For Your Passover Seder: Bubbe’s Matzah Ball Soup

Last night was the Jewish Passover, and most Jews who are looking forward to the coming of the Messiah celebrated with a Seder (special feast), including a number of my Messianic Jewish friends who believe that Jesus is the Messiah who came once but will also be coming again. I’m not sure why the Christian church does not continue with this blessed commemoration of the night the LORD “passed over” all the homes where believing Israelites had placed blood on the door posts, but as the body of Christ who have been grafted into the family of Abraham by faith, it seems like we are missing out if we don’t participate!

In that light, I’ve gotten permission from Mitch Forman to publish his family’s recipe for Matzah Ball Soup. I will write it out exactly as it is written in the excellent book, Messiah in the Passover, which I’ll be reviewing in full next Monday:

Matzah Ball Soup
(by Mitch Forman)

This soup, favored by the Ashkenazic Jews, is made from a mixture of matzah meal and chicken fat and is the traditional soup served on Passover. We all know that it was out grandmother who made the best matzah ball soup, so no two recipes are the same, except that the standard soup includes chicken soup and matzah balls. In some Jewish homes, soft noodles will be added to the soup, along with carrots and sometimes celery, etc.

Ingredients:
For the matzah balls:
4 eggs
2 tablespoons chicken fat (substitute oil if you dan’t find fat)
2 tablespoons soup stock or water
1 cup matzah meal (buy it at the store)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:
1.  Beat eggs slightly with fork in a bowl.
2.  Add chicken fat, salt, and water.
3. Add matzah meal gradually until it thickens
4. Refrigerate for 20 minutes in a covered bowl. This will allow the matzah to absorb the liquid and make it easier to use.
5.  Scoop out portions of the matzah ball mixture with a standard ice cream scoop; and with wet hands, form into balls.
6.  Fill a medium-sized stockpot halfway with water and bring to simmer on medium heat.
7.  Cook for 30 minutes.
8. Drain and set aside.

Yield: 16 matzah balls

Ingredients:
For the chicken soup:
1 chicken (5 pounds), quartered
2 medium size onions, diced
6 carrots, diced
water
2 tablespoons salt

Instructions:
1.  Peel onions and carrots and wash celery and cut all vegetables into 1/2-inch cubes.
2.  Place chicken and vegetables in large stockpot.
3.  Add salt and water to cover.
4.  Bring to boil and then lower the flame and simmer for 2 hours.
5.  Remove chicken parts and let cool. Remove the chicken meat from the bones and shred.
6.  Strain the soup of all the vegetables pieces and bring stock back to a simmer
7.  Add the shredded chicken to soup and keep on a low simmer.
8. About 30 minutes before serving, add the matzah balls to the soup and simmer
9.  Dish out soup with 1 matzah ball per serving.

This and all you need to know about how to prepare and hold a Seder are found in Messiah in the Passover, edited by Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser, and can be found here:

http://www.kregel.com/theology-and-religious-studies/messiah-in-the-passover/

For those of you who don’t know about the Jewish Passover or have never read what God did for the Israelites to free them from bondage in Egypt 3,500 years ago, here is the account, from Genesis 12:

12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,

² This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

³ Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

⁴ And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

⁵ Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

⁶ And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

⁷ And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

⁸ And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

⁹ Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

¹⁰ And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

¹¹ And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord‘s passover.

¹² For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

¹³ And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

¹⁴ And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

¹⁵ Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

¹⁶ And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.

¹⁷ And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

¹⁸ In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

¹⁹ Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

²⁰ Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

²¹ Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.

²² And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

²³ For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

²⁴ And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

²⁵ And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

²⁶ And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

²⁷ That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord‘s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

²⁸ And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

²⁹ And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

³⁰ And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

³¹ And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.

³² Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

³³ And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

³⁴ And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.

³⁵ And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

³⁶ And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

³⁷ And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.

³⁸ And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

³⁹ And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.

⁴⁰ Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

⁴¹ And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

⁴² It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

⁴³ And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:

⁴⁴ But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

⁴⁵ A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.

⁴⁶ In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

⁴⁷ All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.

⁴⁸ And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

⁴⁹ One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

⁵⁰ Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

⁵¹ And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

(Thanks to my spiritual sister, Lizzie, for the photo of her beautiful tables set for their Passover Seder.)

Good Friday: Practicing the Resurrection Principle

Are you anxious about some challenge in your life? Good Friday is the perfect time to remember the Resurrection Principle, which a friend shared with me from Reader’s Digest. By the way, do you ever read Reader’s Digest? My parents subscribed when I was a child, but I didn’t even know it was still in existence until I looked it up today on Wikipedia and read that it’s the largest paid circulation magazine in the world. So, maybe you’ve read all about the Resurrection Principle already, but if not, let me pass along what my friend suggested: “Prayerfully wait three days before becoming anxious about any problem, because most of the time, the problem will be resolved.”

At first I thought, “What? Usually only the most insignificant issues are resolved in three days unless it’s good news about a test or something.” As I considered the challenges in my life that tend to make me anxious, I felt like almost all of them are long-term, on-going difficulties which are out of my control and often take years to resolve. However, it occurred to me that Christ rose again after three days, and that’s the most significant resolution of any problem in the world!

So, like leprous Naaman in 2 Kings 5, I decided to try the Resurrection Principle and see what happened. I found that prayerfully waiting three days rarely brought a clear resolution that chased the clouds away and left me with no further need for faith or dependence on the Lord. However, as I practiced praying earnestly for three days before freaking out, I discovered that most problems were resolved in this way: I learned to lay them down at the feet of Jesus and find peace. It is completely worthwhile to follow 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Does God love us? Yes. Does God have the power to help us? Yes. Will God answer our prayers in a way that makes us more like Christ and brings glory to Himself? Yes. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).If you’re struggling with anxiety this Good Friday, why not start practicing the Resurrection Principle? Develop the habit of praying earnestly for three days before you allow yourself to give in to anxious thoughts. Hopefully, this will keep you from jumping on the anxiety roller coaster at all, and perhaps you, like me, will more often be able to find a sense of serenity and rest even in the midst of life’s battles, knowing that God loves us, hears us, and will answer our prayers! Let’s allow the resurrection power and ministry of Christ to flood our souls with light in the darkness, transforming us from anxious souls into spiritual beings.

“The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him” (Lamentations 3:25).

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

(Thanks to Bob Hardee for the two photos with scripture verses imprinted on them!)

An Easter Meditation from Nepal: There is a Sacrifice Better than the Blood of Bulls and Goats

One sunny day in early October last fall, we visited Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a vibrant potpourri of palaces and temples dating back nearly a thousand years.  Nepal is a melting pot of eastern religions, I think not only because it’s a very small country sandwiched between China and India, but also because it has a heritage of religious thinkers, including the original Buddha.  Durbar Square reflects this confluence of eastern spiritual ideas by providing places of worship for many gods and goddesses from various  religions, most prominently Hindu and Buddhist. There is even a Temple for Kumari, home of Nepal’s “living goddess” (a little girl chosen about once a decade who becomes a “goddess” until she hits puberty). There is also a temple to the Hindu god of destruction, and a statue of Hanuman, son of the Hindu wind god, Vayu.  The day we visited was a particularly holy day for the Buddhists, who were  slaughtering 108 bulls and goats as a sacrifice to appease the 108 manifestations of Buddha on earth.  To westerners, it seemed so macabre that many of our group turned their heads and walked away, looking for something less awful to take their attention. However, I was stood mesmerized, contemplating the somber import of this ritual and recalling a verse from the Bible: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). It occurred to me that every religion recognizes the need for us as sinful humans to somehow become reconciled to a holy god, but only in Christianity do we find a high priest who is willing and able to offer the ultimate sacrifice: Himself, unblemished and without sin, to die as a sacrifice for the sins of everyone in the entire world so that any person who is willing can be reconciled to the God who is “God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward” (Deuteronomy 10:17).  Are you willing to be reconciled to God through the sacrifice of his son, Jesus? That’s what Easter is all about—the death and resurrection of Christ. He died for us and rose again to redeem us from our sins and make us into new creations, children of our heavenly Father who will love and serve the living God!  “Christ appeared as a high priest… he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:11-14, ESV; the entire chapter is excellent reading to understand redemption through the blood of Christ).   “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things…But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

(Credits: I took all the photos last fall in Durbar Square, Nepal, except for the depiction of Jesus on the cross, painted by Rembrandt in 1631, and the picture with Psalm 63:2, contributed by my friend, Bob Hardee.)

The Greatest Fact of All Time…

Do you ever wonder what Easter is really all about? The following was written by the father of one of my closest friends from college. Mr. Ward traveled widely with Gideons International and spent most of his retired life giving away Bibles and sharing Christ with everyone around him. He lived a full, vibrant life and died suddenly from a heart attack, but Marcy (his daughter) told me that she half expected him to sit up on the stretcher as they were carrying him out, just to share the gospel one last time! Through this tract, he is still sharing the good news about the greatest fact of all time. Do you know what it is?

 is found here:  www.greatestfact.com  Please check it out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s formatted much more clearly on the website above, but if you don’t want to have to click again, Mr. Ward’s daughter has also given me permission to share it here as well:

The Greatest Fact of All Time

…is that Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things.

Where do you learn this fact?

The Bible, in chapter 1 of John’s Gospel, says,

₁ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ₂ He was in the beginning with God. ₃ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

We learn here that the Word made all things—and that there was nothing the Word did not make.

But who is the “Word”?

John 1:14 says:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So the Word had a body of flesh, and John says he saw Him. Again 1 John 1:1 speaks of Him:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life…

So, it’s clear that the Word is a man!

Then who is this man?

The Word is none other than Jesus Christ!

With this in mind, we can read John 1 and substitute the name Jesus Christ!

₁ In the beginning was [Jesus Christ], and [Jesus Christ] was with God, and [Jesus Christ] was God. ₂ He was in the beginning with God. ₃ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Yes, the greatest fact of all time is this: Jesus Christ is the Creator of the entire universe.

But why did Jesus Christ become a man?

Jesus became a man because you and I have a problem. It is the same problem every person has—sin!

The third chapter of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans makes it very clear that we are all sinners.

¹⁰ …None is righteous, no, not one…

²³ for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Yes, we are all guilty sinners. Then Romans 6:23 warns:

For the wages of sin is death…

Since you and I have sinned, we have wages coming—death. This is both physical death and spiritual death. Spiritual death is eternal separation from God in hell.

About hell Jesus said in Mark 9:48,

…where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.

These wages must be collected!

Is there any hope?

Yes! There is hope! There is good news! Jesus received your wages. He died for your sin. He took your place. But He did something else very wonderful. When He died, He purchased a gift for you. The whole verse in Romans 6:23 reads:

For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus Christ purchased a gift for you—eternal life!

How can I have this gift?

Consider 1 John 5:9–10

₉ If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. ₁₀ Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

If you don’t believe this testimony, you are actually calling God a liar.

What is this “testimony” I must believe?

The testimony you must believe is found in 1 John 5:11.

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

God has given you eternal life. It is a gift! He wants you to have it!

But do you have it? Not necessarily! A gift must be received, and God’s gift must be received!

Let’s illustrate it like this:

Suppose I offered you some money as a gift. If you don’t receive my gift, you won’t have it. You must receive it. In the same way you must receive God’s gift. If you do not receive His gift, you will never have it.

How can I receive God’s gift?

To illustrate, let’s suppose I put the money in a bank account. The money represents eternal life and the bank account represents Jesus Christ. If I transfer the bank account to you, you get the money. When you receive Jesus Christ, you receive eternal life, because eternal life is in Jesus Christ.

Let’s read 1 John 5:11 again:

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Eternal life is in Jesus Christ. Therefore, when you receive Jesus Christ, you have eternal life as stated in the next verse (1 John 5:12)

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

How do I receive Jesus Christ?

A very clear answer is found in Romans 10:9-10.

₉ …if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ₁₀ for with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

What does it mean to confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth? Perhaps it could be like this: “I will take Jesus as my Savior and Lord! I will trust Him for my salvation from sin.”

Then believe with your heart (not just your head) that Jesus Christ lived and died for you, that He arose from the dead, and that He is alive forevermore. He is not in a grave, or even on a cross, but alive and with God the Father.

Then what?

You will be saved!

In other words, you will have the Jesus—you will have eternal life.

So why not do this:

1. Repent and agree with God that you are a sinner.
2. Confess Jesus Christ with your mouth as your Lord and Savior.
3. Believe that He lives and that He was resurrected from the dead.

And you will be saved!

And here is the great offer!

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

—Romans 10:13

In other words, if Jesus Christ were here, He might say to you, “If you will ask Me, I will save you from your sins, and I will give you eternal life.”

Since Jesus Christ is God, He is here now!

How can I call on Him? How can I receive Him?

You can call on Him through prayer. You could talk to God like this:

O God, I come to You in Jesus’ name. I believe Your Word. I believe Jesus Christ lived and died for me, that He arose from the dead, that He is alive! And, Lord, I agree with You. I am a sinner; I am lost; I want to be saved. I call on you now with all my heart. Save me. For Jesus’ sake. Thank you, Lord, for saving me. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Now the greatest fact of all time for you is this:

• You are a new creation of this wonderful Lord (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10)
• You are a child of God (John 1:11-12; 3:3)
• You can know you have eternal life (1 John 5:13)
• You can come to Jesus Christ for forgiveness when you sin (1 John 1:9)
• He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b)

Read the Bible daily. Pray daily. Read the Gospel of John first.

If you have asked God to give you eternal life, then you understand the true meaning of Easter—”Resurrection Sunday!” If so, would you be willing to contact me either on this blog or at my email (kathrynwarmstrong@gmail.com) with any other comments so I can pray for you? God bless you!!

 

 

 

Rise Up, My Love (279): How to Enter the Gates of Heaven

Here it is, Palm Sunday! As we think about Jesus’ entrance through the gates of Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago, it makes me think of another set of gates—the gates of heaven—where all who believe in Jesus may also enter in.This Sunday our meditation is on Song of Solomon 8:9. Have you ever wondered if St. Peter really stands at the entrance to heaven to decide who gets to come in? Well, earlier in Revelation 21 it says that the twelve foundation stones of the city have the twelve names of the apostles written on them, and that the twelve gates have twelve angels at them with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them. Figuratively, I believe this may mean that the twelve foundations of the heavenly Jerusalem are Jesus Christ as taught to us by the apostles in the New Testament, and the twelve gates are made of The Pearl of Great Price himself…guarded by the principles taught to us in the Old Testament. That’s not exactly St. Peter standing guard at the gate, but there are gates, and there are requirements for getting through them!

How will we enter in through the gates of heaven? Through fulfilling the righteousness of the Old Testament Law? That’s one way, except nobody can enter in that way, because no one ever perfectly fulfills the Law. Only Christ fulfilled the Law without sin, and in the New Testament we learn that it is only through faith in the finished work of Christ for us that we may gain access into heaven. “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus said, “I am the way the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Jesus Christ is the cornerstone and foundation of heaven, and he is the only way into it. Could you possibly have read this far into The Song of Solomon without understanding his love and sacrifice for you? Have you bowed before him, confessing your sins and asking him to save you and become enthroned in your heart as Lord of your life for ever and ever?

May I urge you to make sure that you have entrusted your life to his care. If you belong to him, will you bow with me in worship and adoration? Lord, thank you for being the one who fills “all in all.” Thank you for filling us. Thank you for crafting us into your masterpieces…into works of grace that can be compared to the new heaven in beauty and perfection. Oh God, we long to become like your Son and be joined as one to him. Thank you for taking us to yourself, and for your promise to bring to completion the work you’ve started in us. We love you, Lord! Help us to become like beautiful walls of jasper, clear as crystal, built upon the foundation of the New Testament expression of Christ, gated with the Pearl of Great Price himself, who is the way into our eternal, heavenly home. Oh, Lord, how we love you! Thank you for being more than we can imagine. How we long to see you face to face! Amen, and amen.

Rhubarb and Black Cherry Crumble

One of the things Alan and I especially appreciate about traveling is the opportunity to experience new dishes and flavor combinations.  On our recent cruise through the Panama Canal, we tried all kinds of good desserts, but our hands-down favorite was a rhubarb crumble that had huge black cherries in it.  I’ve long loved rhubarb-strawberry pie, but this was even more scrumptious, and with a little practice, I think I’ve re-created a worthy facsimile thereof !

Rhubarb and Black Cherry Crumble
(serves 8-12, depending on how much ice cream you add!)

Start with 5  stalks of fresh, bright red rhubarb. Wash them, and cut off the ends. Chop the rhubarb into small pieces and spread them into the bottom of an 9X12″ baking dish.Add 1  15-16-ounce can black cherries with the juice.In a separate dish, thoroughly cream together:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter (or margarine).
Next, mix in by hand:
1.33 cups flourSpread this mixture evenly over the fruit. It will be a little lumpy, but that’s okay!Bake in the oven at 350°F. for 45 minutes or until bubbly and turning slightly golden brown on top. (Don’t over bake it!)Serve it hot (or at least warm) with a big scoop of ice cream. Even my grand children loved this one, so you know it’s sweet and gooey! 🙂

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endures for ever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34.

 

 

How Do You Feel About All the Infringements on Your Privacy?

I love the internet bringing the world to my doorstep, but I really don’t like it invading my bedroom, do you? Am I the only person who notices my computer coming on in the middle of the night or who finds it unsettling to have Siri interrupt my conversations? Do you, like me, get frustrated with all the breaches in security and privacy on the net? My Facebook account was hacked recently …or at least someone was able to set up a fake account using my photos and information to solicit for other connections (to hack as well). I’m beginning to feel a little like the King of Syria from the story in 2 Kings 6, where he thought some enemy was spying on him and reporting everything he whispered in his bedroom to the King of Israel.

In my case, if it’s just the American government spying on all of us, then I don’t actually feel like it’s an “enemy,” but whatever happened to the sanctity of home? I’ve been slowly trying to make the emotional adjustment to the realization that everything I ever say or write is recorded, and I try to imagine that I’m relatively safe since I’m trying my best to live a moral, law-abiding life. But, what if America’s government begins persecuting Christians? In at least 68 countries around the world, the governments restrict, persecute, or at least don’t protect the religious freedom of Christians. If America changes radically enough, then I will be in big trouble, because my faith in Christ and love for God are woven into the woof and warp of everything I say and write. The day may come when I will become a lawbreaker because I worship God!

While pondering this issue the other day and feeling a little distressed, I began meditating on Luke 12 (which I’ve written out below) and found myself greatly encouraged and comforted, so I wanted to share what I read with you. If you feel alarmed because everything you write and every call you make is being recorded somewhere here on earth, take heart! It’s always been recorded in heaven anyway, along with every thought!

Our job is to be pure and faithful followers of Christ. If the world sees what’s going on, so much the better! If we are persecuted for our faith, that shouldn’t surprise us. If lifting up the name of Jesus and testifying to the goodness of God gets us killed, then that’s a price worth paying, because some silent observer may be drawn to God through what we share. Be faithful! “Thou, God, seest me.”

“He began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

“And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

“And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” (Luke 12:1-12).

The Birthday Club Strikes Again

Happy Spring to you!! We celebrated spring and Cindi’s birthday yesterday, which was so much fun that I wanted to share right away in case any of you living in the GR area might be interested in going to the Sugarbush Festival at Blandford Nature Center tomorrow (March 24, 2018) where they’ll be making maple syrup, etc! Also, this coming week would be an ideal time to take your kids
to the Critter Barn in Zeeland, MI, during spring break because they have all sorts of babies being birthed,  and if you show up at feeding time,  they may even let you give the baby goats a bottle of warm milk!  (This may depend on how many children come.)  Of course, being our Birthday Club, we stopped at Sandy’s Donut House  for some of their famous donuts,  and we took a lunch break at El Aztecas Mexican Restaurant,  where they spontaneously blessed us with some festive fried ice cream and sang “Happy Birthday” when they found out we were celebrating Cindi’s birthday.  If you go to the Sugarbush Festival tomorrow,  dress warmly, because it’s only supposed to be a high of 39°F,  but there are lots of things to see outside and some lovely nature walks.  Also,  think about stopping at Sandy’s for a donut on your way, or maybe serving pancakes and syrup at home first, because there isn’t a pancake breakfast there. However, they did let us taste the syrup,
and you’ll be able to buy some yummy maple syrup cotton candy or other treats! If you decide to go the Critter House,  I’d recommend going in the next few weeks while the mothers are birthing,  and call ahead to see what time the next feeding will be.  Be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little warm milk on,
because even kids will be kids…but it’s well worth the spilled milk! I’d never in all my years fed a baby goat before, and it was so much fun!One of the things I love best about our Birthday Club (and about life), is that we’re never too old to try new things, experience new joys and find new beauties. Are you trying new adventures? Keep exploring! The world is full of good things!

“The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5).

“He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3).

Got Time for Some Funny Puns?

You may have seen this forward already, but I hadn’t, so I’m passing it along to you, just in case you need something to make you smile:

“Lexophile” is a word used to describe those that have a love for words, such as “you can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish” or “to write with a broken pencil is pointless.” A competition to see who can come up with the best lexophiles is held every year in an undisclosed location.

This year’s winning submission is posted at the very end.

… When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate. 

… A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months. 

… When the smog lifts in Los Angeles U.C.L.A. 

… The batteries were given out free of charge.

… A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.

… A will is a dead giveaway. 

… With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

… A boiled egg is hard to beat. 

… When you’ve seen one shopping center you’ve seen a mall. 

… Police were summoned to a daycare center where a three-year-old was resisting a rest. 

… Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off?   He’s all right now. 

… A bicycle can’t stand alone; it’s just two tired.

… When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds. 

… The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine is now fully recovered. 

… He had a photographic memory which was never developed. 

… When she saw her first strands of grey hair she thought she’d dye. 

… Acupuncture is a jab well done. That’s the point of it. 

And the cream of the twisted crop:

… Those who get too big for their pants will be totally exposed in the end.

ALWAYS LAUGH WHEN YOU CAN;  IT’S CHEAP MEDICINE!

     This last photo is used by permission of Robert Hardee. Thank you, Bob!

 

Rise Up, My Love (278): Beautiful Beyond Description

Song of Solomon 8:9 “If she be a wall…” Let’s take a sanctified flight into imagination and try to picture ourselves as a wall that God is building. I only know of one wall God is building that is pictured for us in Scripture, and it’s the wall around the new Jerusalem. I’m going to imagine that you and I are like that beautiful city. As an apologetic for our imagineering, consider the passage in Revelation 21:9-10 where an angel tells Paul, “I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife,” and then carries Paul away in the spirit and shows him “the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.”

I think it’s fair to imagine ourselves as being a wall and a city that God is building for his glory. Also, he says “we are his workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10), and we “are the temple of the Living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16). In I Peter 2 we are taught that each of us is a “living stone…chosen of God, and precious,” to build up a spiritual house on the cornerstone, which is Christ, as we learn again in Ephesians 2:20-22: “Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

So, let’s look at this wall and city. First, what is its foundation? Let’s look at the third chapter of I Corinthians for a minute. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (3:11). “But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon” (3:10) We should build upon this foundation with spiritual gold, silver, and precious stones, because those things will pass the test of fire (3:12-15).

In Revelation 21 the city is described as unbelievably beautiful. There are twelve foundations of the wall, each made of a precious stone such as sapphire, emerald, and amethyst, and the entire foundation is garnished with a dazzling array of precious stones. The wall itself is made of clear crystal, and it has twelve gates with each door being made from a single immense pearl. The streets are paved with pure, transparent gold, and the entire city is radiant with the light of the glory of God.

Wow! I know Proverbs teaches us that a virtuous wife is worth more than rubies, but how could I ever be as beautiful as the New Jerusalem? Can you imagine a person that magnificent? I was shocked to realize that I think a city made of gold and gems would be more beautiful than a person could ever be. Does that mean at heart I value money above people? Hopefully not, although it definitely means my spiritual vision needs sharpening. I wouldn’t trade Jesus or those I love for any amount of money; they are much too precious to me…but are they more beautiful?

Perhaps it is the yearning for perfection that makes us think of gold and gems as being more perfect in beauty. But, in fact, we will be perfect and without defect when we are united to Christ as His bride! What will we look like in our perfect, glorified bodies? What does Jesus look like? My feeble imagination is too limited to visualize what he truly looks like. My heart echoes the songwriter and pastor, Mark Altrogge:

“You are beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom? Who can fathom the depths of Your love? You are beautiful beyond description, majesty enthroned above.
And I stand, I stand in awe of You. I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Precious God, to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You.”

Although it’s beyond us to comprehend what he truly looks like, like the Apostle John, we can “know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (I John 3:2-3). Beloved, may we keep bathing ourselves in the Fountain of Life to find cleansing, healing, and purification so that we will become more perfect in beauty to our beautiful Savior!