Monthly Archives: December 2011

Meeting Myself-the read

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I didn’t want to….I couldn’t make myself do it….too busy crying from the minute it arrived at my house.

What’s that? Didn’t want to read my own new book? Cared not to see the words in actual print? No. Read it 100 times while writing, editing, preparing for book launch.

Worked myself into a frenzy of grief from 2:00 when it arrived, till 7:20 pm…..ate plenty to ‘comfort’ my heart. Here is news again for all…your drug of choice does not make your heart happy….

Anyway, finally at 7:20 common sense reared its pretty little head once more —-because the icecream was all gone—-and I picked up the book and opened to the dedication page.

For Ron, who walked with me every step of the way.

Ron read Meeting Myself: Snippets from a binging and bulging mind. Then I sent it into the Word Alive Press contest last summer. He died shortly after that and then a week or so later I got the winning news.

And the thought came to me that Ron knew that his job was done here. He’d seen me safely into healing and completeness. He knew that I knew that God has made all things in me well. He knew that bulimia and its related attacks had no more power over me. He knew I had the strength to carry on because I’d found the Christ, the truth of all life.

And then I realized that I’d better live like it…….

Loving the Enemy–by T.L. Weins

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Loving the Enemy

by T. L. Wiens -originally on the site-Under The Cover Of Prayer

My son was being bullied to the point that he was ready to take a gun to school. I’d become a fixture at the school trying to get it to stop. Nothing was working. It was at this point that I turned to prayer.

I had prayed about this issue but now things had reached a point where my son couldn’t cope and no one was listening. The desperation factor had me on my knees weeping. And God answered. “Love this young man that is hurting your son and write the story I give you.”

I wrote the story and God showed me a new way to find Him. A plan was laid out for our family as to how to deal with this bullying situation. My son and I started a prayer vigil for this young man and his family. As we continued to do battle in prayer and letting God work on our hearts, the hatred melted into compassion.

By the end of that school year, the bully asked my son to be his friend and he came to me for help with the situation.

God is amazing! He hears our prayers and He answers. In this case, I know He saved the lives of two boys.

I Know…you don’t want to hear this

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The new year is fast approaching…

I’ve been wanting to write about this for ages but the time never seemed right/write? 🙂 You hear lots about being forgiven on my blog, but there is a lot to be said for FORGIVING.

For the past few years, I’ve been accused of something I did not do and it has been hard to just be quiet and say nothing.  The unfairness of the thing bothered Ron terribly and he was angry on my account.

God expects us to forgive. When Ron was dying, I asked him if he had been able to forgive and though he was barely able to talk by then, he uttered out a firm YEP! I told him that I too had forgiven the people involved. We found joint peace together.

So we forgave. and the wonderful thing is that forgiving gives peace and comfort and even relief.

As for the other people, I do not know. If they continue to hold a grudge, I am sorry for them. Unforgiveness affects health,well being, peace, comfort, conscience, emotions, blood pressure, diabetes and on and on.

So here is the thing. The new year is only a few days away. Wouldn’t it be great to start it with a forgiving attitude?  Maybe you were abused, or your family doesn’t treat you right or your boss was unfair or the banker doesn’t understand your problems or whatever. Whatever! Get over it. Give it to God and live free of the torment of the past. Find peace. God is just waiting to help you do that.

I put connections to Pat Day’s blog on the topic and will add one from Tammy Weins. They give more insite on the how of the thing…it is possible for you to forgive…….I pray you will.

Healing is a Choice – Review

by pattersmatters

Vote for Belinda!!

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Belinda’s Blog -Whatever He says…is one of the best…not preachy, not cloyingly sweet..

I hope you will vote for her in the blog contest explained below…Hugs and thanks!!!

Dear Friends and Readers,

Thank you so much for your support in round 1 of the Canadian Blog Awards. Whatever He Says came first in the Religion Philosophy Category for the first round with 39 votes.
You can vote for round 2 by clicking here and I encourage you to consider voting too, for Shannon’s blog in the Best Blog Post category, for her post, Peace be with You.
Also, friend and faithful reader here, Dave Hingsburger’s blog,Rolling Around in My Head, is in the running in the Best Personal Blog and Best Overall.
Every vote counts! Thank you in advance for taking time to vote, if you think us worthy!

Christmas Anniversary

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Some one just told me that there was one Christmas Birthday. The rest are anniversaries.

Think about it. Christ came as a babe one time. Now we celebrate it year by year as his birthday when we shuld be calling it an anniversary.

Alright…picky, picky. Yes it is and does it matter? After all the results are the same. Love and salvation for the sinners, the you and the me of this world.

I read my facebook page and see the traditional Merrys, Ho-Ho’s and Jollys but interspersed heavily are the bah Humbug. Christmas sucks and why an I wearing myself out comments…

Sad isn’t it, that so many of us have missed the message of anniversary and are still trying to keep up with the birthday?

Cause after all is said and done…it is done. Christ died for us and we can just rest in that now and forever…

Irish Potato Make Ahead

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Irish Potato Casserole

By Belinda
My dear friend and fellow writer and blogger, Brenda Wood; asked me for this recipe after I served it at our writers group Christmas dinner.

Irish Potato Casserole

Recipe shared by: Carolyn Harman, Harrisonburg, Virginia;Parkview Mennonite Church
8-10 medium potatoes, peeled
8 oz package cream cheese
8 oz sour cream (I replace this with 8 oz Greek yogurt)
½ cup melted butter
¼ cup chopped chives or green onions
I clove garlic, minced
2 tsp salt
Paprika
1.       Cook potatoes and mash. (Do not add any liquid.)
2.       Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth. Add potatoes and all other ingredients except paprika. Beat until all ingredients have combined. Spoon into lightly greased 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with paprika, cover and refrigerate overnight.
3.       Uncover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through.

the Voice New Testament

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The Voice is a grand way to read scripture. I found the format to be almost play-like. In fact, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to produce a play based on the New Testament. It does take a while to get used to the layout but once you grasp that it is a good read. However, I do not have an E reader and so I got the actual book. The writing in it is quite small and squinty. I found it an effort to read the fine print. It is too bad because this detracts from the interesting layout and of course the fine story of scripture itself….

The Third Grace by Deb Elkink

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The Third Grace is an amazing piece of writing with twists and turns intertwined with Mennonite heritage, language nuances, fabrics and sewing. At the beginning I thought I must like it because of its many references to fine fabrics and designs. Then I realized I loved The Third Grace it for its plot and depths of meaning.

After all, it revolves around an ancient love affair, a return to roots and faith and an intriguingly evil co-worker. I spotted her right off and wanted Mary Grace to see her wickedness…but then there would have been no story.

I was surprised to discover that this novel is Deb’s very first. Bring on more please, Miss Deb. One small suggestion? I would like a page of translations for words like nietlijch.

You can find Debbie at www.debelkink.com.

Brenda J Wood

The Best Christmas Card Ever

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I invite you to watch this, courtesy of Tracey who sent it to me. Be blessed. As this year draws to a close,  as life happened even in ways that might not have been your choice….always remember this. God remains in charge. He loves you and always makes choices that are for your best, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. Hugs……Brenda J Wood.

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2007134554829&source=jl999