The Fruit of the Spirit is . . .

drawn by a friend a looong time ago on an Emmaus Walk

. . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control . . .Galatians 5:22-23

Over the last few weeks, we've been studying the fruit of the spirit in our Sunday School class. We've talked about love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness.  This week, we will be talking about being good in the image of Jesus.

I've taught on the fruit of the spirit before.  I may have even blogged on it before. (found it here - way back in November of 2009) It never amazes me how much I continue to need to grow and how much I need to allow God to work in my life . . .and to do some weeding around my fruit plants (I know that sounds lame but it is sort of true!!).

When we talked about love, we used 1 Corinthians 13 as one of our scripture passages and we inserted our own names . . .instead of Love is patient, love is kind . . .Lisa is patient, Lisa is kind. I had a buzzer going off almost constantly when I inserted my name!

I was a tad more comfortable when we talked about joy.  I love knowing that my joy comes from the Lord - no matter what.  There are times when I might not be happy but if I dig deep . . .there is joy in the Lord.  It isn't always easy to find it, but it is there.

How about that peace that passes all understanding?  How can we have peace when the world around us is going to hell in a hand basket?  Peace is sometimes elusive but it, too, is always available.  It is often a peace that CANNOT be explained -- a peace that is there when we are in the darkest places.  Peace is like that tiny pin prick of light at the end of the tunnel . . .we know it is there for us.

Dadgum it - we did have to talk about patience.  My favorite thing from that day was "I think I'm getting more patient as I get older . . .but maybe I just don't give a shit."  Yes, I did say that word in a Sunday School lesson.  Yes, our whole class laughed.  Yes, we tend to be a little . . .well, what are we?  Edgy?  Irreverent?  Old?  Patience doesn't come over night . . .we can't pray, "God, I need patience and I need it right now."  Well, we CAN pray that prayer but odds are we are not going to get patience immediately - yes, I know God is a God of miracles, but give me a break!

Last week, we talked about kindness and I asked for examples of kindness on Facebook.  People shared wonderful stories with me (and I shared with the class) of how people had showered them with kindness - from paying someone's way through PTA school to sitting with them while in the hospital to cooking meals for them.  The stories were amazing and those stories filled me with  joy (they aren't individual fruit(s) . . no (s) . . .they are fruit of the spirit . . .and they do go hand in hand.)  We were talking about the scripture -- you know the scripture in Matthew (and probably at least one other gospel - I need to check that out!) about giving the "cup of cold water" to someone?  While I was allowing the class to pull up memories of their own, I shared how I keep an emergency stash of either Campbell's soup or Chef Boyardee Ravioli in my desk. We had someone who was hungry recently come into the church office and we heated my last can of soup for the person.  That was a "simple" example of kindness.  This week, that kindness came back doublefold (is that how you use that word??) -- I am now the proud owner of not one can but two cans of Chef Boyardee Ravioli.  That illustrated the point perfectly that we never do a kindness in order to get repaid but that most often when we do a kindness, it come back to us!!  Times TWO in this case! (thanks so much to Martha and Jim)

This week's lesson is all about being good - good like Jesus.  I used to tell my kids to "behave" as they were going out the door and finally one of them (they were little) said, "what does behave mean" . . .it means be good!  Be good like Jesus!  I think that we may skip a couple . . .maybe faithfulness and gentleness . . .and jump to self-control.  I'm not sure I can do a combined lesson on faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  We may begin a Lenten study on the Sunday after Ash Wednesday . . .but for now . . .the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control . . .Galatians 5:22-23

For THIS child we have prayed!

We had a baby shower at work yesterday honoring a co-worker.  This is just not ANY baby . . .this is a baby who has been prayed for and prayed for and prayed for by many people.  It is not my story to tell - maybe I'll interview Laura one day for my blog about her journey to conceive a child.  The long awaited child is on her way soon (not too soon!) and will be here by Easter.  We have a history of showering staff members when they (or their spouse) is pregnant - sometimes it is a simple shower and sometimes more elaborate.  I think I bought every pink or sparkly decoration I could find and made a few, too!!

We used our Element Café space (our youth department was so gracious to allow us to take over!).  We ordered pizza and breadsticks.  We served a giant Greek salad.  We, of course, had cake/cupcakes for dessert.  We have eaten more at work this week than you can possibly imagine.

Our youth space is perfect for a party - Rachel (much younger than I!!) volunteered to climb up on the ladder and hang the puff balls from the cool light fixture.

Rachel also crawled up on the counter to hang Farah's banner.  It helps that Rachel and Laura are sisters . . .I didn't feel so guilty!!

We also had Farah spelled out in gold, glittery letters!  They will look so cute in her nursery.

Tried to get a picture to show all the decorations . . .

Brian, our senior minister, prayed for not only the food but for baby Farah and her parents.  I love the fact that we can pray at work . . .one of my favorite perks of working in a church!!

Laura looks so cute pregnant and she was surrounded by many who love her and look forward to meeting Farah soon (her due date is Easter Sunday!!).

What a fun day to shower Laura and Farah!  I love working in a place where we can stop for a lunch hour and celebrate an important event!!

We can't wait to meet you soon, Farah!  We promise to love you when you arrive!!  For you, sweet baby girl, we have PRAYED!

HodgePodge

Join us for Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What do/did you call your grandparents? If it's something unusual tell us the story behind the name. If you're a grandparent what do your grands call you? Who chose your moniker?

My daddy’s parents were still alive when I was young and I called them “granny and grandpa” . . .my mother’s mother was alive and I called her “Granny George.”  Her last name was George (not her first!  Her first name was Bertha!)  We have one granddaughter . . .

And she calls us (ha!  She is not even a year old!!) . . .we hope she will call us Gran and Pops but whatever she calls us will be just fine.

2. Ever taken a road trip along the California Coast? If so what was the highlight of your trek? If not, any desire to do so? If you were to take a trip along the California Coast what's one attraction you'd have on your must-see list? I have never taken a road trip along the California Coast.  Sounds like it would be fun and I imagine the scenery is beautiful!!

3. What are three things you don't know how to do? I can’t speak French. I don’t really have a desire to speak French. I can’t fry chicken. I guess I could learn because I’m a pretty good cook and fried chicken is one of Mark’s favorite foods but I HATE to fry!!  I can’t touch my toes.  Don’t get all judgmental on me.  I’ve NEVER been able to touch my toes – no matter my weight!  I’ve been much thinner a few times in my life and I’ve NEVER been able to touch my toes.  My hamstrings just won’t stretch that far . . .no matter how often I stretch them!

4. Tom Peters is quoted as saying, 'Celebrate what you want to see more of.' If that's true what will you celebrate and more importantly, how will you celebrate? I think we should (I should) be celebrating LIFE!  We (I) should be living each day to the fullest.  We (I) should be kind to all we meet and smile often!!

5. Thursday (February 16) is National Almond Day. Do you like almonds? Which would you prefer-an Almond Joy or a macaron? What's something you make that calls for almonds? I love almonds!  My daughter DETESTS almonds!!  I like almonds in baked goods and I like almonds roasted with salt.  I use almonds in Asian Slaw - yum!  My friend makes Almond Skillet Cake which is one of the most awesome desserts every!!  Mark and I both love Almond Joy candy bars – those would be a thing that we could not keep in the house!!

6. What does Saturday morning look like at your house? Saturday mornings start a little slower than the other six days of the week.  I sleep a tad later when I can (6:30 instead of 5:00 or 5:30!!).  I usually work on the Sunday School lesson for a couple of hours.  I usually do a lot of laundry.  When Mark is in town, we often try to meet friends for dinner or invite someone over.

7. Share with us a favorite book you've read this winter. I’ve been on a reading for pleasure binge.  I do that when I need to escape.  I should be embarrassed by my reading material lately.  I have been reading the silliest “cozy mysteries” and I must admit that I have especially enjoyed a series (new to me) by Jana Deleon about Miss Fortune – the first in the series is Louisiana Longshot.  I have laughed out loud several times.  One reason I’ve been reading more is that I’ve been riding the recumbent bike every day and I need to read while I’m riding in order to ride long enough.  The neighborhood book club is reading Nightingale and it is also excellent (not a cozy mystery!!)

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Yesterday was Valentine’s day and we had a great time with the young professionals last night.  I was so depleted before they arrived and I was praying for God to send the Holy Spirit to fill me up . . .and it never seems to amaze me that I can draw such life from that group of young adults.  I love the fun conversations we have.  I love hearing about their lives.  I love their opinions.  I love the sound of laughter in our home.  I am so thankful for them.

And I won’t even apologize for this, I’ll just leave you with this cute picture of my Valentine.  She will be a year old in just a month!!!

Decorations, treats, and love - oh my!

I love holidays.  I love a reason to give gifts.  I love a reason to decorate.  I love holidays!

I started our Valentine Weekend on Friday afternoon by driving through Krispy Kreme.  When we are on vacation (at the beach, etc.), Mark always loves to eat chocolate glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  We never have them in the house except on vacation.  I bought two chocolate covered and a regular glazed (which was actually supposed to be a heart shaped doughnut but the girl got the order wrong).  I brought these three home (of course, I ate a doughnut in the process - my favorite is cream filled--the white cream - not custard--glazed--no chocolate!) and placed them on a cute cupcake stand!  I hid them under a plastic bucket until the "reveal" -- I had planned for Mark to wake up on Saturday morning and leisurely drink his coffee and eat his doughnuts.  Let me just tell you that first he was going to eat just one . . .and then he ate the second . . .and then the third . . .on Friday night!  I love Mark!

His "gift" was Pappy VanWinkle bourbon balls.  He has been wanting a bottle of Pappy for quite some time and I have no idea whether this will ever occur . . .but I could get bourbon balls MADE with pappy!!

On Saturday night, we went out to dinner with friends.  We tried one restaurant (we arrived at 5:45) and there was a 2 hour wait.  The other couple called a different restaurant and there was no wait and we hurried to that location.  We enjoyed our dinner very much BUT I was in the throes of a major allergy attack (one of the worst I've had in years) and I had to throw in the towel early.  The food was good, the company was awesome, the nose was miserable!

I love to decorate.  Really?  Yes, I do!  I made the Be Mine banner a couple of years ago and when I organized the craft room, I found it - thank you very much!!  Those pink hearts are wooden hearts from the dollar bins (I LOVE the dollar bins) at Target (also from a couple of years ago).

The metal love banner is new and I can't remember where I bought it -- Hobby Lobby, I think!  I love crinkled tin (does it have a real name??).  I simply tied it onto the handles of the chest.

I used my wonderful box made by Brian Erickson (he can preach and do woodwork and heaven knows what else!).  More of those wooden hearts - I mounted these (back to back) on some wooden dowels.  I used the same pine cones from New Year's Eve.  I'm moving to a spring motif next in my box - going to have to do some research!!

I love to give treats . . .and I love making them.  When I have time to craft, it makes my heart happy.  Several weeks ago, I bought every multi-pack of cereal in the grocery store (48 individual boxes).  I made Valentines to attach along with a plastic spoon.  I had so much fun making these.  I was finishing them up on Sunday night and Mark said, "you know that Valentine's Day is Tuesday right . . .and you won't be home on Monday night, right?"  Yes . . .but I'm going to finish was my response!!

Do you have Valentine's traditions?

Processing Time!

Last weekend, Mark and his twin brother, George, went on a three day hunting trip.  They had an excellent weekend - Mark killed a buck, George killed a doe, and Mark killed a hog.  Mark and George do not like sending their meat to a processor because evidently your meat has the possibility of being mixed up with someone else's meat . . .and everyone doesn't field dress as well as our guys nor take care of the meat as well as they do.  Everyone in our family LOVES venison except me.  Both Glenn and Laura texted and said, "I want some meat!" During the "ice and snow" event last month, Mark did cook venison cube steaks and he made gravy and I did eat them and they were tasty.

In our old house, we had a full basement and Mark could set up shop down in the basement.  He and Glenn made lots of sausage down there a few years ago.  They could spread out.

In this house, we had a two car garage . . .no basement.  Mark figured out a way to process the meat!  He set up shop in the garage.  He even hung lights overhead (like he did in the attic!) so that he could see better.  After he finished, just FYI, he cleaned the basement again from top to bottom and everything is so neat and clean!!

He borrowed George's cuber and made cube steaks with a lot of the meat.  I think I'll try them again when he offers to cook them for us.

Mark only kills what we can eat.  We includes Laura, Glenn and Lauren, George & Alice, etc.  He enjoys just sitting in the woods and watching the animals, too.  I think it is so funny that he can sit still in a tree stand when he can't sit still at any other time!

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?

Have you ever wondered just how much food it takes to feed about 20 people?  I've been cooking for around 20 people on Tuesday nights for quite a few years now and I've learned a few things!  Here is a picture of 17 or so of those twenty we feed each week! 

I've learned that they love fresh food (but they will eat just about anything I cook) -- this is FOUR pounds of baby carrots roasted with fresh thyme, olive oil, salt and pepper.  They ate almost all of the four pounds -- maybe a sandwich baggie full of leftovers.

I found a recipe for "make ahead mashed potatoes" that can be reheated for about 3 hours in the crockpot.  The recipe was to feed 10 so I doubled it.  Yes, I cooked 10 pounds of potatoes.  10# for 18 people was too many potatoes (good to know!).  I think I could have used 6-7 pounds and it would have been enough.  I almost always try to have a few left-overs because that is what Mark and I eat on for the rest of the week.  Just FYI - by Thursday night, I'm tired of left-overs!!

I made Mississippi (does anyone else say M I crooked letter crooked letter I crooked letter crooked letter I hump back hump back I to spell Mississippi???) - I made Mississippi Pot Roast and it was really delicious.  This was about 10 pounds of eye of the round roast (10# raw).  The recipe recommended a different cut of roast and I would like to try it with the "fattier" cut of meat they recommended.  The gravy/au jus was delicious.  We had enough left over that Mark ate salad with roast beef on top for two nights and I had a lunch and a dinner.  That was about the perfect amount of leftovers!!

When cooking for a crowd, I usually find the recipes I want to use and double or triple them.  The tricky part is the spices.  I oftentimes have to add the original amount and taste and increase accordingly.  You can usually increase the salt and pepper the same amount (double or triple) but some spices add a bitter flavor, etc. when increased too dramatically.

We also had a big bowl of tossed salad and rolls and dessert.

So . . .just in case you ever wondered . . .how much food does it take to feed 20 people??

Baskets of Burdens

This morning (and yesterday), I could tell that one of my co-workers was struggling.  I ask the person if they were ok and my friend shared a few burdens with me.  My friend is tired and weary.

Another friend lost her mother this week . . .just 10 months after losing her father.  She has been caregiver and she is tired.  She has been carrying a heavy burden.

We are surrounded by death and dying; we are surrounded by new diagnosis; we are surrounded by infidelity and divorce; we are surrounded by hurting people - all the time.  Look around.  Yes, I know there is much joy and there is laughter and goodness.  I know there is sunshine and blue sky.  Positivity is my number one strength so I am always looking for the good BUT  I also know there is much hurt all around me.

My friend, Julie, posted the above picture and scripture on facebook this morning.  I borrowed it (thanks, Julie!).  I told my friend about Julie's picture and scripture this morning as we were talking  sharing about the burdens.  I said, "wouldn't it be cool if I could actually bring a basket into your office and you could put some of the burdens in the basket and I could take them back to my office for a while . . .so you could rest?"

As Christians, we are indeed called to carry each other's burdens.  It is hard.  They are heavy.  We are called.  Whose load will you lighten today?