Happy Birthday, Nay-Nay!

Happy Birthday to Nay-Nay! 49 today!

My sister, Rene', is here visiting and today is her 49th birthday today. It is amazing what the Lord has done in our lives over the years. Growing up, Rene' and I were not friends. She was the bossy oldest child of five and was always telling me what to do. I resisted because I wanted to be in charge, too. So we fought a lot and then she was gone. She went to college first and then married. Because she is almost 5 years older than me, we weren't together a lot after I got older.

After she married, I went to college and she moved to Mississippi where she lived for years. I don't even recall when things changed for us, but after I was married and she began having kids, I would go and visit her. I loved helping with the babies. Over some time, she then moved to Memphis. When I started having kids, she loved having us to her house. She homeschooled her three girls and invited my kids over to stay for days at a time! I would have never thought of doing that for her! She taught me so much about loving and serving your family. She is one of the biggest "givers" in my life when most of the world (including me) are "takers."

We began to talk more and travel to Nashville together to see our parents. That began a little bit of a friendship together. However, I believe we really became friends when she would come to stay with Wade's grandmother, GG, when my in-laws were out of town. We would spend a week to 10 days together scrapbooking, watching tennis (one of her favs) or making cards and playing cards; thus began a real friendship. We became more than sisters, but we began to be friends.

Now years later, she is one of my best friends. It is a blessing in my life to have friendship among family. I have always believed that friends may come and go, but family will be with your forever. That doesn't guarantee a good relationship, though, as our earlier relationship can testify. I am just thankful that God changed us and helped us become more than "older/younger sisters" to each other. We moved past our family status and moved into the world of friendship. Sharing our lives and our struggles built something between us, something more than just the memories of our growing up years. It built trust, respect and love.

We don't always agree with each other, but we do love each other enough to disagree agreeably. We enjoy spending time together talking, watching Food Network and old black and whites, as well as sharing books and Scripture to encourage each other. She prays for me and mine and lets me know that. She listens and cares even when tired. She puts up with my crankiness and loves me anyway.

I thank God for her friendship and her being a part of my life. Rene', I hope and pray you have a wonderful birthday! You are a blessing in my life!

Love you!

Shrimp Bisque

Here is a recipe that I have been asked for several times lately. It is one of our favorites!

Tait's Shrimp Bisque

1 1/4 lbs shrimp, deveined and peeled
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped finely
1 yellow onion, chopped finely
2 1/2 Tbsp all purpose flour
garlic to taste
cayenne pepper to taste
2 cups heavy whipping cream*
2 cups chicken stock**
1 bunch cilantro, coarsely chopped (yes, one whole bunch!)
1/4 stick butter

In a large pot, saute bell pepper and onion in butter for about 5 minutes. Add flour and make a paste. It will be thick.

Mix tomato paste and chicken stock thoroughly and slowly. Whisk until smooth.

Add garlic.

In a separate pot, boil the shrimp for 1 1/2 minutes. You are not cooking them fully. (You can also use the cooked shrimp and skip this step. It's not as fresh, but will work in a pinch). You can either chop them or put them in a blender and blend to consistency of your choice. (My brother-in-law likes it pureed and I like chunks of shrimp).

Add cream and shrimp to the large pot. Bring to a boil then let simmer for 5 minutes. Just before it boils throw in cilantro. You don't have to cook it long. Salt and pepper to taste at this point.

* If you want to lighten this up, I have used half and half in it. It just makes a thinner bisque.

** I use fat free and reduced sodium

The Drive Home

Wednesday nights. I love Wednesday nights, but as I drive home (anywhere between 9 and 10pm), there is an exhaustion that comes over me like none other during the week. It is mental and physical, as well as emotional and spiritual. It is the exhaustion that comes from ministering to teens. And I love it! It reminds of a guest speaker's words that I heard a year or so ago: "Exhaust yourself for the Lord." This is Wednesday nights for me right now. Wednesday nights consists of:

"can we talk?..........i need prayer........let's get together for coffee.......my friend is really struggling........what should I?...........can we pray together now?.......I need to talk to you......can you go talk to?.......I've screwed up.........I have this problem.........I need some help with this friendship.........I am so angry........I had a much better week.........God really met me today........No, I've not spent time with the Lord..........I'm having great prayer times........I'm lonely.........I am wondering if I really am a believer..........do you have a minute?.......I had this fight with my parents..........how do I?.............can you come to?....how can I help you?..........Happy Birthday!...........Lead me to the cross.........how's your private worship time?........are you okay?........please pray for.........help me.....how can I pray for you?.......do you have a minute?.........this week I have to........I'm overwhelmed.........I don't know where to start..........thanks.

So many of these thoughts are running through my mind as I drive home. So many of the kids' faces are going through my mind as well as I remember my interaction with them that night. Thankfully, I have a 30 minutes drive home so I can run these things through my mind and the people saying them before getting home to see Wade. However, it makes it hard for me to concentrate on what my little ones are telling me about their night in AWANA. It is just so hard to lay all of it aside for anytime. I love these kids and what they are going through. I want to help each one, but that is hardly possible. So I pray.

This youth group ministry is one of the greatest ministries I have ever been a part of. If God could use us (youth disciplers) in just one student's life, it would all be worth it. They are in such an impressionable time in their lives and they are searching, although they come across as knowing it all. That is just a front usually. They have questions and need answers. They have things they need to process through with someone. They struggle and persevere. I am happy to say that a lot of our kids are seeking to be faithful to the Lord, as well. They are continuing in what they have learned from the beginning. Yes, they fail, but so do I. They just need adults in their lives to encourage, pray, unconditionally love, share truth and listen. They need adults to understand that they are young believers and will fail at times. They need the love of Christ in human flesh. I want to be that. I fail often times doing that with them, but I will continue to try.

I remember my youth leaders vividly to this day. There were two couples specifically that listened to my youthful babble and my arrogance. However, they loved me, listened to me, gave godly counsel and continued to love. They spoke truth, but they weren't judgmental. They understood that I was young and immature in my faith. They gave me room to grow. I will remember them forever, not because they were great (and they were), but they showed me the love of Christ and that alone drew me to Him.

I pray I can do the same.

A Simple Woman's Day Book

I am taking this from another blog I follow:

FOR TODAY........October 28, 2009
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.......sunshine, finally!!!!
I AM THINKING.........about the book I am reading
I AM THANKFUL FOR......my Bible
FROM THE LEARNING ROOMS.......GK/Latin roots right now
FROM THE KITCHEN......Reeses Trifle leftovers. :)
I AM WEARING.....warm clothes because I'm cold
I AM CREATING......hats for kids in New Mexico
I AM GOING.......to youth group tonight
I AM READING.....Why We Are Not Emergent
I AM PONDERING..."Don't give up what you want most for what you want at the moment."
I AM PRAYING.....for a hurting friend.
I AM HEARING.....kids drill GK/Latin roots, washer
AROUND THE HOUSE.....needs to be cleaned and re-organized
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS......reading hour, family celebrations
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
Thursday: Be at home all day since car will be in the shop
Friday: Maybe be with FAB friends, senior pics
Saturday: Sister coming to town for a week
Sunday: Worship

18th Celebration!

Luke turned 18 yesterday! Although Wade and I can't believe it has been 18 years since God gave us kids together, we are also very excited about this time of his life. We just hate that we are getting old, but we love this stage of our kids' lives.

Luke has been our "guinea pig" from the start, our first born. We were harder on his discipline-wise because we really wanted to make sure he obeyed us. Thankfully, he handled that well and before he was too old, someone gave us a copy of "Shepherding a Child's Heart" to read. That book is by far the best book on parenting I have ever read, especially for first time parents or parents with young children. Highly recommend it. At that point, things began to change for us and we began disciplining with a little less force and with a lot more purpose. He began to "shepherd his heart" instead of require outward conformance which was really motivated by our own pride and fear of man as parents.

I won't tell all about Luke's growing up years (like I could!), but I will tell you that looking at Luke's life makes me hopeful and shows me that God is bigger than me. To see a young man love the Lord inspite of his sinful parents and all of our mistakes, shows me that God has His ways of drawing us unto Himself. Luke's faith is young and far from perfect, but he is growing and striving. He has grown to be a man who desires to read God's Word, pray and spend time serving and ministering among God's people in the church.

God has given him more opportunities to serve than I ever imagined in our church body, from youth ministry worship team to dressing up to act out John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. He has had the chance to go to Burma twice with his grandfather on missions' trips, as well as North Carolina, Mexico, and Honduras. All of these have had an impact, but Burma changed his spiritual life. PTL!

Last night we celebrated Luke's 18 years here on earth. We had family and a few friends over for a dinner of shrimp bisque, crispy baguette bread with olive oil and Reese's trifle. Wade prayed the sweetest prayer of thanksgiving for Luke and what he has come to mean to all of us. I wish I had it on tape.

I think Luke enjoyed his night. He enjoyed his cousins we don't see much, as well as grandparents and friends. He received a boat load of gifts (lots of cards which mean gift cards). What a blessing! He was on iTunes for a while last night with a big grin on his face.

I thank God for Luke. I pray that God will lead and guide him over the next 5 years as he firms up what he believes and makes life decisions. May God give him wisdom and discernment, as well as work through his failures and unwise choices. I pray that he will grow up and mature in the Lord, seeking to glorify and serve Him forever. I love ya, Bud!

What's on My Mind?

In Matthew 16, Jesus begins telling the disciples that He will "suffer many from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." (vs 21). This is the first time that Christ has shared this information with them and, naturally, they really don't like it.

Their hopes had been in a Messiah that would come and "save them" in a way that demolished their enslavement and persecution. They seemed to anticipate a military take over or battle to ensure their freedom with Messiah leading them to victory.

So think how disappointing this statement is to them as Christ says He will not lead them into victory, but will suffer at the hands of the men these disciples wanted to be freed from! There's no way this could be the way it would play out! Their fearless leader is speaking of being killed. I can only imagine what I would be thinking. And knowing who I am and the sinful ways I use my mouth sometimes, I would probably be just like Peter.........speaking every thought that came into my head without thinking first.

Scripture says "Peter took Him aside and rebuked Him." That is an amazing statement! Of course, because we have Scripture and have been taught to reverence and honor the Lord, we would never think of "rebuking" Christ. We can't imagine the pride that would do that to the Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of our souls.

Yet the statement at the end of the verse convicts and condemns us, too. We do have the kind of pride that Peter displayed in his rebuke. Jesus tells Peter to get behind him and calls him "Satan" at this point. He knew that Peter was a mouthpiece for Satan at this point, for anyone who would want to go against God's plan for His death, burial and resurrection was working against them, not for them.

Then Jesus says this: "You are an offense to Me; for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." (vs 23b).

Every time I am not mindful of the things of God but of the things of men, I am an offense to the Lord. He has a plan for my life. Am I mindful of HIS plan for my life or MY plan for my life? When I am discontent with where He has me, am I mindful of the things of God or the things of man? When I am not embracing His plan for my life, am I an offense to Him?

I so often think of things through the screen of how they affect me. Selfishly. Pridefully. God's way is to think of things in terms of His sovereignty. He has a plan for my life. He knows what is best for me spiritually. He has handpicked things to come into my life to conform me to the image of His Son and to bring those around me to faith in Christ. Do I embrace what He brings into my life? Do I think of His plan or mine? Am I mindful of the things of God or the things of Becky?

I am convicted that as I am mindful of the things of men instead of the things of God, I am no different than Peter in this passage. I am prideful and rebuking, unsubmissive and resistant to His perfect plan which is best for me. I am an offense to the Lord.

Lord, help me to yield each moment of my day into Your hand. For I know that You have designed life to be exactly what I need to be conformed to the image of Your Son and to grow in my knowledge and relationship with You. Convict me of pride and sin quickly and grant repentance. Help me to remember that suffering is never from the hand of an alien God, but from You, my King of kings as well as my Abba, Father. And it is out of love for me. Knowing that, help me to embrace whatever You plan for me. Amen.

Sad Statement in Scripture

In my Professor Horner's reading this morning, there was one little phrase that stuck out to me today. I know I have read this verse, this chapter, this passage many times before, but today for some reason, the three little words kept running over and over in my mind. Each time I thought of them, it made me sad, discouraged then prayerful and thankful. The three little words:

"Let them alone." "Let them alone." Jesus was speaking and He said, "Let them alone."

I never want to be left alone by Jesus, do you?

You will find these sad three words in Matthew 15:14. Jesus is speaking to the multitude and speaking about the Pharisees. We all know that the Pharisees had taken the law and made it enslaving. They had added to Scripture with their own laws and regulations that God never intended. They were known for their many prideful judgments of others while totally missing their own hearts. If you have been a believer for any length of time, you are well acquainted with the Pharisees and how they were "blind guides" (Matt.15:15) to God's people.

However, these three words still made me sad today. "Let them alone." I don't know about you, but I have people in my life that have not yielded their lives to the Lord. They have been taught the truth of God's Word (just as the Pharisees had) and yet they continue to reject Him and the truth of His Word. Some of them even believe they know the truth, as the Pharisees so arrogantly believed about themselves. These three little words make me wonder when God might say about my loved ones, "Let them alone."

I understand clearly that God is not just a loving God, but a God a justice and wrath. He is holy and cannot be rejected forever. For His Word tells us that there will come a time when every knee will bow the knee and give glory to God (Revelation 5:13). And even at this bowing, there will be consequences for having rejected HIM on this earth. It will be too late then and they will experience eternity apart from God and in a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:12).

Yet in this life, John MacArthur says that "this is a severe form of God's wrath. It signifies abandonment by God and is described as 'giving them over' in Romans 1:18-32." (Taken from notes in MacArthur study Bible).

I can't imagine. Being abandoned by God. In this life of heartache and pain, suffering and trials, He is Who I find myself clinging to the most. He is the ONLY ONE Who can give comfort and guidance through the difficult maze of life here on earth. I can't fathom Him deciding to be done with me. Deciding to "let me alone." What a sad reality!

And then I think of Jesus Christ who humbled Himself and suffered through the Father turning His back on the Son for the sake of obedience and salvation. He knows what it feels like to be abandoned by God for a time. And because He endured that, I am free to abide, reside with, cling to, be part of the family of God.

Lord, please don't give up yet on those around me who have spiritual blindness still. Please open their eyes to see the reality of who they are and the reality of who YOU are before it is too late. Please don't turn them over to their own passions and desires, but grant repentance that leads to salvation. May I be passionate to pray and intercede, as well as live and speak Your truth to them.

And, Father, thank You for drawing me from the kingdom of darkness when I was an enemy and transferring me into the kingdom of Your beloved Son. Thank You for desiring to be with me "always, even unto the end of the world." Thank You for promising to be near "to the broken hearted and the contrite of spirit." Make me contrite and broken hearted over my sin so that I may remain by Your side, abiding in You for now and until my dying breath.