God is able...

Our Sunday School lesson for last week was for II Corinthians. Do you ever here a short phrase from the bible that just makes you go WOW? Well, that happened last week in our lesson. Paul was talking in II Corinthians 9:8 and he started his statement with "And God is able...."

My thoughts stopped right their and went in a new direction. God IS able. How true a statement. It was one of those profound moments where you think "Why am I trying to do everything myself? Why do I strive to settle any of my concerns or problems? Why do I worry over situations I can't control? Why am I beating my head against the wall in my daily struggles when GOD IS ABLE.

He can do anything and yet we still try to handle it all by ourself. How many times does He have to point it out to us before we start letting Him. He is able so let go and let Him take care of whatever it is that you are facing.

I wish we could see God's love and abilities through the eyes of a child, no matter our age. We make things so complicated when they are so simple. My grandson, Caleb, who is only 7 said something to me that just made me realize how simple it is to see God's love and what he does for us. Caleb and I were talking about the needy. He was telling me about a little boy he knows that wears shirts with holes in them to school. I explained about needs and pointed out how blessed he is that he has nice clothes, a good home, food to eat, toys to play with. I asked him if he understood that those were all blessings from God. This led to a discussion on how God blesses us and what some of His blessings are. He said something to me that brought tears to my eyes to think that a 7 year old can see with such perception the things that our eyes do not acknowledge.

He said, "Mamaw B, I know ladies who walk on canes or have to use wheelchairs. But God blesses them everyday." I asked him, what kind of blessings did he think God gives these ladies. His words back to me were "They may have to use a cane or a wheelchair, but God blesses them every morning by letting them live another day."

Whoa! Truer words were never spoken. No matter what your lot in life, no matter what circumstances surround you, you are truly blessed each morning that you wake up to find you are still alive. God IS able. Let Him take control and see what blessings He sends your way.

Saturday Snackin'

I wanted to share one of my favorite desserts with you.

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle

Box of Brownie Mix for 9x13 pan

16 Individual Reese Cups

2 boxes vanilla pudding (3.4 oz size)

12 ounces Cool Whip

3 cups milk

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 tsp. vanilla

Make brownies per box directions and in a 9 x 13 pan and let cool. Cut into squares about 1" in size. (If you turn them out of the pan onto a cutting board, when they come out of the over, you can cut them easier with a pizza cutter once they cool.)

In a mix bowl, mix 2 boxes of vanilla pudding with 3 cups of milk. Whisk until well blended. Whisk in peanut butter and vanilla. Once it is blended good, fold in 1/2 cup of Cool Whip.

Cut up 16 individual Reese Cups into quarters. Set to side.

In a trifle bowl, layer one layer of brownies. Spoon 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the brownies.

Spread on 1/2 of the remaining Cool Whip and top with 1/2 of the chopped Reece Cups.

Repeat process, starting with the remaining brownies, then the remaining pudding and remaining Cool Whip. Top with remainder of the brownies.

Enjoy!

A day with a friend...

I had the best day today. I went shopping with a dear friend and we had a girls day out. She is a very dear friend plus my daughter's mother-in-law so we share grandbabies.

We went to a used bookstore to exchange our old books for some new ones to read. Then we went to a second hand shop where I got an unbelievable deal on a Vera Bradley billfold in the style I have been looking for. After that, we stopped at East Town Mall and we had a delicious lunch of chicken fingers, potato skins and onion rings. I know it is not a healthy meal, but it sure was good.  

We are back home and I'm ready to relax in some hot bubbles and start one of my new books. It felt good to have a girls day out, but we both kept looking around for the grandkids, forgetting we didn't have them with us today. Then we would feel guilty because we know they would have had a blast.

Thanks Sherrie for a wonderful day. I had a blast.

It's the little things....

Do you have things in your life that you are a little quirky about? Those items that have to be just so-so or you are not happy with them? Well, for me it is potholders. That's right, I'm obsessive about my potholders. Which is strange considering I rarely cook. But it doesn't matter. I like a particular style of potholder.

Nowadays they make them large and bulky but I prefer just the plain square shaped regular potholders. I have looked high and low trying to find them and finally gave up. I decided they just don't exist any more.

Well, this week my husband came home from the grocery store and was pulling the items from the bags. He nonchalantly said "I bought you something." And pulled out two packs of two each little square potholders!!

I was so excited (yes, it doesn't take much to excite me.) Number one, it thrilled me that he pays attention to what I say and number two, he know what I like. (Of course after griping about it for 4 months, you would have to be deaf not to know what I was looking for.)

But the fact remains that my dear sweet husband knew what that would mean to me. Even if it was just little old potholders, it touched me that he saw them and bought them for me. Granted, he will get way more use out of them than I will. But the next time I bake a cake, I won't have to fuss about the potholders.

I just love surprises. I think I'll make some cupcakes so I can use the new potholders!!

I was just thinking....

I posted a note on Facebook that I had jabbed a rusty nail into the side of my hand and queried how long tetanus shots lasted. I was so amazed at the love and concern that came my way. I was provided with info on how long the shots last, how I should clean the wound and concern that I should go to the doctor. I thank everybody who cared and responded.

It cleaned up real well and I think it will be fine. It didn't go in real far and I cleaned it immediately. But as my old bones have gone through their normal creaking last night, I let my overactive imagination take over. You know how you will get a little catch in your ribs sometimes. Well I was walking down the hall and felt a catch and my first thought was "Oh no, I should have gotten the shot!" Now I'm going to be paranoid with every little pain until the wound heals.

I sat down to write this post because I was laughing at myself. Then a thought hit me that changed the whole direction of the post.

When I picked up the board, I swooped in from the ends and grabbed it. That forced the nail to drive into the side of my hand between the thumb and wrist. It hurts like crazy and has been sore all evening. But the thought that hit me was, if this tiny little jab is hurting me so bad, what pain must our Saviour have felt when they nailed His palms to the cross. How could he have survived such pain and suffering? And to think, He did it for us. All of us. The saved, the sinners, everyone. He didn't call out names and say this is for Bob, Sue, Mandy or Billy. He did it for everybody.

We sometimes moan and groan over little aches and pains, but we tend to forget the agony that Christ went through to give us the wonderful, blessed lives we have.

Jesus is Waiting

I have loved ones who've gone on before.

I have friends I am longing to see.

But the face of my Savior awaits on that shore,

And I know He is waiting for me.

As I journey down life's rugged pathways,

And I struggle for riches untold.

If I'd just stop and look up toward heaven,

Oh the beauty my eyes would behold.

King Jesus abides in that city.

And He's preparing a mansion for me.

So when I'm gone, please spare me your pity,

For King Jesus is waiting for me.

---Written by Brenda Keefer

A lesson to be learned

On this day in 1989, as punishment for betting on baseball, Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose accepts a settlement that includes a lifetime ban from the game.

Now, to many of you, that doesn't mean a thing. But if you grew up in a household where your Daddy was a die-hard Cincinnati Reds fans, it was a sad, sad day. I remember the many hours of debate and discussion on TV, on the radio, in the newspapers: Did he or did he not do what they said?  His fans loved him. They didn't all agree on his guilt or innocence, but they did all agree that he WAS the Reds. Pete Rose and the Reds went hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly, like a pencil and eraser. Baseball changed for them on that day. Many maintained he was innocent because he said he was. Many thought he got a bum rap. Many thought he was guilty. But no matter what they thought about what he did, he was Pete Rose and they still loved him.

Now you may wonder why I am posting this, considering I'm not much of  a sports fan. But I believe there is a lesson to be learned. What Pete Rose did was not a good thing, yet he was still adored by his fans. He was still loved by thousands.

How many times in our lives do we do or say things we know God does not want us to do or ignore doing the things He asks of us, thinking we know best? Yet, how many times does God forgive us for our foolishness and stubbornness in trying to manage on our own? No matter what we do or don't do, He is still there for us. He stands beside us, He carries us, He shows His undying love and support in so many ways and we take it for granted. I don't understand why we as humans are so willing to forgive and forget when we love someone; yet, we find it hard to accept that God feels the same way about us. We need to quit being so hard on ourselves when we fail and just take it to God and leave it there.