A fellow blogger, Stuart Perkins, tells his stories on Storyshucker. Stuart is an expert storyteller.
Not long ago, he told this inspiring story which includes a sunrise. We seem to be amazed and awed by sunrises and sunsets. Everywhere on social media, people post photos exhibiting the majesty of our sun rising out of or falling into the horizon.
“No One Spoke” is a beautifully told story of a group experiencing a sunrise from a beach.
Click on the link above. I hope you enjoy it.
A New Way to Eat Chicken Salad
Here’s a new and healthier way to eat chicken salad if you’re trying to keep the “bad” fats out and the “good” fats in. This easy and tasty spread uses avocado instead of mayonnaise or salad dressing.
So for Foodie Friday, try something new on a whole grain bagel or slice of whole grain bread, in a wrap, or on a green salad.
Avocado Chicken Salad
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked
1 ripe avocado, mashed
1/4 c. finely diced onion
Juice of one lime
1/2 T. cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix onion, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper into mashed avocado. Shred chicken and blend all ingredients together.
Yields 4 servings
See? I told you it was easy!
Tip: If you aren’t using the chicken salad up in one day, keep the pit from the avocado and place it in the covered dish for storage. It helps to keep the avocado mixture from turning brown.
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:16, 21, 22
What happens when there’s something we know for certain we need to do, but the action itself goes against what makes sense to us?
Do we ignore that nagging voice telling us to follow through?
God often gives instructions to act on what He says without explaining why. Perhaps you can relate to some of the stories in the Bible.
Joshua was a general. He followed Moses as leader of the Israelites when God led them to the Promised Land. It was now time for them to seize the property and take possession of it. The first city to be taken was Jericho.
God explained to Joshua that He had delivered Jericho into his hands. It implied that all the people had to do was follow God’s instructions. Imagine what some of the people must have thought when they were told the plan.
March around the city with all the armed men and the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant for six days. On the seventh day, as they marched, the priests were to blow the trumpets. When they heard the long blast from the trumpets, God told Joshua to have the people shout loudly. “The walls of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.”
Yell at a huge fortified city after marching in silence for six days? That doesn’t make sense. But they did it. The city fell.
God chose Gideon as a judge of Israel to defeat the Midianites who were constantly harassing the people. Here’s another example of God commanding a plan that doesn’t make sense to mere mortals.
To prepare for the battle, God told Gideon to reduce his troops to 300 men. First, the ones who were afraid to fight went home excused. The rest of the army was tested to see if they lapped water like dogs or with their hands to their mouths. Only the men who drank water in a ready position were retained.
Fight the enemy with only 300 men?
Gideon had previously been wary of God’s message that he was a “mighty man of valor” and even went so far as to ask for signs from God that He meant what He said. When Gideon asked, God didn’t become angry; He answered Gideon in the way Gideon requested. (Judges 6:36-40; 7:1-8)
Naaman, commander of King Aram’s army “was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.” He sought a way to be healed and one of his servants offered a solution. She suggested her master see the prophet Elisha. When Naaman arrived, Elisha sent a messenger to say that the commander should wash himself seven times in the Jordan River and his flesh would be restored.
Naaman went away angry. He had the idea that Elisha would intervene, calling on the name of the Lord for a miracle. When considering the solution given, he ranted that the Jordan was an unfit river and there were better ones in which he could dip himself.
Again, his servants seemed to grasp the situation better than he. They reasoned that if the prophet had told him to go and “do some great thing,” would he not have done it?
Washing in what Naaman thought was a dirty river didn’t make sense to him. But he went. He was cleansed. (2 Kings 5: 1-14)
The prophet Jeremiah had an inside track with God, continually receiving God’s word as a way to speak to the Israelites about His plans. The message that the people would be sent into exile wasn’t a pretty one. The message had been given by other prophets as well. Israel had plenty of warning about what was coming.
At one point, God told Jeremiah to buy a piece of land from his cousin. Surely buying property during a time of siege by the Babylonians must have seemed foolish to Jeremiah’s friends. Even to his enemies.
However, Jeremiah obeyed God when his cousin came to him in the courtyard of the guards. Despite the fact that he was a prisoner and the people would be exiled for seventy years, Jeremiah knew when God restored His people, “Houses, fields and vineyards (would) again be bought in (the) land.” (Jeremiah 32: 6-25)
Jesus’ chosen apostle, Peter, was a commercial fisherman. One day, after Jesus taught the people who gathered on the shore to hear Him, He told Peter to put his boat into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.
“Simon (Peter) answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’”
After fishing all night and not catching a thing? Why now? That doesn’t make sense.
But Peter obeyed. And they caught such a large number of fish the nets broke. (Luke 5: 4-11)
Who are you most like? Naaman, who argues God’s instructions? Gideon who doubts he can be used by God and asks for signs to be sure? Jeremiah who has an inside track and trusts God will come through? Or Joshua and Peter, who obey immediately because God “says so”?
Maybe you’ve acted like any one of them at some time. That would be understandable because faith can be a tricky thing.
Sometimes, as in Naaman’s case, we need other people to help us see what God is trying to do in our lives. Or we need to ask God for further clarification like Gideon did with the fleece. Then we can move with a small “army” instead of surging ahead full force.
As we mature spiritually, God gives us an “inside track.” We may still pray for a clearer vision, or depend on others to help us see how God intends His instructions for our benefit. Ultimately, we’ll come to a point in which we simply obey because God says so.
Even when it doesn’t make sense.
Imagine what would have happened for the young man whom Jesus told to sell his possessions and give to the poor. Imagine the rewards he would have seen and the joy that could have been his if he’d decided to obey, despite the fact that losing his riches didn’t make sense.
What is God asking you to do today that doesn’t seem to make sense? God’s thoughts are greater than ours. His ultimate plan may be hidden even though He provides a way to see His revealed will. Maybe today is the day to trust God and put our lives completely in His hands.
“We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
An acquaintance of mine said when she first began her walk with God that she didn’t seem to fit the same mold as the women at church. She was grateful that they were patient with her as she grew more spiritually mature, but still believed she would never be quite like them.
That’s probably a good thing. I’m quite sure that God planned ahead of time for that.
Her remarks got me thinking about my own ability to relate to other Christians. My thoughts turned to trying to figure out why we’re all so different. While a sincere heart change and character growth are what we’re after, I don’t believe God wants cookie cutter Christians.
He wants us to be exactly who we are; what he created us to be. Naturally, if we come to him with severe character defects, his Spirit will work in us to change us into people who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23).
But God created us with unique talents and personalities. His purpose for us in his redemptive plan means he’ll use those talents and personalities for his own purposes. He refines our personalities, but he doesn’t change them.
For example, the apostle Peter was obviously an impulsive sort of guy. He seemed to act and speak sometimes without thinking first. Jesus even rebuked him for it at one point.
“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men'”(Matthew 16:23).
Yet Jesus knew the potential in Peter and chose him to be the “rock” on which the Church would be built. Peter’s impulsiveness was refined into a boldness which was used to preach the Gospel, winning many people to faith in Christ.
Being handpicked for a purpose is true of everyone who chooses to believe and follow Jesus.
Isn’t it great knowing that God can use even your personality to serve the kingdom?
My observations have seen God using people who are shy and people who are bubbly and enthusiastic conversationalists. I watch as both introverts and extroverts take on ministry and glorify God. Some of us are stoic; others more laid back.
I admit there are times when I meet someone whose personality seems to jive perfectly with mine. Still, there are plenty of differences in us to make our individual service unique and to keep the relationship we have refreshing.
God knows that we need the connections of those similarities. He also knows that our world would be boring if we were cut from cookie cutters or poured from the same mold.
That’s why God celebrates that there’s only one you. You can celebrate it as well.
Over the years I’ve sat in many small groups of people studying the Bible in some fashion. Every group included at least one person who was unfamiliar with scripture and had no regular Bible reading plan.
I’ve always been passionate about helping people read and understand the Bible better. The reason for my passion is because I know if they keep reading, they’ll get to know God better. They’ll get to know Jesus, his Son. Over time, they’ll even begin to appreciate the Holy Spirit’s role in their lives.
We all enjoy forming relationships in a small group and that’s important. But I believe the small group experience will be enriched when people also form a growing relationship with God. To someone new to it all, even talking about a relationship with God can be confusing.
I understand that because I had questions too. I was too proud to ask them so for a long time I stayed ignorant about a lot of things God wanted me to know and do. Pretty much like I did everything, I relied on myself. I thank God for some good people who gently taught me that I didn’t know it all. Often, I didn’t even know what I thought I knew.
If you know what I mean.
Today, I love to hear people speak up and ask questions referring to things they don’t understand about God or the Bible. It inspires me, knowing that they want the enlightenment scripture can bring. More than just trying to answer questions, however, I like to point them to Christ by encouraging them to dig into the Bible themselves.
In these cases “Where do I start?” is a common question.
Not a list of Ten Ways to Get to Know Your Bible
Rather than being clever and offering a quick fix and a list, here’s a Bible reading plan that doesn’t take much time. It’s pretty comprehensive, covering some significant stories and points in scripture. Even better, it just may give a person with lots of questions enough of a taste to want more. The result of completing the forty days might be that an individual–maybe you–begins a daily Bible reading routine.
Seasoned readers of the Bible might also give the forty-day plan a try. If how you’re doing it now has become a little stale (and it can; don’t feel guilty about that), go ahead and stop how you’re doing it. Reading passages which are seemingly unrelated might put some kick in your relationship with Christ as well. You can always return to the method you were previously engaged in.
God comes near when we draw near to him. Reading the Bible, meditating on what we read and praying for understanding open us up to hear his voice. And that’s something all of us often ask about.
“How do I hear God speak to me personally?”
A Suggested Forty-Day Bible Reading Plan
Day 1: Genesis chapters 1-2 (The Creation Account)
Day 2: Genesis chapter 3 (The Beginning of Sin)
Day 3: Genesis chapters 15, 17:15-27 (God’s covenant with Abraham)
Day 4: Genesis chapter 21:1-7; chapter 22 (God’s faithfulness and Abrahams faith)
Day 5: Exodus chapters 3-4 (God Calls Moses to deliver His people)
Day 6: Exodus 6 (The Ten Commandments)
Day 7 Joshua 1 (Conquering the Promised Land)
Day 8 1 Samuel 16-17 (David and Goliath)
Day 9: 1 Kings chapters 3; 8:1-9; 9 (King Solomon’s wisdom and the Temple)
Day 10 1 Kings 18 (The prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal)
Day 11: 2 Kings 25 (The Siege of Jerusalem and the Exile of Judah)
Day 12: Daniel 2-3 (Daniel in Babylon: The fiery furnace)
Day 13: Ezra 3 (Rebuilding the temple)
Day 14: Isaiah chapters 9, 53, 61 (Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah)
Day 15: Luke chapters 1-2 (The birth of Jesus)
Day 16: John 1:1-18 (Who Jesus Is)
Day 17: Luke 4:14-44 (Jesus begins his ministry)
Day 18: Matthew 5-6 (The core of Jesus’ teaching)
day 19: John 3 (God’s Love for the world)
Day 20: John 5 (Jesus’ Miracles and Authority)
Day 21: John 11 (Jesus’ Power Over Death)
Day 22: John 15 (The Christian Life Defined)
Day 23: John 17 (Jesus’ High Priestly prayer)
Day 24: Matthew 26-27 (The arrest and crucifixion of Jesus)
Day 25: John 20 (The resurrection of Jesus)
Day 26: Luke 24 (The ascension of Jesus )
Day 27: Acts 2 (The coming of The Holy Spirit)
Day 28 Acts 9 (The conversion of Saul)
Day 29 Acts 16 (The Gospel spreads to Europe)
Day 30 Acts 26 (Paul’s defense of the Christian Faith)
Day 31: Romans 3 (Justification by faith alone)
Day 32: Romans 7-8 (The battle with sin; Life in the Spirit)
Day 33: 1 Corinthians 13 (The way of Love)
Day 34: 1 Corinthians 15 (The power of the resurrection)
Day 35: Galatians 5 (Freedom in Christ)
Day 36: Ephesians 6 (The whole armor of God)
Day 37: Philippians 1:18-2:18 (Christ’s example for us)
Day 38: Colossians 3:1-17 (Putting on the new self)
Day 39: James 1 (Pure religion)
Day 40: Revelation 21-22 (The New Heaven and the New Earth)
Bible reading plan copyright 2005, Crossway; Value Compact Edition, English Standard Version (ESV)
I live in one of the Midwestern states so I get to experience four distinct seasons. Autumn is my favorite.
The weather in autumn agrees with my body. Autumn also stirs my soul. I have fond memories of school starting, playing in fallen leaves in the front yard of my childhood home, and cookouts over backyard fires. (Say, “marshmallows,” “hot dogs,” “S’mores.”)
Autumn brings a harvest of some delightful produce as well, and pumpkin tops the list for many of us.
Pumpkins grace porches this time of year–just as they’re picked or carved with a face. They provide a pantry item when we pack them up for the freezer. And in my opinion, eating pumpkin pies just make more sense during autumn.
Since I haven’t posted anything food related for awhile, here’s one of my favorite recipes using pumpkin. The cream cheese frosting makes it really special, but even without it, the bars are exceptionally moist.
Enjoy!
Pumpkin Bars
4 eggs
¾ c. oil
1 ½ c. sugar
1 16 oz. can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, cream together eggs, oil, sugar and pumpkin. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture and blend.
Spread mixture into a 13” x 9” pan and bake for 25 minutes.
While pumpkin bars are baking, make frosting.
Frosting
1 3 oz. pkg. cream cheese (room temperature)
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ c. butter or margarine, softened
2 c. confectioner’s sugar
Cream together the cheese and butter. Mix in the vanilla. Add the confectioner’s sugar and blend well. When bars are cooled, spread frosting on top.
If you want to use your own fresh or frozen pumpkin from your pantry, you probably can. I suggest using a food processor or blender to “whip” it into shape. Be sure all the stringy fibers are removed for the best texture.
In 1990, just for fun, I came up with a list of “Things I Like.” Not surprisingly, ‘a nice cup of tea’ and ‘telling a joke well’ made the list.
Before the year was over, I’d considered that list and decided I needed to write another list of “Things I Need” (relationally). What I learned about writing and reviewing that list over time was that I was the one mostly responsible for making sure my relational needs were met. If I looked at it any other way, I felt like a victim.
Now, somewhat belatedly, I’m convinced another list is in order. A more important list, and probably not complete, I name “Things I Believe.” After all, I’m a Believer.
For what’s it’s worth, here it is. And the only items on the list I could say are in order of importance are perhaps #1 and #2.
1. I believe everything God said about Himself in scripture.
2. I believe everything Jesus said about Himself and that I am, because of my belief, now crucified with Him, reconciled to God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and will spend eternity with Him when He returns.
3. I believe there is a purpose in my life and that this purpose is to please God, however He defines His pleasure.
4. I believe the various experiences of my life–trials and joys, no matter when they happened–God is even now using to further His kingdom.
5. I believe in the intrinsic value of every human being.
6. I believe in the power of prayer.
7. I believe God speaks to people in a variety of ways and His purpose for speaking is for His glory to be shown in the world.
8. I believe there is an enemy in the world named Satan and that it is possible to be deceived by him as well as it is possible to stand against him with the power of God’s word and prayer.
9. I believe that there is a cost in loving as God commanded, but as we risk according to God’s definition of love, our relationships with Him become deeper. We are healed and our relationships with others become healthier.
10. I believe that my beliefs can and will affect my behavior.
Bonus belief: I believe that Numbers 1 and 2 are the basic foundation for the rest of the beliefs listed.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2
October has arrived and people are planning fall events, one of which is called a Corn Maze. They’re meant to provide family fun and sometimes a little bit of Halloween mischief.
A corn maze is like any other maze built of shrubs. The difference between a corn maze and a maze of shrubs from those puzzles in the magazines is they’re 3D. The idea with any maze puzzle is to find your way from the opening of the maze and, without hitting any barriers, make it to the other side, where you can exit.
The puzzles are designed to have natural stops and starts built into them.
I’ve done these puzzles numerous times. For the puzzle to be challenging going over the barriers doesn’t make sense. Besides, that’s cheating.
I could draw a line through one, but what’s the point? It’s more fun and satisfying to solve the puzzle and getting through by following the natural openings offered at each turn.
Furthermore, once I’m in, I can’t go around the maze. That means I’ll need to back up sometimes and start over.
So really, the only way out is through.
Life is like that. The way through isn’t straight. There are always many possible directions that look like the way to go, but we meet barriers at every turn. Natural stops and starts. We have to look for the openings that lead to other openings.
In a historical novel I read a few years back, two children asked the heroine to run through a maze. The first time she tried, she got lost, not to mention frustrated, as they ran ahead of her. The children, however, encouraged her to try a second time.
“Look up, instead of down,” they told her. “It might be easier.”
The advice didn’t make sense to her, but partway in, she looked up. There, in the upstairs window stood her Beloved, looking down at her in the maze. From his vantage point, he could see every turn that would take her to the other side of the puzzle.
Because she trusted him, she kept looking up and he guided her all the way out.
Naturally, the only way out was through.
Raise your hand if you often have a problem being patient.
(Come on. Hurry up! I’m waiting!)
There, I knew I was in good company.
Whenever I hear someone talking about patience (this includes me), they don’t usually mention that they weren’t patient. The story merely includes how long they had to wait. We usually mention how a person or a process was going too slowly.
Why do we never tell stories of when we made someone wait for us?
The rewards of being patient elude us when we’re “in the moment.” Most of us have the kind of life in which we need to always be on the move.
Just last week I was giving a friend of mine a ride home. Our fastest route would have taken us down a street where there are railroad tracks. Trains go by this intersection several times a day. On this day, at this particular time it was no exception. Did I take that route?
No. I turned right instead of left and went out of my way to avoid the tracks and waiting behind a long line of cars. Then I justified the action. I told my friend, “I figure if I have to burn gas I may as well be burning it in motion rather than sitting still.”
That was me. Always on the move. Lack of patience.
These are a few reasons why patience wins.
Hope is a by-product of patience. Hanging on to the idea that God’s will eventually plays out keeps us from worrying about the outcome. Hope does not disappoint us. (Romans 5:5)
Practicing patience takes the focus off ourselves. When we’re honest about our lack of patience, we often find our reasons are based on our own desires or needs. When we focus on others–whether we know their needs or not–it can help us to be patient, understanding and sympathetic.
Patience sets a good example to others. As much as we might ignore (or justify) our own lack of patience, others notice. We have no control over how others actually respond to us, but we do have control over whether we handle a situation with calmness or fretting.
Patience perfects character. Character is often revealed through a trial, be it great or small. But waiting patiently can also “have its perfect work” in our lives (James 1:4). The more we practice patience, the better we become at practicing patience. We find we can better endure the various trials we face.
Even if the so-called trial is as simple as waiting for a necessary train to pass by.
Whenever I have questions about what it is God is trying to say to me (in any situation), this quote often comes to mind. Of course I rely on God’s word to remind me, but these words, like scripture, are also simple and clear.
In addition, they seem to come from someone who’s believed God and experienced His love. A love that is faithful and sweet no matter what the situation.
In all Your Journey as a Believer,
You will have two kinds of Spiritual Experiences.
One is tender, delightful, and loving.
The Other can be quite obscure,
dry, dark and desolate.
God gives us the First one to Gain us;
He gives us the Second to Purify us.
~ Michael Molinos, 17th Century Writer
Be a blessing to someone today
The Fruitful Life 