Every 8 Seconds

**Please forgive me if you read my other blogs.

I am duplicating my posts as this subject is worth redundancy**

A group of Siesta's from around the country and over seas, joined together to compile a 338 page cookbook.

Now this is not just any ole cookbook.

This grassroots culinary catalog has an abundance of delectable recipes, beautiful photography, plus an assortment of family stories and sayings to boot!

Take a look at the index to get a feel for what's inside.

Filet Mignon with Blackberries...Yum!

The real treasure is that all proceeds will be donated to Life Outreach International whose ministries include drilling water wells in third world countries, where every 8 seconds someone dies from a waterborne disease. Those effected most are children...many of whom die before they reach the age of 5.

With so little, we can do so much!

The Siesta created this book in honor of Beth Moore and the entire Living Proof staff, who are big supporters of providing 'Living Water' to the all the world.

Consider giving books for Christmas, Birthdays, Newlyweds, a Teachers gift...you get the picture.

The cookbooks are $18 each with an additional $6 for shipping. There will be a discount in shipping cost for orders of two or more books.

We've installed a little button on our web bar that will allow you to place an order for books with Holly of Crownlaiddown. Holly is the lead Siesta, who organized and produced the entire project, for her we are most grateful.

Once you press the 'Order Here' button, you'll be brought to an order form. After completing the form, press 'send' to have the information sent to Holly, who will then contact you with a total and various payment options.

Pass it On!

We quickly forward inspirational stories and videos via email all the time... as we lift prayer and praise for the content shared...this should be no exception.


Pass it on, let others partake of the blessing.

Handicaps

We were at again.

The Awesome Foursome as Polly would say.

Me? I'm thinkin more like...

The Terrific Trio.

Considering my pitiful abilities, I would humbly exclude myself from my peers.

Take a look at this form

Impressive, eh?

We had a great time as usual. No intimidation playing with these gals, unless you have an aversion to much laughter and cheer?




This being my third 'scored' play, I have additional figures to add to my handicap.

My more knowledgeable partners tell me...handicaps are a good thing.


That has not been my understanding.

I thought golf handicaps were simply an average of a players score, period...higher the handicap, poorer the player.

So, if you were playing with big girls they would know from the get-go, they should not to be in hurry.

This NOT necessarily the reality.

Oh, yes your partners may figure your style of play

(This would be my signature 'Squat')

could slow down the game considerably. They may choose to lather on the SPF 100 instead of SPF 50 or pack a lunch...uh...you get the picture, as everything indicates

WARNING: LONG DAY AHEAD!!

I've learned there is a lot more that goes into a golfers handicap.

For instance...according to Wikipedia 'A player's handicap is intended to show a player's potential, not his average score'


This surprised and delighted me.


I like this discovery...I really do!


This reminds me of how God sees and uses me, based on how He sees me, my potential...through Him.

In and of myself I am severely handicapped, useless by the worlds standards. If there is a bunker, water hazard, forest or rough...I will land right in the middle of it every time...drawn to it as it were.

I'm unable to stay on the fairways of life without Divine intervention, much less land on the greens.

But through Christ, I have vast potential!

Yet, until I surrender, giving up all pretense that I can do anything of value outside of Christ through me, I'm doomed to hobble along in my flesh, living with an ever increasing handicap.

Just a reminder:
While walking this sod, we are all disabled...some more visible than others. Sometimes you may never be aware of it until you hit the course with a dear brother or sister.


Many deformities are as obvious the bulky stroke counter I wore at my waist awhile back. Big and brightly colored, a glaring reminder to all, just how imperfect I am. Yet He still uses me. Broke mess that I am. Uses me in ways I could never do on my own.


I can 'dress the dress', 'walk the walk', stretch and loosen up just like a Tiger or Annika. Sometimes my practice swings look great.


Yet, when it's time to come out swinging...


Whooooa!! Duck!


What was I thinking...who was I fooling?

My personal prayer?

Lord, let me give up the charade and get honest with myself and others... may all know that I can truly do nothing without You calling the shots.

Oh that His glory may burst through my cracked and broken life.

Crippled in myself...made glorious through Him!

As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10, regarding God's answer to his notorious handicap...that thorn in his flesh.

"I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then He told me, 'My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness'. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. "

Through me... train wreck...every single time.

Through Christ all things are possible...ALL things.

I am so grateful God does not see me as I see myself, oh how lost I would be. He sees my potential, He knows what He has planned for me, what I am capable of through Him. I praise Him for it!

On that note, I leave you with the following video.

I hope this helps you understand how our heavenly Father sees us.

Oh yes! To Him we are ALL as cute and cuddly as this little fella!