I KNOW

I cannot tell you how many times during the course of a day I use these two little words. My husband says to me, “Remember, we have dinner with ?? tonight,” and my reply is
“I know”. I say to my child “You need to come home immediately after school.” and he replies, “I know”. While preparing a meal for dinner I may say to myself, “I know I bought that can of cream soup. Where is it?”

As I looked through my Bible Commentary, (NIV), I found over 122 references to “I know”. I will share a few of my favorites.

Job 19:25, “But as for me, I KNOW that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.” Job was able to acknowledge that he knows his Redeemer. We have a Redeemer as well. His name is Jesus. Has he set you free from your sins? Has he forgiven you? Can you exclaim, along with Job, I know that my Redeemer lives? I know my Redeemer is living in me?

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.” Do you know God has a plan for your life? It may be different that the one we have planned for ourselves, but his is better. Are you willing to allow God to lead you, not fight him, and follow his plan for your life? Did you know he has a perfect and good plan for your life?

Jesus says in John 10:11, 27, “I am the good shepherd, The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I KNOW them, and they follow me.” Do you know this Shepherd? Are you one of his sheep? If he were to speak to you today, would you know his voice?

2 Timothy 1:12, “...for I KNOW the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” What are you willing to entrust into the hands of Jesus? Do you know, with complete confidence, that you can trust him to guard it (whatever “it” is) carefully until the day of his return? I have sacrificially entrusted into the hands of my Lord and Savior not only my own life, but the lives of each of my family members. After all, Jesus can take care of them so much better than I can. And he loves them a whole lot more than I ever could. I know I can trust him with my life as well as those I love.

I know my Savior loves me,
I know I love him too.
I know he went to Calvary
To die for me and you.

I know that he forgave me,
My heart it is brand new.
I know my home is heaven
On this earth, I’m just passing through.
I know He waits to welcome me
His arms are open wide,
I know it will be glory!
With him, forever to reside.
m.k.m.

Chicken Pot-Pie

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cubed
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
½ cup sliced celery
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup all purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
¼ tsp. celery seed
1-3/4 cups chicken broth
2/3 cups milk
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts

Preheat oven to 425. In saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

In saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat, set aside.

Place the chicken mixture in bottom of pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over all. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

I CAN

First, before I get into my devotional, may I share the good news that our eighth grandchild, Logan Paul, was born on Thursday. He weighed 8.7 and was 18-1/2” long. What a beautiful little boy he is, and is welcomed (hopefully) by his older brother. At the moment he is not too certain about this new intruder who came into his home – LOL. Love all eight of my grandchildren and thank God for each one of them.

As I think about this New Year, I would like to try something different for my blog devotional. There are so many wonderful two or three word phrases in the Bible that we tend to overlook when we read God’s Word. I would like to consider some of these “little” words that carry much weight with what they have to say. So, I begin with this.....”I can”....

This is a familiar phrase to all of us. How many times have we heard it? The athlete says, “I can make that basket”. The mom says, “I can multi-task, just watch me!” The farmer says, “I can plant that field and harvest that crop.” The teenager says, “Yes I can too drive a car.” The mechanic says, “I can fix this engine. No problem.” When you stop and think about it, your list of “I can” goes on forever and ever.

What does God say about this tiny phrase, “I can”?

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is a direct promise to me from God. “In your strength I CAN crush an army; with my God I CAN scale any wall.” Psalm 18:29. God says to us, “there is nothing too hard or too difficult that you and I can’t conquer together”. The key is; do we even try?

Jesus used this phrase when speaking to the father of a demon possessed man in Mark 9:23. “What do you mean, “If I CAN?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Never say to Jesus, “If you can” because we know that Jesus can. This should give us a different perspective to our prayers. We either believer that Jesus CAN; or he cannot. I have a prayer that has been ongoing for some time now, yet without an answer. ‘Jesus, I believe I CAN trust you to answer it for me, for anything is possible if I but believe’.

Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “For I CAN do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” What is it you need to have the strength to do today? This week? Everything you need to accomplish the task is immediately available to you because God has already given you the strength you need to be successful. Do you believe the promise, I CAN do everything through Christ....?

As you read through Scripture, look for this tiny phrase and see how it applies to your life, or your situation. You will be pleasantly surprised and encouraged.

Quick and Easy Quiche

2 cups milk
4 eggs
¾ cup biscuit baking mix
¼ cup softened butter
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (10-oz) chopped frozen broccoli, thawed and well drained (use paper towel)
1 cup cubed cooked ham (can purchase a ½ inch slab from the deli department)
8 oz. shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10 inch quiche dish. In a large bowl, beat together milk, eggs, baking mix, butter and parmesan cheese. Batter will be lumpy. Stir in broccoli, ham and Cheddar cheese. Pour into prepared quiche dish. Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes, until eggs are set and top is golden brown.