The Potter's Hand

But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and we are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in your hands,

Crafted into your perfect plan.

You gently call me into your presence,

Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit.

Teach me, dear Lord,

To live all of my life through Your eyes.

I'm captured by Your holy calling -

Set me apart,

I know You're drawing me to Yourself;

Lead me, Lord, I pray.

Take me, mold me, use me, fill me -

I give my life to the Potter's hand.

Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me -

I give my life to the Potter's hand.

You gently call me into your presence

Guiding me by your Holy Spirit.

Teach me, dear Lord,

To live all of my life through your eyes.

I'm captured by Your Holy calling -

Set me apart,

I know You're drawing me to Yourself -

Lead me, Lord, I pray.

Take me, mold me, use me, fill me -

I give my life to the Potter's hand.

Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me -

I give my life to the Potter's hand.

Song: 'The Potter's Hand'

Written by Darlene Zschech

Photography by Thomas Abercrombie

Recipe Recommendation

In preparation for the coming holidays I want to share a special recipe with you. I'm sure you might be interested in preparing this for one of the meals you plan for your guests.

Squab Pie

After the Squabs are picked as for roasting, put them in a Sauce-pan with a close Cover. Cover with boiling Water and boil slowly till tender, with a little Salt and an Onion and Cloves. Then take them out, drain and dry, and put in each Squab a Teaspoonful of Butter, a little Pepper, Salt, minced Parsley and Thyme. Then put into the Cavity of each Squab, a hard-boiled Egg. Lay them in a large, round, earthen Baking-dish, three or four Inches deep. Strain over them the Liquor in which they were simmered. Add a Tablespoonful of Butter and a Teacup of Milk or Cream. Sift in two Tablespoonfuls of Cracker-crumbs not browned, a Tablespoonful of minced Parsley and Thyme, and a little Salt. Put in a few Slips of Pastry. Cover with a rich Crust and bake.

The same Recipe will answer for Robins, except that the Eggs must be chopped, instead of being placed whole in the Bird.

From 'The Williamsburg Art of Cookery or, Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion: Being a Collection of upwards of Five Hundred of the most Ancient & Approv'd Recipes in Virginia Cookery."

Published by Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia

Notation in Preface: 'The Author would add only one Word more before offering this Volume as the Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion -- lest a Failure in Cookery be attributed to any Lack of Management in the Preparation of this Book:

"HEAVEN SENDS GOOD MEAT,

BUT THE DEVIL SENDS COOKS."

Sh-h-h. . .

it's me - Miss Savannah, sneaking in here to talk to you. I don't want my mama to know I'm doing this. She was just here and when she left the room I decided I wanted to have her nice, comfy chair. It's a good place for a nap. And I know she will find me here when she comes back to visit you! If I'm on her chair when she wants to see you, she will pick me up and snuggle with me and tell me what a pretty girl I am! (Oh, I just love it when she does that!) She told me how many friends she has and I wish you would come visit so I could welcome you in royal kitty style! (Yawn) Oh, excuse me, I'm getting so tired. I've had a busy day watching birdies through the patio door and listening to the wind blow bushes against the house. I don't want anyone to know that it scares me at times. I have to look brave but I think my mama knows I'm not happy because she picks me up and holds me close and tells me it will be OK. (Yawn) Oh-oh, I'm getting so sleepy. I think I'll just curl up here on her chair for a while and rest.I think I hear her coming. Maybe if I curl up and close my eyes she won't bother me and I can stay right here on her chair.You don't think she will think I'm part of the chair and sit on me, do you? Well, silly me - of course she won't. She knows it's me! What's the worst thing that can happen? She will pick me up, put her arms around me and hold me close. Then I will purr and let her know how much I love being with her. It's been nice talking to you. Maybe I can do it again sometime soon.

Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair.

Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle, on the edge.

Open drawer, empty shoe, anybody's lap will do.

Fitted in a cardboard box, in the cupboard with your frocks.

Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere.

Eleanor Farjeon (1881 - 1965)

Lessons Learned

Count your garden by the flowers,

Never by the leaves that fall

Count your days by golden hours,

Don't remember clouds at all . . .

Count your nights by stars, not shadows,

Count your life with smiles, not tears.

And all throughout your lifetime,

Count your age by friends, not years.

-Author unknown-

Many Thanks. . .

to those who have served and who are now serving our country. We appreciate the sacrifice you - and your families - have made for us. May you be blessed on this day we set aside to honor you.

Flower Power

One of the activities I am part of and that I enjoy a lot is Friend To Friend, a monthly event for women on the second Saturday of each month. It is part of the ministry of a very dear friend of mine. She is a Hospice chaplain and a grief counselor and several years ago she realized she was consistently hearing women say, 'I don't have a friend.' Out of her concern she started this once-a-month dessert fellowship to give women a place to meet other women. It has touched the lives of hundreds of women over the past few years. Friend To Friend is open to women from all around the Portland, Oregon area. We meet in the beautiful dining room at a retirement living apartment center not too far from my home. Each meeting features a yummy dessert, time to get acquainted and visit around our tables, music (which I lead), an opportunity to give to someone in need of a little help, hugs and laughs, an inspirational speaker and the chance to pray for each other. Last Saturday was our November meeting. I had looked forward to this one a lot. Our guest speaker was a regular member of our group - a florist who shared some ideas for holiday decorating and preparation. She brought a lot of special things to share with us. There is too much to share today so I'll feature her Thanksgiving flower arrangement that she put together as she spoke. When she finished with the arrangement it was given to one of the ladies in the audience. The arrangement started with a darling pilgrim couple set into place, ready for greens and flowers to be added.Then she began to build the arrangement, one piece at a time. First she added a variety of greens to cover the edge of the container.As she talked she described each plant or flower, told us something about it and where she got it. Next, she added the most gorgeous leaves and berries from the Snowberry Bush in her own yard. This amazing beauty had teeny, tiny white berries and these gorgeous big, red berries.
She kept adding a variety of greens, including more things from her yard and some she had purchased for her business.
Color was added with springs of Sedum Autumn Joy from her yard. I was excited to see how she used it because I have several plants of Autumn Joy in my yard. It opened a world of possibilities for fall decorating.
Next she added some gorgeous orange-y rosebuds. Now the arrangement began to 'pop' with color.Some pretty little yellow flowers were added here and there. And then. . .would you believe the next thing she added was apples? Real apples. Just the right touch.Bits of dried purple statice were added and then the final touch. Yellow cabbage roses with touches of orange on them! Oh, I thought I couldn't contain myself!Then she held it up for all of to see. And a name was drawn. Someone would take this gorgeous arrangement home. P-l-e-a-s-e let it be me!!! But it wasn't me and that was OK. The lady who won said she has never won anything before. I felt good that she could have this wonderful prize. I was happy for her.Isn't it gorgeous? And look how perfect it was on the table by the window of the room where we meet. See the fall colors through the window? I hope the lady who took this lovely arrangement home has a view of fall leaves through her window.This was just the first part of what she shared with us. Soon I'll share the Christmas pretties she brought and glimpses of the little tree she decorated. I think you'll like what she did. Lots of neat ideas! If you live in the Portland area and would like more information about Friend To Friend, you can find it on the website here.

Called By Name

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1

The shepherd knows his sheep. He calls them by name.

When we see a crowd, we see exactly that, a crowd. . . We see people, not persons, but people. A herd of humans. A flock of faces. That's what we see.

But not so with the Shepherd. To Him every face is different. Every face is a story. Every face is a child. Every child has a name. . .

The shepherd knows his sheep. He knows each one by name. The Shepherd knows you. He knows your name. And He will never forget it.

I, the LORD, created you. . .
Don't be afraid.
I have rescued you.
I have called you by name;
Now you belong to me.

Isaiah 43:1

From 'When God Whispers Your Name'
Written by Max Lucado

Photo: 'Shepherd Leading Flock of Sheep'

Photographer: Wayne Walton

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