Sunday, November 28, 2010


JESUS
(Christmas Mice Recipe)

I once heard an interesting quote. It went something like this:
When you were born
You cried and the world rejoiced,
Live so when you die
The world cries and you rejoice.

As I was thinking about this statement, I was reminded this is NOT what Jesus experienced when he came into the world. The world did not rejoice. Yes, he probably cried as Mary gave birth to him. The only people present to rejoice at the birth of this little boy were his mother and father. Hours later a handful of shepherds came to the manger to rejoice, and some angels rejoiced – but what about the people who had filled the inns of Bethlehem? Did they come out to rejoice? I think not. Did they even know a baby had been born? Chances are they did not. Had I been there I would have rejoiced at the birth of this beautiful baby – this Son of God.

He lived a perfect life. Through his life and his teachings, he showed the world how to die, but live - eternally. Yet, did mankind reach out and embrace this Gift of eternal life. No, they put him to death. Did the world cry when he died – no! They laughed. They rejoiced. They were pleased and satisfied that they had destroyed this Man who brought them so much grief. Even the soldiers gambled over his clothing.

Yes, there were a few who cried. Mary, his mother; along with the women gathered at the foot of the cross. Perhaps the disciples (although most of them ran off to hide except John). Perhaps Joseph of Arimathea, who gave his tomb for Jesus to be buried in, and Nicodemus. Even though Jesus lived a life of sacrifice, love, devotion, and testimony. Even though He healed many, forgave sins, encouraged the broken, and ultimately died so man might live – it seems very few cried at his death. Yet we know that Jesus rejoiced that the victory over sin had been won – Jesus was that victory!

This Christmas can you rejoice at the birth of this Child – this Son of God – this baby who came into a broken world, to live a perfect life, to die a horrible death so you and I can know the joy of having our sins forgiven and the assurance of eternal life?

This Christmas will you determine to live your life as a testimony of God’s Grace at work in your life, letting your light shine in a dark world, sharing the Good News to all God puts into your path so when you ultimately die the world will rejoice – rejoice because of who you are - and were – in Jesus.

Christmas Tree Mice

24 Oreo cookies
2 cup (6 oz.) semisweet chips
3 tsp. shortening
24 red cherries with stems, well drained
24 milk chocolate kisses
48 sliced almonds
1 small tube green decorative icing gel
1 small tube red decorative icing gel

Carefully twist cookies apart. Set aside the halves with cream. In microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening till smooth. Dip cherry into chocolate, then press unto bottom of kiss. Place on cookie with stem pointing outward. Ears: place slivered almonds between the cherry and kiss. Refrigerate till set. Dot eyes with red gel. With green, make leaves and dot with red gel. Store in airtight container at room temperature. Makes 24.

Sunday, November 21, 2010


THANKSGIVING DAY!

A Thanksgiving Day history lesson. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn't until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. The early Pilgrims celebrated days of thanksgiving as part of their religion. But these were days of prayer, not days of feasting.

Thanksgiving has become a tradition in many homes – not a tradition filled with prayer and thanksgiving – but a tradition of feasting, football, and family. I think this combination is wonderful. I love it also. But I give a challenge to you this Thanksgiving Day – let’s take time to make it truly a day for which we give thanks. We are quick to thank God for our family, our health, our financial security; for food and clothes; thanks that our daily needs are met – but God’s word gives us a number of other things for which we should be thankful, yet we may tend to forget. May I share them with you?

1 Chronicles 16:34 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
How wonderful the love of God that endures forever! His goodness to us is beyond words.

1 Chronicles 29:13 – “Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”
There is NO name as glorious as the Name of Jehovah! And NO other name worthy of our thanks.

Psalm 7:17 – “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”
Let us give thanks that OUR God is a righteous God. Let us sing about the truth that OUR God is the Lord Most High!

Psalm 118:21 - ”I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.”
What other God can answer our every prayer? What other God can provide us with
salvation? Thank you, God. You are the author of both.

1 Corinthians 15:57 – “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Thank you Jesus because your death, burial and resurrection won the victory over eternal death. Because of you, I do not fear death.

2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! “
Father, thank you – thank you – thank you for giving us the best Gift possible – the gift of your Son.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day with your family. Enjoy your afternoon of football. Enjoy the feasting that a day like this brings – but most important of all - enjoy spending time giving thanks and praise to our God Most High for all he has done, and all he has given to us.


Pumpkin Spice Cookies

1 18-oz. Spice Cake Mix
1 15-oz. can solid pumpkin
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Combine above and mix well. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Let cookies set 5 minutes before removing from tray to continue to cool on a wire rack. These are very good!

Sunday, November 14, 2010



Good Things God Does
(Recipe: Hot Apple Cider)

I love reading through the Psalms, and no matter how many times I read through them, God always shows me something new. Even when I read a familiar passage, each time I read it God points out something different. I love that about God! I love that about His Word! The Holy Spirit opens our eyes and shows us something new each day. Does this happen to you as well?

Case in point. I have read Psalm 103 many, many times, but as I was reading through this Psalm this morning I was struck with the very first verse, “Let all that I am praise the Lord.” I realized that I don’t always do this. Yes, I praise the Lord – but do I praise him with all that I am? Not always.

Verse 2 says, “May I never forget the good things he does for me.” God stopped me right there and asked, “Marilyn, what good things have I done for you? I share some of these good things in this passage. Have you considered them seriously before?” I had to admit that I had not. But I am this morning. I invite you to consider the good things God has done for you as well.

In verse three God says “I forgive all your sins, I heal all your diseases.” ALL my sins he forgives. That is reason enough to know God is good. ALL my diseases. Yes, Jesus heals our physical needs, but our greatest disease we battle every day is sin. In Scripture, sickness is sometimes used as a picture of sin and healing as a picture of salvation. (Luke 5:17-25).

Verse four says, “He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.” A wonderful reason to praise God – he redeems me from my sinful past and his mercies are new every morning!! Mercy means – “kind and compassionate treatment of an offender”. Thanks for your merciful heart!

Verse five reads, “He fills my life with good things.” My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” When I need extra strength – God gives it to me. Even in my old age, I can serve Jesus with the strength and energy of someone younger. He still has work for me to do!

Verse eight reminds us, “…..(God) is slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” Boy, do I need this assurance every day. How often do we fail God; sin against him; disappoint him; yet we are told God is slow to get angry. Unlike how I would sometimes treat my children. I would get angry at them over the smallest thing – shame on me! God loves us deeply. H does not easily get angry with us – a very good reason to praise Him.

I love the promise of verse 12 when God says, “(I) remove your sins as far as the east is from the west.” I’m so glad God doesn’t remember my sins. When I ask him to forgive them, he does. Why then do I tend to remember every sin someone has sinned against me? If God can forgive and forget mine – am I any better than God? I don’t think so. I need to follow this same principle in my life. Forgiving and forgetting.

Why do I remember all the good things God has done for me? Verse 17 says, “The love of the Lord remains forever…….” If no one else in this world loves me – God will. If no one else in this world adores me – God does. If my enemy won’t forgive me, God will. If my own father has disappointed me – God won’t. That’s why I love Him!!!

“Father, today, we give you praise for all the good things you have done for us – too many to count, too many to list. Bring to each of our minds those things you have done SPECIFICALLY for each of us and let us give you the praise due your Holy Name today. Amen.”

Hot Apple Cider

½ gallon apple cider
¼ cup red hot candy pieces
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. allspice
1 orange – cut into slices
4-5 cinnamon sticks

Combine 2 cups cider, red hots and brown sugar. Microwave (medium heat) for 7-8 minutes. Add cloves and allspice. Mix with remainder of the cider. Heat in a crock pot and let flavors blend together 2-3 hours. During the last hour add 4-5 cinnamon sticks, and orange slices. Serves 14-16.

Sunday, November 7, 2010


Hall of Faith
(Recipe: Bite-size Crab Quiches)


As a believer we often talk about our “faith”. For the believer faith means; “trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.” This is definitely true. We could never become a child of God without faith in what His Son accomplished for us at Calvary.

But, does faith mean something else? Faith is also defined as; “reliance, loyalty, or complete trust in God or someone else” or “trust in God and in his actions and promises”. As I thought about this little word “faith” I was reminded of Hebrews 11 which we know as the ‘Hall of Faith’ – men and women who have passed on to us a legacy of what it means to live by faith. As I read through this passage it became very clear to me what the benefits of having faith might be. Let me share my observations with you.

1. Faith allows me to believe the universe was formed at God’s command (verse 1)
2. Faith causes us give the best offerings to God (verse 2)
3. Faith lets us experience how we can please God (verse 5-6)
4. Faith encourages us to do the impossible, knowing with God all things are possible (verse 7)
5. Faith helps us to obey and go, even when the way is not clear (verse 8-9)
6. Faith allows us to trust in a faithful God even when our faith is weak (verse 11-12)
7. Faith keeps us living for God and serving God until we die (verse 19)
8. Faith keeps us focused on heaven, our final reward (verse 16)
9. Faith encourages us through times of testing (verse 17-19)
10. Faith brings us blessings only reserved for God’s children (verse 20ff)
11. Faith helps us worship (verse 21)
12. Faith removes fear (verse 22)
13. Faith helps us make right choices (verse 24-26)
14. Faith helps us keep our eyes on Jesus (verse 27-28)
15. Faith lets us experience God’s miracles in our lives (verse 29)
16. Faith accomplishes the impossible (verse 30)
17. Faith gives us courage to act in right ways (verse 31)
18. Faith conquers kingdoms – administers justice – gains promises – does the impossible – escapes from fear – brings strength – gives power - helps when persecuted (verses 32-38)

Are you living by faith? It is really very simple. Fear Aside I Trust Him. Are you able to do this? No matter what comes into your life; where God might ask you to go; to whom he may want you to speak -will you obey?
We were just reminded of eighteen benefits (promises) that can be ours if we will only have faith and believe. Will you “trust in God and his actions and promises”? If you will, you and God together will have a marvelous adventure, and you too will leave a legacy in “God’s Hall of Faith.”

Bite-Size Crab Quiches

1 10-oz. tube large refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 6-oz. crabmeat, drained, flaked and cartilage removed OR 1 cup chopped imitation crabmeat
½ cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 egg
½ cup milk
½ tsp. dill weed
¼ tsp. salt

Separate each biscuit into five equal pieces. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of 24 ungreased miniature muffin cups (discard remaining pieces of dough). Fill each cup with 2 tsp. crab and 1 tsp. Swiss cheese. In a small bowl, combine the egg, milk, dill and salt; spoon about 1-1/2 tsp. into each cup. Bake at 375 for 15-20 min. or until edges are golden brown. Let stand for 5 min. before removing from pans. Serve warm.