Meme: Passion Quilt

Kim tagged me for this meme on Friday but it took me some time to think about how to respond to it. I am not a fast thinker, for those of you who are just getting to know me.

But back to the meme. Here are the "rules" for this one:
1. Post a picture or make/take/or create one that depicts that about which YOU are most passionate for students to learn.
2. Give your picture a short title.
3. Title your blog post "Meme: Passion Quilt."
4. Link back to this blog post.
5. Include links to five (or more) whom you are tagging for this meme.

Here's mine and I've titled it simply "Light."

There are so many passages of Scripture that use the imagery of light to convey what we have in our Saviour but to me the one that most clearly conveys the Gospel message in one verse is Psalm 56:13 "For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." And He commands me to share that message with all who cross my path.

I've lost track of who has been tagged and who hasn't for this meme so please, if you haven't been tagged, consider this your invitation to join in.

Sunday Hymn--Christ the Lord is Risen Today

"Christ the Lord is risen today," Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say; Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high; Alleluia!
Sing ye heav'ns, and earth, reply: Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Alleluia!
Christ has burst the gates of hell: Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids his rise; Alleluia!
Christ hath opened Paradise. Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King; Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died, our souls to save; Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head; Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise: Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and heav'n! Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be giv'n; Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now; Alleluia!
Hail, the Resurrection Thou! Alleluia!

Listen to it here.

Split Pea Soup Extraordinaire--By Request

I can say that, the extraordinaire part, because this is really not my recipe. When I was in Oregon about six weeks ago to visit my family, various members of said family made comments to me about my sister, Mary's split pea soup. Things like, "Have you ever had Mary's split pea soup?" or "You really have to have Mary's split pea soup sometime!" or "Mary makes the best split pea soup!" So I finally asked her exactly what the deal was with this raved-about split pea soup and she said the secret ingredients were potatoes and garlic. "Okay," I said, filing that away for future reference. Well, I had a ham bone in the freezer so last week, I decided to give it a try. Here's the exact recipe:

Boil a ham bone with lots of ham scraps still attached in about a gallon of water for a couple of hours. Remove bone and strip it of usable ham chunks cutting them into bite-sized pieces. Set ham chunks aside adding more of them, if necessary.

Add approximately four and a half cups of dried split peas to the ham broth and bring to a boil. Boil for two minutes; then remove from heat, cover and let stand one hour. Stir about one cup of chopped onion, two cloves of minced garlic, and salt and pepper as desired into peas. Cover and simmer until peas are tender, about one hour. Skim fat if necessary.

Add ham chunks, three medium carrots (sliced) and three medium potatoes cut into half inch cubes to soup. Heat to boiling, reduce heat. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes.

Well, that split pea soup was everything it was cracked up to be! Andy loved it that night and I thought it was pretty darn good, myself! The next day, I was having tea with my dear friend, Kim, and I mentioned that the night before I had made the best split pea soup I ever made. Being the excellent cook that she is, Kim's ears perked up even though she is the only one in her family who likes the stuff. The next day I dropped some off for Kim's dining pleasure at lunch time and that is where the request part comes in. "You've got to post that recipe!" she said. So here is...with endorsements!

Quotes from the Cottage

"He who dwells in a house, keeps the house in repair; so the Spirit dwelling in a believer, keeps grace in repair. Grace is compared to a river of the water of life, John 7:38. This river can never be dried up, because God's spirit is the spring that continually feeds it."
--Thomas Watson

15 Words or Less Poem

Lemon yellow,
Could be jello.
Take a square
Fat chance.

My Very First Meme

I've been tagged for my very first meme! Kim at Hiraeth did the tagging and I'm excited to get to play!

So here are the rules of the game:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, each player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Here's the meme:

What was I doing ten years ago?

Like Kim, I was getting ready to move but our move was just local. Moving from rural upstate New York two years previously, Chicagoland involved some sticker shock for us and the house we were living in was affordable but did not really meet our needs. Also I was just beginning the project of homeschooling our daughter, Emily, for her high school years.

Five things on my "to do" list today:
1. Care for a friend's cat while they are on vacation
2. Take a walk with Charlie
3. Do next installment of study of the Book of Matthew with my sister
4. Clean the bedroom
5. Do two rows on the baby afghan I'm crocheting

Snacks I enjoy:
fruit, trail mix, popcorn

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Hmmm...well, visit Ireland, fund a building for our little church and a pastor too, help family and friends that I know could use it, buy Andy a four wheel drive vehicle and Emily a harpsichord. Probably not in that order and each one only after much prayer to ascertain God's direction in the matter but those are the dreamy things that spring to my mind.

Three of my bad habits:
I have to tell? Well, all right.
1. Worrying (but not as much as I used to)
2. Hitting the return key after I label a post but before I am ready to publish it!
3. Not buying something at a clearance sale or a second hand store or a garage sale and then it is gone when I decide I really should have gotten it

Five places I've lived:
1. The Utica-Rome area of Upstate New York
2. Wichita Falls, Texas
3. The Portland, Oregon area
4. New York City
5. Long Island, New York

Five jobs I've had:
1. Registered nurse
2. Child-care provider
3. Tae Kwon Do instructor
4. Seamstress
5. I don't think there ever was anything else!

So there you have it! I think I will tag Rosemary at Seasonings of the Heart, Karen at Simply A Musing Blog, Ann at Whatever Things... and Island Sparrow at A Sparrow's Home.

Easter Celebration

Today, not only did we have the joy of worshiping our God, celebrating what He has done for us through the atoning death and resurrection of His Son, but we had the pleasure of sharing Easter dinner with our church family after the service. Our home was the location but we all contributed to the meal. Kim made Rosemary's Cheesy Potatoes and oh, boy, were they a hit! Rich and cheesy, just like the recipe says, they accompanied the ham perfectly. Also present and accounted for were various vegetables, another scrumptious potato dish and rolls. My assignment was dessert and I decided on carrot cake. This recipe, given to me by my friend, Julie, is the one I've made for several years now and I always get compliments on it. Today was no exception so I'm sharing the recipe with all of you.

2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/3 cups canola oil
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 cups grated carrot (1 cup=4 ounces)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (I substitute pecans)
1 cup raisins

Beat sugar, eggs and oil together. In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Add to sugar, egg and oil mixture and combine. Mix well. Stir in carrots, nuts and raisins. Spray 9 X 13 inch baking pan and pour in mixture. Bake for 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 eight ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest or peel
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest or peel (If I don't have one or the other on hand, I just use 3 teaspoons of the one I do have.)
2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

Beat together butter and cream cheese at high speed until very light and well blended. Beat in the zests. Beat in sugar at low speed.

Poetry of the Resurrection: Hail Thou Once Despised Jesus

Hail, Thou once despisèd Jesus! Hail, Thou Galilean King!
Thou didst suffer to release us; Thou didst free salvation bring.
Hail, Thou universal Savior, who hast borne our sin and shame!
By Thy merits we find favor; life is given through Thy Name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, all our sins on Thee were laid;
By almighty love anointed, Thou hast full atonement made.
Every sin may be forgiven through the virtue of Thy blood;
Opened is the gate of Heaven, reconciled are we with God.

Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory, there forever to abide;
All the heavenly hosts adore Thee, seated at Thy Father’s side.
There for sinners Thou art pleading; there Thou dost our place prepare;
Thou for saints art interceding till in glory they appear.

Worship, honor, power and blessing Christ is worthy to receive;
Loudest praises, without ceasing, right it is for us to give.
Help, ye bright angelic spirits, bring your sweetest, noblest lays;
Help to sing of Jesus’ merits, help to chant Emmanuel’s praise!

John Bakewell, 1757 and Martin Madan, 1760

For more Poetry of the Resurrection, click here.

First Day of Spring: Crystal Lake, Illinois

Does this look like spring to you? Us either. But we had to admit, fresh snow is always beautiful. Even when your commute is lousy. Even when your daughter can't come home for Easter until the next day. Even when you can't make it to Good Friday Service. It is still beautiful and God is still sovereign.

Poetry of the Cross: Not all the Blood of Beasts

Not all the blood of beasts
On Jewish altars slain,
Could give the guilty conscience peace,
Or wash away the stain:

But Christ, the heavenly Lamb
Takes all our sins away,
A sacrifice of nobler name
And richer blood than they.

My faith would lay her hand
On that dear head of thine,
While like a penitent I stand,
And there confess my sin.

My soul looks back to see
The burdens thou didst bear,
When hanging on the cursed tree,
And knows her guilt was there.

Believing, we rejoice
To see the curse remove;
We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice,
And sing his bleeding love.

Isaac Watts, 1709

More Poetry of the Cross here.

Poetry of the Cross: Throned Upon the Awful Tree

Throned upon the awful tree,
Lamb of God, Your grief I see.
Darkness veils Your anguished face;
None its lines of woe can trace.
None can tell what pangs unknown
Hold You silent and alone.

Silent through those three dread hours,
Wrestling with the evil powers,
Left alone with human sin,
Gloom around You and within,
Till the appointed time is nigh,
Til the Lamb of God may die.

Hark, that cry that peals aloud
Upward through the whelming cloud!
You, the Father’s only Son,
You, His own anointed One,
You are asking “can it be”
“Why have You forsaken Me?”

Lord, should fear and anguish roll,
Darkly o’er my sinful soul,
You, who once were thus bereft
That Your own might ne’er be left,
Teach me by that bitter cry
In the gloom to know You nigh.

John Ellerton, 1875

More Poetry of the Cross here.

Poetry of the Cross: Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
’Tis the long expected prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
’Tis a true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress:
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed!
See Who bears the awful load!
’Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed,
Son of Man, and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost.
Christ the Rock of our salvation,
Christ the Name of which we boast.
Lamb of God for sinners wounded!
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.

Thomas Kelly, 1804

For more Poetry of the Cross, visit here.

Poetry of the Cross: O Dearest Jesus

O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken
That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?
Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession—
What dark transgression?

They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee;
With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee;
They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee;
They crucify Thee.

Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish;
Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit,
This I do merit.

What punishment so strange is suffered yonder!
The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander;
The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him,
Who would not know Him.

The sinless Son of God must die in sadness;
The sinful child of man may live in gladness;
Man forfeited his life and is acquitted—
God is committed.

There was no spot in me by sin untainted;
Sick with sin’s poison, all my heart had fainted;
My heavy guilt to hell had well-nigh brought me,
Such woe it wrought me.

O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded,
That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!
All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying
While Thou wert dying.

O mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory!
How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story?
How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer?
What dare I offer?

For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder—
Thy woes, Thy mercy, still transcend our wonder.
Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee!
Can I requite Thee?

Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee;
I will renounce whate’er doth vex or grieve Thee
And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly
All fires unholy.

But since my strength will nevermore suffice me
To crucify desires that still entice me,
To all good deeds, oh, let Thy Spirit win me
And reign within me!

I’ll think upon Thy mercy without ceasing,
That earth’s vain joys to me no more be pleasing;
To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor
Henceforth forever.

Whate’er of earthly good this life may grant me,
I’ll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me;
I shall not fear what man can do to harm me
Nor death alarm me.

But worthless is my sacrifice, I own it;
Yet, Lord, for love’s sake Thou wilt not disown it;
Thou wilt accept my gift in Thy great meekness
Nor shame my weakness.

And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in Heaven
To me the crown of joy at last is given,
Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee,
I, too, shall praise Thee.

Johann Heerman, 1630

More Poetry of the Cross here.

Poetry of the Cross: Salvation

My sin, His blood
My guilt, His pain
My debt, His cost
My life, His death
My utter need, His perfect love
My Saviour, His faltering disciple.

More Poetry of the Cross.

Sweet Potato Puff

One more for the Recipe Round Up! It is more of a special occasion side dish, one that goes equally well with ham or turkey. A special friend gave it to me several years ago and I've made it just about every holiday season since. Thanks, Sharon!

3 medium sweet potatoes, cooked and peeled
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/4 c. butter
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. cinnamon

Place sweet potatoes in the bowl. Beat with wire whisk attachment to your mixer at low speed for 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients, turn mixer to medium speed and beat for one minute. Spread mixture in greased pie plate or 8 X 8 square pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until set. Spread Crunchy Praline Topping on hot sweet potatoes and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Crunchy Praline Topping

1/3 c. butter, melted
3/4 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1/2 c. brown sugar

Stir ingredients thoroughly together.

Poetry of the Cross: By the Cross of Jesus Standing

By the cross of Jesus standing,
Love our straitened souls expanding,
Taste we now the peace and grace!
Health from yonder tree is flowing,
Heav’nly light is on it glowing,
From the blessed Sufferer’s face.

Here is pardon’s pledge and token,
Guilt’s strong chain forever broken,
Righteous peace securely made;
Brightens now the brow once shaded,
Freshens now the face once faded,
Peace with God now makes us glad.

All the love of God is yonder,
Love above all thought and wonder,
Perfect love that casts out fear!
Strength, like dew, is here distilling,
Glorious life our souls is filling,
Life eternal, only here!

Here the living water welleth;
Here the Rock, now smitten, telleth
Of salvation freely giv’n:
This the fount of love and pity,
This the pathway to the city,
This the very gate of Heav’n.

Horatius Bonar

Read more Poetry of the Cross here.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Baked Tomatoes

Don't forget that tomorrow is the Recipe Round Up featuring side dishes at The Accidental Pastor's Wife. I need some inspiration in this area so I am looking forward to all of your recipes. Here's my next contribution.

Tasty and easy are two important criteria in a recipe, as far as I am concerned. Baked tomatoes make it on both counts. They are especially good with egg dishes or sandwiches.

Place Roma tomatoes, halved length-wise, in an oven proof dish cut side up and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450 and bake another 15 minutes. Tomatoes should still be firm and ever so slightly browned.

Meanwhile, make cilantro butter by mixing three tablespoons of softened butter with one clove minced garlic, one tablespoon chopped cilantro, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice and salt to taste.

When tomatoes come from the oven, spread with cilantro butter and serve.

Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

Jesus, keep me near the cross;
There a precious fountain,
Free to all—a healing stream—
Flows from Calvary's mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Shed its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.

Near the cross I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

Listen to it here.

The Promise of Spring--Fulfilled!

We took a walk with Charlie just a little while ago and look what was waiting for us in the yard! Snowdrops! They come even before crocuses around here but I've never had any in my yard until we moved to the Cottage three years ago. I love their brave little bells bending to the wind and cold of March! Yes, it is only six days until the official first day of spring but it is a gray 40 degrees out there with a bit of a breeze. The kind of weather that makes you eager to put the kettle on for tea upon returning from a walk. I think I'll go do that right now!