Category Archives: Uncategorized

Wanted: Volunteers to be Christians

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Thought provoking post from Butch Dean. He’s worth the follow friends.

Butch Dean's avatarWordsmith's Desk

Wanted: Volunteers to be Christians

No experience necessary…immediate openings.

Training provided by the Holy Spirit

Must be willing to learn the following:

pray for your enemies…

forgive those who do you wrong…

love one another…

turn the other cheek…

die for your faith…

forsake everything for Christ…

suffer for Christ’s sake…

surrender all to Christ…

give all the glory to God…

deny self and follow Christ…

All this and more await you.

If interested, repeat after me…

“Jesus, I want to serve you. Forgive me my sins and lead me to everlasting life. Abide within my heart and help me to walk with you as a Christian.”

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Tea Time #1

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There is nothing like a really good cup of tea.  It can be hot or cold.  It can be with someone or all alone.  I can drink it in a car. I can drink it on a plane.  (My apologies to Dr. Seuss)  I like it straight or sweetened with honey.   I like leaves and herbal. loose leaf and bagged.  It doesn’t matter whether I use a cute tea cup from my collection or a mug.  My favorites are Queen Anne from Harney & Sons, Winter Spice from Twinings, Ginger Peach from Republic of Tea, and… and…  and…  and…

I really, like scones and tea sandwiches.  But, I don’t eat wheat so I’ve had to find and create recipes that really work for me.  Here’s one for Banana Nut Scones that uses a mix of rice and almond flour.  Yummy in my tummy. (Sorry Shrek!)   Instead of bread on my tea ‘sandwiches’ I use lettuce or cucumber slices or corn tortillas.  Delicious!!  Of course, fresh fruit and veggies are always on the table.

Best Ever Banana Nut Scones

  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup brown rice flour  (1 cup of oatmeal will work, too.)
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Lightly spray (I use coconut oil.)  a round cake-pan (Use ceramic or glass – like a pie pan.)  Blend until smooth.  Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.  Cool completely!  Cut into traditional pie pieces.  Spread with maple butter, or cream cheese, or clotted cream, if you have it.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

10 Ways To Build Lasting Friendships

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When I was in my younger years I often wondered if I would have Best Friends later on in life. Guess what? I do. I have incredible friends in a range of friendships from bare acquaintances to BFF’s.

Have you ever met someone and immediately said to them you’re going to be my best friend.  Of course not!  Being a friend is a deliberate process.  It’s about spending time together. Getting to know one another. Sharing ups and downs and in-betweens.  Supporting them, praying for them, sharing with them, accepting them… That’s what grows strong friendships.

It’s nice to have friends that share interests and hobbies.  However, if we surround ourselves with exact copies of ourselves it gets really boring.  One of my BFF’s shares few commonalities with me, except a desire to grow closer to our Jesus.

In building strong, lasting friendships there are a few things that really don’t matter.  Age is one of them.  Yes, people of our own age share similar likes and experiences but those of other age groups have much to teach us.  Friendships cross many boundaries. Things like status, education, marriage, distance, can be overcome when two people say let’s be friends.

There’s a beautiful contemporary Christian song that points to the fact that God gives us our friends.  God Gave Me You by Dave Barnes really says it all.  Check out these lyrics:

God gave me you for the ups and downs

God gave me you for the days of doubt

For when I think I’ve lost my way

There are no words here left to say, it’s true

God gave me you.

What does God say about friendship? Check these verses out:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:5-6

So, here are my 10 Ways To Build Strong Friendships:

10-ways-to-build-strong-friendships

There’s a Kroger commercial that ends with a woman saying, “My momma always said if you want to have a friend be one.” Nothing more needs to be said, does it?

Not all of my friends are women.  My husband of more than 40 years has been my friend for more than 50.  Men add a richness that is unique in its own way.  Don’t count them out.

Blessings to you and yours!
 
Marie

God’s Breath

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all-scripture

Can you imagine placing your hands on any page of your Bible and feeling His very breath on the page?   That is exactly what this verse is saying (to me).  This is how I see it – – if I can’t see Him face to face until I enter heaven then I’ll settle (hardly the right word) for experiencing His breath in the words I’m reading.

Think about the words of this beautiful chorus from the song “Ancient Words” by Lynn DeShazo.

Ancient words ever true, changing me and changing you; We have come with open hearts, oh, let the ancient words impart.

Friends, family, sisters, and brothers in Christ there is nothing more important than knowing God’s word.  In every action and situation of our lives we can draw on the Word and know without question it was written for that very purpose.

God did not leave us alone on this earth.  He is still breathing every word, in every verse, on every page of our Bibles.

Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world, they resound with God’s own heart; Oh, let the ancient words impart.

Ah, Lord, God thank You for every word, every phrase, every letter of Your Word.  Heavenly Father place a real hunger in our hearts to know Your words and use them for our lives.  Let us not only read them but let us use them.  Put teachers in our lives to help us understand them.  Drench us with the Holy Spirit as we read and learn how to apply them.  Make it so in Jesus name!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Take a Closer Look

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Can you imagine this world if we all thought of others first.

Butch Dean's avatarWordsmith's Desk

~

To see yourself in someone else’s shoes is the beginning of compassion.

The old man or woman who walks so slowly in front of you.

Is it anyone you know…

take a closer look, for someday that will be you.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31

~

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