Friendship Seeds

Perfect simple gift to share with your friends, neighbors, etc. year-round. inexpensive and shared from your heart.



Put a mixture of flower seeds in a jar and add this poem:


In this little handmade packet
You will find some friendship seeds.

Plant with love and tend with care
And guard against the weeds.

Friendship seeds are hard to grow
The roots take hold with time

But the blooms which are produced
Are the sweetest you will find.

The petals will not fade away
True friendship never dies

For your friends are beautiful flowers
In the garden of your life.

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

Jesus Christ the Apple TreeFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search




Jesus Christ the Apple Tree lyrics in a 1897 republication of 1797 printingJesus Christ the Apple Tree (also known as Apple Tree) is a poem written by an unknown New Englander in the 18th century. It has been set to music by a number of composers, including Jeremiah Ingalls (1764–1838) and Elizabeth Poston (1905–1987).



The first known publication of "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree" was in 1784 in Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs: for the use of Religious Assemblies and Private Christians compiled by Joshua Smith, a lay Baptist minister from New Hampshire. The hymn may have been based on an earlier anonymous poem first printed in London's Spiritual Magazine in August of 1761 crediting "R.H." as the writer.[1]



The song may be an allusion to both the apple tree in Songs 2:3 which has been interpreted as a metaphor representing Christ, and to Jesus' description of his life as a tree of life in Luke 13:18-19 and elsewhere in the New Testament including Revelation 22:1-2. Apple trees were commonly grown in early New England and there was an old English tradition of wassailing or wishing health to apple trees on Christmas eve.[2] The song is now performed by choirs around the world, especially during the Christmas season as a Christmas carol.[3]

                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                The Apple Tree ~ R.H. 1761



The tree of life my soul hath seen
Laden with fruit and always green
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree


His beauty doth all things excel
By faith I know but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.


For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought
I missed of all but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the apple tree.


I'm weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
Under the shadow I will be
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.


This fruit does make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree

When you carry your Bible

                                           When you carry the Bible


When you carry the Bible, the devil has a headache, when you open it he
collapses, when he sees you reading it, he faints! So let's read the
bible, every time so that he keeps on fainting.(maybe one day he'll
have a stroke and never wake up)...  Amen


Sunday morning (attendance) shows how popular the church is; Sunday night shows how popular the preacher is; (Wednesday) prayer meeting shows how popular God is.

Company's Coming Pie

3 egg whites, room temperature

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 c. sugar

16 soda crackers, crumbled

1 c. chopped pecans

4 oz. Cool Whip (half container)

Crushed Pineapple (drained)

Angel flake coconut (optional)



To make crust, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff, and gradually add sugar. When stiff, add cracker crumbs and nuts. Bake in pie plate for 25 minutes at 350 degrees or until lightly browned. Remove from oven, cool. When crust is cool; combine Cool Whip and pineapple. Spread on top of cooled crust and sprinkle with coconut flakes. Keep refrigerated.
 
NOTE: I usually double this recipe, It always turns out wonderful

Low Fat Rice & Egg Pie (DOG Food Recipe)

This is an easy, low fat pie that can be cut up into portions and frozen. Excellent for smaller dogs.


Ingredients:
1 C Rice

2 C Mixed vegetable (frozen or canned)

1 C Cooked chicken or beef broth (fat removed)

3 Eggs

1/2 C Low fat milk

1 C Fat free natural yogurt

1/2 C Water with 1 chicken stock cube dissolved in it

Directions
Cook rice, put in medium sized casserole or pie dish, with the vegetables and chicken, mix well. In a bowl, mix the eggs, milk, yoghurt, and chicken stock, beat well.

Add this egg mixture to the rice mixture and fold in well.

Cook in oven at 180C for about 1/2 hour or until set.

When it is cool, it can be cut into wedges and frozen in portions suitable for your dog. This pie can be mixed with other dog food or served on its own for a healthy low fat diet.

Cauliflower Pizza

Ingredients:

1 cup cauliflower, grated
1/2 cup shredded light mozarella cheese
1 egg
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp basil
2 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp fennel
1 green pepper
1 onion
1 tomato
Garlic powder, to taste


Directions:

Chop pepper, onion and tomato. Set aside. Steam the cauliflower, let it cool and then grate it.

Combine grated cauliflower with the mozzarella and egg in a large bowl. Spray a circular or rectangular metal pan with cooking spray before spreading the dough evenly. Sprinkle the dough with fennel, oregano, parsley and basil. Add garlic powder.

Bake at 450° F for 12-15 minutes. Remove the dough from the oven and sprinkle chopped green pepper, onion and tomato, as well as the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Return the pizza to the oven. Turn the heat up to broil and leave in until the cheese has melted and the crust is crispy.

12 Days of Christmas Explained

Is it fact or fiction?


There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.
What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans,
and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree
have to do with Christmas?

This week, I found out.
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted
to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this
carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of
meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to
members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word
for a religious reality which the children could remember.


-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books
of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--
Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace,
Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief
in the Apostles' Creed.


So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me
and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that
strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'


Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone!

92 Year Old Pastor was asked

While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church
in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was
92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman
to preach at that age.

After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down,
he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding
gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands
on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....

"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to
tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I
thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the
most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.. The one thing
that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow
paralyzed me...the only thing that would comfort was this verse...

"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so."

The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the
children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and
it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the
best."


"Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":

JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)

YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)


I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
(CHORUS)


                           God Blessings upon You All !!!

Always Look On The Inside

                                        ALWAYS LOOK ON THE INSIDE



I remember reading a story once about a man who was exploring some caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled up some clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him.

As he strolled along the beach, to pass the time, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could throw.

He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left, then it struck him.

He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have had tens of thousands, but he just threw it all away.

You know sometimes, it's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it; we see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy.

But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person. There is a treasure hidden in every one of us. We are wonderfully made. Not just our physical bodies, our spiritual selves, which are sometimes hidden from others by the “earthen vessel”.

But if you take the time to get to know that person, and if you ask the Spirit to show you that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.


-- Author Unknown

The NOOK

                                                       An E-Reader
                                                    {Barns & Noble}

Yesterday (Thursday 12/16/2010) Mother, Aunt Lois & I went to Branson to Best Buy to buy Mother a NOOK (Price ranges from $149. to  $199.) so she could download books into it and read them at home in the evenings and relax.  My Aunt Lois gave her the money to buy this for her Christmas Present.

When we got home I reminded her that I  knew nothing about them excupt from what little bit I caught from Oprah, Ellen & Dr Oz giving them away in their grand end of the year Christmas give aways, (which in laymans terms means duhhhhh I don't know what I'm doing here)..

So we opened the box and they might as well have had it written in Dutch because it meant nothing to me. I couldn't make heads or tails of it. So we plugged it in to charge the battery, which gave me 3 1/2 hrs to read and figure out what to do next.

I thought I regerstered it on line, Mom bought 3 E-books, Plus $25.- yearly membership which means she gets discounts on E-books she buys for the next year.
Turned on the cute little lite she bought for it (another $50.-) but still didn't understand how to connect the 2 pieces of this puzzle together.

After trying and trying to get the books downloaded with no sucess I finally went home to de-fuse my stress level and get a fresh start this very morning.

I walked into Mom's and picked up the lite and slid the NOOK into the small flap and it snapped into place, perfectly, (why didn't they tell you what to do or have a photo showing you...duhh)

Oh now I'm feeling pretty sure I can handle this monster called the NOOK, so I turned it on, no e-books, went to the bank and yes indeed they had taken the money out for them all, so on the phone I went to call them. I sat there for nearly 35 min. before a human actually answered, I still had to register the silly thing, I had regerestered Mom's buying power yesterday, today I had to do virtually the same thing only on the NOOK. Then turn it off and re-start it,

YEP there are Mom's books sitting right there on her new NOOK, she's as happy as a new baby with her new toy, it's as easy as 1,2,3 if they would only tell you in simple terms so even I can do it.

Set her up for Extra Large text and she's as happy as a bug in a rug

Would I reccomend a NOOK to someone else-- YES, -- if  E-Books are a thing you'd enjoy reading.

I also understand you can download music into your NOOK as well as an I-phone, but were not going there with this. Mom's using her's for reading only {God Willing}

Prayer For Snicker's & DOG TREAT RECIPE

In Your infinite wisdom, Lord God, when You created the Universe You blessed us with all living creatures. We especially thank You for giving us our Snicker-Do who has so wrapped himself around our loving hearts. Thank You Lord, In Jesus Name..AMEN


NOTE: [PET RECIPE TREAT]

Cheeseburger Muffins TREAT 
makes 24 mini muffins

1 cup of cooked ground beef
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup oast
1/2 cup wheat flour
1 small carrot [grated]
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup shreeded low fat cheese
1 tsp dried oregano [optional]

1. measure your ingredients

2. Preheat oven 350 degrees, spray mini muffin pan with pam

3. mix all ingredients, excupt the shredded cheese

4. spoon batter in muffin tins, sprinkle with cheese

5. bake for 20 minutes

Store left over in refrigerator for 3 days or in freezer up to 3 months


*NOTE:
Original prayer from Michelle Perkins, then I added to it because if you know me at all I can't leave well enough alone...JMSQ

Grandma's Green Bean Casserole

The first of November I recieved a newsletter from the Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture filled with all kinds of great reading and eye openers, along with this wonderful recipe. I've made this both for our own Thanksgiving and our family loved it, so when our TOPS group was having our Christmas Party, I made it for that as well and everyone loved it, and requested the recipe. SOOOO I'm also sharing the recipe here on my BLOG for all my followers to enjoy.. I only wish I had taken a photo of it to share with you, it's beautiful


                             Grandma's Green Bean Casserole


2 TBS. butter

2 TBS. flour

1 cup sour cream (I use a bit more)

1 tsp. salt (I don't use salt)

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 of onion (diced)

3 cans of french style green beand (drained)

2 c. shredded cheese

1/2 c. crumbled ritz crackers


OVEN: 350 degrees

Melt butter in large fry pan over med heat, add flout and stir until smooth. Stir in sour cream, sugar, salt, onion and mix well, remove from heat, gentle add green bean and stir to cover with sour cream mixture.

Transfer the mixture to a 2 quart baking dish (spray with pam for easy clean up). Spread cheese over green beans, sprinkle with ritz cracker crumbs
Bake for 30 minutes until top is golden brown and cheese is bubbly

Makes 10 servings

The Purple Cow

                                             I've never seen a purple cow
                                             I never hope to see one

                                            But I can tell you anyhow
                                            I'd rather see than be one.

The Bridge

                                                  The Bridge Builder


An old man, going a lone highway,

Came, at the evening, cold and gray,

To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,

Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;

The sullen stream had no fears for him;

But he turned, when safe on the other side,

And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,

"You are wasting strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day;

You never again must pass this way;

You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide-

Why build you a bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:

"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,

"There followeth after me today,

A youth, whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm, that has been naught to me,

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."


By: -Will Allen Dromgoole

Night Before Jesus Came

     'Twas The Night Before Jesus Came'  By: Unknown Author


'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed.
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter.
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "it's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without a sound.
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.

I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.

There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

Dear Friends & Family

                                       {MERRY CHRISTMAS}
For there is born to "YOU" this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the LORD  ... Luke 2:11

Dear Family & Friends,


December is here, burrrr, and brought with it the COLD, deep cold.

Ron had been busy putting up decoratations. He loves to decorate for Christmas. I have to admit I don't care for decoratating for the Holidays or anytime (it's just not my thing), BUT, Love it when it's finished. Ron always does such a wonderful job, and truthfully our home looks so nice when he turns on the outside lights. We bought a new tree this year, our old one was only about 12-15 yrs old and getting more sparce as the years wore on. Our new tree came with lights already on it, so how lucky is that, it's lovely and Ronnie's angel he made for us back in 1982 hangs proudly right there on top where she belongs. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without our precious Angel. She has topped our tree every year sence Ronnie gave her to us.

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving, Our Daughter & oldest Granddaughter Jesse came for dinner, and we took dinner next door to Mom & Aunt Lois as it was to cold for them to come out. We heard from both the boys for Thanksgiving so were very Blessed indeed, but we miss our Hugs from them.

Where ever you are, It is our Prayer you are taking in your winter sourrounds and remaining Thankful for all your Blessings.

                         Merry Christmas one & All


Blessings Ron & Jean

Thank You Lord

WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAVEN WHEN WE PRAY?

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, ' This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.
I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.
Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section, my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed." How is it that there is no work going on here? ' I asked.

"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments"

"How does one acknowledge God's blessings? " I asked..

"Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord. "

"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world ' s wealthy. "

"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."

"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness .. You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. "

"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation . You are ahead of 700 million people in the world.."

"If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."

"If your parents are still alive and still married ...you are very rare."

"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair......."

Ok, what now? How can I start?

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.


ATTN: Acknowledge Dept.

"Thank you Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people with whom to share it. "

I thank God for everything, especially all my Wonderful Family & friends!