Urgent Prayer Request

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Please pray for my nephew, Shawn Baird, who is going through more pain and suffering than I can even imagine right now. Shawn and I have always had a special bond because Mom and my sister, Sharon, were expecting us at the same time.

Please Pray for Dan & Marilyn Moseley

Source

As some of you may have already heard, my dear longtime friend, Marilyn Moseley's husband, Dan, recently suffered a massive heart attack. You can read the details on Marilyn's blog by clicking here.

How I'm Praying These Days

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Prayer has been such an integral, vital part of my life for so many years. Jesus saved my soul when I was 10 years old in a revival meeting in Enid, OK, that I was attending with Mom, Dad, my Papaw, and the woman Papaw married a few years after my Mimmie died. I will never forget that night, how convicted I felt, how drawn I was to that altar of prayer, and how earnestly I poured out my little heart. From that moment until this, I have prayed countless prayers.

Gardening Giveaway Winner!

 "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth."
Psalm 104:14

I love this time of year when everything is blooming and gardens are planted! I believe gardens are important to God. After all, when He first created man, He placed him in a garden. That is where it all began!

What a blessing it was to offer the giveaway for four of Jacob's seedling gardening trays!

And now, for the name of the winner!

Book News, A Prayer Request, & A Gardener's GIVEAWAY!

 "For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land."
Song of Solomon 2:11,12

(I used this same Scripture passage in my second-to-the-last post, but I just love it so much, I decided to use it again!)

Spring has sprung here, but today, it is quite chilly and windy. The sun is out, though, and I have the door open and can feel the freshness of spring in the air! Oh, how I do praise God for allowing us to see another springtime! So many beautiful flowers are blooming, and I am so thankful He gives me eyesight to see them. He is so faithful and good! I love taking drives and seeing all the trees and plants coming to life again, after a long, hard winter.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

 From Kevin, Zachary, and me ~ 

We wish you a Merry Christmas filled to the brim with God's most precious and special blessings!

Thank you for being a part of our online family!  So many of you have become so dear to our hearts over the past eight plus years of blogging that you truly do feel more like family than friends.

Thank you for the many emails, comments, and gestures of encouragement in response to my last blog post.  You have warmed and blessed my heart more than I could ever put into words.  I continue to press on and seek God earnestly day by day concerning His perfect will.  I am sure He will make it known to me as I continue to search for Him with my whole heart.  To those of you who are faithfully praying for me, sending notes of encouragement, and continuing to loyally support my efforts, I send a huge hug and much gratitude, and I humbly ask you to please, please keep me in your continued prayers.

A few of you know this, but for those who don't, I regularly host online youversion Bible studies.  I would love to have you join in with us!  It is completely flexible, you are not on any time constraints, and you can do it at your own pace.  Depending on what I have going on, I sometimes fall several days behind, but I just catch up as I am able - that is just how flexible it really is.  The group God has woven together there is a great blessing to me, and we have been continuing to study together for several months now.  As one study ends, the Lord leads us on to the next, then the next, etc.  If anyone would like to join us, please email me at homespundevotions@gmail.com.  I would love to welcome you to our study team and have you share your own thoughts and perspectives with us!

At the end of each lesson, we are given space to comment on what the day's lesson has meant to us on a personal level, and after reading an especially impactful lesson in a study called, "Who I Am in Christ" today, I shared with Zach some thoughts God had impressed me to write.  After hearing it, he walked in to the kitchen where I was seated in front of my laptop.  The pleading look in his eyes melted his mama's heart as, among some other comments he said, "Mama, PLEASE don't shut down Homepun Devotions!  Please keep sharing what the Lord gives you."

So, at our dear boy's request, here it is - I hope it is a blessing to you.

"For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."  Hebrews 12:3

"I don't know how many times I have read this or heard it preached on through the years, but I NEVER got this until right now.  The "contradiction of sinners against Himself" is what jumped off the screen at me today. Everywhere Jesus turned He was told He was not who He really was. Hardly anyone believed Him. Those in His own hometown tried to push Him off a cliff. All they could see is that He was Joseph's son, Mary's son, or the brother of His siblings. They could not see past His humanity to who He really was. 

When He was in the wilderness being tempted by satan for 40 days, this is one of the main tactics satan came at Him with, "IF You are the Son of God" trying to place that doubt in Jesus' mind. His true identity was continually under attack all throughout His earthly life and ministry. There was a constant "contradiction of sinners against Himself" that He had to deal with and keep squelching the lies and believing the truth about who He was. 

Sound familiar? If Jesus' true identity was constantly being contradicted by sinners & satan, do we think we will get by with less? Jesus said, "a man's foes shall be they of his own household" in Matt. 10:36, and in Mark 6:4, He said, "A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." Familiarity breeds contempt, and often those we grew up with and those who saw us in our past, sinful life have a difficult time believing who we are now in Christ. They see only the failures and issues and are blinded to the fact God has made us new and can use us mightily. Also, satan will continually throw our past up to us, but that is NOT who we are now. God sees us through the lens of His own Son's blood that was shed on the cross, and that is how we must learn to view ourselves and drown out those who contradict that with the truth of who GOD says we are today."

So, don't ever forget how special you are!  No matter what is said about you, who turns against you, how the enemy tries to bring you down, when you try and fail, or where your insecurities lie.  Remember that it is GOD who defines you, and you are His extraordinarily special child.  It was for YOU that He sent His only begotten Son to be born in the lowliest of circumstances on that first Christmas night so long ago.  

Have a wonderful Christmas, and keep your eyes on Him!

Much love from our house to yours!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(Thank you to my special friend, Priscilla, for sending the beautiful Christmas graphic!)

Update on Kelly:

Kelly is home from the hospital and continuing to improve!!  Isn't God so good?  Please continue to keep her and family members who are caring for her in your prayers.  God has brought her a long way, and we know He is able to complete her healing process.  Thank you so much for your prayers!

Seven Things To Think About in These Troubled Times

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It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we are living in the most troubled times of our lives, but yet, God's Word instructs us to only think on the things that fall into the six categories listed in the above verse.  Today, I want to encourage you by sharing seven true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and good report facts that we can all rely upon and draw our thoughts to no matter what is going on around us.  I am also including some songs that are bringing encouragement to my family and me.  I am amazed at the lyrics penned by these modern Contemporary Christian artists and the depth of meaning and faith that is woven throughout their words.  I hope they bless you, as well.  At the end of the post, I will announce the three winners of the giveaway!

#1.  Everything is going to be okay.

One of the things I most miss about my dear Dad is when he would tell me something I was troubled about was going to be okay.  Just hearing him say that brought a sense of peace and calmed my fears.  Though he is no longer here to speak those words of peace to me, my Heavenly Father sends the Comforter to let me know - everything is going to be okay.  Even now.  No matter what. 

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."  

Psalm 46:1-3

It's Gonna Be Okay - Tasha Layton

#2.  When Jesus speaks "peace," everything changes.

The tumultuous storm that threatened the lives of His disciples had to back off and cease raging when the voice of the Eternal God in a body of flesh spoke!  Every attack of satan has to back off when He speaks peace to our situation, regardless.

"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him."  Isaiah 59:19

"And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."  Mark 4:39

Peace Be Still - Hope Darst

#3.  Jesus knows you.

He was there.

Ever since the moment of your conception.  Long before you breathed your first breath.  Every moment of your life.  Through your highest highs and lowest lows.  He was not only there, He pulled you through.  Just look back over the years.  Trace His hand.  The evidence is all over your life.  He knows every, single thing about you, including right now - in this season, in this moment of time.  He is there.  Seeing every tear, watching every event unfold, walking by your side, giving you strength, and supplying your needs.  

"O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether."

Psalm 139:1-4

"By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You."  Psalm 71:6

Evidence - Josh Baldwin

#4.  Jesus knows what you need.

Even before you come to Him.  Even before you say a word.  He is completely aware of everything weighing on your mind and heart.  He will work it all out.  He cares about everything you care about, and He is perfecting all that concerns you.

"The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever."  Psalm 138:8

"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."  Isaiah 65:24

You Already Know - JJ Heller

#5.  God has always kept every promise He has ever made.

Why would He change now?  Why is this situation any different?  Sometimes, it takes time to see a promise fulfilled, but just because God delays in sending the fruition and manifestation of the promise does not mean He has failed to keep His Word.  He works on His own timetable, but He always, always does what He says He will do.  Abraham was 100 years old when God made good on a promise He gave to him when he was 75.  Yet, Abraham's faith stood firm, and he staggered not at the promise of God!  Even during those long years of waiting, he stood firm and was fully persuaded in the promise of the One Who had never failed him!

"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform."   Romans 4:18-21

I have heard it said that a child of God can grasp a hold of one of the promises of God and safely swing out over the fires of hell with a full assurance and certainty that God's Word will not fail!  Let us continue to hold fast and firm to the truth of God's Word and look to Jesus no matter what is shaken around us.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:2

Truth I'm Standing On - Leanna Crawford

#6.  Nothing is more powerful than the power of God that dwells in us!

Nothing in Heaven above or earth below or even the powers of hell is stronger or bigger or above the power of our dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  All things are under His feet, and no matter what satan throws at a child of God, it has NO power over HIS power that lives and works in us.  Praise God!!

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all."  Ephesians 1:18-23

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world."  I John 4:4

"But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you."  Romans 8:11

Same Power - Jeremy Camp

#7.  Even in the worst of times, God remains the same.

My dear Mom always told me that there are three things God cannot do.  

He can't lie.

"God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?"  Numbers 23:19

He can't fail.
"Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant."  I Kings 8:56

He can't change.

"For I am the LORD, I change not."  Malachi 3:6

No matter what happens, God is good.

"For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations."

Psalm 100:5

He is faithful.

"But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."

2 Thessalonians 3:3

He is kind.

"How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings."  Psalm 36:7

I Know - Big Daddy Weave

Speaking of Big Daddy Weave, it is now one week after the announcement of our giveaway of THREE of their CDs!  Today, Zach entered the commenters' numbers into wheel decide, and #4 was chosen, then #3, and then #9.  So, the winners are:

Kitty, Barb D., and Deborah!!!

All three winners will receive their own copy of Big Daddy Weave's CD "When the Light Comes," along with a copy of our new book, "Biblical Minimalism:  Following Jesus from a Life of Abundance to a More Abundant Life."

I have been able to contact Kitty and Deborah, but I have no contact information for Barb D.  Barb D., could you please kindly email us at homespundevotions@gmail.com and provide your mailing information, so we can get your package in the mail to you?  We hope to hear from you soon!

Thanks to everyone who commented and entered the giveaway!  If you didn't win and would like our book or the Big Daddy Weave CD, you may order them at the links above.

Keep encouraged, dear friends, and keep pressing on for Jesus.  Heaven will surely be worth it all.  

In closing, Kelly made it through another operation and according to the last report I received, she continues to improve.  The recovery road ahead of her is long and overwhelming, so please do keep her in your prayers.  (If you would like to read the original prayer request for Kelly, click HERE.)

Changes at Homespun Devotions, BOOK REVIEWS, & Frugality in the Kitchen

"The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."
Titus 2:3-5

Today, from the midst of the heartache going on in my family, I have some good tidbits of news to share, but first I want to let you know that my nephew, Brian has been moved to a hospice facility.  They are keeping him comfortable, and the family has spoken their good-byes.  How long Brian will tarry in this condition is in the hands of our just and loving God.  Our hearts are broken, and we lean upon the Lord for strength and grace.  Even in the face of all that is happening, I am STILL holding out hope that God will perform a miracle, and Brian will wake up.  Please do continue to remember my family in prayer.  Your loving thoughts, friendship, and prayers mean more than I could ever say.

~ Changes here on the blog ~

You may have noticed that I have pulled nearly all of the content down from the Homespun Devotions archives.  It will no longer be available here because I am in the midst of a new and exciting project—a long-awaited dream!  Now that I have walked through the grueling experience of independently publishing our book, Biblical Minimalism, and I believe by God's help and grace I can do it again, I am compiling devotional content that He has inspired me with over the years into a book!  A homespun devotional tapestry that will be interwoven with inspirational thoughts, some of my original poetry, and new material that He is streaming into me along the way.

When I first started this blog, I had a dream of writing a devotional book.  Recently, the Lord brought to my attention that this is exactly what I have been doing over the past almost nine years!  As I have been writing the devotionals He has been inspiring me to share here, I have been writing that devotional book.  

I apologize if there are certain articles you have become accustomed to referring to here on the blog that will no longer be accessible to you, but if you can bear with me, Lord willing and somewhere down the road, you may just be able to refer to them forever by way of a book you can hold in your hand!

What I will leave accessible here on the site are all the Inner Views interviews I have conducted over the years, all of the guest posts that some of you have so kindly provided, and a select few of my own devotionals scattered here and there.  (I also have a very exciting NEW upcoming Inner Views interview that I can't wait to share with you soon!)

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Book Reviews of our new book are happening!
OH, it has been an exciting time for us, and how grateful we are to our beloved launch team!  Some of the launch team members have already finished reading the book, and we could not be more grateful for their beautiful reviews.  We are looking forward to all the upcoming reviews, also, and hope to be able to share them with you here soon!

Click on the links below to read what the launch team members are saying!

Shirley at "A Word Fitly Spoken"

Karen at "Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge"

Martha at "Meditations of My Heart"

Deborah at "The Beautiful Matters"

If you would like to order your own copy of our book, just click HERE!

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Moving forward in the spirit of Titus 2, I felt led to share some of the lessons on frugality the dear Lord has taught me throughout many years of marriage.  It was fun writing this "new-direction" post!

Being married for 32 years is such a gift on so many levels.  Staying with the same man, loving him wholeheartedly, knowing what he likes and enjoys, sharing such a long history together —it all adds up to this wife feeling so, so blessed.  Kevin and I give ALL glory to God for the precious life and deeply meaningful marriage He has blessed us with, and my heart is humbled and beyond grateful that I get to walk through life with this amazing man.  The fact that God sent us a dear son of our own to raise together and love is a treasure the two of us will never be able to praise God enough for —how we thank HIM.  He has been so faithful to us, and it would take at least 32 years for me to sit down and tell you of the many answers to prayer and manifold blessings He has poured and continues to pour out upon us every, single day.

One thing I've learned over these 32 years of marriage is how to be frugal in the kitchen, and one of the neatest ways that allows me to call forth my creative side is by challenging myself with making meals that will feed us for more than one meal.  The goal is to always stay in competition with myself to see just how many meals one dish can stretch into!  😂

Upon leaving a comment over at Deborah's blog, "The Beautiful Matters" (by the way, I love, love, LOVE her blog ~ you should check it out and subscribe - she published a beautiful book review of our book today ~ you can read it HERE), it came to my mind that I should share here what I was sharing in that comment.  So, here goes!

First, though - I'm sorry I am not one of those super-talented foodie bloggers.  I have no photos of the food to show, but I can promise you that these recipes work, they will stretch your grocery dollar until it screams, and you will hear lots of "mmms" and see smiling faces at your supper table!

One of the ways I cook something that stretches into feeding our family of three for nearly a week is by starting out with cooking a HUGE pork roast in the crock pot.  

I season the outside of the pork roast with my "go-to" seasoning combination.  I use this blend for SO many recipes.  Here are the stars of the show:

Seasoned Salt 

(I used to only buy Lawry's, but I have found that the Aldi brand is just as good and usually less expensive.)

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Black Pepper

I will also sometimes add paprika or even steak seasoning, (depending on what I am cooking) to this "go-to" seasoning.

So, after I rub the outside of the pork roast with the above seasoning combination, I put it in the crock pot (fat-side down), and I take the handle of a wooden spoon and poke holes all over the roast, making sure to twist the spoon handle to make the holes bigger.

Next is where an amazing secret comes in concerning cooking a pork roast!! 

The liquid I pour over and around the pork roast is ~ not water, but apple juice!

The apple juice permeates down into the holes and flavors the pork as it cooks, and oh, my!

Let me just say that it takes this already delicious dish to a whole new level.

It also makes your gravy a beautiful golden color and gives it a distinctive flavor.  (recipe below)

Meal #1 from cooked Pork Roast

~ Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Corn, and Green Beans ~

After the roast is done, remove the meat from the crock pot, leaving the broth behind.

Cut the meat into servings and place it on a pretty meat platter.

Strain the broth by putting a colander over a large bowl and pouring the broth from the crock pot into the colander, making sure to sift out everything but the luscious, rich broth.  Set the strained bowl of broth aside.

Then, make homemade gravy, just like this:

Start out by melting one stick of butter in a large saucepan.

To the butter, add some flour to make a nice, rich roux ~

(sorry, I don't have the exact measurement on the flour - I use the old-timey Tupperware scoops, and it usually takes about 2 to 3 of those heaping scoops to one stick of butter.  The general rule for a roux is equal parts fat and flour.)

To the roux, add the "go-to" seasoning mix above (to taste) and stir the butter, flour, and seasonings together until everything is smooth.

Then, pour the entire bowl of broth into the roux and stir vigorously.  You will want to have your heat up pretty high during this process.  Let it bubble, and stir continually until the mixture starts to look like real, homemade gravy.  Oh, my goodness!  This is SUCH good gravy!  It thickens to a beautiful texture, and the taste is just amazing!  If any remaining lumps bother you, you can use an immersion blender to break them up.  (I LOVE my immersion blender!)

For this meal, I also make homemade mashed potatoes, canned corn seasoned with butter, and 2 cans of green beans.  I pour the 2 cans of green beans into a pot, add two beef boullion cubes, and let them cook until all the water is cooked off (about 10 minutes or so).

After this original pork roast meal, the creative fun begins!  From that leftover pork roast, the following recipes spring forth!

Meal #2 from cooked Pork Roast

~ Open-faced Pork Roast Sandwiches ~

Toast two pieces of bread, while heating a portion of pork roast and gravy, separately, in microwave.

Butter the toast, then layer the pork roast on the buttered toast.

Pour the warm gravy over the open-faced sandwich.

Serve with some of the leftover mashed potatoes, corn, and green beans, if desired.

Meal #3 from cooked Pork Roast

~ Pork Ranch Barbecue Nachos ~

Ingredients:

Cool Ranch Doritoes

Shredded Cheese

Can of Chili Beans, heated

(I pulverized the beans with an immersion blender as I heated them, but you could also smash them with a fork or potato masher.  Chili beans are what we had on hand, but you could also use refried beans or some other type of canned beans.)

Leftover Pork Roast, reheated

Diced Tomatoes

Sour Cream

Ranch Dressing

Barbecue Sauce

Diced Onions (if desired)

Spread a layer of Cool Ranch Doritoes on a dinner plate.

Spread shredded cheese over the Doritoes.

Spread warm chili beans over cheese.

Spread warm pork roast over beans.

Shred another layer of cheese on top of the pork roast.

Top with diced tomatoes, dollops of sour cream, onions (if desired).

Squirt ranch dressing in a criss-cross pattern over the top.

Squirt barbecue sauce in a criss-cross pattern over the ranch dressing.

You could also add jalapeno peppers, black olives, pico de gallo, salsa, or any other toppings you'd like.

Meal #4 from cooked Pot Roast

~ Barbecue Pork Sandwiches ~

Ingredients:

Leftover Pork Roast

Barbecue Sauce of your choice

Hamburger Buns

Butter

Bag of Cole Slaw 

(Pre-shredded mixture of cabbage & carrots.  We always put ours through our chopper to blend extra-fine.)

Mayonnaise

Vinegar

Sugar

Sandwiches

Heat leftover pork roast in a saucepan & slather with barbecue sauce while heating.

Butter top and bottom of each bun and brown in a skillet, butter-size down.

Assemble sandwiches by placing a portion of barbecue pork on each bottom bun, then topping meat with cole slaw.  (Recipe below.)

Cole Slaw

Place shredded cabbage mixture in bowl.

Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar in small bowl.

(I apologize that I do not measure.  I just put about 2-3 large dollops of mayonnaise in a bowl, with a dash of vinegar, and about 2-3 teaspoons of sugar.  I keep stirring and taste-testing and adding sugar/vinegar it until it tastes "right" to me.  😕

I know ~ but this is the country way of doing things and the way Mom taught me to cook!)

Pour mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar dressing over the cabbage, and voila!  You have cole slaw!

Note:  This slaw is SO good - it takes me back to when I was growing up and Mom, Dad, and I would go into country restaurants and they would serve cole slaw with Captain's Wafers crackers before the meal.  Does anyone else remember that?  

Meal #5 from cooked Pork Roast

~ Cold Pork Roast Sandwiches ~

Slather a slice of bread with mayonnaise and pepper.

Place cold pork roast on bread, and top with second slice.

Yummy and so, so simple.

Meal # 6 from cooked Pork Roast

~ Must Go Soup ~

Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Corn

Green Beans

Pork Roast

Half & Half

Any other leftover cooked veggies from refrigerator

You can also add any canned veggies that don't require a long cooking time

Dump all into a large pan and heat slowly.  When meat and veggies are warm, top everything with Half & Half until all is covered to a creamy, liquid consistency.  The leftover mashed potatoes and gravy give this soup an amazingly rich base that morphs into a delicious, velvety soup.

Again, I wish I had taken photos of all of this at each step, but I failed to do so.  I was too busy enjoying the process of creating wonderful things for my little family to eat.  
I hope you can find something in this post that will spark a new creative and very frugal adventure in your own kitchen cooking for the ones you love most in the world!

Let me know if you try any of these recipes!  May God bless you as you seek to steward wisely!

Giveaway Winner & Update on Brian 6/21/2020

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Hebrews 13:8

(NKJV)

Today is the day to announce the winner of Marilyn Moseley's beautiful new book!

Zach entered the entrants into Wheel Decide, and the wheel chose...

🎉🎈🎉🎈🎉🎈   Kitty!   🎉🎈🎉🎈🎉🎈

Congratulations to you, Kitty, and we will be getting your book in the mail to you within the next few days, Lord willing!!!

SO happy for you, and I know you are going to love this book!!

To all who didn't win but would like to have a copy of this book, please stop over and visit Marilyn's blog, as she is giving away some of her books there, also!  Her giveaway ends on Thursday, June 25th, so you still have plenty of time to enter!!

You can also order Marilyn's book by clicking HERE.

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I also wanted to share the latest update on my nephew, Brian.

My sister called me from his room a little while ago, and there has been a slight improvement, all glory to God!!!!  They tried removing the respirator, and Brian is now able to breathe partially on his own!!!!  This is SUCH great news!!!  I know it is GOD Who is answering the many prayers going up for Brian.  He is still on the respirator, but we are believing that things are heading in the right direction.

The doctor said that the fact that Brian is breathing partially on his own is a sign that there IS brain activity going on.  Hearing that brought such great relief!

I want to thank all of you who are praying and emailing and being so kind and supportive to my family and me.  Truly, you dear readers are some of the best people on the planet!  God bless each one of you for helping to bear our burdens.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all the Dads!

May God bless all of you with a wonderful day!

Jesus is Praying for You

"It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

Romans 8:34

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As Zach was working on his Bible College coursework the other night, he said, "Mama, I have to send this to you."  Soon an email appeared in my laptop inbox, and this is what the subject line said.

"What is Jesus Doing at the Father's Right Hand?"

I clicked it open to read this—

"To make high priestly prayers for us.

Many believers feel the apostle Paul was the greatest and most spiritual Christian who ever lived. Certainly, he was a powerful and effective prayer warrior. When Paul talked with God, prisons were shaken, doors were opened, chains were loosed, and people were saved (Acts 16:25-34)! With all this in mind let us suppose that in the midst of your darkest hour of pain and grief the phone rings and the apostle Paul is on the other side of the line.

“Fellow Christian,” he begins, “I just wanted you to know I am very much aware concerning your terrible sufferings, and therefore plan to spend the next 24 hours on my knees crying out in prayer just for you!”

What an incredible reassurance and comfort that would be! Think of it—the great apostle Paul, writer of half the New Testament, is praying for you! But wait! Amidst your tears and travail you now hear another voice.

“My dear child, you need to know I am fully acquainted with all your sad grief and despair. Therefore, I plan to do today that which I have previously done since the time of your salvation and will continue to do as long as you live, and that is to spend every single second of every single minute of every single hour of every single day at my Father’s right hand, praying for you'."

Would not this serve as a blessed balm to soothe one’s wounded soul? Would it not heal the raw hurt of the human heart? Indeed it would and should, for this is exactly what the Savior is doing at this very moment for each believer reading these words (Rom 8:34; Heb 9:25)."

Harold Willmington (2018). (p. 517). Willmington’s Guide to the Bible, 30th Anniversary Edition. 

What a comfort it is to know Jesus is praying unceasingly for us even as we pray to the Father in His name!  What would we do without Him in these troubled times?  To whom would we turn?  He is surely our only hope.

Speaking of prayer, today I feel I need Him even more, as it marks the 8th anniversary of my dear Mom's homegoing to Heaven.  Oh, how I miss her and Dad!  Especially, during times like these.  I miss their prayers more than I could ever put into words.  I miss being able to call them and pour out my heart.  I miss Mom calling me and saying, "Cheryl, the Lord gave me a Scripture for you, honey."  OH, dear Lord!  How does one ever stop missing a Mom and Dad such as mine?  June 5th will mark 20 years since my dear Dad went to Heaven.  I can't believe they have been gone for so long.  Passing time only makes me miss them more.

I often wonder what on earth they would think if they could see what is going on in our world and how things have changed since they left here.  I don't think they would be able to believe how far morals have slipped and how ungodly things have become.  They would be appalled to think of the pandemic and all that is going on.  This is one of the few times, I am GLAD they are already safe in Jesus' arms forever, nevermore to be threatened by a virus or any other of the evil in this world.  It comforts me to know they are safe forevermore.

As I thought of what Zach shared with me and Jesus interceding for us, my mind went to an old song Mom, Dad, and I used to often sing together.  I went through our crate of cassette tapes and, praise the Lord, I found it.  Oh, my goodness.  You can imagine how the tears flowed when I put it in our cassette player and hit the play button!  Dad was on there laughing, he and Mom were going back and forth about who would sing lead and who would sing tenor —they ended up deciding Dad would lead, Mom would sing alto, and I would sing high tenor.  Oh, the memories that flooded over me!  I could hardly bear it for a little while.  Then I got the nerve to play it through and record it on to my laptop.  I apologize that the sound quality is very poor and glitchy, but I thought I would go ahead and share it anyway.  I hope you enjoy it.

In Gethsemane Alone ~ Mom, Dad, & Me

As I miss them, the precious Holy Spirit comforts me with words like these,
"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you."  Isaiah 66:13
"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me."  Psalm 27:10
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."  Deuteronomy 33:27

Happy 8th Anniversary in Heaven, dear, sweet Mom.
You will never know how much I miss you and Dad!

I trust all of you readers are staying safe and healthy continually.
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
Romans 15:13

Just Before Jesus Returns

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Ephesians 6:12

(KJV)

In my last post I alluded to an article Mom used to refer to often.  It was printed in China many years ago, and it gave a description of how things would be right before Jesus comes back.  I found the words as sobering as they used to be when Mom would read them to me or speak of them through the years.  After I published the post, a commenter asked that I post the full article, and I am just finding the time to grant her request.  

As I said, I did not write this, nor do I know who wrote it.  Since it was printed in China, I am assuming it must have been written by someone in China, or perhaps a missionary to China?  I am almost certain this weathered, tattered paper copy belonged to my Papaw, who was one of the most stalwart prayer warriors I have ever known.  When he passed away, I believe this article was passed down to Mom, and now it is mine.  I wish I knew who to credit for having written it.  All I know is it was published as a prophecy in China many years ago, and anyone with spiritual discernment can see that you and I are watching this prophecy unfold in fulfillment in front of our very eyes.  It could not be more on target in describing the exact conditions of our day, and it truly brings a solemnity over my spirit.  I hope it stirs yours, also, as you read.

(I have taken the liberty of making a few spelling, punctuation, and grammatical corrections.)

Just Before Jesus Returns

"Paul wrote to the Thessalonians that before the coming of our Lord, there would come a falling away first.  (2 Thessalonians 2:3)  To Timothy, he stated that evil men and impostors would wax worse and worse and there should be perilous times in the LAST days.  (2 Timothy 2:1-13)  It will be noticed in the Scriptures that the apostasy is not concerning education or fine churches or able ministers or large congregations or the progress of intellectual or material prosperity, but the breaking down that is foretold of the visible church is on faith and the denial of the power of landslide in the visible church toward higher criticism which is lower infidelity, and a denial of the supernatural working of God in regeneration, definite answers to prayer, and the revelation of the apostles and their successors.  

We then are to expect great deceptions and delusions deceiving if it were possible the very elect.  We may also expect great advances in a "form" of godliness in the LAST days.  Faith will not only become low thru worldliness and the denial of the Scriptures, but through the "remakable initiative faiths" which will work on in their deceptive power.  A pastor says those movements will become an unseen influence in the air around us, an atmosphere of people with evil spirits and heavy with the depression of HELL.  These evil spirits will do their utmost to injure, mislead, confuse, and depress the children of the Lord.  Our bodies will be afflicted, it will press in our minds and becloud our souls.  All kinds of strange feelings and peculiar trials will come to us.  A surprising lack of desire and energy Godward, a spiritual deadness, a mental heaviness, lethargy of soul, an alarming desire for forbidden things, and a peculiar delight and fascination in any of the world's pleasures.  In liberty and power it will be difficult to give attention to the WORD when it is preached.  It will be very difficult to get in real earnest and continued prayer.  This is the atmosphere in which we must battle as the LAST days darken around us.  Oh, let us be strong in the Lord!  Satan will no doubt bring a mysterious power to bear on our minds and wills, which will make it exceedingly difficult to walk closely with God and very easy to live in the flesh.  We will be amazed at the power he can use against us.  It will become very hard to serve God faithfully and to pray earnestly, and it will seem as if everything without us and almost everything within us has conspired to keep us from following Christ all the way and to influence us to compromise.  We will be surrounded by a worldly atmosphere that will draw us away from God, that will render prayer half-hearted, that will deaden our spiritual senses to the reality of Heavenly things, and that is out of communion with God and harder than ever to keep communication open between our souls and Heaven.

Already we feel the beginning of the influence of the in-rush of those things upon us as worldliness in various forms weaves the ever-expanding power over many congregations.  Things are not only allowed, but are unblushingly organized now which would not have been possible a generation ago, since the craze of the drama and the exciting round of pleasure is catered to in connection with many places of worship, to the destroying of deep spirituality and bringing to an end of revivals and the furtherance of the spirit of compromise, with doubtful things and associations.  There is a terrible decline of faith and true religion all over the world at this moment.  We do not deny that there may be, here and there, a few exceptions, but looking at the Christendom as a whole, it presents a sad picture.  Reviewing these matters, do they not constitute a loud call to the servants of Christ to arise and seek during the intervening short period to make the most of this, the day of opportunity, before their Lord and Master comes to summon them to give an account of their labors at the Judgment seat of Christ?"

PRINTED IN CHINA

God bless the dear soul who wrote this.  It was not by accident that I came across it recently.  It is a timely warning to those of us who are fighting the good fight of faith in these last days and doing our utmost to "dwell in the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of the Almighty."  (Psalm 91:10)  May we pick up our weapons of prayer and our shields of faith and war against all that seeks to draw us away from living a life in close proximity to Jesus.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:1,2 

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Ten Ways to Have a More Successful, Effective Prayer Life

The other day as I was poring through some papers that belonged to my dear Mom, I came across an article she used to refer to often.  It was written by someone in China many years ago, and it gave a description of how things would be right before Jesus comes back.  I found the words as sobering as they used to be when Mom would read them to me or speak of them through the years.  One of the main subjects the author spoke about was how increasingly difficult it would be to pray as we approach Jesus' 2nd coming.

As I read the words again, I was amazed at the accuracy of this "prophecy" written so long ago.

Does anyone else have as difficult a time entering into intercessory prayer as I do?

It is not that I don't love to pray.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I DO love to pray.  I cannot begin to express how much I love immersing in a time of deep communion and conversation with my Heavenly Father.  Those moments with Him are my favorite moments of all, and without that time of keeping our communication open and fresh, I could not, by any means, maintain the spiritual Christian walk that He enables me to walk day by day.

I have lived for Jesus long enough and neglected my prayer life enough times to come to a full realization that prayer is absolutely essential and imperative to my success in living a Christian life.  I cannot do without it for it is in Him that I live and move and have my being.  (Acts 17:28)  

I have no ability to know which path to take, without consistently engaging in conversation with my Lord.  "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."  Jeremiah 10:23  

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in His way."  Psalm 37:23 

I desperately need to continually hear His voice instructing me which way to go, and it is crucial that I do whatever is necessary to draw daily strength and grace from Him to overcome the onslaught of evil that we all have to contend with in daily life.  

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Matthew 26:41

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing."  John 15:51

I know I need to pray, and I know the consequences that ensue when I don't pray as I should, so I determined to try to identify the main opponents to my prayer life.  

Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
  

What exactly is it that makes praying so difficult in these last days?

Once I identified my biggest prayer hindrances, it was easier to come up with ammunition to combat those deterrents and win!  I hope you will also find these tips helpful as you pursue a more effective prayer life for truly there is no substitute for the amazing power of consistent, effectual prayer in the life of a Christian.

 "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
James 5:16

1.  Pray first.  

Let it begin as soon as you awaken in the morning.  Just get it done!  

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  Matthew 6:33

On days that I don't pray first, not only does it seem the day falls apart, I also walk around with a continual nagging sense of not having done what I should.  It sets an out-of-sorts tone for the whole day.  Spending those first moments of the day with God in prayer gives a sense of having done my duty and arms me with what I will need to face the unfamiliar challenges of a new day.  As I get older and don't sleep as soundly as I used to, I find that I am doing a lot of praying during the night, too.  There is nothing more comforting to do when you are tossing and turning than to turn your heart Heavenward and talk it all over with Him.  It is soothing to the soul and gives a sense of refreshed peace when you wake up later.

"My mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.  Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice."  Psalm 63:5-7

"Yet the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life."  Psalm 42:8

"My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promises."

Psalm 119:148

Most importantly, Jesus, our example, prayed all night long.

"And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."  Luke 6:12

The Bible mentions Jesus' prayer life enough times to reveal His prayer patterns to us, and we would all do well to pay careful attention to those details.  If He needed to pray so often and for such long, extended periods of time, do we really think we can run a successful Christian race doing less?  

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees."
 EM Bounds

2.  If you can't pray first, pray faithfully.

If praying during the first part of the day doesn't work for you, the main thing is to be intentional about specifying a block of daily time for prayer regardless of the time of day, and then committing to it daily and making it a habit —just like a daily important appointment.  It is actually the most important of all.

3. Establish a designated place to pray.

  Though we can obviously pray from anywhere, it helps to have a particular place to pray. Having a designated prayer spot will associate prayer to that location and become a place that draws and reminds you to pray.  Over time, as you experience God's anointing in that place, you will begin to regard and cherish it as holy ground.  

4.  Be comfortable.

This may sound like an odd prayer strategy, but if you are in an uncomfortable position, you probably won't want to stay there long.  Again, as I get older, I find that being on my knees isn't the most comfortable position, and when I start out praying that way, I usually end up moving to my recliner to finish.  It may be just my opinion, but I don't believe God is nearly as concerned about bodily position while praying as He is in fervency, earnestness, and the condition of the heart.  I will never forget how much it impressed me to read about how Charles Stanley arms himself with the whole armor of God before his feet touch the floor each morning.  This lends support to the point of praying first and gives another reason that it is a good idea.  Praying in bed first thing in the morning brings us into the presence of God and insures that He is the first one we face and talk to.  We never leave an encounter with Him unchanged, and after being with Him, we will find ourselves prepared for every other intersection and interaction that will happen throughout the day.

5.  Keep paper and pen near your prayer spot.

One of my main inhibitors during prayer time is becoming so distracted by the onslaught of meddlesome thoughts that continually stream through my mind as I am trying to pray.  I start thinking of phone calls I need to make, emails I need to write, people I need to reach out to and connect with, chores I need to accomplish, what I will cook for my family, and upcoming occasions for which I need to prepare.  So, to beat the enemy at his distractions game, I started keeping a pad of paper and pen close by.  Now, when those distracting thoughts start invading, I start jotting short little note reminders.  This transfers the task from my mind to paper, and I can let it go to be revisited later in the day.  It's a winning strategy that works perfectly and enables me to keep right on praying until I am finished!

6.  Allow for listening.  

The fact that a conversation is two-way also applies to prayer, but an often overlooked part of prayer is allowing space for God to speak.  We want to do all the talking and asking and petitioning, but we rush away from prayer after pouring out what we want to say, and we fail to linger long enough to give Him an opportunity to deal with our hearts and reveal His thoughts.  There is much that He will relay to us if we will make the effort to be still before Him.  Reduce noise, and pray in solitude.  Jesus did.  

"And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone."  Matthew 14:23

"And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray."  Mark 6:46

"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."  Mark 1:35

"But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer."  Luke 5:16

7.  Pray on.

Though you have an allocated prayer spot and time, it is important to also remember to stay in a spirit of prayer after you finish and as you continue throughout the entirety of your day.  I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "Pray without ceasing."  We obviously cannot stay in our designated prayer spot and preferred prayer position 24/7, but we can continually call on the Lord and pray unceasingly as we go about our day and perform our duties, keeping our minds in a continual state of communion with Jesus.  He is always there with us, as close as the slightest whisper, and every time we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.  "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you."  James 4:8  I have found that my daily duties, i.e., homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, laundry, and even errands have become springboards from which prayer wells up, and things that would otherwise be mundane and laborious are transformed into opportunities for deep conversation with my Lord.

8.  Shed toxic influences.
Shed people who continually hinder and dampen the audaciousness of your faith.  Stop listening to those who quench your inspiration.  When Jesus was on the earth, and He was faced with an impossibility to pray through, He sent all doubters away and dispelled hindering spirits from the atmosphere.  They were not allowed access into His inner circle.  In fact, in particular situations and circumstances, Jesus ONLY permitted a select three of His twelve disciples to go with Him.
In the case of raising Jairus' daughter from the dead, He allowed only Peter, James, John, and the girl's parents to stay in the room as He performed the miracle.  (Luke 8:50-55)
When Jesus was going to the mountain to be miraculously transfigured, (Matthew 17:1-2), He only took Peter, James, and John.  When He entered the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His crucifixion, He only invited Peter, James, and John to go farthest into the garden with Him to pray.
There was no place for doubt, fear, or unbelief in Jesus' realm.  When opposing spirits were present, He removed them.  Why?  Because fear, doubt, and unbelief can hinder the miracle from manifesting.  It can also deeply influence and injure the faith of others who DO believe God is going to answer prayer.  If you are praying with someone who does not believe for what you are asking, that spirit of unbelief can absolutely hinder the answer from coming through and can start to cause you to start doubting God's ability to do what you are asking Him to.  Doubt is toxic to faith.  Get rid of it, and shed those who inject it into your prayer life.  It may sound cruel and heartless, but it is just that necessary.

9.  Surround yourself with Godly influencers of faith.

  Surround yourself with those who unfailingly believe that God is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  Hebrews 11:6

Ask the Lord to send earnest, relentless prayer partners into your life.  Seek out those who speak life into the situations you are praying about.  Abraham had faith in "Him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.'  Romans 4:17
THAT is the God we serve.  He has not lost one bit of His power, and "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."  Hebrews 13:8
Just as Jesus chose those whom He knew believed with all their hearts and placed them in His inmost inner circle, we have the free will to choose the people we allow in ours.  None of us want to hurt another, but when it comes to running a successful Christian race, and knowing the main tool to make that happen is the maintaining of a strong, faith-filled prayer life, it is imperative that the people we permit access to our closest companionship are those who possess a resolute, unshakable faith in God.  It took me a long time to realize the depth of wisdom in expending the necessary effort it took to develop an encirclement of stalwart faith-filled prayer warriors around me.  When a need arises, I want to know that the people I ask to pray will fervently pray and that they will do so with zero doubt in the God they are praying to.
Don't you?

10.  Keep prayer commitments. 
Just as you want to know you and your prayer requests are being faithfully prayed for, be careful to pray for those for whom you have promised to pray.  If you tell someone you will pray for them, honor your word and be committed to keeping your promise to carry their needs to the Father.  I find it is very helpful to keep a prayer book where I record the names of those I have made a commitment to pray for.  Life is busy and full of care, and it is easy for me to become so absorbed in all that is going on in my own life and completely forget to keep my promise to pray for others.  I have also learned to drop what I am doing and pray instantly with/for those who ask for prayer, if at all possible.

As always, if anyone who reads this needs prayer, please always feel free to email me through this site.  When I tell you I will be praying for you, by God's grace, I will keep my word!

God bless you as you pursue an ever-deepening prayer life, and may He send people into your life who will reinforce your faith, support your determination, and powerfully enhance the strength of your prayers.