3/25/04 EVERY EYE, BABY PORTRAIT, HELPFUL HINTS, IRAQ
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for YOU with LOVE by Lois Breneman
3/25/04 EVERY EYE, BABY PORTRAIT, HELPFUL HINTS, IRAQ
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
CONTENTS:
EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM! AWESOME!
FREE PORTRAIT PACKAGE FOR BABIES 3 MONTHS AND YOUNGER
EASTER STORY COOKIES
HELPFUL HINTS
Baby Food Tip
Cooking and Peeling Hard Cooked Eggs With Ease
Natural Plant Fertilizer
Free from Fleas
For the Bride and Groom
Favors for Children's Birthday Parties
Reusing Children's Educational Workbooks
Solution for Sibling Rivalry While Riding in the Car on Vacation
LITTLE ONES
VERY VEGGIE CASSEROLE
THE DRIVER'S PERMIT
BARBER SHOP CONVERSATION
IRAQ -- VERY INTERESTING!
JUDGE GENTLY
SLOW ME DOWN, LORD
EASTER EDITION COMING SOON
EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM! AWESOME!
Contributed by Shirley Dulaney of Virginia
This is too awesome not to share. Turn up your volume.
Every Eye ~ http://www.lifetalk.net/2ndcoming/ee.html
FREE PORTRAIT PACKAGE FOR BABIES 3 MONTHS AND YOUNGER
Contributed by Lisa Weddle of Virginia
You can get a free portrait package ( 1- 8x10, 2- 5x7, & 8 wallets) from Olan Mills for babies 3 months old and younger. Go to http://www.olanmills.com/coupons/11free.asp for the coupon.
EASTER STORY COOKIES
Contributed by Diana Bishop in Ohio and Bernie Teague in Missouri
If you have little ones, or know of someone who does, this is a neat family activity to be made the evening before Easter. You will need:
1c. whole pecans zip lock bag
1 tsp. vinegar wooden spoon
3 egg whites tape
pinch salt Bible
1c. sugar
1. Preheat oven to 300 (this is important - don't wait until you're half done with the recipe).
2. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. The sweet part of the story is that Jesus rose again. He died for our sins, and God raised him from the dead. All those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved. Read Romans 4:22-25; Luke 24:6; Psalm 34:8; John 3:16
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Do not bake the cookies!
10. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66
11. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22
12. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9
HELPFUL HINTS
Baby Food Tip ~ I came across Motts naturally flavored applesauce mixed with other fruit purees, and No Sugar or Preservatives! This product is already used as a natural food for children and adults, but having a one year old grandson, I thought it would work perfectly as baby food, as long as you have previously tried each of the ingredients with your baby, in order to prevent food allergies. Pediatricians recommend adding one new food no sooner than every four days, so keep that in mind.
Mott's carries several varieties in packages of 6 servings each Granny Smith; Country Berry with raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and apples; Summer Strawberry with strawberries and apples; Peach Medley with peaches, mangoes and apples; and Pineapple Pleasure with pineapples and apples.
Sample of ingredients (Peach Medley): Apples, water, mango and peach puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable juices for color, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), natural flavors. For questions: http://www.motts.com ~ 1-800-426-4891
Store brands, such as Kroger, also have a few similar varieties. Read labels. Of course, for the very best make your own baby food.
Cooking and Peeling Hard Cooked Eggs With Ease ~ Start with eggs that are not too fresh - within the safe date, but closer to the expiration date. Use a strong straight pin or hat pin to prick a hole in the larger end of each egg. Place eggs in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil. Turn off stove, but leave the pan on the burner with the lid on for 15-20 minutes. Use a timer. When the time is up, check an egg to see if the yolk is done. Drain water. Shake eggs around in the pan to break the shells a bit and add cold water. While the cold water is running, start peeling the shell at the larger end that was pricked with a pin. The eggs should peel quickly without broken up egg whites. The secrets are to use older eggs, prick the larger end of each egg and peel them under running cold water at the larger pricked end of the egg. And never put egg shells or onion skins down the garbage disposal, unless you want to call a plumber.
The following three tips from The Dollar Stretcher, used by permission ~ http://www.stretcher.com
Natural Plant Fertilizer ~ If you have fish, when cleaning their bowl, save some of the
water. It is full of nutrients for your indoor or even outdoor (hanging) plants. I clean my fish bowl once a week, strain all the water into a watering can, and then I water my plants with it. My plants love this treat. They have more blossoms and the greens just perk up after this watering. If you have a fish, give this a try. You'll be surprised and there is no need for any other fertilizing. ~ A Reader's Tip from Tammy
Free From Fleas ~ My mother's cats have never had fleas because she puts a small amount of brewer's yeast (NOT baker's yeast) on their fur once a week. They lick this off, and the fleas hate the taste of the cat's blood. Brewer's yeast is cheap at the health food store. ~ A Reader's Tip from Gerry K.
For the Bride and Groom ~ My brother and his bride-to-be had everything and ended up
with even more after her bridal shower. Surely kitchen stuff as a wedding gift would not be appreciated! After much consideration, I went out and bought a pretty, but inexpensive blank journal and a dark colored gel pen. Total cost was around $10. I wrote a note in the front of the book inviting them to write about their events, memories, and even their fights. This was to create a special inheritance for their children and grandchildren. I included a Bible verse
that I thought they would enjoy. If I had more time available, I would have gotten a $4 blank sketchbook and created a cover for it. They weren't back from their honeymoon yet when my mom got a call from them. They reported that they'd written so much that the pen was out of ink. They absolutely loved being able to record every moment. ~ A Reader's Tip from Kathi S. of Greensboro, NC
Favors for Children's Birthday Parties ~ I just returned from a wonderful week with my daughter and her family as we celebrated my grandson's first birthday. We found a nice combination of goodies for favors in a dollar store. Justin loves to go to the duck pond to feed the ducks, so Joy asked if I'd made a cut-up duck cake for him, as I made cut-up cakes for the birthdays of our three children. As a party favor each child received three rubber duckies packaged together in netting, a punch ball and a nice sturdy book on Baby's First Words in a nice see-through bag. The toddlers and mothers were very happy with the gift. Another idea for outdoor fun is to give each child a bucket with a shovel, a bottle of bubbles and a package of sidewalk chalk. Add a special touch by printing the name of each child on the bucket with a permanent marker. If you have an idea for party favors for children of any age, please send them to [email protected] to share with all the Heart to Heart ladies.
Reusing Children's Educational Workbooks ~ There are many great workbooks for children on reading readiness, colors, shapes, math, reading, penmanship, as well as puzzles and mazes for them to work on, while they learn and have fun at the same time. I wish I had thought of this idea when my children were young. I read how a mother came up with a solution to spending so much money on workbooks. Rather than getting a workbook on each subject for each child, she bought sheet protectors. She tore out the pages from the workbooks and put them in the protectors and then into a three-ring binder. She also bought dry erasable markers in several different colors. Her children enjoyed writing in them better than they did in the actual workbooks. These work great for road trips too. Each child could have a binder in a tote bag with markers and an eraser stored in a small plastic storage container. Then they could trade workbooks with each other.
Solution for Sibling Rivalry While Riding in the Car on Vacation ~ A mother shared how she used an effective method while driving on vacation. The trip required her 7 and 8 year olds to sit next to each other in the back seat for the duration of several long traveling days. They took a pad of paper and made a column for each child. For every hour that she didn't have to tell them to stop fighting or keep the noise down, they got a dollar. Every time the mother had to call them down, she took away a dollar. If they tattled on someone, they lost a dollar and so did the person they tattled on. It was amazing how fast they learned to get along on that trip! By the time the family arrived at the amusement park, they mother had set aside between $25 and $30 of spending money for each. She thought it was well worth every penny!
LITTLE ONES
First Family Vacation ~ From Gwynn Weaver of Virginia
This is from my daughter, Abby, last year just before our first family vacation when she was four years old. We planned the trip months in advance and were headed to Tennessee. We told our daughter that we were going to go the Aquarium and shopping. She seemed excited. We told her that we were going to stay in a cabin with a hot tub and she could get in it and swim around. She got this concerned look on her face and said, "Mommy, does this cabin have a 'cold tub'?"
A little girl was attempting to quote a scripture verse when she said, If God be for you, you're up against it.
We live in a day where everything is run by switches except the children.
VERY VEGGIE CASSEROLE
2 cups carrots, cut in strips, cooked and drained 4 cups green beans, drained
2 cups celery, diced 1 tsp. salt
1 onion, diced Dash of pepper
1/4 cup green pepper, diced 3 Tbsp. tapioca (to thicken)
1 pint tomato juice
Mix all ingredients together in crock pot. Dot with two tablespoons of butter and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
Courtesy of Chet's Crock. For fabulous crock pot recipes, tasty cookie recipes, and vegetarian, vegan, and healthy raw food recipes shared by a natural health food writer who loves to eat. Fun! Visit Chet at http://chetday.com/healthyrecipesmenu.htm
THE DRIVER'S PERMIT
Contributed by Annamarie Kresge of Virginia
A young boy had just gotten his driver's permit. He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss his use of the family car.
His father took him into his study and said, "I'll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study the Bible a little, get your hair cut and then we'll talk about it."
After about a month, the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss his use of the car. They again went into the father's study where the father said, "Son, I've been very proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you've studied the Bible diligently, but you didn't get your hair cut."
The young man waited a moment and then replied, "You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that. You know Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair!"
The minister said, "Yes, and everywhere they went, they walked."
BARBER SHOP CONVERSATION
The Bible says to have an answer for why you believe to those who ask you. This is a good example of an answer to one of the most common reasons people give for ignoring God and His goodness.
A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always. He began to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him. They talked about so many things and various subjects. Suddenly, they touched on the subject of God. The barber said: "Look man, I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.
Well, it's so easy - you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesnt exist.
Oh, tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?
If God exists, there would be no suffering nor pain. I can't think of loving a God who permits all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but he didn't respond because he did not want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barber shop, he saw a man in the street with long hair and a beard. It was very long, and a long time since he had his hair cut. He looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber, "You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say they don't exist?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here and I am a barber. Why I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist, because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who is outside."
"Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God does exist. What happens is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
IRAQ -- VERY INTERESTING!
Author unknown ~ Contributed by Elsie Wertz & Annamarie Kresge, both of Virginia
Just in case you might think of Iraq as "only" an oil rich nation, ruled by an evil dictator for 30 years, whether it has been supporting terrorists or may not be very important, here are a few important facts regarding the important history and roles that this nation has played down through history.
No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated it than Iraq.
DID YOU KNOW?
1. The garden of Eden was in Iraq. (It sure doesn't look much like Paradise on earth today, thanks to Saddam.)
2. Mesopotamia which is now Iraq was the cradle of civilization!
3. Noah built the ark in Iraq.
4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.
5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!
6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor which is in Iraq.
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.
8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.
9. Assyria which is in Iraq conquered the ten tribes of Israel.
10. Amos cried out in Iraq!
11. Babylon which is in Iraq destroyed Jerusalem.
12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq!
13. The 3 Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (That's good news to know that JESUS has been in Iraq too as the 4th person in the fiery furnace!)
14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq. (which hopefully Saddam will too!)
15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.
17. The wise men were from Iraq. (Where are the "wise" men today?)
18. Peter preached in Iraq.
19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon which was a city in Iraq!
Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots. Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible. Here's why.
* Eden was in Iraq - Genesis 2:10-14
* Adam & Eve were created in Iraq - Genesis 2:7-8
* Satan made his first recorded appearance in Iraq - Genesis 3:1-6
* Nimrod established Babylon & Tower of Babel was built in Iraq - Genesis 10:8-9 & 11:1-4
* The confusion of the languages took place in Iraq - Genesis 11:5-11
* Abraham came from a city in Iraq - Genesis 11:31 & Acts 7:2-4
* Isaac's bride came from Iraq - Genesis 24:3-4 & 10
* Jacob spent 20 years in Iraq - Genesis 27:42-45 & 31:38
* The first world Empire was in Iraq - Daniel 1:1-2 &2:36-38
* The greatest revival in history ! was in a city in Iraq - Jonah 3
* The events of the book of Esther took place in Iraq - Esther
* The book of Nahum was a prophecy against a city in Iraq - Nahum
* The book or Revelation has prophecies against Babylon, which was the old name for the nation of Iraq - Revelation 17-18
JUDGE GENTLY
Author unknown ~ Contributed by Barb Campbell of Mississippi
Pray don't find fault with the man who limps or stumbles along the road
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears, or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt, though hidden away from view,
Or the burden he bears...placed on your back, might cause you to stumble too.
Don't sneer at the man who's down today, unless you have felt the blow
That caused his fall or felt the shame that only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows that were his...if dealt to you,
In the selfsame way at the selfsame time might cause you to stagger too.
Don't be too harsh with the man who sins or pelt him with word or stone
Unless you are sure...yea doubly sure that you have no sins of your own...
For you know...perhaps if the tempters voice should whisper...as softly to you
As it did to him...when he went astray could cause you to falter too.
SLOW ME DOWN, LORD
Author Unknown ~ Contributed by Barb Campbell of Mississippi
Slow me down, Lord. Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music
Of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations of slowing down to look at a flower,
To chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of
Life's enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
EASTER EDITION COMING SOON
Ladies, I will be sending you an extra Easter edition soon, using information already sent in past Heart to Heart Newsletters.
I want to clarify that the mysterious e-mail everyone accidentally received over a week ago was not a virus. It concerned an address change from someone by the name of Pearl. Please note that any e-mails sent to me should go only to [email protected]. Never send any mail to [email protected], because it may go out to everyone on the list.
God bless each of you ladies!
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 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].
-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]