I know it's shocking...

but I'm back.
And not with any boring explainations of why I was gone. Just, I'm back. For how long, or how often, I don't know, but I am looking forward to putting my thoughts back on my blog.
I've been well, very well. And learning so much about my Lord. And trying to enjoy the changes He brings into my life, no matter what I think of them.
One thing I have been learning about are the doctrines of grace. Amazing. It truly is amazing. I'm so thankful to be learning about the attributes of my God and Savior.
I hope to share much about that soon.
Have a Happy New Year!!

Headed to the Big D...

Dallas that is...Kati is on spring break and we are going to Dallas to see what we can "cram in" in 4 days. We are going to Matt and Teresa's wedding on Saturday and we are planning to help with that on Friday and Saturday. But Wednesday and Thursday we hope to find some great Thai food, see as much art as we can stand, get lost in the Highland Park Mall (I actually did that last December) and hopefully we can find some off the chart places. Kati even wants to try to find some garage sales there - this is the same little girl who would have a fit in the car if she even thought I looked at a garage sale with intentions of pulling in! Now she wants to go to them on vacation!!
Of course she did just sign a lease on her first apartment in her college town. She is doing just wonderful in school and I'm so happy she enjoys it. So I'm sure she is anxious to start filling up her new pad. -they probably don't say that anymore on any campus... But I am very grateful she wants to spend this time with me and I plan to enjoy it to the fullest.
And right now I should be packing but I'm blogging and playing with my dog...my mind is already on vacation!!!
I better go so I can get my body on vacation as well...

7th in the 7th

I was just checking out blogs today in between loads of laundry and I came across a wonderful idea for a post...The 8th in the 8th. That means looking into your computers files of pictures, finding the 8th picture in the 8th file. Then you tell about that picture. Well, to be honest, my eighth folder only had one picture in it. Not sure why, but I got to thinking, hey, it's Sunday afternoon, it's the Lords day and He likes the number seven...so I went to the 7th folder and used the 7th picture. And this is it. I'm so glad it was a good one!! So beautiful. And with such sweet memories. This picture was taken on a Sunday afternoon in April of 2007 in North Carolina. Specifically, this is the campus of North Carolina State University, near Winston Hall, very close to the Memorial Bell Tower. I was with my Mom and we had gone on our first vacation together (our only so far, but we plan to fix that soon).We went to a wedding of her first cousins son. We stayed in a nice hotel right next to the college. So on Sunday after church we walked over and snapped photos and had the nicest walk. It was one of our highlights. But then again, we had MANY! I'll have to share some of those photos here as well. Soon. I love going down memory lane.

Our Maggie Moo

Forgive me, I still stink at blogging. I am having a hard time figuring out how to get text in between the pics. And the pictures showed up in reverse order. Obviously the first two pictures aren't our dog Maggie Moo, it's our daughter Kati Malou.

Don't worry, Kati's middle name is really Brooke, but that nick-name just sounded better in that sentence. Forgive me again.

That's me on the sofa with Mags; isn't it cute that we both have rolls?!!?

Maybe cute isn't the right word for that...

What friends see and share...

"what draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it."

I was reading today and came across this quote by C.S. Lewis and it so reminded me of one of my best friends; someone for a long time I never dreamed that I could be friends with. It amazes me how God can use failures, weaknesses, incredible odds, even error -but always truth- and use it to accomplish things we could never imagine. I think C.S. Lewis would agree. Here are a few more things he had to say, I hope you enjoy them as much as me.

“You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.”

“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain”

“Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.”

“I think we all sin by needlessly disobeying the apostolic injunction to "rejoice" as much as by anything else”

“Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.”

“Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.”

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.



And you've got to love this one...

“He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart”

Hi, my name is Olivia, and I'm overwhelmed

Do you ever find yourself sending e-mails, chatting on the phone, watching TV, or puttering around the house instead of tending to urgent tasks. People procrastinate in different ways at different times. But most of us tend to follow at least one “procrastination style.” See if you recognize yourself in one or more of these procrastination personalities.

Perfectionist Patty feels paralyzed because she knows her work will never measure up to the impossibly high standards she sets for herself. Whenever she works on a project, her inner critic starts in: “That’s not going to work! You’ve got to do better than that!”
The result: She does nothing, rather than risk a wrong move.


Poor Self-Worth Paul feels defeated before he even tries. His low self-image has made him doubt his capabilities and success. “I can’t do this” he laments. “I’m sure I’ll fail.”
The result: He rarely undertakes new projects; he simply gives up before he begins.


Fear-based Freddie fears failure so much that he avoids responsibility in order to feel safe. “What if I make a mistake?” he constantly frets.
The result: His fear of failing and being rejected by others fuels his procrastination. He stays stuck on the sidelines.


Lack-of-goals Larry drifts aimlessly through life without a clear direction or sense of purpose. “Nothing matters, and I don’t know why this is important anyway,” is his attitude.
The result: He rarely begins new tasks because he is not convinced of their worth.


Overwhelmed Olivia feels out of control. Her surroundings are a cluttered mess, and her cell phone is lost under a pile of “to-do” lists. She works feverishly, but is constantly running late and missing deadlines. “I’m doing the best I can, and everyone will just have to understand and make allowances,” she thinks.
The result: She procrastinates because she feels responsible for more than she can handle.

So, how do you conquer procrastination once and for all?

First, you need to pray for God to illuminate areas in your life where procrastination has control ... then ask for His help in breaking free.

Second, it’s important to identify the roots of procrastination - which can include perfectionism, fear of failure, a poor self-image, undefined purpose, or a tendency to take on too many projects to please others.

Third, decide to surrender yourself to the Spirit of Christ’s control. As Isaiah 40 assures us:

“He gives strength to the weary and
increases the power of the weak... . But those
who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.”

---This is from June Hunt at www.hopefortheheart.org

I enjoy her radio program, called Hope for the Heart. It's on BOTT Radio. She takes calls from people and helps them through their problems from a biblical viewpoint. I really appreciate her candor. And by the way, I'm not quite as bad as Olivia...I do know where my cell phone is...

Good Advice

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands...." 1 Thessalonians 4:11

It dawned on me this morning when I read this, that as humans we tend to pay attention to what others are doing. We can't help ourselves. We just do that. I think God knows that about us...He may have even created us that way. I'm not sure, but that isn't the point today. My point is that because we notice others and make judgments about people based on their actions, I'm thinking God gave us good advice in His Word about what we should be doing in our daily lives because the world IS watching. And making judgments. This seems to be very good advice. By following it we shouldn't have an opportunity to give a bad example.
A dear friend of mine has started a new ministry, for her anyway, I believe their are many who go into nursing homes and do what ever they can to brighten and cheer someones day by offering a drink of water or touching a cheek of someone who is babbling and can't stop on their own. Of course their is MUCH Scripture that references and encourages this "business" (to quote the Scripture above) of self sacrifice and others-centered activity's. I'm very happy to notice this in her life and I'm very proud of her. The main reason...she listened to the still small voice that asked her to. Not only listened, but heeded. And she doesn't do it to be noticed.

Hope When You're Hurting

Ten Reasons to Hope When You're Hurting
Steve Arterburn and Mike Marino
Feb 9, 2009


Ten Reasons to Hope When You're Hurting

1. God is truly in control.
If God is God, then nothing happens apart from His knowledge and permission. While it is difficult to imagine why God allows some painful things to happen, His character, revealed in the Bible and through the testing of generations, leads us to the conclusion that He is willing and able to sustain you during the worst of times. "We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:8,9)


2. There is an eternal life to come.
"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the Glory He will give us later." (Romans 8:18) "He will keep you strong right up to the end, and He will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns." (1 Corinthians 1:8)


3. The story isn't finished yet.
Time after time, the Bible records hopeless situations that ultimately ended in victory. Think of Job's Sickness, Joseph's betrayal by his brothers, David's adultery and the many who were healed in mind, Body and spirit. "But Joseph told them, 'Don't be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.'" (Genesis 50:19,20)


4. God has not given up on you! Don't give up on Him.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)


5. There is likely purpose in your pain.
Ask God to reveal His purpose in allowing this difficulty in your life. That's a legitimate question to ask. Often, the answer comes in the process of dealing with your circumstance. "Dear brothers and Sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when Your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for When your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." (James 1:2-4)


6. You are loved!
Even the most unlovable person in the world is actually loved so much by God, that He let His Son die a terrible death to restore their relationship. God does love you! He sees your pain and weeps with you. "He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for His own glory." (Isaiah 61:1-3)


7. Your prayers are heard.
"You parents - if your children ask you for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?" (Matt. 7:9,10)


8. You are not facing this alone.
"For God himself has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.' That is why we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to Me?''" Hebrews 13:5-6)


9. Others have made it through - you can too.
Try to connect with others who have gone through similar situations. You will find hope, strength and encouragement. "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12)


10. Reach out to someone else who's struggling.
Place your focus on someone else and invest your life in him or her. You may discover that your peace of mind is found in being a source of hope for another. "All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the Same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1:3,4)

Sermon Without Words

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to o ne side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation.

As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sabbath.'

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.





The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!

I shall not want ----- that's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righ teousness --that's Guidance!

For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's Testing!

I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!

For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies--that's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!

My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life--that's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -----that's Security!

Forever ----- that's Eternity!

What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives.

Thankfully So...

I received this in a daily email and it really spoke to my heart. I have been so aware recently about how much thankfulness plays a part in our relationship with God that this was something I wanted to share here:

God's Listening For The Sound of a Thankful Heart

One day, while paying my electric bill, I decided to thank the company for the service they were providing me. "Thanks for my electricity," I said, "It's really quite a bargain for all the benefits I receive."

"What!" said the lady behind the counter, in amazement, "That's the first time anyone has ever thanked us. All I ever hear around here are complaints."

It's a challenge to grow up with a thankful heart. From an early age we are exposed to a culture of complainers, gripers, grumblers, and critics. We complain about the weather, traffic, food, work, neighbors, bills, the government, church, and life in general. Worst of all, we are ungrateful toward God. It would be hard to count the number of complaints and criticisms that are daily spoken before Him and against Him.

How can we, who have received so much, be thankful for so little?

One of the great indicators of true spirituality is not measured by how many times we go to church, how big our Bibles are, or how long we pray, but it is measured by the level of gratitude that is in our hearts.

When we are ungrateful, the heart of God is saddened, the Holy Spirit is grieved, and the joy of the Lord is quenched within us.

Being thankful sweetens you, grumbling sours you;
being thankful brings sunshine to your countenance, being ungrateful casts a shadow;
being thankful brings a melody to your words, criticism makes you sound like a clanging cymbal;
being thankful keeps your feet on the pathway of celebration, complaint takes you down the road of despair.

When our hearts are filled with gratefulness we may feel like our thanksgiving is inadequate, but we can be certain that our thanksgiving is always appropriate.

It will gladden the heart of God to hear your heartfelt thanks being freely offered to Him today.

Roy Lessin, Co-founder, DaySpring Cards www.dayspring.com

**What have you thanked God for today? I have to go now, I need to get a "thank you note" out...I'll be using knee-mail...

Dealing With Our Circumstances

We all have "circumstances." Our situations in life are as varied as the people involved. How we react to our circumstances- whether we believe the lies presented to us or embrace God's Truth - has a profound effect on everything else. Some circumstances are beyond our control. If we fail to see the hand of God behind our circumstances, we will be vulnerable to confusion, frustration, bitterness, anger, and despair.
One lie many women believe is that if only their circumstances weer different, then they would be different - they would act differently or they would be happier. What they are really saying is that they are victims of their circumstances, that they are powerless to control what they say or do. The truth is that we are not victims. Our circumstances do not make us what we are. They merely reveal what we are. We may not be able to control our circumstances; but by God's grace, we can choose how we respond to our circumstances.
Another way many believers have been deceived is by the idea that they shouldn't have to suffer. After all, as Christians, we should have lots of money, success, and no worries, right? Not necessarily. Jesus never promised an easy life. On the contrary, the Scriptures teach that it is impossible to become like Jesus - to be holy - apart from suffering. Because we don't understand the necessity and value of suffering, we are often more concerned about getting relief from our pain than about discovering the pure fruit God wants to produce in our lives through the pain.
Another lie we may fall for is that our circumstances will never change. If we believe this lie, we will grow discouraged and be tempted to give up when facing seemingly impossible circumstances. In order to walk in freedom, we must exchange our temporal, earthly perspective for a set of heavenly, eternal glasses. Even if nothing changes in our lifetime, the years we experience on this earth are a mere blip on the time line of eternity. So, we can pray for God to intervene, but we must be patient when He does not act as quickly as we'd like. We must trust, obey, hope and persevere even as we await His answers. And we must set our eyes on heaven!
The fourth lie deceives many people to give up and say they just can't take it anymore. They truly believe that God has placed too much in their lives. God promises, however, that His grace is sufficient to help us in our weakness.
Finally, the fifth lie seems to have found its way into the fabric of our selfish society - "It's all about me." Everything revolves around me; nothing is more important than my wants, my needs, my desires. This attitude has broken marriages, families, and hearts everywhere. The truth for believers is that this life is not all about them; it is all about God. He is the reason we exist, and we should live to honor and glorify Him.

From "Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free" by Nancy Lee DeMoss. Chapter Nine of the workbook.

This is from the Bible Study we have been doing on a weekly basis. It's been a wonderful study, and we highly recommend it.

Ham Strawberry Pie

This recipe is really only for Strawberry Pie...but because one of my goodest friends loves it so, Kent Ham, I deciced to call it Ham Strawberry Pie. But I may have to work on the name...

I have been making this for years and my family loves it...they won't let me come to Easter Dinner without it.

I have made it for tea time at work, and since I need two it's easier to do in bars. I double everything, except I form the crusts in one 9x13 dish and then pour the doubled strawberry mixture over it.

My lovely Mother (in-law) made it with peaches one year, it was amazing. You just substitute peach jello and fresh peaches for all the strawberries. I think you could get really creative with jello flavors and fresh fruit...if you do, let me know.

I hope you make this...it is truly amazing! As Kati says, it will change your life.

Oh, and this crust is the best recipe you'll find for a pre-baked crust. I really want to enter a contest with it...I know it will win me millions! It makes a great chocolate or coconut creme pie --get busy ya'll!!

Fresh Strawberry Pie
CRUST:
1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Sugar
2 Tbs Milk
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
FILLING:
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1/4 cup Cornstarch
Dash Salt
1 1/2 cups Water
1 small box Strawberry Jell-O
1 quart Fresh Strawberries, hulled and sliced to your desire
Directions
CRUST:
Preheat oven to 400
Put all the crust ingredients into a pie pan
Mix with a fork until combined and a dough forms
Use fork or fingers to press into pan to form pie crust
Bake for 10 - 12 minutes until lightly browned
FILLING:
In a saucepan, whisk sugar, cornstarch and salt to combine
Gradually add the water and then put on Med-High heat
Whisk continually, while bringing to a boil and once boiling whisk over heat for one minute to get to full thickness(be careful not to burn yourself if it splats up on you-I wear an oven mitt on my whisking hand)
Remove from heat and whisk in jello
Cool and add strawberries before it completely sets up
Put into the cooled pie shell and refrigerate until completely chilled - this will be hard
Serve with whipped cream or cool whip

The Work and the Works of Grace

Please read Ephesians 2:4-10
Paul closes this passage with a great exposition of that paradox which always lies at the heart of his view of the gospel. That paradox has two arms.
(i) Paul insists that it is by grace that we are saved. We have not earned salvation nor could we have earned it. It is the gift of God and our part is simply to accept it (put our faith in it alone). Paul's point of view is undeniably true; and for two reasons.
(a) God is perfection; and, therefore, only perfection is good enough for Him. Man by his very nature cannot bring perfection to God; and so, if ever man is to win his way to God, it must always be God who gives and man who takes.
(b) God is love; sin is therefore a crime, not against law, but against love. Now it is possible to make atonement for a broken law, but it is impossible to make atonement for a broken heart; and sin is not so much breaking God's law as it is breaking God's heart.
Let us take a crude and imperfect analogy. Suppose a motorist by careless driving kills a child. He is arrested, tried, found guilty, sentenced to a term of imprisonment and/or to a fine. After he has paid the fine and served the imprisonment, as far as the law is concerned, the whole matter is over. But it is very different in relation to the mother whose child he killed. He can never put things right with her by serving a term of imprisonment and paying a fine. The only thing which can restore his relationship to her is an act of free forgiveness on her part.
That is the way we are to God. It is not God's laws against which we have sinned; it is against His heart. And therefore only an act of free forgiveness of the grace of God can put us back into the right relationship with Him.
(ii) That is to say that works have nothing to do with earning salvation. It is neither right nor possible to leave the teaching of Paul here - and yet that is where it is so often left. Paul goes on to say that we are recreated by God for good works. Here is the Pauline paradox. All the good works in the world cannot put us right with God; but there is something radically wrong with the Christianity which does not issue in good works.
There is nothing mysterious about this. It is simply an inevitable law of love. If someone fine loves us, we know that we do not and cannot deserve that love. At the same time we know with utter conviction that we must spend all life in trying to be worthy of it.
That is our relationship to God. Good works can never earn salvation; but there is something radically wrong if salvation does not produce good works. It is not that our good works put God in our debt; rather that God's love lays on us the obligation to try throughout all life to be worthy of it.
We know what God wants us to do; God has prepared long beforehand the kind of life He wants us to live, and has told us about it in His book and through His Son, our perfect example. We cannot earn God's love but we can and must show how grateful we are for it, by seeking with our whole hearts to live the kind of life which will bring joy to God's heart.
--This is from William Barclay's book on the letters to the Galatians and Ephesians

Gotta try it!

I tried making the mushroom and black bean enchiladas...oh baby. You don't miss any meat what so ever - trust me.
Speaking of meat, I did use the canned chicken breast in water, which I drained for the original enchiladas...worked out beautifully, or should I say deliciously.
Please try these recipes, I promise you'll be happy you did.

Here is the recipe for the vegetarian version:

Mushroom and Black Bean Enchiladas with Green Sauce

1 lb Mushrooms, any kind (portabella is the most meat like – use 4 large caps) Cube or Slice them
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, cut into cubes
1 can (4.5oz) chopped green chilies
1 pkg corn or flour tortillas-6 inch size (about 12)
2 cans (10 oz) green chili enchilada sauce-green kind (Old El Paso is what I used)
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Lightly grease 13x9 glass baking dish and spread ½ of one can of the sauce over the bottom of the dish.
In 10 inch nonstick skillet, cook mushrooms in a little oil over med-high heat until the water has evaporated.
Add cream cheese and chilies; reduce heat to medium.
Cook and stir until blended and cream cheese is melted.
Remove from heat and stir in black beans.
Heat tortillas in the microwave to soften.
Spoon filling onto tortillas; roll up and place seam side down in baking dish.
Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce over top and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake 15-20 minutes 0r until hot and cheese is melted.

**This recipe can easily be halved by using ½ of all the ingredients and using an 8x8 dish. Personally, I wouldn’t half the cheese or the green chilies. The half can of beans could be added to some rice for a side dish. Two large portabella mushroom caps would be perfect for half of this recipe.

Talking Snakes?

Atheist Kourou replied "Well, I suppose that if you can believe in talking snakes you can believe anything."


Kourou...Did you know that a gorilla can learn thousands of English words and has the capacity to use language?: "More recently, the striking achievements of Kanzi, a bonobo who apparently has learned more than 3,000 spoken English words and can produce (by means of lexigrams) novel English sentences and comprehend English sentences he has never heard before, has strengthened the case of those who argue that the thinking of higher apes is much more complex than had previously been assumed and that the capacity for language use, at least at a rudimentary level, is not exclusively human."


Do you believe in talking birds? Do you think porpoises speak to each other? How about whales? Do dogs communicate to each other? Do you think they understand English words?


Have you ever spoken to a dog? Has a dog or cat ever "told" you that it was hungry? Have you ever heard of dogs warning their owners of a fire in their home? Some presume that man evolved from fish.


Why then is your mind so closed to the possibility that an animal could communicate with humans? It seems that the atheist mind is open to anything as long as it’s not in the Bible. I wonder why?


Debs Personal Note: This isn't just for atheists...Christian, what do you believe? People don't go to hell for not believing in God. Many people will be in hell who believe in God. Hypocrites, those who refuse to repent and agree with God about their sins. Those who just don't trust the work of Christ being enough to cover their sins. Surely they must do something?


We must remember that God doesn't have the same moral standards as humanity. He is morally perfect and utterly holy.


The Bible warns that our damnation is just. Justice will certainly be done, if His mercy is spurned.


God views lust to be adultery and hate as murder. Lying lips (all lying lips) are "an abomination" to Him. Sin is not about little, tiny things that we have done. It is deadly serious.


I was glad to have this come to me today...and glad to share it. I thank God for His mercy that He would want us to know Truth and then give so generously. Treasure it today.

Robin...you need to know this!!

Remember me??

I am embarrassed to be writing another post after so much time has passed. But I remind myself that this is for me and I can forgive myself for checking out so long...if you can't, you can just push "next blog please".



I want to share this recipe with who ever might stumble across this little spot of mine. I joined a site called http://www.grouprecipes.com/ last week. It all happened by "accident" (honestly, I'm not sure I believe in those...) but I was googling a recipe and found it on this site. I was intrigued by what I saw and since I really love recipes more than I really love to cook - I do hate to admit that- - I have enjoyed it so far. It's fun checking out the neat recipes from really interesting people. One of the cool things about it is you make friends and I had someone comment on one of my recipes and now she and I have been corresponding through this site every day or so. Her bio really struck me, she seems like a good, strong wife and mother. (I hope my friends know I love that in a woman...all my friends fit that description.) Not only that but she knows how to feed her family! She submitted this recipe and I just had to share it here. So here it is...and here is the link to find it online and you can read about Rachell, and see her other delicious recipes.



Creamy Chicken And Chile Enchiladas



1 lb uncooked chicken breast strips
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, cut into cubes
1 can (4.5oz) chopped green chiles
1 pkg flour tortillas-6 inch size
2 cans (10 oz) green chili enchilada sauce-green kind
3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
lightly grease 13x9 glass baking dish.
In 10 inch nonstick skillet, cook chicken over med-high heat until no longer pink in the middle.
Add cream cheese and chilis; reduce heat to medium.
Cook and stir until blended and cream cheese is melted.
Spoon chicken filling onto tortillas; roll up and place seam side down in baking dish.
Pour enchilada sauce over top and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake 15-20 minutes 0r until hot and cheese is melted.



It really is that easy...of course I did change it up a bit for us... I used corn tortillas instead of flour (I ended up using 11, because I put a little too much in the first two), and I did pour half a can of the sauce down to coat the bottom of the dish before I added the enchiladas so they wouldn't stick ( I highly suggest this, it makes it so easy to clean the pan. Be sure and spray it too).

Also I doubled the cheese because, well, come on, it is cheese.



Now, you should know that Rachell used the Old El Paso brand green enchilada sauce and that is where she found the recipe, and I too found it right on the side of the can. Honestly, I never knew the green stuff was so good!



I am going to be making some tonight for work tomorrow and I will try to give an update soon about a few more changes I am going to try. I bought canned chicken for these and I am going to experiment with a vegetarian variation for "you know who". (It's Kati in case you really don't know who) I will omit the chicken and use some drained and rinsed canned black beans and some sauteed cubed portabella mushrooms to the cream cheese and green chili mixture. Sounds pretty good huh?



I have been writing down a few of my thoughts and I want to put those here as well, soon. I read an incredible book that is coming out this summer, and I hope to share some of what it made me think about. Things about grace and God's mercy.



Enjoy the enchiladas...I know you will...Ole'!!