January Soup

Contrary to most people, I love January.  It gives me an opportunity to do my own version of "hibernation".  In the midst of frozenness, seeming barrenness and quiet, the winter days continue their creep toward more daylight.  In the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I begin to feel oppressed by the gradually shortening days.  This was exacerbated when I worked full-time.  In those days, I had to be on the job by 7:00 a.m., which meant I rose from the rack before daylight and frequently returned home from work in the dark.

Another great thing about January is soup.  I love to make fresh soups here at home.  My "mens" are not as fond of my concoctions.  But, that's ok.  What I am unable to eat fresh I put away in little freezer containers to enjoy later.

A third thing I like about January in the South is that we receive most of our "severe weather" in this month.  In my full-time educator days, severe weather meant an unexpected gift - - an extra day off from work.  Depending on the state in which I taught, sometimes those days were even "free gifts" - - we were not required to "make them up".  In the 1981-82 school year, when I taught in the middle of a cornfield, in Fisher, Illinois, we missed about a month of school.  Yet, because of the governor's decree that these were "act of God" days, we were not required to make them up.  This Southern girl was enthralled, even when thick sheets of ice formed on the INSIDE of the large picture windows in the den of the rental home.  Severe weather just meant more hibernating!

After the radical hustle and bustle of the Christmas holidays January comes to me as a welcome friend, a joyful respite from all the falderall. 

God created the Earth such that creation needs times of rest, in order to rejuvenate and to be more productive later.  Farmers know that they cannot plant the fields with the same crops year after year.  If they operate in such a way, the ground will eventually become so depleted of necessary nutrients the crops will not flourish.  Today, I look out my window to see the many hardwoods that surround my home.  Their branches are bare and they look dead.  But, they are not.  They are merely resting, gearing up internally for spring, which should arrive in a few short months.

There are times in our lives when we truly need to hibernate.  Those periods may come in the dead of winter.  Or, they may come anytime.  They often come during a period of transition, especially an unforeseen or unwelcome transition.  I've read that some refer to such periods as "winter of the soul", with some components that are challenging and even painful.  But, we must also acknowledge the presence of God's life, hidden under the ice and snow, waiting, working, ready to burst forth with the obvious beauty and life that characterizes spring!  And, not only acknowledge such Presence, but embrace His deep work in our souls.

It is a sound biblical principle to lean into such periods of rest, rejuvenation and renewal.  Consider that even the Bible itself was silent for approximately 400 years (the period between the Old and New Testaments).  Jesus likewise had periods during His ministry where he "escaped" both the crowds and even His closest companions (the disciples) to go off and be alone with God in prayer.

Psalm 96:8 is a good verse to contemplate in the "dead of winter".

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

8Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

bring an offering and come into his courts.

9Worship the Lord in the splendor of his^a holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth.

Psalm 96:7-9 (NIV)

"Ascribe" is translated from the Hebrew word,  hā·ḇū , which is translated "give" or "bring", like you would bring an offering in worship.  It is more than merely an affirmation of truth.  It is a truth meant to be celebrated in worship, giving our indescribable God the glory that He is due.  No matter our circumstances, no matter our current "season".  If we allow Him, He will take those disparate pieces of our lives and brew them into something even more beautiful than each ingredient was separately.

Winter can be a harsh, life-stealing month.   As I sit here and blog in the comfort of my warm home I am mindful that it is God, my Provider, Jehovah-jireh (the name of God which means "God provides"), who gifts me with heat and shelter.  He not only has provided, but He also sustains me thorough the cold winter months of life.  I praise Him and thank Him for that!

Now, then, ... it is supposed to snow tonight. The ingredients to make a rich soup are waiting. 

Golden Austrian Cauliflower Cream Soup

credit: DrFuhrman.com

My recipe is an adaptation of theirs.

INGREDIENTS:

1 head cauliflower, cut into pieces

1 pkg Kroger Mirapoux Mix (frozen bag of chopped onion, celery and carrot)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons any no-salt seasoning blend, adjusted to taste

2 cups carrot juice

4 cups water

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup raw cashews or 1/2 cup raw cashew butter

5 cups chopped kale leaves or baby spinach

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place all the ingredients except the cashews and kale in a pot. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are just tender. Steam the kale until tender. If you are using spinach there is no need to steam it; it will wilt in the hot soup.

In a food processor or high-powered blender, blend two-thirds of the soup liquid and vegetables with the cashews until smooth and creamy. Return to the pot and stir in the steamed kale (or raw spinach).

Calories 351; Protein 14 g; Carbohydrates 45 g; Sugars 14 g; Total Fat 16.3 g; Saturated Fat 2.9 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 237 mg; Fiber 9.1 g; Beta-Carotene 17404 ug; Vitamin C 104 mg; Calcium 190 mg; Iron 6.2 mg; Folate 233 ug; Magnesium 201 mg; Potassium 1531 mg; Zinc 3.1 mg; Selenium 9.9 ug

In the Cocoon (Killing the Hostility, 2/2)

I'm writing part 2 of the Killing the Hostility posts on May 11, 2016, the modern-day nation of Israel's 68th birthday, Yom Haatzmaut.  68 years ago, God did a miracle, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies of Ezekiel 36-39, most specifically Ezek. 37:1-14.  The dry bones live! And, Israel's population is 10x what it was in 1948.1  For your listening and viewing pleasure today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgXXJBmwBJg

Now....consider the cocoon.  What began as eggs on a leaf transformed next into caterpillars.  This stage moved to that of a pupa (chrysalis, cocoon).  From that hatched a beautiful butterfly.  Yet, all were stages of the same organism, despite their disparate appearances.

Once again, today's (and yesterday's passage) - - Ephesians 2:11-16 (NET)

1Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh – who are called “uncircumcision” by the so-called “circumcision” that is performed on the body by human hands – 12that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, 15when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, 16and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed.

In eternity past, God saw all and planned all.  Yes, the Jews became manifested as His chosen race from the days of Abraham.  Still, he saw the Ephesian Christians, even then.   He saw every believer "in Christ", even then.  We are all part of the butterfly life cycle.  The Jews were the first manifestation of His redemptive grace through faith (Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:4  - - "the just shall live by faith").  However, the Church of Jesus Christ was grafted in, bound up in the cocoon with the Jewish people from the time of Jesus Christ's resurrection onward.  At the moment, the Christian Church age is continuing to unfold.  But, the end of the story is not yet.

Look, the honest seeker will find that there are hundreds of Old Testament prophecies about Messiah, and that Jesus Christ fulfilled/is fulfilling the ones which predicted the suffering prophet and Melchizedekian priest.  He has yet to fulfill the ones about the messianic conquering King.  That will occur in the "final stage of the butterfly's development".  Two illustrative links:

http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefactsandlists/a/Prophecies-Jesus.htm

http://www.accordingtothescriptures.org/prophecy/353prophecies.html

So, now to the central tenet of our text and the central question from yesterday's part 1:  How do we heal the schism? There is only one path to healing, and that is through "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6), Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:14 states "He is our peace" - - - not only the Christian's peace but the Jew's peace as well.

Currently, we are like that ridiculous image posted in yesterday's blog - - that of the 2-headed monster, with one eye in each head.  Yet, despite how we act toward one another, in reality, we are all, Jew and Gentile, bound up in the cocoon of God's eternal plan, hatched before the foundations of this world were ever laid.

Through His blood sacrifice, Jesus overrode (but did not negate) the Mosaic Law with His law of love and grace.  His new commandment pushed the traditions of the first century off of their pedestal and re-framed the theology.  At the end of the Church Age, He will return as conquering King.  At that time, the eyes of the Jewish people will be opened, and they will embrace Him as their true Mashiach (Messiah).   Messianic Jews know this truth and have already embraced Him as their Mashiach.

The reconciliation has already occurred, positionally, in the heavenly realm that exists independent of time and space.  God's divine plan is established and sure.  Through the cross of Jesus Christ, the hostilities between Jew and Christian have been slain.

As God fulfilled the Ezekiel 37 prophecies 68 years ago, He is continuing to unfold His plan in our modern time.  As surely as prophecies were fulfilled centuries ago, the remainder will be fulfilled in the centuries to come.  Our immutable Jehovah G-d has promised.  And, His Word can never be undone.

One Body - - Jew and "Greek" - - even so come, Lord Jesus!

Source:

https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/four-big-things-to-celebrate-on-israels-68th-modern-birthday/

Church Snakes

I know that some of you are thinking this post will be about those sects of Protestantism that believe in actually handling live snakes.  But, you'd be mistaken.  This post is about snakes much more spiritually deadly.

At the end of Romans, his letter to a healthy church, Paul gives one last warning.

You know how it is in real life.  As you are leaving, you reiterate the most important points:
"Make sure you turn off the iron!"  (I never iron, but I did come home from class last night to find I had left the oven burner on, smh...)
"Get your chores done!"
"Be safe!"
"I love you!"

So, what does Paul say in his last words to the Roman church?
He tells them to watch out for the church snakes.

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught;avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites,[f] and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

Romans 16:17-19

This is how snakes behave.  They see you, and immediately come up to you, extend a hand (as if they had hands!), and say, "Good to meet ya, Bro!"  HAHA, NO!  Snakes don't behave this way.  In fact, if you aren't watchful, you are upon one before you even know it, and it has bitten you on the leg.  They lie in wait, and if they perceive you to be a threat, they strike out.

The unbelieving world has this expectation (it fits their favorite narrative) that all people who go to a God-fearing, Bible-preaching church (or any other "Christian" church, for that matter) are actually Christians!  Not so.  Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than going to Burger King makes you a Whopper (paraphrased from Keith Green, among others). In most every church body, you have numerous true Christians - - the believe it and live like it.  There are also many CINOs in most every church (Christians in Name Only).  In addition, there is a "whole 'nuther" group of actual Christians, who are living in carnality, living according to the flesh, allowing themselves to be used by the Devil to carry out snake-ish maneuvers.

Here is a list of such slithery, wily ways.
They/They are:

• cause divisions (include gossipers, tale-bearers, and rumor-mongers here)
• create obstacles (thwarting the church's mission/programs, etc.)
• teach/promote false doctrine
• smooth, persuasive talkers 
• flatterers
• deceivers
• prey upon the "baby Christians" (the naive)
• evil

Keep in mind - - - Paul is not describing "the unchurched" or "the unbelieving world" or "the scoffers" here!  Frightening, isn't it?  It is to me.  Unfortunately, some of Satan's most potent tools are people who wear the garb of a Christian, then act anything but.  It's all part of the warfare, Y'all.

What should be our response to these folks in our midst?
First, as Paul admonishes us here, we should be watchful and wise in our assessment of others in the church.
So far, so good.  We can usually get this far.  After that, it breaks down.
Every situation is different, requiring discernment and a tailored approach.  But generally we really do a very poor job of getting to the root of the problem and getting it fixed.  Because of this, we see these results:

• church splits
• pastors being "run off"
• members leave ("the church dance" - - pirouetting from one church to another) 
• etc.

Ugly, Ugggggllleeee!  And, what does "the world" think then?  They think that our gospel is a bunch of hooey; that's what!

I tell you truly....if the Church would earnestly practice these next 3 verses, the world would be transformed.

31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32

23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  

Matthew 18:15-17

Ok, so, that last one is a harsh remedy; but truly, it rarely ever gets to that last point, if we shed our pride and commit to doing the processes that come before it!

See, the obstacle to reconciliation and peace in the church is pride.  The "snakes" slither around and do what they do because they are puffed up with pride, and the faithful fail to address situations correctly, because even they are afflicted with it too.  Pride makes us "stuff things down" until an explosion is imminent.  And, when that explosion occurs, there are almost always unintended consequences.  Detritus and muck fly all over, soiling the guilty as well as the innocent..

Nobody ever said this life of walking by faith, practicing love, imitating Jesus Christ would be easy. Instead, we were promised that the very nature of the gospel would be divisive - - - to divide the believing from the unbelieving, not to divide the faithful from each other. (Matt. 10:35-38)
We serve a God of peace, not a god of discord.  This is why in Romans 16:20 Paul reminds them that the peace of God is the antidote to sinful pride and that His supernatural peace will crush Satan every single time we put it on as an offensive weapon. (Ephesians 6:15)

Lord God, I pray that Your people will march onward, pursing peace in their local church families, being ever watchful for divisions and prideful eruptions, so as to slay them with the love of Christ. Teach us how to practice forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration, Lord, in order to show the world what Your life-changing gospel can do!  In Jesus' name, amen.

Chasing Hospitality

There's a lady blogger who I was introduced to by my uncle (of all people!)  When I told him about the newest phase of my blogging ministry (making and posting videos of my posts), he recommended I check out Leah Adams' blog: leahadams.org
What a wonderful gift he gave me!
Leah is a gifted Bible teacher, but what further distinguishes her blog is her hospitality.
Let me 'splain....

First of all, Leah always welcomes comments on her blog posts, and she regularly responds to them. But then, on Wednesday mornings, she opens up her blog so that fellow bloggers can post on a topic of Leah's choosing.  For example, today's topic is "healthy living", and I posted "Eating the Starter" from my blog, back in March.  I just love reading the God-given wisdom from fellow Christians who post there.

I was thinking of Leah's 21st c. hospitality as I meditated on today's verse, Romans 12:13 (NET).

Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.

See, through her technology-fueled ministry, Leah contributes to the needs of the saints.  She does so beautifully what I strive to do at Resplendent Daughter blog.  But, as opposed to what I do, which is to post a devotional blog post most days, she opens her hand and opens her blog to the contributions of others.  She actively solicits God's wisdom, as revealed through others.  She chases hospitality!
Through her example, I am so uplifted and inspired!

As we dig deeper into this verse, we see that Paul is talking about the many ways we as followers of Jesus Christ (saints) should support one another.  (In the very next verse, Paul addresses how we should interact with those outside of Christ, who do not yet know him.  We will get to that tomorrow!)

My chiropractor likes to affirm that God created the human body with a tremendous capacity to heal itself, and I believe that is largely true.  So, we as The Body of Christ can be sources of healing to each other, if we only will.  When God reveals to us individually a need of another member of The Body, we should respond by rushing to meet that need.  I believe this is why Paul used the verb "pursue" (more literally translated "practice") here.  There should be no wavering or hesitation.  It should be a habit which we allow the Holy Spirit to form within us.

How does this verse speak to you, personally?  Has God revealed to you ways you can pursue hospitality toward fellow believers?  Has God used a fellow believer to bless you?  If so, please share in the comments section of today's post.  In so doing, you may bless someone else!

Father, I confess that there have been times I have not been open-handed or open-hearted to the needs of fellow believers, because I have been too consumed with my own self-interests.  Thank you for opportunities to be hospitable, loving and giving toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Help me to both recognize them and seize them for Your glory!  In this way, I show to the world a tiny glimpse of the perfect love You poured out and continue to lavish on me in Jesus, my Savior, in whose name I pray, amen.

To Jerusalem, Again

Good morning,

It is quite early here in my locale, and I only slept for about 5 hours.  When I was awake on my bed and praying the Lord sent me this scripture reference - - John 12:12, with the label "healing verse".  I could not remember what that verse said.  So, naturally, curiosity won out; I had to get up and look it up.  This is what I found:

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

John 12:12

In our church family many of us have been praying over several heartbreaking situations that have happened in the past two weeks, particularly in the last three days, and especially yesterday. Specifically, we have been praying for a miracle healing.  So, when the Lord burned this verse into my feeble mind, I was eager to go look it up.

Upon reading it, my first thought was, "What?!"  This verse seems to have nothing to do with the current prayer burden.  I have sat here and pondered and prayed over it.  This verse begins to tell the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  On the surface, it seemed so irrelevant and random that I truly wanted to reject it and not even blog about it.  The word "crazy" comes to mind...

Yesterday, I was reading about a young mother in our congregation who was reading the Bible story of Jonah and the whale to her young son.  He said to her, "That's a crazy book, Mama!", to which she thought, "Yes, I just love our crazy God."  Bless her!

The Holy Spirit moves in ways we cannot fully comprehend.  So, I'm going to be obedient and run with this verse today.  If you want to come along, "put on your crazy" and let's go.

What does this verse have to do with healing?  Malachi 4:2 prophesied of Jesus's first coming and how He would bring healing to all those who, by revering the name of the Lord God Almighty, hide under His wings.

But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.

When Jesus was fulfilling other scriptures by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, He was bringing with Him the healing that would allow all people who trust in Him to be reconciled to God.  In that sense, He came to Jerusalem during that Passion Week long ago to fulfill the will of His Father and to sacrifice Himself for our spiritual healing.  He, the Sun of Righteousness, came to Jerusalem with "healing in His wings".  His healing is a forever healing, one that cannot be revoked, one that makes our spirits fat and prosperous, like calves that are pampered and given the best food.

I've heard preachers say that references to Jerusalem can be interpreted as references to where we live/reside at the moment.  In that sense, Jerusalem would mean for me the greater Atlanta area.  Is Jesus coming to visit us here?  Is He bringing healing to the specific situation about which many of my brothers and sisters have been laboring in prayer?  We have been praying for a healing miracle. Is it on the way?  God is Sovereign.  His very love for us is in itself a miracle of healing.  Even so, unless He makes it very clear otherwise, I am choosing to have faith in His miraculous healing power.  I am putting my faith in Him for a healing miracle.

When the pre-incarnate Jesus was visiting Abraham and Sarah, He told them that Sarah would soon give birth to a son.  When Sarah laughed, He asked "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?" (Gen. 18:14).  The only true God, my Savior, Jesus Christ, can do anything.  He can raise the dead, and will.  He can heal any sickness.  He can bind up any wounds - - physical, mental, spiritual.  He can cure addictions to the vilest of drugs.  He can mend the most devastated and broken of hearts. His power and greatness are limitless!

Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD we have an everlasting Rock.

Isaiah 26:4 

Another application could be that maybe God is speaking to my heart about the specific city of Jerusalem.  Things are heating up in the Middle East.  It certainly appears that we are living in what is commonly referred to as "the end times".  Many believe that Jesus' return is imminent.  Perhaps His return to Jerusalem is near.  This time, He won't be riding in meekly, on a donkey.  He will return with His Beloved and with all the heavenly hosts, as the Triumphant King.  I look forward to being with Him, on that great day.

Loving Father, You do all things well.  Your ways are perfect.  Your love is complete and eternal.  I pray for Jesus to come to Jerusalem...again, for Your honor and glory.  In my Savior's name, that Name which is above every name, I pray, amen.