God's Words

This morning in church we had a guest speaker.  He fills in quite often when Pastor is away (as he was this am), and I have come to enjoy those times immensely.  Let me clarify that now!  I did NOT say I enjoy it when Pastor is away! lol  On the contrary, our Pastor feeds us very well and is missed greatly when he is gone.  I was just saying that when Pastor happens to be away I enjoy the gifted speaker with whom he often replaces himself! (How's that for a mouthful?!)  Whew.  Glad we cleared that up!    Anyway.  The speaker this morning was Dr David Beck who teaches at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and also happens to be Pastor's wife's father.  Rather handy that!  =) 

Now on the title of the post.  The sermon this morning was about Loving God and was taken from Deuteronomy 6:1-9.  Because this post is primarily about the text of these verses, I'll make it easy and quote them here: 

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 ESV

“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord , the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

 

 

As I first read these words today I was reminded how intensely entwined our lives are to be with the Word of God.  ("It struck me so vividly"---for my friends at my home church!)  =) His Words are supposed to be a part of everything in our lives.  Every.Single.Thing.  1. They are to be a part of our heart---part of the very inner place of us, where no one lives except God.  Notice He said that first.  I think that is on purpose, because if God's Words are not treasured there they won't be anywhere else either.  2. God's Words are meant to be taught to the following generations.  Diligently.  Not twice a year, not once a month, not once a week, but diligently.  Think of the thing in life about which you are most disciplined, that one thing you never, ever neglect.  You are diligent about it.  That is how you are supposed to teach God's Words to your children.  (Dr Beck said "You only have to teach your children God's commands when you're at home and when you're away, and when you're awake and when you're asleep.  The rest of the time you can ignore them.")  =)  I am not a parent, so I can't tell you how to go about this diligent teaching.  I'm sure it's different for every parent and child combination.  I do know, however, that a child's Entire life is impacted by how diligently they are taught God's Words.  3.  God's Words are to be woven into the fabric of our lives---in our walking and talking, our sleeping and rising.  But it can't be just quoting the words.  Words that are quoted day after day, but are not allowed to impact your life---those words are meaningless.  These verses are talking about God's Words so woven into our lives that they become alive in us.  We become the walking versions of God's Words.  Does that make sense?   4. God's Words are to govern our lives, our choices.  Dr Beck explained it well, I think.  He said that we don't need to translate this verse literally (though some Orthodox Jews still do).  We don't need to actually paste sections of the Bible to our foreheads and hands/arms, or post Scripture on our gates.  He says that this verse means that we make choices and decisions based on God's Words in our mind and then we act according to the same measure---God's Words in our hands.  Our lives at home and away from home are governed by God's Words (what we do, what we say, where we go, etc).  Whew.  That's a lot!  Can you imagine what our world would be like if all of us lived like that?  Even if all of us who say we are Christians lived like that?!  Our lives all bound up with and interpreted through the filter of God's Words.  Every minute.  I know it would be amazing.

 

So that's what I got from church---well, part of it.  I don't want to sit at this computer typing all day!  =)  It's a lot to think about, to chew on.  A challenge for me, and, I hope, for you too! Don't you love it when God allows His Words to challenge you?  Have a great week eveyone!

Foodie Friday

I discovered a new and delicious recipe this week!  Ooh it's so good!  The other day one of my co-workers mentioned that she had made a new bean salad and I could try some if I wanted.  Free food?  Of course!  Well, let me tell you, one bite of this stuff and I was in love!  Besides that there is nothing unhealthy about it!  So you can pig out without one shred of guilt.  =)  I love foods like that!  Of course, I still pig out on foods that aren't a bit healthy without a shred of guilt either, but we're not talking about that right now! lol  Am I getting to the recipe?  Why yes, as a matter of fact, I am.  Pushy, pushy. 

Here it is (as copied from the back of a foil pack of Starkist low-sodium tuna---right in the aisle at Walmart, don't you know! lol  Yes, I know, you might be a Redneck and all that!  But I just couldn't make myself buy 2.6 oz of tuna for $1.15 just for the recipe when I can buy a can--5 oz-- for $.68!  And the foil pack was low-sodium at that!  Bleck!  So I got out my paper and pen and copied away.)  I'll list the recipe and then add my takes on it below.

Tuna-Black Bean Salad (My title, because I didn't copy down the Starkist title.  Because it didn't change the recipe flavor at all, that's why!)

2.6 oz tuna
1 red pepper, chopped
1 yellow pepper, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
3 green onions
1 can black beans
1/4 c canola oil
juice of 1 lime (approx 3 Tbl)
2 T cumin
1/4 c cilantro

Whisk together oil, lime juice and cumin. Set aside.  Combine everything else except cilantro in a bowl.  Pour dressing over and toss.  Chop cilantro and toss with other ingredients. Chill at least 4 hours.

*I did not chill for 4 hours.  Not even close.  I needed supper and could not wait! lol  It tasted fine eating it shortly after it was made and just kept getting better as it sat.

*I don't care for cumin in large doses, so I just sprinkled some in the dressing

*I just used most of a regular ol' onion since I didn't have any of them fancy kind.  Worked fine.

*My co-worker used jalapeno in hers (the jarred kind, chopped) and it was great, so I added some too (though not as "bravely" as she did!)

*Last but definitely not least, of course I added salt!!! And didn't use low-sodium tuna either!  I used about 1 tsp in the dressing, which was a bit salty the first time I ate it--though not too bad, but after sitting in the fridge overnight was perfect.

This is a really flexible salad.  I think it would be fine with canned chicken or salmon, you could switch up the beans with pintos or kidneys, and you could add cucumber or olives (I tried green last night and it was yummy) or tomatoes or avocados or garlic or.......well, you get my point.  You can make it your own!  Which you need to do.  Make your own, I mean.  ASAP.  =) 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Home

I'm home.  I thought I better tell you all that so you would know I'm not still in gorgeous Maine on an extended sabbatical.  I wish I was.  But I'm not.  I know you were waiting for that news with bated breath, restless at night wondering where I was, if I'd gotten washed off the coast somewhere!  =)  But no, I am, in fact, still here.  Sorry for giving just a taste of Maine and then disappearing.  It was the ocean's fault.  That, and the crackling fireplace.  Both of them lulled me into a blogless stupor.  I couldn't help myself.  I had every intention to blog more while I was there, but as you can see....... I'm really a victim here!  Sucked into the beauty and serenity that is the coast of Maine.  It's a timeless trap, and oh so hard to leave.   Anyway, leave I did.  Because I'm a slave to duty and responsibility and all that, that's why! lol  I mean,  I really couldn't let my boss down, now could I??  Oh but I wanted to!  Unfortunately there is also the matter of moolah to be considered........sigh.....  So I'm back.  We had a lovely time.  I did notice, though, that this time we were all quite lazy.  It was like we were all just plain tired and needed a break that included a lot of doing nothing.  So most mornings we lazed around the house until Noon or 1, when we would finally get out the door to go see something.  We did a couple hikes, drove out to Schoodic Peninsula one day (hoping for some crashing waves, which sadly did not materialize as hoped), stopped in at Bass Harbor Headlight (simply a MUST if you are ever in Acadia!).  We would prowl around until dark then head back to the cottage and it's alluring fireplace like moths to a flame.  The nice thing about Acadia is that when the sun goes down, there really is very little to do.  Which means that you can head back to the fireplace without a smidge of guilt that you are wasting precious vacation time doing nothing but sitting in front of blazing logs!  It's wonderful!  So the days went something like this: I got up between 7 & 8 (because I can't stay in bed much later anymore!) and soaked in the quiet of the house enjoying my coffee until 9 or 10 when the others would start to get up.  Then came the comaraderie of the breakfast choices (donuts or creme horn or toast or cereal or.......decisions!) and the conversations between sisters.  Following that there was the packing of food bags (do you notice a trend here?) for the day's outing.  Seriously though, don't go out and about in Acadia without food!  The air there has some special spore in it that will start making you hungry as soon as you get in your car!  If you don't take anything with you, I promise you will be in starvation mode when you finally get back to your cottage because there is not much food available in the Park---unless you consider the few protein bars at the shop near Thunder Hole or the berries you find in the woods!  But I digress.  Once the bags were packed the adventure of the day began and would continue until dark/dusk---somewhere between 6 and 7.  Then it was back to the cottage for supper and fire.  This year I mostly spearheaded the meals, which was quite fun.  I love to cook and don't get to cook for others very often, so having that responsiblity was rather enjoyable. ( Not to say that the others didn't help!)  We'd eat around the fire and spend the evening there, enjoying the warmth. Can you see why it was so hard to leave?  6 days of this bliss---not nearly enough! lol  But I am grateful for what we had and am looking forward to next year.  Are you ready for a trip yet?  I can't say enough about this piece of God's creation.  I know there are lots of places in this world that are full of incredible beauty, but for me, this one does it every time.  Go see it!!  =)

The Blonde and The Beautiful

What a gorgeous day!  Before noon we had rain and fog and mist---the kind of weather I have come to associate with Maine and learned to love.  And because we come here so often, I don't get antsy when it rains during our vacation time---first of all because we have seen many places multiple times, so if we don't get to see it this time, it's ok; and secondly, I have learned that stormy days in Maine often mean the sea will be wild and joyous---truly a sight to behold!!  So rainy days are ok.  But today was not all rain.  Along about Noon the rain disappeared, along with the clouds, and the sun burst out, complete with Fall clouds and blue sky.  The temp was about 60 as well, which made for a perfect day to be outside.  So off we went for an afternoon of shopping in Bar Harbor.  Bar Harbor is a great place for strolling and browsing.  There are, of course, the obligatory souvenir-type shops that one always finds in tourist places (though I must say, the souvenirs in Bar Harbor are mostly tasteful), but there are also a lot of other shops with highly interesting inventory.  WindowPanes is a good example.  I always love going in there.  It's mostly a kitchen and table shop with interesting linens, beautiful dishes and all kinds of kitchen gadgets, but there is also a nice array of gifty-type things.  So fun to browse through.  Then there is the Katahdin gallery where Steve Bart has his photos (find him online at www.katahdinphotogallery.com).  Breathtaking is one word that comes to mind.  I like to go in there because the beautiful photos feed the photographer part of my soul.  =)  There is also the food.  Lobster? Salmon? Swordfish? Steak?  It's all there, as well as places to get yummy ice cream and fudge. (We bought Maple Walnut and Penuchi Nut. Yum!!)  There is one place, though, that has captured our palates and hearts above all others.  That is Galyn's.  Years ago,  my sister Mary and I went in there on a whim, and we've been going back ever since.  The place itself has a very pleasant, slightly upscale ambience, and it's situated so that you can look out at Bar Harbor proper while you eat (interesting boats and, if you're lucky, a cruise ship or two).  In the Fall there is a large maple tree right across the street that is ablaze with color, and if you are there in the late afternoon (as we were), the sun shines on that tree, the fluttering Flag next to it and the boats in the harbor.  A stunning sight for the digestive juices!  Digestive juices that will, I might add, be flowing freely after you see and taste the food!  =)  So good.  I usually order the Lobster Linguini.  Sauteed lobster with fresh tomatoes and basil on a bed of linguini.  Simple but delicious.  And easy, since the lobster is all pulled from it's shell for you.  Are you hungry yet?  =)  Overall, it's just a really nice dining experience, and we look forward to it every year.  Then this evening, after our dining, the moon obliged us by coming up, huge and full right over the harbor---just as a cruise ship came into view below, all lit up for the night.  How cool is that?  It really was gorgeous.  I would post a picture, but I can't.  I know, I know! Those of you who know me cannot believe I have no pictures.  Well, here's where the 'blonde' part of this post comes in.  This morning I had my memory card in the computer to move pictures from card to computer..........You can see where this is going, can't you?  Yep, you guessed it.  I left the memory card in.the.computer.  Can you believe that???!  Don't answer that! lol  So there I was, with the beautiful sunshine on trees and boats and flag, and then that fantastic moon scene, and a camera with NO memory card!!  Panic nearly set in! And what's worse, this is the second time I have done this on this vacation! Yesterday when Mary and I went walking I went to take a picture, no memory card. I couldn't believe I had done that then, so when I did it again today, I was really, really in shock!  I have never, ever done that before!  I have forgotten an extra battery before, but never, ever, my memory card!  I could not believe it!  What is going on?!  I think it must have all started when I booked the wrong dates for my tickets.  The blonde genes started churning then and just never stopped, so by now they are at high tide! lol  So.  Tonight when we got home I put the card directly in the camera and told the rest of the gang to remind me about the memory card before we go out tomorrow--just in case it slipped out in the night for some reason! lol  At present there is a large note on the door going out to remind the blonde one to make sure she has all her proper gear!  Maybe one of these days I'll get it together, though I'm not going to hold my breath!  In the meantime, I'm lovin' Maine! (Just lacking in pictures! lol) Night all!

Maine

Back again---to Maine, that is.  Back to the land of the first sunrise in the nation, crashing waves, solid rocks, and natural serenity at its best.  It's become a habit with us, a craving deep in the soul that starts its calling to us for the next dose nearly as soon as we finish the current one.  Like crack, only with much deeper meaning. =)  We've been coming here so many years I have lost count.  Sometimes we think about seeing other places, but when seeing other places means giving up our annual feast of Maine, most times we just can't do it.  I cannot really describe what Maine does for us, but if you've ever had a place that made you feel at peace every time you went there, then you can understand pretty well. 

This year, the adventure started early.  Well, I started early, I should say!  I discovered the night before I left home that I had booked my trip a day early......Oy!  I always knew I would do something like this one day! lol  Somehow I got the wrong set of dates in my head.  I don't know how that happened as I hardly ever get things mixed up!  (You really needn't be smiling so knowingly!)  Anyway, off I flew to Maine on Tuesday instead of Wednesday.  The trip went without a hitch and I was even able to stay at the old hotel we used to always stay at in our earlier visits.  So many memories there!  If you are ever in Southwest Harbor and need a place to sleep, check out the Harborview Motel.  There are few amenities and the rooms would definitely be considered out of date and rustic, but they are inexpensive and always have the freshest sheets and towels.  It's a place to sleep, not to hang out.  Anyway, back to the adventure.  Wednesday found me with most of a day to kill before the rest of the gang could get there.  What does a gal do to kill time?  Why shopping, of course!  I shopped till I dropped! lol  So handy that there is an LL Bean outlet here, as well as a nice big Goodwill...... Let's just say, I may have to send some stuff home with my sisters for me to pick up when I fly home for Thanksgiving! (I'll have an extra suitcase then.)  =)  It was quite fun, actually.  Other years I have wished to prowl about some of the shops in town, but have not wanted to take vacation and together time to do it.  But this year because of my blonde behavior I had ample time to do so!  Isn't it amazing how sometimes God takes our mistakes and turns them into something good and fun?  I even timed the shopping just right and landed at Walmart just as the rest of our "gang of girls" arrived.  How cool is that?  We had a rather large list, so decided to divide and conquer.  We split into 3 and rounded up the victuals.  For once we were quite organized---a proud moment to be sure!  =)  We piled 3 cart-loads into my rented Silver Sonic---a sight to behold---and headed off to The House.  For years we rented a cottage from Harborview and while they were quite cozy, there were no laundry facilities nor internet service.  Last year we decided to "upgrade" and rented a house.  It's a wonderfully cozy place complete with fireplace and old-fashioned claw foot tub (not to mention washer/dryer, full kitchen and wi-fi!).  We enjoyed it so much last year, we rented it again.  So last year we met a new "friend" and this year we came to our vacation "home".  =)  One of the first orders of business after unloading the cars was to go in search of wood---priorities, dontcha know---and get the fire started.  We spend a bit of money on wood (because it's just easier than bringing a chainsaw! lol)  But it's cheap entertainment and so pleasant besides.  So our evening was spent in front of the crackling fire, eating (of course!), and beginning the relaxing that only happens when one is on "holiday".  What will happen next?  I have no idea, and don't really care.  Just being back in Maine is wonderful enough.  =)

MIA

Well what do you know!  I made it a whole month without posting! lol  No, it wasn't on purpose.  I had lots of blog posts running through my head as usual.  The plain truth of things is that I was just. too. tired.  Have you ever been so tired that you just wanted to sit down and cry?  That you felt overwhelmed by how exhausted you felt?  If you have, then you know where I've been this month.  I don't know what caused it.  I suspect it was stress.  I was stressed over the usual things---work, housework, chores to be done.  But I think the bottom line was The Shop.  My shop in Etsy.  Don't get me wrong.  I love making things and I like having a place to sell (or try to sell!) them.  But what happened was that I was thinking about The Shop 24/7, even when I didn't know I was thinking of it.  It was like a loaded gun to my back constantly pushing me.  I didn't have time for anything else in my life, no time for relaxing, no time for life things that needed done.  This month stopped that.  I had some delightful company mid month which required me to spend time cleaning and hiding tidying things.  =)  Because of my work schedule d/t said visit I could do very little but get my house ready, so there literally was NO time for The Shop.  It was a good thing, really.  It forced me to step back and put The Shop on the shelf for the time being.  It also helped me realize that The Shop pressure is probably what significantly contributed to the above mentioned exhaustion.  So I quit.  Oh not for good, mind you.  The Shop is still there and open (check it out on the sidebar),  but there isn't anything new in it.  I still hope to add to it, and still hope to one day have more time to really build it.  But I am/have been taking a break.  I've also taken a break from blogging (obviously! lol) and have not been quite as verbal on Facebook.  I guess I just needed a break from a lot of things.  The good news is that I feel so much better.  I haven't been feeling that awful, heavy exhaustion that made it difficult to get the dishes and laundry done, let alone anything fun.  The other day I sat down in my studio and made cards all day.  I haven't done that in way too long.  It felt great.  What will I do with The Shop?  As I said before, it's still open and I plan to keep it that way.  I plan to continue to make things to put there, but I have to do it more slowly and not push so hard to try to make it a paying business overnight.  Also, I am completely up for custom orders from my friends.  =)  All in all, it's been a good learning experience.  Learning my limitations (full time work leaves only so much energy for other things!), learning patience (building a business takes time---still in the Patience 101 course there! lol), learning time management (If I don't take time for me---I won't be able to put my heart into creating fine things to sell).  Of course this does not mean that I will not need to re-learn some of these things at some point, I'm sure!  I'm like that. lol  But maybe if I keep trying, one day I'll get it right.  =)  Cheers!

Conversations with God

A friend of mine posted this quote on Facebook the other day and it has been in my mind ever since. (Thank you, Pam!)

"When your ordinary work or business is not specially engrossing, let your heart be fixed more on God than on it; and if the work be such as to require your undivided attention, then pause from time to time and look to God, even as navigators who make for the haven they would attain, by looking up at the heavens rather than down upon the deeps on which they sail. So doing, God will work with you, in you, and for you, and your work will be blessed. "

~St. Francis de Sales

I like the thought of being actively connected to God throughout the day.  Isn't it amazing that we can have simple, everyday conversations with the Creator of the universe?  It's incredible really.  I like talking to God all through my day.  Many times when I try to sit down for a traditional-type prayer time, my mind wanders all over the place and my attention gets so distracted.  I end up feeling more frustrated than refreshed.  Having an on-going conversation with God that doesn't really have an "amen" works so much better for me.  Sometimes I do actually stop what I'm doing for a more focused prayer, but mostly I just talk to God everywhere:  when I'm mowing, when I'm driving, when I'm crocheting, when I'm doing dishes, when I'm cutting out fabric.......well, you get the picture.  Now please don't think I'm some paragon of prayer!  Far, far from it!  I wish I were better at having longer prayer times, I wish I did more praying.  I guess there is always something to strive for.  For years I stressed over having a certain section of the day carved out for prayer, and always felt like such a failure when I didn't do well at it.  Having this never-ending conversation with God instead works so much better for me.  Now instead of so much stress there is an enjoyment of God in a different way and a longing for more.  Maybe this is what the Word meant by "Pray without ceasing"---a continuous conversation with God that is not ever very far from our minds.  I hope so, because I rather like it.