Welcome Heart, Sue Donaldson, Speaker

Elaine's Potato Casserole

8 medium potatoes, bolied, peeled, diced

Place in buttered 9x13 casserole dish

Mix together:

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup grated cheddar

1 cup sour cream

salt and pepper

Stir into potatoes and top with 1 more cup of cheddar. Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes or bubbling through - don't overbake -- Elaine Notley

Diane served these last night (her mom's recipe) alongside steak and salad and garlic bread. A wonderful feast of food and fellowship, and we love our new friends from Denver - Jessica, Jeff, Emma and Gabe. Welcome, folks!

Remember a time when you couldn’t wait for someone special to arrive?  You checked out the window, you checked your watch, you checked your lipstick.  The time moved too slowly.  The house was ready, the food all set, excitement sizzled like the grill, and you couldn’t wait for the doorbell to ring.  You knew it was going to be a blast!

God feels that way every day. Hospitality began with God.  He created the world and He invites you to join Him.

He anticipates your arrival - "In the beginning God..."(Genesis 1:1,2)

He provides the perfect welcome - "He sets the table..." (Psalm 23:5,6)

He loved you first - "In this is love, not that we loved but that He loves us..." (I John 4:10,19)

He sent the limousine - "...but as many as receive Him become His children."  (John 1:12)

He invited the whole world - "For God so loved the world..." (John 3:16)

 Now that's an invitation.

   Tonight we go to the Helberts for dinner. We invited a new family from Denver. I'm stoked. The Helberts love us and God and let me invite a family I just met - why? Because God invited the world. And we are to be His welcome to the world.

A little hesitant to host? Look at the Ultimate Host and ask Him for His enthusiasm and strength. He will come through, believe me. Someone may only meet Him at your table. (Let the hamburgers begin!!)

When life throws you lemons (you know the drill) -- catch them before they fall, and make some homemade lemonade, even in January.

After living without a kitchen ceiling for 7 years of remodeling, I decided to make something beautiful from cobwebs and pipes. (The good news is: my husband is doing the remodeling and...we are still married!)

I found cute mason jars at Pottery Barn (easy to make with wire and jars but, I work there so the 40% discount made it an easy decision!) and candles from the dollar store, added twine and hooks and -- voila! Beauty from the beast!

Then, my builder-hero decided to put in a ceiling, right before Thanksgiving...I didn't dare complain - progress, you know. But, what to do with my new pretties??

Last week I tackled the black-hole (laundry room) and found a new beast to beautify. First, I discovered an iron baker's rack at my favorite thrift store. I removed the top glass shelf so I could hang clothes right out of the dryer. Then came the mason jars.

Then came my Christmas present from Lisa - a cute "Give Thanks" plaque which was on its way into the Thanksgiving decor storage tote when I recognized some year-round "gratefulness cultivation" was in order for my least favorite room.

(You, too, can get an original print of laundry entitled: "Hanging Out" - see www.annesprints.com for purchase)

After that - a little humor...

... lo and behold, my half-finished -- okay, a quarter finished-- laundry room is a thing of beauty. If I don't love laundry, I can at least love the room, right? Right.

What black hole do you have that could use some beautifying?

Take something simple combined with some color, add a bit of humor and you will be delighted! (Now, the closets...sigh.)

A great definition of ANGER:  when my goals are blocked. In other words, I don't get my own way. (Think: 2-year-old or maybe 59-year-old...)

Remember the last time you got miffed--did you make a desire into a goal and someone didn't come through? Whoopsie-daisy - it's easy to do. Try separating goals from desires--goals are something I work on; desires are something I hope for.

So, you got mad--now what? Our only good choice is forgiving. I may not feel like it, but God sets the bar high: "Forgive others as I have forgiven you." Well, well.

Forgiving our sins cost His Son's life. Makes my anger lose steam. If I decide to hug my grudge, I'm the one in prison.

Want freedom (not free rent?) Choose forgiveness. The hard work's already been done: Christ forgave you.

Do you ever doubt yourself? Your talents? Your lists? Do you even have time for some healthy navel-gazing questions, like:

Why am I here? (besides laundry...)

Who should I be talking to?

What should I be doing?

When should I start doing something else?

Is this life big enough? Filled enough? Directed enough?

Jean Shaw wrote: "The woman with limited abilities who assesses them in the light of godly counsel will be more prosperous than the multi-talented individual who runs in all directions, never seeking God's will."

Limited abilities - that's something we can relate to. But, we can seek God's will. He has first claim on any talents--they are from Him; He has first choice on any time (even before laundry)--He made time. And, His Word says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, with all your soul, and your neighbor as yourself." That's our bottom line; let Him fill in the blanks.

Give your day to God. He will answer all the above questions and more--like: what's for dinner? (I'll help you with that one  - Ceslie just passed on a yummy new chicken enchilada recipe with feta cheese - trying it out on our adopted college girls this week--can't wait!)

PS  Speaking of laundry, I decorated the dreaded black hole of a laundry room - so fun to walk in now - doesn't change the job, however...Pics to follow.

Just got this great note from lovely Laura, turning 40 in May -- why not advertise your age when you do it so graciously?

Dear Friends,

I am turning 40 on May 19th. To celebrate, I am trying to get 40 dresses sewn for a wonderful ministry called Little Dresses for Africa. You are invited to take part!  Here's how you can help: (and of course feel no pressure whatsoever!)

*sew a dress
*buy supplies for 1 dress and give it to me to sew (1 yd cotton fabric, 1 package (3 yd) double fold bias tape, and 1 package rick rack)
*contribute to the postage costs to send the dresses to Africa (the total will be $120)
*If you don't sew, consider making a trade with a friend who does sew. Maybe you could watch their kids or make them a dinner in exchange for them sewing a dress. The dress pattern is simple and will take an hour or less to sew.

Little Dresses for Africa has a website that explains their ministry and has sewing instructions for the dresses. You can use a pillowcase to make a dress or use fabric. Their website is: www.littledressesforafrica.org

I will also be having a big birthday party sometime in June, when my sister and nieces will be in CA, and we plan to hang up all the dresses as the decorations! You will all be invited as soon as we finalize the date.

If you do sew a dress and have left over fabric, please give me a square with your dress; I may try to sew a little quilt with the leftover fabric.

Please let me know if you plan to sew a dress, you have until May 19th, so there's lots of time!  I am keeping track so we can get all 40 sewn.:)

blessings,
Laura

Laura McCarley

 If you want to join the sewing frenzy, I'm happy to send you her contact info - just email me at: sue@welcomeheart.com

James wrote: "When you get trials, consider it joy." (James 1:3) Was he oblivious to real pain or a realist? He must have remembered his half-brother's words: "In this world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Jesus - John 16:33)

We will have trials. That's reality. You are either just getting out of one, in one now, or, about ready to face one. Sounds disheartening to me.

But, we have a choice here: choose to have joy in the midst. Not because you're in denial or an idiot. But, because you decide to take God at His word. He loves you. He is able to work everything out. And He wants to build your character - not necessarily give you comfort and pleasure. (Tell that to a teenager...)

Sounds like joy can be 24/7 when we believe that God knows and cares, no matter what's going on. But, I can't do this by myself. Trials are meant to draw me to Himself. I like being close to God, I don't like trials.

But, since we are promised trials, I'm glad I can hunker down and find strength, rest--even joy--in the arms of the One Who asks me to do just that. "When you have trials, consider it all joy." I'll work on that this week. Will you join me?

...I can't get it right. But, Mark is a patient man, PTL...(I've flipped this photo a zillion times, but it always comes out sideways. You get the idea.)

I wanted to buy this shirt for Mark but it's an extra-large. A customer saw it and said it'd be too big for any man. Pretty funny. Wonder who donated it to the thrift shop - the husband or the wife?

The story goes that St. Augustine had a dream. He dreamed that he met a very bad man, and he said to God: "Lord, why don't you destroy this man who has caused such pain to others?"

God replied: "Which man?"

And, Augustine realized his sin caused as much pain as another's.

God has a way of leveling the playing field.

Paul wrote: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) My sin is as bad as the next. But, God doesn't just level, He takes care of the problem--check this next verse:

"Yet, God with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Jesus Christ when He freed us from the penalty of our sins." (Romans 3:24, NLT)

My sin is enough for me to worry (or, dream) about; I don't need to be telling God how to deal with another's. His grace is greater than all my sin--and your's as well (not that I'm looking that close . . . )

Idols seem archaic - something out of the Old Testament. People bowed down to things they made. I could never figure that out. You made it yourself--how could it deserve your worship?

God wants our attention and I have plenty of idols, no doubt about it.

Chambers put it this way: "Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ." (Utmost for His Highest, January 18) Let's see: self, body-image, food, clothes, children, health, marriage, lack of marriage, self, church, home, friends, family, self, ministry, personal growth, money, fitness, retirement...anything else?

Is God competing for your attention?

I need to ask Him regularly: "Lord, am I bowing somewhere besides at Your feet? May I be consumed with You and You alone. Amen."