11/14/08 Thanks, Recipes, Surviving Tough Times, Gifts, Salmon, Snacks, Tips, Kindness
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
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11/14/08 Thanks, Recipes, Surviving Tough Times, Gifts, Salmon, Snacks, Tips, Kindness
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IN THIS ISSUE:
QUESTION: WOULD YOU LIKE THE CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTERS SENT AGAIN THIS YEAR?
THANKING GOD FOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US
QUOTES AND SCRIPTURES ON THANKFULNESS AND CONTENTMENT
LOTS OF THANKSGIVING RECIPES
LEFTOVER THANKSGIVING TURKEY ENCHILADAS
SURVIVING TOUGH TIMES
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE A HANDMADE DOLL BED
QUESTION:
THANKING GOD FOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US
By Cheri Fuller - http://www.cherifuller.com - Used by permission
During Thanksgiving week I said many thank you's to God for some of the women who came before me and taught me so much, and I wanted to share a few of those with you. Corrie ten Boom is one of those women. I never met her on earth, but when I do in heaven, I'll thank her because over the years my faith has been strengthened by her wise words and her example. As a young woman I was impacted by her book and the movie based on it, "The Hiding Place" which tells the story of how God sustained this small Dutch woman through the horrors of the Nazi concentration camp after she and her family were captured and imprisoned for hiding and caring for Jewish people during World War II. From the time of her release at the end of the war to her death in 1983, Corrie traveled the world, sharing a message of love, faith and forgiveness.
From the writings of Corrie ten Boom, I learned to stop focusing on my situation or problem and focus my mind on the Lord. Keep looking in the right direction in everything you doto Jesus; keep looking up and kneeling down, she taught us. We are not ready for the battle until we have seen the Lord, for Jesus is the answer to all problems. (from Reflections of Gods Glorysee Book Review this issue)
From Edith Shaeffer I learned how important it is to make a home wherever we find ourselves, large or small. Her book What Is a Family? was a great inspiration to me in my years of active mothering and homemaking. In each place the Schaeffers livedfrom a crowded little chalet in Switzerland where they began LAbri ministry to the apartment near the Minnesota hospital where Francis received chemotherapy during his last months of lifethey made a center of meaningful living and beauty wherever they were, and reached out to invite others to share what they had.
The writings of Amy Carmichael have shed much light on my path as well. A missionary to India, Amy sensed Gods call as a young woman but had no idea the dangerous work that lay aheadto save young girls from cult prostitution in Hindu temples. Through many times of material need, great pain and illness, attacks and disappointment, Amy experienced God as her great refuge and wrote of the sheltering love of God, who is with us in all things. This courageous woman stepped faithfully into the darkness, trusting Him in every circumstance. From Amy I learned to be patient, waiting for God to answer prayer in his time and way, and that patient waiting means hoping and trusting in the face of all discouragement.
Flo Perkins was a widow of 75 when she and I, a thirty-year-old, began a friendship. On many occasions she sat at my kitchen table, or I at hers, eating slices of banana bread Id made. Whenever we talked, Jesus always came into the conversation because He was her best friend. She prayed for me, my husband and children as long as she was on the earth, and encouraged me to go deeper in prayer. Not just with words, but with actions.
For a season a few of us young women and I met at her home once a week early in the morning. Flo had been going into Gods presence for over fifty years, so for her, prayer was as natural as breathing. Somehow she took us in on her wings and without teaching, in the very act of praying honestly, humbly, and perseveringly, we learned a great deal from her about the power and value of prayer.
My friend Patty J has shared her wisdom with me at her kitchen table and her prayers have meant the world to me. She also has taught me much about celebrating the gift of life with
creativity, zest and enthusiasm. When I was dreading my 50th birthday, feeling a bit over the hill, she told me I was about to enter my prime, the best years of a womans life she called the Fabulous Fifties. And you know what? Patty was right.
My mother has been gone for more than two decades, but her wisdom and sayings mentored me through the years. Like one of the first verses she taught me and my four sisters: Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). How grateful I am for a mother who not only prayed for me and all my siblings and her grandchildren, but whose love lives on far beyond her life.
Like these women, many of those who have gone before usour mothers, mothers-in-law, older friends, and spiritual women who have left us a legacy in their writingsare master teachers. No matter our age difference, if we open our hearts and minds, our lives will be tremendously enriched. If we ignore what they have to offer, we are missing out on a great resource. Look around today to those who have encouraged you, prayed for you, or who would love to share their journey and wisdom with you. And dont forget to give thanks for themand to them!
QUOTES AND SCRIPTURES ON THANKFULNESS AND CONTENTMENT
There are lots more quotes and scriptures on being thankful, but these will get you started as you discuss thankfulness with your family what it really means to "be thankful in all things."
Contentment is not by addition but by subtraction: seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your desires until you are satisfied only with Christ
brings contentment. -- Jeremiah Burroughs
Be thankful for the least gift, so shalt thou be ready to receive greater. -- Thomas à Kempis
God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say 'thank you?'
-- William A. Ward
By Marilyn Moll - http://www.urbanhomemaker.com - Used by permission
Family traditions and, memories along with appetizing food establishes the foundation upon which strong families are built. In our family, preparation of our traditional family recipes sets the stage for an unforgettable and worthwhile Thanksgiving celebration.
Your Thanksgiving meal will be more enjoyable and noteworthy when you take time to plan the menu, assemble recipes, make shopping lists, and prepare decorations ahead of time instead of waiting until the day of the celebration. You may wish to set aside the academics for a few days and focus on the life skills and memories that they can develop.
I wish to share our family's traditional tried and true Thanksgiving recipes, including:
Fantastic Whole Wheat Rolls, how to make delicious, perfect homemade gravy, old-fashioned stuffing, Cranberry Relish Salad, Aunt Helen's Sweet Potatoes, All-American Apple Pie, Classic Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Bread. For Recipe information click here: Thanksgiving menu and recipes. www.http://articles.urbanhomemaker.com/index.php?page=index_v2&id=441&c=5
Thanks to Barb Campbell in Mississippi for sending this recipe!
1 or 2 cns. cream of celery or chicken soup 1 (8 oz.) pkg. Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1 can diced green chilies 1 sm. onion, chopped
1 reg. size pkg. plain tortilla chips, crumbled 1 jar jalapenos (optional)
Sauté onions in butter or margarine in medium skillet until golden brown. Add green chilies, soup, and 1 soup can of water. Stir and simmer until heated. Crush tortilla chips, using 1/2 of package. Spread a layer in bottom of baking dish. Evenly place a layer of cooked turkey on top of chips. Spoon a layer of 1/2 of soup mixture over chips. Add jalapenos, if desired. Sprinkle with 1/3 of both grated cheeses. Repeat chips, turkey, and soup mixture; top with grated cheese. Quantity is determined by the amount of turkey available.
For larger amounts, simply continue to layer ingredients. Conventional Oven: Bake in oven at 350 degrees until thoroughly heated and cheese is bubbly. Microwave Oven: Heat at medium high power until thoroughly heated and cheese is bubbly.
Note: This dish is great during holidays after everyone is tired of turkey and dressing. Cooked chicken also works great. This recipe reheats well and tastes even better as a leftover!
By Marge DeMonbrun, Retired Director - Women's Enrichment Ministries
Reprinted with permission from Blue Ridge Bible Church monthly newsletter, "Out of the Blue."
"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure." --Psalm 16:5 (NIV)
Sooner or later it was going to happen. The Lord tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Now." That meant it was time to share some things learned in the trenches of life. Yes, I've been there...and so have you. Here's a glimpse of what God has taught me through some rough heartache and tears. I share in hopes that it will be a blessing and help in your life.
I would like to preface these remarks by saying that there is no way I would hang out my advertisement and say, "Have arrived. When problems come...know everything there is about how to solve them." There are things in my life that happen daily and it takes daily grace, wisdom and strength to deal with them and to keep my feet from slipping. Above all, I wish to have a good testimony but would have to confess that there are days that I don't win the victory. But it's getting better; I am learning to settle myself before the Lord faster and to "Keep a Quiet Heart" easier. Elisabeth Eliott's book by that title is a real gem to buy and keep in your personal library. A good reading of the Psalms and "Keep a Quiet Heart" are a help in any situation.
We do have to remember one great truth as we start to learn how to survive tough times. God is NOT a "911" God. That is ... He is not there just to be summoned when tough times present themselves. There are certain conditions in Scripture which require our obedience. We may not like them; we may not want to do them. But IF we expect Him to do His part for us in our tough times, it would be essential that we have obeyed, as much as is possible, the commands set forth in His Word. Of course, there are the 10 Commandments. But there are others: Living at peace with all men as much as is possible. Assembling ourselves together in His house on a regular basis. Giving. Obedience to our spouse. Serving the Creator as well as others by using the spiritual gift(s) He has generously given to us. You get the picture. If it says it in the Bible....I get the general idea that this was important to God and He would expect us to comply. He did MUCH - oh so MUCH - for us in sending His Son to Calvary. How can we do less than obey His commands?
When I look inside my life, I am aware that God has given me a tender and teachable spirit. This has come about through much trial and tribulation. Many times in my life I could spell tough times with all capital letters and I can tell you I have not liked many things that have come my way. I've done it all: cried, been angry and at times even questioned God as to just what He trying to do in my life.
Looking back on problems that have come my way, I realize that it has been a wise decision to allow God to talk to me. How? Mainly through His Word. In one of Catherine Marshall's books she reminded us that the entire Word of God is meant for us and that there were two ways to approach the Word of God. 1) The Rhema - the written, historical printed Word of God. Who did what, when and where. 2) And the Logos - that part of any portion of Scripture that the Holy Spirit illuminates to me and shows me that this is God speaking to me personally; this particular portion of His Word is a promise or an instruction. Putting it another way, when I come to one of those places God says, "Pay attention here, Margie, this is Me, God, speaking to you. Sit up, take notice, highlight, underline, put a date by it I the Lord am going to use this part of Scripture in your life." And He has done just that, over and over and over again.
So, Survival Tips # 1 is - God's Word.
Without it, you will NOT survive in good condition.
# 2 - Acknowledge That You Hurt or Have a Need.
God gave us a built-in system that feels pain; physical and emotional. We can always try to explain the why's of pain and sometimes succeed in coming up with a good answer. But if we always try to explain things - then we really don't need God. That's where faith begins. If we can acknowledge our hurt, we are acknowledging our need of God. So don't try to always rationalize your hurts. God wants us to be transparent. He wants to use the hurts in our life as ministry with others.
On page 52 of Mrs. Eliott's book, "Keep a Quiet Heart" we read:
"I've many a cross to take up now,
And many left behind;
But present troubles move me not,
Nor shake my quiet mind.
And what may be tomorrow's cross
I never seek to find;
My Father says, "Leave that to me,
And keep a quiet mind."
(Anonymous)
#3 - Tears Have Value. In Psalm 56:8 God says He bottles our tears. What a promise! Our tears matter to Him!
#4 - Learn to Laugh. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." Doctors tell us that when we laugh and cry, our body releases endorphins and ephedrine ... natural healers.
#5 - Thank God for Pain. God's Word tells us to be thankful for everything. Conclusion: that must include pain. If we can be thankful then He can use that to minister to others. II Corinthians 1:4 says He will comfort us as we have been comforted!
#6 - Prayer. Let the Holy Spirit be our prayer partner and comforter . He comes along beside us and goes to the Father for us and describes our needs. Can we ask for more?
#7 - Spiritual Warfare Must Be Priority. Satan's agenda for us today is well planned. In Beth Moore's study, "Breaking Free", she stated that Satan's original goal was for us not to be redeemed. Failing that, his goal is to render us ineffective in anyway that he can. We must put on the whole armour of God, resist him, do battle and beat this enemy.
#8 - Control Worry. I will confess - this is my weak area; a life-long struggle. I am doing much better but wish this had happened long ago. Life does sting at times. Where does that leave us? You and I are responsible here. We can't prevent bad things from happening, but we can control how we respond to them. We must choose to rise above our hurt, pain and heartache. We can't sit in perpetual immobility. Many of life's problems don't get solved in a day, week or month. We have to go on and get things accomplished. Exerting mental discipline for just the immediate helps. And we can't always run from our problems. Many times we have to WAIT on God, keep busy in the meantime, and TRUST in His sovereignty....His all-knowing power to do what is above human thinking. We can worry and plan and worry and scurry around and try to work things out for ourselves; but, Beloved, I am learning more each day....many times that is NOT God's plan. He delights in us waiting on Him to bring us through our tough time. Other times we do need to take action. As long as you are in His Word on a daily/regular basis and are keeping faithful in your walk with Him, obeying those things set forth in His Word, then He WILL come through for you. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow....but in the nick of time!
#9 - Let Your Friends off the Hook. We expect Christians, family especially, to help us; to act and speak in a certain way. To call, cheer us up, automatically pray for us, etc. What if they fail? We shouldn't pitch a fit, snub them, pout, get angry or sit in darkness and let it close in around us. Just learn to let them off the hook. Jesus is here for us 24 hours a day. He knows what it is like to be forsaken. Get in His Word and let Him hold you tenderly and speak to you.
#10 - Remember You Are Precious to God. We are His family; and He has promised to take very good care of us. Sometimes we can see God's fingerprints all over something that has happened; other times, we don't feel His presence. None-the-less, He is there helping us. During the long hours of the night, as your heart bleeds over a matter that seems to have no solution, be patient. God has taught me this lesson from Ruth 3:18, " sit still my daughter until thou know how the matter will fall."
If we had written the prescription for our lives, we would be comfortable. But God did not see it that way. He allows us to go through trials to perfect our character. Therefore, we don't need to try to squirm out of our difficulties, but face them, knowing God IS there for us and that He will not allow us to be tested too far. If we let Him, God will always lift us above our depression, anxiety, worry and care and give us the courage and grace to handle life's problems. Isaiah 50:7 says, "For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed."
We are reminded in Eccl. 3 there is a time for every-thing under the heavens. That means that NO-THING lasts forever. If our life belongs to Him, we can trust Him with what He allows into our life-good and bad.
It can be very hard and difficult along the way; but you can survive. God never wastes His time or ours; nor does He waste tears and suffering. We simply do not know all of His reasons, but we can trust in His will for our lives. Sometimes we have to LEAN HARD VERY HARD. But He is always there He's the Everlasting Arm that's ever-present!
Do I like everywhere I've been in "Pain City"? No. But I am truly learning - God is sovereign -and that is enough to enable me to keep my bearings in difficult times and to continue to practice keeping a quiet heart in the midst of whatever comes my way. All I can tell you for sure is this: In difficult times, I hang onto the Lord like crazy; and interestingly enough, when I feel I can't hang on any longer, I sense He is holding on to me like crazy. And then when I look back over a situation I realize He did an outstanding job of bringing me through my tough time in spite of me. PTL !!!
A CONTINUATION ON THE HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP RECIPE
Many of you ladies expressed interest in trying this recipe. If you can't find the three ingredients to make the money-saving laundry soap in the last newsletter, ask your grocer if they have them. I failed to find Fel-Naptha soap at our local Kroger until I asked, because there were only two bars at the time - at the very back of the top shelf. The next week it was filled up again, so there seems to be a demand for that soap.
Thanks to Linda Crosby in Virginia for this recipe! Try this great make-ahead recipe to freeze for Christmas! You could use at least half whole wheat or spelt flour to make these. Make a whole batch or cut the recipe in half.
1/4 lb. grated sharp cheese 1/4 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 cups unbleached flour 2 cups Rice Krispies
Cream butter. Add flour, salt, red pepper, and cheese which has been mixed together. Add rice krispies and mix well. Form in large marble size balls. Put on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten with hand. Use a fork and press down flat. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. They do not spread or rise. Enjoy!
By Carrie Lauth - Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
What would you do if your kids asked for "More veggies, please?" Well, prepare yourself, because they just might when you serve vegetables like this. These snacks are great for after school treats.
Celery and Pretzel Butterfly
2 stalks of celery Around 18 raisins
12 large pretzels (not the straight kind) 12 slivered almonds
6 tablespoons natural peanut butter
Wash the celery with cold water. Cut the celery stalks crosswise into thirds. Fill each celery stalk with one tablespoon of the peanut butter. Gently push 1 pretzel into the peanut butter, so
the pretzel is parallel to the length of the celery stick and looks like a wing. Do the same on the other side of the celery, with another pretzel. Your celery stick now has butterfly wings!
Use the raisins for the eyes, nose and mouth of the butterfly. Create the antennae by pushing the slivered almonds into the filling, on top of the butterfly's head.
Celery and Carrot Wagons
2 stalks of celery 1/2 cup of peanut butter; cheese spread or ranch dressing
12 toothpicks 20 raisins
16 carrot slices
Wash the celery with cold water. Cut celery stalks crosswise into pieces that are about 3 inches long. Push two toothpicks through the sides of each celery stick to create the axles for four
wheels. Fill each celery wagon with the peanut butter, or another spread. Stick a round carrot slice onto the end of each toothpick to form a wheel. After the wheel is attached, cover each
toothpick tip with a raisin.
You can stick a toothpick into the end of the celery for a wagon handle, and cover the tip with another raisin. You can also leave the handle off to create a celery car instead.
Tomato Army Ants
3 small cherry tomatoes for each ant
9 toothpicks or grape stems for each ant
Rinse the cherry tomatoes in cold water. Attach the three tomatoes with two of the toothpicks or grape stems. Use six more to create the ants legs, and two for the antennae. Make as many
as you can to create a whole army of ants.
Zucchini or Cucumber Centipede
Small zucchinis or cucumbers
Shredded carrots
Rinse the zucchinis or cucumbers. Cut off the ends of each, and attach strips of zucchini or cucumber for the legs. You can use shredded carrots for the antennae.
Here are some other tips to make vegetables more child-friendly:
Choose Colorful Veggies - Kids loves colors. When you serve vegetables to your children, try to serve an assortment of colors
Make them Little Finger Friendly - Slice vegetables into small pieces so they will be easier to pick up with small fingers.
Do the Dip - If your child is a reluctant vegetable eater, let them experiment with different dips. Most kids like ranch dip for their vegetables. Some kids will eat anything if it has cheese or peanut butter on it.
Vegetable Art - Instead of arranging vegetables for your kids, let them design their own vegetable creations. Give them an assortment of vegetables, spreads, and toothpicks, and let them create their own work of vegetable art.
Step Six: Spend focused time together
A wife wants a husband who will sweep her off her feet, carry her away to the castle, and say, "Let's spend time together." Focused attention is like precious gold in a relationship.
In addition to regular dates with your spouse, make sure you plan for getaways. How long has it been since you spent extended, focused time with your spouse? Not just an evening at a fantastic eatery, but a couple of days away from your usual environment to catch up with each other? In too many marriages, the demands of the ordinary grind seem to overwhelm the possibility of extraordinary excitement.
Because of our fast-paced culture, we need to pause once or twice a year to rest, count our blessings, and dream some dreams. Barbara and I take what we call planning weekends, an opportunity to evaluate our marriage and parenting and, if necessary, redirect plans.
The getaway is effective in keeping our communication current, and it's just plain fun. Without any of the everyday distractions, we can concentrate on romancing each other. I can give Barbara flowers and speak tender words. She can give me undivided attention as I unwind and share from the heart. We can stay up talking, munching snacks, and listening to music, and know we don't have to face a demanding schedule the next day.
LITTLE ACTS OF KINDNESS FOR YOUR HUSBAND
Recently a Heart to Heart subscriber mentioned in an e-mail that she and her husband didn't have much time together because of their opposite work shifts. She mentioned how it can be extremely discouraging, but she wanted to meet the challenges. She went on to say how Heart to Heart and my advice below inspired her. I sent her the following simple idea to try, and she gave permission for her reply to be shared with you, hoping many will also be encouraged.
My advice to her:
Try cutting hearts out of heavy red paper or felt and placing them around the house for your husband to find on occasion. On paper hearts you could write, "I did it because I love you!" Place those in or on things you do for him - in his packed lunch, in his closet for washing his clothes, etc. That will draw you closer together. When he finds a heart maybe he will do the same for you - hide one for you to find, just to say, "I love you!" Being considerate to each other goes a long way, I know - looking for ways to serve the other helps to bring harmony to your marriage.
A Heart to Heart subscriber:
This week has been a wonderful breakthrough week for our marriage. We have grown in our understanding of one another. We also had a time of fellowship with our pastor and his wife, and it really strengthened us as a couple and gave us more godly insight. This week, I took your advice and left my husband a special note. I had cleaned the kitchen and some other things. Then, I made him a plate for dinner and put a note on it telling him that I had done these things because I love him and want him to be happy and at peace in our home. He really enjoyed that! We discovered in talking with our pastor and his wife that one of his "love languages" is acts of service, so I wanted to do some acts of service especially for him to enjoy. Thank you for the idea.
HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you (dear ladies). - Phil. 1:3
Pray each day for the protection of our troops, as well as for their families left at home!
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