Songs of Praise

“I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence…” [Exodus 33:19]

Life begins when dawn breaks and light reveals the goodness of God—not just some of God’s goodness is promised but ALL God’s goodness. That’s His moral goodness—all that is righteous, holy and merciful. His goodness is seen in the created natural order of the things of a life. Though imperfect, they are perfected within the cyclic boundaries of His great love. Like the marriage ring, the covenant of God is the symbol of His unbreakable, unlimited eternal love. It is in this place that the song of the redeemed becomes a heavenly harmony.

Turning: “In that day I will praise you O Lord—Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.”

Trusting: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”

Thanksgiving: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.”

Testifying: “Sing to the Lord for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

Do you get it? Turn—trust—thank—testify. Live inside the circle of His moral goodness and know the fullness of His great love for you today.

Related Reading: Romans 8:33-35 Isaiah 12

Diane Hale
For the past 30 years, Diane has served as evangelist, trainer, teacher, mentor, and consultant for churches of many denominations.
http://dianehale.net/

Thanksgiving Appetizers & Football Munchies

Looking for some great Thanksgiving appetizers and football game munchies for this weekend? Here are a few of my favorites:

Strawberry Won Tons. These little bites of goodness will be disappear as fast you make them!

Quick Buffalo Chicken Dip. Loi’s Buffalo dip is a fun appetizer and game day munchie. Don’t be surprised when it’s gobbled up in record time.

Royal Plum Cake. A co-worker’s wife gave me this recipe years ago. It can be made in a bundt cake pan or in mini-bundt pans for gifts. It’s one of those cakes that’s better the next day. This cake will not last long any gathering.

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball. This has to be my all-time favorite cheese ball. The combination of cream cheese and chocolate chips can’t be beat. This can be made well in advance and stored in the fridge until your gathering. Serve with chocolate graham crackers.

Easy Fruit Dip. Martha’s fruit dip is easy to make and perfect for dipping.

Simple Roasted Pecans. Lee Farmer makes the most delecatable roasted pecans ever. Toss pecans in salt and melted butter and roast in the oven at 350 degrees until dark brown. Watch closely and be careful not to scorch the pecans. Store in an air tight container until the big game.

Pigs-in-a-Blanket. So it’s not homemade, but Hebrew National’s pigs-in-a-blanket make excellent appetizers. At about $12 for a large box at Publix they can be put in the fridge for any holiday event. Save time and your guests will never know!

Turkey & Wild Rice Soup

Plan for a great soup using leftover Thanksgiving turkey, a recipe that’s both fast and yummy.

Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
8 cups chicken or turkey broth
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup wild rice, rinsed
1 stick butter, melted
3/4 c. flour
1 Tbsp sherry
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 1/2 cups turkey or chicken
1/2 of a large box of Velveeta cheese
1 cup half and half
Bacon bits, crumbled

Simmer together the chicken broth, onion and wild rice for 40 minutes.  In a separate pan, whisk flour into melted butter.  Add sherry and poultry seasoning.  Whisk this mixture into the broth.  Simmer (do not boil).  Melt the Velveeta into 1 cup of half and half.  Add cheese to the soup, along with the turkey.  Serve with crumbled bacon bits on top.

Who to Thank this Thanksgiving

While it’s a nice thought, very polite, and good manners to teach your kids to be thankful, it is not the whole truth.  It’s like wishing someone good wishes, when you could be praying for them.  It’s like saying a good word, when you could be saying a good word about Jesus.  It’s like hoping they get well, when you could be praying and trusting for the Great Physician to heal and comfort them.  It’s like standing in the middle of a field and saying thank you for the trees, instead of looking up to heaven and thanking the God and Creator of the universe for His creation.

This Thanksgiving, let’s not just teach our children to be thankful, let’s teach them Who to thank.

1. Crown of Thanks. Cut different shapes and colors of leaves out of colored paper.  Write on the leaves what you want to thank God for.  Tape on the wall, up around the ceiling.  Circle the room with a crown of thanks to the Lord.

2. Be Thankful Finger Play.

Lord, I have two hands, 10 fingers that I can wiggle
Lord, I’m thankful for jello, yellow jello that I can jiggle

(Hold up your hands, wiggle your little finger on your left hand first.
wiggle wiggle – First, I’m thankful for_________.
Keep your hands up high, wiggle your ring finger next on your left hand
wiggle wiggle – Second I’m thankful for ________.
(Keep going with all ten fingers, until you are all the way to your little finger on your right hand.)

Lord, I’m thankful for 10 things, but there’s so many more.
But most of all I’m thankful for Jesus. It’s Him that I adore

3.  Thank You Reflection. Keep Post-its in the shape of a turkey or leaf near the bathroom mirror with a pen. Family members and visitors can write down what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving week and post-it on the bathroom mirror.

4.  Thank you List. Make a list of what we are thankful list, instead of what we want.  Do you usually have an ongoing grocery list on your refrigerator where family members can write down a grocery item that is missing from the cupboards or refrigerator?  How about keeping a list of what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving?  Keep a running list of what you are thankful for, what you do have this Thanksgiving.

5.  Thankful Cake. On the dessert table this year at Thanksgiving consider including a Thankful Cake.  Write on the top of the Thankful Cake in the middle “We are thankful for…”   Then, write in icing different things that your family is thankful for on top of the Thankful Cake.

6.  Thank the Lord Around the World. Thank the Lord in different languages.  Write or record thank you in many different languages around the world.  Before the Thanksgiving family prayer at the table, play the recording as you thank God for loving the whole world and giving his only begotten Son for the world that whosoever believes in Him might not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

7. Hymn Sing. Why not start or continue a Thanksgiving tradition of singing together? Sing several hymns or praise songs together before or after your Thanksgiving meal.

8. Thank You Video. You can make a video throughout the morning of Thanksgiving Day, interviewing family members with the question, “What are you most thankful to the Lord for this Thanksgiving?”  Show the video before or after Thanksgiving Dinner.  Most point and shoot digital cameras come with a video camera function which can serve this purpose well.

Do some of these things so that your family might remember that we are not only thankful this Thanksgiving but that we know who to thank – To God be the Glory.

Thankful for a Word

Everything about the Thanksgiving holiday stirs my heart.  I bid a fond farewell to summer and look forward to it again next year, but for now…

My heart begins to ponder countless things I’m thankful for, the many blessings I’ve received.  At the top of my list is God’s faithfulness.  I am genuinely thankful for the oft-spoken blessings: food, shelter, health, family, provision.  For the past five years, I am also thankful for a word -a single but profoundly important word.

Five years ago I asked God for a word to hold in my heart over the coming year.  I wanted to embrace a single word, a sweet reminder of God’s presense in my life, like a child holding her favorite doll.  And in His faithful, loving way, that is exactly what I got.

My first word was *Content.*  I came to love that word and reminded myself to be content in all things.  The next year I began the process of once again preparing my heart.  That year my word was *Enough.*  What fitting words I was receiving!  Living and abiding in my word throughout the year was rich and rewarding.  I felt myself drawing nearer to God’s heart. He was using *my* word to comfort, mold and shape me into His great desire. Suddenly I was at His well, drinking Living Water, being renewed, cherished and cared for by my Creator, the Lover of my Soul.

One year my word was *Trust.*  Oh, God, not *trust.*  How about *Timely* or *Cleanliness?*  I was rattled.  I considered all of the events ahead of me …teenage driving, health issues, adult children finding their way. Then I knew that *trust* was the perfect word for that year and every year after!  What a blessing that word became.  It was a constant reminder:  God was in control and I could *trust* Him!

This year’s word is *Rejoice.*  I have been rejoicing…and being content…and having enough….and trusting…and knowing that I am cared for, protected, loved, provided for….known…by our King!

With the quickly approaching Thanksgiving season, won’t you join me in prayer for a new word of your own?  Prepare your heart.  It is a word, the Word, a word to be thankful for.

Edible Twist on Five Kernels Tradition

A few years ago I bought a large bag of Skittles for our Thanksgiving family gathering.   I opened the bag and instructed each family member to take some Skittles.  The bag made its way around the family circle. The younger children chose to pour a small mound; older family members kept just a few.  After the Skittles made their way around, I instructed everyone to share one thing they were thankful for for each piece of candy they held.

We had to help some of the smaller children since they kept so many Skittles.  They were thankful for everything from grass and bugs to family members.  Our older family members put more thought into their comments.  My favorite response came from my mother-in-law’s mom.  She is a precious lady, but not often free with positive or encouraging comments.  This particular day she lavished words of encouragement and affirmation on my sweet mother-in-law.

My mother-in-law needed to hear her words.  After our time together, my mother-in-law commented that she had never heard her mom speak so affirmingly of her.  If we had not planned our activity with the Skittles, I wonder if those words would have ever been exchanged.  Many of us will always remember that time together.

Times like this rarely happen unless they are planned for.  Why not make this a part of your Thanksgiving this year?  Start by choosing your favorite (small bits of) candy and a time you can be together with your family.  Who knows what special memories will come your way?

Thanksgiving: Least Favorite Food, Favorite Dressing, and Leftover

I thought this poll was funny that I saw about holiday food on AOL.

I narrowed it down to traditional Thanksgiving foods.

Least favorite Thanksgiving food in no particular order:
a. dry turkey
b. lumpy mashed potatoes
c. giblet gravy
d. stuffing with weird stuff in it
e. too-fancy cranberry sauce

I’m going to go with “d” with “c” running a close second!

Strange crunchy, unidentifiable items are what stress me most when I eat any casserole-like item. I must be able to identify all items in the dish and I do not want any surprises. Here’s the dressing I love, love, love:

Southern Cornbread Dressing

Sherra’s note: I use a two boxes of Jiffy

cornbread and add two to three tablespoons of sugar to dry mix, then follow box directions and bake. I then put

cooled cornbread in gallon ziploc bag and crumble. I make and bake this a day or two before Thanksgiving and then reheat on Thanksgiving Day. I omit the onion and used minced onion instead. And of course, I omit the celery – it’s green and crunchy!

4 cups crumbled cornbread
3 or 4 pieces bread or biscuit, crumbled
2 cans Swanson chicken broth (13-3/4 ounce)
1 large onion, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
3 eggs
1 cup butter, melted

In a large bowl, combine the cornbread and chicken broth; allow to soak. Add the onions, celery, and eggs, mixing thoroughly. Add the melted butter. Place the mixture in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Bake in a 350º oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Serves: 8

Recipe from: Shellmont Bed and Breakfast Inn, Atlanta, Georgia

Favorite Leftover:

Potato Cakes

My husband takes leftover mashed potatoes and makes Potato Cakes. Basically these are fried mashed potatoes. Oh what a surprise that we all like these.

There’s no official recipe.

Simply form the cold mashed potatoes into patties (about the size and thickness of a hamburger patty) and dredge in flour. Melt several tablespoons of margarine and put the potato cakes in the hot skillet. Cook on both sides until golden brown.

*****

Happy, happy Thanksgiving!

What’s your least favorite Thanksgiving food? And what’s your favorite leftover?

Sherra Humphreys
http://sherralifelesson.com/

Blessed to be a Blessing

Last year at church I listened as a sweet sister in Christ shared how someone provided her family with a Thanksgiving dinner. A man said that the Lord impressed him to do this for her family. My friend is a stay-at-home mom whose husband had been out of work for over six months. Things had been hard but, as she shared, God has met every need and continues to be good. After losing their home and moving in with another family, her faith and trust in the Lord continues to shine as a testimony.

This week as we go into the homestretch to Thanksgiving, it is the perfect time to purchase items to give to others in need. Dinner rolls, vegetables, baking supplies, and turkey are just a few of the foods that will be on sale. Invite a family facing hard times to Thanksgiving dinner and send them home with groceries. Try something fun such as leaving groceries on the front porch, ringing the doorbell and running. Of course, make sure they are home so the food does not sit out too long and melt or spoil.

It’s easy to think about basics, but also include cookies, cake mixes, and chips for a nice treat. Fresh fruits and vegetables are especially good. When money is tight, fresh foods are often overlooked in exchange for cheaper canned goods. Find out what their favorite soft drink is and include it.

Another idea is to purchase some fall decorations for the family you will bless. Wal-Mart has marked all their fall decorations down by at least 50%. Pick up a beautiful wreath for less than $10 or maybe some fall napkins for $1. Little things such as napkins or seasonal paper dessert plates can add a festive note.

On MMCW we have an Abundant Living page. Some call it being thrifty, others may say frugal living. I think it is truly living in abundance. All we have comes from God. We are a blessed nation with riches those in some countries can only imagine. I have always believed we are blessed to be a blessing financially in our communities and world. Living abundantly is about living within our means so we have resources to bless others.

This week be a blessing!

Grateful for Nothing

I have nothing to be grateful for this year.  Nothing that I know of, anyway.  We had no major illnesses requiring miraculous healings.  No job loss, no house fire, no broken bones.  Nothing whatsoever interfered with the normal, peaceful rhythm of our lives.

What I mean to say is that life has gone along as usual this year, and that is the “nothing” that I’m thankul for.

The Lord is always actively intervening on our behalf, even though we often aren’t aware of His protection.  I caught a glimpse of His hidden work recently, as our family was narrowly spared from disaster twice in one month.

As we were leaving church one Sunday, my husband was delayed.  I ended up on one side of the street, and he on the other.  Our seven-year-old son wanted to be with his daddy, so he darted into the road without looking, running to the other side.  I screamed as I saw a large pickup truck heading right for him.

In God’s providence, the driver had his window down, and heard my scream.  He slammed on the brakes and my son stopped, paralyzed, right by the truck’s front wheel.  One split second was all that lay between the something that could have happened and the nothing that did.

Three weeks and two thousand miles later, we were nearly home, after a long, cross-country trip.  How frightened I had been before we left, having never driven so far from home alone with my children before.  Yet nothing had gone wrong.  My husband had told me that I was in no more danger one thousand miles from home than I was right here in our own town.

He was right.

Three miles from home, we were struck by a hit-and-run driver, presumably drunk.  He barreled around the corner, on our side of the road.  We swerved into the ditch, yet on he came, straight towards our van.  At the last moment, he veered away, shearing off our side mirror but leaving us unharmed.

One second is nothing, yet it made all the difference in the world to us.

How many more times has the Lord protected us from harm, when we weren’t even aware of it?  Now that’s something to be grateful for.

“The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:8

Testimony of Faithfulness

My husband and I knew the heartache of losing a loved one through a car accident while we were still college sweet hearts.  I received the call late one night:  my stepsister had been tragically killed only six days after her twentieth birthday. My husband had lost his aunt only a few years earlier.

The fourth of our five children obtained her driving permit earlier this year.  I would love to say that it brings joy to my heart when my children reach this milestone in their lives but, unfortunately, it doesn’t. It does, however, increase my time in prayer for them and my trust in the Lord’s faithfulness toward our family.

Only three months after our first son got his driving license, I received the dreaded call that I needed to meet the ambulance at the hospital.  The police officer assured me that our son and his passenger would be fine, and yet it still raised my blood pressure to see our son arrive on a stretcher in a neck brace.  The car was destroyed, but our son came out without a scratch.

Three years later, my cell phone rang again.  This time the hysterical voice on the other end was our second son.  A semi-truck had hit him, totalling his car.  I counted the blessings of another young son walking away from a wreck unscathed.

And earlier this year it was our third son’s turn to call home for help.  His car had hydroplaned in the rain, crashing through a road signpost and a small tree before flipping twice and, incredibly, landing on all four wheels. He left the scene of the accident with nothing worse than scratches on his head and knuckles.

Our oldest daughter began driving this year, and I praise the Lord for His faithfulness.  Each day I pray for safety for our children while they drive, but I remember that regardless of what happens, my God remains faithful to me all the time.  I pray that no matter what my future holds, I will respond to the Lord as His servant Job did, when he said “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21b; NASB)  For now, I praise Him for giving so abundantly!

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