The simple touch of a hand...

FAITH:
Romans 13:1-14
1 ALL OF YOU MUST YIELD TO THE GOVERNMENT RULERS. NO ONE RULES UNLESS GOD HAS GIVEN HIM THE POWER TO RULE, AND NO ONE RULES NOW WITHOUT THAT POWER FROM GOD. 2 So those who are against the government are really against what God has commanded. And they will bring punishment on themselves. 3 Those who do right do not have to fear the rulers; only those who do wrong fear them. Do you want to be unafraid of the rulers? Then do what is right, and they will praise you. 4 The ruler is God's servant to help you. He has the power to punish; he is God's servant to punish those who do wrong. 5 So you must yield to the government, not only because you might be punished, but because you know it is right.
6 This is also why you pay taxes. Rulers are working for God and give their time to their work. 7 Pay everyone, then what you owe. If you owe any kind of tax, pay it. Show respect and honor to them all.
8 Do not owe people anything, except always owe love to each other,because the person who loves others has obeyed all the law. 9 The law says, "You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not murder someone. You must not steal. You must not want to take your neighbor's things". All these commands and all others are really only one rule: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." 10 Love never hurts a neighbor, so loving is obeying all the law.
11 Do this because we live in an important time. It is now time for you to wake up from your sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The "night" is almost finished, and the "day" is almost here. So we should stop doing things that belong to darkness and take up the weapons used for fighting in the light. 13 Let us life ina right way, like people who belong to the day. We should not have wild parties or get drunk. There should be no sexual sin of any kind, no fighting or jealousy. 14 But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and forget about satisfying your sinful self.(New Century Translation)

Paul encouraged Christians to obey the government even though submitting to a pagan government would be difficult. He also encouraged Christians to love each other.
Christians should be well known in their communities for their obedience to government and for their love for each other.
Let us pray for each other so that we grow in tender love, that we allow God to love us, and that we allow God to love others through us.
Where does that showing of love begin? At home; so let us bring that love to the sick, to the old, to the lonely, to the unwanted. For people do not hunger only for bread; they hunger for love, they hunger to be somebody to somebody.
I will never forget that I once met a man in the street who looked very lonely and miserable. So I walked right up to him and I shook his hand. My hands are always very warm; and he looked up, gave me a beautiful smile, and he said, "Oh, it has been such a ling, long time since I felt the warmth of a human hand!" How very wonderful and very beautiful that our simple actions can show love in that way.
And let us remember to bring that kind of love into our family. We can do this through prayer; for where there is prayer, there is love. And where there is love, there is the complete oneness that Jesus was talking about when he said, "Be one, as the Father and I are one. And love one another as I love you. As the Father loved me, I have loved you." (from Who is for Life? by Mother Theresa)

Applying it:
Have you received love in an unusual way from someone? look fpr a new way to show love to those who normally hear you say, "I love you."
Exploring it:
1 Cor 13; 1 John 3:16, 4:7-8

FRIENDS:
Things to remember when we pray~
Remind the believers to yield to the authority of rulers and government leaders; to obey them, to be ready to do good, to speak no evil about anyoje, to live in peace and to be gentle and polite to all people.
In the past we also were foolish. We did not obey, we were wrong, and we were slaves to many things our bodies wanted and enjoyed. We spent our lives doing evil and being jealous. People hated us, and we hated each other. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was shown, he saved us because of his mercy. It was not because of good deeds we did to be right with him. He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit. God poured our richly upon us that Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior. Being made right with God by his grace, we could have the hope of receiving the life that never ends.
This teaching is true, and I want you to be sure the people under these things. Then those who believe in God well be careful to use their lives for doing good. These things are good and will help everyone. Titus 3:1-8

FOOD:

Pan Release, Better Than Pam Spray! (Professional Pan Coating)
If you bake and cook everyday then this is a must to have in your
cupboard! Absolutely *NOTHING* will stick to your pans with this, it's
so much cheaper than using cooking spray and works even better than
Pam cooking spray, no chemical fumes and will not leave burnt on black
residue on the edges of your pans like cooking spray will and will
keep forever in your cupboard --- for baking recipes using chocolate
you may use 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder in place of white flour
or 1/4 cup each cocoa powder and flour --- this may be increased or
decreased successfully just make certain that *all* three ingredients
are the same amounts or the mixture will not work as well


* 1/2 cup corn oil or canola oil or vegetable oil
* 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, like Crisco, room temp
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1. Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Using an electric mixer beat until mixture has increased in
volume slightly and resembles marshmallow cream.
3. Place in a container with a lid and store on the counter or
in a cupboard (in hot weather it may be refrigerated).
4. The mixture tends to separate slightly upon sitting in your
cupboard or refrigerator so mix before using, then brush pans
using a pastry brush or a clean paper towel.


FUN:

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try
to sit in their pews.
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
The good Lord didn't create any thing without purpose, but
mosquitoes come close!
People are funny; they want the front of the bus, middle of the
road, and the back of the church.
Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and
permanently set.
I don't know why some people change churches; what difference
does it make which one you stay home from?
A lot of church members singing 'Standing on the Promises' are
just sitting on the premises.
Be ye fishers of men. You catch 'em - He'll 'em
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous
Don't put a question mark where God put a period
Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
Forbidden fruits create many jams
God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruits of the spirit' over
'religious nuts.
If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats
Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty
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