A Long, Cold Winter?

The Christian’s sojourn in this world may be fitly compared to the long, cold winter. Here we experience trials, sorrows, and disappointments, but we should not permit our minds to dwell upon these.

 Let us rather look forward with hope and faith to the coming summer when we shall be welcomed to our Eden home [Heaven and the Earth made New], where all is light and joy, where all is peace and love.

 Our High Calling, 158, E G White

Fascination with Angels

Angels from the worlds of light are near to those who in humility seek for Divine guidance. P 141


Angels from the courts above will attend the steps of those who come and go at God’s command. P 48


Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. P 668


The above quotes are from The Desire of Ages by Ellen G White

Our Dear Father

In order to strengthen our confidence in God, Christ teaches us to address Him by a new name, a name entwined with the dearest associations of the human heart. He gives us the privilege of calling the infinite God - our Father.

  Christ’s Object Lessons, 141, E G White

Don't Worry

If you have given yourself to God you have no need to be anxious for tomorrow. God knows the end from the beginning. The events of tomorrow, which are hidden from your view, are open to the eyes of God.

When you try to manage your life, and depend only on your own wisdom for success, you are taking a burden which God has not given you. You may well have anxiety and anticipate danger and loss. But when you really believe God loves you, you will stop worrying about the future. When you trust God – then your troubles and torments will disappear, for your will is swallowed up in the will of God.

Only one day at a time is yours, and during the day you are to live for God. Cast all your cares, purposes and plans upon Christ, for He cares for you.

 “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11.

Based on Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp 100-101, E G White

Moral Freedom

"God valued humanity's moral freedom of so great worth that He gave His life to restore it to all who choose to accept it. As soon as there was a human sinner there was a promise of a divine Savior, and a star of hope illumined humanity's future."

  by Hulda Crooks in Conquering Life's Mountains page 100

Angels are Ever Present

Angels are ever present where they are most needed, with those who have the hardest battle with self to fight, and whose surroundings are the most discouraging.

  Desire of Ages 440, E G White

His Heart of Love

Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him, you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children.

“The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them.

Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice.

  Steps to Christ, 100, Ellen G White


(He is silently planning for thee in love, for it matters to Him about you.)

Self-Respect

Many struggle with feelings of self-worth and value in God’s sight.

The Lord has given each one of us a sense of self-respect, and this must not be opposed…. God wants us to respect ourselves.

It is not the will of your heavenly Father that you should ever be under condemnation and darkness. It is not pleasing to God that you should demerit yourself. …

While we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, Holy Scripture does not condemn a proper self-respect. …child of God, we should have a conscious dignity of character, in which pride and self-importance have no part.”

  Daughters of God p 141-142, Ellen G White

Jealousy & Envy

“Jealousy is as cruel as the grave.” Song of Solomon 8:6


“Let us walk properly...not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 13:13


“Love is patient and is kind, love does not envy.” 1 Corinthians 13:4


“For we ourselves were once foolish...living in malice and envy.” Titus 3:3


“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there.” James 3:16


“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts… this is not from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.” James 13:14-15

“Thereby lay aside all...envy and all evil speaking... desire the pure truth of the Word, that you may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:1

COMFORT for the Sorrowing

Not now, but in the coming years,
It will be in the better land,
We’ll read the meaning of our tears,
And there we will understand.

We’ll catch the broken thread again,
And finish what here we began;
Heaven will the mysteries explain,
And then, ah then, we will understand.

Then trust in God through all thy days;
Fear not, for God does hold thy hand;
Though dark thy way, still sing and praise,
For in Heaven we will understand.
By Julius L. Tucker, in Comfort for the Sorrowing


We are on the verge of entering the Home that the Master referred to when He said, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in Me. In My Father’s kingdom are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you…. I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  John 14:1-3.

COUNTRY LIFE

Awhile back we were farm sitting near Aurora, Nebraska. As we were riding the horses down the country road some people drove by and did a lot of waving, pointing and hooting. Andy turned around to see what was behind us. What a sight! All the farm animals: a goat, dogs, cats, and chickens were following us! We turned the horses around and the farm animals followed us back to the barnyard.

After securing the farm animals we rode our horses on and came by an irrigated field. Andy said underground irrigation water was very cold and refreshing that came from deep wells, and he was serious because he grew up on a farm and knew such things. Being thirsty, Debra got off her horse and tasted the water as it came out of the pipes. The water was warm and tasted awful! After riding another 50 yards we learned why the water tasted so bad! - it was being pumped out of a green, murky, scummy pond! Luckily Debra did not get sick!

The Elevator

Jeremy, an eight year old friend of ours, came to visit for a weekend. He is fond of fossils so we took him to the University museum to see their collection.

Jeremy had never been to a museum before and was very excited and kept us on the go for about two hours. When it was time to go up to the second level Debra suggested we take the freight elevator as her bad leg was aching. Jeremy seemed frightened by the elevator, let alone ride on it.

He asked, "Don't you know what this is, Debbie?" She assured him she knew what an elevator was. "Don't you know what kind of an elevator it is, Debbie?" "Yes, Jeremy, it is an Otis elevator. Now please get on," Debra replied.

Jeremy entered cautiously. The elevator slowly ascended. Unexpectedly its rear door opened and closed. Jeremy squealed and began bouncing around.

"Jeremy! Do you have to go to the bathroom?," Debra exclaimed.

"No!," he cried, obviously frightened by the elevator. "But when is it going to happen?"

"When is what going to happen, Jeremy?," Debra answered.

"You know, it!," he screamed.

"Jeremy," Debra said trying to remain calm, "I don't know what you are talking about. The main door will open any moment."

When we reached the second level the main door opened and Jeremy rushed out, skidded on the freshly waxed floor, and fell down panting.

"Jeremy!," she called, obviously concerned for his physical and mental state of being. "What is wrong?"

"Debbie! Don't you know? Can't you read the signs? It says fright elevator!"

Muffling her laughter she explained, "Jeremy, the sign says freight elevator."

"Oh," he replied, "let's go see some more fossils."

He Left All This for Me

I saw the beauty of Heaven. I heard the angels sing their rapturous songs, ascribing praise, honor, and glory to Jesus.

 I could then realize something of the wondrous love of the Son of God. He left all the glory, all the honor which He had in Heaven, and was so interested for our salvation that He patiently and meekly bore every indignity and slight which man could heap upon Him.

Heaven page 17, E G White

Early Childhood Training

Respect for God, the Bible, our elders, the United States and the U.S. flag were paramount in my training.

 I was taught proper respect and handling of the Bible and the Church Hymnal. No literature could be placed on top of the Holy Bible; and only the Bible could be placed on top of religious literature.

The Ten Commandments were taught early and my parents required me to be quiet and respectful in church, and to keep my feet off the church pew.

 All this seemed to be the norm for the families of my childhood Lutheran church congregation.

The Cost of our REDEMPTION

Never can the cost of our redemption be realized until the redeemed shall stand with the Redeemer before the throne of God. Then as the glories of the eternal home burst upon our enraptured senses we shall remember that Jesus left all this for us…. 

Heaven, 17, Ellen G White

Vacation Bible School

In the 1960's my church had Vacation Bible School during two weeks in June, from nine a.m. until noon. All the children would enter the sanctuary by two's singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” while following the Christian and American flags. In the sanctuary we would sing, pray and listen to a sermonette and a mission story. Then in our classrooms we would work on crafts and listen to Bible stories.

Psalm 91 - Thoughts - Safety

Those who live in the shelter of God's power will say, "God is my fortress and refuge, in God we trust."

God will protect you from the terrorists' snare, and from deadly disease. You will not fear the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the plague. A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you!

If you make God your refuge then no harm will happen to you. For God will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

God says, "Because they love Me, I will rescue them and protect them, for they acknowledge Me. I will be with them in trouble, and deliver them and honor them."

Based on Psalm 91- Found in the Old Testament of the Holy Scriptures

In the Beginning

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God, and all things were created through Him and nothing was made without Him. For in Him all things were created, in Heaven and earth, visible and invisible; whether thrones, dominions, principalities or authorities - all things were created through Him and by Him.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Scoffers deliberately ignore this fact: that by the Word of God the heavens existed long ago. Since earliest times men have seen God's creation and have known of His existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse for saying, "there is no God".

See these Bible texts: John 1:1-3/ Colossians 1:16/ Hebrews 11:3/ Psalms 33:6-9/ Acts 17:30-31/ Hebrews 1:2

Making You Wise

So ever since we first heard about you we have kept on praying asking God to help you understand what He wants you to do; asking Him to make you wise about spiritual things.

 Colossians chapter 1, verse 9 [Living Bible translation)
found in the New Testament of Holy Scripture

Special Message

Trust Jesus. Believe that He forgives your sins, as He promised to do. Be thankful and happy that He has received you as His child. By E G White

Perfect Peace

God will keep you in perfect peace, when your mind is focused on God, because you trust in God.” Isaiah 26:3

Father of Mercy

“Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in our trials.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (New Testament)


“Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not worry, for I am your God. I will strengthen you - yes! I will help you - yes! I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”
  Isaiah 41:10 (Old Testament)

Never a prayer is offered...

Never a prayer is offered, however faltering;
never a tear is shed, however secret;
never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble,
but the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it. 

  Christ’s Object Lessons 208-209, Ellen G White

God's Ten Commandments

God's Ten Commandments in the Old Testament of Holy Scripture

1. You will have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3

2. You will not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth, or that is in the water under the earth. You will not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands that love Me and keep My Commandments. Exodus 20:4-6

3. You will not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7

4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you may work, and do all your work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, daughter, manservant, maidservant, thy animals, nor the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11

5. Honor your father and mother, that your days be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives to you. Exodus 20:12

6. You will not murder. Exodus 20:13

7. You will not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14

8. You will not steal. Exodus 20:15

9. You will not lie about a neighbor. Exodus 20:16

10. You will not covet your neighbor’s house, wife, servants, animals, or anything that is your neighbor’s. Exodus 20:17


God's Ten Commandments in the New Testament of Holy Scripture

1. You will worship the Lord your God. and Him only will you serve. Matthew 4:10

2. Little children, keep yourselves from idols... 1 John 5:21
...abstain from idols... Acts 15:20
Do not be idolaters... 1 Cor. 10:7

3. That the Name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. 1 Timothy 6:1

4. For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. There remains therefore a rest [‘keeping of a Sabbath’ margin] to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from His. Hebrews 4:4, 9, 10

5. Honor thy father and thy mother. Matthew 19:19

6. Thou shalt not murder. Matt 19:18

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Matthew 19:18

8. Thou shalt not steal. Romans 13:9

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Romans 13:9

10.Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:7

Never Abandoned

Christ will never abandon those for whom He has died [He died for everyone].

 We may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life.

  Prophets & Kings, page 176, Ellen G White

Are the Deceased Dead or Alive?

Here is the question: Do the dead come back to give us counsel?

God's Word says: "As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away: so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more. He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him anymore." Job 7:9-10. After studying this subject with a certain woman, she exclaimed: "Then who is it that appears in my bedroom and talks to me, if it is not my dead husband?"

Here is the dilemma. If what we have read from the Bible is true, and it is, then who gives the messages in the darkened room? Who is masquerading in the disguise of those loved and lost? Who is so perfectly impersonating the voice and appearance of a loved one taken by death?

God tells us who these powers are! The Bible identifies these powers or beings, that parade as the dead, as fallen angels who were cast out of Heaven with Satan. See Revelation 12:9-10. Keep in mind that angels are not the spirits of the dead. Angels existed long before this world was created and before a person ever died. Job 38:7.

I realize that it may be difficult to grasp the idea that evil angels can actually work miracles. But this fact is the key to understanding the psychic phenomena with which we are bombarded today. Remember: the supernatural, the miraculous, does not necessarily come from God! When that fact is fully established in your mind, you are safe guarded from many deceptions.

"For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles." Revelation 16:14. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:13-14.

Now we see that it is possible for a fallen angel to be disguised as a dead loved one. According to the Bible these spirits, which come to us and claim to be loved ones taken by death are not dead people, they are not living people, and they are not people at all! They are fallen angels masquerading in the form of loved ones!

Friend, your Bible makes it very clear that humanity's only hope of living again is the first Resurrection, not at death or in death. Loved ones torn from us by death will be reunited with us again on Resurrection morning.

"Behold, I show you a mystery...in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.... For the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.... This mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-55.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ will rise first: then we which are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so will we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

Fun Stories

While strolling through the woods I heard a strange sound; it sounded like someone walking in the underbrush!  Worried, since I couldn’t see anyone, I walked a little faster, but the strange sound went faster too! Worried, I stopped walking and the sound stopped too! This spooked me so I walked even faster. The sound stayed with me! Looking around the area, I saw nothing - man nor beast. This continued for about 10 minutes. Finally I walked in the pasture to see better what was following me, and saw nothing! - but could still hear the sound! Reaching into my deep jacket pocket I found the “culprit!” It was the water bottle! With every step it was going, “galoosch, galoosch, galoosch.”

Then, at a restaurant, I looked out the window when the waitress started screaming to the buss boy, "Bill, someone has left a note on your windshield! They must have wrecked your car!" The manager called the police, then Bill ran through the parking lot, found the note and ran back in. He opened the note, it said, "if you would like to sell your car, call this number." Bill's car wasn't damaged at all, because no one had run into it - they just wanted to buy it!

There was no one in the gas station when I stopped to buy more water. Waiting by the cash register I was surprised when a large, hairy head with dark, beady eyes popped out from beneath the counter! To my surprise it was an Airedale Terrier! What a day!

The Black Hills

Awhile back Andy and I took a much needed mini-vacation to the Black Hills in southwestern South Dakota. We saw some lovely mountain homes in the Black Hills, and it would be nice to retire there someday. It wasn't tourist season yet so many attractions were closed, but we came for the peace and quiet. But we did see Mount Rushmore!

We heard about a vegan restaurant in Rapid City called “Veggies,” and ate dinner there - good food.

Andy selected a wonderful place to stay about 10 miles northwest of Rapid City. It was called Elk Creek Resort, we were the only guests (as it wasn’t tourist season yet) it was great! The place has camping, primitive cabins, and also 2 triplexes, and 2 four-plexes. We had a end unit of a triplex, very nice. It was situated half-way up a mountain with a commanding view, and at the foot of the Petrified Forest. So quiet and peaceful; it was great getting close to nature and God.

On April 30 we took a short drive south of Rapid to Hermosa, SD then up in the hills a few miles to a health resort called Black Hills Health & Education Center. We were given a tour - they have nice facilities, two doctors on staff also. They help people with diabetes, heart problems, etc. The campus is between some mountains on 400+ acres; a beautiful, clear stream runs through the middle of it. The only sounds we heard were birds and the stream! We saw 22 deer that day!

Would be nice to have mini-vacations all through the year, but that seems impossible. So much stress.

Angels & the Gentle Ones

God smiles upon the humble and gentle ones who follow closely in the footsteps of the Master. Angels are attracted to them, and love to linger about their path. They may be passed by as unworthy of notice by those who claim exalted attainments and who delight in making prominent their good works, but Heavenly angels bend lovingly over them and are as a wall of fire round about them.

The Sanctified Life, p 13, E G White

Sanctification - Failing to See

When persons claim that they are sanctified, they give sufficient evidence that they are far from being holy. They fail to see their own weakness and destitution. They look upon themselves as reflecting the image of Christ, because they have no true knowledge of Him. The greater the distance between them and their Savior, the more righteous they appear in their own eyes.

...By holding Him we become changed into His divine likeness. And when this work is wrought in us, we shall claim no righteousness of our own, but shall exalt Jesus Christ, while we hand our helpless souls upon His merits.

The Sanctified Life, p 8, E G White

Jack

Many years ago I was at my friend Suzy's house. As I was leaving she received a phone call from her friend Jack who was threatening suicide. Suzy and I ran for her Galaxy 500. Racing through busy traffic I constantly prayed for our safety as well as for Jack's.

Arriving at Jack's trailer we rushed inside and found him lying on the floor, unconscious, surrounded by liquor bottles and pills. There was no way of knowing how much or what he had taken! As I checked for a pulse, Suzy’s brother, Bill, strode into the trailer. (Bill had listened in on Suzy’s phone conversation, and came to help).

Suddenly Jack awoke, seemed demon possessed, and tossed Bill into the hall. Then Jack smashed his fist through the trailer’s thin interior wall. Running outside, and darting in and out of the congested traffic, Jack dared the vehicles to kill him. When Jack ran towards the trailer Bill pushed me into Suzy’s car, ordering me to lock the doors; but Suzy refused such protection.

Seeing me Jack pressed his face against the window crying, “Why did you leave me, Jenny? Why?” The Lord restrained me from leaving the car to help Jack. I sat petrified while Jack cursed and kicked at the windshield, screaming like insanity itself. Praying for Jesus' help, He answered immediately in the person of Bill.

Struggling with Jack, Bill pushed him inside the trailer and ran for his car. Suzy jumped into the Galaxy next to me and we sped away, the tires threw gravel against the trailer. I could not control my weeping.

I do not know what ever happened to Jack. He was my age at the time of this story - just nineteen.

Thoughts from the First Letter of Saint Peter

It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome of those who do not believe the gospel of Christ?! If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly?

Be humble with each other, because "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble [Proverbs 3:34]. Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He will exalt you. Cast all your worries upon Him, because He cares for you.

Be sober and watchful for your enemy, Satan, sneaks around like a hungry lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him. Stand firm in your faith. Trust the Lord. Remember that other Christians around the world are having the same experience.

1 Peter 4:17-18 & 1 Peter 5:5-9 - from the New Testament of the Holy Scriptures

Ministry of Holy Angels

A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. … The angels appointed to minister to the children of God have at all times access to God's presence.
  The Great Controversy 512-513, Ellen G White


Today … Heavenly messengers are passing through the length and breadth of the land, seeking to comfort the sorrowing, to protect the impenitent, to win the hearts of people to Christ. We cannot see the angels, nevertheless they are with us, guiding, directing, protecting.
  thoughts from Acts of the Apostles 152-153, Ellen G White


We need to understand better than we do the mission of the angels. It would be well to remember that every true child of God has the co-operation of Heavenly angels. Invisible armies of light and power attend the gentle and humble ones who believe and claim the promises of God.

thoughts from Acts of the Apostles 154, Ellen G White

All Your Troubles

Look constantly to Jesus. Take all your troubles to Him. He will never misunderstand you. He is the refuge of His people. Under the shadow of His protection they can pass unharmed.

 Believe in Him and trust in Him. He will not give you up to Satan. …The strength of Heaven is at the command of God’s believing ones. The [person] who makes God their trust is barricaded by an impregnable wall.

  In Heavenly Places 176, Ellen G White

The World in Agitation

Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly.

Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for their Lord's appearing. [See 2 Peter 3:10-12]. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of [Satan]. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a Heaven to win. Desire of Ages 636

Have You Ever....

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for? That’s GOD talking to you through the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to talk to? That’s GOD wanting you to talk with Him.

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven’t seen in a long time and the next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them? That’s GOD. There is no such thing as a coincidence.

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it was going to get better, how the hurting would stop, how the pain would ease? But now you looked back on it and things are better. That’s GOD passing you through a trial to see a brighter day.

Do you think this was sent to you by accident? No! I was thinking of you!

First Cause

"Friends, the greatest thinkers throughout the ages and up to modern times have utterly failed to give a satisfactory explanation as to how and when this earth came into existence. Whatever theory they have evolved, they have all eventually come face to face with the necessity of the first cause when they cannot define. So forever they stumble along groping for it, drawing millions after them; and all the time walking patiently behind them, hoping that they will turn around and look Him in the face, is the First Cause, the Lord of heaven and earth!" Frank Jeffries

Frank Jeffries, fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society - astronomer, scientist, mathematician - charged with time determination at famous Greenwich.

Hawaii / California Vacation Part 2

Later our seventeen-minute flight to Honolulu where we caught a Boeing to San Francisco. Most people leave the islands around midnight so they can sleep during the flight and arrive in California around 7 a.m.; but we left Honolulu about 2 p.m. and arrived in San Francisco at 11:30 p.m. The flight to San Francisco was virtually empty so we each took a row of seats and slept.

After securing a rental car in San Francisco we gladly anticipated the old, restored hotel I had selected for our lodging. Much to our dismay this hotel was in the heart of a rowdy prostitute district! We decided to go elsewhere, but due to a convention lodging in San Francisco was not to be found. At 1 a.m. we drove back to the airport and found a nice La Quinta Inn with two rooms left, we took one and it was quiet.

In the morning we went to the Science Museum where we enjoyed the Planetarium, gem and mineral collection, aquarium, and earthquake room! In the earthquake room one stands on a platform and a movie is shown of an earthquake as the platform shakes erratically from magnitude 5 to 6. Neglecting to hang onto the railing I fell off the platform, but did the "earthquake" five times!

In San Francisco’s China Town we found a charming restaurant, "The Lotus Garden." Members of the Taoist religion who are vegans own it and the waiter’s only means of pay are tips as this is their mission work. Above the restaurant they have their shrine and religious services. We had egg-less egg rolls, seaweed soup (actually shredded asparagus), vegetable soup with baby corn, and rice with sweet and sour “pork,” almond “chicken”, crisp vegetables, almond pudding and fortune cookies. The "pork" and "chicken" tasted too real so we asked about the ingredients, it was charming to hear the waiter say "gluten!"

We stayed at a church campground in Yosemite overnight to see the ancient Sequoia trees. Oh, how I love those trees and wished I could have one of my own!

The whole vacation was simply wonderful! It could not have been better! Thank you Heavenly Father!

Hawaii / California Vacation Part 1

Once we took a wonderful vacation to Hawaii & California. On Waikiki we rode war canoes and experienced the thrill of the ocean waves, like surfers, going 35 miles per hour! Walking to the summit of Diamond Head and overlooking the ocean was super and we also found World War II bunkers with gun ports! Andy crawled in the bunkers and took fantastic photos. Visiting Pearl Harbor was gripping in its serenity and sorrow.

We learned of a wonderful, but seldom traveled road. This road rises sharply from the National Punch Bowl Cemetery entrance and winds for miles among the tops of extinct volcanic mountains. The mansions on this road are hard to see, but the scenery of God's natural, living green jungles are beautiful: large bamboo groves, twisted banyan trees, four foot long leaves.

On the Big Island we watched the International Iron Man Triathlon Parade of Flags from the outdoor balcony of a Thai restaurant. Later taking a cruise in search of whales and dolphin. Being naive about the ocean I turned green from hanging over the bow taking photographs of dolphin! That evening we ate sticky rice at a Filipino cafe. Sticky rice is rice blended with coconut milk and honey and then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. Delicious!

An all day trip to see volcanoes and black sand beaches was great. Driving through the Kilauea area we saw steam coming from banks and craters, and tons of hardened, crusty, old lava covering the roads and mountainsides; later we walked through a twelve foot high hardened lava tube that is over one block in length.

Driving further down the mountain we parked and walked right up to the lava flow where a park ranger said the flow was moving twelve feet per twenty-four hours. The surface was hard but the interior was still moving. Many fool-hearty people were walking on this “hardened” lava; some were poking sticks into the flow and the stick would burst into flame, but the lava on the stick would become fragile like glass.

The following day our flight from the Big Island to Maui took fifteen minutes. Maui is the prettiest island we have seen and our hotel was on a beautiful white sand beach. For dinner we had pineapple boats filled with tropical fruit!

In the countryside we saw fields of pineapple and sugar cane and stopped at a botanical garden and sampled breadfruit, passion fruit, and tiny bananas. Later driving through lush green valleys to the Iao Needle which is a tall, skinny mountain that projects itself through the canyon floor. We enjoyed driving to an extinct volcano that rises from sea level to ten thousand feet; the crater is about seven miles across. Because of the iron and sulfur the colors of the crater and the cinder cones are beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow and brown. It was particularly remarkable to see clouds climbing ever higher only to drop inside the crater! Our color slide of this scene won third prize in state competition.

Later we played in the warm 85-degree ocean, took a tour of an old whaling ship and walked through shops of seashells, nautical goods and scrimshaw ivory.

Now on to California! [SEE PART 2]

Encouragement 2

“Often your mind may be
Clouded because of pain.
Then do not try to think.
You know that Jesus loves you!
He understands your weakness.
You may do His will by simply
Resting in His arms.”
Ministry of Healing p 251


And the Lord your God will
Turn a curse into a blessing
For you,
Because the Lord your God
Loves You!
Deuteronomy 23:5


Those who have a humble, trusting,
contrite heart, God accepts,
and hears their prayer, and
When God Helps
All obstacles will be overcome.
Prayer p 33

Words from Jude

Dear friend, build your lives on the foundation of faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

 Keep yourselves in God's Love as you wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.

 Convince those who doubt, snatch others from the fire, show others mercy mixed with fear. [Hate the sin, but love the sinner.]

  Jude 20-21 from the New Testament of the Holy Scriptures

Angel Encounter!

In 2012 I was walking downtown to my job. A disturbed man came at me walking like a gorilla. I tried to ignore him, but he shoved me. The next thing I found myself in extreme pain with a broken wrist, laying by the curb on top of broken concrete chunks. Crying, I tried to get up but could not.

Suddenly a man with a powerful, commanding voice and strong arms gently lifted me right off the ground and onto my feet. He held me in place while I regained my balance. He spoke words of comfort. Expecting to see a big powerful man, I turned around to thank him, he was only about 4 foot 10 inches. How could he have such strength to lift me?!

But the thing I most remember about him was his face! It was the most innocent, sweetest face I have ever seen on anyone - let alone a grown man. He had short blonde hair, and his eyes were full of concern and kindness. He followed me up to my building and then vanished! That's when I knew he was an angel.

Today, November 1, 2014, I found this text in Psalm 40:1-2: "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the mud and dirt, He set my feet on solid ground and gave me a firm place to stand."

A Short Story

The preacher is to preach the Gospel. The Gospel is about Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save sinners. Sin is the transgression of the Law. See 1 John 3:4.

If there is no Law, as some contend, then there is no sin; if there is no sin, then there is no sinner; if there is no sinner, then there is no need of Christ; if there is no need of Christ, then there is no Gospel; and if there is no Gospel, then the preacher doesn't have much to say!

However, we know that sin exists, because the world is in such a sorry state. The world needs Jesus very badly.

Opening the Heart to God

“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.

"In the secret place of prayer, where no eye but God’s can see, no ear but His can hear, we may pour out our most hidden desires and longings to the Father of infinite pity; and in the hush and silence of the soul, that Voice which never fails to answer the cry of human need, will speak to our hearts." Signs of the Times, January 29, 1902, paragraph 1

Words from Malachi

Why worship God when the ungodly are rich and happy?

"Such words are spoken against Me!” says God.

But you reply, "What did we say against God?"

You have said, `it is useless to serve God for what difference does it make if we keep His Laws and live a moral life? The conceited are happy and the immoral have honor and prominence. It seems that even those who provoke God are exalted!'"

But the Lord hears those who love Him and witness about Him to others. The names of those who love and serve Him, and pray to Him are written in His Book of Remembrance.

"They will be My people", says God, "in the day when I return to claim My own. I will save those who love Me, as a man saves his own son that serves him. Then the difference between the righteous and the wicked will be discerned, between those who serve God and those who do not."

For the day is coming when all the ungodly will burn and be totally destroyed by fire. But to those who love Jesus, He will come again with salvation, and His chosen will be content and live forever.

The above quotes are from these Bible texts:
Malachi 3:13-18; 4:1-2.

An Animal's Love

"The intelligence displayed by many [mute] animals approaches so closely to human intelligence that it is a mystery.

The animals see and hear and love and fear and suffer. They use their organs far more faithfully than many human beings use theirs. They manifest sympathy and tenderness toward their companions in suffering.

Many animals show affection for those who have charge of them, far superior to the affection shown by some of the human race. They form attachments for man which are not broken without great suffering to them."

  Ministry of Healing pages 315-316 by Ellen G White

The Guiding Hand

To all who are reaching out to feel the guiding hand of God, the moment of greatest discouragement is the time when Divine help is nearest. Desire of Ages 528


In [Heaven] the mysteries that here [on earth] have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings. Ministry of Healing 474

O, What a Night!

The first night we moved into our current house we had excitement! About 2 a.m., we heard unearthly sounds outside the bedroom window. Andy said he'd go outside and check on the matter. After waiting thirty minutes I made a search of the house, but could not locate Andy! Stepping outside I called out, but he did not answer!

The horrible noises continued so after calling the police and telling them the situation I closed the bedroom door and sat on the bed. Five minutes later the phone rang. Rushing to the kitchen phone (the only phone in the house) I ran into a man in the hall! He grabbed me as I hit him over and over in the chest! The deep, raspy voice said, "it's me!," but it did not sound like anyone I knew! Finally the voice began sounding coherent - it was Andy! Seems he fell asleep in the spare room and the phone woke him, he had never gone outside! The call was from the police verifying my earlier call. Andy’s explanation that no one called did not convince the officers and they came immediately. The officers checked our property for signs of an intruder, but could find nothing. What a night!!!

Stars & Planets

[The Hands that sustain the worlds in space and holds them in their orderly arrangement, are the Hands that were nailed to the cross!]

Look into the heavens! Who created all these stars and planets? He creates them in number calling each one by it's own name. By God's great might and strong power not one strays or is lost.

Why do you say that the Lord God does not see your troubles and is not being fair? Don't you know? Haven't you heard?! The everlasting God, the Creator of the Universe, never grows faint or tired. No one can fathom His understanding.

[Remember how He cares for the stars? He loves you even more!]

From Isaiah 40:26-28

The Will of God

As you open your door to Christ’s needy and suffering ones, you are welcoming unseen holy angels. Desire of Ages 639, E G White


He who does the will of God, who walks in the path that God has marked out, cannot stumble and fall. The light of God’s guiding Spirit gives him a clear perception of his duty, and leads him aright till the close of his work.
  Desire of Ages 527, E G White



In deciding upon any course of action, we are not to ask whether we can see that harm will result from it, but whether it is in keeping with the will of God.
Patriarchs & Prophets 634, E G White

Upper Peninsula Pasty - recipe

PASTY (pass-tee) Recipe from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan


FILLING
3 lbs of potatoes diced - frozen diced potToes are okay
1 cup carrots diced - frozen peas & carrots are okay
2 cups onion diced
2 cups rutabagas diced
2 lbs ground beef [or similar meat substitute] cooked & drained
Season to taste
Heat all ingredients together

CRUST
About one dozen 4 oz pie crust dough balls at room temperature
or frozen ready made pie crusts, at room temperature

DIRECTIONS
Roll each dough ball into 10 inch oval
Put 10 ounces of pasty filling in center of circle
Pull outer edges of dough over filling and crimp the edges

Place Pastys on cookie sheet

BAKE for one hour at 350 degrees

"The pasty came to America and became a staple food carried by miners and loggers in Northern Michigan. Pasty is a pastry with a sweet or savory filling baked without a dish to shape it.

*****

A CORNISH PASTY has meat and potatoes in one end, and plum pudding in the other end!

Oatmeal & Brown Sugar - a story

Andy and I ordered breakfast at a café, and I ordered “a large bowl of oatmeal and brown sugar,” the sugar was for sprinkling on top of the cereal. The waitress questioned my order twice, looked confused, and went to the kitchen to discuss it with the cook.

 When my oatmeal was served the entire wait and kitchen staff stood around waiting to watch me eat.

 I felt like an idiot!

I was given a small mixing bowl of oatmeal and an equal amount of brown sugar! After sprinkling some sugar on the cereal I said, “That’s all the sugar I wanted, thank you.” Then the staff looked disappointed and left us to eat in peace.

Lemon Pie Filling

from Mrs John Harvey Kellogg - 1880's

ZEST - scraping of the outer skin/rind of a lemon or orange

Take 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, the zest of only the rind of half a length of lemon, and 2/3 cup sugar. Beat the lemon juice and sugar together. Braid [blend] a slightly heaping tablespoon of cornstarch with as little water as possible, and pour over it, stirring constantly, one half pint of boiling water to thicken the starch. Add the zest*, lemon juice and sugar to the starch and let it cool. Then stir in the yolks of two eggs and half the white of one, well beaten together. Beat thoroughly; pour into a deep crust and bake. When done, cover with the remaining white of the eggs, beaten with one and a half tablespoons of sugar and brown lightly in the oven.

Orange Pie Filling

RECIPES FROM DR. JOHN HARVEY KELLOGG'S WIFE – late 1880’s
Mrs. Kellogg was Superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium [Hospital] School of Cookery, the Bay View Assembly School of Cookery, and Chairwoman of the World's Fair Committee on Food Supplies for Michigan
*ZEST - the gratings of lemon or orange peel, usually one tablespoon

ORANGE PIE FILLING
Rub smooth a heaping tablespoon of cornstarch in three tablespoons of water; pour over it a cup of boiling water, and cook until clear, stirring frequently that no lumps form. Add one cupful of orange juice, a little zest*, and the juice of one lemon, with sugar to taste. Lastly, when cool, stir in the well beaten yolks of two eggs. Bake with under crust only. Meringue the top when finished baked, with the whites of the eggs well beaten with a tablespoon of sugar and a very little grated orange peel sprinkled over it.
Brown meringue slightly in the oven.

Christian Thoughts

Never act from motives of selfishness or conceit, but in humility think more of others than you do of yourself. [Put others first!] Look after the interests of others, as well as yourself.

Do all you have to do without complaining or arguing, so that you may be God's child: blameless, innocent, without blemish, in the middle of an evil and warped world, but shining like a beacon in a dark place holding out the Word of Life to others.

The Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And God's peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

And now, my dear friend, all that is noble, true, pure, loving and gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on these things....

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be Glory for ever and ever. Amen!

Selected verses from Philippians chapters 2 and 4.

This book is found in the New Testament of Holy Scripture.

Sweet Ivory Ann

Timmy the Kitten (see blog for 9/19/13) was so gregarious and fun that I began praying for a companion for him. I wanted a lynx-point Birman cat. (Birman is a beautiful breed of cat.) So, after praying we went to the animal shelter and found a beautiful torti-lynx-point Birman 8-month-old kitten named Ivory Ann. With Andy’s approval we adopted her.


Ivory has a wonderful personality and gets along very well with Timmy and our dog. It is easy to tell when Ivory is happy or sad: when happy her overly profuse whiskers stick straight forward, and when sad her whiskers hang almost straight down. But Ivory is rarely sad.


Ivory is a good conversationalist with a sweet and tiny voice. At bedtime she loves to lie on my pillow and give me a scalp massage, or to curl around Andy’s head to keep him warm! Ivory comes when called and sits beside me when asked because she loves to cuddle.


Ivory is constantly showing her appreciation for being rescued. We should all be thankful to Jesus for His adopting and saving us.

 Ivory was a member of our family for 16 years.

MD Weight Loss Plan

Here is my medical doctor's plan for weight loss!

Consume 45 to 50 grams of carbohydrates per meal - eat 3 meals per day. The fewer the carbs per item, the more food you can eat per meal! Eat your choice of carbs, but eat fiber rich foods too. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, frozen, fresh or canned. Watch carbs. Do not save carb grams from one meal to another.

Have two snacks per day (one at 10 AM and one at 3 PM) of less than 10 grams of carb each snack.

Do not eat between meals, except for water and two snacks. Drink plenty of water!!

The fewer the carbs per item, the more food you can eat per meal!

With this carb-conscious eating you probably won't be hungry between meals, or during the night.

Consume no more than 1,200 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day.

Mercy & Truth Kiss

[In God] mercy and truth meet, righteousness and peace kiss each other.

 God's wisdom is first pure, then peace loving, gentle and courteous, open to reason, full of mercy and good works, impartial and without hypocrisy. God is merciful and gracious, slow to become angry and abounding in continual love and faithfulness.

O Lord God, there is no god like you anywhere! For You keep Your promises and show love and mercy to your servants who love and follow You with all their hearts. And mercy surrounds all those who trust You.

Understand this, that the Lord God is God! He is a merciful God, keeping His covenant of Love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His Laws. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to those who keep His covenant and Law.

Jesus said, "Woe to you...for you have neglected the importance of the Law, which is: justice, mercy and faith. Go and learn what this means. `I desire mercy and not sacrifice' [Hosea 6:6]. For I did not come to call the [self] righteous to repentance, but the [repentant] sinners."

God has told you what He wants from you, and this is it: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly in His Law.

 Return to God. Hold on to His mercy and justice. And wait for Him to come again. Keep yourselves in God's Love as you wait for Our Lord Jesus Christ to come again in mercy and to bring you eternal life.


The above quotes are from these Bible texts:
Psalm 85:10/ James 3:17/ Exodus 34:6/ 1 King 8:23/ Psalm 32:10/ Deuteronomy 7:9/ Psalm 25:10/ Matthew 23:23; 9:13/ Micah 6:8/ Hosea 12:6/ Jude 21/ 1 Chronicles 16:34/ Psalm 89:1,2; 108:4-5/ Psalm 42:8/ Luke 1:50/ Psalm 107:43; 118:2; 89:33/ Jeremiah 9:24/ 1 Timothy 1:2.

Secret of Success

The secret of success is the union of the Divine power with human effort. Those who achieve the greatest results are those who rely most implicitly upon the Almighty …. The men of prayer are the men of power.

Patriarchs and Prophets p 509, E G White

Gospel or Gossip

If Christians would spread the Gospel instead of spreading gossip - Jesus would come and we would be in Heaven!

Animal Friends

In 1968, due to orthopedic surgery, I was completely bed-ridden for two months and was allowed to have a kitten for company. Since a friend's cat had kittens we chose an orange kitten named Buffy to be my companion!

Buffy had an uncanny sense about my needs for he stayed by my side 24/7. Every morning, at exactly 7:00 a.m., he would awaken me by first meowing, then by sitting on my stomach, then sitting on my chest, then by patting my nose, and finally by sitting on my face! Quickly I learned to wake up before this last step! Buffy was my companion for 17 years.

In elementary school, while waiting for the school bus, the neighbor's huge Saint Bernard, Humphrey, waited with me. He also met me at the bus stop after school acting as a deterrent to anyone wishing me harm.

Part of my final grade in high school zoology was caring for two baby garter snakes at home. They were a trial. One afternoon, before Mom's bridge party, the snakes escaped their terrarium, but were found - after the party!

In 1965 Dad purchased a two-year-old Appaloosa gelding named Spottum Bottum. Later that year I showed Spottum in the nationally known Ak-Sar-Ben Livestock Show where we placed sixth out of 42 in Junior Western Pleasure. Spottum won numerous trophies, but his main purpose was being my friend.

As a child I took Mark 16:15 literally and preached “the gospel to every creature," which included the horses, cats and dogs at Hillside Stables. My main love of horses was riding through nature singing and talking to God.

New Orleans Vacation

Years ago my husband, Andy, and I drove to New Orleans, Louisiana, USA for a vacation. Our hotel, The Clarion, was on the National Registry of Historic Places. Our room was quaint and very beautiful in shades of lavender, ivory and pale blue.

We went to beautiful Jackson Square where you can take guided tours via horse-drawn carriage, or watch artists, jugglers and musicians. At one end of the Square is the Saint Louis cathedral, the oldest cathedral in the United States. Then it was a half block to Madeline's, a French cafe where we purchased French pastries and quiche, much different from up North.

Our friends went for a swimming party by Biloxi, Mississippi. Instead Andy and I rode a steamboat up the Mississippi River to tour an 1812 battlefield and a restored 1800's Southern mansion. It was wonderful and along the way we watched boats unloading raw sugar at the C&H sugar mill. In the distance we saw an old mansion that was being restored, its staircase was solid rosewood!

The Battlefield guide explained that American soldiers had a bad reputation in fighting methods in the 1800's: they would fight after dark, which was considered ungentlemanly in those days; and they would hide behind bushes and rocks, which was considered cowardly. A soldier was on hand to show how time-consuming it was to load and fire a musket.

After the tour we went to Jax Brewery. At one time a real brewery, it is now a place of small shops and ethnic eateries. We enjoyed the Italian Ice and had a hard time choosing from all the flavors including hazelnut, almond, and kiwi.

While walking back to the hotel we witnessed mounted police converging on a bank directly across the street from us. Turned out the bank had just been robbed and there was some gunplay!

Back at the hotel our friends reported what a terrible time they had swimming in Biloxi!  They said the water smelled nasty. After playing for an hour in the "nasty water" an official told them to get out as they were swimming in the sewer outlet!

Leaving on Sunday we stopped at one of the older New Orleans cemeteries where the deceased are buried above ground due to the high water table. Unfortunately people remove the coffins and use the crypts for sleeping and we saw evidence of this.

 Traveling on to Dumas, Arkansas, we had a wonderful dinner at "Grady's Potato and Salad Bar - Where any other Spud is a Dud"!

God loves to bless!

Vegetarian "Meatloaf" - Vegan

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 50 minutes
Number of servings: 4 - 6

INGREDIENTS

2 pkgs Extra Firm Tofu (approx. 12 ounces each pkg)
2/3 c dry Old Fashioned Quaker Oats - uncooked
2 c dry flake cereal
1/3 c chopped onion or 2 T dried minced onion
2½ T lite soy sauce or 1/4 c catsup
1/4 c dried parsley or 1/4 c dried basil
top casserole with 1/2 c chopped pecans

INSTRUCTIONS

Mash tofu with fork, then crush dry flake cereal
Blend all ingredients together
Bake covered for 50 minutes at 375 degrees in oiled 8 inch square pan
Serve with Brown Gravy and whipped potatoes and green beans or
Asparagus and cranberry sauce

This recipe is easily cut in half

MIND CONTROL

Taking Every Word Captive – Most are unaware that Satan’s greatest point of attack is in our thinking/mind. Satan plants doubts, fears, unclean thoughts, jealousies, fantasies, suggests lies - then Satan has the nerve to accuse us of thinking them! When we accept Satan’s lies as our own thoughts, he gains a foothold in our lives which can develop in to a stronghold.

Battle for Mind Control – Matthew 24:4 warns “Watch out that no one deceives you.” 1 Peter 1:13 instructs “Gird up your mind, be sober…” Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Romans 8:6 “The mind of sinful man is death, but a Spirit controlled mind is life.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Philippians 4:8-9 is a filter to test each thought. If a thought does not agree with the list then reject the thought. Testing each thought as it comes is the key to victorious living.

Renewing Our Minds – Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

 Renewing our mind happens when we focus on Jesus’ victory over the devil, and His death and resurrection.

Its Been a Rough 3 Weeks

I’ve been going thru a rough 3 weeks. Unfortunately, I was going by feeling and not by faith. Satan was getting a strong hold on my emotions, and I was confused and felt lost. I felt desperate to get back to God! How did I get to this place where I felt I had lost all faith or God had lost hold of me!? I remembered the verse that says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” but even this did not seem to help my feelings of despair.

Calling my friend she counseled me with prayer and Scripture and logic. I’m glad she is a retired Christian educator – she knows how to handle situations and people. She promised me that God had not forgotten me, that He was right there and had been all the time.

I read the Gospel of Matthew on my iPad and highlighted and made copious notes. I read Scripture exclusively and am being greatly benefited.

If ever you find yourself getting depressed - that God doesn’t care about you or love you - remember to read Scripture exclusively. Start reading in the Bible where you think you’ll gain the most good. (After Matthew I started reading Exodus!)

Please guard your mind against Satan’s attacks, pray always and read Holy Scripture.

By deb m

God Believes in You!

So many people say they do not believe in God. Why? God believes in You!

Satan's Lies Debunked

If we believe Satan’s lies, we will begin to doubt God, forget that God loves us, and focus on our hopelessness.

Jesus stood up against Satan’s lies (Matthew 4:1-11), and Satan was forced to leave. Because we are in Christ, we can do the same.

Since the above is true, we need to:

Recognize their source--“Let no one deceive you” Matthew 24:4

Satan Says................................GOD Says
You are condemned………………. No condemnation to those In Christ
You will never get victory………... You always have victory in Christ
You are worthless………………… You are a chosen vessel for Me
You are stupid…………………….. You have been given the mind of Christ
God does not love you……………. My Love for you is Everlasting

Refuse Satan’s suggestions-- Satan is a liar and the father of lies --John 8:44
Since Satan is the source of all dishonesty, his suggestion will be a deception.

Rely on the Holy Spirit for appropriate Scripture--Ephesians 6:17
Trust God to give us His truth to counter each deception.

Repeat that Scripture--John 8:12
Claim God’s promise in full assurance of faith.

Renounce any hold Satan has on you--Proverbs 28:13
Cancel the consent given to Satan, throw away all idols - modern or pagan, this breaks his hold on you.

Resist the devil and he will leave you--James 4:7
Submit totally to God, resist the devil and he must flee.

Amusing Stories for Tough Times

What with tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms for the past 5 weekends in Nebraska, I thought I'd tell some true, amusing stories.

As a small child I talked incessantly. Nothing my parents said or did made a difference! Finally Dad said, "you learn more when you are quiet than when you are talking." His method worked!

When I was young, the family went to the opening of Omaha Crossroads Mall. Two ladies were giving samples of what looked like lemonade. The tiny sample tasted very sweet, but not like lemonade, being thirsty I left my parents’ side and got back in line. When it was again my turn the ladies recognized me and asked those around if I was their daughter, but everyone said, "no." Then an announcement was made that I was lost and Mom and Dad came over to see what trouble I was in. Turns out the “lemonade” was oral polio vaccine!

My parents wanted me to accompany them to Crossroads Mall instead of letting me stay home with my full-length leg cast and crutches. Being tired, I sat down and mumbled loudly about walking with crutches and a heavy plaster cast. After a few minutes I noticed a group of people staring at me! After an awkward silence an elderly gentleman gave me a fifty-cent piece and the group walked away! What must they have thought!

In third grade my school had an Easter Queen contest. Judging was based on the originality of the Easter hats the girls would create, and they could have their mother's help. Mom and I took a small lampshade, added two long strips of heavy, pointed cardboard, and covered the whole creation with cotton balls! The result was a rabbit head!

 At the contest all the other girls wore straw hats with plastic flowers glued on, but I wore my rabbit’s head hat. Walking on stage to the tune of "Easter Parade" each girl was greeted with applause, but I was greeted with giggles. However, the judges awarded me the title of "Easter Parade Queen" for having the most original hat!

LOVE

If I had the gift of speaking in foreign languages, and even if I could speak every heavenly language, but did not love others, I would only be making noise. If I had the gift of prophecy and knew the future, but did not love others, what good would it do? Even if I had the gift of faith and could move mountains, I still would be worth nothing without love. If I gave all my worldly possessions to the poor, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel, but did not have love, it would be of no value.


Love is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty, selfish or rude. Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable or grouchy. Love does not hold grudges, and will not keep score against friend or enemy. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love is loyal, and has faith in God under all circumstances.


Someday prophecy, foreign languages and special knowledge will disappear, but Love goes on forever. Now we know so little even with our special gifts, but when Jesus comes these special gifts will come to an end, for they are no longer needed.


It is like this: when I was a child, I spoke and thought as a child. But when I reached adulthood my thoughts were far above childish ways. In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were looking at His reflection in a poor mirror. But someday we are going to see Him as He is, face to Face! What I see now is blurry, but later I will see everything as clearly as God sees now! There are three great things: FAITH - HOPE - LOVE. And the greatest is LOVE!

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Angel Story

Andy (my husband) was in the garage, fixing something under the car with the motor running. As he was moving a linkage a loud, audible voice called out, "Don't touch!" Andy, startled, got out from under the car and looked around to see who was standing next to him, but saw no one. So again he crawled under the car and was moving the linkage when the voice repeated the same words even more loudly. Andy was scared by this and did a double take of what he was doing.

Andy then realized it was the gearshift linkage to put the car in gear! Since the motor was running another move on the linkage would have caused the car to back  over Andy!

We believe the voice was one of God's angels calling out to protect Andy!

Psalm 78 Excerpts

Verse 13 – God divided the sea and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters stand up like a heap.
V 14 – In the daytime God led them with the cloud, and all night with a light of fire.
V 15 – He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them water in abundance like the depths.
V 16 – God brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
V 17 – But they sinned more against God by rebelling against Him in the wilderness.

 [God gave them life-saving gifts and they hated Him!]

V 21 – Therefore God heard this and was furious.
V 22 – Because they did not believe in Him, and did not trust in His salvation.
V 32 – In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in His wondrous works.
V 38 – But God, being full of compassion, forgave their sin, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time God turned His anger away and did not stir up all His wrath.
V 39 – For He remembered that they were only dust.
V 41 – Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
V 56 – Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, and did not keep His commandments.

Are We That Close?!

God protects those who obey His commands....

Satan has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows.

Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard. Satan will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs, and he will bring trouble on others and lead men to believe it is God who is afflicting them.

…[Satan] will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great [fire storms], in fierce tornadoes, and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. …These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous.

And then Satan will persuade men that those who serve God are causing these evils. The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God’s commandments is a perpetual reproof to sinners.

 It will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment, thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are troublers of the people…. [and then comes Sunday observance laws]....

Now please read Luke 21:8-28.

 Are we really that close to the 2nd coming of Christ?!

Excerpts from The Great Controversy pp 589-590, E G White

Whatever Your Past Experience

Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness.

He presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner’s place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me.

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing page 21 E G White

The Path where God Leads is Safe

The path where God leads may lie through the desert or the sea, but it is a safe path.
  Patriarchs & Prophets page 290 E G White

He who slumbers not, who in every crisis has been the strength and dependence of His people, will carry out His eternal purpose. He will thwart the designs of wicked men, and will bring to confusion the counsels of those who plot mischief against His people.

He who is the King, the Lord of hosts…amidst the strife and tumult of nations guards His children still.

 When the strongholds of kings shall be overthrown, when the arrows of wrath shall strike through the hearts of His enemies, His people will be safe in His hands. E G White

Jesus is our friend; all Heaven is interested in our welfare; We may find rest and peace in God, casting all our care upon Him; for He cares for us. See 1 Peter 5:7
  Patriarchs & Prophets page 294 E G White

Christ will never abandon those for whom He has died. We may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life. Prophets & Kings page 176 E G White

Pursued with Loving Kindness

God says, "I love you with eternal love, pursuing after you with loving kindness.

Whoever believes in Me and keeps My Commandments loves Me, and My Father will love those who love Me and I will love them and manifest Myself to them.

 For God so loved the human race that He gave His only Son, that anyone who believes in Him will not suffer eternal death but will have eternal life."

This is love: not that we love God, but that He loves us, and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. No one has a greater love than the One who lays down His life for His friends.

Dear Friend, since God loves us this much, we should love each other. We love because God first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates someone, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for others."

Dear Friend, I close my letter with these last words. Be a mature Christian, pay attention to what I have written, be in unity, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you always.

 And to know the love of Christ, which surpasses all understanding….

 Now to God who is able to do all things super-abundantly beyond what we think or ask...to Him be the glory... throughout all generations, forever. Amen!


The above quotes come from these Bible texts (variety of versions): Jeremiah 31:3/ 1 John 14:21/ John 3:16/ 1 John 4:9-10/ John 15:13/ 1 John 4:11,19-20/ John 13:35/ 2 Corinthians 13:11/ Ephesians 3:19-21

Jesus' Death Foretold in the Old Testament

Jesus says, "search the Scriptures for...they are they which testify of Me." And starting with Moses and the prophets He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

The Lord God has spoken to Me and I have listened. I did not rebel nor turn away. I gave My back to the whip, and My cheeks to those who pulled out My beard. I did not hide from shame. They spit in My face. Because the Lord God helps Me you will not be dismayed. They gave Me gall for My meat and vinegar to drink. They bargained for My price thirty pieces of silver.

The Father says, "See, My Servant will prosper, He will be highly exalted. Yet many will be amazed when they see Him...they will see My Servant beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know He was a human. So shall He cleanse many nations."

The Son says, "My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My roaring? But I am a worm...a reproach of men and despised by the people. All they that see Me laugh with scorn. They stick out their lips and shake their heads saying, `He trusted in the Lord that He would deliver Him, let God deliver Him, seeing He delights in Him.' They gape at Me with their mouths as a hungry and roaring lion. For dogs have encircled Me. The assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me. They pierce My hands and feet. They part My garments among them, and cast lots for My vesture."

"Into Thine hand I commit My spirit. For God will not leave Me in the grave, neither will You allow Your Holy One to decay." He keeps all His bones, not one of them is broken. He will see the results of His sufferings and will be satisfied. Because what My Righteous Servant has experienced many will have faith and be counted righteous before God, for He will bear all their sins. I call Him Mighty and Great because He died for our salvation. He was counted a sinner and He bore the sins of many and pled with God for sinners.

But, oh, how few believe it! Who will listen? To whom will God reveal His saving power? Before God He was a tender shoot, sprouting from a root in dry, sterile soil. But in our eyes there was no attractiveness about Him, nothing to make us want Him. We despised and rejected Him - a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with bitter grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised and we didn't care. Yet it was our grief He bore, our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His trials were a punishment from God for His own sins!

But He was wounded and bruised for our sins! He was chastised that we might have peace. He was lashed and we were healed. We are the ones that strayed away like sheep. We left God's path to follow our own. Yet God laid on Him the guilt and sins of every one of us! He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He never said a word. He was brought as a sacrificial Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep is silent, so He stood silent before those condemning Him.

From prison and trial they led Him away to His death, but who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that He was dying for? That He was suffering their punishment. He was buried like a criminal in a rich man's grave, but He had done no wrong and had never spoken an evil word! Yet it was the Lord's good plan to bruise Him and give Him grief. But when His whole being had been made an offering for sin, then He will have many heirs. He will live again and God's plan shall advance.

Jesus says, "I will not forget you. See, I have engraved your name upon the palms of My hands. I will always remember you.”

The above quotes are from these Bible texts: John 5:39/ Luke 24:27/ Isaiah 50:5-7/ Psalm 69:21/ Zechariah 11:12/ Isaiah 52:13-15/ Psalm 22:1-8,13,16-18;34:20;16:10/ Isaiah 53:11,12;53:1-10;49:15-16

HOPE

Jesus is our Friend; all Heaven is interested in our welfare; ...We may find rest and peace in God, casting all our care upon Him; for He cares for us. See 1 Peter 5:7
 Patriarchs & Prophets 293-294, E G White

Christ will never abandon those for whom He has died. We may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn away from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life.
 Prophets & Kings 176, E G White

New Signs

last weekend earthquakes in Kansas, Oklahoma and 2 in Los Angeles.
Then earthquakes this week in Chile, China, Panama, and Yellowstone in Montana.
 Now today tornados in Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and one tornado just outside of Saint Louis, Missouri.
 AND ALL OF THIS IN SEVEN DAYS!!!!! Sounds like right out of MATTHEW 24!

God hates no one - the devil hates everyone

Many bad things happen, but God doesn’t cause these problems - God hates no one. The devil hates everyone. Bad things happen to good people, it’s because of sin - not because God has forgotten you.

God is strong enough to force us to love Him, but God doesn’t use force, because He loves us. Jesus determined, (in council with His Father) to do everything possible, no matter the cost, to rescue sinners. Jesus loves you more than He values His own life - He died for you! Trust yourself to Jesus – He will care for you.

God planned for you before the world began. He longs for you to talk to Him about anything and everything that is on your mind - He always listens. I went to Jesus with all my problems, and He always looks after me. As a small child I learned these things – it made all the difference in my life.

Often your mind may be
Clouded because of pain.
Then do not try to think.
You know that Jesus loves you!
He understands you.
You may do His will by simply
Resting in His arms.


Casting all your cares upon Jesus; for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, clears away all our sin. 1 John 1:7 There is no other Name [Jesus] under Heaven, given among men, whereby we are saved. Acts 4:12

God always Listens!

When you pray to the Christian God, He always listens!

Our Own Lawyer

The Biblical judicial system was not like ours. The one bringing the charges served as prosecutor. The judge served as defense attorney. If the judge realized the charges were serious, he could call for the accused's eldest male relative to sit at his right side to help him with the defense.

Jesus speaks with the Father, because they are both on the same side defending us against Satan's accusations!! This is why the Bible speaks of looking forward to God's Judgment. It means vindication to those who love and obey the Lord!!


"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..." 2 Corinthians 5:10. "The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son." John 5:22.


"Who is to judge us? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, for He is at the right hand of God, who intercedes for us!" Romans 8:34. "And to testify that it is He [Jesus] who was ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and dead." Acts 10:42.


"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His Commandments, for this is the whole duty of humanity. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.

Jesus is Coming Again

Jesus said He would come again (John 14:3)

Angels believe & tell how Jesus will come (Acts 1:9-11)

Coming with Power & Glory on the clouds of Heaven (Matthew 26:64/ Matthew 24:30)

Every living person will see Jesus come (Revelation 1:7)

Every holy angel will come with Jesus (Matthew 24:31)

Last events of planet Earth (Revelation 16:18-21/ Revelation 6:12-17)

Righteous mortals put on immortality at Jesus' coming (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

God's people will meet Jesus in clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

Jesus promised to return soon (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20)

Curses to Blessings

The Lord will turn a curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you!
The Lord is silently planning for thee in love, for it matters to Him about you!

GOD Planned for You

Many bad things have happened to me; but God didn’t cause these problems, God hates no one. The devil hates everyone. Bad things happen to good people, it’s because of sin - not because God has forgotten you. God is strong enough to force us to love Him, but God doesn’t use force, because He loves us. Jesus determined, (in council with His Father) to do everything possible, no matter the cost, to rescue poor sinners. Jesus loves you more than He values His own life - He died for you! Trust yourself to Jesus – He will care for you.

God planned for you before the world began. He longs for you to talk to Him about anything and everything that is on your mind. I went to Jesus with all my problems, and He has always looked after me. As a small child I learned these things – it made all the difference in my life.


Often your mind may be
Clouded because of pain.
Then do not try to think.
You know that Jesus loves you!
He understands you.
You may do His will by simply
Resting in His arms.


Casting all your cares upon Jesus; for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7
The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, clears away all our sin. 1 John 1:7
There is no other Name [Jesus] under Heaven, given among men, whereby we are saved. Acts 4:12

SIGNS OF JESUS' SOON COMING

Like a woman’s labor pains, the Frequency & Severity of the Signs increase until Jesus comes. 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3; Matthew 24:7, 8 I look forward to Jesus' soon coming, because then He will take us out of this crazy world and into Heaven!

The signs increase in intensity as we near the world's end.

SIGNS IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD
Increase of Earthquakes/Disasters [Weird/Violent Weather?] (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11, 25)
Famine, Strange new Diseases & Pestilence (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11)
Signs in the Sun, Moon and heavenly bodies (Matt 24:29; Luke 21:25)

SIGNS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
Disgruntled employees, labor and employer problems, (James 5:1-5)
Increase in Knowledge (Daniel 12:4)

SIGNS IN THE POLITICAL WORLD
Disregard for Justice (Isaiah 59:12-14; James 5:6)
Fear, Distress, Perplexity Everywhere (Luke 21:25-28)
Wars & Rumors of War (Matthew 24:6, 7; Luke 21:9, 10)
World Leaders & Pastors preach “Peace & Safety” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6)

SIGNS IN THE SOCIAL WORLD
Moral Collapse, Increase of Violence & Crime (2 Timothy 3:1-6, 13)
Love pleasure more than God (2 Timothy 3:4)
No Natural Affection (2 Timothy 3:3)
Disobedient to Parents / No Self Control (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
Increase of Evil, so the Love of Many grows Cold (Matthew 24:12)

SIGNS IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
Form of godliness, but denying God (2 Timothy 3:5)
Disregard for God’s will, but doing “religious” works (Matthew 7:21-23)
Ignoring/Rebellion of God’s Ten Commandments (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
False christs/prophets - false “bible” teachings (Matt 24:11, 24; 2 Thess 2:1-12)
Scoffing at Jesus’ Soon Return (2 Peter 3:3-14)

When you see these signs, know Jesus coming is very near, but no one knows the day or hour, so always be ready! Matthew 24:33, 36, 42, 44. Do not be afraid, believe in God & Jesus. John 14:1-3.

Dear People

Dear People, God loves you all so much. Do not turn your back on Him - embrace Him as a true Friend and Confidant. Yes, He loves you, each and every one of you as individuals.

Nothing Withheld

God has withheld nothing from us that could promote our happiness or secure to us eternal riches. This Day with God, p 162

Utter Despondency?

Are you tempted to give way to feelings of anxious foreboding or utter despondency? In the darkest days, when appearances seem more forbidding, fear not. Have faith in God. He knows your need. He has all power. His infinite love and compassion never weary. Fear not that He will fail of fulfilling His promise. He is eternal truth. Never will He change the covenant He has made with those who love Him. And He will bestow upon His faithful servants the measure of efficiency that their need demands. Prophets & Kings, pp 164-165, White

Love & Care

…the greater our love for God, the stronger should be our love and care for those whom He has given us. The Saviour never taught idleness and abstract devotion, to the neglect of the duties lying directly in our pathway.

Life Sketches 80 E G White

Nothing to Fear

Let us look to the monumental pillars, reminders of what the Lord has done to comfort us and to save us from the hand of the destroyer. Let us keep fresh in our memory all the tender mercies that God has shown us, the tears He has wiped away, the pains He has soothed, the anxieties removed, the fears dispelled, the wants supplied, the blessings bestowed, thus strengthening ourselves for all that is before us through the remainder of our pilgrimage. Steps to Christ 89 E G White

God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose, which they were fulfilling as co-workers with Him. Desire of Ages 224
E G White.

We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history. Life Sketches 196 E G White

Gasoline!

Back when Andy and I were separated, I was left without money. I secured a position, but my first payday was 4 weeks away! I needed gasoline for my big, old car to get me to and from work, and for that I needed money!

On the first day on the job the fuel indicator showed less than a quarter tank. Every morning before work I prayed in faith that the car would get me to work without running out of gas, and every evening I would pray the same prayer for the drive home.

During those 4 weeks the fuel indicator would get down to zero, than the next morning it went back up to 1/4 tank then a couple days later the indicator showed zero and than the next morning it was back up to 1/4 tank - and this continued for that month! I thought perhaps the fuel indicator was wacky, and couldn't wait until I could afford fuel.

Finally I received my pay check, the fuel indicator was zero again, and when filling the car it took a full 18 gallons. This proved to me that the Lord had been miraculously giving me fuel for an entire 4 weeks!

Oh, the Lord blessed me greatly - how He loves to bless! But we must have faith!

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie UPDATE

INGREDIENTS
Bag of frozen Trader Joe's Vegetable Melange' in butter sauce
2 cups of vegetarian brown gravy
6 servings of prepared mashed potatoes (I use instant) made with soy or almond milk
paprika and dried parsley for decoration


INSTRUCTIONS
Pour frozen veggies into casserole dish
Pour prepared gravy over veggies
Top with prepared mashed potatoes – smooth over veggies
Sprinkle paprika and parsley over top

Bake 375 for 50 minutes

VARIATION
2 lbs frozen california style vegetables
2-3 c gravy
6-8 servings of prepared potatoes

Happiness & Safety

Your only safety and happiness are in making Christ your constant counselor. You can be happy in (Jesus) if you had not another friend in the wide world. Your feelings of unrest and homesickness or loneliness may be for your good. Your heavenly Father means to teach you to find in Him the friendship and love and consolation that will satisfy your most earnest hopes and desires.

…Do not be overanxious about anything. Go quietly about your duty which the day brings you. Do the best you can, ask God to be your helper.

 Our High Calling, p 64, E G White

Colorful Corn Salad

INGREDIENTS
2 – 11 oz cans of canned sweet corn niblets
2 c diced green pepper
2 c diced red pepper
2 c diced celery
1 c chopped green onions or ½ c chopped white onion
¼ c dried minced parsley or 1 c minced fresh parsley
2 t ground cumin
3 T olive oil
¼ t minced fresh garlic
6 T lime or orange juice


INSTRUCTIONS
In large bowl combine all ingredients except oil, garlic and juice.
Sauté garlic in oil. Cool. Whisk in juice.
Pour over corn mixture and toss to coat.
Cover and refrigerate at least one hour.
Yields 16 to 18 servings

Black Bean Chili - Vegan

INGREDIENTS
Three 16 oz. cans of black beans plus juice
46 oz. can of tomato juice or V8 juice
28 to 32 oz. of diced tomatoes - canned or fresh
1 medium chopped onion or 3T dried chopped onion
1 cup cracked bulgur wheat (use as meat substitute)
dash chili powder
1/2 t paprika
dash garlic powder
1/4 t onion powder

INSTRUCTIONS
Add all ingredients into stock pot.
Stir well.
Simmer 60 to 90 minutes until thickened.
Stir often.
Place pan in refrigerator on hot pad overnight to let everything season though.

This Chili tastes good poured over cooked brown rice seasoned with a little curry or ground cumin.

For a change add: carrots and celery.

In using dry black beans:
Use one bag (16 oz.) of black beans, clean beans of any debris
soak beans overnight in salted water in stock pot
Drain and rinse beans the next day
Add water to almost fill pot and simmer beans for 2 hours
always scrape off the foam that the beans produce, this will help the beans from being "gassy"
Drain beans, add water to almost fill pot
Simmer another 1 hour or so until beans are soft, save water - always remove foam
Now the beans are ready to use in the soup!

Tofu Olive Patties - Vegan

INGREDIENTS
2 blocks tofu (firm or very firm)
1 medium red pepper diced
1/2 medium onion diced
1/2 cup minced or sliced black olives
1/2 cup minced green olives
1 (10-12 oz) bag of seasoned croutons or bread crumbs
1 T Italian Seasoning
3 slices fresh bread (broken)
1 T Parsley flakes
1 ½ - 2 cups uncooked rolled oats
2 T prepared mustard
1 Cup Ketchup
1 t Garlic powder


INSTRUCTIONS
Mix together. Form into patties. Fry in small amount of oil or bake at 350 degrees on oiled cookie sheet

Emergency Bible Numbers

Emergency numbers may be dialed direct.
No operator assistance needed!
Heaven’s lines are open 24 hours a day!
Call (pray) direct - No waiting!

When discouraged about your work …………………………… call Psalm 126
When in sorrow … ……………………………………………. call John 14
When men fail you ……. ……………………………………. call Psalm 27
When you have sinned ……………………………………….. call Psalm 51
When you worry …………………………………… call Matthew 6:19-34
When you are in danger …………………………………… call Psalm 91
When God seems far away ………………………………… call Psalm 139
When your faith needs building…………………………… call Hebrews 11
When you are lonely and fearful …..………………………… call Psalm 23
When you grow bitter and critical …………………. call 1 Corinthians 13
When you feel down and out …………………………… call Romans 8:31
When you want peace and rest …………………… call Matthew 11:25-30
When the world seems bigger than God ………………………call Psalm 90
When you want Christian assurance …………………… call Romans 8:30
When you leave home for work or travel ……………………call Psalm 121
When your prayers seem narrow or selfish …………………. call Psalm 67
When you want courage for a task ………………………….. call Joshua 1
When you think of investments and returns …………………. call Mark 10
For Paul’s secret to happiness …………………. call Colossians 3:12-17
For understanding Christianity ……………. call 2 Corinthians 5:15-19
For a great investment or opportunity ……………………. call Isaiah 55
How to get along with fellow men …………………….. call Romans 12
If you are depressed ………………………………………… call Psalm 27
If you want to be productive ………… …………………… call John 15
If your wallet is empty ……………………………………… call Psalm 37
If you are losing confidence in people ……………… call 1 Corinthians 13
If people seem unkind ………………………………………... call John 15

ALTERNATE NUMBERS:
For assurance / reassurance …………………………… call Psalm 145:18
For dealing with fear ……………………………call Psalm 91, Psalm 34:7
For security ………………………………………………... call Mark 8:35