Word-Filled Wednesday ~#77~ Focus

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." ~I Cor. 13:12

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Keep your eyes upon Jesus
And no man will e'er take His place;
And through ev'ry hour He will give you pow'r
'Til at last, you have run your great race."

Do you wear glasses? I do. And ten years ago, I even "graduated" to bi-focals. They have been one of the hardest necessities I've ever had to get used to, but once I did get used to them, it's very hard to get along without them. 
 
Now, to find out how powerful to make one's glasses we need to have an eye test. A space-age-looking contraption is posted in front of your face and you, then, look at an eye chart while the Dr. guides your eyes through a range of lenses to see how well you . . . well . . . see. :-) Once your prescription is discovered and you pick out your glasses or contacts, the whole world is now clear and in focus. I can remember getting a new pair of glasses and marveling that I could now see the whites of the eyes of the people on the T.V.! I had no idea that I couldn't see them. As exciting as that was, I now had to make the daily decision to wear my glasses so that I could continue to see clearly or give in to vanity and not to wear them and keep seeing only shadows of what was really in front of me.

That's what happens when we turn our eyes upon Jesus. So many in this world are lost and stumbling around, trying to find truth, trying to find salvation for their souls and they have no idea what they can't see. We all know them. Could it be that we are in their lives to lead them to the Great Physician, the Savior of their souls? How wonderful that our God allows us the privilege of leading others to Him; that they may find salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ ~ that they may clearly see the truth of the gospel. 

But like those of us who wear glasses, those people may just give in to the lies of vanities offered by this world and turn a blind eye to Jesus. We are called to plant the seeds, to point toward the path ~ God is responsible to make those seeds grow (I Cor. 3:6). 

There are a lot of people stumbling around in the darkness, let us help them focus on Jesus.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><     

 

Be Strong, Be Courageous, Dream Big!

THANKS ~ I needed that!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Rosemary & Flax Cast Iron Artisan Bread

As many of you know, I bake our family bread, basically a flaxseed meal bread. I use that basic recipe to make all sorts of variations of my bread: basic family bread, rolls, and various herb breads.

Today, I want to give you another variation that I just love . . . rosemary & flax artisan bread baked in my Bigmom's cast iron skillet! You will LOVE this.

You will need:
 
~1-1/3 c. hot water (the hotter, the better, but not boiling)
~2 ts. butter (or margarine ~ I recommend Earth Balance, it is non-hydrogenated)
~4 c. unbleached bread flour (I also enjoy 2 c bread flour & 2 c whole wheat)
~1/4 c. flaxseed meal
~5 ts. sugar OR Sucanat (depends on your sweet-tooth)
~1-1/2 ts. sea salt (OR Real Salt ~ remember that Real Salt is "saltier" than sea salt)
~the leaves of 3 long, dried sprigs of rosemary OR 1 TB dried rosemary
1 TB. (heaping) yeast (cold - kept in frig)

Directions:

1) Add ingredients into your bread machine in order as listed above.

2) Use your finger or a measuring spoon to form a well (hole) in the mixture to pour the yeast into. NEVER let your yeast come into contact w/a liquid before mixing. NOTE ~ hot water & cold yeast will make your bread rise higher & more successfully; however, if it is raining on the day you bake your bread the rise will not be quite so high.

3) Set machine on "Dough." Mine will knead and rise for about 1-1/2 hours.

4) About 10 minutes before cycle is complete, set oven on "warm" to pre-heat. While oven is warming, spray or grease your 10" cast iron skillet ~ I like to use grape seed oil. After about 10 minutes, turn oven OFF. 
 

Take bread out of machine, punch down, shape into a round loaf and set in skillet, 

take a knife and cut a cross on the top of the bread, set bread in oven and let rise for 45 minutes. 

5) After bread rises, set oven at 375* & bake for 27 minutes.

6) Cool on wire rack.

7) Pour about 3 TB of olive oil into a saucer & sprinkle in 1 TB of grated Parmesan cheese into the oil.

8) Cut bread into slices, dip pieces of the bread into the oil & cheese mixture and ENJOY!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#175~ 1/14/13

For today . . . 

Outside my window . . . over-cast & back to freeeeezing cold.

I am thinking . . . that I wish I could stay in my house all day. It's so hard to get motivated on dark days.

I am thankful . . . that I got to sleep late today. I needed it. I still have some remnant of the flu that I just can't shake, the rest was very welcome. ALSO ~ we took our DD#1 & her husband our for her birthday dinner. It had been put off b/c of the flu. Sadly, DD#2 didn't get to go b/c SHE now has the flu. Hoping THE Man stays well.

From the kitchen . . . chicken noodle soup & fresh bread.

I am wearing . . . jeans, black long-sleeved shirt, over-sized comfy grey & off-white cardigan sweater my sweet DD#2 got me for Christmas.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to run some errands, pick up a few groceries & work the closing shift.

I am wondering . . . when this flu crud will GO AWAY?!

I am hoping . . . it is soon.

I am reading . . . Bible ~ the book of Luke.

I am looking forward . . . to heaven.

I am learning . . . to trust my own instincts.

Around the house . . . general pick up, taking care of DD#2 until THE Man gets home.

One of my favorite things . . . being able to take care of my family ~ in sickness & in health.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, Dr's appointments, staying home as much as possible.

A favorite quote for the day . . . "Repentance reorients us toward God; it IS NOT a white flag of defeat, it IS a bumble acknowledgement that GOD is greater than me." ~from Sunday's sermon.

Scripture thought . . . "In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." ~John 3:3

A picture thought for you . . . 

 Our new son-in-law's mom, escorted by a young man who is like a brother to our girls & myself ~ entrance of the moms at our DD#1's wedding in Oct. 2012 <3 font="font">

See 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><         

Jesus Loves Me, Loves Me Still

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." ~2 Cor. 1:3-4

If I let it, this date can be the saddest day of my year. 27 years ago, today, was that saddest day of my life. Our dear daughter, our actual DD#1, went home to be with the Lord due to S.I.D.s. I miss her everyday and I can still "feel" how she felt in my arms. My precious first-born. The verse, above, is the verse that the Lord gave me as He comforted me after she passed. The drawing, above, was my gift to myself on my 1st Mother's Day ~ my arms were empty, but my heart was full.

For whatever reason, and for the 1st time in many years, I got out Jessica's baby book and looked through it . . . stories about her birth, milestones, her birth certificate ~ and her death certificate. There, too, is an old church newsletter ~ March 1986 ~ with an article I had written to thank our church family for their prayers & love & also to give them a little insight into our journey. I'll share parts of it with you . . . 

Our Precious Brothers and Sisiters ~ 

How can Ty & I even begin to express how we feel about you, how much we love & appreciate you? How can we tell you how much yours concern, prayers & (the greatest of all) your love has meant to us? . . .  

10/15/84 ~ 7:22 a.m. ~ the hardest & happiest day of our lives. Jessica came into our world. I conducted a little experiment: while I was pregnant, & knowing that unborn babies can hear, I started singing "Jesus Loves Me" very slowly, as a lullaby to my unborn child ~  & after she was born she KNEW it! No matter how upset she was this song would ease her in a matter of seconds . . . 

1/11/86 ~ Jessi went home to Jesus at 11:37a.m. because of "Crib Death" (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Her doctors were so shocked . . . But our God is so mighty & so good! He had great mercy on us by taking her without pain.

God is so good! He promised me that He would never leave me or forsake me & He didn't. His Spirit came out of every corner of that Emergency Trauma Room. As I sat there, holding & loving my darling daughter for the last time, all I could do was say praises to my Glorious Father! I told Him how much I love Him & that I do still trust Him. I thanked Him for trusting us with the great responsibility of loving & caring for her, & countless other things. But mostly I thanked Him that I will see her again & even though I don't understand now, soon I will know why all of this had to happen when I see Him face to face. And this "word" was confirmed as Mike [our pastor at the time] shared 1 Cor. 13:12 at the service. "Now we see but a poor reflection; when we shall see face to face. Now I know in part: then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

Parents, listen to Jesus; He will give you insights into so many things. Jesus told me early in my pregnancy that this baby would be special & that hearts would be softened.

God is faithful. Please do not look at us as being "super spiritual" or "brave." We're not. In our weakness He is truly strong.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Our faith has been strengthened, not just in our circumstances, but in the Jesus that we see in all of you.

Thank you all again for your love, support & prayers.

Jesus Love Me

{verses 3 & 4}

Jesus love me, loves me still

Though I'm very weak and ill,

From His shining Throne on high

Comes to watch me where I lie.

Jesus loves me, He will stay

Close beside me everyday

If I love Him when I die

He will take me Home on high!

Yes, Jesus Love Me. The Bible tells me so!

Thank you, for indulging this Mama's heart.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><