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Graduation Caps

This recipe went around e-mail (Thanks, Mr. Burr), and it is such a great idea that I just had to share! 

A Hearty Congratulations to all of you who have a graduate this year!  🙂

Graduation Caps

24 ServingsPrep/Total Time: 25 min.

Ingredients

24 miniature peanut butter cups
1 tube (6 ounces) decorating frosting in color of your choice
24 After Eight thin mints
24 milk chocolate M&M’s in color of your choice or 24 semisweet chocolate chips (I think that school colors would look awesome here!)

Directions
Remove paper liners from peanut butter cups; place upside down on waxed paper. Place a small amount of frosting on each peanut butter cup; center a mint on each. Using frosting, make a loop for each
cap’s tassel. Place an M&M on top of each loop.

Yield: 2 dozen.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 92 calories, 3 g fat (1 g saturated fat), trace cholesterol, 136 mg sodium, 15 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 1 g protein.

This post is linked to Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday.

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The "What", "Why", and "How" of Prayer (NDP 2010)

“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him” Nahum 1:7

This is the theme for today – the 2010 National Day of Prayer, and one of my favorite scripture verses!  In my personal life, I’ve clung to this verse many many times.  And as I look around my city, watch the news of other areas here and abroad, I’m thinking that this is a great verse for our entire country and world to cling to!  May the Lord show Himself mightily in the present and future to all who trust in Him!

Since it’s the National Day of Prayer, I wanted to share some basic facts about prayer… the What, the Why, and the How.  This info came from the wonderful National Day of Prayer website.  Check it out.  It’s full of truth, wisdom, and ways that we can undergird our lives, loved ones, and our country through prayer. 

May the Lord be good and a refuge to each one who trusts in Him!

~ ~ ~

Prayer has always been used in this country for guidance, protection and strength-even before we were a nation or a handful of colonies. The Pilgrims at Plymouth relied on prayer during their first and darkest winter. Our founding fathers also called for prayer during the Constitutional Congress. In their eyes, our recently created nation and freedoms were a direct gift from God. And being a gift from God, there was only one way to insure protection-through prayer.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

For true Christians, prayer [Gk: “proseuche”] is “communion with God”. Through prayer we actually experience relationship with God. The quality of our prayer life then determines the quality of our relationship with God.

Prayer is talking with God.

Prayer is listening to God.

Prayer is enjoying the presence of God.

It can take many forms – for example: worship, confession, thanksgiving, praise, petition (asking for things), waiting (silent, listening and sensing of God) and warfare (command). If we are baptized in the Spirit we can pray with the spirit, in languages unknown to us but not to God. (1 Corinthians 14:2,14). Prayer is not simply saying words. It is not repeating formulas. God is looking for heartfelt relationship.

WHY PRAY?

1. We pray because we love God. We spend time with God in prayer and communion because we love him. Just as a man and woman in love desire to be together and communicate, so we – if we love God – will desire to be with Him and to fellowship with Him in proportion to our love for Him.

2. We pray because we depend on God. God is our source. He is our life (Colossians 3:4). Through prayer we receive the comfort, the strength and all the other resources that we need in life – both naturally and spiritually. Prayer – relationship to God – is as necessary to the spiritual life as air to the natural life.

3. We need to pray in order to resist temptation. “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” (Mt. 26:41). Much sin is the result of the sin of prayerlessness. Through lack of prayer, we are weak, others are weaker and Satan gains the advantage in our lives.

4. We need to pray because it is necessary for men to invite God to act in salvation. God gave the earth to Adam and his descendants. We must invite God to work here. If no-one invites God to work here, Satan (the god of this world through man’s universal rebellion – 2 Corinthians 4:4) will dominate the affairs of men and eventually the judgment of God will come. By inviting God often and specifically, multitudes can be saved that would otherwise be lost.

5. We need to pray because God commands us to pray. “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2). “Then he [Jesus] spoke a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1). The need to pray is as great as the authority of God which commands us: “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is so vital to all that God wants to do on the earth, and so essential to us, that God commands us to do it all the time. We should even deny ourselves sleep and food at times in order to pray more and with greater power. (Matthew 6:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 21:36; Colossians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 11:27).

HOW TO BEGIN

If you are not sure how to pray, don’t despair! Everyone had to begin sometime. Just talk with God respectfully but openly. Talk with Him as your Father. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father …”. Recognize God as a loving Father. Recognize Jesus as a Friend and a Brother. Recognize the Holy Spirit as your Comforter and Guide.

Come to the Father in Jesus’ name (John 14:6; Hebrews 10:19). Begin your prayer with confession of your unconfessed sins. In this way the blood of Jesus cleanses us and prepares us to really relate to God. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving…” (Psalm 100:4).

Thank God for forgiving your sins, for coming into your life, for making you His child. Then just talk with God, asking Him for whatever you need. Thank Him and praise Him for His answer. Spend time also asking for His Spirit to help you to pray. Talk to the Holy Spirit. Tell Him you want to know Him. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us…” (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit will guide you into all the truth (John 16:13) and He will teach you to pray.

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"When some basic need is lacking…"

It is hard to know what to say these days in our area.  So many people we personally know, go to church with, go to school with, do ministry with, do life with… so many, many lives have been completly altered over the past 3-4 days.

We had a terrible storm with several days of rain. Homes and neighborhoods were flooding. People were being rescued. Then the rain stopped. And we all thought the worst part was over… Only to be completly surprised when places and people who thought they were safe began to be floodded. It is devestating. I don’t even know what to say… so maybe these pictures will help…

A nearby Christian school.  The pictures taken of this school are unbelievable… The scoreboard gives a perspective on how high the water is…

This is our Kohls… I know… it’s just a store – but I know those people that work there – and I know that merchandise… and I just hurt for businesses and people who have lost so much without any warning…

Our Target…
Our church.  This picture makes it look like it sits on a beautiful lake.  NOT!  This is actually a lower parking lot that has many steps descending into it.   

The Grand Ole Opry.  The beautiful and historical Opry House is under water. 

The incredible Opryland Hotel is under water… causing many jobs to be lost as well…

As a family, we are ready to do what we can to help who we can.  But there are so many more needs than my mind can even begin to comprehend.  I’ve prayed constantly for these dear people affected by this storm, alternating between prayers for their strength and prayers of deep gratitude that we were spared this heartache.  

I was asking the Lord for something to help put this into the perspective of His Truth, and He led me to the little book, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young.  Here is the entry on April 30 – the day before this tragedy struck our area.  It is a comfort to me as I watch and pray from the outside, and I pray that it will be a comfort to any who are in the midst of this (or any other) trial in life.

“When some basic need is lacking – time, energy, money – consider yourself blessed.  Your very lack is an opportunity to latch onto Me in unashamed dependence.  When you begin a day with inadequate resourses, you  must concentrate your efforts on the present moment.  This is where you were meant to live – in the present; it is the place where I always await you. 

Awareness of your inadequacy is a rich blessing, training you to rely wholeheartedly on Me.

 
The truth is that self-suffiency is a myth perpetuated by pride adn temporary success.  Health and wealth can disappear instantly, as can life itself.  Rejoice in your insufficiency, knowing that My power is made perfect in weakness.”

 
The Apostle Paul put it this way (and the Message words it freshly):

“At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”  2 Cor. 12:8-10

The Lord has used this present devestation to fuel my gratitude toward Him for everything He has, is, and will do for all of us.  I had been feeling a little down about our own situation until all of this happened, and am ashamed for the personal pouting I did last week.  I’m so thankful that the Lord understands our weak frames, and loves us beyond anything we can deserve!

I am praying for anyone who reads this – asking that the Lord infuse YOU with His Strength, His Presence, His JOY in the midst of your day, and His Provision for your every need!  He IS faithful… no matter what it looks like at the moment… He IS, HAS BEEN, and WILL ALWAYS BE faithful. 

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;” 
Lamentations 3:21-25 NIV

With love to you all…
Jennifer

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If you’ve got a few minutes, please pray for our area

If you’ve had the news on lately, no matter where you live in the US, I’m betting that you’ve seen pictures of the flooding in and around Nashville (and other parts of the South).  They say this is the worst flood we’ve seen in 70 years.  Churches were closed today, roads are closed, and schools are closed for Monday.  It’s kind of like a “snow day”, except snow days around here never flood people’s basements, homes, businesses, and roads.

We Walkers are well and dry, and are thanking the Lord for that.  But some of our friends’ homes and streets are flooding.  If you think about it, please pray for those in this area affected by this flood.  One news radio host is calling it “of Biblical Proportions”. 🙂  And in a way… it is… in that God will use this in each life it touches to do something in and through their lives for their eventual good and His great glory.   

My friend, Lisa Moody, posted some pictures on her FB page of a few places in our immeiate area.

This is the 2 lane road that connects a major road to lots of neighborhoods (including ours).  Everything to the left of the lanes is usually flat land.

This is our church’s lower parking lot.  There are usually LOTS of steps leading up from the lower parking lot to the upper one.  That little red thing in the far left is the top of a piece of playground equipment.  Here is another view:

This is the local fishing dock down the road from us.

Our children’s elementary school.

Near a friend’s house on the other side of Nashville.

A house not too far from here – we pass it on our way to get to the interstate.  I feel for these people!

This is a picture I copied from WSMV news.  Not sure where in Nashville this is – but isn’t it terrible? 

Stay dry, everyone… and thanks for praying…

Jennifer

EDITED on Monday to add this picture:

Because after every storm – whether of weather or of life, the sun will eventually shine again, and Joy will eventually come.  “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;”  Lamentations 3:21-25

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Urged on by faith…I had a temporary lapse in memory!

It’s been a busy, exciting, and emotional past couple of weeks as we’ve waited for and watched God work in and around our lives.  He has been SO good to us… and I have absolutely no reason to spiritually justify the string of recent meltdowns… excetp that I’ve had a temporary lapse in memory.

As we approach the end of this present season, unanswered questions and unresolved situations remain.  And I’ll admit, it’s drivien me a little crazy lately.  Somewhere in my trying to figure out just how God is going to work everything out, I forgot something.  I forgot that the Lord PROMISED us that HE would take care of us.  I forgot that He sent us the Milk, the Turkey, and the Flowers along with the promise that “God will supply all of your needs, on your knees.”  I forgot the phrase that has marked this entire journey: “Urged on by faith, he went… although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was going.”  I just plain forgot.

And because I forgot, my mind has been troubled.  I defaulted back to panic, tears, worry, and fear.  I could just kick myself right now! (But I’m uninsured… so I’ll wait another month before I do that!) ha ha! 🙂

As much as the Lord has shown Himself and His love to us over the past 10 months, I forgot that He would continue to lead us and feed us in the days to come.  I took my eyes off of Jesus, looked around in dismay, and I forgot to put them back onto Him for keeps.  I would glance up to Him, but I’d be quickly distracted by a sudden “need”.  I’ve spent the last several days focused on the needs rather than on the Supplier of all.

Honestly, I have nothing to complain about.  God has given us a call and a job.  He provided James a place to live until our house sells and the family can join him.  We’ll be living in a great town with precious people and serving in a wonderful church with an awesome staff.  I’m just getting impatient, and a little meloncholy because I don’t want our family to be seperated. 

“I, I, I, I, I!”  Yuck!  I’m sick of the whining and the “I’s”!  So yesterday, I asked the Lord to give me a Word from Him and some peace concerning our situation.  Just about as soon as I prayed that, a Twitter came through on my phone.  It was from Max Lucado, and this is what it said: 

“God’s ways are always right. They may not make sense to us. But they are right.”
Before my daddy died, he wanted us to know this same truth.  He told my mom to tell us: “Whatever happens is right, because God doesn’t make mistakes.”  It’s been one of the most comforting truths to remember.  So when I read that “word” from the Lord, what could I say, but “Yes, Lord. Of course Your ways are right and best! I’m so sorry for the grumbling and complaining and not trusting You!”  

Then I remembered.  I remembered that His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  I remembered that His plans for us are for our good and His glory – every time (Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11).  I remembered that He will never leave nor forsake us, assuredly not (Hebrews 13:5)!  I remembered the four keys He gave me to help escape the lock ups of panic and fear… and I acted on what I remembered.

I don’t know how He is going to do it.  I don’t know when He is going to do it.  But I do know that God is going to provide for our needs, sell this house, and put our family back together again.  And He will do it in a way that is good, and that will bring Him great glory through our lives.

Melanie Dorsey (Bella Mella) sent me today’s devotion from Rick Warren.  It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.  I wonder if anyone besides me is in the midst of a temporary lapse in memory… and needs to be reminded to keep trusting the Lord, urged on by faith….. If so, may He use this to bless you as He has blessed and strengthened me just this morning.

Surrender: Let Go and Let God Work
by Rick Warren

“Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him.”   Psalm 37:7 (GWT)

Surrendering your life means:

  • Following God’s lead without knowing where he’s sending you;
  • Waiting for God’s timing without knowing when it will come;
  • Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide;
  • Trusting God’s purpose without understanding the circumstances.

You know you’re surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God work. You don’t have to always be in charge. Instead of trying harder, you trust more….

The supreme example of self-surrender is Jesus. The night before his crucifixion Jesus surrendered himself to God’s plan. He prayed, “Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine” (Mark 14:36 NLT).

Jesus surrendered himself to God’s will. He prayed, “God, if it is in your best interest to remove this suffering, please do so. But if it fulfills your purpose, that’s what I want, too.”

Genuine surrender says, “Father, if this problem, pain, sickness, or circumstance is needed to fulfill your purpose and glory in my life or in another’s life, please don’t take it away!”

This level of maturity doesn’t come easy. In Jesus’ case, he agonized so much over God’s plan that he sweated drops of blood. Surrender is hard work. In our case, it requires intense warfare against our self-centered nature.

“Lord, please help me to remember… and to live Urged on by Faith…with my focus on You… for Your great glory!!! So be it, Lord!”

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