This Thing Is From Me

A very dear friend shared this on her blog this morning. It encouraged me so much that I decided to share it here in hopes that it may be a blessing to one of you as well!

Disappointments of Life

"This Thing is From Me"

..1 Kings 12:24

"The disappointments of life are in reality only the decrees of love. I have a message for thee today, My child.  I will whisper it softly in thine ear, in order that the stormclouds which appear may be gilt with glory, and that the thorns on which thou mayest have to walk be blunted.  The message is but short - a tiny sentence - but allow it to sink into the depths of thine heart, and be to thee as a cushion on which to rest thy weary head: 'This thing is from Me.'

Hast thou never thought that all which concerns  thee, concerns Me also?  He that toucheth thee toucheth the apple of Mine eye (Zech. 2:8).  Thou hast been precious in Mine eyes, that is why I take a special interest in thin upbringing.  When temptation assails thee, and the 'enemy comes in like a flood' I would wish thee to know that 'This thing is from Me.'  I am the God of circumstances.  Thou hast not been placed where thou art by chance, but because it is the place I have chosen for thee. Didst thou not ask to become humble?  Behold, I have placed thee in the very place where this lesson is to be learned.  It is by thy surroundings and thy companions that the working of My will is to come about.

Hast thou money difficulties?  Is it hard to keep within thine income?  'This thing is from Me.'  For I am He that possesseth all things.  I wish thee to draw everything from Me, and that thou depend entirely upon Me.  My riches are illimitable (Phil. 4:19).  Put My promise to the proof, so that it may not be said of thee, 'Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord thy God.'  

Art thou passing through a night of affliction?  'This thing is from Me.'  I am the Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isa. 53:3).  I have left thee without human support that in turning to Me thou mightest obtain eternal consolation (2 Thess. 2:16, 17).

Has some friend disappointed thee?  One to whom thou hast opened thine heart?  'This thing is from me.'  I have allowed this disappointment that thou mightest learn that the best Friend is Jesus.  I long to be thy Confidant.

Has someone said false things of thee?  Leave that, and come closer to Me, under My wings, away from the place of wordy dispute, for I will bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday (Psa. 37;6).  Have thy plans been all upset?  Art thou crushed and weary?  'This thing is from Me.'  Hast thou made plans and then coming, asked Me to bless them?  I wish to make thy plans for thee.  I will take the responsibility, for it is too heavy for thee, thou couldst not perform it alone (Exo. 18:18).  Thou art but and instrument and not an agent.

Hast thou desired fervently to do some great work for Me?  Instead of that thou hast been laid on one side, on a bed of sickness and suffering.  'This thing is from Me.'  I was unable to attract thine attention while thou wast so active.  I wish to teach thee some of My deep lessons.  It is only those who have learned to wait patiently who can serve Me.  My greatest workers are sometimes those who are laid aside from active service in order that they may learn to wield the weapon of prayer.

Art thou suddenly called to occupy a difficult position full of responsibilities?  Go forward, counting on Me.  I am giving thee the position full of difficulties for the reason that Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all thy works and in all the business of thy hands (Deut. 15:18).  This day I place in thy hand a pot of holy oil.  Draw from it freely, My child, that all the circumstances arising along the pathway, each word that gives thee pain, each manifestation of thy feebleness, may be anointed with this oil.  Remember that interruptions are divine instructions.  The sting will go in the measure in which thou seest Me in all things.  Therefore set your heart unto all the works that I testify among you this day.  For it is your life (Deut. 32:46, 47)."

-Found in J.N. Darby's Bible

(Translated from the French)

The H. Children

::What Mama can take her children to be photographed and not jump in with them and get kisses?::

::JOY::

In the Kitchen

Stromboli

4 loaves (1 pound each) frozen bread dough, thawed

1/2 pound thinly sliced deli salami

1/2 pound thinly sliced deli ham

1/2 pound thinly sliced pepperoni

1/2 pound thinly sliced provolone cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

1 teaspoon pepper

   Let dough rise until doubled, according to package directions. Punch down. Roll each loaf into a 15"x12" rectangle. Arrange a fourth of the salami, ham, pepperoni, and provolone cheese over each rectangle. Sprinkle each with a fourth of the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, oregano, parsley, and pepper.

   Roll up each rectangle jelly-roll style, beginning with a 12" side. Seal seams and ends. Place seam side down on two greased baking sheets. 

   Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing and serving. 

{I made my own bread dough and had enough leftover to make two loaves of bread}

And just because we're "in the kitchen" and I like this picture...

{my Lens Love photo}

Thanks for reading! :)

Be Still

Be still, my soul; The Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; 

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly Friend,

Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past;

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul; when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay

From His own fulness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Katharina A.D. vonSchlegel

The Lord spoke to me through this hymn in church this morning. I must, I must be still. If I only look, I can see God's hand in everything in and around my life. He is a good and glorious God! 

Our pastor is preaching through Isaiah and came to chapter 48 today. One thing he really brought out was that everything is for His glory. He says over and over in dealing with the Israelites "For my name's sake", "For mine own sake". I pray that the Lord will open our eyes to His glory and that in everything we do, we will "do all to the glory of God". (1 Cor. 10:31)

Fiesta de la Paloma

Well, I rented a booth at the Fiesta this year like I mentioned in my fall post. For four days I baked, making cinnamon rolls, mini leaf- and acorn-shaped apple pies, pumpkin pies in little jars, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, nutter butter acorns, pumpkin bread, s'mores on a stick, and rice crispy treat pops! I had a lot fun preparing everything, and then on Saturday, getting to set it all up. 

Here is my booth:

 { Yes, that pretty gold thing on the table is a headboard! }

Alison, who has a very artistic hand, kindly wrote all the little cards for me. :)

{ There is a maple leaf, an oak leaf, and an acorn. }

 { made by Alison }

{ pretzel stick + two mini marshmallows stuck on the end + chocolate = deee-licious treat }

Because I Love Fall

Welcome to October! 

 Things I love about Fall:

Pumpkins

Baking with pumpkins

Decorating with pumpkins

Drawing pumpkins

Cool mornings for exercising in. 

I'm working up to running a 5k!

Rain

We got eight inches of rain over the weekend.

Thank you, Lord!

Fall Gardens

I'm really wanting to plant some things in a Fall garden this year. I know it's too late for most things, but I haven't had time to prepare the ground until now, but I have to wait until it dries out some.

Baking

I bake all year round, but it's especially nice in the cooler weather. I'm making cinnamon rolls this week for the Fiesta de al Paloma our town has every October. I'm planning to have a booth there this year, and hopefully I have some pictures to share with you afterwards!

Colorful Leaves

My Successful Experiment

Who thinks this looks good???

I found this recipe for corn cakes with barbeque chicken and coleslaw in a Southern Living magazine, and thought it sounded delicious! Mom and Alison, on the other hand, were a little skeptical but agreed to try it. I made it for dinner last week and we all really liked it. *grin* Micah doesn't care for coleslaw, so he just ate the corn cake and chicken and thought that was good. The recipe in the magazine said to stop by your local barbeque restaurant and pick up smoked chicken and coleslaw and use a box of cornbread. This is my homemade version that had to have been at least as good (maybe better ;) )!

Corn Cakes with Barbeque Chicken and Coleslaw

Corn Cakes:

2 eggs

2 cups cornmeal

1 1/4 cups milk*

1/4 cup oil

6 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Beat eggs with hand beater until fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients just until smooth. Pour about 3 tablespoons batter onto hot griddle. Cook corncakes until they look somewhat dry on top and the bubble have burst (they take a little longer than pancakes). Flip; cook until lightly browned. 

Coleslaw:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup oil

2 1/2 tablespoons vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

dash of salt and pepper

1 pound shredded cabbage with carrot

Mix together first five ingredients. Stir in cabbage and refrigerate for several hours 

before serving.

Barbeque Chicken:

2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

Barbeque sauce to your liking
(I didn't measure, but it was probably about 1 1/2 cups)

1/4 cup chicken broth

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat while making the corncakes.

Toppings:

additional BBQ sauce

sliced avocado

To serve, place one corn cake on plate. Put a scoop of coleslaw on, then add the barbequed chicken. Top with a little barbeque sauce and avocado slices.

Enjoy!

*Use rice milk instead of milk for a dairy-free dinner. 

A Brilliant Sunset

What a thrill it is to walk along the beach at sunset! 

{ready for night on Lake Macatawa}

{sun sinking low over Lake Michigan}

{sailors coming in for the night}

{Holland Harbor Light also known as Big Red}

{beautiful moonbean}

{the harbor}

Psalm 121

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall niether slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.