Happy Resurrection

Compassion International

Have you ever wanted to be a missionary? Have you ever felt like you were meant to do something more for Christ? Do you think there is no way you can bring the knowledge of Christ to those in another country? Well, there is a way to do all that without having to leave the United States.

It's called Compassion International.

My children and I spent the day at a learning experience organized by this organization. We got to walk through the story of 3 different children who lived in other countries. We heard how they lived, and how they came to know Christ.

It is a learning experience that will touch your heart, and hopefully encourage you to pray for your missionaries more, and maybe even help out in other ways.

Healthy Minute- Turmeric

I've been using turmeric in cooking and my health care recipes for a while now. But, my mom mentioned to me that she was taking it as a supplement to help with her arthritis, and I thought I would do more research on this.
I turns out turmeric is good for so much more than I thought!
Turmeric is a spice that is bright yellow. If you use in skin care, like I do, it can give your skin a yellow hue for a while. This vibrant spice has manganese, iron, B6, fiber, copper, and potassium.
Not only is it good for anti-inflammatory uses, but it also helps with IBS, menstrual problems, hemorrhaging, bruises, and tummy troubles.
Studies have been done that suggest that turmeric helps the body fight and prevent cancer, and that it can even help with cystic fibrosis. It's been shown to help your body with liver detox, protecting the heart, lowering cholesterol, and fight against alzheimer's disease. It even kills fungus.
When used on the skin it helps reduce redness, heal acne, and exfoliate while nourishing the skin and lightening dark spots.
Pretty impressive for "yellow"! And there's so much more that I couldn't possible include it all!
The dosage varies depending on how you ingest it. If you're taking it in powder form the recommended amount is 450mg or up to 3 grams daily. As a tea, take 1 to 1.5 grams of the dried root and steep in 5 oz of water for 15 minutes; drink this twice a day. Or you could take 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric oil three times a day.
There are side effects associated with turmeric, including an itchy rash when used topically. Other side effects from ingesting large amounts include heartburn, diarrhea, heavier menstrual cycles, low blood pressure, and uterine contractions in pregnant women. Always do your own research before adding any supplement to your daily health regimen.
For more information, please watch the video below:

Under Our Skin book review

A book review by Jennifer Brimer.

Racism is a topic you hear about a lot in the media and its flames are continuously being fueled by politicians. It’s dividing our nation in a way I’ve never experienced in my lifetime until just a few years ago. Growing up in Michigan gave me a different perspective than that of my friends here in Louisiana. It’s been interesting to talk about cultural differences over the years and the topic of racism has been brought up several times. I felt I had heard both sides of the topic but this book brought yet another side. It’s given me new perspective and I highly recommend everyone take the time to read it. It is both convicting and encouraging.

“Racism is inherently immature, a form of cowardice, often hiding anonymously within a group that chatters the same things”  (p. 151)

Benjamin Watson was best known for his successful career in the NFL where he currently plays for the New Orleans Saints. However, in the wake of the death of Michael Brown and the subsequent riots in Ferguson, Missouri, he was thrust into the spotlight because of a post he made on social media. Now his social media accounts are being followed by people of all races all over the world and his athletic career seems to have been almost forgotten. Under Our Skin is an expansion of that original post he made online in November 2014.

In this book, Benjamin Watson takes on the topic of racism from the standpoint of a black man, a father, a husband, but most importantly, a Christian. He doesn’t single out one race in particular or place the blame on someone else but rather he sheds light on the seemingly insignificant things we are all guilty of and places the blame on everyone, including himself. He shows that it’s not a skin problem but ultimately a sin problem in our hearts and we are all guilty. He goes on to show the solution to the problem but also acknowledges that racism won’t be erased until Jesus Christ returns.

“I believe in a personal God: the God of the Bible, whose Son, Jesus Christ, is real and who transforms lives by redeeming human hearts.  The God who loves me and you, the black person and the white person, and all persons- personally, desperately, sacrificially.” (p. 166) 

“Only through a relationship with Jesus Christ will the earthly distinctions between us fade, as our oneness in him takes precedence over color, creed, and culture and as our allegiance to him compels us to make those who matter to him matter most to us.” (p. 194)

Believer's Heritage- Samuel Morris

Amish Friendship Bread

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup olive oil
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 large package instant pudding mix

Preheat oven to 325*.
First, mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup buttermilk together until creamy. If you don't have buttermilk, use 1 cup milk plus 1 tsp lemon juice (or vinegar).
This is your "starter". Other recipes use this base and then slowly add to it over the course of 10 days. You end up with 4 times the amount of started, which you give 3 parts away and use the fourth to make a batch of bread. Hence, the "friendship" part. I bypass this and just make the starter for one batch.
Now, add all the rest of the ingredients to your mixing bowl. And mix well.
Grease three bread pans with butter and then coat with sugar. Pour your batter into  the bread pans filling them 1/2 to 3/4 full. Bake at 325* for 1 hour.

NOTE: This recipe can be used as is with vanilla flavored pudding mix, or you could give it different flavors by mixing up the flavor of pudding mix and adding in other items. Example: banana pudding mix and adding in walnuts, or coconut pudding mix and adding in coconut flakes, or chocolate pudding mix and adding in chocolate chips. They all come out great!!

What To Do If You Miss The Rapture (audio sermon)

There is a time coming when the people who have asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save them will be called up to heaven. It is known to Christians around the world as "the Rapture". Many movies have been made on this subject, but sadly, many of them aren't biblical.

When the Rapture takes place, it won't be the end of the world. Life will go on, and there are going to be some very strange things that take place during the years after the saved  Christians are removed from this earth.

If you are one of those that are left and you are wondering what to do, please listen to this:

Funny Happenings- Watch For Cars

As we were heading up to church one Sunday, my niece decided to just run up to the front door.
"You have to look out for cars!" I called after her, "You're going to get run over if you don't."
Just then a good friend of ours was pulling into a parking space.
My nephew, who was holding my hand, looked over at her car and responded without worry, "Oh, that's just Mrs. Jenn."

Outside The Camp (poem)

Outside the camp with Jesus,
Oh, precious, blessed place,
Where He has called us to Himself
With wondrous, matchless grace.
Apart from all that would distract,
Would hinder or would dim,
The fullness of communion sweet,
And fellowship with Him.

Outside the camp with Jesus,
'Tis He who makes the call,
To His beloved far and wide
To own Him Lord of all.
Outside the camp, where nothing else
But Jesus fills the heart,
Where He, the center of our thought,
Doth peace and joy impart.

Outside the camp with Jesus,
Just gather to His name,
Where He Himself is in the midst
Forevermore the same.
The Holy Spirit leads the way
When giv'n His rightful place,
To take the precious things of Christ,
Revealing matchless grace.

Outside the camp with Jesus,
'Tis Jesus fills our gaze
When He's the object of our thought,
Our theme of endless praise.
'Tis such a peaceful, precious place,
A blessed portion this,
A foretaste of the joys to come,
In Heav'n's eternal bliss.

I take my place, Lord Jesus,
Outside the camp with Thee,
Apart from all that interferes,
From worldly service free.
Just gather round the Lord Himself,
Remembering Thy love,
Enjoying there Thy presence
Till we meet Thee Lord, above.

-Lois Beckwith

Pilgrim Song

Faith

When I was about 14, my sister and I went to my mother and told her that we wanted Shepherd puppies. I wanted a girl, and my sister wanted a boy. My mother didn't have the money to buy us a dog of any kind! So, she told us to pray and ask God.
My sister and I went together to a quiet spot and put our petition forth to God- very specific about what we wanted. We had the faith of little children that God was going to answer our request. I'm not sure exactly what my mom was thinking, but the next morning out by our mailbox were two little American Shepherd puppies- one girl and one boy.
That was my first experience with faith and answered prayer. As I've grown, I've asked God for many things, and I've seen Him answer many of my requests. But, it wasn't until recently that I understood what faith was.
I Samuel 30:1-2, 8, 18-19- And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
This story above is the best story in the Bible about biblical faith. Why? Well, if this were me, I would have instantly went after my family and then on the way asked God to bless what I was doing. But, that's not faith. Faith is getting down and asking God what it is that He wants us to do and then confidently going and doing what He says. David asked God first, and then he went and recovered all because he knew he was in God's will.
Our idea of faith is asking God to help us with something, and then going about to figure out how to accomplish it. Too many times after we ask God to help us with something, we "charge it" and expect God to pay the bill. That's not faith. Faith isn't an immediate response to a situation. Faith is taking time to pray and ask God what is right, and then following his lead.
Matthew 21:22- And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
James 4:3- Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
These two verses seem to contradict, but if you learn how faith and prayer are suppose to work, then you will understand how these verses go hand-in-hand.
Ask for God's will.
Pray for God's will.
Wait for God's will.
Then you can ask and believe that you will receive, because you aren't asking amiss.
I can say that I am guilty of going my way and expecting God to back me up because I "believed" that He would. I had a false understanding of what faith exactly was. I wasn't "naming it and claiming it" like some of those Christians, but in my own way I was saying it and then trying to make it happen how I wanted it to turn out.  It wasn't until I realized what faith was that I could further grow in my walk with Christ.
Sometimes, God answers with an immediate "yes" to  what we pray. Other times, His answer is "no", and yet we still try to go about getting what we want our way. Then there are those occasions, which happen to me often, where God says "wait". And those are the hardest times to have faith!
Proper faith will now only have an impact on how you handle circumstances, but also how you pray about them. It will temper your wants as well as give you patience. It's not an easy thing to "wait on the Lord", but 'God always gives the best to them that leave the choice to Him' -Hudson Taylor.
Do you have any stories of faith? Is there a chapter in your book of life that reads like Hebrews 11? IF not, when are you going to get your stories?