Wednesday, August 24, 2011


EARTHQUAKE!
(Recipe: Orange Tapioca Salad)

EARTHQUAKE! What do you mean an earthquake here on the East coast of all places? I was at my table having lunch when I heard this news over the radio. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Then my husband said, “Yes, my desk at work moved and my computer was shaking” and we live in Pennsylvania!

I immediately thought of the verse in Matthew 24:7-8 where Jesus, along with his disciples, were on the Mount of Olives speaking with Jesus privately. They were asking “what sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” One comment Jesus spoke seems appropriate for today when he said, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”

We are in the beginning of those birth pains!!

Truly our world is in chaos. Could one of the reasons be because we have forsaken the God who loves us? We have taken him out of all that is good. People want to do their own thing. Things which bring pleasure to themselves – forget God. One day we know that God’s patience will cease and we will know the fury of his anger. God says in Amos 3:10 – “My people have forgotten how to do right, says the Lord.” Certainly this is true of our nation.

We need to be praying for our nation, its people, and our world to humbly come back to the God who loves them. Read through the book of Amos. We can learn some wonderful lessons from this man of faith. Amos tried to warn the people. They would not listen. Amos 7:14-16, “But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’ Now then, listen to this message from the Lord.” But they would not listen.

God used a humble man like Amos, untrained, uneducated, to speak to a lost nation. He can use you and me as well. God speaks these words in Amos 8:11-12, “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land – not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.”

America is experiencing a famine – of hearing the words of the Lord. But God is calling you and me who believe the Gospel message to share the Good News of hope, peace and joy. Will you do your part to turn our land from a land of spiritual famine into a land that bows down and worships the Almighty God? It might mean taking you out of your comfort zone. Truly, it was for Amos, but he remained a faithful servant. I want to be that kind of faithful servant – do you?

ORANGE TAPIOCA SALAD

3 cups water
1 package (3-oz) orange gelatin
1 package (3.4 oz) INSTANT vanilla pudding mix
1 package (3 oz.) tapioca pudding mix
1 can (15 oz) mandarin oranges, DRAINED
1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, DRAINED
1 carton (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed

In saucepan, bring water to a boil. Whisk in gelatin and pudding mixes. Return to a boil, stirring constantly; boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool completely. Fold in oranges, pineapple and shipped topping. Spoon into a serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Yield 12-14 servings.



Sunday, August 7, 2011


GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD
(Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff)

We have all heard the saying, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” This has been my experience this week. I don’t know how “tough” I am, but I have a feeling I am about to find out. Having not felt well for a number of weeks, I finally went to the doctor. He did an EKG. You know you are in trouble when your doctor says “oh-oh”. I said, “Is that a good oh-oh or a bad oh-oh.” He replied, “We have a new problem.”

He said, “you have A-Fib.” Not exactly the words I wanted to hear. He immediately sent me to my cardiologist who confirmed his suspicion. A-Fib (arterial fibrillation) a rapid and irregular heartbeat. They scheduled a Cardioversion (shocking the heart back into rhythm), along with a TEE (internal echocardiogram). This was done last Thursday. After shocking the heart three times, the procedure proved to be a failure.

Disappointing news to say the least. But, the doctor went on to explain because they had done the internal echo they discovered my Mitral-Valve was leaking more seriously than they realized, which caused the A-Fib, which meant I would need open heart surgery to repair/replace the valve.

As I lay digesting the news, I couldn’t help but smile as I contemplated the goodness of God, even in this difficult situation. Had I not been feeling well, I would never have gone to the doctor and we would never have discovered the real problem. My Mitral Valve Prolapse had taken a turn for the worse. God is so good!

In the next few weeks/months my faith is going to be tested. I have a feeling God is smiling as he says, “OK, Marilyn. Let’s see what you’re really made of. Let’s see if all your years of teaching My word to others will prove to be real in your own life.” I believe God is good and powerful; loving and kind; gracious and good; and is and always will be my Jehovah Rapha – my Healer. He continues to be the Great Physician, the Good Shepherd, my Savior, and this week it is my privilege to teach 20 moms for DVBS this truth about God. Yes, God is good. What I am about to experience is simply a “bump in the road” and bumps don’t hurt all that much!!

God’s word continues to be my source of strength, and my cry to him continues to be the words of Psalm 95:1-3, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the GREAT GOD, the GREAT KING above all gods.”

So, friend, whatever trial you may be facing in your own life today; persevere. God is in control. He will walk the journey with you. You can trust Him!!

SLOW COOKER BEEF STROGANOFF

2 pounds beef stew meat
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of golden mushroom soup
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of onion soup
1 jar (6 ounces) Green Giant® sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
1 container (8 ounces) sour cream
6 cups hot cooked noodles or rice

1. 1 In 3 1/2- to 4 1/2-quart slow cooker, mix beef, onion, soups, mushrooms and pepper.
2. 2 Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 10 hours or until beef is very tender.
3. 3 Stir cream cheese into beef mixture until melted. Stir sour cream into beef mixture. Serve over noodles.