Monday, March 14, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
THE "WRIGHT" PERSPECTIVE - Nichole Wright
"Oh how feeble is man's power that if good fortune fall
cannot add another hour nor a lost hour recall!
But come bad chance
and we join to it our strength and we teach it art and length.
Itself over us to advance."
Song by John Donne
Tomorrow in British Lit. we will study John Donne. Tonight as I prepare for my lesson, this particular stanza reminds me that life's misfortunes, though temporary and staining, leave lifelong impressions that require of us strength and steadfastness.
Something terrible happens to us, sometimes in a moment. It seems harsh, I mean harsh in the abruptness of it. We wonder about the warning. Was there no warning at all or did we just not see it? For me, it was a sudden car crash that resulted in the death of my father at age 21. As Donne so proudly put it, we "cannot add another hour nor a lost hour recall!" So I am again reminded that I cannot add time to or subtract time from any misfortune. Although, as Donne so beautifully says, " we join to it our strength, and we teach it art and length." So Jesus, the perfect author of our faith, more importantly tells us He makes all things come together for good to those who love Him. I reflect back on the two years we have lived in Ghana. I think of how much harder the first year was than this second year. It was not only financially difficult, but emotionally and physically. As with every hard trial in life, we look back now and see how God was adding to us strength and steadfastness..
Growing up we are often taught not to discuss money matters outside of the family. This is reason enough to explain the hesitation Chris and I feel when writing in a newsletter how God continues to provide for us financially. Of course, generally speaking, one might believe it is sufficient to stop at that. However, this morning I can't stop thinking about what God actually meant when he said if I keep quiet, the very rocks will cry out. What harm really is there in being completely honest about the details in answered prayer? Will God be offended? I decided He can only receive as much glory as the amount of information I choose to provide about what is actually taking place in our prayer life.
Most of you are aware that our house stayed empty and for sale for an entire year. This put some financial strain on us, especially when the pipes burst and flooded some rooms last Christmas. Altlhough each month as our needs were met, at the end of the month we were back at zero. Two weeks before we were to return to Africa from summer break, we received a call from Mr. Manley who is the headmaster at SBEC in Southaven, MS. He told us he had heard of our situation and our homeowners assocation was not allowing us to rent our home. He asked us if we might be willing to have a family whom he had recently hired to live in our house rent free until they could sell their house. He explained how they would take care of any bills we had each month including the upkeep of it. This relieved us of the water, electric, yard care, property taxes and insurance which had increased drastically since our house was empty. This family has been such a blessing to us this year, as they have fixed many things around the house and kept it looking presentable to show.
We thank God for the sale of our house. We have been asking God to provide enough money for us to fly home this summer. Because the sale of our house is a unique situation, after closing costs, attorney fees, and paying back the money owed after the pipes burst, we did not have the funds available to fly home for the Summer.
I woke up one morning and in prayer told God if He wanted us to stay in Accra this summer, I would be fine with that. I told Him I really truly believed in His soverereignty and in His provision for us. Two hours later I received a call from Chris. He explained to me that he had just recieved an email from an unexpected source telling us that 11,000 dollars was to be put in our account that week. This was enough to cover the costs for our family to fly home.
SCHOOL NEWS
We thank God for providing land for a new school. Oil has been discovered in Ghana and with this discovery will come many new people coming to Accra. We expect to make available a new Christian school facility capable of educating and ministering the gospel to more students by August 2012. One of Charlye's muslim friends discussed with her that her that he believes in Jesus and would like to make a profession of faith when he gets older. As a muslim, a child can be ostercized from his family for converting to Christianity. Please pray not only for Charlye's friend but for her brother.
PRAYER REQUESTS
*Spreading of the gospel in Ghana. More and more God is showing us that is the 1 main reason we are left on earth. That is the mission we are all a part of.
*Summer for us. A time of rest and refreshing.
*School Unity
*School building
*Good health and safety for our family
cannot add another hour nor a lost hour recall!
But come bad chance
and we join to it our strength and we teach it art and length.
Itself over us to advance."
Song by John Donne
Tomorrow in British Lit. we will study John Donne. Tonight as I prepare for my lesson, this particular stanza reminds me that life's misfortunes, though temporary and staining, leave lifelong impressions that require of us strength and steadfastness.
Something terrible happens to us, sometimes in a moment. It seems harsh, I mean harsh in the abruptness of it. We wonder about the warning. Was there no warning at all or did we just not see it? For me, it was a sudden car crash that resulted in the death of my father at age 21. As Donne so proudly put it, we "cannot add another hour nor a lost hour recall!" So I am again reminded that I cannot add time to or subtract time from any misfortune. Although, as Donne so beautifully says, " we join to it our strength, and we teach it art and length." So Jesus, the perfect author of our faith, more importantly tells us He makes all things come together for good to those who love Him. I reflect back on the two years we have lived in Ghana. I think of how much harder the first year was than this second year. It was not only financially difficult, but emotionally and physically. As with every hard trial in life, we look back now and see how God was adding to us strength and steadfastness..
Growing up we are often taught not to discuss money matters outside of the family. This is reason enough to explain the hesitation Chris and I feel when writing in a newsletter how God continues to provide for us financially. Of course, generally speaking, one might believe it is sufficient to stop at that. However, this morning I can't stop thinking about what God actually meant when he said if I keep quiet, the very rocks will cry out. What harm really is there in being completely honest about the details in answered prayer? Will God be offended? I decided He can only receive as much glory as the amount of information I choose to provide about what is actually taking place in our prayer life.
Most of you are aware that our house stayed empty and for sale for an entire year. This put some financial strain on us, especially when the pipes burst and flooded some rooms last Christmas. Altlhough each month as our needs were met, at the end of the month we were back at zero. Two weeks before we were to return to Africa from summer break, we received a call from Mr. Manley who is the headmaster at SBEC in Southaven, MS. He told us he had heard of our situation and our homeowners assocation was not allowing us to rent our home. He asked us if we might be willing to have a family whom he had recently hired to live in our house rent free until they could sell their house. He explained how they would take care of any bills we had each month including the upkeep of it. This relieved us of the water, electric, yard care, property taxes and insurance which had increased drastically since our house was empty. This family has been such a blessing to us this year, as they have fixed many things around the house and kept it looking presentable to show.
We thank God for the sale of our house. We have been asking God to provide enough money for us to fly home this summer. Because the sale of our house is a unique situation, after closing costs, attorney fees, and paying back the money owed after the pipes burst, we did not have the funds available to fly home for the Summer.
I woke up one morning and in prayer told God if He wanted us to stay in Accra this summer, I would be fine with that. I told Him I really truly believed in His soverereignty and in His provision for us. Two hours later I received a call from Chris. He explained to me that he had just recieved an email from an unexpected source telling us that 11,000 dollars was to be put in our account that week. This was enough to cover the costs for our family to fly home.
SCHOOL NEWS
We thank God for providing land for a new school. Oil has been discovered in Ghana and with this discovery will come many new people coming to Accra. We expect to make available a new Christian school facility capable of educating and ministering the gospel to more students by August 2012. One of Charlye's muslim friends discussed with her that her that he believes in Jesus and would like to make a profession of faith when he gets older. As a muslim, a child can be ostercized from his family for converting to Christianity. Please pray not only for Charlye's friend but for her brother.
PRAYER REQUESTS
*Spreading of the gospel in Ghana. More and more God is showing us that is the 1 main reason we are left on earth. That is the mission we are all a part of.
*Summer for us. A time of rest and refreshing.
*School Unity
*School building
*Good health and safety for our family
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Recipe of the Week - Chicken Chow Mein
From Saundra Stroud:
This is so easy, however, you will have everyone thinking you have spent hours in the kitchen cooking.
CHICKEN CHOW MEIN
1/2 cup butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups celery, cut on bias
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tsp salt
dash black pepper
1 can bean sprouts (drained)
1 can mixed chinese vegetables (drained)
1 can fancy chinese vegetables (drained) - These are "kinda" hard to find. You can use just the chinese vetetables.
You could also add a can of the small ears of corn on the cob (optional)
1 can water chestnuts,sliced (drained)
2 cups cooked chicken (Sam's roasted chickens are great)
Melt butter in large pot. Add onions and cook for 3 minutes. Add celery, salt and pepper, and broth. Cover and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat. Add all the drained vegetables and chicken. Mix throughly and cook an additional 5 minutes.
Combine: 2 TBS cold water, 2 TBS cornstarch, 1 TBS soy sauce, 1 tsp. sugar.
Pour into pot and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes or until liquid is thickened (some)
Prepare rice. Plate over the rice.
If not enough soy sauce for you, just add individually to your plate.
For some crunch, add chinese noodles (hard) on top. These are found in a can along with the other items above.
Serve with a salad and you have a quick and easy meal.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Recipe of the Week - Mexican Lasagne
| MEXICAN LASAGNE 1 lb of ground beef 1 onion chopped (medium) 1 can corn (whole) 1 can black beans 1 pkg cream cheese 1 pkg taco seasoning 1 can rotel 2 to 3 pkgs of shredded cheddar or mexi blend (or whatever) 1 cup water 9 lasagne-----Boil in water according to directions Brown meat----drain Add onion Sprinkle taco seasoning-------add cup of water Stir cream cheese into mixture Add corn and beans (Make sure these have been drained) SIMMER 10 minutes Spray 10 x 13 pan (metal or glass) Pampered Chef is great Layer noodle----meat-----cheese End with noodles & cheese (I really like for the top to be completely covered with the cheese) Makes for a nice top Bake 20 minutes @350 (COVERED) or until the cheese is bubbly Enjoy! TIP FOR THE WEEK! Perfect hardboiled eggs |
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The following is from our new Preschool Director Lindsey Moss! We are so thankful to have Lindsey working with our sweet children and as a part of Refresh, too!
----------------------------------------
“At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” Daniel 1:15
We are all familiar with this story: Daniel and his friends are captured and taken to Babylon where they are given the choicest foods straight from the king’s table. They decide to take a stand and eat only vegetables and water and end up finding favor with King Nebuchadnezzar. God blessed their good choices! (Daniel 1)
This story has even more meaning as my children grow up and watch the food choices I make. I’m asking God to give me the ability to step back from the “choice foods” and eat the things I would not naturally choose. Need some help? I’ve found a few healthy snack ideas and listed them below. All are fun, kid friendly, and easy to make. Happy (healthy) snacking!
Ants on a Log:
Washed celery, cut in 3 to 4 inch pieces
Raisins
Peanut butter or Nutella
Spread peanut butter on middle of celery. Add raisins on top to get the “ants” crawling on a log.
Yogurt Parfaits
Yogurt
Fresh fruits (strawberries, blueberries, etc)
Dry cereal (Fruit Loops, Cheerios, etc)
Layer the ingredients in a tall bowl or cup in the following order: yogurt, cereal, fruit, repeat as wanted.
Apple Smiles
Red apples, washed and sliced (these are the lips)
Peanut butter or cream cheese
Small marshmallows
Spread peanut butter or cream cheese on apple slice. Place mini marshmallows (these are the teeth) on top of peanut butter and top with another apple slice.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
March Refreshment Information
What: PJs & Popcorn Movie Night!
When: Tuesday March 8th
Doors open at 6:30; Movie begins promptly at 7:00pm
Where: Church Fellowship Hall
Other: Purchase your $2.00 ticket beginning next Sunday at the Welcome Center
Coke and Popcorn will be served
A Love Offering will be taken up for Crash Ministries
When: Tuesday March 8th
Doors open at 6:30; Movie begins promptly at 7:00pm
Where: Church Fellowship Hall
Other: Purchase your $2.00 ticket beginning next Sunday at the Welcome Center
Coke and Popcorn will be served
A Love Offering will be taken up for Crash Ministries
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