Sunday Meditation--Comfort Food

Comfort foods are simple in their ingredients, in their preparation, and in their presentations. Comfort foods primarily feed our hearts and souls, rather than our bodies. Common foods such as mac and cheese, a spoonful of real mashed potatoes, a dish of chocolate bread pudding or a bowl of soup with a thick slice of bread are comfort foods. These beckon us to sit down and to feast, to eat until we are satisfied.

God has comfort food for us. God invites us to His banquet "For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:9 

"Comfort, whether human or divine, is pure and simple comfort." Hannah Whitall Smith in The God of All Comfort

Never be afraid
to trust an unknown future to a known God.
~ Corrie Ten Boom

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Sacred Acres

On a Sunday in May 2008, an F-5 tornado struck the town of Parkersburg, Iowa, killing eight people and destroying 250 homes and businesses within 34 seconds. The next day, Parkersburg’s beloved football coach, Ed Thomas, made a stunning prediction: “God willing, we will play our first home game here on this field this season.” One hundred days later, the home team scored a victory on the field they dubbed “The Sacred Acre,” serving as a galvanizing point for the town to band together and rebuild. But just as Parkersburg was recovering, another devastating tragedy struck. While working with a group of football and volleyball players early one morning, one of Ed’s former students walked in and gunned him down point blank. Ed Thomas was 58. The murder of this hometown hero spread across national news headlines. Ed’s community and family reeled from shock. Yet the story doesn’t end here. What happened next proves that even a double tragedy is no match for faith, love … and the power of forgiveness.
Even if you had never heard of all the tragedy that was faced in this town, it will tug at your heart. It makes you feel some of what we all really feel going through bad times. Having so much faith and passing it on without people even realizing it gave Coach and his family the ability to be such strong leaders of the community. A great lesson is within these pages along with a story of a teacher and football coach who was content to live in a small town and lead young people into adulthood with good work ethics and the thought that you always remember where you came from. A must read for all ages.

Highlights on Friday

Highlights of my Week

Monsoon storms this week

Roses, Chocolates and a teddy bear from my sweet man

Never too old for a cute teddy bear

Each week, Hilary listi four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, please email them to her at Hilary@feelingbeachie.com. If she uses them, she will add you as co-host to the hop!

This week’s statements:
1) _Saturday afternoons___ are the _hardest___ times to _have to run errands___
2) No matter how hard I try I still can’t __lose these last 20 pounds___
3) When I was young I thought turning 30 meant _the end was near___ but now I know it means_life has hardly begun__
4) I love to cook _grilled fish and vegetables___ for dinner. When I am in a hurry my go to meal is _a snack bar.

__

No Reason But Love

I think that there is no better gift than one that is given just for love--not because it is a birthday or anniversary--but just for the expression of love.  It is easy to give a gift because it is expected--a flower for Valentines Day or a get well balloon when you are ill. For me those that are true expressions of the heart are ones given on an ordinary day.  Suddenly that ordinary day becomes a special day, one that will be remembered always. I am so blessed to have someone who makes everyday special.

Do you show love and appreciation at unexpected times?  The joy it brings will overwhelm you.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's the best thing about growing older?
The wisdom that I have obtained along the way.

2. When did you first feel like a grown up?
When I was 13.  I had to leave home and work as a nanny in order to go to high school

3. Chocolate cake with white icing or white cake with chocolate icing?
White cake with chocolate icing. If that's not available a good carrot cake with cream cheese icing would do.

4. What's the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
Changed a flat tire when I was stranded in a sketchy area.

5.  What's something you learned from your grandparents? 
To be frugal

6. Wednesday marks a sad day in the history of planet earth-9/11...what's something you do (or can do) to bring peace to your little corner of the world?
Pray for those around me, and show kindness to others

7.  Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song containing the word peace.  
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Time goes by so quickly and how quick we forget the lessons of the past.  Twelve years ago we were united in spirit.  I pray that we will return to that condition.