tongue

My Own Denial of Christ

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It was early morning, and I had just finished having a sweet time listening to Scripture on my phone as I prepared for the day.  What a blessing to hear Christ explain to His disciples in Matthew 26 what was going to happen to Him in the near future. I listened to the Scripture telling about when Peter cut off the servant’s ear.  Jesus told Peter to put away his sword, that He was laying down His life willingly. I listened as Jesus said that Peter would deny Him.  In my heart I wondered how he could do that after being with Christ.  I mean, didn’t Peter know he was sinning against the One who was getting ready to die for him?



Statue of Peter’s denial of Christ

I slipped out of my room, a song of thankfulness in my heart for all Christ did for me in those agonizing hours on the cross.  Now down at the lovely breakfast the hotel provided, I was carrying my plate to my seat, when I bumped into someone I hadn’t seen in a long time.  I held my breath as I approached her, smiling.  I said hello, then held my breath as she, consistent to every time we meet, made a stinging remark to me about my stature.  I muttered a negative remark about myself (not sure why I feel obligated to add misery to misery), then found my way to my breakfast table.  Now I had two meals to eat – my breakfast, and her! 

“Why does she always feel she has the right to make disparaging remarks about my size?”  Then in my mind I thought of all the smart remarks I could have said, should have said, and might say the next time we meet.  I even felt justified in my thinking!

Breakfast being finished, I returned to my room and its quietness, except for the voice that was whispering in my heart.  It was the Spirit of God, showing me how that, like Peter,  I, too, had just wielded the sword.  It was His voice also reminding me of Peter’s denial, and of my own.  Yes, my sinful thoughts, though unspoken, had dealt a fierce blow.  They had also denied Christ.  “I don’t know Him!  I don’t know the One who designed me!  I don’t know the One who is my Justifier, my Defender, my Father, who knows when I’ve been hurt!  I have to take care of this myself.” Wham!  In simply thinking the thoughts towards the offending lady, I was denying my Savior Who died for her…Who died for me.

Bowing on my knees at the desk chair, I was able to confess my sin.  I cried out for God to set a watch before my lips and keep the door of my mouth (Psalm 141:3).  I prayed for her, my sister in Christ…something I don’t think I’d done in the previous times we’d met and exchanged words.  I prayed that the Lord would keep my tongue and my thoughts from sinning against Him and also denying Him.  I must learn to put the sword back in its place…and also my wicked thoughts.

Thankful for Calvary’s love,

Uncategorized

What God Can Do

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She had been single for seventy years when the Lord brought into her life a man she’d known many decades before.  He had been widowed and was now alone.  She had been serving the Lord on the mission field all her adult life, and that is where he found her again.  They dated and then were married within a year.  They have now been married and serving the Lord together for the last four years!

This was the sweet testimony that I heard yesterday from the lips of the “newlywed bride.”  What a sweet story, huh?  It was also a sober reminder of how important it is that we keep a right attitude about our current situation in life.  What if this dear lady had gotten bitter towards God for allowing her to be single all those years?  Her future husband, who needed a woman to stand alongside him in his ministry, would not have chosen her to be his wife!  But that, of course, was not the case.  She had been faithful and trusting in the perfect will of her Father…for about 50 years!

What longing do you have that seems like it will never be fulfilled? 

  • Marriage?
  • Children?
  • Ministry opportunity?
  • Health?
  • Salvation of a  family member?

Our God is not limited by time.  He is eternal.  Keep a contented heart.  Keep a sweet spirit.  Keep serving Him – whether or not He does what you think He should do and in the time you think He should do it.  You and I don’t know what wonderful things He has planned for us in His time.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20, 21

With love,

Marriage

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

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I have a new office for a couple of days.  I’m in Atlanta kind of “chilling” while my  husband attends board meetings for the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship.  I attended the first part of their business meeting last night, then was graciously excused by my husband.  No offense, but while I’m all for contending for the faith, their gatherings could use some excitement…you know, like fancy edged scissors, glitter and scrap booking paper.  How pretty the men’s folders containing their minutes and agenda would be if the wives could get their crafty hands on them for an hour or two!  I doubt that’s going to happen.  Anyway, while he was in there having the next session and discussing tons of words that end in “i-s-m,” I found my way back to our room to blog,  rest, and get refreshed. Ahhh….

I am so grateful to be able to attend these meetings with him, now that we have an empty nest.  While I was homeschooling, I stayed home during these times to “hold the fort down” and, of course, keep school going.   Even though I have very little to contribute to his time here, it’s just a blessing that we can be together on the drive down, during meals and at night.  We missed Valentine’s Day because of this scheduled event, but that’s really okay.  As I stated in my Facebook status last night, though this was an unusual Valentine’s Day for us, this is the essence of what love is all about – just being together and enjoying the the mere presence of one another. If that sounds corny or boring, you don’t know Dale Cunningham!  It’s true.  We love each other and we love being together. 

You know what’s really funny to me?  People often tease us saying, “I wish you guys acted like you love each other!”  The thing that prompts those remarks is that we sit close.  We hold hands.  He puts his arm around me.  We talk.  We whisper and laugh. We have tons of fun just being us. I don’t believe we ever act in a way that’s inappropriate, but I guess it’s just different from many couples that are married for 30 years.  Boy, I feel sorry for others that think we’re strange.  We just like being together.  That’s why we got married!  =)  Yep.  We have tons of fun as a couple.  And that’s what it’s like inside our parsonage. Fun. 

Do you need to bump up the “fun” level in your marriage?  Don’t wait until next Valentine’s Day!  Look for a fun element to add to your lives – even if it’s just sitting close.  Life is too short not to enjoy the blessings God gives, and that includes marriage. 

With a thankful heart,

dessert · main dish

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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I got a lovely surprise last week –  a beautiful bouquet of daisies from my Sweetheart.  He doesn’t wait until Valentine’s Day to make up for what he should have been doing – he does sweet things like that all year long.  =)  (Yes, I know how blessed I am!)

I’m so thankful that my mom taught me to improvise and use what I have.  When I wanted a centerpiece for my Sunday dinner, I took the daisy arrangement I’d made and added a heart-shaped cookie cutter and then popped in some heart-shaped suckers that I had leftover from my Sunday school class. 

It looked like an arrangement that was purchased just for Valentine’s Day, but of course it wasn’t!

Saturday evening and Sunday were some special service at our church – we had a mission’s conference with Bud Steadman preaching.  He joined us for Sunday dinner, along with a man in our church who is bachelor for a week while his family is out of town.  I’m not sure why I do it, but I tried another new recipe on our guests!  Trying new recipes is so me…it’s what I do all the time, so I don’t realize it’s really kind of risky to try these things on guests – until I get ready to serve it!  Then I get a little nervous!  Oh well, it’s too late to change my old tricks now!

Here was my menu.  My new recipes are marked with an *.

Hawaiian Chicken*
serve with Rice with Cilantro
Pineapple Salsa*
Southern Green beans
Corn with Parmesan Cheese
Herb Bread*
~
Chocolate Pie*
Hawaiian Chicken
Ingredients:

1/4 cup pineapple juice

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled ginger

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Cooking spray
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups hot cooked long-grain white rice

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

1. Combine first 5 ingredients. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade; place remaining marinade in a zip-top plastic bag. Add chicken to bag; seal. Chill 4 hours.

2. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade in bag. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan; baste with 2 tablespoons reserved marinade. Cook 6 minutes. Turn chicken over; baste with 2 tablespoons reserved marinade. Cook 6 minutes.

3. Combine rice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cilantro.

*Because I was serving this for Sunday dinner, I opted not to grill the chicken – though I’m sure it would be wonderful!  I put the marinated meat in a baking dish, covered, and baked it at 225 degrees while we were at church. 

I added this salsa to it, because white meat is so dry to me.  This was really good with it.  I think next time I would warm the salsa. 

Pineapple Salsa

Mix:

1 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple (I used canned)

1/3 cup finely chopped red onion

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 cup pineapple preserves

1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Herb Bread
1/2 C butter or margarine, melted
1 T plus 1 tsp dried parsley, divided
1 T dill weed
1/4 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 Italian bread loaf, sliced
2 T grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In small bowl, combine butter, 1 tbl of the parsley, dill weed, oregano, and garlic powder; spread onto both sides of bread slices.  Reassemble loaf on large sheet of foil.  Brush top of loaf with any remaining butter; set aside.  In separate small bowl, combine remaining 1 tsp parsley and cheese; sprinkle over bread.  Wrap bread in foil.  Bake 10 minutes or until heated through.

Chocolate Pie – (From Cooking Light)
You can’t believe this is light. . .it’s as creamy and delicious as Grandma’s!

Filling:

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa

1/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 3/4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk

2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

1 1/2 cups frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed

Baked pie shell

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. To prepare filling, combine 1/2 cup sugar and the next 6 ingredients (through egg yolk) in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Place the milk in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until milk reaches 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Gradually add hot milk to egg mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Return milk mixture to pan; cook over medium heat 10 minutes or until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; stir until smooth.

4. Place pan in a large ice-filled bowl for 10 minutes or until mixture cools, stirring occasionally. Spoon filling into crust, and cover surface of filling with plastic wrap. Chill for 3 hours or until set; remove plastic wrap. Spread the whipped topping over filling; add cocoa or chocolate shavings for garnish, if desired.

What was cooking in your kitchen this week?  Are you making anything special for Valentine’s Day? 
Hope it includes chocolate! =)

From my parsonage kitchen,