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Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued is always just beyond your grasp, but if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you. -Nathaniel Hawthorne 

Porch Lemonade

recipe by Claire Robinson

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup chopped strawberries
  • 1/4 cup agave syrup or honey
  • 2 tablespoons mint leaves
  • 1 cup lemon juice
  • 2 cups seltzer
  • Ice

Directions

In a tall glass or shaker, combine the strawberries, syrup and mint leaves. Mash with a muddler or a ladle. Add the lemon juice and seltzer and pour over ice-filled glasses. Serve immediately.

Yesterday's days post was a reminder to SLOW DOWN.  If you missed it check out Before the Song is Over.

Pictured above:  Hallie had received a butterfly kit in the mail from her grandpa.  She and Rylie had the best time watching the butterflies hatch.  She wanted to catch one shortly after the release while the butterflies were flying around us. I doubted that would happen, but she just sat down, picked up an orange slice and waited.  In time, a butterfly landed and paused before flying away.

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Let someone cut in line.

Slow down.

Call an old friend.

Pray for your parents.

Slow down.

Smile at someone.

Compliment your husband.

Hold the door open for someone.

Slow down.

Make dessert.

Hug your children extra tight.

Walk outside and listen for God.

Ignore your impulse to feel rage toward that bad driver.

Slow down.

Listen to what your daughter is saying.

Let your son make a mess in the kitchen.

Allow tears.

Read a good book.

Leave a note on your husband's pillow.

Slow down.

Think about the lyrics to your favorite song.

Let that kid sit in your lap.

Pick a flower.

Visit a local landmark.

Laugh at your teenager's joke.

Have a picnic.

Hold someone's hand.

Slow Down.

Sing, even if it's off key

Because before you know it, the song is over.

I remind myself daily to slow down; to allow time for love to take place.  Sometimes I don't listen.  God has given me children who walk in the rhythm of a slow dance. May I learn from them.

Picture above:  Hallie set up her own gig one summer day on our front porch.  The sign says "25 cents to sing"!

Below is a cute song from the movie Ramona and Beezus which I highly recommend.  If your phone won't give you access, the song is "everybody" by Ingrid Michaelson.  Type in the song and artist in the search box on youtube.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK4716YEiAQ

 

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I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education.  According to degree requirements, you had to have two areas of specialization.  I love reading, so specializing in Reading was a no brainer.  My other choice was made with more creative thought.  Math was not my subject and I already had several Biology courses under my belt.  Biology seemed to be the easiest and most convenient route.  It's amazing how much you forget, but interesting the things you remember.  I still remember that Scrophulariaceae is the scientific family name for the common foxglove flower. When you least expect it, some seemingly useless piece of information like this pops into your head.

You may not have ever heard or cared about the scientific name for the foxglove, but I'm pretty sure you have heard of scavengers and parasites.  You have surely witnessed scavengers feeding off of dead organisms. It's also likely you've dealt parasites; organisms which have a self-beneficial relationship with a host which is entirely different (for example a flea on your furry friend).  Before I bore you to tears, I'll try to explain where I'm going with this. Oddly, I found some similarity between simple organism and inter-human relationships.

Parasites, as we know, are organisms that thrive by taking advantage of a host.  The parasite often grows, feeds or finds shelter from the other organism, often causing  it harm. The cute bird perched on the giraffe's neck in the picture above looks to be a pal.  The bird grooms the giraffe by ridding him of a hundred or more ticks, plus thousands of tick larvae daily. Surprisingly, in addition to the tick being a parasite, the bird is also said to be parasitic in relationship to the giraffe.  The bird, once it removes the ticks, feeds on the giraffe's blood and is also known to peck at the sight causing wounds.

Do you know people who suck the joy right out of you leaving you deflated or even wounded?

Often unintentionally, a critical spirit will search out a joyous host and attempt to sap the joy and then peck on the fresh wound. 

  This is often done with the misconception that sapping someone else's joy will increase your own, but it doesn't work that way.

Don't be a joy sapper!

Let's talk about scavengers.  We don't possibly know anyone who feasts on carnage, do we?  I've seen my share of buzzards and shudder at the thought of resembling one.  Scavengers feed off of their dead host to get energy and nourishment.

Does a nonliving host exist with humans?

If so, do we expect this host to sustain our life?  Hmmm.  Anybody want to talk about money?  Or maybe a new shirt or cute new pair of shoes?  There's nothing like entertainment to sustain me. "There's that movie I've been dying to see."  "If we could just fix the floors and get new countertops".  Why are we seemingly dependent on that which has no life.  Why do we feed on substance incapable of giving us life?

 Material possessions are often a life-filling substitution, but don't really foster growth, development or joy.

 

I find myself giddy when something random relates to who God is and what he does.  Honestly, it's probably not as random as I believe;

For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made...

-Romans 1:20.

Even the imperfect things, such as parasites which do not seemingly reflect his glory- point us to Him.  He planned it all out perfectly.

So... ending on a brighter note, I have learned of a new type of symbiosis, or organism association.  I don't remember ever hearing the term before.

 Commensalism is a type of association between organisms where one organism benefits- leaving the other not harmed, but also not in need of it's host.  What got me excited in reading about this type of symbiosis is that the word made up of com and mensa  means "sharing a table".   One example would be barnacles which have access to nutrients in the water by fastening themselves to whales; dinner and a free cruise.

 I also read that in the Arctic tundra, caribous hunt by digging for lichen plants in the snow.  The Arctic fox follows the caribou, finding its underground prey which has been surfaced thanks to the caribou; a sort of perpetual "lunch is on me" relationship.  I don't remember learning about commensalism in Biology.  It reminds me of our relationship with God; so off balance with benefit to us. While he doesn't need us, he stoops down in order to be in relationship with us!

 He "shares a table" with us.

  This fact blows me away.  Hopefully God receives glory from me in the way that I live, but you know what?  If neither I, nor any person,  lived to bring him glory, "the rocks would cry out" (in his name) Luke 19:40.  He doesn't need us.  The whale and caribou are unintentionally beneficial. The bird and other parasites harm their hosts.  Scavengers have no relationship, but only feed on death. God has created us with the purpose of being in a loving, living relationship with us.  He enjoys us!

The imperfection that flaws my every earthly relationship, does not exist in my relationship with God; thanks be to Christ who makes this possible.

I am imperfect and can add nothing to the table in which God and I share.  The life I have so graciously been given is only sustained at his table.

.....love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.  For the LORD is your life....-Deuteronomy 30:20 

Picture above taken at Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve in Kenya.

 

 

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Do the happy dance.  GG's is this Sunday!

5/27 @3:30- FBC Edu 102

Theme:Loving People, Loving God

Things to do this Summer

We'll be making a surprise craft.

Devotion:A World of Neighbors

See you there!!!

To get you in the groove- A new discovered song that I love-

This is the Stuff by Francesca Battisteli

Mess or blessed?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe4SckesWLE&ob=av2e

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You could spend an entire day reading verses with mention of bread.  In an on-line concordance I quickly tired after seeing that the word bread occurs sixty times before the book of Leviticus. Below, I've copied some great verses which reference bread.  Read below or open up your bible but I warn you, reading the word bread so many times can make a girl hungry. While you're at it, I suggest you whip up some of the Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings made with Mountain Dew. They'll be your reading companion.  Your family will love them too. We had them for dessert just this week.  I've made this over the years and this is a delectable dessert I'll never tire of.  Here's the recipe:

www.thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/02/apple_dumplings/

Bible Verses-Bread

PSALM 132
15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with BREAD

ECCLESIASTES 11
1 Cast thy BREAD upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days

MATTHEW 4
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made BREAD.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by BREAD alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God

MATTHEW 6
11 Give us this day our daily BREAD.

MATTHEW 26
17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened BREAD the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took BREAD, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

JOHN 6
5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy BREAD, that these may eat?
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of BREAD is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat BREAD, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them BREAD from heaven to eat.
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that BREAD from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true BREAD from heaven.
33 For the BREAD of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this BREAD.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the BREAD of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the BREAD which came down from heaven.
48 I am that BREAD of life.
50 This is the BREAD which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living BREAD which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this BREAD, he shall live for ever: and the BREAD that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
58 This is that BREAD which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this BREAD shall live for ever.

JOHN 21
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and BREAD.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh BREAD, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

ACTS 2
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of BREAD, and in prayers.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking BREAD from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart

ACTS 27
35 And when he had thus spoken, he took BREAD, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat

1 CORINTHIANS 5
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened BREAD of sincerity and truth

 

I pray that my hunger for the bread that comes from above will be ever-increasing.  The bread of God (and living water) is the only thing I know that can simultaneously satisfy and leave you wanting for more.

 

 

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In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven

You gave them your good Spirit to instruct them.  You did not withhold your manna from their mouths...

Nehemiah 9:15,20a

I like bread.  No, correction; I love bread.  But it has to be fresh.  I love it when it comes right out of the oven almost too hot to touch. When we eat out at those restaurants that generously keep the basket full of warm rolls; it’s my main course.  When Jason and I were in college, there was a Mexican restaurant (maybe Ruby Tequila’s?) that had hot tortillas that would travel around a conveyor belt in glorious orbit.  Just the thought of them makes my mouth water.  At home, when it comes to a loaf of Mrs. Bairds, I skip the heel and go straight for the soft piece behind it.  I’ve even been known to banish the last few pieces when they become the least bit stale.  I can feed those pieces to the ducks right?

Thoughts of luscious loaves and butter slathered tortillas remind me of the days when Moses and the Israelites were in the desert.  The Israelites were grumbling about hunger (Exodus 16:2) though God had provided their every need.  He had just parted the Red Sea for them for crying out loud. Further down in chapter sixteen, Moses has instructed the Israelites to gather their share of the quail and manna that God has rained down from heaven.  I was encouraged to learn that the Lord doesn't like leftovers (in verse 19 he has Moses tell the people not to keep leftovers until the morning). God sends a fresh daily supply.  Those who were attempting to consume day old bread awoke to an unpleasant surprise of bread with maggots and a stench.

In the Bible, bread is compared to the Word of God. -For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. John 6:33. We, the treasured people of God have been given daily bread from Him too.  Though given to us thousands of years ago, the Word of God does not expire or go stale.  The word of God is living and active.  Made fresh through the spirit we have his word waiting to be feasted upon every day.  No need for freezing as it is always available.

We need a steady diet just as God provided for the Israelites. Our bodies would not benefit from eating one or two huge meals per week and so it is with the word.  I imagine those who tried to stockpile the manna; it didn’t work out too well for them. I know I have been guilty of doing all five days of my Bible Study in one day.

Squirreling away or in some cases procrastinating when it comes to our study and quiet time, won’t cause us to have a stench like the kept manna.  But in failing to give proper attention to my spiritual needs will I give off the sweet fragrance of life?  “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him”-2 Corinthians 3:14.

Are you malnourished when it comes to being fed by the word?  I have memory of awful tasting cafeteria food in my elementary school days.  I'm completely serious in telling you that most days I took only the piece of bread off of my tray.  I folded it in half and took a couple of bites, often two bites, so that when the bread was unfolded, I had a bread mask (how did I not ever get in trouble for that?). The point is, two bites of bread left me starving.  Don't I do the same when I skimp on my private time with God?  No wonder I often find myself exhausted and irritable.

Neglecting and even cramming our God time certainly doesn't bring about the desired growth God intends.   Unlike the quickly expiring bread in our pantry and the day old manna, God's word and his Spirit stays fresh; always speaking a new and pertinent message to us. The Hebrew word for manna translates into "What is it?". May we not find ourselves so unfamiliar with the daily bread God has given us.

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Whatever is true

Whatever is right

Whatever is noble

Whatever is pure

Whatever is lovely

Whatever is admirable

-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things

 Whatever you have learned from me, or seen in me-put into practice.  And the God of all peace will be you -Philippians 4:8-9

Philippians is my favorite book in the Bible. I love these verses,.  God is lovely and he is truth; through Him comes all that is good. Make him your focus.  I have great joy and peace in knowing God has filled the world with himself.  Look for truth and nobility- that which is right, pure and lovely; things that are admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Behold the beauty of God; He is all around you!

About the pictures:

1-My second favorite church in Trinity

2.Hallie has been our little proselitizer.  She has given out hand-made tracts at the movies and at church.  This was a message of salvation she put in the mailbox  for "any delivery guy"

3.This is a picture I took at my nieces wedding. .I was so touched that they prayed right before the ceremony.

4.I took this picture of Rylie on one of Sabbath Saturdays at Sam Houston State Park.

5.This is a picture I took of Jason and I on our fifteenth anniversary in Galveston.

6.Hayden had the awesome opportunity to go to Kenya for his thirteenth birthday.

We built a playground for one hundred orphan girls.

7. Jason looks like he's thinking in this picture also taken on out fifteenth anniversary.

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My last post was a reminder that our children do notice.  They notice what we say. They notice what we do.  They even notice what we don't do.  (Hayden commented yesterday they we don't pray enough together -ouch.).  Today it sounds as if I'm telling you the opposite.  Today I'm saying that even though our children know our habits, we don't always see them practice what we practice or what we preach.  Sadly they seem to mimic the very things we wish they wouldn't.

 

As soon as I finished the Mini Me post, I remembered a sweet picture that Hallie drew for me several years ago.  Thankfully I found it with a few minutes of searching.  The picture is a treasure-To Mom From your Mini Me.  Those of you who know Hallie, know that she has always been a distinct individual;seemingly unimpressionable.  She has always had a strong sense of who she is up until recently.  Now in Middle School there are so many voices calling out to her.  Voices suggesting what activities she should participate in, what music she should listen to, the best shows to watch on TV.  She sees that she is supposed to bunch up the corner of her shirt with a rubber band making a tail.   Those shoes she found detestable last August are suddenly cute.  I am right beside her, but outside influences design her current world..

This picture is simple; Hallie and I standing, all smiles at the end of the rainbow.  A rainbow has forever served as a reminder of God's promise.  I did a parenting Bible Study called Value-Packed Parenting by Kevin Lehman.  The most important thing I remember from the study was the analogy made using a suitcase.  He compared all of the values that we instill in our children as items being placed in a suitcase.  Our children don't necessarily always hold dear those values while at home.  It is when they leave home that they often unpack those values. A rainbow signifies a journey.   While I would like to see Hallie and the other two applying values here and now, I need not lose heart when it seems the things we've taught them are now little more than a buzz in the ear.   We have them in our care for eighteen years.  We need to remember that it takes longer than we'd like- to teach them some things.

Start children off on the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it. -Proverbs 22:6  Did you catch the "when they are old" part?  Hang in there mom and dad.  God's word also says, " For I know the plans I have for you"' declares the Lord, " plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."'  -Jeremiah 29:11   Though our children sometimes seem to listen to everybody but us, God has plans.  Her peers may color who she is now, but Jason and I are with her for the journey.  We get to be there when those long ago spoken truths begin to inform and transform. But we must also be faithful to pray for our children.

.Those of you familiar with the late seventies or Kermit the Frog may remember the song The Rainbow Connection.  The lyrics are hard to follow, but I like the last stanza. It sounds to me as if the voice comes straight from the soul of a child.

... Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name. ... Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors? The voice might be one and the same I've heard it too many times to ignore it It's something that I'm s'posed to be... Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

Hold tight.  Pray.  Teach them. Be that still quiet voice that has been heard too many times to ignore; the voice that helps show them who they are supposed to be.  In the picture, at the end of the rainbow, it's my hand that Hallie is holding.  The colors that now capture our children's attention will be like a rainbow that suddenly evaporates.  When the rainbow fades, our voice and values will remain.  We will see those plans the Lord had for our children coming to fruition.  I am secure in their future and thankful for the promise. Trust and see beauty in the journey!

 

 

 

 

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Confession:  I have an unhealthy affection for Dr. Pepper.  I drink way too many.  I’ve tried to stop drinking so many; numerous times.  I’ve tried the lesser calorie version, Dr. Pepper 10, which people have told me is man’s Dr. Pepper; whatever.  I’ve tried cutting back.  Probably least effective, I’ve quit cold turkey, for like two days.  Moving on we’ll get to the real point; this problem is for a different post.  But seriously, pray for me.

This past December I was a part of the Tour of Homes sponsored by our church.  I agreed to decorate my home for the sake of fundraising for missions with the help of my dear friends Larry and Carol Hathaway.  For several weeks, they graciously brought decorations from their home as the extent of my decorating is putting up stockings and a tree.

I’ve always said you know a person better after spending time in their home.   One day after seeing me open the second Dr. Pepper can by lunch, Larry asked me if I was addicted.  I acknowledged without hesitation that I might have a slight problem.  The next question was a bit harder to answer.  Larry asked, “Do your kids drink sodas like that too?”  After thinking a moment I shook my head no.  The same afternoon I brought Rylie home from Kindergarten.  Hayden and Hallie get out thirty minutes later.   Most afternoons, Rylie and I get a little snack as we like to celebrate our “just us” time together.  With Carol and Larry wrapping up the days decorating, Rylie walks in the front door.  She walks straight to the refrigerator and pulls out a…….. (You got it) Dr. Pepper.  To make matters worse, she taps the top of the can twice like some junkie while I’m thinking 1. Not in front of Larry 2.Do I do the tapping thing?  Larry looks at me and without a word says “mmm hmmmm”.

First, you have to know that I don’t allow the kids to break out a Dr. Pepper any time they want.  They can have one a day which I know many of you will think is unhealthy; I can understand that viewpoint completely. Lucky for me, I have the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group on my side.   Formulators of the recipe of Dr. Pepper recipe have insisted that it is medicinal in nature and aids in digestion.   Sincerely speaking, I’m not worried so much about my kids having a soda.  This can-tapping moment however did get me to thinking.

Do I flippantly and mindlessly lead my kids?  I would never pretend to be perfect in front of them or anybody else, but that’s not what I mean.  Possibly the deeper question is, am I truly the example I need to be?  I know that my kids see what I watch on TV.  They also hear me growl and gripe when someone dares to drive too slow in front of me.  They have witnessed me act like all is lost when supper turns out a flop.  They have suffered me losing it when their rooms are atrocious.  Does this put me on the Worst Mother of the Year list?  Certainly not.  But in thinking on all these things my children see, I’m wondering; are they seeing in me- a desire for and dependence on God?  I found a couple of convicting quotes I’d like to share.

 

What the daughter does, the mother did. –Jewish Proverb

And mothers are their daughters’ role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships. –Victoria Secunda

Another frightening thought is that our boys may look to us as the measure of what a woman should be as he looks to a future marriage.

I don’t know about you, but when I have somebody else’s child in my care, I seem to be a little more attentive.  I drive a little more carefully.  I try to feed them well.  I am intentional in providing a safe nurturing and wholesome place.  My children are mine only on gracious loan.  I know they look somewhat like Jason and I.  I see certain facial expressions in them and see Jason.  I hear phrases that are echoes from my own voice.  Mini me.  Mini Jason.  And while this brings about a certain pride, it again brings about the question:  Do I want them to be like me?  Should I be mirroring Jesus more closely?   I want my children to be able to see Jesus in me.  I want to be the example.  I told you how I love Dr. Pepper; can’t get enough.  No Diet or Dr. Pepper 10; I want no lesser version.  I pray in all earnesty that I would hold for my life the same mark.  If my children are to be my mini me, I want more of Jesus. I have to know I can’t get enough.  I need to remember I want no lesser version.  I don’t want a “Sunday Jesus” or a “help me when I’m in a bind” Jesus.  More important than what my children are watching me do, is maybe WHO I'M WATCHING..

To you , O LORD, I lift up my soul……Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths….My eyes are ever on the LORD…..    Psalm 25:1, 4, 15

The meaning of the word Christian is “little Christ”.

May I look to you and listen for your voice with a steadfast devotion that would bit by bit transform me into a mini you!

Couldn' resist putting this one.  Don't know who looks like who.

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While I'm on a celebratory roll I thought I'd add two other fun items we use at home for  special moments.

I don't feel the need to break out the fine china very often, but this celebrate glass has been a special treat for birthdays.  I got this on Boston Ave. at Occasions.  We would be using it tonight if we weren't going out this evening to celebrate.  -No birthdays but someone redeemed themself this week by making a very much needed eighty-eight on an important test.

I might as well keep this party banner hanging right where it is.  In the last month I've used it for Jason's birthday, my Spring Retreat peeps and for some of our God's Girlies who met here on a Saturday.  I know all of you out there could probably make one of these.  I, on the other hand, am not crafty. I work with hot glue, spray paint and sharpies only- which I believe can fix everything in life that chocolate can't.

With all of the pomp and circumstance I always have to remind the kids and myself  that all victories belong to God; each success  is a gracious gift.

Ascribe to the LORD glory....Psalm 29:1

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