COMPLAIN OR REJOICE

SNOW! Lots of snow. We woke up to 10-12 inches here in Pennsylvania. Arrrrrrhhhhh. More shoveling (well not for me, but for my husband). Rather than awake and say “oh my, how beautiful” the first words are usually, “Oh great. More snow. More shoveling. I hate winter!!”

I thought about what I could use as my Alphabet letter for C today. Then, it dawned on me!!

Why is it we complain over things we have no control over? The amount of snow we get. The fact that kids are home and don’t have school. “Why can’t the schools be open” we complain. “The kids have already lost enough school days.” What else have you complained about this week? Your health? Your job? Your circumstances?

Jesus said to the people, who began to murmur as they disagreed with what Jesus told them, “Stop complaining about what I said.” (John 6:43). I think Jesus would give this same advice to us today. “Stop complaining about what I am doing.”

Complain means “to express grief, pain, or discontent; to make a formal accusation or charge.” Have you stopped to think that most of the things we complain about we are expressing a complaint toward God? “God, why are you doing this?” is what we are really saying.

I was reminded recently that when God brings something like a 12” snowfall to my neighborhood, this is pleasing to God. He is sitting in heaven and thinking “My, what beautiful snow this is. My handiwork is something for Me to enjoy. See how I layer it on the trees. See how the sun glistens off of new-fallen snow and it sparkles. I did this. I did this for you to remember who I am. I think even the angels in heaven dance with joy at what God has done.”

But, we don’t. Remember God in the snow, that is. We think only of complaining. Scripture reminds us about this. Philippians 2:14, “Do everything without complaining and arguing.” Does that mean while shoveling snow? Does that mean when my kids are running around the house on a snow-day home from school? Does that mean when my job stinks?

Yes.

The opposite word from complain is “rejoice.” How different our day would be if we would remember this. Psalms 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Note: it did not say “complain”). Philippians 4:4 tells us to “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!”

Got a lot of shoveling to do – rejoice! Snow is beautiful to God. Kids schedules have upset your day – rejoice. God gave you a free day to have fun with them.

Complaining aside ….. REJOICING, Here I Come!!

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Beef & Bean Crock-Pot Meal

½ cup chopped onion
1-1/2 lbs. ground chuck, browned and drained
6 medium potatoes, sliced
1 can red beans, drained
1 can tomatoes mixed with 2 Tbsp. flour or 1 can tomato soup
salt and pepper
garlic to taste

Put chopped onion in the bottom of your slow cooker/crock pot. Layer with browned ground beef, sliced potatoes and beans. Spread tomatoes or soup over all. Sprinkle with seasonings, as desired. Cover and cook on low 7-9 hours. Can serve over rice or noodles. Serves 4-6.

DEFINING “BLOT”
(Recipe: Peanut Butter Apple Rings)

As I think about writing on my blog for the coming year, the idea came to me to take one unusual word from the Bible and write about it, starting with the letter A (I spoke on the word awesome last Sunday) and ending with the word Z. I like to phrase it “An Alphabet Study”. My word for today is “blot.”

When I was a little girl I could entertain myself for a long time with some old fashioned ink, an ink blotter and some paper. I would drop a little ink on some paper and then use a blotter to cover the spot; counting how many times I had to blot it before it would come clean.

Sometimes as I used the blotter, the drop of ink would take on another shape. I would then try to imagine what that shape might be. A flower. A bug. Or something else. You may be thinking, “How weird is that?” and yet for a little girl growing up in the 40’s, there wasn’t a lot to entertain myself with. No iPods, no TV, no x-box…..so we made up our own entertainment which proved to be fun.

The word blot means…. “a spot or stain, esp. of ink on paper” – “obliterate” or ”to wipe away, destroy; to erase or cover up.”

The Bible briefly mentions the word “blot”. It is found in two key passages. I quote from the NLT (New Living Translation).

Ps 51:1 “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.”

Isa 43:25 "I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”

Using our definition that a blot is a ‘spot or stain’; as well as meaning ‘erase’, I want to apply this to God working in my life. I can imagine God taking his great big blotter to erase each of our sins, blotting them out, destroying them. Both David and Isaiah plead with God to “blot out their sins”. That should be our plea as well. Our sin keeps us from a holy God, from enjoying eternity in heaven. We need to have our sin blotted out and only God can do that. Our sin is removed when we ask God for forgiveness. When we do, God forgives our sin and our sin is wiped away. Rather than having our sin weigh heavy in our life – once forgiven – we know joy and peace.

Has your sin been removed from your life? Have you allowed God to forgive you? He longs to wipe your slate clean and give you a new start. Will you let him? Remember, Jesus paid for all your sin when he died for you at Calvary. He arose to prove he was the victor over the grave. Ask God to blot out your sin, remove it, forgive it, and experience what a clean heart feels like.

Peanut Butter Apple Rings
1/3 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
4 tsp. honey
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
1 large red delicious apple
½ cup granola cereal with raisins

Stir peanut butter, honey and cinnamon in small bowl. Peel apple, core and slice apple into rings. Arrange apple rings on serving plates. Spread rings evenly with thin layer of peanut butter mixture. Lightly press granola cereal into peanut butter mixture. Serve immediately.

WHO IS GOD?
(Recipe: Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels)

In our Sunday School class this morning we were asked to discuss the question, “who exactly is God.” We looked up a number of Scripture verses and found out that God is:
Holy – 1 Peter 1:14-16
Eternal, God never changes – Psalm 102:12, 27
God know everything – Hebrews 4:13
God does what he pleases – Daniel 4:35
God hates all evil – Proverbs 8:13
God is Creator; He deserves our worship – Revelation 4:11

As I thought about this question later in the afternoon, I couldn’t help but think that God is also “Awesome”. Awesome is defined as ‘amazing’. Over and over again in Scripture, God was recognized as someone Awesome, someone absolutely Amazing:

In Daniel 9:4, Daniel prays – “O Lord, the great and awesome God…..”
The Psalmist says in Psalm 111:9 – “….holy and awesome is his name.”
David says in Psalm 68:35 – “You are awesome, O God…….”
The Sons of Korah exclaim in Psalm 47:2 – “How awesome is the Lord Most High…..”
Nehemiah proclaims in Nehemiah 1:5 – “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God…”
Moses sings in Exodus 15:11 – “Who among the gods in like you, O Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

At the start of this New Year, can you exclaim, as our forefathers did, “God you are an Awesome God?” As you ponder this thought, write out your own list of what this Awesome God would look like in your life, perhaps adding other Scriptures to this list. Indeed, we do have an amazing and awesome God!

Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels

8 oz. milk chocolate, broken into pieces
Topping: flaked coconut and/or sprinkles
27 (8” long pretzel rods) or a 10 oz. bag

Place chocolate in microwave safe mug. Heat, covered with waxed paper on high 1-2 minutes or until chocolate is melted, stir occasionally.

Meanwhile, place each topping choice on individual paper plates

Holding pretzel, dip in melted chocolate, covering half of the pretzel. Allow excess chocolate to drip off pretzel. Immediately sprinkle coated pretzel with choice of topping. Carefully place coated pretzel rod in pie plate or shallow bowl, leaning uncoated portion on edge. Try to keep pretzels from touching each other. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Store in tightly sealed container, Place waxed paper between layers. To serve, place in decorative water glass. Great snack for Super Bowl Sunday!

Follow Jesus Example
(Recipe: Spice Cake)

2011. Can you believe it? Where has the last year gone, and what does this new year have in store for each of us. A number of exciting things occurred during 2010. Our oldest son and his wife celebrated 20 years of marriage. My husband and I celebrated 50 years of marriage. Our youngest son and his wife had a little baby boy born on December 15. 2010 was a good year indeed.

While reading through 1 Peter, one particular verse left me with that “ah-ha” moment. It is found in 1 Peter 2:21 and it reads: “Jesus is my example and I must follow in his steps.” I thought, “what a great verse to apply to 2011.” As I contemplated this verse, the question came to me, “what example did Jesus leave, and what example must I follow?” Scripture lists many, but I have chosen to reflect on six.

1. Matthew 22:39 tells us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus certainly loved his neighbor. Remember the story of his encounter with the Samaritan Woman at the Well in John 4. Samaritans were not their most loving neighbor, and yet Jesus went out of his way to minister to her. What neighbor might God be calling you to minister to during this coming year? Will you follow Jesus example and go out of your way to do so?

2. Luke 6:31 reads, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Jesus was kind to everyone, and even though people did not treat him with kindness in return, he continued to love them and minister to them. Others may not always treat us kindly either, yet we continue to treat them the way we would want to be treated. Jesus said we should, and it’s his example we are to follow.

3. Philippians 2:8 reminds us: “And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.” In all of life Jesus was an example of obedience. His obedience took him to the cross. God has given us commands to follow and obey. God tells us in 1 John 5:3, “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome….” If I claim to love Jesus, I will obey God’s commands – none of which are too hard for me to accomplish.

4. In Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus taught us by example how to forgive, and 1 Peter instructs me to follow in Jesus’ steps. Who do you need to forgive today? Will you take the steps to do so? Follow the example of Jesus.

5. John 13:1b; 5 gives us this account. “…..having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love….he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet….” Jesus left us a wonderful example of what it means to serve others. He humbled himself to wash the dirty feet of his disciples. Why? Because he loved them and was trying to teach them a wonderful lesson, that even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve others. Is there someone God is asking you to serve today?

6. The last words Jesus left us with before he ascended into heaven are found in Acts 1:8. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus longs for us to walk in his steps when it comes to sharing the Good News with others. Look around your Jerusalem. Who is living there that God is asking you to talk to? Every day of Jesus life he spoke about the Kingdom and the Good News. If we are following the example of Jesus, we will walk in his steps and share the Good News with those around us.

As you begin 2011, begin it with determination that you will let Jesus be your example and you will walk in his steps.

Spice Cake Recipe

Preheat oven to 350
1 box Spice Cake Mix
1 box Instant Vanilla Pudding
½ cup oil
1 cup water
4 eggs

Put all ingredients into a bowl and beat for 2 minutes. Grease a tube pan or 9 x 12 pan. Pour batter into pan. Bake 45-55 minutes. Cool right side up (if using tube pan). When cooled, dust with powdered sugar. Serve topped with whipped cream.

Goodbye 2010

I cannot believe we have come to the end of another year. Five more days and we will be celebrating 2011. As you reflect back upon 2010, what kind of year was it for you? For all of us, we experienced those moments of joy, sorrow, excitement, laughter, fun, disappointment, encouragement and – hopefully – Spiritual growth. I know all of this has been true in my own life.

I also know that during each of these moments I have felt the presence of God in my life. And, God delights to be a part of each of these moments as well. I could never have walked through 2010 without Him, and I know I cannot walk whatever journey God has for me in 2011 without him either.

As you look forward to 2011, consider the words of Psalm 121 and claim them as a promise from God to you, then walk this New Year with confidence knowing God is watching over you.

121 1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

“Father, thank you that I can confidently enter this New Year knowing you watch over me, you will not sleep, you will protect me, you will watch over me, you will keep me – now and forever – amen.”

Butternut Squash Gratin

Salt (to taste)
1 butternut squash (2-2-1/2 pounds) peeled, seeded, and cut grosswise into ½” half-moons.
½ c. chicken broth
1 Tbsp. butter, cut up
½ cup planko (Japanese-style bread crumbs)
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Grease 2-qt. dish. Sprinkle ¼ tsp. (or less) salt over all squash. In prepared baking dish, arrange squash in overlapping layers; pour broth into dish. Dot squash with butter. Cover tightly with foil and bake 35 minutes or until a knife pierces through squash with only slight resistance.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, oil, thyme, red pepper, and ¼ (or less) tsp. salt until well mixed.

Uncover squash and sprinkle evenly with panko mixture. Bake, uncovered, 12-15 minutes longer or until crumbs are golden brown. Garnish with thyme springs.

JOSEPH’S STORY

At Christmastime we have no trouble viewing the birth of Christ through the eyes of Mary. A very young woman who sacrificed everything – her reputation, her family, her fiancé – for the sake of obeying her God and bearing a Child she did not conceive naturally. We sympathize with her, admire her, love her and lift her up – and rightly so.

How often have we stopped to think about what Joseph was dealing with? His fiancé was pregnant, and he was not the father. He had every right to put her away. Yet, he too was a godly man and obeys a Voice who spoke quietly to him. His story is found in Matthew and I would like to take a few minute for us to consider his thoughts. He too dealt with the pressures of the day in a way we cannot imagine. He had the added pressure of taking care of a woman, and her Child, while claiming them both as his own. I admire Joseph. A lot of responsibility was thrown on his young shoulders, yet he handled them all with grace and courage. I share this Scripture from The Message:

Matthew 1:18-25

18 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) 19 Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

20 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. 21 She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus — 'God saves' — because he will save his people from their sins." 22 This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term:

23 Watch for this — a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Emmanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").

24 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. 25 But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

How Joseph loved Mary. How Joseph loved his God. And, although Scripture does not tell us, I know Joseph loved Jesus as only a father can love his son.

Recipe for Friendship

2 cups of patience
1 heart full of love
2 handfuls of generosity
2 cups of loyalty
1 cup of understanding
dash of laughter

Mix ingredients well. Sprinkle generously over a lifetime. Serve everyone you meet.

Merry Christmas to all my Blog friends. Thank you for visiting my page. God bless you in the New Year.

WISDOM
(Recipe: Date Cookies)


I checked the calendar this morning. There are 12 days until Christmas. Many of you are still trying to find that “perfect” gift for your friend or loved one. How often during the Christmas season have we heard someone say, perhaps to you or another friend - “please give me a little wisdom on what I can buy ___?___.” I have said those same words to my children as I was trying to think of something to buy their dad.

What we are asking them is this. “HELP. I don’t have a clue here and I need some good advice!”

Sometimes their advice on what to buy is good, and we pick out that perfect gift which causes the person to say “ahhhhh, just what I wanted” – like the year I gave my husband his Kindle Reader. He absolutely LOVES it!

At other times, their advice on choice of gift has not been received quite as well. We realize too late we made a mistake and rather than hearing the words “ahhhhhh, good choice” we get the raised eyebrow, the confused expression, and a very cool “oh, thank you”. My advice – take seriously the words of wisdom you are given, and then pray before you act.

It’s a little different when we ask God for wisdom. James reminds us that when we ask God for wisdom, he gives it to us generously – James 1:5 reads – “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” Will his wisdom always be right? Yes. Will his wisdom always cause us to say, “ahhhhh, good choice?” Absolutely.

Again, we read in James 3:17 these powerful words – “But the WISDOM from above is first of all PURE. It is also PEACE LOVING, GENTLE at all times, and WILLING TO YIELD to others. It is full of MERCY and GOOD DEEDS. It shows NO FAVORITISM and is always SINCERE.”

Think about it. When I need wisdom; when I ask God for HIS wisdom; he gives me the best kind of wisdom. It is always pure (perfect). It leads to peace. It is gentle. It will cause me to live harmoniously with others. His wisdom extends mercy and leads to good deeds. AND God gives this wisdom to anyone who asks and it is given with a loving and sincere heart. I dare say, the advice and wise counsel I get from my friends can’t even begin to compare to this, for they give counsel out of their own experience and understanding. God gives wisdom out of his character and who he is –

El Shaddai – All Powerful God
El Olam – Eternal God
El Gibbor – The Mighty God
Yahweh-Yireh – The Lord who provides
Immanuel – The God who is always with us.

The next time you cry “Help – I need a little wisdom here” don’t go to your friend, rather go to the source who can give wisdom to you perfectly – Our Awesome, Almighty Heavenly Father – Jesus the Messiah, and he will give you wisdom generously!!

Date Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
16 oz. package dates – either chopped or pitted and cut into pieces
1 cup white sugar
1 cup boiling water

Cream shortening and the first two sugars together. Beat in eggs. Add the dry ingredients and vanilla. Stir or beat until a soft dough. Refrigerate several hours.

Boil dates in water and sugar until thickened – cool

Divide dough into two or three sections. Roll out between wax paper. Divide date mixture between the sections of dough. Spread date mixture over dough. Roll up and wrap in wax paper. Chill.

Heat oven to 375. Slice dough into cookie size slices, place on baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool slightly. Remove to cool