Truth for Today #32

Thursday August 25th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during the week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth this year!

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (ESV)

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

From Leonard:

Luke 4: 17-21
Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

From Vera:

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

From Karen:

Lamentations 3:24
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Summertime Waffling Hodgepodge

 

It’s Wednesday and no time to waffle but time to answer these questions. Thank you to Jo From This Side of the Pond.

1. August 24th is National Waffle Day…what’s something you’ve ‘waffled’ on recently? 

Just a little waffling yesterday at Tiles for Less in deciding on which tile to buy for our master shower renovation. We made the decision and that renovation will begin in late September and early October.

I did a lot of waffling on these questions…

2. Do you like waffles? Make your own or ‘leggo my Eggo? Any favorite toppings or add-ins? Waffles or pancakes-which do you prefer? 

I enjoy waffles and pancakes. Mostly make our own. We enjoy our waffles and pancakes with Real Maple Syrup and sour cream. Because of the waffle pockets I mix the maple syrup with sour cream in a little dish and then dip my waffle bites into the creamy goodness before I pop the bite into my mouth. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.

3. Do you have any momentos from this summer (or past summers)? What do you do with them? 

In my teens and early 20’s I collected charms from different summertime trips. The bracelet makes a fun momento and I’ll wear it on occasion.

At a throwback to the 70’s party in the summer of 2017 several of the gals wore their charm bracelets so we took this photo. Fun times. My bracelet is the one on the left with the jet.

4. One thing you’d like to do before summer ends? 

Watch one of our granddaughter’s soccer games in person. This will probably happen on Thursday of this week.

5. Life is too short to___________________________________. 

Life is too short to wear tight shoes, tight anything for that matter…

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of momentos, I bought these mugs in England in 2014. The one on the left is my morning cup of coffee mug, so it’s a momento I use every day. I bought that mug at TKMax in Windsor. I bought the Wales mug at Heathrow airport.

I’m behind a day since we spent the whole day in Spokane yesterday leaving the house at 6:30am and getting home at 5:00 PM. A long day away from home. Eye appointment, tile shopping, breakfast, banking, shopping, refreshments, shopping, eye appointment, home again.

I get tired of filling out those 2 sided questionnaires every time you step into a medical office of any kind. This time for the fill in the blank prompt that said ~Race~ I answered ~ Human~.

Have a great day everyone!

Early Morning Conditioning

Monday morning at dawn we enjoyed a beautiful sunrise. We decided to head to the Rotary trail again to continue our walking conditioning.

An early morning walk on this trail is a real treat.

We continue to plan and condition for our trip to England in September. Our longest walk in Oxford is only 4.2 miles and those miles involve stops along the way so we are confident we should be good, conditioning on our 3 mile walk without stops on the Rotary trail. While on the trail we listen to sermons and the latest are from 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ~  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

After our walk on Monday morning we came home and got to work, me with mowing, and Dear with finishing his work on the mount for our snowplow.

Snow this winter will be the test on whether this mounting and plow will work well.

We were in the upper 80’s today which was a nice change to our upper 90’s and low 100’s. For the rest of this week we have some Spokane shopping, some granddaughter soccer fun, a dessert get together with our church family and the Northeast Washington Fair.

Are you looking forward to anything this week and weekend?

Variety

We’ve been enjoying a variety of hummingbirds at our feeders this season.

We call this one, Rusty. I think it’s a Rufous

Besides the hummingbirds and all the other variety of birds in our yard we had some more visits from mama deer and 2 fawns.

After being under the weather the past week I’m good as new. Thank you for your kind thoughts! We had a quiet week and most of the weekend staying home. We decided to not attend church on Sunday morning just in case there were any lingering germs to share. We did go to the trail early on Sunday to continue our walking conditioning.

Here are some photos from the trail on Sunday morning we only passed one other human on the trail.

I only had my phone with me so this zoomed photo of the eagle isn’t too clear. This is a regular perch for this eagle.

This is getting to the last stretch before we are back at the parking area. We listened to a sermon from Second Corinthians on the New Covenant on this walk.

We both have appointments for eye exams this week so we’ll get in some Spokane shopping adventures while there. Dear avoided being in the house with me and my germs last week and worked in his shop on the mounting of the snow plow for his truck. He wants it ready for this coming winter and it involved a lot of thinking, welding and building of mounts, etc. A few tweaks and it should be good to go once we get snow.

His next project is our Master Bath. That won’t start till October. We’ll try to buy the tile for that project while we are in Spokane this week.

What’s new in your corner?

Make Me Understand ~ Hymn

Make Me Understand

Give me a sight, O Savior!
Of Thy wondrous love to me,
Of the love that brought Thee down to earth
To die on Calvary.

Refrain

O make me understand it!
Help me to take it in!
What it meant to Thee, the Holy One,
To bear away my sin.

Was it the nails, O Savior!
That bound Thee to the tree?
Nay, ’twas Thine everlasting love,
Thy love for me, for me.

Refrain

O wonder of all wonders!
That through Thy death for me
My open sins, my secret sins,
Can all forgiven be.

Refrain

Then melt my heart, O Savior!
Bend me, yea, break me down
Until I own Thee Conqueror,
And Lord and Sovereign crown.

Refrain

Words: Katherine A. M. Kelly, (1869-1942)

Oxford Archives ~ University Church of St. Mary…

Oxford Day 6 046St Mary’s stands in the physical centre of the old walled City, and the university grew up around it. In medieval times scholars lived in houses with their teachers and the university had no buildings of its own, so it adopted St Mary’s as its centre. The church continued as a parish church, but by the early 13th century it had become the seat of university government, academic disputation, and the awarding of degrees.

Oxford Day 6 057

Oxford Day 6 176

Oxford Day 6 124

Oxford Day 6 120The Oxford Martyrs ~Each of the three anglican bishops, Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer, who were burnt at the stake in Oxford during the reign of the Roman Catholic queen, ‘Bloody Mary’, underwent part of his trial in St Mary’s. Their principal crime was not to believe the doctrine of transsubstantiation, although Cranmer, as Henry VIII’s Archbishop, had also played a crucial role in the downfall of Queen Mary’s mother, Catherine of Aragon.

Oxford Day 6 118This bit of history at St Mary’s really was interesting to me to read…

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, often attended the University Sermon in his Oxford days, and subsequently, as a Fellow of Lincoln College, preached some of his most stirring sermons before the University here – notably the famous sermon the ‘Almost Christian’ in 1741. In 1744, again in St Mary’s, he denounced the laxity and sloth of the senior members of the University. He was never asked to preach here again. ‘I have preached, I suppose,’ I wrote, ‘the last time in St Mary’s. Be it so. I am now clear of the blood of these men. I have fully delivered my soul.’

Oxford Day 6 119
In 1947 a disastrous fire destroyed the original 17th-century ‘Father’ Smith organ. Its replacement, by J W Walker, had become unplayable by 1981. The present organ, the third, was built in 1987 by Metzler Orgelbau of Zurich with the intention of recapturing the spirit of the original ‘Father’ Smith. It is undoubtedly one of the finest instruments of its kind, and incorporates the few of Smith’s decorative pipeshades which survived the fire.
Oxford Day 6 122
Oxford Day 6 121While traveling I never have the time to thoroughly study the history of the places we visit. In preparing my posts for my blog, after the fact, I learn so much more information and history and I find out all the things I missed while visiting these amazing places. That’s why I always am ready for another trip to see the things I missed. There’s only so much my brain can absorb in a short visit.
And now in the present I’m glad to be reading this posts from 2014 and knowing what we didn’t know the last time we visited. This time around I’m taking more time to research before we go.

Asparagus-Pancetta Phyllo Appetizers

This is a simple appetizer with a pretty presentation. I used mini Phyllo cups that come frozen in the freezer aisle of the grocery store. The sky is the limit on what filling combination you could use. We had these at Easter so the Asparagus was my go to choice with added ingredients that I thought would go well together.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Packages of Mini Phyllo Pastry Shells (30 total)
  • 15 stalks of Asparagus, washed and chopped into small pieces.
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 Shallot, chopped
  • 1/2 cup diced Pancetta (you can substitute bacon)
  • 1/4 cup white wine or chicken stock
  • 1 Tablespoon White wine vinegar or Sherry Vinegar
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste

Added Optional Ingredients:

  • 2 egg whites from 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped. Discard the yolk.
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese of your choice

Method:

  1. Defrost the Phyllo Shells in refrigerator overnight.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. In a saucepan, melt the butter on medium heat and cook the asparagus for 2 minutes. Set aside in a bowl.
  4. In the same saucepan, cook the chopped shallot for 2 minutes.
  5. Now add the Pancetta to the pan and cook for 1 minute. (If you choose to use bacon instead precook it before this step and add it to the mix when you add the egg whites.)
  6. De-glaze the pan with white wine and reduce by half. (Shallots and Pancetta stay in pan for this step)
  7. Add the white wine vinegar and reduce by half again.
  8. Pour over the Asparagus.
  9. Add the chopped egg white solids to the Asparagus bowl.
  10. Mix gently and season with salt and pepper.
  11. If you want to add the grated cheese do it now and mix gently.
  12. Place thawed Phyllo shells on a cookie sheet that is large enough for the 30 shells.
  13. Fill each cup full with the Asparagus mixture.
  14. Bake in 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Just long enough to warm all ingredients through.

Set out on pretty plate and watch them disappear!

We enjoyed these at an Easter Celebration a few years back but these or a variation of these would be good for an afternoon tea or before any meal. Whatever is fresh and available can be adapted to these cups. I’m thinking of trying a sweet custard bite using these shells.

Truth for Today #31

Thursday August 18th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during the week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth this year!

Hebrews 1:1-4 (ESV)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the work of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

From Vera:

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:14-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

From Maristella:

Psalm 18:35-36

” You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.”

From Karen:

Psalm 16:8-9
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Back to School Hodgepodge

We are back on track for Wednesday Hodgepodge thanks to Jo From This Side of the Pond.

1. August is National Back To School Month…how does that make you feel? 

I’m pretty stuck in the tradition of school starting after Labor Day so I’m always surprised when we get the photos of our nieces and nephews starting school in August. Above is a photo of me in front of my high school that always started back to school after Labor Day.

Share a back-to-school memory. 

Our sons on the first day of school in 1986 or 1987, ready to walk to school. Our daughter waiting for the bus in 1991ish.

This memory of our daughter always sticks in my mind because she chose to wear that t-shirt on the first day of school a few years in a row. I was and am impressed with her boldness and resolve. This photo is from the first day of her senior year, 2003.

2. Something you’ve learned in ‘the school of life’? 

That God is in control and I am not.

Contentment is worth more than riches.

Here’s a quote from our sermon on Sunday. “If we displease God does it matter whom we please? If we please Him does it matter whom we displease? ~Leonard Ravenhill

3. Three words to describe your current mood.

Under the weather…

4. A summer food you’ve eaten too much of/are tired of?

Nada, Zip, nothing.

A summer food you haven’t had enough of? 

Nectarines and watermelon.

5. What small stuff do you sweat that you know you shouldn’t?

When planning a meal or event I always wonder if I ordered or made enough of this or that. It seems to always work out so I’m trying not to sweat over those things.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Speaking of Leonard Ravenhill here is another gem I’ll quote from him.

“A man who is intimate with God is not intimidated by men.”