Month: July 2020

Devotionals

My God Will Supply

by Martha Campbell PullenLeave a Comment on My God Will Supply
My God Will Supply

Philippians 4:19

19 But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope

This morning as I was driving William to football practice I mentioned to him the St. Jude hospital we have here in Huntsville. I asked him if he knew about Danny Thomas and St. Jude. He said,“No.” I asked him if he knew that Martha Pullen Company at one time raised nearly $70,000 for St. Jude. He said,“No.” I asked him if he knew Cecil is now a patient at St. Jude. He said, “No.” I then had the chance to explain how St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital came into existence. 

I shared with him about the trip I made with the Hancock Fabric team to the hospital to present one of our checks along with the hundreds of quilts that ladies had made for the children. I told him I especially pray for all of the children of St. Jude and for all of the staff who work so tirelessly to develop cures and to treat the children. I pray for the families and friends of the patients. I pray for all who never tire of raising money so this hospital can develop more and more cures. I thank God for Danny Thomas who believed, “No child should die in the dawn of life.”

I had just renewed my monthly donation to St. Jude. If you are interested you can go online and it is very easy to donate. Who would have ever known when Martha Pullen Company was raising money for St. Jude that my granddaughter would develop a horrid childhood cancer age 16? Although she was not treated directly at St. Jude at first,  her physicians consulted with St. Jude during part of her treatment. Actually all of the hospitals consult with each other which is totally amazing.  When her physician retired he referred her to St. Jude here in Huntsville for her follow up work and she has been cancer free praise God for five years now. 

As you know Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my all time favorite verses in the Bible. I have written it in nearly every one of my books and in many of my magazines. It is the scripture I chose for the dedication page in my book. G.R.A.C.E. Keys to Entrepreneurship. I know many of you are facing difficulties with the current issues facing us with this pandemic as well as with other issues of life.  Remember God’s promises are true. He has plans for our lives and they are plans for good and not disaster. I saw his miracles in his curing Cecil. Sometimes I turn on the television and I ask God, “How are you going to turn this into good?” Then I remember Romans 8:28 and I did a little research on this to share. 

Romans 8:28 

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

C.S. Lewis once said that the most frequently spoken word in heaven would be “Oh”. I get it. Now I see God’s plan. I see my trial in light of God’s kingdom. You may not be able to see how your pain has been woven into the fabric of God’s eternal plan. You may not understand until you see Jesus face to face. But we have God’s certain promise—one day we will look back and say, “Oh, I get it. Now I understand”.

“The good news is not that God will make our circumstances come out the way we like, but that God can weave even our disappointments and disasters into His eternal plan. The evil that happens to us can be transformed into God’s good. Romans 8:28 is God’s guarantee that if we love God, our lives can be used to achieve His purposes and further His kingdom. In our limited wisdom, this truth may not always feel good, it may not always make good sense by our reasoning—but by faith we can trust that God’s promise is sure” (Ron Lee Davis Becoming A Whole Person In A Broken World; p.122).

Please know I am praying for all of you. I know many of you are sick. I know many of you are lonely. I know many of you have broken families and you feel helpless about what to do. I am praying for our country. I am asking God to bless America as He has so abundantly and still is.  I pray for our first responders and for our men and women serving in the military keeping us safe. I pray for our leaders. Please know God is with you every minute and he will listen to your prayers.  

May God Bless Each of You

In His Grip,

Martha

My Recipe Box

May Johnson’s Preacher Killer (Pound Cake) from Jean Hall

by Martha Campbell Pullen2 Comments on May Johnson’s Preacher Killer (Pound Cake) from Jean Hall
May Johnson’s Preacher Killer (Pound Cake) from Jean Hall

I found this hand written recipe in my mother in law’s recipe box. Jean Hall was a beloved neighbor of hers and she is a good friend of mine. I loved the name.

May Johnson’s Preacher Killer (Pound Cake) from Jean Hall
1 cup Crisco
1 cup butter (I use 1/2c. oleo 1/2 cup butter)
3 cups sugar
3 cups plain flour
6 eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
1 t. coconut extract
1/2 pint sour cream

Bake at 300 degrees to 325 degrees for one hour and 30 minutes. Grease and flour tube pan.

Hometown

My Majorette Line

by Martha Campbell PullenLeave a Comment on My Majorette Line
My Majorette Line

I loved being a majorette and marching in the Scottsboro High School Band. These girls were the best and I loved them all. From left to right: me, Frances, Carol, Barbara, Patsy, Sandra and Carol. I might add sadly that Sandra and Carol have passed away with cancer. Barbara and I are blessed cancer survivors.

My Recipe Box

Martha’s 1960s Low Calorie Egg Custard “Pie”

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Martha’s 1960s Low Calorie Egg Custard “Pie”

 I joined Weight Watchers when it first came out in the early 60s I think. One day a lady came in and told us she had discovered a  “magic crust egg custard pie which was delicious.”  She gave us the recipe and it was good. It had 2 eggs, two cups of skim milk, one piece of white bread, 1/2 t. teaspoon vanilla,  artificial sugar to equal three tea spoons of sugar baked at  325 degrees for about one hour. Spray the pan with Pam or whatever we had back than. The bread magically fell to the bottom to form a “crust.”  I did not want to add the bread so I figured out a crustless version of this diet “pie.” Here is it. It is actually good warm or cold. My picture is not very pretty since apparently my rack on the over is a little “whopsided” and the cinnamon slipped to one side. BUT here it is. I ate half of it warm and put the other half in the refrigerator for another time to eat cold. Each serving equaled one egg and one cup of skim milk. OK I knew this did not need to cook for one hour!  I did not want to add the bread. So I changed the recipe and here is what I got. 

Martha’s Low Calorie 1960s Egg Custard Pie
2 eggs
2 cups skim milk
Artificial sugar to equal 3 teaspoons sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
Dash of cinnamon (could use nutmeg)

Spray dish with Pam. Mix ingredients. Cook about 25 minutes in 325 degree oven. Serve warm or cold. 

Devotionals

Psalm 91 Is My Life Chapter If Anyone Asks!

by Martha Campbell Pullen2 Comments on Psalm 91 Is My Life Chapter If Anyone Asks!
Psalm 91 Is My Life Chapter If Anyone Asks! 
Psalm 91 (NLT)

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.

3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.

4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.

6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.

8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,

10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.

11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.

12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.

15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.

16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
My grandparents
My mother
Me

When I was a little girl, probably about 5 years old, I had a bad childhood disease – such as mumps or chicken pox, I really don’t remember. (For you younger ones, those days were before preventive shots for these things.) My Daddy was on a business trip in South Florida and after Dr. Lynch came to the house because I was getting sicker, he said, “Anna Ruth, watch her carefully tonight. She is really sick.” (Many of you also don’t remember the days when the doctor came to houses.) I remember asking Mama, “Do you think we could go to Nannie and Grandaddy’s house tonight?” Mama called her Daddy and they came to our house in their Chevrolet. Grandaddy picked me up, placed me in their car and we all went to Scott Street to their house. I can remember just wanting my Grandad, and Grandaddy took turns staying up with me all that night. I felt so secure under the wings of my Mama and my grandparents. Of course I was under the wings of God as well as the family which God gave me.

“Do you think we could go to Nannie and Grandaddy’s house tonight?”

Many of you remember I traveled massively for many years when I owned Martha Pullen Company. My students cared for me so much that I felt adopted and at home no matter where I was around the world.

I can almost be assured that some of you feel like strangers in a certain situation you are in. Remember that Lord God of Israel has his wings around you and he will “reward you fully.” Remember to turn to and trust the Lord for your strength and encouragement. Pray for new friends. Find a loving church. Find new friends. Read your Bible. Find others who need encouragement. Find volunteer work. Know that true joy comes from knowing the Lord so hang on to him especially tightly if you are feeling like a “stranger.” Just as my Grandaddy carried me to “little girl safety in his home” you can ask God to do the same thing for you. God has never failed me and He will not fail you. My Daddy always said find a church. There you will find a support system. Find a Sunday school class or a Bible study group—a small group of some sort. There you will have new instant friends I promise you.  God’s people are always there to reach out to someone new.

Things I Love

The Lost Art of Handwritten Notes

by Martha Campbell Pullen2 Comments on The Lost Art of Handwritten Notes
The Lost Art of Handwritten Notes

I have included two antique birthday cards for your enjoyment. I love old cards. The art is so beautiful. I love the sentiments. Although the postmark is unreadable to me I see there is a one cent stamp and it was postmarked 1912. You will have to see if you can read the message written in pencil. Enjoy.

How did I choose this subject to be included in the first blog? Possibly it is because this blog is a handwritten note to people I love. It is not a business letter. It is from me personally. Recently I purchased a box of notecards  for my grandson who is studying business in college. I explained that in the business world a hand written thank you note is considered one of the most critical things one can send.  His cards are ecru with his name printed on the card in navy blue. The envelopes are lined in blue. There is room only for a brief note. I purchased stamps to be included in the box so he has no excuse not to write notes.

 Kara Kennedy wrote about her Grandmother Rose Kennedy:

“My grandmother Kennedy was very meticulous about handwritten messages, notes and letters.  I remember receiving a high school graduation gift from her cousin (my second or third cousin). After I opened package, she immediately went to her secretary (desk) and pulled out her note cards and made me write a ‘thank you’ note to my cousin and mail it. My grandmother believed that a handwritten note was the ultimate way to show our gratitude. She also believed in sending greeting cards for every occasion. Each card had a special handwritten message especially for me. She knew me so well I wished I had kept those cards. I loved reading and re-reading them. At times she would include a letter in the card because she couldn’t say all that she wanted to in that little area on a the card.”

Remember saying thanks costs nothing but gives everything.