Siesta Summer Bible Study Gathering #2

O Happy Day, Dear Summer Siesta Bible Study Group! Hopefully you’ll grab ten or so minutes to watch the video greeting. If you have Internet access at your group gathering and can watch it together, that’s even better. I always want to put your discussion instructions in print, however, so that you don’t have to take dictation from my fast talking. REMEMBER, PLEASE DON’T RESPOND TO THIS POST UNTIL AFTER YOUR GATHERING. ALL COMMENTS ARE MEANT TO FOLLOW YOUR TUESDAY MEETINGS AS OUR (YOUR AND MY) WAY OF DISCUSSION AND INTERACTION. Thanks so much for your cooperation because this approach is a must to make the most of our Bible study blog experience. It needs organization to work effectively on such a wide scale. OK, young ladies, here goes!

1. Based on Week One, discuss what a functional god is and how an idol has functioned for you. In other words, what made it work?

The remaining three are based on Week Two:
2. Turn to p.39 of your workbook. Kelly had us read 1 Peter 2:9-12 and reminded us that we were meant to be peculiar people. Reread her words.

Now, in class today do an acrostic of the word "peculiar" based on various ways Christ has set us apart. In other words, come up with one word that begins with a "p," then another that begins with an "e," "c," and so on.

3. Turn to p. 41. Recall our reading out of Genesis 21:1-6. Listen to verse 6. I especially love the New English Translation: "God has made me laugh." Share something today with the group that God has done for you that brought you such joy or such a turnaround that it was laughable.

4. Lastly, turn to p. 49 for what I thought was one of the most powerful moments of the entire second week. Kelly said "Fear protects our idols"! How? Discuss that!

I hope that’s some good stuff for your Tuesday discussions. I am so glad we are studying together! You are one of my favorite classes EVER! Let me know (briefly so we can read them all!) how it goes! I love you so, so much. No kidding. You’ve become an important part of my life and this ministry. The whole LPM staff has gotten on board in serving you now. Study on, Siestas!

Tuesday's Common Meal

Here's our common meal for this week, Siestas! We'll do something fun from the "No Other Gods" workbook for our main dish and I'll give you one of my old stand-by favorites for dessert.

Main dish: Let's all make the Sicilian Pizza Crust on p.119 then each of us decide on our own toppings. Perhaps ask each of your group members to bring their favorite topping then throw them on and bake them when they arrive. Let us know if you've got some really creative ones. If you've got a larger group, you might need at least two. One pizza has NEVER served 6 Moores!!

Dessert: This is the recipe I've used for years for the best old fashion pound cake you've ever tasted in your life. Your house will smell like Heaven. It is in an old church cookbook posted by a dear woman of God named Bea Brock from First Baptist Church of Victoria, Texas. (Might we call her Aunt Bea? Isn't that perfect for a pound cake baker?) It may not sound exciting but I promise you, it is a crowd pleaser. FYI: these portions always make a little too much for a standard bundt pan so leave some in the mixing bowl as you see it's getting too full. You can just eat that part with the beater like Jackson and I do.

5 Flavor Pound Cake:
2 Sticks Butter Softened
1/2 Cup Crisco Shortening
3 Cups Sugar
5 Eggs Well Beaten
3 Cups Flour
1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Salt
1 Cup Milk
1 Tsp. each of vanilla, lemon, almond, coconut and butter flavor extracts.

Combine butter and Crisco. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add eggs; mix flour and baking powder and salt, alternately with milk. Add extracts. Pour into well greased and floured tube pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 and 1/2 hours. Let cool completely before you turn it out of the pan. That means you'll need to make it about four hours in advance of class to be on the safe side. You can put a glaze on it but it doesn't need it. You can also throw some fresh strawberries or blueberries on it with whipped cream. You'll be back at your great grandmother's house again with the first bite, tasting one of your sweetest childhood memories.

Video Scripture Memory Update and Deeper Still

Hey, You Darling Siestas! I hope you are well and blessed in the perceptible presence of Jesus Christ. Just a couple of pieces of news this stormy Sunday afternoon in Houston, Texas. I wanted to let you know, lest someone be devastated by the delay, that our much-hailed Grand Prize Scripture Memory Competition Winner will be unveiled on Friday of this week rather than Tuesday. Due to a yet unexplained technical problem, some of the videos arrived in our inbox expired and we wanted to give them time to be resubmitted. After all, this fierce competition has caused an uproar second only to American Idol and the talent just keeps rolling in. Brace yourself.

I love y'all so much.

Grinning so wide that my ears feel all tight.

I just returned from Deeper Still in Atlanta, Georgia where a whopping 19,000 of us raised the roof in praise to the One True God and studied our heads into a migraine. (Not really. Haven't ever really had a migraine but if you were prone to one, we no doubt gave you one this weekend but, Child, you can't say you didn't hear some Scripture.) God gave us a terrific group! One of the best huge groups I've ever gotten to be part of. (Don't worry, Raleigh. You are still in a tier all by yourself but, I'll be honest, this group got mighty close. Their love for Jesus was large and loud and they hung tight all the way to the last second of a long conference.) You'll never guess who was sitting on the very front row next to the Governor's (precious) wife. Our own Siesta, Georgia Jan! I LOVED HER! She's the one that told that hilarious story recently about her church choir singing a special in a worship service about coming to Jesus with your burdens and, when a woman actually got up and came to the altar, they all thought, "What on earth is she doing? And in the middle of our special?" (My paraphrase but I laughed my head nearly to the floor over that honest appraisal.) Georgia Jan was one of those ultimate kind of people every teacher wants to have in class. Completely engaged and talking back to you constantly.

Guess who else was there? Big Mama and Boomama! (Don't tell me you haven't ever checked out their blogs. They are a blast.) I'm not kidding - I was totally starstruck. They were there in an official guest-blog-writer capacity with some of the LifeWay folks so I got to meet them at sound check then have them right behind me next to Amanda and her good buddy Janelle (we missed you so much, Sunni! Next time?). They were all right there where I could pat on all of them. (I'm a patter. I could mother a fence post as my grandmother used to say.) Big and Boo were just as fun as I thought they'd be. Better than that, they obviously have a keen liking for Jesus and His Word and that just says it, doesn't it? Funny. Godly. Man, I love that.

One of my biggest highlights is that I got to be with both my daughters all weekend. Amanda and Janelle flew up with me then we met up with Melissa once we got there. We got to worship together (Trav and the team were in full throttle gift-mode) and open the "Holy Scripts" (as Melissa calls them with no small reverence) together during the conference. Lis's Colin even joined us for the last session. He was so cute trying to fold his whole six-foot three-inch self up inconspicuously in a raging sea of capri-pants. Needless to say, the event was our highlight but the girls and I also had a blast together after it was over last night then again this morning. The funniest thing happened after the conference ended at 5:30 PM. Melissa went to so much trouble to make reservations at the ultimate spot to get a taste of beautiful, historical Atlanta, Georgia. We went to their version of the Spindletop (I can't remember the exact name but most of us who attended the conference were there). It is a restaurant on the 76th floor of a building smack in the middle of downtown. It (the top floor, not the whole building) rotates over the course of an hour to show you a panoramic view of the entire city. Really cool. You can even see tons of landmarks built for the Olympics. (Well, three.) The problem is, the constant motion made Melissa seasick. She could hardly eat a bite of her shrimp and grits. And, boy, were they good. She turned white as a sheet and she and Colin had to go sit in the lobby of the first floor while we finished. I'm laughing my head off because we Moore's cannot do one single thing without high drama. On our way out of the hotel, Melissa got an expression on her face that made her look about six years-old then she chirped, "Mom, that thing was hauling!" Slight exaggeration but it will make me laugh the rest of my life. She is priceless. Both my girls are. My favorite two people to be with in all the world. And their daddy makes three. We girls sat on my hotel bed last night with room service desserts and laughed until we literally cried. Honestly, I thought my face was going to freeze into a contortion. First thing this morning we got to see Melissa and Colin's apartment and it is absolutely adorable. And smelled wonderful. You guessed it. Apple Crostata. Warm. Buttery. Apply. With a touch of orange.

Well, my man's about to get home and I haven't seen him in four days so I better get off of here. But not before I tell you how much I love working with Priscilla Shirer and Kay Arthur. There is simply no one on earth I respect more than Kay. I have literally never known a soul more devoted to the Word of God than her. And that Priscilla? Sheesh. (If that means anything bad, I don't know it.) She is something else. One of the most gifted young communicators I've ever seen. We have become true friends over the last several years. I cannot express the joy she brings to me and how certain I am of God's powerful call on her life. Keith and I are coming to love her and Jerry very much. And I don't even have to tell you how I feel about Travis and the team. He had great new songs this weekend but held on to my favorites. Trav's Angela was with us on the platform and I LOVE her being there. Talk about a woman who loves God's Word! I don't know another woman on God's green earth I'd rather impact my daughters. I told Trav and Ang today that if we'd never worked together on the road as partners in ministry but had simply attended the same church, the Moores and Cottrells would have been BFF. It's a fact, Jack.

That's all for now, Girlfriends! Sure loved having a cup of coffee with you. Stay in God's Word, young ladies! JESUS IS LIFE. I'll talk to you soon because it's almost Bible Study Tuesday! Get the last of your homework done, Girls!

The Miracle of Divine Revelation

I am not sure how you first came to know Jesus Christ. You may have first heard Him speak to you at an evangelism crusade or perhaps you sensed His immediate comforting presence during a certain extraordinary life experience. I have friends who have witnessed miraculous moments with Jesus Christ and I even have friends who have heard Him speak to them in their dreams. For reasons unknown to me, the Lord has never chosen to communicate with me through these sorts of experiential avenues. And I, in the past, have become a tad envious of those who have experienced God in these phenomenal ways. Please don’t read me wrong, Siestas. I am not questioning if God really does communicate with human beings in these miraculous ways, I ABSOLUTELY believe that He does. I am just saying that I myself have yet to experience Jesus Christ like this.

In brief, I was raised in a Christian home. Yes, I was raised by a woman who I like to call “the- Titus- woman- from-you-know-where” (but I say the word). I heard about Jesus Christ every single day. I was encouraged, if not enforced, to do a “quiet time” at a very early age. And I am so glad that I was but it remained vital for me to actually experience God for myself. So, in High School I began to question if I really “knew” Jesus. It wasn’t that I was living in a bunch of sin at that particular time; it was simply that I did not feel very connected to Him. I didn’t feel in my heart that He communicated with me.

So I called to mind a very basic verse in Matthew that says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). I certainly hadn’t had any exegetical training at that point, but I figured that what this verse meant was that the Lord would communicate with me if I truly sought His face. So I said to the Lord in my teenage heart, “Okay, Lord, I am going to spend the next few months seeking your face with all of my heart and then if I don’t sense your presence, then I really am done with all of this Christianity.”

So what I had intended to be a few months of seeking God through rigorously reading the Bible has become a lifetime passion for me. Yes, even more than cooking. What I found when I read the biblical text was something other-worldly. To me the biblical text was self-testifying. It simply spoke up for itself. I didn’t have to defend it or try to make it sound true, I simply read it and knew it was truth. This skeptic's heart began to melt like butter. My mind had never been so stimulated, my heart had never been more encouraged, and my own worldly intentions had never been so thwarted. When I read through the pages of the Bible, the Holy Spirit testified to my spirit that I was a child of God. And even today, dear Siestas, when I distance myself from reading the biblical text, I feel my mind beginning to drift. I feel my heart slowly harden and I feel more prone to depression and despair. And not surprisingly so, I begin to feel more intoxicated by the pleasures of the world around me. It is like John Bunyan said, “This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book”.

One thing that my research of the Book of Esther has taught me is the significance of intentional remembrance. I have purposefully been bringing back to mind my first experiences of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what I remember most: I came to know Jesus Christ when I took the time to read the actual content of the Bible for myself. This is why I have devoted my life to a shameless study of the biblical text. This is why I work for Living Proof Ministries, because we exist to exalt the power of God through the biblical text. We exist to loudly proclaim that “the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

I have been reminded afresh of the wonder of the Scriptures. I have found what my Mom said all of those years to be true. I have found that indeed, “there is no other book like it”. When you sit on your couch with your Bible in your lap, you are a witness to a miracle. This miracle is called Divine Revelation. And the miracle of divine revelation is not a “lesser miracle”; it is not merely what the rest of us “get” by default because the Lord doesn’t have to time to appear in another one of our dreams. There is no greater phenomenon than an almighty and holy God speaking to and through humankind. God has chosen to speak to you, dear Siesta, and to reveal to you the mysteries of salvation history: the knowledge of his glorious Son. Take a minute today to behold the miracle of the written word of God…take a minute to read the very best of all books. Behold and then tell of His glory.

I love you, Siestas, and wish sometime soon we could all have an old fashioned "pot-luck" around a massive round table together.

Melissa

My Daddy's Work

Hey, Siestas! How are my favorite bloggers doing?? I don't get to really tarry right now on the blog because I am officially one month out from my Esther manuscript coming due (you won't waste a prayer on me) and I'll need every second of it. When I sign a contract, my schedule is nothing but a well planned theory. It never takes into account that sometimes over the course of a project Dad's die, daughters get married, bodies get viruses, ministries need running (I praise You for the privilege, Lord!), husbands need tending, Christmas needs celebrating, dogs get cancer and might, if it's a hard year, even need burying. Deep sigh. Anyway, you've heard enough about that so I'm not going to go there with you again. Just wanted you to know why some of my times on here have to be briefer right now. I always forget to take life into account when I plan my work schedule. Then again, I wouldn't be much of a servant to you if I weren't living life right along with you.

I just had to hop on and tell you something I thought was kinda fun. Yesterday Amanda stopped by the ministry with Jackson. He's almost two and a half now and at the cutest age imaginable. I'd met AJ out in the parking lot because I love to surprise the boy by popping up at the window next to his car seat. He's always so glad to see Bibby and makes such a big deal out of it. Man, I'm so drunk on the little guy I can hardly stand it. Anyway, after the half hour it took me to unlatch him from that gosh-awful carseat, we brought him in and he immediately owned the place. Of course he did. He gets to. What I found so delightfully endearing was that, no matter where he went (and he went practically everywhere in the building), he patted things in that particular office and confidently, possessively chirped, "Daddy's work!" Mind you, Curtis has one office just like the rest of us and it is down on the first floor but to his son who thinks he is the END ALL, the whole building was Daddy's work. Even Sabrina's office was Daddy's work and she directs the whole shebang.

I loved it. So did she.

I just wanted to remind you today that no matter where you go, you can freely pat everything in the room or everything in sight, for crying out loud, every single thing on God's green earth, and say, "Daddy's work." Go right ahead. Be confident. Act possessive for His Name's sake. Sound a little sassy when you say it because it's the truth beneath all truths. It's all Daddy's work. He owns the place. For "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1. He not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He owns the thousand hills under the tails of the cattle.

"This is what the Lord says: 'Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.'" (Is. 66:1) If it's on Planet Earth, Darling Thing, it's under His feet. Don't sweat it so much. It's Daddy's work.

Breaking Free Taping

Hi ladies! I've just been informed that there are 350-375 tickets left to the Breaking Free taping this fall. It will take place in New Orleans at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church on November 10-15, 2008. If you're interested in attending, please call LifeWay Events Registration at 1-800-254-2022. Because of the limited number of tickets, they are not being offered on the LifeWay web site. I'm copying all the details below. The Jones family is headed to youth camp today, so I'll see you in a few days!
Love,
Amanda


The video production of Breaking Free Updated Edition with Beth Moore
November 10-15, 2008 at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA
Sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources

LifeWay Christian Resources thanks you for participating in a life-changing week at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, November 10-15, 2008. Join us for five evenings and one Saturday morning as part of the audience for the video production of Beth Moore’s updated version of her in-depth Bible study Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life to be released August 2009.

Cost $30 – Includes 11 Bible study sessions with Beth Moore
Franklin Avenue Baptist Church
2515 Franklin Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70117
www.franklinabc.com


SCHEDULE

MONDAY, November 10
4:30-6:30 p.m. Registration/Check-in
6:30 Doors Open
7:30 Praise and Worship
8:00 Introductory Session
9:00 Evening Concludes

TUESDAY, Nov 11—FRIDAY, Nov 14
5:00 p.m. Doors open
6:00 Praise and worship
6:30 Session 1
7:30 Break
8:00 Praise and worship
8:15 Session 2
9:15 Evening concludes

SATURDAY, November 15
7:30 a.m. Doors open
8:30 Praise and worship
9:00 Session 9
10:00 Break
10:30 Praise and worship
11:00 Session 10
12:30 Event concludes

We will do our best to follow this schedule; however, please be patient as we may experience delays at times due to technical needs or required changes with equipment and/or set up.


LIVE TAPING
Doors to the sanctuary will open one hour prior to the beginning of each taping. Since this is a live taping, there will be restrictions on entering or exiting the sanctuary once taping begins for each session. Attendees will be asked to move to new seats between sessions. No photography, audio or video taping of any kind is allowed by the audience. LifeWay employees will be taking photos.

At some point during the week of taping, the chances are great that you will be on camera! Audience members should wear nice casual clothing. Your presence at the live sessions serves as your permission for LifeWay to use your image in the final product. We will try to make this a worshipful and engaging experience, with a minimal number of distractions. However, please come expecting lights and cameras, it will be different from other LifeWay women’s events!

Cancellation Policy: Please return your armband with COMPLETE INFORMATION for refund. MUST BE POSTMARKED 30 days prior to event. If you purchased your armband from a church or individual, see them for your refund. Refunds are credited to the original purchaser. Refunds, less a $10.00 per armband handling fee, are only available when postmarked 30 days before the event date. Please mail armband to Events Registration P.O. Box 24001, Nashville, TN 37202. Emergency related refunds must be postmarked by the Monday following the event. No exceptions. If you have questions about refunds, call Events Registration at 1-800-254-2022.

Siesta Cookbook

Ladies, our siesta Holly/CrownLaidDown is compiling a cookbook from the recipes we have all shared on the LPM blog. Isn't that fun? You can find out all the details (cost, how to get one, etc.) on Patty and Kim's Siesta Fiesta blog, specifically here and here.

The cookbook is going to help raise money for the drilling of a water well through Life Outreach International. Isn't that awesome? You may recall that my parents have done some mission trips to Africa through LOI. (Read here and here.) In fact, they are at the Life Today studios taping some programs this weekend.

Holly will not publish any of the recipes without getting permission first. If you would like the recipe(s) you've posted to be included in the cookbook, please email her directly with your recipe at chrishollysmith@msn.com or simply write "yes" in a comment. She will match your comment to recipes that have been posted. If you do not comment or email Holly, she will not use your recipe.

Holly also needs some pithy family sayings to go along with your recipes, about 32 words or less, including some good advice or just downright funny things your family or your grandma says. You can include these in your comments or emails.

There will be a contest for the cover design in case anyone is interested in participating. Once again, check out Patty and Kim's Siesta Fiesta blog for details. Surely we have some artists out there! Have a great weekend, everyone!

A Great Day

After such a dreadful month, this is one of the best days of my life. Huge headlines on p.E1 of the Houston Chronicle this very morning: BIG HAIR IS A BIG HIT AGAIN.If some of you paid off the Chronicle to raise my spirits in this time of grief, THANK YOU. It was worth every dime.

Now, where is my teasing comb? JK. I always know where my teasing comb is.

If you are waiting on your book

Ladies, LifeWay has graciously provided us with access to the first week of homework for our No Other Gods study. So if you decided to join us at the last minute or if you are waiting for the book you ordered to be delivered, you will still be able to start the study on time. Week 1 will be available indefinitely, but this is the only week that will be made available.

Click here and scroll down to "Samples and Posters." You will see links to the Intro and Session One. Print it off and you'll be good to go!

Thank you Pam, Teresa, and the LifeWay Internet team! We appreciate you!

Siesta Summer Bible Study Introduction

WE INTERRUPT YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING FOR THIS SPECIAL REPORT: NORTH DAKOTA JUST REPORTED IN!!! ALL 50 STATES, GIRL FRIENDS! ALL 50 STATES! YAHOO-JAH!

(Siestas: Remember that your comments to this post are meant to FOLLOW your Tuesday gathering so that you can tell us a little bit about your time together. This will be our format for dialogue on our Tuesday Bible study days. Can't wait to hear from you!)

Welcome to our first Tuesday Siesta Summer Bible Study! I hope so much you were able to view the video greeting I did for you because it has lots of information about our Siesta Summer Bible Study. Rough as it is, it comes with lots of love! I promised to put your instructions for your gatherings today in writing in case, as usual, I talked too fast for you to follow on video. You have only two assignments for your first meeting:

A. Please share what you perceive to be your biggest challenge toward walking victoriously with God this summer. House full of children? Heavy work load? Difficult season emotionally? Just had your heart broken? Just feel far from God? Whatever it may be, share it with your small group and take some time to pray for one another in your meeting today. Also, intercede accordingly toward your sister’s need for the duration of the study.

B. Turn to Jude 1:24,25 and read your summer Bible study memory verse-segment. (Oh, yes, you can memorize!!! You just have to learn how to make fun associations that make it memorable!) This is our only memory segment all summer so it’s very doable. Spend most of your gathering time thinking of ways as a small group to memorize it. Get creative! You can make up hand motions or actions to go with it - anything fun, clever, or meaningful to make it easier to memorize. If you think you did a really great or funny job with it, here’s what you do! Fine tune it over the next four or five days then video tape it with all your siestas in mind. Save it to your computer then email it to us using the following instructions:

1. Recording should be on a digital camera with a SD card.
2. With the SD card in your computer, go to www.senduit.com.
3. At the senduit web site click browse and select the video file name (note: file
cannot exceed 100MB).
4. Next (at the senduit web site) select the “Expire” option for 1 week.
5. Click “upload.”
6. When the file is finished uploading Senduit will give a location message and the option to email this information.
7. Select the email option and send to blog@lproof.org.

Remember, this will be Jude 1:24-25 (spoken or on power point) on tape with actions that help the viewer memorize it. The video can be no longer than two minutes in length but you probably won’t need nearly that much time anyway. Our LPM staff and I will judge all the entries and choose a Grand Prize Winner. The Grand Prize Winning video will be shown on our blog in two weeks for our second Siesta Bible Study gathering. In addition, the Grand Prize Winning Group (or individual) will receive a care-package that I will prepare personally and send to your location with about ten tons of love. I’m clapping right now like a five-year-old. I love contests!!! Surely we have a few competitors out there! Put that competitive spirit to good use and help your Siestas memorize some Scripture!

Y’all are so fun. Totally jazzed to be in the Word with you this summer. Have a blast with Jesus!

Happy Birthday, Bethie!

It's our fearless leader's birthday! Thank You, Lord, for my mom's sweet life and for the work you have done and are doing through her. Thank you for the selfless, loving, wise mother she is. I pray you would bless her with abounding joy on this day and in the next year to come. Amen! Happy birthday, Mama!

Our First Common Meal!!!

Siestas! Howdy from Houston! I just flew in from Atlanta and am so excited to spend most of this week working in the LPM offices. I have the joy of seeing my sweet co-workers face to face for a few days!

Now let's get to the recipes. This week’s common dish is for Chicken Enchiladas. We’re hoping many of our Bible study participants will make it for their Tuesday gatherings but the beauty of posting recipes is that they can be used by all of us. Keep in mind this is strictly optional. Just a fun idea for those who want to give it a try. This is my favorite Chicken Enchilada recipe by Rebecca Rather. It is wonderful for a gathering because it can be assembled, covered, and then refrigerated up to two days before it is baked. It has the convenience of a casserole type dish without being so predictable. And, of course, enchiladas should never be eaten without chips & cheese dip and salsa. P.S. I always add taco meat and chopped onion to the cheese dip, but hey, that is just me and I can't stop adding to a recipe to save my life. Obsessed much. This cheese dip is AWESOME because it is soup-based which means it doesn’t quickly turn into a solid mass like most cheese dips. Props to Molly Fowler for the science behind this recipe.


“Killer” Chile Con Queso by Molly Fowler “The Dining Diva” in Menus for Entertaining
Serves 10-12

1 (10 ¾ oz) can Cream of Chicken Soup, undiluted
¾ cup Evaporated Milk
1 (7 oz) can Diced Green Chiles
2 Tbsp Minced Jalapenos (optional)
1 (4 oz) Jar Chopped Pimiento, drained
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 (1-oz) Pkg Ranch dip Mix
1 Can Rotel Tomatoes and Peppers
1 lb Velveeta, cut into cubes
¼ Cup Minced fresh cilantro
Minced fresh cilantro for garnish
Tortilla Chips for dipping

Directions:

Combine soup, evaporated milk, green chilies, jalapenos, pimiento, cumin, dip mix, and Rotel in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently. When bubbly, add cheese and cilantro, and stir until cheese melts and mixture is combined. Be sure to keep the heat low, and stir constantly after adding the cheese to prevent scorching. Serve warm with tortilla, reheating as needed.

Make-Ahead Tip:
This queso can be made ahead or even frozen and reheated before your event. I prefer to reheat it in the microwave.


Salsa Fresca
Recipe from New York Times, July 26, 2006

2 large fresh ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/2 large white onion, peeled and minced
1/4 teaspoon minced raw garlic, or to taste
1 habanero or jalapeno pepper, stemmed, seeded and minced, or to taste
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice or 1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper.

Combine all ingredients, taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Let the flavors marry for 15 minutes or so before serving, but serve within a couple of hours.

Time: 10 minutes
Yield: about 2 cups.



Sour Cream and Chicken Enchiladas
Recipe by Rebecca Rather

Ingredients:

1 store-bought roasted chicken (3 to 4 pounds)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, chopped
8 ounces button or cremini mushrooms, sliced (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups (32 ounces) sour cream
½ cup heavy whipping cream
1 (7 ounce) can diced green chiles, undrained
1 (10 ounce) can tomatoes with green chiles
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels (about 3 ears), or one 8 oz. can corn kernels
1 cup canola oil
12 corn tortillas
2 ½ cups (10 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9X13 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray.

Remove and discard the skin from the cooked chicken. Pull the meat from the bones, shred it into bite-sized pieces, and set it aside in a large bowl.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, mushrooms, and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in the sour cream, heavy cream, green chiles, tomatoes, salt, and pepper until smooth. Cook until warmed through, being careful not to let the mixture boil. Reserve 2 cups of the sour cream mixture for pouring over the casserole. Stir the corn and chicken into the remaining sour cream mixture, which will be used to fill the tortillas.

In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat. Using metal tongs, dip each tortilla in the hot oil for a few seconds on each side, until softened. Stack the tortillas on a paper towel. Spoon a generous line of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla, roll it up, and place it, seam side down, in the prepared pan. Pour the reserved sour cream mixture evenly over the tortillas and sprinkle with the shredded cheese. Bake uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes, until the sauce bubbles and the cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Siestas! I have found that this recipe makes way more than 12 enchiladas (usually makes at least 16). Maybe it is just me, but the cream sauce is very rich and so I make it stretch a little further. You could adapt this recipe easily by simply using reduced fat sour cream or less heavy whipping cream. I wouldn’t, but then again, I am a “Moore” at heart.

This recipe was taken from Rebecca Rather's awesome cookbook called “The Pastry Queen Christmas: Big Hearted Holiday Entertaining, Texas Style” pgs. 92-93.

PS. Quick note from Beth: Hey, Siestas! We just want to throw out some fun things - not so basic that you've already made it a thousand times and not so hard that you have to go to cooking classes. If it's not for you, pass it by! Or not in the budget this week, no big deal. But if you'd like to join us, come along and give it a try!

Our Darling Beanie

Response from Mom:

My Dear Siestas, thank you so much for your love and kindness toward us in the loss of our beloved Beanie and in only three weeks from the day that we lost my constant shadow, Sunny. This time I didn't feel the least funny about you expending energy to pray for us, even if it seemed silly to some. Between the loss of them both, we are torn up. Just torn up. Have cried more in the last three days than I have cried in the last five years put together. When your kids are grown and you're nurturers by nature like Keith and I are, your pets have a whole different place in the home because you center so much of your activity around them and affection upon them. They are gifts from God to lonesome people. The four of us - Keith, Sunny, Beanie, and I - did everything together. We even took them to Sonic and knew what they liked to order.

The whole time we were enduring Sunny's tests, terminal diagnosis then death, Keith and I kept saying to one another in tears, "As painful as this is, can you imagine if this were Beanie??" Then before we could even recover, it was. She was just so much younger and such a spoiled baby that we couldn't stand to think about it. We knew it would be even worse. And, Lord have mercy, was it ever. Her cancer went to the brain in a flash so hers was a very violent death compared to Sunny's peaceful slipping away. Beanie had non-stop seizures for the last six hours. Enduring those hours before the vet's office opened with her in such pain was just terrible. She was such a beauty. Such an exquisite animal that people would stop us on the streets and ask us what breed she was. And simply the funniest dog ever. I'll add one story to Amanda's wonderful tribute. Beanie loved to "hold hands." She'd sit next to you, upright like a person, in the car or on the couch and hold out her paw so you'd hold hands with her. You couldn't resist it because of the sad look she'd get on her face if you didn't give in. Keith has been on so many road trips where he's had to say to her, "Beanie, Daddy's gotta rest his arm! I'm bout to get a cramp in my shoulder!" So darling. We will miss her terribly. Siesta who also has the German Shorthair, your comment made us laugh for the first time. Beanie hunted lizards, too!

So many of you were right on target: It won't be long till we fill our house with puppies again. We'll take a little while to recover then dive back in. And they'll drive us crazy for two solid years and chew up half the furniture. And we won't care because Keith and I are dog people, plain and simple. Keep the fancy house. We'll take rompin' stompin' dogs. Tranquility never has been what we've looked for in a home. We like L-I-F-E even if it covers the couch with fur. Thank you for your sweet hearts toward us and for joining us in giving thanks to our marvelous God for saving my man from harm. You should see his truck. He came so close to driving off that bridge. I kept thinking yesterday, "I could be planning my husband's funeral." Perspective.

I love you guys so much. Thanks again for the lavish support. In ways too personal to reflect on a blog, the last couple of months have been hard. My main consolation is that God's Word is never more alive to me and His Presence never more palpable than when I'm hurting and need it. Need HIM. Oh, I love Him so. I'd rather have Jesus than anything on earth.



Sweet friends, my mom asked me to tell you what has been going on in our lives this week. As you know, just three weeks ago my parents had to say goodbye to their dear old dog, Sunny. We never would have thought that just 13 days later, their dog Beanie would turn up with cancerous tumors throughout her body. My parents had a sad and tumultuous week doing absolutely everything they could to help her. My dad did so much driving back and forth from Houston to Beanie’s special vet in South Texas that he fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident on Tuesday night. He hit the guardrail while driving on an overpass. Thank God, he was unharmed and no other cars were involved. We are so grateful for God’s protection.

It breaks my heart to have to tell you that Beanie died yesterday morning. She had to be put down after a very long night of continuous seizures that couldn’t be stopped. I know Beanie is out of pain, but my parents are swimming in it. Granted, if you could choose your pain, we would 100% choose this over losing or having a sick family member. There’s no doubt about that. Our pain is microscopic compared to what so many are going through. But man, this life can hurt, can’t it? In a million different ways.

Beanie was the baby of the family. She came along in 1999 when my parents were creeping up on the empty nest years. I was already in college and Melissa was getting ready to be a senior in high school. Add that to the fact that Beanie contracted a fatal disease from a thorn in South Texas when she was only a year old. Every single birthday she had was a gift. We celebrated her big time because we weren’t supposed to have much time with her. Our family definitely felt that God had done a miracle for us by letting her even live past her third birthday. All that to say, she was babied and given lots of attention from the very beginning.

When my dad first brought her home as a puppy, mom was in the Philippines. Dad charged me with babysitting the new puppy while he was at work. She was so precious and so bad. Melissa and I told him he was going to be in huge trouble when mom got home. I think he was in a little bit of trouble, but mom couldn’t resist the puppy breath and she fell in love with “Sabine.” It wasn’t long before mom and dad were referring to Beanie as our “sister.”

Beanie was an extremely energetic dog. She loved to run. She was incredibly fast, especially in her younger days. If you opened up the front door and there happened to be a squirrel, cat, or rabbit somewhere on the street that she had been eyeing through the window, look out. She could worm her way out the door and fly down the street like a streak of white light. We called this phenomenon a “beanie ran.” For example, Mom might answer my call breathless and frustrated and say, “Oh, we’ve just had a beanie ran. It was a really bad one. It took us thirty minutes to get her back in the house.”

Mom and I were talking about how much of our family vernacular, inside jokes, and silly songs have to do with that dog. Perhaps the most distinct phrase she inspired was “good for bad.” Beanie was terrible for the first two years of her life. She did beanie rans, she gnawed at your hand when you tried to pet her, she destroyed all her stuffed animals within minutes (including dear old Spitty Chicken), etc. Clearly, she was bad. So when she had a good day, we called her “good for bad.” When she had a bad day, she was “bad for bad,” which we all know is really bad. Our Beanie songs included “Hold me closer, teeny Beanie,” and “Hey Beansie! You’re so sweet, your feet smell like people feet! Hey Beansie!” (This latter was more like a cheer.)

Beansie, as vibrant and fun as she was, always had an empty place in her heart. Why was that? Well, someone mean and bad took her tail when she was only a pup. She was practically obsessed with it. The stump was known as the “tootsie tail.” It wagged with mind-boggling speed. If you stared too long at it you might fall under its spell and be made to give Beansie all the Meaty Bones in the pantry at once. Beanie really appreciated it when we held her tail still so that she could reach around and see it, smell it, and nibble on it a bit. When we let go she would spin around like a whirling dervish. Whirling Beanie, if you will. Dad was not too happy about us doing it, but it was so funny.

One of Beanie’s favorite things in all of life was to go on car rides. Dad would drive, mom would sit in the back seat, and Beanie would sit up front in the passenger seat. If you tried to usurp her throne next to dad, she would climb all over you and make you miserable until you finally moved to the back. In time we all accepted it. There are some large fields close to my parents’ house and they would drive over there with both dogs in the car. At just the right moment, they would open the door and both dogs would jump out and take off like a flash. They would run and run and run, stirring up all the rascally rabbits from their hiding places. When they started howling and picked up their speed, we always knew they had found one. Those bunnies always outran the dogs, but they had a great time in the chase.

Beansie was a great snuggler. She could spoon like a person. She also liked to lay her head on a pillow and be tucked in under sheets. Mom and Dad would call Melissa and me in to say goodnight to our sister. We would go in the room to marvel at Princess Beanie all tucked in her bed. Her head and entire body would remain still as though she were asleep, but that tootsie tail would be thumping the mattress and give her away every time.

The first time I visited my parents’ house after each dog passed away, there was a rabbit hopping around out front. Maybe those rascalies heard that the street was safe again, or maybe they were paying their respects. Whatever the case, that street will be a lot more boring without Beanie and Sunny. We imagine that right now they are running side-by-side through the tallest, greenest grass in heaven with speed they’ve never known and are having an absolute blast. We suspect Beanie might even have her tail back. And as much as we'll miss that little dickens, that’s good for good.

Siesta Summer Bible Study Sign-Up Day!

***HEY LADIES!!! WE HAVE GOTTEN WORD THAT SOME OF YOU ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING THE WORKBOOKS (The Member book NOT the regular trade book). ALTHOUGH THE INDIVIDUAL LIFEWAY STORES MAY BE OUT OF THE BOOK, LIFEWAY ITSELF HAS PLENTY OF THEM IN STOCK...SO INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR THE BOOK ON THE SHELVES, THE EASIEST WAY TO ORDER IT IS ONLINE THROUGH THE LIFEWAY WEBSITE. Here’s the link. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU STILL HAVE TROUBLE. WE LOVE YOU LADIES!



Today is sign-up day for our Siesta Summer Bible Study! We are on the edge of our seats waiting to get a good look at our class! I bet few of us have had a Bible study group quite like the one we’re about to engage through Blog-world. We love all our Siestas like crazy but today’s comments need to be limited only to those signing up for our summer course, No Other Gods by Kelly Minter. Thanks so much for understanding and keep in mind that we have no intention of hogging the blog all summer with the course. There will still be plenty of posts for everybody. OK, Summer Bible Study Siestas, here’s what you do:

*Give your first name (Real name or blogger name)

*Tell whether you are doing small group or going solo. If you’re engaging a small group, tell us in one sentence a little bit about it: approximately how many and what your connection is. (Neighbors? Work? Buddies? Church members? Ect.) Where you plan to meet on your Tuesdays. (Homes? Church? Starbucks?)

*Your city and state. (I especially can't wait to see this information, so please put this part of the profile on a line by itself.)

*If you’re going solo, indicate if you would you like to partner with someone else going solo in order to have some accountability and dialogue via email. You will indicate a "yes" by offering an email address for contact beside the word “solo.” We will let you guys get in contact with one another and work out your system but I think it has some great possibilities! Feel no pressure if you prefer to go it alone. You’ll still be participating here. Just don't add the email address. The only reason we’re especially recommending small group is because Kelly emphasizes the richness of meaningful, Godly relationships between women in the study. And, anyway, I think most of us are lonely.


*If several bloggers are already planning to be in small group together, sign up under one comment giving your “names” and how many (if any) are joining you. We want to be able to see how many small groups we have, so we need each entered only once.

I have a feeling everybody’s going to want to see our class roster, so the more succinct and reader friendly you make your entry, the better. Here’s mine:

Beth (AKA: Siesta Mama)

Small group: Approximately 8 of our Living Proof Ministry Staff members, comprised of varying ages and denominations and single/married status. We will meet here at the ministry and can’t wait!

Location: Houston, Texas

That's all there is to it! Our official launch is a week from today on June 17, 2008. You will need your workbooks by that day but no homework needs to be done in advance. By 8:00 AM CST on launch day, you will find brief instructions posted from me concerning discussion questions and/or directions for your gathering that day. If you end up partnering through email as I suggested earlier, you’ll assimilate the same instructions into your interaction on line. Your first week of homework won’t begin until after you meet for the launch on June 17th. We will then meet every other Tuesday until our August conclusion with a goal of having the coinciding two weeks of homework accomplished by each meeting time.

Every other week when I post your directions, you will hold your comments until AFTER your gathering that Tuesday. Some time after it is over, you will check back in with us (under that post) and let us know something about your small group meeting in a brief and readable paragraph. (For example, if there was some good discussion on one question or part of your homework, tell us briefly about it. The key will be to avoid writing long epistles because I’ve learned in Blog-world that many people are too pressed for time to read the really long comments and end up skipping over them. We don’t want anybody missing what you have to say!)

And about the weekly recipe suggestion! This is the part that can include all our Siestas whether or not you are participating in the study. Several days before our Tuesday meetings (including the launch), Melissa will submit a recipe for one dish. It may be an appetizer, a main dish, or a dessert. We don't want to overwhelm you with a huge menu. We think just one common dish would add such a fun element to our gatherings. Don't you think it would be such a blast to know we were all eating the same thing while we met? The common table. I love it! If you're not participating in the study, you still have a great recipe!

Siestas, I can hardly wait! One thing is for certain: we are about to have a unique Bible study experience. Let’s see what God will do!

I love you so much and I am deeply honored to be your servant. Now, let’s have us some Bible study!

Mosh Pit

Siestas!

Howdy from Hot-lanta, and when I say “Hotlanta”, I hope you are not sensing any trendy connotation, because I am simply alluding to the miserably hot weather we have had around here as of late. Wow. I didn’t think that a city could get hotter than Houston, but Atlanta is a tough competitor right now. Since newlyweds don’t have a bunch of extra money to spend on cranking up the air conditioning, I have been sleeping with my hair wet to keep me cooler at night! It almost works, y’all!

So, yesterday I got to experience something that I am sure I will not soon forget. Colin and I headed out to go and listen to a good friend of ours preach at the youth service at his church. He is the youth pastor there and since they have a sizable youth group, they have a completely separate worship service. They even have their own building. We walked in and saw a familiar sight- a dark room with bright lights and kids jumping up and down. They actually had formed a mosh pit of sorts in front of the worship band, which was itself composed of students in the youth group.

It was amazing what happened as I made my way to my seat. I began to shut down. Even though it was only seven or eight years ago that I would have easily found myself in their exact positions, I quickly became one of the dreaded frozen chosen. What a bizarre and devastating feeling. All of the sudden I was a spectator in this youth service rather than being a participant. I even began to critique all that I was surrounded by, surveying our younger generation’s heartbeat for Christ to discern whether it was authentic or not. I suppose the older we get, the more power we think we have to take our place in the judgment seat…I had to remind myself that I will never be old enough for that position, for that throne is reserved for none other than the Ancient of Days. In my shame, I thought to myself, “So this is how this happens…this is how one becomes one of the frozen and cynical chosen…and I’m only 25, I’m so doomed.”

Well, I am so glad that I went yesterday to this youth service because I left with conviction, encouragement, and exhortation. After my friend preached a solid sermon out of the book of Esther no less, he exhorted the students to seize the moment to pursue the purpose God had for each of them in such a time as this. He then asked several of the students to make their way to the front to give their testimonies about what God had been doing in their lives.

And then it happened…I was awestruck. A girl, clearly unacquainted with southern church jargon began to describe her recent experience with Jesus Christ. She described herself as feeling completely ecstatic, almost bubbling over with life. She was so overjoyed that she couldn’t even put it into words. She said, “I think about Him (Jesus Christ) all of the time…every second, I just can’t stop thinking about Him. And I am just so tired of being a person that I don’t want to be!”

There it was: trans-generational truth. You see, she was still trying to emotionally recover from the almost too phenomenal realization that Jesus Christ can really change the jacked up person she knows she is in her heart. And I pray that she never does recover from this divine reality. Too many of us do.

Worship styles and preferences change pretty quickly but our need remains the same. Our need for God and the hope that He instills in our hearts, it translates to every generation. I am so glad that students around the world are worshipping God, meeting together and exhorting one another and praising God together in their own contexts. I am so glad that they continue to follow hard after God in spite of frozen chosen adults like me who stand in the crowd with their arms folded, because I think they are doing exactly what Paul exhorted Timothy to do. They aren’t letting people like me look down on them because of their youthfulness, but rather in their speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, they are showing themselves to be examples (1 Tim. 4.12). I am even more thankful that these students have leaders like my friend Jamie who gives his life to point students upward to acknowledge the supremacy of Christ.

Praise God for a younger generation of students who are showing themselves to be worthy examples to some of us who allow our hearts to get a little bit too hard. I am so privileged to be associated with them in Christ. I, too, like my young new sister in Christ am so tired of being someone I don’t want to be. I am so glad that we know that the solution is in Christ. It is for this that she and I will continue to labor and strive, because we both have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men” (1 Tim. 4.10). Well, perhaps I’ll even join the mosh pit with her next time. Okay, so maybe I won’t bodily join the mosh pit, but I will be there in spirit!

Cheers to the only Wise God, the Lord Jesus Christ who gives us hope, and the Holy Spirit who empowers us!

Airmail from Atlanta

OK, Y'all. I'm not even kidding. A half hour ago I opened a box Melissa overnighted to me filled with home-made goodies. I'm not talking chocolate chip cookies here (but I do like those). I'm talking - are you ready for this? - Russian Tea Cakes, Seasoned Parmesan Cheese Sticks (FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!), and this thing she called an "Apple Crostata." (Different than that apple tart on her last blog. Did it come from one of your recipes or is she outsmarting us again??) Y'all, as I live and breathe, I have never had a more pleasant taste in my mouth - delicate, crusty, buttery, apple-y - than that darn thing. I stuck it the the oven per her instructions for 15 minutes to reheat it and it came out looking like a French chef's masterpiece. I took it downstairs to the staff (she sent it to work so it wouldn't sit all day on the front porch at home) and my LPM sisters and I lost our minds, it was so good. It honestly melted in our mouths with flavors so delicate you had to stand up to eat it. I could taste the slightest hint of orange in it. Don't know what that was. Orange I guess. (Laughing at my own self.) The Apple Crostata doesn't throw a party in your mouth like a kickin' salsa. It offered more of an afternoon tea with Princess Diana, God rest her soul. This is a dessert for the unhurried. For those with a discerning pallet. And mine discerned all right. Mine discerned, "DANG, CHILD! THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VE EVER PUT IN MY MOUTH!"

(I just grabbed the dictionary to see if I spelled the right "pallet" that meant taste buds instead of a thing you take to mother's day out for your three year old. I didn't spell the right one but I can't find the right spelling to save my life. I found a word "pallette" but it means an armpit plate from a suit of armor. I sure am glad I didn't use that word because this post has nothing to do with armpits but it does have to do with plates and with food so good you could work up a sweat. I guess, then, you could use a discerning pallette to keep it covered. Hey, did you know that Paraclete is in the Webster's Dictionary? I just found it. WOW! Way to Go, Merriam!)

OK. That's all I wrote to say. I don't have time for blogging today. But sometimes matters of highest urgency arise and you just have to stop and post.

I hope if any of you Siestas are having a crumby day, it's coming from a home made Apple Crostata. I've gotta go wash my hands now. They're sticking to the keys. Apple. With a hint of orange.

PS. I'm going to wait just a tad longer to have Melissa deprogrammed from the cooking cult. She's still studying Scripture between oven buzzers best I can tell.

Deepening a Father’s Heart: A 25 Day Journal for Men

Siestas! We are so blessed to announce the availability of this brand new 25-day devotional journal for dads, written by our own Curtis Jones. We were delighted when God began to give him this vision and knew that the timing was perfect for Father’s Day. You’ve asked us a thousand times for something for men. Well, here you go! Our first offering! May God be praised! Each entry consists of a daily Scripture and devotional reading, suggested passages for further reading, application questions, and space for journaling prayers.

This devotional journal is our special offer for June and July with a donation of any amount. We want anyone who wants one to have one. If you are interested in grabbing hold of Deepening a Father’s Heart for a man in your life, follow this link.

We love you and desire to serve you faithfully! May God use every effort from this ministry to, in some way, glorify His Name and edify His people. It is our driving passion to see God’s people in God’s Word. We love you, Siestas!

Summer Vacation!

Popsicles: sometimes they aren't worth it.



(He's showing us that it's dripping.)







Our first non-work-related, just-the-three-of-us, family vacation with Jackson: totally worth it.

Curtis, Jackson and I just got home last night from our weekend vacation to none other than San Antonio, Texas. I thought of all my siestas while we were there. I can't wait until we converge on that beautiful city in a couple of months!

We stayed at the wonderful Hyatt Hill Country Resort from Thursday night through Sunday. I'd found a great deal on rates for a stay before June 1. What an amazing place! It was really unique to be at a nice, beautiful resort that totally catered to families. I'd heard that it was a great place for kids and it definitely was. We spent most of our time in the pool and lazy river. In the evenings they do s'mores over a fire and show a movie on a big screen over a beautiful lawn. They even had pony rides! This is not where you'd want to stay for the Siesta Fiesta due to its location, but if you are ever in town with your families, definitely consider it.

On Friday we stayed at the hotel and enjoyed everything there. For Mother's Day, Curt and Jackson gave me a gift certificate to have a massage at the hotel's spa and I got to enjoy it that day. It was wonderful! The spa building looked like an old ranch house attached to a red barn. Check it out:



On Saturday we got up early and headed to Sea World, which was only a mile or two away from the hotel. We watched the Shamu show first thing and I won't lie - I totally teared up. What kind of God do we have that would make such incredible creatures? And that He would give man the ability to have some sort of relationship with them? Our God is awesome! Sea World also has a water park and we took advantage of it in the afternoon when the sun started beating down on us. Jackson, our little water bug, had the time of his life.

We checked out of our hotel on Sunday and drove to Gruene, Texas, to have lunch at the Grist Mill. It is not to be missed. After that, we stopped briefly at the San Marcos Prime Outlet Mall where they have a Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Restoration Hardware, Crate and Barrel, and a ton of other great stores. (I think we were about an hour away from San Antonio.) I didn't need one thing, but it was fun to look! We grabbed some ice cream cones from Baskin Robbins, taking great care not to repeat the Popsicle Incident of '08, and started the trek home.

You may notice that I don't have any pictures of us at the pool or at Sea World. As usual, I didn't want to take a chance on getting my camera wet. So just imagine the three of us drenched from head to toe, smiling big, having pruny hands and feet, and looking slightly more tan than before. Welcome, summer!

Why Do You Worry?

Hey, Darling Siestas!

It's 4:00 or so on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Keith has gone to play a round of golf with his buddy, Roger Parker, and Beanie and I are sitting out on the back porch. It's hot but beautiful and I have a ceiling fan on the porch wearing itself out on my humble behalf. I'm having a cup of coffee and Beanie's trying to have a squirrel. She's had the hardest time since Sunny died. She'd been really lethargic before she and Keith left town for a few days but when she got back and still no Sunny, she decided to wage a hunger strike. It's not like she doesn't know where Sunny is because Keith purposely let her see that he was burying her. The sweet girl's just never been alone before. Curtis and Amanda let us borrow Beckham (the Golden Retriever version of Clifford the Big Red Dog) last weekend and that helped. Maybe they'll let him spend some time over here again this week. Until then, we're throwing out a few handfuls of dried corn to attract squirrels in the yard to fire up some enthusiasm in our depressed birddog. And it's working. She wants squirrel meat for supper in the worst way. Keith might be a redneck with a spade in the Bluebell but he's not liable deep fry a squirrel and stir up some brown gravy in the skillet with it. We're just giving Beanie something to dream about.

This morning in my quiet time before church, I read something that spoke to me and I thought I'd share it with you. Pastor Gregg has our whole congregation go through the same devotional book every year and this year he chose the classic "Streams in the Desert." (L.B. Cowman) Like many of you, I've done it before but not in five or so years and it's well worth doing again and again. You can tell from the title that it's geared particularly to people going through very difficult trials and sufferings. If that's you right now (and I'm so sorry if it is and love you so much), you really ought to look into getting ahold of a copy. Restoration after a deep hurt or loss can take longer than our flesh and blood encouragers can stand sometimes. They can wear out in the length and breadth of our need and, to be honest, rightly so. They were never meant to be saviors for us. A book like this can be used of God to encourage you through a painful time every single day for a solid year. And, oh, what a difference a year makes!

The lead verse for this morning's entry was Isaiah 28:12. Of God the prophet Isaiah wrote, "He said, 'This is a resting place, let the weary rest'; and, 'This is a place of repose' - but they would not listen." Here's a little of what followed (originally written by Charles Spurgeon):

"Why do you worry? What possible use does your worrying serve? You are aboard such a large ship that you would be unable to steer even if your Captain placed you at the helm. You would not even be able to adjust the sails, yet you worry as if you were the captain or the helmsman of the vessel. Be quiet, dear soul - God is the Master! Do you think all the commotion and the uproar of this life is evidence that God has left His throne? He has not! His mighty steeds rush furiously ahead, and His chariots are the storms themselves. (Pause, Siestas, and hear the sound of those mighty steeds in your spirit. Feel their hoof-beats pound in your chest. He's on His mighty way!) But the horses have bridles, and it is God who holds the reins, guiding the chariots as He wills! Our God Jehovah is still the Master! Believe this and you will have peace. 'Don't be afraid' (Matt. 14:27)."

My favorite line: "You are aboard such a large ship that you would be unable to steer even if your Captain placed you at the helm." So, we might as well stop trying. Anyway, with the best intentions we'd steer that Titanic smack into the next iceberg with all our loved ones on board. You don't let your two-year old steer the car no matter how she might kick and scream from the backseat. God's too wise to let our control issues work out for us. If we keep insisting, He might let us give it a hand for a while but, sooner or later, we'll hit the iceberg. And the iceberg is He.

Regardless of how convinced we are, God has not placed us in control of our environments nor are we responsible for how everyone is behaving or how things will turn out. He is still God and, yes, even over "this," whatever your "this" may be. His, Beloved Siestas, is a LARGE SHIP. Something much bigger than we can picture is going on from a God's-eye view. Our trials are allowed so that Christ may be formed in us and then, through us, serve that greater purpose. Worry always and only forms thicker flesh in us and weights us down until we cannot walk where the Spirit would take us.

I've come to learn from God that worry is a waving red flag to the enemy. It is a dead giveaway that the person owning it does not trust God. The shield of faith is down. So fire when ready. Every time we're tempted to take it all on and worry something to death, let's say aloud from the depths of our souls, "I choose to trust You, Lord. I choose trust. I choose You."

Be quiet, Dear Soul! God is the Master! Don't be afraid.

With dearest love,
beth

PS. Melissa just called me and said, "Mom, be sure and tell the Siestas how proud we are of the ones who tried making the tarts!" So, because I love her and love you, here's a huge "hats off!" to each of you and especially to Katie and His Treasured Possession for posting links to their pictures! I'm floored at this multi-talented group! And hungry. I think I'll get off here and go check the fridg for a can of whipped cream.