Category Archives: 2019

Ice Cream Spoons?

I have finally completed the silver flatware set I started before I was married. It coincides with the grandkids coming this weekend. So what’s the connection?

This P31 grandmother plans to have them help make ice cream, using the attachment to my KitchenAid mixer, and afterwards, enjoy it with ice cream spoons.

What, you may ask, is an ice cream spoon? I suppose in days gone by everyone knew, but today’s modern world has lost some of the customs of yesteryear.

The spoon on the right is an ice cream spoon; one the left is a regular teaspoon. The rounded shape of the ice cream spoon is designed to allow it to be more easily scooped, and to fit the mouth better. And apparently a metal spoon is the best type to eat ice cream with.

So now you know! We’ll be crushing candy canes into French Vanilla to create a minty Christmas ice cream, yum!

 

Walking in the Spirit

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Galatians 22-25

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

TODAY’S MESSAGE:

Once in a while, we feel disconnected with God. He seems distant and we start to wonder what is wrong. We feel that our relationship to Him is only on the surface, and we want to dive into His deep water. To make it worse, we seem to be doing all the right things, and even our friends see us as perfect Christians.

It sounds as if what you are looking for is evidence of the Holy Spirit in your life. As son as you received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you received the Holy Spirit within you. The Spirit dwells inside you, and will do so permanently.

It may be possible that you have a barrier between you and the full experience of the Holy Spirit. The Bible promises what the fruit of the Spirit will give us: Galatians 22-25

Perhaps you haven’t fully turned your life to Jesus. Maybe you have some unconfessed sin. Approach him like the woman who anointed His feet. No doubt she wept because she felt the emotion of being in His presence, and the comparison of her own sin to His lack of sin. Open your heart to the one who already knows what’s in it. I John 1:9 tells us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Walking in the Spirit is a day-by-day thing. Often, life gets in the way of our relationship with Jesus. We push him to the back of the line, behind our schedules, jobs, and the millions of things we need to do. Try making Him a priority in your life. Paul commands us to “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) This means to keep our thoughts and actions on God as we go about our daily lives.

If you want to see God, His holiness and your sin more clearly, read the Bible every day. One of the promises of the Holy Spirit is a greater understanding of the Word. “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12)

Forgiving and Forgiven

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6: 14-15

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

TODAY’S MESSAGE:

As you can see from today’s Scripture, Christians cannot refuse to forgive, as Jesus himself commands it.

If you are offended by something a friend says or does, don’t hold a post mortem and rehash every word afterward. Don’t bring up the other person’s faults or past transgressions.

On the other hand, some people are not as kind as you, and are likely to repeatedly hurt you. You are obligated to forgive them, but do not be foolish enough to keep trusting them. Be careful to avoid those people. Do not resort to revenge; instead, pray for them. In this case, forgiveness means that you have given up hope that anything will be different. It is a reconciliation with the past.

Sometimes you will be the one who unintentionally offended. Ask the other person for forgiveness. If they refuse, ask God. He will forgive, and He will soften their hearts so they will also extend their forgiveness.

In the meantime, let them know that the grudge was only one sided, and that you are willing to re-enter their lives. In other words, forgive them for not forgiving you!

 

What Does it Mean to Live the Proverbs 31 Lifestyle?

  • It means having a meaningful relationship with God  “…a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
  • It means having a marriage based on love and trust   “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31: 10-12
  • It means being a loving and caring mother    “Her children arise and call her blessed” Proverbs 31:28
  • It means caring for those less fortunate   “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31: 20
  • It means contributing to the family finances “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes” Proverbs 31:24
  • It means paying attention to her appearance  “She is clothed in fine linen and purple” Proverbs 31: 22
  • It means managing her household  “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31: 27
  • It means being creative in decorating her home “She also upholsters with finest tapestry…” Proverbs 31:22
  • It means providing quality meals for her family “She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.” Proverbs 31:14
  • It means looking after her health and that of her family   “She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” Proverbs 31:17
  • It means finding time to pursue leisurely interests  “She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.” Proverbs 31:16
  • It means giving your best in everything you do  “Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates. Proverbs 31:31”
  • It means integrity in everything you say and do   “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31: 25-26”

Here I am, but who am I…?

The 8th chapter of the first book of Samuel is often quoted at ordinations:   “Here I am , Lord.” God called to Samuel and in the 10th verse, and Samuel answered.

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Sometimes God calls us in a shout, but more often in a whisper. Or a tug at the heart. Often the call is something we feel we cannot possibly do, so we tuck it away for later. But God knows what He wants you to do and He has more faith in us than we do in ourselves. If we are called to do something we find easy, we are likely to take credit for it and allow ourselves to become more important than who we serve.

So, instead, God calls us to reach beyond ourselves and our abilities. Moses was pleased when God spoke to him in the burning bush and told  him He was going to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, but he panicked when he was the one called to lead them. He doubted his ability and in Exodus 3:11, he even argued with God:

But Moses protested to God, ‘Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel of out Egypt’”

Despite his feelings of unworthiness, Moses obeyed God. The task proved to be as difficult as Moses predicted, but he persevered by God directing him every step of the way.

And so it is with us and our callings. We answer, “Here I am, Lord.” But we add, “Who am I, that you should choose me?’ God has given each of us a calling. Some of us are called as clergy, others as teachers, others as parents, still others as physicians and nurses. We are who He wants for the task, and by trusting in Him and following His direction, we can perform the task in a way that brings glory to Him.

God is calling you. Will you answer or let Him go to voicemail?