Comfort when life hurts

Sharing God's Word with a hurting friend today.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6



"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 hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."  Jeremiah 29:10-12



"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."  Deuteronomy 31:6


Psalm 37:1-9

1 "Do not fret because of evil men

      or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,

      like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;

      dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD

      and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;

      trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

      the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

      do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

      when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

      do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off,

      but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."

Favorite Zucchini Recipes?

I confess I've never grown zucchini, although we are occasionally given
some.  We were given 3 last week, and they shredded up to make 15 cups
of shredded zucchini ... most of which I froze.


Yesterday  I made chocolate zucchini bread.  And I have a  zucchini 
brownie recipe I want to try.  But what I really want is to find a
devil's food cake recipe using zucchini.  I remember eating a really
rich dark chocolate  zucchini cake at church potlucks as a teen in
Maryland.  I loved it!!  The best I can think to describe it as is
Zucchini Devil's Food Cake.  Does anyone have a recipe like that?

Here are the two recipes I have, but I'd love to try others.  Please share if you have a favorite.

Chocolate Zucchini or Pumpkin Bread

3 cups shredded zucchini  OR 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
1 2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour OR whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa
optional 1/2 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips


Heat oven to 350* and grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans.  Mix
zucchini/pumpkin, sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs together.  Stir in
remaining ingredients.  Pour into pans.  Bake 50-60 minutes or until
wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes.
Loosen sides of loaves, remove from pans.  Cool completely before
slicing.  Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or
refrigerate up to 10 days.


Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

2 cups grated zucchini
1 1/2 cups sugar
2  cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1.5 tsp. baking soda
1/3-1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2-3/4 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350*.  Mix all ingredients together and  pour into a greased 9x13 pan.  Bake 30-35 minutes.


What's your favorite zucchini recipe?  If you share it on your blog,
please leave a comment here so I can see all the yummy recipes.

Black velvet for me, please!

 

I think I need to start wearing black velvet.  Maybe a nice long cape.  Why, you ask? 

Because the dreaded "postpartum shed" has begun and I'm losing long brown hairs everywhere I go.  By the handful in the shower, in a flurry when I brush, and sprinkling around me wherever I go.  Even if I braid it, I manage to drop them around me. 

And why is it that this occurrence coincides with the time when our babies start having more floor time?  Somehow babies with handfuls (and mouthfuls) of Mama's long hair just isn't what I think of as "maternal bonding". 

It has to be Eve's fault.  I'm sure this wasn't part of God's Design for us in Paradise.  I think in the Garden of Eden we all would have kept our luxurious hair instead of losing it postpartum.

My daughters (who are also culprits for enriching the carpet fibers with their own long hairs) think it's a plot against them ... the vacuumers.  Combine Mom's shedding with a baby rolling around on the floor and suddenly Mom and Dad begin to enforce the vacuum schedule.  We're usually rather lax about the "schedule".

So, I thought the solution might be me wearing black velvet ... the ultimate hair magnet.  I could wear a velvet catwoman jumpsuit, and then a cape, too.  Surely that would catch all the hairs.  Then I could drape black velvet over my two favorite chairs and use a lint roller every night to de-hair them.  Well, every couple days, when I get around to it.

Somehow, though, I'm sure me in a black velvet jumpsuit and cape would draw the wrong kind of attention.  I wonder if they make nursing-friendly catwoman suits?  And how much time would this add to my bathroom trips?  Because I'm lucky to get a minute uninterrupted in the bathroom, you know.  I also might pass out from heat stroke.  The midwest in July is just not suitable for black velvet.

Hmm.  Perhaps I should re-think my black velvet plan.  Although maybe I could start a new career as an Elvis impersonator during my "black velvet phase". 

I wonder if they sell personal vacuums that you wear around your waist.  Then as your hairs fall out, they'd be sucked right into the vacuum on your back.  And the white noise it makes would just lull the baby to sleep whenever I held her.  Of course, sitting down wouldn't be very comfortable with a vacuum on my back. 

Hmm.  Think, think, think ... as my friend Pooh says.  I'm sure I can come up with some solution other than daily vacuuming.  The girls would love me if I did.

But For Your Grace ...

We sang this song today in church and it greatly touched my
heart.  But for God's grace, I could not be saved.  And but
for His grace, I would go my own way.  It's all Him!! 

Thank You, Lord!!  Your grace *is* amazing and I am so thankful for Your blessing and grace.  Amen.

But For Your Grace /Amazing Grace
Rita Baloche, John Newton

Chorus:
But for Your grace I could not be saved
But for Your grace I would go my way
I'm forever  grateful
That You have been faith - ful to me, Lord
For Your amazing grace
(Repeat)

Other:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now    I see

Chorus 2:
But for Your grace I could not be saved
But for Your grace I would go my way
I'm forever   grateful
That You have been faith - ful to me, Lord
For Your amazing grace
For Your amazing grace
For Your amazing grace

©1998 Integrity's Hosanna! Music 
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
CCLI song #2653691

Times of feasting, and times of fasting

We're in a financial crunch right
now.  We've had a loss of some extra income and now we're having
to reduce our spending in many ways and look for more ways to save
money.  We're also trying to think creatively of ways to earn more
money. 

Part of the problem lies in the fact that we
now have two homes.  God provided the extra work that enabled us
to purchase Steve's family homestead last year.  And now we are
trying to pay for two homes on less income.  We are confident that
God provided for the purchase of the farmhouse last year and we are
confident He's going to work this situation out, too.  He may
provide work for us out by the farmhouse so we can move, or He may
guide us in how to continue to reduce our spending, or He may provide
another means of earning extra income while still owning two
homes.  We're waiting for His direction and provision.

But in the meantime, we've had to tell our children "No" to many
things, such as ordering pizza.  They're getting tired of hearing
it.  They've asked us if we're poor now. We said no, but they have
decided we are.  They've asked us why we have to be poor
now.  They've said they don't like being poor.

The other
day I reminded them that we're right in the center of God's will. 
That He has led us into this time.  That sometimes He uses times
of fasting to grow us.  When we're feasting we get lazy.  We
become lazy about being wise stewards.  We become lazy about
saving money.  We become lazy about working with what we already
have, thinking we need something better instead.  We forget to be
thankful.  We become lazy about our faith, and lazy in our prayers.

When the fasting begins, we are stretching our muscles.  We learn
again how to wait patiently.  We learn again how to deny
ourselves.  We learn how to trust God to provide our needs. 
We learn to pray diligently.  We learn to be creative as we use
what we already have in new ways, and as we think of new ways to earn
money.  We learn what's really important.  We learn the
difference between Needs and Wants.   We learn to be thankful.

In these times, we learn to depend on God, and we have the privilege of
seeing God work in our lives.  We get to see Him answer prayers as
He provides for our needs.  And we learn what is important to Him
as we see which prayers are answered No, and which are answered
Yes. 

That had to be a God moment.  When I told
that to my daughters, it ministered to my heart so much.  It just
had to be a God moment.  He put those words into my heart, and
into my mouth.  He used me to teach my daughters something, and He
encouraged me at the same time. 

As I was thinking
about that this morning, God reminded me that they are watching
me.  If I act deprived and resentful and stressed and fearful,
they are going to pick up on that negative attitude and mirror it back
to me.  If I am thankful, patient, prayerful, creative,
resourceful, and faithful to praise God, they will learn a very
important life lesson.  The way that I react to this situation
will affect them as they go into their adult lives.

Oh,
Lord, help me to trust You during this time.  Help me to focus on
the truly important issues.  Help me to keep a positive and
resourceful attitude.  Remind me that You're stretching me and
growing my faith muscles, please. Help me to lead my children through
this time in a way that would be pleasing to you.  Give me
creativity, wisdom,  and resourcefulness, Lord.  Give me
patience, peace, and faith, Lord.  Thank You for providing for our
needs, Lord, and guide us during this time of change and
transition.  Amen.

I need to spend some time
seeking out Bible verses for us to focus on during this time. 
When I find some, I'll add them to my blog.  Does anyone have a
favorite verse for these times of fasting to share with me?