Thursday, July 28, 2011

Tablescape Thursday

Photobucket

For more TT be sure to stop in at Between Naps on the Porch! You'll be glad you did!!!

These many 90+ degree days   have taken their toll on me....It is even difficult for me to  contemplate  even leaving the house   the car is so hot and the air is so humid and miserable...  So  that necessitates  me  creating a beautiful experience right here in my comfy and cool house...
my current  hutch display  inspired my desire to  enjoy a leisurely refreshing  luncheon  in my coolest room in the house... the parlor!
Photobucket

 Again,  I cant face a heavy meal either,   and to tell you the  truth a nice, tall,  glass of ice cold water just about tempts me more than the food...
  so lightfare is the only way to go today..
 Photobucket
and I  am enjoying my new   bird plates  that  will  be so lovely on my  songbird table in the parlor!

Photobucket
Photobucket
 So today for luncheon  I am off  to my  quiet place  where I meet with the Lord  and am  lunching with my new book,  Prayers  that  Release  Heaven on Earth...  by  John Eckhardt...
Photobucket
 a divinely  simple, yet beautiful luncheon of  fruit, cheese, and crackers  with that  long  cool  drink...

" The Lord reigns, let the people  be glad, let the distant shores rejoice, The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his Glory." Psalm 97: 6

Reflections of our Times - The Church

Photobucket
  Outside of the family, the church is the next most precious  part of our lives...and I believe it is  such a crucial part of life  that  every    bit of scripture  must be studied  and applied to be able to function in our world today....  I know  that  I did not  nearly  exhaust the issues that  families  are dealing  with  in  the family segment of  this    theme,  but, today for me I am concerned about our churches...   how  we are  commanded in scripture to  guard  against   divisions and factions in the church...  pride and  judgmentalism,  complacency, and lack of  true worship characterize many churches... at one time or another...     and    we must know  that  there is one  who  seeks to rob kill and destroy everything good  and his  main objective is  the  church....once he gets a foothold in the door,  his work is  so insidious it  can  go undetected and unchecked, even  for years .   No church is   exempt from this attack of the enemy,  especially churches    that  by all appearances are  serving  God's purposes   successfully....     The author of confusion,  satan ,     can  and has   brought  down many ministries and denominations are  on a decline in these trying  days...  


  I was listening to Jentezen Franklin 's  video of  July 4, 2011  of this year..   He  said  the churches today  need revival  to survive.....  what a statement... but how very true...    what is holding revival back from  our churches.... could it be that  the enemy of our souls has  a foothold in our churches and   God is  waiting for a wave of repentance to sweep  across   this nation...   Please view this video and   share your thoughts by comment or  better still  share with me  by posting  with me on Reflections on our Times. 

Monday, July 25, 2011

The Happy Homemaker Monday


The Stay at Home Mom hosts this each week.


The weather in my neck of the woods:
The report this morning for the long range  forecast was more of the same....hot and humid....  not fit for  man or beast outside if you ask me....

Things that make me happy:
Photobucket

I love to see my  sweetheart  out  taking care of business  around our home.....  and soon  after he retires  this will  be a  much more common sight around here!   Unfortunately,  the heat and lack of rain has  done a  job on urn landscaping and lawn....   there will be plenty to do come  autumn!

Book I'm reading:
The Normal Christian Life, by Watchman Nee

Spiritual Warfare, by E. M. Bounds

What I'm enjoying on TV:
What's tv??!
 NO  I cant say I actually  enjoy  it,  but  I am compelled to  watch  Fox and C-Span  much more than usual during this  heated  debate on the  debt!

On the menu for dinner:
We have  weekend left overs,   so  it will be interesting to see how I pull together  a hodge podge of  dishes into one cohesive meal...

On my To Do List

Getting  my thoughts together  on  a  topic I am bringing before the Pastor of our church this week.   Please pray for me to be thoughtful,  speak  succinctly, and without fear and emotions  as I bring a very serious matter before  my pastor!
still collecting  household  items and clothes for the Good Will basket

Rather full week ahead!
Quiet  day here at home to spend  reflecting and  gathering  my thoughts
perhaps  breakfast out with a friend ( need to catch up)
allergy shot
 marketing
Church fellowship dinner and Bible Study
Special Bible Study  with Lois at Lynne's
Dad to the doctor
Saturday  Morning Prayer at church  
New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Veal  parmesan
  • Last week I purchased some  thin  veal cutlets which were perfect and made this  recipe  so  easy to prepare
  •  6 veal cutlets  
  • ( if not  pounded thin  then  place  between  waxed paper and pound to  thin  thickness)  Mine were  already perfect
  • 1/2 cup flour  in a plate
  •   2 eggs    beaten in a bowl
  •  1/2 cup  Panko, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, salt and pepper 1 t. oregano
Dredge the  cutlets  first  through  flour,  then egg bath, then  panko mixture,  then place in heated  olive oil  in a frying pan and  pan fry  for 4-5 minutes on each side./   My cutlets   were  smallish and  very  thin  so they cooked quickly.  
Remove from pan,   drain off oil  and add 1/2 cup of  white wine... I actually used sherry..   and  created a sauce as the wine  dissovles the  crusty crumbles left behind in the pan.   Stir  this  well  and  allow the  flavors to mingle  as it  boils  for 2 minutes  and then pour over the cutlets.   This was a very tasty  dish!  
I am definitely looking for more  cutlets this week at the market!


  
Looking forward to this week
Last week at our Thursday night  Bible Study  abut 8 of us met at my dear friend's Lynn home  to discuss  how prayer had affected  our lives  as a followup  to our spring time study on the book, The Praying Life. We had many testimonies and    such wonderful discussion that  we decided to get together again this week  to  continue...   We truly believe that it is only by the power  of prayer that  our nation will overcome the many  issues   and ills that have come upon us.    We  are  calling for a sacred assembly as is  written in chapter 2 of the book of Joel to  pray for our nation.    We have invited all whoa re concerned for our nation to come and pray and it is our hope that the flame of the spirit will  rise up and engage the hearts of our people to  be involved in the  Call to Prayer for the Nation sponsored by Governor Rick Perry on August 6. 2011  the next week.   We need the whole nation  to fall to our knees  for our nation.   I commend  Gov. Perry for  putting his faith and his nation  before his political    career  in calling for this  event  to pray to God the father  by the power of Jesus name!

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):




Photobucket


How lovely it would be to  be enjoying those  cool seas  breezes  last summer  on  Cape Cod!


On my mind:
Last week I did  start a new initiative on my blog  called  Reflections  on the Tines
Photobucket
Click here to find out more  about  this  topic!
  Actually  there are several topics on this  theme  and the  topics are ever expanding to include    far reaching affects not only in the family, but  our communities,  churches,  nation  and the world.   But  Not only  am I examining the  effects  but mainly I  am seeking  scriptures that  offer  help and guidance in these trying times.  I continue to challenge you   to  get in on the discussion as we together  seek to  bring  clarity  to  our  lives and  know God's will in  our  daily struggles.  Sharing  together  can  be a great source of encouragement to others.
Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses

As I was  reading  Ezekiel  8   this morning, I couldn't help but see the correlation  between what  Ezekiel  saw and   what we see in our   impotent churches today...   Have our leaders  compromised their  faith  through idolatry  just as the  elders did  in  Ezekiel's day?

8: 5Then He said to me, “Son of man, raise your eyes now toward the north.”
So I raised my eyes toward the north, and behold, to the north of the altar gate was this idol of jealousy at the entrance.
6And He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations.”

I do  sense that God is far form His Sanctuary  in many churches today....   and we must  wonder  why and what can w e do about it!The Happy Homemaker

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Poetry (Family)




My heart rests assured in God's place in my wonderful daughter and son-in-law's life. That in itself is the greatest blessing of Lynn's and my life.... I see the fruit in Amanda and Joshua's experiences and the growth in their spiritual understanding ... as they seek to honor God in all their ways... home, work, and church.. Amanda shared this poem with me this week that she heard on the radio. She told me it blessed her and I pray that you find solace, assurance, peace, and the love of God in it for yourself ,as well.

No Coward Soul Is Mine
By: Emily Bronte


No coward soul is mine
No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven's glories shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from fear
O God within my breast,
Almighty, ever-present Deity!
Life--that in me has rest
As I--undying Life--have power in thee!

Vain are the thousand creeds
That move men's hearts: unutterably vain;
Worthless as withered weeds,
Or idlest froth amid the boundless main,
To waken doubt in one
Holding so fast by thine infinity;


So surely anchored on
The steadfast rock of immortality.
With wide-embracing love
Thy spirit animates eternal years,
Pervades and broods above,
Changes, sustains, dissolves, creates, and rears.


Though earth and man were gone,
And suns and universes ceased to be,
And Thou were left alone,
Every existence would exist in Thee.
There is not room for Death,
Nor atom that his might could render void:
Thou--THOU art Being and Breath,
And what THOU art may never be destroyed.


Photobucket

Pink Saturday

Photobucket

Happy Pink Saturday!
What a glorioius day we have been given today!
I  had to search the archives and  ran across my Pink post from 2 years ago this week   so I  thought it would be great to share  it, especially with this heat wave we're having...  this is a blessing!
Photobucket
Photobucket
Asking for Roses
A house that lacks, seemingly, mistress and master,
With doors that none but the wind ever closes,
Its floor all littered with glass and with plaster;
It stands in a garden of old-fashioned roses.
I pass by that way in the gloaming with Mary;
'I wonder,' I say, 'who the owner of those is.'
'Oh, no one you know,' she answers me airy,
'But one we must ask if we want any roses.'
So we must join hands in the dew coming coldly
There in the hush of the wood that reposes,
And turn and go up to the open door boldly,
And knock to the echoes as beggars for roses.
'Pray, are you within there, Mistress Who-were-you?'
'Tis Mary that speaks and our errand discloses.
'Pray, are you within there? Bestir you, bestir you!
'Tis summer again; there's two come for roses.
'A word with you, that of the singer recalling--
Old Herrick: a saying that every maid knows is
A flower unplucked is but left to the falling,
And nothing is gained by not gathering roses.'
We do not loosen our hands' intertwining
(Not caring so very much what she supposes),
There when she comes on us mistily shining
And grants us by silence the boon of her roses.
Robert Frost
Photobucket
By the way, if you have time to  peruse something,  Id  love  for you to  click  my header and visit  my new  theme on Reflections of the Times.  I feel this is an important new  writing for me and   Im challenging  anyone  to  join in as we try to make sense of  what is happening  around us  and  seek  to know  how to  move through the days  with   purpose and freedom  from  fear.
For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly of How Sweet the Sound!


Friday, July 22, 2011

Reflections on the Times The Family

Photobucket

One of the most powerful impacts on the family today is the influence  media has on us...    By media I am referring to television,   electronic communication and devices,  and radio, music, etc.    I firmly believe  that satan is the ruler of  the air,,,,     that it is by his deception and influence that  television as we see it today has  fallen so short of the wholesome quality  it  exhibited in   its infancy...  Music,  by the same token  has  deteriorated  to the place where  often times lyrics are actually  unintelligible   which is probably a good thing as many lyrics today are lewd  and  purport ungodly themes.   Electronic games, often times,  display  a level of  violence and sexuality that  at least I find very shocking,     The quality of films and the free use of profanity  add to the  slippery slope on which we find our society.  Yet,  look at our families....  as a retired  elementary  school teacher  I know  how  families work hard to  provide homes for  their  children...  wanting to give them the  things  that they think will  keep them happy....   So  both parents  are working  while  children   spend   time in  day care centers  and  then when  families are at home  the children are  relegated often times to the tv,  the internet,  or electronic games to  entertain them while  parents  do their thing... it is no wonder that  the evils that  are so prevalent  on the screen are  being  devoured and are corrupting the minds of our youth...   there is  an insidious seed  of  disrespect, entitlement, confusion of gender, rage, fear, and discontent planted in the hearts of  our children that  festers and grows and influences  them in later years....and parents are basically unaware of it  until  it manifests itself in action...
Oh  be careful little eyes what you see!   Be careful little ears what you hear!

Ephesians 2:1-10
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
   The Holy Spirit  pointed me to a website last night  that is affiliated with Focus on the Family  called the Truth Project.   There I found some amazing helps for  family issues  in these times. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Reflections on the Times - The Family

Photobucket

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

In these troubling days  it is  difficult to wait on the Lord...  we see the  families    in distress all around us...   the breakdown of the family  unit,  divorce   rates actually  declining  because  people  are forsaking  the marriage contract  at all...  children  being raised in single parent homes  where the bread winner  has to necessarily  spend  too much time    making ends meet and  keeping  the home together to properly  spend the time it takes to  give  their children the training and oversight they so desperately need.   Joblessness and financial woes  are putting many through the winepress of oppression and despair... with apparently no end in sight...    a government that appears to put political  gain    and  agendas  before   seeking to  quell the  distresses  in our nation...    there is so much more that  could be written here  but  that is for another day... the point is  this is America,, the land of opportunity...  the home of the brave, the land of the free,  yet  our families   are facing dire straits...    many have lost hope and face each  new struggle  in silence...   too often  they listen to the rhetoric  from the media   and put their  hope in  the government to fix their  problems  hoping for  sustenance to come  from handouts and entitlements...   but  that is not  God's way... 
God gave us everything we need  in His  Word ...  and  this  coming week  I  encourage us to look for  scriptures to share that  give us hope   from  on High  regarding  these many issues .  Please share your insights on  how  families  can  find the  strength, peace, and hope  for  their condition  from  God's  Word and  be an encouragement to others  who are  struggling in these  ways...    and  for those of us who are  blessed to  not be enduring  these issues,   share  ways  that  we can help those around us...  physical as well as spiritual help  along the way.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Out of the Depths





Out of the depths, O Lord, I cry to You
When I am tempted to despair
Though I might fail to trust Your promises
You never fail to hear my prayer
And if You judged my sin
I’d never stand again
But I see mercy in Your hands
So more than watchmen for the morning
I will wait for You, my God
When my fears come with no warning
In Your Word I’ll put my trust
When the harvest time is over and I still see no fruit
I will wait, I will wait for You
The secret mysteries belong to You
We only know what You reveal
And all my questions that are unresolved
Don’t change the wisdom of Your will
In every trial and loss
My hope is in the cross
Where Your compassions never fail

De Profundis ( Reflections on the Times)

Latin for  the  first words of Psalm 130,  Out of the depths, I cry out to God.....
  Blogging  is and always will be a wonderful  expression of life's journey,,,   my online journal  documenting    some details along the way... but  the Lord  is leading me to a  new bent .. a new  path  in  journaling  the impressions  that arise  in the  echoes  around me..  The echoes of discontent,  fear, loss,     a sense  spiraling  out of control,,,   in our families, homes,    communities,  churches,   our nation and the world....  What  constitutes  this fear of loss...  a loss of stability,  the loss of integrity  in society as a whole, the loss of freedoms, the loss of quality, loss of respectability  and honor,  loss of gentility and grace... 
Scripture  explains  it fully and    succinctly:
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

We ask ourselves, then,  who is this thief  who  is after our very well-being?   The context of the passage    refers to a predator  of a pasture, a wolf,,  a  deceiver  and  a liar,,  evil    bent on  destruction.   This could only mean  satan himself, the author of confusion , despair,   suffering.. 
   The "I" of the passage  is the Good Shepherd,  the Lover of our souls,  the One who  loves us  best and Most...  Jesus Christ...  God's on Son and the Redeemer of the world.
  Therein  lies the age old premise of  good vs. evil ...   a battle that has been  raging  since before time.. and we see this  devastating battle occurring all around us  today...

  I am feeling a move in my Spirit  to  spend some  time blogging  about   my 
Reflections  on the Times  
in which we are living... 
Photobucket

  For I think discourse on this topic will strengthen  us to  really think about our world view... whether it is based on that of the world which is so  prominent  in our lives,  our entertainment, our media, our government, our education, even some of the churches across this land... or  is  your   view  rooted on  Rock solid prinicples from  God's Word , the Unshakable, Unchanging, Unmovable Word of the Father  in heaven and creator of all things?


Now as a new blogger to  attempt to use a linky tool  I am  very  excited and hopeful that  this will  work!    But I would love  to see other thoughtful  and concerned bloggers  share in this discourse...  
Reflections on the Times
The topics  are far reaching   from  what is happening  in  our  society, government, families,   media,  etc..   But the  premise is  not to focus just on  the circumstances   that are  surrounding us, but to bring them into the light of  the Truth and how  we are to cope with and overcome  them in our lives..   


You are free to use  my  button on the sidebar and please link back to my page  in your post.


Together  we may  bring clarity to this  upside down world.



Word FIlled Wednesday

Click the above photo to return to Cafe Devotions!

Photobucket

Americanism… Why it matters. | AMAC, Inc.

IN my  research on  what matters    in  focusing on     what's happening  in  our nation  I  ran across this  articleI think is worth  sharing:


Americanism… Why it matters. | AMAC, Inc.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Reflections of the Times

Photobucket
This is perhaps one of the most important themes on which I have heretofore attempted to write...   I even to  decode pn the title  has been  complex  as  this  topic  will incorporate  many ideas   as I  attempt to  bring clarity into my thinking on  what is going on in our world today!
  A good friend and contributing  essayist  in this endeavor, Allan Matthes,  suggested  the following  and I think it is a grand  jumping off place for this  journey....
De Profundis
Latin for the beginning two words  of Psalm 130...

Psalm 130

My Soul Waits for the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
 1Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
 2O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
   to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
   O Lord, who could stand?
4But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.
 5I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
   and in his word I hope;
6my soul waits for the Lord
   more than watchmen for the morning,
   more than watchmen for the morning.
 7O Israel, hope in the LORD!
   For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
   and with him is plentiful redemption.
8And he will redeem Israel
   from all his iniquities.

  I really   think this is a fine beginning,  for  without  the  mercy, guidance, and help of our  Lord,  we can do nothing..  Putting Him first,  will  be  my only  hope in  being able to move forward in attaching any meaning to  what  I am seeing in these times in which we live...
  So  I believe  it is good to begin by  focusing on this psalm of ascent and seeking    what it is the the Lord has,  before going any further!
I look forward to any and all comments on this theme, for I am sure that  many are just as  intrigued by  the times,   by  what is happening in our  world, nation,  our society, even our homes and families.     By God's grace we will unlock  these mysteries,  shed light on the truth  beyond what  the mainline media wants us to know, and try to wrap our minds around  what it all means to us personally.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Happy Homemaker Monday


The Stay at Home Mom hosts this each week.


The weather in my neck of the woods:
After a few days respite from the humidity and extreme heat,  there is a hint of  a return to  hot muggy weather today....   the temperatures  climbing into  an uncomfortable  range  for me, anyway... but skies are clear, though.  


Things that make me happy:
Photobucket
Summer dinners out on he porch!


Book I'm reading:

The Normal Christian Life, by Watchman Nee

What I'm enjoying on TV:
What's tv??!

No... an occasion oldie but goldie movie or a cooking show

On the menu for dinner:
Today is dad's 92nd  birthday!
Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!

Photobucket
So   Lynn is stopping at Long John Silvers and picking up   his favorite  meal  to celebrate his  special day  with cake and ice cream a little later!


On my To Do List

unending laundry

research  the book Im reading  and develop a lesson plan for sharing with my prayer team

still collecting  household  items and clothes for the Good Will basket

Rather full week ahead!
Bible Study
Birthday  Celebration
getting the car inspected
take mom  and dad  to the doctor
 marketing
Church fellowship dinner and Bible Study
Special Bible Study  with Lois at Lynne's


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:



  •                  Pineapple Rice Pilaf

    Ingredients:
    1 1/2 tablespoons butter
    1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
    1/2 teaspoon curry powder
    1 can (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium, chicken broth
    1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
    1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
    1/2 cup sliced green onions
    Salt and pepper, to taste
    Preparation Time: Approximately 10 minutes

    Cook Time: Approximately 20 minutes

    Preparation:

    Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Mix in the rice and curry powder and stir until the rice is lightly browned and the curry is very aromatic. Turn up the heat to high and stir in the broth and pineapple. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and simmer gently for about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside for 5 minutes. Just before serving, mix in the almonds and green onions and season to taste with salt and pepper.
    Servings: 6

In the craft basket:
nothing at this time




Looking forward to this week
One of our dear prayer warriors, Lois, is  teaching   a study one night this week on  Israel,  and  End Times....   she is quite the authority on  these and so many timely issues and  strategies of prayer that it is  a highlight of  my summer  to get together with this group  to  study more  the  depths of God's  word!




No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):




Photobucket


Lynn and I  enjoyed the back seat  of the bus on our  Sunday  School trip  to Mountain Lake yesterday.. it was wonderful to leave the driving to  David and just kick back and  let the good times roll!
Photobucket
  The view was  phenomenal!
On my mind:
Our nation  and its  problems  have  been  circulating around and around  my mind... as Im sure  they have so many...   Toward that end I am  thinking on developing  a weekly  theme  to  discuss  the truth of  the situation. ...  it  seems that  there are forces afoot  that  are  striving to either  keep   us in the dark , or  are  creating  a mood of crises   that  could   propel us  into  even darker oblivion.. May that ne'er be!  With the help from God's word and     godly men of renown     I  hope to  bring  the  issues into a focus that we can more clearly glean the truth .....that we may more exactly know  how to pray for our nation....    for it is only  by God's grace and help that  our nation  will prosper  and  be redeemed from the   edge of the abyss  in which it is tottering...
Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses
Hello! Faith Under Pressure
 2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
 5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
 9-11When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

12Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
 13-15Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.
 16-18So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

James 1
the  text is from The Message  which  sometimes  just says it  the way  I like to  hear it...

Friday, July 15, 2011

Pink Saturday

Photobucket

Happy Pink Saturday 
Photobucket
To  find my pink this week, all I had  to  do was step  outside my door!
Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more PINK SATURDAY!!

  Meanwhile, please enjoy your PINK Saturday!   There is always something special to celebrate and stay in the Pink!

Skywatch Friday

Photobucket

Photobucket
A mid-summer's   full moon  graces the  horizon!
Check out Skyley for more wonderful photos!  

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Three or More Tuesday

Photobucket
While I am at it  I  may as well share  what I had for  my lovely birthday dinner last Friday....
to begin  we    shared this lovely  Mediterranean Sampler  appetizer...
Photobucket

Hot & Cold Mediterranean Baked oysters, clams casino, yaprak dolma, borek, kofta, babaganush and green shell mussel. 
   Following this  delicious  starter  I  ordered my favorite  house salad with  homemade  bleu cheese dressing.

Photobucket
And  for my main course, I  love  this  dish....
Photobucket


Veal Saltimboca Proscuitto ham and mozzarella cheese sandwiched and simmered in a brown sauce with Marsala wine and onions, served with spaghetti.


And I enjoyed my take home  box  the next day for lunch....   the portions are so huge!!


Lynn and I  shared  from each of our  desserts
  mine 
 Photobucket 
 served with  coffee   was  delectable!  YUMMMMM!
Happy birthday  to me!!!
Visit Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for more TOMT..

Ruby Tuesday

Photobucket
Photobucket

How about this  birthday dessert we shared last week at Arzu's!
  Chocolate Mousse  Pie  with  strawberry reduction  and  whipped cream!  
 You see pictured there  our  Diner's Club coupon...   we used  it to  buy  one dinner and get the second half price!   We saved  about  10 dollars on this one visit..    I think  we'll be going  back before too long,  because  dessert comes with the meal!    Ruby Tuesday

                  For more  reds visit our host, Mary.. Always a blogging treat to visit her site!

Farewell

 After  17 years of   blogging  I am  pretty sad to  just fade  out  with  hardly  anyone showing any   farewell,  concern  about my  surger...