Not every psalm has a number. Exodus 15:1-22

Posted on July 30, 2011 by heidiannie

The Song of Moses and Miriam

¹ Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:

   “I will sing to the LORD,
   for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
   he has hurled into the sea.

² “The LORD is my strength and my defense;
   he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
   my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
³ The LORD is a warrior;
   the LORD is his name.
⁴ Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
   he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
   are drowned in the Red Sea.
⁵ The deep waters have covered them;
   they sank to the depths like a stone.
⁶ Your right hand, LORD,
   was majestic in power.
Your right hand, LORD,
   shattered the enemy.

⁷ “In the greatness of your majesty
   you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
   it consumed them like stubble.
⁸ By the blast of your nostrils
   the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
   the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
⁹ The enemy boasted,
   ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
   I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
   and my hand will destroy them.’
¹⁰ But you blew with your breath,
   and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
   in the mighty waters.
¹¹ Who among the gods
   is like you, LORD?
Who is like you—
   majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
   working wonders?

¹² “You stretch out your right hand,
   and the earth swallows your enemies.
¹³ In your unfailing love you will lead
   the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
   to your holy dwelling.
¹⁴ The nations will hear and tremble;
   anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
¹⁵ The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
   the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
¹⁶ terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
   they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, LORD,
   until the people you bought pass by.
¹⁷ You will bring them in and plant them
   on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, LORD, you made for your dwelling,
   the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

¹⁸ “The LORD reigns
for ever and ever.”

¹⁹ When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. ²⁰ Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. ²¹ Miriam sang to them:

   “Sing to the LORD,
   for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
   he has hurled into the sea.”

Not every psalm is found in the book of psalms, either!

I love History.

I love women in historical settings.

So, when I was a girl and discovered this particular psalm, it made me happy-

here is a psalm- a song- sung by a woman.

A psalm that recounts a fabulous miracle and redemption for God’s people.

And the women followed her lead and sang and danced.

I learned the song, as well, and it was one of my favorite songs growing up.

This is also a song of prophesy- coming from a woman in a patriarchal society.

It is a song of hope and protection as they travel through enemy territory.

It is a song of PRAISE to the Lord who reigns for ever and ever!

And a song of belonging-

“My God…my father’s god”.

So- take a moment, grab your timbrel and sing and dance with the women

of Israel, Miriam, and me.

“I will sing unto the Lord

for He has triumphed gloriously

the horse and rider thrown into the sea!”

Such good food (with recipes!)

Posted on July 27, 2011 by heidiannie

Meatloaf with wild rice and bacon- unbaked view.

And baked- really yummy!

Tri colored slaw with white balsamic vinegar.

Gluten free almond and chocolate cakes.

Recipe for meatloaf:

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground chicken

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice

1 onion, diced and sauteed in 2 TBS olive oil

1 jalapeno pepper diced fine

3 TBSP tomato paste

3 TBSP chopped fresh basil

1 TBSP chopped fresh thyme

2 TBSP chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup milk

1 egg

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup pesto- I used a mushroom pesto- but any kind you like will be grand

3 slices thick bacon

Method:

First let me confess- this looks very high end- but I really just used up the

wild rice I had made for dinner the night before, forgetting that my husband

really isn’t a wild rice fan.

The rest of the ingredients were also either growing outside or opened and

almost moldering in the fridge.

So- first sautee the onion- or sweat the onions- however much time you have.

I sauteed them for about 10 minutes. Then add to the ground meat in a largish bowl

and mix in the herbs,egg, milk, tomato paste, rice and pepper (jalapeno). Mix well

with hands- or spoon- I use my hands.

Shape into loaf shape, and

Place on grill pan ( with holes to drain off the fat).

and slather pesto on top thinly, then cover with bacon slices

and bake in preheated oven-375F – for about an hour and a half.

Allow to rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

And the chocolate gluten free cupcakes?

Here is where I found the recipe! Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

found it on yet another Australian food blog. If you haven’t made the

trip to Celia’s blog yet- you should- she always has the best recipes and

some of the sweetest chickens I’ve ever seen! Her bread is fantastic, as well!

The slaw is just cabbages – red and green- sliced thin- and carrots, chopped.

Add 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste and a couple tsps of

olive oil- and you have a colorful and delicious slaw.

July has been HOT!

Posted on July 26, 2011 by heidiannie

Hot and humid and miserable.

AND I finally uploaded the pictures of garden defenestration and destruction.

I have some nice basil still growing, but the squash and cucumber and

nasturtium have been beheaded. So sad.

On the other hand- the hanging baskets and flowers and ferns are

all doing fine. I’ve been watering- although I don’t like to- it is such

a selfish use of water. So I’ve tried to keep it just to container plants-

never the lawn or established plants.

I snipped the sucker growth off of the bay tree.

It is a standard- and every year the roots try to send up

a little extra growth from the base. I love fresh bay-

you can chop it up fine and leave it in your recipes. It

isn’t as strong as dried bay leaves, but it adds an extra

punch because it is still present.

And last night’s supper was quite fine- the fresh corn, tomatoes,

peppers, onions and grilled squash really fine. The steak and potatoes

were necessary to keep my husband happy. I ate the grilled veggies

and counted it a blessing!

Pony Penning in Chincoteague

Posted on July 25, 2011 by heidiannie

This is the big week on Chincoteague! Today they are rounding up the ponies

to get ready for the swim across Assateague Bay on Wednesday!

The Firemen’s Carnival has been running since the beginning of July- visitors

have filled the town to capacity in anticipation of the Auction – and it is hot

and sultry on the Eastern shore of Virginia.

This is THE week to be there. I never have been there on Pony Penning Week.

I’ve been going to Chincoteague off and on for the last 30+ years- and have never

gone for this event.

I don’t like crowds.

Don’t want to buy a pony.

Would rather see them on the estuary than in pens.

And – did I mention- I don’t like crowds?

I always think about the ponies this week.

In fact, I pray for their safety during the swim and that they will get owners that

treat them lovingly.

There were so many foals this summer- everywhere you looked- either pregnant mares

or tiny foals and colts following their mommas around.

Here I sit – in Ohio- dreaming about wild ponies in Virginia.

Because it is pony penning week in Chincoteague.

Psalm- July 23, 2011

Posted on July 23, 2011 by heidiannie

I started off these psalm postings saying that I had just

taught a class on the Psalms that had lasted for several

years. We had a method for studying, and a notebook for

copying down familiar and repeated stanzas. The students

were all encouraged to pay close attention to the language

of the psalmists and were told that at the culmination of our

study- they would be asked to write a psalm of their own.

The average age of our class was about 70- a couple were in the

range of 35 to 45, several of us in our fifties, some in their sixties,

several in their late seventies and early eighties and two in their

nineties. We had lots of years of experience in our classroom-

and many of the ladies had been believers for 50+ years. It was

a wonderful group to study and share with!

The oldest lady in our group was Mae.

Mae is still living and loving the Lord, but her health has

been on a decline of late and she can’t live by herself

anymore, even with help.

So, her family is moving her closer to them and I went recently

to say goodbye to my old friend.

I wrote Mae’s psalm for her after asking her to tell me what

she would like to say. Today’s psalm is

“A Psalm for Mae”.

From my earliest childhood, I called you Father,

And I call you Father, still.

You have held my hand and filled my heart-

And you hold them now – still in your protection-

Still in your love. I am still yours and by

Your grace I always will be.

Father, you have blessed my life with your goodness.

And I have tried to pass that blessing on-

With hugs and love and even with bananas.

Because what is life without blessings?

This life that you have given me has been long,

But not long enough to sing your praises-

And so I will keep on singing here

Until You take me home so I can sing them

With all the saints in glory!

Keep on singing, Mae!

Cool thoughts on a Hot day…

Posted on July 18, 2011 by heidiannie

I love this picture from the beach on the coast of Oregon. This was taken in the last week of

June. It was coming on evening and the beach was wonderfully cool.

It is SO hot right now in Ohio, 94 F with a heat index of 100+ – that just looking at the beach is cooling.

Bruce thought we should have warm coats- but we just brought carry on luggage-

and I wasn’t wearing anything that was going to make me any hotter!

Cynthia wore a coat that Bruce brought for her- but I just rolled up my pants and walked

in the water! It was cold- but good cold- do you know what I mean?

The next day we walked around the town and did some shopping.

The flowers were still so lovely- it has been cool in Oregon- a prolonged Spring.

So, today, I’m staying inside with the central air conditioning on and looking at cool pictures.

I was going to take some great pictures of my garden- but some critter decided to eat all the leaves

off of the cucumber and squash plants and all the outside leaves on the geraniums in my container

pots.

I’m thinking cooling thoughts, cleansing thoughts, and not looking at the GARDEN CARNAGE outside

my window.

Psalm 111– An Old Song

Posted on July 16, 2011 by heidiannie

Psalm 111

¹Praise the LORD.

I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

² Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
³ Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
⁵ He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
⁸ They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
⁹ He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.

¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Today’s guest blogger; Frank Fodor

Psalms 111 and 112 are a matched pair. Both consist of ten verses

and each poem contains twenty-two phrases which are arranged

as an acrostic, the phrase successively commencing with the letters of

the Hebrew alphabet.

(quoted from the New Bible Commentary, Eerdmans, publisher)

Both psalms begin with the phrase, Jah, which means Hallelujah (literally).

Psalm 111 through 119 were supposed to have been sung by the Jewish people at the

celebration of the Passover, namely the singing of the Gospel Hallel.

That hymn, in all likelihood, which our blessed Lord sang with his disciples after

last supper. The psalm is composed in alphabetical order, each verse containing two letters.

The first verse begins with aleph, while the letter beth is placed at the commencement of the

of the next half of the verse.

Example: (aleph) I will praise Jehovah with my whole heart,

(beth) in the congregation and assembly of the just.

2. (gimel) The works of Jehovah are great

(deleth) sought out of all who have a desire to them.

3. (he) His work is beautiful and magnificent,

(vau) And his justice is forever.

4. (zain) He has caused His marvelous works to be remembered,

(cheth) Jehovah is compassionate and merciful….

(Information from Jebb’s literal Translation of the Book of Psalms,

Christian Classics Etheral Library, Calvin College, www.ccel.org)

Acrostic form most likely aided in memorization of the song.

In my kitchen…

Posted on July 14, 2011 by heidiannie

… is this happy little onion!

I saw this big smile when I cut into the onion and it made me smile right back!

In my kitchen…

are these salty almond bars- packaged and ready for lunches!

In my kitchen…

is this loaf of peasant bread – raised in the banneton Celia sent me

(Thanks again, Celia!) and fresh out of the oven.

In my kitchen…

is this wonderful tea infuser pot! Jordan bought it for my birthday- he doesn’t know yet

that he bought it- but he did all the same!

In my kitchen…

–

is this can of Tasmanian honey! I love the tin- and the honey is delish-

Thanks to Meredith for this beauty of a treat!

In my kitchen…

are my favorite rolling pins. Most of them were gifts and I love them

and use them all throughout the year.

In my kitchen…

is dinner!

Grilled Ahi (yellow fin tuna) with a swirl of basalmic vinegar on a bed of

vegetable couscous, baked sweet potato, and a garden salad!

Yum!

Summer Garden

Posted on July 12, 2011 by heidiannie

NOT mine.

My garden looks very new. And slightly uncertain.

I took too long to plant- spent too little time caring for it.

And although my containers are looking rather nice, the garden

itself is not up for public display, yet.

But Saturday, I went to Ally’s garden and took a little tour.

The garlic is looking fine! She made some scape pesto last week

– although she hasn’t shared the recipe- I hear it was VERY good.

Here we are admiring the bean tower- there are tiny little velvet beans

growing.

The basil and nasturtiums are so happy!

And the thyme was blooming!

It was toe tappingingly tempting!!

And the lavender was lush with blooms.

So I picked some and made some lavender wands.

I think Allyson has better dirt than I do.

The secret to a good garden- timing and dirt.

When good things get even better…! Salty almond bars- a recipe.

Posted on July 11, 2011 by heidiannie

I made these bars once or twice before, but had forgotten about them until our

family’s 4th of July picnic. Then my niece, Dianne mentioned them, and I haven’t

been able to get them off my mind since!

I changed up the recipe- http://heidiannie.com/2010/07/homemade-salted-nut-bars/

from this one- using almonds and white chocolate rather than the peanut butter morsels.

Ingredients:

1/2 white or yellow cake mix (use other half to make a small portion of lemon filled cupcakes .

1/4 cup unsalted melted butter

1 large egg

Mix together and fit into jelly roll pan. Bake at 350F for about 8 minutes or until golden brown.

Drop 3 cups of miniature marshmallows on top of hot base and put back into oven. Turn off heat

and allow the marshmallows to melt on top.

Meanwhile-

in a large sauce pan, mix together:

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup Karo syrup (corn syrup- clear)

1/3 cup butter

2 tsps vanilla

2 cups white chocolate morsels

and bring them to a slow boil.

Add 2 cups Rice Krispy cereal and stir all together.

Pour this mixture on top of marshmallow layer,

use a real light hand- this can get really sticky, really fast!

Now, sprinkle 2 cups of lightly salted almond slices and press gently with the back of a spoon

to get them to stick into the rice krispy layer.

So- the bottom cake layer is thinner, the peanuts and peanut butter morsels have been replaced

by almonds and white chocolate, they are cooling in the kitchen as I type- AND –

All is right with my world.

See the difference a good recipe can make- especially when it is fitted to your personal tastes?

Do you have any recipes that you have made better?

Steps On The Journey

walk with me a while

Monthly Archives: July 2011

Not every psalm has a number. Exodus 15:1-22

The Song of Moses and Miriam

Such good food (with recipes!)

July has been HOT!

Pony Penning in Chincoteague

Psalm- July 23, 2011

Cool thoughts on a Hot day…

Psalm 111– An Old Song

Psalm 111

In my kitchen…

Summer Garden

When good things get even better…! Salty almond bars- a recipe.