Rice and Black Beans
Serves: 4
Created by The MDM Team, Monday, October 22, 2007
Rice and beans never tasted so good! Easy & tasty, this scrumptious side has a kick. If you want dinner to go southwestern, try this decadent dish.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. black pepper (to taste)
Dash cayenne (just a little, to taste)
1 grated carrot
1 chopped tomato
1/2 lb. of rice
2 cups of water
14 oz. cooked black beans.
Methods/steps
Sauté in the olive oil the chopped onion.
Add garlic, black pepper, dash cayenne, carrot, the chopped tomato, and cook for 3 minutes.
Add and mix well the rice, add the water, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender and the liquid absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
Meanwhile, put the black beans in another saucepan with a little water and cook over a low heat, stirring from time to time, until heated through.
Once the rice is cooked, add the drained black beans.
May 31, 2009
Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake
9 Servings
Carrot cake is a perennial favorite, but it is often loaded with vegetable oil and laden with a cream cheese frosting. Our version is healthier, using a small amount of olive oil, a full cup of honey for moistness and flavor, and a combination of whole wheat pastry and unbleached flours. The crunchy walnuts even add a bit of omega-3 fats to this sweet treat. With a cup of hot green tea, this cake will make you forget about cream cheese frosting. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
2 cups firmly packed finely grated carrots (3 large)
Juice of 1 large orange
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup light olive oil
1 cup honey, liquefied in microwave (30 seconds)
1/2 cup crushed or chopped pineapple, drained
1 cup unbleached white flour
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a mixing bowl, stir together the carrots, orange juice, vanilla, olive oil, honey, and pineapple until well blended.
3. In another bowl, stir together the flours, baking soda, and spices. Mix in the walnuts.
4. Blend the dry ingredients into the carrot mixture, stirring until just mixed.
5. Pour the batter into a nonstick 8-inch-square baking pan and bake for 45-60 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and remove from pan.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
334 calories
9 g total fat (1 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
62 g carbohydrate
5 g protein
4 g fiber
25 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
9 Servings
Carrot cake is a perennial favorite, but it is often loaded with vegetable oil and laden with a cream cheese frosting. Our version is healthier, using a small amount of olive oil, a full cup of honey for moistness and flavor, and a combination of whole wheat pastry and unbleached flours. The crunchy walnuts even add a bit of omega-3 fats to this sweet treat. With a cup of hot green tea, this cake will make you forget about cream cheese frosting. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
2 cups firmly packed finely grated carrots (3 large)
Juice of 1 large orange
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup light olive oil
1 cup honey, liquefied in microwave (30 seconds)
1/2 cup crushed or chopped pineapple, drained
1 cup unbleached white flour
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a mixing bowl, stir together the carrots, orange juice, vanilla, olive oil, honey, and pineapple until well blended.
3. In another bowl, stir together the flours, baking soda, and spices. Mix in the walnuts.
4. Blend the dry ingredients into the carrot mixture, stirring until just mixed.
5. Pour the batter into a nonstick 8-inch-square baking pan and bake for 45-60 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and remove from pan.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
334 calories
9 g total fat (1 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
62 g carbohydrate
5 g protein
4 g fiber
25 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
Sunday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration
May 31
Wisdom is a Person For reading & meditation: Proverbs 2:12-22"Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men '" (v.12)
We touched yesterday on the thought that in the book of Proverbs, particularly in the first nine chapters, wisdom and foolishness are seen as persons. Jesus was also using the device of personification when He said in Matthew 11:19, "But wisdom is proved right by her actions." Some have thought that the personification of wisdom in the Scriptures indicates that wisdom is to be seen as a personality, perhaps a member of the angelic hierarchy, who visits men and women and imparts to them divine wisdom, but this, in my opinion, is taking things too far. The writer is simply using a literary device to make a point. However, it is the opinion of most evangelical commentators that the device of personification as it relates to wisdom is to prepare the way for the apostle Paul's great statement in 1 Corinthians 1:24 that Christ is "the power of God and the wisdom of God." If this is so, then it suggests that the divine purpose underlying the personification of wisdom in Proverbs is not simply to acquaint us with an absorbing set of rules or helpful suggestions by which to run our lives, but to hint that true wisdom lies in a Person, that Person being none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity moves beyond the wisdom of Solomon, which, by the way, commends itself to non-Christians as well as Christians, and points to the fact that the highest wisdom comes from a relationship with the One who is the fount of all wisdom - Jesus. Knowing the principles of wisdom is one thing; knowing the Person in whom all wisdom resides is another.
Prayer:
O Father, how can I sufficiently thank You that by faith I am linked to the source of all wisdom - the Lord Jesus Christ? Let the wonder of this relationship - I am in Him and He is in me - sink deep into my soul today. Amen.
For further study:
1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Isaiah 11:1-5; Matthew 13:541. How does Paul describe Jesus? 2. What did people testify of Jesus?
May 30, 2009
Marinated Shrimp
Marinated Shrimp
Serves: 12-16
Created by The MDM Team, Saturday, November 10, 2007
Talk about a recipe that's shrimply delicious. These marinated shrimps are full of flavor when they baste in salad dressing. It's a Miracle!
Ingredients
3 lb. shrimp
1 qt. Miracle Whip salad dressing
Juice of 3 lemons
3 medium onions, thinly sliced
Methods/steps
Cook and clean shrimp. Combine Miracle Whip salad dressing, lemon juice and onions. Pour over shrimp, and cover all shrimp very well. Refrigerate at least 3 days or more.
Serves: 12-16
Created by The MDM Team, Saturday, November 10, 2007
Talk about a recipe that's shrimply delicious. These marinated shrimps are full of flavor when they baste in salad dressing. It's a Miracle!
Ingredients
3 lb. shrimp
1 qt. Miracle Whip salad dressing
Juice of 3 lemons
3 medium onions, thinly sliced
Methods/steps
Cook and clean shrimp. Combine Miracle Whip salad dressing, lemon juice and onions. Pour over shrimp, and cover all shrimp very well. Refrigerate at least 3 days or more.
Saturday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration
May 30
He Has Overcome the World
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you. His power is ever-present in your life as His child.
If I could have been there in the days of His flesh, I would have wanted to see Him walk across the sea and calm the waves. I can just see that kingly form with the wind in His hair, putting His foot steps on the sea, His garments billowing back. Smiling at the storm.
When the disciples saw Him walking on the water what was their biggest problem? The water. Jesus, in essence, was saying, "What looks like is going to be over your head, is already under My feet."
What are some problems that are drowning you in fear, in discouragement, in sadness today? Give them to Jesus. Remember what is over your head is under His feet.
For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org. You can also listen to Adrian Rogers at OnePlace.com by clicking here.
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May 29, 2009
Whole Grain Waffles
Whole Grain Waffles
Makes: 2 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Monday, December 10, 2007
You won't waffle over this breakfast. Sink your teeth into a healthier version of a traditional morning favorite. To satisfy your sweet tooth, use low-sugar syrup.
Ingredients
12 oz. low-fat buttermilk
1 egg
2 egg whites
2 oz. vegetable oil
4 oz. all-purpose flour
3 oz. whole wheat flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
2 1/2 oz. rolled oats
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 oz. sugar
Methods/steps
Mix buttermilk, egg, egg whites, and vegetable oil together. In a separate bowl mix all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, cornmeal, oats, baking powder and sugar together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. stir until mixed. Spray preheated waffle iron with oil spray. Pour a portion of batter onto iron and cook according to the directions on iron. Top waffles with what you like. I enjoy maple syrup or yogurt.
Makes: 2 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Monday, December 10, 2007
You won't waffle over this breakfast. Sink your teeth into a healthier version of a traditional morning favorite. To satisfy your sweet tooth, use low-sugar syrup.
Ingredients
12 oz. low-fat buttermilk
1 egg
2 egg whites
2 oz. vegetable oil
4 oz. all-purpose flour
3 oz. whole wheat flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
2 1/2 oz. rolled oats
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 oz. sugar
Methods/steps
Mix buttermilk, egg, egg whites, and vegetable oil together. In a separate bowl mix all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, cornmeal, oats, baking powder and sugar together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. stir until mixed. Spray preheated waffle iron with oil spray. Pour a portion of batter onto iron and cook according to the directions on iron. Top waffles with what you like. I enjoy maple syrup or yogurt.
Friday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration - When you feel so alone
WHEN YOU FEEL SO ALONE
When I was growing up, I knew a lady who was going through a terrible time in her marriage. She was feeling the incredibly painful sting of betrayal and separation. Divorce seemed almost unavoidable. With a hurting heart, she would sing to the Gilbert O'Sullivan song, "Alone Again (Naturally)."
To think that only yesterday,
I was cheerful, bright and gay,
Looking forward to, but who wouldn't do,
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down,
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch,
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt,
All about God and His mercy
For if He really does exist
Why did He desert me
In my hour of need?
I truly am indeed,
Alone again, naturally
That depressing song was a HUGE hit in the 70's. While it does express the heart and feelings of one who is really hurting, the lyrics are filled with faithlessness and error.
THE TRUTH
First of all, God does exist. Even though you cannot see Him, He is more real than the sun in the sky. Secondly, HE NEVER DESERTS HIS CHILDREN!
One of the greatest promises in all the Bible is found in Hebrews 13:5, "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" As powerfully straightforward as that verse is in English, it is even more emphatic in the Greek as the Amplified Bible points out - "I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!"
WOW! What a promise from the God who cannot lie and who always keeps His word.
Listen, if you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, He will never leave your side. He will be with you even when:
1. You sin terribly and temporarily turn your back on Him. Whenever we commit a sin that is very awful and shameful, we feel like God must hate us. Not so. He sticks with His children NO MATTER WHAT. If you don't believe me, just ask Simon Peter who cursed and swore and denied Jesus saying, "I don't even know the Man!"
2. You lose your job because of cutbacks . or because of something you did or failed to do.
3. You get sick with cancer or some other disease.
4. Your spouse leaves you for another.
5. Your loved ones dies . even though you prayed for a different outcome.
6. You fall into a deep depression because tragedy strikes.
PRAISE IS THE ANSWER
When trouble comes into your life like a flood, don't sing the blues. Don't sing those songs that drive you to new depths of depression and make you want to curse God and die. Sing the truth. Fill your heart with praise. God is still with me!! The God who can do anything and forgive any sin and calm any storm is still with me . and He is going to see me through!
Remember, God is the One who is able to give beauty for ashes. He can take the worst of situations and turn them around for good. Regardless of the hurtful circumstances you may be facing today, in the midst of the pain, rise up and say with the Psalmist, "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence" (Ps. 42:5).
By the way, that lady who was going through the terrible marriage problems, God did a miracle of reconciliation . and she and her husband are happily married to this day, celebrating 56 years together.
Don't give up. Don't ever give up!! God has not forgotten you nor forsaken you. Keep trusting in Him!!
Love,
Jeff Schreve
Pastor
www.fromhisheart.org
jeff@fromhisheart.org
1-888-811-8203
Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.
When I was growing up, I knew a lady who was going through a terrible time in her marriage. She was feeling the incredibly painful sting of betrayal and separation. Divorce seemed almost unavoidable. With a hurting heart, she would sing to the Gilbert O'Sullivan song, "Alone Again (Naturally)."
To think that only yesterday,
I was cheerful, bright and gay,
Looking forward to, but who wouldn't do,
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down,
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch,
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt,
All about God and His mercy
For if He really does exist
Why did He desert me
In my hour of need?
I truly am indeed,
Alone again, naturally
That depressing song was a HUGE hit in the 70's. While it does express the heart and feelings of one who is really hurting, the lyrics are filled with faithlessness and error.
THE TRUTH
First of all, God does exist. Even though you cannot see Him, He is more real than the sun in the sky. Secondly, HE NEVER DESERTS HIS CHILDREN!
One of the greatest promises in all the Bible is found in Hebrews 13:5, "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" As powerfully straightforward as that verse is in English, it is even more emphatic in the Greek as the Amplified Bible points out - "I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!"
WOW! What a promise from the God who cannot lie and who always keeps His word.
Listen, if you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, He will never leave your side. He will be with you even when:
1. You sin terribly and temporarily turn your back on Him. Whenever we commit a sin that is very awful and shameful, we feel like God must hate us. Not so. He sticks with His children NO MATTER WHAT. If you don't believe me, just ask Simon Peter who cursed and swore and denied Jesus saying, "I don't even know the Man!"
2. You lose your job because of cutbacks . or because of something you did or failed to do.
3. You get sick with cancer or some other disease.
4. Your spouse leaves you for another.
5. Your loved ones dies . even though you prayed for a different outcome.
6. You fall into a deep depression because tragedy strikes.
PRAISE IS THE ANSWER
When trouble comes into your life like a flood, don't sing the blues. Don't sing those songs that drive you to new depths of depression and make you want to curse God and die. Sing the truth. Fill your heart with praise. God is still with me!! The God who can do anything and forgive any sin and calm any storm is still with me . and He is going to see me through!
Remember, God is the One who is able to give beauty for ashes. He can take the worst of situations and turn them around for good. Regardless of the hurtful circumstances you may be facing today, in the midst of the pain, rise up and say with the Psalmist, "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence" (Ps. 42:5).
By the way, that lady who was going through the terrible marriage problems, God did a miracle of reconciliation . and she and her husband are happily married to this day, celebrating 56 years together.
Don't give up. Don't ever give up!! God has not forgotten you nor forsaken you. Keep trusting in Him!!
Love,
Jeff Schreve
Pastor
www.fromhisheart.org
jeff@fromhisheart.org
1-888-811-8203
Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.
Low-Sugar and Low-Sodium Pie Dough
Low-Sugar and Low-Sodium Pie Dough
Makes: 8 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Monday, January 14, 2008
Instead of adding water, milk can be used to make the cooked dough softer in texture. Using self-rising flour instead of all-purpose will also achieve the same results.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter, cubed
1/3 cup water, chilled to mix
Methods/steps
Sift the flour into a bowl. Add the butter or butter and shortening mix. Using fingertips or a pastry blender, rub the fat in until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Gradually stir in the water until the mixture binds itself together. Gently press into a ball, cover in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 20 minutes before rolling out.
Additional Tips
Ready in 15 min
Makes: 8 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Monday, January 14, 2008
Instead of adding water, milk can be used to make the cooked dough softer in texture. Using self-rising flour instead of all-purpose will also achieve the same results.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter, cubed
1/3 cup water, chilled to mix
Methods/steps
Sift the flour into a bowl. Add the butter or butter and shortening mix. Using fingertips or a pastry blender, rub the fat in until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Gradually stir in the water until the mixture binds itself together. Gently press into a ball, cover in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 20 minutes before rolling out.
Additional Tips
Ready in 15 min
Roasted Salmon with Stir-Fry Vegetables
Roasted Salmon with Stir-Fry Vegetables
2 Servings
This is a low-calorie and low-carbohydrate recipe because it doesn't contain a traditional "starch" item. Stir fries generally use rice, but water chestnuts make a great stand-in when you want a lower calorie meal. Water chestnuts are readily available in the Chinese food section of most supermarkets. You can also try canned bamboo shoots.
Ingredients:
12 ounces of salmon, cut into two fillets
1 teaspoon of herb blend
1/2 lemon
1 tbsp dark sesame oil (or canola oil)
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 tbsp fresh ginger (grated)
1/4 cup onions (chopped)
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
5 oz can of water chestnuts, drained
3 cups baby spinach leaves, steamed (see Ingredient Tip)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Rinse the salmon well and rub with lemon juice. Place the fillets on a cake rack, laid on a cookie sheet, on the middle rack of the oven. You can place the the fillets directly on the cookie sheet, but raising them keeps the fish a little firmer. Bake for 20 minutes.
While the salmon is cooking, heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and add the garlic, onion and ginger. Stir fry for 2 minutes, then add the mushrooms and fry for 2 to 4 minutes more. Finally add the tomatoes and water chestnuts, fry until heated through and fold in the steamed spinach. Serve alongside the salmon.
If you feel this dish needs additional flavoring, make a quick sauce by mixing 2 tbsp of low-sodium soy sauce with 2 tbsp of rice vinegar. Add to the stir-fry near the end of cooking.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
332 calories
13 g total fat (2 g sat)
88 mg cholesterol
17 g carbohydrate
37 g protein
2 g fiber
160 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
2 Servings
This is a low-calorie and low-carbohydrate recipe because it doesn't contain a traditional "starch" item. Stir fries generally use rice, but water chestnuts make a great stand-in when you want a lower calorie meal. Water chestnuts are readily available in the Chinese food section of most supermarkets. You can also try canned bamboo shoots.
Ingredients:
12 ounces of salmon, cut into two fillets
1 teaspoon of herb blend
1/2 lemon
1 tbsp dark sesame oil (or canola oil)
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 tbsp fresh ginger (grated)
1/4 cup onions (chopped)
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
5 oz can of water chestnuts, drained
3 cups baby spinach leaves, steamed (see Ingredient Tip)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Rinse the salmon well and rub with lemon juice. Place the fillets on a cake rack, laid on a cookie sheet, on the middle rack of the oven. You can place the the fillets directly on the cookie sheet, but raising them keeps the fish a little firmer. Bake for 20 minutes.
While the salmon is cooking, heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and add the garlic, onion and ginger. Stir fry for 2 minutes, then add the mushrooms and fry for 2 to 4 minutes more. Finally add the tomatoes and water chestnuts, fry until heated through and fold in the steamed spinach. Serve alongside the salmon.
If you feel this dish needs additional flavoring, make a quick sauce by mixing 2 tbsp of low-sodium soy sauce with 2 tbsp of rice vinegar. Add to the stir-fry near the end of cooking.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
332 calories
13 g total fat (2 g sat)
88 mg cholesterol
17 g carbohydrate
37 g protein
2 g fiber
160 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
May 28, 2009
Thursday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration
Editorial note to Greg Laurie Daily Devotion Subscribers: It has come to our attention that you likely received incorrectly-dated devotional content on Monday and Tuesday of this week. If you wish to read the intended devotionals, please click here for Monday the 25th, click here for Tuesday the 26th.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Kept by His Love
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
The Bible tells us to keep ourselves in the love of God (see Jude 21). But we are also told in the same passage that God will keep us (see Jude 1).
Is this a contradiction? Not at all. These verses complement one another. They show us God's part and our part. We don't keep ourselves saved, but we can keep ourselves safe.
God's love is unconditional. And fortunately for us, Jesus Christ loves, preserves, and intercedes for us before the Father.
But we can do things that will get us out of harmony with His love. That's why we are reminded to keep ourselves in the love of God, which means that we are to keep away from all that is unlike Him. We are to keep away from any influence that would violate God's love and bring sorrow to His heart.
We are loved by God, and He will protect His investment. For example, if you own an inexpensive pair of sunglasses, you may not be all that concerned about where they are. But if you have a more expensive pair, then you will tend to know their whereabouts.
Or, if you went to Disneyland with your children, you wouldn't just forget about them. Instead, you would keep your eye on them, because you want to protect what is dear to you.
In the same way, we are preserved, we are protected, and we are being kept by the power of God. But we need to keep ourselves in a place where He can actively show His love to us. We need to keep ourselves in the love of God.
Copyright © 2009 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.organdto listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com, click here.
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This life will have its sorrows
God loves us
Jesus weeps in our times of pain
God can be glorified through human suffering
Hope for Hurting Hearts, Pastor Greg Laurie's new book, examines these truths, revealing God's love and care for us, and shows how we can find hope, even in the midst of the most unbearable pain and sorrow.
You can have your own copy of Hope for Hurting Hearts by Greg Laurie in appreciation for your gift to Harvest Ministries this month.
May 27, 2009
Wednesday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration
God's Plan and Your Turbulent Times
"For I know the plans I have for you"--[this is] the Lord's declaration--"plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 HCSB
It's an age-old riddle: Why does God allow us to endure times of uncertainty and pain? After all, since we trust that God is all-powerful, and since we trust that His hand shapes our lives, why doesn't He simply rescue us--and our loved ones--from all hardship and pain?
God's Word teaches us again and again that He loves us and wants the best for us. And the Bible also teaches us that God is ever-present and always watchful. So why, we wonder, if God is really so concerned with every detail of our lives, does He permit us to endure emotions like grief, sadness, shame, or fear? And why does He allow tragic circumstances to invade the lives of good people? These questions perplex us, especially when times are tough.
On occasion, all of us face adversity, and throughout life, we all must endure life-changing personal losses that leave us breathless. When we pass through the dark valleys of life, we often ask, "Why me?" Sometimes, of course, the answer is obvious--sometimes we make mistakes, and we must pay for them. But on other occasions, when we have done nothing wrong, we wonder why God allows us to suffer.
Even when we cannot understand God's plans, we must trust them. And even when we are impatient for our situations to improve, we must trust God's timing. If we seek to live in accordance with His plan for our lives, we must continue to study His Word (in good times and bad), and we must be watchful for His signs, knowing that in time, He will lead us through the valleys, onward to the mountaintop.
So if you're enduring tough times, don't give up and don't give in. God still has glorious plans for you. So keep your eyes and ears open . . . as well as your heart.
Every misfortune, every failure, every loss may be transformed. God has the power to transform all misfortunes into "God-sends." Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, even when I am discouraged, even when my heart is heavy, I will earnestly seek Your will for my life. You have a plan for me that I can never fully understand. But You understand. And I will trust You today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen
Crockpot Spanish Rice (I'm making this right now, it smells heavenly!)
Crockpot Spanish Rice
Ingredients:
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1 large can (28 ounces) tomatoes
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 1/2 teaspoons chili powder, or to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup rice, uncooked
1 cup water
Preparation:
Brown beef in skillet; drain off fat. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker, stirring to blend well. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 1/2 to 8 hours, or HIGH for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until rice is tender.
Ingredients:
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1 large can (28 ounces) tomatoes
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 1/2 teaspoons chili powder, or to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup rice, uncooked
1 cup water
Preparation:
Brown beef in skillet; drain off fat. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker, stirring to blend well. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 1/2 to 8 hours, or HIGH for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until rice is tender.
Pace® Tequila Lime Tilapia
Pace® Tequila Lime Tilapia
Recipe presented by CampbellsKitchen.com
In just 15 minutes, with just 4 ingredients, you can create this enjoyable, kicked-up fish dish.
Prep Time:
5 min.
Cook Time:
10 min.
Makes:
4 Servings
Ingredients
vegetable cooking spray
4 tilapia fillets (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 cup Pace® Tequila Lime Salsa
1/4 cup crumbled feta or queso fresco cheese
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
Directions
1 Heat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 3-quart shallow baking dish with the cooking spray. Place the fish fillets into the baking dish. Spoon 1/4 cup salsa onto each fillet. Top each with 1 tablespoon cheese.
2 Bake for 10 minutes or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Sprinkle with the cilantro, if desired.
Recipe presented by CampbellsKitchen.com
In just 15 minutes, with just 4 ingredients, you can create this enjoyable, kicked-up fish dish.
Prep Time:
5 min.
Cook Time:
10 min.
Makes:
4 Servings
Ingredients
vegetable cooking spray
4 tilapia fillets (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 cup Pace® Tequila Lime Salsa
1/4 cup crumbled feta or queso fresco cheese
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
Directions
1 Heat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 3-quart shallow baking dish with the cooking spray. Place the fish fillets into the baking dish. Spoon 1/4 cup salsa onto each fillet. Top each with 1 tablespoon cheese.
2 Bake for 10 minutes or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Sprinkle with the cilantro, if desired.
May 26, 2009
ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
GOD IS SELF-EXISTENT. One of his attributes is self-existence. This is simply to say (with staggering implications) that God exists because he exists. He is not dependent upon anything or anyone for his thoughts or existence.
(Exo 3:13-15 KJV)
And Moses said unto God,
Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel,
and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you;
and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
{14} And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:
and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,
I AM hath sent me unto you.
{15} And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,
The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you:
this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
GOD IS SELF-SUFFICIENT- This attribute is closely connected to the attribute of self-existence, but carries it a step further. This means God has never had in eternity past, nor can ever have in the ages to come, a single need for which his own divine nature has not already provided.
(Psa 50:9-15 KJV)
I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
{10} For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
{11} I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
{12} If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
{13} Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
{14} Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
{15} And call upon me in the day of trouble:
I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
GOD IS ETERNAL Eternal (in and beyond time, without beginning or end) - God is eternal. This means God is absolutely free from the tyranny of time. In him there is no past or future, but one always and never-ending present. He is neither conditioned nor confined by time.
(Psa 90:1-2 KJV)
A Prayer of Moses the man of God.
LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
{2} Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
GOD IS INFINITE. God has no limitations. He is bounded only by his own nature and will.
(1 Kings 8:22, 23, 27)
"And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel,
and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said,
Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee,
in heaven above, or on earth beneath,
who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart.
But will God indeed dwell on the earth?
behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee;
how much less this house that I have builded?"
(Jeremiah 23:24)
"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord.
Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord."
GOD IS GRACIOUS- (giving beyond measure, from love). Favorable; kind; benevolent; merciful; disposed to forgive offenses and impart unmerited blessings.
(Exo 34:5-7a KJV)
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there,
and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
{6} And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed,
The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
{7} Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
and that will by no means clear the guilty;
(Exo 33:19 KJV)
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee,
and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee;
and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, a
nd will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
(Exo 34:6 KJV)
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed,
The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering,
and abundant in goodness and truth,
(Psa 103:8-11 KJV)
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
{9} He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
{10} He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
{11} For as the heaven is high above the earth,
so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
GOD IS HOLY- (sinless and opposed to sin) - pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to God, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character;
(Exo 15:11 KJV)
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?
who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
(Psa 145:17-20 KJV)
The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
{18} The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
{19} He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:
he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
{20} The LORD preserveth all them that love him:
but all the wicked will he destroy.
(Lev 19:2 KJV)
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them,
Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
GOD IS IMMUTABLE- (unchanging) -not capable or susceptible of change.
(Mal 3:6a KJV)
For I am the LORD, I change not;
(Psa 102:25-27 KJV)
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth:
and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
{26} They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea,
all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them,
and they shall be changed:
{27} But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
(Num 23:19 KJV)
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:
hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
(Rev 1:8 KJV)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
(Heb 13:8 KJV)
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
GOD IS JUST-(fair and intent on making justice) -The virtue which consists in giving to every one what is his due;
(Deu 32:3-4 KJV)
Because I will publish the name of the LORD:
ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
{4} He is the Rock, his work is perfect:
for all his ways are judgment:
a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
; ;
(Deu 10:17-21 KJV)
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords,
a great God, a mighty, and a terrible,
which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
{18} He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow,
and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
{19} Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
{20} Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve,
and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
{21} He is thy praise, and he is thy God,
that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
(Psa 50:1-6 KJV) A Psalm of Asaph.
The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken,
and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
{2} Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
{3} Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence:
a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
{4} He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
{5} Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
{6} And the heavens shall declare his righteousness:
for God is judge himself. Selah.
(2 Chr 19:7 KJV)
Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you;
take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God,
nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
GOD IS MERCIFUL-Merciful (overflowing with compassion). Having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity offenders and to forgive their offenses; unwilling to punish for injuries; applied appropriately to God.
(Psa 145:9-12 KJV)
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
{10} All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD;
and thy saints shall bless thee.
{11} They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
{12} To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts,
and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
(Psa 25:8-14 KJV)
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
{9} The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
{10} All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
{11} For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
{12} What man is he that feareth the LORD?
him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
{13} His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
{14} The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him;
and he will show them his covenant.
GOD IS OMNIPOTENT, ALMIGHNTY ( "all powerful", unlimited power) -This means God can do anything if it can be done and if it does not contradict his own nature.
(Gen 17:1b KJV)
I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
(Gen 18:14a KJV)
Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
(Deu 10:17 KJV)
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords,
a great God, a mighty, and a terrible,
which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
(Dan 4:34-35 KJV)
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven,
and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High,
and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever,
whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
{35} And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:
and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth:
and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
(Heb 7:25 KJV)
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
OMNIPRESENT -The omnipresence of God thus means He is present everywhere with his whole being at the same time, and is aware of everything at all times in every place and in every person's heart.
(Jer 23:24 KJV)
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD.
Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
(Isa 57:15 KJV)
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy;
I dwell in the high and holy place,
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
(Isa 66:1-2 KJV)
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool:
where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
{2} For all those things hath mine hand made,
and all those things have been, saith the LORD:
but to this man will I look,
even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
GOD IS OMNISCNIENT- God is omniscient (all-knowing). God possesses (without prior discovery of facts) complete and universal knowledge of all things past, present, and future. This includes not only the actual, but also the possible. This total and immediate knowledge is based on his eternity (he has always, and will always exist), and his omnipresence (he has been, is, and will always be everywhere at the same time).
(Josh 22:22a KJV)
The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth,
(Psa 17:3 KJV)
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night;
thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing;
I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
(Psa 139:1-12 KJV)
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
{2} Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
thou understandest my thought afar off.
{3} Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
{4} For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
{5} Thou hast beset {Heb=besieged) me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
{6} Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
{7} Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
{8} If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
{9} If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
{10} Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
{11} If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
even the night shall be light about me.
{12} Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day:
the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
For further study, Check out these archives of past devotionals:
(Note: the devotionals may be under the headings of "discussions" "files" or "pages" )
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-part-2?msg=new&lnk=gcis&hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web?hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-archives-part-3/
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-4
IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN GROWTH DEVOTIONALS
ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE
(but not necessarily free of COST)
Feel free to redistribute these materials to whomever you want.
Please submit all questions, comments, suggestions,
or REQUESTS FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS to ixtheus@execpc.com
Request a free email copy of my evangelistic presentation:
"The God Who is Really There" from ixtheus@execpc.com
GOD IS SELF-EXISTENT. One of his attributes is self-existence. This is simply to say (with staggering implications) that God exists because he exists. He is not dependent upon anything or anyone for his thoughts or existence.
(Exo 3:13-15 KJV)
And Moses said unto God,
Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel,
and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you;
and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
{14} And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:
and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,
I AM hath sent me unto you.
{15} And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,
The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you:
this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
GOD IS SELF-SUFFICIENT- This attribute is closely connected to the attribute of self-existence, but carries it a step further. This means God has never had in eternity past, nor can ever have in the ages to come, a single need for which his own divine nature has not already provided.
(Psa 50:9-15 KJV)
I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
{10} For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
{11} I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
{12} If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
{13} Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
{14} Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
{15} And call upon me in the day of trouble:
I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
GOD IS ETERNAL Eternal (in and beyond time, without beginning or end) - God is eternal. This means God is absolutely free from the tyranny of time. In him there is no past or future, but one always and never-ending present. He is neither conditioned nor confined by time.
(Psa 90:1-2 KJV)
A Prayer of Moses the man of God.
LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
{2} Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
GOD IS INFINITE. God has no limitations. He is bounded only by his own nature and will.
(1 Kings 8:22, 23, 27)
"And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel,
and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said,
Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee,
in heaven above, or on earth beneath,
who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart.
But will God indeed dwell on the earth?
behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee;
how much less this house that I have builded?"
(Jeremiah 23:24)
"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord.
Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord."
GOD IS GRACIOUS- (giving beyond measure, from love). Favorable; kind; benevolent; merciful; disposed to forgive offenses and impart unmerited blessings.
(Exo 34:5-7a KJV)
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there,
and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
{6} And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed,
The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
{7} Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
and that will by no means clear the guilty;
(Exo 33:19 KJV)
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee,
and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee;
and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, a
nd will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
(Exo 34:6 KJV)
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed,
The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering,
and abundant in goodness and truth,
(Psa 103:8-11 KJV)
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
{9} He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
{10} He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
{11} For as the heaven is high above the earth,
so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
GOD IS HOLY- (sinless and opposed to sin) - pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to God, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character;
(Exo 15:11 KJV)
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?
who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
(Psa 145:17-20 KJV)
The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
{18} The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
{19} He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:
he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
{20} The LORD preserveth all them that love him:
but all the wicked will he destroy.
(Lev 19:2 KJV)
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them,
Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
GOD IS IMMUTABLE- (unchanging) -not capable or susceptible of change.
(Mal 3:6a KJV)
For I am the LORD, I change not;
(Psa 102:25-27 KJV)
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth:
and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
{26} They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea,
all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them,
and they shall be changed:
{27} But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
(Num 23:19 KJV)
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:
hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
(Rev 1:8 KJV)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
(Heb 13:8 KJV)
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
GOD IS JUST-(fair and intent on making justice) -The virtue which consists in giving to every one what is his due;
(Deu 32:3-4 KJV)
Because I will publish the name of the LORD:
ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
{4} He is the Rock, his work is perfect:
for all his ways are judgment:
a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
; ;
(Deu 10:17-21 KJV)
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords,
a great God, a mighty, and a terrible,
which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
{18} He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow,
and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
{19} Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
{20} Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve,
and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
{21} He is thy praise, and he is thy God,
that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
(Psa 50:1-6 KJV) A Psalm of Asaph.
The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken,
and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
{2} Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
{3} Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence:
a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
{4} He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
{5} Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
{6} And the heavens shall declare his righteousness:
for God is judge himself. Selah.
(2 Chr 19:7 KJV)
Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you;
take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God,
nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
GOD IS MERCIFUL-Merciful (overflowing with compassion). Having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity offenders and to forgive their offenses; unwilling to punish for injuries; applied appropriately to God.
(Psa 145:9-12 KJV)
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
{10} All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD;
and thy saints shall bless thee.
{11} They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
{12} To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts,
and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
(Psa 25:8-14 KJV)
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
{9} The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
{10} All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
{11} For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
{12} What man is he that feareth the LORD?
him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
{13} His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
{14} The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him;
and he will show them his covenant.
GOD IS OMNIPOTENT, ALMIGHNTY ( "all powerful", unlimited power) -This means God can do anything if it can be done and if it does not contradict his own nature.
(Gen 17:1b KJV)
I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
(Gen 18:14a KJV)
Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
(Deu 10:17 KJV)
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords,
a great God, a mighty, and a terrible,
which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
(Dan 4:34-35 KJV)
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven,
and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High,
and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever,
whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
{35} And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:
and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth:
and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
(Heb 7:25 KJV)
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
OMNIPRESENT -The omnipresence of God thus means He is present everywhere with his whole being at the same time, and is aware of everything at all times in every place and in every person's heart.
(Jer 23:24 KJV)
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD.
Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
(Isa 57:15 KJV)
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy;
I dwell in the high and holy place,
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
(Isa 66:1-2 KJV)
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool:
where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
{2} For all those things hath mine hand made,
and all those things have been, saith the LORD:
but to this man will I look,
even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
GOD IS OMNISCNIENT- God is omniscient (all-knowing). God possesses (without prior discovery of facts) complete and universal knowledge of all things past, present, and future. This includes not only the actual, but also the possible. This total and immediate knowledge is based on his eternity (he has always, and will always exist), and his omnipresence (he has been, is, and will always be everywhere at the same time).
(Josh 22:22a KJV)
The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth,
(Psa 17:3 KJV)
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night;
thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing;
I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
(Psa 139:1-12 KJV)
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
{2} Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
thou understandest my thought afar off.
{3} Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
{4} For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
{5} Thou hast beset {Heb=besieged) me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
{6} Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
{7} Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
{8} If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
{9} If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
{10} Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
{11} If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
even the night shall be light about me.
{12} Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day:
the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
For further study, Check out these archives of past devotionals:
(Note: the devotionals may be under the headings of "discussions" "files" or "pages" )
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-part-2?msg=new&lnk=gcis&hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web?hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-archives-part-3/
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-4
IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN GROWTH DEVOTIONALS
ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE
(but not necessarily free of COST)
Feel free to redistribute these materials to whomever you want.
Please submit all questions, comments, suggestions,
or REQUESTS FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS to ixtheus@execpc.com
Request a free email copy of my evangelistic presentation:
"The God Who is Really There" from ixtheus@execpc.com
Classic Crepes
Classic Crepes
Makes: 7 crepes
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A simple way to prepare crepes, this recipe is not just easy -- it's versatile as well. Fill the crepes with meats, cheeses, fruits or any other stuffing of your choice. Talk about a well-rounded offering...
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. salt
Methods/steps
Combine flour, milk, eggs, and oil.
Add salt.
Heat a lightly greased 6-inch skillet; remove from heat.
Spoon in 2 tbsp. batter; lift and tilt skillet to spread evenly.
Return to heat; brown on one side only.
To remove, invert pan over paper toweling.
Repeat with remaining batter.
Fill with your favorite filling, like any flavor fruit jam, sweetened fresh peaches, cream cheese and pineapple, ham and maple syrup.
Additional Tips
Ready in 15 min
Makes: 7 crepes
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A simple way to prepare crepes, this recipe is not just easy -- it's versatile as well. Fill the crepes with meats, cheeses, fruits or any other stuffing of your choice. Talk about a well-rounded offering...
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. salt
Methods/steps
Combine flour, milk, eggs, and oil.
Add salt.
Heat a lightly greased 6-inch skillet; remove from heat.
Spoon in 2 tbsp. batter; lift and tilt skillet to spread evenly.
Return to heat; brown on one side only.
To remove, invert pan over paper toweling.
Repeat with remaining batter.
Fill with your favorite filling, like any flavor fruit jam, sweetened fresh peaches, cream cheese and pineapple, ham and maple syrup.
Additional Tips
Ready in 15 min
Tuesday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration
Mother Teresa
By Os Hillman
May 26
"For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me"(Matt 25:42-43).
Mother Theresa gave her life to a service to the needs of the poor in Calcutta, India. She reveals in the following what she believers every believer in Jesus is called to do: "It is not enough for us to say: "I love God," but I also have to love my neighbor. St. John says that you are a liar if you say you love God and you don't love your neighbor. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your neighbor whom you see, whom you touch, with whom you live? And so it is very important for us to realize that love, to be true, has to hurt. I must be willing to give whatever it takes not to harm other people and, in fact, to do good to them. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is not true love in me and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me."
It hurt Jesus to love us. We have been created in His image for greater things, to love and to be loved. We must "put on Christ" as Scripture tells us. And so, we have been created to love as He loves us. Jesus makes Himself the hungry one, the naked one, the homeless one, the unwanted one, and He says, "You did it to Me." On the last day He will say to those on His right, "whatever you did to the least of these, you did to Me, and He will also say to those on His left, whatever you neglected to do for the least of these, you neglected to do it for Me."
When He was dying on the Cross, Jesus said, "I thirst." Jesus is thirsting for our love, and this is the thirst of everyone, poor and rich alike. We all thirst for the love of others that they go out of their way to avoid harming us and to do good to us. This is the meaning of true love, to give until it hurts."
How might her words encourage you to do things differently?
Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.
The Upside of Adversity by Os Hillman
It can be extremely difficult to see God's Hand in our lives when we are going through hardship and adversity. This book by Os Hillman reveals details about what he has learned from his own trials, as well as from others who have faced extraordinary adversity, and an in-depth look at the life of Joseph of the Old Testament. This resource offers practical advice to those who currently find themselves in adversity. Learn More or Order
Quick Breakfast Quesadilla
Quick Breakfast Quesadilla
1 Serving
This is a quick fix for mornings when you just can't face another bowl of porridge or whole grain cereal. These little quesadillas also make good lunches or afternoon snacks for children. As always, you can enhance the nutritional content by adding in any finely chopped vegetable or a handful of baby spinach leaves.
Ingredients:
1 egg
1 ounce grated low-fat cheese or Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon salsa
1 small flour tortilla (preferably whole wheat)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Scramble the egg quickly in a small skillet. Fold in the salsa and cheese. Put the tortilla on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Put the egg mixture on one half and fold over the other half to cover. Bake for 5 minutes or until the tortilla is crisp.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
234 calories
12 g total fat (5 g sat)
202 mg cholesterol
18 g carbohydrate
15 g protein
1 g fiber
460 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
1 Serving
This is a quick fix for mornings when you just can't face another bowl of porridge or whole grain cereal. These little quesadillas also make good lunches or afternoon snacks for children. As always, you can enhance the nutritional content by adding in any finely chopped vegetable or a handful of baby spinach leaves.
Ingredients:
1 egg
1 ounce grated low-fat cheese or Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon salsa
1 small flour tortilla (preferably whole wheat)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Scramble the egg quickly in a small skillet. Fold in the salsa and cheese. Put the tortilla on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Put the egg mixture on one half and fold over the other half to cover. Bake for 5 minutes or until the tortilla is crisp.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
234 calories
12 g total fat (5 g sat)
202 mg cholesterol
18 g carbohydrate
15 g protein
1 g fiber
460 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
Strawberry and Blueberry Smoothie
Strawberry and Blueberry Smoothie
Servings: 3-4
Author Notes: This delicious smoothie makes a quick breakfast or a nutritious snack. Use frozen fruit for an even thicker drink. As with all smoothies, you can whirl in a few ice cubes to make your drink frostier and thicker as well.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 frozen banana (peel banana before freezing)
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup frozen vanilla or strawberry yogurt
Whirl all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. Serve immediately.
Servings: 3-4
Author Notes: This delicious smoothie makes a quick breakfast or a nutritious snack. Use frozen fruit for an even thicker drink. As with all smoothies, you can whirl in a few ice cubes to make your drink frostier and thicker as well.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 frozen banana (peel banana before freezing)
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup frozen vanilla or strawberry yogurt
Whirl all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. Serve immediately.
May 25, 2009
Chicken Salad
Chicken Salad
1 Can Chicken in water, drained
1 Tbsp mayonnaise
1/8 C pecans, unsalted and chopped
1/8 C green onions, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
Green or Red Grapes, halved
Cheddar cheese
Mix together the chicken through the carrot. Add some salt and pepper if you like. Toss some salad greens into a bowl, top with a healthy dollop of the chicken mixture, and then toss a handful of grapes onto the salad.
1 Can Chicken in water, drained
1 Tbsp mayonnaise
1/8 C pecans, unsalted and chopped
1/8 C green onions, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
Green or Red Grapes, halved
Cheddar cheese
Mix together the chicken through the carrot. Add some salt and pepper if you like. Toss some salad greens into a bowl, top with a healthy dollop of the chicken mixture, and then toss a handful of grapes onto the salad.
Sweet & Sour Tilapia in Pan
Sweet & Sour Tilapia in Pan
Makes: 4 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tilapia is the It fish of the decade. With a presence on menus everywhere, there's no denying the great taste. Enjoy this sweet and sour tilapia meal for a whole lot less.
Ingredients
2 tsp. corn oil
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
4 (6 oz.) tilapia fillets
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh pineapple chunks
1/3 cup chopped onions
1/3 cup chopped plum tomatoes
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
4 lime wedges
Methods/steps
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Combine Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle fish evenly with spice mixture. Add fish to pan, and cook for 2 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. Combine pineapple, onions, tomatoes, rice vinegar, chopped cilantro & chopped jalapeno in a large bowl, stirring gently. Serve pineapple mixture with fish. Garnish with lime wedges.
Additional Tips
Ready in 30 min
Makes: 4 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tilapia is the It fish of the decade. With a presence on menus everywhere, there's no denying the great taste. Enjoy this sweet and sour tilapia meal for a whole lot less.
Ingredients
2 tsp. corn oil
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
4 (6 oz.) tilapia fillets
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh pineapple chunks
1/3 cup chopped onions
1/3 cup chopped plum tomatoes
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
4 lime wedges
Methods/steps
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Combine Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle fish evenly with spice mixture. Add fish to pan, and cook for 2 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. Combine pineapple, onions, tomatoes, rice vinegar, chopped cilantro & chopped jalapeno in a large bowl, stirring gently. Serve pineapple mixture with fish. Garnish with lime wedges.
Additional Tips
Ready in 30 min
Monday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration - Memorial Day
May 25
Remembering Those Who Have Sacrificed for Us
"And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place." Exodus 13:3
Each year, Americans remember those brave-hearted souls who fought and gave their lives so that you and I would have the rights and privileges of living in a free country. Remembering is important. In fact, God instructs His people on many occasions in the Old Testament to remember from whence they came and to remember His providence.
It is by the mighty hand of God that we are saved, we are protected, and we are free to live in the Land of the Brave. Never take that freedom for granted, my friend. It is a precious commodity for which the world hungers, and it is a powerful charge for you and me to protect.
Do you know of someone in your life who has served in the armed forces of this country? Make it a point this week to express to them your gratitude for their service.
Remembering Those Who Have Sacrificed for Us
"And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place." Exodus 13:3
Each year, Americans remember those brave-hearted souls who fought and gave their lives so that you and I would have the rights and privileges of living in a free country. Remembering is important. In fact, God instructs His people on many occasions in the Old Testament to remember from whence they came and to remember His providence.
It is by the mighty hand of God that we are saved, we are protected, and we are free to live in the Land of the Brave. Never take that freedom for granted, my friend. It is a precious commodity for which the world hungers, and it is a powerful charge for you and me to protect.
Do you know of someone in your life who has served in the armed forces of this country? Make it a point this week to express to them your gratitude for their service.
May 24, 2009
Sesame-Almond Cookies
Sesame-Almond Cookies
4 Dozen
Almost everyone loves cookies. Most store bought varieties, though, are filled with partially hydrogenated oils and other undesirable ingredients. These tasty little cookies are actually made with olive oil and a host of other wholesome additions like tofu and chopped almonds. Enjoy a cookie with a cup of hot green tea to make you feel that life is really worth living!
Ingredients:
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
3/4 cup raw almonds, coarsely chopped
4 ounces silken tofu
1/2 cup light olive oil
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon almond extract
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, stir together the flours, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the sesame seeds and chopped almonds.
3. In another bowl, mash the tofu and combine with the olive oil, sugar, and almond extract. Mix well.
4. Using a rubber spatula, fold the wet ingredients into the flour mixture. Roll the mixture into one-inch balls, flatten between your palms, and place them on ungreased baking sheets. Bake the cookies about 10 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Remove from the cookie sheet and cool on a rack.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
86 calories
6 g total fat (1 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
7 g carbohydrate
1 g protein
1 g fiber
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
4 Dozen
Almost everyone loves cookies. Most store bought varieties, though, are filled with partially hydrogenated oils and other undesirable ingredients. These tasty little cookies are actually made with olive oil and a host of other wholesome additions like tofu and chopped almonds. Enjoy a cookie with a cup of hot green tea to make you feel that life is really worth living!
Ingredients:
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
3/4 cup raw almonds, coarsely chopped
4 ounces silken tofu
1/2 cup light olive oil
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon almond extract
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, stir together the flours, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the sesame seeds and chopped almonds.
3. In another bowl, mash the tofu and combine with the olive oil, sugar, and almond extract. Mix well.
4. Using a rubber spatula, fold the wet ingredients into the flour mixture. Roll the mixture into one-inch balls, flatten between your palms, and place them on ungreased baking sheets. Bake the cookies about 10 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Remove from the cookie sheet and cool on a rack.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
86 calories
6 g total fat (1 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
7 g carbohydrate
1 g protein
1 g fiber
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
Whole Grain Dinner Rolls (Post # 500! WHOO!)
Whole Grain Dinner Rolls
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Rolls baby rolls. These whole grain dinner rolls are the perfect way to polish off a healthy meal. Skip the store-bought brands and opt for these homemade offerings.
Ingredients
1 cup water
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oats, uncooked
2 packages dry yeast
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
2 1/4-2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Methods/steps
Combine water, honey, and butter in a small saucepan; heat until butter melts. Cool until really warm, but not hot. Combine wheat flour, oats, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl; stir well. Gradually add hot liquid mixture, beating at low speed of an electric mixer 1 minute. Add egg, and beat an additional 2 minutes at medium speed. Gradually add flour to make soft dough. Turn dough out onto a heavily floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes). Shape dough into 24 balls; place in a lightly greased 13x9x2 inch pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Rolls baby rolls. These whole grain dinner rolls are the perfect way to polish off a healthy meal. Skip the store-bought brands and opt for these homemade offerings.
Ingredients
1 cup water
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oats, uncooked
2 packages dry yeast
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
2 1/4-2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Methods/steps
Combine water, honey, and butter in a small saucepan; heat until butter melts. Cool until really warm, but not hot. Combine wheat flour, oats, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl; stir well. Gradually add hot liquid mixture, beating at low speed of an electric mixer 1 minute. Add egg, and beat an additional 2 minutes at medium speed. Gradually add flour to make soft dough. Turn dough out onto a heavily floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes). Shape dough into 24 balls; place in a lightly greased 13x9x2 inch pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Sunday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration
May 23-24, 2009
Your Testimony, Part Oneby Charles R. Swindoll
Acts 26:1-23
One time-honored and effective method of evangelism is the giving of your personal testimony. The skeptic may deny your doctrine or attack your church, but he or she cannot honestly ignore the fact that your life has been changed. The skeptic may stop his or her ears to the presentations of a preacher and the pleadings of an evangelist, but this person is somehow attracted to the human-interest story of how you found peace within.
Believe me; the steps that led to your conversion and the subsequent ramifications are far more appealing and appropriate to the non-Christian than a pulpit exposition of John 3 or Romans 5. If you have not discovered the value of telling others how God rearranged your life, you've missed a vital link in the chain of His blessing.
On six separate occasions between Paul's third missionary journey and his trip to Rome, he stood before different audiences and presented Christ to them (Acts 22-26). Six times he stood alone. Six times he addressed unbelievers, many of them hostile and rude. Do you know the method Paul used each time? His personal testimony.
Each time he spoke, he simply shared how his own life had been changed by the invasion of Christ and the indwelling of His power. Not once did he argue or debate with them. Not once did he preach a sermon. Why? Because one of the most convincing, unanswerable arguments on earth regarding Christianity is one's personal experience with the Lord Jesus Christ. No persuasive technique will ever take the place of your personal testimony. I challenge you to give serious consideration to thinking through and then presenting the way God saved you---along with the exciting results of His presence in your life.
Tomorrow, I'll share with you some specifics of a dynamic testimony. Until then, you might want to think of three specific and important changes Christ has accomplished in your born-again life; these can become a part of your spoken testimony to unbelievers. And, if you know your testimony could use some written work and planning, schedule a time for it now---and write it on your calendar. We'll dive in more deeply tomorrow. This is exciting stuff!
Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.
May 23, 2009
Saturday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration
Set Your Compass in the Right Direction by Max Lucado
The problem is not that God hasn't spoken but that we haven't listened.
Imagine your reaction if I were to take a telephone book, open it up, and proclaim, I have found a list of everyone who's on welfare!Or what if I said, Here is a list of college graduates! Or, This book will tell us who has a red car. You'd probably say, "Now wait a minute--that's not the purpose of that book. You're holding a telephone book. Its purpose is simply to reveal the name and number of residents of a city during a certain time frame."
Only by understanding its purpose can I accurately use the telephone book. Only by understanding its purpose can I accurately use the Bible...
The purpose of the Bible is simply to proclaim God's plan to save his children. It asserts that man is lost and needs to be saved. And it communicates the message that Jesus is the God in the flesh sent to save his children.
Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme--salvation through faith in Christ. Begun by Moses in the lonely desert of Arabia and finished by John on the lonely Isle of Patmos, it is held together by a strong thread: God's passion and God's plan to save his children.
What a vital truth! Understanding the purpose of the Bible is like setting the compass in the right direction. Calibrate it correctly and you'll journey safely. But fail to set it, and who knows where you'll end up.
From Let the Journey Begin:God's Roadmap for New Beginnings© (J Countryman 2009) Max Lucado
Best Tunisian Salad
Best Tunisian Salad
Makes: 4 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Saturday, January 12, 2008
This tuna fish gets the royal treatment with a slew of great-tasting ingredients that lend the dish a Mediterranean flavor. It's a salad feast fit for a king.
Ingredients
3.5 oz. tuna packed in oil
½ lb. tomatoes
½ lb. green peppers
3.5 oz. onions
3.5 oz. feta cheese
2 oz. green olives
3 tbsp. mint leaves
1 cup olive oil
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
8-10 lettuce leaves
4 radishes
2-4 hard-boiled eggs
1 tomato
Methods/steps
Take the seeds out of the tomatoes and green peppers, and dice them so they are all the same size. Cut the onions into quarters, then into very thin slices. Salt it all. Cut the mint into tiny pieces, add this to the mix, and then add the lemon juice. Mix it all up. Put this mix in the middle of a large serving plate or platter. Garnish the plate with lettuce leaves, arranged nicely around the edge of the plate. Garnish also with hard-boiled egg, and radish. Slice the tomato at the end of the recipe, and arrange the slices around the edge of the plate, or quarter them, and similarly arrange them. Arrange the tuna on top of the vegetables in the center of the plate. Add the feta and scatter the olives around the plate. Drizzle the whole dish with olive oil.
Additional Tips
Ready in 20 min
Makes: 4 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Saturday, January 12, 2008
This tuna fish gets the royal treatment with a slew of great-tasting ingredients that lend the dish a Mediterranean flavor. It's a salad feast fit for a king.
Ingredients
3.5 oz. tuna packed in oil
½ lb. tomatoes
½ lb. green peppers
3.5 oz. onions
3.5 oz. feta cheese
2 oz. green olives
3 tbsp. mint leaves
1 cup olive oil
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
8-10 lettuce leaves
4 radishes
2-4 hard-boiled eggs
1 tomato
Methods/steps
Take the seeds out of the tomatoes and green peppers, and dice them so they are all the same size. Cut the onions into quarters, then into very thin slices. Salt it all. Cut the mint into tiny pieces, add this to the mix, and then add the lemon juice. Mix it all up. Put this mix in the middle of a large serving plate or platter. Garnish the plate with lettuce leaves, arranged nicely around the edge of the plate. Garnish also with hard-boiled egg, and radish. Slice the tomato at the end of the recipe, and arrange the slices around the edge of the plate, or quarter them, and similarly arrange them. Arrange the tuna on top of the vegetables in the center of the plate. Add the feta and scatter the olives around the plate. Drizzle the whole dish with olive oil.
Additional Tips
Ready in 20 min
Stuffed Potatoes
Stuffed Potatoes
6 Servings
As it can be difficult to coax your loved ones into eating five helpings a day of vegetables (as nutritionists recommend), this recipe cleverly incorporates broccoli into a baked potato, without using a lot of fat. Broccoli is an excellent source of fiber and cancer-fighting antioxidants. Potatoes are a universally loved vegetable loaded with vitamins C and B-6, potassium, and fiber. You can make the stuffed potatoes ahead and reheat them when everyone is ready to eat.
Ingredients:
3 large baking potatoes
3 stalks broccoli
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon quality extra-virgin olive oil
1-2 tablespoons rice milk or soy milk
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
1. Scrub the potatoes and make shallow cuts around their middles to make it easier to cut them in half after baking. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees until soft, usually 1 hour, depending on size of potatoes.
2. Meanwhile, cut the ends from the stalks of broccoli and peel some of the outer skin off to make the stems more edible. Steam the broccoli until crunchy-tender and bright green. Drain and chop fine.
3. Cut potatoes in half and scoop out the insides into a bowl. Add the salt, olive oil and just enough rice or soy milk to allow you to mash the potatoes into a smooth paste. Add the Parmesan cheese and the chopped broccoli and mix well.
4. Pile the mixture back into the potato shells, arrange on a baking dish and heat them to desired temperature.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
136 calories
4 g total fat (1 g sat)
2 mg cholesterol
24 g carbohydrate
5 g protein
4 g fiber
250 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
6 Servings
As it can be difficult to coax your loved ones into eating five helpings a day of vegetables (as nutritionists recommend), this recipe cleverly incorporates broccoli into a baked potato, without using a lot of fat. Broccoli is an excellent source of fiber and cancer-fighting antioxidants. Potatoes are a universally loved vegetable loaded with vitamins C and B-6, potassium, and fiber. You can make the stuffed potatoes ahead and reheat them when everyone is ready to eat.
Ingredients:
3 large baking potatoes
3 stalks broccoli
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon quality extra-virgin olive oil
1-2 tablespoons rice milk or soy milk
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
1. Scrub the potatoes and make shallow cuts around their middles to make it easier to cut them in half after baking. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees until soft, usually 1 hour, depending on size of potatoes.
2. Meanwhile, cut the ends from the stalks of broccoli and peel some of the outer skin off to make the stems more edible. Steam the broccoli until crunchy-tender and bright green. Drain and chop fine.
3. Cut potatoes in half and scoop out the insides into a bowl. Add the salt, olive oil and just enough rice or soy milk to allow you to mash the potatoes into a smooth paste. Add the Parmesan cheese and the chopped broccoli and mix well.
4. Pile the mixture back into the potato shells, arrange on a baking dish and heat them to desired temperature.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
136 calories
4 g total fat (1 g sat)
2 mg cholesterol
24 g carbohydrate
5 g protein
4 g fiber
250 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
Kids' Cinnamon Coated Cookies
Kids' Cinnamon Coated Cookies
Makes: 48 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Forget shaken or stirred. Take your pick on whether you'd like these cinnamon sugar cookies baked or fried. They're sure to turn your little beasts into cookie monsters.
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Cinnamon sugar
Methods/steps
In a mixer bowl, cream together sugar and butter; beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and blend well. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or till firm enough to roll into balls. Shape dough into small balls about 3/4-inch in diameter. Roll in cinnamon sugar to coat. Set cookies 1-inch apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or till the edges are lightly browned. Cool slightly on pans, then remove to racks to cool completely.
Additional Tips
Ready in 30 min
Makes: 48 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Forget shaken or stirred. Take your pick on whether you'd like these cinnamon sugar cookies baked or fried. They're sure to turn your little beasts into cookie monsters.
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Cinnamon sugar
Methods/steps
In a mixer bowl, cream together sugar and butter; beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and blend well. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or till firm enough to roll into balls. Shape dough into small balls about 3/4-inch in diameter. Roll in cinnamon sugar to coat. Set cookies 1-inch apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or till the edges are lightly browned. Cool slightly on pans, then remove to racks to cool completely.
Additional Tips
Ready in 30 min
Baked Chicken Calzones
Baked Chicken Calzones
Makes: 3 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The great thing about calzones is that beyond the basics, you can add and subtract what you like. Stuff this pizza-like pastry with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
1 10 oz. pkg. refrigerated pizza dough
1/4 cup prepared pesto
6 tbsp. ricotta cheese
1 1/2 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese (scant 1/2 cup)
1 oz. sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast half, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp. grated Parmesan/Romano mixture
2 1/2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil Parsley sprigs for garnish
Methods/steps
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll pizza dough and place on greased baking sheet. Layer pesto, cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes and chicken breast pieces in middle of dough. Lift one edge of dough and stretch over the filling to form a half-moon. Seal edges by pressing with tines of fork or pizza wheel, and make a fluted edge around the seal.
Prick top with fork to allow steam to escape. Brush with olive oil. Bake in preheated oven 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley.
Additional Tips
Ready in 25 min
Makes: 3 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The great thing about calzones is that beyond the basics, you can add and subtract what you like. Stuff this pizza-like pastry with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
1 10 oz. pkg. refrigerated pizza dough
1/4 cup prepared pesto
6 tbsp. ricotta cheese
1 1/2 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese (scant 1/2 cup)
1 oz. sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast half, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp. grated Parmesan/Romano mixture
2 1/2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil Parsley sprigs for garnish
Methods/steps
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll pizza dough and place on greased baking sheet. Layer pesto, cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes and chicken breast pieces in middle of dough. Lift one edge of dough and stretch over the filling to form a half-moon. Seal edges by pressing with tines of fork or pizza wheel, and make a fluted edge around the seal.
Prick top with fork to allow steam to escape. Brush with olive oil. Bake in preheated oven 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley.
Additional Tips
Ready in 25 min
May 21, 2009
Potato-Rosemary-Crusted Fish Fillets
Potato-Rosemary-Crusted Fish Fillets
2 Servings
This simple fish dish is quite elegant with its subtle flavor of rosemary. Don't worry about a few shreds of potato that remain in the skillet. Serve them over the fish. Pair this entrée with steamed asparagus and a large green salad with tomatoes.
Ingredients:
12 ounces thick fish fillet, such as cod or halibut, cut in half
1 small potato, about 5 ounces
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
1 tablespoon quality extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions:
1. Rinse the fish under cold running water and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Peel the potato and grate on the large holes of a grater. Squeeze excess water out of potato by pressing between sheets of paper towel.
3. Season the potato with salt, pepper and rosemary and press it around the fish.
4. Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Gently slide the fish into the pan. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Turn fish over, using two spatulas, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes more or until potatoes are golden and fish is done.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
307 calories
12 g total fat (2 g sat)
13 mg cholesterol
13 g carbohydrate
34 g protein
1 g fiber
150 mg sodium
- Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
2 Servings
This simple fish dish is quite elegant with its subtle flavor of rosemary. Don't worry about a few shreds of potato that remain in the skillet. Serve them over the fish. Pair this entrée with steamed asparagus and a large green salad with tomatoes.
Ingredients:
12 ounces thick fish fillet, such as cod or halibut, cut in half
1 small potato, about 5 ounces
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
1 tablespoon quality extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions:
1. Rinse the fish under cold running water and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Peel the potato and grate on the large holes of a grater. Squeeze excess water out of potato by pressing between sheets of paper towel.
3. Season the potato with salt, pepper and rosemary and press it around the fish.
4. Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Gently slide the fish into the pan. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Turn fish over, using two spatulas, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes more or until potatoes are golden and fish is done.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
307 calories
12 g total fat (2 g sat)
13 mg cholesterol
13 g carbohydrate
34 g protein
1 g fiber
150 mg sodium
- Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
May 20, 2009
Prepare to meet they God
Dear Friends in Christ,
This is the introductory study of a series of about 20 or so devotionals all about God, the Trinity and Its members, and their attributes.
Enjoy and be blessed.
In Christ...brother bob...<><
Prepare to Meet Thy God
Prepare{Websters}: make yourself ready for a specific purpose.
Prepare{Hebrew}: stand up or erect, make yourself ready, prepare yourself...as in the verse:
(Exo 34:2 KJV)
And be READY in the morning,
and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai,
and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.
Prepare{Greek}: Make yourself ready.
1) THE LORD CONSIDERS THE HEARTS OF MANKIND
(Psa 10:16-18 KJV)
The LORD is King for ever and ever:
the heathen are perished out of his land.
{17} LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble:
thou wilt prepare their heart,
thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
{18} To judge the fatherless and the oppressed,
that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
(Isa 40:21-23 KJV)
Have ye not known? have ye not heard?
hath it not been told you from the beginning?
have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
{22} It is he[The Lord] that sitteth upon the circle of the earth,
and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;
that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain,
and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
{23} That bringeth the princes to nothing;
he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
(Isa 57:15-16 KJV)
{15} For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy;
I dwell in the high and holy place,
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
{16} For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth[Heb=filled with rage]:
for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
(Psa 7:9-11 KJV)
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end;
but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins[Heb=innermost thoughts].
{10} My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
{11} God judgeth the righteous,
and God is angry with the wicked every day.
2) THE LORD HAS SENT WARNINGS THROUGH THE PROPHETS AND FINALLY THROUGH CHRIST
(Isa 61:1-2 KJV)
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me;
because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
{2} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all that mourn;
(Luke 1:76-79 KJV)
{76} And thou, child (John the Baptizer), shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:
for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
{77} To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
{78} Through the tender mercy of our God;
whereby the dayspring{Grk=dawning of daylight} from on high hath visited us,
{79} To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Mark 1:2-4 KJV)
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
which shall prepare thy way before thee.
{3} The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
{4} John did baptize in the wilderness,
and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
(1 Cor 14:8 KJV)
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound,
who shall PREPARE himself to the battle?
3) PREPARE YOUR HEART TO MEET THE LORD
(1 Sam 7:3 KJV)
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying,
If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts,
then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth* from among you,
and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only:
and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
*{Ashtareth=Pagan goddess of sensual love and fertility, female counterpart to Baal}
(Job 11:13-17 KJV)
If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward Him;
{14} If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away,
and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
{15} For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;
yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
{16} Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
{17} And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday;
thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
(1 John 1:5-10 KJV)
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you,
that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
{6} If we say that we have fellowship with him,
and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
{7} But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
{8} If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
{9} If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
{10} If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
4) SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND
(Isa 55:6-9 KJV)
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,
call ye upon him while he is near:
{7} Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
{8} For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
{9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Amos 5:4 KJV)
For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel,
Seek ye me, and ye shall live:
(Jer 29:11-14a KJV)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
{12} Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me,
and I will hearken unto you.
{13} And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
{14} And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity...
(Heb 3:7-11 KJV)
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,
To day if ye will hear his voice, {8} Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation,
in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
{9} When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
{10} Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said,
They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
{11} So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
5) CONFESS AND CLEAR THE SIN OUT OF YOUR LIFE
(Exo 15:2 KJV)
The LORD is my strength and song,
and he is become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation;
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
(Isa 40:3-8 KJV)
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
{4} Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
{5} And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
{6} The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?
All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
{7} The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it:
surely the people is grass.
{8} The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
6) THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. GET SERIOUS, CHANGE YOUR WAYS
(Mat 3:2b KJV)
Repent ye:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(Joel 1:14-15 KJV)
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly,
gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God,
and cry unto the LORD.
{15} Alas for the day!
for the day of the LORD is at hand,
and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
7) YOU DONT KNOW WHEN THE LORD WILL RETURN
(Mat 24:35-51 KJV)
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
{36} But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
{37} But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{38} For as in the days that were before the flood
they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
{39} And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{40} Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{41} Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{42} Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
{43} But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come,
he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
{44} Therefore be ye also ready:
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
{45} Who then is a faithful and wise servant,
whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
{46} Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
{47} Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
{48} But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
{49} And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
{50} The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him,
and in an hour that he is not aware of,
{51} And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(John 14:1-3 KJV)
Jesus said,
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me{Jesus}.
{2} In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
{3} And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also.
(1 Th 4:13-18 KJV)
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
{14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
{15} For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord
shall not prevent {precede} them which are asleep.
{16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
{17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
{18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
(1 Th 5:1-11 KJV)
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child;
and they shall not escape.
{4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{6} Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
{7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
{9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
{10} Who died for us,
that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together,
and edify one another, even as also ye do.
For further study, Check out these archives of past devotionals:
(Note: the devotionals may be under the headings of "discussions" "files" or "pages" )
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-part-2?msg=new&lnk=gcis&hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web?hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-archives-part-3/
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-4
IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN GROWTH DEVOTIONALS
ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE
(but not necessarily free of COST)
Feel free to redistribute these materials to whomever you want.
Please submit all questions, comments, suggestions,
or REQUESTS FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS to ixtheus@execpc.com
Request a free email copy of my evangelistic presentation:
"The God Who is Really There" from ixtheus@execpc.com
This is the introductory study of a series of about 20 or so devotionals all about God, the Trinity and Its members, and their attributes.
Enjoy and be blessed.
In Christ...brother bob...<><
Prepare to Meet Thy God
Prepare{Websters}: make yourself ready for a specific purpose.
Prepare{Hebrew}: stand up or erect, make yourself ready, prepare yourself...as in the verse:
(Exo 34:2 KJV)
And be READY in the morning,
and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai,
and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.
Prepare{Greek}: Make yourself ready.
1) THE LORD CONSIDERS THE HEARTS OF MANKIND
(Psa 10:16-18 KJV)
The LORD is King for ever and ever:
the heathen are perished out of his land.
{17} LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble:
thou wilt prepare their heart,
thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
{18} To judge the fatherless and the oppressed,
that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
(Isa 40:21-23 KJV)
Have ye not known? have ye not heard?
hath it not been told you from the beginning?
have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
{22} It is he[The Lord] that sitteth upon the circle of the earth,
and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;
that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain,
and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
{23} That bringeth the princes to nothing;
he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
(Isa 57:15-16 KJV)
{15} For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy;
I dwell in the high and holy place,
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
{16} For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth[Heb=filled with rage]:
for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
(Psa 7:9-11 KJV)
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end;
but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins[Heb=innermost thoughts].
{10} My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
{11} God judgeth the righteous,
and God is angry with the wicked every day.
2) THE LORD HAS SENT WARNINGS THROUGH THE PROPHETS AND FINALLY THROUGH CHRIST
(Isa 61:1-2 KJV)
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me;
because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
{2} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all that mourn;
(Luke 1:76-79 KJV)
{76} And thou, child (John the Baptizer), shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:
for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
{77} To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
{78} Through the tender mercy of our God;
whereby the dayspring{Grk=dawning of daylight} from on high hath visited us,
{79} To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Mark 1:2-4 KJV)
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
which shall prepare thy way before thee.
{3} The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
{4} John did baptize in the wilderness,
and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
(1 Cor 14:8 KJV)
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound,
who shall PREPARE himself to the battle?
3) PREPARE YOUR HEART TO MEET THE LORD
(1 Sam 7:3 KJV)
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying,
If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts,
then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth* from among you,
and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only:
and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
*{Ashtareth=Pagan goddess of sensual love and fertility, female counterpart to Baal}
(Job 11:13-17 KJV)
If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward Him;
{14} If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away,
and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
{15} For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;
yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
{16} Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
{17} And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday;
thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
(1 John 1:5-10 KJV)
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you,
that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
{6} If we say that we have fellowship with him,
and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
{7} But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
{8} If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
{9} If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
{10} If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
4) SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND
(Isa 55:6-9 KJV)
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,
call ye upon him while he is near:
{7} Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
{8} For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
{9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Amos 5:4 KJV)
For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel,
Seek ye me, and ye shall live:
(Jer 29:11-14a KJV)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
{12} Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me,
and I will hearken unto you.
{13} And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
{14} And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity...
(Heb 3:7-11 KJV)
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,
To day if ye will hear his voice, {8} Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation,
in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
{9} When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
{10} Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said,
They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
{11} So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
5) CONFESS AND CLEAR THE SIN OUT OF YOUR LIFE
(Exo 15:2 KJV)
The LORD is my strength and song,
and he is become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation;
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
(Isa 40:3-8 KJV)
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
{4} Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
{5} And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
{6} The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?
All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
{7} The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it:
surely the people is grass.
{8} The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
6) THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. GET SERIOUS, CHANGE YOUR WAYS
(Mat 3:2b KJV)
Repent ye:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(Joel 1:14-15 KJV)
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly,
gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God,
and cry unto the LORD.
{15} Alas for the day!
for the day of the LORD is at hand,
and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
7) YOU DONT KNOW WHEN THE LORD WILL RETURN
(Mat 24:35-51 KJV)
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
{36} But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
{37} But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{38} For as in the days that were before the flood
they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
{39} And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{40} Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{41} Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{42} Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
{43} But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come,
he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
{44} Therefore be ye also ready:
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
{45} Who then is a faithful and wise servant,
whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
{46} Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
{47} Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
{48} But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
{49} And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
{50} The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him,
and in an hour that he is not aware of,
{51} And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(John 14:1-3 KJV)
Jesus said,
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me{Jesus}.
{2} In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
{3} And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also.
(1 Th 4:13-18 KJV)
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
{14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
{15} For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord
shall not prevent {precede} them which are asleep.
{16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
{17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
{18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
(1 Th 5:1-11 KJV)
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child;
and they shall not escape.
{4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{6} Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
{7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
{9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
{10} Who died for us,
that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together,
and edify one another, even as also ye do.
For further study, Check out these archives of past devotionals:
(Note: the devotionals may be under the headings of "discussions" "files" or "pages" )
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-part-2?msg=new&lnk=gcis&hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web?hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive/web
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-archives-part-3/
http://groups.google.com/group/ixtheus-devotionals-archive-4
IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN GROWTH DEVOTIONALS
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Wednesday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration
May 20
Today's Reading: 1 Chronicles 10-12; John 6:45-71
Today's Thoughts: He Wears Your Picture Badge
So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually. Exodus 28:29
Have you ever watched the news broadcast of a missing person? As I saw a report on a missing teenager, the family being interviewed all wore picture badges displaying the person's face. They not only wanted this face in public view for possible recognition but also they wanted this reminder close to their own hearts. Just having this type of memorial helped this grieving family pursue their hopes of finding their child.
As discussed in Exodus Chapter 28, Aaron wears a garment that has the names of each of the twelve tribes of Israel etched in precious stones and placed over his heart. This robe is worn by Aaron as he enters the most holy place in the presence of the Lord. Aaron represents the people to the Lord and is a continual reminder of who they are to the Lord. Today, we have Jesus Christ who is our High Priest and who bears our names before the Lord. We, too, are considered as precious stones before the Lord as our names are placed over the heart of our Savior Jesus.
How many of us truly realize how precious we are to the Lord? When life's ups and downs seem to dominate our time and thoughts, we may not realize that we have a High Priest who is continually presenting us and our needs to our heavenly Father. Sometimes, we, as believers, stray from our Father's presence, maybe fall out of fellowship or a regular time of prayer and Bible reading. During those times, I can picture Jesus going before the Father with a picture badge over His heart reminding the Lord of His child who has gone astray. More than anything else, the Lord desires a personal relationship with us and never wants us to be lost or to be away from Him.
Where are you today? Are you in close fellowship with Jesus? Regardless of where you are, know that if you are a child of God, born again in Jesus Christ, then your High Priest is continually presenting you to the Father. You can have the hope and peace today that Jesus is carrying your picture over His heart as a constant memorial. But, even more than that, He is living in your heart and wants to be with you always. Can you say the same? Are you carrying His picture in spirit and truth over your heart today? Are you spending time in worship and fellowship with Him? None are missing in the Lord today...for "I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see" (Amazing Grace).
Our mission is to evangelize the lost and awaken the saved to live empowered lives by the Work of God and His Holy Spirit. Daily Disciples Ministries makes a difference for the kingdom of God by teaching and training believers how to be in God's Word, how to pray and how to walk with Jesus every day, as His daily disciple.Daily Disciples Ministries, Inc.
Barley and Vegetable Soup
Barley and Vegetable Soup
6 Servings
Barley has been cultivated since the Stone Age and has been fermented to make beer since not long after that. Like other cereal grains -- wheat, millet, oats, corn and rye -- barley is a great source of fiber and carbohydrates, and can also be used to make cereal, bread and soup. Folk medicine uses barley in barley water, made by simply soaking barley in water, which is reputed to be a great tonic during convalescence. "Pearl" barley is the name of the grain when it's been polished, after the husk and bran have been removed. It's the form most commonly used in soups. Grains like barley keep well. Their bulk and comparative cheapness make them a useful staple, especially at this soup-worthy time of the year, so be sure to keep some in your cupboard.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup medium pearl barley
11 cups vegetable stock
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms
salt to taste
1/2 bunch parsley
Instructions:
1. In a saucepan, combine the barley and 3 cups of vegetable stock. Bring to a boil over medium heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, or until the liquid is absorbed.
2. Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a large pot and add the onion, carrots, celery and mushrooms. Cover and sweat the vegetables for about 5 minutes, until they begin to soften.
3. Add the remaining vegetable stock and simmer 30 minutes, covered.
4. Add the barley and simmer 5 minutes more. Add salt to taste and ladle into bowls. Serve garnished with some chopped fresh parsley.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
203 calories
5 g total fat (0 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
34 g carbohydrate
7 g protein
5 g fiber
150 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
6 Servings
Barley has been cultivated since the Stone Age and has been fermented to make beer since not long after that. Like other cereal grains -- wheat, millet, oats, corn and rye -- barley is a great source of fiber and carbohydrates, and can also be used to make cereal, bread and soup. Folk medicine uses barley in barley water, made by simply soaking barley in water, which is reputed to be a great tonic during convalescence. "Pearl" barley is the name of the grain when it's been polished, after the husk and bran have been removed. It's the form most commonly used in soups. Grains like barley keep well. Their bulk and comparative cheapness make them a useful staple, especially at this soup-worthy time of the year, so be sure to keep some in your cupboard.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup medium pearl barley
11 cups vegetable stock
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms
salt to taste
1/2 bunch parsley
Instructions:
1. In a saucepan, combine the barley and 3 cups of vegetable stock. Bring to a boil over medium heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, or until the liquid is absorbed.
2. Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a large pot and add the onion, carrots, celery and mushrooms. Cover and sweat the vegetables for about 5 minutes, until they begin to soften.
3. Add the remaining vegetable stock and simmer 30 minutes, covered.
4. Add the barley and simmer 5 minutes more. Add salt to taste and ladle into bowls. Serve garnished with some chopped fresh parsley.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
203 calories
5 g total fat (0 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
34 g carbohydrate
7 g protein
5 g fiber
150 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
May 19, 2009
Pancakes and Waffles
Pancakes and Waffles
12 Servings
The aroma and taste of homemade pancakes or waffles is irresistible! The batter in this recipe makes feathery light pancakes, or light and crispy golden waffles. You'll definitely want to make these for a breakfast or brunch with friends or family, or on that free weekend morning.
Ingredients:
4 eggs
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups milk
1-1/2 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
FOR MEDALLION-SIZED BLUEBERRY PANCAKES:
1 pint blueberries, washed
FRESH FRUIT COMPOTE FOR PLAIN PANCAKES:
1 pint strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced in half
1 pint blueberries, washed
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
WAFFLE TOPPING:
(Per Serving)
1/2 banana, sliced
1/4 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
Instructions:
Crack the eggs, letting the whites fall into a clean, dry, mixing bowl and dropping the yolks into a separate bowl. Beat the whites with a mixer, on high speed, or whip with a balloon whisk for about 2 minutes until the egg whites become fluffy and then firm. Be careful not to overmix, or they will flatten out. Mix the egg yolks with a fork. Add the orange juice and vanilla and whisk everything together until it becomes foamy. Add the milk, barely stirring. Place the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until everything is thoroughly blended. Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the egg-yolk mixture and continue to mix until all the dry ingredients are wet and there are no clumps of flour. Slowly fold in the egg whites and stir only once or twice.
Prepare the fruit compote by mixing all the ingredients together until all the fruit is completely coated with syrup.
To make medallion-sized blueberry pancakes:
Coat the bottom of a flat griddle or large frying pan with 1/4 teaspoon butter or grapeseed oil and set it over medium heat for about 1 minute. Drop 2 tablespoons of batter onto the hot grill, placing them far enough apart so the pancakes don't touch. Distribute 1 tablespoon (about 5) of blueberries on top of each pancake, letting the berries sink into the batter. When bubbles begin to appear on the surface, in about 2 minutes, flip the pancakes over. Cook the side for 3 minutes. Transfer pancakes to a hot platter and stack them to keep them warm. Continue cooking the pancakes until all the batter is used up. (You do not need to add more butter to the pan.) Serve immediately. Makes 30 medallion-sized pancakes.
To make regular sized plain pancakes:
Coat the bottom of a flat griddle with 1/4 teaspoon butter and set it over medium heat for about 1 minute. Pour 3 tablespoons of batter onto the griddle and cook until bubbles start to form on top of each pancake. Turn them over and cook for about 2 minutes more. Transfer the pancakes to a hot platter and stack them to keep them warm. (No butter is needed after the first set of pancakes.)
When all the batter is used up, top each 3 pancakes with 3 tablespoons of the fruit compote. (Makes 12 regular sized pancakes.)
To make waffles:
Preheat the waffle iron until the signal comes on indicating it is ready. Pour enough of the batter evenly over the iron to fill it (usually about 1/2 cup) and let the batter cook until the edges are golden brown. Turn out onto a warm plate and top with the banana, chopped walnuts, and maple syrup.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
151 calories
3 g total fat (1 g sat)
3 mg cholesterol
27 g carbohydrate
5 g protein
3 g fiber
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
12 Servings
The aroma and taste of homemade pancakes or waffles is irresistible! The batter in this recipe makes feathery light pancakes, or light and crispy golden waffles. You'll definitely want to make these for a breakfast or brunch with friends or family, or on that free weekend morning.
Ingredients:
4 eggs
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups milk
1-1/2 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
FOR MEDALLION-SIZED BLUEBERRY PANCAKES:
1 pint blueberries, washed
FRESH FRUIT COMPOTE FOR PLAIN PANCAKES:
1 pint strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced in half
1 pint blueberries, washed
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
WAFFLE TOPPING:
(Per Serving)
1/2 banana, sliced
1/4 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
Instructions:
Crack the eggs, letting the whites fall into a clean, dry, mixing bowl and dropping the yolks into a separate bowl. Beat the whites with a mixer, on high speed, or whip with a balloon whisk for about 2 minutes until the egg whites become fluffy and then firm. Be careful not to overmix, or they will flatten out. Mix the egg yolks with a fork. Add the orange juice and vanilla and whisk everything together until it becomes foamy. Add the milk, barely stirring. Place the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until everything is thoroughly blended. Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the egg-yolk mixture and continue to mix until all the dry ingredients are wet and there are no clumps of flour. Slowly fold in the egg whites and stir only once or twice.
Prepare the fruit compote by mixing all the ingredients together until all the fruit is completely coated with syrup.
To make medallion-sized blueberry pancakes:
Coat the bottom of a flat griddle or large frying pan with 1/4 teaspoon butter or grapeseed oil and set it over medium heat for about 1 minute. Drop 2 tablespoons of batter onto the hot grill, placing them far enough apart so the pancakes don't touch. Distribute 1 tablespoon (about 5) of blueberries on top of each pancake, letting the berries sink into the batter. When bubbles begin to appear on the surface, in about 2 minutes, flip the pancakes over. Cook the side for 3 minutes. Transfer pancakes to a hot platter and stack them to keep them warm. Continue cooking the pancakes until all the batter is used up. (You do not need to add more butter to the pan.) Serve immediately. Makes 30 medallion-sized pancakes.
To make regular sized plain pancakes:
Coat the bottom of a flat griddle with 1/4 teaspoon butter and set it over medium heat for about 1 minute. Pour 3 tablespoons of batter onto the griddle and cook until bubbles start to form on top of each pancake. Turn them over and cook for about 2 minutes more. Transfer the pancakes to a hot platter and stack them to keep them warm. (No butter is needed after the first set of pancakes.)
When all the batter is used up, top each 3 pancakes with 3 tablespoons of the fruit compote. (Makes 12 regular sized pancakes.)
To make waffles:
Preheat the waffle iron until the signal comes on indicating it is ready. Pour enough of the batter evenly over the iron to fill it (usually about 1/2 cup) and let the batter cook until the edges are golden brown. Turn out onto a warm plate and top with the banana, chopped walnuts, and maple syrup.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
151 calories
3 g total fat (1 g sat)
3 mg cholesterol
27 g carbohydrate
5 g protein
3 g fiber
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
Brandy Cream Sauce for Steak
Brandy Cream Sauce for Steak
Makes: 4 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Monday, December 3, 2007
Is your steak dinner DOA? Bring it back to life with this decadent brandy cream sauce that's sure to spice things up. It's downright dreamy.
Ingredients
½ oz. brandy
1 cup heavy cream
1 heaping Tbsp. whole grain mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
Methods/steps
Deglaze pan with brandy. Add cream and mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer and stir constantly over medium-low heat until reduced to desired thickness. Serve with Steak.
Makes: 4 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Monday, December 3, 2007
Is your steak dinner DOA? Bring it back to life with this decadent brandy cream sauce that's sure to spice things up. It's downright dreamy.
Ingredients
½ oz. brandy
1 cup heavy cream
1 heaping Tbsp. whole grain mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
Methods/steps
Deglaze pan with brandy. Add cream and mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer and stir constantly over medium-low heat until reduced to desired thickness. Serve with Steak.
May 18, 2009
Escarole and Chickpeas
Escarole and Chickpeas
2 Servings
Greens and beans is an Italian classic. If you are using canned chickpeas or garbanzos, rinse them well to remove most of the salt. Try sprinkling this with a bit of balsamic vinegar.
Ingredients:
1 tsp quality extra-virgin olive oil
1 small head escarole
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chickpeas
Balsamic vinegar, lemon juice or salt and pepper to taste (optional)
2 tsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions:
Wash the escarole and pat dry. Tear into pieces and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet. Add the garlic and chickpeas. Cook, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes or until garlic just begins to turn golden. Add the escarole and continue to cook until the escarole is limp but still bright green. Season to taste and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if using.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
272 calories
14 g total fat (2 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
29 g carbohydrate
9 g protein
8 g fiber
231 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
2 Servings
Greens and beans is an Italian classic. If you are using canned chickpeas or garbanzos, rinse them well to remove most of the salt. Try sprinkling this with a bit of balsamic vinegar.
Ingredients:
1 tsp quality extra-virgin olive oil
1 small head escarole
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chickpeas
Balsamic vinegar, lemon juice or salt and pepper to taste (optional)
2 tsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions:
Wash the escarole and pat dry. Tear into pieces and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet. Add the garlic and chickpeas. Cook, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes or until garlic just begins to turn golden. Add the escarole and continue to cook until the escarole is limp but still bright green. Season to taste and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if using.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
272 calories
14 g total fat (2 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
29 g carbohydrate
9 g protein
8 g fiber
231 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
Fried Matzoh
Fried Matzoh
Makes: 4 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Saturday, February 23, 2008 Description -->
The flat matzo patties are reminiscent of potato pancakes. However, they're largely made from matzo and eggs. Serve at breakfast, lunch or dinner. They even work as a snack when slathered with butter.
Ingredients
Cooking spray
2 tsp. oil
4 matzos
4 egg whites
Onion powder to taste
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
Methods/steps
Coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and add 1/2 tsp. of the oil. Heat the skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Meanwhile, moisten the matzo with cold water and crumble into a bowl. Add the egg whites and seasonings.
Spoon half the mixture into the hot skillet or griddle as one large pancake and brown. With a wide spatula, lift the matzo and add another 1/2 tsp. of oil. Brown both sides. Repeat with remaining mixture and oil.
Makes: 4 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Saturday, February 23, 2008 Description -->
The flat matzo patties are reminiscent of potato pancakes. However, they're largely made from matzo and eggs. Serve at breakfast, lunch or dinner. They even work as a snack when slathered with butter.
Ingredients
Cooking spray
2 tsp. oil
4 matzos
4 egg whites
Onion powder to taste
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
Methods/steps
Coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and add 1/2 tsp. of the oil. Heat the skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Meanwhile, moisten the matzo with cold water and crumble into a bowl. Add the egg whites and seasonings.
Spoon half the mixture into the hot skillet or griddle as one large pancake and brown. With a wide spatula, lift the matzo and add another 1/2 tsp. of oil. Brown both sides. Repeat with remaining mixture and oil.
Monday - A Dose of Daily Inspiration
Monday 18th May
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
How could anyone read this and then settle for just a normal life?!
Read it again slowly and thoughtfully. "Far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think"! It doesn't say that God will do whatever you ask or think. It says that He's able to do way more than that. Well, that verse should make you long to learn the principles that will put your prayers in line with God's purposes so that this power of His will be released through you!
It should make you want to study Scripture and renew your mind with God's word so that you "think" in line with what God is thinking and your thoughts flow into actions that God would want to bless and enable and empower.
Your life can be far beyond what's "normal". Your life can be supernatural because of God acting in and through you!
AW Tozer said, "The sovereign God wants to be loved for Himself and honoured for Himself, but that is only part of what He wants. The other part is that He wants us to know that when we have Him we have everything--we have all the rest."
For more from John North and Ambassadors for Christ International, please click here.
May 17, 2009
Frozen Banana Cream
Frozen Banana Cream
1 Serving
This is an old restaurant trick that has been around for years. Use this delightfully simple "sorbet" wherever you would use ice cream. Try it sprinkled with chopped nuts, or on a bed of pureed raspberries or strawberries.
Ingredients:
1 very ripe banana
Instructions:
Peel the banana and cut it into chunks. Put the chunks, uncovered, on a plate in the freezer, and freeze for at least an hour. (They can stay overnight.) When you're ready to serve, take out the banana and put the frozen pieces in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the container as needed. As the bananas thaw slightly, the texture will become smooth and creamy.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
92 calories
0 g total fat (0 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
23 g carbohydrate
1 g protein
2 g fiber
1 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
1 Serving
This is an old restaurant trick that has been around for years. Use this delightfully simple "sorbet" wherever you would use ice cream. Try it sprinkled with chopped nuts, or on a bed of pureed raspberries or strawberries.
Ingredients:
1 very ripe banana
Instructions:
Peel the banana and cut it into chunks. Put the chunks, uncovered, on a plate in the freezer, and freeze for at least an hour. (They can stay overnight.) When you're ready to serve, take out the banana and put the frozen pieces in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the container as needed. As the bananas thaw slightly, the texture will become smooth and creamy.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
92 calories
0 g total fat (0 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
23 g carbohydrate
1 g protein
2 g fiber
1 mg sodium
-Recipe reprinted with permission of DrWeil.com
Mediterranean Orzo
Mediterranean Orzo
Makes: 8 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, December 4, 2007
You don't have to leave the comfort of your own kitchen to enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean. Sink your teeth into this incredible risotto medley that has only the best ingredients.
Ingredients
8 cups chicken broth
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup fresh chopped chives
1/2 tsp. saffron
1/4 cup pine nuts
3/4-1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Methods/steps
In a medium saucepan, heat broth and keep at a simmer. Heat oil and butter in a large skillet; add the shallot and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or until tender, stir in rice, mushrooms, tomatoes, chives, saffron and pine nuts. Cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until rice glistens. Pour about 1/2 cup broth into skillet, cook and stir at medium-low heat until rice absorbs broth, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1/2 cup of broth and repeat; continue until all liquid has been incorporated, rice should be tender but slightly firm at the center. When the rice is cooked through, stir in cheese and serve immediately.
Makes: 8 servings
Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, December 4, 2007
You don't have to leave the comfort of your own kitchen to enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean. Sink your teeth into this incredible risotto medley that has only the best ingredients.
Ingredients
8 cups chicken broth
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup fresh chopped chives
1/2 tsp. saffron
1/4 cup pine nuts
3/4-1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Methods/steps
In a medium saucepan, heat broth and keep at a simmer. Heat oil and butter in a large skillet; add the shallot and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or until tender, stir in rice, mushrooms, tomatoes, chives, saffron and pine nuts. Cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until rice glistens. Pour about 1/2 cup broth into skillet, cook and stir at medium-low heat until rice absorbs broth, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1/2 cup of broth and repeat; continue until all liquid has been incorporated, rice should be tender but slightly firm at the center. When the rice is cooked through, stir in cheese and serve immediately.
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