Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Valerie's Easy Pink-eye peas-y Recipe

My DH is growing Pink-eye peas. I had to learn how to cook them. The following is what I came up. It turned out great and it was super duper easy. 

This is "Valerie's Easy Pink-eye peas-y recipe":  

3 cups shelled and rinsed pink-eye peas 
1 can progresso french onion soup 
some butter  
1. In pot, melt butter to cover the bottom 
2. Add soup 
3. Bring to a boil, add peas and stir 
4. Let boil 2-5 minutes 
5. turn to lowest heat and cover for one hour 
6. Serve and Enjoy......they're BETTER than black-eye peas

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Children's Sermon "What it means to be a Christian?"

Good Morning. How is everyone feeling? Are their any prayer requests? Let's Pray.


Can anyone tell me what we were supposed to do when we left church last sunday?


Sing "I am a C"



What it means to be a christian?


Can anyone tell me what it means to be a christian? (wait for answers). 


Let's look at what the Bible says...THe Bible uses the term Christian 3 times(Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16) and it comes from the the greek 'Christianos' which means Follower of Christ. Hmm, so according to the definitions in the dictionary about "follow" being a Christian is about being somebody who comes behind, supports, imitates, obeys and even takes over for --meaning carry on the ministry of Jesus. It is a an awesome responsibility and the universe's greatest gift, but where does your journey as a Follower of Christ start? Let's see what Jesus said..... in (1)  John 3:3 that we have to be "Born Again" or accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior believing with all your heart (make playdoh heart) that Jesus died on a cross for your sins (make playdoh cross)  . God's word tells us in (2) 2 corinthians 5:17 that when we are born again we become a new creature. How can he make us new all over? 


First Quote "God know our heart..."


Let me show you with this play-doh. What color is this heart? okay red. We are going to use this red heart to represent us or our spirit...each of us is born with a spirit. It's what makes us a living person with life, feelings and emotions. What color is this cross? Okay Blue. We are going to let the cross represent God's spirit.

second quote "God sent his son..."

third quote "now look what happens..."

 (quotes have been taken from www.childrensermons.com/sermons/creature.htm)

Any questions? If anyone wants to talk about being born again and starting on their journey of being a christian, after we pray come and talk to me or _____ and we would love to talk and pray with you.


Friday, June 11, 2010

Strawberry Pizza

Ingredients:
Favorite sugar cookie recipe or store bought sugar cookie dough 
Strawberries--about a half gallon
8 oz (1 package) cream cheese
confectioners sugar
whipped topping or whipped cream

****************
Use a round pizza pan
Cover with foil
(Spray with non-stick spray)
put cookie dough on pan
place wax paper on top of the dough
Either smooth down the dough with hand or use a rolling pin to make cookie dough cover the pizza pan ala pizza dough
remove wax paper
-Cook in accordance with cookie dough recipe/instructions. Perform a and b while cookie is in the oven
a. Sweeten cream cheese to desired taste by adding powdered sugar to preferred taste...if unsure start with 1 cup blend in using mixer on medium speed 

b. Hull/remove the green of the strawberries 
cut tops and bottom off strawberries--to be used in 'pizza sauce'. These pieces will be crushed to look like sauce. I used my onion chopper. 
slice strawberries for the 'pepperoni' put aside


1. When giant cookie/'pizza' crust comes out of the oven, spread a thin layer of sweetened cream cheese (scc). Let cookie cool and the sweetened cream cheese harden.

Photobucket

***************
2. Using the tops and bottoms of the strawberries, crush strawberries to make 'pizza' sauce.
Spread the strawberry sauce on the hardened sweetened cream cheese. 


Photobucket



**************
3. I used a cake decorating bag, but this can be done using a ziploc bag or other inventive way to add the sweetened cream cheese. 
Zig-zag the sweetened cream cheese across the strawberry sauce.

Photobucket




***************

4.  Starting from the middle of the 'pizza', spiral the whip cream (from a bag or the can) to the outside of the pizza

Photobucket





****************


5.  Garnish with strawberry slices (to look like pepperoni)



Photobucket





Ta-Da Strawberry Pizza!


My tip--To add sausages (or for a red-white-and blue look)--just toss on some blueberries!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Expanding Family

I just wanted to share the news that my family has grown.... Introducing... Photobucket "Hunter Pumpkin Johnson" This boy moved in under my porch and adopted my family more than a month ago. The neighborhood kids and I named the stray Hunter. To our surprise he had a 'owner', and his name was Gus, but he didn't seem to want to live with them or be named Gus. An incident happened that was blown WAY out of proportion and the law was called on the mostly lab with a touch of lazy howling hound by the so-called owner; the officer was quick to notice that the puppy was far from aggressive and quickly left without the dog. My husband made the decision that we would adopt the creature that had already moved in. After officially having him for a couple of days and after getting the collar, leash, flea treatment, chain, etc., Amelia decided he needed a full name and by her word she added Pumpkin Johnson. :) This member came first. I am pleased to announce Country Kitty Johnson. 
Photobucket She was living by herself in a dilapidated tobacco barn that's being held up by the weeds and Ivy that encompass it. Hubby's great Aunt has a strawberry farm and everytime they walked passed the area they heard a young faint meow. There was a 'mama cat' deceased on the highway in front of the farm. They asked me to see if I could get it because it wouldn't come out or go to them. I went back to the approximate spot of the baby and just meowed for it, and me being the cat whisperer that I am, she just walked right out, let me pick her up, and I walked back to the strawberry farm. I took her over to another house where I knew a mama cat was and tried to initiate an adoption, but the mama didn't want anything to do with a new baby. Poor Kitty was desperately after the milk from the mama cat, but without success. We took her home to restore her to health and doubled her weight with-in 1.5 days. We are not supposed to have indoor pets, but kitty just doesn't like the outside....especially after Hunter moved in. I wanted to name her Sergeant Fuzzypants, but I was out voted.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

On Evangelism

Blessings, 
I thoroughly enjoyed the Woman's Conference on January 29, 2010 at Beach Church in Myrtle Beach. The speakers were Kim Hardy, Debbie Turner and Beth Greer. I was blessed by these woman and hope that my notes can bless those who were not able to attend.

The first speaker, Kim Hardy was a dynamic, funny, pointed woman. Her personality was accented by the red coat she wore. "Kim Hardy is an inspirational communicator and a unique combination of author, speaker, worship leader, singer, and Bible teacher.
 Her down-to-earth presentation style makes participants feel as though they've just met a new friend. 

Whether she's speaking about prayer, evangelism or challenges women face in their daily lives and spiritual walk, Kim shares with genuine and heartfelt sincerity. Her messages are rooted in the Bible and woven with humor and energy that make her listeners laugh, cry, and gain a new understanding of God's faithfulness. (http://www.kimhardyministries.com/default.asp?page=40321)"

Her 'talk' and new book are titled "Evangelism for Chickens."

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Acts 26:1-11--King Agrippa  is questioning Paul on the charges that face him. The point that Kim made here was: 

DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PAST TO SHACKLE YOU.

Paul admitted what he did before the road to Damascus.

Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"

Here Kim tells the story of when her daughter was 5. It was a typically busy and cold Michigan morning. Kim was rushing to get everyone bundled up and out the door. When she went to zip up her daughter's coat, the kind that zip up to your chin, she zipped a portion of her daughter's neck in the zipper. It was not a good experience for her poor child. Her daughter is now 14. No matter how cold it may be outside, she only zips her coat up to just below her clavicle/just above her sternum. She remembers what happened when she was 5. That memory keeps her from experiencing the full warmth of a coat.  

That thief will try to rob you of the full joy or the Lord. he will reming you of things that happened in your past. He will try to keep you from experiencing all that warmth of Jesus. He will try to keep you from evangelizing. 

Acts 26:19---- (Paul's Post Conversion Life)
Don't allow the challenges of life to distract our focus from God.
James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him"
God will give you wisdom. Just ask for it. Don't be afraid.

Even with your life's challenges. Tell someone about the HOPE that is in you. 

Acts 26:12--(story of Paul's salation)

John 14:6 "“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.Jesus is the answerJesus is the way. Don't be afraid to tell about Him.

Tell someone about Jesus. Pray for God to use you. Spend deliberate time with God. Talk to people--tell them about Jesus. 

Here Kim exemplifies a method of her evangelism for busy people. She will ask her cashier, waiter, person in line "Is there more to life than what you're experiencing?" Her suggestion is to give yourself a tool, ie. a track, to help you share your testimony. Some helpful suggestions to helping you evengelize
1. Make sure that there are no shackles to your past
2. Don't take your focus from God or the person you are speaking to
3. Share the Hope/the Gospel in your own personality  

***********************************
The second speaker was Debbie Turner. A seemingly soft spoken and emotional south 
carolinian with a passionate plea to encourage women to Evangelize.

Deb Harv 3

"Debbie Turner

Debbie Turner is a Christian Author and Speaker with a 

passion for sharing the 

life-affirming, unspeakable joy of intimacy with Christ

Her inspirational teaching style penetrates barriers and 

reaches deep into the heart to deliver

 spiritual truth with insight, tenderness, 

and clarity. Scripture lives and breathes 

as she weaves biblical principles, compelling stories,

 and humorous anecdotes into messages 

that clearly connect God's Word to the triumphs 

and challenges of everyday life.  

Debbie accepted God's call into the ministry following

 the tragic death of her beloved son, 

Stephen. Since then she has traveled the US 

and Canada inspiring others with proven strategies

 for achieving success and overcoming 

seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

 (http://www.calltofaith.net/debbie)"


Her message was titled "My identity is firmly 

anchored in Christ"

Romans 10:9 "that if you confess with your mouth that

"Jesus is Lord" 

and believe in your

 heart that God has raised Him from the dead, 

you will be saved."


1 peter 2:9  "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood

a holy nation, a people 

belonging to God, that you may declare the praises

 of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light"

1 peter 1:4 "and into an inheritance that can never perish, 

spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you"


James 1:22-25 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so 

deceive yourselves. 

Do what it says. 

Anyone who listens to the word but 

does not do what it says is like a man who looks at

 his face in a mirror 

and, after looking at himself, 

goes away and immediately 

forgets what he looks like. But the man who 

looks intently into the 

perfect law that gives freedom,

 and continues to do this, not forgetting

 what he has heard, but doing it—he will be

 blessed in what he does."


We as Christians are experiencing another

 form of identity theft. 

Spiritual identity theft. 

Do we dare reject the identity that is given to 

us by 

Jesus Christ. 


John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal 

and kill and destroy; 

I have come that they may 

have life, and have it to the full."


Don't let satan convince you to doubt your

 identiy in Christ. 

Transform things by living out 

your beliefs in your home, stores, communities, 

churches, etc. 


How do you feel to know that you are CHOSEN? 


YES YOU ARE CHOSEN BY GOD!


The solution to this identity theft is the power that 

flows to us from Jesus Christ. 


Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the LORD 

will renew their 

strength. They 

will soar 

on wings like 

eagles; they will run 

and not grow weary, 

they will walk and 

not be faint."


We are chosen, you 

are chosen, 

I am chosen. 

Our identity is established 

in Christ. 


Evangelism puts us in 

the direct path of 

rejection. Fully 

surrender our lives 

to Christ. 


John 9--(a man blind since 

birth receives sight after 

having mud on his eyes. 

He is questioned by the 

religious. But he doesn't care. 

He unabashedly stands firm 

in what God/Jesus has 

done for him, regardless 

of his ridicule). 

We need to proclaim what 

God has done for us!


Our past has been redeemed. 


Regardless of what 

happens, we never 

work alone. 


Every step is 

one step closer 

to our glorious 

homecoming. 


Respond to your calling. 


Do what you are chosen 

to do!

**********************************


Over the course of the 

conference we watched 

several short videos. 

The message of the videos were 

1. Pray

2. Engage

3. Connect

4. Celebrate

5. Disciple


**********************************

Our third speaker was Beth Greer. 

She is a woman that is 

clearly wearing Jesus. "

Beth Greer

Beth GreerA native South Carolinian,
 Beth grew up in Brazil,
South America,
where her parents
served as 
Southern Baptist
missionaries
. She is a
graduate of Columbia
College,
Columbia,
South Carolina
,
where she majored in
Spanish. Beth is a gifted
 Bible teacher, speaker
 and worship leader
and finds great joy
 in serving the Lord.
She is committed to
the truths of God's
word as a wife and
mother and is
passionate about
teaching and equipping
the 
Body of Christ.
She also has a passion
for seeing those who
are lost come to know
Christ as their
personal
Lord and Savior
(
http://www.onepurpose.com/Bios/Beth.htm)"


At the start of her talk she 

challenged us to memorize

 Psalm 139

Then we read it together. 


Remind yourself of the 

goodness of the Lord


Know that God has a

 sovereign plan for you. 


Not asking why, but 

knowing that it is for 

God's Glory!


John 4 (The Samaritan woman 

meets Jesus at the well 

and learns of the living water). 

Jesus got straight to the point. 

He didn't beat around the 

bush. He said what he had to say. 


In John 4:6 we are reminded 

that our God in heaven

in his humanity got weary. 

He knows what it is like to 

become weary!


Always do the father's will. 

(Don't worry about being 

politically correct. Jesus spoke 

to a samaritan woman in a time 

when men didn't even speak to

 their wives in public, 

much less samaritans.)


The samaritan thought Jesus

 spoke of regular water--

she was blinded to spiritual truth. 


The samaritan woman had to 

confess her sin 

(She had had 5 husbands 

and now lived 

with a man that she was not 

married to)


God hates all sin regardless 

of what the sin is. We 

may feel that somethings are worse 

than others, but God hates 

all sin. All and any sin 

separates us from God. 


Jesus declares to the 

samaritan woman 

that he is the Messiah. 

When she learns this, she goes 

to tell the good news with 

fervency and disregard 

of her past and imposed 

cultural restrictions. 


She was wearing Jesus, 

she was changed and was 

never the same. 


The people came to see Jesus 

(because of the samaritan woman) 

in their white/best robes. 

They sat for 2 days to worship him. 


The best things in life:  

know, love and serve Jesus. 


***************************************


We ended the conference 

with the rest of what 

the insightful and 

entertaining Kim Hardy 

had to say. 


1. All Christians have 

a story to tell (our testimony)

2. Expect great things 

from God

3. No excuses allowed 

when doing God's business


(this is my favorite 

quote from the 

whole conference)

"Go (or take people) 

from being fans of 

Jesus to becoming 

followers of Jesus"


Romans 10:9-10

"that if you confess 

with your mouth the 

Lord Jesus and 

believe in your 

heart that God 

has raised 

Him from the 

dead, you will 

be saved. 

For with the 

heart one 

believes unto 

righteousness, 

and with the 

mouth confession 

is made unto salvation"


3 chicken insights 

(on Evangelism)

1. Initially most people 

don't want to hear 

your story

2. People are busy

3. People are tuned 

into their own story


How do I tell His story 

and my story?

[Jesus is the Son of 

God, JOhn 3:16, 

Jesus died on the 

cross for our sins, 

Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day]

My story:
--tell it in mini-bites and small portions. don't give the movie version. Remember PEOPLE ARE BUSY

the story to tell
1. my life before Jesus (attitudes, mental health,what did you do to try to make yourself happy)
2. How Jesus changed my life (Where did he meet you, maybe you were a fan and then finally gave yourself over to him)
3. My new life in Christ (joy, provider, peace, comfort)

Submit to the Holy Spirit

You are not a pusher of but you are a proclaimer of the Gospel!!

Remember the God you serve is the only God. He is Jehovah Jireh --God our provider!

Remember telling a story
ask
listen
learn

Most importantly PRAY, Bathe in Prayer, Pray, Pray and Pray some more. Pray before, during and after witnessing. 

DON"T BE A CHICKEN!!