Tidings of Great Joy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there were shepherds

living out in the fields nearby,

keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were terrified.

 

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David

a Savior has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord.

 

This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths

and lying in a manger."

 

Suddenly a great company of the

heavenly host appeared with the angel,

praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men

on whom his favor rests."

~~ Luke 2:8-14 ~~

Christmas is for Love

Author Unknown, Source Unknown 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas is for love. It is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages. But mostly, Christmas is for love. 

 

I had not believed this until a small elf-like student with wide-eyed innocent eyes and soft rosy cheeks gave me a wondrous gift one Christmas. Mark was an 11 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister's son. She never failed to remind young Mark, if it hadn't been for her generosity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child. 

 

I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day (at the risk of arousing his aunt's anger, I later found) to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the solitude of that hour of the day. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother. Though he was quite small when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman, who always spent much time with him.

 

As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day. I looked forward to his coming, and when the days passed and he continued to scamper hurriedly from the room after class, I stopped him one afternoon and asked why he no longer helped me in the room. I told him how I had missed him, and his large gray eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, "Did you really miss me?" I explained how he had been my best helper. "I was making you a surprise," he whispered confidentially. "It's for Christmas." With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room. 

 

He didn't stay after school any more after that. Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Mark crept slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing something behind his back. "I have your present," he said timidly when I looked up. "I hope you like it." He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms was a tiny wooden box. "Its beautiful, Mark. Is there something in it?" I asked opening the top to look inside. " "Oh you can't see what's in it," He replied, "and you can't touch it, or taste it or feel it, but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights, and safe when you're all alone." I gazed into the empty box. "What is it Mark," I asked gently, "that will make me feel so good?" "It's love," he whispered softly, "and mother always said it's best when you give it away." And he turned and quietly left the room. 

 

So now I keep a small box crudely made of scraps of wood on the piano in my living room and only smile as inquiring friends raise quizzical eyebrows when I explain to them that there is love in it. Yes, Christmas is for gaiety, mirth and song, for good and wondrous gifts. But mostly, Christmas is for love.

Generosity

by Charles R. Swindoll - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 

Reflect on God's gifts to you. In case you need a little help, read through Psalm 103. "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. The LORD performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed" (Ps. 103:1--6). 

 The psalmist lists several benefits to prod our thinking. As we reflect on God's gifts to us, it's helpful to be specific. 

Do you have eyesight? It's a gift. 

Do you have a good mind? It's a gift.

Do you have leadership abilities that cause others to follow? 

A good education? These are all gifts. 

Has He given you a family? 

Has He given you sufficient clothes? 

How about a nice, warm, soft bed at night or a comfortable place to live in the hot summer? 

Why, some even have more than one home! These are all gifts from God's hand. 

Reflect on His numerous gifts to you. It will increase your joy. And a smile will soon replace that frown. 

Remind yourself of God's promises regarding generosity. God promises if you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully. So give! Give abundantly! Even extravagant giving is honored by God. 

I've never known anyone who went bad because he or she was too generous. Remind yourself of His promises regarding generosity and start giving! Don't be afraid of outgiving God. It is absolutely impossible to do that. He will keep every one of His promises related to generosity. Try Him!

True Thanksgiving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!~~ Psalm 107:1 ~~

The Pilgrim Fathers who landed at Plymouth in America in 1620 knew nothing of the bountiful prosperity that so many people enjoy today. During that first long winter, seven times as many graves were made for the dead as homes were built for the living. Seed, imported from England, failed to grow, and a ship that was to bring food and relief, brought thirty-five more mouths to feed, but not an ounce of provisions. They caught fish, hunted wild fowl, and venison. They had a little English meal and some Indian corn.

 

Yet their lives were marked by a spirit of constant thankfulness. On one occasion, William Brewster, rising from a scanty Plymouth dinner of clams and water, gave thanks to God "for the abundance of the sea and the treasures hid in the sand."

 

According to today's standards, they had little; but they possessed a sense of great gratitude. Gratitude is one of the greatest Christian graces; ingratitude, one of the most vicious sins. Ask God to open your eyes to all the blessings He has bestowed on you, and to give you a fresh spirit of gratitude - not just at this season of the year, but always.

 

The Reverend Billy Graham, Hope for Each Day - Words of Wisdom and Faith, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publisher

His Grace is Sufficient

By Mosie Lister 

Many times I'm tried and tested 

As I travel day by day 

`Oft I meet with pain and sorrow 

And there's trouble in the way 

But I have a sweet assurance 

That my soul, the Lord will lead 

And in Him there is strength for every need. 

 

CHORUS 

O, His grace is sufficient for me 

And His love is abundant and free 

And what joy fills my soul, 

Just to know, just to know 

 That His grace is sufficient for me

 

When the tempter brings confusion

And I don't know what to do, 

On my knees I turn to Jesus 

For He'll always see me through 

Then despair is changed to victory 

Every doubt just melts away 

And in Him there is hope for everyday

Psalms 55:22

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalms 3:5

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

The Devoted Son

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting.

Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, and many others adorned the walls of their family estate. 

The widowed elderly man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world. 

As winter approached, war engulfed their nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, the elderly man received a telegram that his beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic. 

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness.The joy of the season-a season that he and his son had so looked forward to in the past-would visit his house no longer. On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. 

As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. He opened the door and was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. The soldier introduced himself to the old man by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come infor a few moments? I have something to show you."

As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man's son had told every one of his-and his father's-love of fine art work. "I'm also an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this." As the old man began to unwrap the package, paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man's son. Though the world would never consider it a work of genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the old man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the portrait above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars worth of paintings. And then the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.

During the days and weeks that followed, the man learned that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease his grief, as he realized that, although his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because of those he had touched. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the priceless pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received. The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The artworld was in anticipation, since, with the old man's passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day, the way he had received his greatest gift. The day finally arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams could be fulfilled this day; greatness could be achieved as some could say," I have the greatest collection." 

The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum list... It was the painting of the old man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent."Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked. Moments passed as no one spoke. From the back of the room came, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget it and get on to the good ones." More voices echoed in agreement. "No, we have to sell this one-first," replied the auctioneer. "Now who will take the son?" Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. "Will you take $10 for the painting? That's all I have. "Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. After more silence he said, "Going once, going twice...Gone!" The gavel fell. 

Cheers filled the room and someone shouted, "Now we can get on with it and bid on these treasures!" The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced that the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Then someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a portrait of some old man's son! What about all of the other paintings? There are millions of dollars worth of art work here. We demand an explanation!" 

The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son...gets it all." Just as the art collectors discovered on that day...The message is still the same...the love of the Father....a Father whose son gave his life for others...And because of that Father's love...Whoever takes the Son gets it all. - Author Unknown -

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Because He Lives

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus 

He came to love, heal, and forgive. 

He lived and died to buy my pardon, 

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. 

 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. 

Because He lives, All fear is gone. 

Because I know He holds the future, 

And life is worth the living just because He lives. 

 

How sweet to hold a newborn baby, 

And feel the pride and joy he gives. 

But greater still the calm assurance, 

This child can face uncertain days because He lives. 

 

And then one day I'll cross the river, 

I'll fight life's final war with pain.

 And then as death gives way to victory, 

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives. ~ William and Gloria Gaither ~

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Two-Layer Caramel-Pecan Bars

Yield: 20 bars (serving size: 1 bar)
















Ingredients

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
40 small soft caramel candies
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

Beat the first 4 ingredients with a mixer at medium speed until well-blended. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Add flour to sugar mixture, stirring until well-blended. (Mixture will be crumbly.) Firmly press mixture into bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes.

While crust is baking, combine milk and caramel candies in a medium sauce-pan. Place over low heat; cook until candies melt, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla; remove from heat.

Remove the crust from oven. Pour the caramel mixture evenly over hot crust. Sprinkle with pecans. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack

Champion Chicken Parmesan

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half, 1 cup sauce, 1/4 cup cheese, and 3/4 cup pasta)

Ingredients

Tomato sauce:

1 ounce sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil (about 1/4 cup)
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups chopped red bell pepper
1 cup chopped onion
2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced

Chicken:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 (4-ounce) skinned, boned chicken breast halves
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon olive oil
Cooking spray
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
3 cups hot cooked linguine (about 6 ounces uncooked pasta)

Preparation

To prepare tomato sauce, combine sun-dried tomatoes and water in a bowl; cover and let stand 30 minutes or until soft. Drain and finely chop tomatoes.

Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sun-dried tomatoes, bell pepper, and onion; sauté 7 minutes. Stir in canned tomatoes; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in parsley, basil, vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and garlic.

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare chicken, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, Parmesan, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a shallow dish. Place each breast half between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; flatten to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Dip each breast half in egg white; dredge in flour mixture. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 minutes on each side or until golden. Arrange in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Pour the tomato sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Serve over linguine.

A God of Infinite Possibilities

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair...~~ 2 Corinthians 4:8  

As we travel the roads of life, all of us are confronted with streets that seem to be dead ends. We may become discouraged. 

After all, we live in a society where expectations can be high and demands even higher. If you find yourself enduring difficult circumstances, remember that God remains in His heaven. 

If you become discouraged with the direction of your day or your life, turn your thoughts and prayers to Him. He is a God of possibility, not negativity. He will guide you through your difficulties and beyond them. And then, with a renewed spirit of optimism and hope, you can thank the Giver of all things good for gifts that are simply too profound to fully understand and for treasures that are too numerous to count. 

Every misfortune, every failure, every loss may be transformed. God has the power to transform all misfortunes into "God-sends." (Mrs. Charles E. Cowman)A Woman of Prayer - 365 Daily Devotions, Freeman-Smith LLC, Publisher

Isaiah 46:4

Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

The Old Fisherman

Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to out patients at the clinic.

One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. "Why, he's hardly taller than my eight-year-old," I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face -- lopsided from swelling, red and raw. Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, "Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus 'til morning." 

He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success, no one seemed to have a room. "I guess it's my face...I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments..." 

For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: "I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning." I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. 

I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. "No thank you. I have plenty." And he held up a brown paper bag. 

 When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. 

He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was prefaced with a thanks to God for a blessing. 

He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going. At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. 

When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, "Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won't put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair." He paused a moment and then added, "Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind." 

I told him he was welcome to come again. And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 a.m. and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. 

In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious. 

When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning. "Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!" 

Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illness' would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God.

Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse, As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, "If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had!" My friend changed my mind. "I ran short of pots," she explained, "and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail. It's just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden." 

She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. "Here's an especially beautiful one," God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. "He won't mind starting in this small body." All this happened long ago -- and now, in God's garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand. by Mary Bartels Bray

Psalm 139:17-18 (King James Version)

17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!  

18. If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Look Up

by Charles R. Swindoll Read Job 26:1--14 

I've lived long enough to be convinced that suffering is not an enemy. It seems strange to put it this way, but the truth is, suffering is a friend. Not until we acknowledge that will we glean its benefits. 

Job is living in the crucible. His misery in that difficult arena has forced him to focus on things that really matter. I have finally come to realize that one of the benefits of going through times of suffering is that my focus turns vertical. 

Charles Spurgeon, the great pulpiteer of London for so many years, was a flashpoint of controversy. The media of his day relished taking him on. They took advantage of a target that big. Normally he could hold his own, but there was one occasion when it began to get the best of him. All of us have our breaking points. 

His wife noticed a depression that was lingering. She became concerned for him that he not lose his zeal and not miss the opportunities that were his while going through such hard times. That led her to do an unusual thing. 

She turned in her Bible to the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus said: Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11--12) 

  In her own handwriting she wrote those words on a large piece of paper. She then taped it on the ceiling above their bed. When the preacher turned over the next morning, he awoke, blinked his eyes, and as he lay there he read those words. He read them again, aloud. He focused vertically on what God was saying, and it renewed him within. He pressed on with new passion. 

What a wonderful, creative idea Mrs. Spurgeon had! Here's the point: when flat on your back, the only way to look is up. Focus on God, rather than on your pain. Become totally absorbed with thoughts of Him.

Harsh But Realistic

by Charles R. Swindoll Read Job 21:23--33 

While speaking the truth Job left the defense of his own character in the Lord's hands. He was firm and deliberate, but he remained in control. 

I repeat, I understand what it's like to be unjustly maligned. I have been accused of things, and that rumor has kept me awake. It has made my stomach churn. It has taken away my appetite. I have determined not to pay any attention to it, yet found that I was unable to turn it off in my mind. Not until I decided to leave things in the Lord's hands and rest in His sovereign control did I find inner peace. 

Without exception (please hear this!), not until I deliberately stepped back and leaned hard on my God did my mind begin to relax, my emotions settle down, and my inner peace return. 

I say again, the truth will win out. And God will be glorified. Refuse to let the accusations discourage and derail you, remembering they are nonsense and lies. 

Get tough! Returning to that one-liner from the Revolutionary War, "Trust in God but keep your powder dry," is essential to keeping your balance. You may be trusting the Lord for safety, but you still lock your doors every night, hopefully, and turn on your alarm. When you get in your car, you lock your doors, don't you? You roll up your windows, don't you? If you don't, you are playing with fire. 

Trusting God is not naive presumption. Wisdom must be applied to a life of faith. Going through hard times requires a get-tough mind-set. Go there. That may seem harsh, but it's realistic. And realism is a powerful message. 

To you who are going through a time of false accusation, may God strengthen you in it. May He hold you close through it. May He give you wisdom and grace in responding to it. May He become real and personal to you, even giving you songs in the night and quiet rest with the assurance that He is defending your integrity. And may He toughen your hide so you don't cave in while awaiting vindication.

Speaking Words of Encouragement of Hope

And let us consider how we may spur one another ontoward love and good deeds.~~ Hebrews 10:24 NIV ~~ 

The words that we speak have the power to do great good or great harm. If we speak words of encouragement and hope, we can lift others up. 

And that's exactly what God commands us to do. Sometimes, when we feel uplifted and secure, it is easy to speak kind words. Other times, when we are discouraged or tired, we can scarcely summon the energy to uplift ourselves, much less anyone else. 

God intends that we speak words of kindness, wisdom, and truth, no matter our circumstances, no matter our emotions. When we do, we share a priceless gift with the world, and we give glory to the One who gave his life for us. 

As believers, we must do no less. Sometimes we need to be reminded of the great potential we possess.We need someone to point out our likeness to the Onewho created us, to see God's image in us. Just one little wordof encouragement can make all the difference.~~ Barbara Johnson ~~

The Fern And The Bamboo

"'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"Hebrews 13:5 NIV 

One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. ... I wanted to quit my life. 

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. 'God', I said. 'Can you give me one good reason not to quit?' His answer surprised me. 'Look around', He said. 'Do you see the fern and the bamboo?'' 'Yes', I replied. 

 'When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

 'In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.' 

'In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.'

 'The same in year four.' 

'Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.' 

 'I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle. Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.' 'Don't compare yourself to others.' He said. 'The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.

 'Your time will come', God said to me. 'You will rise high'. 'How high should I rise?' I asked. 'How high will the bamboo rise?' He asked in return. 'As high as it can?' I questioned. 'Yes.' 

He said, 'Give me glory by rising as high as you can.' I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me. And He will never give up on you. Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experiences; both are essential to life. -Author Unknown- **********************************************************************************

Yogurt-Marmalade Cake

Ingredients:


1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 heaping cup of plain, lowfat yogurt
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup Canola oil
1/2 cup prepared orange marmalade
1/4 cup yogurt

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray loaf pan with nonstick baking spray (or grease and flour it if it makes your skirt fly up.)

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together yogurt, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and canola oil until just combined. Pour over dry ingredients and mix until just combined; do not overbeat.

Pour into loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes. Remove and allow to cool slightly. Remove from pan.

While cake is cooling, pour marmalade into pan. Heat until melted, stirring occasionally. Add yogurt to pan and turn off heat. Stir to combine, then pour slowly over the top of the cake, allowing icing to pool around the sides.

Cheese Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups shredded colby-jack cheese
1 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter


Directions: Whisk together dry ingredients, then stir in cheese.

In a separate bowl, whisk egg, milk, and butter together. Pour milk mixture into dry ingredients and stir with a spoon to combine.

Bake in greased muffin tins at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Makes 12.

Priorities

An expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. 

As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz" and he pulled out a one-gallon, mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. 

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes." The time management expert replied, "Really?" 

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" 

By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. 

Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" "No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." 

Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" 

 One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!" 

 "No," the speaker replied, that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all. What are the 'big rocks' in your life -- time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others? 

Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all." So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first. 

~Stephen Covey~

On Loan

by Charles R. Swindoll Read Job 1:21 

With Job face down in worship to God, the only one cursing is Satan. He hated it! 

He resented Job's response! Of all things, the man still worships his God---the One who would allow these catastrophes to happen. There wouldn't be one in millions on this earth who would do so, but Job did exactly that. 

The wicked spirits sat with their mouths wide open as it were, as they watched a man who responded to all of his adversities with adoration; who concluded all of his woes with worship. No blame. No bitterness. No cursing. No clinched fist raised to the heavens screaming, "How dare you do this to me after I've walked with you all these years!" None of that. 

Instead he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. Blessed be the name of the Lord." That says it all. 

At birth we all arrived naked. At death we will all leave naked, as we're prepared for burial. We have nothing as we are birthed; we have nothing as we depart. So everything we have in between is provided for us by the Giver of Life. 

Get that clearly in your mind. Get it, affluent Americans as we are. Get it when you stroll through your house and see all those wonderful belongings. Get it when you open the door and slip behind the steering wheel of your car. 

It's all on loan, every bit of it. Get it when the business falls and fails. It, too, was on loan. When the stocks rise, all that profit is on loan. Face it squarely. You and I arrived in a tiny, naked body (and not a great looking one at that!). And what will we have when we depart? A naked body plus a lot of wrinkles. 

You take nothing because you brought nothing! You own nothing. What a grand revelation. 

Are you ready to accept it? You don't even own your children. They're God's children, on loan for you to take care of, rear, nurture, love, discipline, encourage, affirm, and then release. 

Praise God for "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights" (James 1:17 NIV).

Broccoli Salad

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

Ingredients:

1 head broccoli

6 to 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1/2 cup raisins, optional

8 ounces sharp Cheddar, cut into very small chunks 1 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions: Trim off the large leaves from the broccoli stem. Remove the tough stalk at the end and wash broccoli head thoroughly. Cut the head into flowerets and the stem into bite-size pieces. Place in a large bowl. Add the crumbled bacon, onion, raisins if using, and cheese. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, stirring well. Add to broccoli mixture and toss gently.

Take Heart

by Charles R. Swindoll Read Esther 8:1--8 

 The king's heart is like mush, like soft putty, or we could say like Play-Doh in the hands of the Lord. Just for a moment imagine another name in that proverb in place of "the king." Someone who is giving you grief perhaps. 

It may be one of your own grown, wayward children. Maybe it's someone who represents a formidable presence. Someone who haunts you and maybe wishes to bring you down. 

Stubborn person, right? Strong-hearted individual, correct? Imagine that heart that is so hard, so granitelike, changing into soft putty in the hands of the Lord. 

It's possible! There is no heart so stubborn that it cannot become breakable in the hands of the Lord. 

Many years ago, in another place and at another time in my life, I went through a dreadful experience with a person who decided to make me his enemy. I still don't know why. It remains a mystery. Nevertheless, it occurred. 

This individual decided to make my life miserable. He watched my every move. He questioned my decisions. He cast doubts on my ministry. This person applied pressure, sometimes to the point where I thought I would scream. 

I don't know how much he said to others. I never asked. But he said enough to me and was bullying and intimidating enough that I became frightened, especially when I realized he carried a gun. 

Eventually, on one occasion, he threatened me with it. One bitterly cold Sunday after church, I went home and fell across our bed, not even taking off my overcoat. I cried out to the Lord. I wept audibly until I could not cry another tear. I had come to my wit's end. I was exhausted, trying everything I knew to do to bring about a change. 

Nothing changed! This man had a heart like King Ahasuerus. There is no wall so strong that Almighty God is not stronger still. There is no will so stubborn that He is not able to soften it. If God can change the heart of an Ahasuerus, He can change any heart---any heart! 

Read that again. You who live your days intimidated and threatened, anxious over the falling of the next shoe, listen to this counsel! God is able to take the heart of anyone and change it, just as He did with the heart of this king. Yes, anyone.

Psalms 118:6

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

Work From Your Heart

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. 

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. 

 When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. 'This is your house,' he said, 'my gift to you.' 

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. 

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. 

If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back. You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. 'Life is a do-it-yourself project,' someone has said. Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the 'house' you live in tomorrow. Build wisely! - Author Unknown -

Calm, Wise and Confident

by Charles R. Swindoll Read Esther 5:1--3 

No king has ever intimidated God, no matter how wealthy his treasury, how extensive his kingdom, or how powerful his armies. God can handle anyone. Anyone! 

He can handle your husband. He can handle your wife. He can handle your kids. He can handle your pastor. He can handle the person who gives you grief. He can handle your ex-mate, that person who made you all those promises and broke most of them. He can even handle your enemy. He can handle the most intimidating situation, because in the hand of the Lord, any heart is like water. 

Esther walks in that confidence. Look at her. She doesn't cringe and cower; she stands. Esther stood in front of the king's rooms. "The king saw Esther the queen standing" (emphasis mine.) She's not trembling. Though she's doing what's never been done before, she is standing tall, confident in the Lord. And when the king saw her standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he extended his golden scepter to her. 

Remember, without that gesture from the king, she would die. And now, confident, she touches the top of the scepter, making a connection with the king. "Then the king said to her, 'What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you' " (Esther 5:3). 

I love that. Esther doesn't know what to expect, and the king says simply, "What's on your mind? What's troubling you?" In fact, he goes further. He says, "What can I do for you? Name it. There's no limit; it's yours." 

Now this is her moment to bring down the roof on Haman---but she doesn't. Not now. This is a wise woman who understands the value of timing. She isn't in a hurry, nor is she revengeful. You know why? She has been waiting on the Lord. 

We get in a hurry when we don't wait on the Lord. We jump ahead and do rash things. We shoot from the hip. We run off at the mouth, saying things that we later regret. But when we have sufficiently waited on the Lord, He gets full control of our spirit. At such moments, we're like a glove, and His hand is moving us wherever He pleases. Having known that experience, I can testify, there's nothing to compare it to. It's marvelous! Wait on the Lord.

The Power of Encouragement

The power of encouragement comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone elsewho is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.~~ 2 Corinthians 1:4 ~~ 

Do you delight in the victories of others? You should. Each day provides countless opportunities to encourage others and to praise their good works. When you do so, you spread seeds of joy and happiness. 

American poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox advised, "Talk happiness. The world is sad enough without your woe." 

Her words still apply. Life is a team sport, and all of us need occasional pats on the back from our teammates. 

So, let us be cheerful with smiles on our faces and encouraging words on our lips. By blessing others, we also bless ourselves, and, when we do, God smiles.

 Giving encouragement to others is a most welcome gift, for the results of it are lifted spirits, increased self-worth and a hopeful future. Florence Littauer

Old-Fashioned Potato Salad

Ingredients

1 cup water
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup vinegar
2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
3 stalks celery, diced
3/4 cup salad dressing
3/4 cup heavy cream, whipped
6 lbs red potatoes, peeled,cooked and diced
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1/4 cup green onion, sliced
1/2 teaspoon pepper
salt
diced green pepper (optional)
paprika (to garnish)

Directions:

In top of a double boiler over boiling water, heat water, butter and vinegar. In bowl, beat eggs, add sugar and cornstarch. Add to butter mixture, cook and stir constantly until thick, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.

Stir in the salad dressing and fold in the whipped cream. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes, onions and green onions, celery, green pepper if using, salt and pepper. Pour dressing over, toss and mix gently. Chill. Garnish with sliced hard cooked eggs and paprika.

Calico Baked Beans

Ingredients:

1 lg. can green lima beans
1 lg. can red kidney beans
1 lg. can baked beans
6 slices bacon, fried and cut up (may substitute 1/2 lb. pork sausage or ground beef)
1 1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. vinegar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 clove minced garlic (optional)
1/2 c. catsup

Directions: Combine all beans in large casserole. Fry 6 slices bacon, drain and cut up. Add onion and fry briefly. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well and add to beans. Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours.

Foiled Herbed Vegetables

Ingredients:

2 foot strip heavy-duty aluminum foil

1 small onion, sliced thinly

3 C. broccoli florets or entire head

2 medium carrots, sliced thinly

2 medium zucchini and/or yellow summer squash

1 t. dried basil

1 teaspoon garlic salt

2 ice cubes

2 T. butter

1 T. olive oil

Directions: Center vegetables on foil. Sprinkle with seasonings. Top with ice cubes, margarine and olive oil. Bring up foil sides. Double-fold top and ends to seal, making one large foil packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Grill over medium-high coals 15-20 minutes in covered grill.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Lemon Iced Tea

Ingredients:

2 large lemons

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 cups fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish

6 black tea bags

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

Directions: Using a vegetable peeler, remove bright yellow peel from lemons.

Combine lemon peel and sugar in a medium saucepan with 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Lower heat and simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in mint. Cool to room temperature; strain.

Steep the tea bags in 4 cups of boiling water, covered, for 5 minutes. Then remove tea bags. Stir in syrup, lemon juice, 4 cups cold water, and ice cubes. Serve in tall glasses filled with ice and a few mint leaves.

Yield: Makes 8 servings (serving size: 8 ounces)

Peace in the Midst of the Storm

When the world that I've been living in collapses at my feet

 When my life is shattered and torn 

Though I'm windswept and battered, 

I can cling to His cross 

And find peace in the midst of the storm 

 

There is peace in the midst of my storm-tossed life 

Oh, there's an anchor, there's a rock to cast my faith upon 

Jesus rides in my vessel, so I'll fear no alarm 

He gives me peace in the midst of my storm 

 

When in twenty-four short hours, 

Years of living are brought to moments 

And when life's final picture is taking form 

In the dark room of my suff'ring 

There's a light comes shining through! (shining through)

 He gives me peace in the midst of my storm

Psalms 95

1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 

2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 

3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 

4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 

5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 

 6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. 

7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Not Forgotten

by Charles R. Swindoll Read Esther 2:1--7 

God's presence is not as intriguing as His absence. 

His voice is not as eloquent as His silence. 

Who of us has not longed for a word from God, searched for a glimpse of His power, or yearned for the reassurance of His presence, only to feel that He seems absent for the moment? Distant. Preoccupied. Maybe even unconcerned.Yet later, we realize how very present He was all along. 

Though God may at times seem distant, and though He is invisible to us, He is always invincible. 

This is the main lesson of the book of Esther. Though absent by name from the pages of this particular book of Jewish history, God is present in every scene and in the movement of every event, until He ultimately and finally brings everything to a marvelous climax as He proves Himself Lord of His people, the Jews. 

Mordecai was a descendant of one of those exiled Jews. He was a godly man, and his most significant role was his relationship to Esther. Esther, which is this young woman's Persian name, means "star." This seems appropriate, since she is truly the star of the show, the heroine of the story. The immortal, invisible, all-wise hand of God is working behind the scenes, hidden from human eyes. 

Only such a gracious and all-knowing Being would have His hand on some forgotten orphan, a little girl who had lost her mother and father and was left to be raised by her cousin Mordecai. 

There is a beautiful message here for anyone who has ever experienced brokenness, for anyone who has ever been crushed by life, for anyone who has ever felt that his past is so discolored, so disjointed, so fractured that there is no way in the world God can make reason and meaning out of it. 

We are going to learn some unforgettable lessons from Esther. Here was a little girl who must have cried her heart out at the death of her parents, bereft and orphaned, yet who, years later, would become key to the very survival of her people, the Jews. God and God alone can do such things---

He, in fact, does do such things, working silently and invisibly behind the events of history. And he is working quietly behind the scenes of your life too.

The Big Leagues

by Charles R. Swindoll Read 1 Kings 18:41--46 

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:16b--18) 

We read about Elijah and we say, "Wow, he's in the big leagues. He's a spiritual giant. I'm a pygmy in comparison to him. He's in another world entirely." 

Not true. Look again. James doesn't say, "Elijah was a mighty prophet of God." He doesn't say, "Elijah was a powerful worker of miracles." He doesn't say, "Elijah was a model no man can match." James says, "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours." 

That means he was flesh and blood, muscle and bone. As we're about to see, he got really discouraged, and he had some huge disappointments. He had faults and failures and doubts. He was just a man, with a nature like yours and mine. He may have been a man of heroism and humility, but let's not forget his humanity. Elijah was our kind of man! 

So, what kind of man was Elijah? Well, he wasn't afraid to square off with the king of the land or take on the prophets of Baal. The guy had guts, no question. But he wasn't too powerful to pray or too confident to wait or too sophisticated to see rain in the tiny cloud or too proud to pull up his robe and run like a spotted ape down the mountain in the rain and mud, like the roadrunner, thinking, "C'mon, Ahab . . . catch me if you can!" 

No wonder Elijah is the kind of man we admire. Isn't it exciting to know we serve the same God he served? Isn't it thrilling to think we can trust the same God he trusted? And what kind of God is that? He's the God who makes promises and keeps them.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Courtesy of the Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients:

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk, shaken, at room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature

2 tablespoons brewed coffee

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup good cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing, recipe follows

Chopped salted peanuts, to decorate, optional

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and 2 sugars on high speed until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes.

Lower the speed to medium, add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.

On low speed, add the buttermilk mixture and the flour mixture alternately in thirds to the mixer bowl, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until blended. Fold the batter with a rubber spatula to be sure it's completely blended.

Divide the batter among the cupcake pans (1 rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is the right amount). Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pans, and allow to cool completely before frosting.
Frost each cupcake with Peanut Butter Icing and sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired.

Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing:

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions: Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

Faith Personified

by Charles R. Swindoll Read 1 Kings 17:24  

When the woman saw that her son was alive, she didn't see Elijah. She saw the Lord.

"Elijah, I've heard you talk about the God of heaven. I've heard you refer to Him in various ways. But now, when I look at this miracle, I know that you speak the truth." 

If you wish to be a man or woman of God, it is essential that you face the impossible situations of life with faith, as Elijah did. 

If you are a young person who desires to live a godly life that will leave its mark upon this world, you must learn early to stand in the shadow of your Savior, trusting Him to work through the trials you encounter, through the extreme circumstances you cannot handle. 

The God of Elijah is your God. He is still the God of impossible situations. He still does what no earthly individual can do. 

Trust Him to do that! Elijah approached the impossible with calmness and contentment, with gentleness and self-control, with faith and humility. 

As I've mentioned from the beginning, Elijah was heroic in exploits of faith, but he remained a model of humility. 

Examine your own life for these character traits and take them one by one before God. 

You might say to the Lord, for example, "Lord, today I want to do what You say regarding contentment; I want to have a calm and gentle spirit. I don't simply want to call myself a Christian. I want to be known as a genuine servant of God because my life demonstrates the truth I say I believe. 

Help me this day to face everything and deal with everyone with a gentle and quiet spirit. 

Help me to be content, even though things don't go my way. 

Help me today with diligence, Lord. I tend to lose sight of the goal as the day wears on. I'm a good starter, but I don't finish well. 

Help me to do a quality piece of work and not to give in to the mood of the moment. 

And, Lord, help me, when You begin to bring to pass these qualities in my life, not to call attention to them, but just to let them flow out of my life in glory to You. Help me to become Your servant, Your man, Your woman." That is how we personify a life of faith.

Neely's Wet BBQ Ribs

Recipe courtesy Patrick and Mark Neely

Sauce:

32 ounces ketchup
16 ounces water
6 ounces brown sugar
6 ounces white sugar
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon dry mustard powder
2 ounces lemon juice
2 ounces Worcestershire sauce
8 ounces apple cider vinegar
2 ounces light corn syrup
3 to 4 pounds spare ribs
2 ounces Neely's Seasoning Mix, recipe follows

Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a stockpot or large Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Reduce temperature to low and simmer, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, trim the spare ribs, removing the upper brisket bone and any excess fat; this will produce a St. Louis-style rib. Rinse the ribs and season with Neely's Seasoning, and then cover and refrigerate for 4 to 12 hours.


Neely's Seasoning Mix:

4 ounces paprika
2 ounces sugar
1 teaspoon onion powder
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Place a disposable drip pan under the grates of the barbecue and heat to high. Wipe grates with oil to prevent sticking.

When grates are hot, place ribs over drip pan, cover and reduce heat to low.
Baste ribs while cooking. Baste once 20 minutes before ribs are done, and a second time 10 minutes later.

Average sized ribs are cooked rare in 25-30 minutes, medium rare in 35-40 minutes, and well done in 45-50 minutes. These times will vary according to the grill used and the size of the ribs. Small ribs may require less cooking time, while large ribs may need a little more time on the grill. Adjust accordingly

Sunny Broccoli Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS

Dressing

1/2 cup light mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Salad

5 oz. (1 1/2 cups) uncooked pasta nuggets (radiatore)
8 slices bacon
2 cups small broccoli florets
1 cup small cauliflower florets
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup golden raisins
3 tablespoons shelled sunflower seeds

DIRECTIONS

1. In small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients; blend with wire whisk until smooth. Refrigerate while cooking pasta.

2. Cook pasta to desired doneness as directed on package. Drain; rinse with cold water to cool. Drain well.

3. Meanwhile, cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon.

4. In large bowl, combine cooked pasta, bacon and all remaining salad ingredients. Pour dressing over salad; toss gently to coat. Cover; refrigerate at least 30 minutes to blend flavors.

All Your Heart

by Charles R. Swindoll Read 1 Kings 17:20--22  

That was some prayer. Elijah was not able to say, "Let this child's life return to him, as it happened to Enoch, as it happened to Isaac, as it happened to Moses," because there was no precedence for this particular miracle. 

So Elijah said, "Lord, I'm trusting You for a miracle. I'm asking You to perform the impossible." He then waited. Everything, at that epochal moment of faith, rested in the Lord's hands. 

You may be in the process of placing your own life before the Lord in this way. Things are critical, and only a miracle can breathe new life into your situation. Circumstances are totally out of your control. So you take it to your special place, and, standing in the shadow of your God, you lay it out before Him, prostrating yourself before Him, pleading for His intervention, trusting completely in His miraculous power, refusing to lean on your own understanding. 

Dr. Raymond Edman, in his little book, In Quietness and Confidence, writes about a godly man who faced just such a trial. This is how he met it: He was quiet for a while with his Lord, then he wrote these words for himself: 

First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest. 

Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child. 

Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. 

Last, in His time He can bring me out again---how and when He knows.

 Can you make these four statements? If you can . . . will you? 

1. I am here by God's appointment. 

2. I am in His keeping. 

3. I am under His training. 

4. He will show me His purposes in His time. 

By God's appointment, in God's keeping, under His training, for His time. What an outstanding summary of what it means to trust in the Lord with all your heart!

Incredible Associations

By Charles R. Swindoll Read 1 Kings 17:10--16 

Elijah had walked into a situation that was, from all human perspective, impossible. But the good news is that he saw beyond the difficulty. He handled the problem with faith, not fear. Elijah was determined that those initial first-impression blues were not going to get him down. 

The widow had her eyes on the impossibilities: a handful of flour, a tiny amount of oil, a few sticks. Elijah rolled up his sleeves and focused only on the possibilities. 

How could he do that? Because he was an emerging man of God. He had been to Cherith. He had seen the proof of God's faithfulness. He had survived the dried-up brook. He had obeyed God, and, without hesitation, he had walked to Zarephath. 

You can't talk the talk if you've never walked the walk. 

You can't encourage somebody else to believe the improbable if you haven't believed the impossible. 

You can't light another's candle of hope if your own torch of faith isn't burning. 

When Elijah saw the near-empty flour bin and oil jug, he said, almost with a shrug, "That's no problem for God. Get in there and fix those biscuits. And fix some for you and your son too." 

Then he told her why. Listen to these confident words of faith: "The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth." 

What a promise! That woman must have looked at Elijah, this tired, dusty stranger, with wonder and bewilderment, as she heard words like she'd never heard before. 

Have you ever spent time in the presence of a person of faith? Ever rubbed shoulders with men and women of God who don't have the word "impossible" in their vocabulary? 

If not, locate a few strong-hearted souls. You need them in your life. These are the kind of incredible associations God uses to build up our faith!

A Graduation Wish

The high school commencement speaker was the president of a large corporation. He was chosen for the occasion because of his success. Yet his speech came with a most unusual wish for the graduates. 

The speaker told the students sitting before him in their graduation gowns, “If I could have one hope for you as you go out into the world, it would be this: I hope you fail. I hope that you fail at something that is important to you.” 

He went on to say how his own early life had been one failure after another, until he learned to see failure as an effective teacher. Many of the songs of Israel were born in seasons of failure. Out of desperation came the cry, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Ps. 42:1-2). 

Sometimes we are not ready to see the wonder of God’s wisdom and strength until we are gasping for breath in the exhaustion of our own strength. A recurring story of the Bible is that mountains of faith rise from the valleys of failure. 

Before discovering the high ground we are looking for, we may need to see the failure of the dreams we hold in our hearts and trust instead in the love, wisdom, and guidance of our God. — Mart De Haan 

The lessons we learn from our failures Are lessons that help us succeed, And if we are wise and we heed them, Then failure is just what we need. —D. De Haan

Berry Cheesecake Dessert

Ingredients:
2-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
1 package (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin
1 cup boiling water
3/4 cup cold water
1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced

Directions: In a bowl, combine the cracker crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into the crust.

Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until the center is almost set. Carefully spread sour cream over the top. Bake 10 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in cold water. Refrigerate for 45 minutes or until thickened but not set.

Carefully pour a third of the gelatin over sour cream layer. Arrange strawberries over gelatin; pour remaining gelatin over berries. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until set. Yield: 12-15 servings.

Angels Watching Over Us

The Reverend John G. Paton, a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands, tells a thrilling story involving the protective care of angels. 

Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Patons out and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror filled night that God would deliver them. 

When daylight came they were amazed to see the attackers unaccountably leave. They thanked God for delivering them.  

A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Jesus Christ, and Mr. Paton, remembering what had happened, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them. 

The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men you had with you there?" The missionary answered, "There were no men there; just my wife and I." 

The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard-hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack. 

Only then did Mr. Paton realize that God had sent his angels to protect them. The chief agreed that there was no other explanation. Could it be that God had sent a legion of angels to protect His servants, whose lives were being endangered?" 

 This illustration was taken from Billy Graham's book on angels. It certainly sounds familiar, doesn't it?  

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (1 Kings 6:14-17). 

 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created (Psalm 148:2-5). ...

The morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy (Job 38:7). Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14).

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberries
4 pints strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Whipped Cream
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Biscuits
4 cups all-purpose flour
8 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons sugar
1 cup shortening*
1 1/3 cups cold buttermilk
*Use butter or vegetable shortening such as Crisco--Do not use margarine.

Directions:

Strawberries:

Place the sliced strawberries into a bowl with the sugar and water—Mix well. Squish the berries gently with your hands—just enough to get the juices flowing. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours. Remove 20 minutes before serving for best flavor.

Whipped Cream
Pour the cream into the bowl of your electric mixer and whip until it begins to thicken.
Add the sugar and vanilla, and continue whipping until soft peaks form and it is doubled in volume.

Biscuits
Sift the flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, salt, and sugar into a medium-sized bowl.
Cut the shortening into ½-inch pieces and add them to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter to “cut” the shortening into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (Alternatively, you can do this with your hands, working the shortening into the flour with a pinching and tossing motion.)

Add the buttermilk and mix gently just until blended.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it gently two or three times so that it comes together into a cohesive mass. You can add a bit more flour if the mixture is very wet, but avoid overworking the dough.

Gently roll or pat the dough to a thickness of one inch. Use a 3 1/4 ” biscuit cutter to cut rounds.
Place the biscuits close together on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and brush with milk.
Bake in a 450-degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until puffed and golden. Cool to room temperature.

Assembly

Forget the diet! Pile your biscuits high with lots of berries, juice, and cream--Then enjoy every single bite without guilt.

1. Cut the biscuit in half and place the bottom on a dessert plate.
2. Spoon on a generous helping of strawberries and juice. Top with cream--and a few more berries if you wish.
2. Add the biscuit top and repeat the process.
3. Serve immediately

Preparation time: 45 minutes plus 2+ hours downtime.
A Barbara Adams Beyond Wonderful recipe

Refreshing Iced Tea

Prep: 5 min., Cook: 5 min., Steep: 5 min. To make this version sweet, stir 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar into the hot tea, stirring until dissolved.

Ingredients
3 cups water

2 family-size tea bags

Ice cubes

Garnish: halved lemon and lime slices

Preparation:

Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add 2 family-size tea bags, and remove mixture from heat. Steep 5 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags.

Pour tea into a 1/2-gal. heatproof container, and add ice cubes to fill; stir. Serve over additional ice, and garnish, if desired.

Yield
Makes 2 qt.

Priscilla Kendrick, Hendersonville, North Carolina

Psalms 42:1

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Fill My Cup, Lord

Words and Music by Richard Blanshard John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."  

Like the woman at the well 

I was seeking 

For things that could not satisfy: 

And then I heard my Savior speaking: 

"Draw from my well that never shall run dry".

 

Chorus

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord! 

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul; 

Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more 

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole! 

 

There are millions in this world who are craving 

The pleasures earthly things afford;

 But none can match the wondrous treasure 

That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.

The Brook Has Dried Up

by Charles R. Swindoll (Read 1 Kings 17:5--7) 

One morning Elijah noticed that the brook wasn't gushing over the rocks or running as freely as it had in days past. Since that single stream of water was his lifeline, he checked it carefully. 

Over the next few days he watched it dwindle and shrink, until it was only a trickle. 

Then one morning, there was no water, only wet sand. The hot winds soon siphoned even that dampness, and the sand hardened. Before long, cracks appeared in the parched bed of the brook. No more water. The brook had dried up. 

Does that kind of experience sound familiar to you? At one time you knew the joy of a full bank account, a booming business, an exciting, ever-expanding career, a magnificent and exciting ministry. But the brook has dried up. 

At one time you knew the joy of using your voice to sing the Lord's praises. Then a growth developed on your vocal chords, requiring surgery. But the surgery removed more than the growth; it also took your lovely singing voice. The brook has dried up. 

Your partner in life has grown indifferent and has recently asked for a divorce. There's no longer any affection and no promise of change. The brook has dried up. 

I've had my own times when the brook has dried up, and I've found myself wondering about the things I've believed and preached for years. What happened? Had God died? No. My vision just got a little blurry. My circumstances caused my thinking to get a little foggy. I looked up, and I couldn't see Him as clearly. To exacerbate the problem, I felt as though He wasn't hearing me. The heavens were brass. I would speak to Him and heard nothing. My brook dried up. 

That's what happened to John Bunyan in seventeenth-century England. He preached against the godlessness of his day, and the authorities shoved him into prison. His brook of opportunity and freedom dried up. 

But because Bunyan firmly believed God was still alive and at work, he turned that prison into a place of praise, service, and creativity as he began to write Pilgrim's Progress, the most famous allegory in the history of the English language. Dried-up brooks in no way cancel out God's providential plan. Often, they cause it to emerge.