November 14, 2024

Acts Of Love

May 4, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Sitting at the stoplight
He can’t be bothered by the heart-cry
Written on the cardboard in her hand
But when she looks him in the eye
His heart is broken open wide
And he feels the hand of God reach out through him
As Heaven touches earth

Oh – we bring the Kingdom come
Oh – with every act of love
Jesus, help us carry You
Alive in us, Your light shines through
With every act of love
We bring the Kingdom come

There’s silence at the table
He wants to talk but he’s not able
For all the shame that’s locked him deep inside
But her words are the medicine
When she says they can begin again
And forgiveness will set him free tonight
As Heaven touches earth

God put a million, million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you
I said, God put a million, million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Written by Singer/Songwriter Jason Gray along with Jason Ingram

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

Over on our Seeking Him devotional blog, we are just finishing up nine weeks of studying the Beatitudes.  Y’know, the portion of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus taught the blessing of having certain ‘heart attitudes’ i.e., being meek, having humility, mourning, etc.  This past week, our focus was on Matthew 5:10.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It almost seems that, in this beautiful song, Jason Gray could be offering up a suggestion for an addition to the Beatitudes.  “Blessed are those who do acts of love…for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.”  Living our lives with a heart to carry out acts of love definitely puts us in the category of those who are ‘blessed!’

Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14

This verse follows along after the great ‘LOVE’ chapter in 1st Corinthians.  No words minced here:  ‘Let a-l-l. that you do….’  Not some things, not a random act, not one good deed per day—but all that you do.  Whew!  Really?!?  When Paul penned this (inspired by the Holy Spirit…2 Peter 1:21), he wrote all and all was the directive.  And we CAN do this!  Here’s how….

And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:17 AMP

(Thank You, Lord!)  It is not in our own strength but in dependance on Christ Who dwells in us.  Just as our Lord truly did all in love, so can we!  We have the mind of Christ, remember?

But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts of His heart.
1 Corinthians 2:16

And so, we determine and choose to live as Jesus did. As Laura reminded us the other day, “WWJD—What Would Jesus Do?”  We are His hands and feet in this world.  No longer does the Savior walk this earth reaching out to and ministering to all those around Him.  Just as Jesus was the physical, living proof of His Father…we can, too!  Remember, Jesus encouraged His disciples that they would be known as His by their love (John 13:35)!  Us, too!!!

No one has ever seen God;
but if we love one another,
God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:12

And so we should be living our lives with acts of love as the standard, the norm, the given…truly, our hearts’ desire. We have been enabled…we can do this!

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14 ESV

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue
but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:16-18

An act of love can look like oh-so-many different things…

  • to a relative living cross-country, it could be a photo montage of your kiddos latest antics…
  • to the elderly widower who around the corner, it could an invitation to have supper with your family…
  • to the crossing guard who is there every morning and every afternoon to guide the kids across the busy city street, it could be a cup of hot coffee…
  • to another mom sitting watching tee-ball practice, it could be a listening ear…
  • to your super-tired hubby who has worked extra late for the third-night-in-a-row, it could be some freshly baked cookies and a shoulder rub…
  • to the friend anticipating another round of chemo, it could be the promise of going and sitting with them during that time….

You get the picture. It is not in the bigness nor the smallness of the act…it is being Jesus’ hands and feet.  It is loving with His love!

“God put a million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you”

Jesus our Messiah was THE Door (John 10)…the Way, the only Way, to the Father.

May we, as He was, be a door for others to walk through to reach God’s love.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Beautiful Words

May 3, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

*  ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10

Beautiful Words, beautiful Words, He spoke beautiful Words.
The wind lay still, and the whole world listened as He spoke beautiful Words.

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.
Blesses are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the Children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake;
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
And shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Beautiful Words, beautiful Words; He spoke beautiful Words.
The wind lay still, and the whole world listened as He spoke beautiful Words.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Glazed Baby Beets and Carrots

April 28, 2014 by

Wait ‘til you see what I found at the grocery store!

2014-04-27 17.32.46

So with my list in hand, I started wandering through the produce department… sweet potatoes; check.  Cantaloupe; check.  Red grapes; check.  Broccoli crowns; check! And then I noticed this mound of small brownish-purplish balls filling the case beneath the broccoli…what?  They were baby beets!  Not on my list…but who cares? AND (thank You, Lord!) they were only 99cents per pound! So, 3 pounds came home with me!

I knew that I wanted to feature them in our At Home w/ GCH blog today, but I had to come up with a different way to prepare them. It couldn’t be my favorite way to serve (ok, eat!) beets—roasted over baby greens with goat cheese! We’ve already done that here … so I perused the Internet and found a number of recipes for glazed beets. Here’s my version; enjoy!

Glazed Baby Beets and Carrots

2014-04-27 19.58.42

Ingredients:
1 pound baby beets, peeled
1/2 pound small frozen carrots (we use these from Trader Joe’s)tjsparisiennecarrots
2 cups juice or chicken broth (I used mango 100% juice)
1 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (I used honey balsamic)
sea salt, freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

  • Steam beets and carrots ‘til almost done (when a thin-bladed knife goes through with just a bit of resistance).
  • Set aside the (almost cooked) veggies, and dump the water out of the pan.
  • Into the same pan, add the liquid of your choice and bring to a boil.
  • Pour the veggies back into the pan along with the honey. Stir ‘til combined and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat so that the liquid is gently simmering.
  • Continue to cook veggies for 5 minutes or so, spooning the liquid over them occasionally so that they get good and coated.
  • Stir in the balsamic vinegar and simmer for another five minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat, and pour into a serving bowl scraping in all of the liquid, too.
  • Season well with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
  • Makes approximately 4 servings.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

 

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Grace Flows Down

April 27, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
Amazing love
Now flowing down
From hands and feet
That were nailed to the tree
As grace flows down and covers me

It covers me, it covers me
It covers me, and it covers me

It covers me….

Grace flows down it covers me
All of my sin, all of my sin, it covers all of my sin
It covers my heart, it covers my heart
Thank You, Jesus…Thank You, Jesus…sweet Jesus

Songwriters: Louie Giglio, David Bell, Rod Padgett
Sung by Christie Nockels

*  ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

Y’know, I think that grace and love must be intertwined in the heart of God…what do you think? It seems that, whenever we see the grace of our Father being poured out, His love is so evident also.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

God had a plan…He made a way…for the redemption of all mankind. Nothing but the grace (and, oh yes, the mercy!) of God manifested through the sacrifice of Jesus could have ever been enough to give us eternal, everlasting life. Throughout the ages, God’s love and grace kept His plan from being destroyed.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done
but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus
before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed
through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death
and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
2 Timothy 1:9-10

The apostle Paul was a man who always purposed to magnify and speak well of the grace and mercy which he had received. Paul was humbly and completely aware that ‘grace flowed down and covered’ him!

…and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost,
Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example
to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.
1 Timothy 1:14-16

In all of Paul’s encouragement and admonition through each of the Epistles, he wrote over and over again to the first century believers of the greatness of God’s grace. Paul seemed always to endeavor to help the people (and us, too!) to remain aware and thankful for God’s love and grace!

According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children
by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;
Ephesians 1:4-7

But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy
the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses,
He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ;
[He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life
with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved
(delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).
And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together
[giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere
[by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come
the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace
(His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved
(delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith.
And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing,
it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
Ephesians 2:4-8 AMP

Take a moment, would you, and just read that out loud to yourself…or go here and listen to it in a few different versions.

You and I have been so overwhelmingly covered by God’s free grace! Each of us, I am sure, has story after story to relate of the love and grace that God has shown to us. Would you share with us one time when God’s grace (and love) flowed down upon you? You can tell us either below in the comments, or come over into our Fellowship Group and share your praise for His grace there! We will all be so encouraged!

May I finish here today, speaking a blessing (written in the book of 2nd John)  over each of you!

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father
and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
verse 3

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace

April 26, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love
Where there is injury Your pardon, Lord
And where there’s doubt true faith in You

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy

Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of Your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life

Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , ,

Our Hearts Still Burn

April 23, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Faded hope and grim despair on the day of the murdered king
Foolish minds and unbelief could not grasp what the prophets sing:

Did not Jesus have to suffer, enter glory through agony
When the King unpacked his Word their hearts leapt and their eyes could see

Everything the Scriptures say in the Prophets, the Law, the Psalms
Touching Jesus, called the Christ, is fulfilled in this gospel song

The Messiah had to suffer had to rise on the first Lord’s Day
We proclaim to every land true forgiveness in Jesus’ name

We were deaf but now we hear Scripture’s voice both in type and word
Unbelief that had us chained has become in our eyes absurd

Did our hearts not burn within us as He spoke with us on the way
And our hearts still burn with fire as His Word speaks to us today

~  Words and Music by Matt Boswell and D. A. Carson  ~
~ Sung by Jeremy Casella ~

*  ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

Luke 24:13-33
And behold, that very day two of [the disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, [which is] about seven miles from Jerusalem.
And they were talking with each other about all these things that had occurred.
And while they were conversing and discussing together, Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them.
But their eyes were held, so that they did not recognize Him.
And He said to them, What is this discussion that you are exchanging between yourselves as you walk along? And they stood still, looking sad and downcast.
Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, Do you alone dwell as a stranger in Jerusalem and not know the things that have occurred there in these days?
And He said to them, What [kind of] things? And they said to Him, About Jesus of Nazareth, Who was a Prophet mighty in work and word before God and all the people—
And how our chief priests and rulers gave Him up to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him.
But we were hoping that it was He Who would redeem and set Israel free. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things occurred.
And moreover, some women of our company astounded us and [drove us out of our senses. They were at the tomb early [in the morning]
But did not find His body; and they returned saying that they had [even] seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive!
So some of those [who were] with us went to the tomb and they found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.
And [Jesus] said to them, O foolish ones [sluggish in mind, dull of perception] and slow of heart to believe (adhere to and trust in and rely on) everything that the prophets have spoken!
Was it not necessary and [essentially fitting that the Christ (the Messiah) should suffer all these things before entering into His glory (His majesty and splendor)?
Then beginning with Moses and [throughout] all the Prophets, He went on explaining and interpreting to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning and referring to Himself.
Then they drew near the village to which they were going, and He acted as if He would go further.
But they urged and insisted, saying to Him, Remain with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. So He went in to stay with them.
And it occurred that as He reclined at table with them, He took [a loaf of] bread and praised [God] and gave thanks and asked a blessing, and then broke it and was giving it to them
When their eyes were [instantly] opened and they [clearly] recognized Him, and He vanished (departed invisibly).
And they said to one another, Were not our hearts greatly moved and burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and as He opened and explained to us [the sense of] the Scriptures?
And rising up that very hour, they went back to Jerusalem….

What a glorious account!  Can you even imagine???  Try…put yourself in the sandals of Cleopas and his friend as they trudged along saddened to their very core.

Three days earlier Jesus had been crucified by death on the Cross before the entire city.  And His disciples had clearly been expecting that He would be alive (not that they understood HOW that would happen!).  But after the women came back from the now empty tomb…and Jesus’ body was missing…and told them a “tale” about angels…and Jesus being alive…well, it was just TOO much!  Perhaps these two disciples just needed a break from all the emotion and drama and weariness and desperate sadness, and set out for this short journey.

Obviously all that had transpired was pressing on their minds and hearts…it was the center of their conversation as they meandered along.  Then, the very One Whom they spoke of was suddenly walking alongside them.  (Note that they recognize Him as the Lord…their eyes were “held.”)  And Jesus (so kind! Is our Lord not the most compassionate?!?) spoke with them, drawing them out…and finally, our Lord begins to explain “…and interpreting to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning and referring to Himself….” as He continued walking along them.  All the while, teaching and reminding and explaining and expounding to them about Himself…to no avail…UNTIL He was sharing a meal with them, and had taken the bread, broken it, and was giving it to them.  Then their ‘eyes were instantly opened and they clearly recognized Him’...they got it!  The next words they spoke always thrill and amaze my heart: “Were not our hearts greatly moved and burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and as He opened and explained to us the Scriptures?”

(Ok, you can put your own sandals back on.)  This—dullness of heart and mind, failure to hold the Word in our hearts, inability to put the truth of the Scriptures together—is our quandary, at times, too.  But we DO also have those times when our hearts are ‘greatly moved’ and are ‘burning within us,’ don’t we?  And so we should praise and thank the Lord for those times…and ask for more!  This Jesus, who strolled along the road to Emmaus with Cleopas and his friend, also walks and talks with us…me and you!  In fact, He now lives within us; He is always available to us; He is interceding for us at the Father’s right hand!

My prayer for all of us is that we would seek our Lord, asking His wisdom, seeking His truth, receiving discernment and guidance and knowledge…and that we would voice our thankful praise saying, “Were not our hearts greatly moved and burning within us while He was talking with us….”

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Ambrosia Salad – Remix

April 21, 2014 by

2014-04-20 09.54.41

Our extended family gets together (as many as can make the trip, that is!) each year at my Dad and step-mom’s to celebrate Easter together. There are a few things that are constants: the egg hunt including the gold glitter egg with the $5 bill inside, the Polish kielbasa and Easter cheese “ citic “platter, and the array of side dishes to accompany the ham my Dad bakes. This year’s buffet lineup included: Kassia’s gluten-free mac and cheese, Betsy’s coleslaw, Kelly’s apple&spinach salad, Brigit’s layered salad, scalloped potatoes, my broccoli craisin salad, a pickle&olive plate, applesauce, gluten free brioche, croissants, and ambrosia salad. It looked colorful and was so very delicious…made with love!

So, when it fell to me to prepare the ambrosia salad, I decided to do a remix and make it in my p.o.v.—healthy but oh-so-yummy! Here’s how:

  • no canned fruit
  • no Cool-whip
  • no maraschino cherries

This recipe is full of fresh fruit.  Each time you prepare this dish, you could include a different combination of fruit ingredients!  This fruit salad doesn’t need much sugar added to the whipped cream component because of all the yummy sweetness of the fresh fruit.
Adjust the quantity of the ingredients based on the number of servings you are aiming for!  We had 30 hungry eaters (not including the babies) so I went BIG on the amounts.  Also, ‘some’ people don’t enjoy the shredded coconut component of this salad (crazy, right?)…so I’ve included it as an optional ingredient.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:2014-04-20 09.44.01
Whipped Cream:
1/2 quart heavy cream
2 teaspoons almond (or vanilla) extract
4 tablespoons powdered sugar

Fruit Salad:
1 pineapple
1 cantaloupe (or other melon)
1 pint blueberries
1 pint blackberries (or raspberries)
1 pound strawberries
3 or 4 apples (I used Granny Smith)
5 or 6 clementines
3-4 bananas
2 pounds grapes
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup broken pecan (or walnuts)
1 cup Greek yogurt, I used vanilla
whipped cream (recipe above)
1 cup + / – shredded coconut (optional)

Directions:

  • Once the cream is whipped and sweetened, fold in the yogurt, blending together very well. Keep in the refrigerator ‘til ready to use.
  • Prepare the fruit…wash and dry the berries and grapes; peel and core the pineapple; wash, core the apples; peel and section the tangerines; peel and scoop out the seeds in the melon.
  • Cut and chop the prepared fruit remembering to keep all pieces bite-size! I always use a melon baller for any melon; the rounded shapes are so much more fun and interesting!  Prep the bananas last, sprinkling w/a little lemon juice or pineapple juice, to prevent browning.
  • Place into a very large mixing bowl (or just use your largest stockpot).
  • Scatter the mini-marshmallows and the nuts across the top.
  • Pour the whipped cream mixture over top and fold together, gently but thoroughly. Done!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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I Can Only Imagine

April 19, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Matthew 5:8 

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
Psalms 24:3-4

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Hebrews 12:14

As Tonya shared with us earlier this week:

These three verses help to define what a pure heart should look like: single-minded, loyal, peaceful.  These are all traits that are attainable, and they are traits we can display.  God never gives us impossible tasks.  He never asks more of us than He knows we can give.  And He KNOWS we can give Him a pure heart.    One day we will see His face, one day the act of possessing a pure heart will have rewards beyond measure.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

That’s My King

April 19, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

My King was born King.
The Bible says He’s a seven way King.
He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King.
He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National King.
He’s the King of righteousness.
He’s the King of the ages.
He’s the King of Heaven.
He’s the King of glory.
He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.
Now that’s my King.

Well, well, He’s enduringly strong.
He’s entirely sincere.
He’s eternally steadfast.
He’s immortally graceful.
He’s imperially powerful.
He’s impartially merciful.
That’s my King.

Well I wonder if you know Him.  Do you know Him?
Don’t try to mislead me.  Do you know my King?

David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.
My King is the only One whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

He’s God’s Son.
He’s the sinner’s Savior.
He’s the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He’s honest.
He’s unique.
He’s unparalleled.
He’s unprecedented.
He’s supreme.
He’s pre-eminent.

Well, He’s the loftiest idea in literature.
He’s the highest personality in philosophy.
He’s the supreme problem in high criticism.
He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology.
He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.
That’s my King!  That’s my King!

He supplies strength for the weak.
He’s available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He’s God and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharges debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.

Well, my King is a King of knowledge.
He’s the Wellspring of wisdom.
He’s the Doorway of deliverance.
He’s the Pathway of peace.
He’s the Roadway of righteousness.
He’s the Highway of holiness.
He’s the Gateway of glory.
He’s the Master of the mighty.
He’s the Captain of the conquerors.
He’s the Head of the heroes.
He’s the Leader of the legislatures.
He’s the Overseer of the overcomers.
He’s the Governor of governors.
He’s the Prince of princes.
He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.

That’s my King!

His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Well. I wish I could describe Him to you…
but He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable.

Yes. He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible.
He’s irresistible.
I’ve come to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him,
let alone a man explain Him.
You can’t get Him out of your mind.
You can’t get Him off of your hands.
You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.

Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him,
but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilot couldn’t find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
That’s my King!

He always has been and He always will be.
I’m talking about He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor.
There was nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him.
You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign.
That’s my King!

Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory.
Well, all the power belongs to my King.
The glory is all His.
Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory,
forever and ever and ever.
How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever.
And when you get through with all of the evers, then, Amen.

Dr. S. M. Lockridge

*  ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

That’s my King!  Throughout the Scriptures…not only in many Old Testament prophecies but from His conception to His death…Jesus is spoken of as the King.

When the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was going to conceive and bear a son, Jesus, he told her of Jesus’ Kingship.
Luke 1:32-33

When the Magi came to Herod, they were looking for the newborn King of the Jews.
Matthew 2:1-2

When Jesus made his final entry into Jerusalem, the crowds hailed Him as a King.
John 12:12-15

When Jesus was arrested, it was for saying <supposedly> that He was a king.
Luke 23:1-2

When Pilate confronted Jesus, he asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
John 18:33-39

When Pilate was dealing with the crowd, he asked “What shall I do with the Man you call the King of the Jews?”
Mark 15:9-14

When the soldiers were torturing Him, they mocked Him as a king.
Mark 15:16-20

When Pilate had a sign fastened to the Cross reading: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
John 19:19-22

And when He returns to the earth, He will come in power and glory!

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him,
then He will sit on His glorious throne.
Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people
one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father,
inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 25:31-34

That’s my King!  Is He yours, too?  I deeply yearn and endeavor to live in submission and obedience to my King so that I can be gathered with His sheep and inherit life in His Kingdom.  You, too?

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Deviled Eggs

April 14, 2014 by

2014-04-13 19.03.55

Okay, before we go any further…if you want to make deviled eggs for your Easter celebration meal…go to the store TODAY and buy your eggs.  Seriously, really fresh eggs are v-e-r-y difficult to peel!  Been there…done that!  Anyone else?  And also, may I suggest you purchase the very best (i.e., the most nutritious, healthiest) egg your money can buy.  Yes, they may be a bit more expensive but SO worth it!

Our recipe today is for classic deviled eggs AND variations.  I think that once Spring has sprung, most gatherings where food is involved have a plate or two of deviled eggs on the table.  I know this is true for our family; how about yours? And I am sure that all of us have had ‘the world’s best’ deviled eggs…and probably some of the world’s worst, too.

In my quest to present to you the BEST, I took a peek at the way that Alton Brown (of the Food Network) does his hard-boiled eggs.  Mr. Brown is a food geek (don’t we love that about him?) and a scientist.  So, he is a valued source for me when I want to get down to the basics.  Want to know how Alton Brown prepares his hard-“boiled” eggs?  Check out this video.

Pretty cool, hmmm? (I know…punny! How can steamed eggs be cool?!?) His is a great method, and, by my experience, works perfectly each and every time. These eggs turn out with tender whites and beautifully yellow yolks…with not a bit of a tinge of that green edging that so many hard-boiled eggs have! Now here on the Monday installment of At Home w/ GCH, I try to present recipes to make healthy but-oh-so-yummy! foods. Today’s recipe fits within those parameters because we have reduced the amount of mayonnaise and lightened the mixture up with some plain Greek yogurt. The average deviled egg half, prepared traditionally, contains approximately 60-65 calories. Now that is not too bad if you are only putting one half on your plate…but, honestly, who eats just one half? Prepared using the following basic recipe (not the variations), each deviled egg half has approximately 30 calories. (So to me that means I can indulge and eat both halves!)

2014-04-13 20.22.31

Deviled Eggs (And Variations)

Ingredients:
8 perfectly steamed eggs (see video below)

3 tablespoons mayo (even better: use canola mayo)
3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1-2 teaspoons pickle juice (we like bread&butter pickles)
freshly ground lemon pepper, to taste
smoked paprika

Directions:

  • With a sharp knife, halve each of the eggs, removing the yolk; set aside.
  • Using a wire mesh strainer, push the egg yolks through the mesh one at a time. (Or, if you prefer, simply mash the yolks to the consistency you prefer)
  • Add the mayo, yogurt, and mustard to the yolks and combine. Slowly add the pickle juice ‘til very creamy
  • Add pepper to taste
  • Dust with smoked paprika

Decision time: either use this healthy but-oh-so-yummy version of the classic egg filling or try any or all of the varieties below!

  • To fill the egg white halves, you can either simply use a small spoon, or fill a sandwich bag with the mixture <don’t forget to squeeze out the air AND seal the bag!>, then snip just the tip off one corner, and swirl the yolk mixture into the indentation of each egg half.

Variations: (shown in the picture above)

To the yolk mixture, you can add any one of the following:

  • finely chopped avocado and a squeeze of lime juice, OR
  • a sprinkle of garam masala (or curry powder); top with a small mango chunk,

Or top with:

  • a bit of fresh dill, or snipped fresh chives
  • finely chopped apple and walnuts; then top w/ a bit of blue cheese
  • chopped Greek olives and a bit of feta cheese
  • finely chopped tomatoes and some crumbled bacon

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

 

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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