Heart to Heart

   "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

                                                 Antoine De Saint-Exupery (1900-1944)

 My very own snow heart!

I looked back over my blog posts through the years in the month of February to see what I'd written for Valentine's week. I want to share some memories with you. Maybe you'll be inspired to do something different to encourage another this Valentine's week.

"I enjoy reading blogs others have created. I gravitate towards those who enjoy photography, and artists whose pictures and writings I enjoy. Susan Branch (www.susanbranch.com) and Karla Dornacher (www.karladornacher.com) are two artists who inspire me and encourage my heart.

"Last week I stopped at Susan's blog and found a simple recipe for chocolate eclairs. (Perfect chocolate eclairs in the picture below.) I'd never tried making these delights before, and since the recipe was simple I decided to give it a try. Saturday morning I went to work to make the best chocolate eclairs I could. "I'll take them to my Sunday School class in honor of Valentine's Day," I decided.

 "Suffice to say my first attempt was not successful. The little puffs of dough didn't rise, the cream filling turned out ok (much to my astonishment), but the chocolate didn't come out smooth for dripping over the dough. I couldn't help but laugh at my attempt. They certainly would not be going to my Sunday School class. (Pictured ... my first attempt.)

 

"Jerry tasted one and said they were good. Mom even liked them. I finally ate one and must confess it did taste good. Jerry said he'd take them to his Sunday School class. "Only if you tell them it's my first attempt and they don't look so good," I required.

"Sunday morning came. I walked in my Sunday School class and there were sweet donuts in the shape of hearts for us to enjoy. I began telling my friends about my ill-fated eclairs when in walked Jerry, Floyd, Steve, Talmadge, Dan, Tom and Barry, each holding one of my misshaped eclairs.

"Jerry said we had to tell you he told us this was your first attempt in making chocolate eclairs," Barry said. "Please bring us all other rejects! They are delicious!"

"It was so funny! They had me bending over with laughter. And my dear Sunday School friends were disappointed they weren't eating them!

"My friend, Janet told me: "There is no such thing as a bad eclair if there was something you could lick off your finger!"  I like that!

"Yes, I will try again. With a few pointers from my friends I will attempt a second time to make chocolate eclairs. The next time, though, I know I can still enjoy the delicious taste, even if they don't pass the "look" test! And Jerry's class too!"

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"For many years I've made a habit of sending out 30 to 40 Valentine cards to friends and family, widows, those hurting and those forgotten on Valentines Day. I was still in my single days, and had my share of broken hearts and decided maybe I could cheer other hearts on this special day. (Since retiring, I'm sending out a few less than those energetic days.)

"It has become an annual ritual I look forward to each February. You can imagine how many Valentine cards I've purchased and created. One that I still believe is my favorite was created from a graphic in my friend, Karla Dornacher's book: The Blessing of Friendship, A Gift from the Heart, published by Countryman in 2000. I got permission from Karla to create it with the names of my friends in the heart. It was a labor of love. I tried to find the one I created but haven't yet, so this is the one in her book.

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"The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world's greatest tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is room in them for little beside ourselves." A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

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I loved these stamps that came out in 2007 in time for Valentine's Day. What goes better with love than kisses!And I know a lot about kisses . . . the chocolate kind! One visit to Hershey brought home a  kiss chocolate dispenser. I kept it at work for all to enjoy. I was even named "Ministry of Chocolate" at the convention! I fulfilled my job well!

 Yes, Valentine's Day can be an enjoyable day whether you're experiencing sadness or joy. Think outside of yourself and think what you could do to bring a smile to someone else on Valentine's Day.

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I found this years ago on the internet. Don't know who created it, but it certainly is a true statement from the Bible, found in John 3:16.

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You have time to make a difference in someone's life this Valentine's Day. Just like an encouraging note, a Valentine's Day card cheers the heart and tells the receiver that they are loved. If cards aren't your thing, a call, a text, an email and any other new communication tool will serve the same purpose. What about it? Make a difference in someone's heart? You'll be surprised what it will do to your own heart!

                                        ". . . I have you in my heart . . ." Philippians 1:17

Great Big Arms

One of my favorite snow pictures!

"What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms. 

"Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms."

Many of us are familiar with the great hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." It's fun to sing and the words share how secure we are in God.

I recently read how the song came to be in "The One Year Book of Hymns" written by William J. Petersen and Randy Peterson, and want to share it here.

Long time friend, Peggy, painted this lovely snow scene.

A. J. Showalter, a teacher in Hartsville, Alabama in 1887, needed to write two letters of condolence and the Scripture verse that came to mind was Deuteronomy 33:26-27 which says: "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."

After writing the letters he than wrote a third letter to Elisha Albright Hoffman, a hymnwriter in Pennsylvania, and suggested she write a hymn on that theme. He suggested the wording of the chorus. Hoffman responded quickly and the hymn was written.

The devotion said: "With God's arms beneath us, and His love surrounding us, we can find strength in even the most sorrowful situations . . . But we know that God is still in control--He has not abandoned us. And that keeps us going."

 Another lovely snow scene made out of cotton. Picked it up at a craft fair.

Sing along with me as Buddy Green plays harmonica and the Gaither Homecoming singers sing!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-yYXFPCjJw    Below are the words to the last verse.

"What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms?

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms." 

I've needed those everlasting arms. I've needed them to encircle me with all their strength and love. How wonderful to know God has provided strong arms to help us during low times in our life.

I'm so thankful for hymn writers, using the gift God has given them and providing us with so many inspiring hymns. I enjoy praise songs, but hymns usually carry a gospel message that can encourage your heart. That you have inside you and pull from your memory to help you through anything.

I read on Facebook that it was suggested to do away with the screens used during worship service and go back to the hymn books. I agree completely! If we lose the hymns, we lose the inspiration received from the words.