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LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP

15 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by illumylife by Joy in beauty, Christianity, faith, flower gardens, Friendship International, Hearts Filled With Joy, joy, love, recipes, wildflowers, wisdom and understanding

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Christianity, faith. flowers, Friendship International, joy, love, recipes, spiritual wisdom

“Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs…Love never fails.”             I Corinthians 13:4,5,8 “Friendship International is an outreach of Christian love from American ladies to Internationals living in the Lexington area.  We love and appreciate each other as we help internationals adjust to our community from other countries.  The purpose of Friendship International is to help make the adjustment to the American way of life easier, to provide activities of interest and to facilitate building cross-cultural friendships.” Friendship International meets in Immanuel Baptist Church each Thursday during the school year, unless Fayette Co. Public Schools are not in session.  Childcare is provided for preschool children. Here is a list of some of the classes that are offered:  Bible Study, Cooking, Crafts, Crochet, Cross-Cultural Parenting, Cross-Stitch, Exercise, Jewelry Making, Knitting, Line Dancing, Needlepoint, Painting, Praise Dancing, Quilting, Scrap booking, English (levels 1,2and 3), and Spanish. A couple of years ago I attended the parade of Nations at Friendship and took several pictures of the ladies. Friendship was celebrating the countries of the International ladies and the traditional dress of each country worn by many of the International women and their children was breathtaking.  I am sorry I was unable to take pictures of all the lovely ladies and children. Being a part of Friendship International is one of the most rewarding and fun things I have ever done. Many years ago Ruth White and I decided to take on the challenge of teaching a Ceramics class for the Internationals.  Neither of us knew anything about ceramics, but we figured that if God wanted us to do it, He would provide the way.  Well He must have wanted it because we had a wonderful time with the sweetest group of ladies and they each made several lovely ceramic pieces for their homes.  We learned how to do it together.  So never underestimate the power of God to help you do what seems to be impossible! “For nothing is impossible with God.”    Luke 1:37 Friendship International Smiles Are Contagious If you are looking for joy, you’ll find plenty of it at Friendship International. The year that I taught the art of paper-mache clown making was filled with laughter and fun. All of the Friendship classes have so much fun, you really should come to one of the meetings.  It is something you won’t soon forget. Our theme at the clown clinic was “smiles are contagious.”  Several years ago it was my privilege to teach another wonderful class at Friendship International. I decided to teach the girls “How to be a clown.”  I was actually part of a clown group in my church at that time and we enjoyed visiting nursing homes and even went to the children’s special Olympic games held over in Richmond one year.  The Friendship ladies and I had a great time together. We spent most of our time laughing. Can you tell that we designed our costumes ourselves from pajamas and our husband’s old shirts?  At the end of the semester, we decided to put on a skit in which we taught the other ladies at Friendship how to make “Friendship Soup.”  Of course clowns don’t talk so each of the ladies put in an ingredient in our soup pot.  One put in a rubber chicken, another a whole bunch of unpeeled carrots with the green tops still on and another salt that was still in the salt shaker just to list a few.  But the clowns were all sad because we couldn’t figure out why when we tested the soup, it didn’t taste right.  Then someone figured out that we had left out the LOVE ingredient.  So we all started hugging each other and after that the soup tasted great!  I shall never forget the wonderful friends and memories of that group of ladies.  If any of you are still around please let me know. I have often made my own original version of “Friendship Soup” at home and it is a favorite of my family and friends.  I usually serve it with homemade bread or corn bread.  Just remember when you make it  that the most important ingredient is love and always make enough to share with a friend.  That is me with the green hair and chef hat. Friendship Soup Recipe

  • 2 Tablespoons margarine or butter
  • 3 lbs. lean stew beef stew meat cut in chunks (cut off all fat around the beef)
  • 9 cups of water
  • 1 cup Swanson all natural beef stock
  • 1 can of stewed tomatoes
  • 4 fresh carrots peeled and cut in pieces
  • 2 packages frozen white corn (off the cob)
  • 1 package frozen mixed vegetables (corn, peas, beans, carrots)
  • 8 stalks fresh celery chopped into small pieces
  • 1 heaping teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder,
  • 1/2 teaspoon marjoram leaves,  1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves, 1/2 white onion chopped fine or 1/2 teaspoon onion flakes
  • 3 tablespoons flour

Early in the morning in a large pot, brown the beef in the butter on medium high heat.  Add the water, beef stock and salt and pepper.  Let simmer all morning.  Take off burner and add a cup of ice cubes to cool and place pot in refrigerator in order to let grease rise to top.  A couple of hours before supper cook the carrots and celery about 20 minutes until tender and drain.  Cook frozen corn and vegetables and drain.  Take soup pot out of refrigerator and skim off the fat and throw away.  Chop up the stewed tomatoes and add them along with tomato juice to pot.  Add all of the drained cooked vegetables and the rest of the seasonings.  Bring to boil and then let simmer until dinner time.  Just before serving mix the flour into a cup of water and add to soup stirring to thicken the broth.  We love it the first night but I think it tastes even better the following day after all the flavors have mixed together.  Enjoy! Friendship 2013-2014 This year God has blessed me once again to be able to take part in Friendship.  I am teaching a painting class with Mary DeMarttina.  We have a group of such sweet and talented girls from Japan, China, Korea, Iraq, Mexico, India and Canada and they truly amaze me with their beautiful paintings.  We are studying the exquisite beauty of flowers up close and learning to paint what we see.  We will also be learning about the harmony of color in a wildflower meadow and how color delights the soul. painting class 2014 bI love painting flowers because in a garden I feel the very presence of God. wildflower beautyIn the words of the well-known and much loved artist, Thomas Kinkade,  “When we keep ourselves tuned to the beauty of our world, life itself become a joyous celebration of the senses and a song of praise.” painting class 2014 gfriendship painting 2014 hpainting class 2014 c painting class 2014 d painting class 2014 e painting class 2014 fIt is my prayer that this class will enrich the lives of the lovely ladies who participate in it and fill them with the joy of the amazing beauty that is all around us. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.”         Psalm 37:4 painting class 2013 dpainting class 2013 apainting class 2013 bpainting class 2013 cpainting class 2013 epainting class 2013I have learned that it is not the ability that counts so much in teaching, it is the willingness to laugh at our mistakes and pour love out in everything we do and say that really counts.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is  God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”   I Thessalonians 5:16-18

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The Greatest Gift is Love

07 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by illumylife by Joy in beach sunsets, beauty, Christianity, Christmas, faith, hope, joy, love, music, peace, wisdom and understanding

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Christianity, Christmas, faith, glorious sunset, hope, joy, love, music, peace, spiritual wisdom

“I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you establish your faithfulness in heaven itself.”     Psalm 89:2   sunset beautiful“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”     John 1:14

Have you ever walked outside in the evening and looked up to see the most glorious sunset imaginable and felt the absolute awesomeness of God?  To think that this mighty God loved us so much that He came down to earth and gave His life for our sins so that we might know Him and have a relationship with Him overwhelms me with amazement.  Oh how I love Him!  This Holy God delights in us and wants to protect and guide us.  His love and concern for my life fills me with joy and makes my heart sing!

Jesus is the greatest gift the world has ever received.

But what can I give Him?

I will give Him my heart filled with love.

I will give the gift of love this Christmas to my family, my children and spouse

and I will give the gift of love in His name to all I know and meet this year.

“I will sing of the LORD”S great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.”     Psalm 89:1

When Love Was Born  artist: Mark Schultz

Starlight shines, the night is still.  Shepherds watching from a hill.  I close my eyes to see the night when love was born.

A Perfect Child gently wails.  A mother bends to kiss God’s face  I close my eyes to see the night when love was born.

Angels fill the midnight sky and they sing Hallelujah,  He is Christ, our King.

Emmanuel, Prince of Peace,  Love came down to you and me.  Heaven’s gift, the holy spark to light the way inside our hearts.

Bethlehem, through your small door came the hope we’ve waited for.  The world was changed forevermore when love was born.

I close my eyes to see the night when love was born.

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Treasure Seeking

30 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by illumylife by Joy in Challenge to Great Riches, Christianity, Christmas shopping, faith, favorite songs, great riches, hope, joy, music, peace, wisdom and understanding

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Christianity, Christmas shopping, faith, favorite songs, great riches, hope, joy, peace, spiritual wisdom

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”    Matthew 6:21

I love to look for the perfect treasure to give at Christmas time to loved ones and friends.  When the children were little it seemed quite easy but now it grows harder each year.  We all want to find that special gift that we know they will love so that on Christmas morning we will see their eyes light up and hear those wonderful words, “it’s just what I wanted.”

A few days ago I went Christmas Shopping and was overwhelmed not only by the cost but just by all the stuff, none of which I wanted or thought would really make my family happy.  I began to wonder if our hearts have become chained to all this stuff we think we need but has no lasting value.  The happiness it provides usually is short lived and leads to the desire for more stuff.  Am I searching for stuff that looks like treasure this Christmas or seeking His treasure that never tarnishes or disappoints?  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”     Matthew 6:19  “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”   Matthew 6:20

The Magi, also known as the wise-men, traveled a great distance to find the Christ, who was born a king because they had seen His star in the east and they wanted to worship Him.  The Magi were overjoyed when they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. 

The wise Magi knew that all our treasure is nothing compared with knowing God.  They discovered great truth by studying the scriptures.

“…if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”        Proverbs 2:4,5

Jesus is everything we need:

“His divine power has given us EVERYTHING WE NEED for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”      II Peter 1:3

                                                   I’d Rather Have Jesus                                                                    (Words by Rhea F. Miller, music by George Beverly Shea)

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

  • Refrain:
    Than to be the king of a vast domain
    And be held in sin’s dread sway;
    I’d rather have Jesus than anything
    This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

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Open My Eyes, Illumine me

21 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by illumylife by Joy in Amazing Grace, beach sunsets, beauty, Christianity, faith, favorite songs, Hearts Filled With Joy, hope, joy, love, peace, prayer, wisdom and understanding

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Amazing Grace, beach sunsets, Christianity, faith, hope, joy, love, peace, spiritual wisdom

Please pray this prayer with me for our families, our country and its leaders……

Open My Eyes, That I May See
words and music by Clara H. Scott

Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free:
Silently now I wait for Thee, ready my God Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!  

Open my ears that I may hear voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear:
Silently now I wait for Thee, ready my God Thy will to see;                              Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!  

Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare Love with Thy children, thus to share:
Silently now I wait for Thee, ready my God Thy will to see;   Open my eyes illumine me, Spirit divine.

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”                  Psalm 119:18

“Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.”      Psalm 119:34

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Ingredients of Patience

24 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by illumylife by Joy in Christianity, faith, favorite songs, fishing, fun stuff for grandparents, health, hope, joy, love, patience, peace, wisdom and understanding

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Christianity, favorite songs, fishing, health, hope, joy, love, patience, peace, spiritual wisdom, worry

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.”          Psalm 40:1   I often see a fisherman standing at the edge of the surf when I go for a morning walk along the beach.  Not long ago I watched a great blue heron who was watching the fisherman patiently, hopeful that he would toss him a fish.  Perhaps you have watched two fishermen sitting in a tiny rowboat not saying anything, just fishing for hours.  Waiting and watching and some days not catching anything.  But they come  back again before dawn the following day.  It is hard for me to imagine having that much patience.  I wonder if fishermen fish just for the silence and peace of a quiet lake early in the morning.  Perhaps they fish because it is a time they can be alone with God.  Are they really fishing for fish or peace of mind and soul?   There is an old saying “patience is a virtue, acquire it if you can.  It’s seldom found in women and never found in men.  But I don’t think there is much truth in this saying….

Friends, I am guest posting at Nikki’s place, Simplystriving for her “Music Monday” post this week.  Nikki is a precious Christian blogger and homeschool mom and I love reading her posts.  I know they will bless your heart as they do mine.  Please clique on Simplystriving to continue reading about finding patience in this hurry up world of ours.

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Locked Gates and Prayer

17 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by illumylife by Joy in beauty, Christianity, depression, faith, health, joy, love, peace, roses, wisdom and understanding, worry

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beauty, Christianity, depression, faith, flowers, health, joy, love, peace, roses, spiritual wisdom, worry

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  Jeremiah33:3

When the burdens of life become too heavy we can go to God in prayer anytime night or day and know that He hears us.  Prayer is having a conversation with God.  It involves both speaking and listening to God.  What a blessing it is that we can speak with Almighty God any time we have a need.  God doesn’t keep office hours and leave for long vacations or weekends.  He doesn’t even have a secretary that listens to our requests and decides whether it is important enough to have Him call us back later.  God never closes the gate and locks us outside of His love and concern.  God is available and desires for us to come to Him so that He can guide us to discover His best for us.

Have you ever felt rejected by someone or a group of people you thought were your friends?  Sometimes we are rejected because of race or religion.  Sometimes our values and priorities make others uncomfortable and they’d rather not have us around them.   Sometimes we aren’t really rejected but others are just too busy to spend time with us.Frequently we build walls around our own hearts – walls of bitterness, anger, fear and grief.  We lock the gate of our heart and refuse to let God in or even our friends and family.  We are held captive by our emotions.  Once we lock the gate to our heart, it is almost as though a roaring lion stands guard at the entrance, daring anyone who loves us to come near.

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”            I Peter 5:8    But God promises to rescue us if we will only turn to Him.  We need not be held captive by unhealthy fears and emotions.   Prayer is the key that can unlock the gate.  It is God’s greatest gift to man.  It enables us to fellowship with Him and find hope and guidance for our lives.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”                       Jeremiah 29:11,12

God desires that we unlock the gate to our heart so that He can come in and renew a right spirit within us.  It may not seem easy to open the gate.  The hinges may be rusty and the lock frozen shut.  But oh, it is so worthwhile!  When you let Jesus come into your heart, you will feel a great rush of love come pouring in and you will discover a peace that is above and beyond all that you could hope for or imagine.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”     Romans15:13

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Abiding in His Peace

20 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by illumylife by Joy in beauty, Christianity, faith, Fall leaves, insomnia, joy, love, peace, sunsets, wisdom and understanding, worry

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beauty, Christianity, faith, Fall leaves, insomnia, joy, love, peace, sunsets, wisdom and understanding, worry

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”                      Jeremiah 29:13

I love the changing of the seasons and already I’m wondering what great new adventures the LORD has in store for me this Fall.  For the last few mornings I’ve been waking up several hours before the time I wished to get up.  I pray and repeat bible verses but still I can’t seem to get back to sleep.  My spirit has been restless for days and I have questioned God if I am on the right path or if He has a new direction He wants me to take.  But I feel as though I’m standing at a locked gate and all I hear is silence.   “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”               Proverbs 3:5, 6

I wondered if I was asking God to direct me and then happily going down the path of my choice.   “This is what the LORD says:  Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”      Jeremiah 6:16

I felt that I had come to a crossroads in life and had no idea which way to go.   “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying ‘This is the way; walk in it.'”      Isaiah 30:21

But I wasn’t hearing any voice, just silence.  Staying in bed when I couldn’t sleep seemed such a waste of valuable time when I had so much to get done.  But I wondered if God was trying to tell me something and I just wasn’t listening! Then this verse came into my mind and so I decided to lie still.

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”           Psalm 46:10    I felt that God was being silent for a very good reason I just wished He would hurry up and tell me what it was.  I do not like to wait and if He had a new plan for my life, it seemed important to get up and get started.  But last week when I read Nikki’s post, “What Can I Do” at Simply striving and thought about these words from the song, “A Little Longer” by Brian and Jean Johnson, I felt like He was speaking straight to my heart.

“You don’t have to do a thing
Just simply be with Me and let those things go
‘Cause they can wait another minute
Wait…this moment is too sweet
Would you please stay here with Me
And love on Me a little longer.
I’d love to be with you a little longer
‘Cause I’m in love with you.”

So this morning when I couldn’t sleep, I thought about those words.  It was almost as though I could hear God saying, “You worry too much about sleep, my child.  I will give you rest.  Just wait here awhile in my Presence.”  And then I felt the greatest sense of peace and joy.  I felt so loved like a child in his father’s arms.  It is hard to describe the warm, secure feeling I felt as my Heavenly Father reassured me and held me close in His loving arms.   Perhaps God just wants us to slow down and seek Him with our whole heart.  He promises to give us peace in the storms of life if we will abide in His Presence.  When the time is right He will leads us in the way He has chosen for us.  But for now I’m just going to rest in His wonderful Presence.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.”                Isaiah 43:1, 4

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