What's in There?

Here are some verses that I came across yesterday morning during my quiet time. I love it when I find a verse that really speaks to me and then flip somewhere else and find another that goes along with it. It's like God is saying, "You like that one? Come check out this one I've got." And then we're off on a study together. Ever have times like that? Well, this is the result of mine.

II Chronicles 3:16-17 "I have chosen and consecrated this temple sa that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."

Thank You Lord that, just like in the temple of old, Your Holy Spirit dwells in believers today.

II Corinthians 6:16 "...For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people.'"

How amazing and sobering to know that in us too will always be Your eyes and Your heart. You are always seeing what I do with the life You've given me, and You can also see my intents and my thoughts. Maybe if I thought more on the fact then I'd be more careful and purposeful in my actions. If I really stopped and thought about that I'm going to do this or say this or even think this with God watching, would I still be willing to go ahead with it?

Not only that, but in us is the very heart of God. From it all my motivations and ultimately my actions should flow. That's how His church grows and He reaches out to the world, when someone like you or me, with a heart full of His love, tells someone else or teaches or meets a need. It takes His eyes to see and His heart to love but He uses my hands to accomplish and my feet to go.

I Corinthians 3:16-17 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."

A sacred temple. When was the last time I looked in the mirror and thought of that? This side of never. How do I care for this sacred temple? Am I neglecting it or abusing it with my habits and eating choices and thus bringing destruction on myself? I'm feeling a little conviction on that one.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Life Rules

Meredith was in her room playing with her white board. I asked it what she'd written and she said it was rule for how people should be.

It says:

This is good for you!!!!

1. Be nice

2. Shar (share)

3. Help the persin ho neds help!!!!! (help the person who needs help)

I think even though she's only six she really did a good job. Out of the mouth of babes...

I'm going to visit Sue at Rednesday at http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com and hope you will too.

Cut It Out

I was working in one of my flowerbeds yesterday pruning away some of the dead parts of the flowers that had left it looking like a spindly brown mess.

It reminded me of conversations I've had with my neighbor. I'm more of a perennial planter. She's an annual gal. She prefers the fullness I get from flowers but says she can't stand not to rip plants out when they finish blooming.

As I was snipping away I was very thankful that God doesn't share Mrs. Brenda's plant policy. We flower and flourish in our faith and then we go through some dry patches or wilt in the heat of trial. These fluctations leave us with some spindly patches of unproductive "dead wood" in our lives.

He patiently and tenderly cuts away at those things, sometimes even the parts that once were lovely, to leave us healthier, stronger, and ready to take on the winters that are to come.

When we shy away from the shears everyone notices. Our neglected spot are apparent to the passerby. And, the places that need tending are brittle. A little lopping and we look better, we feel better and we are extraordinarily more productive.

So I'm thankful for the pruning process. It has many times been hard, sometimes cost me things or relationships that I held very dear, but it is necessary.

And it sure beats ending up in the compost pile.

Chicken-N-Dumpling Super Star

I made chicken and dumplings for supper last night. With a household full of snifflers, I thought a little comfort food was in order. I thought they'd like it, I just didn't realize how much.

They all smelled it cooking and came running to find out what it was. When I told them, they carried on like I told them they'd won the showcase on the Price is Right.

There was literally singing and dancing involved.

All for the love of chicken and dumplings.

I got the recipe from one of my Lady and Sons cookbooks, but you can also get the recipe by clicking http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/view2/chicken_dumplings

I didn't use the bay leaves. They aren't a favorite of everyone in the house and the taste didn't suffer at all without them. I also used boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead and it was fine (quicker and healthier too).

It was my first stab at homemade dumplings and, even though I rolled them out to what I thought was thin enough, they were thick and kind of chewy. Totally yummy, but next time I'll keep rolling until my arms fall off and they feel paper thin (the noodles, not my arms). I'll also cut my noodles smaller.

If you're feeling the need for a little comfort, or maybe hear the people in your house singing your praise, whip up a batch of chicken and dumplings today.

Menus, MORE and Breakfast in Store

Sorry it's been so long. I've been sick AGAIN. The kids got their annual back to school cold and they shared it with me. With me, however, there's no such thing as a simple cold. God has blessed me in many ways but a great immune system was not on the list. Oh well, we've all got our stuff.

Finally after a week and a half I started to feel more like myself last night. I did make a breakfast casserole to bake this morning. I thought it'd be a good start for the kids for back to school. You make it up the night before and then bake it the next day. Keep in mind it does take a long time to bake. It worked out perfectly for me since I'm such an early riser, but for y'all who sleep past the crack of dawn, you might want to wait until the weekend to serve it.

Breakfast Casserole

1 lb. sausage
1 tsp. mustard powder
1/2 tsp. season salt
4 eggs, beaten
2 c. milk
6 slices bread, toasted & cubed
2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

Crumble and cook sausage until brown; drain. In a bowl, mix mustard, season salt, eggs and milk. Add sausage, bread and cheese. Stir to coat. Pour into greased 13x9 pan. Refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover and bake 45-60 minutes (I did mine 1 hour). Uncover and reduce heat to 325 degrees. Bake 30 minutes more.

Menus for the Week--

Monday--Chicken & Dumplings, Black Eyed Peas, Pear Salad
Tuesday--Ham & Pasta Bake, Carrots, Biscuits
Wednesday--Hamburgers & Hot Dogs
Thursday--Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread
Friday--Roast, potatoes, carrots, biscuits, fig preserves
Saturday--out to eat
Sunday--homemade pizza

Shaking Things Up

Just a couple of verses to shake things up this morning...

Psalm 62:1-2 "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

Hebrews 12:25-29 "See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.' The words 'once more' indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"


How wonderful to know that no matter how many shake ups come in this world, we will never be shaken.

New Week, New Food, New Sites to See

Hi everyone, here are the menu ideas for this week:

Monday--Enchilada Bake, Refried Beans, Corn
Tuesday--Chicken in Cream Sauce, Green Bean Casserole, Rolls, Fruit Salad
Wednesday--Pork Chops Mojo, Baked Potatoes, Sour Cucumbers
Thursday--Cubed Steak and Gravy, Rice, Sliced Tomatoes, Rolls
Friday--out-to-eat
Saturday--homemade pizza
Sunday--leftovers

I also wanted to share with you about a new site that one of our friends has. Sweet Cheryl has created a new blog and here's the link. http://whengodwhispers-mochamama.blogspot.com/ Be sure to visit her this week.