Faithful Friday

Faithful occurs 82 times in 78 verses in the KJV

Faithful, ever wonder what that word really means? I did so I did a quick search on the word.

From Webster's Dictionary Main Entry: 1faith·ful

Pronunciation: \ˈfāth-fəl\
Function: adjective
Date: 14th century
1 obsolete : full of faith
2 : steadfast in affection or allegiance : loyal
3 : firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty : conscientious
4 : given with strong assurance : binding
5 : true to the facts, to a standard, or to an original

Let me ask you now, are you faithful? You may wonder faithful to what, well I mean are we faithful to God, to his calling, to his service, to do what he has burdened our hearts to do for him.

1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
We see God does expect us to be faithful,  in all things, and it is important enough that he wrote it in his Holy Word. 
 We need to do our duty,  and prove ourselves faithful:  Remember what God said " It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful "  that mean trustworthy. The stewards in Christ’s family must appoint what he hath appointed. They must not set their fellow-servants to work for themselves. They must not require any thing from them without their Master’s warrant. They must not feed them with the chaff of their own inventions, instead of the wholesome food of Christian doctrine and truth. They must teach what he hath commanded, and not the doctrines and commandments of men. They must be true to the interest of their Lord, and consult his honour. Note, The ministers and witnesses of Christ should make it their hearty and continual endeavour to approve themselves trustworthy; and when they have the testimony of a good conscience, and the approbation of their Master, they must slight the opinions and censures of their fellow-servants: I hope I can always be found faithful, always abounding in my fathers work, and always giving God the glory for the work that is done.

Have a very wonderful weekend, and God bless you real good, lots of Hugs, Barbara♥

♥ Thankful Thursday ♥

I was thinking about what I am thankful for, and then seen this graphic, and I thought well first and foremost I am thankful for the loving Shepherd who found me, and made me his own, now I can say I am his, without hesitation, or thinking, I love my precious Shepherd, and I so want to be pleasing to him. I do not want to wander off to any other pasture, and I do not want to have him use the rod on me, or to break my legs, now that is a stretch, but the true Shepherd does at times need to do that, to his sheep, those are they that wander off and just will not stay close by the Shepherd, I want to be in the arms of the Shepherd, and let him care for me, to feed me, to clothe me, to lead me to green pastures, and sweet still water, oh yes I love where the Shepherd takes me, and may I always and forever follow him, and one day I will follow him right into heaven, where the truest green pastures are, and that is my hope, and what a wonderful experience to look forward to. I so hope the upper taker comes and gets me, and not the undertaker, I am waiting for the Rapture of the church, and hope it is while I am still living, that is my earnest hope, is it your hope, if you have never accepted that free gift of salvation I beg you let today be the day of salvation, let today be the first day of the rest of your life.

Luke 15:6  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.



Now I can almost hear the excitement of his voice when he stated this, can you?


John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.


John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Yes Praise God, I do know his voice and I am thankful for that;  I cannot imagine not talking to my Jesus, or being able to hear him, I do love his direction, I love his written word, and when I get fluttered and flittered, I am happy he is there to lead me, to correct me and to call me his sheep. Have a Teriffic Thankful Thursday, and be blessed.

☺TASTY TUESDAY☺

Creole Shrimp and Okra 

Ingredients


2 tablespoons olive oil
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
3 cooked Kielbasa sausage, cut into pieces
1 (10 ounce) frozen cut okra, thawed or fresh if you have it.
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, or to taste
2 teaspoons salt
2 pounds peeled and deveined medium shrimp (30-40 per pound)


Directions


Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the bell pepper and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes, then add the okra, sausage, Cajun seasoning, and salt. Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Stir in the shrimp and cook until they are bright pink on the outside and the meat is no longer transparent in the center, 8 to 12 minutes.

I hope you have fun making this, and it is a fun dish, if you like sea food you will love this. You can make rice and serve it over rice too, or plain however you like it. But it takes you down home to New Orleans, and piece of corn bread with it you are set. Just ask Aliene, I bet she makes this dish.


Be blessed my friends, and have a wonderful Tasty Tuesday.. Hugs, Barbara ♥

Bloom Where You Are Planted

1 Chronicles 4:10 "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."

I am really reminiscing on this one, it goes way back to the late 70's.  Let me start at the beginning, hope you have time, we had gotten saved in 1974, about two years later my dear husband was called to preach.  Well he started praying, *long before the prayer of Jabez was ever written in a little book* and this verse he claimed, 1 Chronicles 4:10, he surrendered his all to the lord, and ask him to enlarge his coast, to give him the mission field he wanted us to serve in, to give him the strength to carry out any assignment the lord would give.
We lived in Jacksonville, FL at that time, January 1 1980 God called us to Miami, FL. I sure did not want to go there, but being the obedient wife, and obedient child of God I held in my feelings. We packed our my belongings, our children, and away we went.
Bound for a new ministry, a new life, with all new surroundings.

Well I wish I could tell you I was happy, because we were in the lord's will, but I was not, I kept praying oh God why did you send us to this strange land. Of all the places, to a place we did not speak the language, and the people were different than I was used to. Well After a couple of months, and a very bad battle with a virus, I surrendered my will to God also. Anywhere he would send, I prayed lord use us, and let us be a blessing to others. I had finally settled in, started working with the youth, and we had a good life going. I was started to get rooted again, in my little garden of life. Then one day my dear husband said I feel a strange drawing to the west, and we giggled and he said, is that you lord saying, *Go West Young Man, Go West* well strangely enough a pastor called from Colorado, wanting us to come and be assistants Pastor with him, and youth director. Well we packed up, giving away more of our belongings and away we went to the Rocky mountains of Colorado, well some strange things were happening in this church, and we only stayed there about 10 months, then defeated and broken we came back to FL, we had to stay with friends, and start from scratch once again. By now I am getting tired of moving, and tired of being in others care, and just plain tired of living the life of a preacher.
Shame on me, I never was vocal about this, but just keep harboring ill feelings for some, and even for my husband, that was dragging me all over.

We did get back on our feet, he went to work as a Superintendent on construction, and God worked it all out for us to buy some land, and put a home on it. Now finally I had my own home, I could relax  and just serve the lord with all gladness, and things would be all hunky dory, WRONG...
I actually felt like I was being planted, and I was growing, and I was doing all the things I wanted to do, *Now tell me does that statement look right to you?* Kinda looks like that statement in Isaiah made by Satan huh. Well that was most of my problem, I was not blooming where I was planted, I was shriveling up, and ready to drop my leaves.

My dear husband had to have back surgery, WOW now what am I going to do, that my first thought, how will we survive now, well in case you do not know, we serve a very big God, who is very capable in caring for his children,  He did, we never missed a meal, we never missed paying a bill, and I fell on my face one night after I came home from the hospital from seeing my beloved, and ask God to take that selfish streak out of me, to replace it with a giving Spirit, of love and kindness, to take the bitter feelings I had away, and to replace them with a worshipping heart to God. I got up different that night. God took care of us, always had, and he always will, not long after that my husband became a Pastor, we were trying to plant a church in Georgia, well God planted us, and honestly I seen myself bloom as never before, I was becoming what God wanted of me, He has the lead in my life, and my dear husband follows him, as I follow my husband, happily and gladly serving God where ever we go.
Now my dear friend, let me ask you to search your own heart, are you following God obediently and not holding back any thing from him, he want to use you, he wants to make you bloom like the finest rose in your garden. Let him, yes  just let go and let God.

God bless you today, lots of Hugs, Barbara♥

♥ Friendly Friday ♥

THE FLOWERS:  Physical Blessings



Wherever God makes flowers bloom, praises rise to heaven. Whenever he floods our lives with blessings, we too, respond in songs of praise!


The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come. Song of Solomon 2:12

A Friend loveth at all times (Proverbs 17:17)


God certainly has uniquely designed each person he has brought into your life. Some bring balance, while others infuse vibrancy, bring focus with Pizzazz, or fill in empty spaces with simplicity. Together, you make a brilliant bouquet. Each person comes to you, intended as a blessing from your Lord.

Now Consider these examples:

Do you know Rose? Rose buds begin tightly closed and then slowly open up in reveal individual layers of petals that lead deeper to the flower's center. Is there someone in your life who is difficult to get to know? Don't grow weary in waiting. She will bless you as she unfolds in God's time.


Remember, "The entrance of they words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119:130).


As God reveals his mysteries to your "Rose", she will become increasingly more beautiful.


Do you know Lily? Lily of the Valley, I mean? The valley is a place of growth but it is often also a place of suffering. Romans 5:3-5 promises blessings to those who persevere in suffering: "We glory in tribulations also; And knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Yet when trials are severe or persistent rejoicing isn't so easy, perhaps God is inviting you to come alongside your "Lily" to encourage her.


Do you know Forget Me Not? Forget-me-nots have clusters of small blue flowers, unforgettably beautiful! Have you said good-bye to someone you'll never forget? Perhaps a family member has gone on to be with the lord, or a dear friend has moved far away. Their absence leaves you feeling blue, and yet the beauty of your realtionship remains. If so, contine to praise your generous Lord for that treasured friend. Join the psalmist in worship: "Bess the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits" (Psalm 103:2)


Lord, I am so thankful for the bouquet of relationships you use to beautify my life. Help me to add beauty to the lives I touch.  Amen. This was in a little devotional book called Bouquet of Blessings, and I wanted to share it with all my friends, I thought it was very special, and needed to be seen.

Lots of Hugs, Barbara♥

Thankful Thursday

Well another Thursday has rolled around, it seems like they come and go so fast, but none the less I am still praising God for all he does, I am so thankful he knows me, and that he keeps an eye on me. Others may come and go in my life but God is constant, he is one I can depend on to always be there for me, I can cry to Him, I can laugh with him,  and he will always be on my side. He never leaves, he never makes fun of, he never turns his back on me, or tries to shut me out.


Romans 8:31 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"


We had a lady in our church that always used to say that, so many were ugly to her, and she lived with many lost family, that was her reply when they made fun of her or laughed at her. Now she is with the lord, and snuggled up close to his side, and I bet still saying, Ayep...If God be for me, who can be against me. I loved this dear couple, both are in heaven now waiting for us, her dear husband went on about two years before her, to help guide her show her around when she got there no doubt. They were a loving couple who adored brother Chuck and I so much, we loved them like our folks. Oh yes I am so thankful for all the dear people of all kinds who I have had the honor of knowing thought my life. God has allowed me to touch some lives, and allowed me to be touched by some wonderful people, I am forever thankful for that, God bless each of you, and may you have a wonderful and thankful Thursday. Now tell me ladies what or who are you thankful for today?

Lots of Hugs, Barbara♥

Wonderful Words For Wednesday

THE "DNA" OF JESUS



Was and is Jesus very God?


Gen. 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.


John 1:3: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.


Gen. 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.


This limits the seed. Normal births are the seed of the man -- not the woman. Jesus had to be virgin born.


It was prophesied, in Gen. 22:8: "And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering" -- not, as many say, "God will provide for himself a lamb", but "God will provide himself a lamb."


John 1:29: Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.


John 8:19: Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father?


John 8:24: I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.


NOTE: If you do not believe that Jesus is God the Father, you will die in your sins.


John 14:9: Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?


Heb. 1:8: But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.


There are many more Scriptures that prove that Jesus is very God. Here is the "DNA" of Jesus' blood:


Acts 20:28: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.


God purchased His church with His own blood -- the blood that came out of Jesus was God's blood. What an humbling fact, that God would leave heaven, enter human flesh on earth, and die for you and me. God did all of this for us, but He cannot save you unless you open the door to your heart and let Him in.


Heb. 7:25: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.


Jesus died to save you, He lives to forgive you and, if you trust Him, He will come and receive you.


AMEN...Praise God for his seed (Jesus)

Be Blessed and have a wonderful prayerful time tonight, God bless you, and keep you until we meet again. Lots of Hugs, Barbara♥

Terrific Tasteful Tuesday

So tell me are your taste buds all primed up and ready to see what I whipped up for you today? I thought I would post the Chocolate Delight I took to the mother daughter tea Saturday, everyone so enjoyed it, I know you will too. So here is your yum yum for today, and hope you enjoy it as much as everyone else does.

CHOCOLATE DELIGHT

Crust
1 c. flour
1 stick butter (1/4 lb.)
1 c. crushed walnuts
Melt butter, add flour and nuts. Spread into 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown (approximately 15 to 20 minutes). Let cool.


Mixture
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 of a 12 oz. Cool Whip
Spread over crust. LET SET UP


Beat 2 large instant chocolate puddings with 3 cups milk. Spread over cream cheese. Top with remaining Cool Whip. Garnish with grated chocolate (can use chocolate bar) or add nuts.


You can change this to Lemon Delight by changing the 2 large chocolate puddings to 2 small lemon instant pudding.

I just cannot a go a day without putting some little jot and tittle about our lord here too, what a wonderful attribute God give us in taste, I say taste the word of the lord, for it is good, nothing will ever satisfy your longing or your hunger as the word of God will. It is the bread of life, it is the living water, that springs up from within our soul daily, to give us the peace and joy and comfort, if we did not feel those those things, we certainly would not enjoy the taste of food either, everything would be so bland and not taste good. I praise God for each of my senses that he has so wonderfully and marvellously created in me, I say to God be the glory for great things he has done.
Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
Psalms 119:103 "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Taste occurs 22 times in the KJV of God's Holy word, so I do believe God puts importance in the taste he has given us, we could do a study on taste, and I am sure we will come up with so many variations of the word, how it is used, and how we apply it. But that is it for this day, hope you have enjoyed the little tidbit, and hope you make this delicious dessert for your own family, it will tantalize the taste of all..
Hugs and Blessings, Barbara♥

I Had A Wonderful Saturday and Mother's Day, my dear children are the best, and I love each of them so very much, thank you for making my day a great one. Lookie these gorgeous flowers I got.

Even my Humming Bird stopped by to say hello today, giggles Hope your day was great too

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MY FRIENDS

♥A Tribute To My Mother, My Friend♥






Like most children I never seen my mother as a person, she was always just mama. She was always there when I needed her, and she was the one who first taught me about Christ, and took me to church every Sunday...She always tried to teach me how I should grow up, and I did rebel many times because I did not think Mother knew best. How I wish she were here now to talk to, and to love. My precious mother went home to be with the lord, two days before her 75th birthday in 1990. Life is so short, as God says in his word it is even a vapor, it appeareth for a little while then vanisheth away. This is sure true, if you still have you mother, love her, let her know how important she is in your life. Never let a day go by without saying mom I love you, and never let the sun go down being angry with her.

I have to wait for heaven to tell my dear mom how much I really love again. Yes Praise God for faithful and Godly mothers, teaching their children the ways of the Lord.

M is for the million things she gave me
O means only that she's growing old
T  is for the tears she shed to save you
H is for her heart of purest gold
E is for her eyes, with love-light shining
R means right, and right she'll always be...

Put them all together, they spell


"MOTHER"
A word that means the world to all of us
Author unknown

Here are some Poems that I found written to Mothers, they are lovely, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

"A MOTHER'S LOVE"
A Mother's love is something
That no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
it is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away...
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking...
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest,brightest gems...
It is far beyond defining,
it defiles all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation...
A many splendored miracle
man can not understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.
~Helen Steiner Rice~

"What Is A Mother?"



A mother is one who understands
The things you say and do
Who always overlooks your faults
And sees the best in you...


A mother is one who's special love
Inspires you day by day
Who fills your heart with gladness
In her warm and thoughtful ways...


A mother is all these things and more...
The greatest treasure known,
And the dearest mother
in the whole world


Is the one I call my own!!
I hope you enjoyed my tribute to my mother, and that you make your mom's special day as special as she is.
My daughter's and I are having a Mother/Daughter Tea at the church tomorrow, I will treasure this time with them, life is so short, and we miss out on so much, just being busy and not taking time for our family, let Mom's make sure your children know you love them, and one day they will rise up and call you blessed.

"Mothers Who Pray"

Read : 1 Samuel 1:9-20
9.So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10.And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11.And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12.And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13.Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14.And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15.And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16.Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17.Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18.And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
19.And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20.Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.


2 Timothy 1:5 5 "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."


The faith and prayers of mothers can have a profound impact on the lives of their children. First Samuel 1 records Hannah's plea and God's answer in the birth of her son Samuel. And in a letter to Timothy, Paul referred to the faith of Timothy's mother, which I'm sure was often expressed in earnest prayer on his behalf. No wonder he was used of God in the early church.


I know a pastor's wife who is a woman of prayer. Whenever her husband left for an important meeting or visit, she prayed a sentence or two for him, asking the Lord's guidance, protection, wisdom, and strength. She usually prayed aloud and the children often heard her, but she never thought much about the impact it would have on them.


Imagine this mother's delight when her college-bound daughter said that leaving home would be easier because she knew that her mother would pray for her--and keep on praying!


Sometimes mothers feel frustrated because they think they are limited in what they can do for their children. But they can always pray--and their prayers are among the most cherished gifts of all. — copied 

My Love and lots of Hugs, Barbara, Friend, Mother, Daughter, and wife.