What can I ask for?

What am I allowed to ask for?

When I was young, I learned REAL QUICKLY what to ask for and what NOT to ask for. I do not like confrontation, never have... so it there is an option that is "less stressful" or "less contrary", I would take it! And still do...

But, is this always the best route?

I know, sometimes you gotta speak up for yourself, right? Other times, I think I let myself become like a wimp.... or do I?

Jesus, the King of Kings, when confronted with a cruel, judgmental attitude, just stayed calm and only defended himself in a quiet, meek manner! He KNEW who he was! He was confident and secure in himself. [Reference: Isaiah 53:7, Acts 8:32]

Is that why we are not strong at times.... because we are not confident in ourselves? We are wishy-washy or indecisive because we don't know our own mind?

Ought Oh! We are getting on deep territory now!

Jesus speaks so clearly about asking and receiving-

Matthew 7:7-11 (King James Version)

⁷Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

⁸For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

⁹Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

¹⁰Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

¹¹If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

That is God's words... tried, true, tested... bankable!

It's not a myth that we have conjured up... it is fact... TRUTH.

BUT, this is what scares me... in the WORD I can find this...

Luke 18:7-9 (King James Version)

⁷And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

⁸I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

It all boils down to the confidence you have in Christ.

Psalm 118:8-9 (King James Version)

⁸It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

⁹It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

1 John 3:19-21 (King James Version)

¹⁹And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

²⁰For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

²¹Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

I used to agonize over 'upsetting God' by asking him things.... then I realized HE AGONIZED TOO! Even though Jesus KNEW the ultimate plan was for him to die on Calvary, he STILL AGONIZED and questioned God all throughout the night...

HE knows ME! HE loves me, HE hears my prayers and petitions... they come from my "needy" heart...

And HE loves to hear from me! My heavenly father is waiting for my call, my request, my plea!

May I not belittle him by ignoring his gentle knocking on my heart's door. HE wants entry.... he is waiting... don't keep him waiting for too long!

Revelation 3:19-21 (King James Version)

¹⁹As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

²⁰Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

²¹To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

So, what can I ask for? No limits! ... to your heart's content! Go ahead... see what your heavenly father pours out! Need love? Need a job? Need healing? Need uplifting?

You can go BOLDLY before the throne of grace...

Hebrews 4:15-16 (King James Version)

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

No problem... he's got it all ... right there in his hands!

I'm using these scriptures to encourage myself and MOST OF ALL...

Remind myself how big my heavenly father is and just WHO HE IS! WOW!

I smell the bread...

I LOVE the smell of bread in the oven...do you?

At work (here at the county senior center!), I get to smell homemade bread baking at least twice a week. YUM, YUM... makes me hungry just getting a "whiff". Sometimes, I sneak down and get a "hot one" right after it comes out of the oven! No fair, I know! My cook, Ellen, can do white or wheat and they are delectable!

OK, now to my own blog... today I am going to show you some of the "fruits of my labors". My hubby LOVES banana bread, so lately, I have been picking up RIPE BANANAS at the grocery store (You can get them cheap you know?) and making him some. Over the weeks, I have 'experimented' with different combinations...

Like, adding raisins, some cinnamon, even zucchini...YES, we have decided that the Banana/zucchini combination is our FAVORITE!



So, I will get the "old" recipe (that I dug out from a quaint recipe book done by the Summers family!) and share it with you...of course it is "altered" to include the zucchini that we all agree increases the flavor!


So, here it is (in my own words, just in case you cannot read the picture above!):

Get you a loaf pan, a cupcake pan (that makes 12) or some small loaf pans (I have three that equal one loaf pan ~ so cute!).

Spray them down with non-stick spray (or the old-fashioned way my Ma taught me ~ wipe the butter in there and cover/shake in the flour...works just as well!).

Add 1 cup sugar (or split 1/2 honey or 1/2 brown sugar for some interesting tastes! Hey, it's YOUR recipe, you "doctor it up"! 2 eggs, 1/3 cup butter, 1 2/3 flour (I use self-rising so I don't have to buy all those OTHER ingredients), chopped nuts (as much as you would like!), 2 or 3 ripe (mashed) bananas and at least 2 small (or one big) zucchini (now, I peel the zuchinni, but you do not have to, just shred it!).

Mix all these ingredients together (throw in any other spices you dare! I love to add some Cinnamon!) and bake on 350.

Now, the loaf pan takes at least an hour to bake...but the cupcakes and little loaf pans will be done within 20-25 minutes...watch them! If your oven bakes fast, you better be a watchin'! Burnt bread is not the desired outcome!

So, when I take these tasty morsels out of the oven, I load the butter on top and smear butter on them and eat them HOT! My, my.... nothing like it, fo sho!

Hope you bake you up a nice, tasty batch of banana bread, or other homemade treat! You and your family will enjoy immensely!

Tell me what ingredients you/your family like....I've had some say they like the raisins, others said theirs enjoy chocolate chip cookie chips)....let me know, I'm all about whipping up another batch just to try! :)

God's Hands

Yesterday a dear friend (thanks DS!) sent me this message and picture. I posted the picture on Facebook... many responded to the "beautiful message" that it portrayed.

This pictures speaks to me in so many ways. I feel loved, forgiven, cherished and cared for when I see the wonderful hands of God reaching for me..... What safety!

Songs also come to mind:

(BJ Thomas sang this on YEARS ago...)

He's got it all in control
He's got it all in control
He put back reassurance, way down in my soul
He's got it all in control

I've put my life in his hands
I've put my life in his hands
And every road I walk now, I'm sure is in his plan
I've put my life in his hands

(Or the one Sandy Patty sang (also YEARS ago!))

In his hands, there's only safety
Nothing there can touch you, except him
Bring your burdens and all your failures
Lay them down and rest here, in his hands

Here is the history sent to me concerning the picture-

Cara Winship sent this out, it is called: 'God's hands'.

I took this picture on Hwy 30, traveling to London , KY. It has given me strength in the times of trouble. I feel I should share it with the rest of the world. I hope it is an inspiration to you. It just goes to show what we already know....We have a God and he's watching over us.

I e-mailed this picture to News Channel 36. I was contacted by Meteorologist John James. He said that this picture of the sky is showing up, in all states, around the world. He wanted to know where I was from and where I took it. He saw a similar picture taken in Texas . He said this is amazing to him.

Would you look at this picture? It reminds me of that song 'He's got the whole word in his hands'. He is definitely in control. I needed this today more than ever. Enjoy and pass it along!