Fullness of Life in 2009
for your refrigerator
1. Practice kindness. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is the greatest gift of all.
2. Focus on changing your behavior. What simple steps can you take to live life differently?
3. Challenge inaccurate thinking. Believe in yourself. Remember God’s word:
“All things are possible through Christ who gives you strength.”
4. Share your feelings.
5. Meet your dependency needs in healthy ways: Live in the Word.
6. Pay attention to your physical well being and its impact on your mental and spiritual health. Mind, body, and soul work in tandem.
7. Be strong in Christ. Emphasize Christ’s love and strength as you share with others. Nourish your spiritual life.
As Paul said, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”
adapted from Minirth Clinic, Dallas
May God bless you now and into eternity.
Love in the name of Christ who loves abundantly,
Lucia
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Ah, the Aroma!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Happy New Year! As my son used to say, "Mama, Happy New You!" He had a point. It is a time of year to be new. A time to reflect on 2008, and begin again in 2009. I have conflicting resolutions: one is to get in control of my stuff and another is to rest more! Alas, yin and yang! We may get caught in conflicting shoulds and oughts this year, but we may also resolve to let go of some shoulds and oughts and rest wholly in God who promises to be with us and guide us in God's will. I wish for you a strengthened prayer life and the resolve to live fully, aware that you are wrapped in God's abundant love. Romans 8:22-28 tells us that we groan while we wait for redemption and that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. That is our hope. That is the promise for 2009:
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Amen! Romans 8:26-28
Below is my New Year's gift to you: these are really yummy!
Thank you for being the church together.
Love in the One who gives New Life,
Lucia
Brown Sugar Pecans
Ingredients
16 ounces pecan halves
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt Directions
1Arrange pecan halves in an aluminum foil lined 13x 9 baking dish ~ Reynolds Release foil works great here ~ set pan aside.
2Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat and add brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, salt.
3Stir one minute and remove from heat.
4Continue stirring until brown sugar dissolves.
5Pour over pecans, stirring to coat.
6Bake at 325ยบ for 25 to 25 minutes; stirring every 10 to 15 minutes.
7Remove from oven and spread on wax paper to cool. Stir nuts, as they cool, to prevent clumping.
8Store in an airtight container.
Happy New Year! As my son used to say, "Mama, Happy New You!" He had a point. It is a time of year to be new. A time to reflect on 2008, and begin again in 2009. I have conflicting resolutions: one is to get in control of my stuff and another is to rest more! Alas, yin and yang! We may get caught in conflicting shoulds and oughts this year, but we may also resolve to let go of some shoulds and oughts and rest wholly in God who promises to be with us and guide us in God's will. I wish for you a strengthened prayer life and the resolve to live fully, aware that you are wrapped in God's abundant love. Romans 8:22-28 tells us that we groan while we wait for redemption and that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. That is our hope. That is the promise for 2009:
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Amen! Romans 8:26-28
Below is my New Year's gift to you: these are really yummy!
Thank you for being the church together.
Love in the One who gives New Life,
Lucia
Brown Sugar Pecans
Ingredients
16 ounces pecan halves
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt Directions
1Arrange pecan halves in an aluminum foil lined 13x 9 baking dish ~ Reynolds Release foil works great here ~ set pan aside.
2Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat and add brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, salt.
3Stir one minute and remove from heat.
4Continue stirring until brown sugar dissolves.
5Pour over pecans, stirring to coat.
6Bake at 325ยบ for 25 to 25 minutes; stirring every 10 to 15 minutes.
7Remove from oven and spread on wax paper to cool. Stir nuts, as they cool, to prevent clumping.
8Store in an airtight container.
Merry Christmas!
A Word from Your Pastor
Two weeks ago, I attended a funeral for Glenn, age 43, the husband of the choir director who has taught Katie for 3 years. His funeral touched me in a deep place. All of that love in one room made me question my life and those places that need more love. It is so easy to get caught up in the shoulds and oughts of life and miss the good stuff. Glenn’s service was the good stuff. All of us in solidarity with Glenn’s family spoke volumes. We were focused on one thing and that is praising God in the storm. The pastor and music and speakers all reflected one thing: Christ is the center of life. If we aren’t recognizing that, we need to change. In Isaiah, the Lord reveals:
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. Isaiah 43:19-21
As we begin this Advent season, may we remember: God is making all things new, if we but begin again. Love is just waiting to happen.
Merry Christmas!
Love, Lucia
Two weeks ago, I attended a funeral for Glenn, age 43, the husband of the choir director who has taught Katie for 3 years. His funeral touched me in a deep place. All of that love in one room made me question my life and those places that need more love. It is so easy to get caught up in the shoulds and oughts of life and miss the good stuff. Glenn’s service was the good stuff. All of us in solidarity with Glenn’s family spoke volumes. We were focused on one thing and that is praising God in the storm. The pastor and music and speakers all reflected one thing: Christ is the center of life. If we aren’t recognizing that, we need to change. In Isaiah, the Lord reveals:
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. Isaiah 43:19-21
As we begin this Advent season, may we remember: God is making all things new, if we but begin again. Love is just waiting to happen.
Merry Christmas!
Love, Lucia
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