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A Prayer for WRW Month

WRW Month

Father and Creator of All,

We approach You through the name of Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and thank You for entrusting us with and enabling us for another month of life. We long to say on March first that February was used for Your glory. With that goal and desire in our hearts, may we plan our days and live them in a way that demonstrates our desire for Your will to be done. We cannot accomplish this apart from You. We claim Your grace for every hour of every day.

~  ~  ~

May those who walk and/or exercise be strengthened by the activity. Grant them quiet hearts in the midst of their exercise. Focus their thoughts heavenward in the moments during their time of movement. May each of us exercise and develop our spiritual muscles as well as our physical ones.

~ ~ ~

For those who intentionally read more pages than normal through the efforts of this month, please fill their minds with knowledge, enjoyment, and refreshing words. May each word that is read —whether secular or sacred, truth or fiction— cause the reader to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and in particular, those things which are excellent and praiseworthy.

~ ~ ~

Holy God, the words of those who make the effort to write e-mails, notes, cards, and/or letters to others are words that can be read over and over again. Therefore, Lord, may they be words that encourage, edify, and lift the hearts and spirits of the recipients. May the thoughts from one heart travel by technological means or by the mail system into the heart of another to bring joy, comfort, love, forgiveness, kindness, or whatever is needed at that moment to reflect Your love.

~ ~ ~

In every activity that is done, may we find joy. And in our joy, may we give You praise. Thank You for knowing the heart behind the words of this written prayer, Precious Lord. This month, as all others, belongs to You. To You alone be the glory.  ~Brenda

____________________________

Please feel free to leave a brief comment of encouragement

for others who are participating in WRW Month.

 

By Petals from the Basket | February 1, 2013 | Bible Reading, Books, Contests, Events, Ideas |

February = WRW Month!

I firmly believe that there’s a reason God had calendar makers select February as the shortest month: it lasts forever! My dad and my b-i-l were both born in February, Valentine’s Day is in February, and I’m sure there are a few other great things about the month…I just can’t think of any! I like the winter months to last for about three days each, so maybe that’s the biggest part of it for me. By February, I’m ready for Spring!

Several years ago, I did a “Letter-Writing Month” in February, and many of my friends joined in the on the fun. The next year, I changed it up a bit, added some awesome prizes, called it “WRW Month,” and liked it even more. So, I am excited to announce the return of “WRW Month” during February of 2013! (Contest runs from 12:01 a.m., February 1, 2013 through 11:59 p.m., February 28, 2013.)

No matter what your hobbies, likes, or abilities, you can participate. There’s something for everyone! And the prizes are pretty awesome! (I get donations and gift cards from large stores or online companies, and I personally think they’re very worth it!) So, here’s how the new and improved version works:

W = Walk.

You get one (1) point for every minute that you walk and/or for every minute that you exercise! Walk or exercise five days in one week (week=Sunday through Saturday), and get a bonus 25 points! [Just as a motivator, I’ll tell you that my parents won this segment the first year—they are machines!]

R = Read.

You get five (5) points for every page that you read! (Obviously, page sizes vary, so I just call a page a page—please just be fair and don’t count “See Spot Run” books or photo albums in your reporting! ha ha!) Once you finish an entire book, you will get a bonus 50 points!

W = Write letters.

You get 10 (ten) points for every personal e-mail (no business content or no business reasons for writing) that you send. In addition, you can earn 25 points for every card or letter you send in the mail. I made these worth more points because you have to spend money to do this. However, I want you to think of how great it is to get a personalized card or letter in the mail! Besides, where else can you hand someone four dimes, a nickel, and a penny and ask them to take something to another state and deliver it right to your friend’s front door for you? (Remember that the rates just went up.)

NOTE: You can combine all three areas for lots of points!

It’s that simple.

Here’s how the “reporting” works:

You can send me your points via the following: email me, leave a comment on the blog posting for that day, post on the Petals from the Basket Facebook wall, or send a private Facebook message. I’ll keep an Excel spreadsheet with a running total! Participants’ full names are not posted unless you give me permission to do so. (First names and last initial might be used to give weekly updates unless you deny permission to do so.) You can send your points daily or weekly—just send them!

Oh wait—I forgot three exciting additions this year:

100 points: Subscribe to Petals from the Basket and/or “Like” the Petals from the Basket Page on Facebook, and you will receive a free 100 points! (Everyone has the option of one or the other!) For those who already fit into this category, I will automatically add in your points when you let me know which one you do (I don’t recognize everyone’s e-mail addresses)—you do not need to “re-subscribe” to the e-mails or “re-Like” the Facebook Page.

Twitter points:

10 points: For every day that you post one (1) tweet using the hashtag: #WarmWords

25 points: For every day that you post one (1) tweet using the hashtag: #PetalsfromtheBasket

UPDATE: If you do not have access to Twitter, you may receive 35 points for every day that you post a comment on that day’s blog post. You may not receive both Twitter and comment points on any given day!

Bonus days: I have pre-selected three “bonus days” throughout the month. On those days, I will post a one-day-only bonus option. The bonus points for these activities will be 100, 300, and 500 points! Stay tuned!

Please join in. Check back daily for fun ideas, quotations, verses, and thoughts about the three contest areas!

Start sending in those totals tomorrow!

By Petals from the Basket | January 31, 2013 | Books, Contests, Events, Family, Friends, Ideas, Organization |

Give that Girl a “Comfort Snack”

It’s 11:30 on Tuesday night, and I’m here to tell you, it’s been a doozie of a day!

It’s rare that this happens, but I woke up dreading the day. My hair didn’t turn out and just sort of hung there making me look old(er). Then I spilled drool-y toothpaste down the front of my awesome pink oxford shirt, so I quickly threw on a faded zippered top and ran out the door to Bible study this morning. I loved the session, but then I  just sort of sat there like a lump of “whatever,” wishing I could go slump into a chair somewhere. And did I mention that it’s been super warm and pouring down rain off and on since last night? Oh…and it’s supposed to snow three to six inches by tomorrow night! What? WHAT???

Mark this date on your calendars, friends, because this rose-colored-glasses-wearin’ Pollyanna had a poopy day! (That’s what you get for reading the blog of a woman who promised from the outset to be transparent with you!)

So, what does one do when one would like to crawl back into bed until Spring really does arrive? She thinks about her mama’s awesome granola, drives to the store to get the ingredients, and then comes home and makes a batch. At this point, she finds comfort in the memories evoked by the smells and tastes of the freshly-made delight, so she shares the recipe on her blog! All is well once again!

I first shared this recipe on a blog that I had in 2008, so it might be a repeat for some. But it’s soooooooooooooo good I had to share it again!

GRANOLA
From the kitchen of: Lorraine Strohbehn

Combine in large bowl:
5 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
1 cup sunflower seeds [I used raw to avoid the extra salt!]
1 cup powdered milk [And yes, I used fat-free]
1 cup wheat germ
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup raw peanuts
1 cup chopped walnuts or sliced almonds
1 cup brown sesame seeds

Mix in a separate bowl:
1 cup vegetable or canola oil [or “EVOO”]
1 cup honey

Add liquid ingredients to dry and mix well.

Spread evenly on two (2) cookie sheets. Bake at 250 degrees for 30–35 minutes or until slightly brown. Stir every ten minutes and re-spread in pan—so it browns evenly. [It keeps “cooking” once you take it out of the oven, so don’t let it get too dark. The raw nuts will still taste raw at this point, and you’ll think you need to cook it longer—but don’t! It actually only looks “almost done” when it’s really done!]

Once you let it cool for another ten minutes, you may wish to stir in one (1) cup of raisins [i.e., Don’t cook them.]

Can be refrigerated or stored in an airtight container. Makes four quarts.

________________________

Thanks for reading “Give that Girl a ‘Comfort Snack.'”

What’s your favorite “comfort food” for long Winter days?

By Petals from the Basket | January 30, 2013 | Family, Life Changes |

A Brand New Must-Read Novel!

It is a huge privilege to introduce you to

a brand new novel

that is being released today!

 Tenth Plague

I had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book, and all I can say is that this novel grabbed me right from the first chapter! I started reading it after work on a Friday, and I didn’t put it down until I completed the final word—early the next morning! I’m a pretty picky reader, so it says a lot when I can wholeheartedly recommend it!

Adam Blumer’s unique ability to take a “normal family” and skillfully weave their journey through an intensely suspenseful set of circumstances made the book all the more exciting. I couldn’t go to sleep without knowing the ending. It did not disappoint! I can’t wait to hear what you think of it! This is meaningful suspense at it’s best! 

 

 

The Tenth Plague is a MUST-read novel! 

This will give you a look inside the cover before you purchase your copy:

Gaining custody of their adopted baby boy, Gillian and Marc Thayer head to a north woods retreat and conference center for some much-needed R & R. But protesters with placards and a PA system shatter the otherwise-peaceful surroundings. A Bible translation committee is holding its regional meeting, and the mob is protesting the committee’s efforts to create a controversial parallel Bible. While the protestors call down God’s wrath, an apparent plague of blood strikes the facility. Is God displeased with the committee? Or are the protestors somehow to blame?

When a committee member turns up dead, Marc and Gillian put their vacation on hold, enlist the help of retired homicide detective Chuck Riley, and take a closer look at the bizarre plagues as they escalate in intensity. Meanwhile, a stranger is after the Thayers’ baby. Will they uncover the truth behind the bitter agenda before the final plague, the death of the firstborn son?

Click on the photo of the book cover or any of the links in this post

to purchase your copy from Amazon.com!

TheTenth Plague

Adam Blumer’s first novel, Fatal Illusions, (introducing us to the Thayer family)

is also available on Amazon.com.

Don’t have a Kindle? No problem! Just click here for options!

Tenth Plague

 
 Required Disclosure: I am compensated by Internet shopping sites
for all purchases made through the affiliate links on this blog.
Tenth Plague
By Petals from the Basket | January 29, 2013 | Books, Events, Ideas |

My “Universal Comparative”

“God is Greater.” Though I’ve also used it in the past, that statement is my “motto” for the year. It’s not even the end of January yet, and I’m seeing it lived out on a daily basis! Yes, it is true that God is the greatest, but there is something poignant in the fact that He is also greater!

If I were editing a book or a document and if I were to see the statement that something is merely “greater,” I would leave the comment: “In order to use this comparative, you must state what it is greater than.” In other words, a writer or speaker should not just state: “That store is better.” He or she would need to say: “That store is better than the department store across the street.”

However, “God is greater” needs no item of comparison, because He is greater than everything! He is greater than any other object of my affection. He is greater than any problem or trial I may face. He is even greater than that which is deemed the greatest on earth! To use today’s “halting punctuation” for emphasis: God. Is. Greater. Therefore, I call the statement my “universal comparative.” It’s universally true that God is greater!

But how does this show itself to be true in everyday life? I’m glad you asked! 🙂 This past week, I have seen this in the following specific ways (there are many more than I am listing):

* My friend Patti shared two weeks ago that she was having difficulty fitting in time with the Lord each day. As a group of friends prayed for her, and as she made it a matter of prayer herself, God gave her quality time (not measured in minutes or hours) with Him this past week. God is greater—than busy schedules and than the man-made priorities of our lives.

* I was struggling with the fact that I had worked hard to take a course on resume-writing techniques only to have no resumes to update at present. After helping a friend update his resume last week, he shared my contact information with a friend, and as I told a friend out of state about this new contact, she was so excited to hear that I do resumes that she sent me hers and referred me to a friend whose resume information I received last night! God is greater—than my doubts or worries, and God is greater—than the normal time it takes to gather resume clients.

But let’s take this one step further. Yes, knowing that God is greater should give me strength for today, but it should also give me hope and peace and joy about my tomorrows (as God wills).

* Many young moms tell me that Sundays are hectic, anxiety-filled mornings for them. Well, duh. The evil ick doesn’t want you rejoicing in hearing God’s Word and fellowshiping with His people. So just plan today (Saturday) that you are going to see from the start of the day on Sunday that God is greater. He is greater than the desire to sleep in (in spite of the frigid temperatures). He is greater than your desire to argue with your spouse or sibling—or yourself—over things that don’t honestly matter. Trust me. Simply meditating on the words “God is greater” when the alarm clock goes off will change your mindset. Because it’s true: God is greater!

Hallelujah for the awesome truth in the simple universal comparative: God is greater!

“This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (I John 3:19-20, NIV)

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (I John 4:4, NIV)

 

 

By Petals from the Basket | January 26, 2013 | Bible Reading, Friends, God-and-I-Time, Ideas, Life Changes |