Christianity And Valentines Day

This little video is made by the History channel. It gives a pretty accurate account of the origin of Valentine's Day. If you'd like to watch a more indepth video, click here.

Healthy Minute- Bentonite Clay

This stuff is good for your body inside and out. The lady in the video gives so much information on it that I don't really need to write it out. You can purchase this online and in different health food stores.

 

Order In The Court (book review)

How organized are you? Does it take you forever to find things? What are the reasons you give yourself to make yourself feel better through the clutter? Sherry Camperson's Order In The Court can encourage you to become more organized. She gives little tips and advice to help out in many different situations (or rooms of the house). It may take a little time at the start, but you can be assured that having a "place for everything, and everything in it's place" will help you to relax more throughout the day and will give you more time to focus on the things, and people, that really matter.

We may feel like grumbling about the chaos that is our home, but there is something that we can do about it. And, the Paul reminds us that "whatsoever we do, we should do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ". We are reminded that God is a God of order and we should strive to be more like Christ in everything we do!
This book is available from Sword of the Lord Publishers and on Amazon.

Pop's Chicken & Sausage Gumbo recipe

Olive oil
Flour
2 finely chopped onions
1 head minced garlic
6 finely diced celery stalks
2 finely diced green bell peppers
1 bunch finely chopped fresh parsley
2 bunches finely chopped green onions
3 TBS worchestershire sauce
1 1/2 lb chopped andouillie
1 lb. chopped beef sausage
juice of 1 lemon
1 lb chopped chicken
1/2 tsp angostura bitters
1 1/2 tsp dried mint
2 cans rotel tomatoes
Cajun seasoning to taste
Beef bone stock
Okra

Combine olive oil and flour.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate brown.
Add all ingredients and cover with beef stock.
Cook until chicken is done.
Add okra last and cook until heated through.
Eat over rice.

For Seafood Variation- omit chicken and add in 1 lb. shrimp, crab meat, or crawfish tails or a combination of those.

You Thought I Was Worth It (song)

Believer's Heritage- John Bunyan

John Bunyan is the well known author of Pilgrim's Progress. He was born in England in 1628. He had very little education and worked with his father making and mending pots and kettles. After the death of his mother, he joined the British Army. He had seen his fair share of death, first in the army when a soldier who took his place was killed while he watched, and later when his first wife.

His preaching drew a lot of attention. After only 3 years, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He knew that the authorities were coming for him, and yet he chose to stay and preach and be arrested rather than flee for his freedom. He was imprisoned for not submitting to a preaching license.

It was so hard for him to be separated from his second wife and children, but God used him in a miraculous way! It is said that men who are broken and yet chose to let the Lord shine through the cracks are the ones who do the most for God. It was during his time in jail that the Lord allowed him to write Pilgrim's Progress. He had very little schooling, and yet he knew his Bible quite well. His allegory of the Christian life could easily be applied to any person with any walk of life.

Pilgrim's Progress has touched the hearts of so many people! It has lead to countless conversions and many lives being surrendered to the will of God. It is also one of the most published books around the world. John Bunyan died in 1688, never knowing how big of an influence his "prison work" would have on the lost and dying world. But, any Christian who is surrendered to the will of God can have a life that can change the course of history if they are willing to surrender to the Lord's will!

For more information on John Bunyan, click here.

Funny Happenings- Drawing God

A kindergarten teacher was watching her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was about.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "but no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

A Sick Church (video sermon)

The reason the church isn't growing is not the preacher's fault. Dr. Smith gives us some insight into the heart of the matter. Every Christian could grow in grace and become fruitful if they knew this and followed the remedy. Do we love Christ enough to give up what we want most in this life to get what we cannot lose in eternity?

 

What Happened? (poem)

Where are all the mothers who would hold their children near,

Who loved and comforted the sick and calmed their every fear?

Where are the wives of olden days who'd husbands weren't afraid,

Who loved their spouses with everything and humbly obeyed?

I think of Sarah's obedience and Rebekah's modesty,

The Shunamite whose faith and strength won a family.

Priscilla worked beside her man like Proverbs thirty-one.

Lois and Eunice were recognized for raising a godly son.

The Titus 2 woman has disappeared and rising in her place

Are women worse than Jezebel who defile and deface!

Abigail's sweet, heroic plea which turned King David's bands,

Or Esther's selfless courage, or Ruth's hard-working hands,

The gracious words and loving ways to strengthen wounded hearts.

Oh! To have someday what they portrayed- if only a small part!

Lord, help me be a godly woman in a worldly, sinful place.

Please, grant me faith and wisdom, but most of all Your grace!

-JCT

What's In Your Heart?

II Chronicles 32:27-29- And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.

Here, we read of King Hezekiah, who obeyed and trusted the Lord, and the Lord blessed him very much! Hezekiah turned many in Judah and Israel back to the Lord. He brought back the passover, and tore down the idols. He really loved God!

We like to say that we love God. We go to church, pass out tracts, and sing His praises. But these are all outward appearances. God wants to know what's going on in your heart!

II CHronicles 32:31- Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

What we say and what we feel are sometimes two very different things. We can say we love God all we want, but God sees our hearts. He'll back off and let us have a go of it to see if we really do love him.

Hezekiah was visited by the ambassadors of Babylon. They had heard that he was sick, and that God healed him. So, they came with presents for Hezekiah.

Here's where we get to see what was inside of Hezekiah's heart! Did Hezekiah consult the Lord about these men? No. Did he brag on the Lord and His wonderful works? No.

II Kings 20:12-13- At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

Hezekiah had pride in his heart. God had blessed him greatly, and it made his heart proud. Instead of bragging on God and how He had exalted Hezekiah, the king showed off the treasures that he had acquired. He was more proud of what he had than of how the Lord exalted and protected him.

God lets us come across things to see what is in our hearts. He did it to Abraham when he asked him to offer Isaac. Why would you think he wouldn't test you? It could be a job that he allows to come your way to see what is in your heart. It could be a person that he allows to enter your life to see what is in your heart. It could, perhaps, even be a possession that God uses.

Did you ever wonder how this great King Hezekiah had the most wicked of sons, King Manasseh? This boy was born after this incident. He was 12 years old when Hezekiah died and he began to reign. Was there something growing in Hezekiah's heart that came out during the raising of this boy that molded him into the wicked person that he was?

God knows what is in your heart. The reason he allows this is to let you see what is in your heart!

Genesis 22:11-12- And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

It's not easy to face that! Looking inside of ourselves and seeing what is really in there can be very scary! But, when we realize that we really do love the Lord, and we want to serve Him no matter the cost, we are sure to be blessed and used by God in a great way!

Genesis 22:15-18- And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.