A Fresh Touch

At the Beth Moore Simulcast on September 15 I accepted her counsel to daily review with JESUS certain Scriptures related to FEAR. I have some fears. And HE intends for me to come to freedom. By the way if you want this list of Scripture you can click HERE and get your own copy.

I loved yesterday’s TEXT. It was blunt, to the point and delivered with His holy, loving gentleness to my heart. I loved it!! I said that already, didn’t I?  Here’s yesterday’s:

“Say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Don’t be afraid or cowardly because of these two smoldering stubs of firebrands . . . “

Isaiah 7:4 HCSB

I’m telling you I love it! “Calm down and be quiet – that’s nothing! I got this!”

That’s what it said to me. I can hear HIM saying it. I can see the love in His eyes and the loving grin on is Face when He said it to me! He is so AWESOME!!

Today.
Well, today is just as loving, just as kind, just as wonderful and just as blunt and correcting!

Isaiah 35:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

4 Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”

via Is 35:4 HCSB – Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do – Bible Gateway.

Cowardly.
I don’t care much for that word. Not at first blush. Perhaps you don’t like it either. HOWEVER, it does fit. King James translation uses the word fearful. New American Standard uses the word anxious. And I checked a few other versions each uses either fearful or anxious. And we get the meaning, right?

Cowardly is not flattering. But neither is JESUS. He is Truth.

Cowardly does mean fearful. Anxious. Timid. And so on.

However. In the middle of my heart came a sobering message. It bites a bit but it is freeing when applied.

Say to the cowardly – the timid, the fearful, the anxious . . .

What is often the hallmark of anxious, timid, fearfulness? Is it: Negative, complaining words leading to negative, complaining, anxious countenance? Yeah.  I’m Afraid so. :)

So could it be that our complaining, negative, ‘what now!’ words are actually announcing that we are acting in a cowardly way?  Could it be that our complaining, negative, ‘come on now!’ words are actually saying:

“I am afraid, GOD.”
“I am afraid of what is happening right now.”
“I am afraid of what will happen.”
“I am afraid, GOD, that You really don’t have my back here.”

And to the cowardly, The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD says: “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your GOD; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”

Now how’s that for a loving correction?!  And in the words of my Pastor: “Get it? Got it! Good!”

Today I am first of all praising and thanking ABBA for this message. And I am here with not new requests but the same. All the same. They are not old – to Him or me – just ready for a fresh touch today.

ABBA, thank You. Thank You for Your Word that is forever fresh, forever alive to give a fresh touch each time we read. Thank You for Your personal touch to every open heart. Thank You for the touch You have for each one who comes here to read and pray today. It is my prayer each will accept and receive what You have for them. Mindful now, of many: Nicole and Matt; Dori, Kerri, Pam, Debbie; others grieving and adjusting to a new kind of normal; hard-willed children, grandchildren and spouses. Israel. America. November’s Election. Arrogant, blindness. And the BODY of CHRIST.  All matters important to our beings. In each of our individual places, we come believing You, loving You and entrusting them and us to You in JESUS Mighty and Holy name.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

A Find

Just wondering if you enjoyed the Seeing is Believing video? Click HERE if you missed it and would like to see it.

Got a recipe for you this morning. Really. A real food recipe. I made it yesterday. Would load a picture for you but the last of it went with my beloved to work this morning.

Italian Meatballs

1 package Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage (ground or links)

I was delighted to find a package of ground with NO preservatives, NO fillers and minimally processed – actually that FIND was the reason for trying the recipe.

1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup of dry bread crumbs (I used Japanese-style Panko Bread Crumbs – again no preservatives)
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (yes, I grated from a block of Parmesan cheese :)
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup finely chopped onion (actually I grated red onions – I mean I had already grated the cheese – so why not :)  )

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk and onion. (If using links – remove sausage from casings) Add sausage to the bread-crumb mixture and mix well. Shape into 20 meatballs. Arrange meatballs on a shallow baking pan (I lined pan with parchment paper – easy clean up). Bake for 20 minutes or longer until meatballs are cooked through (and browned to your liking). Serve with your favorite  sauce and spaghetti.

If I had any left I would be making meatball subs for supper tonight. :) Got some flat bread that is just begging to be baked with meatballs, sauce and cheese. Oh well … next time. :)

1 Corinthians 5:New King James Version (NKJV)

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

via 1 Corinthians 5:7-9 NKJV – Therefore purge out the old leaven, – Bible Gateway.

I am praying today for Nicole and Matt Teague FamilyAnd as many of you, there are others that daily come to my ‘JESUS, please help list’.

ABBA, thank You. Your blessings are more than we can number and none of them are small – they are all huge and wonderful. The blessing of recipes and happy FINDS at the market, the strength and privilege of cooking and eating and serving family and friends. What a wonderful blessing You gave us when You created food and the eating of it. Help us see You in it and learn more about who You are in our everyday blessings. Nicole and Matt and the children and other family members – this is a tough one. Thank You that You are right there with them, walking every step of this with them; and, JESUS, I am asking You to heal Nicole to allow her the privilege to raise up her children to honor and love You and bless her husband for many years even beyond that.  Thank You for hearing our prayers for this beloved family. And others: Pam, Kerri, Dori, Doylene, The Hughes Family as they grieve and celebrate Lillian’s life; Debbie as she looks for a new vision and a new path with You; and wayward children and wayward spouses – all these people and matters – thank You for hearing and answering. Israel. Still asking for peace and protection; trusting You to protect them, trusting You to subdue their enemies. America. Remembering Your grace and mercy and trusting You for repentance in this Land.  And as I close to post this, ABBA, thanking You and loving You and praying that every dear one who comes here to read and pray will open their hearts to believe You and experience Your blessed, holy, perfect, kind and gentle Manifest Presence with them today. Thank You, ABBA, in JESUS Mighty Name.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

You Got to See This!

We must stand with Israel. Take in the beauty of this place! I want to go!!!

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!