Two Courageous Women
(Recipe: Bean Dip)

The Bible is the best non-fiction book on the market! It has a little bit of everything within its pages. Mystery. Romance. Comedy. Intrigue. History. It has it all. I have been reading through the Bible, rather slowly I must admit. I enjoyed Genesis, the book of beginnings. Exodus was filled with watching an Amazing God do an amazing work in developing a relationship with Israel. Leviticus with all its rules and regulations. Numbers tells the story of Israel in the wilderness journeying toward the Promised Land from Mount Siani. Deuteronomy is the story of Israel’s renewed covenant with God. We all remember Joshua and the “walls that came tumbling down!” Now on to Judges, and contained within its pages is the story of men and women whom God used during Israel’s history to rescue his people from their enemies.

Women! Yes, God chose to use women to do some might extraordinary things. When God has work to do, it doesn’t matter to him whether that work is accomplished by a man or a woman. He is just looking for a willing, obedient heart. Thus, I was intrigued by the story of two courageous women in Judges 4. Deborah and Jael.

Deborah was the reigning prophetess and judge at the time. She summoned Barak and told him he was to go and capture Sisera and he would have victory over him. Reluctant Barak said he would go to battle only if Deborah would go with him. She agrees, but not before telling him that his hesitation would cost him the honor of victory. Said victory would be placed into the hands of a woman!!

Barak does indeed kill all the warriors of the enemy. But what about Sisera? Barak fails in his capture of him. However, Sisera, in trying to escape, enters the tent of a woman named Jael. She offers him refreshment and rest. Knowing he was the enemy, and as he was sleeping, Jael drives a peg through his temple and kills him. Indeed, God used a woman to give the final blow to this enemy, and ultimately kill the man God was after.

Both these women were available, unafraid of the task, and obedient in what God was asking them to do. This is the kind of woman I want to be in the New Year. One who is available when God calls. One who is unafraid to try something new. One who is obedient to the plan God has for me.

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we (you and me) are God’s masterpiece (God’s greatest piece of work). He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do good things he planned for us long ago.”

What good things does he have planned for you in 2012? Are you ready and willing to do them for God?

BEAN DIP

1 8-oz. cream cheese
1 jar of Bean Dip
1 8-oz. shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese

In 9 x 13 pan (or smaller) spread the cream cheese on bottom. Next, spread the Bean Dip over the cream cheese. Last, sprinkle with the cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until hot and cheese has m

HOW DO I LOVE GOD?
(Recipe: Appetizer)

December! One month left in 2011. Twenty-four days until Christmas. Fifteen days until my grandsons first birthday. Twenty days until my oldest grandchild’s eighteenth birthday. Twenty-six days until my middle sons forty-sixth birthday. Where has the time gone? This year has flown by. What have I accomplished this past year? What have I learned? What am I still learning?

Every day we learn something new. I was reminded this week that when Jesus came into the world, his first stop, before even setting foot on earth, was the safety of a mother’s womb, cradled beneath her loving heart. For nine months he dwelt in her safety and love.

For the past three years I have been doing an on-line ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ. My mission: To respond to the many emails that I receive from around the world from people wanting to know more about Jesus. To date I have spoken with over 8,300 men, women and teens.

One of the questions I am frequently asked is: “How can I love God more?” A very good question. A question perhaps we should ask ourselves often. How would answer them?

This week as I was reading through Deuteronomy I came across Deuteronomy 11:22. There was my answer to this question – and the answer wasn’t some general answer that I chose to give – it was an answer direct from God.

“Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.” (NLT).

Translation: To show God how much you love Him, walk in obedience with God and don’t let go of his hand.

Think about it. When you are with that person you love, don’t you relish being close to them, holding their hand, walking alongside them, doing everything to please them?

God wants the same thing from us. If I am going to love God, if I am going to show God how much I love him, then ‘I will walk in his ways and hold tightly to him.’ Are you doing this? If not, why not start today. Let God know how much you love him by sticking close to him, allowing him to do the leading, and, in obedience, walk wherever he leads you, never letting go of his hand.

May God bless you today with a wonderful adventure of loving God.


Candied Walnut-Camembert Puff Purses

1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
¼ cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp. minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 17.3 oz. package Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets, thawed
2 oz. Camembert cheese, cut into 32 ½ inch cubes

Heat oven to 400. Stir walnuts, brown sugar and rosemary in small bowl.
Unfold pastry on lightly floured surface. Roll pastry sheet into a 12” square. Cut into 16 – 3” squares. Repeat with remaining sheet.

Spoon about 1 tsp. walnut mixture into the center of each pastry square. Top each with cheese cube. Brush edges with water. Fold the corners, over the filling and twist gently to seal. Place filled pastries into a mini-muffin pan.

Bake 15 min. or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving, a tradition started by the Pilgrims in 1621 and first held in Plymouth, Massachusetts. By the fall of 1921 only half of the pilgrims, who had sailed on the Mayflower, survived. The survivors, thankful to be alive, decided to give a thanksgiving feast. That first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.

Thanksgiving Day is the day of the famous Macy’s parade, a tradition which began in the 1920’s. I have never seen the parade live, but I enjoy watching it from the comforts of my living room, in the warmth of my home, on TV.

I was intrigued, as I read Facebook this week, to read the things people were thankful for. Some responses: family, friends, military, home, children, in-laws, jobs. I was also surprised to note that no one said they were thankful for Jesus, who came to earth to die for our sins, assure us of sins forgiven and the promise of eternal life.

Yes, I am thankful for all the things mentioned about, but, I am most thankful for salvation which I have through Jesus. Not having been raised in a Christian home, and not hearing the Gospel preached in the church I attended as a youth, I have often wondered where I would be today if someone had not shared the Gospel with me. Perhaps still living in my eternally lost condition. Almost every day I thank God for opening my eyes to see my need of a Savior and the gift he gave to me. I thank God that he spoke to my heart and I responded to his gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Thank you Jesus!

Today as I celebrate Thanksgiving with my children, I am thankful that each of them knows Jesus as their Savior. They have made sure their children have accepted Christ as their Savior too. Each of my three daughter-in-laws know and love Jesus. What a wonderful reason to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Today, I give praise for my heavenly Father. He is the most awesome, majestic, loving, gracious, forgiving friend I have – and I just want to say, “I love you.”
Psalm 108:1-5 - "My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth."
Happy Thanksgiving.


Sweet Potato Bread

1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
¾ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground allspice
¼ tsp. ground cloves
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups mashed sweet potatoes (about 2 medium)
½ cup vegetable oil
6 Tbsp. orange juice
½ cup chopped pecans

In bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. In a small bowl whisk eggs, sweet potatoes, oil and orange juice. Stir into dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in pecans. Pour into greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 60-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack.

No Jesus, No Power
(Recipe: Italian Pasta and Bean Soup)

What an interesting week. It began Saturday October 29 when a Nor’easter came through the North East, making certain Allentown, PA was in its path! That Saturday morning began with a gentle snowfall. As it fell, the world outside became beautiful. There is something about new fallen snow as it sprinkles the ground with its white and blankets the branches in the trees. Breathtaking really.

Soon, however, its beauty turned to “oh-no” as the weight of the snow on the trees caused branch after branch to break off and land in yards all around us. It almost looked as though a tornado had gone through. The final straw came at 3:00 on Saturday afternoon when we lost power. We’ve lost power before. Normally within a few hours we have it restored. Not this time!! Forty-eight hours later we finally had power restored.

It had been a LONG time since I experienced an outage of this length. And I don’t remember it happening during cold weather. It was not fun! As I pondered how to make this a teachable experience, I was reminded of the following:

Without electricity we are helpless. All we have ever known that makes life comfortable has been taken away in the snap of a power line. Without power we had no electricity (reading by candle light is for the birds). We had no stove (how I missed my morning coffee). We had no heat (we wore layers of sweaters and wrapped in heavy quilts). We got tired of eating PB&J (the one food we did have available and didn’t need to cook). We had no TV to entertain us. No CD player to sing along with. And worst of all – NO INTERNET! (Thankfully we did have a battery powered radio so had access to what was happening in the world).

My two-day experience made me appreciate my Pioneer Fathers and how they lived (and survived) every day! Simply; unencumbered; yet with appreciation for everything they had.

As I thought about our week, I was reminded that a life without Jesus causes us to be helpless as well. Jesus gives us the power to live a successful life. (Philippians 4:13). With his power we can be a light in this dark world. (Matthew 5:16) With his power we can share the Gospel with people who are walking in darkness, facing an uncertain future. (Matthew 28:18-20). With his power we can offer food to a hungry soul (the food that comes through God’s Word). (Ezekiel 3:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:16). With the power of Jesus in our life we find he brings us joy, gives us a reason to sing, and sets our feet to dancing. (John 15:11; Psalm 30:11,12; Psalm 150:4).

Do you know this Jesus? Is his power what motivates you? Can you face the future with peace and joy; or do you face it with dread and fear? If the world around you seems dark and foreboding, why not accept the light Jesus offers. Can you face the future with peace and joy; or do you face it with dread and fear?

Meditate on these words which were spoken by Jesus in John 3:16-21- "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants." (NLT)

How can I be assured I am walking in the light? Romans 10:9-13 – “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

You don’t need to walk in darkness. Jesus offers you wonderful light.

Italian Pasta and Bean Soup

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 med. chopped onion
¼ tsp. Salt and pepper
1 thinly sliced clove garlic
6 cups chicken broth
1-1/2 cups farfallini (small bowtie pasta)
2 15-oz. cans cannellini beans, rinsed
1 14-oz. can diced tomatoes in juice
½ cup fresh chopped parsley
¼ cup grated Parmesan (1 oz.)

Heat oil in Pan. Add onion, S & P. Cook until onion softens (4-5 minutes). Add garlic, cook 1 min. until brown.

Add broth and pasta. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until pasta is tender (8-10 minutes)

Stir in beans and tomatoes. Cook until heated through. Remove from heat and stir in parsley. Serve with the cheese.

BROKEN HEART
(Recipe: Parmesan Shrimp Bake)

I must confess that I have been quite neglectful in keeping my Blog up-to-date. It’s not that I didn’t want to, I truly did. I just didn’t have the energy to be able to do this. Whenever I would try to sit and write something my mind felt like “mush”. I couldn’t put two sentences together that even made sense!

Five weeks ago I had open-heart surgery to repair my mitral valve. I had absolutely NO idea what to expect regarding surgery and even less of an idea what my recovery time would be. Boy, have I been surprised. Although I am healing nicely, the process is slow. Slower than I imagined!!

As I mentioned, my mind felt like mush. I think my biggest challenge in this five week process has been the fact that I couldn’t concentrate enough to enjoy a quite time with my Lord. Before surgery it was common for us to enjoy an hour or more together each day. Now I was lucky to be able to enjoy 5 minutes with God. But, one thing I learned through this experience. Even though I was unable to communicate with God, others were standing in the gap for me with their prayers. I also came to realize that it was OK with God if I couldn’t meet with him as I had before. He understood. He knew my heart. He knew my desire. He knew I was healing. Satan would try to have me think otherwise – feeling guilty – but God assured me we still had precious time together. It was great to realize that in my weakness, God was my strength.

Today for the first time in 6 weeks I was able to attend my church. Now please understand. During these 6 weeks I did not forget God on Sunday. I enjoyed my own church (with Dr. David Jeremiah and Andy Stanley). It was wonderful. I didn’t have to deal with the anxiety that came from being around people, AND I was ministered to by these two great preachers. But there is something about being around other believers that cannot be equaled. Today I experienced this reunion.

It was wonderful to be able to sing with other believers, pray as a body of Christ, listen to my pastor preach a wonderful message; hearing the words of encouragement from my church family. I will say my time in church exhausted me and I came home and took an hour nap! But my time in church also refreshed me. My church and church family are precious to me and I realize anew how much I miss their encouragement.

I still have a long way to go in the healing process. But I am confident that God is with me. God continues to give me strength. I am enjoying more energy and my mind has finally cleared. A Scripture verse that has always been a favorite of mine has now become even more precious to me. Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who trust on the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Thanks to all of you for your prayers. I am running with Jesus, learning to trust him daily as we walk this journey together!


Parmesan Shrimp Bake

1 16-oz. package farfalle pasta
6 Tbsp. butter or margarine
3 finely chopped cloves garlic
6 Tbsp. flour
1/3 cup chicken broth
2-3/4 cup half-and-half
½ cup clam juice
1 Tbsp. tomato paste or ketchup
¾ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 pound uncooked peeled deveined medium shrimp, thawed
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh or 2 tsp. dried dill weed
¾ c. grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 350. Grease 2 qt. casserole. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Melt butter over medium heat. Cook garlic in butter 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in flour. Cook, stirring constantly with wire whisk until smooth and bubbly.

Stir in chicken broth, then half-and-half, clam juice, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in shrimp, dill weed and ¼ cup of the cheese.

Stir pasta into shrimp mixture. Pour into casserole. Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup cheese. Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes or until light brown and hot.

CIRCUMSTANCES!
(Recipe: Smoky Split Pea Soup)

This is a week I have been looking forward to with both dread and excitement. Dread - because I am asked to travel a road I have never been on before – open heart surgery. Excitement – because God has give me a promise, a verse He whispered into my heart; a verse I take with me as I enter the surgical doors on Friday. This is what God whispered, Psalm 23:4,
“Even though you walk through the valley of ‘open heart surgery’ you need not fear for I am with you.” Yeah!!! I’m glad I don’t have to face this journey alone. God will be there too!

Since I was unable to attend church this morning, I had “TV” church. I found it exciting that Dr. Stanley chose this morning to have as his topic “circumstances”, taken from Philippians 4:11, “……I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” He reminded me that I am to “Focus on Christ not my circumstances.” When we do this, the truth of Philippians 1:12 becomes real, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” The circumstances God brings into our lives are there because God wants to use them to advance his Gospel.

Dr. Stanley went on to say, “Focus on the Sovereignty of God”. God knows all. God sees all. God is in all. God says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things (circumstances) God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” If you are God’s child, if you have been called by him, then every circumstance you may be asked to face today, or this week, or this month - has been allowed for God’s good purpose.

Finally he encouraged us to, “Focus on the positive results rather than personal gain.” Philippians 2:12 – “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

What do I really want to see happen through my circumstance? I want to know Jesus more. I want to live in the center of his good purpose for me. Whatever circumstance you are going through today, the end result should be the same for you - you want to know Jesus more.

When we focus on circumstances, they still do not change. Circumstances become all about “me”. But when we focus on the sovereignty of God, not only do our circumstances change, but our outlook changes because we see, not me or what I’m going through, but God and what he desires to do in and through me.

Friend, what difficult circumstance are you going through today? Will you focus on Christ? Will you focus on God’s Sovereignty? Will you refocus from self and circumstances to see the positive results God has in store for you; allowing your circumstance to draw you closer to himself in praise and worship. “Even though you walk through the valley of (circumstance) you need not fear for God is with you.” Do you believe that? I do!!

SMOKY SPLIT PEA SOUP

1 lb. green split peas, rinsed
4 med. carrots, cut into small pieces
2 med. parsnips, cut into small pieces
2 stalks celery, cut into small pieces
2 finely chopped cloves
1 large onion
½ tsp. dried thyme
2 ham hocks (about 1-1/2 lb. total)
Salt and pepper

In 5-6 qt. slow cooker combine the peas, carrots, parsnips, celery, garlic, onion, thyme and 6 cups of water, (I use 3 cups water and 3 cups chicken broth).

Add the ham hocks and cook, covered, on low 7-8 hours or on high 4-5 hours

Transfer ham hocks to plate. When cool, shred the meat. Put back into soup along with ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper.

FEASTING ON GOD’S WORD
(Recipe: Dutch Apple Salad

I am enjoying working my way through Psalm 119. Each day I take a section and use it to meditate on, pray over, and allow God to speak to me through what I have read. It has been exciting to have God speak to me along the journey. I was especially challenged as I read Psalm 119:97-104. Let me share this Psalm with you.

=Psalm 119:97-104=

(97) Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
(98) Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
(99) I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
(100) I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
(101) I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.
(102) I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.
(103) How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
(104) I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

What can we learn from these few verses?

-Verse 97 says we are to meditate on God’s word all day long. Meditate means to “contemplate; to think deeply about.” Do we do this? Think deeply about the words God has put in his Love Letter to us? Why would God want us to do this? Meditate – ponder – think deeply about? The remainder of these verses give us the answer.

-Verse 98 reminds us that God’s word makes us wiser than our enemies. Knowledge of God’s word causes us to make good life choices; unlike those who are an enemy to God’s word.

-Verse 99 says God’s word gives us more insight that our teachers. Throughout our life we have been taught Scripture. Through Bible studies, sermons, radio, TV…..The more we study, the more we learn. Eventually we can surpass even what our teachers have taught us – having more knowledge than them! Keep studying friend.

-Verse 100 says we can have more knowledge than our elders. Can this be? Our elders have had many years to store up God’s word in their hearts. I have elders I look up to because of their Bible knowledge – but God says if I keep studying, keep meditating, keep storing God’s word in my heart, one day I can have more knowledge than those elders I look up to. Hmmmm!

-Verse 101 tells us a knowledge of God’s word keeps us from every evil path. Truly, I want to walk down a healthy, God-honoring path and there is only one way to do this – know God’s Word! What path have you chosen for your life?

-Verse 102 reminds us that God himself with teach us through the Holy Spirit. Are you not excited to know that we have the greatest teacher of all teaching us God’s Word – the Holy Spirit! He is such a GOOD teacher too. Are you allowing Him the privilege of teaching you today?

-Verse 103 the Psalmist discovers that God’s words are sweet; sweeter than honey. I love what Ezekiel 3:3 tells us - “God told Ezekiel to eat God’s word and he replied, ‘So I ate it and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.’” Do you enjoy eating God’s Word? Do you find it sweet to your taste? The next time you read God’s word ask God to fill your mouth with its sweetness; and eat until you are full!

-Verse 104 tells us that a good understanding of God’s word reveals what God hates; and if God hates it we must too.

Seems to me reading God’s word is a good thing. If you are not in the habit of feasting on this Book every day, make a new commitment that you are going to start today. Perhaps starting with Psalm 119 and taking a short section each day (there are 22 sections = 22 days). You will be blessed. You will be refreshed. You will delight the heart of God.

DUTCH APPLE SALAD

2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 large Golden Delicious apples, chopped
2 large Red Delicious apples, chopped
½ cup finely chopped celery
½ cup seedless red grapes, quartered
½ cup chopped walnuts (toasted, if desired)

In a small pan, combine flour and sugar. Whisk the egg and milk; stir into flour mixture until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Put in small bowl; cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Just before serving, combine the apples, and celery in large bowl. Drizzle with dressing; gently toss to coat. Sprinkle with grapes and walnuts. Serves 8