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IN AND AROUND THE WORD
AROUND THE GARDEN
Carol, the Roving Reporter, asks all about Secret Prayer Pals.
IN THE KITCHEN

Jessica’s GARDEN OF VERSES

We cannot tell the precise moment when a friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses, there is at last one which makes the heart run over.
(Samuel Johnson)

If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair.
(Samuel Johnson)

If we would build on a sure foundation in friendship, we must love our friends for their sakes, rather than our own.
(Charlotte Bronte)

It is one of the charitable dispositions of Providence that perfection is not essential to friendship.
(Alexander Smith)

A true friend is the gift of God, and He only who made hearts can unite them.
(Robert Southey)

Flowers brighten our days; friends brighten our lives.

Friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.
(George Washington)

Friendship makes prosperity brighter, while it lightens adversity by sharing its griefs and anxieties.
(Cicero)

Friendship hath the skill and observation of the best physician, the diligence and vigilance of the best nurse, and the tenderness and patience of the best mother.
(Lord Clarendon)

Friendship cannot become permanent unless it becomes spiritual. There must be fellowship in the deepest things of the soul, community in the highest thoughts, sympathy with the best endeavors.
(Hugh Black)

The person who sees a chance to do a good turn here, and a little one there, and shed a little light here, and a little sunniness there, has something to live for.
(Henry Drummond)

A friend is a seed you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.

My Friend

You lit a candle in my heart,

A tiny spark.

At first, I did not know

How tall its flame would grow!

(Hilda E. Ammerman)

To wail friends lost is not by much so wholesome-profitable as to rejoice at friends but newly found.
(William Shakespeare)

 

IN AND AROUND THE WORD
with Zita

There is a song often sung in Christian circles that goes like this: “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” This is true especially for Christians, as it takes interaction with others to see how well we are doing spiritually (Proverbs 12:16). Someone once said words to the effect that our relationship with God is tested by our relationships with others (Matthew 22:39; Ephesians 5:2; I John 1:6,7; John 13:35; Romans 12:9; Galatians 5:13; I Peter 4:8).

Many years ago, I read a booklet written by Pamela Reeve and published by Multonomah Press. It was one of the best studies on relationships I have ever read. Before developing her message, she copied a pithy saying she had once read: “Involvement with people is always a very delicate thing.” She explained that this saying was true in that it requires a real maturity to become involved with others without getting all messed up.

Reeve put relationships in three classifications. Those in the first group were called acquaintances. These are the people we know in a vague way. There is no depth of relationship. We know their names and faces and perhaps where they live. Those in the second group are people we work with and have fun with. We know their interests and plans, and we have more in common with them. Reeve calls this level brotherly, in that we help each other. However, this is all done without a commitment or deep, intimate sharing. This is probably where most of our relationships are. The third level consists of the closest friends. This relationship is one with commitment, intimacy, shared interests, and a mutual responsibility for keeping the relationship growing. These are the people we simply like and enjoy being with. They are the ones who have proved to be trustworthy and capable of loving us just as we are (II Timothy 1:16; Mark 2:1-12). These are the relationships we move into with all caution, as we have energy and time for only a few.

Reeve points out that Jesus used this pattern. For example, He had crowds of acquaintances. He chose twelve disciples for the brotherly level. For His closest friends, He chose Peter, James, John, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Mary Magdalene.

Reeve closed her book with a description of a friendship that I quote here.

Commitment is the Lord’s principle. What does He say about the way friendships should operate? “Lay down your life for your friends.” He laid down His life for those who deserted Him in the garden and betrayed Him in the palace. He laid down His life for the non-loyal. And it is this laid-down life, He tells us, that leads us along the way of joy and fruitfulness. When in self-interest I ask, “What’s in this for me?” He would restore me to His purpose for relationships and have me ask, “What can I give?” Meanwhile I have a friend who never changes. One who meets the deepest heart need. That is His commitment to me. But what of my commitment? Where would I place my relationship with Him on the scale: acquaintance, brotherly, or close? How far am I involved in His interests? Are our values the same? Am I a trustworthy friend to Him, one who doesn’t betray or desert? How much love do I express to Him? How deep is my commitment? If I want to deepen my relationship to the Lord Jesus, I need to approach it in the same way as with an earthly friend. As for His commitment, He will never break His covenant, His vows to me. He is infinitely interested in all that concerns me. He thoroughly understands me, how I am put together, and where my strength and weaknesses lie. He knows how I struggle against temptation. He understands my failures and my victories. He loves me through and through with a love that is not “because” of anything in me. His very essence is love and His love toward me is uncaused and unconditional. Wonder of wonders. He, the God of the universe, has chosen to have a relationship with me. He is totally committed to me, committed every moment of every day for my highest good. And best of all, He is committed to never betray me and never desert me “all of my days.

AROUND THE GARDEN
with Margaret

JANUARY IN OUR GARDENS

We are thinking of friends this month, which causes me to recall the wonderful times we enjoyed with our delightful new friends and some of our old friends in our Friendship Circle this past summer. We even got to meet some parents and grandparents of our circle members!

Now we need to be thinking of friends in our gardens as we begin to look at the seed catalogs and plan our 2003 gardens. (Where did 2002 go?) We can grow many flowers that will keep the bugs under control around the vegetables we plant. This chart shows the plants, what “good bugs” they attract, and how they do their job.

Plant	Attracts	Benefits
Asters, calendula	bees, tachinid flies	Keep caterpillars, wasps cabbage looper, aphids, potato beetles at bay
Bee balm, (Borage)	bees, wasps, flies, hummingbirds	Same as above
Candytuft	hoverflies	All good beetles eat caterpillars and aphids
Dwarf morning glory	hoverflies and ladybugs	Clean up aphids
Gazania	ladybugs
Sunflower	lacewings, bees, wasps	Some eat the larvae of hoverflies, tachinid flies of the bad bugs; the tachinid larvae become parasites in caterpillars and destroy them.
Zinnia	wasps, flies, bees, and ladybugs

 

We hope this will be of help in planning your friendly gardens this year.

“I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords of love,
And thus He bound me to Him.
And round my heart still closely twine
Those ties which naught can sever,
For I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever.”

A very Happy New Gardening Year!
Margaret

Carol, the Roving Reporter, asks all about Secret Prayer Pals.

What are the joys and blessings of being a secret prayer pal?

Patsy Harrington
One of the joys of being a secret prayer pal is praying for my prayer pal and at the same time knowing that someone is praying for me. Being able to brighten someone’s day with a note or a small gift reminding her that she is prayed for is a great blessing for me. Just taking a little bit of time each day to pray for my secret prayer pal helps me to think of others and what their needs might be.

Hannah Prewett
Being a prayer pal gives you a unique opportunity to share in someone’s life. It gives you the chance to spread sunshine, encouragement, and smiles. There’s something so fun about the secret aspect to it, as well. Sometimes, I think it gives more joy to encourage someone anonymously than to her face. Besides, you get to come up with all sorts of creative ways to sneak gifts into church and disguise your handwriting. It’s a blast! I have been so encouraged and spiritually uplifted through my prayer pals. It’s nice to know there’s someone praying for you, and it’s always a blessing to pray for someone else.

Erica Rodriguez
One of the great blessings of being a secret prayer pal is praying for your prayer pal and knowing that God will meet her needs. It is a joy to encourage her with notes and gifts you hope will brighten her day.

Linda White
I enjoy praying for my special prayer pal and encouraging her in her walk with the Lord. Having a secret sister in Christ gives me a responsibility to learn more about her. It’s a joy to care for someone I didn’t know well before. I have fun finding what gifts I can buy for her to show her how special she is to me and to the Lord. I have been given the gift to minister to her silently through this past year. She is a dear sister!

Now, a few questions of Stacy Tucker, the leader of this
ministry:

How does one become a secret prayer pal?

In January, at our ladies get-together, we all stay after for a few minutes and fill out a small questionnaire. Then, we put these into a container, everyone pulls one out, and ta-da—you have a prayer pal! J

What are some of the joys a secret prayer pal participates in?
It is a wonderful feeling to know you have one lady of the church who is praying for you all year. Sometimes it is such a comfort and encouragement to check my church mailbox and find a card letting me know that my secret prayer pal is still praying for and thinking about me.

Who can become a secret prayer pal?
All of the ladies of the church are invited to join the secret prayer pals. The more ladies, the more fun it is.

When and how is the secret out?

At our January 14 meeting where we choose new prayer pals, we also bring a gift for the prayer pal we’ve been praying for all year, and reveal who we are. It’s great fun—especially when you think you have figured yours out—and you’re totally mistaken! Ha! Please join us! We would love to have you!
J

IN THE KITCHEN
with June

Our theme this month is friends, and, if you are like me, your recipe file is filled with recipes from friends, and that makes them special. As you try a recipe in our newsletter and then decide to keep it in your file, be sure to make a note from whom the recipe originated—some of our gals are regular contributors, but not so this month. This is a first, and comes to us from our editor, Linda Prewett. I had a piece of this pie recently, and even had to have seconds—it is by far the best custard pie I have eaten—I bet you’ll think so too!

Custard Pie

Make pastry for one-crust pie; line pie plate; build up fluted edge. (Oil pastry made with a fresh bottle of oil is especially good with this pie.)

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

½ t. salt

2 cups scalding hot whole milk (microwave in measuring pitcher until steaming, 4-6 minutes)

1 t. vanilla

nutmeg

Preheat oven to 450°. Beat eggs gently, but well (we like a little froth baked onto the top of the pie). Then beat in the rest of the ingredients except the nutmeg.

Pour into pastry-lined pie pan. Sprinkle lightly with nutmeg.

Bake 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 325° and bake about 30 minutes more, just until set. (Caution: baking too long or at too high a temperature makes custard watery; too hot a temperature also makes bubbles inside the pie.) Test to see if it is set by jiggling the pie slightly. The baking is the critical part of the recipe, so it may be necessary to experiment with a couple of pies to get it done just the way you want it. My pie plates won’t hold all of the filling so I bake the extra in custard cups set in pans of hot water or make a couple of individual-size pie shells to fill with the extra.