2nd Book for 2013 - SOUL DETOX

I just completed my 2nd book for this year.  SOUL DETOX by Craig Groeschel.  I began this book to see if it was the next book we wanted to study in Real Christianity Small Group.  I was not many chapters into it when I knew - Yes, this is the next book for us to study.

Sunday, January 20th, 31 of us started this powerful study that we probably should wear steel-toed shoes for because I know our toes are going to be stepped on!!

"In our culture, the water temperature increases daily.  Without realizing it, we slowly become acclimated to a toxic environment full of poisonous influences.  As the water temperature rises, we keep pretending we're soaking in a hot tub having the time of our lives, never dreaming that we're scalding our souls.  As we become scarred and desensitized to what is right and wrong, good and evil, life-giving and life-draining, we lose sight of our first love.  We move away from God one degree at a time."  

"The people closest to you will hands down be your greatest spiritual asset or your worst spiritual curse."

Are just two of the powerful quotes from this most important book for this time and this study.  

Lord, I pray you do a powerful work in each and every one or us, I pray we can truly separate ourselves from the subtle traps of the society we find ourselves living in.  I pray we live the pure  relationship that you desire of us that call you LORD and SAVIOR.

    

ANOTHER DIABETIC FOUR YUMMY RECIPE

Onion Ring Chicken, New Potato Vinaigrette, Garlic Green Beans & Sweet Multigrain Roll

Taste's as good as it looks and this is definitely a keeper.

Onion Ring Chicken

1- 4 (3 oz) Chicken breasts (skinless, boneless)

2- 1/4 Cup Fat Free Margarine

3- 4 Tablespoons Worchestershire Sauce

4- 1 Can (2.5 oz.) Fried Onion Rings (crushed)

Flatten each breast, season to taste.  Combine margarine and Worcestershire sauce.  Dredge chicken in margarine mixture, then crushed onion rings.  Arrange on baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray.  Top with any remaining margarine mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until tender.  4 Servings. 1 breast calories 228

New Potato Vinaigrette

1- 2 Cans (16 oz.) New Potatoes

2- 1/4 Cup Fat Free Vinaigrette Dressing

3- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Parsley (chopped)

Heat potatoes thoroughly.  Drain.  Place in bowl and toss gently with dressing.  Sprinkle with parsley and serve.  6 Servings 3/4 cup serving 96 calories

Garlic Green Beans

1- 1 Package (10 oz.) Frozen Italian-style Green Beans (I used a can of green beans)

2- 2 Teaspoons Olive Oil

3- 2 Garlic cloves (crushed)

4- 2 Tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese

In nonstick skillet over medium heat, combine beans, olive oil and garlic.  Bring to a boil.  Cover, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.  Remove cover, stir and cook 3 minutes longer or until liquid evaporates.  Season to taste and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  4 Servings Serving 1/2 cup - calories 55

So the meal was 379 calories add the Sweet Multigrain Roll an additional 80 calories for a total calories of 459 for a delicious meal.

I will definitely be serving this Onion Ring Chicken to guests.  It was that tasty and good.

I fixed another Diabetic Four Recipe the other day that I will also share here.  It was okay, but not anything spectacular.

Garlic Pasta Primavera

1- 2 Cloves Garlic (chopped)

2- 1/2 Cup Low Salt Chicken Broth

3- 1 Package (12 ox) Frozen Stir Fry Vegetables

4 - Enriched Pasta (cooked and drained) - You can use any Pasta I used Whole Wheat Rotini

Saute garlic in nonstick skillet with cooking spray for 2-3 minutes.  Add broth and vegetables.  Let simmer for 15 minutes until most of the broth has cooked off.  Mix in pasta. 4 servings - Serving size 1 Cup = 133 Calories

TRY & ENJOY 

EXPAND - 2013 Word

Decided to do an ACRONYM for my 2013 word - EXPAND

                      E - xpect
                X - unknown quantity (in math)
                P - ray
                A - chieve
                N - onstop
                D - aily

EXPAND - 1) To spread out; unfold 
         2) to increase in size, etc.; enlarge 

AND THE WINNER IS -----

Retha

OF 
Retha's Rambles 
#17
who left this comment on 
Play it Forward 2013 blog post
"Seems bloggers are getting back to making real contact with others again.  This almost reminds me of the "old" meme."

Retha please go to the original post about the give away here and select whether you want
Soul Detox by Craig Groeschel
Mystery of the Holy Spirit by A.W. Tozer
or
Humility by Andrew Murray

CONGRATULATIONS
and thank you for being a faithful reader and commenter of
PENLESS WRITER.

MEDICINE vs OIL

This past Tuesday evening I attended a meeting on The Essential Oils of the Bible.  To be truthful, I really did not have much interest but several of the woman who attend WOW Woman at my home on Tuesday evenings were wanting to go so we cancelled WOW and went.

The interesting part was several weeks ago I had been thinking about "Medicine".  I went to a new dentist recently and as I was filling out the long questionnaire about my medical history:  what ailments had I had & what medications I was currently taking, etc. I realized how extremely healthy I am since, other than a few aches and pains of my aging body, I have no health issues and I do not take any prescription medicine and only seldom even an over the counter aspirin or sinus medicine.  

I thought about how almost everyone else I know, including Mickey with his heart, are all on some type of medicine.  I decided to do some research and see exactly what The Bible, and my Strong's Concordance,had to say about medicine. 

I was truly stunned to find only these 4 references: 

Medicine

Proverbs 17:22  - Strongs 1456 "a cure"

Ezekiel 47:12     - Strongs 8644 "a remedy"

Medicines

Jeremiah 30:3 & Jeremiah 46:11 - Strongs 7499 "heal"

I'd been mulling this over in my mind.  Then Tuesday night, when I just "happened" to find myself at this meeting, I learn that The Bible speaks of Essential Oil 191 times (and only 5 of these are in reference to Olive oil).

Seems like this is something I certainly need to check out, ponder, mull over, and give a lot more thought to.  I intend to.
God is directing me back to my Hebraic Roots on so many levels and it is an exciting journey. 

Wondering what your knowledge & interest of Essential Oils.

JANUARY - A month for beginnings in my life

Yesterday I posted of the 3rd Year Anniversary of the ministry of The King's Kitchen which Mickey began and the first meal was sent out to the shut-ins on January 17, 2010.

On January 18, 2011, 1 year and 1 day later I began a Woman's home bible study called Woman of the Word, or WOW Woman for short.

Yes, the yoke is easy and the burden made lighter when sharing with a close knit group of woman week after week in my home every Tuesday night at 6:30. 

WOW started that first evening with 12 woman, and we continue to run 10 to 12 woman each week, although some of the faces have changed as some have left and others have come in. 

Over these past 2 years we have studied 3 different books: 

 1) Born For Battle by Arthur Mathews

2) Crazy Love by Francis Chan

3) Power of Blessing by Kerry Kirkwood

4)  Emnity Between the Seeds by Bill Cloud

We have one remaining chapter in our Bill Cloud book which we will complete on January 22nd.  Then we are going to spend several weeks with various ones, who wish to do so, teaching a lesson that God puts on their heart for this group.  We have not chosen another book to study yet but we know God will lead and direct us as He always had.  

I am humbled, thankful and blessed to be able to have these special woman sharing in my life.  Believe me, we uphold and encourage each other and we laugh together, we cry together and we share as we seek God each week individually and collective in our lives.

Do you belong to a home Bible study?  Have you ever belonged to one?  Do you think maybe God wants you to start one?  I would encourage you to ask HIM and then be obedient if HE leads you to do so.  YOU will be the one blessed most!     

The King's Kitchen - 3rd Anniversay

Three years ago today, on January 17, 2010, The King's Kitchen delivered it's very first meal to area shut-ins.  

There are 5 delivery routes with a 2 people delivery team on each route.  A meal has been served every Tuesday (with the exception of of a couple of snow/ice days & this past Christmas).  The cooking team; composed of Sherrie, Mickey, Susan, Arlene & Eunice begin arriving at 8:30.  In October we added an extra meal of soup and crackers or bread, to be enjoyed either that night or the next day.  Mother-daughter team of Gayle & Jodi joined us to take care of this and they are already hard at work when we get there at 8:30.


This year, 1-1-12 to 1-31-12, we served a total of 2,541 meals at an average cost of $2.56. We delivered 51 weeks and did not deliver on Christmas Day, which fell on a Tuesday this year.  The cost of this ministry is supported totally by designated offerings from the church membership and has never lacked for funds & support.  The meal consists of a main dish, vegetable, starch, bread & butter, & milk.  In addition, ladies of the church supply cakes, pies, cookies, puddings, jello, various desserts each and every week.

We praise God for the way HE is blessing this ministry.   

If one picture is worth 1,000 words then 10 should be enough to tell our story.

 Part of the crew

 The front of our T-shirts

 The back of our T-shirts 

"He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever."

Psalm 111:5 

 A sample meal in the 3 compartment plastic sealed tray

Some times we do a salad with ham or chicken

 Dishing up a meal

(left to right) Kathy, Chief Cook Sherrie, Jeanne, Arlene, Susan

 Filled trays in process of sealing

Connie, Kent operating the sealing machine, Betty

 Recently Pan*era Bread has been providing the daily bread that did not sell that day  to us each Tuesday evening.  A team from the church picks it up each Tuesday at 9:30 pm.  Both The King's Kitchen and Right Direction After-school Tutoring ministry use the bread.

Kent, Mickey, Pastor Steve, Little People Minister Jacki, Kid's Minister Nancy, volunteer Jennifer & cook Sherrie acting silly and celebrating this wonderful weekly blessing.  

 Mickey loading one of the 2 chests (red hot food - blue cool items)

Kent, Ronnie, Mickey, Kathie, Sherrie & Eunice

I CARE

When we hear or know someone who is going through a tough time or trial, we so often want to "fix it".  But that power is God's. We were given the ability and power to pray, based not on our emotions or will but solely upon The Word of God, the scriptures.

When reaching out to someone who is hurting sometimes words are not needed.  Just our presence, gentle touch, caring smile and even shared tears is what is needed. There are many times there are no words.  Even when we cannot be there in person this can be conveyed with a card or fb comment.  I know during our struggle with Suzette's illness and death quite often someone just posting "((((((hugs)))))" on my update meant so much and let me know they understood and cared. (Even as I type this the tears are flowing as I recall those times and the emotional and Spiritual pain we were going through and what those understanding (hugs) meant.)

Likewise, the knowledge that MANY prayers are going up for us, for our loved ones, to our God is a comfort that only those who have been blessed in such a way can truly understand.  Surely, we are carried by others prayers and the peace of God that passeth understanding enfolds us.

Then the joy of celebrating, and shouting Hallelujah and Praise the Lord when victory comes.  Even when the outcome is not what we had hoped for, prayed for, believed for, there is the knowledge that God is Sovereign and we realize when we get to Heaven we will not ask "why?" but will say "of course!" because we will see the entire picture and Gods Sovereign plan.  

For those of you who I know that are going through a difficult trial just know - I care.

Don't forget to leave a comment for my Blogiversary giveaway on the 21st.  Only 5 days remaining.    

COWETA - The small community we call home

Mickey & I are "transplants" to Coweta.  A community that boasts many families of 3 or 4 generations.  But from day one, we have always felt accepted and loved our adopted home.

In 1997, when Mickey retired, I took a 6 month leave of absence and we loaded up in our 5th wheel camper and headed for Alaska.  We sold our larger home in Tulsa, where we had raised our family, stored all the furniture and planned to do a lot of travel and not buy another home for awhile.

But, after the first Christmas and I couldn't have the big Christmas family dinner, or the big tree, etc. etc. I told Mickey I had to have a "home" that was mine and I knew we could come home to.  We had loved the atmosphere of many of the small towns we had visited and decided we wanted to buy NEAR Tulsa, to be by our kids, but not in Tulsa.  Thus began the hunt for the right smaller home in a small community.  It was daughter Suzette who called one day with the address of this home in Coweta that was not on the market but owned by a girl she worked with, and her mother, who were thinking of selling.  We drove by it.  Liked the outside and called to make an appointment.  The minute we walked in the front door, I KNEW it was my house, and we literally bought it on the spot in March of 1998.  

Coweta is a very patriot town and it is not unusual for all these flags to be flying on Main Street and around the town for various Holidays.

It is basically a rural unpretentious place and so it would not seem strange to see something of this sort on the main downtown street.

There is a big Fall Festival each year when the entire community comes out for rides and especially to EAT at the many food booths.

The 2 water towers right down town by the fire station.  You can see by the building on the left the older construction of the down town buildings.

This had been the main entrance into town forever but with the growth of traffic was becoming a safety hazard.

So a couple of years ago the old narrow overpass was torn down and replaced by this new one.

 Our little 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, brown stone with 2 car garage  "just right" smaller house for our retirement years that we call home-sweet-home.

This little home hosts a small Woman's Bible Study group every Tuesday night called WOW Woman (Woman of the Word)

Coweta Assembly where we attend church & 

Share in ministry with The King's Kitchen which Mickey started 3 years ago,

 Lead Real Christianity Small Group class on Sunday mornings with Kent Rife,

Mickey leads the 4th grade Royal Ranger boys on Wednesday nights,

&

enjoy and participate in all the many & varied events & activities that this wonderful, reaching out to the community Church offers.

If you are EVER in our neck of the woods, please be sure to drop in and visit us, our home or our Church.  We would LOVE to have you!!!

ENTITLEMENT

"I WANT"  "I NEED"  "I GOTTA HAVE" 

In this age of entitlement(entitle: Webster'S-1)to give a title or name to -2)to give a right or claim to)we have added yet another layer to materialism.

No, I don't want to work for it.  I want "you" to provide it to me because I am ENTITLED. 

I am so thankful that I was raised being taught:

"A penny saved is a penny earned"

"Watch the pennies and the $ will take care of themselves"

&

Pride in a job well done, for the pure joy of accomplishment.

Mickey & I raised our 4 children with these same values.  Sadly, we seem to have found ourselves in a society where about 50% of the population were not being taught these values. Add to this a generation that was, and is, being taught that there are no "absolutes", The Bible and The 10 Commandments are "obsolete", and we are watching as our entire nation is crumbling.

Add to this a large majority of professing Christians who's main focus in life it not winning the lost or showing the love & compassion that The Bible teaches but are busy as bee's

working night & day for the almighty Dollar

building up their IRA

&

 "KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES"

As we watch The Church lose it's effectiveness and our entire nation crumble even more.  

Well, as for me & my house we will:

 serve The Lord 

believe with all our heart & soul

enjoy each day The Lord gives us 

&

someday hear:  Good & faithful servant 

Entitlement????

I am not "entitled" to anything; but by the grace and mercy of God, and the sacrifice of The Son of God, JESUS the Christ, upon that cross I have been GIVEN everything.

&

HE gives me the best title in all the world & creation

A CHILD OF THE LIVING GOD

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."  I Peter 2:9  

FAMILY BLESSINGS

God is so good to us and our family.  Our daughter was recently in a collision, not her fault - a man ran the light.  She totaled her car and broke her foot.  She of course could not drive for many weeks, due to the broken foot so did not have a need to replace the car.

The Dr. finally released her to drive.  Her dad took her car shopping on Friday the 4th.   Then Marc took her the afternoon of the 5th and they located a car.  She went back that evening when Benny got off at 5.

She called us about 8 and said, "I'm coming out to show you my new car!"  

 Hugging her 2012 Nissan Sentra with only 18,000 miles and new car warranty and a very good price.

A shot of the back - It was night and dark so the pictures aren't the greatest.

Romans 8:28 in action - "That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."  The Message 

Then the very next day our son, David, who lives in California had talked to his employers about moving out of California (he has a job where he travels all the time) because housing is so high there he knew he could never buy a home.  He was expecting it to take about a month for him to even hear back on it.  Two days later, his boss contacted him, "David you can move anywhere in the US you want to as long as you are close to an airport."

Psalm 21:2 "You gave him exactly what he wanted; you didn't hold back." The message

Yes, our God not only blesses Mickey & I but also extends those blessings to our children and grand-children.  

Thank you Jesus for blessing us, by blessing our children.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

I often quote Francis Frangipane because his words speak to me.  "It is not what we do for the Lord but what we become to Him that matters. It is this inner surrender of the heart, this deliberate turning of our soul Godward, that defines our true progress."

I saw these words this morning and realized I had, just  prior to reading them, commented on a blog: "So important to know who we are in Christ Jesus.  It's always about HIM and not about us".

These two incidences tweaked my mind to ask the question:  Do we really know it's all about who we are in Jesus? Or are we caught up in who we are and what we do?  I'm afraid it's too often the latter.

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death."  Philippians 3:10

& "Not as though, I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:12  

Just some of my thoughts this early morning.  I want so badly to become ALL He wants me to be; no more and certainly no less. I want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

What about you?  What is your motivation in your Christian walk?  Would love to hear your comments.

Remember, leave a comment to put your name into my Blogiversary drawing on the 21st.

"ME"

"Me is a most exacting personage, requiring the best seat and the highest place for itself, and feeling grievously wounded if its claim is not recognized.  Most of the quarrels among Christian workers arise from the clamoring of this gigantic Me.  How few of us understand the true secret of taking our seats in the lowest rooms."  ~~ Hannah Whitall Smith

In a world that screams from every side - me, myself, my four & no more & buy it NOW, pay later, no interest for 12 months, etc., etc., it is important to be reminded that 

Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.

Matthew 11:29

For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

I John 4:20

Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil's reach as humility.

Jonathan Edwards

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.

I Timothy 1:15

Yes, Lord, let me get "me" out of front and center and truly make it all about THEE. 

Remember to leave a comment to get your name in the blogiversary give-away drawing on January 21st.

FASTING - Part II

A follow up on my Fasting blog of 1 week ago.  Yesterday was my 2nd Tuesday of my commitment to fast 52 weeks during 2013.  

I have not done very much fasting but from the limited experience, I know that God does, and will, use a time of fasting to speak to us and give us direction in our lives.

In 2004 Mickey and I were doing our first "snow-bird" RV journey to Arizona.  We had made connection with a group of RVer's,  Campers for Christ.  We made the decision that we wanted to do a serious 2 week fast.   Not knowing much about fasting we went to a little Used Bookstore and found a book on fasting.  The Hidden Power of Prayer & Fasting by Mehesh Chavda.  

So, in the dessert of Arizona outside Quartside, on January 23rd we began.  This was a water with lemon juice only fast.  The first 3 days were HARD but then it became easier.  We had no TV or radio, we were in the middle of no-where, and we knew no one.  We spent each and every hour in prayer, reading our Bible and another Christian book, taking walks in the middle of no where, talking and seeking God to speak to us.  We were completely isolated, did not go into town or talk to another soul.

It is amazing how much time of our daily lives are spent around eating:  1) thinking about food,  2)going to the store and buying the food,  3) thinking and planning what to eat,  4) preparing the meal,  5) eating the meal,  6) cleaning up after the meal; and repeating the last 3 three times a day!

At the end of 12 days we KNEW that God was speaking these words to us:  "Go home and redeem the time."  

We broke the fast, after those 12 days, and did not complete the remaining 2 days.  We went into town, we did not even have cell service on the little cell phone we had, and called the couple that were living in our Coweta home.  We informed them we were going to be returning  and they needed to make plans to fine another place and move.  (These were personal friends who we went to church with).  We continued on our journey westward as planned.  

On March 4th, while we were in San Diego, we received a phone call from these friends saying that the deal on the house they were trying to buy fell through and for us not to return yet.  We told them we knew we were to come back and they would have to find something.  We proceeded on to San Francisco to visit son David. 

April 12th we left Morgan Hill, CA (outside of SF) and headed home.  

We arrived at our front door in Coweta on May 4, 2004

and have been "redeeming the time" ever since.

The RV was parked in the back yard and was never moved until it was sold a couple of years ago.  We had been traveling 6 months out of every year since June 29, 2000 when we headed out for Nova Scotia, Canada.    

The Eye of the Lord - Part II

Sorry that the bottom of the post with this picture was too difficult to read.  Here is what it said:

The Truth

In doing research on this story, we found that there are numerous pictures of space objects that are

Nicknamed “The Eye of God.”

According to the Hubbel Telescope site, this particular picture is of the HELIX NEBULA, which is about 650 light years from earth.  It is said to be the nearest planetary nebulae to earth.

A planetary nebula is gas around what used to be a star much like our sun.

The photograph is not just from the Hubble telescope, but is a composite of date from the Hubble telescope and from Kitt Peak in Tucson, Arizona.

It’s still so beautiful and reminds

me:

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon

Them that fear him, upon them that hope

In his mercy;

Psalm 33:18

The eyes of the LORD are on the

Righteous and his ears are attentive to

Their cry;

Psalm 34:15

Just a reminder of how beautiful God’s

Creation is and that HIS eye is ever upon us.

That gives me great comfort.

Remember, leaving a comment puts your name in for my

Blogiversary gift give-away on January 21^st.

The Eye of God

I received an e-mail with this photo claiming it was from NASA and taken by the Hubble telescope....

The Truth

In doing research on this story, we found that there are numerous pictures of space objects that are nicknamed "The Eye of God."

According to the Hubbel Telescope site, this particular picture if of the HELIX NEBULA, which is about 650 light years from earth. It is said to be the nearest planetary nebulae to earth.

A planetary nebula is gas around what used to be a star much like our sun.

The photograph is not just from the Hubble telescope, but is a composite of data from the Hubble telescope and from Kitt Peak in Tucson, Arizona.

It's still so beautiful and reminds me: 

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

Psalm 33:18

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;

Psalm 34:15

Just a reminder of how beautiful God's creation is and that HIS eye is ever upon us.  

That gives me great comfort.

Remember, leaving a comment puts your name in for my blogiversary gift give-away on January 21st. 

EATING HEALTHY

Some time ago I ordered The Diabetic Four Ingredient Cookbook.  A friend of mine loaned me hers and I liked it so well I ordered me one.  I tried 14 of the recipes, all of which were very good, except for 1 I considered "so-so".  One of them I have even taken to several pot-luck meals and everyone raved about it. They are easy & they are healthy.   Then, I put the book on the bookshelf....and there it has stayed....

Until December 31st I pulled it out to start the New Year out right making good healthy foods for Mickey and I (actually right now it's only Mickey because I'm on a 7 day cabbage diet, and then my 2 fasting Tuesdays means I'll join him on January 10th).

I fixed the first one January 2nd and it looked so good, and Mickey said it was delicious, so I'm sharing it here.

Beef Stroganoff
(1) 1 1/2 lbs Lean Round Steak (cut in 1/4" strips)
(2) 2 T Dry Onion Soup Mix
(3) 1 Can (6o oz) Sliced Mushrooms
(4) 1 Cup Fat Free Sour Cream

Brown round steak in skillet.  Add soup mix and can of mushrooms with liquid to skillet.  Heat until bubbly.  Slowly add sour cream and cook until thoroughly heated.  Good served with noodles.  6 Servings - Calories 161 (add extra for the noodles)

Beef Stroganoff is one of our families favorites and I also serve it a lot to guests so for this healthy version to be good enough for me to blog about it...... Mickey said it was very good, and yes, he felt I could serve it to the kids for a special occasion.  

Try - Enjoy - Let me know!!!!

  (oh shoot - I didn't take a picture :o()

Remember to leave a comment and get your name in for my Blogiversary giveaway drawing on the 21st. 

1st Book for 2013 - HUMILITY

If you know me well you know I am a fan of Andrew Murray.  One of my church friends was sharing about this book which she was reading and brought it to me last Sunday. Mickey & I devoured it and I bought my own copy because this is definitely a re-read and underline book.

Some quotes: 
Chapter 6 Humility in the Life of Jesus ~ "The secret-of which all nature and every person and, above all every child of God, is to be the witness-is that he is nothing but a vessel, a channel, through which the living God can manifest the riches of His wisdom, power, and goodness.......we know that we have nothing but what we receive, and we bow in deepest humility to wait upon God for it."  

Chapter 6 Humility for Daily Life ~ "The humble man feels no jealousy or envy.  He can praise God when others are preferred and blessed before him.  He can bear to hear others praised and himself forgotten, because in God's presence he has learned to say with Paul, "I be nothing" 2 Corinthians 12:11 

Chapter 7 Humility and Holiness ~ "Pride can clothe itself in the garments of praise or of penitence."

I would highly recommend this book.  Be prepared to see how Humility is so needed, and neglected, if we are truly going to be the light and salt that God has called us to be.

Go here to see my giveaway for my blogiversary celebration.    

PLAY IT FORWARD 2013

My friend Crystal, from Canada, had this on her blog and I am choosing to play even though I am in the midst of my blogiversary Give-Away and also doing Play it Forward on fb. 

"‎2013 creative pay it forward ....

The first 5 people that comment on this blog post will receive from me, sometime in the next calendar year, a random gift - perhaps a book, baked goodies ,candle, or surprise! There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood strikes me. The catch??? Those five people must make the same offer in their own blog  or Facebook post."

That's right. The first FIVE people to comment will receive, at some time during 2013, a gift for me. My timing, my choice, my delight. The catch being that those five people must do the same thing on their blog, or their Facebook status in 2013. Got it?? I have no idea who started this off, but I got it from a friend, and I love the whole idea of passing it on. Whoever it was, thank you so, so much!

Now isn't that the best idea to start the year? Spreading some happiness? I can't wait to come up with some surprises! 

If you are in the first five, please email me your home address, with 2013 Pay-It-Forward in the address line, so I can actually get my gift to your doorstep!  (msej@valornet.com)  Just think - so many of us could be the recipient of surprise gifts in 2013. And that really does bring a huge amount of joy to my heart. 

I know there are some of you who read but don't comment on my blog - this would be a great time to put fingers to keyboard and leave me a comment :)

Come on - join in the fun and blessing this will be!

Don't forget to check out my Blogiversary Giveaway.