Remember the Four B's of transformation

FAITH:

"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.' So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner'" (Luke 19:5-7).

Jesus modeled four things when He lived on the earth that allowed Him to impact other people's lives. I call them the Four B's of transformation.

First, he built a relationship with them. In the marketplace it is rare that you can impact a person without building a relationship first. The old saying, "People don't care what you know until they know that you care" is especially true in the workplace. Jesus modeled this in His life every day of his public ministry.

The second thing Jesus did was he blessed them. He tried to meet a physical need they had. Many times he healed them first, then told them to go and sin no more. He listened to their concerns.

The third thing Jesus did was He began praying for them. He often prayed for deliverance for a person that was demon possessed. He prayed they would know the Father. He prayed for Lazarus to come back from the dead.

Finally, the fourth thing Jesus did was He Brought the Kingdom of God into their lives. He invited people to believe in Him as the Savior of the world and to partake of eternal life.

I decided to test this model with an acquaintance. I intentionally refused to talk about Jesus to this person until I had accomplished the first three steps in my relationship with him. After I had fulfilled the first three steps, I presented Christ to my friend. He received Christ immediately because the soil was prepared and he was ready to receive.

As you consider your ministry at work, consider these four stages of relationship building before you present Christ to others. You will find the fruit of this process will be great. 

By Os Hillman

FRIENDS:

For every problem, every anxiety, every temptation, every sin in my life, there is a deliverer--Jesus Christ! Thank you, God, for Your sacrifice, Your love, Your way to reach down and pull me up. Please forgive me and help me to stand sure-footed and steady on the Rock of my salvation and not to slip and fall into the mire of the world. Please, be in control of my life...and I know everything will be all right. In Jesus' name, amen.

FOOD:

NOT SO SPOOKY SPIDERS

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
3/4 c. Rice Krispies
1/2 c. thin chow mein noodles
Candy eyes

1. Line baking sheet with waxed paper.

2. In microwave, place chocolate in 2 cup microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium (50%) for 2 minutes. Stir. If chocolate is not completely smooth, microwave an additional 20 to 30 seconds; stir.

3. Stir in Rice Krispies.

4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper, forming spider-body shapes. Stick 4 noodles into each side of "body" for spider legs. Add eyes on top of spider.

5. Refrigerate about 15 minutes to set, or let them set at room temperature about 1 hour. Store in covered container.

Makes 12 spiders.

FUN:

A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mama, look what I found", the boy called out. "What have you got there, Dear?" With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear"!

Don't refuse your calling

FAITH:

"Moses said to the LORD, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue'" (Ex 4:10).

One of the greatest affronts you can commit against God is to refuse His calling that He has placed upon you. Imagine arguing with your Creator and telling him you know better than Him.

That is exactly what Moses did when God called him to be his spokesperson to Pharaoh.

God and Moses got into an "I know best" competition. "The LORD said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.'"

God actually relented in the argument. Can you imagine that? But He's not happy about it. "Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses and he said, 'What about your brother, Aaron the Levite?'" God has to use Aaron as Moses' mouthpiece.

Have you ever not pursued something because it had to be perfect? There is a fine line between doing things with excellence and being a perfectionist. Perfectionists become argumentative with God. They refuse to step out in faith and obedience because they care too much about what others think if the results don't turn out perfectly.

I battled these same demons when God led me into a writing and speaking ministry. "Lord, I am weak in grammar and you know I'm an introvert." Then He reminded me "...for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).

When God places His anointing on you He uses whatever level of skill you have to fulfill His purposes in your life. This is why you need not fear moving into an unfamiliar area if He calls you there.

What is God waiting for you to do? It may be time to step out. He specializes in "cliff-catching." By Os Hillman

FRIENDS:

Dear Father,

You know my internal struggles,
Shatter my will, my desire to control, my leveraging, my bargaining, my manipulation.
Break me down.  Bring me to my knees in total surrender.
From the shards of my broken self, re-create, re-make, re-fine, and polish me.
In the stillness, enfold me, encourage me, equip me as I embark on this exiting new adventure with You as my guide.
Awaken my spiritual gifts.
Free me to serve You in humble obedience.
You have changed me into someone worth being.
Now, lead me to some mountain worth climbing.
Take me along on a joyful journey as I follow Your pathway to purpose.
I gladly surrender, Lord, into your loving arms,
Your Grateful Servant

FOOD:

Peanut Butter Fudge

1/2 cup butter 2 1/4 cups brown sugar 1/2 cup milk 3/4 cup peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth; pour into an 8x8 inch dish. Chill until firm and cut into squares.. FUN: Praying for the food~~~ As my five-year-old son and I were heading to McDonald's one day, we passed a car accident. Usually when we see something terrible like that, we say a prayer for whoever might be hurt, so I pointed and said to my son, "We should pray."  From the back seat I heard his earnest voice: "Dear God, please don't let those cars block the entrance to McDonald's."

This is such a great idea....

This lady took her favorite photo and had it made into this giant picture and used it in place of a head board. There was also a shot of another picture of clothes hanging on a clothes line behind an eating area in a kitchen. Very cool.....

Making more time....

FAITH:

1 Timothy 4:1-16

False teachers have always blemished the church. The false teachers in the Ephesian church did not believe Jesus was really human. They contradicted Scripture while appearing to be self disciplined and morally righteous. 

Christian leaders must be disciplined. They must guard their motives, be faithful to God and his Word and live commendable lives. A false teacher can easily be detected if the teacher's message differs from the Bible's truth.

For you to rest--that is, to live in total acceptance of God's way--demands quiet......

To rest in God permanently means to hand over each activity, each situation of your life, to Him and to learn the habit of trusting Him to work for you.

We don't naturally rest. Naturally we are stewers, tinkerers, and fussers....

Have you too much to do?  Are you pushed, rushed, harried?

Said George Fox long ago, "Come out of the bustlings you that are bustling."

To guard your inner life, you must guard your outer life.  How's your pace? Are you too busy?....

Does your pace allow you to keep in touch with yourself--with your inner needs and feelings and longings? Does it allow you time to think, plan, make changes? Does it allow you time to observe carefully the dear ones around you and care for their needs--physical and emotional? Do you have time to really live?....

Asian theologian Kosuke Koyama says that in human affairs God moves at something like three miles and hour, the pace at which a person walks, not runs! Are you synchronized to your world, maybe even to your Christian world, but out of sync with God?....

You will change when your inner life changes.  But I just said your inner life is affected by your outer life! Then is the whole thing a vicious circle that can't be stopped?

No. The whole thing begins with a decision. Your heart is your headquarters. Even as you read this, make the decision, by a conscious act of your will, that you will learn to rest in God both in your inner life and your outer life. Once the decision is made--and you implement it--gradually, gradually over the weeks or years, the changes will come.  Your heart will start listening to a different pulse deep within you, and with joy you'll begin to match your steps to that lovely, restful beat.By Anne Ortlund

Applying it: Are you satisfied with God's plans for you? Are you discontent because you are too young or too old? Impatient because you are not advancing as high as you would like? Frustrated with your restrictions? Be content where God has placed you. Love your life as an example to others. Speak boldly of what Christ has done for you and what he can do for others.

Exploring it: Discipline--Proverbs 3:11-12; 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19

FRIENDS:

 "In a world so shattered and broken by violence...," Koyama asked, "how can we rejoice in hope?"

We have hope, he continued, because we believe in a "compassionate God", who runs out from the centre to meet those on the periphery of life. Our task is to make God's love visible to the world by loving our neighbours. "The rejoicing of a private and exclusive community fails to invite all to hope," Koyama declared. We must be willing to give and receive from strangers as well as from our brothers and sisters, because "for God no one is a stranger".

Father, we pray that we will truly love our neighbors and show God's love to them......

FOOD:

OVEN STEW
21/2-3 pounds stew beef, cut into small cubes
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained (or a 29-ounce can whole tomatoes, undrained, coarsely chopped)
1 box frozen peas
6-8 slender carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch lengths
3 small yellow onions, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
2 slices bread, crusts removed, cubed
3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup hearty red wine
1 tablespoon salt and pepper to taste
Thyme, marjoram and rosemary to taste, fresh or dried (can use one,
none or all three, but really best with at least the thyme)
In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well. Place
mixture in a large pot and cover tightly. Bake at 250 degrees for 5
hours or at 300 degrees for 4 hours.

Uncover only once near the end of the cooking time and stir the stew
and check if additional cooking time is desired.

Excellent served over garlic mashed potatoes.

FUN:

This is the funniest video. The guy is clean and talented.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

FUN FIRST TODAY

FUN:

  

MANY OF YOU MIGHT NOT APPRECIATE THE HUMOR IN THIS BUT THOSE OF US THAT ARE OF A CERTAIN AGE WILL FIND THIS FUNNY, 

OR SO I HOPE...*

                     *I sure did.....

FOOD: 

You are getting two pumpkin recipes today because it appears that someone, who shall remain nameless but likes to dress up their dog, didn't forward this recipe on to Alaska, like they were supposed to.

Pumpkin Upside Down Cake

The pumpkin upside down cake is simple.  Just mix together like you are making pumpkin pie filling,
1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
little nutmeg
salt to taste
1  cup white sugar (the recipe called for 1 3/4 c but I don't like mine that sweet so use your own judgment based on your own pumpkin pie filling recipe)
3 eggs
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
Pour this into a well greased (with butter) 9 x 13 baking pan
Sprinkle 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix (dry, don't add anything to it) over the filling
Pour 1 cup melted butter over that.
Top with 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans. I used to pour the butter over the nuts but several times the nuts got too brown so I just add them last and that seems to fix that problem.  Guess it depends whose oven I'm using.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 60 minutes or until a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean
and let cool.

Top with whipped cream or whipped topping.....yummy.

This is one of my favorite soups for this time of year. I add chili powder when it's just me but not everyone likes that.

Pumpkin Bean Soup    
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups chicken broth
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped (optional)
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro, for garnish (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
1.    Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the bell
pepper and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and
turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in the garlic and cumin and
cook, stirring, for an additional 2 minutes.
2.    Pour in the pumpkin puree, black beans, corn, chicken broth, tomato
sauce, and 1 teaspoon cilantro; season to taste with salt and pepper.
Bring the soup to a gentle boil; reduce the heat and simmer, covered,
for 25 minutes.
3.    Garnish each bowl of soup with a dollop of unsweetened whipped
cream and additional cilantro, if desired

FAITH:

Psalms 56:1-57;11~~~~David wrote Psalm 56 when the Philistines captured him in Gath (1 Samuel 21:10-15). He wrote Psalm 57 while hiding in a cave.

God is trustworthy. He is a rock, a hiding place, a fortress.  We have safety and comfort in him.

Many years ago, Frederick Nolan was fleeing from his enemies during the North African persecution. Hounded by his pursuers over hill and valley with no place to hide, he fell exhausted into a wayside cave where he fully expected to be found. Awaiting his death, he saw a spider weaving a web. Within minutes, the little bug had woven a beautiful web across the mouth of the cave.  The pursuers arrived and wondered if Nolan was hiding in there; but they thought it impossible for him to have entered the cave without dismantling the web. And so they went on. Having escaped, Nolan emerged from his hiding place and proclaimed, "Where God is, a spider's web is like a wall.  Where God is not, a wall is like a spiders web." 

God is our wall of defense.  He is the one who delivers us from those who want to hurt us. He is the one who gives us comfort and strength we need to be courageous and to endure the trials and trouble that enter our lives. 

By Gary Smalley

APPLYING THIS:

Christians will be persecuted. In what ways are you persecuted? Who opposes you? When life gets hard, look to your refuge- God.

EXPLORE FURTHER:

God as Refuge--2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 46:1; 59:16;, 62:7; Isaiah 25:4; Jeremiah 16:19; Joel 3:16; Nahum 1:7.

FRIENDS:

Father, you promised that there would be faith and strength and hope to meet life's problems.  Father give that strength to those whose anxieties have buried their dreams, whose illnesses have hospitalized their hopes, whose burdens are bigger than their shoulders.

Painted Pine cones

How I long for the days that I didn't even think of Christmas and the decorations until after Thanksgiving. 

Someone sent this picture to me of the painted pine cones and I just had to share.  What a great idea this is and look at the contrast.

I'M BACK......sorry I was gone so long.

FAITH
With the elections looming on the horizon, the world, and even some of us, have gone into a frenzy about who should lead this country. Who and what would be best for us? Liberals see it one way, Conservatives see it another. I wonder how God sees it? As I understand Him, it's all about love. That's why he sent His son to us. To teach us about love. If only the world could see it God's way..........

Nehemiah 8:1-18~~~Nehemiah and Ezra assembled the people in Jerusalem to hear the Laws of Moses. Many wept when they realized how disobedient they had been. The assembly became a festive time when the people reclaimed their legacy as God's chosen people.

Nehemiah and Ezra reintroduced God's laws and customs to the former exiles so that God would give his favor.

Love is the only law you need...

To love your neighbor as yourself. Keep this command, this law, and you automatically keep all the others. If you are really concerned with keeping the law of love, it is the only law you really need. Then civil laws are not problems or objects or protests and demonstrations. Civil laws are only guidelines to help you achieve your aim: loving others as you love yourself and thereby fulfilling all of God's requirements....

The Christian who lives by the law of love does not see authority as a threat. Nor does he see imperfections or even gross errors in government as reason to riot or demonstrate unlawfully. The Christian is not a bystander in his society. Actually, he should be int he thick of the battle for justice, morality and the right. But the Christian operates with a different motive. He seeks justice for all, yes, but justice is primarily a negative concept, based on avoiding or preventing the doing of wrongs to others. The law of love goes beyond justice. The law of love seeks the positive doing of good to others. It is the only Law a Christian needs. By Fritz Ridenour
Applying it: Look around you, who do you see at work? At home? On the road? In church? Give them your time, your attention, your love and your respect.
Exploring it: God's Law: Exodus 31:18; Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 4:15-19; Matthew 5; 19; 22:37-40

PRAYER :
Dear God, it is hard to fight the battles in life. I can see that it is in the midst of battles, that we learn to be truly effective warriors. Likewise, in the midst of living, let me learn to be an effective Christian. Please guide and direct me; give me wisdom and strength for the day. In Jesus' name I pray and thank You. Amen.


FOOD:
A quick and easy appetizer that I make is pickle rolls. All you need is dill pickle spears, cream cheese and ham slices.
(I use cooked ham that is cut at the deli in a rectangle shape.)

Let cream cheese soften to room temperature. Take a slice of ham and spread cream cheese over top of ham. Take a pickle spear and place at one of the smaller ends and just roll up. Place in fridge and chill for about an hour or so. The longer...the better. Right before serving, slice rolls into bite size pieces. You can also use pickled asparagus, in place of the pickles. I make this several times a year for different occasions and they always receive compliments.

FUN:
I usually like to put a little joke in here but I thought you might enjoy this. Especially if you are having a stressful day.
It has sound for those of you that are reading this as work...ha ha, turn on the mute as I would hate to be responsible for getting you in trouble.

http://mk1.simpletruths.com/t/5358666/10252626/16419/0/