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Mom’s Molasses Cookies

MOM-MOTHERS DAY

Most moms’ have one special dish, something that becomes a favorite to their children and grand children.

There is no question, my husband delights in being served his mothers chocolate pie. My sister Donna’s’ corn chowder still gets raves.

Our grandson in FL wants Granny’s’ French toast every time he visits us.

There was a wonderful book, movie and television series titled,  I Remember Mama. It is a classic; treat yourself with a viewing some rainy afternoon.

I remember Mom’s Molasses cookies…

She used a family recipe handed down from my grandmother; it resulted in delicious fresh baked snacks for us to enjoy at home or in the bag lunches for school.

Mom dropped large servings of the batter from a spoon, onto the cookie sheet. The aroma of spices filled the house and wet our appetites for what was to come. When baked, they expanded into a large cookie, most the size of a cup coaster. We rarely waited for the cookies to cool; each nibble into the soft cookie brought instant pleasure.

Many treats have little nutritional value; molasses is actually good for you. I surfed the internet and discovered many benefits of this dark, thick, gooey syrup.

Regular use even discourages gray hair!

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

Reckon & Renew

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I reckon there will…

There will be a day of reckoning.

“But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:26b-28 HCS).”

Praise the Lord; I need not fear judgment day! He bore my sin.

I reckon He loves me that much.

“No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13 HCS).”

How can I repay Him?

“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2 HCS).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

Sacred Script

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Though not raised in a Christian home, my first Bible was a gift from my parents at Christmastime. It remained boxed and unread for years. Little did I know the great treasure I had left unclaimed? God warns and woos through sacred script.

“Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us (2 Kings 22:13 NKJ).”

I discovered truth & treasure.

“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:1-3 NKJ).”

Sadly, we often don’t know the value of what we have until we lose it.

“Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD,
‘That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the LORD.”
(Amos 8:11 NKJ)

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Relationships

Gossip

girls-914823_640Gossip.

The mere word grabs the average listener’s attention.

If you think it is only a female fault, think again. Some men not only have the gift of gab; they have the vice of gossip. Children spread gossip too. Before I let myself off the hook, I know that at times I’ve been guilty as charged.

God calls for concealment.

“He who conceals a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends (Proverbs 17:9 NAS).”

We have all made mistakes and we sure don’t want them broadcast. When confessed, the LORD forgives. The matter is closed.

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Know the Motives

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‘Why did you do that?’

Good question.

Why do I do the things that I do?

Why do you?

Knowing the motives of pride and greed, some have offered gifts for favors.

“They came to Balaam and said to him, ‘This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me, for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!’ But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, ‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the LORD my God to do anything small or great (Numbers 22:16-18 HCS).” 

Jesus died for us; He was motivated by love for His Father and for mankind. 

The Lord is to be glorified in all we do. When obedient, we are most like the Master. 

“Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered (Hebrews 5:8 HCS).’

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Wilderness Wanderings

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Excited people of all ages make snow angels; others make testimonies through wilderness wanderings.

I was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, USA. After marrying, I lived in several different areas of our beautiful nation. I was awed by the Southern California desert region. The differences between the two geographical areas were vast.

The words desert and wilderness are frequently synonymous.

A desert wilderness is arid with little flora. 

Individuals sometimes wander through a spiritual and emotional wilderness. The LORD has the power to transform a wilderness into an oasis of praise!

“He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings (Psalm 107:35 NKJ).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Missions, Salvation, Women

Women on Mission

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The Lord God frequently does what we least expect. If we try to put His activity in a box He is sure to escape its confines. Resurrection morning was not scripted by any of the disciples.

Before daylight, a close knit group of faithful women began a mission of love for their departed Lord and friend. Laden with spices to anoint His body, they reverently approached His tomb. They likely discussed the problem of getting inside to perform their task. The large stone sealing His tomb created a barrier they needed to overcome.

The sight of His open tomb caught them by surprise. The stone lay off to the side, giving complete access to the burial place (that had been given by a wealthy Council member). The kindness of Christ follower Joseph of Arimathea did not go unnoticed.

The women humbly entered the tomb and discovered the tomb was empty; Jesus no longer occupied the grave!

Suddenly, they encountered two men in radiant clothing. The natural reaction of fright gripped the women; in awe, they fell to the ground.

The men asked a penetrating question, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead (Luke 24:5b NAS)?”

The messenger continued, “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again (Luke 24:6-7 NAS).”

Yes, they remembered Jesus telling them of his death and resurrection. To rise again? That had not seemed possible. Alive? They saw Him die! Three days had passed since His lifeless body had been sealed inside the tomb…

The morning skies brightened. Hearts cold with grief now pulsed with hope and joy.

Culture, tradition and prejudice prevailed. Women held few places of influence. Against all odds, women were the recipients of the angel’s resurrection announcement. Matthew said, “And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to his disciples (Matthew 28:8 NAS).”

Catch sight of frail women lifting their skirts and breathlessly running to tell Jesus’ disciples.

Before carrying out their mission, they came face-to-face with Christ. He encouraged the women and gave them His personal message. “Do not be afraid; go and take word to my brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see me (Matthew 28: 10 NAS)”

Women…

*Women were first to see the open tomb.

*Women were first to hear of His resurrection.

*Women were first to see the risen Redeemer.

*Women were first to carry the Gospel message. Jesus lives; He conquered death.

The disciples rejected their message.

“And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them (Luke 24: 11 NAS).”

Jesus later appeared to His disciples in His resurrected body.

Proof cancelled out rejection.

He lives and He is coming again!

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Symbols of Victory

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“The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: ‘Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One—the King of Israel (John 12:12-13 HCS).”

Have you ever been part of a festival’s exuberant crowd? The excitement is contagious. We lived in the historical city of De Funiak Springs Florida, for several years. Serving as home to the annual Chautauqua Festival, it has drawn crowds numbering several thousand. I have a sense of what the Jerusalem crowd anticipated as they waited for the arrival of Jesus…

They awaited their King, expecting him to deliver them from Roman rule. As symbols of victory they palmed palm branches and rushed to see this Jesus, King of Israel. Shouting praises they gave him an enthusiastic welcome. The public opinion quickly changed. In a matter of days, shouts of ‘Crucify Him’ replaced ‘Hosanna.’

“Pilate asked them, ‘What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?’ They all answered, ‘Crucify Him (Matthew 27:22 HCS).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Under Their Heels!

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I assume you are familiar with the children’s  Itsy-Bitsy Spider sing along.

In the Old Testament book of Numbers, we find whining Hebrew spies. Faithless, they felt like itsy-bitsy-grasshoppers.

“There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight. (Numbers 13:33 NAS).”

They saw themselves as insignificant and powerless. Likewise, the giants in the land saw them as spineless invaders they would crush under their heels.

In contrast, Caleb had seen God’s children through eyes of courage and faith.

“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it (Numbers 13:30 NAS).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Missions, Salvation, The Church

We Talk

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I live in an area that is predominately agricultural.                    

Farmers, families, and friends depend on crops to keep money in circulation. We all talk about the weather. In times of summer drought, we talk more.

Farmers pray.

Christ Jesus compared the lost and dying to a harvest.

In our churches, pastors and congregations talk about the lost. In times of dwindling numbers and apostasy, we talk more.

Missionaries pray.

“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:1-2 NKJ).”

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