Friday, June 5, 2009

Least of These.

ha ha ha...thought I forgot didn't you...well I didn't! ha!

I just found out this week that I will be doing "In the Spotlight Fridays"...and because I have no clue about anything, I am not prepared to spotlight anyone in particular.
SOOOO I am going to spotlight a song.

Music is my life. If you had to tell me I could only bring one thing to a deserted island, I would choose my zune (it is like an ipod) full of music.

Growing up in church I lived for singing hymns on Sunday. I learned how to conduct music in my youth class and I would join the choir and even sing a duet or two (with lots and lots and lots of practice).

We all know the church I grew up in is not the same to the one I attend now....but the main subject is the same to me.... Christ Jesus our Savior and Redeemer.

This song was originally a poem. It talks about how this one person did good deeds throughout his life, and in the end Christ recognizes them.
It is long, but please read....


A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief

A poor wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not power to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.

Once, when my scanty meal was spread
,He entered; not a word he spake,
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel’s portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.

I spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff’rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipped and returned it running o’er;
I drank and never thirsted more.

’Twas night; the floods were out; it blew
A winter hurricane aloof.
I heard his voice abroad and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest
And laid him on my couch to rest;
Then made the earth my bed, and seemed
In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.

Stripped, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.

In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”

Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in His hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name He named,
“Of Me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto Me.”

James Montgomery

Now I spotlight this poem/song because of Pastors message on Wednesday night. He spoke to us and encouraged us to become servants to each other and to the church...and all I kept thinking about was this song...and how the little things we do for each other is what our memorial will be.
Did we lift each other up in times of need?
Did we give without expecting anything in return?
Did we search daily for a act of kindness to perform?

Any time I feel "forced" or feel like I have to do something and I find myself doing it withOUT a glad heart, I have to remind myself....

Matt 25: 30-40

30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Blessings

Before I start this blog I want to give God the glory and I want to thank Him for all that He has done in my life and for what He is going to continue doing.
My topic for today is on blessings,which I have blessed to do.I pray that I will be able to write something that is going to bless someone.Having Rev.Decote this past weekend for revival was such a blessing to me and my family and I'm pretty sure to all of you too.You see on Friday morning while Bro. Joe(my husband) was cutting the grass at church I waited for him in the truck so I started praying and looking around at all the things the Lord has blessed me with,the beautiful blue skies,green grass,the birds,my family,my friends,I just went on thinking of all that I could think of that Jesus had blessed me with,then I got to "me"
I started thanking Him for my sight,I thanked Him because I am able to walk,talk,feel,taste,hear,all of these good things.Then I started looking in the rear-view mirror,I started looking down on myself,not feeling good about me.I tried taking every thought into captivity like the word of God says.I felt so bad and I asked the Lord,"Lord,how do you see me?""What do you think about me?"
I cried,I bald that morning,no one knew how I was feeling only Jesus and I needed to hear from God.Well that night Rev.Decote was preaching on How we should see ourselves
the way God sees us,how He loves us.How we are the apple of His eyes.That made me cry,it blessed me because hear Friday morning I had asked Him how He saw me cause I was looking down on myself and then Friday night He's letting me know that I am the apple of His eyes and how He loves me.
For God to have answered me the very same day,you know that we are a very blessed people.We are blessed because we serve a God that cares and loves His people,no natter how we act,no matter what we do,no matter what we think.He is merciful and to me that is a blessing.God is so good and He deserves the glory and honor.
Sis.Julie

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

In the Kitchen

I hope that I can help you all get some good, fast and easy recipes for your kitchen, especially Mexican food.

First, I want to thank God for all the blessing he has given to my family and I. Even though our income has decreased since last year, God has provided our needs and I trust that he will continue to provide our need until my husband can return to work.

I would like to say that I was almost forced to doing this by someone we all love and respect and you all know who that is.

At work, all the ladies ask me if I cook real food all the time and I tell them "yes, are you kidding me I have 3 children and a husband to feed." I can't afford to go out as much. I make flour tortillas all the time because I don't like the store bought kind. I enjoy cooking food that I know my family will like.

I have this recipe that you ladies might enjoy. It would be a good activity for a girls' sleep over because I know most girls enjoy baking cookies. My sister calls these Mexican Wedding Cookies.

Ingredients:
6 cups of flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon of aniz tea
3 cups of Crisco butter flavor shortening - 1 tablespoon
1 egg

To make the tea, bring water to a boil, then add approx 1 tsp of dry aniz. Continue boiling for 3 minutes.

In bowl mix flour, sugar and tea. Add the shortening and mix with your fingers. Add the egg.

Roll out dough 1/2 inch thick and cut with cookie cutters. I got some small ones from Hobby Lobby. They are 6 different shapes in the box, I believe they are made by Wilson. They have a heart, bell, clover, flower, butterfly, and a wavy heart.
If the dough becomes dry you may add another egg.

Bake at 350 for 13 minutes.
Let cool for 10-15 minutes.
In seperate bowl mix sugar and powder cinnamon. Dip cookies in bowl with sugar and cinnamon.

Bet you can't eat just one.

Makes approx. 8-10 dozens.

Hope you all try and make them some day. If you do, feel free to call me if you have any questions.

Until next time. May God bless all of you.

Nydia

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

What Not To Do In the Storm

Don’t forget His Presence!
Don’t forget His Promise!
Don’t forget His Power!

In Mark 8:35-41, Jesus and His disciples were in a ship and He told them to “Let us pass over to the other side”. Jesus fell asleep in the “hinder part of the ship”. A storm came up and began to toss the ship about. The disciples were very fearful and woke Jesus up saying, “Carest thou not that we perish?”

Jesus immediately awoke, rebuked the sea saying, “Peace, be still”, and there was a calm. In the midst of the storm the disciples forgot His presence; that His just being there is enough. They forgot His promise to get them to the other side and they forgot His power to take care of them.

Life sometimes can throw us a curve and we can find ourselves in the midst of a storm. The winds of frustration are blowing. You have fought wave after wave until you are totally soaked and you can barely stand. And, yes, here comes another wave! The boat is tossing from side to side and the lightening is flashing across the sky! It seems like the thunder of His silence comes to us and we almost give up. With every clasp of thunder you hear, “You’re too old or too young, too weak, not smart enough and Jesus doesn’t hear you”. “He will not answer your prayers and you’re not going to make it.”

But in all our doubts and fears and disarray we pick ourselves up and blindly make our way to the bow of the ship. Maybe Jesus is still on board; maybe He can still help me. Yes, there He is! I can barely see Him. But wait, I can feel His presence! As I make my way to Him I remember His promise to take me to the other side. As He holds out His arms of love to me I run, yes, run, into them and He holds me like no one else can.

Have you ever been in a place like this? Maybe not but if you ever find yourself here don’t forget His presence. He may be silent like the teacher giving the test but it doesn’t matter, He is still there. Don’t forget His promise to take care of you. It doesn’t matter the circumstances, He will take care of you. And last, but not least, don’t forget His power to step on board your ship of life and speak calm to your storm.

Please allow me to reiterate what NOT to do in the storm.

Don’t forget His Presence!
Don’t forget His Promise!
Don’t forget His Power!

Until next time,
Sis. Dorothy

Monday, June 1, 2009

Good afternoon ladies. This is my first time to ever blog so please bare with me. Hopefully I will get better as this month goes on.

Today I want to talk about how important Family is. I love being around Family all the time, wether it be my Family, church Family, or friends that are just like Family. I believe you should have at least 1 night a week for Family night. We need to learn to take time out of our very busy fast paste lifes to make sure our Family knows we still have time for them. As most of you know I am a single mom of a wonderful 4 year son named Caden. He brings so much joy to my life. Even though it is just the 2 of us we are surrounded by lots of Family that loves us. I have the most wonderful church family that is always there for me and my son and I couldn't ask for a better church family. My pastor and his Family are very awesome and the greatest. (love ya'll)I have wonderful parents who I thank God for raising me in a Godly home.

It is not always easy being a single parent, but with God on my side he makes it easier. I make sure I spend some time with Caden every evening and let him know how much he means to me. If you are a parent it is very important to tell your children that you love them and take time out for them when they are young. It is so easy to let life pass us by and we are looking back wondering where time went. One day we are holding our child in our arms and the next they are starting thier first day of school. Cherish every moment you have with your children. If we don't take time out for our children and express out love to them, then they will go looking for it somewhere else. Let the love of God be in your home and in you.

I hope this helps someone out and I know it is short, but agfain this is my first time. Until next Monday may God bless my sisters in the lord.

Sis. Krisha

The Month of June

Hello, All,

We are beginning our second month of blogging...Yeah!!!!!

As Sis. Krisha said, Mondays belong to her. I'm so excited to read the posts.

This month:

Monday: Home and Family...Sis. Krisha
Tuesday: Devotional...Sis. Dorothy
Wednesday: In the Kitchen...Sis. Nydia
Thursday: "Blessings...How to Bless Others"...Sis. Julie
Friday: "In the Spotlight....

No name on Friday because we still need a blogger. Anyone want to volunteer? Even if you did it last month, we need you!

However, to start the morning off, how about if we all comment on our favorite revival moment? I am in awe of what God did this last weekend.

Can't wait to read Sis. Krisha's post. Love you all!

Sis. D.
Mondays for the month of June belong to Sis. Krisha and she will not be able to post until this afternoon, so check back this afternoon to see what she has to say.

Until later.......