Happy Friday, everyone! Hope this day is a good one. I’m having a little bit of writer’s block this week so I don’t know how good this blog will be.
I was going to continue with the history of how we got the bible and give you some more information on it but I just don’t feel that this week.
How do you get through a frustrating time in your life? As you all know, I’m looking for a job and have been since January. I didn’t think I would be in this place again in my life but here I am. So, I’ll ask the question again…How do you get through a frustrating time in your life?
I have always loved the story of King David. I have lots of favorite people in the bible and King David is one of them. In I Samuel 30, the bible says he “Encouraged himself in the Lord.” He had just gone through a rough time when the Amalekites had invaded Ziklag and burned it with fire. His wives, sons and daughters had all been taken captive. Now, I’ve never gone through anything like that and I’ve never experienced that kind of frustration but I can relate to the fact that David had to encourage himself. There was no one around him to encourage him. Not that my life is like that. I have a lot of people in my life, including all my sisters in the church, which encourage me. I believe that when David encouraged himself that day, though, he was remembering all the times when he was young, out in the desert tending his father’s sheep, that he communed with God and he knew that God was with him.
I believe that one way David encouraged himself was through music. That’s kind of the way I am. I love gospel music because it speaks to the soul and it lets people know that there is hope and that hope is Jesus Christ. I’m not saying that the Word of God does not do that but we all know that people don’t always listen to words. Whereas, a song and a melody can stick with you, if you know what I mean.
I admire people who write beautiful songs (I wish I had that gift) and one in particular comes to mind is “For Every Mountain” by Kurt Carr. I know most, if not all, have heard this song but the words are:
I've got so much to thank God for
So many blessings and so many open doors
A brand new mercy
Along with each new day
That's why I praise You
For this I give you praise
Chorus
For waking me up this morning
That's why I praise You
For starting me on my way
That's why I praise You
For letting me see the sunlight of a brand new day
A brand new mercy along with each new day
That's why I praise You
For this I give You praise
For every mountain You brought me over
For every trial you've seen me through
For every blessing
Hallelujah for this I give you praise
I don’t know the story behind this song but from the lyrics I would say that Kurt Carr went through some very discouraging times. This song is an inspiration to me because it reminds me that no matter what mountain I have to climb I know that He is there to see me through.
So, I’m encouraging myself in the Lord because, “I’ve got so much to thank God for…”….
This is probably the shortest blog I’ve ever written so enjoy. Can’t promise that next week will be short…You just never know what I might come up with….!
Until next time, love you guys,
Kimmie
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Edification
It's Thursday.....
I get so excited about Thursdays during the summer because I have Friday off. So, it's Thursday but really Friday of the workweek! Yeah!
Thank you ladies for the most wonderful birthday ever. I absolutely love my purse. For those of you who know me well, you know that purses and perfume are my favorite things in life. My new purse is so beautiful and will be a treasure for many, many years. I can just imagine the experiences that it will go through with me. Times of refreshing, conferences, great services, weddings, just overall the path of life. And....the special thing about it is we will walk that journey together. Ever stop to think what it will be like in 5 years, 10 years, 15 years at Grand Prairie UPC? What kiddo in children's church do you think will be directing the choir in 15 years? Who do you think will be driving the bus? Who will be the church secretary? In 10 years, which of our young men will be seeking opportunities to preach in order to develop their ministry? Think any of our kiddos will head to the mission field? How will our ministries develop in the next 15 years? See today is not just for today's sake but just another stone in the foundation of the church in Grand Prairie that we are laying for our community. What we do matters in the kingdom.
One of our callings is to edify each other. What's edification? Edification means to build each other up so that He may become greater within us. Acts 9:31 NKJV says "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." This is my desire...that we have peace and unity and are able to put our selves aside in our to build each other up. Notice that when the Acts church did this, they had the comfort of the Holy Ghost and multiplied. We are in revival and that's because we are in a time of unity and daily seeking God's presence in our life.
In Ephesians 4:29 NKJV it says "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Wow! I love this scripture. Our words should be for edification so that hearer can receive grace. Do your words with each other bring grace or do they bring anger or condemnation? Communication is so casual with so many venues such as twitter, texting, email, cell phones, etc. However, all communication has an effect. Can we measure our words to see what result they are having?
I remember when Ellerie was really small. I was very, very frustrated with a young lady that was really just throwing her life away. I was talking to my husband and in my southern way said, "Oh, I'm so upset with her. I could just kill her for what she's done." Ellerie started crying and in her little 3-year old voice said, "Mommy, don't kill her. I like a lot of things about her." Wow! What a lesson to me as a mom in so many ways. We are called to find the good things in each other and build those up so that grace may abound and the undesirable things can be placed under the control of the Master.
One of the things that I have enjoyed doing through the years with Sunday School classes, youth groups, ladies, etc is called positive bombing. In positive bombing, someone sits in a chair with their back to the group. Everyone else in the group then begins to say things or "bomb" them with all of the things they like about the person in the chair. Truly, it is easier to say nice things about some people than others. But I remember a time when there was a very difficult young man in the chair and kids were saying things like "I love his socks", "He is always faithful to church", "He brings good snacks", and so forth. I could see this kid's face and with every comment, the smile was stronger and he sat up a little straighter. Our words do mean a lot. So...don't know how this will work but I thought we might do positive bombing in the comment section of this post. As you see one of our ladies post a comment, begin to bomb them with words you would like to say about them. Comment posted, we respond with positive "bombs".
Love you all so much,
Sis. D.
I get so excited about Thursdays during the summer because I have Friday off. So, it's Thursday but really Friday of the workweek! Yeah!
Thank you ladies for the most wonderful birthday ever. I absolutely love my purse. For those of you who know me well, you know that purses and perfume are my favorite things in life. My new purse is so beautiful and will be a treasure for many, many years. I can just imagine the experiences that it will go through with me. Times of refreshing, conferences, great services, weddings, just overall the path of life. And....the special thing about it is we will walk that journey together. Ever stop to think what it will be like in 5 years, 10 years, 15 years at Grand Prairie UPC? What kiddo in children's church do you think will be directing the choir in 15 years? Who do you think will be driving the bus? Who will be the church secretary? In 10 years, which of our young men will be seeking opportunities to preach in order to develop their ministry? Think any of our kiddos will head to the mission field? How will our ministries develop in the next 15 years? See today is not just for today's sake but just another stone in the foundation of the church in Grand Prairie that we are laying for our community. What we do matters in the kingdom.
One of our callings is to edify each other. What's edification? Edification means to build each other up so that He may become greater within us. Acts 9:31 NKJV says "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." This is my desire...that we have peace and unity and are able to put our selves aside in our to build each other up. Notice that when the Acts church did this, they had the comfort of the Holy Ghost and multiplied. We are in revival and that's because we are in a time of unity and daily seeking God's presence in our life.
In Ephesians 4:29 NKJV it says "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Wow! I love this scripture. Our words should be for edification so that hearer can receive grace. Do your words with each other bring grace or do they bring anger or condemnation? Communication is so casual with so many venues such as twitter, texting, email, cell phones, etc. However, all communication has an effect. Can we measure our words to see what result they are having?
I remember when Ellerie was really small. I was very, very frustrated with a young lady that was really just throwing her life away. I was talking to my husband and in my southern way said, "Oh, I'm so upset with her. I could just kill her for what she's done." Ellerie started crying and in her little 3-year old voice said, "Mommy, don't kill her. I like a lot of things about her." Wow! What a lesson to me as a mom in so many ways. We are called to find the good things in each other and build those up so that grace may abound and the undesirable things can be placed under the control of the Master.
One of the things that I have enjoyed doing through the years with Sunday School classes, youth groups, ladies, etc is called positive bombing. In positive bombing, someone sits in a chair with their back to the group. Everyone else in the group then begins to say things or "bomb" them with all of the things they like about the person in the chair. Truly, it is easier to say nice things about some people than others. But I remember a time when there was a very difficult young man in the chair and kids were saying things like "I love his socks", "He is always faithful to church", "He brings good snacks", and so forth. I could see this kid's face and with every comment, the smile was stronger and he sat up a little straighter. Our words do mean a lot. So...don't know how this will work but I thought we might do positive bombing in the comment section of this post. As you see one of our ladies post a comment, begin to bomb them with words you would like to say about them. Comment posted, we respond with positive "bombs".
Love you all so much,
Sis. D.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Easy Summer Menus
Everyone likes to grill out,so why not invite some friends over and try these easy menus the next time you entertain. The great thing is you make most of these the day before.
Ultimate Chicken
or
Honey mustard grilled chicken
For a salad try:
Asian slaw salad
or
24 hr. salad
Dessert:
Dirt cake
or
Strawberry pretzel salad
ULTIMATE CHICKEN
1/4 c. cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. prepared course ground mustard
3 cloves garlic,minced
1 lime,juiced
1 lemon,juiced
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
6 Tbsp. olive oil
6 boneless,skinless chicken breast halves
Mix all ingredients except oil together,then whisk in oil.
Place chicken in marinade and marinate for 8 hrs. or overnight.Grill.
HONEY MUSTARD GRILLED CHICKEN
1/3 c. dijon mustard
1/4 c. honey
2Tbsp. mayo.
1 tsp. steak sauce
4 boneless.skinless chicken breast halves
Mix first 4 ingredients together and set a small amount aside for basting.
Marinate chicken in the marinade for 30 minutes. Grill.
ASIAN SLAW SALAD
1 c. olive oil
1 c. sugar
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 pkg. cole slaw
6-8 green onions,chopped
1/4 c. fresh cilantro to taste,chopped
1/2 c. almonds
1/2 c.sunflower seeds,shelled
2 pkg. ramen noodles,crumbled,discard seasoning
Whisk together oil,sugar,vinegar ans soy sauce together to make a dressing.The dressing may be made a day ahead.The day that you serve the salad,combine the cole slaw,green onions,cilantro,almonds and sunflower seeds and ramen noodles in a bowl.Pour dressing over salad right before serving,toss until evenly coated and serve.It's a lot of dressing and you don't have to use it all.
24 HR. SALAD
1 head of lettuce,any kind
1/2 med. red onion,sliced thin
4 hard boiled eggs,peeled and chopped or sliced
1/2 tsp. table salt
1 1/2 c.frozen peas,thawed
1 c.celery,chopped or sliced
1 red bell pepper,seeded and chopped
1 med.cucumber,halved,seeded and sliced thin
bacon,cooked and crumbled(as much as you like)
1 c.shredded sharp cheddar cheese
DRESSING
1 1/2 c.mayo
3 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 Tbsp.hot sauce or you can use one or none at all
2tsp. sugar
1tsp.black pepper
This looks pretty in a trifle bowl but a regular large bowl works fine.
Place half of lettuce in bowl.Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt.Rinse sliced onions under cold water and pet dry with paper towels.Layer onion,eggs,peas,celery,bell pepper and cucumber.Add remaining lettuce and top with bacon and cheese.
For the dressing,combine all ingredients and spread evenly over salad.Cover with plastic and refrigerate at least 8 hrs. or over night.
To serve,toss salad until evenly coated with dressing.
REMEMBER,If you don't like some of the ingredients,change it to something you do like.
DIRT CAKE
1/2 c.butter,softened
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese,softened
1/2 c. conf. sugar
2(3.5 oz.) vanilla pudding mixes
3 1/2 c. milk
1 (12 oz.) cool whip,thawed
Pkg. 32.oz oreos
Place cookies in a food processor.It should look like dirt when you're done.
Mix butter,cream cheese and sugar in bowl.
In a large bowl,mix milk,pudding and cool whip together.
Combine pudding mixture and cream cheese mixture together.
Layer in a bowl,starting with the cookies(dirt) then cream mixture and keep layering.
Chill for a couple of hours until ready to serve.
STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD
2 c. crushed pretzels ( I like to leave mine a little chunky)
3/4 c. better,melted
3Tbsp. white sugar
1(8oz.) cream cheese,softened
1 c. white sugar
1 (8oz.) cool whip
2 pkg. strawberry jello (3 oz.)
2 c. boiling water
2 (10 oz.) frozen strawberries
Preheat oven to 400*
Stir together crushed pretzels,butter and sugar; mix well and press mixture into bottom of 9x13 baking dish.
Bake 8-10 min.,until set.Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl,cream together cream cheese and 1 c. sugar.Fold in cool whip,spread mixture onto cooled crust.
Dissolve jello in boiling water.Stir in still frozen strawberries and allow to set for a couple minutes.
When mixture is consistency of egg whites,pour and spread over cream cheese layer.
Refrigerate until set.
Layla you can add all these to the church cookbook!
Hope y'all enjoy!
Hugs,
Sis. Monica
Ultimate Chicken
or
Honey mustard grilled chicken
For a salad try:
Asian slaw salad
or
24 hr. salad
Dessert:
Dirt cake
or
Strawberry pretzel salad
ULTIMATE CHICKEN
1/4 c. cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. prepared course ground mustard
3 cloves garlic,minced
1 lime,juiced
1 lemon,juiced
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
6 Tbsp. olive oil
6 boneless,skinless chicken breast halves
Mix all ingredients except oil together,then whisk in oil.
Place chicken in marinade and marinate for 8 hrs. or overnight.Grill.
HONEY MUSTARD GRILLED CHICKEN
1/3 c. dijon mustard
1/4 c. honey
2Tbsp. mayo.
1 tsp. steak sauce
4 boneless.skinless chicken breast halves
Mix first 4 ingredients together and set a small amount aside for basting.
Marinate chicken in the marinade for 30 minutes. Grill.
ASIAN SLAW SALAD
1 c. olive oil
1 c. sugar
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 pkg. cole slaw
6-8 green onions,chopped
1/4 c. fresh cilantro to taste,chopped
1/2 c. almonds
1/2 c.sunflower seeds,shelled
2 pkg. ramen noodles,crumbled,discard seasoning
Whisk together oil,sugar,vinegar ans soy sauce together to make a dressing.The dressing may be made a day ahead.The day that you serve the salad,combine the cole slaw,green onions,cilantro,almonds and sunflower seeds and ramen noodles in a bowl.Pour dressing over salad right before serving,toss until evenly coated and serve.It's a lot of dressing and you don't have to use it all.
24 HR. SALAD
1 head of lettuce,any kind
1/2 med. red onion,sliced thin
4 hard boiled eggs,peeled and chopped or sliced
1/2 tsp. table salt
1 1/2 c.frozen peas,thawed
1 c.celery,chopped or sliced
1 red bell pepper,seeded and chopped
1 med.cucumber,halved,seeded and sliced thin
bacon,cooked and crumbled(as much as you like)
1 c.shredded sharp cheddar cheese
DRESSING
1 1/2 c.mayo
3 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 Tbsp.hot sauce or you can use one or none at all
2tsp. sugar
1tsp.black pepper
This looks pretty in a trifle bowl but a regular large bowl works fine.
Place half of lettuce in bowl.Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt.Rinse sliced onions under cold water and pet dry with paper towels.Layer onion,eggs,peas,celery,bell pepper and cucumber.Add remaining lettuce and top with bacon and cheese.
For the dressing,combine all ingredients and spread evenly over salad.Cover with plastic and refrigerate at least 8 hrs. or over night.
To serve,toss salad until evenly coated with dressing.
REMEMBER,If you don't like some of the ingredients,change it to something you do like.
DIRT CAKE
1/2 c.butter,softened
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese,softened
1/2 c. conf. sugar
2(3.5 oz.) vanilla pudding mixes
3 1/2 c. milk
1 (12 oz.) cool whip,thawed
Pkg. 32.oz oreos
Place cookies in a food processor.It should look like dirt when you're done.
Mix butter,cream cheese and sugar in bowl.
In a large bowl,mix milk,pudding and cool whip together.
Combine pudding mixture and cream cheese mixture together.
Layer in a bowl,starting with the cookies(dirt) then cream mixture and keep layering.
Chill for a couple of hours until ready to serve.
STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD
2 c. crushed pretzels ( I like to leave mine a little chunky)
3/4 c. better,melted
3Tbsp. white sugar
1(8oz.) cream cheese,softened
1 c. white sugar
1 (8oz.) cool whip
2 pkg. strawberry jello (3 oz.)
2 c. boiling water
2 (10 oz.) frozen strawberries
Preheat oven to 400*
Stir together crushed pretzels,butter and sugar; mix well and press mixture into bottom of 9x13 baking dish.
Bake 8-10 min.,until set.Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl,cream together cream cheese and 1 c. sugar.Fold in cool whip,spread mixture onto cooled crust.
Dissolve jello in boiling water.Stir in still frozen strawberries and allow to set for a couple minutes.
When mixture is consistency of egg whites,pour and spread over cream cheese layer.
Refrigerate until set.
Layla you can add all these to the church cookbook!
Hope y'all enjoy!
Hugs,
Sis. Monica
Monday, July 13, 2009
WNOP
Hello, All,
For some reason, we can't comment on the post about WNOP. If you would like to add a comment or tip from the site, please do so on this post.
Love to all!
Sis. D.
For some reason, we can't comment on the post about WNOP. If you would like to add a comment or tip from the site, please do so on this post.
Love to all!
Sis. D.
World Wide Network of Prayer
Wow! What a beautiful presence of God was in the service last evening. It was all I could do to direct the choir without having to just stop and cry. The healing power of God is awesome. As you know, on Mondays we talk about home and family. I know that we all want our homes to be a place of worship for our children. So many things that we remove from our home in order to live a holy life is so the presence of God can more strongly dwell in our homes. We remove distractions from our homes that would place focus on things of this world and replace those with peace, joy, and a place for God to dwell.
One of the jewels that we have in our organization is the World Wide Network of Prayer (WNOP). You can find the wnop at http://www.wnop.org/. As you'll see below there are places for you to enter prayer requests, read prayer requests, and many, many resources for incorporating prayer into your life.
The site also links to Kids Prayer which is the site with a lot of information on how to pray with your kids with many ideas for Sunday School, Kids Church, etc. That site can be found at http://www.kidsprayer.com/.
Also, the Ladies Ministry site offers great articles and resources. It can be at http://www.ladiesministries.org/.
Also, the Ladies Ministry offers a ministry to girls of UPC called Today's Christian Girl. It offers all sorts of resources for our girls and can be found at http://www.todayschristiangirl.com/.
Below is a link to a beautiful worship song from Indiana Bible College - "Majesty":
Have a wonderful Monday and looking forward to the Kids Prayer Revival next week!
Sis. D
One of the jewels that we have in our organization is the World Wide Network of Prayer (WNOP). You can find the wnop at http://www.wnop.org/. As you'll see below there are places for you to enter prayer requests, read prayer requests, and many, many resources for incorporating prayer into your life.
The site also links to Kids Prayer which is the site with a lot of information on how to pray with your kids with many ideas for Sunday School, Kids Church, etc. That site can be found at http://www.kidsprayer.com/.
Also, the Ladies Ministry site offers great articles and resources. It can be at http://www.ladiesministries.org/.
Also, the Ladies Ministry offers a ministry to girls of UPC called Today's Christian Girl. It offers all sorts of resources for our girls and can be found at http://www.todayschristiangirl.com/.
Below is a link to a beautiful worship song from Indiana Bible College - "Majesty":
Have a wonderful Monday and looking forward to the Kids Prayer Revival next week!
Sis. D
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