I have been reading in Luke lately. Luke 12: 22-34 stood out to me as I read it. Actually when I read it I was struggling with different things, so it was like God hit me in the head (and heart) with it, so to say, and said, "See Bethany! Look at the different things that I have made and I provide everything for them. You are even more special to me than those things. Can't you trust Me to supply what you need? Can't you give everything to Me, and seek me with your whole being?"
" 22 And he said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which have no storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of a doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no theif approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

I hope that this encourages you as it did me.

Praising the LORD!

Okay, I was busy talking to my brothers and sisters in the back seats in our 15 passenger ford van, as we were on our way to Church yesterday morning. I was busy talking to them about a house that we had passed that had been on fire one day when I, by the Lord's guidance, went by about a month before and was able to call 911. ( Mom had handed me their cell phone as I was leaving to take my brother, Daniel, some gas as he had run out. ) ( There is no other way to explain it, except to say, It was the Lord!) Anyways... All of a sudden Dad says, " We're going in the ditch!" And away we went. It was the first warm day for a while, so it was very slick, the roads weren't plowed out that wide, and the one tire got caught in the snow on the edge of the road, and so we were slowly sucked into the ditch. We ended up on our side as the ditch was a deep ditch. (I'm glad it was! ) As we were loading up to go to Church, Simeon had asked if I would sit by him. I said I would. As I was getting into the van Dad said I could sit up front , as Mom and the twins were staying home from Church. I asked if I could sit up front on the way home as I had told Simeon I would sit by him already. So I was in the third seat back, by Simeon. Now I know why I was back there and not up front with Dad. It is no fun to be on your side, sort of hanging in your seat that you are sitting in, with two others on top of you in a way. ( plus a car seat) Interesting is all I can say about it. Simeon was crying and I was trying to get him out of his car seat. I had no idea where my Bible went that was on my lap, when we suddenly stopped. Micah was sitting in the back seat. Dad had opened up his door as the other side was against the ground/ ditch side/ snow. I'm thinking, "we have to get out of here!" " Micah, open the back doors and go out that way!" I am not real good when it comes to thinking fast and thinking clearly when something like that happens, plus staying calm. God must have given me the spirit of calmness. And I was busy with Simeon, and trying to calm him down, and get him out safely.
There was a lot of people who stopped and helped. We are thankful to them all! Dad's cousin who lived down the road took Dad home to get the little van, and two others took the rest of us to the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department down the road, to wait for Dad. I had called Mom on the cell phone to let her know what happened. Dad called a tow truck from home. When Dad came back in the little van, I drove the rest of us, except for Caleb and Micah who wanted to stay with Dad.
So, that's why I am praising the Lord!! Praising Him that none of us were hurt, and the van is okay! I have a "Memorial Stone" to keep as a reminder of God's faithfulness and protection. A ruined Bible! ( It got all wet some how.) I could say it how Simeon said it last night. "Bethany's Bible got all wet in the ditch." All I can say is; PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! He is so good!

Recipe

Okay, I am going to take a break from my thoughts and put a recipe on here. Hope you all like it! We do!

Chicken Tortilla Casserole ( Or hot dish if you live in Minnesota)
2 to 6 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into pieces ( I use 2)
1 bunch green onions, chopped OR regular onion finely chopped
1 package flour tortillas - cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 to 1 pound Cheddar cheese, grated
SAUCE:
Mix together 1- 10 ounce can each; cream of chicken or celery soup, cream of mushroom and mild enchilada sauce.
In a 9"x 13" baking pan, layer half of the tortilla, chicken, onions, sauce and cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients, and end with cheese. Bake at 350* for 30-35 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Let set a few minutes before serving. ENJOY!

Sorry I haven't written on here lately. :( Happy New years, by the way. I was not here most of the day that day. The Dad's family got together that day. It was fun. A long day though.
I am looking forward to what the Lord is going to do this year. A lot of things are up in the air, so to speak, for me. I am not sure where the Lord is going to lead me. There is a lot of things that I have been thinking about, but what does the Lord want me to be doing is the thing that I keep coming back to. Is getting a job His plan for me? Is going to Bible school His plan for Me? Is going to the Mission field His plan for me? I have been doing a lot of praying and thinking and seeking the Lord about this all. It all comes down to trusting the Lord. Do I trust Him, or am I doing to much worrying and trying to figure out things on my own?
This year I want to learn to desire the LORD first and for most in my life above everything else. I really struggle with this area in my life. I let the desire to be married and have my own family become the leading desire of my life way to much. It is something that is a daily struggle for me. I have to give it over to the Lord from the time that I wake up in the morning until I fall asleep at night. There are things that I have been able to do and can do because I'm not married yet. Learning to be content in the Lord is another lesson that I am learning during this time. There are several other things that the Lord is teaching me during this time of singleness. I have seen the Lord work and I know that He is working. I'm just waiting to see what all He has in mind for me. It is going to be exciting!