12/18/03 BEST GIFT, STORY, FORGIVENESS, RECIPES, PETS & BIRDS
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for YOU with LOVE by Lois Breneman
12/18/03 BEST GIFT, STORY, FORGIVENESS, RECIPES, PETS & BIRDS
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
CONTENTS:
THE BEST GIFT POEM
EVEN BETTER THAN THE BEST GIFT - SIMEON'S SONG - POEM
THE GIFT STORY
TOTAL FORGIVENESS
THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFTS TO GIVE YOUR CHILDREN ALL YEAR LONG
CHRISTMAS TIDBITS
HURRY-UP NO-BAKE FRUIT AND NUT COCONUT BALLS
FROZEN FRUIT SALAD
BACK HEALTH IN THE CAR
REMEMBER YOUR PETS AND THE BIRDS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
(Healthy Dog Treats, Kitty Kookies, Braided Bird Wreath, Grapefruit and Orange Baskets for the Birds)
A CHRISTMAS POEM
DEAR LADIES
THE BEST GIFT
Author Unknown
The best gift that I ever got didnt really weigh a lot;
It didnt have a ribbon round, and it sometimes made a terrible sound!
But best of all, it seems to me it wasnt neath the Christmas tree.
And yet, I guess Id have to say that it made all the other presents twice as gay!
The best that Ive ever known, Ive always wanted most to own,
Yet in my dreams of sugar and spice, I never dreamed it could be so nice!
The best gift that Ill ever get, was sometimes dry and sometimes wet;
Was usually pink, but oftentimes red, as it lay so innocently in its bed.
The best gift of the year to me the one that I hold most dear to me
The gift that simply drove me wild was my tiny newborn child!
Note from Lois: Congratulations to each Heart to Heart lady who has welcomed a baby into her family this year, as well as to those who have welcomed a grandchild! This was a favorite poem of mine each year that we had a baby join our family. And this year as I became a grandmother, I say it again This baby is the best gift that the Lord has blessed us with this year!
EVEN BETTER THAN THE BEST GIFT!
SIMEON'S SONG
©By Linda J. Stevenson
Traveling down the dusty road
With haste I went that day
Just to make it to the Temple
Where I would often pray.
For many years I had watched for
The long-awaited One
That God had promised I would see
Before I would pass on.
My own eyes would see His glory
And the wonder He would bring.
I felt real longing for the day
My arms would hold our King.
Then as I passed through temple doors,
My heart inside did leap.
Before me in His mothers arms
The Child lay fast asleep.
Warm tears fell down as I saw Him,
My legs became so weak;
Before me was the Promised One
That I for years did seek.
His mother placed Him in my arms
His breath I did inhale;
Embracing Him so close to me,
I noticed each detail.
My eyes have seen His glory
My ears long past had heard;
His great redemption's been revealed
According to God's Word.
The Light of His salvation came
For all the world to see,
The fulfillment of God's promise
That He once made to me.
THE GIFT
Author Unknown Contributed by Annamarie Kresge, Virginia
A story about an old Bendix washing machine helped one man get through the valley of loss. His parents acquired the washer when John Claypool was a small boy. It happened during World War II. His family owned no washing machine and since gasoline was rationed, they could ill afford trips to the laundry several miles away. Keeping clothes clean became a problem for young John's household.
A family friend was drafted into the service, and his wife prepared to go with him. John's family offered to store their furniture while they were away. To the family's surprise, the friends suggested they use their Bendix while they were gone. "It would be better for it to be running," they said, "than sitting up rusting." So this is how they acquired the washer.
Young John helped with the washing, and across the years he developed an affection for the old, green Bendix. But eventually the war ended. Their friends returned. In the meantime he had forgotten how the machine came to be in their basement in the first place. When the friends came to take it away, John grew terribly upset -- and said so! His mother, wise as she was, sat him down and said, "Wait a minute, Son. You must remember, that machine never belonged to us in the first place. That we ever got to use it at all was a gift. So, instead of being mad at it being
taken away, let's use this occasion to be grateful that we had it at all."
The lesson proved invaluable. Years later, John watched his eight-year-old daughter die a slow and painful death of leukemia. Though he struggled for months with her death, John could not begin healing from the loss until he remembered the old Bendix.
"I am here to testify," he said, "that this is the only way down the mountain of loss ... when I remember that Laura Lou was a gift, pure and simple, something I neither earned nor deserved nor had a right to. And when I remember that the appropriate response to a gift, even when it is taken away, is gratitude, then I am better able to try and thank God that I was ever given her in the first place."
His daughter was a gift. When he realized that simple fact, everything changed. He could now begin healing from the tragedy of her loss by focusing instead on the wonder of her life. He
started to see Laura Lou as a marvelous gift that he was fortunate enough to share for a time. He felt grateful. He found strength and healing. He knew he could get through the valley of loss.
We all experience loss -- loss of people, loss of jobs, loss of relationships, loss of independence, loss of esteem, loss of things. When what you held dear can be viewed as a gift, a wonder that you had it at all, the memory can eventually become one more of gratitude than tragedy. And you will find the healing you need.
TOTAL FORGIVENESS by R. T. KENDALL
This month on the Focus on the Family radio broadcast, the top programs of 2003 are being repeated. The broadcast that had the second highest response for the year was on forgiveness. R. T. Kendall spoke for three days about details in his book, Total Forgiveness, which is available at Christian bookstores and at Focus. In fact, the entire week is given to broadcasts on forgiveness. Today and tomorrow you can hear the testimony of forgiveness from David Meese, a muscian, who carried the words of his father, "You're worthless!" with him into adulthood, as well as hatred for the one who hurt him and his family so much. For audio tapes or CD's of these broadcasts call 1-800-A FAMILY or listen in on the Focus on the Family website at http://www.family.org.
If you are finding it difficult to forgive someone who has deeply hurt you, this book will help you to understand that you are especially hurting your own self and those around you by holding a grudge. Unforgiveness is like a poison in our bodies. When we forgive someone, we are not saying the other person was right in what he or she did, but by forgiving, we give up our right to hurt the other person for what they did. By doing so, we release bitterness from deep inside ourselves. Our bitterness may or may not affect the one we refuse to forgive, so in many cases we are only hurting ourselves.
Well, the book or tape can tell it so much better than I can! All of us have had to deal with unforgiveness at one time or another, so if you are dealing with a heart of unforgiveness, you are not alone. The important thing is that you allow the Lord to help you deal with it. I believe these broadcasts will help a great deal.
When God puts His burden upon you, He puts His own arm underneath.
- Sent by Norma Lyon of New York
THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFTS TO GIVE YOUR CHILDREN ALL YEAR LONG
By Lois Breneman - [email protected]
Listen To Them Talk Just listen!
Play with Them - Ask me for "175 Things to Do Together with Your Family."
Slow Down and Stop Being So Busy How may times do we say, Just a minute!
Teach Them How To Cook Give one-on-one time as you do this.
Teach Them How to Work Work along side of them.
Read to Them Read to them early and later read books together as a family.
Stop Bad Habits Your children will be happier if you do.
Tell Them Often That You Love Them Even if you think they already know.
Hug Them Often They say we all need tens hugs a day.
Teach Them About Jesus Be sure they know the plan of salvation.
Have Family Devotions - Use the time you have to teach truths of the Scriptures.
Live the Christian Life Before Them Be a model for them to follow.
Take Them to Church And go with them.
Spend Time at Home - Provide a peaceful life by not involving them in too many activities.
Make Them Available to Their Grandparents They have a lot to offer your children.
CHRISTMAS TIDBITS
"Often, the Good News of Christ's birth is given only a cursory nod before moving on to what has become the 'real' reason for the Christmas - receiving a windfall of goodies from the jolly fellow in the red suit." - Nancy Twigg Contributed by Barb Campbell, MS
STUDY LINKS CHRISTMAS, CHRISTIANITY AND HAPPINESS:
There's just something about the "most wonderful time of the year."
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0029374.cfm
A CHRISTMAS CANDLE
By Eva K. Logue Contributed by Annamarie Kresge of Virginia
A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away;
While quite unselfish, it grows small.
MY SNOWBALL
Author Unknown - Contributed by Elsie Wertz of Virginia
I made myself a snowball, as perfect as could be.
I thought Id keep it as a pet, and let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas and a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away, but first, it wet my bed!
HURRY-UP NO-BAKE FRUIT AND NUT COCONUT BALLS
(Need a batch of colorful cookies in a big hurry, without baking them? Try this recipe.)
2 cups pecans or almonds, chopped
1 cup dried apricot, finely chopped
½ cups dried cranberries
1 ½ cups coconut, shredded and unsweetened
honey or maple syrup - just enough to hold together
Place sharp blade in food processor. With the machine running, alternately add the nuts, dried apricots, cranberries and sweetener until well mixed. It will form a ball when done. Hand roll into small balls; set aside. Place coconut in a shallow bowl and roll the fruit and nut balls in the coconut, coating them well, before arranging them on a serving dish. These freeze well. Yield: 25 Coconut Balls
FROZEN FRUIT SALAD
Contributed by Marge DeMonbrun of Missouri
Tastes great! Hits the spot! Easy to make! Easy to transport!
2 large cans frozen orange juice - thawed, undiluted
2 large packages frozen strawberries - thawed
1 large can crushed pineapple - use juice
4 large bananas - sliced
Combine ingredients and mix. Pour in serving dish and freeze until needed (can keep up to 2 weeks). Thaw approximately 1 hour before serving. You will want to serve still partially frozen; not thawed and mushy. Tastes great! Use especially with meals that need a little something cold. Examples: Brisket, baked beans, macaroni and cheese. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes. This just gives that added zip to a heavier type meal. Easy to make. Easy to transport because it's still in a partially frozen state. If you take it out just before leaving home, it should be just right when you get to your potluck dinner.
BACK HEALTH IN THE CAR
By Paul Maunsell
Driving can cause neck pain, eye strain, headache, wrist pain, backache, hip pain, knee, foot and ankle pain. Both the driver and the passenger can stiffen up in a car during a long trip. While sitting for a long time in a fixed position it is extremely important for the passenger to alter his/her position from time to time and sit with knees bent and thighs level. Moving regularly and avoiding sitting with legs crossed allows one to be most comfortable. A good stretch, ideally once every few hours, bringing your knees right up to your chest gives the whole body a bit of a wake-up. For drivers and passengers it is good to stop regularly, especially if feeling tired.
Is your car right for you? It is very important to choose a car with an adjustable lumbar support. Otherwise a wedge-shaped cushion is another way of allowing the back to be in a more relaxed position. An automatic car is obviously better with someone who has a weak back, as pushing the clutch increases pressure on the back. Choose a car with a higher curb height to make getting in and out less of a strain on the spine. Power steering also lessens the stress on the back.
Driving Tips:
*When getting into the car, first sit down and then swing the legs in. On getting out, move the seat back and then swing your legs out.
*Adjust the car seats to suit your posture and always make sure that you keep the seat fairly upright and slightly leaning backwards.
*Adjust the headrest so the center of it is level with your eyes. If it is too low, more trauma can result after an accident.
*Adjust the seat belt properly, making sure you use it at all times. Children also need to be checked thoroughly with appropriate cushions if necessary.
*Lifting unnecessary weights should be avoided. Be very careful when loading and unloading. Always remember to lift correctly. Get out of the car if you need to get bags from the rear seat avoid reaching over from the front seat.
*Rotating and lifting the shoulders to the ears before lowering them with an out breath is a good way of letting muscle tension go and relaxing more.
REMEMBER YOUR PETS AND THE BIRDS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
By Telesa Kessler of Virginia
How about taking care of your pets and the birds during this Christmas season? Try these two tasty treats below for cats and dogs and two others for birds.
Healthy Dog Treats
2 cups whole wheat flour 1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup cornmeal 2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup sunflower kernels, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. oil
Mix all ingredients, adding more milk if needed to make dough firm. Roll out onto a floured surface to a 1/2 inch thickness. Use any shape cookie cutter to cut out biscuits, but bone shapes are fun. Bake on ungreased baking sheets at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until lightly toasted. To make biscuits harder, leave in oven with the heat turned off for an hour or more.
Kitty Kookies
1 cup whole wheat flour 1 Tbsp. oil
6 oz. can tuna in oil, undrained 1 egg
Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl, adding a little water if dough is too stiff. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with your favorite cookie cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until firm. Store in an airtight container.
I also enjoy feeding the birds by putting out pinecones with peanut butter and seeds, as well as doughnuts and braided bird wreaths. I usually buy plain doughnuts at the bread store, then we tie yarn around them and hang them in the trees. It is so very beautiful to watch the birds come and enjoy their Christmas dinner. I have a couple of ponds so they frolic in them as well and they are a real joy to our family to view. We also have pond slider turtles and give them shrimp for their special Christmas treat.
Braided Bird Wreath
(This is like the pinecones I mentioned above, but less messy.)
1 lb. frozen bread dough, thawed
peanut butter
wild birdseed
Roll out dough into a 30 inch rope. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into thirds lengthwise and braid. Place braided dough on a greased baking sheet, forming a circle. Seal the edges of dough by pinching them together. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise one hour or until double in size. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet and let cool. Spread peanut butter on top of wreath and sprinkle with birdseed. Hang outside for the birds to enjoy!
Grapefruit and Orange Baskets for the Birds
Cut grapefruit or oranges in half and remove the fruit for a fruit salad. Make small holes opposite each other in the top edge of each half and insert a pipe cleaner for hanging these goody baskets in the trees. Fill with one or more of the following: (1) bacon fat that is allowed to harden in the refrigerator, (2) suet, (3) cracked corn or (4) a mixture of peanut butter and sunflower seeds.
A CHRISTMAS POEM
Author unknown - Contributed by Norma Lyon of New York
'T'was the night before Christmas and all through the town
Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy with Christmas time chores
Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.
No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed".
Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap.
As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap.
When what from the T.V. did they suddenly hear?
'Cept an ad ... which told of a big sale at Sears.
So away to the mall they all flew like a flash...
Buying things on credit ... and others with cash!
And, as they made their way home from their trip to the mall,
Did they think about Jesus? Oh, no... not at all.
Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things.
No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior... they had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time to "Shop till they dropped!"
On Wal-mart! On K-mart! On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny's!
From the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall;
They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!
And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter,
As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.
He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus... Light of the World.
Christ's eyes... how they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry!
So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight,
Let's put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy some good nights!
DEAR LADIES,
The next newsletter will be sent to you in 2004! I pray that each of you will have a wonderful and blessed Christmas with your families and friends!
Remember that JESUS is the reason for the season and wise men, as well as women, boys and girls, still seek Him!
In this day when the "Christmas" greeting is fast disappearing because it is political incorrect, let's all say, "Merry Christmas!" with a smile to all we meet! After all, Christmas is the birthday of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
It has been a special blessing for me to meet some Heart to Heart ladies face to face - ones I had known in name only! Last Friday when my husband and I went to a nearby church for their Christmas program, I recognized the name of one of "my" ladies in the program and having the privilege of hearing one of the most beautiful voices ever, as Ashleigh Judd sang a solo! It was a joy to meet her and her husband after the program. Next week we hope to meet two more Heart to Heart ladies!
Merry Christmas with love from your Heart to Heart friend,
Lois
The purpose of the Heart to Heart Newsletter is to bring godly and practical encouragement to women through creative ideas for the Christian family regarding homemaking, marriage, children and so much more. You may receive this bimonthly newsletter by sending your name, city, state, country and the name of the person who referred you to Lois Breneman at [email protected].