Dear Debbie,

Just wanted to write you a short note and let you know what is going on in my life.

My pastor from my youth is very bad in ICU of Baptist Hospital. Yesterday I went to see him--he has staph among other things--so I dressed in gown and gloves--sanitizing before and after visit--I peeked in and there was no one there--I had been there earlier in the morning and one of his daughters was there but he was all alone. I found out later that I had walked right by another of his daughters in the lobby downstairs. Her son had come and brought the grandchildren with him so she was taking a break to go see them.

Anyway, I know it worked out that way for a reason. As I sat there and talked to him (he had been totally unresponsive when I was there earlier--he is on a ventilator and they were keeping him sedated because of the discomfort), he started trying to open his eyes and I knew he was hearing me.

I should have taken my own Bible but did not think of it. I searched all the drawers and could not find a Gideon Bible. I think that is the first time in my life that I have looked for a Gideon Bible in a hospital room and not found one. The Gideons are an incredible organization. How I appreciate them. I finally got a nurse to go hunt one down for me and while I know Bro. B loves the King James, I thought I wasn't going to get through all those Psalms with the "thees and thous and sheweths"--I had to stop and untwist my tongue several times.

I sang one of the songs that he used to sing from the pulpit when I was little. He usually left the singing to his wife and daughters but every once in a while he would belt out, "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." So, I sang that to him.

What a blessing! What a joy. He read the scriptures to me when I was a young girl--over a half-century later, I am getting to return the favor. What an awesome privilege. God orchestrates the symphonies of our lives with such precision. I tell Him all the time how smart He is. He amazes me.

Anyway, Debbie, I don't think you were reading my blog when I wrote this post about him so if you get a chance, you might want to get to know him a little better. He is a jewel.

Oh, and by the way, I hope you don't care if others read this also. I just felt like addressing it to you after your sweet comment the other day.

Your blog is one of the highlights of my day. My very favorites post of yours is the one where you and your sister and maybe your mom ( I can't remember for sure ) take silverware, dishes, centerpieces, napkins, tablecloths, chairs, table, and so much more out in the middle of a cotton field and set up the most gorgeous table I've ever seen.

I guess that was special to me because I grew up listening to my father tell about planting, chopping and harvesting cotton. His dad was a sharecropper.

I absolutely love all of your posts but my second favorite one is about you being afraid of the dark. And you referring to yourself as "the baby of the family." It was so amusing and I laughed aloud with tears splashing down my cheeks. All my life, I have struggled with fears of all kinds so I could easily relate to that post.  I'm going to hop back over and reread your "shopping posts."  I didn't get to spend as much time soaking all that up as I would have liked.

Well, this turned out to be more than a short note but I wanted you to know I was thinking about you and how much I loved your sweet comment.

Hope your day is blessed.

Love,
Dianne

P.S.  Would you please say a prayer for me?  On Tuesday I will be going to Renewal Ranch to tutor three of the guys who are feeling a little overwhelmed with the course work in light of their reading abilities.  Please pray that God will open their minds to learn and the Bible, as well as other books, will come alive for them.  Well, I guess I really want you to mainly say a prayer for them--C, W, and P.  But I do want to be a blessing to them and hopefully to motivate and encourage them.  Thank you.

This was Debbie's comment from the other day.

*Just beautiful. Your thoughts remind me of exactly how I feel when I visit old churches. The comments about the bell reminded me of the little brown church of my own childhood. In fact, several blogs recently have reminded me of it. I feel as if I want to put my heart into words, but as yet, I can't. Loved this. And can I say that your whole blog is just "pretty" these days? I like reading the script. It feels like you have written me a letter.

You can access Debbie's blog here.

Weekend Worship at First Christian Church, Marshall, Arkansas

I can't help but wonder for whom this bell tolled.

I wonder if any of the members here now are old enough
to remember when that old bell pealed its melodies
beckoning the people to come and worship.

And if they were, I wonder what kind of clothes they wore,
what the church looked like.  Were the pews hard like the ones I sat on growing up?

Wow!  Organized in 1880--My grandfather was born in 1878.
He was two years old when this church was established.  Hard to believe!

I wonder if church shut down when there were big snows
like much of the country has had this past week or did they
come on to church since they drove horses and buggies.

I'm so glad they preserved this old bell.

Don't you know it brings back memories for many!




 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
   the world, and all who live in it; 

 for he founded it on the seas
   and established it on the waters.


  Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
   Who may stand in his holy place? 

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
   who does not trust in an idol
   or swear by a false god.


 They will receive blessing from the Lord
   and vindication from God their Savior.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,
   who seek your face, God of Jacob.




from Psalm 24

Just Because I Love You!

This is a thick, hearty soup--

It's been snowing here today and I cooked a big crock pot full of soup--It was so good--here's the recipe for you.

I used two frozen chicken breasts but sometimes if you wanna be a little on the lazy side, just use a big can of Sam's Member's Mark (or whatever brand you prefer) chicken breast.  Both are really good.

I threw four chicken breasts into the skillet--so I would have two left for tomorrow night's dinner or a luncheon salad.  I cook them in olive oil and white cooking wine.  But however you cook them is fine--my DIL boils them.

I heat most of the liquid ingredients in a pan before putting in my crock pot.  I do this because it cuts at least a couple hours off the cooking time.

2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans Rotel
1 can chicken broth
1 can refried beans (I use fat-free but regular will do)
1 cup water

You can use packaged taco seasoning mix but I make my own using:
If you use the packaged, you will need 2 pkgs.  The ingredients below equal two packs.

2 T chili powder
4 t. onion powder
2 t. each ground cumin, garlic powder, paprika, powdered oregano and sugar (I used 4 pkgs. of Splenda instead)
1 t. salt
pepper to your taste (I used about a half t. of white pepper)

I also add
2 T. Hidden Valley dry ranch dressing mix--this gives it an incredible pop! in my opinion

About half-way through cooking time, I add

1 can kidney beans
1 can ranch-style beans
1 can whole kernel corn  (I drain and rinse beans and corn but you don't have to)

 add the shredded chicken breasts

You can serve with a variety of things:  mixed cheeses, avocado, sour cream, crackers, rolled and buttered tortillas, fritos--I ate it today with nothing added and really enjoyed it.  Trying to leave off so many carbs!

I usually cook this for 4 or 5 hours but you can leave it on low all day.  I put it on high for the first couple of hours and then turn it down to medium or low for another couple of hours.  If you don't heat those first ingredients, you will need to cook 6 or 7 hours.

This will fill a big crock pot 3/4 full or more.  I usually freeze some or use a couple days later.  It's even better then.

I don't have a picture but you can trust me on this.  It is so good--and healthy and hearty.  I also substitute ground beef for the chicken breasts (ground turkey would work also).

So I hope you enjoy.

Stay warm this weekend.

Love,
Dianne

I Called, He Answered

My name is Bartimaeus,
I was not blind from birth, once I could see,
That changed--I didn't know the reason then--
I know it now.

To be used for God's purpose to prove
the identity of His only begotten Son
Is overwhelming to think about,
I know that now.

One day while begging to make a living,
I heard a commotion from the people gathered,
I asked what was going on--
The crowd shushed me--
I didn't know why then
I know why now.

The crowd said Jesus of Nazareth was passing by,
But I knew deep within,
The Son of David, the Messiah was there,
I called out to Him referring to Him in that manner,
The crowd tried to hush me,
I called all the more--
I knew why.

I had a need.
I wanted to see again.
Jesus ordered that I be brought to Him,
He asked me what He could do for me,
As if He didn't know.

I told Him I wanted to see again,
He told me to receive my sight
and instantly I was healed--

Immediately I followed Him
and the crowd who had tried to quiet me
followed--all of them praising God.

The years I had sat in darkness and shame,
questioning why me
Were now a haze in the distance
I was whole again.

A few days later
This same Jesus, the Messiah
Came passing by again,
This time carrying a heavy cross,
Bent and bowed low with the weight of the world's sins
Upon His shoulders.

To view this with eyes that now could see
Was more than my heart could bear
And yet I knew that if he did not bear this load
The scales of sin and sorrow and shame
Would still blind my eyes--
The eyes of my soul.

I know that now.

Jesus is passing your way today,
Like me, one day He will be passing by
for the last time,
Won't you cry out to Him today.
He wants to make you whole.

Please know that.

___________________________________

I wrote this from the study of Luke 18:35-43.  The last three verses are from what I think could have happened.  We do not have a record of Bartimaeus being there when Jesus carried the cross but it certainly could have happened.  He was healed in Jericho but he could have walked the 15 miles from Jericho to Jerusalem especially since he now could see.  Jesus traveled this road many times.

Meet My Friend, Sheila

My beautiful friend, Sheila

Hey sweet friends,
I have a favor to ask of you that I think will bless you.

My former principal and good friend, Sheila Michie just launched a new blog today entitled Becoming Women of Peace.  She is a Catholic Christian very much in love with Jesus who started a ministry in 2001 by the same name.  She holds workshops/retreats in an endeavor to help women truly become bearers of the peace that Jesus desires for all of us.

Won't you please hop over to her website, and read her first post today.  I'm praying that many of you will support her in this endeavor.  I think God has a lot to offer us through Sheila's wisdom and grace.

Thank you my friends,
I love you,
Dianne

The picture below is one that Sheila'a mom painted.  She wrote some beautiful prose which explains the painting.  Sheila includes that prose in her first post.  I think you will really enjoy the beauty and richness of her mom's writing.