Saturday, September 27, 2008

Georgia better win

All I have to say is Georgia had better win this game! Why? Well, it isn't because I'm a really devout GA fan. I mean I want them to win b/c they're GA. But they have to win b/c Justin made a bet at work with his Alabama co-workers that whoever loses has to wear a mustache for a week! The score is presently 23-0 Alabama, and I'm getting worried...GO DAWGS!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

from Bible Study

I continue to be so blessed by my Bible Study at dear Ruth's house. This year we are reading the book Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands. Ruth has so many quotes memorized; it is really astounding (esp. her knowledge of the word)! Here are a few that came up tonight.

"Faith is trusting in God when life gives you reason not to."
Corrie ten Boom (author of The Hiding Place, which I highly recommend)

"The root of all sin is the suspicion that God isn't good."
Oswald Chambers

"All of our sins can be traced back to pride, unbelief, and self (or p.u.s.)." Gross but true! Apparently, Bob went into great detail about how our sin is like a great boil full of pus waiting to burst, and it bursts forth from pride, unbelief, and (love of) self.
Bob Flayhart (Pastor of Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church in b-ham)

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Yummy Salmon Dish

Justin doesn't even like salmon but we both LOVED this recipe. It sounds weird but it really is delicious (if you like flavorful foods).

Barbeque Saucy Salmon (Rachael Ray)
1 T olive oil
1/4 red onion, chopped
2 T red wine vinegar
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 T tomato paste
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp ground pepper
2 fillets salmon or salmon steaks
salt

Make the glaze: Heat a small saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil then onion, and cook onion 3 min. Add vinegar and cook until reduced by half. Add syrup, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and pepper. Bring to a bubble and simmer.

Meanwhile, start the salmon: Heat up a grill pan over med.-high heat. Drizzle salmon with olive oil and season with salt. Grill (I used cast-iron skillet) for 5 min. and baste liberally with the glaze. Flip salmon and glaze opposite side for 5 more min.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Steadfast Patience


Notes from my pastor last Sunday on James 5:7-12:
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers,
[1] until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

-God wants to grow godly character in us. The soil of suffering and adversity yields godly character.

-Patience=self-restraint that does not retaliate

-We must have a determination not to fall away in the face of suffering.

-Jesus's maturity came through suffering.

-To be patient you must have a resolute heart (settled, determined, focused heart).

-We establish our hearts by grace and by the anchor for our souls--the gospel.

-The gospel reminds us how much slack God has given us. We are called to love others in the same way.


Questions:

-Do I believe grace grows best in the soil of suffering?

-Do I see the end and know that patient edurance is worth it?

-What do I expect of God and why?

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Blessings

baby ethan

em and matt (4th of July in Kennesaw)
corey and anne (good times at the coke museum)
mom playing in the olympic park fountains
celebrating justin turning 26 this august with robert and anna

Friday, September 5, 2008

Jesus Keeps

I'm so thankful that Jesus always loves me. He is the one person I can always count on to love me well and completely and without regard to my behavior. This week the stresses of school and my lack of sleep have caught up with me. I've struggled to be kind and patient to my husband as well as my students. The Lord has used my sweet students to remind me of the great work he is doing and allowing me to be a part of. We pray each morning, and on Fridays we pray for the lost. Hearing their sweet prayers for those unsaved people they know was such a gift to me this morning. God is so faithful to bring us to places and put us in situations where we can't make it without him. I want to love people better and I'm encouraged because Jesus wants me to love people better, too. I'm thankful that in Christ I have hope.

"My memory has no retention, so I forget easily the lessons learned, and thy truths seep away. Give me a broken heart that yet carries home the water of grace."