And the Winner Is....

Thank you all for participating. It was neat to read how everyone likes to top their hamburgers! Some I'm gonna try. They were all so good, I had to let David, diesel-dog, pick the winner.

And the winner of Dieselicous Diesel Hamburger Spice goes to Angie!! Okay, I know her burgers, found here do not have a bun, but David thought that was the most creative and....well, you know men and meat.

The runners up are:

Hilary

Dawn

Jean

Parsley

Hey, check out their great blogs!

Ya'll have a great weekend. Angie, your spice will be in the mail this next week.

Photo: melissaevans (my grandson)

The Malacca Conspiracy

The Malacca Conspiracy is a page burner. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough to see who was going to get what next! The story is set around the Strait of Malacca, between Indonesia and Malaysia, an area which I was not familiar. Now it is seared in my brain. And it sweeps wide to the United States and other countries.

This book, set in current time, has spies, politics, assassinations, nuclear plots, and of course a bit of romance. I cringed, hoped, despaired and found faith while reading. It's a great Christian thriller. I'm going to get more of his books.

I would recommend this true to life action novel. Find it on Amazon. I received this book free for review from Zondervan and the Blog Tour Spot. Check out other reviewers here.

See his other books at Don Brown's site. The Malacca Conspiracy is just one of many thrillers. Don served five years in the US Navy as an officer in the JAG corps.

***Don't forget about the contest below! Winner announced Saturday!

No More Wimpy Wimpy--and Contest

Here's my son David in Iraq at the beginning of Operation Freedom. He was crew chief over a couple of Amtracks (Amphibious Assault Vehicles.) He carried troops across the Tigris river into Bagdad.

Anyway, the Lord saw him safely through. Now I'm unashamedly touting one of his new adventures. Diesel's Seasonings. David has created his own spice line for meats. His first seasoning is for burgers, now you can't beat a good burger! For this he's tapped into a bit of his spicy cajun heritage.

David has declared a war on bland. No more wimpy meats.

Oh, he got that nickname in the Marines....absolutely NO diesel is combined in his seasoning....lol....

Diesel's Seasonings. Please check out his site.
**Tell me how you like your favorite hamburger, toppings and all, and the most delicious sounding will win a free bottle of Diesel's Seasoning for Burgers!!


"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." 3 John 4

Just Diesel It!
(Approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture.)

Photo:davidevans

Wired Birds

Have you seen this amazing you tube post? Birds on the wire song--Made by Jarbas Agnelli after he saw birds on a wire and that they looked like notes on a music staff. Then he composed this song from their position on the wires.

I read one comment how birds seemed to give music/praise to God just by their position on the wires. I will never look at "wired" birds the same again.

"He sends forth springs in the valleys, they flow between the mountains, they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they lift up their voices among the branches." Psalm 104:10-12

I just wonder, if God's creatures give Him praise all the time, by just their positions? That's so wonderfully interesting.

Does my position, the one I'm in now, give praise to God? Do I give God joy?

I want my life to be seen as lovely music to God's ears.

Palm Protection

Major seems innocent enough, standing under this palm tree. He's such a lovable fellow. He's just hanging out in the shade. NOT.

He chased this squirrel up the palm and is waiting for it scramble down. Yeah right. This little one knows he's safe up in the tree, although my dog is just feet away.

In fact he decided to continue eating this acorn he just dug up while waiting for Major to leave. I finally put Major inside, to protect the little squirrel.

"And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.: John 10:28 (Jesus)

Life chases us up trees sometimes. But while the danger nips at my heel,...or tail, God keeps my soul and protects it forever.

I'm sitting pretty in the palms.

Photos: karenevans

What the Hay?

This elephant is walking around with a bunch of hay on her back. Does she know that? Maybe it's for a snack later, so she won't have to come back to the front of the pen? Or is it to keep the flies and bugs off?

I know,....the other elephant snuck up behind her and gently put it on her back while she was sleeping. Now she walks in front of the "hayed" elephant, so she can't see her snickering.

"Pile your troubles on God's shoulders--he'll carry your load, he'll help you out." Psalm 55:22 (Message)

Is my pile of hay obvious to others and not to me? What burden do I feel I need to keep close, for security, or because "I can handle it," instead of placing it on God's shoulders?

Father, help me shake off the hay and walk confidently next to you.

Photo:karenevans at Busch Gardens, FL

Uhhh, Huhhh

How many times I wished my babies could talk, instead of the "uhhh, huhhh?" I never knew exactly what they wanted unless it was obvious. (Like my grandson here. Mouth closed, but you know what he wants--up.)

You practice words and sounds over and over. Why? Just to hear the words? No, because, usually it starts with, "Mama-Mama-Mama, or Da-Da-Da-Da," over and over again until you yell, "stop."

But you want them to spend time learning so as they can communicate thoughts, feelings, and wants. Then you find out what's really going on in their little heads. You can anticipate what they are thinking and how they relate to things. (Now that can be good or bad!)

Oh, and then there's the stage where you can't get them to shut up-but that's for another post.

"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition....for you Father knows what you need, before you ask Him." Matthew 6:7-8

Do my repetitive prayers sound like Da-Da-Da....to my Lord, over and over again? If God knows what I want, why pray?

Could it be He wants to communicate with me so I can know more about Him? I love talking in earnest with my children. Do I talk in earnest with my heavenly Father?

Lord, may I give you joy, this day with deep conversation with You.

Photo:MelissaEvans

Yuk, Look at That!

Can you tell what this is? I wanted to enlarge it more,but couldn't-so please click on the picture to see it up close.

Notice a tear rolling down the side, as if it knows it's not right.

Can you tell now?

Oh, okay, here it is. I just can't keep a secret long....

Something or someone has abused this lovely palm frond.

But if you look closely at the top picture, the damage has turned into a tapestry of art.

"He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

God took this ravaged palm frond and made it beautiful to my eyes. But only when I came close enough to see the design.

Because God healed my scars, may I dare to come close to others who pass my way and see their souls tapestry as God makes them into something beautiful.

Photo:karenevans