~
There's JOY in the Kitchen ~
~When we realize that ~
Faith is not belief without proof, but trust
without reservation. THIS WEEK:
* I CAN'T BELIEVE MY EYES! Don't believe
everything you see, or think you see. * RECIPES -
QUESTIONS - NUGGETS - LAUGHTER - THOUGHTS All
from you!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I CAN'T BELIEVE MY EYES!
by Shannon Parish
Scanning the horizon with my friend's
binoculars, I stood on the deck of their home,
enjoying the view of open space that connected
with their back yard. As was my habit, whenever I
got the chance to visit with them, I had grabbed
the binoculars that sat by the sliding glass
doors and was watching the local wildlife in the
field beyond their garden wall.
On this particular morning, I was lazily
observing some cows grazing a short distance
away. One cow in particular caught my eye as it
leaned against a fence post to be enjoying a long
vigorous scratch while rubbing it's neck up and
down the fence post. Focusing my binoculars on
the cow, I was horrified at what I saw! "I
can't believe my eyes!" I exclaimed to my
friend. You need to come here and look at this
and tell me what YOU see!
Holding the binoculars up to her eyes, she too
gasped and said, "I can't believe my eyes
either!"
The reason for the furious scratching was more
than clear. The poor cow was in pain! For some
unknown reason, the cow's horns had not been
trimmed. The left horn had grown up, twisted,
turned down and was growing into the skull, just
behind her eyes. The open wound was caked with
dried blood and swarming, stinging flies!
We immediately called the Humane Society, and
unfortunately, never found out what happened to
the cow.
Later that day as I was driving home from
running some errands, I passed by another field,
in another part of the city. Rimming the field
was a barbed wire fence. A fluttering commotion
caught my eye as I drove by, and in a moments
glance, I took in a most amazing sight! "I
can't believe my eyes!" I thought.
There on the barbed wire sat a little tiny
sparrow, and on top of the sparrow trying to mate
with it was a large black bird!
"Man! This is a weird day!" I said
out loud to the Lord as I drove on. "What are
you showing me?" Silence hung in the air.
Slowly shaking my head and pondering the strange
events of the day, I drove on home.
Later that evening, while in our Wednesday
evening worship service, I couldn't shake the
memories of what I had experienced during the
day. You know how it is. . . you think you are
having a "normal" day, but keep having
something played over and over in your mind, as
though a patient teacher were showing you
something that you needed to grab a hold of in
answer to something else.
While my heart was turned toward the Throne,
the events of the day mentally replayed once
again, but this time I gained an understanding.
"The cow represents us as Christians. As we
graze in our green pastures, we continue to grow
and enjoy life on this earth. Like the cow's
horn, our thoughts continue to grow, constantly
churning and mulling things over. And, like the
cow, if we do not submit ourselves to the Masters
touch, those thoughts can become out of control
without being pruned back.
Unchecked, our thought life can turn on us and
affect the way we see things, causing great open
wounds for the enemy to torment and feed upon. If
left to our selves, without the surgery of God's
cleansing Word and the conviction of the Holy
Spirit, our thoughts will eventually cause our
demise. We will be destroyed by our own
imaginations, pain, and misconceptions.
Frantically we try to fill the void caused by the
unknown affliction, either by laying blame,
accepting the spirit of offense, self punishing
ourselves by impulsive shopping or eating binges
, etc. . . or heaven forbid, by sexual sins.
This is represented by the black bird that was
trying to mate with the sparrow. The sparrow
(again, representing us), was allowing the black
bird (sin and every evil work) to mate with it.
This is an abomination to God and is an unnatural
thing for a child of God and resident of God's
Kingdom to allow to happen.
Jer 17:10 says, "I, the LORD, search the
heart, I test the mind, even to give every man
according to his ways, according to the fruit of
his doings."
Ezek 38:10; "'Thus says the Lord GOD:
"On that day it shall come to pass that
thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will
make an evil plan:" Rom 1:28-2:1; "And
even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind,
to do those things which are not fitting; being
filled with all unrighteousness, sexual
immorality, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient
to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy,
unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing
the righteous judgment of God, that those who
practice such things are worthy of death, not
only do the same but also approve of those who
practice them.
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever
you are who judge, for in whatever you judge
another you condemn yourself; for you who judge
practice the same things.
Rom 8:7 states, "Because the carnal mind
is enmity against God; for it is not subject to
the law of God, nor indeed can be."
Phil 2:3-5 encourages us by reminding us,
"Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem others better than himself. Let each
of you look out not only for his own interests,
but also for the interests of others. Let this
mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus . .
." (NKJ)
It doesn't matter what has been done to us, or
perceived to have been done to us. Our
responsibility lies in judging our own hearts and
minds. Casting down vain imaginations, and
everything that exalts itself against the
knowledge of God. And don't we know that this is
sometimes a moment by moment thing? Thoughts and
intentions grow much faster than horns, and are
much more deadly. Because they not only affect
ourselves, but those around us.
Next time an offense comes, or an accusation
against a brother or sister in the Lord, TRIM
YOUR THOUGHTS! You may be passing judgment on
someone unrighteously. How can you, being flesh
and blood, know the intentions and motives of
another's heart? Aren't we only commanded to love
one another?
I sigh as I reflect upon all that God has
shown me. My hands are full just cleaning up and
trimming up my own mind. Who has the time to
dwell on offense or judgement? Let God do that. .
. He does a much better job anyway. . . .
Oh, and, uh. . . . . welcome to CHARACTER 101.
(Class is NEVER dismissed!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
LURE OF THE GOSPEL
It was time for the children's sermon. So I
called the kids forward to the altar steps and
told them a story about JESUS and His disciples.
Then I asked a perfectly natural question:
"When JESUS called the disciples to be
fishers of men, what bait did he tell them to use
?" One little boy leaned toward my
microphone and confidently replied
,"Women."
The REV. Harvey Hanneman
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* * * * * * * * * *
~ PRAYER ~
Send any prayer requests to Mama Brrr. And
e-mail her if you would like to be a part of this
ministry of intercessors.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Humor In The Kitchen . . . and Other
Places
"Artichokes...are just plain
annoying...After all the trouble you go to, you
get about as much actual "food" out of
eating an artichoke as you would from licking 30
or 40 postage stamps. Have the shrimp cocktail
instead." -Miss Piggy
"The most remarkable thing about my
mother is that for 30 years she served the family
nothing but leftovers. The original meal has
never been found." - Calvin Trillin
"You do live longer with bran but you
spend the last fifteen years on the toilet."
-Alan King
"I've been on a constant diet for the
past two decades. I've lost a total of 789
pounds. By all accounts, I should be hanging from
a charm bracelet." -Erma Bombeck
"LOL We can all use a good tee-hee!"
~ andrealou
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
POT LUCK !
Recipes
GRANOLA
3 1/2 Cups Oatmeal (or combine different kinds to
equal 3 1/2 cups)
1/4 Cup whole wheat flour (or Bran, etc.)
1/2 teas. salt (optional)
1/3 Cup oil (expeller cold pressed)
1/3 Cup Raw Honey
1 teas. vanilla
*******
(optional)
1/2 Cup nuts (any kind)
1/2 Cup nuts ( any kind)
1/2 Cup Raisins or Dried Fruit ( Don't add until
Granola is baked.)
*******
(other options)
Apples & Cinnamon, Dates, Coconut, Fruit
Juice (to replace part of Honey),
Wheat Germ. . .Use your imagination!
DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix all ingredients (except raisins, or dried
fruit)
2. pour onto greased cookie sheet (or Teflon
coated sheet)
3. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.
4. Stir half way through to brown evenly.
FOR COOKIE BARS, us 1 cup honey and 1/2 cup oil.
Stir 1/2 way through cooking
time and press flat into pan with waxed paper.
When they are lightly brown,
remove from oven and cut into squares or bars.
ENJOY!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Be careful of your thoughts: They may
become words at any moment.
* * * * *
For your Exploring Pleasure,
click on these hyper links and find
something new to investigate!
NEW! PUPPET RESOURCE!
Just in the nic-of-time! With summer
fast approaching and Vacation Bible Schools
preparing for the summer harvest, I would like to
share with you an online resource of affordable
puppets.
The following is a response letter I received
after checking out their sight and asking a few
questions ;
"We are currently working on our website
to include ordering capability. Our prices do
range from a basic sock puppet between 4.50 and
8.00 to half body professional foam based puppets
between 65.00 to 75.00. We also do special order
work with mechanical and robotic elements on a
quote by quote basis from 250.00.
If you can visualize it we can make it! I'll
have our secretary send out a brochure and basic
price list. By the way, we give our wholesale
prices to christian groups and churches, This is
a significant savings over our retail rates which
may be 25% or more. Thanks for getting back with
us and for all your help.
"Please take a moment to visit our web page by clicking here
Puppets by Ken . On it you
will find a link to our ministry's home page at
http://www.minresctr.org/.
We will look forward with great anticipation to
hearing from you! Thanks."
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