One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 121. Today in Sunday School we referred to this passage. Let me share this passage with you:

”I live up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

God seemed to whisper these thoughts into my heart.

1. FIVE times God reminds me that “he is watching over me.” I find this very encouraging – knowing God loves me enough to keep a close watch on my life.

2. EIGHT times God gives me His promise:

God is there to help me – God the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let my foot slip,

God does not slumber

God does not sleep

God is my shade

God keeps me from all harm

God watches over my life

God watches over me as I come, as I go – indeed – forever.

I love it when God makes a promise to me – and I know He will keep his promises because “God cannot lie.” (Numbers 23:19 – NLT)

3. I also find FOUR marvelous Names of my God written within this text:

Paragraph one we find ELOHIM – our Creator God.

Paragraph two we find EL ROI – the God Who Sees.

Paragraph three we find IMMANUEL – God With Us

Paragraph four we find EL OLAM – the Eternal God

May you be encouraged today in knowing how lovingly and faithfully your Heavenly Father cares for you, securing his love by giving you these marvelous promises.

FROSTY STRAWBERRY SQUARES (very yummy but takes a little time to make)

1 cup flour

¼ cup packed brown sugar

½ cup chopped walnuts

½ cup melted margarine

In a bowl, mix these ingredients together; spread evenly into a 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and cool.

When cool, remove 1/3 of the mixture. Evenly spread the remaining mixture in the 9 x 13 pan.

2 egg whites

1 10-oz. frozen strawberries, partially thawed

¾ cup sugar

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1 cup whipping cream, whipped or a 14-1/2 oz. Cool Whip, thawed.

In mixer, or large bowl, combine egg whites, sugar, berries and lemon juice. Beat at low speed until mixture begins to thicken, about 2 minutes. Beat at high speed until stiff peaks form, about 10-12 minutes.

Fold in whipped cream or Cool Whip. Spoon over crumb mixture in pan; top with reserved crumbs. Freeze 6 hours, or overnight. Cut into squares. Decorate with fresh strawberries, if desired. Serves 12-15. A very refreshing dessert.

Who Is Jesus?

Mark 8:27-30

I recently taught through the Gospel of Mark in my ladies Bible study and one verse in this Gospel caught my attention – and continues to challenge me with this profound question Jesus asks as found in Mark 8:27-30.

Jesus and his disciples were traveling to a nearby village. On their way Jesus stopped, gathered his disciples around him, and asked – “Men, who do people say I am?”

As the disciples thought about this question they responded as one, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” Jesus then looks at them and again says, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”

Peter responds without hesitation, “You are the Christ.”

Yes, Jesus is the Christ – the Son of God – the Redeemer who was willing to give his life for a sinner such as you and me. As I contemplated this question, I was challenged to ask myself, “Marilyn, who do you say I am?” With the alphabet as my starting point, here is who I say Jesus is……

A – Almighty God (El Shaddai)

B – Beautiful

C – Creator

D - Deliverer

E – El Roi (God is There)

F – Father

G – Glorious

H – Helper

I – I AM

J – Jehovah Rapha (healer)

K – King

L – Loving

M – Master

N – Nobel

O - Omnipresent

P – Perfect

Q – Quick to forgive

R – Redeemer

S – Shepherd

T – Teacher

U – Understanding

V – Victorious

W – Wisdom

X – Xtremely Good

Y – Yehweh

Z - Zealous

Who do you say Jesus is? Why not take this week to consider this question and write your own response. Revelation 1:18 perfectly answers this question when it says, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” Who is Jesus? The Living, All-Powerful, Victorious Son of God – He is the Christ. Praise Him!!

Quick and Easy Salad

1 16-oz. carton small curd cottage cheese

½ of 8-oz. carton Cool Whip

1 large can crushed pineapple – drained WELL (I pat well with a paper towel after it has drained)

½ cup chopped walnuts

1 3-oz. box Cherry Jell-o

Mix all together well and refrigerate several hours.

Praise to God!

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 100. It is short. It is to the point. It is comforting.

It is what I refer to as my- who, what, when, where, why and how Scripture. Let me share the Scripture with you:

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Some questions to ask and answer.....

1. To WHOM do we shout? To the Lord.

2. WHO does this shouting? All the earth.

3. HOW do we do this? With gladness; with joyful songs, knowing all the time that the Lord is God.

4. WHAT has God done to deserve this praise? Made us. More than made us, He made us his. We are his people, his sheep in his pasture.

5. WHAT does God expect from me? Make certain that I can enter his gates, enter his courts; and do so with thanksgiving, praising his name.

6. WHY would I even want to? Praise the Lord, that is. Because God is good, his love endures forever, his faithfulness extends to all generations.

WHEN was the last time you gave praise to the Lord – really praised him? You stood shouting your praises to this wonderful God. Take time today, in the quietness of your home, to shout your praises to God. No one will hear – except God – and it will be music to his ears! You might come to realize you rather enjoy this joyful time with the Lord.

Summertime BBQ Beans

1 24 oz. can pork and beans 1 Tbsp. dry mustard

1 16-oz. can lima beans, drain 1 cup brown sugar

1 16-oz. can butter beans, drain ½ c. cider vinegar

1 16-oz. can kidney beans, drain

10-12 slices bacon, cut into small pieces

1 medium onion

Cut bacon into smaller pieces, then saute’ along with one medium onion.

Mix cider vinegar, dry mustard, and brown sugar together. Add to bacon and simmer for 15 minutes. Place beans into a slo-cooker and add the bacon mixture. Cook on low 4-5 hours, or bake in a 350 oven for 1 hr. and 15 minutes.