PASSAGE: "The people to whom I [God] am sending you are obstinate and stubborn . . . You must speak My words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious . . ." ~ Ez. 2: 4, 6, 7
"Yet your countrymen say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just . . . And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so." ~ Ez. 33:17, 19
LESSON LEARNED: We hear it all the time: "How can a loving God send people to hell?" My answer is: "He doesn't. People send themselves to hell." And then I explain . . .
Our time on earth is where our eternal decisions are made. We have the CHOICE of accepting Christ's death on the cross as payment for our sins & His glorious resurrection as the promise of our eternal life in heaven, in the very Presence of God, as a free gift IF ONLY we will simply accept it.
There's also an old saying: "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." In the simplest of terms, this fits what happens when we share salvation through Jesus Christ with unbelievers & they reject it. Remember, they are not rejecting us (though it feels that way), they are rejecting Jesus. So sad, but true. I shudder to think of an eternity spent in misery, separated from God and all whom I loved, while some eternal "video" continually replays all the occasions I had to accept Christ as Savior and Lord . . . and didn't.
As God told Ezekiel, we are responsible to tell, they are responsible to accept.
Go tell.
Come & join Nancy at A Country Mom & I, if you are not already participating! Each Wednesday, we dig into the Word of God & share what we are leaning. All you have to do is share a passage you have read during your devotions, share the lesson you have learned from the Lord & then connect with others who are doing the same & comment on their blogs. Let's learn from the Lord & each other.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
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Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
For Today . . .
Outside my window . . . grey, windy, rain. Temps went from 80* to back into the 40*s. Like being in the UK country-side instead of Ohio.
I am thinking . . . where did spring go? I still haven't gotten out many of my seeds & it's getting late in the season. :-/
I am thankful for . . . good health. I still have a little bit of a cough & some fatigue from the virus (or whatever) I had . . . but I'm better than I was & I'm grateful.
From the kitchen . . . fresh bread. I'm thinking of some Amish French Toast for lunch.
I am wearing . . . jeans & my fuchsia thermal shirt w/thumb holes in the long sleeves. So cute, one of my favorites. Thought I could put it away, but, as I said earlier, it's only in the 40*s today. :-/ Brrr~
I am remembering . . . the neat, old English Cottages that were on House Hunters International last night. I LOVE it when they show old cottages in the UK.
I am hoping . . . that my mom's health improves & that the Dr finds out what's wrong w/her feet. My brother has her at the Dr's for x-rays as I type.
I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.
I am hearing . . . the radio, rain hitting the windows, the occasional car driving by, typing fingers.
I am noticing . . . that I am in dyer need of that Mother's Day gift certificate that my sweet, sweet DH got me for a mani/pedi! Woohoo!
Around the house . . . general pick up, some baking, laundry . . .
One of my favorite things . . . a pedicure! I haven't had one in years & I'm SO looking forward to getting one w/my gift certificate next week. My little piggies need some TLC.
Plans for this week . . . family time, work, I'm doing some homeschool assessments, worship w/the saints on Sunday.
Pondering these words . . . "Let the Holy Spirit LEAD in life's dance."
Scripture thought . . . "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, w/o comparing himself to somebody else . . . May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, & I to the world." ~Gal. 6:3,4,14
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . .
Read 100's of the other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
That's right ~ even tuna haters will love this tuna~noodle casserole.
Many times, you & I are called upon to take some yummy dish to friends & love-ones who are sick or who have just had a baby & I like to take this one. I don't mind telling you that there have been times when I've dropped off my casserole to families & told them it's a tuna-noodle casserole that it takes them just a split second to smile politely & say, "Oh, uh, thanks." lol But more often than not, when they return the casserole dish, they ask for the recipe saying, "I've NEVER had a tuna casserole that good! I usually can't stand them."
So, like the old commercial used to say: "Tryyyyy it, you'll liiiiike it."
You will need:
~6 oz. (3 c) medium-to-large noodles
~6 1/2 - 7 oz. can of tuna (drained)
~1/2 c. Mayonnaise
~1 c. sliced/chopped celery
~1/3 c. chopped sweet onion
~1/4 c. canned chopped pimiento
~1/2 ts. sea salt
~10 1/2 oz. can of condensed Cream of Celery soup
~1/2 c. milk
~8 oz. shredded sharp American cheese
1) Cook noodles using package directions; drain
2) Combine noodles, tuna, mayo, celery, onion, pimiento & sea salt
3) Blend celery soup & milk; heat through
4) Add 4 oz. (1 c.) American cheese; heat & stir until cheese melts. Add to noodle mixture
5) Stir into 2-quart casserole; top w/remaining shredded American cheese
6) Bake, UNcovered, @ 425* for 20 minutes
7) Serves 4-6
If you make this for someone, prepare everything up to #5. Let them bake it at their home so it will be nice & hot for their family. Don't forget to make some great herb bread or rolls (make a great herb bread by adding 2 TB of my herb mix to the bread recipe).
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
For Today . . .
Outside my window . . . lovely sunshine, bright green leaves, beautiful blooms on the dogwood, redbuds . . .
I am thinking . . . that my mom & I had a good day on "our" Mother's Day, yesterday. She had a good day.
I am thankful for . . . my health. I was so sick most of last week & I'm so thankful that I was well enough to go to church & then out w/my family for Mother's Day. I was the best Mother's Day I've had in quite a while. AND . . . my sweet DH got me a certificate for a hair cut/trim! Woohoo! Thank You, Lord, for providing!!
From the kitchen . . . baked bread yesterday, laundry detergent today.
I am wearing . . . long brown denim skirt, sage "Lakeside" t-shirt.
I am remembering . . . the fun time, lots of laughter & yummy food on Mother's Day.
I am hoping . . . for continued answered prayer. The Lord is SO very good.
I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.
I am hearing . . . radio, washer, dryer, robins tweeting outside our open windows . . .
I am noticing . . . that all of our rain has brought us such a beautiful, blooming spring.
Around the house . . . general pick up, making laundry detergent.
One of my favorite things . . . a day of relaxing w/a mani-pedi at a spa. Ahhh.
Plans for this week . . . family, work, worship practice, I'm hoping to get a adaptor so that I can down-load pics from my camera onto my PC again. My camera's "down-loader" is not compatible to our Lenux system. I have LOTS to show you. :-)
Pondering these words . . . "When we accept Jesus as our Savior we get ALL of the Holy Spirit; when we surrender, the Spirit gets ALL of US." ~ Billy Graham. There is a huge difference between "accepting" & "surrendering."
Scripture thought . . . "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns & spiritual songs. Sing & make music in your heart to the Lord." ~Eph. 5:19
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . .
{The Troy~Miami County, Ohio courthouse. I've always thought it is one of the most beautiful courthouses I've ever seen.}
Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Happy Mother's Day to all of my family & friends who have gladly given their lives to their children in everything from counting toes to letting go.
And always remember to give thanks to The ONE Who blessed you with those children.
{Mother ~ 2010}Every Mother's Day I spend with my mother is becoming, well, odd ~ she has dementia and her short-term memory, and some long-term, is becoming increasingly "unavailable." This confuses her, so sometimes even simple conversation makes her angry as she simply "gets lost" in it. But I love my mother and will continue to try to be there for her, as I can. This Scripture has become more & more precious to me as Mother's condition worsens . . .
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you
on the palms of My hands . . ."
~Isaiah 49:15-16
{Christmas 2001}
God has blessed me beyond measure in my children. Granted, I've gained a few gray hairs because of them ~ lol ~ but they (and my husband) are the joys of my life. And what joy will fill my heart when I go Home ~ I'm hoping that our Jessica & the 2 other little ones we lost will meet me at Heaven's gate and walk me into the Presence of God.
Oh, the joys of a mother's heart!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
{Pink-blooming Dogwood ~ front yard}At the time of the crucifixion, the Dogwood had reached the size of a mighty oak. So strong & firm was the wood that it was chosen as the timber of Jesus' cross. To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the dogwood. While nailed upon it, Jesus sensed this, & in His compassion said,
"Because of your pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow strong enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth, it shall be slender, bent & twisted, & its blossoms will be in the form of a cross ~ 2 long & 2 short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the prints of the nails. In the center of the flower, stained w/blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember."{www.appleseeds.org}Even before I was a Christian, I had heard the Legend of the Dogwood Tree & it had always been very special to me. {Even then, He was preparing my heart toward Himself.} I have been blessed by it &, after becoming a Christian, it has served me in special ways . . .
When our 1st daughter, Jessica, died I designed her stone. One of her favorite toys was a soft little flannel lamb that 1 of my husband's aunts had made (which we buried w/her), so I had a little lamb on 1 side of the pink granite stone & a cross w/Dogwood blossoms on it on the other (top left, hard to see in this photo);
{Pink-blooming Dogwood ~ front yard}also, for Jessica, a Jewish couple who were close friends of our family blessed us w/a memorial pink-blooming Dogwood planted at a local arboretum in Jessica's name.
{Pink-blooming Dogwood ~ front yard}We also have a lovely pink-blooming Dogwood in our front yard. This year, it is especially beautiful w/large, deep pink blossoms.
So now, when you see a Dogwood, you can tell your children that it is a symbol of the great love & mercy of our Savior, Jesus Christ, in more ways than it's simple Spring-time beauty.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
Edinburgh
