The casual Christian

FAITH:  

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10  

Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica and helped many new Christians. They felt quickly because of persecution from the Jews (Acts 17) and could not return. The church in Thessalonica faced persecution. Paul wrote with encouragement and instructions for proper living.  

The Thessalonians were commended for their faith and good works. They became an example of faith and love to all Believers.  

I have found that the casual Christian has little or no influence upon others. I am finding that it is only the Christian who refuses to compromise in matters of honesty, integrity and morality who is bearing an effective witness for Christ. The worldly Christian is prepared to do as the world does and will condone practices which are dishonest and unethical because his is afraid of the world's displeasure. Only by a life of obedience to the voice of the Spirit, by daily dying to self, by a full dedication to Christ and constant fellowship with Him, are we able to live a godly life and have a positive influence in this present ungodly world. by Billy Graham

Applying it: Are you an example of faith and love to the people around you? Do you have a reputation for being faithful? What attitudes are typical of people whose faith you respect? 

Exploring it: Being an Example--Acts 17:1-9; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 

2 Corinthinas 2:14-17; 4:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:12  

FRIENDS:  

Father, we want to come home to you. But sometimes we're afraid that we've done something unforgivable, afraid that we've made you angry. And we wonder how you can forgive us. But Father, your Word teaches us that you will forgive us and that there's no sin too deep for your hand of forgiveness to reach. In Jesus' name, Amen.  

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE 

April 1 

Mark 1:1-8; 1 Cor 1:1-17; Psalms 72; Joshua 1-2 

April 2 Mark 1:9-20; 1 Cor 1:18-31; Psalms 73; Joshua 3-5  

~The Book of Mark~ 

The drama of Mark's Gospel peaks in Caesarea Philippi.  

It's a religious mecca. Every major religion can be found here. Temples dot the landscape. Priests stride the streets.  

Jesus and his followers are here? Why? If Jesus preached a sermon, it's not recorded. If he performed a miracle, we don't know it. As far as we know, all he did was ask two questions.  

The first, "Who do people say that I am?"  

The disciples are quick to respond. They've over heard the chatter. "Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah, and others say you are one of the prophets."  

Good answers. True answers. But wrong answers.  

Jesus then turns and asks them the question. The question. "But who do you say that I am?"  

He doesn't ask, "Who did you think I was when the crowds were great and the miracles were many?" He asks, "Who do you think I am. Here against the backdrop of religion. Me, a penniless itinerant surrounded by affluent temples. Who do you say I am?"  

He doesn't ask, 

"Who do your friends think....... Who do your parents think ....... 

Who do your peers think?" He poses instead a starkly personal query, "Who do you think I am?"

The disciples aren't as quick to respond. One ducks his eyes. Another shuffles his feet. A third clears his throat. But Peter lifts his head. He lifts his head and looks at the Nazarene and speaks the words heaven has longed to hear. "You are the Christ."  

You have been asked some important questions in your life:  

Will you marry me?  

Would you be interested in a transfer?  

What would you think if I told you I was pregnant?  

You've been asked some important questions. 

But the grandest of them is an anthill compared to the Everest found in the eighth chapter of Mark.  

Who do you say that I am?  

FOOD:  

Easy Pull-apart Bread  

10 sun-dried tomato halves (not packed in oil) 

2 cups Bisquick Original baking mix 

1 package ( 8oz. ) feta cheese, coursely crumbled and divided 

3/4 cup milk 

3/4 cup roasted jarred red bell peppers 

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh or 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves 

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh or 1 tsp. dried basil leaves 

1 clove garlic, finely chopped 

2 Tbsps. olive oil  

Heat oven to 425F. Lightly spray a 9x9" pan with cooking spray. Cover dried tomatoes with boiling water and let rehydrate for 10 minutes. Drain tomatoes and finely chop. ( or snip with scissors) 

Mix baking mix, tomatoes, half the cheese and the milk in a bowl until dough forms. Mix remaining cheese, bell peppers, oregano, basil, garlic and oil in a small bowl. 

Drop half the dough by Tablespoons closely together in an irregular pattern in pan. Spoon half the cheese mixture over the dough. Drop remaining dough over the cheese mixture and top that with remaining cheese mixture.  

Bake aout 20 minutes or until golden. Serve warm.  

FUN:  

New Diet  

A friend of ours, a nurse, who has done a lot of research about dieting, had given us information about the various popular diets including Atkins, Jenny Craig , Weight Watchers, and the South Beach Diet. She then mentioned a diet about which we haven't heard previously, but which she insists works for almost everyone: 

The Dawn Keye Diet...

FEAR NOT

FAITH:

“And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Fear not….’”
Joshua 8:1, Amplified Bible

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 14: 27, N.I.V.

Is there something happening in my life right now that is making me afraid?
Have I told God about my fears?

“Jesus came treading the waves, and so he puts all the swelling tumults of life under His feet. Christians – why afraid?”
St. Augustine

“Be strong, do not fear.”
Isaiah 35: 4, N.I.V.

If there is one thing in life that makes me afraid, it is flying in an airplane in bad weather.

I’ll never forget flying over the Rocky Mountains into Denver a number of years ago when the winds were 50-60 miles per hour. Let me just say that I had never seen so many of those air sickness bags used on a plane before. The turbulence was awful and by the time our airplane taxied into the gate, I was literally shaking all over – when I stood up to walk off the plane, my knees were knocking together and it took me nearly an hour to get calmed down.

Several weeks after this terrifying ordeal, I was telling my dad about my harrowing experience and he smiled and said, “Dorothy, when I get on a plane, I just tell God I’m in His hands and then I put my seat back and go to sleep knowing that God is holding me in His arms.”

I loved my dad’s courageous belief and faith in God for several reasons. First, it wasn’t a blind trust. My dad had repeated proof through the years as he watched God take care of him and his family. God’s previous acts of compassion were, to my father, better than money in God’s bank of remembrance. Second, my dad really believed what he told me. This wasn’t some tacky little pep-talk meant to calm me down during a time of crisis. Instead, this was God talk – a reminder that our God in heaven has this world under control.

This is exactly the kind of encouragement given from God, directly to Joshua and the children of Israel. Even after all God’s daughters and sons, including their earthly leader Joshua, forgot who gave them the victory in Jericho; and even after their stunning defeat in Ai when, instead of going to God for advice they headed into battle on their own; and even after their fall into the Valley of Achor – God still, in His immense loving-kindness, came to Joshua and said, “Now that I’ve brought you through Achor and led you through the door of hope, you don’t have to be afraid or fear anything.”

The Psalmist, David, understood completely the capacity of God to take us through the valley and lead us forth with hope when he penned the well-known words of Psalm 23 (Amplified Bible) – “Yes, though I walk through the deep, sunless valley, I will fear no evil.” Why did David say he had nothing to fear? “Because Thou art with me!” This is the same promise God gave to Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will not fail you or forsake you” (Joshua 1: 5, Amplified Bible).

I’m so thankful the God who told Joshua, long ago, “Don’t be afraid, I am with you,” has promised all of His children, and this includes you and me, “I am the Lord I do not change” (Malachi 3:6, Amplified Bible). This means the words spoken to Joshua are spoken to you and me today, “I’ve brought you through the Valley of Achor and opened the door to a hopeful life. You have nothing to be afraid of!” What a promise! What assurance!

In days like these, when the entire world is watching money slip away and possessions become meaningless, our God says, “Fear not!”

And to all of you who are struggling with marital problems, financial challenges, crippling illness, and unsaved children, our Father’s message today, as it was to Joshua is, “Fear not!”

These are words I need to hear today. For when trials confront us and the future is dark and we can’t see what’s ahead, having a Father who comes to me and says, “Fear not I am with you,” gives me all the hope, encouragement, and love I need to keep my hand in His as I walk with Him every moment of every day.

“Our hearts, our hopes, are all with Thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o’er our fears,
Are all with Thee – are all with Thee!”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Have you ever taken your fears to God, got the horizons of Eternity about them, looked at them in the light of His love and grace?”
Robert J. McCracken

FRIENDS:

“Father, we beseech You to deliver us from the fear of the unknown future, from the fear of failure, from fear of poverty, from fear of sickness and pain, from fear of age, and from fear of death. Help us, O Father, by Your grace to love and fear You only. Fill our hearts with cheerful courage and loving trust in You. In Jesus' name, Amen

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. A walk on the beach
2. Kids home on spring break
3. Unexpected money in the mail
4. Watching your child master something
5. Being served ice tea in a mason jar
6. A full freezer
7. Laughing till you cry
8. A bouquet of fresh flowers
9. Sitting on a bench in the park
10. A dear friend coming to visit


FOOD:

Breakfast Carrot Cookies

A quick grab and go breakfast option. You can substitute raisins or
other dried fruit for the dates.

1 c Carrot,Grated
1/2 c nonfat plain yogurt
1/4 c brown sugar
2 T Canola Oil
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c Dates
1 1/2 c Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/4 c Grape-Nuts cereal
1/2 t baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking sheets with non-stick cooking
spray or line with parchment paper or silicone sheet. In medium mixing
bowl, stir carrots, yogurt, sugar, oil, vanilla and dates. Let stand 15
minutes. Stir in remaining dry ingredients until well blended. Drop
tablespoons of mixture onto baking sheets, spacing 1 1/2 inches apart.
Reduce to teaspoon drops for mini-size cookies. Bake 15 minutes or
until cookie top springs back when lightly touched. Cool.

Yield: 30 Servings

Per Serving:
69 Calories
1 g Protein
1 g Total Fat
0 g Saturated Fat
0 g Polyunsaturated Fat
1 g Monounsaturated Fat
14 g Carbohydrates
1.6 g Fiber
13 mg Sodium
115 mg Potassium
0 mg Cholesterol

FUN:
Another cute donated joke. Thanks TM.

An old Italian man lived in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard.

His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant
my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden.

I know if you were here, my troubles would be over. I know you
would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love,
Papa

A few days later he received a letter from his son::

Dear Pop,
Don't dig up that garden.
That's where the bodies are buried.
Love,
Vinnie

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.

That same day the old man received another letter from his son::

Dear Pop,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now.
That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
I love you,
Vinnie

Created in His Image

FAITH:  

Proverbs 17:1-28  

God judges every person by the same standard. He condems evil.  

Wisdom does not come naturally. We gain it by respecting God and making careful choices.  

The God who has shown himself to be for us, wills also to be with us. He is infinitely capable and desirous of relating himself to every person who freely opens himself to such a relationship. God wills this as the means of fulfilling his purpose in us, enabling us to become the kind of persons he intends us to be.  

The divine capacity to be personally related to us is rooted in the richness and complexity of the very being of God. "God in Three Persons!" Transcendent above and eminent in all that exists. Disclosing himself dramatically and painfully in our history. Intimately and profoundly present with each who will open himself to the Spirit.  

And we are built so that we may deeply receive his Spirit.. We bear his image. Our person is patterned after his Person. Our spirit, at its deepest level, is kin to his Spirit. As we, then, accept the loving knowledge of God made possible through Christ, we are drawn by the Spirit into a deeper knowledge which becomes trust, commitment, growth, fulfillment. 

by Chester A Pennington  

Applying it: Avoid the mistake others have made. Spend time with a Christian older than you. Gain wisdom by hearing of that person's success and failure. Find answers to questions like: "What has helped you get to know God better? How do you resist temptation? How do you respond to stress?" 

Exploring it: Faith--Psalm 20:7; John 14:14-17; Hebrews 11:1  

FRIENDS: Father, how thankful I am that You invite me to call out to You. I recognize that prayer is a vital part of our relationship. I promise to share my most inner thoughts and feelings and to praise and worship You for all that You have done for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.  

FOOD: Here is a great website that will help you with cooking and a lot of other things in life that you may not have memorized. http://megaconverter.com/mega2/  

FUN: I have seen this before, I just hope it wasn't because I posted it before. It's funny either way. 

 

Men Are Just Happier People

 

NICKNAMES  

1. If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.  

2. If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.  

EATING OUT  

1. When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.  

2. When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.  

MONEY  

1. A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.  

2. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale. BATHROOMS  

1. A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .  

2. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.  

ARGUMENTS  

1. A woman has the last word in any argument.  

2. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.  

FUTURE 1. A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.  

2. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.  

SUCCESS  

1. A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.  

2.. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.  

MARRIAGE  

1. A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.  

2.. A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does. DRESSING UP  

1. A woman will dress up to go shopping, go to the gym, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.  

2. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.  

NATURAL 1. Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.  

2. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.  

OFFSPRING  

1. Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.  

2. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house..  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!

Trust.........the Lord

FAITH:

Proverbs 3:1-8  

1 My child, do not forget my teaching,  

but keep my commands in mind.

 

2 Then you will live a long time,  

and your life will be successful.

 

3 Don't ever forget kindness and truth.  

Wear them like a necklace.  

Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.

 

4 Then you will be respected  

and will please both God and people. 

 

5 Trust the Lord with all your heart,  

and don't depend on your own understanding.

 

6 Remember the Lord in all you do,  

and he will give you success.

 

7 Don't depend on your own wisdom.  

Respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong.

 

8 Then your body will be healthy,  

and your bones will be strong.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (vv. 5-6)

If you want God to lead you in life, put Him first in everything!  

“He will make your paths straight”—that is, the way forward will be obvious to you, and God will remove the obstacles that would keep you from following His will for you. It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? But why are we not experiencing it every day?

Notice that there are three conditions to this promise. Trust in the Lord. When you sense Him leading you and you don’t know where you will end up or how you will get through, obey Him anyway. Act on the reality that God is there. If He leads you, you can trust Him. This is not just verbal trust, but the kind that is with all your heart! Don’t lean on your own understanding. Don’t try to be the master of your own fate. Don’t get the idea that you can plan your way through life.

Recognise that you desperately need God’s hand in your life, both guiding you and enabling you. In all your ways acknowledge Him. Make sure that your life shows that God is the one you honour, love and obey.  

Meet these three conditions and you can rest in the reality of God’s guiding hand.  

FRIENDS:  

Father, We are often amazed at the help we get from doing something so simple as reading your word. Who would thing that daily help could be found in a book so old. Help us to look for your guidance every time we open it. Make us aware of how precious your Word is. Thank you, Father, for giving us this source of light and strength and for the opportunity to read and discover what you want us to know. In Jesus' name, Amen  

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE 

Matthew 28:11-20; Romans 16; Psalms 71; Deut 33-34 

This is the last one for March so use the rest of March's days to catch up on anything my might have missed.  

10 Things To Be Thankful For 

1. Daffodils 

2. Good news of recovery from an illness 

3. Children at a Birthday party 

4. Old church bells 

5. Our imperfections 

6. A campfire breakfast on a summer's morning 

7. Good leaders 

8. Finding an answer to an unsolved dilemma 

9. French toast made with Texas toast 

10. Not getting lost in a new town  

FOOD:  

Strawberry Magic Cake  

1 10 oz. pkg. mini marshmallows  

1 18 oz. box yellow cake mix ( mix cake according to pkg. directions)  

1 3 oz. pkg. strawberry Jell-O  

1 16 oz. box frozen sliced strawberries, (not drained & partially frozen)  

2/3 cup cold water  

8 oz. Cool Whip  

Spread the marshmallows evenly over the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.  

Spread the prepared cake mix over the marshmallows. 

Sprinkle the Jell-O powder over all.  

Spoon berries here & there over the Jell-O.  

Drizzle the water over all. DO NOT STIR!!  

Bake in preheated oven for about 55 minutes at 350 F. 

Cool & serve with Cool Whip  

FUN:  

http://www.thewvsr.com/adsvsreality.htm

S-M-L-XL---Does God come in sizes?

FAITH:

1 Kings 18:1-46  

King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel worshiped Baal, the most popular Canaanite god. Baal idols were often cast in the form of a bull, which represented lust, power, and fertility. Baals were believed to supply rain for crops--an irony during this time of God-appointed drought.  

God demonstrated, powerfully and dramatically, his superiority to all false gods, and their prophets.  

Fifty-six times in the Bible the work almighty is used. Always it is used of God; never of anyone else. God is all powerful, or omnipotent. Again we are forced to use a negative to explain the concept--there is nothing he can't do. That is a staggering ides. He has no bounds to His energy.  

God can do one thing as easily as He can do another. It is no more difficult for God to create a universe than it is for Him to make a butterfly, and He does everything without losing any of His strength. Isaiah 40:28 says, "The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired." God never needs to be replenished. Where would He go for more strength? There is no power outside God.  

Built into absolute power is the authority to use it. God not only has the power but He has the authority to do anything He wants to do. While God can do anything He want to do, however, His will is totally consistent with His nature. That's why, for example, He cannot lie and will not tolerate sin. It is also why He shows grace and mercy. Psalm 115:3 says, "Our God is in the heavens; He does what ever He pleases." Have you ever asked the question, "Why did God do this?" He did it because He wanted to If this doesn't seem like a sufficient answer to you, it's because you don't understand God....  

We worship an unchanging, allpowerful God. If that makes Him seem far beyond your ability to comprehend, that is good. If you think of God as someone simple enough for the human mind to understand, your god is not the true God.  

What is your concept of God? Do you see Him as a timeless, infinite, allpowerful, unchanging, glorious being? Or do you, like many tend to minimize God's greatness, preferring to think of Him as one who may be manipulated or fooled by human hypocrisy, or one who may be mandated to do what we want. Such a view of God is utterly pagan.  

A vision of the steadfastness of our immutable God brings a sense of security and stability to our unsettled lives. And the understanding that His power is unlimited and undiminishing strengthens and encourages even the weakest believer. The natural response to that is praise and adoration that over flows in a life that worships. by John MacArthur Jr. 

Applying it: Is your God too small? Take a moment to pray as you contemplate God's almighty power. Ask Him to help you realize his greatness and worship him. Exploring it: God is All Powerful--Genesis 18:14; Exodus 15:6; 1 Samuel 14:6; Psalm 93:4; 115:3;, Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; Revelation 19:6.  

FRIENDS: Father, we want only to please you. We cherish your promise to take care of your children. And yet we often come to you with muddled ideas, unsure of what is best, uncertain of your will, questioning you. Thank you Father, for the assurance that our imperfect prayers cannot hinder your incredible power. Will you draw us ever closer to you? In Jesus' name, Amen.  

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE 

March 23 

Matthew 27:57-66; Romans 15:1-13; Psalms 69:19-36; Deut 29-31 

March 24 

Matthew 28:1-10; Romans 15:14-33; Psalms 70; Deut 32  

FOOD: This is from one of my internet food groups: The method below is the best and easiest way I have ever found to make polenta. Absolutely foolproof, makes perfect polenta every time. And it is from an Italian site! Cheers, Doug in BC http://video. about.com/ italianfood/ Polenta-Recipe. htm  

FUN:  

Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt." 

Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. 

Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about. He said, 

"Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."