We Trust The Seasons, Why Not God?

by Jon Walker

Then the word of the Lord came to me, asking, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I replied, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I watch over My word to accomplish it.” (Jeremiah 1:11-12 HCSB)

My favorite time of year is the fall. I’m energized by the cool weather, crisp air, colorful landscape, and the coming of SEC football. The season swells with holiday romance and the promise of peace on earth, good will toward man.

Ironically, fall also is the worst time of year for me, and I know I’m not alone in such sentiment. The promise of all good things violently collides with the reality of broken dreams and irretrievable relationships. Over the years, I’ve been to more family funerals and hospital waiting rooms between Oct. 1 and Jan. 1 than any other time of year. I feel relieved when the “ghost of Christmas” is truly past.

Yet, in even the worst of these moments, I wait for the signs of spring. I can’t say I always wait patiently or with God-infused grace, but God has given me a consistent reminder of his faithfulness: The seasons come and go as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow, and God set the seasons in motion as a way of saying, “Year in and year out, you trust the seasons to return, now trust me to be just as faithful.”

In a vision, God explained this to the poet Jeremiah:

“Then the word of the Lord came to me, asking, ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ I replied, ‘I see a branch of an almond tree.’ The Lord said to me, ‘You have seen correctly, for I watch over my word to accomplish it.’” (Jeremiah 1:11-12 HCSB)

More than likely, God chose the almond for his illustration because in Israel it is traditionally the first tree to bloom, signaling the arrival of spring. Jeremiah would know it as the “watch tree” because it was the tree you watched as you waited for the season of new life.

As God teaches Jeremiah, there is good-natured humor in his play on words (more evident in the Hebrew). In a sense, the exchange goes like this:

- God of all creation: Jeremiah, what do you see?

- Jeremiah: I see a branch from the “watch” tree.

- God of all creation: That’s right! Use it as a reminder that I “watch” over my word, that I am constantly at work whether or not you can see what I’m doing.

The ebb and flow of the seasons are greeting cards from God, reminding us that things are not always as they seem. We tend to live by sight and not by faith, but God is patiently teaching us to do it the other way around – live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV)

What now?

· Trust the one who created the seasons – We trust the seasons to return every year; the challenge is to trust the one who created the seasons. God spoke the world into existence; he hung the moon and the stars; he spoke you into your mother’s womb; he is active in your life, even if you don’t see or understand what he’s doing. If you truly believed that, how would you respond differently to your circumstances?

· Keep your hope in God, not what you see – A tree may appear barren in winter, but that doesn’t mean it’s not alive. That’s why we call it the dead of winter! Trust in God and not your sight: “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:24-25 NIV) God says the Spirit will help us in our weakness. Pray, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”

· You don’t have to understand – Read this sentence three times: “The Truth is not dependent on my ability to understand what is going on.” (OK, go back and really repeat it three times!) Let God interpret the facts; let him explain the situation. Meanwhile, focus on God and not on your limited ability to understand events or circumstances. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV)

· Spring is coming – This season in your life will change. There will be new life. Remind yourself that spring is coming. When you feel anxiety about the holidays or dreariness during winter, explain to someone else that spring is coming. Jesus did walk out of the tomb on the third day; he is resurrected and alive, and if he has conquered death, he’s got a handle on any situation you are facing.

Fed By Ravens

"The the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 'Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.' So he did what the Lord had told him." 1 Kings 17:2-5

It is not that pleasant a thought to have "the ravens feed you." At least they brought him "bread and meat," not worms and bugs. Still, eating the scraps dropped by crows?

Nonetheless, Elijah "did what the Lord had told him," and experienced a wonderful miracle of God. Though famine plagued the land, God kept His servant alive and well!

Often what the Lord "tells" us seems unpleasant. We balk at it, and figure out some way take a more "sane and rational" path. So we miss the miracles of God, His amazing providence and care for us! As hard as it may be, it is always best to simply do as the Lord tells us. The unpleasantness you anticipate is diminished; in its place you experience the miraculous providence and tender care of God!

Prayer For The Day

O Lord, I too balk at carrying out Your Word. I fear what others will think and do. I confess that I would rather "earn" my bread, than receive it from You. Help me to see the "ravens" that You order to feed me, and enable me to do Your will. Amen (Courtesy of Soulsearch)

Psalms 9:1

I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.

Short and Sweet

James 4:13-17

Average life spans are shorter than most of us realize. For instance, a face-lift lasts only six to ten years; a dollar bill lasts for only eighteen months; a painted line on the road remains only three to four months; and a tornado seldom lasts more than ten minutes.

There are differences of opinion, but most agree that the human life span averages somewhere between seventy-five and eighty years. That may sound encouraging to the young and disturbing to those in their sixties, seventies, and eighties. The simple fact is, however, nobody knows for sure how long he or she may live.

When we read and believe the warnings in Scripture, there is little doubt that life is short. James pulls no punches when he writes, “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (4:14).

The average life span may be seventy-five to eighty years, but who can say you or I have that long? We may have less than two years or, for that matter, less than two weeks. Vanishing vapors aren’t known for longevity.

Since this is true, let’s do our best to make the time we have count. Rather than live with reluctance, let’s live with exuberance. Instead of fearing what’s ahead, let’s face it head-on with enthusiasm. And because life is so terribly short, let’s do everything we can to make it sweet.

How? Three thoughts come to mind.

First, act on your impulse. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. A woman in my former church took these words to heart and contacted a person she hadn’t talked to for a long time. The person was surprised and thrilled. “You have no idea how much your call has meant to me,” she said. Later the woman who had received the call admitted she had planned to take her life that very afternoon. The call had changed her mind.

Second, focus on the positive. Merchants of negativism may be strong and sound convincing, but their message is debilitating. Life's too short for that. Spread germs of cheer. Joy is contagious.

Third, traffic in the truth. Refuse to stake your claim on hearsay. Check out the facts. Be discerning. If you are a conduit of communication, speak only the truth. If you’re not absolutely sure, keep quiet. Lies can outlive lives, unfortunately.

Short and sweet. That’s the only way to go.

Have you been putting off something you really want or need to do? You don’t have forever. Get at it! By Charles R. Swindoll

Happy Birthday, Margie!

My beautiful sister Margie has been a true example of grace under fire over the last seven months. Uncomplaining, she has faced months of terrible pain; yet, she has remained positive through it all. She is truly a hero and an example for her younger sisters! We love you very much, Sis, and trust the worst is behind you!


"For when four sisters love each other with such sincere affection, the one does not experience sorrow, pain, or affliction of any kind, but the other's heart wishes to relieve, and vibrates in tenderness... like a well-organized musical instrument." ~ Elizabeth Shaw ~

To a Special Sister

A sister is one of the nicest things
that can happen to anyone.

She is someone to laugh with and share with,
to work with and join in the fun.

She is someone who helps in the rough times
and knows when you need a warm smile.

She is someone who will quietly listen
when you just want to talk for awhile.

A sister is dear to you always,
for she is someone who is always a part

of all the favorite memories
that you keep very close to your heart.

Author Unknown

Harvest Cake

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup shortening
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon Dutch-processed cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F. Line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper and lightly butter. Beat butter, shortening, and sugars together until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until smooth and light. Stir the buttermilk and vanilla together.

Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and spices together in a large bowl. Alternately stir the flour mixture and buttermilk, in thirds, into the beaten butter. Blend well with each addition.

Pour batter into the pans and bake until center tests clean -- about 35 minutes. Cool cakes in the pans on a rack for 30 minutes, unmold, and cool completely before frosting.

All the Good Things

He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary’s School in Morris, Minn. All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. Very neat in appearance, but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful. Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving - ‘Thank you for correcting me, Sister!’ I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day.

One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice-teacher’s mistake. I looked at him and said, ‘If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!’ It wasn’t ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, ‘Mark is talking again.’ I hadn’t asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it. I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened my drawer and took out a roll of masking tape. Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark’s desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth. I then returned to the front of the room. As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing he winked at me. That did it! I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark’s desk, removed the tape and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, ‘Thank you for correcting me, Sister.’

At the end of the year I was asked to teach junior-high math. The years flew by, and before I knew it Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instructions in the ‘new math,’ he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in the third.

One Friday, things just didn’t feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves - and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish the assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charles smiled. Mark said, ‘Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend.’

That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. ‘Really?’ I heard whispered. ‘I never knew that meant anything to anyone! I didn’t know others liked me so much!’

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn’t matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again.

The group of students moved on. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home, Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip - the weather, my experiences in general. There was a light lull in the conversation. Mother gave Dad a side-ways glance and simply says, ‘Dad?’ My father cleared his throat as he usually did before something important. ‘The Eklunds called last night,’ he began. ‘Really?’ I said. ‘ I haven’t heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is.’ Dad responded quietly. ‘Mark was killed in Vietnam,’ he said. ‘The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend.’ To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark.

I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. Mark looked so handsome, so mature. All I could think at that moment was, Mark, I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me. The church was packed with Mark’s friends. Chuck’s sister sang ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic.’ Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult at the grave side. The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled holy water.

I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who had acted as pallbearer came up to me. ‘Were you Mark’s math teacher?’ he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. ‘Mark talked about you a lot,’ he said.

After the funeral, most of Mark’s former classmates headed to Chucks farmhouse for lunch. Mark’s mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. ‘We want to show you something,’ his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. ‘They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.’

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark’s classmates had said about him. ‘Thank you so much for doing that’ Mark’s mother said. ‘As you can see, Mark treasured it.’

Mark’s classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, ‘I still have my list. It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home.’ Chucks wife said, ‘Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.’ ‘I have mine too,’ Marilyn said. ‘It’s in my diary.’ Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. ‘I carry this with me at all times,’ Vicki said without batting an eyelash. ‘I think we all saved our lists.’

That’s when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

Written by: Sister Helen P. Morsia

Don't Worry!

Matthew 6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Did you know?

PSALM 118 is the middle chapter of the entire Bible.

PSALM 118 is preceded by Psalm 117, the shortest chapter in the Bible.

PSALM 118 is followed by Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible.

PSALM 118 is preceded by 594 chapters and followed by 594 chapters.

If you add the 595 preceding and 594 following chapters, the sum is a total of 1188 chapters.

Psalm 118:8 (that's 1188) is the middle verse of the entire Bible.

And what is this central verse of the Bible?

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man"
- Psalm 118:8

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

2 eggs 1/2 cup buttermilk

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon allspice

2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal

1 cup raisins

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

 

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 1 or more cookie sheets.

Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar in a bowl until fluffy. Add eggs and beat until mixture is light in color. Add buttermilk. 

 

Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; stir into creamed mixture. 

 

Fold in oatmeal, raisins, walnuts, and vanilla, blending well. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

Evidence of God

Verse One (By Geoff Moore)

I believe that William Shakespeare lived though we never met,
'Cause when I was 17 I read "Romeo & Juliet".
And I believe there was a man whose name was Michaelangelo,
Because he left his mark in a chapel in the heart of Rome.

Chorus

Every mountain, every valley
Your creation, it surrounds me.
Every breath I breath, every heartbeat,
Every sunrise that You give to me.
These and so much more
Tell a story we cannot ignore,
The evidence of God.

Verse Two

As the potter shapes his clay, he leaves evidence.
And our Father does the same, His creation is evidence.
That's how we can believe in a God we cannot see or hear or touch.
If we will open our eyes we'll see His work is all around us.

Chorus

Every mountain, every valley
Your creation, it surrounds me.
Every breath I breath, every heartbeat,
Every sunrise that You give to me.
Every blue sky, every starry night,
Paint a picture we cannot deny.
Like a warm rain in the summertime,
Like a first kiss or a baby's cry.
These and so much more
Tell a story we cannot ignore,
The evidence of God.

Bridge

These and so much more,
Tell a story we cannot ignore.
Even our own lives will testify,

We Are the Clay

O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. (Jer 18:6)

The potter is the one that molds the clay. Then, the clay becomes a pot, or whatever the potter molds. Without the potter, the clay will always be just a lump of clay. Clay is useless, until the hands of the potter come and mold and make the clay into a vessel of honor.

We are clay… US… human beings. God is the Potter. Without God, we can do nothing. John 15:5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

God has given us talents, gifts and abilities. He has also given us knowledge and wisdom. Now, these gifts can be used without God’s help, but once they have been surrendered to the real potter, once they have been used for God’s kingdom, then they can be used to their fullness.

God continues to look for those Christians who will allow Him to mold them. Clay has no place of its own, no aspiration for service, no reluctance to perform its given task. Christians cannot be used in advancing God’s Kingdom without God molding them in their talents, skills, etc.

I have tried to depend on myself before, but I just failed, When I started surrendering everything to God, He used my talents to their fullness.

Jesus… Continue to Mold me. Use me. Fill me… I give my Life to the Potter’s hands. By Chette’s Devotions

Apple Raisin Muffins

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

Ingredients:

1 cup water

2 cups sugar

2 cups grated apples

2 cups raisins

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup chopped walnuts

2 teaspoons baking soda

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the water, sugar, apples, raisins, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and cool completely.

In a large bowl, stir the nuts and baking soda into the flour. Add the cooled mixture to the bowl, and stir until blended. Fill greased miniature muffin tins with batter to the top. Bake for 15 minutes.

Note: Extra muffins can be stored in a re-sealable freezer bag

Psalms 27:14

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

How to Wait

"Blessed is he that waiteth" (Dan. 12:12).

It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still.

There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption?

No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid.

Wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him. Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come, and shall not tarry.

Wait in quiet patience. Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses. Accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, "Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities; but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for Thee in full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower." --Morning by Morning

Wait patiently wait,
God never is late;
Thy budding plans are in Thy Father's holding,
And only wait His grand divine unfolding.
Then wait, wait,
Patiently wait.
Trust, hopefully trust,
That God will adjust
Thy tangled life; and from its dark concealings,

Will bring His will, in all its bright revealings.
Then trust, trust,
Hopefully trust.
Rest, peacefully rest
On thy Savior's breast;
Breathe in His ear thy sacred high ambition,
And He will bring it forth in blest fruition.
Then rest, rest, Peacefully rest! --Mercy A. Gladwin

Worship on the Go

by John Fischer

God doesn’t desire more of our time sometimes; he desires more of our attention all the time.

Ever feel frustrated because you hear messages about getting closer to God and you definitely desire this for yourself, but you are inundated with so much to do already that this only makes you feel guilty because you are too busy for God? I think we all feel this at one time or another.

Some of you may need to carve some time out of your busy schedule for more specific time to be with God, but that isn’t necessarily the only answer to this question. Look at the following Scriptures:

“I have set the Lord always before me.” Psalm 16:8 NIV

“My eyes are ever on the Lord.” Psalm 25:15 NIV

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Psalm 34:1 NIV

Reading these words makes you wonder if these are the words of a monk who had nothing else to do but devote himself to God. Actually, they are the words of David, king of Israel, a great ruler and warrior. How did he manage to run a nation and keep his eyes on the Lord at all times? The only conclusion is that he did this while he did everything else. It’s a continual awareness of God that we are talking about here, not necessarily more time devoted to spiritual pursuits.

I once saw a sign that read: “Your god is what you pay attention to.” You see, I believe you can pay attention to God while you are doing everything else. It’s all about doing everything for God and seeing God in everything we do. It’s about bringing God into the boardroom, the exercise room, the living room, and the bedroom. Now of course he’s already in all these places but we’re talking about being aware of his being there at all times. That’s what it means to set the Lord always before us.

Worship is a frame of mind that always has God in the picture. We don’t need church, or Bible study, or devotions to remind us about the Lord if we’re already aware of him all the time. These opportunities then become more precious to us because we can devote all our attention to that which we have been aware of all along.

Happy Birthday, Donna

TO MY SISTER . . .

I'm blessed to call you sister,

I also call you friend;

You've loved me unconditionally,

And stood through thick and thin.

You've shared my joys and sorrows,

My laughter and my tears.

You've been my inspiration,

As we grew up through the years.

When we were little children

We laughed and played together;

Then growing up you stood by me,

Through good and stormy weather.

There's something God has given us,

That's more than family;

He's placed a love for you, my Sister,

Deep down in the heart of me.

Allison Chambers Coxsey

The Penny

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the water-way, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him.

There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure.

How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."

She read the words "United States of America."

"No, not that; read further.""One cent?"

"No, keep reading.""In God we Trust?"

"Yes!" "And?"

"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by?"

"When I see a coin, I pray; I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!"

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I can not change.

I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to smile. Yes, God, I get the message.

Classic Turkey Tetrazzini

1 pkg (16 oz.) spaghetti

2 medium onions, chopped

9 tablespoons butter, divided

1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms

1 large sweet red pepper, chopped

1/2 cup four

1 teaspoon salt

6 cups milk

1 tablespoon chicken bouillon

6 cups cubed cooked turkey breast

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups dry bread crumbs

4 teaspoons minced fresh parsley

Directions: Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Saute onions in 6 tablespoons butter until tender. Add mushrooms and red pepper; saute 4-5 minute longer.

Stir in flour and salt until blended. Gradually whisk in milk and bouillion. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in turkey and Parmesan cheese; heat through. remove from the heat.

Drain spaghetti; add to turkey mixture and mix well. Transfer to one greased 12 x 9 baking dish and one greased 11 x 7 baking dish.

Melt remaining butter; toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over casseroles. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. sprinkle with parsley. Yield: 16 servings.

Special Banana Nut Bread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 3/4 cup butter, softened

 1 pkg (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 

2 cups sugar 2 eggs 

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium) 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

3 cups flour 

1/2 teaspoon baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

2 cups chopped pecans, divided 

Orange Glaze:

1 cup confectioners' sugar 

3 tablespoons orange juice 

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

Directions:  In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add bananas and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking power, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture. Fold in 1 cup pecans. Transfer to two greased loaf pans. Sprinkle with the remaining pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients; drizzle over loaves. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

God's Hour

By A B Simpson

How did God bring about the miracle of the Red Sea? By shutting His people in on every side so that there was no way out but the divine way.

The Egyptians were behind them, the sea was in front of them, the mountains were on both sides of them. There was no escape but from above.

Someone has said that the devil can wall us in, but he cannot roof us over. We can always get out at the top.

Our difficulties are but God’s challenges, and many times He makes them so hard that we must get above them or go under.

In the Providence of God, such an hour furnishes us with the highest possibilities for faith. We are pushed by the very emergency into God’s best.

Beloved, this is God’s hour. If you will rise to meet it, you will get such a hold upon Him that you will never be in extremities again; or if you are, you will learn to call them not extremities, but opportunities.

Like Jacob, you will go forth from that night at Peniel, no longer Jacob, but victorious Israel. Let us bring to Him our needs and prove Him true.

Beloved

"A man greatly beloved."—Daniel 10:11.

Child of God, do you hesitate to appropriate this title? Ah! Have you forgotten that you are greatly beloved too? Must you not have been greatly beloved, to have been bought with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot?

When God smote His only begotten Son for you, what was this but being greatly beloved? Must you not have been greatly beloved for God to have borne so patiently with you?

You were called by grace and led to a Savior, and made a child of God and an heir of heaven. All this proves, does it not, a very great and super abounding love?

Since that time, whether your path has been rough with troubles, or smooth with mercies, it has been full of proofs that you are a child greatly beloved.

If the Lord has chastened you, yet not in anger; if He has made you poor, yet in grace you have been rich.

The more unworthy you feel yourself to be, the more evidence have you that nothing but unspeakable love could have led the Lord Jesus to save such a soul as yours.

The more demerit you feel, the clearer is the display of the abounding love of God in having chosen you, and called you, and made you an heir of bliss.

Now, if there be such love between God and us let us live in the influence and sweetness of it, and use the privilege of our position. Do not let us approach our Lord as though we were strangers, or as though He were unwilling to hear us—for we are greatly beloved by our loving Father.

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

Come boldly, O believer, for despite the whisperings of Satan and the doubtings of your own heart, thou art greatly beloved. Meditate on the exceeding greatness and faithfulness of divine love this evening, and so go to thy bed in peace. - C. H. Spurgeon