Easter thanks...

When you have a cloudless Easter weekend,

 it's easy to give thanks.

When the only two year old church, planted by my son-in-law and daughter out of our church, 

hosts an Easter event for southeast Portland that draws over 3000 people, 

it's easy to give thanks.

When churches are full and people receive Christ as Savior, 

it's easy to give thanks.

When family and friends gather for Easter dinner and the house is full to overflowing and there's more than enough food, 

it's easy to give thanks.

When the meal is over, the company all leaves and the dishes are all washed and put away, 

it's easy to give thanks.

Some days, weeks, months, years,

 the gratitude has to come from a place much deeper than my circumstances.

But right now, on this Easter Sunday evening, 

the thanksgiving flows easily.

*************

In 2012 I followed the prompts in Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare in counting my thanks.

In 2013 I'm going back to the way I did it in the beginning,
just noticing and recording the many extraordinary blessings in my ordinary life.

And so I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of them via my camera or iPhone)

#2949-#2973

3-25-13-

-the Hubs getting a problem with his driver's license renewal not coming in the mail all ironed out

-muscle spasms in lower back getting better

-our electric bill went down!

3-26-13-

-our firstborn daughter-it's her birthday!

-back much better!

-thank You, Jesus, that you drank the cup of God's wrath for me

3-27-13

-Jesus blood that washes away my sin

-lunch with my friend

-running again after not being able to due to back pain

-watching the movie Lincoln with the Hubs

3-28-13

-thank You God for Your steadfast love, grace, mercy and strength when I am weak

-thank You for Your provision for us

-thank You for more people joining us for prayer and worship

3-29-13

-sunlight

-the river

-Good Friday, thank You that You died that I might live

3-30-13

-Code Orange Easter a HUGE success

-gorgeous, cloudless, warm day

-making preparations for Easter Sunday

3-31-13-

-Jesus is alive and making intercession for me right now!

-lots of people touched by Code Orange Easter showing up for church

-a full house of family and friends for Easter dinner

-help with the dishes afterwards

-a nice evening run 

-a relaxing evening after a busy weekend

Gratefully yours,

John 11:25...

Blessed Easter to all of you!

I'm so thankful that because Jesus died and rose again, 

we have the promise of eternal life if we believe in Him and receive Him as our Savior and Lord.

Still following,

Friday's Favs...."You Are My Sunshine" sign

Months ago I found what appears to be two small pallets out by the curb

 at one of the neighbor's on trash day.

I just had to rescue them, knowing that one day inspiration would strike and I would make something from them.

Last week that day finally came!

Here's how I did it:

First of all, when I first brought the pallets home, I gave them a good scrub with a scrub brush and bleach water.

 Not knowing what they were used for in their former life, I wanted to make sure they were clean!

When the day came for me to make the signs,

I printed out the words one line at a time in the font and size that would work on the strips of wood.

I rubbed the back of the paper with white chalk and used tacks to position the strip of paper to the pallet.

 (If the wood wasn't already old and distressed I would use painter's tape to protect the finish.)

Using a ball point pin I firmly traced around the words, leaving a faint chalk line for me to follow.

Using a small, fairly stiff paint brush I filled in the words with craft paint.

I did all of the words I wanted in white first, chalking in, then painting one line at a time.

Then I painted the other colors, one color at a time.

When the paint was dry I rubbed on some paste wax to protect the lettering, gave it a good buff when the wax was dry, and that's all there was to it!

I'm lovin' how it turned out!

The spare room/guest room is also the grandkid's room when they come over,

so this will go over the antique iron bed in there.

I hope to get some great shots of the grandkids put onto canvas to surround it.

Well, it's almost Friday, friends.

Have a BLESSED Good Friday 

and

a BLESSED Easter!

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

              

                                            

Also linking to Jennifer Rizzo's Fabulously Creative Friday

Thank You for the cross...

It was almost summer-like weather on that Saturday two weeks ago.

I hurried through my usual Saturday house cleaning in order to get out and enjoy the sun.

When the weather permits, I love to grab the leather bag that holds my Bible and journal and find someplace outdoors to have my devotions.

On this particular day, I had the oddest feeling of urgency that I was to go to The Grotto here in Portland.

I'm not a Catholic.

 In fact, our church building, which is located in a former office building, doesn't even have a cross in it.

We preach the cross, sing about the cross, but there are not statutes or icons or crucifixes in our place of worship.

Yet, the cross had been, is, much on my mind of late.

I just finished leading a Bible study, Kinsman Redeemer.

The study takes you through everything the Bible says about the qualifications and requirements of a Kinsman Redeemer and then shows how Jesus is our ultimate Kinsman Redeemer.

He was able to perform the duty.

He was willing to do it.

It was the word willing that buried deep into my heart as I studied.

The fact that He chose to become my Kinsman Redeemer,

that He willing laid down His life,

that no one took His life,

 but He willingly gave His life for me,

took root in my mind and heart in a new way.

As I wandered my way through the Stations of the Cross on that sunshine-y Saturday morning,

in my spirit bubbled up these words...

ONCE AGAIN-lyrics by Matt Redman

Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice

You became nothing, poured out to death

Many times, I've wondered at your gift of life

I'm in that place once again

I'm in that place once again

CHORUS-

And once again I look upon the cross where you died

I'm humbled by your mercy and I'm broken inside

Once again I thank you 

Once again I pour out my life

Now you are, exalted to the highest place

King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow

But for now, I marvel at this saving grace

I'm full of praise once again

I'm full of praise once again

CHORUS-

And once again I look upon the cross where you died

I'm humbled by your mercy and I'm broken inside

Once again I thank you 

Once again I pour out my life

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross, my friend

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross, my friend

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross, my friend

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross, my friend

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross, my friend

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross, my friend

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the cross, my friend

Still following,

Tropical Delight Cupcakes...

With the Hubs watching his sugar intake, 

I don't bake too often unless I have a good reason to bake. 

I enjoy baking so a reason to do so makes me happy!

We had a dinner after church last Sunday and I was supposed to bring a dessert.

Cupcakes are great for a group dessert.

No having to cut and serve anything!

Now to decide what kind of cupcakes to make...

once again I had some overripe bananas,

but I already made banana cupcakes recently and shared them at our Bible study.

What about banana AND pineapple AND coconut?

A tropical cupcake!

Sounds yummy, huh?

Yes, they were yummy!

Here's how I made them...

Using your mixer mix the following until well combined:

3 eggs, beaten

4 medium bananas, well mashed

1 8oz. can crushed pineapple,  do not drain

1/2 cup canola oil

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups sugar, (I may try 1 1/2 cups next time)

Add 1/2 cup shredded coconut and combine.

Whisk or sift together dry ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat on low until combined.

Fill cupcake wrappers in muffin pan 3/4 full.

Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven approximately 20 minutes, or until clean toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean.

Makes 24 cupcakes.

When completely cool frost with cream cheese frosting.

In mixer, cream together 8 oz. of room temperature cream cheese and 1/2 cup, (one cube), of room temperature butter. 

Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and combine. 

 Add  1 lb. powdered sugar about one cup at a time.

 If too thick thin down with a wee bit of milk or pineapple juice. 

 If too thin add a bit more powdered sugar.

Frost cupcakes.

Top with a sprinkle of toasted coconut.

(To toast coconut, spread out in thin layer on parchment paper covered cookie sheet.  Place in 350 degree oven and toast til golden brown.  Be sure to keep an eye on it to prevent scorching.)

Enjoy!

Still following,