Baby Jesus in a Dumptruck

When Ron and I married, he gave me a little manger scene that was made of wood and had a palm tree with fragile leaves. I soon knew that would not work with grubby little boy hands as Matthew and Andrew came along. So began the search for a better, "child friendly" manger set. There were those made from Weebles (you know wobble but don't fall down) and other current toy styles. Somehow they just did not seem accurate to me. I mean who wants your child to grow up thinking the Christ child looked like a Weeble? Although I guess theologically he did wobble like a human, but NOT fall down because He is God.

As a child I had visited J.W. Woolworth’s over the Christmas seasons. I remembered seeing the colorful plastic manger sets that could be bought in various sizes. The size seemed right and the diversity of characters seemed fairly accurate. I returned to Woolworth's as an adult parent and found the one pictured here on sale and knew that it would be great for little boys to set up, play with, and rearrange. Ron and I decided to help the boys set it up the first few times, but later it became their decorating choice to set it up themselves. Sometimes it was hard for two brothers to agree on the arrangement.

One year it was under the tree only to be moved to the side table later. Sometimes Mary ended up in the background (a true mom) and the cow took the side next to the Christ child. Joseph was sometimes confused with a Wiseman or a shepherd. (I don’t know where the Shepherds and the sheep are in this photo, maybe in the fields? And I guess the plastic Angel went to fetch them and left this glittery one as a replacement.) Over the years, I believe baby Jesus took a ride or two in the back of a Matchbox dump truck. I tried gluing him in the manger, but boy hands can “unglue” anything.

I think Jesus is happy to know that two little boys in Thomson, Georgia had a “hands on” experience in discovering the greatest gift God gave us!

Southern Fruitcake Cookies

Mama was not much for making fruit cake at Christmas. I don't know if it was the stigma some folks give to fruitcakes, the fact that we never seemed to eat and entire cake, or making them became too labor intensive. She did make a few over the years, but soon settled into making Fruit Cake Cookies. We loved them. They were easy to sneak between meals when Cliff and I were children, and quick to grab and dash as teenagers. Mama often took them to church "doings" and made the to give to friends and neighbors and had them on had for drop in company over the holiday season. As Cliff and I grew up and had children of our own. "Nanette's" Christmas cookies became something they looked forward to at the holidays. I don't think she has made any this year, so I better give her a prompt. Here is her recipe. I hope your family and friends enjoy them as much as we do.

Southern Fruit Cake Cookies

1/2 cup butter (softened)

1 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups plain flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup chopped dates (optional)

½ cup chopped candied red cherries

½ cup chopped green cherries

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Then, add egg and mix.

In a separate (and smaller) bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and soda.

Alternate pouring the flour mixture and the buttermilk in with the butter/sugar in the large mixing bowl.

Sprinkled in the cinnamon and nutmeg and mix.

Use a large spoon to stir in the nuts, dates and cherries. Mix until nuts and fruits are evenly distributed and well coated.

Grease a cookie sheet with Crisco.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheet.

It's a good idea to have cookie pans to rotate. Cookies work out better when they are put on a cold pan and then into a hot oven. If they are placed on a hot pan, then they may spread out too much and not be as soft.

Bake at 325 degrees F in a preheated oven for around 15 minutes. Oven times do vary, so watch the first batch. Cookies should be lightly browned.

Store in an air tight container.

Yield 2 to 3 dozen cookies (depending o the size)

Recipe For Life Women's Conference Breakout Sessions

Break-out Sessions for Saturday

• Bloom Where You Are Planted

Session Leader: Cecilia Howell, owner of Cedar Rock Flowers, a wedding and special event flower business

Ministering Through Nature: Using flowers and floral decorating to minister to others, along with suggestions for simple herb gardening

• Baskets of Blessings

Session Leader: Debra McLarnon, Preschool Director of First Baptist

Safe Homes: Ministering to the women at the shelter through gift baskets and ways you can help. Debra along with others at First Baptist began this ministry project several years ago. It has become a blessing to the givers as well as the receivers. Come and hear Debra’s story.

• Budget Beauty’s Boutique

Session Leader: Jeanette Gunn, Secretary of First Baptist Church, former cosmetologist

Million Dollar Make-up on a Dime Budget: How to make your own mud mask, recipes for feet fizzies, and how to mix and match makeup for best results.

• Sharing Your Tears and Fears

Session Leaders: Susan McTier, Griefshare Ministries Facilitator at First Baptist, and Keith Beggs, owner of Beggs Funeral Home

Susan, after having been through the tragic loss of her husband through suicide and the natural death of her mother all within nine months of each other, realized she needed help in dealing with her emotions, fears, and questions. In seeking help, the closest resource she could find was 30 miles away. After getting the help she needed, she chose to give back by getting the training and resources needed to provide a Griefshare Ministry through First Baptist. Come and hear her story, find ways to deal with your own personal losses and learn what resources are available to help you and your church family in helping others deal with the tragedies of life. Out of this Griefshare group, two other churches have already begun groups. You will definitely find out some dos and don’ts when ministering to those who are grieving.

• Is It Soup Yet?

Session Leader: Katie Lewis - I am a mom of 5 and wife to one recently medically retired military guy living on a very THIN budget. Thankfully, the Lord has provided us with what we need, but we are able to stretch our budget each month by using coupons and sale flyers. I refuse to pay full price for things now that I know I can get them much, much cheaper. When I first looked at couponing a few years ago, I tried it for a bit and then quit - it was just too complicated and I didn’t want to waste the time. Then last year, I did a little more research and I discovered many simple ways to get what I needed. I don’t spend a lot of time tracking down deals - it can be as little or as much time as you want to spend doing it. I enjoy teaching others how to pinch their pennies and grab the deals as well!

When you look over your monthly budget, the one thing you have the most control over is your grocery budget. Two of the best ways to save money and lower your monthly cash output are meal planning and coupons. Coupons can be found for hundreds of products if you know where to look and how to use them! This class will teach you how to: 1. tart a stockpile . earn the difference between store and manufacturer coupons and where you can use them together to save even more money! . ind coupons . se online searches to find coupons for products you buy . rack your food budget . enu plan . now when things will go on sale (stores have cycles for their product sales!) . et things for FREE or nearly free that you can donate to food banks, homeless shelters, Operation Shoebox gifts, or disaster relief efforts . se coupons and deals for things other than groceries - TOYS, clothes, toiletries and more!

This is not Extreme Couponing, this is realistic couponing - in ways you will use it the most. I don’t advocate having 100 toothbrushes and 1000 rolls of toilet paper, but I can show you how to grab cheap snacks for your kids, cereals for $1 a box or less, and more! We will also discuss some cheap meals that can be served on any budget - and from most pantries! Join us and learn how to cut your time and meal budget in half!

• Life - How Valuable Is It? (Sanctity of Life)

Session Leader: Renee Collins, Support Coordinator within the state of Georgia for mentally disabled individuals and mother of Brandon - her miracle child.

Renee and her husband, Lee, have devoted their lives to loving and protecting their son who has a rare syndrome (5 other cases in the world, Brandon is the only known case in the USA). So rare, that Brandon’s story has been written in the Journal for American Genetics.

Come and listen to Renee’s story of the special child given to two very special parents. Enjoy her scrapbooks filled with photos of a happy child, now 19, that was never to live. Learn how parental love can be used of God to bring happiness and joy to the life of a child who will never walk or talk. Learn the meaning of choosing sanctity of life after birth and the challenges that can only be met with God’s help.

• Just Do It

Session Leader: Laura Osborne, exercise instructor for First Baptist Church, wife, mother of two, and teacher in the McDuffie County School System

Exercising Options for All Ages - Available helps and classes at First Baptist.

• Missions Is As Missions Does

Session Leader: Frances Cowart, long time missions leader in our local church, association, and state; wife of Wayne Cowart for 54 years, the mother of 4 grown children, Peggy 53, Lisa 51, Robbie 42, and Amy 35; grandmother of 7 boys and 5 girls; great-grandmother of 2 boys; retired real estate broker; charter graduate of Leadership McDuffie; member of the Thomson Kiwanis Club and the Thomson Lions Club; serves on the Thomson McDuffie Library Board; avid reader; loves flowers: and credits her two summers at Camp Rawls, South Carolina as a G.A. (Girls Auxiliary) as the beginning of her life-long journey as a woman on mission for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Missions is telling the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. Missions is not an option to do or not to do for a church. It is the lifeblood of any church. It is how we grow God’s Kingdom and not be taken lightly by church members. By being involved in missions, we are being obedient to God’s Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the gospel, teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” Come and learn more about missions and how you can find your place of service in doing missions.

• The Gift of the Blessing

Session Leader: Julia Lambert, wife of our Minister of Youth, Executive Secretary of Curriculum and Instruction for McDuffie County School System, and new mom

Learn ways to bless those you love through physical and verbal communication. The right word spoken at just the right time or the gentle hug for the person who needs to feel God’s presence – learn ways to become more aware of the needs of others and how to bless them through good times and bad. This session will especially address the needs of children and youth.

• Puppets for Christ

Session Leaders: Gibson First Baptist Church Puppet Ministry Team

Learn how to minister with puppets. Let puppets help you share your special talents and gifts with the young and young at heart. Be the catalyst for starting a puppet ministry at your church. Hear how Gibson began and the ways God is blessing their ministry.

• Find Your Inner Mechanic

Session Leader: Kelly Ware, retired auto mechanic instructor for the McDuffie County School System

This session is designed to review the basic maintenance needed to keep your vehicle in safe running condition. Demonstrations on things you can do for yourself, and explanations on the importance of basic routine maintenance.

• When To and When Not To

Session Leader: Law Enforcement (To be announced)

Self-Defense Technics. Simple things to do and not to do that may save your life. No physical activity required for this session.

• Facebook 101

Session Leader: Amy Lemley, expert in the area of computers and programs

Introduction to Facebook: Includes how to set-up an account safely, some dos and don’ts.

• Life Is Good At Any Age

Session Leader: Billie Thomas, active member of First Baptist for 62 years, known throughout our community for her giving spirit and service through many area organizations

Sharing the desires of senior adults with all ages. What it means to be a senior citizen and the respect they need and deserve - keeping dignity and grace throughout those senior years.

• Art with a Heart

Session Leaders: Jody Thomas and Tinye Harding, Two great friends who believe God created everyone with the ability and challenge to discover their inner creativity. Jody is a full time RN and works at Select Medical Hospital in Augusta. She is married and has two adult children. Tinye is a retired teacher and works part-time at Gilliam’s Floor Covering. She has two adult sons.

Jody and Tinye believe art has value to Christians. First because art expresses our creativity and God values creativity because He is the Creator. Genesis 1:1 declares “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” and the passage continues describing all the beautiful aspects of His creation. Secondly, what we create as humans has value because we were created in the image of God. We not only have the capacity to love and feel emotion but we also have the ability to create.

Additionally the things we create, whether it be fine art, music, covered dish casserole or a do-it-yourself craft project can be used as a way to reach out to others. Which is what missions and ministry is all about; building relationships to reach others for Christ.

• Are You Afraid of the Mouse

Session Leader: David Lambert, Minister of Youth at First Baptist

Facebook and Internet safety for children and teens. How to minimize the negatives while maximizing the benefits.

• Unwrap Your Gifts!

Session Leader: Dr. Leonard Dupree, Interim Pastor at First Baptist

Introduction to spiritual gifts - what they are and how to discover yours!

• Generation Change

Session Leader: (To be announced)

An introduction to a 4 week Bible study that helps teens to understand: their value in God’s eyes; that no amount of “stuff” can define their self-worth; the dangers of debt, from credit cards to car payments; why and how to save money and pay cash for what they want; how a lifestyle of generous giving can change the world around them forever.

• Credit Card Cut Up

Session Leader: (To be announced)

This is an introduction to Financial Peace University which meets for two hours each week for 13 weeks, during which time the average family pays off $5300 in debt and saves $2700. Visit this session to see if you would be interested in taking the course on-line or signing up for a local class, or hosting a class. If enough interest is shown, First Baptist will host a class beginning in February.

• Health is spelled F-U-N!

Session Leader: Amy Jenkins, RN

You can be healthy and still have fun . . . topics including nutrition, exercise, preventive medicine, and family wellness that will help you to feel better and enjoy the life you have been given.

• Help Before It’s Too Late

Session Leader: Ed Ricketson, Jr., owner of Ricketson Insurance Agency

Insurance Needs for Women - Information on the different types of insurance and how they meet your needs.

•  Dream Home on a Tight Budget

Session Leader: Megan Poston, Interior Designer, Design Images and Gifts in Surrey Center

Megan will be sharing ways to create your dream home without blowing your budget. Learn simple ways that you can add beauty to your home with little or no expense.

• “The Talk”

Session Leader: David Walker, Minister of Education at First Baptist

Feeling uneasy about “The Talk” with your children and youth? Join David for suggestions on timing and ways to share. Learn of some great literature available to assist you. Make sure your child(ren) learn from you with your Christian values attached.

• Scrapbooking in the 21st Century - Digitally

Session Leader: Amy Johnston, Creative Memories Consultant

Learn from Amy ways to organize your photos and ways to make beautiful pages that tell your story. Simplify your scrapbooking with user-friendly programs that are available for your home computer.

• Prayer Labyrinth

Session Leader: Vera Krall

For those who feel that God is calling them to a time of prayer, a room will be set-up for prayer. There will be places to share your prayer requests, suggestions for praying for others, and an area for you to have some alone time with God. Ladies will be available to pray with you if you would like the support of someone else in prayer.

Please note these sessions are subject to change. If you would like lead a Breakout Session, please contact a member of the Women’s Ministry Team. We would love to share your talents.

Meditation on Psalm 23:4

September 10,2009

“Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for you (oh God) are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.”


Funny thing about valley’s, they would not exist without hills. Grief for a loved one would not exist if at first you had not loved. And if there was not love to follow that grief, the valley of grief would only be a slippery slope into which you sink lower and lower.

But valleys do exits and the valley of death, which I interpret as grief does exist. In fact life is filled with valleys and hills. So grief is not just one valley you pass through, but can be repeated later and later. You may climb out of the deep overwhelming and exhausting initial valley of grief up a hill where life looks brighter, you are closer to the light, and you feel warmth again, only to repeat that experience with another valley.

Lest I make it sound like grief is an endless prison sentence for which there is no release or comfort, let me remind you that this verse also tell us to not fear evil because God, in His Spirit, His Word, and His People, is with you. You “never walk alone.” Isaiah 40:9 says: “He tends the flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart, he gently leads those that have young.”

Just as a human shepherd never leaves, protects, and cares for his sheep so the Good Shepherd cares for us. His rod is there to protect us from predators and the crook of his staff is used to help us up when we stumble and fall. The straight end of his staff is used to nudge us on when we are content to settle or so grieved we get bogged down in our own self pity.

I read recently when darkness over shadows us (those clouds of grief that roll in unrepentantly) that the Shepherd will protect us when we rest. Just as a shepherd puts his body in the doorway of a cave where the sheep are resting, protected from the elements. The Good Shepherd is in the doorway that protects us. Nothing touches us with out touching Him first.

In grief as in valleys, God is with us. Valleys are temporary places and would not exist without hills. God is our shepherd. He will not leave us in the valley. He will protect us, guide us, push us on, and comfort us. He is the Gentle Shepherd. He holds us close to His heart in his arms. He lays between us and predators when we need to rest. Nothing, not even grief, touches us without first touching Him. He knows what is best for each of us and He sees the path that we don’t see.

What I have Learned from Suffering

Written after reading a devotion in August 2009

There is a lot of suffering in this world. All I need to do is view the current news. Suffering enters my home, my safe haven, via the portals of radio, television, websites, newspapers, and phone calls. Suffering is all around me. If I look, really look, around as I drive to and from work, listen to my co-workers talk or better yet ask my co-workers about what is happening in their lives, I will hear of their suffering. If I listen to the prayer requests made in my various spiritual groups I will hear of suffering. Everyone is touched in some way to some degree with suffering.

I live in a broken world so and long as I am here I will see and experience suffering. My earthly life will never be perfect. Everyone experiences suffering even if one person cannot see the suffering of another. Suffering is relative and the degree cannot be judged by another. What is painful, all consuming, and devastating to one person may not affect another person in the same way. But, suffering brings growth or gripes it is our choice. God can transform the bruises of my suffering into beauty marks.

Suffering causes some people, including me, to seek God. God does not cause suffering, but He can use it to perfect me. I have discovered that suffering does not come alone, blessings come with suffering. Music, scripture, devotionals, books, and Christian brothers and sisters will step up to help. All of these are blessings that God uses to transform the bruises of suffering to beauty marks in my life.

God can transform bruises to beauty marks. Quite often when I am experiencing a season of suffering and feel bruised, praise music will play over and over in my head. I can’t explain it, other than it is the unique way the Holy Spirit applies balm to heal my pain. If I continue to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit, I will hear God speak to me in much of the music I recall. Hymns that I knew as a child will resurface, certain phrases from praise songs or choir anthems of the past will enter my mind again, and new songs I experience will seem to speak directly to me in my need.

God can transform bruises to beauty marks. The scriptures, God’s own love letter to me will become fresh and new again. The verses I have memorized will come to mind. I will read a familiar passage and a new insight will appear. The stories of Jesus will draw me in as a main character. I will know how the crippled man felt when he began to take his first tentative steps, the woman at the well learned about real love, and the demonic possessed man felt when his heart and mind were clear again.

God can transform bruises to beauty marks. My reading outside Bible will speak directly to me. Morning devotionals will have a tread that runs through them connecting my pain to the thoughts of Christian writers. I will learn how another deal with similar situations of suffering and draw strength from theses Christian strangers who are ministering to my soul.

God can transform bruises to beauty marks. The friends who represent the face of Jesus will give good advice, they will cry with me, hurt with me, laugh with me and hug me. The words they say will be insightful, sweet, humbling, and soothing. If I really listen to what they tell me about experiences they have had in suffering, I can learn and draw strength to get me through the next minute, hour, day, week or month. My friendships deepen when I allow someone else to help me in suffering. By not accepting the help they offer, I am stealing the joy they get from doing God’s will and His direction to them to help me. This was a hard lesson for me to learn – to accept help with graciousness. It makes me feel better accepting their help if I follow their help with a note of thankfulness and a prayer for special blessings for them.


God can transform bruises to beauty marks. Satan does not sit around and let all this happen without using my weakened state to damage my soul. The prince of darkness will try to use the suffering to turn me away from God. He will say things like:
“God’s not being fair to you. You try to do His will and he still let’s you suffer.”
“Look at all the time and energy you give to God and where is he when you need him?” “Look at ‘so-and-so’, he is not as good as you, but he is not suffering.”
“What you need is more money, more/better friends, a husband, etc.”
“God must not love you, look how he blesses others; I think he forgot about you.”
But, I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

God is good all the time – even when I suffer. When I let God take control I become almost a spectator in His marvelous plan for my life. God does not expect perfection; He expects progress.

Advent Love

(Advent Devotion 2005)

Galatians 5:22-23 The Message

We mothers sometimes hurry through the holidays forgetting what the season is really all about. We often lament that “other people” do not really understand the reason for the season. But what do us as Christian mothers DO to promote a heart for Christ in our children? We SAY we want our children to know the true meaning of Christmas, but our actions and often our words demonstrate a very different meaning. Let’s listen in on three conversations that could have happened on the very night of Christ’s birth. Do we see ourselves?

Standing in line for hotel reservations…
“Mama When can we go out and play with the other children?”
“Maaaammmmaaaa, I want to go out and see what the vendors have for sale”
“Mom, I want to see if I can find my friends”

“Hush children, evidently the couple ahead of us in line did not have the forethought to make reservations. They should have known Bethlehem would be busy and the hotels would be full. The family of David is a big family and we all had to come here for the census. You would think they would have planned ahead. Look how near she is to giving birth,”
Hamm! I wish they would hurry up! This baby needs her nap. I am so tired of tending to all of you. Where is your father? Over there around the camp fire with the other men “chewing the fat” I suppose. And they say we women like to talk!”


A few miles away. . .
“Where are those boys?” I told them to have those sheep back in the pasture near our home before dark! Teenage boys – you can’t live with them you can’t shoot them! Levi! Where are your sons? They act just like you and your brothers did at that age. This is all your fault. I told all of you I was fixing a special supper to celebrate the good fortune Yahweh has given us with such a fine heard of sheep. How can we celebrate with no sheep and no family? I work my fingers to the bone around here and not one appreciates it.! Is this how a family shows love to their family?”

A few months later . . .
“Son, You paid those wise men handsomely to return and tell you of this new king who is going to over throw your authority. Where are they? That’s what you get for trusting foreigners. I knew they looked shifty eyed! When are you going to listen to your mother?”


Mothers and Christmas – We work so hard to make things nice for our children. We plan special meals, we take special trips, we buy special gifts and all we really need to do is show love.
The same Love that came down to Bethlehem and found a room in a stable behind an inn because his parent’s did not make reservations; the same Love that distracted a bunch of teenage shepherds and led to away from home to see this tiny bundle of Love; this same Love that steered wise men off their course and caused them to bring gifts to an unlikely King.

Love came down and CHRISTmas can fill our soul with love. May this Advent be a time that you and your family focus on the real love of God and not just the weak human gestures we call love.

Dear Lord, I am so blessed to be a mother. Help me in my weakness to express to my children your love; a love that they will feel deeply in their souls and a love that they can pass on to others. Help me to not get caught up in the hurriedness of the holidays that I forget to hug my children and encase them in arms that represent the very arms of Your Son that stretched out on a cross to demonstrate the Love you have for us.

Stewardship

Stewardship testimony give at FBC Thomson - Dec 2001

Mark 14:3-9 Alabaster Jar

Ultimately, good stewardship is not a matter of wise money management or even responsible giving. It is a matter of extravagant love. Breaking this expensive jar and pouring out this even more expensive perfume was an act of worship for this woman. Jesus had given her so much she could not help but worship him.

Evaluating assets and giving them was as unnatural to the first century Christians as it is to us today. That is the whole point. Conversion and commitment to Christ requires a supernatural experience. Private ownership of property was still a part of life, but joyful giving and sharing of this property became the “norm” of supernatural living. The examples Jesus gave us to follow were not about millionaires giving huge amounts of money. It actually was not focused on the money at all. Examples in scripture that we are to emulate are about every day people like you and me:
Widows giving from all they have.
Short tax collector that repents and gives out of his love for Christ.

My own growth in stewardship has paralleled my growth as a disciple. In fact it has propelled it. I have learned more about faith, trust, grace, commitment and God’s provision through stewardship than in other areas of my life.

I cannot claim that I did not know about tithing and giving, after all I was reared on the first pew on the piano side of my church. I had wonderful examples to follow beginning with my parents and extending to other church leaders. The cause of my not being a steward was that I flat did not want to do it. I wanted it all for myself. This was my money. I had to provide the things I wanted and needed. I was selfish.

When Ron and I began our family we decided to tithe. It was not easy it required a different mind set. The money and things that we thought were ours were really God’s. God provided our jobs, God provided our home, God provided our very existence. As Ron’s illness intensified tithing was already a habit for us. I had to take over the family finances and tithing and giving became a way we could thank God for every blessing he provided in such a trying time.

Paul said, “God loves a cheerful giver.” It can be said also, “ A cheerful giver loves God”. The more a cheerfully I gave, the deeper the love and joy. Making wise choices with our money are supreme acts of worship. Giving changed from something I ought to do to something I should do to something I did because I was a Christian to an act of worship.

Here is my challenge to you.
Have you taken in the love Christ has extravagantly poured out for you?
Has it left your heart so filled with gratitude that you can’t help but lavishly pour it out in return?
Is his love transforming your prayer form, “Give me Lord” to “Use me Lord – all that I am and all that I hold dear”?