DO YOU HAVE A CLUTTERED HEART? by Vicki Taylor

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

I bet most of you probably don’t know this about me, but I collect things like teapots, dishes, plants, turquoise…well, you know…“stuff.” I like my stuff. I bet you have stuff too. Most of us do. We all have our “stuff” and probably too much of it.

Have you ever looked around and wondered what will happen to it when you are gone? Ok, now stay with me here; I do have a point. My youngest son, who lives in the Atlanta area, was home for a visit with his family one time and was questioning me about my stuff. Actually, he was scolding me about all my stuff. (I did have to remind him who the parent was.) Anyway, he told me I had way too much and that he and his brother were just going to burn the house down because it was too much to deal with. Well, that’s one perspective, albeit a man’s at that. I explained to him that we had lived there for twenty-five years and when you are a collector, well, you collect “stuff.” He never got the point.

But God got my attention. As I began to look around at the clutter in my home, I began to wonder what my heart looked like. Did it resemble my home? Every nook and cranny filled with something. Yes, these items mean something to me, but what do they mean in the light of eternity? What could I have done to help spread God’s Word, or given to someone who is on the mission field? (Now I’m feeling a little uncomfortable.) Where is my treasure stored? Just how cluttered is my own heart? Ouch!!!!!

I thought I had better begin doing some heartcleaning. Yes, I said heartcleaning, like we do housecleaning. I needed to look inward, with a shovel. Ugh! So I began to dig in God’s Word to see what He wanted me to do. Oh my, this could get painful…

First He said in Matthew 6:24 – No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Gulp, I think I’m beginning see that I was putting too much attention and time into collecting my stuff rather than in spending time with Him. He’s very jealous of His time with us and wants to be with us. Those we love we spend time with. That’s what He wants, us to spend time with Him.

Second, Matthew 6:33 – Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Humm…so what He’s saying here is that if we seek Him first and give to Him first, He will in turn bless us over and over again. In my own life, I became so obsessed with getting more stuff that I forgot what I was really seeking. After a while our hearts become so cluttered, dry and barren, we begin looking for anything to fill the emptiness in our souls. That’s when we begin to look elsewhere for something to comfort and fill us, not realizing that those soul holes can only be filled with one Person.

Third, Isaiah 58:11 says, The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs…We need to learn to set our minds on the Lord and allow Him to guide us in our everyday heartcleaning. Only He knows what we really need, and only He can truly fill those holes that are dry and empty. Instead of going out and filling ourselves with more “stuff,” let’s begin the process of emptying out our hearts and lives and filling up on what the Lord wants for us - those things that matter to Him, peace, joy, love, kindness gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, patience, and self-control. Yes!! That’s what I want more of in my heart…and less clutter too! I want my soul holes filled with all His goodness and grace that He has for me for that day. I no longer want to wander around empty and dry, always seeking what the world has to offer. I want what He has for me. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to start shoveling. And being a gardener, I have an extra shovel if you need one.

CHICKEN-SAUSAGE-WHITE BEAN STEW by Brenda Riden

More winter comfort food, even though today's high is supposed to be 75!

Chicken-Sausage-White Bean Stew
Makes 8 servings

1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
1 1/2 cups chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cans (19 oz each) cannellini beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with garlic and onion, undrained
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
Fresh rosemary sprigs, if desired

1. Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. 
2. Spray 12-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. 
3. Add sausage; cook about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Place sausage in slow cooker. 
4. Add remaining ingredients except chicken and rosemary sprigs; mix well.
5. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 hours 30 minutes.
6. Stir chicken into stew. Cover; cook 30 minutes longer. 
7. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

Brenda Riden
Pampered Chef Consultant
www.pamperedchef.biz/brendariden

WORD FOR THE WEEK

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; 

make the most of every opportunity. 

Let your conversation be always full of grace, 

seasoned with salt, 

so that you may know 

how to answer everyone. 

Colossians 4:5-6

"The greatest argument for authentic Christianity is your life."

"What you are gives credibility to what you say."

"The only Bible some people ever read is your life."

                                                                    ~Pastor Tim Lampley

WHERE IS YOUR HOME? by Vicki Taylor

Most people who really know me know that I like to be home. I like to be in my easy chair and read, write, or just rest. Now, to most people that may sound like I’m a loner, reclusive, or just plain weird, but I like it that way. I like being at home. I’m gone all day at work and when I get home all I want to do is stay there. Home is “safe” for me. It is my shelter, my comfort, my place where I can be me. I have my books, my garden, my Snuggie and my Babe. Yes, life is good. Home.

I really felt this way until God got my attention. He has a way of changing our sight.  Acts 17:28 says, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” This simply means that God is our home. Not here. Now this may be my earthly home where all my “things” are that I have accumulated, but this is not the home where my heart should be longing for. My heart should be longing for Heaven. That is where I will be living for eternity. Home, where Christ is, where my Heavenly Father waits for me, and where my true family is and I will be complete. 

God is my home…unfortunately we allow earthly distractions to let our minds wander too far from the things that matter most. Him! And it’s so easy to slip into that “interrupted, easily distracted frame of mind” when all we need to do is to live more at home. But the difference is which home? We find ourselves comfortable in our homes with all our “stuff” and in our own little comfort zones and we tend to leave God at the door. We become so preoccupied that we no longer hear Him knocking. Then we wonder where God is when the storms of life come blasting through our lives. Well, guess what? He’s still at the door of our hearts knocking, waiting to be asked in.  

I know I refer to Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts often, but I can honestly tell you that book has given me a different perspective on how I see God. I keep my door open for Him in every opportunity. I want Him active in all areas of my life, every single one of them. I need Him!!! I am learning to give thanks in any and every situation He allows in my life, the good and the bad. Yes, even the painful.  

I’ll end by sharing with you all that on Christmas Eve my husband and I went to see the movie the Hobbit. It was a great movie and being an artist, I loved the beautiful colors of New Zealand. But there was a line in the movie where Bilbo Baggins was on this adventure with the dwarfs and he was whining about going back home because he did not feel he was needed on this adventure. (You can see why I was relating to Mr. Baggins) Then Mr. Baggins said, “But I need to be home, where my books are and my easy chair. I need to be in my garden, you know home.”  I turned to Babe and looked at him and said, “Oh my gosh, I’m a Hobbit.”  To which he said he was very thankful I did not have big hairy feet. Gotta love a man with that perspective.

Let’s keep our hearts set on our home where Christ is and keep our minds on Him. John 14:1 says, “In my Father’s house are many rooms… and I am going there to prepare a place just for you.”  Kinda makes you homesick, doesn’t it?

ROTEL POTATOES by Rachel Dowdy

Recently, a rather strange conversation took place on Facebook. Someone asked me if I knew the Rotel Potato recipe that had been taken to a friend's funeral several years ago. I replied that I didn't. Several others commented, but then someone else came on and said to ask Rachel Dowdy. So one Sunday, I caught her in the hallway at church and asked her about it. I found out that she had just made up that recipe! She told me how she made it but didn't really have specific measurements. Here's what she told me: "Oh, just boil some potatoes. Then slice them and put in a casserole dish. Make Rotel Dip and add a can of cream of mushroom soup and pour over the top. Bake till bubbly." 

I tried to recreate it for Care Group recently and everyone liked it. Feel free to adjust it however you think. The recipe below is exactly what I did.

~Paula Roten


ROTEL POTATOES by Rachel Dowdy
3 lbs. whole, unpeeled potatoes (I think I would use a few less potatoes next time)
1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 (10 oz.) can Rotel Tomatoes
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can Cream of Mushroom Soup


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Boil whole potatoes in a soup pot until just done, 20 minutes or so. Do not over cook.
3. Meanwhile combine cheese and tomatoes in a large bowl and cook in microwave until cheese is melted. Stir well every minute or two.
4. Add cream of mushroom soup and stir well.
5. Allow potatoes to cool just enough to handle.
6. Cut into round slices and layer in a 9x13 casserole dish, layering with the Rotel mixture.
7. Bake in oven until hot through and through and bubbly around outside edges, approximately 20 minutes.

WORD FOR THE WEEK

"Many of the Samaritans from that town 

believed in Him 

because of the woman's testimony..."

John 4:39

All we have to do is tell what Jesus has done for us. 

MY DO IT by Tony Manley

The Christmas holiday of 2012 is over and the phrase “my do it” is still ringing loudly in my ears! 

I kept our two-year-old grandson from “Dalla Tesus” along with his eight-month-old sister while their dad and mom celebrated her happy thirtieth birthday at a concert by Celine Dion! It was lovely for them and us. But I learned so much about the “my do it” heart. Let me explain.

Mr. My Do It is growing up! He is gaining confidence in putting on socks, shoes, belt, brushing teeth, feeding himself - basically he is becoming very proud of himself in his gaining independence and knowledge of everyday life! This is a good thing.

Mr. My Do It is also good at expressing “I OK” when he falls or bumps – especially when it is a circumstance where we may have said, “Let’s don’t climb up there” or “Be careful, danger, hot, high.” Often when Mr. My Do It continues on, I watch and stay close because I know one of these times it is not going to be “I OK.” 

If you have not picked up on this object lesson rambling, let me enlighten your heart! Just as our Baxter is Mr. My Do It, the Lord spoke loudly (I hope no one else in the room heard Him in my ear, but if they did they were polite enough not to stare or glare at me!) to my heart and said, “Look at yourself. You also are the one who can be quick to say to Me, ‘I do it’ when I, God, want you to let Me do it! Then when I have said, 'Let’s don’t climb up there' or 'Be careful, danger, hot, high, no entrance…' you, daughter, have been known to keep right on going! And then, jump up and say, 'I OK', only to find each fall or bump hurts, bruises, and scars more deeply.”  Sweetly and tenderly, I experience my Father pick me up, hold me, and remind me - it is because He was/is close by, attentive, and ready to brush me off and send me back with His Presence to the daily life He wants me to grow doing. I began to appreciate again God’s patient, never ending, never failing love for me. Our Baxter has served a great role in my life during these recent days!

As I begin a new year, I truly do want to resist growing so confident in me, that I become Ms. My Do It. I want to become more Lord, You Do It and I will follow obediently. Pain, hurts, wounds, scars are inevitable on this side of heaven, but my Father is near and watching. He is my “ever present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1) and my “greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John4:4).

Father, thank you that in You I am new. You desire my will to say, “Lord, You do it.” You are gracious and kind, patient and present. As I begin a new moment, day, year - may I be a believer and “obeyer” when you say, “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.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)   Take my “My Do It” heart away and replace it with “Lord, You do it.”  Amen

THE WAITING ROOM OF LIFE by Vicki Taylor

Psalm 27:14 – Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.

Have you ever wondered why God allows us to wait? Why He, seemingly, never hurries when we have a need or need an answer quickly? I know I have.

I call those seasons the “waiting rooms of life.” Mainly because they remind me of…well…waiting rooms. Now picture this … waiting rooms are large, they are usually full, and they are usually quiet. And more times than not, you will spend a huge chunk of your time in there. I know I do. But … there is a lot to be learned in the waiting rooms of life. With eyes open and ears tuned in, you can learn much about life.  Let me explain.

First of all, waiting means we are sitting down and being still. There is no place to go. See where I am going here? Be still, the perfect place where God can get our attention. When we wait on God, He begins to do a work IN us. It’s through tests and trials that we develop the courage and strength to face life’s difficulties. Without the waiting room trials we would never grow in the Christian life. The goal is not to remain there or to become too comfortable.  

Second, you can listen. When was the last time you sat in a waiting room listening to other people’s conversations? I do that a lot. People are very interesting to me, so I watch and listen, all the while with a book in my lap pretending to read. Since it is quiet in the waiting room, you can hear everything. It is the perfect place for us to hear God in His waiting room. Be still and listen. Give Him the opportunity to encourage you and give you strength to get through this latest trial. He is there with you; He has you there for a reason. Sit back and listen.

Third, be watchful. I have learned, the hard way, that focusing my attention on my circumstances will not fix anything. All that does is cause more anxiety for me and my loved ones. When I finally release that control over to my Father, He is able to comfort me and counsel me. Now, my circumstances may not change and I may not move out of the waiting room yet, but my fear and restlessness have calmed down enough that I can watch and listen with a clear mind and open heart.  

Fourth, the results. How do others see God’s glory in me if He is not doing a work in me? How many times have I asked myself that question as I have sat in that waiting room? Way too many times to count! While sitting in the waiting room, we see others come and go, yet we continue to wait. Some wait with us for a long time; others leave quickly. You would think by now we would grow accustomed to waiting, but we don’t. We do not need to get comfortable either. God wants us ready to move at His urging. If we become too content in the waiting room, we won’t want to leave, and then we will miss all that God has for us. 

When we begin to look at life’s waiting rooms as another opportunity for God to grow our faith, we gain the strength and character that God intended us to learn only through those trials. Waiting on God is a cultivated spiritual discipline, and discipline can be long and painful. It always requires patience, practice, and perseverance.  The only way to get through it is to focus on God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace. Soon the door will open and your name will be called and you can get up out of that valley of testing to climb up your mountain of faith.

Look around. You might see someone you know in the waiting room with you.

8-CAN SOUP by Martha Stovall

Soup is such a comfort food, especially on cold winter days. Martha carries this soup to Care Group at church and people always enjoy it and ask for the recipe.

8-Can Soup

2 lbs. browned ground beef, fat drained
1 can chili with beans
1 can chili without beans
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can shoe peg corn
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can Veg-all
1 can tomato soup
1 can vegetable beef soup

Mix all ingredients in a large soup pot and simmer on the stove for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

*All cans are similar in size (14-16 oz. size).

BIBLE STUDY

Monday night Bible Study has been cancelled for tonight. 

Tuesday morning Bible Study will be cancelled tomorrow only if DeSoto County Schools or SBEC are cancelled. 

All Bible Studies are cancelled Jan. 21 and 22 due to the "Every Believer a Witness" event at church with Dennis Nunn.

WORD FOR THE WEEK

...The Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

We do not know what we ought to pray for, 

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us 

with groans that words cannot express. 

And he who searches our hearts 

knows the mind of the Spirit, 

because the Spirit intercedes for the Saints 

in accordance with God's will. 

Romans 8:26-27

Have you ever not known how to pray? Or what to pray for? Be encouraged. The Spirit will intercede for us according to God's will. 

And we know that in all things 

God works for the good of those who love him, 

who have been called according to his purpose.

For those God foreknew 

he also predestined to be conformed 

to the likeness of his Son...

Romans 8:28-29

And best of all, God is for us and for those we love, working in our behalf to make us like Jesus.

DEAR GOD by Tony Manley

Dear God,  

I am so excited about obeying You! You and I both know there are sooooo many times I act like I don’t hear you or even just whisper no under my breath thinking that since no one else heard me say no to you, then you didn’t hear me say no!  I know, I am still kind of like the toddler who believes if I can’t see you, then you can’t see me when I cover my eyes! 

Thank you for putting in my path today the very circumstance (“it”) I needed to deal with to be clean and free with you. You put “it” on my heart a few days ago and I was ready. Each day I have looked for the “it” to happen, only to go home and wait for the next morning to experience the “it” so that I could obey! Rarely have I been so ready to obey. I even rehearsed (as you know) all the ways this could go, but I praise you that I didn’t give in to fear or even disobedience! You truly are the courage and strength I needed to do a scary and hard thing! Thank you that “it” went well, but mostly I am heart singing because I wanted to face and deal with “it” for your honor and your smile. “It” has been a yoke of slavery and weariness in my heart. “It” has caused me to avoid and calculate how to not see the “it.” Wow, bondage is tiring. 

God, you are so kind to stay with me day in and day out. I expect my husband to do it, but you are the icing on my cake of joy. I truly could go sing and Maria twirl in the public eye right now just to show how wonderfully clean and free a heart can be!

Being free from ugly is absolutely the best. Now, would you help me to stay that way and help me to remember this inside freedom and smile when I even give a glance toward the secret of ugly!

Your free and clean Mississippi daughter,

Tony

P.S. Thanks for being inside and beside me. I could tell you were right there!

CHOCOLATE MACAROON BARS by Brenda Riden

One more sweets recipe, and then we'll start posting winter comfort food, diet food, and Super Bowl food. Get your last chocolate fling in :)


Chocolate Macaroon Bars

1 package (19-21 ounces) Fudge brownie mix

2 egg whites

1 package sweetened flaked coconut

1 can (14 ounces.) sweetened condensed milk

1 package almonds, sliced

2 Tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate morsels, melted

1 tsp. Vegetable oil

1. Preheat oven to 375°.  Place a piece of Parchment Paper if desired on Stoneware Bar Pan.  

2. Prepare brownie mix according to directions in Classic Batter Bowl.  Pour brownie batter on Parchment Paper, spreading evenly using Large Spreader.  Bake 15-18 minutes.  Do not over bake.  Remove from oven and place on Stackable Cooling Rack.  

3. In clean batter bowl, combine egg whites, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk;   mix well.  Spread coconut mixture over top of brownie to within ¼ inch of edge.  Sprinkle with almonds.  Return to oven and bake 20 minutes or until edges of coconut are deep golden brown.  Remove from oven to cooling rack.  

4. Place chocolate morsels and oil in Micro cooker; microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 45 seconds or until chocolate is melted.  Do not overheat.  Drizzle melted chocolate over Macaroon and serve slightly warm or at room temperature.  YUMMY!!!


Brenda Riden
Pampered Chef Consultant
www.pamperedchef.biz/brendariden

THE WHY's OF LIFE by Vicki Taylor

There are times in our lives when we ask the question “Why?” Why does this happen? Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Why do people have to suffer? I think you understand by now, the why’s of life, we all have them. We all ask them.

But we all don’t understand them. Sometimes I hear people say, “The first thing I’m going to ask God when I get to heaven is _______.”  You know, I don’t think that’s what heaven is going to be about, our grievances. Heaven will be about … well, Jesus. And we will be worshiping Him.  

In the meantime, we still live in this fallen world, and we must learn to trust Him through the hard times; even the times we don’t understand. We can only do this by trusting in His Word and listening for Him to speak. I love the 23rd Psalm where David reminds us that the Lord is our Shepherd; I have everything I need. If we could only remember that … “I have everything I need.” That means I will lack nothing! No uncertainty coming my way should frighten me or discourage me. He is my Shepherd and is watching over me. We need to stop and realize that He is there, He listens to us, and He hears our cries for help. He sees the whole picture, and knows the final outcome. It is our suffering that brings about our growth. It’s those valley experiences that allow us to realize that God has us where we need to be, learning His truths and following His will. Sometimes those times are painful; most times they are painful.  

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer for the second time, I asked the “why” question myself. Why did this happen to him again; why did he have to suffer? We had just lost everything we had in a business that failed. He had survived one bout with cancer five years earlier and we thought things might be better health wise. Then, Bam!! We are hit again. Watching someone you love going through treatment is heart wrenching and painful for the caregiver too. But…it is a process that God took me through to teach me things about Him I would not have learned otherwise. It also brought me to a deeper relationship with Him. Some days, He was ALL I HAD. He was all the strength I had, He was all the sense I had, and He was all I had to cope with…period. And I was the one who had to be strong. My husband was suffering. Heaven forbid that he thought I was falling apart too. 

What I learned through that time was He is my Shepherd. He gives me everything I need, nothing more, nothing less. I learned to lean on Him completely…no one else. He got me up in the morning and saw me through the day. I learned to live Romans 8:28. Do all things really work out for my good because I choose to love Him and am called according to His purpose for my life? Yes, because all the promises in His Word are yes in Christ. I learned that I am His child and He held me when I ran to Him in my greatest need. And you know what? He’ll do the same for you. He has all you need too. He will carry you when you cannot walk, He will feed your soul when you are weak and starving, and He will hold you when you hurt. I know...I have been there.   

I’ll end with Psalm 73:23 & 26 - Yet I am always with you; you hold Me by My right hand. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart forever and my portion forever.

Don’t give up and don’t give up on God; He will carry you through, yes, even through the “why’s” of life.  I know this, because He has carried me through many, many of my “why’s.”  Every single one of them!  Do not lose heart. He’s holding you in His hand.

BIBLE STUDY and JANUARY REFRESHMENT

Remember to sign up for Bible Study 

this Sunday at the Ministry Table

Ann Voskamp’s 1000 Gifts: 

A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are (6 wks)

*Monday nights at 6:30 - 8:00

*Tuesday mornings at 9:30 - 11:15

Ann Voskamp's book 1000 Gifts is written in a very poetic style. Some people have expressed concern about being able to understand her well enough to do this Bible Study. Please let me assure you that this Bible Study and video keep all the wonderful content from her book but are in clearer, easier to understand language. 

Precept’s Ezekiel Part 2 (8 wks)

*Tuesday mornings 9:00-11:15

Registered childcare on Tuesday Mornings only

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

January's Refreshment was supposed to be a movie night. 

Instead of meeting another night for a movie, 

we want to encourage you to attend movie night 

this Sunday night, 

Jan. 6, at 6:00 PM, 

in Fellowship Hall to see 

October Baby. 

As we celebrate Sanctity of Human Life this month, remember to participate in honoring the precious lives of our children by helping to replace the outdated/broken toys in our babies' and pre-schoolers' rooms at church. 

WHEN: the month of January

WHERE: from the comfort of your home (online) or as you do your shopping at Target

HOW: either in-store or online at Target, search the Baby Registry (First name: Broadway Church; Last name: Preschool ministry); shop for an item (ranging from $10.00 & up) and either drop it off to the church office or nursery area, or have it shipped directly to the church without leaving your home.

WHAT IS TIME? by Vicki Taylor

Do you every wonder where your time goes? I know I do. Life rushes by so fast. The days, the weeks, the months, and the years speed by so quickly. You turn around and it's Christmas time again. Try explaining that to your adult children whose lives are filled with activities that matter not. They just look at you like you have just sprouted a third head. I know…I have tried.

What I do know is that God is never in a hurry. His timing is not like ours. His heavenly time clock ticks slow; ours always runs fast, speeding faster than the speed of light. No wonder we don’t see it; it just goes by so fast.

As I grow older, His words to me are “Be Still!” Again and again He quiets my anxious heart with “Be Still and Know that I AM GOD.” No matter what I do or do not do, He WILL NOT be rushed. No matter my situation, I cannot rush His answers for me. He gently reminds me to “Be Still” and wait. Now most of you probably don’t know me, but waiting is not one of my spiritual gifts.  I am a “git ‘er done” sort of person. My daughter-in-law has taught me to be somewhat organized and I love that quality in her. Let’s get this done and move on to the next project. But God is not like that. He sits back and watches as I get myself into one anxious mess and then another, all the while trying to fix the problems I have created. 

I am learning that I cannot rush into what God wants me to learn. All I gain from hurry is the knowledge of the world instead of the wisdom that God insists I learn from Him. Knowledge is short lived, but wisdom, wisdom comes with age, like a life spent in tune with the Father, seeking His wisdom, His direction, and His advice. It comes like the gentle soft rains on the parched summer ground, dry and thirsty for His living water. It soaks into the very soul of the believer who knows Him. Filling every empty space until full. It takes time.

Time…we all have the same 24 hours a day. How we use those hours is what counts…either to glorify the Father or to run around harried and frustrated because we think we don’t have enough time. Yes, I am learning that God wants me to “slow down, be still and see the salvation of the Lord.”  How can we be different in the world and make a difference if we do not slow down?  Alas, we cannot. We must stop and see what the Lord would have us do and then do His will. It really is that simple. And you know what? You will find out that you have all the time you really need. I know I have.

HAPPY NEW YEAR