One beautiful evening in autumn of 2008, our daughter and her husband asked us to come to their home, which was located just across the hay field from ours.

We knew something was up.

That night, they told us that they believed Yahweh had spoken to them that Christopher was to begin a pursuit of his law degree, a calling that had rumbled around in his heart since the days of his youth.

Although the details of that decision would take months to fully form, Ed and I knew immediately this would mean a drastic change in all of our lives.  For one, we knew our grandchildren would no longer walk down that lovely, wooded path to awaken us asking for pancakes.  These were changes we never expected nor were they what we personally preferred.

As expected, that and many other changes did indeed materialize over the ensuing year.  After a number of disappointments, unfulfilled expectations and moments of creeping doubt, Yahweh began to cause obstacles to give-way to reveal a course for His word in Christopher to be realized.  There began to be miraculous provisions and confirming validations to that word, and the path opened up for them to attend Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with a generous academic scholarship.

In August of 2009, they left their lifelong home of NW Florida…a place of comfort and familiarity…with their children and a U-Haul in tow.  After helping them get settled, and saying our last farewells, Ed and I tearfully returned to a farm that seemed quiet and lonely.  We knew that their hearts were wide open to the will and purposes God had for them, and that there was a very likely possibility they would never live close to us again.

Really, no one can tell this story as well as Christopher and Hope.  This story is theirs.  They made the choice. They sold all to buy that field of great price.  They lived from week to week.  They endured long, lonely, cold winters in a foreign land.  THEY walked out this word.

And the glory of their success belongs to them…to them and to their God who was with them all way.

But as their parents and as their friends, we have been privileged to be a part of this journey, too.  We made the choice to say, “Yes and amen,” to all that was in their hearts…no matter where that took them.  I believe that is how real, unselfish “spirit-family” works.  We knew they would be obedient to that word regardless how we responded, but we wanted to be part of their journey, too.

After two years of law school, Christopher informed us that he had come to a deep conviction that they were to return to their homeland to raise their children, practice law and be part of what Yahweh is doing in this region.  Not because his parents are here, or hers…not because it’s where they graduated high school or got married…not because of anything in the past.  But because it was God’s will for their lives.

Last week, out entire family made the sojourn to Virginia.  We camped out on mattresses and ate take-out food as we gathered around this mighty man and his wife and children.  The time had come…almost four years after that October evening when they had called us to their home…to celebrate the culmination of three years of law school…and countless moments of divine provision in their lives.  We laughed.  We packed.  We played.  We rode roller-coasters.  We put on pretty clothes and sat out under beautiful oak trees with almost 6000 other people and waited for the long anticipated moment when he had his name called: Christopher Caleb Woods.  He crossed that platform, brushed past Michelle Bachman and Dr. Pat Robertson and received his diploma from the hands of the venerated Dr. Campo.  As I joined in our family’s hoops and whistles and clapping, I couldn’t help but wonder what must have been going on in his head and in his heart.  Nobody really knows like Christopher and Hope the price they paid to get to that moment.

Above all else, we are thankful.

Our family has been very blessed.  In those years leading up to their departure for law school, we had all begun to see the fruit of our giving.  We were faithful tithers, and we saw the benefit of that.  Yahweh had honored our faithfulness to His word, and we were living a testimony of righteousness, peace and joy.  We were watching our children do so, too.  We had sown seed, and Yahweh had given us bread, and we were enjoying life.

But when the call came for more, we answered.  Instead of eating what was rightfully ours…and sitting back in complacency, talking about the what God had “DONE,”  we chose to answer that call on behalf of the greater glory…the further unveiling of His word in our lives.

So we took that bread that was in our hands…bread that we had received from the sowing of seeds; bread that we could have lawfully eaten and enjoyed…and we cast our bread upon the water.

And sure enough, as the scripture says, it has been returned to us in due season.

I know that as this young family is busy settling in here in NW Florida, that they really haven’t “returned” in the sense of coming back to the same place.  THEY have changed.  Hope told me, “These were the hardest and the best three years of my life, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”  We don’t expect life to be like it was; we don’t want it to be.  We are full of faith and anticipation to see what the future holds for all of our children  and grandchildren as they walk out Yahweh’s word in their own lives.

There is no place of peace and life and provision outside the Word of Yahweh.  Everything we have need of can be found there in that “place” called His Word.

I’m so glad we didn’t eat that bread.

Graduation Day!

Their Last Day of Class

The Law School Kiddoes; Before and After

2011 was a difficult year for me.

Toward the end of the year, after months of very demanding days, I felt tired…in every way.

Although I am not  given to complaining, I found that when my husband or a close friend would ask, “How are you?” I would say, “I’m tired.”

Now, at the risk or sounding gratuitously boastful, the schedule I was keeping would make any mere mortal weary.  My response was completely justified.

But I woke up one morning, in the midst of a most demanding December, coming at the end of one of the most difficult years of my life, and I suddenly realized I wasn’t tired at all.  Really.  I just wasn’t tired!  Maybe because my mind knew I could be….and my body “thought” it should be…and I had enough well=meaning friends suggest I must be…I just began to expect to be!

But every 16 hour day, every plane ride, every meeting organized and message preached, every counseling session, every trip made to honor my ailing mother, every grandbaby kissed, meal cooked, project finished, everything I helped my husband accomplish regarding work, weddings, family and business…all of it was in the will and purpose of Yahweh for my life!  And when you are in the rest of His Spirit, you can do what you cannot do.  There is a flow of supernatural life that takes you where you need to go.

After all, “It’s not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit!” says Yahweh!

Yes, we all need the sabbath.  As my husband and I like to remind one another, “Even God rested!”

But when demands are placed that simply cannot be met through our own strength, if we are in the will and purpose of Yahweh, then there is rest in Him…during the most taxing of days.

Things have slowed down a bit, but I have never been more aware of the exhortation in Hebrews four, telling us that we MUST stay in His rest.

“There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God.  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest.”

I turned fifty years old last year, and honestly, I feel like I’m just getting started good!  But to continue in the flow of His provision, I must continue in His rest…no matter how busy the days.

So, here’s to this busy life that I love, with full days complete with lists that leave the page and wrap around the house!

I have much to accomplish through Christ in me.

And you know what?

I DON’T FEEL NO WAYS TIRED!

Enjoy and be encouraged!

This is a song I wrote for those running the I STILL BELIEVE 5k.

I still believe in you, Yahweh
I still believe for a lot of things
I still believe in you, Yahweh
I still believe I can run this race

I’ll hold true to your word, Yahweh
I’ll run this race no matter what it takes
Oooooooooooh I still believe

I don’t feel tired yet
I haven’t finished my race
I know Yahweh didn’t leave me cause’
He’s always setting the pace

I’ll hold true to your word, Yahweh
And I will finish my race!
Oooooooh I STILL BELIEVE!!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Word from our friend, Marlene Paige of Lubbock, Texas, concerning the I STILL BELIEVE 5-K. (September 17th, 8:00 AM) Thanks, Marlene!

I am so looking forward to the I STILL BELIEVE event. I would like to share with you what Holy Spirit spoke to my heart on Sunday morning during our time together as an Ekklasia. I do know that many will be receiving different truths and revelation during this time, but would like to share. Holy Spirit spoke to read Isaiah 59:19b- 60:1. “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, Says Yahweh. As for Me, says Yahweh, this is my covenant with them; My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from you mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” say Yahweh, from this time and forevermore. Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of Yahweh is risen upon you.” Yes, the enemy has tried to rob those prophetic words from our hearts, however, there is a standard! His covenant is with me and by my own declaration my words will have an effect on my family, my surroundings, my land, my city, my purpose and destiny. The Kingdom will not be robbed of the many sons that are to be produced! The Word of Faith is nigh thee, in my mouth. I will speak that Word and make it known. I will be the Manifestation of His Presence, and though I see a dry and thirsty land, there will be rain in the desert. There will be springs and the flower shall bloom. I will not be robbed again from what Holy Spirit has spoken to me and to the second and third generations. Amen and Amen.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I STILL BELIEVE

INFORMAL 5-K RUN

SATURDAY MORNING

SEPTEMBER 17TH, 8 AM CENTRAL TIME

Responding to a prophetic word,

we are gathering as one people to run/walk

on behalf of Yahweh’s Word in us.

We are also participating on behalf of our sister Cynthia King

who has now passed over…believing that the word in her

about her children…about redemption…

will be fully manifested.

There will be a group meeting at the east foot of

Hathaway Bridge to run together.

There are others who will be mapping out their own routes all over the county,

and from the east coast to the west,

moving as one people with one mind….the mind of Christ.

Those in Bay County are invited to  gather together the

Friday evening before, September 16th,

in the gym for a potluck supper and fellowship.

Bring enough food to feed your party and enough to share with others.

The Rock will be supplying chicken and drinks.

You may contact Tara Ashby, Anne Windholtz, or Sandy Hathaway for more info.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Perhaps the most potent method of prophesying is that of making the right choices.

I have been around Spirit-filled people all of my life and I have been part of an apostolic-prophetic ministry for almost thirty of those years.  I am thankful to be one of many who have received the powerful revelation that we have the authority—really the responsibility—to speak, to declare, to proclaim, to prophesy.  I have personally benefited from that truth.

But recently I have been thinking, evaluating, reexamining my own life.  And frankly observing the lives of others, as well.  And the thought has occurred to me that perhaps the most potent method of prophesying is that of making right choices.

I must say that at times, I think we use our “declaring” as a substitute for righteous living.  It seems that some put all their hope in the “spoken word” without ever recognizing that the continued calamity in their situations could best be “fixed” by allowing Holy Spirit to empower them to make wise decisions, and to bring the nature and character of Yahweh to bear in their own lives.  We like to sing about His glory, eyes glazed over waiting for the cloud to fill the room; but really His glory is His nature, His character, His truth.  If His glory is in my life, I will have the mind of Christ.  I will think like Him, speak like Him, love like Him.  And I will make righteous judgment and wise choices each and every day.

I am all for prophesying.  Trust me.  I still find myself in some situations that can ONLY be addressed by standing in the middle of “nothingness” and speaking a solution into existence.  There are times when walking through moments of gross darkness, not knowing which way to go, I must simply say, “Let there be light.”

But just as imperative to living a fruitful, productive life of purpose and glory are the choices that I make…every, single day of my life.

The church has gone through a season of “charismata” that can perhaps best be described as the “name it and claim it” season.  Some have taken the beautiful truth that we are called to speak—to declare—to proclaim—to prophesy, and have used it as an excuse to remain immature children who refuse to be held accountable to one another or to Yahweh.  We have had large pep rallies where those who attend can be entertained with loud, moving music and dancing and great motivational speeches…and boy, have we prophesied!

But I just don’t buy it.

We need to raise our voices in agreement with that of our Creator.  No one believes in that more than I.  But out of that communion with Him, we also must make righteous choices every day of our lives, in little things and in big ones.

Our choices speak.  Heaven hears.  May the two always be one.

]]> http://www.heritagehouseministries.org/blog/our-choices-speak/feed/ 5 http://www.heritagehouseministries.org/blog/the-god-of-abraham-isaac-and-jacob-and-of-sandy/ http://www.heritagehouseministries.org/blog/the-god-of-abraham-isaac-and-jacob-and-of-sandy/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 19:42:22 +0000 sandy http://www.heritagehouseministries.org/?p=484

Prophetic Word from Hope Woods: March 2, 2011

Thus says YAHWEH, God of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel:  The voice of F. Nolan Ball has caused a movement in the depths of My Spirit, says YAHWEH.  Something has been awakened in the deep, and a mighty wave is rising.  I am unleashing upon my people the Great and Terrible Day of My Presence.  My “Spirit of Prophecy” is being awakened and even now rushes to fill this place.  A holy devastation is coming!  Yes, all that is not of Me will be destroyed.  You have experienced freedom and deliverance in part, but My presence will rush in like a tsunami and every wall will be torn down, every unholy thing uprooted, every nook and cranny filled.  I will pour out My Spirit on ALL FLESH!  My sons and daughters will prophesy, the heart of the unbeliever will be changed, and signs, wonders and miracles will follow ALL WHO RECEIVE!

Yahweh’s Spirit spoke the above prophetic word to Hope Woods just nine days before the massive earthquake in Japan.  Did “God” send the earthquake?  No.  But He did set in place certain laws and spiritual truths by which the earth and all those who dwell therein are affected.  The earth groans and travails for the manifestation of the sons of Yahweh, those righteous ones who abide in the presence of Father Yahweh, and who become portals through which that presence is released into the earth, and into all realms of authority.  And the earth’s crying out is manifested in many different ways, one of which is natural disaster.

When Adam abandoned his place of son-ship and authority the earth was subjected to futility, and creation was given no choice but that of violence and protest.  Perhaps never before have we seen such a demonstration of that subjugation as in the incredible, mind-blowing devastation brought by natural disasters in the past decade: Major earthquakes in India, Iran, Pakistan, China, Haiti and Japan, with verified deaths of 534,000 people; devastating hurricanes with names such as Jeanne, Katrina, Stan and the Burma Cyclone with casualties numbering 152,000; the horrific Asian Tsunami that claimed 250,000 lives.

Many have blamed God.  But the same Scripture that explains the earth’s plight into futility explains that its groaning is a call for the sons of God to be manifested.  (Romans 8 )

I believe the shaking of the earth that has come with increased power and frequency in the past decade is most assuredly a natural manifestation of spiritual truths that are being called forth from the eternal plan of Yahweh through His apostles and prophets…both those who lived during “Biblical” times and those that are living today.

In the above referenced word, what is the significance of the use of these three particular prophets–Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel?  I confess that I have yet to come to an answer to that question that satisfies me fully. However, there are a few things here I know are significant.

One, each of these three prophetic voices spoke to a generation that had largely forsaken Yahweh.  These three prophets began their writings acknowledging that Yahweh’s people had forsaken Him, and each of them called for repentance.  Awake, weep and wail, call a fast of repentance, my children have rebelled against me–wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, seek justice!

On and on these three prophets cry out warning against sin, and calling Yahweh’s people to repentance.  I believe this same message is being released to our generation.

I also believe it is significant that the three men mentioned are indeed prophets. Typically, we are more likely to hear Yahweh referred to as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Abraham and those who came after were first and foremost fathers. Of course, they were more than that, but the call to “father many nations” to establish the “seed of Abraham,”  was the defining word over Abraham.  And I believe that the “father anointing” is present in our generation in present-day apostles, men who are called to restore fathers to the church and to the home.

When those apostles are rightly in their places, then and only then can true prophets find their places in Christ’s ekklesia.  I believe that time HAS come.  The God of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel is releasing a word…He is raising up true prophets who are not prostituting their gifts for the sake of their own greed, but who are willing to be rightly joined, covered and connected to the fathers, the apostles, and from that place of safety and power, these prophets will begin to release the current word of the Lord, which will call a generation to true repentance.

The sound of the apostle and prophet joined together becomes a mighty force that shakes all that can be shaken.  Just the apostles alone cannot release that sound. And neither can the prophets alone release it.

Just as a man and a woman are individuals who might be called, gifted and loved individually by Father Yahweh, until the two come together, nothing is produced.  I suggest to you the same is true of the apostles and prophets. This is why the submission one to another has been one of the most fought-against concepts in our day.  Many times, individual men and women perceive their gifts to be so holy and so important and so powerful, they believe that to trust another with it, to submit their lives one to another, would be wrong.  In truth, only by our submitting to one another can a full expression of those gifts ever manifest.  Everything the Father has planned will only fully be brought forth through the family, the ekklesia, the joining together of the individual parts.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  The God of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel.

And Romans 8 encourages us that ultimately the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  The call of the apostles and prophets…and ultimately the call of Father Yahweh Himself…is to a people He is gathering unto Himself, those who fear His name and are led by His Spirit, those who are IN the world, but not OF it, those who will rule and reign with Christ as kings and priests forever.

May the apostles and prophets come together.  May the people of Yahweh repent and be made whole.  May the purpose and destiny that has always been in the heart of our loving Father come to full fruition.

I cry aloud and spare not!  My prayer is that through Him in me, I may have the privilege of being part of what Yahweh–the Alpha and Omega–has done, what He is doing in these days, and what He will do in the days to come.

Because the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the God of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel is my God, too.

]]> http://www.heritagehouseministries.org/blog/the-god-of-abraham-isaac-and-jacob-and-of-sandy/feed/ 2 http://www.heritagehouseministries.org/blog/where-are-the-people-of-god/ http://www.heritagehouseministries.org/blog/where-are-the-people-of-god/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:29:25 +0000 sandy http://www.heritagehouseministries.org/?p=413

I do not consider myself a cynic.  I see goodness and beauty and hope in most everything….especially people.

But recently I have encountered a number of situations that have caused me to have this recurring thought lurking around in the corners of my heart: Where ARE the people of God?

Not just “church folk.”  But individuals of all ages–all walks of life–all economic stations–who choose every day to give their lives to the One who created them.  People who are willing to live on behalf of something bigger than themselves….who serve Yahweh because they understand that He is GOD.  Where are the sons of God in the earth?

I understand that we can and should expect Him to DO for us.  I certainly do!  I understand that to hear and obey His voice guarantees blessing, and that He has placed in me the authority to speak life and to see circumstances conform to that life-giving word.  My life is a testimony to the change that comes when one begins to walk in that truth….my life is a testimony to the blessings of my Father.

But at some point, I moved from the immaturiy of, “Give me, help me, bless me!” to that of “Make me, send me, use me!”  Father, what can I do for You?

When will we as individuals take up our “cross” and follow Him?  Where ARE the people of God?

As the wonderful revelation of prosperity has been restored to the body of Christ, it is obvious to me that many have made an idol of that truth.  We have “Americanized” the Gospel.  For many, to believe becomes the next “Get Rich Quick” scheme.  Yes, Yahweh wants to prosper us, but ultimately that prosperity is for the purpose of seeing His “Big Picture” manifested in our lives and on the earth.

Remember that one?  Remember THE BIG PICTURE?

“…but truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh–ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession!”

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!”

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Will I be blessed in my pursuit of this BIG PICTURE?  Yes!  But what is the “blessing” really?  Is it not losing my life for His sake so that I may find it?

There have been many times when one who truly lives for Yahweh has had to make difficult choices….many times one has to deny himself to see Yahweh’s purpose come to pass….many times one might have to say as Yahshua did, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

We love to talk about the sufferings of Christ–the beatings, the humiliations, the horrid crucifixion.  Indeed, He suffered unspeakably.  And, yet, perhaps it was not the physical suffering that was His deepest grief.  Perhaps it was the injustice; the false accusations; the loneliness of being forsaken.  He was willing to endure those terrible inequities because He understood He was part of something bigger than Himself!  He was more passionate about the heart of the Father than He was about His own life!

This statement must become true, also, of those of us who call ourselves “His.”

But let a little trouble come our way, and we are raising our fists to the heavens demanding, “Where is God?  Why must I suffer?  He must not love me! If He doesn’t move on my behalf soon, I am giving up!”

Seriously?

So many ministers want their super-ministries and their fine automobiles and their luxurious sabbaticals. BECAUSE I DESERVE IT!

So many men give up on their walks with Yahweh because of greed and self-sufficiency, the lust of the flesh, the perceived hypocrisies in others!  BECAUSE I KNOW BETTER!

So many women make unrealistic demands on their husbands and marriages because of fairy-tales told to them by Hollywood.  BECAUSE I’M WORTH IT!

Really?

I remember many years ago when Ed and I were going through difficult times.  Although I was far from perfect, those who knew me well, including the man of God in my life, could see that I was justified in my complaint. Everyone who loved me would have been willing to help me leave him and start over.  And in my heart, I knew I could get permission from Yahweh to do so.  I had a right!

But Holy Spirit helped me make one of the best decisions of my life.  I simply asked the Father what He would have me do.  ”O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

That day, as I stood ironing clothes on ugly, olive-green carpet in my laundry room, and asked that difficult question, my Father spoke into my spirit one word.  He said, “Stay.”

And stay I did.

I chose to live on behalf of something bigger than myself.  I chose to move past the pain and the justified grievances and submit to the will of Yahweh, having no idea what my life would be like….and coming to the place that I didn’t even care.

And I tell you that today my life is filled with blessing because of that!  My husband is awesome!  I have a great marriage!  My family is whole and complete.  Every time one of our grand-babies climbs into bed with their Big Daddy and me, I am thankful that I was willing to say, “Father, not as I will, but as You will.”  He saw the end from the beginning in a way that I could not.

We MUST become willing to die to self so that the purpose of Yahweh may live….regardless the outcome!  We must be willing to GET OVER OURSELVES!

What an honor to be chosen and qualified to be part of what Yahweh is doing in the earth.  What a privilege to be about my “Father’s business.”

I believe in prosperity.  I believe in blessing.  I believe in the goodness of our Father.

But I also know there are still times that He asks us difficult questions.  There are still times when He needs someone to do the “hard” thing. There are still battles to be won, lands to be recovered, and mountains to be climbed.  There is still a place of serving on behalf of the Gospel of Yahshua the Christ, come what may!  There is still a call to those who are willing to drink from the cup He has placed in our hands.

Is there not a cause?  Something worth fighting for?  Something worth suffering for?  Something worth dying for?

You better believe there is.

Today, we in this great country are celebrating a holiday that is certainly one of my favorites: Thanksgiving.  Our family loves to gather together around home-cooked food and spend the day with one another and with friends celebrating the many blessings in our life.  On a different Thanksgiving morning, about twenty years ago, Yahweh taught me something I have never forgotten.

On that day, I arose early to prepare our traditional Thanksgiving meal.  As I began the early morning tasks of getting the turkey in the oven, finishing the touches on the cornbread dressing and setting the table with my favorite old china, I began to sing in the Spirit and to thank Yahweh for His goodness to me and my family, and to give Him thanks for all of His promises.  As Kingdom people, we are very aware of the promises of Yahweh to us.  We have very personal things that we believe in our hearts our Father has spoken to us….promises of healing, of loved ones saved and helped, of prosperity and blessing.  We love promises, and we have a right as His sons to expect to receive the promises of Yahweh.  Peter wrote about that when he said that through Yahshua, the Father has given us exceedingly great and precious promises!  How wonderful.

But that day in my kitchen preparing one of my family’s favorite meals, in His kindness and wisdom, the Spirit of Yahweh posed a question to me.  ”Are you more passionate about My promises or My presence, because My presence is only in ‘today.’?” In that moment, He taught me a truth I have never forgotten.  It is the PRESENCE of Yahweh that is His most precious gift to us; the presence of the Comfortor; the presence of His Word in our lives; the presence of the creative power that He has made available to us.  Perhaps this is why when asked by Moses, “What is Your name,” Yahweh replied, “I AM THAT I AM.”  The present tense being verb….AM!

When I relate to my wonderful husband of over 31 years, I do not do so based upon his promises to me.  There are many things that Ed desires to do for me…blessings he intends to bestow upon me in the future, some about which we have spoken and others yet unknown.  But I do not base my relationship with him on those promises!  I do not pester him about them, nor do I relate to him based upon the fulfillment of them.  I do not love him more or less based upon my expectations of those promises being fulfilled.  I trust him, and I know he has my best interest at heart.  I am interested in being WITH him….his presence…the person that he is!  All of the blessings and promises flow out of that!

And that is certainly true about my relationship with Yahweh. How wonderful to come into the knowledge that our Father who loves us has many things in store for us, but we must beware not to pursue the promises of Yahweh without being passionate about His presence in us.  If we do, we have become idolaters, and there will be no ongoing relationship between Him and us.

I am thankful for many things this Thanksgiving Day…and every day…but all the good and perfect gifts I have already received and know that I will receive in the future must flow out of my being in Him, and Him in me. Truly the Spirit of Yahweh fills my heart and my life with the very presence of the Father, and at the end of the day, that is all I need….all that I want.  The presence of Yahweh in my life.  For that beautiful, life-giving, creative presence…I am most thankful.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!

And speaking of cornbread dressing….

Several folks have asked for my cornbread dressing recipe….so here it is!

SANDY’S CORNBREAD DRESSING

(Note:  I have never used a recipe, so writing this down is difficult.  This is close!)

This makes two large 9X13 pan of dressing.

If you’re cooking for a smaller family, ½ everything, but still use a whole chicken and all the broth.

-Boil a large chicken.  De-bone.  Cut into small pieces. Set meat aside.

-Bake a 9” cast iron skillet of cornbread; recipe your choice; NOT SWEET! I use a classic southern buttermilk cornbread baked in the oven.  That’s best.  Sometimes completely from scratch, but the Martha White Buttermilk cornbread mix is a good starter meal.  It makes good dressing.  Cook according to package, but double up on the oil and buttermilk.

-Bake 4-6 biscuits (If you don’t make scratch biscuits, you may use frozen or canned; just make sure you don’t get flaky ones.  You need biscuits that will crumble.)

-5-6 pieces of white bread.

-Crumble/mix all three breads together in a VERY LARGE BOWL.  I use a dishpan. You don’t want any huge clumps. This is your bread base.

-Add the following:

6 raw eggs

1 cup celery

1 bunch green onions, both the white and green  parts

3 tsp poultry seasoning (some people like green pepper in their dressing; I don’t)

salt and black pepper to taste

All the chicken broth and extra chicken broth as needed to make the dressing very thin….almost drinkable! You will need to have several cans on hand; get extra. (I taste a bit of the raw dressing, and add the salt, pepper and poultry seasoning to taste.  But the seasonings do get stronger as the dressing cooks, so beware not to over season.)

-Cook uncovered at 350 for about three hours.  Stir after 1.5 hours, and again at 2.5 hours, so the edges don’t overcook.

-If the dressing gets dry, add more broth. -The last hour, I stir in the diced chicken. I serve with canned cranberry sauce; my family does not prefer the home-made from real berries.  And I make a gravy out of flour, butter, chicken broth and a can of cream of chicken soup with diced boiled eggs added.

And a 20# turkey, of course!

The secret to this dressing is to start with good cornbread and a whole chicken boiled tender and lots and lots of broth to keep it from being dry.  The biscuits and white bread serve to make the consistency nice and creamy, but the cornbread is still the dominant bread. And it freezes VERY well.  I usually go ahead and cook it, and then freeze it, then all you have to do is heat in the oven.  If I am going to freeze it, I usually wait and add the diced chicken on the day I am going to serve it….and I also have some extra broth to add the day I am going to warm it up.

This recipe is very old, from my mother’s mother and beyond!  Classic Southern cornbread dressing….nothing fancy, but it is very good. Enjoy!