheat oven to 400 degrees.

• 10 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 pound  baby carrots or equal amount of peeled, chopped carrots
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
• 1 1/2 butter or margarine
• 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 cups cooked turkey, bite-size pieces
• enough pastry for a top crust (or top and bottom, if you prefer–that’s how we do it; I usually quadruple a two-crust recipe because I like to roll the crust along the sides and I don‘t want any holes in the crust; you might get away with less
• 2 egg yolks, beaten (for the crust)
• 2 tablespoons milk (for the crust)

In a large pot bring the chicken broth to boil; add the baby carrots (halve them if you want to before you put them in) and the onions; boil until vegetables are almost tender. At that point, add the mushrooms and peas and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove vegetables from the broth and set them aside in a bowl until you are ready for them. Strain the broth and set aside 8 cups of it. Melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Whisk in the 8 cups of chicken broth a little at a time until fully incorporated. Cook until the mixture thickens and has bubbled for one minute. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the chopped turkey and the reserved vegetables to the sauce and refrigerate until cool. Prepare your pastry. If you are using a two-crust recipe then put the bottom layer in the pan and pour the filling over it. Otherwise, just pour your filling into a large pan and put the top pastry crust on. Vent it by sticking the tines of a fork in it several times or by cutting several one inch slits with a knife. Mix the beaten egg yolks and the milk together and brush over the top of the crust. Cook 45 minutes or a little more (until crust is brown and filling is bubbly) in a preheated oven.

Hoping you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

God be with you,

Until next time,

Anna

Soli Deo gloria!

Seasonal Recipes November 22, 2009

***Microwave Never-Fail Fudge***

If you follow directions, it will never fail. While not completely classic, it’s both easy and good. Everybody that I have ever served it to loved it. My children think it’s great that they can make fudge “all by myself.”

• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Place chocolate chips, condensed milk and butter or margarine in a large microwavable bowl. Microwave about 3 minutes (until the chips are melted). Stir once every minute as it melts. When melted, stir in the chopped nuts, if desired. Pour into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish. Refrigerate until set.

***Cappuccino Punch***

This makes a fantastic Thanksgiving or Christmas punch!

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup instant coffee granules
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 quarts milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1 quart chocolate ice cream, softened

Combine the sugar and the coffee granules and add to the boiling water stirring well until both are dissolved. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Just before you are ready to serve, pour the coffee syrup into a large punch bowl; add the milk and scoops of both ice creams and stir until the ice cream is melted. Makes about 1 gallon.

 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving,

Until next time,

Anna

Soli Deo gloria!

Do We Praise Him Still? November 20, 2009

We praise Him when times are good:

When there is enough,

When the food set before us is not only plentiful

but what we specifically want,

When traffic is light,

The grade is achieved,

The advancement given,

The shower is hot,

The car is new,

Our health is good.

We praise Him

when things go the way we want them to go

and we are feeling prosperous.

We praise Him when the phone call comes

telling us all is well…

when our children rise up and thank us for all that we have done…

when others like us,

receive us,

understand us.

We praise Him when all things are good.

What if they are not?

What if things are not good in any way?

What if things are not well with us?

What if there is not enough?

Not enough food?

Do we praise Him when our entire diet consists of starches?

When biscuits and gravy–alone–is a common occurence on our dinner table?

When we serve rice and beans

 not simply because we like them

but, rather, because they are all that we can afford– and that itself is a stretch?

Do we praise Him

when the job simply doesn’t come

and we cannot pay our bills?

Do we praise Him when we cannot help ourselves and must rely on others?

Do we praise Him when the phone call never comes?

When the silence tells us all is not well?

When others misunderstand us?

Misquote us?

Abuse us?

Hate us?

Do we praise Him then?

When the best that we have to wear

is old and had seen better days two years ago?

When we do without what others deem necessities?

When our glasses break and we can’t afford to get new ones?

What then?

Do we praise Him when there is no heat in the house?

Or, in the car?

Do we praise Him

when anything and everything

that can go wrong

does go wrong?

Can we praise Him still?

Can we lift our voices in praise

when Christmas

comes from thrift stores yard sales and clearance items?

Do we praise Him still

and lift high

His holy Name

when what we want is never a factor in our decisions?

When we have to maneuver (again and again)

in order to somehow manage to afford

a birthday present for our child,

medicine for those we love,

gas for the car?

When, maybe, by doing without something elsewhere,

we can manage this…

dictates all of our decisions?

Do we praise Him when our children rebel?

When our spouse has time for everything except us?

When our marriage is rocky?

When our health is poor?

When sickness comes

again and again

and we have no strength

and no money

with which to fight it?

Do we praise Him?

When troubles pile up

and one more will be too much…

and one more comes…

and then another,

and another?

What then?

Do we remember how very great,

how mighty

is our God

when we cannot see Him,

feel Him,

when it feels as if He has fled?

Do we praise Him still?

He is worthy then as always.

Though the night be dark He still is the Light.

Though the pathway is unclear He Himself has set it.

Though others forsake us

and Him we cannot feel,

He is there.

He Who never changes

never leaves us either.

We can trust Him,

we can love Him,

we can praise Him no matter what.

He is worthy of all praise,

of all devotion,

of all love,

of all obedience,

of all worship no matter what.

He is worthy

simply because

He is God

The Great I AM

The Creator,

Sustainer,

Savior,

Master.

He alone is our God.

He alone is worthy

no matter what.

Praise Him.

A Prayer For Usefulness November 19, 2009

Oh My Father,

The need to pray is great tonight but I lack the words to express what I feel. Thou knowest better than I do what is in my heart and on my mind; guide me.

Lord, it is with fear and trembling and much trepidation that I approach the throne of grace. The hour is late and time is short. There is much work to be done and so few who are willing to do it; make me one who is willing. Make hunger for You burn deep within my heart; teach me to thirst for righteousness. Take away anything in my life that is not of You. Cause me to live only for You no matter what the cost is to me. You alone art worthy, O Lord; may I never forget that. I trust in Thee.

Lord, I ache over my inadequacy; let me tremble over my sinfulness. I am nothing. Less than a worm, I have naught but myself to offer to You. Take what I am, all that I have and consecrate it for Your use and Your purposes. Take my words and use them as You see fit. You put the love of words into my heart, take them back now for Your glory. I am but a weak and pitiful woman; show me my place of service and let me not seek to go beyond it. Send me or cause me to stay, it matters not: I live to serve You. You are all that matters and each day the need to serve You grows more pressing. Use me as You see fit. Let me serve willingly as one bound with chains of love. You have freed me when I did not deserve rescue; I ask that I may now be a tool in Your hands with which You rescue others. Cause me to weep when those who know You not pass from this earth into ever-lasting judgment. Break my heart over sin among Your people. Cause me to serve You even if others do not. Whether I stand alone or with others whose love for You burns deep, help me to stand.

Lord, grant me spiritual eyes that I may see and spiritual ears that I may hear. Bless me with the gift of perception and discernment. Graciously allow me to see the needs at hand and respond to them. Let me never be too busy or full of self to fail to see an opportunity that You have placed before me. I can’t serve all but allow me to serve those Whom You have chosen to put into my pathway. Let no act of service be beneath me for if it is I will have trespassed.

Father, I need you so. You are all that I truly need. Help me to remember that in the days to come. Days that are filled with much confusion are at hand in my life, Lord. The road has changed and I don’t always know the next step. Let me not take a single one without You prompting me. Let me live in such a way that I might heed the Spirit’s smallest urging.

Father, help me live a cross-centered life. Your Son died the death that I deserved. He suffered and died for me that I might live; let me live only for Him. The name of Jesus is so precious, Lord; let it not be blasphemed on account of me.

Help me to be a woman after Your own heart: to love what You love and hate what You hate. Teach me to love Your Word, to understand Your Word and to apply Your Word. Teach me to pray about what matters: erase self-promoting prayers from my heart. Guide me, teach me to weep in prayer. Help me to remember the great sacrifice that Your Son made that enabled me to pray. May I never approach You flippantly or lightly.

Father, allow me to see sin through Your eyes; help me to know it as the vile thing that it is. Sin holds so many captive, Lord; once, I, too, was its slave. Father, help me to remember that the battle lies not with those who would sin against You but with him who binds them with chains of darkness so that they can neither see nor hear. Help me to remember that the battle is not fought through strength and power but by Your Word of Truth. Obedience to You is everything in this battle.

There are so many who don’t know You, so many who have never heard the name of Jesus: raise up workers, Father, and prepare them to go and teach. Prepare hearts, I pray, to receive Your Word. Use me, Father, among the lost as You alone see fit. Cause me to pray, lead me to weeping, teach me to serve, guide me that I may teach.

Father, the church that Your Son died for is weak today. Raise up teachers and preachers of the Word who love Your people passionately and fear You with all that is in them. Make them bold in the proclamation of Your wrath and of Your love. Teach them to teach with boldness and purity. Make them fear no man but only You. Open the eyes and ears of Your people so that we might see and hear, learn and grow. Teach us that to love You is truly to obey You.

Lord, help me to remember that each true follower of Your Son must either die a martyr’s death or live a martyr’s life. There is no other way. Make me blind to this world and all that it would offer. Let me live only for Jesus, whatever the cost may be. If I am to one day die for Him, let me die with His praise on my lips.

Lord, if devotion to You leads me to persecution, then let me rejoice in it. When misunderstood by the church, cause me to trust in You and praise You and stand strong on Your Word.When I am despitefully used because of obedience to You then help me to show Your love to those who would persecute me–even when it is those that I love who are instruments used against me. Teach me to show love when it is hardest. Make me a bridge that others may cross to find You.

Father, I would know nothing but You; make Jesus Christ and Him crucified what I live to proclaim. Whether through my life or through my death let Your glory be shown in my life. Enable me to magnify You to show forth Your beauty. Teach me to glory only in knowing and understanding You and in the Cross of my Lord; let me never glory in, nor promote, myself.

Father, it is up to You to promote me or to cast me down: I accept either at Your hand. Make me humble. Search me. Try me. Guide me. Teach me. Fit me for Your service in whatsoever way that You see fit. I am Thine and Thine alone. Here am I, Lord, send me.

All of this I ask in the precious Name of Your Son, Jesus,

Amen and amen.

Until next time,

God bless you sister

May He grant you the deepest desire  possible to seek and serve Him,

Anna

Soli Deo gloria!

Modern Youth Ministers: Blind Leaders Of The Blind November 19, 2009

(If you are a youth minister who is truly a minister of our Lord, my appreciation goes out to you. No offense is meant to anyone. I’m stretching things a bit, perhaps, but it is only in order to make a point…and, in some churches, I’ve seen, it’s only a very little bit.)

Matthew 15: 14, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

What’s going on in Youth Ministry these days? Things have changed and someone (meaning the parents…and, oh, yes, God!) have been left out in the cold. Modern youth ministry is just so, well, modern. We, the parents, aren’t really expected to understand it. What these guys do to…ah, I mean with…our children is the business of…no one, it would seem. Our children go to church supposedly to learn God’s Word and end up talking music, movies and dating or they socialize (we all know how important proper socialization is to their souls, don’t we?) or they…get this, you’re gonna love it…play games (that’s right…big, strapping nearly grown young men who should be in training to lead the church out their acting like some little kid having ice cream eating contests or some such thing that will surely advance them in knowledge of the truth of God’s holy Word). Seeing how things are going, we, the parents get concerned (or, is it confused?), and go to “Parent Involvement Meetings” with the Youth Minister (Leader?) and offer our input and nothing happens; we talk to our children about what goes on in their “Bible Study” (oops, I don’t think we are really supposed to call it that, anymore) and nothing happens; we might even complain to the head Pastor and…guess what?…nothing happens.

Nothing happens because nothing is meant to happen. It’s not them that is wrong, see? It’s us. We have lost sight of what Bible…sorry…youth group is supposed to be all about. It isn’t about God. No, that went the way of actually caring about doctrine. Youth Group (Ministry? Can we really still call it that?) today is all about fun and relevance and felt needs. Youth ministers (ah, leaders? buddies? pals?) know this, you see. It’s just us parents who still harbor old-fashioned beliefs that church ought to be about God who are out of the loop.

So with that in mind, I thought I’d help you confused parents out there to understand what is going on when your youth go to Wednesday night Bibl…ah, sorry…youth group…and come home knowing less than they did when they went (but with some great new fashion tips). So, (bear with me, please) here goes:

1) Youth ministry isn’t about teaching doctrine, helping teens to grow spiritually, guiding them in prayer or Bible study or preparing them to serve in the church. Youth ministry isn’t about God at all. Youth ministry is about your teens. Period. Plain and simple. Your teen is the center of the universe in that church (if we can still really call it that and be correct), and you need to learn it (because soon, he is going to be proclaiming that he is the center of the universe in your home, too). Youth ministry is there to provide fun, excitement, bonding time with buddies (including the biggest one, the youth leader–minister?–himself)…not to mention tips on movies, music and fashion (and, just perhaps, dating). The Cross of Christ will seldom, if ever, be mentioned (but it will be worn around the neck and adorn tee-shirts). Hell, sin and other “scary” things will never be mentioned (lest someone is hurt, confused or offended by the fact that God is offended by sin).

2) Youth ministers are expected to dumb down everything since they think that your kids are really, really dumb. When they aren’t softening doctrine, they are trying to find a way to tell your child that he is a sinner without hurting his feelings. I mean, if they hurt his feelings by letting him know that, in God’s eyes, he has transgressed every single law of God and, without His Son, is bound for hell, then your child probably won’t want to come back and will probably spend their Wednesday nights (and maybe even Sunday mornings) doing something that isn’t relevant at all (like spending time on the phone…instead of in person at “church”…with their friends–talking about movies, music, fashion and dating) and, well, to be honest, the Youth Person…Guy…whatever…just might lose his job…and we can’t have that now, can we?

3) The Youth Buddy Fellow has absolutely no expectations whatsoever of your child when it comes to God’s Word. If your child doesn’t know anything about Noah parting the Red Sea, or Jonah and the Great Flood, or any of the other really great, but not relevant, Bible stories, that’s okay. The Y.B.F. knows that your teen is just a kid and shouldn’t be made to think like an adult (since that is stressful…very, very stressful). The Y.B.F. (along with other adults “in the know”) realize that kids must be kids even if they are in church. The fact that he (or she…let’s not be sexist, now) is nearly an adult ought not to bother us (much); after all, that are a lot of really immature grown-up’s out there who manage to make a living (like some Y. B. F.’s). Maturity isn’t necessary to make it in church, either; after all doctrine is no longer emphasized so that no one feels stressed. If this worries you it shouldn’t, since no one really knows what the Sermon on the Mount really means anyway (it is, however, a great story… picturing Jesus there on the side of the mountain with His 10 disciplines…teaching them how to make their lives happier…better…and more successful).

4) The Y.B.F. is there to keep your kids off the street, off of drugs, and away from bad influences and whatever it takes to do that is just fine with him (after all, he’s getting paid a nice amount for this). The Y.B.F. will talk with the kids about their felt needs all night (or, the 45 minutes that the class lasts, anyway) if  the kids want to (which is, of course, movies, music, fashion and dating).  This works especially great when the Y.B.F. can throw in a few “Christian’ sounding things to keep things legit (such as naming “Christian” bands, “Christian” novels, “Christian” clothing lines…and so on…after all, we must keep things “Christ-centered,” mustn’t we?).

5) The Y.B.F. must remember (and you, dear parent, must understand) that your children (no matter how old they are) are not the church of today…they are the church of tomorrow…so we can’t really expect them to serve anyone, or be involved in anything that doesn’t position them as the center of the universe (because, we must remember, they are very stressed over living such stressful lives in such stressful times and they are very emotional about it). Your youth need time to relax and just enjoy themselves and to have to come to church and work, study, learn or serve would simply be too stressful for them. That will all come in due time (if your kids stick around to stay in church) and, if not, at least they’ve had a good time, haven’t they?

So, there it is. Youth ministry isn’t about God, it’s about your teens. Life, for your teens, isn’t about God, it’s about your teens. That’s the way it is. Everybody knows it and we, the confused and concerned parents, had better get used to it; after all, the Youth Ministry Fellow Guy did.

Until next time,

God be with you.

Anna

Soli Deo gloria

God’s Ways November 18, 2009

God never takes something from us unless He intends to give us something better.

He never says “No” unless the no is the exact thing we need to hear.

He never makes a mistake.

His intention is to fit us for heaven.

To be fit for heaven we must be fit for Him.

He will take everything from us that He has to in order to get us to that point.

He takes material possessions from us in order that we will not trust in the fleeting joy things provide.

He takes money from us so that we will never love or depend upon wealth.

He takes people from us so that we have only Him to turn to.

He takes reputation from us so that we may not feel that we are someone with something to offer.

He takes health from us so that we may not depend upon ourselves.

He backs us into a corner so that the only way out is Up.

He leads us into a dry and barren place so that we may call out to Him in repentance and trust.

When we do, He leads us into green pastures.

He brings us to brokenness so that He may bring us to wholeness.

He draws love for the world out of us as a doctor draws pus out of a festering wound.

Only with the pain comes the healing.

It feels like failure.

It feels like emptiness.

It feels like abandonment.

It feels as if everything is over.

It isn’t.

When there is no one but Him to turn to, we are in the very best of all possible places.

When we finally realize that there is nowhere else to go and no one else to go to.

 When we want only Him–

it is then that we are the richest of all people.

For to have Him and have nothing else is to be most blessed.

God reduces us in order to increase us.

He impoverishes us in order to enrich us–

with Himself.

—————————–

Until next time,

wishing you the blessings of brokenness.

God be with you.

Anna

Soli Deo gloria! 

Beautifully Broken November 18, 2009

God uses no one whom He hasn’t broken. There is no room for compromising. He who would not spare His only Son the horror of the Cross will not spare His earthly sons the terror of the flame of purification.

Being purified is painful. It requires sacrifice, surrender, loneliness. It requires that we let go of all that is not of God.

Do we even realize how much we hold onto that is not “of God”? Do we know very often we make excuses? How often we fail to distinguish the holy from the profane?

We just expect that God will accept it. Somehow, He Who is holy, holy, holy is expected to accept our sinful pleasures and give our excuses a pass!

How mistaken we are.

There is no playing celestial handball with God. The ball isn’t first in His court and then in ours. The ball is always in His court. He always wins the game.

That’s the way it should be and that’s the way it is. There is no choice.

The psalmist asked “Why do the heathen rage?”; we could also ask “Why do those who claim His high and holy Name rage against the God they claim to serve?”

Why?

Do we not know better? Do we not care?

Can we simply not stand to be inconvenienced in some way by God? Is He a burden to us?

That’s the way that many of us act.

His ways are always right. His law is always perfect. His ruling are always justified.

How easily we forget that. Like a little child we whine when we don’t get our way. Like a toddler raging against a nap, we rage against restrictions. Like a teen rages against rules, we, too, rage against our Father’s ways.

Still He is good.

Still He says “Come”.

The “Come” comes with a price, however. We will obey. We will submit. We will love Him will all that we are, all that we have.

To do otherwise is to commit spiritual treason and to be worthy of death.

To not “Come” is to doom ourselves to eternal punishment.

There is only one way out: absolute total surrender, absolute total devotion, absolute total obedience.

We lose. He wins.

When He wins, we win. When we win, we lose.

He will take us through the flames of the fires of purification. He will break us. He will destroy anything and everything in us that is not “of God”. When He is done, He will stand back and look into our lives and see the beautiful and glorious reflection of His Son.

We who are vile, who are worms, who are nothing will, finally, be beautiful.

The road to beautiful is the road of brokenness. When we travel it, we find our way Home.

Until next time, God bless you all,

Anna

Soli Deo gloria!

Simplifying Thanksgiving Celebrations November 17, 2009

Celebrations are a reminder of good times past and better days to come. It  need not be elaborate or expensive. The food can be plain, the surroundings simple. If there is love and a humble meal, it is enough.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many moms are stretching themselves beyond their physical, financial and emotional reserves. Moms don’t need to wear themselves out, nor is there need to break the bank, in order to make good times better. What matters is the love they shower on their family through their efforts. Simplification is all important.

Contentment is a necessary part of preparing to celebrate. Many times people have held celebrations in the depth of deprivation. The need to celebrate is great and feasting can be done very simply. As such, it needs little to accompany it. True feasting is an art form; it is about making do with what you’ve got, seasoning correctly, cooking with good technique, presenting it beautifully and not feeling somehow “less than” as you serve your family a well prepared, albeit simple, meal in humble surroundings. Even soup and bread can be festive if served in a handsome ceramic bowl by candlelight.

As Thanksgiving approaches, with Christmas not far behind, simplify as much as possible. Plan your holiday shopping, decorating and cooking so that it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg (or your sanity). Hold back a bit so that when it is all over, you aren’t depleted. Your family will need your efforts and your expressions of love just as much the day after Thanksgiving as they will during it.

With this holiday season upon us, schedule time to relax. Do enough but not too much. Shop enough but not too much. Cook enough and eat enough but not too much. Practice moderation in all that you do. Most importantly, praise God in everything.

Until next time~~

Take care of yourself and your family.

God be with you and be praised in all!

Anna

Soli Deo gloria!

Thanksgiving Pies November 11, 2009

Buttermilk Pie

Old-fashioned and delicious!

(Preheat oven to 400 degrees)

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (9 inch) deep dish pie crust

In a large bowl, cream together the butter or margarine and the sugar. Add the flour, salt and eggs and mix well, making sure that the eggs are well incorporated and there are no “bits” of flour left. Mix in the buttermilk and vanilla extract. Pour into a deep dish pie shell. Be careful as this fills the shell pretty full. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 325 degrees and bake for 45 minutes, or until filling is set.

Pumpkin Pie

It seems somehow un-American to dislike pumpkin pie but that’s exactly the position that I was in most of my life. I love spices and I love ginger but I didn’t love overwhelming spiciness that is common in most pumpkin pies. I always felt that the spices overwhelmed the pumpkin flavor. One day a friend of mine, Karen Jones, made a pumpkin pie for us a Christmas gift and she left out the ginger; that transformed the whole thing and, suddenly, I loved pumpkin pie. That’s the way I’ve made it ever since.
(Preheat oven to 425 degrees)

1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 eggs
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
1 (12 ounce can) evaporated milk

In a small bowl, combine the sugar, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Beat the eggs in a large bowl; mix in the pumpkin and the sugar mixture and then gradually stir in the evaporated milk. Pour into a pie shell. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated oven; reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 40 to 50 minutes (until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean); cool for at least two hours. Serve with ice cream, cool whip, sweetened whipped cream or un-garnished.

 

Wishing you the sweetest smiles, the warmest hugs, the most loving of homes…

through Christ our Lord,

Until next time,

May God be with you, girlfriend =)

Anna

Soli Deo gloria!