31 Days Of Praise - Day Three

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Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and glory to His name!

On Day Two of  Lisa Jo's challenge I shared the fact that God had made yet another promise to me...the promise to do a new thing in my life, and to make a way in our wilderness experience and to provide rivers of living water in the dry, parched, and sometimes desolate desert places in which we now find ourselves. What refreshing promises to hold on to in times such as this! Thank You, Lord!

Last night, after a better, but still particularly trying day, the Lord reminded me of another promise made to me long ago....a couple of promises, in fact. Promises that have not yet come to pass, but promises that I know are still in the works. Here is the passage of scripture that the Lord led me to last night...

"But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany 

salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work 

and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have 

ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do 

shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not 

slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, 

he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will 

multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."

(Hebrews 6:9-15)

In the midst of all this turmoil that we are currently going through, I believe that the Lord is telling me that He knows. He knows what we've been through...the sacrifices we've made...and that He has not forgotten us, nor has He forgotten the promises that He made to us many years ago, and that if we, through faith and patience, endure, that He will bring them to pass.

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for the promises that You've made to us in Your Word, as well as those that You've made to us personally, and the fulfillment of all...whether it be now or in the future. I give You all praise and glory today, Lord, and I lift Your name on high!

1000 Gifts - October 3, 2012

 Today's Gifts...

A gift caught...

48. the best lessons in life (caught...not taught)

...a gift let go...

49. my dearly departed, much loved, and much missed mother

 ...a gift mid-way...

50. my walk with the Lord...mid-way between where I've come from and where I'm going

Recipe: Potato And Turkey Brat Chowder

Potato and Turkey Brat Chowder

I made this for supper tonight and it was a big hit! I will definitely make it again and I'm sure it will become a cool-weather favorite.

(I started with Crystal Miller's Potato and Sausage Chowder recipe, but tweaked it a bit to use up ingredients on hand. Check out Crystal Miller's site, The Family Homestead, by clicking HERE. For Crystal's original Potato and Sausage Chowder recipe CLICK HERE.)


POTATO AND TURKEY BRAT CHOWDER

3 to 4 lbs. potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 lb. Honeysuckle White Lean Turkey Bratwursts
1/2 onion, chopped
1 can cream-style corn
1 can evaporated milk
salt and pepper to taste

Cover the chopped potatoes with water and add about 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain off the water until it is at the same level as the potatoes. Make sure to save the potato water.

In a medium pan cook the brats and onion. Cook until brats are completely cooked through and the onion is soft. Cut brats into pieces; add to potatoes. Add cream-style corn and evaporated milk. Stir and add some of the reserved potato water until you have the consistency that you desire. Add salt and pepper to taste and heat until hot through.

(I served this with cornbread on the side and made One-Bowl Brownies for dessert.)

31 Days Of Praise - Day Two

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Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and glory to His name!


Despite the fact that Day One of Lisa Jo's challenge went very well, by nightfall it was with a heavy heart that I finally climbed into our bed burdened with fear, doubt, and anxiety concerning the future of our family. How can God fix all that's wrong? To me there are no answers. In my desperation I reached out into the darkness and grabbed the Bible that my children gave me as a Christmas gift many years ago. It rests on the nightstand by our bed. In the darkness I flipped it open to an unknown passage. Then, I turned on the small light that we keep on the head of the bed, and I read...

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?

I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

(Isaiah 43:18-19)

Praise the name of the Lord! In that moment of utter desperation I had reached out of the darkness and into the marvelous Light of God's Word and, once again, He failed me not! There in that moment of utter desperation God made yet another promise unto me! He promised that He will do a new thing in my life! That He will make a way in the midst of our wilderness experience and provide rivers of living water in the dry, parched, and sometimes desolate desert places in which we now find ourselves.

After reading those verses I shut the light off, cradled the Bible in my arms, and drifted off to sleep. I awoke several hours later to find it still there...nestled in my arms...held close to my chest. I could hear the quiet breathing of my husband asleep beside me and suddenly I knew that, no matter what uncertainty may present itself with the passing of each new day, with God making a way...with God opening up our path step-by-step before us...all will be well. 

Praise the name of the Lord forever! Amen!

In Him,
~Rebecca

1000 Gifts - October 2, 2012

Today's Gifts...

      3 gifts falling...

45. Falling Leaves...Golden Yellows, Fiery Reds, Pumpkin Oranges, and Beautiful Browns

46. Water Falling...Rushing...Tumbling Over a Rocky Cliff In Northern Minnesota

47. Falling Temps As Autumn Turns Into Winter

31 Days Of Praise - Day One

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Once again I am being challenged by Lisa Jo Baker over at Tales From a Gypsy Mama, who in turn is being challenged by The Nester over at the Nesting Place to write for 31 days about any subject of your choice.

I hadn't even seriously considered taking this challenge until this morning. I couldn't think of a single topic that I felt that I even could write about...let alone wanted to. The past few years have been difficult to say the least, but the past few months, weeks, and days have been particularly trying. I've not been able to concentrate on anything and it shows...in every area of my life.

But...the past few days a reoccurring theme has kept presenting itself to me. At every turn the Lord has been challenging me to praise Him in the midst of our difficulties. It's something I used to do with ease, but, here lately, even that has been difficult for me.

BUT...(yes...another "BUT")...here today before God, and you as my witnesses, I accept the challenge to offer up 31 days of praise unto the Lord and commit to sharing the results of that challenge here. I ask that you pray for me as I embark on this challenge, because I am, indeed, afraid to commit, because I've just not been that good at keeping my commitments lately, but before God, and you, I promise my best to try. Some days it may be little more than a whisper of a prayer, but I do commit to do my best to complete this challenge.

Let me start with this scripture of singing praises to our Lord. I know that there's a little tune that goes with this, because we used to sing it often at our little church back home in Blue Springs, Missouri. It is with that tune in my head that I present this verse to you this morning...

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever..." (I will sing! Oh, I will sing!)

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever! I will sing of the mercies of the Lord!

"And with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness" (thy faithfulness!)

And with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness "to all generations."

(Psalm 89:1)

And this morning I offer up praise to the Lord for the following...

First and foremost I praise the Lord God for His immense love for me. Ninety-nine percent of the time I feel so incredibly unworthy of it, yet I know that it's true that He loves me because His Word tells me He does. So much so that He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross of Calvary and shed His precious blood for me! I must not fall prey to the enemy of my soul and allow myself to go by feelings. No! I must rather go on faith. If God's Word says it, then I must believe it!

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You this morning for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cruel cross of Calvary for me. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness, Lord, and create a clean heart within me. Forgive me for my failings and help me (us) to overcome the current difficulties that assail me (us) on every front. Help me (us) to redeem the time and do that which is right in Your sight. In Jesus' holy and precious name I pray...Amen!

 

Have a blessed day everyone! 

In Him,

~Rebecca

Today's gifts...

 3 GIFTS ORANGE -

     41. big, round pumpkins
     42. juicy, tangy oranges
     43. a big, orange tabby that will forever live in my memory