Singing

I read John 10:10 yesterday, where Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Now the life part is easy to understand, it's the "to the full" that can be harder to comprehend. I've been ruminating on that one. I can tell you what it isn't. It isn't being busy that makes life full, activities don't add up to fullness. It isn't things. You can't buy enough stuff or get a house big enough to make you full inside. No, I think that God puts a song in each of our hearts, the life we are created to live, and those who have life to the full are those who are unafraid to sing it out loud. May we all choose to sing today the beautiful music of our maker's song.

Today I am thankful that I took the time to sit still and listen.
I'm thankful that He loves me, even though I sing off key.
I'm thankful that I've come to the place where I can stop comparing my song to everyone elses.
I'm thankful for lunches with friends and how they do wonders for the soul.

One from a Friend, One from the Garden

I didn't forget about Rednesday today, I was just a little busy helping at the school this morning. I have two pictures to share today. The first is a plant in my yard that I love. I don't know what it is called but it dies back in the winter and grows very tall each year and has these beautiful flowers on it all summer and then the berries. It started as a little sprig I cut off a plant at our friend Ruth's. Speaking of Mrs. Ruth, the other picture comes from her house. She is a treasure trove of red. Thank you for sharing.

While the Dew is Still on the...

...gardenias. I know you thought I was going to say roses. Well, at least any of you who were raised in a Southern Baptist church. Well, I decided to show y'all a different flower instead. My gardenia is still trying to bloom and I thought it deserved some attention. It smells so nice and looked so crisp and white.

It's Raining Cats and Dogs...Tigers and Elephants

That's my way of saying that it's really coming down at my house this morning. It reminds me of a verse in Ezekiel, "I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing." That's in Ezekiel 34:26. Since we're already at it, I'll give you another. Deuteronomy 32:2 says, "Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like the dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants."

I want to be sure and give a great big thank you to all who visited for Pink Saturday and for our new friends who decided to follow us. It was especially nice of them considering that my pink post didn't include any pink for most of the day. I'm not quite sure where that picture got off to, I know I put it on there, I guess it needed a little break. So next Saturday I'll have to post a new picture and stand guard that it doesn't wander off.

Now, what's for supper at our house this week? Here's what I've got cooking--
Monday--spaghetti, salad, garlic bread (brownies for dessert)
Tuesday--Skillet Chicken, stewed tomatoes and rice, steamed vegetables, biscuits
Wednesday--Meatballs in Brown Gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots, rolls
Thursday--Chick-Fil-A (school fundraiser)
Friday--roast pork, green bean casserole, creamed corn, rolls
Saturday--homemade pizza
Sunday--leftovers

Well it's still raining here. I'm off to do chores and then go visit with my mom and aunts. But before I go, I wanted to leave you with one final thought. May we each choose today to listen to the wisdom that falls around us. May it renew us, and may we be tender and teachable. Hope your week is off to a great start.

Blue Birds, Zucchini Bread, and a Little Bit of Preachin'

Okay, so it's not actually preaching. It's more like a little lesson for our Food for Thought Friday, but 'preachin' just sounded better in the title. I could thump the desk for emphasis and pace in front of the keyboard a couple of times if that makes it more legitimate.

First of all, here's the picture for my inclusion in Pink Saturday. This time I've caught onto the fact that Pink Saturday has to be done before an actual Saturday. Sometimes I'm a little slow. Maybe I'll get it right this time. You can visit her site at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/



Next I have a recipe that was requested for some zucchini bread I made earlier in the week. The recipe actually came to me from our friend Ruth. I had it at her house a couple of years ago and asked her for it. My kids love it too. Oops, did I forget to tell them that there's zucchini in it? I guess in this instance what they don't know makes them healthier. Moms are sneaky that way.

Zucchini Bread

Step One:
3 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Step Two:
3 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. shredded zucchini
1 c. chopped pecans

Mix ingredients for step one and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine eggs and sugar. Add other ingredients from step two one at a time. Add step one ingredients and mix. Spray two loaf pans with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

And now for us to "think on these things." There has been scenes from the U.N. in the news recently and talk on dignitaries and ambassadors, so I thought we could think for a moment about the job we do as ambassadors.

Take a look at II Corinthians 2:14-16. "But thanks be to God who always leads in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?"

There are two points to see here. The first is that God always leads in triumph. We may not always follow, but that is the way He leads. That is why we are doomed to fail when we stray from His path, because we've strayed from the path of victory. The second thing to see is that through us God makes the knowledge of Christ available to others. We serve as His ambassadors.

To those who are coming to Christ, our walk is an enticing aroma. It's drawing them in, interesting them in knowing more. That's why we much watch every step we take! II Corinthians also goes on to say that to others, the fragrance they smell is death. No wonder some people turn up their noses at Christianity. They find it spiritually repugnant. Whether they are wise in their own eyes and smell what they think is a dead religion with rotten ideas or whether they are in bondage to self and afraid that giving their life to Christ means death to all the things they think make them important, whatever it is that drives, they think Christianity stinks.

We overcome all this and walk victoriously by following in the steps of our Savior. What perfume are you wearing today?

Necessary Things...Like Cereal & Diet Coke

Today is our day to be thankful. I thought I'd take a step back from my grandiose ramblings to be thankful for some of the simple things that are necessities in my day, plus one other that isn't necessary every day but much appreciated none the less.

1. Coffee, without which my poor little eyes would not open

2. Hazelnut cream, which makes opening those eyes a much sweeter experience
3. Diet Coke, a requirement for each day--we're great friends, Diet Coke and I

4. Cereal, I eat it for breakfast every day. Could eat it every meal but the rest of my family likes a little something more substantial

5. Debbie's serenade, she sang to me over Skype (it was my birthday earlier this week) and I appreciated it very much. She'll appreciate it very much if I don't return the favor. *Please note: this blogger is unable to carry a tune.

What are your must haves for each day?

Fall Pictures, Part 2

Thankfully I had one or two with some red in them that I can use for Rednesday. I thought I'd better get back to that since I didn't have a chance to do it last week. I adore the wall clings that I found at Hobby Lobby last year with Joey on clearance. I've looked for others but haven't found them there (or anywhere around here). I also put one on my dishwasher which looks great. I'd seen those dishwasher panels in a magazine and liked them. I just made my own with one of the clings from my pack--$80 for a panel vs. part of a pack I paid $5 for...hmmm. I still have more stuff, just ran out of time and figured it was pumpkin picture overkill. Have fun doing your own fall decorating. Let me know about your great ideas.