A NEW THING - built on a firm foundation

Remember a couple of days ago I told you I was so excited about a new surprise I would be sharing with you?  Well, here it is!!!

If you've been a reader of Penless Writer for very long, one thing you know I never cease to be amazed at is HOW God works and HIS timing.

One year ago, on January 17, 2010 Mickey held the organizational meeting at our church that launched The King's Kitchen.

Last night, January 18, 2011, I held the first meeting of a new Bible Study group here in our home.

The Lord placed this on my heart the first of December when I ordered a book called BORN for BATTLE  - 31 Studies on Spiritual Warefare by R. Arthur Mathews. Before I had finished the 1st chapter I knew this was a book that needed to be studied by a group of woman who were ready to press in to what God desires for us.  I felt God was telling me to start a Bible Study in my home to do just that.   

Just before Christmas my friend Sandra came by the house.  Sandra held a Bible Study in her home, which I attended faithfully and loved, from March, 2009 until the 1st week in October, 2010 called Third Day Sisters.  I wrote a lot during those 19 months about what a blessing that Bible Study and my Third Day Sisters were to me and my life.  I shared with Sandra about the book and asked her about re-activating her study and doing this book.  She said, for this time, the Lord has told her to step aside and it was my time to host.  Then she said, "I'll come!" which totally surprised me as she lives some distance away.

  

I believed there were probably 4 or 5 woman who would be interested in joining me every Tuesday evening at 6:30 to use this book as a launching pad to becoming a strong, committed prayer group.  I needed to wait until Christmas and the New Year holidays were behind us but I was going to be faithful to what God had placed in my heart and was calling me to do.  During these few weeks I have been in daily prayer for God to bring in the women HE wanted to be here. 

I knew God was truly in this when Sandra told me that Gloria was going to come!!!  Gloria is the reason Sandra began her study in 2009.  She is married to Sandra's husband and had asked Sandra to start a Bible Study group.  She also lives in Tahlequah which is 50 miles from Coweta.  I was so honored when I heard Gloria was willing to come that far to be here. 

Here they are.

Left to right:  Cindy O, Kathy, Thelma, Jeanne

Norma, Britney & Cindy W

Carmel, Wantha, Gloria, Sandra

and, of course me, makes 12 of us!!!!!

Six of us are from the former Third Day Sister group:  Sandra, Wantha, Gloria, Norma, Cindy W and myself. 

Last night I did a brief pre-view of the book, stated my objective of what I felt God wanted us to accomplish, told them I wanted a commitment to stay the course - "There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." and planned for us to begin to just all get acquainted with each other. 

Praise God, He had other plans and we ended praying and worshiping HIM.

I was excited before we began.  I am REALLY excited now.

What a mighty God we serve. 

THE KING'S KITCHEN CELEBRATES

This is going to be the most mixed up, disorganized post and pictures I have EVER done.  I just changed over to updated editor, and while the pictures were faster to download, after I finally figured that step out, now I fine I cannot move the images around in the proper order on my page.  grrrrr Please bear with me :o(

 

The King's Kitchen celebrated our 1 Year Anniversary (we had our organizational meeting on January 17, 2010) Saturday night, January 15th.  We had an After Christmas Christmas Party - celebrating the New Year of 2011 Party  & our 1st Anniversary Party all rolled into one.  It was such fun and I'm just sorry I can't walk you through it in a reasonable sequence!!  more grrrrr

 

Mickey & I ordered T-shirts made for all the helpers.

We played the Crazy Santa Gift game where everyone brings a gift and you open them in numerical order after drawing #'s.  It's a fun game.  Here Tim & Sherry, who is the King's Kitchen head cook, just opened this adorable chicken.

He not only looked cute but you wound him up and he walked and cackled.  He stole the show.

Jamie, who is one of the Bridge Builder kids, and helps us cook opened this adorable bouquet of Hersey Candy Bars.  She is laughing so hard, as you can see.

Mickey opened this monkey gift which contained banana chips & a $10 gift certificate from Wal-Mart.

All 24 T-Shirts were in these green tagged bags which was the surprise of the evening and given out just as the first people needed to leave the party.

The front of the T-shirts.

The back of the T-shirts.

The verse reads: "He provides food for those who fear him; He remembers His covenant forever."

Lining up for the food.  Frankie, one of our Monday night cooks, is the head of the line. Bill & Valerie, Monday night husband & wife team cooks, Kent our newest helper and Mary, 1/2 of a delivery team.

A dark shot :o( of Mary (in orange) opening a Richard Simons exercise tape, with Loretta looking on.  Mary & Loretta are one of our 5 delivery teams.

The start of the food tables.

The second food table.

The dessert food table.

Kelli, a Monday night cook, opening up these spoons which were later stolen by Loretta!!

Mickey & I as the party began.

Jamie, with her look of pure joy as she has just "stolen" Mickey's monkey, banana chips & $10 gift certificate!!!

Kathy, a Monday night cook, after she had stolen this flash light away from Kent.



 Kent with his replacement gift of pamphlets of every kind, like "How to use vinegar"!


From left to right:  Tim, Sherry, Frankie, Kelli, & Kent.

Another food table.  Please note the center piece with the

King's Crown!!!

Last but certainly not least:

The Host & Hostess - Tim & Jeanne, one of the delivery teams.

They hosted this party for us in their beautiful home.

Now that I've shown the pictures I must share some wonderful information with you.

FIRST, when Mickey & I went to pick-up the T-shirts we were told they were already paid for!!!!!  We had NO idea who had done that and still don't.  We do know that we are so very blessed, above and beyond, to belong to such a loving, giving, Church body that it could have been anybody.  We also know that: "Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Lights."

SECOND, here are the financials on our first 11 months operation.

Food cost: $3,399.56

Other-paper goods, trays, coolers, Sam's memberships: $734.18

Sealing Machine: $1,716.14

Total Expenses: $5,849.88

Donations: $6,365.73

Balance: $515.85

Our first meal was delivered on February 9th to 23 people.

Our last meal for the year on December 28th was to 52 people. 

For the 47 week period Feb 9 to Dec 28 we served 1,885 meals

Average food cost per meal $1.80

Average other costs per meal $.39

Average cost of the sealing machine $.91

For a grand total cost per meal of $3.10

The volunteers who make The King's Kitchen possible are:

Lead cook & shopper Sherry: 1

3 cooking teams: 10

5 delivery teams: 10

1 helper: 1

Mickey & I: 2

For a total of 24 people

With the addition of Kent who just joined us there will be 25 of us.

We have the most dependable, wonderful group of volunteers ever and we look forward to what God has for us in 2011. 

2 THINGS - Meme

Saw this over at Home On The Range and it was new to me and looked like fun so decided to do it.

two names you go by: Susan & Joyce (my last name but alot of people call me that. I answer to it and go on!) I never had nickname except my husband calls me Princess and my kids call me Mom, of course!


two parts of your heritage: Dutch & French


two things that scare you: Bringing dishonor to my Lord & my precious husband passing before I do.


two everyday essentials: My computer & Fox News


two things you are wearing right now: My pj's and a sweat shirt.


two things you want in a relationship (other than love): Faith in Jesus & loyalty.

two favorite hobbies: Blogging & making prayer shawls

two things you have to do this week: Take my daughter for her 2nd CT scan & co-host an After Christmas Party for our King's Kitchen helpers.

two stores you shop at: Walmart & Mardel's

two favorite sports: Not at all into sports but will watch Ice Skating.

two shows you like to watch: Wheel of Fortune and Fox News

two things you’d buy if money were no object: New hardwood floors & a new couch.

two wishes for 2011: My daughter healed of lung cancer and my granddaughter returning home to her father.

If you decide to participate in this Meme please let me know so I can come read yours!!!

NEW YEAR - New thing & New person

My son Marc gave me an American Express Gift Card for my birthday and........

I've been wanting a new bedspread......

So I got one!!!!!

Mickey & I both just love it and it goes so good with the blue wall and our burgandy red curtains. It makes me happy every time I walk into the room :o)

The first Tuesday of 2011 this young gentleman walked into King's Kitchen and asked if we were Mr. & Mrs. Mickey Joyce. He is new to our church, been coming about 8 weeks, and was here to volunteer to help with the King's Kitchen ministry. What a blessing to see someone new jumping right in to serve. He will be helping Sherry, Mickey & I every Tuesday morning in the preparation, assembly and clean-up. Welcome Kent!!!

I have a REALLY EXCITING new thing in the works and coming up but I'll make that a separate post in about a week. Don't you love surprises and suspense???? I do!!!!

Trust your New Year is starting off grand. We're expecting 2011 to be our best year EVER.

If you come by to read I hope you'll leave a comment and they mean so much to me. Thanks!

2010 IN REVIEW

Boy - what a year this has been!!! I like to recap the previous year with the most important occurrence of each month. Here goes for 2010.

JANUARY - We had first a huge ice storm and then a 6 1/2" snow fall on January 30th. On a national level: Brown was elected as Senator in Mass. to replace Edward Kennedy. This was a big up-set and set the stage for the November election.

FEBRUARY - Two BIG events in our lives: Marc & Deann married on February 12th in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and The King's Kitchen served it's first meal on February 9th.

MARCH - Not a good month from the problem side. I cracked and split my ceramic cook-top and my computer crashed!! On the good side, my friend Sandra started a prayer shawl ministry at our church and I began my first shawl for my family members.

APRIL - I participated in an Easter Drama at CAG called Choices the 8th-9th-10th. Mickey made 2 trips to emergency for de-hydration.

MAY - The first honey harvest of the year - completed my first prayer shawl for Jacque and Mickey had my grandfather clock repaired for Mother's Day.

JUNE - The death of our brother-in-law, Ronnie Seeley, and a trip to Tennessee for the funeral.

JULY - Served for the first time as Clerk at the primary election. Finished my 2nd prayer shawl for Suzette.

AUGUST - Our Pastor, Gary Rogers, resigned and our Associate Pastor, Steven Lee, was voted in unanimously to be the Senior Pastor of Coweta Assembly of God.

SEPTEMBER - The biggest fight of our life began on the 23rd and 24th when Suzette was hospitalized and then diagnosed on the 28th with stage IV lung cancer.

OCTOBER - The entire month was consumed with Suzette getting a 2nd diagnoses, which included a trip to The National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Her first chemo was finally done on October 30th. David and Karin flew in from California for a weeks visit.

NOVEMBER - Paid off our Home Mortgage on 11-10-10. The first time in our 52 years of marriage to OWN our home free and clear. Suzette too ill for her and Dave to be with us at our Thanksgiving and celebration of Dave & Mickey's birthdays :o(

DECEMBER - CT scan results on the 9th - the tumor had not only stopped growing but had shrunk!!!!!! One of the best Christmas celebrations ever.

Only God knows what 2011 holds for us, but we are expecting good things and we certainly know who holds our hand - OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

THOUGHT PROVOKING QUESTIONS.....

I received this in an e-mail from a friend and thought it was so good I wanted to post it here as we begin this New Year of 2011.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE ONE YEAR FROM TODAY?

1. Am I happy with myself physically?

2. Am I happy with myself mentally?

3. Am I where I want to be spiritually?

4. What changes do I want to see financially?

5. How can I make better use of my time?

6. Am I giving my family the best of me or the rest of me?

7. If I met my spouse for the first time today would they find me easy to fall in love with?.

8. Am I a true friend?

9. Do I still have a passionate dream?

10. What do I want my eulogy to say?

As you can see, these are 20 very important questions that really make us thing and our answers to them can really make a difference in us this year.

MY WORD FOR 2011

For the last 2 years the Lord has given me a word for the year. In 2009 it was UNITY and I really liked that word :o) In 2010 it was VULNERABLE and I did not like that word. I knew that by being willing to make myself vulnerable I would be opening myself up to the unknown. Boy has that been true this year for me and my family!!!

As 2011 was approaching I kept asking the Lord what my word was to be. It did not come until last Saturday, which was January 1, 2011 and the word is:

PERSEVERE

According to dictionary.com:

verb

1. to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.

2. to persist in speech, interrogation, argument, etc.; insist.

According to my Webster's New World Dictionary (well it was new when published in 1971 )!!!

1. to continue doing something in spite of difficulty, opposition, etc.

I could not find the word persevere in the Bible but I did find one verse for:

PERSEVERANCE

per·se·ver·ance 
–noun
1.
steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
2.
Theology . continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. KJV

Ephesians 6:13-18 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you're still on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are more than just words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon.. In the same way, prayer is essential in the ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each others spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. The Message

WOW!!!!!

How great and loving my God is to give me this word!!!!! Thank you, Jesus.

Yes, I will PERSEVERE and I will have PERSEVERANCE and I will be shouting when it's over and I'm still on my feet!!!!

GOALS for 2011

Well, here it is already the 4th day of this brand new year and I am just now getting around to posting my goals although I did actually begin on them on December 31st!!

First, I wanted to go back and review my goals for last year and see how I did. As you all know, as the weeks and months wear on we have a tendency to become lack and even forget, or worse yet, discard those goals.

Here is the link to my goals last year.

#1 - Begin a 21 day fast with water only for the first 4 days then 2 meals a day - ACCOMPLISHED.

#2 - After January fast for 1 day a week the remainder of the years - FAILED.

#3 - Lose weight - FAILED....actually I did a good job of losing weight at the start of the year, then gradually gained back about 5 lbs. I did maintain there for most of the year, until Suzette got sick and then I proceeded to put back all but 5 lbs. SO, I start off this year with just a weight loss of 5 lbs, which to me is FAILURE.

#4 - Purchase only milk, bread & fresh veggies & fruit during the month of January to cut the January grocery bill way down. ACCOMPLISHED - in fact I continued on for the month of February and only spent around $100 both months. SO, double ACCOMPLISHED!!

#5 - Hold down grocery expenses for 2010 to what I spent in 2009, in spite of rising grocery costs. ACCOMPLISHED - I actually spent an average of $17.13 a month less in 2010.

#6 - Make extra house payments and pay-off our house mortgage. ACCOMPLISHED!!!! This was a BIG one for us. Although I was not able to make the extra principle payments earlier in the year, as planned, we did pay-off our home and it's mortgage on November 10, 2010. I am soooo thankful for this.

#7 - To hear God's voice and be lead by the Holy Spirit and to be obedient to what, and where, He is leading. ACCOMPLISHED - Even though there is more and more of this needed I do honestly feel I kept this as my focus and my eyes & ears fixed on HIM.

NOW TO 2011 GOALS

#1 - Continue our early morning Bible reading, devotional time, and reading additional Christian literature and PRAYING.

#2 - Take my supplements and vitamins regularly. I was very lax about this last year.

#3 - Exercise by walking every Monday, Wednesday & Friday.

#4 - Make up menus for each week or month using primarily my new 4 Ingredient Diabetic cook-book and purchase at the first of the month the needed ingredients. Since this is January 4th I have already accomplished this for January. Yeah!!!

#5 - Lose weight and KEEP IT OFF. Let's see if 2011 is the year I can FINALLY accomplish this almost every New Year resolution!!!

#6 - Get rid of more "stuff" around the house. I did clear out some in 2010 with a huge garage sale and then taking ALL that was left to Good-Will but there is still way too much stuff in this house.

#7 - Organize the garage by purchasing chests & cupboards to store things instead of having items stacked and laying everywhere.

#8 - Continue to watch our grocery and eating out expenses and keep them in line with 2010.

#9 - Do better in posting regularly to Penless Writer than I did in 2010. Getting on fb seems to have taken up time that I need to put into the blogging. Blogging takes more time, thought and effort than fb.

#10 - Pay off our car loan......the last debt we have. We owe 27 months so this will be a big challenge!!

#11 - Put God FIRST in all things. Although I always list this last (as I did last year) it truly is my #1 priority. We truly feel that time is short and there is much to be accomplished.

I'd love to hear what your goals are, or if you made any. Please share them with me.

1-1-11 New Beginnings

Even though 1-1-11 is truly NEW BEGINNINGS there are things that we carry over from the old year that need to come to completion. Such is where we find ourselves at this point in time.

FIRST - is the manifestation of Suzette's healing of Lung Cancer. This battle began on September 22, 2009 with an appointment to her primary care physician which she thought was routine. September 23rd and 24th she was hospitalized for tests and a Pulmonary Dr and an Oncologist were brought in. September 28th came the dread diagnosis. We are 102 days into this BATTLE. We've been fighting since day 1 and we will fight until the battle is WON.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doeth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God." Hebrews 12:1 & 2

We don't run the race until it's DONE - we run this race of life until it's WON.

We stand firm in our Faith and. more importantly, THE WORD OF GOD, that 2011 is going to bring victory in this attack that satan has brought against our daughter, and our family. He is a defeated foe!!!!!

SECOND -

This, Marc, Oksana & Aric, is becoming-

This
Marc & Aric

As Marc is, at this very moment, driving across states, taking Oksana to live with her mother.

Marc has been the custodial single dad since April, 2006 when Oksana was 11 & Aric was 7. During these past 4 years & 8 months they have seen their mother three times. Once for 1 week in 2007, this past summer for 2 weeks, and once in between for breakfast and a couple of hours when she passed through Tulsa traveling.

In 2007, when they were 8 and 12, and went for the first week visitation, Oksana asked her father for permission to stay with her mother which he granted. She was to come to Tulsa for a visit for Christmas and we were all praying when she came she would decide to stay here. As it turned out she called her dad just before Thanksgiving and he immediately brought her home. She has been here with us these past 3 years.

Divorce and abandonment are horrible and it has been hard on Oksana & Aric. Oksana, especially, has had a very difficult time and Marc has provided her with professional counseling during these ensuing 5+ years. Prior to Marc remarrying, last February, Oksana made it very clear she did not want him to re-marry. She wanted Marc & Deann to date and each keep their own homes and for her not to have to move.

We had great hopes for this marriage and for the merging of Deann & her 3 sons with Marc & his 2 children and becoming a happy family of 7. Unfortunately, from Oksana's point of view this did not occur. In October, just 7 months into the marriage, in order to try and work out the problems, Marc moved himself, Oksana & Aric into an apartment close by in Owasso. The two parts of the family spent the week-ends and every Wednesday evening doing things together and working on the issues.

SO, after 3 months of no progress and Oksana insisting she wanted to go live with her mother in another state, Marc finally agreed, a month ago, to let her go for one year and then re-evaluate. Oksana will turn 16 on February 20th and Aric will turn 12 on February 3rd.

We ask you to join us in prayer for all parties concerned. Marc, Oksana, Aric, Deann, Mason, Aaron, Cody, the mother and her boyfriend (I do not feel it is my place to give their names). Marc and Aric will remain in the apartment for the remaining 3 months of the 6 month lease as he and Deann work on blending their homes, sons , and lives into a strong, healthy, happy family.

Our final good-byes!!

Oksana came and spent Tuesday and Wednesday this week with us. Marc, Aric & Oksana came by Friday, December 31st, for a visit & to leave Aric with us. MANY tears and MANY prayers have been prayed over this situation. I surely have a BIG container of tears which God is collecting in heaven!!!!!!!

This has been a very difficult post to write. As you can see, I began it yesterday on that special date of 1-1-11. Aric was with us as Marc & Oksana were traveling to meet her mother 1/2 way. Marc arrive late and alone last evening to get Aric and the 2 of them return to their apartment.

I have always been as transparent as I could possibly be here on Penless Writer and still protect others privacy. We pray blessings on Oksana & her mother and desire nothing but GOD'S best for our family.

TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2011

TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2011

With all the problems the world is facing, it can be unsettling to the mind. Today, I will share with you the top 10 predictions that are true!! I think it's exciting just writing 1-1-11.

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on earth.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still honor the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn't it great to remember that God is still in control. "But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you"

I Peter 1:25

This year may we ALL be containers, vessels, living stones, individually and collectively polished and shining brightly for our Lord and Savior, JESUS the CHRIST. Our IMMANUAL - God with us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

1-1-11