I Want To See - Tony Manley

“What do you want Me to do for you?”  Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to SEE.”  Mark 10:51 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall SEE God.” Matt. 5:8 “Open my eyes that I may SEE wonderful things in your law.” Ps. 119:18 “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have SEEN the Lord!”  John 20:18a “The disciples were overjoyed when they SAW the Lord.”  John 20:20b I love the question Jesus asked the blind man.  The answer is expected, yet complicated!  A blind person would say, “I want to see” because he knows he is blind, but what about the person who doesn’t know what he needs? I have asked and lately been answering this question in my heart.  What do I want Jesus to do for me?  I found that the things I wanted I had already been given –joy, peace, forgiveness, contentment, faith, His presence, His attention, His guidance, comfort, His Word, promises, His ways.  So, what is it that keeps me from SEEING clearly and correctly that I have what I want?  I think I am learning (SEEING) that God wants me to SEE Him in my moments - the good, bad, and the ugly.  God wants me to SEE Him in people –the good, bad, and the ugly.  God wants me to SEE Him in the circumstance – the good, bad, and the ugly.  This is my struggle: to SEE God in the everything and the everywhere.  Yes, I want to know He is in the “thing,” but I want to make His image fit my expectation or “how I think this should be!” SEEING God with my heart in the moment (after all, isn’t life just a whole bunch of moments stacked together?) frees me.  The times I truly SEE Him, I catch myself at peace!  The warring is diminished and the moment is given to faith in His heart.  Can I just say- I love when my “heart eyes” are focusing well!!! All of us as pilgrims are at different places on the path…so I know the terrain for our place on the journey looks different, but each of us has access to the One who opens our eyes and causes us to SEE clearly.  Whether raising children, navigating marriage, juggling people, work, health, finances, or calamities, the number one need for a child of God is to SEE God.  He always SEES us, our hearts, thoughts, and loves us perfectly.  I say let’s learn to SEE Him moment by moment and encourage one another to keep SEEING – never giving up. Blind Bartimaeus made a spectacle of himself shouting at Jesus when he heard that Jesus was coming, even when people told him to hush! (MK. 10:47-48)

Receipe of the Week - Mrs. Nellita's Banana Bread

If you have ever eaten Nellita's Young's banana bread, you know how delicious it is.  So simple and makes two loaves.

INDESCRIBABLY DELICIOUS BANANA BREAD

Banana Bread:

1 cup butter                            

1 ½ cups sugar 

4 very ripe bananas, mashed 

2 large eggs, beaten   

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

4 tablespoons buttermilk                    

2 cups all purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream butter and sugar.  Mash bananas; add beaten eggs, vanilla and buttermilk, mixing well.  Add banana mixture to butter and sugar mixture.  Sift together flour, soda and salt; add to banana mixture, beat well.  Pour into 2 greased and floured 9x5x3 inch loaf pans.  Bake for 45-50 minutes or until bread pulls away from sides of pan.  Yield:  2 loaves

Topping:

4 tablespoons butter

7 tablespoons dark brown sugar

3 1/2 tablespoons milk

1 cup (or more if desired) chopped nuts

Melt butter in saucepan.  Add sugar and milk, mixing well until sugar dissolves.  Cook until consistency of syrup.  Remove from heat and add chopped pecans.  Spoon evenly over each loaf, spreading to all corners.  Place under broiler until bubbly and brown.  Watch closely so topping does not burn.

Hope you enjoy!!

Hawaiian Punch!

I came across this drink recipe the other day and thought it looked too good not to share!   Definitely a yummy summer treat! - angie

Yummy vitamin filled punch!

Ingredients:
2 medium bananas, cut into chunks
1 ripe mango, cut into chunks
1 ripe papaya, cut into chunks
4 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
4 cups seltzer

Instructions:
In a blender add bananas, mango, papaya, and pineapple juice. Puree until smooth, and pour into glasses.

Serves 8

Therefore - Tony Manley

“Therefore, as God’s CHOSEN people, HOLY, and DEARLY LOVED, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Col. 3:12-14

“I now pronounce you man and wife.  Let no man put asunder what God has joined together.”

I have just celebrated thirty four years of marriage!  Happy anniversary to me!  I was chosen, perceived holy (?), and dearly loved by my groom.  Recently, I mentally went over the marriage trip I have been on and continue traveling.  Having married in college at the mature age of barely twenty, I had spent a lifetime majoring in self.  So, I was the guru of marital advice and believed I was THE standard for marriage bliss!  How hard could it be…? 

Then three months later, I became a saved church member and life was soon to take a new direction – the Holy Spirit along with God’s word became my new standard, teacher, and desire.  A new heart can revolutionize any circumstance or relationship!  God’s clothing would become and still are my “necessary” garments (every season shouts the “necessary” pieces) – whether armor, daily wear, or even the beautiful linen He provides.  But the list in Colossians 3 is an absolute must to be worn before I ever begin the appointments God has for me that day as a wife or child of His! I have learned that marriage is a revealer of the heart and is a wonderful way to grow in grace!

My desire for my grandchildren or anyone thinking of being a bride is:  spend your life preparing and becoming the best bride to Christ, your Groom, so that if or when you become a “skin” bride, the transition will be a more smooth and enjoyable trip!  The Colossians verses are such a necessity in being a beautiful bride!

Recipe of the Week - Fry Batter

Ok. I know we all claim we do not fry food anymore.  But every once in a while it is fine.  This is a fry batter you can mix up and use more than one time.  I love to use it for fried tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and eggplant.

Fry Batter

3/4 cups cornstarch

1/4 cup flour or meal (Actually I always add a little corn meal to mine)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup water
1 egg

salt & pepper to taste

Mix well

Recipe of the Week - Zucchini Bread

Garden items will soon be in abundance.  This Zucchini Bread is easy and freezes well.  How many times have you wondered, "What in the world am I going to do with all of this zucchini?"  Well, make this bread, wrap it in foil, put it in a Ziplock bag, and pull it out of the freezer when needed.  It is great with a cup of coffee.  

Zucchini Bread

1 cup oil

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 cups grated zucchini, peeled

1 tsp salt

2 tsps vanilla

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

3 tsps cinnamon

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Blend oil, eggs, sugar, zucchini, salt, & vanilla. STIR in dry ingredients and nuts.  DO NOT BEAT.  Spoon batter into 2 well greased & floured loaf pans.  (I add some sugar to the bottom of my pans after I flour and grease them. Just some more calories. Ha Ha)

Bake 1 1/2 hours at 300 degrees

As you can see, this will have the same consistency as banana bread.

Extra tip: Did you know you can freeze raw zucchini?  Just grate it and bag it in amounts for your favorite recipes.  Then freeze it until needed.  Be sure to thaw and squeeze out excess water before using.  

 

Beat the heat! Watermelon Gazpacho recipe!

This is a mildly spicy soup.

Ingredients:
8 cups cubed seeded watermelon
1 apple, diced
1/2 cup finely chopped Vidalia onion
1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
2 teaspoons fresh basil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Instructions:
In a blender, puree watermelon with the apple and 1/4 cup each of the onion and green pepper; pour into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the remaining ingredients (including the other 1/4 cup of onion and green pepper). Refrigerate, covered, for at least an hour to blend flavors.

Serves 4-6