Peanut Butter Fudge

This post is by Naomi Chance!  If you haven't read her Wedded Wednesday post, click here!  If you have read it, you know already that I think she is one of the best cooks in the whole world!  I know you will enjoy this recipe.  It makes me want to sing, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go......" 

 

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

Ingredients:

 

1 stick butter

4 c. sugar

1 c. packed brown sugar

12 oz can evaporated milk

7 oz container marshmallow cream

2 c. creamy peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla

 

 

In a heavy pot add butter, sugars, and evaporated milk. Over medium heat bring to a boil. Boil for 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add marshmallow cream. Mix until well incorporated. Add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Pour into 9x13 pan. Allow to cool and enjoy.

_________________________________________

 

I thought I would share one of my favorite holiday (or for our house anytime of the year) recipes. I always hear people say that fudge is one of the hardest things to make. They say if the temperature is too high or too low it won't "set" right. Well, this recipe has never failed. I don't use a candy thermometer at all. I just time it. The most important thing is DO NOT STOP STIRRING! Another important tip is to move rather quickly with the final ingredients once you remove your pan from the heat.

 

1. Here is what you will need. (Oops, I forgot the cooking spray in the picture!)

 

 

 

2. Prepare your 9x13 pan with a thin layer of cooking spray. Also have your peanut butter measured, your spatula in your marshmallow cream and your vanilla ready to measure out. You will need to add these things quickly at the end.

 

 

 

3. Place all your butter (no substitutions), sugar, brown sugar and evaporated milk in your pot. I use a wooden spoon to stir with. Over medium or medium high heat bring to a boil. I start my timer as soon as I see small bubbles forming on the side of my pot.

 

 

 

4. Cook for 6 minutes. Eventually your fudge will come to a full boil. Don't panic....just stir, stir, stir.

 

 

 

5. Remove from heat. Stir in marshmallow cream until well incorporated.

 

 

 

6. Add peanut butter (I only use Skippy) and vanilla. Stir until smooth.

 

 

 

 

 

7. Pour into prepared pan.

 

 

 

8. Allow to cool and voila!

 

 

 

Wedded Wednesday:Freedom for the Captives

This post is by my friend, Melissa Powell.  Melissa is married to her husband, James, and has two step children.  She is a Children's Church director at our church.

 

 

Marriage

O where do I start?  It's my most favorite thing in this life.

 

My marriage is a story of going from following religion to following Jesus.  From good to great.

Stay with me here.

 

When I first met my husband we were both good people.  We tried to make the right decisions and tried to walk the religious walk, but still live in this world. 

 

Revelations 3:16

So, because you are lukewarm-

neither cold nor hot,

I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

NIV 

 

The Lord doesn't want us to be lukewarm He wants us to "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" Joshua 24:15.  But my husband and I still hadn't 100% committed to that.  We were on the church roll but we weren't on the Jesus scroll. :) 

 

So when The Lord moved us away from our families and friends, we had no other choice but to rely on each other. We started going to church in Lumberton where the pastor counseled us and then married us.  I'm pretty sure that's when we both became sold out. There was no more compromising.  A while after that, we found our home church (Freedom Fellowship)! Our soul church, where I felt like I should have been my whole life because the Spirit of The Lord is there.

 

Backing up a little, previously I thought about what I would write if Tera would ask me to write.  I talked to my husband about it and told him everything I was thinking (My husband is so wise).  I kept on giving examples of how sinful we were and who we use to be VS. how much The Lord has changed us.  My husband however felt like I was glorifying our past to much instead of giving glory to the one who has blessed us.  The one who broke strong holds and chains that we didn't even know that we had.  Isaiah 61 (end of verse one): To proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.  So this is what you got instead :)

 

I talked to a woman that I work with this week and she said in her house it's God first, marriage second and everything else will fall into place.  In my flesh I was thinking "That's not right! What about her children?"  Then the Spirit spoke to me, "She's right!  If you don't have your marriage right, you are in return, hurting your children.  If you can't be nice to the one person that is suppose to be part of you( "and the two will become one flesh so they are no longer two but one." Mark 10:8),  then what hope do they have that someone could truly love them later on in life?

 

In closing, I would like to challenge you to pray for your husband everyday. Ask him if you can pray for him. Hold his hand and pray over him.  If he is the kind of man that you feel like you can't ask him that, then just pray for him alone and see how The Lord can move in your marriage.

 

Your sister in Christ,

Melissa

 

1 Corinthians 13:7

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

 

Life Is Sweet!

This morning has already started off crazy!  I woke up about an hour and a half late which is never good when I do my quiet time and blogging before the girls get up and I need to start school.  I was asking the Lord to give me something to write this morning and felt compelled to look at one of my new favorite blogs.  Lo, and behold, I found what I needed this morning, and what I think everyone should read this morning.  I had tears streaming down my face by the time I was finished reading it.  This great testimony is by Dale Chance, who is the husband to one of the contributors here at Passionate With a Purpose, Naomi Chance.  So please, hop over to Life Is Sweet because this read is well worth your time! 

(Join me tomorrow for Wedded Wednesday by Melissa Powell!)

Fruit

I can't believe it is Monday again already!  Did y'all enjoy the rain as much as I did?  It gave me a good reason to be lazy all weekend. Every now and then you just need to rest.  We watched football all weekend.  Billy Joe is huge Aggies fan! (And they won!)  Ugh, let's don't even talk about the Houston Texans!!! (We are big Texans fans so we will overlook this week!) 

Yesterday, while watching the Texans, we had a beautiful salad with tomatoes from our garden.  They were delicious but oh so tiny!  That would have been a good thing, except these tomatoes we planted were supposed to be Roma tomatoes.  Those are supposed to be a medium sized tomato.  I am not sure what happened!  We researched and did everything just so.  We fertilized.  The plants look large and healthy, still the tomatoes only grew to be about the size of cherry tomatoes.  Even though we did everything we knew to do to the best of our ability, the tomatoes still didn't grow.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness, self-control.

Against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 

 

 

 Have you ever felt that way about the fruit of the Spirit?  Have you desperately wanted to be patient or longsuffering, and no matter how much you work on it, your patience is still very small?  Have you wanted to have more self-control and find that in your own power your self-control is very small and weak? 

 

You can do all the work in the world to try to make this fruit grow yourself, but the Holy Spirit is the only Gardener who has the power to do that.  If you are like me and wish to see your heart be fruitful, it is just a prayer away!  Ask the Father to grow these in your life.  Even if I don't have a natural green thumb, I know one who does!

 

 

  

Heartbeat

This post came as quite a surprise!  I received this in an email from my very dear friend, Charmaine Clowers, last night.  She holds such a special place in my heart!  To know Charmaine, is to love her!  Trust me, you will probably need a Kleenex by the end!  If you have ever walked through a trial that takes you to a dark place, you will relate to this testimony.  If you are there now, I pray that you find healing through Charmaine's testimony and God's Word.

 

Charmaine is married to her husband, Jeff, and is the homeschooling mother to two children.

She is a Children's Church Director at Freedom Fellowship.  You can also find Charmaine

blogging at Four Irises! 

 

Sunday night in church, the piano was playing in the background, (by my amazing friend, Tera ) and a wonderful voice was singing. (my other amazing friend, Betty) Yes, I’m a very blessed girl to have so many gifted friends. During this time, I was at the altar on my knees asking the Lord to please heal my broken heart; to give me something to hold on to. At that moment, Betty started to sing, "I want to hear your heartbeat." I’m not really sure if she actually said those exact words, but I know that’s what my spirit heard.

For the past 4 months I've been walking around with a smile on my face, but completely heart broken. Two situations in my life had changed my very soul. I have shed many tears, spent sleepless nights; had angry moments, lonely days and doubting times. I was overtaken by bitterness and overwhelmed by sadness. Filled with confusion.

Psalms 107:20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

I would never have imagined in a million years that I, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY Charmaine, could feel this way. Believe me, I have had many situations in the past that were challenging, sad and very hard, but still, never have I felt this empty.

My emotions were all over the place  I, for some reason (the enemy), was resistant to change it; purposefully pushing away the Lord, His word, my husband ,family and friends . I wanted to stay in this dark place; “Just let me be. I'm fine.” I kept on smiling to everyone. That was the enemy using my pain and pride to lead me to destruction.

Psalms 34: 18 says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” 

 

I realize that in the last month God’s love and mercy were pushing back and fighting this enemy. I wanted to be completely restored, so I begin to fight by letting people back in, getting prayed for and praying. Trying my hardest to get back to a happier place.

He, my God, my faithful God that has NEVER forsaken me, was right there.  Why was I not letting him take control of my life again? I know what he can do. He loves me!

 

Psalms 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and

binds up their wounds.

 

When I heard Betty singing those words, I felt the Lord telling me that He wants to hear my heartbeat again. He wants to heal my broken heart. I just have to let him do it. Trust Him.

 

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed,

for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

He who created me was telling me, "Fear not , for I am with you." He is always with me. He is not ignorant of my pain. He has heard my cry and he wants to heal me.

 

Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

 

He is my strength and my comforter. I feel his love for me. I give all the Glory to Him who has set me free once again! My journey to a peaceful place has begun.

We all can be healed and delivered from a broken heart. No matter what the situation, He is our answer, and tonight He hears my heartbeat again.

 

What's in a Name?

 

Happy Thursday, friends!  Does it seem like this week just flew by to you, too?  My friend, Jessica Honc, has an amazing word for you today!  I know you will be touched!  May the Lord bless you today and give you favor that a Child of the King deserves!



 

Jessica has been married to her husband, Will, for 12 years.  She is the homeschooling mother of three kiddos (Lilly, Sadie, & Samuel) and Director of Freedom Fellowship Home School Co-op.  Jessica is our church librarian and teaches 1st through 3rd grade Rays of Hope (girls) class.

Am I the only one, or has a certain person’s name ever been a scar in your mind,  if that certain person has done you wrong or caused you major distress in your life?  The sour taste in your mouth when you hear this person’s name isn’t the same thing as holding a grudge.  You may have forgiven the certain person for what they have done to you, just not forgotten.  The mention of their name can set you running in reverse or upset your stomach. 

From age 5 to age 12, my stepmother was the cause of much distress in my life.  Years after my father divorced her & well into my adult life, I subconsciously ran from her name.  If someone shared the same name as her (even their middle name) I would turn my back on that poor, innocent person & get to work on an invisible barrier to keep myself as far apart from that name as possible.  I wasn’t cruel, just purposefully neglectful.

I didn’t realize I was even doing this or that this action was keeping her and the memories of what she had done to me, with me. 

Then I was plucked up and sent to the Freedom Fellowship Ladies Retreat of 2011.   As I was getting coffee in the early hours of the morning, a sweet woman came in from jogging to get herself a cup of coffee too.  Having never met, we introduced ourselves.  Bam! There it was, she had the same name as my ex-stepmother.  I quickly ended our hellos & left the room, making a mental note to steer clear of her for pretty much the rest of my life.

I ate breakfast and headed to the chapel for service.  Guess who the speaker was that morning after service?  That’s right.  The Lord knew he had me & I knew he had me, right where he wanted me.

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them,

so that your Father in heaven

may forgive you your sins.”

Mark 11:25

I honestly don’t remember what the subject of her lesson was (I have the worst memory ever about some things) but I DO know that it changed me.  By her just being herself & letting the love and light of Christ shine through her that morning, she helped me more than she will ever know.  She helped me get rid of pain which I had been harboring for years.  I used to hear that certain person’s name& terrible memories would come crashing in on my parade.  Now I can hear that certain persons’ name& I don’t predetermine that she is someone I can’t get along with.

Consider the power of the name Jesus Christ.  It has the power to heal, cast out demons, save a person’s soul, stir emotion in us that is so overwhelming we shout out or cry or become completely still.

“The mountains shake before him, the demons run and flee.  At the mention of HIS NAME king of majesty!  There is no power in hell nor any who can stand, before the power and the presence of the GREAT I AM! Hallelujah! Holy Holy, God Almighty!”

“Glorify His name with me; let us

exalt his name together.”

Psalm 34:3

“Our help is in the name of the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 124:8

So what is in a name?  A lot.  I may have the same name as someone who caused or is causing someone else extreme emotional or physical pain.  I may have introduced myself to someone in church & they may have cringed inside while smiling on the outside.   Because of this, I need to let the light of Christ shine through me every day in every activity I do.  As a saved Woman of God, I am responsible for representing Jesus.  When people look at me, they need to see a joyful, forgiven, person full of love for all.

“Therefore I will praise you, Lord,

among the nations; I will sing the

praises of your name.”

2 Samuel 22:50

Wedded Wednesday: The Best Example

Today's post is by my longtime friend, Jessie Cowart.  She has been married to her husband, Charles, for 2 years.  She is the mother of a 5 week old beauty, Allison.  Jessie plays the piano at our church, and teaches 3rd-5th grade Rays of Hope Girls' Class.

Jessie & Charles Cowart

Hello everyone! I hope all of you are having a fantastic week!  I would like to share with you something that has impacted my marriage tremendously!  When I was a little girl all I wanted to do was get married and have a family!  Well, you guessed it!  I got married when I was 18 to the love of my life!  There is not a day that goes by I don't love him more!

 

We just had our first baby girl who is 5 weeks old (Which seems unreal)!  Of course, getting married at a young age also comes with A LOT of struggles! (But who doesn't know that? LOL)  One thing that has helped me not to "rock our marriage boat" is the advice and wisdom of older, God fearing women, who love the Lord and strive to please Him.

 

4. So that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and children, 5. To be sensible, pure, good homemakers, and submissive to their husbands, so that God's message will not be slandered.
Titus 2:4-5 HCSB

 

I love the part in verse 5 where it says, "so that Gods message will not be slandered."  Not only do these examples help us to have good marriages and happy households, but also to follow the plan God has for us as wives and mothers which in return He will bless!

 

I hope to be a good example and realize the importance of doing so because of the impact women like this have had in my life and in my marriage!

 

Happy Wednesday Everyone! I hope its fantastical!! :)

 

 

This is Jessie's beautiful daughter, Allison!

 

 

 JUST FOR FUN!

Please leave a comment of Titus 2 advice that you wish someone would have given you when you were first married or a new mother!  If you can't leave a comment on here for some reason, please leave one on the facebook page under this link!

 

Nothing Is Impossible

I got up this morning and grabbed the computer to start writing.  When I logged in, I saw something so amazing.  There has been almost 6,000 views on my blog!  This brought tears to my eyes.  Do you ever get amazed like that at God.  It is humbling that such a GREAT, merciful, compassionate, long-suffering God can use sinners like me (& YOU)  to accomplish His will EVEN when we don't fully understand His plans or His ways!  I just want to say thank you for reading.  There are not adequate words to tell you how loved I feel by all of my precious friends! 

Nothing is impossible with God!!! (Luke 1:37) and through Him all things are possible. (Philippians 4:13) 

Do you ever need a reminder that Nothing is Impossible?  The God we serve is able to do exceedingly, ABUNDANTLY, above all we ask or think, according to the POWER that worketh IN US! (Ephesians 3:20)  AMEN!  That means if we are willing, God will use you WHEN and HOW it brings pleasure to Him.  When he does, don't let Satan steal the God's Glory with His lies.  Give God the Glory in all things!

If you know me very well, you know that I love Christine Caine and A21 Ministries.  They do an amazing work rescuing trafficked victims.  I hope you will stick around and enjoy this funny story from Christine.  I promise you will laugh and then you will be encouraged in your faith. 

Have a great Tuesday! 

WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN A CHALLENGE???? 

Try to encourage at least one person today in their walk with the Lord!  Stop right now and make a phone call, send a text, or a short email to someone you want to encourage.  Let's build up the Body (Eph.4:29)!

The temple of God

Wow!  Is it already Monday again!?!  I hope you had a fantastic weekend, and I hope you had great fellowship with other believers on The Lord's Day.  When I was growing up, my grandfather, who was a Pastor, called after church every Sunday and asked, "So, was your service gloriously different?"  I thought that was a funny question because most of the time, as a child, I thought it was exactly the same.  Now, as an adult, I see the wisdom in His question.  It is glorious to see one sinner come to repentance!  It is glorious to worship with other believers.  It is glorious just to have the privilege of being in the House of the Lord gathering together with the Family of God! (I am blessed to have such a great Church family! Just can't say it enough!)

I sat here for an hour changing subjects about ten times.  I would type a paragraph and then delete it.  None of them seemed right.  Everyday since I started this blog, I have had a specific subject on my heart to write about, or someone would write for me.  Today was no different.   I have something on my heart, but I didn't want to share it because it is very personal and makes me feel like a failure.  It's about being physically healthy!  I mean eating healthy and exercising not necessarily a number on the scale.  Ugh....just saying that makes me feel consumed with defeat.

Every year, I start a diet and workout program and by the end of the year I am back at square one.  What it boils down to is 'self control'.  I have the willpower to say no to movies and music that would be harmful to my spirit, but have the hardest time saying no to FOOD that could destroy my body.  Anybody know what I'm talking about???   I figure I am definitely not alone in this struggle.  

In the last week, I have been using my quiet time to search the Bible for encouragement and wisdom on this matter.  I also called my sister-in-law, Kathleen, who is a Crossfit trainer, to give me some scripture as well. 

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  1 Corinthians 10:31

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:19

Believe me when I say this, I was struggling to figure out if what I felt was conviction.  When I read these scriptures I believe it is.  The Lord wants my best in everything that I do, and I can not give that to Him if I feel sluggish and tired.  I can not give him my best if food has more power in my life than His Word!  I am very careful about what goes in to my body where movies, books, and music are concerned.  My body is the temple of God.  THE TEMPLE OF GOD!  Shouldn't I be just as careful about how I treat my physical body! 

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.  1 Corinthians 9:26-27

 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.  1 Timothy 4:8

You have probably heard people use 1 Timothy 4:8 as an excuse to not exercise.  It does say it profits a little.  In the CEB version, it says physical exercise is of some value.  I have read countless commentaries on this verse in the last week and the consensus seemed to be that no amount of physical work can change the inner man.  Our Godliness comes through His righteousness.  Even though I know the context is not about physical exercise, I added the verse to my journal!  I needed as many as possible !

And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man given to appetite.

Proverbs 23:2

Not literally!  The commentaries I read about this scripture said that just like you would be absolutely alert if a knife was at your throat, be aware that food and drink are a great temptation to you.  Gluttony is a sin.  Just like people can be tempted to overindulge in alcohol and drugs, we too can be tempted to overindulge in food. 

The next verse is Kathleen's favorite.  If you have ever seen her 'guns', you would understand why!

She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

Proverbs 31:17

 

I have some more, but I will wait and share those another day.  I wasted an hour trying to talk myself out of sharing these and now it is time to start school!  If you are struggling in this area and would like me to pray for you as I ask the Lord to help me, please send me a message!  Also, if you have some encouraging scripture or quotes that help you, post them in the comments!   I hope you all have a fantastic Monday!

 

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (self control). 

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

 

 

 

 

   

Hospital for the Sick

This post is by my sister-in-law, Betty Roberts. (Known to us as Beautiful Betty!)  Betty is married to Chad, her husband of 10 years.  She is the homeschooling mom of three children: Tyler, Isaac, and Alyssa.  Betty has been a worship leader at our church for somewhere around 15 years.  Betty is the fifth child of seven in my husband's family, and has been my dear friend since before Billy Joe and I were married.  She is absolutely one of the most fun-loving people to be around!

 

Charmaine (left) and Betty (right)



I was sitting in church a few weeks ago, when my sister walked by. She was about 40 weeks pregnant at this point. The thought that went through my head was "When is Benjamin going to come already?!" The same question she was asked a million times. (So I kept it in my head, I didn't want to be the one she finally snapped at! lol!)

As I sat there though the Lord started speaking to me.  I'm going to share one of the things he showed me. It is nothing we haven't all heard.   Nothing profound, but it was made so real to me and I felt the need to share. (Thankfully I have a sweet sister-in-law who let me hijack her blog!)
     

  Anticipation

When someone close to us is about to give birth we are excited, anxious, and a lot of times, it is in the forefront of our minds.  We anticipate the arrival of this new precious little person.  In the same way we should anticipate our loved ones coming to Jesus, or their "re-birth".

When someone is about to have a baby we wake in the night to check our phone, look forward to the next check up, and just pretty much drive the poor mother-to-be insane watching her.  We should feel the same intense longing to see souls saved. It should be on our minds all of the time.  We should lie awake in the night praying!

To anticipate is to expect or predict something.  Just like we know that this baby is going to be born, we should KNOW that souls will be saved.  We should not just hope for the salvation of our family and friends, we should expect it, we should know that it is coming! 

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 

for kings and all who are in authority,

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  

 

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires

all men to be saved and to

come to the knowledge

of the truth.  

 

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,  who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.  1 Timothy 2:1-6

When the highly anticipated bundle of joy finally makes his/her appearance, we are beside ourselves with joy. We cry, laugh, and can't get enough of the baby.  The joy doesn't end that day!  For weeks, we have to see the baby every day (if not my heart will stop).  The family is blessed for a lifetime with a new member.  But if that baby isn't nurtured, fed, clothed and loved would it survive?

How many times do we see someone go to the front for salvation and then we never see them again? 
When a soul is re-born we need to remember that they are spiritually infants.  They need nurturing. They need love.  They need to be fed spiritually and encouraged, then they will grow to spiritual maturity.

       Ephesians 4:14-15

That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful

plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into

Him who is the head—Christ!

        2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

 This is something that I needed, and I hope it means something to someone else too. As the church we are a hospital for the sick, weak, and dying.  So let's hold on to people with all of our strength. Let's not just let them go back to their addictions and self destructing lives.

 It may not always be easy, or pretty. But it is what we are here for!

The Armor- bearer

This morning I got up with a heavy heart praying for a situation I would like to see the Lord intervene in.  I prayed and asked the Lord to do a work, and still I did not feel encouraged.  All of a sudden, I was reminded that Monday morning, one of my dearest friends sent me a message that said, "I'm praying for our friends." I responded, "We're agreeing together for God to move! Amen!"  Instantly, I felt encouraged that I was not praying in vain, because I knew I was not alone in my labor.

There is something about having friends who 'have your back' in every situation.  Those friends who will stand and pray with you when you feel like giving up.  This friend of mine is my armor-bearer. 

In Chapter 14 of 1 Samuel, we find the Israelites facing the Philistines.  God's people were so afraid that they were hiding.  Jonathon, King Saul's son, decided that it was time for them to come out of hiding!

 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us.For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few."  1 Samuel 14:6

 



Jonathon is ready and he has great faith that the Lord will prevail!  They challenged the Philistines at the pass of Micmash.  They heard from God to attack.  Jonathon and his armor-bearer climbed the rocks to meet the soldiers, slew 20, and started a day long battle that the Israelites won.  There is, however, one little detail I left out and it is found in 1 Samuel 14:7.

So his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that

is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you,

according to your heart.”

Don't we need that some times?  When you have a situation at hand that is your own personal circumstance, or that is a circumstance the Lord has burdened you to pray for, you can set your face like Jonathon.  You might want to attack it in prayer with great faith. You might believe that "God will work for us and that nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few."  There is just something about hearing another believer say, "Let's do it!  I am with you!'

I want to be your armor-bearer today and tell you nothing is too BIG for our Great God!  He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)  Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37) and through Him all things are possible. (Philippians 4:13)  He is for us, so who can be against us!?! (Romans 8:31)  The Lord will fight for you! (Exodus 14:14) 

If you have a prayer need, I am standing with you in the Name of Jesus.  "Here I am with you!"

I encourage you to be an armor-bearer to someone today!

Wedded Wednesday: The Marriage Boat

This post is by my wonderful friend, Jessica Honc!  She is one of the most creative, hard-working people that I know.  I am lucky to call her friend and enjoy our coffee/play dates more than she will ever know.  I love this picture because it captures every bit of her outgoing and loving personality!

Jessica has been married to her husband, Will, for 12 years.  She is the homeschooling mother of three kiddos (Lilly, Sadie, & Samuel) and Director of Freedom Fellowship Home School Co-op.  Jessica is our church librarian and teaches 1st through 3rd grade Rays of Hope (girls) class. 

The Marriage Boat

 

I love the Facebook posts showing an old couple holding hands while walking by the water next to a phrase like, “We come from a generation where we fix what is broken, we don’t throw it away.”

Coming from a family where a rough patch in marriage wasn’t something fixed & spouses could be replaced, these posts inspire me.

If our children learn anything from my husband and me about marriage, I pray they learn that marriage is sacred; that it is a vow before God, between a man and a woman and when the waters get rough or your marriage boat begins to sink – jumping ship is not an option.

In the book of Mark chapter 4, Jesus taught a few parables by the lake, then got in a boat with his disciples to head just across the lake to the region of Gerasenes. (Gadarenes)  There came a huge storm while Jesus was napping.  The storm was so violent that the boat was almost swamped.  The disciples were frightened & woke Jesus up.  He calmed the storm with just one order, “Quiet! Be still!”

Through the 12 years we have been married, my husband and I have had a few storms rock our marriage boat.  Sometimes it seemed like we were bound to sink. Sometimes only one of us was desperately hanging onto both the boat and the other spouse.

Marriage is a wonderful gift from God and marriage is full of beautiful moments, marriage is also work & it is so much easier with the Lord.  If you hold onto each other in marriage and keep strong faith in God, no storm is too big.

 Now here is the thing; nowhere do we read in Mark that the disciples, being fishermen & knowing the signs of a storm, told Jesus, “Hold up – maybe we shouldn’t get into the boat right now, it looks like a storm is approaching.”  I believe that the waters were calm when they entered the boat.  I believe Satan is the one (being the prince of the earth) who decided to cause the violent storm and rock the boat.  The power of our Lord is so mighty! It took only one order from Jesus & the waters were calm & peaceful again.

With God in your marriage boat, Satan can only cause waves, he will not have the power to sink your ship.  And just look at Mark chapter 5; when they reached the shore Jesus cast many demons out of a man who had been in great agony.

When you get through the stormy waters and reach the shore, the Lord can fix and restore any trust issue.  The Lord can break any chains which bind you or your spouse.  The Lord can calm any spirit of anger or jealousy.  The Lord can cast out any sin bombarding your home.  The Lord can remove any shame.  The Lord can open any line of communication.  He is Almighty & loving and merciful.  I thank God every day for my husband, and for guiding us through the storms which have brought us to this shore of safety, restoration, and blessings.

 

“He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with

your own eyes.”

Deuteronomy 10:21



WHY?

Every time I hear a bad report or that a tragedy has happened to someone that I know well the first question in my mind is, "Why, Lord? They are such a good person."  Seriously.  I know what the Bible says in Matthew 5:45....the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.  It can happen to anyone. 

The "why" question isn't new to God.  It was asked in the Old Testament by Job and the writer of Psalms (which most believe to be David).  What about during the later years?  The twentieth century had to be full of "why".  The Great Depression, 2 World Wars, the Holocaust, genocide in many countries, famine in parts of Africa, and 9/11 are just A FEW of the tragedies that come to my mind.

There are so many religious leaders now who want to sugar coat life.  They teach that if you follow all their steps you'll be so blessed you will almost be invincible.  Sometimes, you even have preachers that will tell you that you control all things in your mind.  If you think positive, only positive things can happen.  Jesus was not like these men.  He was not a liar.  Jesus said things like they were even if it was not popular.

 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

Still, I think of a mother of young children with cancer and wonder why.  I wonder why a 17 year college bound student died suddenly in a tragic accident.  I wonder why the lady carried her baby to full term only to see it be still born.  The simple fact is, "I don't know."

 

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.

All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I

will know everything completely, just as God now

 knows me completely.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

 



We will not understand it.  I will tell you what I do understand, God did not create suffering.  In Genesis when he saw all that he had made, he saw that it WAS GOOD.  Suffering came in when 'all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.' (Romans 3:23)   BUT THERE IS HOPE!

 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called

according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

 

Joseph is a good example of tragedy turned to good.  Do you think he might have asked "Why" when he was walking with the caravan to Egypt, or when he was in prison? Joseph was blessed enough to see purpose come from his suffering while he was still on earth. 

 

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day,

to save many people alive.

Genesis 50:20 NKJV

 

 

Some of us don't have that opportunity.  We don't see the purpose until we get to Heaven.  During your suffering please remember one thing, The Lord is not slack concerning his promises. (2 Peter 3:9)  He will never leave you or forsake you. (Heb. 13:5)  If you have just received a bad report on yourself or someone you love or have gone through some other kind of tragedy, believe that God is with you and his Bride is interceding for you.  

 

I hope you will join me tomorrow for Wedded Wednesday.  My brilliant friend, Jessica Honc, will be writing.  It is going to be great and you will be blessed by it!

The Perfect Gift

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

Sunday morning I had the honor of being there for one of God's most perfect gifts, the birth of my nephew, Benjamin James.  It has been about 24 hours and I still feel overwhelmed.  Every time I see a newborn baby, I am ABSOLUTELY AMAZED AT GOD'S GOODNESS!  I see all these precious friends of mine that are having babies, and my heart runneth over!  When I hear them talking about nursing their sweet babies, it is almost enough to induce tears.  (I may or may not be crying now as I think about it!)  From conception, babies are truly a miracle formed by the very hand of God!

As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.  Ecclesiastes 11:5 

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:13

It is God who formed this life!  (Just as a side note: This is why I can not understand how any Christian could support abortion FOR ANY REASON!)  How could anyone see the miracle of birth and still not believe in our Creator God?  Just look at these and tell me!

 Benjamin

 Allison

Caleb

Ruby

 

 

These are just a few of the babies I could have posted pictures of on the blog.  I think it is safe to say that our church is growing generationally!  Aren't they beautiful!  Isn't God amazing!

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Psalm 127:3

 

We would do well to remember that our children are a reward, a blessing from God.  We did nothing to deserve them.  God has entrusted us with these precious gifts of life.  Enjoy every minute they are nursing! (1 Thessalonians 2:7)  Train them up in the fear of the Lord! (Eph. 6:4)  Discipline and correct them so they will continue to be a delight to you! (Proverbs 29:17)  Most importantly, let me snuggle them as much as possible!  Ok, well, that's not in the Bible, but it is a GREAT idea to implement.

 

This is one of my shorter posts, but my blessings are getting up and I just want to love on them!  I hope all of you have a fantastic Monday! 

 

Revival and Awakening!

I started blogging an answer for a question from a reader, well, because that's what I do on Fridays, right!?!   This is what came to my heart instead.  It is a little longer than my usual post, but the Holy Spirit just poured something into me.  I put it in print.  God is good!  "I will praise You, Oh God, among the nations!  I will sing of you among the people!  For great is your Love reaching to the Heavens.  Your faithfulness reaches to the sky.  Be exalted, Oh God, above the Heavens!  LET YOUR GLORY BE OVER ALL THE EARTH!"  (Ps.57)

 

Revival and Awakening are two of the most popular Christian clichés used in the church right now.  They are just about as common as the words born again or Sunday school.  Clichés church people use to try to look important to other churches.  Revivals are scheduled in man’s time, Sunday through Wednesday at 7, and hope God will show up on His time.  Pastors and youth pastors are announcing from pulpits and podiums that this generation is the beginning of a great Awakening, or that we just came out of the age of The Great Awakening. So which is it?  What’s funny is that most of us have a little idea of what these two words mean but don’t fully understand how or when Revival or Awakening happens. We pray for it. We talk about it happening. Shouldn’t we know what to expect when it gets here!

The Webster Dictionary defines the two words this way.

Revival: the act of reviving, the state of being revived, a new presentation of something old, restoration of force, validity or effect.

Awakening: to cease sleeping, to become active again.

So let’s imagine we’re praying this. Dear God, please do the act of reviving, send a New presentation of something old, give us a restoration of force, validity, and effect as the Church of the Living God.  Let this be a time to cease sleeping and become active again.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  Now that’s a power packed prayer in about 2 sentences! And it ends with a powerful stamp or seal, The Name of Jesus. 

How many times do you think God has heard this prayer? Countless, endless amounts. (I can imagine God feeling like a mother with small kids following her around saying, “Momma, Momma, Momma can you do this, Momma can you do that? AHHH... LOL)  It seems though when he sends it and it doesn’t look like what we think it should or happen how WE would plan it, we ask Him again hoping He’ll send something else.  These words are not just clichés, it is what the Holy Spirit would have in every body of believers on this earth.  REAL REVIVAL AND GREAT AWAKENINGS COST THE BELIEVER HIS LIFE. It is a requirement to become active (not passive, not just barely struggling though), that means living a right life before God (not deciding when you want to be a Christian and constantly sitting on the fence), waking up to what’s going on around us(and calling sin “sin” and holding each other accountable), allowing God to make a new presentation of Himself and the cross of Christ(giving us fresh revelation of Jesus), and being ready to take our place in the Army of God to be effective in winning the world and making the enemy flee.

Let’s don’t mistake this, because I think a lot of people have this mixed up:  Revival is for the church, seeing souls saved is just a benefit of it. You don’t see paramedics and first responders trying to revive someone who has already been pronounced deceased and God cannot “revive” that which never had life. He will however “birth” life in new believers as fruit of revival in His body. 

Selwyn Hughes (Welsh minister from Crusade for World Revival)wrote: ‘Evangelism is the expression of the Church; revival is an experience of the Church. Evangelism is the work we do for God; revival is the work God does for us.’

OT Examples of Revival and Awakening:

-King Asa became king of Judah and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He banished the male and female prostitutes and removed all the idols that his father had set up. King Asa also commanded his people to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the Law and the commandments (1 Kings 15:9-15 and 2 Chronicles 14:1-15).
-The prophet Elijah had a spiritual battle on Mount Carmel. Once the true altar was prepared, a complete offering was given, Elijah called upon his God and the fire fell. The people fell on their faces crying out, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord He is God!” (1 Kings 18:20-40).

-Jehoiada, King Joash((2 Kings 11:17-18, 2 Chronicles 23:16-21 and 2 Chronicles 24:2).

-King Hezekiah of Judah and King Josiah also saw revival.

NT Examples of Revival and Awakening:

-The first revival after the resurrection was on the Day of Pentecost; the Holy Spirit was poured out; Peter began to preach and about three thousand people were cut to the heart under conviction of sin and the Church was birthed (Acts chapter 2).
-In Ephesus, after hearing and seeing the power of God working through the apostle Paul, fear fell on the Jews and many who had believed on Jesus Christ publicly confessed their sins and those who had practiced magic and witchcraft publicly burned their expensive occult and magic books (Acts 19:11-20).

This is what Revival sounds like. It is God’s voice saying, “ offer your bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and live holy (I Peter 1:16 and Psalm 24:3-6), put away sin, and seek God (Hosea 10:12), take up your cross daily and abide in the Vine (John 15) and to humble yourselves and look to God.”

And when the church has ears to hear what the Spirit says, the Awakening will look like this: the Church quickly turns from our wicked ways, God has heard from heaven, He has forgiven our sin and healed our land’ (2 Chronicles 7:14). God begins to pour out His Spirit on ALL flesh; our sons and daughters begin to prophesy, the old men dream dreams, the young men see visions.(Acts2:17) 

God pours water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; He pours out His Spirit on our descendants and blessing on our offspring” (Isaiah 44:3).

Revival is painful and messy at first. God gets all up in your business, bringing correction and direction. Calling for repentance and calling us to take a stand: Be for him or against Him.  You know he hates lukewarmness.(Rev.3:16) 

When you hear that alarm screeching at 4:30 in the morning, you don’t want to get up, you want to push snooze.  You know you will lose your job if you don’t get up and get moving, but, "Oh this bed is so comfy"………That’s the Church.  The state of: don’t get in any one's business, everybody live how you want to, come on Sunday and be a self help, therapeutic, tell me how to make my life better and easier and “Have My Best Life Now”(Joel Osteen) and sprinkle a little Jesus in there to call it church instead of Social gatherings is a warm cozy bed the church has made.  (It's alright to Amen at home!)  The Alarm is going off Church!  The time has come! 

 

How long will God’s mercy shield us from His wrath?

Give us ears to hear!  WE HAVE TO GET UP CHURCH……so revival can start in the Church of the Living God and the Time of Great Awakening can finally be here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ugly As Homemade Soap

Have you ever heard the saying, "Ugly as homemade soap"?  You are about to see what that means! LOL!  After seeing that my friends at Four Irises made homemade soap, I have been wanting to make some of my own.  Here is the recipe that I used and pictures in case you want to make some yourself.  It was actually fairly easy.  I am going to let my girls make some as a craft project for school.

We found the recipe at Chickens in the Road.

HOT PROCESS SOAP

Ingredients
Crisco — 9.6 ounces or 272.155 grams
olive oil OR olive oil pomace — 9.6 ounces or 272.155 grams
lard — 6.4 ounces or 181.437 grams
coconut oil (76-degree melt point) — 6.4 ounces or 181.437 grams
distilled water OR milk* — 12.16 ounces or 344.73 grams
lye — 4.463 ounces or 126.524 grams

Tools
Crock pot
Rubber Gloves
Goggles
Freezer Paper
Food scale
Glass measuring cup
Hand mixer
Large mixing Bowl
Wooden Spoon

1.  Measure your oils and put them in your crock pot on low so they can melt.  When it is completely melted, turn your crock pot off.

2.  Measure your water and place in bowl.  WEARING GLOVES and GOGGLES, measure lye.  We went outside to pour our lye into the water because of the fumes.  Always pour lye into water, not the other way around.  Stir with a wooden spoon.  It is cloudy at first.  You will know it is ready when it is clear.

 

 

3.  Slowly add the lye to your melted oils, making sure to stir.  Now you will mix with a hand held blender until your soap traces.  That means that when you use your hand blender or whisk to draw a line on top of the soap, that line stays.  (Just a tip: Use your blender a little at a time.  Use a wire whisk while the blender rests. Then use it again.  This will keep from burning up the motor!)

 

Here is our trace below.

 

 

 

4.  Turn your crock pot back on low and place the lid back on it.  This says in the original recipe it takes about an hour, but it took us closer to 1 1/2 hours.  Stir the soap every now and then to make sure it is cooking evenly.  We had a party while we waited, so you should do that too!

 

 

 

5.  Here it is at 30 minutes.

 

 

 

6.  This is what ours looked like at about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  We did a zap test to see if the it was ready.  Basically, it is like sticking a battery to your tongue to see if it is good.  If it zaps, your soap is not ready.  You can also buy pH strips to do this if you prefer.

 

 

 

7.  I wanted to add scent to my soap, so I took out my soap mixture and stirred for a few minutes to allow for cooling.  (If it is too hot, the scents can be cooked out.)  This only makes two pounds of soap, so no more than 1 oz. of scent is needed.  I used pure essential oils.  The one below is half of my batch of soap with .25 oz. of cinnamon bark essential oil, 1 tablespoon of real cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of honey.  ( Use a maximum of 1/2 cup dry additives in a two-pound batch.  More may make your soap crumbly. If adding honey, add 2 tablespoons per two-pound batch.)  You can also add soap colorant but it is better to use liquid.

 

 

 

8.  You can line a 9x13 pan with wax paper and pour your soap into the pan to make soap OR you can do what the super cool kids do and use Pringles cans for round bars.  You will need 2 cans per batch of soap.  Clean out the Pringles cans.  No need to line because you are going to cut in to them later anyway.  Pour your soap in but leave about an inch at the top so when you cut your can off your soap, you aren't cutting into the soap.  Bang the mold a few times on the counter to allow the soap to settle.

 

 

9.  This will need to sit for 12 hours.  We just used a large knife and cut the Pringles can at the top and peeled it off.  Go ahead and cut your soap.  Janet used a nifty soap cutter.  I used a knife out of my kitchen.  Whatever works for you!

 

 

The bars on the left are cinnamon honey.  The bars on the right are lavender.

 

The original recipe says to let the bars sit for one to two weeks, but you can use them immediately if you can't help yourself! It might be ugly, but it lathers well and smells delicious!   Happy soap-making!