Swirling

It's hard for me to be away, both from writing this blog and from reading the blogs of fellow wordsmiths for our Lord.

I have been checking in as often as possible, reading a post here and there, trying to leave a comment or two when time allows.

Last Thursday was my last official day in my position with The Alzheimer Society, but this week was busier than usual with seminars for 3 days and a presentation I had commited to do today. Add to that time spent studying for my course on Healing Prayer; completing lessons for our Women's Ministry Beth Moore study on Daniel; a few very interesting dream; a time of receiving prayer ministry and preparing to take flight tomorrow to the States to visit my mom and Dad and you get a picture of what has been eating up my time. My brain is full and swirling and I look forward to having a bit of a chance for things to sink in and settle.

We are taking the laptop with us and I pray I will be able to hide away and do some writing as well as have more study time. I trust that as my brain begins to process things, they will spill out on these pages...

until then, may His love enfold us all, as He leads us into all truth.

Cafe Chat Week of January 3

Kim's first question of the new year is: "What is the most important truth/lesson you feel God taught you in 2008? How will that truth change your life in 2009?"

The most significant and life changing learning for me in 2008 centered around abiding in Christ. This will not only alter my life in 2009, but forever after. All that I am is all that He is.

To get a glimpse at my learning process, please take a few moments to read the following posts:

Learning to Abide - Part 1

Learning to Abide - Part 2

Learning to Abide - Part 3

Jesus calls us not only to receive Him as our Savior, but to fully abide and live our life in Him. I have never received a better invitation than that!

To read more replies to Kim's question and to add your own, visit with us at Cafe Chat.

Recipe as requested

FireFly’s FireCracker (Hot Pepper) Jelly

½ cup hot peppers ground or chopped very fine
½ cup bell peppers ground or chopped vey fine
6 cups sugar
1 -1/2 cups white vinegar
6 ounces liquid Certo
Few drops red or green food colouring

Mix sugar and vinegar, bring to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and add Certo, peppers and food colouring. Stir for one minute. Ladle into hot sterilized jars. Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Makes 8 or 9 half pint jars.

If using red peppers, use red food colouring, or green food colouring for green peppers.

Cafe Chat Week of December 27

Kim's question this week again takes much thought to answer:

What is one thing you will commit to do in 2009 that will draw you closer to Jesus? (This is not a New Year’s Resolution)

This year I have committed to learn
Learn more about who God is (Exodus 34:6)
Learn more about who I am in Christ (Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Learn more about how to accept Christ's invitation to abide in Him (John 15:4)
Learn more about how to allow His love to move through me to touch others (John 13:34)
Learn more about how to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10)
Learn more about to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Luke 10:27)

Join us at Cafe Chat and add your answer this week.

Merry Christmas

From our home to yours, may the dawning of Christmas morning fill your hearts with the wonder of God's great love.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, unique] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, _but_ shall be having eternal life!

John 3:16

Cafe - Holiday Recipe Bazaar

This week we're sharing favorite holiday recipes, and the one that first came to mind for me was Fresh Cranberry Relish. I was never a lover of cooked cranberry sauce, whether jellied or not, but when I found this recipe on an OceanSpray cranberry bag I had to try it. It is ridiculously simple to prepare and goes well besides meats, over ice cream or even mixed into vanilla yogurt for a heathy snack!

Take 1 bag fresh cranberries, 1 orange (with peel) cut in quarters, 1/2 cup sugar and mix in food processor. Add more sugar to taste and mix again.

That's it. Couldn't be any easier could it?

I'm sorry that I don't have any pictures, so you will just have to imagine the sparkling ruby colour of this tasty delight. Or make it, and see for yourself!

For more tasty reading, join us at the Internet Cafe

Cafe Chat Week of December 13

This week Jill asks:

What are you currently doing (or can start to do) to put the focus of Christmas on Jesus?

I find that I am able to align my heart and mind with the true reason for this holiday season when I spend time in the Word. For as John tells us in his version of the Gospel, Jesus Himself Is the Word!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." John 1:1-5

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

During this season I enjoy reading the accounts of Jesus birth, my favourite being in Luke 2.

I just finshed writing out our Christmas cards and we have made a tradition of asking the Lord to give us a scripture to declare over each of our friends and to write inside their card. This way we can all be blessed by His truth!

My prayer for all of you is that you remain firmly rooted and grounded in His love, and that this season draws you ever closer to the heart of Jesus.