by Cathy Baker | Faith |
The votes have been tallied and December 1st was the winner hands-down — which means our Monday night Bible Study group will enjoy a Christmas Tea that evening. I don’t recall ever having prepared a tea party for 25, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.
I especially enjoy Christmas Tea parties in the evening. Soft flickering candlelight, delicious aromas of Christmas tea blends wafting through the air and classical music playing in the background all come together to set the stage for an unforgettable evening of fellowship, meaningful moments, and lots of laughter… especially if Lisa Chappell is invited! Have mercy.
So, the ideas are beginning to swirl around in my head! Do you have tips or ideas to share? If so, send them my way!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
In celebration of the second day of Fall, here are a “few of my favorite things” about the season:
- it’s the perfect planting season (need I say more?)
- cool crisp breezes
- fewer mosquitoes
- the pecans begin falling in our backyard and I’m immediately taken back to my great-grandmother’s home in Jonesville, SC, where we spent many a Thanksgiving gathering pecans and figs from their yard
- mountain trips
- our Anniversary – 18 years in October!
- hot apple cider
- crunchy leaves underfoot
- brilliantly colored leaves painting the sky
- Fall clothes! Bulky, warm and comfortable – good riddance capris!
- Yummy apples (Honeycrisp and Jazz are my favorites!)
- Daylight savings time = being able to start movies sooner in the evening!
- just the simple smell of autumn. There’s nothing quite like it.
So much for a “few” of my favorite things!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
That is the question now posed to the Monday night study group. This morning, they were given three dates to choose from — one date in November, making it a Thanksgiving Tea, and two dates in December, making it a Christmas Tea. Either is fine with me, although I have to admit to my few readers that I’m secretly hoping for a Christmas Tea!
So, why a tea party? Any tea lover would quickly reply, “Why not a tea party?”, but it goes much deeper than that. Perhaps it’s because of our “church search” journey in recent months that has made connecting the body of Christ especially important to me. Being on the “visitor” side of the equation has reminded me of just how incredibly vital it is that people are welcoming to newcomers and caring to those around them. If we are to give God glory through our lives (which means giving a correct estimate of who He is to others) then we need to become very intentional as to who He has placed around us instead of focusing on ourselves. That is giving a correct estimate of our awesome Lord.
On the last week of our Summer study, I passed out feedback sheets in hopes of learning where I could improve as a teacher and how the class could improve in specific areas. One thing that was mentioned a few times was connecting more with the other class members, which is especially vital when the class members represent more than 5 churches. Is this easy to do in the amount of time we allot for class? No, but that’s no excuse. So, I’m praying for creative ways to “set the stage” for connecting opportunities, but the actual connecting will have to come from each person.
Last week, after talking on 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, we wrote down a specific area where we needed to experience God’s comfort this week and then put the request in a basket, along with our contact information. We passed the basket around with the requests and yummy Dove chocolate pieces (dark chocolate, of course!) The ladies were encouraged to pray for the person they drew, and to encourage/minister to them in some way. Once they had done so they were to enjoy their piece of chocolate. A little “comfort” food never hurt anyone, right?
So, I’m looking forward to receiving feedback from the ladies to see which holiday we will be celebrating as a group. I’ll keep you posted!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
In our study this week, we are asked to list the specific ways God has protected his calling on our lives. Godly grandparents topped my list.
Last night, we celebrated “Ma-Ma’s” 90th birthday! She is my grandmother on my dad’s side and like my grandmother who passed away in December, she has been a constant example of Christ throughout my life.
MaMa (Alberta Scott) was well known in the Fairforest community. She and Pa-Pa were founding members of Fairforest Baptist Church and she worked as the dietitian for Fairforest Elementary School for almost 40 years. Her yeast rolls won prizes and the hearts of many elementary aged children. As mentioned in previous posts, MaMa was the person who introduced me to nursing homes when I was a little girl. She infused me with a love for those who often go unnoticed. Rarely a week would go by when she wouldn’t send me on my bike with half a pound cake for a friend who was sick or lonely. That was then. This is now.
Today, at 90 years old, she continues to read her Bible every day and share Christ with those who serve her at NHC. She understands that her journey and commitment to Him does not, and should not, fade over time. It only grows stronger.
Her life continues to leave an indelible print on my life and so many others.
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Let the hawks eat snakes… the snakes eat mice… and the mice eat insects. I was recently awakened to the fact that I’m not always a big fan of the “circle of life.”
After filling up the bird feeder and adding water to the birdbath, I heard a huge ruckus behind me. The little birds I had just fed were now fleeing for their lives as one of their own had been caught and tucked tightly in the mouth of my new yard buddy, Oreo the cat.
I had fooled myself into thinking that if I fed Oreo enough cat food she would lose her innate desire for food with a feathered crust but I quickly realized that her primal tendencies would override anything Publix cat food had to offer. It served as a vivid reminder to the danger found in my own “feather crusted food” – those fleshly desires that linger until our last breath.
There is no doubt that Oreo will continue to enjoy her feathered feasts because she is a slave to her nature, but thanks be to God, I am not.
The votes have been tallied and December 1st was the winner hands-down — which means our Monday night Bible Study group will enjoy a Christmas Tea that evening. I don’t recall ever having prepared a tea party for 25, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.
