~ * Breathtaking ? ~

Yes. I make mistakes - just as every person. (BUT) the inestimable difference as with many individual souls is that I am a sinner who has been saved by God's grace.k.

"Eating, sleeping, and breathing seem "ordinary" in that we do them every day, usually without much thought. But they are not ordinary at all. Every bite and every breath are miracles. In fact, having breath is more miraculous than anything that takes our breath away". - Julie Ackerman Link

All that I want is in Jesus;
He satisfies, joy He supplies;
Life would be worthless without Him,
All things in Jesus I find. - Loes

* Breathing is more miraculous than anything that takes our breath away. - RBC Ministries

(Why be complacent toward Life ? It just doesn't make sense.k.)

~ PASSIONate ~

Dear Friends,

WOULD very much appreciate it if you'd allow me to gauge if THIS Blog should continue in it's currently consistent content of meditations/devotions, by you kindly advising me of your thoughts regarding this matter.

Personally thanking each of you for your input.

Sincerely,
Kim.

~ Not ALWAYS Roses .. there can be SOME thorns !! ~

As Christians, we are not exempt from problems that are common to all mankind. Such things as poverty, sickness, old age and tragedy are part of the business of living.

Christ knows about our needs and troubles. He is aware of our struggles with personal sin and of our relationships in the sinful world in which we live.

In spite of all He knows, He commands us believers to be cheerful. We have experienced forgiveness through the cross, and that should fill us with joy.

Christ told us that we will have problems in this life. His command to "take heart" is based on our being united with Him through faith. His person and work are the grounds of joy for every believer.

Obedience to the commands of Christ will bring many surprise blessings to our lives. Through our joy we can strengthen the weak, encourage the downcast and comfort the dying. Through our good cheer, we can give light to a dying world in need of the joy and radiance that come from the cross of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

"But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13).

C. McSpadden

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (JOHN 16:33).

~ BLESSEDNESS ~

I can personally say that through, by and in Jesus, it is His presence that makes the blessedness of the rest.

"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (MARK 6:31).

John Wesley's mother would often pull her house-apron completely over her head to escape the distractions of the day so she would be able to spend time with her God in-between tending to the many of John's siblings (apparently there were 12 ?).

Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? - Wesley

~ TWO Approaches To LIFE ! ~

Today the cross is an accepted symbol of love and sacrifice. But in Jesus' day the cross was a horrible means of capital punishment. The Romans would not mention the cross in polite society. In fact, no Roman citizen could be crucified; this terrible death was reserved for Rome's enemies.

Jesus stated that He would be crucified (Matthew 20:17-19). Many of His teachings emphasized the cross. He presented to His disciples two approaches to life:

. deny yourself or live for yourself;
. take up your cross or ignore the Cross;
. follow Christ or follow the world;
. lose your life for His sake or save your life for your own sake;
. forsake the world or gain the world;
. keep your soul or lose your soul;
. share His reward and glory or lose His reward and glory.

A challenge: "And He said to them all, 'if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me' " (Luke 9:23).

Consider also: Romans 12:2; Philippians 3:7-10; Galatians 2:20.

Action assignment: If you haven't made a forthright commitment as outlined in Romans 12:1-2, perhaps this is the time to do it.

W. Wiersbe

~ REVERSE Your Views ? ~

A friend of mine likes to imitate the verbal mistakes of English minister William Archibald Spooner, who was famous for his unintentional reversal of word sounds. In Spooner's style, one fell swoop became "one swell foop" and a pouring rain became "a roaring pain ."

My friend pulled out some Bible memory cards one day and announced that he was going to "reverse his views" instead of "review his verses." His spoonerized statement may have been closer to the truth of what can happen when we read and meditate on God's Word.

I wonder if I have yet grasped the incredible process described in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." J.B. Phillips translates it, "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within."

This is nothing short of a mental revolution - taking my normal human way of seeing life and giving me a point of view I could not have WITHOUT God.

Scripture memory is a powerful discipline that puts God's living Word into our minds (and as a consequence, into our hearts.k.) and gives Him the opportunity to change our thinking and reverse our views. - DCM

"Do not be transformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." - Romans 12:2

Action suggestions:

Memorize one of the following Bible passages and ask God to change your thinking. Repentance: Psalm 32; Love: 1 Corinthians 13; Christlikeness: Philippians 2:1-11.

THE BIBLE IS MEANT not MERELY TO INFORM but TO TRANSFORM.

~ Thank you ~

Dear Sheena,
Thank you very much for your wonderful comment. WITHOUT God I can do nothing !
May you achieve great success and satisfaction in the future - follow God's plan and NEVER stop talking (praying) to Him. He is your greatest encourager and strength at all times.
Sincerely,
Kim.

~ MARVELLOUS Grace ! ~

God's grace involves something more than giving, us salvation. We not only are saved by grace, but we are to live by grace. We stand in grace: it is the foundation for the Christian life. GRACE gives us the strength we need to be victorious soldiers. Grace enables us to suffer without complaining, and even to use that suffering for God's glory. When a Christian turns away from living by God's grace, he must depend on his own power. This leads to failure and disappointment.

This is what Paul means by "fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4) - moving out of the sphere of grace into the sphere of law, ceasing to depend on God's resources and depending on our own resources.

No wonder Paul was anxious as he wrote his Epistle to the Galatians. His friends in Christ were deserting the God of grace, perverting the grace of God, and reverting to living by the flesh and their own resources. They had begun their Christian lives in the Spirit, but now they were going to try to continue living in the power of the flesh.

Paul wrote: "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10, NASB).

Other Scripture: Roman 5:1-2; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Galatians 3:3.

Action assignment: Write out your understanding of the term grace. Look up a song focusing on God's grace and sing it. Thank God for his marvelous grace!

W. Wiersbe

* Grace means undeserved favour.
AMAZING GRACE is a wonderful song/hymn - it is BY His grace that my fears ARE relieved !

Christ cannot be crucified more than ONCE; when He gave His all for each of us; by (and through and in) His grace. Thank you LORD Jesus for allowing me to deliberately receive You as my personal Saviour, the true Light of the world. Thank you that you gave me belief by faith of your promise Father by placing my trust in You; that if I called on the name of the LORD Jesus, I will be saved. Thank you for your marvellous grace !

Kim Warren.

~ Dear Friend : ~

A thousand demons with ropes could not trip a foot that God has made sure. Against all odds, the Lord's servants can be anything God wants them to be. But before getting too high on possibilities, I am reminded of my limitations (Romans 7:15-25) and shaken by the awareness of what I can't do.

I cannot control my circumstances or guarantee my own health. Nor, by a thousand prayers or acts of kindness, can I assure my loved ones' well-being or the consequences of their actions.

Neither can I take credit for my successes or even see the number of my failures. I cannot take a breath without God's permission, lift a finger without His enablement, or think a thought apart from His grace. Nor can I revisit the past to correct mistakes nor step beyond the present to see and plan for the future.

Then there's my own heart. Even if I mastered many skills, I still couldn't master my own heart, or my own mouth (James 3:8). I cannot keep the Lord from watching me, from loving me, from holding me accountable for every thought, motive, and action. And I cannot-in any realm of life-have it all. I cannot, at the same time, stop being an enemy of God as long as I am choosing to be a friend of the world (James 4:4).

I cannot understand how God has always existed, how He could make something out of nothing, or why He has chosen to give me the inexpressible, inestimable gift of life.

What we can do, by God's grace, is believe in His ability to give us a spirit of trust, a spirit of prayer. We can rely on Him to give us a spirit of diligence and obedience, to be growing more and more into all that He wants us to be-in us, around us, for us, and through us. What could be better!

MRD II

~ Crossings ~

I stood on the river bank watching the muddy water toss great logs like so much sawdust, remembering how just a few weeks ago, I had stood on the opposite shore dreading the crossing. It was not the physical crossing of the Mekong River from Thailand to Laos that I feared - especially since the trip was made by plane. It was what the crossing signified.

Initially, there was the ideological crossing from capitalist to communist society, part of which meant going from a society where consumer goods were abundant to one where even the most essential items were scarce or unavailable. Would I remember to take the right things with me? What if my daughters got sick? Would I think to include all the medicines we might need?

I would also be making a spiritual crossing from the warm Christian fellowship of church and friends. In Laos I could have little open fellowship with national believers and would find few English-speaking Christians.

Finally, there was the emotional crossing of leaving the familiar - friends, activities, home - to face the unknown. Would the girls find friends? How would they occupy their time? Could we be content in two gloomy hotel rooms?

BUT as I read the passage from Deuteronomy (noted below) about God going across ahead of us, He gently reassured me that He would cross all my rivers ahead of me and be with me on the opposite shore.

Life is full of crossings! As you face your next one, remember that "the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you."

"BE assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire" (DEUTERONOMY 9:3a).

J. Andrianoff

~ Galatians: 5:22 ~

The fruit of the Spirit is Love.

~ Hang TOUGH ~

To the one who suffers from depression, nothing could be worse. People offer cliches like, "Just pull yourself together," "Snap out of it" or even, "Just read the Word and trust." It usually is not that easy.

I had seen tribespeople suffering from fear of evil spirits or from obvious depression, but they did not know God. If after they had been converted there was still depression, I would feel impatient. I wanted to tell them, "Christians don't get depressed."

Today I know better. It took nine long months before a doctor realized my deep depression was a side effect of a strong anti-malarial medication.

Satan's oppression took on several forms - because I had never before been bothered by this, I kept searching for the awful sin in my life. Then I became convinced that no one suffered as I was suffering. In addition, I felt sure my trial would never end.

Through my ordeal God taught me two great truths:
1) I could not flee from His presence (Psalm 139:7-18);
2) My position as a child of God is in Christ, and that position is secure.

As these two truths began to dawn upon me, I would cry out, "Oh God, I cannot feel your presence, but I know You are here, and as Your child I am in Christ. Nothing can take those things away."

Child of God, whatever you are suffering now, grasp these two unshakable truths - His abiding presence and your guaranteed position - and look up!

F. Bozeman

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today" (HEBREWS 3:13).

~ The LIFE That Is REAL ~

"I would like to become a Christian," an interested woman said to a visiting pastor, "but I'm afraid I can't hold out. I'm sure to sin again!"

Turning to 1 John 1, the pastor said, "No doubt you will sin again, because God says, 'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us' (v. 8). But if you do sin, God will forgive you if you will confess your sin to Him. But it isn't necessary for Christians to sin. As we walk in fellowship with God and in obedience to His Word, He gives us ability to resist and to have victory over temptation."

Then the pastor remembered that the woman had gone through surgery some months before.

"When you had your surgery," he asked, "was there a possibility of complications or problems afterward?"

"Oh, yes," she replied. "But whenever I had a problem, I went to see the doctor and he took care of it."

Then the truth hit her. "I see it!" she exclaimed. "Christ is always available to keep me out of sin or to forgive my sin!"

The life that is real is a life of victory.

The Bible says: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

Also consider: Proverbs 4:14-15; James 1:12-16; 4:7-8; 1 John 1:7; 2:3.

Action assignment: Identify one or more areas in your life to which you continually fall into sin. Recognize God's ability to help you overcome temptation, and ask Him to enable you to keep these areas of your life pure.

W. Wiersbe

~ Make Me Willing ~

After 28 years as a missionary in the Far East, (including more than three years internment as "guests" of the Japanese during World War 2), I was quite prepared to remain in the States. Then my husband presented me with the proposition of going to the Middle East where my parents had been missionaries for 43 years. Recovering from an illness and weary in body, I had absolutely no desire to pack up and go abroad again. It all seemed too much !

How I struggled ! I really wanted to obey God if this move was His will - but it was just too hard for me. While in the throes of decision-making, we were invited to speak and show slides to a ladies' group. Taking her text from Deuteronomy 1, a woman, who could not possibly have known about us, challenged the group to move on in their Christian experience. She read, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain" (verse 6). (We were living at Nyack, the "mount of prayer and blessing.") She continued, "Break camp and advance into the hill country . . . and to Lebanon" (verse 7). (It was to Lebanon we had been asked to go.) "Bring me any case too hard for you" (verse 17). (Everything was too hard for me.) God let me know that my next step was to be willing to go and He would open up the way ! I had to cry out to the Lord that the best I could do at that moment was to be willing to be made willing.

Needless to say, we went to Lebanon and saw God perform miracles in the lives of individuals. Now I can say that those 15 years in Lebanon, despite uncertainty, destruction and constant danger, were some of the happiest I have known.

M. Taylor

"As thou goest - step by step - I will open up the way before thee (PROVERBS 4:12, Old Hebrew Translation)."

~ Heavenly MEDITATION ~

When you truly delight in the Word, you will have a desire to meditate on it and make it a part of your life. In Psalm 119, the writer connects "delight" and "meditation" (vv. 15 - 16, 23 - 24, 47 - 48, 77 - 78). Cultivate an appetite for the Word of God.

Warren Wiersbe

~ Life ! ~

Life

(Pause and think of that)

~ Cimarron ~

Am resting and have just started watching a movie on Foxtel called Cimarron (1960) while typing this. I prefer the older movies as they can often have a good storyline. The movie is starring Glenn Ford and Maria Schell. It's about a pioneer couple who play a major role in the settling of Oklahoma. Hope it's okay.

Today's weather hit the 30 deg. centigrade mark. TOMORROW - 35 degrees is expected. A dry heat is tolerable but humidity is tough to cope with. It's wearying. Do you find the hot weather effects you that way, too ?

~ * FREE Tickets AVAILABLE ! ~

We are all ticketed to go to Heaven but not everyone will accept the ticket ! - Anon.

~ * A material world ! ~

Technology drives me nuts. I hate it ! It's regulated to win for itself just like all plans of this material world. It's a big deal.k.

~ Just a MINUTE ! ~

Can a minute be afforded to be wasted ?

(Pause and think of that)

... I suppose it depends on the importance of what kind of minute it is.k.

~ A Song of Faith ~

" The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him the more intensely missionary we must become."

Henry Martyn

~ The Good Hand of Our God ~

When God wanted to create a world, He merely had to use His fingers (Ps. 8:3). To save lost sinners, He had to bare His arm (Isa. 53:1). When He wants to accomplish a task, He uses His mighty hand (Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; Neh. 2:8).

Warren Wiersbe

~ The Living God ~

The Bible uses human illustrations to explain divine attributes. God is spirit and does not have a body, but He can see you, hear you, and walk with you. After all, we can do those things, and we are made in the image of God. If we fail to trust the Lord and worship Him, we might just as well worship a dead idol ! Do you have living faith in the living God ?

Warren Wiersbe

~ God and Mammon (a choice) ! ~

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in) - Matthew 6:24.
(The Amplified Bible - EXPANDED EDITION)

~ A Christian's EFFECTIVENESS ~

* 1 John 5:11-12, 13/He who has Jesus has eternal life.

James 1:2-4/Trials bring about godly character.

1 Cor. 10:13/God always provides a way out/through temptation.

1 Pet. 5:7-8/give all problems to God because the devil will seek to use difficulties in our lives to destroy our effectiveness as Christians' BUT Praise the Lord, God wins the victory !

Rom. 5:5/God's love poured into our hearts so His power can work out in our lives not our own self-efforts.

1 Cor. 12:18-25/all people are important.

Phil. 4:8/solution to mind pollution.

~ When You're Betrayed ~

One of the toughest tests we face while serving God is betrayal. I saw it happen to a loving pastor. He encouraged a gifted teenager in his congregation to go to Bible school. He arranged for financial support. He continued to mentor the young man after graduation, letting him preach on occasion.

But then the graduate began to undermine the pastor with innuendo and criticism. Finally the heartbroken minister left. Then the young man announced himself as a candidate for pastor of the church.

Jesus knew about betrayal. He invested 3 years into the lives of His 12 disciples, one of whom was Judas. Jesus taught him, performed miracles before his eyes, and even washed his feet. Yet Judas sold his allegiance for 30 pieces of silver. When Jesus predicted His own betrayal in John 13:18, He quoted David, who also knew what it was like to have a friend turn on him (Ps. 41:9).

Knowing that He would be betrayed, Jesus continued to do what the Father wanted Him to do. He taught us by example to serve people because we love and obey God, not because we want to be appreciated.

Have you been betrayed? Find comfort in knowing that true fulfillment comes in doing the will of God. - DCE

Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good. - 1 Peter 4:19

When people turn against you
In spite of all you do,
Remember Christ's rejection
And all He's done for you. - Anon.

IF YOU ARE BETRAYED,
LEAVE IT WITH GOD.

~ Comfort in Christ ~

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble (PSALM 46:1).

I memorized this psalm years ago and it has been a comfort on many occasions. I especially remember one day.

I received a letter from my youngest son who was attending college. In it he voiced his hurt, disappointment and loneliness at the loss of a dear friend.

I went out to the garden to gather strawberries, but my thoughts were of my son. So many times I had reached out to meet his need. It seemed only yesterday that I had held him in my arms after a fall or extended a hand to steady the little feet as they took those first tottering steps. We worked over math assignments together. Whether the basketball game was a victory or a loss, I was there to encourage him. But today he was far away and I felt helpless.

I decided to write to him, tell him I loved him and was praying for him and remind him that God was his comfort. Often he would close his letters to me with a Bible verse, so with my letter I added Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength," and 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Friend, God is the God of all comfort. He wants to help you today. Call on Him; He is always near.

M. STUMBO

~ "We Just HaveToTalk" ! ~

The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. - Exodus 33:11

Lisa and Sheryl have been friends since grade school. Although their paths have taken them in different directions since those schoolgirl days in New Jersey, they have maintained their close friendship.

Sheryl is married, settled in the Midwest, and the mother of young children. Lisa is single and involved in mission work, most recently in Russia. "Every now and then we just have to talk," says Sheryl. So they pick up the phone to catch up on the news and share their hearts.

In our Bible reading today, Moses and the Lord talked "as a man speaks to his friend" (Ex. 33:11). Moses enjoyed not merely an occasional phone call with the Lord, but frequent, direct conversation with Him that other Israelites could only observe from a distance. During those intimate talks, the Lord gave Moses instructions for leading the people.

Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, and because the Holy Spirit now lives within all true followers of Christ, we too can enjoy a special friendship and closeness with God. He speaks to us through His Word and by His Spirit, and we have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer.

If you are like me, as you go through your day you'll find yourself saying to God, "We just have to talk." - DCE

The kindest Friend I've ever had
Is One I cannot see,
Yet One in whom I can confide,
Who loves and blesses me. - Shuler

PRAYER OUGHT TO BE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR REAL BEST FRIEND !

~ a FREEDOM in THIS world ~

It's not good to WILLINGLY shut our mind off COMPLETELY because being able to think provides a FREEDOM in THIS world.k.

~ Patience ~

It may take only a year for a construction crew to put up a tall building, but God takes a century to grow a sturdy oak. So too, the Lord may seem to be working slowly to accomplish His purposes in our lives, but His grand designs take time.

The great New England preacher Phillips Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him pacing the floor like a caged lion, "What's the trouble, Dr. Brooks?" asked the friend. "The trouble is that I am in a hurry," said Brooks, "but God isn't." Haven't we often felt the same?

Jonathan Goforth (1859-1936), a missionary to China, was convinced that the city of Changte should be his field of spiritual labor. But his faith was severely tested as he was mobbed and threatened when visiting the city. Finally, after 6 frustrating years, permission to begin his work was granted. Within 3 days of reaching Changte he had received no less than 35 offers of land, among them the very site he had chosen earlier as the most ideal spot for the mission.

Wait patiently for the Lord (Ps. 37:7). If you do, you'll find that He will give you what's best - in His time ! - HGB

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him. - Psalm 37:7

Wait, and in waiting, listen for God's leading,
Be strong, the strength for every day is stored;
Go forth in faith, and let your heart take courage,
There is no disappointment with the Lord. - Anon.

GOD IS NEVER IN A HURRY, BUT HE IS always ON TIME !

~ * Easy "EXPRESS delivery" TASTY Hamburgers' Recipe ! ~

1 1b (pound) lean premium mince
1 packet 'Chicken Noodle Soup'
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1 cup plain flour
mixed herbs
onion

MIX together. SPOON into hot pan !

Voila.

S. Solly, Mathoura

~ FREEDOM from Offenses (OR Offences) ~

Do I really have peace of heart? Do I daily enjoy the experience of peace, or am I as easily disturbed as the worldling over things that happen minute by minute in the daily routine of living?

What a tremendous promise is contained in the below Bible verse! If we delight in God's Word, we may have freedom from agitation and unrest. Just think: nothing, but nothing will offend us or make us stumble in our walk in the Spirit.

How easily we are offended by little things. Someone takes the parking space we were headed for and we are offended - little things rob us of the peace Jesus wants us to experience.

It is not enough to want peace. Peter says that we must seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). He also tells us that love "covers over a multitude of sins" (4:8). I once heard a man of God say, "I laid down my critical spirit and picked up a bundle of covers." Love will cover the potential offender and offense and put out the fire.

This is not done by our simply deciding to change our ways. The power comes when we receive His Word. The Holy Spirit then reveals the Father's desire for us - death to self, conformity to the image of Jesus and total abandonment to the Spirit to work all of this in us.

What a lovely fragrance of Christ will then arise from our lives to bring blessing into our homes and to those whom we touch in our daily lives.

J. HOTALEN

Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble (* PSALM 119:165).

~ * NEVER ever Give up !!! ~

Never ever Give up when the good is Worth holding onto - let go of the remaining bad; "just .. let it go and hang onto what you've got".k.

~~~ * The World Has Need of You (E. Whitell) ! ~~~

If it's ever so small the part you take,
The world has need of you.
Be it big or little the effort you make,
The world has need of you.
If it's only a thought you give by the way,
If it's only love's word you pause to say,
It's a part that nobody else can play,
So the world has need of you.
By your smile you can change another's life;
The world has need of you,
By a word you can bring peace out of strife;
The world has need of you.
Then lift your head and never say die;
Count every blessing, stop every sigh.
Get busy...don't let a chance slip by,
For the world has need of you.

(E. Whitell)

~ * HIS Strength !! ~

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

These familiar verses from Matthew's Gospel have often been used to point weary, sin-sick sinners to the Savior - and rightly so. They also hold a world of meaning for the child of God, for in these verses can be found rest and refreshing, encouragement and instruction and abundance of resource for life and service.

God's children often expend a great amount of time and effort to complete a task for the Lord only to find physical, mental and, yes, even spiritual weariness resulting. When the burden of it all weighs heavily, when problems seemingly have no answers, is it not sweet to hear those comforting words: "Come to me . . . I will give you rest . . . my yoke is easy and my burden is light" ?

Struggling Christian, determined to be all that God wants you to be, are you striving in your own strength ? Stop the self-effort and get into the yoke with Jesus, your Savior. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. If what you are carrying is hard and heavy, then it must not be of His making.

Everything the child of God needs to live the Christian life is in Jesus. He is the reservoir of life and power. Without Him we can do nothing !

Come . . . learn from Him . . . find rest in Him every day. Do His work in His strength.

E. KING

~~ ** "Absolutely delicious" NEW YEAR 'Sailor's Beef ' (worthy of a military salute) / CASSEROLE recipe !!! ** ~~

Ingredients:

1kg whole piece of rump steak
seasoned flour
1kg potatoes, thinly sliced
2 large onions, thinly sliced
250g sliced mushrooms
30g butter
2/3 cup beef stock
1/2 tsp gravy mix (good quality)
1/3 cup claret (optional)

Method:

Cut meat into slices 1cm thick and pound with mallet until very thin. COAT with seasoned flour, shaking off any excess.

Lightly grease a LARGE casserole dish with butter. Arrange half the potato slices on the bottom of that casserole dish and cover with slices of onion. Add all the meat slices and mushrooms. Add the remainder of onion rings, finish with a layer of potatoes.

Season with salt and pepper, dot with butter and pour over combined stock, gravy mix and claret (optional). Place sliced potatoes around the top. Cover the casserole.

Bake at 180degC (350degF) for 2 - 2-1/2 hours. Serves 4 - 6.

Port Lincoln Club.

... this provision is quite delightful.k.

~~ "Happy New Year" !!! ~~

May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you all through the year !!

How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches you.
Thank you for your kind ways.

Be still - and let the joy of Christmas (JESUS) come into your heart.