Two Balloons - Reece's Peaces

Two people were given balloons. They were filled with air but not helium. They were given simple instructions: don't let it touch the floor and you can't hold it with one hand for longer than a second. 

The first person began focusing their attention on the balloon, tapping it to keep it up. Tap, tap, tap, with vigilant effort they kept the balloon bouncing up and down. 

The other volunteer began to tap it, but they weren't just tapping it to keep it up. They tapped it over in the direction of a door in another room. They walked while they tapped and moved it over to another room. 

When they returned their balloon was floating high, filled with helium. 

The first person said, “That's not fair!” 

The second replied, “The instructions were only to keep the balloon in the air and only touch it with one hand for no longer than a second. I was able to follow both of those rules as I filled it up with helium.” 

At first glance, the first person’s attempt of tapping away at it can seem nobler. Yet the second person’s strategy would last far longer with less effort and would undoubtedly win the day. You can only tap for so long. 

In our lives, we try to do things the hard way, often because we think it's the only way. However, when we re-evaluate and take a step back, we can see that there are sometimes much easier and better ways to approach a problem.  

Before Christ, there were many commandments and rules that faithful people needed to follow. With Christ we now have the great commandment: love the Lord with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. 

My Hope is Built - Marc's Music Notables

Sometimes the grace of God penetrates into unlikely places. Edward Mote’s parents were hostile to religion, but while still a boy Edward became a Christian through the influence of a cabinet maker to whom he was apprenticed. As a man, he became a skilled cabinet maker with a successful business of his own.

Regardless of the claims of his business on his time, Mote always found time to worship God. He was especially interested in Christian music, and one day felt inspired on the way to work to write down a verse that came to his mind. Before the day was finished, he had completed four verses. His new hymn began with the words, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

Not long thereafter, Mote visited a friend whose wife was ill. It was a Sunday, and the friend mentioned that he and his wife liked to observe Sunday by singing a hymn, reading a scripture, and having prayer together. Mote had a copy of his hymn in his pocket, so they sang it. The friend’s wife was so taken with the hymn that she requested a copy for herself. Encouraged by her interest, Mote had copies printed—and soon found himself the author of a beloved hymn.

At age 55, Mote responded to a call to the ministry. He served out the rest of his life—more than two decades— as the pastor of a Baptist Church in Horsham, Sussex, England.

Mote may have written other hymns during his lifetime, but this is the only one in common use today

1st Chronicles 16:11 - Kayla's Korner

1 Chronicles 16:11 

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” 

The last few months have been hard for me. I felt like Satan was trying to tear me down anyway he could. I had two people decided to drop out of my wedding party. I was in the midst of preparing everything for vacation bible school, then I decided to get sick for a week, and finally we had people quitting left and right at work, which was making my job more difficult. Through all of this I never once turned away from God! If it wasn’t for the strength and rest that I received from Him, I wouldn’t have made it. 

Sometimes we don’t think we need God’s strength. We get in a mindset that we have it all under control and that we will keep it under control. What I think we are really missing is that God is in control! And, with his strength we can continue  His plan for our life. If you are someone like me, who always likes to take control of your life, I challenge you to pray this month for patience, and strength from God to

Creamy Frozen Lime Pie - Cheryl's Favorite Food Memories

Cheryl’s Favorite Food Memories… One of my favorite flavors is lime. As a kid we would have a contest to see who could keep a straight face and not react to the sour.  I never won, but I still love the tart sweet taste of those tiny green fruit.  I especial like key lime pie, but I’ve never been able to duplicate my favorite one from a “Stinky’s” restaurant in Florida.  However, my father-in-love had a freezer “no bake” lime pie he’d make. It is creamy and pretty fabulous, not only is it tasty but it takes hardly any time to prepare. Enjoy! sMILESnBlessings!

Creamy Frozen Lime Pie

Ingredients for 8 Servings

· 1 Prepared 8-inch (6 ounces) graham cracker crust       (I sometimes make my own & use a springform pan.)

· 1 pkg (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

· 1 1/4 cups (14-ounce can) sweetened condensed milk

· 1 cup evaporated milk

· 1/2 cup (about 3 medium size) lime juice

· 1 tsp grated lime peel

· Lime slices, berries or mint sprigs (optional)

Directions

¨ BEAT cream cheese in mixer bowl until smooth.

¨ Gradually add sweetened condensed & evaporated milks; beat until smooth.

¨ ADD lime juice & peel; beat on medium for 1 minute.

¨ Pour into crust.

¨ Freeze 2 hours or until firm.

¨ Remove from freezer & let it sit at room temp for 10 minutes to ease cutting.

¨ Garnish with lime slices, berries or mint sprigs.

¨ Serve immediately.

Blessed Assurance - Marc's Music Notables

It might seem unlikely that a blind writer of hymns living in a slum and a wealthy woman living in a mansion would have anything in common — but Fanny Crosby, the blind hymn writer, was a humble woman with a number of distinguished friends. Grover Cleveland, who later became President of the United States, met Fanny Crosby as a young man, and they became lifelong friends.

The friend in the mansion was Phoebe Knapp, the daughter of a Methodist evangelist. When she was just sixteen years old, Phoebe married Joseph Fairchild Knapp, a young man who went on to found the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The Knapps worshiped at the John Street Methodist Church in lower Manhattan, which is where Fanny Crosby also worshiped — and so a friendship was born. Phoebe, the wealthy matron, often invited Fanny, the blind hymn writer, to her palatial home.

Phoebe enjoyed music, and had a music room furnished with a collection of musical instruments. During one of Fanny’s visits, Phoebe invited her to the music room, where Phoebe sat down at the keyboard and played a tune that she had written. “What does that say,” she asked? Fanny clapped her hands in delight and said, “That says, ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!'” And so a hymn was born.

During her lifetime, Fanny Crosby wrote eight thousand hymns, many of which became famous — but “Blessed Assurance” just might be the most famous of all.

OTHER HYMNS BY FANNY CROSBY:

All the Way My Savior Leads Me

Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home

I Am Thine, O Lord

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior

Praise Him, Praise Him

Rescue the Perishing

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

To God Be the Glory