It’s All in How You Bake It
by Shirley Connolly

One of my favorite times of year comes when the long-hot summer begins to turn to (Indian summer) autumn. I love the turning of the leaves ~ the oranges, browns, greens, and tinted purples. It’s also the time when many of us will begin harvesting our fruits and vegetables for pies and canning … the apples and pears, that corn on the cob, the long skinny green beans, that shiny zucchini, those acorn squash, and of course the early pumpkins. (My garden is working hard right now to provide all these for my table). Very shortly, the children shall return to school, those summer holiday vacations will end, and many will begin shaking out and rolling up their sleeping bags and tents. I have watched the craft store re-stock its shelves for people like me, who are always looking for some pretty yarn for that next afghan project and I know I must soon lug out that cross-stitch that I started early last spring. Those rainy weather books that got dusty in my mahogany bookcase over the summer can now come down so they will be handy at the first sign of drizzle.

Baking time is just around the corner as well. Do you enjoy baking homemade apple pies and canning vegetables? I have a friend…actually a couple, who can make pies that melt in your mouth at every bite. My pies have always been somewhat difficult to chew actually. Nevertheless, as I get older (excuse me…I mean more mature) I find that I am improving (well a little) in the baking department. There was a time when I was the last person invited to bring dessert to a potluck. It is still kind of that way. I usually stick with Caesar salads – Romaine lettuce, freshly shredded parmesan, flavored croutons, [hold the fish please], and a GOOD bottle of Caesar dressing (basic) if you do not include the trimmings.

We all go through seasonal changes – a bit like the vegetables and especially like the fruit. Think of yourself as an apple pie (the crust being the shell…the flesh). In the book of Psalms, it tells us that when we stay connected to our Lord and allow His Holy Spirit to fill us and minister to us each day we are like the fruit trees. “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3. How fruitful are our pies? How juicy are our apples? How much time did we take this summer to increase in our fruitfulness with the Lord? Colossians 1:10 says, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

I have to confess that I had more than a few rough and tumble days. I would share with others about the importance of trusting and growing and believing and stepping out in faith and placing total dependence on God, while in the meantime I would find myself doubting and worrying and fretting and being afraid to move for fear that I might fail. My apple pie tasted pretty blah. What looked like a great big beautiful puffy pie was just a bunch of hot air ready to pop. Ever feel that way? My pie would be so tough I could throw it to my chickens and even they could not chew it.

Thank goodness God will accept all our pies regardless of how tough our crust and faulty or shriveled our fruit if we continue to practice our baking skills. He knows our frailties. It is just important not to forget to add the fresh living water to our circular masses, that crucial ingredient…the Holy Spirit. Without that, our pies really will turn into shriveled up prune tarts. Good for nothing but the water closet.

The Virtuous Woman at REST

Now there is a curious thought... Did the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31 find time to actually REST? We know we do, and if we do not, we certainly NEED to! What does God’s Word tell us about the Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman at rest? If you look at the word “rest” in your Thesaurus, you will discover that it means more than just laying back and doing nothing. When a person rests, she is also taking the time to “become known” to others. She is loosening up and becoming vulnerable to her friends and loved ones, making it easier for others to see that spirit-controlled nature at work in her life. She is pausing and listening for what direction the Lord might have for her next.

Resting is not just kicking off your slides and putting your feet up on the tapestry-covered stool, yet God is pleased when you and I do stop and wait and take the time to rest in our Lord. Too often, we can be too busy acting out that “Martha-syndrome” and not have time for the Lord at all. I think a lot of Mary of Bethany when I think of the woman of Virtue. Mary knew how to sit at Jesus’ feet and just listen. Do we?

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”
31:10

The virtuous woman is worth more than any ruby... any gem…more than much fine gold. She is becoming known to the women around her as a woman of grace, a woman of wisdom, a woman with a sensitive spirit. She is the woman who has a husband whose wish is to dwell on the joy he has with this his wife, as he works hard at his job during the day. He often says to himself and to God. “Thank you, Lord, for giving me my wife, my friend, my treasure.” She is virtuous in that she will sit and LISTEN to her husband when he comes home from that job tired and frazzled from a long-day’s work. She may have been working outside the home as well. On days such as these maybe the husband will cook that meal and the two of them can sit out on the deck and watch the sunset in silence together. The ruby shines and not a word need to be said. The two can be reading in the same room and just look up and smile. The ruby sparkles brighter at times like this.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”
31:10

When a woman of virtue rests in her relationship with God, she is pleased to be the support of her husband. She does not have to be in the forefront. She is NOT head of the household. He is. If she is seeking a husband, she is praying for him every day. God knows who he is.

“She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.”
31:21

I wrote of this verse before as my favorite evangelism verse showing how a woman can fearlessly be an evangelist in her home and share the gospel with those in her home. We know that the scarlet represents the blood of Jesus Christ washing us clean and making us all white as snow. Another way the virtuous woman can make sure her household sees and understands the good news of our wonderful Lord is by her personal witness, her example. How does she live her daily life? How does she respond when criticized? What is her response when things do not necessarily go her way or when trials come? What the household sees is her and her relationship with the Lord. They respond as a result of her quiet testimony. She has become vulnerable.

“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.”
31:25

When she sits still and waits upon God, he ministers His Word to her heart and gives her His strength to live and love each day. Her quietness as she rests in God clears her mind and heart to be receptive to His Word.

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
31:30

Lord God, just as you have called for us to be women of virtue, teach us to be that quiet witness in our homes, with our husbands, with our children, at our jobs, in the ministry, and even while at rest. Make us like you Lord. Give us testimonies so that we through our examples will be able to draw our friends and loved ones straight into your kingdom for Jesus Sake, Amen.

Something On My Mind
By Helene Ste Cruix of Ontario, Canada

RISE UP MY LOVE
You know I’ve been to all the sites that I am a member of today and I have to say world-wide God is in one accord with His children. The messages in each are simple. God wants our praise today and always. This has been a great blessing to see how even a lot of groups who are not known to each other or some of them who are known show God’s wonderful unity in the Body of Believers today. Rise up oh Bride of Christ -- Rise and give Praise to our King. God is our all and all in the midst of every storm. Rise up and sing Praise. It’s your Peace in the midst of circumstances ... It’s a weapon of warfare. It’s a ringing in and of His Great strength. Rise up oh Bride and sing to Our God...

God brought me back to something Bro Biblical Pop and I already had a study on just before he went away for a while (We await his return ~ please keep him in Prayer). We looked at Isaiah, Chapter 64 on our Bible Study night.

... and What I want to show you all who are being persecuted or going through a storm right now or testing -- Remember Our God -- Give him Praise.

Look at Chapter 64 first two verses.

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and that You would come down. That the mountains might quake and flow down at your presence…As when the fire kindles the bushwood and the fire causes the waters to boil -- to make Your Name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence.”
Isaiah 64:1, 2

Wow! What a Praise. Not only does He refine us in the Refiner’s Fire; Anyone or any Nation Against our God will tremble within at His very name. This is why we get so many attacks and have so much arguing amongst believers today.... One has a true word from God. The other gets offensive because the Spirit of God within causes a heart to either comply with God's word... or continue in how should I say this uncalming anxiety attack of his/her flesh. Why? Because they are not at Peace till they comply. When you do or say something to another brother or sister in Christ, your soul and spirit fights with your flesh. As the Spirit of God shows you what you must do to rectify the situation it only gets worse.

If we let it go on eventually we lose our selves into the old flesh… I do believe as long as God breathes the breath of life into a person here and now there is always hope. Salvation is a Free gift from God if we seek it. He will give it and already has. But we are to work out our own salvation by the renewing of our minds daily and showing ourselves approved unto Our God.

Being a Christian is not an easy road, as some would try to put it. But it is a Peaceful Road in the midst of God's own Refining of us all If we look up and trust Him... It may not seem peaceful as you’re going through it and you’re confused or torn in the midst, but God carries you to the right choices and shows you His wondrous love in it and brings in that Peace that floods your soul. Rise Up OH Bride and Give God Praise my love.

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” 1 Peter 4:11

From the Kitchen of...

Caree Connolly

HEARTS FOR CHRIST THANKS CAREE FOR SENDING IN A PERFECT RECIPE FOR THE CHANGING OF SEASONS!!

Do you have a RECIPE that you would enjoy sharing? Send it to us here in the Hearts for Christ Ministries Comments Section or e-mail direct: info@heartsforchrist.org. We will be thrilled to pass it along to our readers.

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Sharing Hearts One with Another... The following letters are excerpts from the correspondence Hearts for Christ Ministries has been receiving. Dear Hearts For Christ: Hello! My name is Merissa (rhymes with Teresa) and I have just finished completely checking out the entire site and I can't begin to tell you how encouraging it was! I can tell you have put heart and soul into this endeavor. What a blessing! I have been writing poetry for years, but since Feb. of 2001, when my life hit a "bend in the road" I didn't foresee (but God did!), I have been constantly pouring my heart out on paper...and the healing process has been constant also. Just like people who are put on life-support because they cannot function on their own, I have been on, what I like to call, "God-Support". Too wounded to go on, God wrapped me up in His arms of healing and strength, and has never let go. There isn't a heart, that is so badly broken, that God's unconditional, accepting love cannot restore. I am living proof of that. He has been so faithful in giving me the words to express what is in my heart. So many times, our circumstances make absolutely no sense, and that's when you've got to "kick your faith and trust up a notch or two". I can have peace because I know my Heavenly Father doesn't make mistakes and has a plan for my good. It's a two way relationship...He wants my trust...I want His guidance. May God richly bless all involved with this website. I will certainly recommend to all my friends! Merissa Lee Kelley Dear Merissa, What a beautiful letter! Thank you for sharing with us such a personal testimony. Your letter brought so much encouragement in knowing that the Lord can and does bring healing to us. We rejoice with you in your testimony of His faithfulness and His abounding Love that can indeed restore us! His Love can do amazing things! Ephesians 3:17-21 states, "...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Your illustration of comparing the Lord to "life support" is so true, drawing upon Him solely as our "God support". May the lesson that you have shared of His love that "passes knowledge" begin to penetrate those lives around you. You most definitely impacted us! May the Lord continue to use you as a vessel to speak of His faithfulness, goodness and grace. Many Blessings to you, Hearts for Christ Ministry Team Dear Shirley and the Hearts for Christ Team, With all of my heart, I thank you for taking your precious time to care and minister to me. I truly had no one else and The Lord really used you. God Bless you, Shirley. I figure that the enemy would not have attacked me with both barrels unless the good Lord has something very good in mind. You know what? While I was going through this most severe battle, my oldest (33yr) daughter, who was vacationing in the Caribbean, had a dream that I died. I think maybe the Lord was trying to tell her to pray. I will be visiting your site very often and have already recommended it to one good Christian lady-friend my age. She used to be a member of a site called "The Roses of Sharon"...women's site for fellowship and prayer. Her name is Suzy. I hope she visits you. Tell all the ladies I offer my sincerest thanks and hope to become more and more involved in the future. Love Julie Dear Julie, Thank you my sister in Jesus and we will continue to lift you up as the Lord lays you on our hearts. God is indeed good! I just love Him. Much Agape... Shirley and the HFC Ministry Team

We are ready to Hear from YOU too! What is the Lord doing in your life today? Do you have a question, an experience, or a victory in trial you would enjoy sharing in a future newsletter? Send your comments and inquiries to “Dear Hearts for Christ.” Article Submissions and Testimonies should be sent to Shirley@heartsforchrist.org The editor reserves the right to edit submissions.