Encouragement and Sweet Potato Pie!

I never knew how much I liked sweet potato pie until we moved to the area where we live now, and an older woman of the church invited us to her home where she served one as part of the meal.

I don't recall having sweet potatoes much growing up and when we did, well, I don’t remember them being something I looked forward to having.

So, when this dear woman served us a piece of her sweet potato pie, I was going to be a good guest and eat it.  I still remember that first bite, it felt like it absolutely melted in my mouth and the flavor and taste just exploded all over my tastebuds.  This woman was a good cook and I know that the rest of the meal was quite good as well (she also cooked the best fried chicken I ever put in my mouth), but that sweet potato pie stands out in my mind.  Yes, it was that good to me!

I shared with her how much I enjoyed the meal and especially the sweet potato pie.  You guessed it, occasionally, she would call and say something like, ‘I just took two sweet potato pies out of the oven, and one of them is yours, come and get it at your convenience.’   I or my husband always did!  

Her and her husband had to move from our area due to health issues several months ago but every time it gets sweet potato harvesting time, I think of all those delicious pies she made and shared with me and I smile.

This dear woman and I became good friends, and she encouraged me in so many ways, her sweet potato pies being just one!

Today, I made a sweet potato pie and I thought of Mrs. D and the wonderful mentor she was to me.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  I Thessalonians 5:11

Now, who do I know that needs encouraging today and maybe a piece of sweet potato pie?

May God be glorified in all that we do!

patsy @ From This Heart Of Mine

(c) 2022 by Patsy Norwood.  All Rights Reserved.

The Testing of Our Faith!

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are discouraging …

Sometimes these situations seem to just go on and on with no end or improvement in sight …

Sometimes it seems our prayers and efforts don’t seem to be making a difference …

Could it be that our job is to remain faithful during this period of time, regardless of how long it is?

Could it be a time of testing for us?

Will we remain faithful, or will we give up or give in because we’re just so tired of holding on?

At one time or another all faithful Christians have had to make this choice, will we give up or in or will we remain faithful?

The following Scriptures have been helpful to me, I hope they are for you as well.:

I have them marked in my Bible under the title of ‘Comfort Scriptures While Prayerfully Waitng On the Lord’ …

Psalm 25:1-5 (ESV)…  To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.  Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

(Helpful Tip:  I like to write the next verse under or to the side of the current verse.  This strings them together and makes it easier to study.  Example:  in the picture of Psalm 25:1-5, notice at the bottom of the highlighted verses, I have written out the next verse which is Psalm 27:14.)

Psalm 27:14 (ESV) … Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 37: 3-9 (ESV) … Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.  Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!  Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

Psalm 40:1-5 (ESV) … I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.  He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds, and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

Psalm 62:5-8 (ESV) … For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Psalm 130:5-6 (ESV) … I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word, I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) … but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

(Helpful Tip:  How many times do you see/read the words 'trust' and 'wait?' Go back and underline those ... I'm going to!)

Are there situations in your life in which you need encouragement to hold on, to keep on keeping on?  Let theses verses give you comfort ... hold on … don’t give up or in … hold on to the Lord.

James 2:2-4 (ESV) … Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) ... Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

May God be glorified in all that we do!

patsy @ From This Heart Of Mine

(c) 2022 by Patsy Norwood.  All Rights Reserved.