The Cup of Thanksgiving

"Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf."

~ 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

"One Bread, One Body"

by John Michael Talbot

One bread, one body, One Lord of all,
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
We are one body in this one Lord.

Gentile or Jew, Servant or free,
Woman or man, No more.

One bread, one body, One Lord of all,
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
We are one body in this one Lord.

Many the gifts, Many the works,
One in the Lord, Of all.

One bread, one body, One Lord of all,
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
We are one body in this one Lord.

1. New Perspectives = I like one of Mark Lowry's comments about a commenter's gratitude on his Facebook wall -- the commenter's gratitude was -- "I'm grateful for laundry and dishes. . . they never go away . . . talk about job security." and Mark's reply -- "That's a good way to look at a problem . . . from a new perspective."  And that's what gratitude is -- looking at things from a new perspective. Instead of griping about having to pick up my husband's dirty pants from a chair in the living room and new cups that multiply in my kitchen sink like rabbits, thank God you've got job security as a wife and mother! Knock, Knock! You hear me, Dolores? This message is for you! 👼 smile!

2. Cinderella = I'm so thankful for romantic reminders,  cause I met my Prince Charming on a blind date too and we've been married for 35 years! 

3.  Friends = I'm so thankful for my friend Karen, who loves to delight me with things she knows I will like. She just dropped off not one, but TWO Mary Engelbreit calendars! WOW! And some tea sachets (envelopes). Do you know of any clubs like this one? (By the way, heard that Karen's daughter-in-grace has had a grand stork delivery this morning! Congrats, everybody!)

4. Elementary School = I'm thankful I didn't have to go to school where the teachers were armed or guards patrolled the school hallways. The principal I had though, had been in the army and I heard tales that she ran the school like a drill sergeant. My mother always told me, if you get in trouble at school, you are going to be in trouble when you get home and let me tell you, I had that the fear of that double trouble to keep me controlled for years. smile! That is, until 5th grade, when there was a group of kids, one girl in particular, K.B., who took great delight in tormenting me out on the playground. She was so mean to me, that one day she slammed a hard basketball straight into my face, just cause she felt like it, knocking my glasses off and making my nose bleed. I ran for the teacher playground monitor and this girl taunted me the whole way there behind my back about being a crybaby and a tattletale.

You see, my parents also told me, if someone is pestering you, go stand in the teacher's zone -- the five foot area around her is her trouble-free zone, because the brat who is bothering you doesn't want to draw attention to himself and therefore get into trouble, however, if they have hurt you, tell the teacher, especially if they draw blood, like the girl did to me above. If you can't get justice from the teacher, go higher up or come tell me and let me take care of it. I remember one time when my mother had to take up my cause with a teacher and that concerned the correct spelling of my first name.

So at that point, I didn't care about the name-calling, cause man, I was hurting, inside and out.  Problem was, the teacher didn't "see" the bully, only me as someone trying to get her into trouble [she was not my class teacher, so she really didn't know me. She was taking her turn at being the playground monitor that day.] I ran inside without permission when I could see it was useless to try to get justice from her, straight for my classroom to clean up and cry. But the teacher followed me inside and tried to march me down to the principal's office. I refused to budge out of my seat, so she grabbed me around the trunk of my body and tried to haul me down there herself, however as she scuffled me out towards the hallway, I grabbed the door jamb and wouldn't let go. When she could not pull me out of the doorway, she let go and went to get the principal herself. Mrs. R. came marching down to the classroom and I went meek as a lamb with her. The principal couldn't understand why that teacher was having such trouble with me since I walked down to her office readily enough. The principal called my mother to come to get me, so I could get cleaned up and sometime after that is when the school recommended an off-campus counselor to my parents for my "social issues." 

By the way, I forgive you K.B.! 

Never once did I ever think to go shoot somebody because I was bullied at school. I had not only the fear of my parents controlling my actions, but also the fear of jail. I knew what was right and wrong. Perhaps fear or respect has been removed from consciences and the finger of blame for OUR actions points somewhere else.  Like children, when people are caught in a compromising position, they want to weasel out of and deflect what they've done onto somebody else, instead of owning up to it. Even Adam did that, by blaming Eve for his eating of the apple! 

"They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts." ~ Ephesians 4:18. 

I think that describes our public schooled students right there perfectly. A few individuals in America jumped on the collective bandwagon to take teaching Godly living out of our public schools in the 1960's and sadly, some of the children, especially the unchurched ones after that, have become ignorant about how to live civilly with each other. I know,  as I'm a product of a public-school, peer-ruled education. It didn't get better when our son went to public-school and we removed him after 4th grade to teach him at home.

I think America is reaping what America sowed in the 60's. 

"After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel." ~ Judges 2:10. 

5. Garments of Praise! = I didn't realize just how many people it takes to produce the clothing I'm wearing today (shirt, dress, sweater, undergarments, leggings, socks, and house-slippers) until I watched this video! 

God, I have no idea who designed and produced the clothes I'm wearing today, but you do! Please bless them today, whatever their need. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen! 

6. Come and Dine! = Periodically my husband's employer plans social events for his employees and last Friday evening we enjoyed one. (Thank you, Prier!) Well, my husband bowled and I didn't as I'm the reigning gutter queen♛♕ in the family, so instead I socialized with the gal who cooks for their learn at lunch meetings. She said she would send me some recipes that sweetens with dates instead of refined sugar. She recommended I look online at one and texted the recipe link to me that evening. I haven't tried it yet, I need to go get the ingredients, but thought you wouldn't mind if I shared it with you ahead of time. If you try it, come back and share with me what you think of it.  It looks yummy! 

I did mention a couple of posts ago that I don't cook with salt anymore, however, the cornmeal mush I had for breakfast needed just a pinch of salt, so I used this product to give it some salt flavoring -- "No Salt! A Sodium-Free Salt Alternative." My doctor that I had at the time said that most foods have naturally embedded salt or added salt and all we need is 1 teaspoon of iodized salt a day to maintain our health and most of the time we get way more than that in the American diet. To be considered a low sodium food, it must be lower than 150 mg. per serving. I also use a "No Salt Seasoning" that I purchase in Big Lots grocery department. Mrs. Dash's No Salt Seasoning is too spicy (peppery) for me and I found this to be the perfect substitute! Apparently though, it looks like I'm going to have to find a substitute for this too, as it has sugar in it. :( No wonder it tastes so good! 

With Thankfulness

"If I take part in the meal with thankfulness why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 10: 30-31. 

1. Words of Affirmation = Are one of the ways of showing emotional love to another person and building a person up. This is where gratitude comes in at -- telling others thank you. The webpage at the end of the link speaks of spouses, but this also works for other relationships because, according to Dr. Gary Chapman, possibly the deepest human need is the need to feel appreciated.

2. ATC Club -- Mark Lowry said something yesterday about doing something fun! It's been awhile since I've done something different from the usual routine. It's been half-a-year since I went to ATC club and I'm thankful I was able to go and that somebody was there to swap and craft with. The weatherman has been doing his best to see that we get some winter snow/ice storms sent our way! smile!👼 

3. Oh, and speaking of crafting = have you noticed the little doodles I've been adding to my posts? I'm practicing what Stephanie has been teaching through the online classes and in her book. I've always have had the hardest time drawing feathers -- I feel almost dyslexic as I've never been able to draw the feather barb's right (vocabulary from Wikipedia). But I followed Stephanie's drawings step by step and finally, success!  Thank you, Stephanie, for those examples in your book! 

4. Thank you, God, for an answer to a prayer through scripture! = "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. . . Rejoice that your name is written in heaven!" ~ Luke 10: 16, 20b.

5. Lifestyle Change (4 weeks so far) = Mom took me out for lunch Valentine's Day (I was good and only ate cantaloupe and grapes for dessert)  and shopping. Thanks mom! And then I came home to a goodie bag -- Thanks Debbie -- and my sweetie also gave me a card and a bag of Russell Stover Sugar Free Pecan Delight (I only ate one Pecan Delight candy, as I've had my experience with sugar free candies before, although this one was sweetened with stevia, I was still careful, but oh, it was so GOOD!)  Thanks, Dear! 

Sorry, I don't have a recipe for you this week as I'm still tweaking some to our taste, but I have found these products fall within my new eating habit = did you know that Ocean-Spray has 100% Juice with No Sugar Added. I especially enjoyed the Cranberry-Blueberry Juice this week. Also Mott's has unsweetened applesauce. And Polaner All Fruit Spreadable Fruit is only sweetened with Fruit Juice. 

We Thank God

"How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" ~ 1Thessalonians 3:9

1. Standards = I live under the standard - "W.W. J. D.?" ⛨ I grew up reading "In His Steps" By Rev. Charles Sheldon. Both my  paternal grandmother and my husband's paternal grandmother had copies of his book. It inspired me to write Rev. Sheldon's biography here. (Side note: I just noticed today that he could be a doppelganger for Dr. Phil. What do you think?)

2. Iron Sharpening Iron -- Mark Lowry said he's been getting ideas of what to be grateful for from some of the comments under his videos on Facebook and YouTube. On one of his videos I said I was grateful to live in the HEART of America! smile! 💝

3. US National Handwriting Day! -- It seems I have missed a holiday in January. instituted in honor of John Hancock's birthday on January 23 (1737). I have a gratitude that I wrote sometime ago about scribblers and I'm thankful I know how to write Jesus' name in block lettering and in cursive, not to mention I'm thankful I was able to take some of Stephanie Ackerman's online doodle classes, a component of which is showing us how she writes. However, now you can purchase her NEW book and get the same instruction in handwriting that was in her online workshops. 

4. Attitude of Gratitude video -- This video popped up in line after I watched Mark Lowry's video this morning. Sr. (Sister) Donata Farbaniec , a Polish nun, was speaking at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington DC. on the attitude of gratitude. She is a Daughter of the King too and afterwards I left a comment: "Thank you, Sister, for the inspiring words -- I especially understood the term "wooden lips" as it's sometimes tough to praise God, but I am beginning to look for the good in the dark valleys of my life. " In my mind's eye, I could just "see" me walking hand in hand with Jesus as I listened to her. She told a story about praising God with "wooden lips" from her own life and a similar story of my own experience came to mind.

Both a friend and I were enjoying a visit together in the car so much that she "forgot" to turn off at an exit. When she noticed that we had missed our turn, she remarked, "Well, perhaps we were meant to miss that turn. Maybe the Lord meant for us to enjoy our fellowship with each other so much that I "absentmindedly" missed it because he was protecting us from an accident that could have happened had we gone that way." You know it's possible and I have never forgotten this friend's words. 

5. Gratitude Journaling = One thing that has been helping me write my gratitude's, is to open a draft post on this blog and save it to my dashboard, then writing in things I find during the week to be thankful for. If you don't blog or have a website, then you might not understand the inner workings of software-land, but you can translate it into hardware. Keep a small spiral bound blank book/journal close by your comfortable chair or in your pocket and scribble into it the good things you are grateful for. If I don't write it down right when I'm thinking of it, I forget it sometimes. Also write in any thankful scriptures you run across or quotes you might find in your reading that pertains to gratitude and thankfulness. Even write down illustrations of that -- like the Pilgrim's first Thanksgiving. Then come and share it with me down in the comments! 

I watched one of Stephanie's videos again last night. I think somewhere on this blog I mentioned it appeared as though she was writing a commentary. Perhaps it's a commentary and a quote-book in one -- things she wants re-read to remember.

6. Food Adjustment = Amazing, isn't it? No. 6! I watched a video last night of a so-called "Nutritional Doctor." I didn't hold with everything this "doctor" said, however, there was one thing that I latched onto since I'm in the process of adjusting my diet. This person said to see how many different fruits and vegetables you can find in one year's time, eat one cup of it (no dipping your toes in with 1 bite), and record it somewhere by either listing it or gluing a picture down on a sheet of paper and posting on your frig or gluing pictures on a placemat and when the placemat is full, laminating it, or in a notebook. So for my list here on Pinterest this morning, I'm thankful I have two things I can record! I ate a banana and a handful of raisins in my nuked oatmeal! I haven't found a cold cereal yet in our local grocery store that doesn't contain some sort of refined sugar.  (Pssst! Side note: I wonder how many fruits and vegetables are mentioned in the Bible? Anybody know?)

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = 

"By their fruit you will recognize them.

Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?"~ Matthew 7:16

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This Morning's Cooked Oatmeal Recipe: 1 3/4 cups water, 1 cup quick oatmeal, 1 handful of raisins, 1 peeled and sliced banana in a large microwave safe bowl. Stir to mix and nuke in the microwave 2 minutes. Remove and add a little milk (and add two teaspoons of stevia if not sweet enough for your taste), stir, eat and enjoy! 

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = 

Thanks Be to God!

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

~ 1 Corinthians 15:57

1. Journal Fatigue -- This one paper crafter I listened to today on YouTube was talking about journal fatigue. She said that people tie themselves up in knots and get anxious if they skip a day to write or create in their journals, when it should be a relaxing, meditative time to reflect on the goodness that comes your way and record little snapshots of that. For instance, if you are recording your gratitude's or documenting your relationship with Jesus, what would you like to read about in five years time?  You know, if you have followed me for any length of time, I have struggled with writing something every week on this blog, but I see I can give myself permission to not get anxious about it, if it doesn't happen. While I enjoy it and get satisfaction from writing, the creative spark or inspiration can be blocked by unplanned things, like sickness or unforgiving people. (The devil likes to try to derail you if he can.) There's something though, to be said about the process of working through the struggles. I, in the past, have given myself a time limit, or as the case may be, the limit of completing one project, then after finishing it, if I don't want to do it anymore, I can walk away with a clear conscience that I gave it my best and actually completed it. Hallelujah! ADD people are notorious for undone projects which can lead to inward failure guilt. Been there, done that! 😀 


2. Happy Mail -- I Love Happy Mail and today I received some lovely happy mail from my friend, Joan, from across the pond. Sounds like she is settling into her new-to-her home. Her husband retired and they moved to be closer to their daughter. I so thankful for Joan!


3. Catch Them Being Good! -- I believe in rewarding good manners and kindness with praise! 👼


4. I am so thankful for music! --- Sure helps me feel better when I'm feeling blue. 


5. DIE-T Appetite DELIGHT!-- Did you know that J.T. Stinson, a well-regarded fruit specialist, introduced the phrase, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" (at a lecture during the 1904 St. Louis World Fair)? A church friend gave me this recipe for fruit-sweetened apple pie. My hubbin said it's fit to eat! 

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Sugar-less Apple Pie

6 medium red Delicious apples, peeled and sliced (we use one of those new-fangled apple wedge knives - cores and wedges apples in one push)

1 can (6 ounces) frozen apple juice (without sugar), thawed

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pastry for 9-inch double crust pie

3 tablespoons margarine

Place apples and undiluted apple juice into a large pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 5 minutes. Dissolve cornstarch in water. Gently stir cornstarch into apple mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered, for 10 to 15 minutes or until apples begin to soften. Stir in cinnamon. Fill pastry shell with apples and cover with top crust.

Bake at 350 F. for 45 minutes. Baste with melted margarine after baking. Yum! 

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I'm thankful I found two pre-made products at the grocery store this week that I can eat! 
One is Smucker's Organic Peanut Butter (no sugar added) and Smucker's Fruit Spread sweetened with Honey. Both are yummy!  And I just learned that Russell Stover  has stevia-sweetened chocolate candy. Yay!