Word-Filled Wednesday ~ #100 ~ Forgiven Much

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." ~Luke 15:10 [Jesus speaking]

"Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven ~ for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." ~Luke 7:47 [Jesus speaking]

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ~ of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." ~I Tim. 1:15-17 [emphasis, mine]

 "The Sinner" ~ Ron DiCianni

To many who have only known me since I became a Christian in May of 1982, I have often said that I have lived two utterly and completely different lives. 

I am a sinner saved by GRACE ~ God's Riches At Christ's Expense ~ I am the "wretch" of "Amazing Grace" who is forgiven and washed clean by the precious blood of Jesus Christ: THE Son of God, THE only Savior of the world. 

I'm bringing this up because I have come to think that time on this ol' earth is growing short. During my Christian walk, I have often had conversations with other sincere believers about how incredibly COOL it would be to still be on earth when the Lord comes back. O Glorious Day! But something that we seem to forget is that, if we are here at Christ's return ~ whether you're pre-/mid-/or post-trib ~ we are going to have to live through some very hard times. Persecution, discrimination . . . even death for the cause of Christ. 

Sound familiar?

These things are already going on in our world ~ and increasingly in the the United States. It is simply amazing how quickly this world, and our great country, is turning against the things of Christ. (Especially in the last 5 years or so . . . just being honest here.)

So, I want to invite you to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. No pretty bows or flowery language needed ~ we make our eternal decision HERE, on THIS side of Heaven. None of us are promised tomorrow, much-less our next breath ~ if you die without Jesus as your Savior you WILL go to hell. No passing "go", no collecting $200. You're opportunity to spend eternity ~ NEVER ENDING TIME ~ with God will have been lost forever . . . just like you. Don't kid yourself with the old joke, "I want to go hell because that's where all my friends will be!" Well . . . that may be true enough, but you will never know it, unless you can hear their screams of agony over your own. Hell is a place of total agony and complete separation from God ~ forever. Perhaps that's the real agony.

I was a wretched, horrible person. God's ONLY Son, Jesus, paid the price for me ~ and you ~ with His suffering and death on the cross. And then . . . as only THE GOD of all can do . . . He raised His Son back to life! Incredible, but true. 

One of my dear friends that I'm still close to from back in my school days, once told our girls, "I grew up going to church and have believed in God all my life, but if I had never believed before, I would have from the change I saw take place in your mom. The change in her caused me to re-commit my life to Jesus." [paraphrasing from memory] 

I don't tell you that to toot my own horn, but as an example that if a sinner like me can be changed by the leading of the Holy Spirit in my life, you can, too. 

Time is short and hell is just a real as Heaven.

I try to keep my blog up-beat and helpful ~ but I felt that this is what the Lord wants me to tell you, today. Please accept Jesus as your Savior today ~ I look forward to meeting you in Heaven.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<>< 

Yummy Herbed Butter

Back in 2010, I wrote a blog post "Butter vs Margarine" and I gave you my easy-peasy homemade butter recipe. Today, I'm going to go a step farther and give you some ideas to use that homemade butter (or store-bought butter) to make some yummy herbed butter.

Herbed butter can add whatever little extra yum you want ~ you can add lots of zesty herbs for real pizazz or add just a touch of a simple light-tasting herb to add that little bit of interest to your rolls and bread. 

You will need:

~1-1/2 sticks of butter OR 1 c of rolled butter OR homemade butter ~ softened
~sea salt
~small bowl for mixing
~mixing spoon
~various herbs OR herb mix of your choice (see below)
~plastic wrap 
~air-tight container (preferably glass)

Directions:

1) use soft, warm butter
2) blend herbs completely through the butter
3) roll butter either into a long bar or into a ball
4) wrap in plastic wrap
5) chill for at least 1 hour before use

Now . . . for the Herb Blends . . . 

**My favorite is my own all-time, absolute favorite herb blend. I use this in/on nearly everything. :-) Add an extra pinch of sea salt.

**Combine 1/2 ts sea salt, 1/4 ts coarse black pepper, 1/2 ts. thyme, 2 ts. sage. This mix is especially good on turkey or chicken ~ as you spread it, it melts into the crevasses of the warm meat. And don't forget to spread a little on your dinner rolls.

**Combine 2 ts dill and 1 ts rosemary. So good on chicken or fish.

**Rosemary. Also great on chicken or fish all by itself. 

**Garlic. Simply mix in 1 minced clove or 1/4 ts garlic granules. Blend well. So good on hamburgers.

**Cilantro butter ~ oh yeah! Blend in 2 TB cilantro, 1 TB lime juice, 1/4 ts sea salt. Another good one on hamburgers. Or spread on a tortilla, then spread a thin layer of guacamole, sprinkle a little Jack cheese over it, roll up and you have a great little Southwest appetizer or snack.

**1/4 ts lemon balm and 1/4 ts lemon juice. Great with fish and seafood dishes, and on corn fritters and hush puppies with your seafood.

**1/4-1/2 ts dried marigold petals, chives and parsley. Try this blend with chicken, eggs and potato or other veggie dishes.

**1/4 ts basil, 1/4 ts thyme, 1/8 ts parsley, 1/4 ts dill. So yummy spread on hot homemade bread or melted over your favorite mixed veggie dish.

**Basil and garlic OR my favorite herb mix and garlic. Spread onto thick slices of homemade bread, put on a cookie sheet or stone and bake for 10 minutes at 350* ~ best garlic bread EV-ER! 

**And don't forget honey butter!! Mix a TB of local raw honey into your butter. Mmmm . . . your rolls have never tasted better.

Use your imagination and create your own blends. Let me know what you come up with.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Homemade Camphor Oil and Salve

As I was growing up, my dear Bigmom (maternal grandma) always had a little used medicine bottle on a little nik-nak table next to her favorite rocking chair. It contained little white balls in oil. When she had an ache, that little bottle would be opened and it's lovely, sharp, mentholated fragrance would envelope Bigmom as she would pour a little bit of the oil into her hand and rub it's soothing "heat" into her tired, aching knees. 

What she had in that little bottle was simply olive oil and little chunks of camphor. It was all she needed to stop the arthritic pain that plagued her poor knees. 

With more and more people turning back to home remedies, this should be a staple in your medicine chest for not just aches and pains . . . but for . . . 

~burns
~decongesting chest rub
~rub onto bottom of feet to reduce fever
~canker sores
~chapped and cracked lips and corners of the mouth
~acne
~cracked heels
~toe nail fungus
~eczema
~rashes
~hemorrhoids
~boosts circulation
~eases tension and headaches
~anti-inflammatory
~antiseptic
~relieves minor depression 
~clears menopausal brain fog
~muscle and joint aches and pains
~boosts circulation
~repels flies and moths
~encourages hair growth and fights hair loss

You can buy camphor essential oil in most health food stores OR you can buy small amounts of camphor granules at health food or bulk food stores. Even though camphor is crystallized, it often collects in little marble-sized balls. That's OK. 

To make your own OIL . . . 

~~simply place 2-3 marble-sized balls of camphor into a 2-4 oz glass bottle (preferably amber or blue) and fill with extra virgin olive oil OR food-grade grapeseed oil (if you prefer a lighter weight oil). Let it sit for 2 days before using it ~ you want that wonderful camphor to be blended into the oil. To use, pour a small amount into your hand and apply it where you hurt. 

~~To stimulate hair growth & cut down on hair loss, blend a about 1 ts into your favorite shampoo. Use as usual.

To make your own SALVE . . . 

You will need:

~1/2 c extra virgin coconut oil
~approximately 2 oz chunk of bees wax, grated (where I get mine, the bees wax comes in chunks of 2, 4, 7, 10 oz)
~10-15 drops of eucalyptus essential oil (depending upon the strength you like)
~5-10 drops of camphor essential or homemade oil (depending upon the strength you like)
~containers (tins, plastic containers, glass jars)

Directions:

1) SLOWLY melt the coconut oil and bees wax together
2) once it's completely melted, add the essential oils
3) stir to blend
4) pour into containers
5) it should harden in about 15 minutes

~If it's too soft, scoop out, re-melt & add little more bees wax to your liking; let harden again.

***NOT recommended to internal use***

Let me know how much you LOVE it!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><