Barbara's Babblings

Well good morning, or guess I should say noon, I have really thinking on somethings here lately, what is truly important to me as I age I see the importance of things other than things. Doing for others, helping others in their time of need, telling them of my Christ that gets me through the toughest times. Yesterday I put up 14 half pint jars and containers of pears. They come out really good, then I made some Chocolate Chip with Walnut cookies, they are so good, and always a hit here, my dear husband really loves them, his favorite were peanut butter cookies, but he is allergic to peanut anything now, go figure at 68 years old he develops allergies. Oh well just a few of the things that go wrong with age. 
Here is inside my freezer you can see some of my goodies I have stored for the winter months. Then next the cookies, yum yum good.

You always need a good glad of Iced tea to wash down those
cookies, lol so of course I had some, with lemon too. Nothing
better than tea, if you were here I would share it with you and
give you some jam to take home too.

Okay tomorrow I will not be posting, I am leaving at 6:00 AM 
going to a ladies Jubilee in Statesboro, GA a couple hours from
here, it is almost in Savannah, going with a dear friend of mine, so I know we will spend hours of sweet fellowship going and coming.
I am excited about going too, been so long since I have been to anything like that, I used to go all the time when In Florida, but here seems I never get the chance. So keep me in your prayers too, for driving mercy, and that I will sop up like a sponge everything taught in these lessons.  

So last but not least, I have a date for my surgery, it will be done September 20th, at Brunswick Regional Hospital, I will have a
complete knee replacement, and will stay a few days, then probably come home and go to rehabilitation daily, that part is still not clear but all the rest is. So my birthday will be over September 1st, and our Golden Anniversary will be past, 10th and then on to becoming a new woman, giggles, yeah new parts consists of becoming a new woman right. Too bad it was not a face lift instead of a knee replacement, I would be much cuter then, lol oh me vanity of vanities right.  So that is it in a nut shell, you have a wonderful weekend and keep me in your prayers, I may not post again til Monday, we will see, be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Lots of love, and prayers.

Hugs ♥ Blessings

Thankful Thursday

Well the summer is winding down, soon the Apples will be in the markets, the pears are in now, and all the fall things will return to the shelves, I love fall, the temperatures cool down and the leaves start falling, and turning gorgeous color, it is a good season, yet my favorite is still Spring, when all new life appears after a long cold winter, but I love the season change.  I am thankful that God set up the seasons the way he did, just as we tire of one, another one appears. God is so good. 

It does make me think of the Scripture too:
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then
cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
It is the season of harvest, and may we never forget this statement made in John, it is important to get
the crops in, but it is so important to get all the souls in the
flock we can too, it is something all Christians can do, tell
others what Christ did for you, it does not have to be some long Theologians speech, simply tell them how you got saved, how Christ touched your heart and life.

Today I am making pear freezer jam, it is a first for
me but I love pears, a lady give me a bunch of them, so will try it, I may make some pear relish too, I have a good recipe for it.
I am thankful on the this day that I am still able to do the things I love, and that my surgery will be over soon, and I will feel so much better, and will be able to stand for long periods of time, something I cannot do now. I thank each of you for your prayers, and for coming daily to hear me rant, and babble on, lol it is assuring that I do not stand alone, that many ladies love doing the same things I do.
You have a blessed Thursday, and see ya tomorrow.


Hugs ♥ Blessings

36 Reason Why I love the Lord

 IFBKJV Blog Directory

I am participating with the KJV blog in listing the reasons why I love the lord and I praise God for a chance to testify for my lord, I have been saved since July 1974, that is 36 years, WOW it seems like yesterday to me. Let me give you 36 reasons why I love the lord.

01.I love the lord because he first loved me
02.He drew me to him
03.He bled and died for me
04.He planted my feet on higher ground
05.He give me love
06.He taught me how to love
07.He saved me from a Devil's hell
08.He reached down to where I was, and came to me
09.He touched my blinded eyes and made me see
10.He set my feet upon a solid rock,
11.He give me a good husband
12.He give me wonderful children
13.He gives me breath for each day
14.He give me compassion for others
15.He give me Godly friends to help me
16.He give me eyes to see his beauty
17.He give a mouth to witness for him
18.He give me feet that can take the Gospel to others
19.He give me two hands that can help others
20.He give a life of being a Preachers wife
21.He give a good church to attend
22.He give me a roof above me
23.He give me food for my table
24.He give me shoes to go on my feet
25.He clothes me in good clothes
26.He gives me so much to depend on him for
27.He choose me to be in his family
28.He lead me into a valley where I learned to lean on him
29.He sits me upon the mountain top so I can shout his name
30.He lets me live daily to worship him
31.He give me a singing voice to sing his praise
32.He give a gift of writing to glorify him
33.He give me a sane mind to follow him
34.He put his ways in my mind, and heart
35.He give me discernment of right and wrong
36.He give me the gift to express my self

 I thank you for this opportunity to tell others why I love the lord Jesus Christ, with all my soul, and all my heart and all my mind, may he bless all those who call upon him, and reach out to others in his name. If any one else wants to join in this just go to the KJV site and sign up with Mr. Linky.

Tasty Tuesday

Fish, cornmeal and Hush Puppy Batter.



I love the red bass, so what I am fixing is breaded and fried red bass.


Ingredients
1 egg
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound bass fillets
2 cups crushed cornflake crumbs
1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1 quart oil for frying


Directions
In a medium bowl, beat together egg, water, flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place fish in the bowl, and thoroughly coat with the mixture.


In a separate medium bowl, mix the cornflake crumbs and Cajun seasoning. Dip the fish in the crumb mixture, and thoroughly coat all sides.


In a large, heavy skillet or deep fryer, heat the oil to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Fry the fish until golden brown, and flesh is easily flaked with a fork.


You can find the recipe for great hushpuppies on your Martha White Flour bag, I always add onion to mine too.


Shread some cabbage and a carrot, a little onion and make a good slaw to go with it, deep fry a few FF and walla you have a fabulous fish dinner.
Enjoy your dinner, and I use a simple Vinegar/sugar/and Mayo mixture for slaw. Fix according to your own taste. You can buy the dressing already prepared too, it is very good.

Today is the day I will find out when and where my surgery will be, and we will go eat dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant in Brunswick, Keep me in your prayers please, so tell me now, what will you eat this Tasty Tuesday?



Hope your day is a great one, and God blesses you. 










Hugs ♥ Blessings

Marvellous Monday

Ponce, Puerto Rico












Looking out over the Caribbean, it has the most
beautiful waters I have ever seen.

This was the place on the Caribbean, in Ponce,
Puerto Rico, we stayed for several weeks, it was
a wonderful place, and a place I would love to visit
once again, if the chance arises.

Driving the highways and looking into the hills, you
see little shacks all over, and it has the most beautiful
rain forests the eyes can behold, oh what beauty my
eyes have see, God has blessed us tremendously in our
Ministry.

WOW...Breath taking beauty as we sat on the dock
and watched the sun go down, the colors were so much
more beautiful that this photo shows, a camera can
never replace the beauty of the real thing. man tries to
imitate what God has created, but he does not come close.
We had a wonderful time, we flew into San Juan, then rented
a car and drove about 90 I think it was to Ponce, this was
back in 1987 and the place has really grown, and populated more since our time spent there.

So tell me, is your day Marvellous, if not look up, is Jesus still on the throne? Well then it sure is a marvellous day isn't it, no matter how bad things get in this world, God is able to care for us, and we have his written promises to console us in a time of need, now lets stop and take a deep breath, and let God talk to you, then ask him for his help in all you do today, in all you must face today, and with all you will attempt to do for him, his grace is sufficient indeed, proven, tested, and banked on..Hugs my dear friends, have a blessed day, and do remember no matter what you are going through, Jesus went through more, and is still singing God's praises.
Hugs ♥ Blessings

Scriptures For Sunday

Jesus The Light Of The World

Praise God it is the Lord's day again, and after missing Wednesday night due to illness I am so ready to be in church tomorrow. The hand of God reaches way down some times for us, and when you are sick and down he just whispers such sweet things to us, and points us to the scripture he wants us to read, and then he really blesses us when we do read. WOW he is an awesome God. Jesus Christ is THE LIGHT!


"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not" (John 1:1-5).


 The darkness comprehended it not! Adam's sin has darkened our eyes (passed from generation to generation). You can really relate to that this world is a very dark place full of killings and rapes and theft, sin causes man to do these things,We are as dead men walking around. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). One day, Old DEATH will grab you by the shoulder for a little journey. Are you ready? What direction are you going, my friend?

The BIBLE (the King James Version) is God's Word in the English language. You can count on it. Jesus Christ is THE LIGHT. Jesus Christ came to this earth two thousand years ago, so that people … like you and I … might believe. This was the witness of John the Baptist. He was the forerunner of our blessed Savior. "The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe" (John 1:7).

Every lost man and woman will be without excuse at the Great White Throne Judgment. Romans 1:20 makes that plain. Do you want to argue with God over the matter? Go ahead if you want to, but I will fear for you, my friend. The very creation of the world which is understood "by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead" renders man, so that he "is without excuse" concerning Jesus Christ being that Light.


"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).


Every man has or will seen that Light shine, and every man has the responsibility about what he does concerning THAT LIGHT.

As Christians, Jesus is to shine through us! So let you little light shine, let it shine, shine shine...

Hugs ♥ Blessings

☺Frivolous Friday☺

Well the word frivolous means superficial, and not serious in behavior, well that is me today, so think I will post some silly stuff, I am always serious, and today I want to be frivolous. Giggles, so hang with me.
I will show you some really silly and beautiful things. These photos were taken on Assateague, and Chincoteague, VA we spent a year there in 1995 it was gorgeous.
Here is the place where the horses were, we did not see any that day, but as you can see they did leave us a little something.

Next is looking out from the Lighthouse on Assateague, we had to climb 170 stairs to get to the top. It was such a beautiful site and so worth the work to get there.

This one is the beautiful light house, a member in our church had the keys, he was in the Coast Guard and able to show us around inside, a rarity, most never get to see the inside. My dear husband collects Light Houses and it was extra special for him too, we had a wonderful time on this spectacular island.

Next is the Ducks crossing the road on the island, they love it.

Now these photos would not be complete without showing the beautiful Ocean there, and the wonderful beach area,

Now last but not least is the view we had from our front porch, we lived right on main street in Chincoteague, and this is overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, such beauty these eyes have seen, God has blessed us and our ministry above and over anything I ever expected, the tales I could tell, the places we did  go just on faith, sometimes never knowing where we would stay or what we would do, and God always provided such wonderful people to care for us, and to give us the love from him, all my thanks goes to my lord and all that his hand has provided.  Have a very blessed weekend, and hope you enjoyed my travels, God bless you real good. ♥

Hugs ♥ Blessings

Thankful Thursday

Today is Thankful Thursday, we all have so much to be thankful for, and if we were just saved and not anothr blessings as long as we lived, we would be blessed over and above what we deserve. God is so good, and he shows us things in others life that bless us, and that can show his magnificient power. This story is like that, it really touched my heart, and I want to share it with you, God bless you and do have a wonderful day, praising and worshipping our blessed lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 65:24 "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."


This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa...
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).


We also had no special feeding facilities.


Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle.


She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.


"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."


The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.


During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."


While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"


As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen." I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home.


Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!


Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.


By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.


Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.


From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the...could it really be?


I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.


Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!


Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"


That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."


"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24)


Hugs ♥ Blessings

Wonderful Wispering Wednesday

Do we sit still long enough to hear that still small voice speaking to us, remember when Samuel was sleeping and the lord called unto him, he thought it is was Eli calling him, but it was God in his still small voice, and when God talked to Elijah he knew it was the lord, and he listened,



And the lord called... occurs in 140 verses in the KJV of the Bible, how many times have you heard that still small voice and really listened to what he was saying? I love these verses in Kings, and Elijah was a true man of God, but he was a man, he had his bad moments too, he whined and cried just as we do at times, but God supplied his every need. Look at these verses and stop and ask God, what are you trying to say to me lord?


1Kings 19:12 "And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a  a still small voice.


1Ki 19:13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

1Kings 19:14 "And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."


1King 19:15 "And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:"


I would love to say I always hear my lord calling my name, but some times my mind is on other things, and I hurry through prayer and go about what I am doing, oh me, shame on me, that I should ever have anything more important than talking to the lord. I ask you Lord to forgive me right now before I go on, I am sorry, I do not always listen, thank you for being such a loving and caring God that you forgive.


I so remember that day he called my name, and I said like Isaiah Here I am lord, and he touched me in a way that I have never been the same again, I ran long and hard not to hear that voice of God, but I got tired, and stopped, and I listened to what he had to say, he said come unto me, I will give you rest, and he has, he said he would never leave or forsake me, he said he went to prepare a place for me, that place is in heaven, and when I die I know I will go to be with him, and every day of my life for the last 36 years he has been talking to me, leading me, giving me direction. Oh thank you lord for that still small voice you speak to me in, no one else hears, it is for me alone, our sweet love talks, thank you lord for keeping with me, when others may of let me down, you were always there, and I know you always will be there through the end. Like what you have promised me. 

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.


Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.


Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.


Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.


I leave you with these thoughts, God is always there, listen to his still small voice, he loves you and wants to talk to you today. Let him whisper sweet peace to you, have a glorious Wednesday. Hugs ♥ Blessings
 

Tasty Tuesday

Chicken with Mustard-Fennel Crust



A coating of Dijon mustard and breadcrumbs spiked with fennel seeds flavor this quick take on a bistro-style dish.  Serves four.

Ingredients


fennel seeds
Dijon mustard
chicken thighs
more chicken legs
kosher salt
black peppercorns
olive oil breadcrumbs
flat-leaf parsley
8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks
freshly ground black pepper
3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. fennel seeds
1 cup coarse fresh breadcrumbs
2 Tbs. Dijon mustard
2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley


Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. Rinse the chicken parts and pat them dry; season generously with salt and pepper. Heat 1 Tbs. of the oil in a 10-inch saute pan over medium-high heat until very hot. Working in two batches, brown the chicken well on both sides, 3 to 4 min. per side. Transfer the chicken, skin side up, to an 11x14-inch or similar roasting pan and bake until cooked through, about 15 min.


Meanwhile, over medium heat, toast the fennel seeds in a small dry skillet, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, 2 to 3 min. Transfer to a small bowl and add the remaining 2 Tbs. olive oil, the breadcrumbs, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper.


Remove the chicken from the oven and raise the oven temperature to 500°F. Turn the chicken pieces over and, with a pastry brush, lightly dab the mustard on top. With your hands, press the breadcrumb mixture on top of the mustard. Bake until the crumb crust turns golden, about another 10 min. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter, sprinkle with the parsley, and serve.


Serve with Baked potato topped with lots of butter and sour cream, sprinkle a few chives on top, and it not only tastes good but look pretty too. Fix a nice green toss salad, and walla a great meal for any occasion.

Hope your day is a great one, and that God blesses you, we are off to Jacksonville in a while to have new tires put on our SUV seems all the miles we have to travel really do a number on our tires, this is the 3 set since 2006, lots of tire wear, but praise God he provides when we need,  keep us in your prayers, need traveling mercy and lots of grace, hugs and lots of blessings.

Lets count our blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings and see what God hath done, amen, I love that song, and it sure applies to every day living too.  Bye Bye now will see y'all later.

Here is Honey's favorite dessert too  Enjoy:

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. cake flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. milk
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 can pineapple slices in syrup
maraschino cherries (as many as pineapple slices used)


Use an 8" square or round pan. Drain can of pineapple, saving the syrup.
Place butter in 8" pan, melt in the oven while preheating to 375°F.
Sprinkle brown sugar over melted butter. Arrange whole pineapple slices and cherries (with cherries in centers of pineapple slices) over the brown sugar in pan. Cut some of the remaining pineapple slices into half circles, then line the sides of the pan with them (standing up).


In a bowl, combine cake flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, softened butter, milk, egg, vanilla and 2 tablespoons of the pineapple syrup.


Pour batter into the pan being careful not to disturb the pineapples and cherries.
Bake at 375°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until cake is golden and has pulled away from the edges slightly.
Remove from oven and allow to stand for a few minutes to set and then turn it upside down onto a serving dish. Serve while still warm.
Hugs ♥ Blessings