WHATEVER...

Whatever You Want, Lord...
W -- Whoever You put in, or take out of my life..
H -- However You want things to end up..
only You see the big picture.
A -- As much as I can take, Lord...
You know me best because
T -- Time is nothing to YOU...help me to be patient.
E -- Everything is in Your hands...Help me to let go.
V -- Victory comes with You as my Guide.
E -- Eternity with You will be worth it all!
R -- Restoration is mine through You.

+ + + + + + + + + + +

GOOFS are good for a laugh

+ If you can't do it right, do it yourself.
+ Arrogance is bliss.
+ No news travels fast.
+ Every clown has a silver lining.
+ Run it up the flag pole and see who sits on it.
+ Am I my brothers's beeper?
+ No man can serve two masters with one stone.
+ Rome wasn't burned in a day.
+ It's on the fork of my tongue.

The Cheerful heart has a continuous feast.
Proverbs 15:15

AUTUMN SPICE OF LIFE

Next Thursday we are having the first fall Get Together of SPICE OF LIFE here at the park. We are featuring APPLES - cool and crisp and ready for us to try a new dip that I learned at a Retreat. We will have an apple paring contest - to see who can carve the longest peeling, an since some of our women are returning from their summer get-aways, we will do a lot of catching up. And our lesson will be ALL ABOUT EVE, of course.
Here is the delicious CARAMEL APPLE dip...

1 8 ounce package cream cheese softened
1/2 cup apple butter (found in Jam section at store)
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix well together and serve with apple slices (kept fresh in a little pineapple juice.

Sherry Haberkorn did this demonstration as part of our NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF GOD'S WOMAN (Proverbs 31) Retreat. She works for Pampered Chef.

Summer Sip n Sees are over!

Here at Boulder Ridge, our manufactured home park, we have gathered in neighbor's homes every two weeks for a SIP N SEE. That is a southern term, I'm told, where women get together for a glass of tea (sweetened of course) and enjoy things like seeing wedding gifts, or a new grandbaby's antics, or vacation pictures, or treasures collected. We have discussed BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE, by Liz Curtis Higgs. What a grand time we have had getting even better acquainted while visiting in homes.

SLIGHTLY BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE is Liz' newest book. I have a copy in front of me, and she has done it again! Five 'slightly bad girls' of the Old Testatment come to life with all their foibles, scars, and idiosyncrasies.

SUMMER COACHING CLASS

One of my great joys is encouring women in their ministries. I often use the Mary Poppins' principle: A SPOONFUL of SUGAR helps the medicine go down. We have used many different themes - but this week we held a coaching class (under the sponsorship of LIFT - Leaders in Fellowship Together - be sure to visit the website LIFTAZ.com) with the theme GET IN THE GAME. Team names, and team building techniques, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, was in a fun baseball game setting. We had peanuts and popcorn and crackerjacks. Practice included mentoring others and multiplying our resources. The special challenge was THE ROAD TRIP from Luke 10, where Jesus sent out the 70 'rookies' while the home team watched.
We understood at the end of the day why Jesus said in Luke 10:23:
"How privileged you are to have seen what you have seen."
We thank God for the privilege of serving Him - and being confident of the win!

Recipe for CHICKEN SPAGHETTI - Delicious!

We have enjoyed this dish at Sherrie and Rich Anderson's home on two occasions: Now I am getting the recipe out to you...

4 c. cooked diced chicken
1 1/2 c. chopped onion
1 1/2 c. chopped celery
1 c chopped bell pepper
1 sm can sliced mushrooms
1 sm.can sliced ripe olives
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can rotel mexican tomatoes
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 lb. spaghetti
1-2 c. grated cheese
salt, pepper, garlic to taste

Saute onion, bell pepper, and celery in oil or butter till soft.
Add chicken broth if necessary for desired thickness (about 1 cup)
Add chicken. Cook pasta, mix all together -

in a BIG bowl, or 9x13 pan.
Cover top with cheese. Bake @350 for 30 minutes.

GREAT BOOK!

KITCHEN TABLE COUNSELING by Muriel Cook and Shelly Cook Volkhardt, Navpress is a must for your women. It is subtitled as a Practical and Biblical Guide forWomen helping others.

We had the privilege of having Muriel come to the LIFT (see website LIFTAZ.com) Summer Seminar. Muriel has been teaching and speaking for many years, but her presentation was as warm and fresh as if it was being shared for the first time. Her life experience contributes to her wisdom of course, but the lingering benefit to me what the deeply scripture approach she has to serving others.

Let me quote a few do's and don'ts from her book:

Do meet a woman at her house, restaurant, or a car.

Don't invite her to your home.

Do listen to see if her thinking is correct. Biblical. Make her face the Truth.

John 8:32 The truth will set you free.

Do make them responsible for their own decisions.

Don't take that responsibility on yourself. Example:

If the Bible says it, do it. If not in the Bible say:

'If I were you, I would do this, but that is your decision.'

Don't submit to a driving force to help everyone.

See John 5:1-9 the man at the pool of Bethesda.

Luke 5:15, 16 Great multitudes came. Jesus slipped away to pray.

DO ask God, "Send me the person YOU want me to help."