Month: October 2013

The Joy of giving…”a window of giving”

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This time of year especially, something weighs on my heart… The homeless! How many times have I driven by people with signs standing on the side of the road?… Many times! Should I give them money?? I rarely carry cash and I would rather give them substantial items. I always want to give them food but by the time I get back to the spot where I saw them, they are gone!

Here is the project! ” a window of giving”. I am hoping and praying this will catch on and others will follow!! Have pre made bags of food and personal items for the homeless In your car at all times! My friend Denise and I found everything at the dollar stores.. Even hats and gloves! We even found water resistant drawstring sacks for just a dollar. We found Bibles for a dollar, which are going into every bag… so excited!! You can make a bag for around ten dollars and provide a few things that could last all winter! That’s just two Starbucks drinks for you! What a perfect time to start this..it is the season of giving after all! This is not a big thing but just a little gesture, some little treats to make a person feel loved and thought about. The other day a friend posted a link on facebook where others are already carrying similar bags in their cars ,so some people are already doing this…yea!! Above I have pictures of some of the items we put in our bags. Theses are just ideas. Be creative and put what you feel is needed in your bags. Make your window a ” window of giving”!

Also check out the link below! This is a great event our church does every first Saturday of each month!
http://www.brookwoodchurch.org/default.aspx?page=3733&eventId=7028

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“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James 2:15-17

Finding Joy in “Having Peace”…Day Six.

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I use to hear people say “take it one day at a time” but I only heard not listened. As you know, going through Life trials will quickly teach you that today is all that we can properly take on or were meant to take on. Fretting over our yesterdays and worrying about our tomorrows is just too big of a burden to carry; it will ware us out spiritually , emotionally and even physically.  We can live in peace, joy and hope one day at a time because: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Today I find Joy in having peace!

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Strength and Peace

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Whatever you are going through, God’s strength and peace is waiting for you. It is found in those quiet moments alone with Him. When it seems that things are out of control, when deadlines are hard to meet, when your children are acting up, When exhaustion takes over your body, when you have to take on burdens that you don’t think you can handle ,that’s when God wants to pull you to Himself and whisper these words of hope in your ear!

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Finding Joy Where I am Planted…Day Five

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“Bloom Where You’re Planted!”

“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Sometimes we find ourselves in a place we do not want to be. We have to decide whether to bloom or wilt..??. God plants us where we are for a reason. If we choose to bloom we will find great joy in our experiences as God uses us through him. We also can have “Esther moments”. It takes obedience and faithfulness. If you bloom where you are planted, you may find out that God has brought you exactly where you wanted to be. Last night I found joy to be blooming right where I was planted!

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Story of Esther:
http://www.dltk-bible.com/estherstory.htm

Bloom Where You’re Planted

Bloom where you’re planted,be the flower you are
With Jesus as your leader, He’ll take you far
We can’t be a vegetable if God made us a fruit
We can’t be a singer if our talent is the flute

Bloom where you’re planted
And grow and grow and grow
Let Jesus be your leader
And let God’s Spirit flow

God doesn’t give all his children same jobs to do
Each one is different, do well with what He gives to you
You may be the greatest preacher
Or can’t speak at all
You have a gift from God
Just respond to your call

If you’re a teacher, teach your best
Find the thing you do better than the rest
Give all you have to the betterment of mankind
If we all bloom where we’re planted
A great garden we’ll find

Norma Dunca

Finding Joy in Kind Words…Day Four

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A person finds joy in giving an apt reply and how good is a timely word! Proverb 15:23

I don’t think some people really know how much a simple kind word means to another person. Today was an ordinary Tuesday but at the end of the day I received such kind words from a dear friend. Words that I know came from the heart. Today I find joy in kindness in a world that is not always so kind. I find joy in trustworthy friends which I am so blessed with!

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“Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. Though
they do not cost much, the accomplish much. They make other people
good-natured. They also produce their own image in other men’s souls, and a
beautiful image it is.” – Blaise Pascal

Monday morning picture verse

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 I feel like I have been lost in the “noise” lately. How often are we alone with our own thoughts or God’s voice? Think about that for a second. The busier, more chaotic your life is, the more you need to take those few moments of silence and solitude.   

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2

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Finding Joy in each Day …Day two

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Oooh… Monday Monday! Mondays always call for an extra cup of Joe. Today I found Joy in having a “mommy lunch”. After the morning chores and before the start of school pickups, carpools and preparing dinner, back in the far right corner of our favorite lunch place we chatted and laughed. Talked about our kids, our weekends, our week ahead. We gave advice and took advice. Just unguarded conversation with a couple of my favorite people. Seems like a simple thing but when your love language is “quality time” you always feel Joy when people take time from their busy life for you. When I left, I thought, how could I be blessed with such wonderful people in my life always at the right time…It’s just another GOD thing!

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Seek to become someone’s true friend
Proverbs 18:24

Chicken Tortilla Soup ( easy crock pot version)

Fusco 2013
Carrie Garrett photography

Ingredients:
2- small rotisserie chickens or one large ( whole foods chickens are small so I use 2)

2- 10 cans of diced tomatoes

1- can green chilies

3- cups cooked black beans

4- cups chicken broth

2- cups of water

2- yellow onion finely chopped

6- garlic cloves

2-3 jalapenos, finely chopped

1- tsp ground cumin

1- tsp chili powder

juice of 1 lemon

6 – tbs fresh cilantro finely chopped

1 – bag frozen corn

Put all of the above ingredients in a crock pot on low for 6-8 hours or until onion is tender. half way through take out  chickens. let cool enough to handle and remove meat from bones and put meat back into the soup.

Additional ingredients:

Top with:

monterey jack cheese

fresh avocado

crushed tortilla chips

sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy!!

 

 

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