Sunday Scripture

 

 Again this Sunday, I'm sharing from the Made for Community reading plan from Love God Greatly that I worked on back in 2015.  With this study, as I have often done, I used the SOAP method of Bible study.  Just a quick reminder that the S is for Scripture, O is for Observation, A is for Application and P is for Prayer.  

The second section is Made for Community with People.  So here we go with the Scripture for the fourth day of that section.  

S= "Iron sharpeneth iron: so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."  (Proverbs 27:17)

O=   The writer observes here that iron sharpens iron.   Years ago, while working in a restaurant kitchen, I have had the experience of watching a chef sharpen knives using a steel.  It is a noisy but most effective process!  Believer's Bible Commentary explains the comparison: "It used to be common to see the host at a table sharpening the carving knife by drawing each side of the cutting edge against a hardened steel rod with fine ridges.  Just as the action of iron against iron sharpens, so the interchange of ideas among people makes them more acute in their thinking.  Sharing each other's opinions gives a helpful breadth of view.  Asking questions sharpens wits.  Friendly intercommunication hones the personality."

Just as iron is used to sharpen iron, friends should be used to sharpen one another.   We can encourage and exhort one another, and share our thoughts, ideas, and insights as we study God's Word together.

A=  I love the idea of Christian friends encouraging and exhorting, sharing thoughts, insights, and testimonies of God's work in our lives to sharpen one another.  I'm thankful for the opportunities God has given me to encourage others in this way.  It's something that all believers should be doing!

P=  "Lord, I thank You for the practical wisdom of Proverbs.  I thank You for this vivid illustration of iron sharpening iron, and for your plan to use believers to sharpen one another.  I'm thankful for the times You've used me to help sharpen other women  -- and I pray for more such opportunities.  Give me times also of being sharpened by others, for you know that is needful in my life.  I thank You for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is this week's very simple study!  Who can you sharpen this week?

A few goals for July

 

 July already!  It's almost unbelievable that 2022 is half over.   Here are a few goals for July:

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week
* Continue reading through the New Testament
* Post in this blog several times per week
* Post in my Christmas blog every day for Christmas in July
*  Attend a monthly ladies' Bible study
*  Celebrate the Fourth of July with friends and church family
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones
* Craft some homemade Christmas gifts and decorations
* Help my hubby with some work at our little cottage (an outdoor shower is on our list)
* Spend a little time on some UFO craft projects
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items
* Spend some time on my trust responsibilities
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Help with a ladies' brunch at our church (postponed from May)
* Memorize several Bible verses and review some older ones
* Get back into our study of the book of Daniel with younger believers
* Continue work on Sunday School lessons for a series starting July 31
* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general
* Drink enough water each day
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

HEALTHY HABITS FOR JULY:  Drink more water/get more sleep/get more exercise/limit sugar

 And there are some goals for July!  We will see how I do.  

What about you?  Do you have any specific goals for this month?

Butternut Squash Mac'n'Cheese

 

 Recently I tried a new recipe. Periodically I like to go through my clipped recipes and try a new recipe or two.  This one had been clipped from a box of Hannaford pasta.  We had some cool weather in June and so this recipe, which I'd been wanting to try for awhile, seemed just right for supper one evening.

You can find it here: Butternut Squash Mac'n'Cheese.  I looked it up for you all so as not to have to scan my recipe.  It's on the Hannaford website but was originally published in Hannaford's Fresh magazine.  Do all of you New England readers pick up Fresh magazine when a new one comes out?  It used to be free with $25 worth of groceries, but now it is free with any amount of groceries.  

I made this mostly as written.  The recipe I clipped from the box called for "ruffles" (radiatori) so that is what I used.  (The one on the website calls for rotini.)

I used water and chicken Better Than Bouillon rather than vegetable broth.  Also, I had to use green beans rather than peas, since I was all out of frozen peas.  Other than that, I made the recipe exactly as written.

Next time, I will be sure to use peas and have already made sure I have some in the freezer.  The beans were good, but I think peas would be better.  Also, I will leave out the chicken sausage.  I think it's unnecessary and the dish had plenty of flavor and protein without it.  The squash made the sauce creamy and smooth.  It was delicious!

We liked this a lot and got about four meals out of it.  It would be great to make for serving a large family or a crowd of friends, or for sharing at a potluck.  

Sharing recipes is such a classic thing to do at a kitchen table!  Hope you enjoy this one if you try it.

Sunday Scripture

 

 I'm continuing to share from the Made for Community reading plan from Love God Greatly that I worked on back in 2015.  With this study, as I have often done, I used the SOAP method of Bible study.  Just a quick reminder that the S is for Scripture, O is for Observation, A is for Application and P is for Prayer.  As you will see, I went a bit more in-depth with this study. 

The second section is Made for Community with People.  So here we go with the Scripture for the third day of that section. 

S= "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.  But woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up."  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

O= The Open Bible gives some cross-references here, where my usual Bible of choice, the 1967 Scofield Study Bible,  did not list any.  For the phrase "Two are better than one", the cross-reference is Exodus 17:12 -- "But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him; and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."

I would observe, too, that two are better than one because two people, working together on the same project, can very often accomplish a great deal more and do a better job than people working individually.

For the phrase "but woe to him that is alone when he falleth", a cross-reference of 2 Chronicles 28:15 is given.  This passage speaks of an incident when the king of Israel invaded Judah and took a great many captives.  This displeased the Lord greatly, and His prophet Oded urged the return of the captives, "for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you." Verse 15 details how the captives were clothed, fed, given medical treatment, and the feeble carried upon donkeys to return to their homeland.

For the phrase "he hath not another to help him up", a cross-reference of Psalm 31:11 is given: "I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance; they that did see me without fled from me."

{As I considered each of these cross-references, I felt that in retrospect I may have preferred Scofield's approach of not listing any for this passage.  The ones listed in The Open Bible seemed a bit of a stretch, but that might just be me.}

A= Even though we all need alone time and solitude, God did not create us to be solitary beings.  He said it was not good for man to be alone.  He puts believers into His redeemed family.  The local church is His idea.  He tells us to dwell together in unity.  Those are only a few thoughts that come to mind right away, but they are enough to confirm in my mind that God doesn't intend us to be solitary.

These verses present some excellent reasons why community is so important.  Two are definitely better than one.  Very few tasks have to be done only by one person.  Some, perhaps, do have to be done alone, but in those cases, others can lift that person up in prayer.  It's important too to have friends who will lift you up and put you back on the right path when you lag behind spiritually or backslide.  Going in your own solitary way is not recommended in the Christian life; accountability is.

P= "Lord, I thank You so much that You created us to be social beings -- that You planned for us to live in community with You and others.  I'm thankful that Your intent for us is to exhort, edify, and encourage one another and that we have the privilege and responsibility of praying for one another.  Help me to be faithful in carrying out these responsibilities with my church family and with my friends.  Lord, You know that I have friends who are just going their own way.  Show them the need for change, I pray.  I thank You for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

That's the study for this week!  Hope you found it a blessing.

Hot-weather hodgepodge

 

 This week, I'm once again writing a Hodgepodge post and linking up with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.   Recall, this is the linkup where Joyce asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers on their own blogs.  Here goes!

 1. Something you learned from your father? 

Oh, I learned so many things from my dad. As well as being a wise and godly man, he was a veritable fount of folksy wisdom.  After his funeral, when we gathered to celebrate his life, I placed on the tables not only old family photos, but some of his sayings as well.

 

2. Do you like onions? Raw or cooked? How about onion rings? What's something you love to eat that calls for onions?

I do like onions.  I prefer them cooked.  I do like raw onion, but I don't like my breath afterwards when I eat it, so avoid it when I can.  I often substitute fresh chives (I have a large patch) for raw onion in recipes.  And I have found that I can make pickled red onions that don't cause the usual raw onion issues.  Oh yes, I love onion rings.   I don't eat them often (too caloric) but oh, they are good.  I can't think of a specific recipe I love to eat that calls for onions.  I use them a lot in cooking.

 

3. It's officially summer (in the Northern hemisphere)...your favorite and least favorite things about the season?

Not sure ... do I get just one favorite and least favorite thing?

Favorite: ice cream stands are open!  And also ... if I get more than one ... blue lakes, green trees, brilliant flower blooms.

Least favorite: ticks!  And also ... humidity, mosquitoes, and deerflies.

4. When you think about the summers of your childhood what are two or three things that come to mind? 

* Ice cream.   One of our favorite family outings in the summer was just to go out for ice cream on an ordinary evening.

* Picking blueberries.  Again, just a favorite family thing to do, usually in conjunction with a picnic.

* Spending time at a summer cottage.  Either our own little camp or my grandmother's summer place; both were a given during the summer.

5.  A hot mess, the heat of the moment, beat the heat, if you can't stand the heat, catch heat, in a dead heat...choose a 'hot 'phrase and tell us how it applies to your life right now.

Beat the heat might be a good one. On very hot days, we head off to our little camp in the woods.  There is so much green there, and a breeze blows in through the many screened windows.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

How is it that June is now 2/3 over? Not sure just where that time has gone.  Thankfully, summer is just beginning!

Our peonies always bloom in June and get more beautiful every year.

That wraps up the Hodgepodge for this week!  Why not head on over to From This Side of the Pond and snag the questions to answer on your own blog? 

Sunday Scripture

 

Well, my Sunday Scripture is not going up as early as usual this week.  I made the graphic early on and then promptly forgot about it in the busyness of the week. 

 I'm continuing to share from the Made for Community reading plan from Love God Greatly that I worked on back in 2015.  With this study, as I have often done, I used the SOAP method of Bible study.  Just a quick reminder that the S is for Scripture, O is for Observation, A is for Application and P is for Prayer.  As you will see, I went a bit more in-depth with this study. 

The second section is Made for Community with People.  So here we go with the Scripture for the second day of that section.  

S=  "Wherefore, receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."  (Romans 15:7)

O=  Whenever I see the word "therefore", or in this case, "wherefore", I always have to ask myself what it's referring back to.  In this case, it's verses 5-6.  Paul is asking that the God of patience and consolation will grant that these believers to be like-minded one toward another "according to Christ Jesus."  And then Paul explains why: "That ye may with one mind and with one mouth glorify God."

Glorifying God is the whole reason we are here.  Paul wants these believers to show consistency in their testimony, that they would be showing as a group an accurate, consistent picture of what God is like.

Because of all this, Paul is instructing them to receive one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Warren Wiersbe explains in Be Right that Paul showed the two sources of spiritual power we must draw from  if we are to live to please others: the Word of God (v.4) and prayer (v. 5-6).  He notes: "We must confess that we sometimes get impatient with younger Christians, just as parents become impatient with their children.  But the Word of God can give us the 'patience and encouragement' (v.4) that we need.

"Paul closed this section praying for his readers, that they might experience from God that spiritual unity  that only He can give.  This suggests to us that the local church must major in the Word of God and in prayer ...

"The result of this is, of course, glory to God.  Disunity and disagreement do not glorify God; they rob Him of glory.  Abraham's words to Lot are applicable to today: 'Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee ... for we be brethren'.  (Genesis 13:8) The neighbors were watching!  Abraham wanted them to see that he and Lot were different because they worshiped the true God.  In His prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed for the unity of the church to the glory of God.  

"Receive one another, edify one another, and please one another -- all to the glory of God."

A=  I liked how Wiersbe brought in the example of Abraham and Lot.  I wouldn't have thought of that.  I do see how God wants all believers to show a consistent testimony.  In order to fulfill our purpose of bringing glory to Him, we must be consistent and seek to be an accurate picture of God to those who do not know Him.  Am I doing this?  I hope so, as this truly is my intent.  Yet there is always, always room for improvement.

P= "Lord, I thank You once again for the practicality of Your Word.  I praise You for the reminder that our purpose as believers is to bring honor and glory to You.  Help me to be doing that in the way that I interact with other believers.  Help our church to be one that majors in Your Word and in prayer, so that we will not rob You of the glory You so richly deserve. I thank You for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

It was especially meaningful for me to look back on this prayer, since when I wrote it in August 2015 our church had been without a pastor for a few months.  In my prayer I had also asked God to help us to have unity in moving forward without one and to have unity and agreement in selecting one.  I had no idea that it would be nearly seven years before God answered that prayer.  And now we have merged with another church to create a new and vibrant church that we pray will impact our community in a wonderful way.  May we major in His Word and in prayer, as Warren Wiersbe so wisely advised.  

I trust that this has been a blessing to someone else today!

Wall art at our little camp

The other afternoon I was looking around our little camp and thinking about some of the wall art we have in place there.  I'm sure there will be more to come over time, but I know some of you enjoy reading about our little place and this might be something different to show you.

The sign at top is fairly ancient -- probably from the 1950s.  It had been nailed to a fence post by my grandfather and the person who evidently co-owned a pasture with him.  This was a cow pasture which was also rich with high-bush blueberries.  This sign lived on my parents' enclosed porch for years, and we decided it would find a new home in our little camp.

The welcome sign above is cleverly displayed in a corner adjacent to the coffee bar.  Our oldest granddaughters had gifted us with this sign at Christmas, and recently grandson Sam figured out a great place to hang it.

Our friend Cyndy drew this saw-whet owl and gifted us with a print.  We finally found the perfect frame for it and it's now on the living room wall.

Above is a section of a much larger illustrated map filled with US historical events.  We found this while clearing out the homestead.  It isn't on the wall yet, but is propped at the back of the coffee bar.

This sweet sampler is in the little bedroom area.  My great-aunt Mabel stitched this, in 1936 if I remember right.  It's in the original frame.

There's not a lot of wall space in the kitchen -- it's mostly taken up by cabinets and windows -- but I have found that hanging a plate on a cabinet door adds a wonderful decorative note to the kitchen.  This one is a collectible-type plate from Avon.  At Christmas time, I used one of these:

And I loved the way that looked on the cabinet door.

Lastly, below is a little sign on another cabinet door.  (Aren't those vintage glass knobs fun?)  This sign is quite small, much smaller than it looks in the photo, but it adds another decorative touch to the kitchen walls.

And that's it for now!  Hope you've enjoyed seeing some of our vintage camp decorating!