Peace

Hope

 

 

“Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” 

~G.K. Chesterton~

Comfort

Isaiah 66:13

“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted ...”

I Am

By: Jill Phillips

Oh gently lay your head
Upon my chest
And I will comfort you like a mother while you rest
And the tide can change so fast
But I will stay
The same through past the same in future the same today

I am constant
I am near
I am peace that shatters all your secret fears
I am holy
I am wise
I’m the only one who knows your heart’s desires
Your heart’s desires

Oh weary tired and worn
Let out your sighs
Drop that heavy load you hold cause mine is light
And I know you through and through
There’s no need to hide
I want to show you love that is deep and high and wide

I am constant
I am near
I am peace that shatters all your secret fears
I am holy
I am wise
I’m the only one who knows your heart’s desires
Your heart’s desires

I am constant
I am near
I am peace that shatters all your secret fears
I am holy
I am wise
I’m the only one who knows your heart’s desires
Your heart’s desires

Oh gently lay your head upon my chest
And I will comfort you like a mother while you rest

Out of the Shadowlands

"The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."

And as He (Aslan) spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all stories, and we can most truly say they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.

~Closing lines, Ch. 16, Farewell to Shadowlands,  The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

Uncle J

 

On Friday my grandmother buried the last of her boys. Though my heart aches with grief and sadness because of the loss of my uncle, her heart seems to be shattered. My heart aches for her.  As a child, I never imagined that these men that I loved and looked up to, who seemed so strong and indispensable, would be gone so soon.   Please lift us up in prayers as we wade through this difficult time.

My uncle was a gentle giant. He had a laugh that seemed to roll out of him and a heart that was tender and full of love. He and I shared a special bond, we both loved my daddy. When Daddy died, we became closer than ever before. He and Daddy were identical twins, and I was Daddy's only child. I think we saw him in each other and wanted to hold on to that. There was never a time that we were together that we did not laugh and reminisce about different stories of them growing up, or me as a little girl. He told the best stories. I am so thankful for these last years that we had to grow closer and for all the memories that flood my heart and thoughts even now.

I love you Uncle J.

Southern Goodness (Sweet Tea Recipe with a Twist)

This is one of my favorite Sweet Tea recipes. Enjoy!

For the tea:

• 8 cups (2 quarts) water
• 8 tea bags
• 1 bunch fresh mint
• 1 1/2 cups superfine or granulated sugar

To serve:

• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (from 4 medium limes)
• Ice
• 6 fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
• 1 medium lime, cut into sixths, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

For the tea:

1. Place water in a medium pot and bring to a simmer over high heat. When water simmers, remove from heat, add tea bags and mint, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes.
2. Once tea has steeped, discard tea bags, add sugar, and stir until sugar has completely dissolved. Let tea cool to room temperature, then place in the refrigerator to cool completely, about 2 hours.

To serve:

1. Once tea is cold, remove mint and stir in lime juice. Taste and adjust with more lime juice or sugar as desired. Serve over ice with a sprig of mint and a wedge of lime.