Friday 27 November 2015

Eggsiting!

Sorry, I know I have such a lame sense of humor. But I'm really eggsited about our hen's finally laying eggs now.


It's a lot of fun reaping the labours of your hard work and anticipating what you know is going to eventually happen. And now we have these fresh new eggs each morning. Actually lots of eggs...


So of course I have been giving them away, which is lots of fun too! But I also have been thinking I should come up with some ways to use these up, which is not hard to do like the Country Cottage Bake, I made for dinner last night.
With all these fresh new eggs I get each morning it makes me think about something new that has developed in my life very recently, which is also very exciting. The reconciliation of a very significant relationship in my life.
Like fresh eggs... His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23).
I've had a lot of hurts concerning this past relationship. But I've always wanted to be prepared that Lord willing when the time came I would not hinder the reconciliation because of a grudge and bitterness. I think its only fair to say though that 15 years did go by, up until about 6 months prior that I had bitterness that I did not want to face, and I stuffed it away. The Lord used a life altering circumstance in this persons life to soften my heart. I don't believe the Lord would bring a hardship into someones life for Him to use but I do know that God is in the business of turning beauty from ashes (Ish. 61:3). I've seen it happen in my life too many times to count. And so while I know the Lord was preparing my heart, I received a message from someone that this person wanted to contact me. I was so shocked, scared, but moved. I knew what I should do and honestly I wanted to respond. Like a fresh pretty egg each morning it calls to remind me: the faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lam. 3:23) And when I am scared of all that could go wrong or the past threatens to steal my joy and cloud out the fresh new reality, I will say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" The Lord is good to those who depend on him (Lam 3:24,25)
I need to remember that I cant expect perfection, because I am a perfectionist by nature, but that I come to each moment committing to the Lord whatever I do, and my plans will succeed. (Prov. 16:3)
Now I have the joy of being able to share what the Lord has worked out in my life. Its such a blessing with glorifying the Lord in this. Hearts are moved towards Him, through this demonstration of the His work.
This newly reconciled relationship will take time and work and patience, but like all work that is committed to the Lord... we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28)

Country Cottage Bake 


Start with 4 large eggs, beaten, then add,
2 cups cottage cheese
1 cup frozen broccoli pieces
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped peppers
3 tbsp. Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp. bread crumbs
Pour into buttered pie dish or 8x8 baking dish. 
Bake at 350 for 40-50 min., until set


Friday 6 November 2015

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You have a unique message to deliver, a unique song to sing, a unique act of love to bestow. This message, this song, and this act of love have been entrusted exclusively to the one and only you.
-John Powell
Isn't everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God?
1Cor. 4:7


Saturday 3 October 2015

Chicken a little ?

We got a bunch of Road Island Red chickens in the middle of this past summer. We all have really been enjoying them. I really didn't think that they would be so much fun to have.
While dumping a bucket of apple cores into their yard, I thought I'm going to do as my husband will often do and sit here for a bit and watch the girls...and the couple of boys. I saw what he likes about sitting here and watching them. They are interesting, like watching a bunch of kids interacting. One is standing there and suddenly deciedes to stand on one leg, another ruffles her feathers. Then one takes of running, and another starts flapping her wings. They are all fighting over the scraps and some give up and just go over to feed and just eat there instead. Its really interesting to me how different they all are, I love it.









But I'm finding out as people we all don't like to be considered different. Because not all differences are the same. I liked being different when I was growing up. Different likes, and clothes that is. But when I've tried to convince a child that God made us all different and that its great, this child doesn't want to hear that because their struggling and can't keep up with peers or in academics. So how do I show this child that God made all things beautiful?
I think the best place to start off is John 3:16, For God so loved the world (that means everyone on it!) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. How is it possible for there to be more love for each individual than this? There isn't.
We are all original works made by the hands of God -- For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:13. Who are we then to complain of the Masters works?! We shouldn't... Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  And if we cant understand this we need to have faith in God that He knows what He is doing -- Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3. We can't ever fully understand the greatness of the Lord, and so that is where true faith comes in.
God calls us "gifts" (Psalm 127:3) and He took the time to form us in a particular, unique way (Psalm 119:73), each one of us, there is no denying that and so we all, in spite of our feelings of inadequacies, need to accept God at His word and live in the peace and joy that comes from Him. (Romans 11:33)
Ecclesiastes 3:11 -Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. It's so important to remember that we are made for so much more than things like having good hair, being with the in crowd, making sure we are busy with half a dozen things each week, even dare I say...having good grades, having a good paying job. If we were to model as Christians that loving God, not being consumed with ourselves was the most important thing, I believe there would be less stress, depression, and suicide. 
We are Gods masterpiece (Eph.2:10) and if we live like we believe that, we will do our best and if that best does not measure up to the worlds standards that's OK because...
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

Thursday 10 September 2015

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Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:3

Thursday 3 September 2015

Apple Season Already?

It seems crazy for me to think its that time of year already when the leaves start turning, the fruit is ripening and the nights get cooler. But its not officially fall yet, I just need to make that clear!
Change is always happening, you think we would be used to it now. What about change that your not sure should happen. Like a move, change of jobs, and the times when prayers are said like "Lord please only if its your will" because you just don't know what the right decision is. Does the Lord so often (in my opinion) bring us to these forks in the road just to see how we respond? And even when we do make the wrong decision, the Lord is still there, scoops us up and makes something beautiful out of our own mistake even if its just to help us see where we went wrong so we can learn and not make that mistake again. Like a bruised or crow bitten apple, cut the bad off and turn it into...oh decisions...apple sauce or apple cake? hmm...
How about Appley Cake


 This is a very tasty recipe, the cardamom gives it a great flavour. And very apple-y...so moist.

4 cups granny smith apples (or the like) peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tb. sugar
3/4 cup margarine, melted
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cardamom
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tb. sugar

Butter a 10" pie plate. In a large bowl combine the apple slices with the lemon juice and 1 tb. sugar, and distribute evenly in the pie plate. Then wisk the melted butter and 1 cup sugar, add the eggs, 1 at a time wisking well after each. Add the flour, spices and salt and mix until smooth. Pour evenly over the apples and then sprinkle the last tablespoon of sugar over top. Bake in a 350 oven for 45 min. or until the apples are tender and crust is golden brown and when pricked with a fork it comes out clean.
 


The little old apple tree that gets lots of apples and gets lots of crow visitors to peck away at my apples :( oh well turn them into baked goods :) 
Thinking about praying for Gods will... Ive been stressing myself out over a certain decision and praying for God to open or close the door in this, according to His will, got me thinking... what if it just happens any old way and I fear if the door is open but it isn't God's will. But then I found these truths in God's word:
Luke 11:9 "And so I tell you, keep asking and you will receive what you ask for."
1 John 5:14,15 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
And so with these truths I know that when I ask that His will be done, and please close the door to the possibility of anything that is not His will, I can trust God that He will do as He said in His Word. Thank you Father for that assurance.

Monday 13 April 2015

Perspective


 I'm walking along on this dry grassy hill, looking down in the coulees, wondering when things will begin to grow and get more colorful. There has been only one rainfall this spring so far...its not looking to promising of May flowers. As I walk along, the grasses are so dry that little pieces break off and poke me as they fall into my shoes.



I look out mostly over the hills and down in the coulees and the land seems so barren. The parched land looks like it has nothing beautiful to offer right now.



But when I slow down I see something. Some color. I bend down to see what looks like something similar to crocuses, soft, fuzzy, purple petals closed up pointing to the sky. Clusters of them, and some single flowers scattered over the hills. They are so beautiful and I am so happy to see them there.


 As with new eyes I look more specifically over the hills and notice these pretty little flowers scattered here and there quite frequently.



Its amazing how much more noticeable something is when you specifically look for it. It brings my thoughts to how we can look at ourselves or others. Quite often when I am frustrated by my short comings or short comings of a loved one its hard to see something positive going on. When I think about failure after failure in areas that I struggle, I just see a Big F. But when I take the time to focus in on these certain areas I cant neglect to see that I have made many wise choices and that is also why more often than not, things can go along pretty smoothly. When positive choices are made they need to be acknowledged and praise God for His faithfulness and guidance. Then it is easier to see how good choices can be made easily and its encouraging to keep heading in the right direction to see how much more beautiful its going to get! Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. (Isaiah 43:18) Remembering this helps us accept that God is always wanting to use us and our experiences to do good. He is always at work in our lives as long as we are letting Him.
(And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28)
Each choice to honor the Lord is a beautiful little flower in a dry barren land, that when each one is gathered together, there is too many to fit into any ordinary vase. And yet the flowers is all He sees in our dry barren land. 

Turns out these flowers are called Prairie Crocuses


Psalm 103
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
With all that is within me, praise his holy name!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
Do not forget all his kind deeds!
He is the one who forgives all your sins,
who heals all your diseases,
who delivers your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion,
who satisfies your life with good things,
so your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
The Lord does what is fair,
and executes justice for all the oppressed.
The Lord revealed his faithful acts to Moses,
his deeds to the Israelites.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful;
he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.
He does not always accuse,
and does not stay angry.
He does not deal with us as our sins deserve;
he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.
For as the skies are high above the earth,
so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers.
As far as the eastern horizon is from the west,
so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.
For he knows what we are made of;
he realizes we are made of clay.
A person’s life is like grass.
Like a flower in the field it flourishes,
but when the hot wind blows by, it disappears,
and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.
But the Lord continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers,
and is faithful to their descendants,
to those who keep his covenant,
who are careful to obey his commands.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven;
his kingdom extends over everything.
Praise the Lord, you angels of his,
you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees
and obey his orders!
Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his,
you servants of his who carry out his desires!
Praise the Lord, all that he has made,
in all the regions of his kingdom!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!