The Past
There once was a young woman approaching adulthood in the turbulent sixties, the age of flower children, the Beatles, and drugs. This young woman, however, was not into flower power, groupies, or mind-expanding LSD. No, her journey led her down a different path, but one which beckoned with an intense fervency. She enrolled in the “University” of the Occult, taking such classes as mind control, astrology, I-ching, tarot card reading, crystal ball gazing and grapho-analysis. Extra credit was given in this “university” for participation in séance sessions. The doorway through which the young woman embarked upon this journey was opened by reading a horoscope in the newspaper and then thinking that circumstances appeared to confirm the prognostication. The path on the other side of the door was beautiful. But as time progressed, the path grew wider, less beautiful, and darker. More new areas were incorporated into the young woman’s field of vision…books by Edgar Cayce and Jeanne Dixon. And then, lo and behold, the young woman began to be able to “read” the cards, complete astrological charts, and tell other people things about themselves and family members that were unknown to her and sometimes even to the person to whom she was speaking. But there was a constant darkness in her soul. She enrolled in a real university and graduated with a teaching degree. Her first position was in a country school teaching second grade. It was here that she made the acquaintance of two fellow teachers and confessed to them one Monday that the youth minister of the local Methodist Church had called and asked her to speak to the youth group the following Saturday about the occult…how to read tarot cards and how to complete an astrological chart! She informed her friends the following Monday that she had called the youth pastor and cancelled because, “something just wasn’t right.” Two lovely women threw their arms in the air and yelled, “Praise the Lord!” They said they had prayed for the young woman and asked if she would like to learn more about Jesus. That young woman was me.
The Present
That wonderful occurrence is as fresh in my mind today as it was over 40 years ago. Not since I was a little girl, had anyone ever prayed with me…and to the best of my knowledge, no one had ever prayed for me. I have no trouble today recalling the feelings I had when those two wonderful women said they prayed for me. I wanted to fall on the floor and cry. I was humbled and amazed. To this day, I have the Bible they gave me after they led me to the Lord. I have thought many times since then that prayer is the key. These little ladies never once witnessed to me until I fell apart in front of them. I think that was their clue that I would be a receptive listener! They did the most important thing at the time, however…they prayed. “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19) On that beautiful day in November over 40 years ago, I came out of the darkness and into the light. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Never fear the narrow way…it is love, peace, forgiveness, and freedom from bondage. Fear the showy door that leads to darkness.
Recipe
Cream Cheese Bars
½ cup butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 box of yellow cake mix
1-8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup of brown sugar, packed
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 teas. of vanilla
Pinch of salt
Combine the melted butter, the single egg and cake mix. Mix well and spread in a greased 9x13” pan. Combine softened cream cheese, two eggs, brown sugar, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake mixture. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes or until golden brown on top. Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar.
This is a recipe from the dim past. My aunt gave this recipe to my mother. It is old enough, however, that I have no idea where it came from. But it really is tasty!
There once was a young woman approaching adulthood in the turbulent sixties, the age of flower children, the Beatles, and drugs. This young woman, however, was not into flower power, groupies, or mind-expanding LSD. No, her journey led her down a different path, but one which beckoned with an intense fervency. She enrolled in the “University” of the Occult, taking such classes as mind control, astrology, I-ching, tarot card reading, crystal ball gazing and grapho-analysis. Extra credit was given in this “university” for participation in séance sessions. The doorway through which the young woman embarked upon this journey was opened by reading a horoscope in the newspaper and then thinking that circumstances appeared to confirm the prognostication. The path on the other side of the door was beautiful. But as time progressed, the path grew wider, less beautiful, and darker. More new areas were incorporated into the young woman’s field of vision…books by Edgar Cayce and Jeanne Dixon. And then, lo and behold, the young woman began to be able to “read” the cards, complete astrological charts, and tell other people things about themselves and family members that were unknown to her and sometimes even to the person to whom she was speaking. But there was a constant darkness in her soul. She enrolled in a real university and graduated with a teaching degree. Her first position was in a country school teaching second grade. It was here that she made the acquaintance of two fellow teachers and confessed to them one Monday that the youth minister of the local Methodist Church had called and asked her to speak to the youth group the following Saturday about the occult…how to read tarot cards and how to complete an astrological chart! She informed her friends the following Monday that she had called the youth pastor and cancelled because, “something just wasn’t right.” Two lovely women threw their arms in the air and yelled, “Praise the Lord!” They said they had prayed for the young woman and asked if she would like to learn more about Jesus. That young woman was me.
The Present
That wonderful occurrence is as fresh in my mind today as it was over 40 years ago. Not since I was a little girl, had anyone ever prayed with me…and to the best of my knowledge, no one had ever prayed for me. I have no trouble today recalling the feelings I had when those two wonderful women said they prayed for me. I wanted to fall on the floor and cry. I was humbled and amazed. To this day, I have the Bible they gave me after they led me to the Lord. I have thought many times since then that prayer is the key. These little ladies never once witnessed to me until I fell apart in front of them. I think that was their clue that I would be a receptive listener! They did the most important thing at the time, however…they prayed. “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19) On that beautiful day in November over 40 years ago, I came out of the darkness and into the light. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Never fear the narrow way…it is love, peace, forgiveness, and freedom from bondage. Fear the showy door that leads to darkness.
Recipe
Cream Cheese Bars
½ cup butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 box of yellow cake mix
1-8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup of brown sugar, packed
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 teas. of vanilla
Pinch of salt
Combine the melted butter, the single egg and cake mix. Mix well and spread in a greased 9x13” pan. Combine softened cream cheese, two eggs, brown sugar, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake mixture. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes or until golden brown on top. Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar.
This is a recipe from the dim past. My aunt gave this recipe to my mother. It is old enough, however, that I have no idea where it came from. But it really is tasty!