MY SOLID ROCK
(Recipe: Olive-Spaghetti Casserole)

My husband and I have just returned from a wonderful 5 day vacation to Bar Harbor, Maine. While there, we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Fifty years ago I would never have guessed that we would choose Maine as a place to celebrate this special anniversary. Europe – maybe. Hawaii - possibly. Maine – not even on the radar chart!!

But, I’m glad we did. This is a beautiful part of our great United States. Acadia National Park is filled with impressive things to see and beautiful rock formations. You can walk for miles along the rocky cliffs, enjoying a fantastic view. The ocean is wonderful, you can see for miles. September trees were beautifully dressed in their bright yellow, gold, red and orange. The town of Bar Harbor is unique and quaint – with lots of little shops and fun places to eat.

As we were walking in Acadia National Park, along a rocky cliff one morning my husband captured the moment with these simple words, “These rocks give a whole new meaning to the Scripture about ‘building your house on a rock’. If your building stood here, your house wouldn't fall down.” Indeed, any house that would have been build on that solid rock foundation would NEVER have been destroyed.

Matthew 7:21ff tells us this: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock…..”

Since we are instructed to build upon a solid foundation, namely the Rock, why do we continue to try to build our lives on something less superior? We try the world – only to find that a life built by the world’s standards will not satisfy. (1 John 2:15-16). We try wealth, and find that wealth does not last. (Ecclesiastes 5:10) We try pleasures, only to find they don't last. (Proverbs 21:17).

When all these fail, why not turn to the ROCK – Jesus Christ. Only a life (house) built upon Jesus will stand the storms of life. Only a life in which Jesus is supreme, will know and enjoy safety and security. Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us, “He (Jesus) is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Isaiah 26:4 gives this word of encouragement, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” Edward Mote, (1834) wrote the words to a beautiful hymn, The Solid Rock, capturing this idea of building your house on the solid Rock, Jesus.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. (Refrain)

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand. (Refrain)

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil. (Refrain)

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay. (Refrain)

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne. (Refrain)

On what is your house (life) built? Have you built on sinking sand, or upon the solid Rock? 1 Corinthians 10:4 reminds us “……that rock was Christ.” Jesus is the only Rock upon which you can build to assure you will stand firm.

OLIVE-SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
½ green pepper, diced
2 Tbsp. margarine or butter
1 7-oz. package spaghetti., broken into small pieces
4 cup tomato juice
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
½ cup stuffed olives, diced
salt and pepper to taste
4 or 5 slices American cheese

Cook beef, onion, green pepper in butter. Drain. Add raw spaghetti (broken into small pieces). Add the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the cheese. Pour into a casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or until bubbly. (Stir several times during baking). When cooked, lay American cheese on top and bake 5 minutes longer, until cheese melts.

GIVE YOUR BURDENS TO GOD

(Recipe: Chow Mein Cookies)

As I was reading through my “God Sightings – The One Year Bible” I came to a verse in Psalm 55 and God seemed to say “Stop, think about what I have written,” so I paused and allowed the Holy Spirit to minister to my heart.

Psalm 55:22 reads as follows: “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” In recent weeks God has put me around people who are carrying some very heavy burdens. Couples burdened with a difficult marriage. Men and women suffering because of physical difficulties. Moms and dads struggling with troubled teens. It seems I have spent much time in counsel and much time in prayer for these dear folks. Perhaps you find yourself with a burden on your heart today as well.

This verse encouraged me: “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.” This is a promise. I couldn’t help but think of a song I used to sing twenty-five years ago in my church I attended on Staten Island, NY. The title was “Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave Them There.” I share these words with you. Perhaps you can be encouraged by them as well.

If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,
And you have to get along with meager fare,
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird;
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal;
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Friend, if you are going through a tough time today. If the burdens you have been asked to carry seem way too difficult – remember – you don’t have to carry them alone. God wants you to give them to him and he in turn will give you his peace.

Chow Mein Cookies

1 9-oz. bag of chocolate chips

1 10-oz. bag of peanut butter chips

¾ cup peanut butter

1 large can of Chinese noodles

In a double-boiler melt the chips along with the peanut butter. Remove from heat and stir in Chinese noodles. Using a teaspoon, place a drop of mixture onto a waxed-paper lined cookie sheet. Place in refrigerator and let set until hardened. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

GOD’S GUEST

(Recipe: Hot Cheddar-Mushroom Spread)

We will be celebrating Labor Day this week, and for many of us that means family time, picnics and having guests in your home. I love these special times. The BBQ’s. The laughter that happens when family and friends get together. For me it means entertaining. Preparing the food, having my home ready for company, even the clean-up – all things I enjoy when having guests over.

For the guest it means a time when they can be served. When they can enjoy a meal prepared by someone else. When they can relax and enjoy fellowship with good friends.

A guest is defined this way: “a person who spends some time at another person's home in some social activity, as a visit, dinner, or party.” The key word is “some.” They come for a while, and then leave. They do not stay forever (hopefully!!)

Recently I came across in interesting verse in Scripture. It is from Psalm 39:12 (NLT). This is a Psalm of David. In verse 5 David says, “You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you, at best, each of us is but a breath.”

David is reminding us how brief life is. This is made clearer in verse 12 when he says,

“Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest – a traveler passing through, as my ancestor’s were before me.”

Our life on this earth is brief – AND – we are nothing more than a guest traveling through. As God’s guest, I am simply spending time on this earth that rightly belongs to God. I have been invited to participate in His hospitality as His guest, for a time. What kind of guest do I make? Am I enjoying all that God has prepared for me? Do I treat his created home with respect? Do I enjoy the beauty around me, all expressions of God’s handiwork and creativity? Do I enjoy sitting at his table and feasting with Him? Do I enjoy his conversation as found in his Word? Do I listen when he talks?

My prayer is that each of us may bring pleasure to the heart of God and be a guest that appreciates all God desires to give to us, until he takes us from this home and brings us to heaven where we will no longer be a “guest – a traveler passing through” but we will have a permanent home and feasting with God forever.

Hot Cheddar-Mushroom Spread

2 cups mayonnaise

2 cups (8-oz) shredded cheddar cheese

2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 cans (4-1/2 oz each) sliced mushrooms, drained

1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix

minced fresh parsley

assorted crackers

In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, cheeses, mushrooms and dressing mix. Spread into a greased 9-in. pie plate.

Bake, uncovered at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with crackers. (do not use reduced fat or fat-free mayonnaise)