Sad, but Not Surprising

The events that occurred last week in Colorado are very sad.  Any death or injury should be a great grief to all of America.  Around us swirl sinful man's ideas of how to stop future violence ... more gun control, more intervention, more accountability, more security.  I am amazed that man fails to see the GIGO principle.  Garbage In - Garbage Out.  I have heard of at least one movie and one comic book which  have delayed their release due to similarities to the Colorado shooting.  It is not surprising that when man "feasts" on garbage...violence ...evil, that in turn is what will come out.  Oh, if only America would turn back to God and follow His ways!

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

Arabic Tract

The Arabic tract was published to the internet yesterday.

Unfortunately it is hard to read the text here,

but if you would like a copy of the text just contact me.

The Most Encouraging Word

It is a most basic thing to be thankful for, but it makes the greatest difference in my life day to day.

I am thankful for the Word of God and its work in my life.

I love the Psalms and read there each day.

I am also currently reading through Jeremiah. 

Now here's a man who always had things going his way! 

NOT! 

He went from one dungeon, prison, pit to another. 

He was mocked, scorned, threatened, disdained.

And yet, he had God on his side. 

God protected Jeremiah.

He still had to endure the difficulties, but God's hand was with him.

Have you visited with God today and heard from Him?

What are you reading these days?



Woman's Work Wednesday (The Thursday Edition)

Well, I missed my posting yesterday.  I had a full schedule of activities yesterday and blogging got pushed aside by work on both the Arabic and French tracts.  I never know when new translations or proofs will come through and I like to tend to them as soon as possible.  When sending full color proofs of tracts across a dial-up connection things certainly take awhile.  There should be only 4 more translations in our goal of reaching 10 translations.  Unfortunately it is not easy to find trusted translators.  I think that Chinese, German, Romanian, and Dutch may still be the last parts of the plan.

My day also called for a shopping trip (just Wally World) and a needed lawn mowing (it seems that my lawn loves this heat and humidity).  The message at prayer meeting was a well-timed reminder from Psalm 68 that God will always be King and is in control of all things.  He knows and is concerned about His children's every need and he will deal with the wickedness of those who deny him.

Looking for the Blessing

Psalm 68:19

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,

even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Honestly, I have not been enjoying our heat and humidity.

As I daily look at the national weather map,

I longingly eye that upper north west corner of the map that is still yellow (rather than orange or red). 

Yes, those Seattle dwellers are still enjoying upper 70's!

Today, I thought of the blessings of the heat. 

There are many blessings, but I will share one.

The extreme heat and humidity means that hubby cannot walk on his lunch break

and it is not even pleasant for me to walk/run right after hubby leaves for work at 7:15.

The blessing - hubby and I are running together again at "0 dark hundred."

I have so enjoyed the extra together time and the accountability in my exercise.

Russian Tract

The Russian tract was finally published today. 

I am excited because about one third or more of my daily readers are from Russia.

I hope that all my Russian friends will take a minute to go here to read this tract.

If the material is useful to you, please know that it is not copyrighted and can be used freely.

Hopefully the Arabic tract will also be finished this week. 

Easy Preparation

I managed to fill today with profitable activities.  I typically have a mountain of laundry after the weekend (and especially in the heat and humidity we have been enjoying) which was tended to early.  The tomatoes needed attention again (9 more pints preserved for the winter).  Monday has become my cleaning day with all of the rooms we use daily being cleaned.  This afternoon I had some kid-sitting to do so I got some crocheting done as well as some time to think about next weeks Sunday School lesson while the kiddos napped. 

On a busy day, it is nice to have a meal that is relatively easy to prepare.  This one fits the bill - the cook time is long (if you use brown rice), but it can be prepared early and then just stuck on the stove when you are ready.  I prepared the ingredients before I left to kid-sit and then it was ready to go when I returned home.  This recipe was actually a gift from one of my sister-in-laws and is a regular around here.

Spanish Rice with Beef

2 T vegetable oil

1 c uncooked regular long grain rice

1 med onion chopped (1/2 c)

2 1/2 c water

1 1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp chili powder

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1 small green pepper chopped (1/2 c)

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained

1.  Heat oil in 10 inch skillet over medium heat.  Cook rice and onion in oil about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until rice is golden brown and onion is tender.

2.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low.  Cover and simmer about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender.

* Note - I skip step one.  I brown the pepper and onion with the beef and then bring everything to a boil together.  Because I use brown rice, I have to simmer for 50 minutes.  For a more economical dish, substitute black beans for the ground beef.  I usually serve this with tortilla chips!

Huge Savings

I have been very excited and thankful to Our Heavenly Father for the discounts at our local discount grocery store.  It seems that the "Gluten-free Truck" has been making regular stops there and the savings are huge.  The picture below shows cereal, muffin mix, snack bars, almond milk, and salsa purchased yesterday for $24.  If I had bought them in the store ... over $100 dollars. 

There is nothing like a 75% off sale!

Happy Birthday, Ahuvi

Happy Birthday, my love!

On this "Thankful Thursday,"  it is only appropriate that I thank the Lord for the life of my dear husband.  Marriage is truly a gift of God and daily I am thankful for the man that God chose for me.  Life is full of sunshine, peaceful waters, rainbows, roses, as well as storms, waves, and roller coasters.  Specifically in our home, it has been filled with God's faithful provision, homecomings, gardens, school work, ministry blessings, as well as ministry discouragements, deployments, training in patience, development of faith in God and His timing, and more school work.  It is a blessing to have someone holding your hand (or your whole self) and leading, guiding, sharing with, protecting, praying for, and/or crying with you.  It seemed like an endless wait for you, my love, but the wait was well worth it.

And for my faithful followers, all of the preparations of yesterday were not in vain.  Hubby was thrilled with his special breakfast, his rare lunch with an actual sandwich, and of course his birthday pie!  Yes, I am also thankful that the pie effort was a success and we do not have to cut pies out of our future - HOORAY! 

Preparations

It is another humid day in NC.  I think that the heat and humidity is wearing on me, for I am not feeling all that great today.  I did manage to mow the lawn this morning and hung one load of laundry out to dry, but other than that, it is a day to remain inside.  That's not a problem today, because there is preparation to be made for tomorrow.  Someone in this household is having a birthday tomorrow.  He will be a whopping 33!

While he will be working a normal work day tomorrow, I will try to make the day special when I can.  I am going to make him sausage balls for breakfast with a side of Washington state sweet cherries that I picked up at the store today.  I also bought some dark chocolate almond milk for a treat.  I bought gluten free rolls so that he can have a sandwich in his lunch (imagine a sandwich being a treat)!  We will go out for dinner, but I am attempting a birthday pie for dessert.  He is fond of Peach-Plum Pie with vanilla frozen yogurt on the side which suits this season to a T.  Why the attempt?  So far, I have made gluten free pie with a single bottom crust (I am so glad that hubby loves pumpkin pies) and was glad that the patch job would be covered, but I have not attempted a two crust pie.  Gluten free crusts are difficult to deal with and the one I am trying requires lots of chilling, so I am attempting to be patient and hoping for the best.