Roots

So blessed by a sermon by Steve Pettit this morning: Put Away Bitterness, Ephesians 4.
It is found on sermon audio.com

~Be rough on yourself, but smooth on others ~

Bitterness can get its roots in us, and by it many will be defiled. Sadly it could go on for years without our even recognizing it. 

God, please keep my heart tender, yielding, daily; that you can reveal my own heart to me.

In The Image of our Holy God

Don't you just thank God that we still live in a FREE country?

Preparing to go into this day, listening to God's Word, knowing that I am here only to bring glory to God...these are things I thank the Lord for today.

When my hubby and I came to know the Lord as Saviour, we now look back and see that it was just at the tail-end of when "Christianity" (in its holiness and holding fast to the truths of God's Word) was and is, so sadly, encouraged to turn "modern". We are now certainly in a post-Christian nation, but still called to worship and live for our wonderful, HOLY Lord!

Now the world is modern; modernism is pushed, even in churches that are "evangelistic". I hate to think about it, but even dear, true Christian loved ones and acquaintances scoff at believers who wish to walk strictly by the Word of God...scoffing, mocking our holy Lord. Though many say, "Christianity has changed"...God has not changed at all.

Hearing sermons from preachers now gone to Glory, Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. and from Oliver B. Green this morning on WMUU.com certainly prompted many of these thoughts.

I hate to think how much modernism has been absorbed into my own being. I am frail, only dust. Only by walking in obedience to His truth and depending upon Him daily, will I be led and changed toward Christ-likeness by my faithful Lord!

A Scripture reference that comes to mind,

"...walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16   

That's a promise!

Created in God's image; created to glorify God, our Creator!

He's so great, and I'm so small; I'm so weak, but He's so strong!

It's chilly in the north country, but we certainly didn't get the amounts of snow that they were predicting in this last storm!

Thanks for stopping by the Hill today!

Forgiveness With Thee

The kitchen sermons this past week and today have seemed to all center around walking in the Spirit and in the presence of God. Today's was from Psalm 130. It reminded me of the sermon at church yesterday; a reminder of all that I have been forgiven for and a call to walk in His presence each  moment. We were blessed to have three young people from town visiting with us during the morning service too!

Aren't  you (if you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior) glad that there is forgiveness with God?

When we were first saved our Pastor Gibbs had us learn a "chorus of the month". This is one of them.

After all He's done for me; after all He's done for me;

How can I do less than give Him my best

and live for Him completely?

After all He's done for me!

It's a blessing that each passing year the believer recognizes this more deeply. We serve a wonderful God; We have an "unspeakable gift". These spiritual blessings are sometimes difficult to put into words, but we are supposed to praise Him always. I have nothing to boast in except this wonderful Lord!

“If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that thou mayest be feared.”

Psalm 130:3,4

A Well Rounded Breakfast

It's back to round bread. I never knew where my mother got the idea, but all my life I ate round bread. When we married, Syd and I bought juice in cans so that we could keep eating round bread. In one or two of our moves I misplaced or threw away my old juice can bread pans. For several years now we have been eating store-bought bread or home made that's made in bread pans, which spread out and just aren't compact enough for our liking.

A few weeks ago Syd came home with two cans of pineapple juice. We never drink the stuff, but soon I found out what he was up to! Now we're back to eating our compact and perfectly round bread. It makes for a nice sized sandwich and just works "all-'round"!! ha, ha!

Thanks to my friend, Sharon, I now have new canisters too. I've been looking around for canisters, as I have hated the big "urn" shaped ones I had because they're hard to reach way down into and had a very narrow neck. Sharon showed up at church with some pecan candies in one of these great jars from Wal-mart. They're a nice size, so Saturday I bought three...just right for sugar, white and wheat flours. Thanks for the idea, Sharon!

Thanks for stopping by the Hill today. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Simple bread recipe:   7 cups flour (I mix 2 parts whole wheat and 1 part white); 3 cups tepid water,
1 1/2 t. salt, mixed together with two packets yeast; allow yeast to dissolve in water and salt and pour all together into your mixer with dough hook, or just mix together -however you're accustomed to doing it. Knead for 4 minutes or so; set aside for an hour; knead again for 4-5 minutes and put into your greased juice cans (this recipe will use three and will likely rise slightly above the cans, perfect). Allow to rise in a non-drafty area. 450 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Lay the cans on their sides for a few minutes then shake them out onto cooling rack. Enjoy!

Settle Down

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 

I Peter 5:10, 11

I do not know how much snow you got with this storm; if you live in a place that got no snow, I am sorry. The storm started as rain and ice, but the heavy snow that fell in the night is certainly settled onto every branch and twig. The quietness out there is amazing. 

I pray that the Lord will stablish, strengthen and settle me. Our Lord's day messages were a blessing. Our pastor is teaching from I Corinthians and the reminders of oneness among the body, the church, was so well explained. I pray, as do you I am sure, that our church family works together as one body; encouraging, guarding, building up and binding up wherever needed. Next week begins the chapter on charity, the "more excellent way". 

“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that  ye may have lack of nothing.”

I Thess. 4:11,12

I spend much of our little dog's waking hours reminding him to "settle down". I call Sturm "the Barney Fife of the dog world."  One can learn a lot even from their pets. I know that some days I spin my wheels, really getting little accomplished. It is surely not the moderate, settled, quiet and peaceful day that the Lord would have me experience. Even on my busiest days, they can be experienced with a peaceful heart-attitude. 

Day by day, God answered prayer in this regard during the past two weeks. I praise the Lord for a husband who loves his mother in law as his own Mom. He cares for her as lovingly and carefully as I do (much better than I do at times). I only hope that one day I will have the opportunity to help care for his mother in the same way; as I had my own mother for an example when she took my Grammy into their home and cared for her (my Dad's mom).  Thank you for any who prayed for Mom's needs over the past weeks. She is doing so much better!

Two Books on the Shelf

There are two books on the shelf;

“Pleasing God” or “Pleasing Self”.

I hope you have a wonderful day today. The below zero temperatures are behind us for this week, though I hear we may see a little more tonight. Praise the Lord for the wood stove and a warm place to live!

Today, in studying the fruit of the Spirit; God's love being listed first...I ask myself...

..."Is LOVE the controlling force of my life?"

God is doing a work within the life of any believer who is obediently walking in his Word and presence throughout the day - even if we do not see it. He is the all powerful God.

One more thing I learned about today, "yick yack", I had never heard of this internet application that allows people to express their views with "no one knowing who you are". There are so many ways for the internet to ruin people's testimonies! I hope that Christian people, young people perhaps, will realize that GOD KNOWS. He is the one who is conforming us to Himself. Yick yack is just one "means" that could undo much of what He wants to "do".  How sad. The world has such a pull and strong "hold". 

An interesting statistic today: 

The cell phone is now considered an actual extension of a person's body!

Our adversary, the devil is walking about, seeking whom he may devour.

I do hope you have a good day. Thanks so much for stopping by Darling Hill. I hope it was not a discouraging word. I am glad that we serve a God who overcomes the world!

Choosing To Love

As a Christian (one who has accepted Jesus’ death and shed blood as complete payment for MY sin), how can I be truly joyful in my daily walk?  

-by choosing to obey the greatest commandment; to LOVE.

I was so blessed by a sermon I listened to this morning. It was from Steve Pettit, preached from Bob Jones University. The simple message was, "Not Under the Law" and was about walking in the Spirit. It is so refreshing to see that he is still holding to the Authorized King James Version.

The truths are still running through my heart and brain, as to the in-and-out workings of this in each little area of my life, but that is where "meditate upon it day and night" comes in.

What a joy it is to live for Jesus Christ!