The news is bad− but wait!

The news is bad− but wait!

 

For my blog post today, I am sharing a Facebook post written by my friend, June Evans, (with her permission).  June, a minister and conference speaker, has a weekly Facebook post she calls, “Written Wisdom from Mama June.”  Her posts are always insightful and spiritually uplifting.  And yes, full of godly wisdom. Learn more about June at the end of this post.

 

When I read her post last week, I thought, “This is something I need to hear and that everyone should read and take to heart.”

 

 

It seems that lately, every time I turn around, I hear bad or sad news about someone close to me or someone close to my loved ones. Do you feel the same way? 

Friends and family members have been diagnosed with terrible illnesses.  Some have even died.  Someone’s baby is fighting for her life.  My grandson had to have 3 pins put into his pinky finger− (How is it even big enough to hold 3 pins?).  My friend’s granddaughter was seriously injured in a car crash.  This is but a hand full from the long list of misfortunes happening in and around my own little world.  And it doesn’t mention the awful news we hear on the News each day!  I have a feeling, I’m not the only one bombarded with news we’d rather not hear.  

So let’s take a moment to read June’s words of instructive biblical wisdom.  And let’s allow God’s truths to encourage, comfort, and strengthen us all.  Take it away, June:                

Written wisdom from Mama June: When things are not going your way, and all reports are bad you must handle yourself with wisdom. You can "shoot yourself in the foot" and abort God's work. You, not God, are the key to a good outcome.

How to handle yourself in bad times:

1) Stay focused on what God has told you. Do not let the bad be your focus.

2) Give God the last word. A bad report today is not the last word.

3) Believe that there is more going for you than against you. The power of God works for you. What is greater than that?

4) Control bad, negative emotions. It is better to laugh than to cry, to praise than to complain.

5) Know that things are going your way even if it does not seem they are. The work of God is not always evident.

 6) God is not the least bit worried or stressed about your situations. If He is not, why are you?

 Rather than be bothered, stressed, or sleepless why not just relax and start expecting your miracle? Expecting a miracle is a very good way to handle your problems. And you will enjoy life a lot more.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

June Evans is described as a “uniquely anointed as a Bible Teacher.”  She and husband, Gene, have ministered together across the globe preaching and teaching the good news of Jesus Christ, through their ministry called “Meet the Believers.” Though retired from many years of pastoring a church, they continue as effective workers in God’s Kingdom.  Also, June is the Pastoral Advisor to Women of the Word, a non-denominational, non-profit organization focused on teaching women biblical principles and their application in daily life.

June’s Facebook page address is: https://www.facebook.com/june.c.evans.35?fref=ts

Thank you, June, for allowing me to share your FB post on my blog today.

I Promised You A Recipe!

I Promised You A Recipe!

As I described in my initial Blog on March 19, 2015, God’s Word – Our Destiny focuses primarily on God’s Word.  I also stated, “I’ll blog about LIFE. You know --- family, personal experiences, personal relationships, Bible, church, Bible study, travel, cooking, and so on.” After all the Word of God is an integral part of our lives.

SO--- I did indeed promise that I would occasionally include a recipe in my blog posts and since yesterday was TAX DAY, we should relax and think of something fun and yummy.  [I suppose that if you’re still scrambling to get your income tax return to Uncle Sam, you’ll not make muffins today, nor reading this post for that matter.  Bless your heart!  Let’s pause for a word of prayer for all the tardy tax tenders.]

But for those of you who are breathing a sigh of relief, with fingers crossed hoping you got it right and won’t be audited, let’s make some Blueberry Banana Muffins.  This is my very favorite muffin recipe and you should feel blessed that I’m willing to share it with you. 

I must tell you that as often as possible, I enjoy cooking with my grandchildren.  Now that they’re older, we don’t do it much because they’re busy with church activities, homework, sports, and such.  But when they were little--- really quite little--- we cooked together lots and lots.  I’ll throw in a photo here and there for proof. 

I not only want to show you how cute my grands are, I want to encourage you to cook with the children in your life.  Cooking with my grandchildren is one of the best things I’ve ever done to build relationship with each of them.   

 

This picture needs a caption, so let’s have a contest! Whoever comes up with the best caption wins a copy of my book, You’re A What?!, postage paid to anywhere in the continental U.S.
To enter the contest, simply write your caption in the “Comment” box below and specify, “Caption,” (so we'll know it's not a comment).  There will be 1 winner selected by my capable team.




 Here's the prize!

   

 

                        

 

 

    

  Now for the yummy stuff … 

Blueberry Banana Muffins

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup butter, softened

¼ cup buttermilk*  

2 eggs                                   

1 tsp. vanilla                       

4 medium ripe bananas, mashed

2/3 cup butter, softened 

1 cup whole wheat flour 

1 cup plain flour

¾ tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (thawed)

 

Have all ingredients at room temperature. This helps your muffins to have good volume.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In large mixer bowl, combine sugar, butter, buttermilk, eggs & vanilla.  Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy.   Add bananas and continue beating until well mixed.  Add flours, baking soda and salt.  Beat at low speed until moistened.  Do not over-mix!

By hand, stir in blueberries. Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick, inserted in center, comes out clean.  Remove from pan & cool. Yield 20 medium muffins.

Option – For loaf bread, bake in a greased and floured 9x13 baking pan for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

*Many people don’t keep buttermilk on hand or prefer not to buy a quart when all they need is ¼ cup.  So--- Make your own! – For ¼ cup buttermilk, as called for in this recipe, put 2 tsp. vinegar in a measuring cup and add milk up to the ¼ cup mark.  Let that stand for about 5 minutes and use this in place of buttermilk.  My mother taught me this trick when I was a teenager and I’ve used it many times in many different recipes.

 

Enjoying their Banana Blueberry Muffins

 

We told our little guy in this photo that the muffins already had jelly in them since he won't touch a berry of any variety. It worked!

 

Okay, so these are Chocolate Cupcakes  --  close enough--- Right?

 

I'd rather not remember ...

 

I’d rather not remember …

For today’s post, I’m referring to my notes from a lesson my pastor, Harold Adams, taught last night at our prayer service.  Hence, credit for much of the content goes to him. Thank you, Pastor Hal.

If you’re a follower of Christ, like me you’re probably grateful that all your sins have been forgiven and are separated from you --- as far as the east is from the west.  We were reminded of that great blessing a few days ago as we celebrated Easter.

 

Since those who are redeemed have been washed clean from all sin, why would Paul tell the believers in Ephesus to remember their lives before they came to Christ?  See what he writes in Ephesians 2:1-3, reminding them of their past sinful lives and how they used to conduct themselves in sinful behaviors.

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others." 

Personally I don’t like to think about who I was and many of the things I did prior to my decision to live for Jesus.  I have occasions when those memories come up in my mine and I try to purge them as quickly as possible.  But as Paul told the house church in Ephesus, those unpleasant memories can serve a good purpose.  We then see that verse 4 starts out with the glorious two words, “But God.” 

Paul said, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-6

As Paul eloquently demonstrated, it is beneficial for us to recall where God has brought us from.  It keeps us humble, renews our gratitude, and reminds us of His amazing grace.     

AND it helps us see unredeemed people in a non-judgmental light.  Before we were saved, we were dead in our trespassed just as they are.  Oh, our sins were not all the same sins, but our nature was the same disobedient nature.  In our own unique ways, we followed after Satan, just like they do.

So when we look at a person who’s not a follower of Christ and are disgusted or angered by their behavior, we should remember that we were once on the same wrong path.  Instead of having contempt for the sinner, we should mourn and grieve for them.  They’re dead men (and women) walking and they don’t even know it---- just like we once were.

The only reason we’re not the same as they is because of, “But God.”  God’s great love for you and me begat His great mercy, which begat His great grace, which begat Jesus’ redemptive work, which begat our salvation.

Just like all other sinners, we were the subjects of God’s wrath.  But because Christ Jesus bore that wrath in our places, we who were dead, have been made alive.  Herein is the most beautiful picture of love and grace.

Let’s ask God to help us see non-Christians through His eyes.  He loves them the same as He loves us and Jesus bore their sins just as He did ours.  He wants them in His family and we should too.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

 

 

 

 

Woman, why are you weeping?

Woman, why are you weeping?

It was daybreak in Jerusalem.  The sunbeams were just beginning to spill over the Mount of Olives and the birds were waking.  To Mary, their melody had more clarity than she’d ever noticed before and it seemed like every bird in Judea was singing with all its heart.  Though she loved hearing birds, she wished they’d tone down their joyous chorus, as she was in no frame of mind to rejoice. She had a job to do.  

Dread flooded her mind as she thought of again seeing and touching Jesus’ dead body.  Yet she yearned to be near Him once more.  She needed to anoint Him with the customary burial spices.  The task could not be performed right after He was lowered from the cross and laid in Joseph’s tomb because it was late in the afternoon and nearly sundown on the Sabbath.

Mary’s mind raced as she walked quickly toward the garden tomb.  She hoped the Roman guards would be willing to roll away the massive stone that sealed the entrance.  She thought about how privileged she was to get to honor her Lord this way and recalled how broken she was before meeting Jesus.

Mary had never met anyone like Jesus. He’s the One who had cast from her seven demons.  He’s the One who did not condemn her for her sins but instead lavished her with compassion and forgiveness. 

Never a man spoke like Jesus.  Mary had followed Him all over Galilee, listening to his teachings and witnessing His miracles.  She believed he was surely the long awaited Messiah. 

Yet they killed Him.  She couldn’t understand how this could have happened to an innocent man who did so much good and spoke such peace.  In disbelief, she wiped a tear from her eye and continued to walk.

The narrow path took her through the garden.  She didn’t even notice the array of brilliant wildflowers along the way but their gentle fragrance captured her attention.  As she neared the tomb, she stopped for a moment.  She stood there with eyes closed and whispered a prayer asking Yahweh to give her strength.  She took as deep breath, then continued on.

As Mary got within sight of the tomb she was confused by what she saw.  She stopped, rubbed her eyes and gazed ahead at what appeared to be an open tomb.  She glanced around, then ran to the opening, right past two Roman soldiers laying on the ground appearing to be sound asleep. 

She stepped inside as the sun streamed in, showing her the truth that she had not expected.  The tomb was empty!  He was gone!  Jesus was not there!

She whispered a quick, “What? --- Where?” and turned and ran to find Peter and John, who were together mourning the death of their Master.

They looked up at Mary as she poured out her announcement, “They’ve taken away the Lord from the tomb and I don’t know where they’ve laid Him!” 

The two disciples jumped up and ran to the garden. They entered the tomb to find Jesus gone and the linen cloths lying there. The facecloth that had been around His head was neatly folded and placed to the side.  Peter and John didn’t understand what had happened either.    

 

 

In his Gospel account, John wrote, “For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away to their own homes.”  John 20:9-10 MKJV

So we wonder----- apparently Peter and John did not remember or comprehend that Jesus had told them He would rise again on the third day.

 

Continuing in John’s Gospel, he went on to explain what happened next:

“But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ¹³ Then they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’ 

¹⁴ Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’   She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, ‘Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’  ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’  She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher).”

 

When Jesus called out her name, she knew with certainty it was really Him. 

 

The same Jesus, Who had lifted her out of torment and shame, now stood before her--- resurrected from the dead--- alive again.  The same compassion she had known before poured out on her again when she heard Him ask, “Why are you weeping?”

Jesus showed Mary, in that moment, that she needn’t weep any more.  Her Savior was no longer dead and lying in a cold, dark tomb.  He had conquered death.  He had put Hell in its place and proved the grave could not hold Him.

 

Years later, John the Gospel writer was also John the Revelator. In his encounter with Jesus on the Isle of Patmos, John wrote, “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.’”

“Woman, why are you weeping?” is a question not just for Mary--- and not just for women.  Jesus won the eternal victory over death that day, not just for Himself, but for those of us who are in His family.  He has conquered death for us as well.   We can dry our eyes and be assured that the sting of death has been removed.

If you know Jesus as your Savior, I know you rejoice with me in this assurance.  If you do not know Jesus as your Savior or are not sure enough to be assured of your own eternal destiny, please take care of that matter right here, right now.  This is the bottom line on why Jesus left His Heavenly home and came to earth to die on the cross and rise again.  You must believe in your heart this story from the Bible is true. Think now--- you know it’s really true, don’t you?  Please pray this prayer to receive Jesus and His eternal life: “Heavenly Father, I know I’ve sinned and I need Your forgiveness. I now believe that Jesus is Your Son and He took the punishment I deserved for my sins.  I want to receive Him now as my Savior.  Thank You, God. In Jesus name I pray---- Amen.”

If you’ve just prayed that prayer and meant it, I welcome you to the family of God.  If possible, tell someone who is a committed Christian, about the decision you’ve just made.  Also, I encourage you to talk to God daily in prayer, read and study your Bible routinely and become a regular participant of a good Bible teaching church fellowship. 

We needn’t weep any more.  All is not lost when a fellow follower of Jesus dies.  We’re on this earth for a short while.  Doesn’t time seem to just fly by?  But eternity is a long, long time and we, who are in Christ’s family, sure have a lot to look forward to.  He is risen indeed!

May God richly bless us all as we joyously celebrate Resurrection Sunday!

HAPPY EASTER!