Repentance

FAITH:

Revelation 8:1-9:21
John had a vision of a supernatural battle waged between God's and Satan's forces. Although God disciplined his own people, they refused to repent.

Sin comes subtly into a person's life. Before we know it, it takes control and alienates us from God. We must repent and turn to God in faith.

John was also a prophet. The prophets often held out hope for the present---hope that God's judgment could be delayed if people would repent and turn to God in faith and obedience. That does not mean that the prophets offered an easy way out of all difficulties, as if somehow all problems would vanish if people would just profess their faith in God. Instead, like Winston Churchill standing amidst the bombed ruins of London, the prophets offered "blood, sweat, and tears" for those who would follow god. It would not be easy to serve god and fight against the evil of this present, dark and sinful world, and yet the prophets knew that God wold be victorious in the end and His people would share in that victory.

So John was a prophet, calling his generation---and ours---to repentance and faith and action. He knew that we could never build the kingdom of God on earth, no matter how hard we might try. Only God can do that---and someday he will, when Christ comes again. but John also knew that God's judgment on the world could be delayed if we would repent and turn to Christ.

To some, John's message of the future may have sounded gloomy and depressing. John knew, however, that the worst thing he could do would be to assure people that everything was all right and that there was no need to be concerned about the evil in the world or God's judgment. But John's message is ultimately a message of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. by Billy Graham

Applying it: What is the really good news in your life right now? Tell someone about it today. What sin needs to be confessed? Pray, telling God you are sorry and resist the temptation to give in to it again.
Exploring it: Repentance-Deuteronomy 31:27-29; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Nehemiah 9:28-31; Isaiah 30:15; Luke 13:3; John 12:10-11; 2 Peter 3:9

FRIENDS:

Dear Father, thank you for our lives, thank you for sending Jesus to show us how to do life right. We praise you in all things. Help us to view life from Your perspective and not get mired and bogged down in our past failures. Thank you for giving us an abundant life that we can live here on earth and eternally in Heaven. In His Name, Amen.

FOOD:

Emptying the Cupboard Cookies
Devised by the author of a popular Internet blog, London Foodie In New York, these cookies have great flexibility. Let's say that all you have in your pantry are walnuts. You have no almonds, coconut, hazelnuts or peanuts. Just make up the difference with the walnuts. You can also exchange the dried fruits, or drop the seeds altogether. Similarly, if you don't have whole-wheat flour, then just use plain flour.

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons flaxseed
1 cup flaked almonds
3/4 cup peanuts
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 cup walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
chocolate, melted for dipping (after cooking), optional

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, mix together all of the dry ingredients and set aside. In a larger bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy. Beat in the eggs gradually until fully combined, and then beat in the peanut butter. Fold in the dry ingredients until fully combined. Form into ping-pong sized balls and place about 1 inch apart on non-stick cookie sheets. Press down lightly to flatten and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly golden. Let cool. Then, dip half in the melted chocolate, if preferred. Yield: 36 to 40 cookies.


Cookie Balls
1 pound chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 pound vanilla-flavored candy coating, melted

In a large mixing bowl, combine crushed cookies and cream cheese to form stiff dough. Roll into balls and dip with a fork in melted candy coating. Let rest on waxed paper until set. Yield: 36 cookies.

Cake Mix Cookies
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, stir together the cake mix, butter and eggs until smooth and well blended. Mix in the chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Yield: 24 cookies.

FUN:
(for all the Washington State readers...)

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Washington.

If you've worn shorts, sandals and a parka at the same time, you live in Washington .

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Washington .

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Washington .

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Washington.

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Washington

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Washington

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Central, Southern or Eastern Washington.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a 2 layers of clothes or under a raincoat, you live in Washington.