Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Friendship

Thinking about friendships tonight and what it means to be a good friend. I truly love each one of my friends, however in different ways. I love the caring, companionship of a good friend; even my friends who live miles and miles from me. When we talk, it's as if we haven't been apart for one day. Ahhh, friendship is such a gift. A gift from Whom, you may ask? Our loving heavenly Father--He created us to be relational as is seen in the Trinity and in our personal relationships with Him.

Just a couple Scriptures on friendship:
Proverbs 17:17a "A friend loves at all times."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up."
J0hn 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

Quotes about friendship:
"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships." Abraham Lincoln
"It takes a long time to grow an old friend." unknown
"A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Many years ago, I read a superb book on the subject of friendships by Dee Brestin, called The Friendships of Women. Brestin uses the friendship of people in the Bible to illustrate how our friendships are valuable, however different with different women. After reading the book, I felt free to have friendships on differing levels. Everyone will not be a "best" friend and that's okay. Some friendships are only in our lives for a season and that's okay. Anyway, I could go on and on, but hopefully you get the gist of what I'm saying.

My final thought this good evening is that my life is truly richer for the friendships God has allowed into my life.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Favorite Banana Bread

I've been using this recipe for years...it is moist and oh, so good. I'm thinking that it would be a yummy addition to the Schoolhouse Chicken Soup recipe

Banana Bread

1/2 c. butter or applesauce
3/4 c. Sucanat or brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 c. wheat flour
1 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
1 1/4 c. mashed bananas (about 2-3 ripe)
1/4 c. yogurt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously spray or oil one loaf pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in egg.
3. Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.
4. Mix yogurt and bananas together in yet another bowl.
5. Add alternately to the butter mixture with dry ingredients; mixing with a fork. Do not overmix.
6. Bake 40-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

This is a good recipe to take to a new mommy or friend who is ill or your mother-in-law (because now it is one of her favorites).

Enjoy! My oven is beeping and the smell of delicious banana bread is in the air...I'm going to enjoy some myself!

Monday, January 29, 2007

The Naming of the Blog

I decided to name my blog Lily of the Field from the Scripture that reads:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious...But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. " Matthew 6: 25-33
I do tend to worry and this passage helps me remember not too! Our Heavenly Father does care for us and has always been faithful, so I just need to be faithful to Him. The rest will fall into place. How comforting!

Saturday, January 27, 2007

A New Lily in the Field

I've finally done it~I've entered the blogging world. I have little idea what I'm doing (technologically), however I think it will be a fun adventure.


There will be more another day...I've spent way too much time just setting this up.

Coming next time: What's in a Name?