3rd Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Romans 5:1-11
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person– though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

By request

Smashley…I know I’ve posted it on my blog but I’m too tired to search for it so here it goes

Mama Phyllis’ Mexican Casserole

2 lb ground beef/turkey/deer (whatever)
1/2 to whole white onion, diced
1-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 green bell pepper, diced
The medium (regular) box of Velveeta
1 can black beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can rotel tomatoes (heat of your choice, I use the regular)
1 pkg of burrito size flour tortillas
Shredded cheddar of cheese of your choice

Heat oven to 350.
Brown meat with onion, peppers, garlic. Salt/pepper to taste.
Melt velvetta with rotel tomatoes and mush. soup in the microwave like you’re making rotel dip
Cover the bottom of 9 by 13 with 2 tortillas
Layer half of meat mixture then half of the cheese stuff then half the beans.
2 more tortillas, rest of meat and cheese and beans.
Here’s a choice: you can either (a) just slap 2 more tortillas on top or (b) cut them up into long strips like you do when you make the crispy things with your tortilla soup or (c) cut them into small squares or rectangles. Whatever you want. I think it’s prettier to do (b) or (c) so you can see the colors underneath, especially when you use the black beans.
Top lightly with cheddar and bake uncovered until cheese is bubbly.
Serve hot with sour cream and salsa. Makes eight GENEROUS servings. Corn is a great side.

Sorry if it’s confusing. I’m way tired and need to go home and hit the hay.

Yeah, yeah, me too.

1. Your name spelled backwards. setab eissej
2. Where were your parents from? North Louisiana
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? I can’t remember since my ‘puter died last summer.
4. What’s your favorite restaurant? Right now, Tia Maria’s
5. Last time you swam in a pool? Late last summer @ Pam’s
6. Have you ever been in a school play? Cinderella in 4th grade.
7. How many kids do you want? Something to discuss with my future hubby. 1-4 I think
8. Type of music you dislike most? Heavy metal
9. Are you registered to vote? Yes
10. Do you have cable? TV. Not internet.
11. Have you ever ridden on a moped? Nope.
12. Ever prank call anybody? Yeppers
13. Ever get a parking ticket? @ Tech??!?! Of course!
14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? I would need a shove since I’m somewhat scared of heights (really what’s going to happen when I hit the ground is what scares me), but I bet I’d love the rush.
15. Farthest place you ever traveled. NYC.
16. Do you have a garden? Nope.
17. What’s your favorite comic strip? For Better or For Worse.
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light what so proudly we held at the twilight’s last gleaming and the rockets red glare with the bombs bursting in the air gave truth through the night that our flag was still there. Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave. O’er the land and the sea and the home of the brave. no
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night? Morning shower
20. Best movie you’ve seen in the past month? Rewatched The Passion this past Saturday
21. Favorite pizza topping? Pepperoni.
22. Chips or popcorn? Chips as a general snack; popcorn for movies.
23. What color lipstick do you usually wear? Ummmmm. Some colored lip gloss from Mary Kay that I got in my stocking for Christmas.
24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? Negative ghostrider
25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? No.
26. Orange Juice or apple? I used to be an OJ freak, but I’ve been drinking more AJ now.
27. Who was the last person you went out to dinner with and where did you dine? BJ. Chili’s.
28. Favorite type chocolate bar? Mr. Goodbar. Snickers is a close second.
29. When was the last time you voted at the polls? Marriage amendement last year. I was going to vote for the president, etc. in November but had car issues.
30. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato? It’s been a WHILE
31. Have you ever won a trophy? I think so. Though it’s been a while since I’ve seen them. Might have thrown them away.
32. Are you a good cook? I like to think so.
33. Do you know how to pump your own gas? Who doesn’t?
34. Ever order an article from an infomercial? Ugh, no
35. Sprite or 7-up? Sprite. Unlike Josh, I like their commercials
36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work? @ my last job I did.
37. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy? Picked up a refill for my roommie.
38. Ever throw up in public? Don’t think so.
39. Would you prefer being a millionaire or find true love? ah, LOVE.
40. Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes.
41. Ever call a 1-900 number? No.
42. Can ex’s be friends? I agree that it’s possible but not common.
43. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital/nursing home? Melody, when Micah was born.
44. Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby? No more than average.
45. What message is on your answering machine? “Hey, this is Jessie and Danielle. Leave us a message and we’ll call you back.”
46. What’s your all time favorite Saturday Night Live Character? Chris Farley’s motivational speaker (Matt something I think). “IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!!!”
47. What was the name of your first pet? Callie, the calico cat.
48. What is in your purse? Too much.
49. Favorite thing to do before bedtime? Feel my body sink into the bed.
50. What is one thing you are grateful for today? Are you sure this is the end? Waking up after only 5 hours of sleep and not being that tired, yet.

What happened to the 6 weeks of winter?

It’s 75 degrees out right now and it even smells like summer out there.

2nd Sunday in Lent

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The glory of these forty days
we celebrate with songs of praise;
for Christ, through whom all things were made,
himself has fasted and has prayed.

Alone and fasting Moses saw
the loving God who gave the law;
and to Elijah, fasting, came
the steeds and chariots of flame.

So Daniel trained his mystic sight,
delivered from the lions’ might;
and John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became
the herald of Messiah’s name.

Then grant us, Lord, like them to be
full oft in fast and prayer with thee;
our spirits strengthen with thy grace,
and give us joy to see thy face.

O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
to thee be every prayer addressed,
who art in three-fold Name adored,
from age to age, the only Lord.

Jumping again on the bandwagon

Funny stuff

Sign on an Assembly of God church: “Breaking Bread Live! This Friday”

Missued quotes @ a local restaurant: “Hello” Please give your discount to the cashier “before” placing your order. “Thank you”

Finally, it’s Friday

And I’m celebrating with the Friday Five.

1. If you could have anything you wanted to eat for a day, what would you choose for your meals and snacks? Southern breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese grits or cream of wheat, OJ, milk, etc.), my chicken parmessean, Rhea’s bread, good wine, Ashley’s potato soup, my mom’s chicken spagetti, and Adrienne’s jamabalya I would like to have as some of my choices
2. Is there ever a dish/food or dessert you wanted to try but never had the opportunity, what is it? Not that I can think of.
3. What’s a dish/food or dessert you’ve tried that you wish you hadn’t? First thing I thought of was the oyster thing they made me eat in Gulf Shores.
4. Ever watch cooking shows? (i.e. “Great Chefs,” “Epicurious,” etc.) I LOVE Food Network. Rachel Ray, Mario Batali, Gaida de Laurentiis, Alton Brown among my faves.
5. Are you hungry yet? I was hungry when I started doing this!

Good times

First, I must put this here before I forget so I can have them later to put on my “secret” blogroll. 123.

Next, I’m sitting here @ the library and suddenly a face appears quite close to mine. It’s Richard. He and I chat a bit and while we’re talking a message keeps popping up on my screen saying that my session is idle and click ok to continue. Well, I ignore it for a little bit and all of a sudden it logs me off the computer. Everything. Gone. So I’m having to type some stuff over again. All because of you dood.

There’s a cute Mormon guy sitting 2 computers down from me. Hmmmmm.

“Me-cow” has been cracking me up.

I get my first check from Pilgrim’s today with 11 hours of overtime. Thanks Willstaff!

Treating myself to a good “lunch” today. I’m thinking a chicken strip salad from Log Cabin or something from Chilis.

HAVE A GOOD DAY!

Temptation

This week’s “theme” for Lent is temptation. The OT lesson, the fall of Adam; the Psalm, pleading for cleansing; the Gospel, the temptation of Christ after His fasting in the wilderness.
I’ve recently begun reading the daily office from the ‘79 BCP. (FYI, we’re in year 1 with that and year A for the lectionary.)
After reading Deut 8:11-20 , I’m comforted by Hebrews 2:10-18

Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (17-18)

Amen and amen.

For those of you that didn’t see on Me-Cow’s blog

Ashely, Adrienne, me, Jessica, Raonna

The Rose

My sister said I was there for it, but I don’t remember. My mom sang this song at the Dixie theater in Ruston when we were little. I love the words, and she can sing it magnificently.

Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed

Some say love, it is a hunger
An endless, aching need
I say love, it is a flower
And you, it’s only seed

It’s the heart, afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It’s the dream, afraid of waking
That never takes the chance

It’s the one who won’t be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dyin’
That never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong

Just remember, in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed, that with the sun’s love
In the spring, becomes the rose.

USAF

This is a picture of a B-52 that my brother-in-law is flying. Click on the one on the left to see the bomb they’re dropping.

1st Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

When to the temple

The anthem we sang @ Grace last week was so beautiful. I searched for and found a mp3 online. Click here to hear it. Words are below with the collect of the day from last Sunday.

I’ve also found a “back door” to some mp3s of K. Lee Scott’s music. Absolutley beautiful as well.