Bottom of the Barrel

This is the song that actually inspired my idea to do a series about songs based on Bible stories. This song is based on the story about the Widow of Zarapheth and also makes reference to a passage in Habakkuk. This song also appears on the CD "Wonderful Story" by the Greenes.

Bottom of the Barrel - Mike Sage

A poor little widow, fearful and sick
Was busy gathering a bundle of sticks
She decided the next meal was the last one she'd ever fix
Then along came old Elijah saying don't be afraid
Just go and do what you hear the Lord say
Seeing your faith, surely He will make a way.

So she poured all the oil out of the cruse
And the last ounce of flour from the barrel she scooped
And made a cake for the prophet, herself, and her little son too.
The flour from the barrel never ran short
And the oil from the cruse continued to pour
Beyond the bottom of her barrel
She reached into the top of the Lord's.

Chorus:

At the bottom of the barrel God will provide
Every need He shall supply.
When all that we have ends
That's when all the He has begins
There's nothing but a miracle
At the bottom of the barrel.

There are times here in this life
When everything's wrong and nothing seems right
But we walk by faith, we don't walk by sight
And when there are no cattle out in the stall
And the grapes from the vine fall
Remember God will take care of it all.

Chorus:

At the bottom of the barrel God will provide
Every need He shall supply.
When all that we have ends
That's when all the He has begins
There's nothing but a miracle
At the bottom of the barrel.

Habakkuk 3:17 - 19 - Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on my high places.

The Unexpected Cross

I love songs that take a Bible story and then make a personal application with it. Southern Gospel music has a lot of great examples. Today's song, based on the story of Simon of Cyrene, is from a CD called "Wonderful Story" by the Greenes, copyright 1999.

The Unexpected Cross - Marcia Henry

Traveling through Jerusalem, Simon of Cyrene
Came upon the Crucifixion of the innocent Nazarene
The Soldiers shouted orders, gave Simon’s heart a chill
Then he took the cross for Jesus, carried it up the hill

[Chorus:]
The unexpected Cross, is always hard to bear
But there’s glory in the suffering, Triumph in despair
For Christ is our example, and the crown is worth the cost
Lord, help me to bear faithfully, the unexpected cross

Along the road to heaven, crosses lie unseen
A crisis for the moment, to keep the spirit keen
As Jesus gives the orders help to sacrifice the will
Take up the cross and follow, the victory on the hill

Brick Path

Hooray! Another project completed! Here are some before and after pictures:

Tomato Pie (Original and Low Carb Versions)

Tomato Pie has been a family favorite since my sister brought the recipe back from her summer working at an Adirondack Camp. Today I tried an almond crust with it to make it low carb. I did not cook the crust all the way before adding the tomatoes and next time I will, but overall, it worked. In the past I have also used a low-carb baking mix with some success.

Tomato Pie

Use a 10” pie pan – lightly greased

2 cups bisquick (or comparable substitute – see biscuit recipe below)
2/3 cups milk
Mix together and pat into the bottom of the pie pan.

Cover with sliced, unpeeled tomatoes. Sprinkle with chives and basil.

Mix together:

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise

Spread on top.

Bake at 400o until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes.

Note: 9 x 12 pan made by doubling recipe.

Biscuit recipe:

2 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
¼ cup shortening
¾ cup milk

Mix the dry ingredients together. Cut in shortening. Stir in milk.

Almond Parmesan Crust (from 500 More Low-Carb Recipes by Dana Carpender)

1 1/3 cups almonds
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 tbsp melted butter
1 tbsp water (optional - I forgot to add it and the crust was fine.)

Grind almonds in a food processor until they are the texture of cornmeal. Add the cheese & pulse to combine. Add the butter & water and process until it forms a ball.

Pat into a greased 10" pie pan. Bake at 350 for 10 - 12 minutes.

It's a Hard Knock Life

Turkeys!

A while back I was fetching the newspaper and I heard a funny sound. I looked across the street and there were two ENORMOUS turkeys looking back at me! They are our neighbor's newest pets and they love to chat. He lets them run loose, so one morning when they were in the field right across from our house I took their picture.

Then last week, I looked out the kitchen window to see SIX wild turkeys heading up the driveway! We think maybe they were attracted to our area by the gobbling of the domestic turkeys.

Have Faith, Be Faithful

Someday (don't hold your breath) I am going to write about J. I. Packer's chapter on Wisdom in "Knowing God". I can't tell you how many times I've read it and each time it speaks truth to my soul. Meanwhile, I'll just leave you with the conclusion:

HAVE FAITH; BE FAITHFUL

Sums up dozens of sermons and books on Christian living, doesn't it?