November 16, 2024

Selah

September 23, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us—Selah.
Psalm 67:1
A beautiful blessing, yes?  Do you remember when God told Moses to speak this blessing over the Israelites?
And the Lord said to Moses, Say to Aaron and his sons, This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them, The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.  And they shall put My name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.
Numbers 6:22-27
This blessing had particular meaning because Moses and Aaron had been giving many ‘rules and regulations’ to the people from God.  Some of the instruction they received also included ‘cursings’ (consequences that would come due to sinful behavior).  And so, God gave  grace to them and had Aaron speak this blessing over them.
Note the seemingly odd word at the end of Psalm 67:1—selah.  This Hebrew word, selah, has no absolute and definitive meaning.  Most Biblical scholars understand it to connote something that is valued, or can be measured against (such as in a comparison).  One Scripture that immediately jumps to mind talking about value and comparison is Proverbs 31:10.
A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—who is he who can find her?
She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
See, her worth (value) is being shown by comparison, i.e., ‘she is far more precious than jewels,’ and ‘her value is far above rubies or pearls.  We should consider her of much value because she is being compared to these costly gems.
There are quite a few—seventy plus—uses of this word selah in the Scriptures…and almost every one of them is in the Book of Psalms.  We are told to ‘consider the value’ of these things.    Here are but a few:
You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.  Selah.  Psalm 32:7
In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever.  Selah.  Psalm 44:8
He will send from heaven and save me;… Selah.  God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.  Psalm 57:3
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.  Selah.  Psalm 62:8
How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!  They are ever praising You.  Selah.  Psalm 84:4
In our selected verse for today, Psalm 67:1, we are ‘considering the value’ of God graciousness…His blessing.  The value of God’s grace…oh my!  It would seem to me to be un-measureable!  It would have great and incredible ‘value,’ don’t you think?  But we are told to consider the value of it…so let us do just that!
  • Grace saves us by faith.  (Ephesians 2:8)
  • In our weakness, grace is sufficient.  (2nd Corinthians 12:9)
  • Esther found grace and favor in the king’s eyes.  (Esther 2:16-17)
  • Jesus came and brought grace and truth.  (John 1:15-17)

 

These are just a very few examples…the Scriptures are filled with examples of God’s grace being given in many, many, many different ways.  What verse comes to your mind that communicates about God’s grace?  Would you share it with us?

* * * * *
Dear Lord, may we always be aware of Your blessings!   May the magnitude and the vastness of Your amazing grace always fill our hearts with praise and thankfulness!  Please help us to recognize Your grace and blessings; and tell others, Lord,  about the blessing of our great God!   We love You, Lord!
Amen.
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His Steadfast Love — A Promise

September 19, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

But the steadfast love of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
and His righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep His covenant
and remember to do His commandments.
Psalms 103:17 and 18

Such a beautiful promise!  Perhaps words like these ‘…to children’s children’  particularly impact women’s hearts.  Does this promise resonate in your heart like mine?  I have one daughter…and by marriage to her…one son!  And through their love for one another—four grandchildren!  So ‘children’s children’ yes, that catches my eye…and my heart.  I pray every day (just like you!) for the Lord’s love and His righteousness and His blessings to be upon my children and grandchildren.  That they would always be under His protection and receiving His provision is very important to me.  So as I read this promise, I pray, ‘Please, Lord!  By Your grace, Lord!’

But whether you have children or not, the promise of His steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting <FOREVER!> to every one who has the fear of the Lord.  We play a part in these promises coming to pass, y’know.  Many, many, many of God’s promises have a stipulation attached.  God’s people have something to do to receive the promises that He makes to them.  It is kind of like when I promise my grandchildren, “Okay now, when the playroom is cleaned up we are going to the library.”  I have promised…but they have something to do, too.

According to these verses, the steadfast, everlasting love of our Lord is on those who fear Him (so that’s one thing we need to do).  And His righteousness carries over to our children’s children who obey His commandments (another thing we have the responsibility to do).

God’s heart to bless and care for His people’s lives is incredible!  He always wants to do good for those who love Him.  And He is faithful!

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Do you remember the message that Moses gave to the Israelites after delivering God’s Ten Commandments  to them?   (Deuteronomy 5 and 6)

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home
and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9

So we teach all the children in our lives about loving God with their whole heart, soul, mind, and all their strength.  We help them to grow in their understanding of how great our God is, and to have a worshipful fear of His AWEsomeness.  We impress upon them the right way to ‘walk’ with God, and to love everyone around them.  We teach them about Jesus and all that God has made available through Him and how they, too, can make Him Lord of their lives.  And we—they and we—will be blessed with the promises of God!

* * * * *

Dear Lord, oh how much comfort it brings to our hearts to know of Your promises…not only to us but to our loved ones!  You are so very good to us!   We trust and have confidence knowing that You are faithful to do what You say You are going to do; please help us to remember we have our part to do also.  Our desire is to obey You, trust You, have godly fear…and love You.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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Esther: Chapter 3:1-4

September 16, 2013 by

This week we are studying the 3rd Chapter of the Book of Esther.  Things were getting really serious!  Remember when Esther came and shared the story of God’s provision for her life with us?   If Esther were here sharing with us now, I think that she would be crying her beautiful heart out!  And this is why…

  • Uncle Mordecai is refusing to bow to  Haman.
  • This enraged Haman who decided that to kill Mordecai would be silly…why not destroy all of Mordecai’s people—the Jews.
  • Haman somehow has convinced Ahasuerus that the Jews are a threat and that they all should wiped out.
  • A date has been chosen for the annihilation of God’s people.
  • An edict has been issued, signed, and sealed with the king’s signet ring and sent round to all 127 provinces in the kingdom.
  • Mordecai and Esther’s people are to be wiped out of Ahasuerus’ entire kingdom…all this in Chapter 3!

– – – – – – – – –

Today in our study of Esther: the Beauty of Courageous Submission, Mrs. Schacht asks an important question:

“If Vashti was rebellious when she refused to submit to the King in chapter one, how then was it okay for Mordecai to refuse?  We can find a clue to that answer when we read Acts 5:27-29.  What do you deduct from the example of Peter and the apostles?” 

Have you considered her question yet?  How about we look deeper in detail at this record….   Whenever I read this chapter in the Book of Esther, I always think that Mordecai was so similar in heart and his actions to Jesus’ apostles.  He would not bow to any other than Almighty God; and they would not bow to any other than their Lord, Jesus.  Let’s look at the Book of Acts, Chapter 5.   Acts 5:18-41   Take a few minutes, if you would, and read through this incredible record; then come back here, ok?

We see this record opening with some of our Lord’s apostles being put in jail (verse 18).  One of these men was Peter.  Don’t you just love Peter?

  • He was a fisherman who cast down his nets when Jesus said, ‘Follow Me.’
  • He was one of Jesus’ closest companions
  • He was one of the three that Jesus took with Him to pray on the night He was arrested
  • He was a very passionate man
  • He was the one who lopped off the ear of the high priest’s servant in the garden of Gethsemane
  • He was also the one who denied being with the Lord three separate times during Jesus’ trial
  • He was also the one who heralded forth the truth about Jesus on the day of Pentecost

Peter, and the others, were committed to telling others about the Lord Jesus Christ.  They weren’t afraid.  They weren’t timid.  They didn’t hold back.  Now, it doesn’t appear that they were trying to be radical or revolutionary.  They just were NOT going to back down, close their mouths, and not speak.  Just Like Mordecai could NOT bow down to <hiss!> Haman <hiss!>….they just could NOT not speak!  Now the following, I think, is the ‘clue’ that Mrs. Schacht was referring to in her question.

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison,
and taking them out he said,  “Go, stand and speak
to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.
Acts 5:19 and 20

They were directly following the command given to them by an angel sent to them by the Lord.  How about you?  If an angel brought a message to you from the Lord, would you hesitate to go and do it?  Not at all, I am sure!

As we read in the context of this record, upon being sprung from prison by the angel, they immediately went to the temple and began to speak.  Needless to say…they were confronted and accosted again.  When asked why they would continue to do so, here is what they responded.

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.  He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Verses 29-32

I am sure I do not need to tell you that the officials (the Sanhedrin) were livid upon hearing their words.  But one them spoke up and suggested that they just let Peter and the others go…and see whether anything would come of it.  “…for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God”  (verses 38 and 39).

They went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Acts 5:41 and 42

So, do you have an answer to Mrs Schacht’s question?

* * * * *

Lord, You have given us so many examples throughout the Scriptures of Your people who have boldly stood for the TRUTH.  Help us, Lord, to have the same commitment, the same —the same love and devotion to You, and You alone.  We love You, Lord!

Amen.

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Stuffed Peppers

September 16, 2013 by

Here on Mondays on our At Home w/GCH blog we usually focus on recipes that are healthy but oh-so-yummy!  We have been making some very yummy dishes using in-season veggies; and this week will be our last one—Stuffed Peppers.  I actually consider this week’s recipe a nice bridge into the fall as it is such a comfort food dish!  Have you ever made Stuffed Peppers on the stovetop instead of in the oven?  That is how we are doing it this week.  Get yourself some nice firm large green bell peppers…maybe from the Farmers Market, and let’s get started.  Enjoy!

Stove Top Stuffed Peppers2013-09-11 20.06.03

Ingredients:
1 cup rice
1/2 tablespoon butter  2013-09-11 19.05.00
1 cup water
1 cup chicken broth

4 large green bell peppers
1# ground chicken (or turkey or beef)
1/2# raw chicken sausage
1 large egg
kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
3 (or more) tablespoons chopped garlic
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
Shredded cheese, or grated Parmesan (optional)

Directions:

  • In a small saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat.  Add the raw rice, and saute, stirring constantly for one minute.  Carefully add in the liquids and bring quickly to a boil.  Reduce the heat to very low, cover, and let cook (approximately 15 minutes) ‘til all liquid is absorbed.  Empty the cooked rice out onto a plate or pan, and allow to cool.
  • While the rice is cooking, take a large dutch oven (I used an 8 quart pan) and place your peppers in to make sure they fit sitting upright. Once you have the right sized pan, fill 3/4 with water, cover and bring to a boil.  Cut the lids from the peppers (perhaps save the lids to cut up into a salad) and clean them out.  When the water is boiling, put the peppers in for 5-7 minutes depending on how large they are to parboil them.  Carefully remove from the water, and drain upside down.
  • Empty the pot of water, and place back on stove over low heat.  Add the crushed tomatoes, the broth and the remaining 2 tablespoons chopped garlic; bring to a simmer.
  • Meantime, in a large bowl, break up the eggs and add the chopped garlic and the meat; generously season with the salt and pepper; mix thoroughly.  Stir in about half of the cooled rice (save the rest to serve alongside the stuffed peppers).
  • Now to fill the peppers: just before you fill the parboiled peppers, use a knife tip to poke a hole into each of the “bumps” on the pepper bottoms.  This will allow the sauce to ooze up into the peppers while simmering.  Scoop up some of the meat/rice mixture.  Fill them firmly but don’t really pack it down; if you do, it will be too dense when cooked.  Carefully ease the filled peppers–right side up–into the heated tomato sauce.  Take care to sit them up so they won’t fall over…spilling out the meat.
  • Using a large spoon or gravy ladle, scoop up some tomato sauce and pour over each of the filled peppers totally covering the meat.  Increase the heat so that the sauce begins to boil, place a lid on the pot and then reduce the heat to a simmer.  Every 10 minutes or so, again pour a little sauce over the top of each pepper, replacing the lid on the pot.  They should be done in 45 minutes or less, depending on their size.  The meat in the stuffed peppers should be firm when done.  I use a thermometer to verify that they have reached at least 160 degrees, just to be safe.
  • Oh, and add some of the leftover delicious tomato sauce to the rice you set aside; serve that along with the Stuffed Peppers!  Yummy!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

♥  coleen

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My Help and My Deliverer

September 13, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

Let all those that seek and require You rejoice and be glad in You;
let such as love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!
[As for me] I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me.
You are my Help and my Deliverer. O my God, do not tarry!
Psalms 40:16 and 17

OK, please raise your hands up, everyone who has cried out to God like this….  OK, now hands up—raised in praise—everyone who has cried out to God like this KNOWING that He is your Help…He is your Deliverer…and that He will not tarry.  Oh, how we love to praise Him for His goodness, His grace, His help; yes?

There are days when we are feeling so very poor and needy…days when it takes effort, sometimes great effort, to continue to confess the truth that the Lord DOES take thought and DOES have plans for us.  God knows this; He knows we struggle.  He encourages and revives us with His promises.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,
thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil,
to give you hope in your final outcome.
Then you will call upon Me,
and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord…
Jeremiah 29:11-14

These are such sustaining promises made to you and me by our Faithful, Trustworthy God.  Have you ever considered memorizing God’s promises?  What an incredible weapon to have at your disposal—the Word(s) of God that He is faithful to bring to pass!  Either of these groups of verses that we have considered today would be wonderful to have at the ready in your memory…for those times when you are feeling poor and needy.

And so I ask you…

Do you seek Him and require Him?  Then rejoice and be glad in Him!

Do you love His salvation waiting expectantly for His return?  Then say, ‘The Lord be magnified!’

* * * * *

Oh, Lord, we totally and completely recognize our great need for You!  And we know, we absolutely know, that You are our Help and our Deliverer!  Thank You, Lord, for the comfort of these promises!  We rest in You!  Amen.

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Peppers and Sausage

September 9, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes. We continue this series of recipes featuring in-season summer produce. Our featured ingredients this week are sweet, or bell, peppers.  We (by that I mean, Robert!) have successfully grown them in our garden this year!  And, yes, bell peppers are available shipped in from around the country all year long…but as a locally grown in-season veggie…this is the height of the season in the Northeast.  Here are some nutrition facts about bell peppers.  Peppers are a pretty common veggie found in my refrigerator and incorporated into at least 1 or 2 recipes every week.  Our recipe this week highlights them and shows off their yumminess to the max!

2013-09-04 19.55.37

Peppers and Sausage

Ingredients:
1/4 cup olive oil, additional if needed 2013-09-04 19.33.28
1# Italian sausage*
2 yellow Bell peppers, cored and sliced thin
2 red Bell peppers, cored and sliced thin
1 green Bell pepper, cored and sliced thin
1 large sweet onion, sliced into halfmoons
3 cups pasta sauce (I used homemade from the freezer)
3 tablespoons chopped garlic (I use jarred)
2 teaspoons each kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper
1-2 teaspoons each dried oregano, basil (or use fresh!)
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup shredded Mozzarella

Directions:

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium-sized saute pan.
  • Cook the sausage ‘til lightly browned on both sides.
  • Add 1 cup of pasta sauce, and simmer on low ‘til veggies are done.
  • In your largest saute pan (or dutch oven), heat the balance of the olive oil.
  • Add the sliced onions and saute on medium for 4-5 minutes.
  • Add in all of the sliced peppers; mix well with the onions coating with a bit of the olive oil.
  • Continue to saute the veggies for approximately 15 minutes or so, stirring as needed.  They should be barely crisp…more on the softened side.
  • Stir in the chopped garlic and the seasonings; saute for just 1-2 minutes stirring frequently.
  • Pour in 2 cups of the pasta sauce making sure to thoroughly mix everything together.
  • Reduce heat to low…just so the sauce is gently simmering.
  • Cut up the sausage into bite-sized pieces and add to the veggies.
  • Continue to simmer for 5-10 minutes, just so the flavors can meld together.
  • Garnish with the shredded cheeses.
  • Serve with bread or over pasta.  Enjoy!

2013-09-04 21.03.23

* Use what your family likes: fully cooked Italian chicken sausage, sweet Italian pork sausage, Italian turkey sausage… I used thin links of Italian pork sausage called ‘luganica.’

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

♥  coleen

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Esther – Chapter 2:1-6

September 9, 2013 by

AmazingMercy_CHayden_Wk2

Mercy and Grace!  His indisputable, undeniable, unfathomable, irreplaceable, sovereign, humbling, unmerited, necessary, unmeasureable, never-ending, overwhelming, amazing mercy and grace!

In Chapter 2 of Esther, the Beauty of Courageous Submission, Mrs. Schacht helps us to understand the symbolism in comparing Vashti/Esther to the children of Israel/the Gentiles (you and me) who are saved by grace.

What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not, down to this very day.”  And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, and a stumbling block and a retribution to them.  Let their eyes be darkened to see not, and bend their backs forever.”  I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they?  May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
Verses 7-12

So incredible!  The Amplified Bible  translates verse 12: “Now if their stumbling (their lapse, their transgression) has so enriched the world [at large], and if [Israel’s] failure means such riches for the Gentiles, think what an enrichment and greater advantage will follow their full reinstatement!”  Such proof of God’s mercy and grace!

I would like to look further into Chapter 11 of the Book of Romans to see more of the mercy and grace of our God.

Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith.  Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.  Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.  For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
Verses 20-22, 30-32

From the beginning, God’s heart has always been for His people, Israel.  We know from reading through the Old Testament of His covenant relationship with the Israelites accompanied by His patience and long-suffering.  But a time came when enough was enough!  The Israelites/Jews/Hebrews rejected His Son, the Redeemer.

In John 1:10 and 11, it says about Jesus that “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”

There is a record of Jesus interacting with the Jews in John chapter 10 where they were seemingly taunting Him…at the end of this exchange, they picked up stones to stone Him—and not for the first time either!

The Jews then gathered around Him…saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.  But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep” (verses 24-26).

And Jesus was not only rejected…they demanded His execution.  Remember the scene in the courtyard when Pilate was determining Jesus’ fate? link  The crowd called out to ‘Crucify him!’  Standing in the balance was the choice between Barrabas (an insurgent charged with robbery and murder) and Jesus—they chose to set Barrabas free.  And Jesus was taken to be crucified.

Of course we know that all of this was the plot of satan thinking that he could bring an end to God’s plan.  But the Jews were instrumental and played right into satan’s hand.

The Apostle Paul wrote quite a bit about the Israelites.

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.  For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.  Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.  Christ is the culmination of the Law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Romans 10:1-4

Amazing mercy that God would choose to alter His original plan and bring us in along with His chosen ones!  Because, you see, He still desires for Israel to repent and make Jesus their Lord!  Listen to this expression of God’s love for those He selected to be His chosen ones:

  Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God
have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,
so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too
may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.
Romans 11:30 and 31

Perhaps we are tempted to wonder why Almighty God would choose to do this…why would He make a change to His plan?  But let’s not…instead may we be thankful for His plan.  May we humbly acknowledge and praise Him for how AWEsome He is!

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 
How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!  
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. 
To Him be the glory forever.  Amen. 
Romans 11:33, 36

* * * * *

Almighty God, we humbly acknowledge Your sovereign wisdom, Your unsearchable judgments, Your unfathomable ways!  We stand in awe and gratitude of Your grace…Your mercy towards all mankind!  And we thank You for applying that mercy and grace to us—who were grafted in—by Your plan.  We love You, Father!

Amen!

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Magnify the Lord With Me!

September 4, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Psalms 34:1-3

Don’t you just l-o-v-e to praise God and share with others about how AWEsome He is?!!?  We have a great privilege, my friends!  It is our honor to bless the Lord…to speak well of Him…to praise Him…to boast of Him…to magnify the Lord…to exalt His Holy name together with others.  So many, many ways to do this!   For example, we can:

  • call someone on the phone and say, ‘Praise God!  Listen to what He just did in my life!’
  • text (not while driving though!) a friend telling them about His grace towards you
  • smile at a stranger in the grocery store and say, ‘Look at the abundance of all these wonderful vegetables that God has blessed us with!’
  • look across the supper table to our loved ones and remind them of just how very GOOD God has been to your family
  • echo a praise that a friend has just posted on their FaceBook page
  • dance with a child singing, ‘God is so good…He’s so good to me!’

There is much ‘unity of the Spirit’ in praising His Name together.  Magnifying God and speaking well of Him crosses all of the silly denominational boundaries that exist.  As the Apostle Paul admonished,

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called
to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:3-6

We have oh-so-very-much to be thankful for!  We know we should ‘in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  Let’s determine today that we will bless the Lord…speak well of Him…praise Him…boast of Him…magnify the Lord…exalt His Name together with others.  Can you only imagine how that will bless Him?!?

Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.  Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:18-20

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, *singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. *
Colossians 3:15 and 16

(*One version translates this as ‘making melody to God with His grace in your hearts!’)

Our lives are filled with the grace and mercy and goodness of our Great God!  As the psalmist wrote here in Psalm 34, ‘I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.’  May I encourage you…me…us to try to be so very aware of His blessings that our praises are bubbling up out of our grateful hearts through our thankful lips boasting of our wonderful Father!  Together may we magnify and glorify the Great I AM! <3

* * * * *

Dear Lord, may You always receive the praise, the honor, the glory, the gratitude and the thankfulness that You deserve!  You are so, so, SO GOOD to us!  We praise You and thank You for Your grace and mercy in Jesus’ precious name.  Amen.

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

Esther: Introduction

September 2, 2013 by

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Shalom!  God’s blessing of peace to you!  May I introduce myself?  My given name is Hadassah, though perhaps you have heard me called ‘Esther.’  (You can call me ‘Esther’, if you would like.)  I am a Hebrew girl, hence my real name. Hadassah means ‘myrtle,’ which is a tree or shrub.  My name signifies peace and thanksgiving.

I would like to share with you a little about my life; do you have a few minutes?  Perhaps as I relate to you the events of my life, you might think “Oh!  My! Not for me!”  But don’t…I have lived a life overshadowed by the hand of the Great I AM!  And I am sure that you have, too.  Perhaps  you will see some similarities between your life and mine.  Perhaps you will be reminded of great and small things that Almighty God has orchestrated in your life…for such a time as this!

Throughout most of our lives, there are usually a few people—loved ones, mostly—who are the major characters in our story.  For me, God placed two wonderful men as the main men in my life and my heart.  The first is my Uncle Mordecai…can I tell you about him?   Oh, please allow me—he was such an honorable, wise, God-fearing man!  You see, my abba-leh (my daddy) died while my ama carried me under her heart.  And my ama <sigh!> died as she labored to birth me.  By God’s grace, I had loving ones who raised me…in particular, my wonderful Uncle Mordecai.  Uncle Mordecai, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, deeply loved the Almighty God, the Great I AM and lived his life to serve Him.  When the Babylonians conquered our land, they took many of our people away as slaves, amongst them my parents and Uncle Mordecai.  Eventually, they settled in what is known as Persia in the capital city of Susa. Uncle Mordecai always had my best interests at heart and raised me according to the Law.

And there is another primary character in my story—my love, the king, Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes) who made me his queen.  It’s quite a story Esther chapter 2 how this happened…me, one of the captive Hebrews becoming the queen of a most powerful ruler of many lands and peoples.  His domain reached from India to Egypt.  Amazing!  But I was telling you how I, a young Hebrew woman, became the queen of all this…  You see, Ahasuerus DID have a queen; a stunningly gorgeous woman named Vashti.  Oh, he loved her…it was quite apparent.  But Vashti’s heart became proud.  And she turned from lovingly submitting to Ahasuerus to outrightly defying him publicly.  The king turned to his advisors to see how to handle this.

Esther 1:18-22
“This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.   Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.  Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”  The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed.  He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household….

Here’s where Almighty God caused my path to cross with the love of my life, Ahasuerus. After his heart (and anger!) had recovered from Vashti’s deception, he sought a new queen.  Only the Almighty God could have known that, of all the beautiful, lovely young women of the kingdom, I would be the one who would find favor in Ahasuerus’ eyes—and his heart!

Esther 2:17
And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the maidens, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Years went by and all was well…Ahasuerus ruled his kingdom, and let his heart be ruled by our love.  All was very well.  Let’s jump ahead a bit because in the twelfth year of the king’s reign, a dastardly, devilish plot was launched to annihilate my kin, the Hebrews. Esther chapter 3 When Uncle Mordecai heard of this, he was devastated!

Esther 4:1
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

I sent a trusted friend to Uncle Mordecai to find out what was wrong and he sent me the strongest message I had ever heard him speak!

Verses 13 and 14
Then Mordecai told them to return this answer to Esther, Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.  For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

You see, I had held back…well actually deceived the king.  I had never revealed to him my true heritage—that I was a Hebrew and served the Almighty God.  And so, remorseful, I sent this message back to Uncle Mordecai:

Verses 16 and 17
Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

I felt the weight and responsibility of not only my role as queen but my identity.  Uncle Mordecai was right!  And if I perished…so be it.

Not much time elapsed and I knew I must speak.  Risking banishment at best, and death at worst, I arrayed myself respectfully and went before my king.  His favor and love for me won out, and he welcomed me before his throne.  I asked only one thing.

Esther 5:3 and 4
Then the king said to her, What will you have, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of the kingdom.  And Esther said, If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the dinner that I have prepared for the king.

He granted my request.  Ahasuerus and <hisssss!> Haman <hisssssss!> came to my home for dinner.  And upon leaving, I asked that they return again the following evening.  Time was running short and the execution of my people was imminent.  When they returned, I spoke plainly and pointedly to Ahasuerus.

Esther 7:3 and 4
If I have found favor in your sight, O king and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request.   For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, slain, and wiped out of existence!  But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my tongue, for our affliction is not to be compared with the damage this will do to the king.

Upon hearing my distress and fear, my king rose to my defense demanding to know how this happened and who was responsible.  ‘Haman.’ I replied.  Esther 7:5-10

Esther 8:3-5
Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.  Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.  “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews… For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”

Upon realizing what Haman had been devilishly plotting and hearing my pleas, he immediately revoked the order and saved my people, the Hebrews.  Prior to this, Ahasuerus had had a dream (perhaps that was our Almighty God?) reminding him of the loyalty and devotion to the throne of Ahasuerus that Uncle Mordecai had always had.  As an added blessing, Uncle Mordecai was rewarded for his loyalty to the king.

Verses 10 and 11
Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.  The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves;

Esther 9:20-23
Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far,  to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.   So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration….

Verses 28-32
These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.  So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim.  And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance—to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation.  Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.

Imagine!  A simple, orphaned Hebrew girl raised by her uncle in the midst of slavery brought by the hand of God through hard and evil times—for such a time as this!  My people, the Hebrews, to this day celebrate the Festival of Purim and the joy of God’s deliverance during the reign of my king, Ahasuerus.

At the beginning of our chat, I had said that perhaps you might be reminded of great and small things that Almighty God has orchestrated in your life.  Have you thought on this?  I pray to the Great I Am that He would open your eyes to these things…for such a time as this!

* * * * *

Dear Lord, please help us to recognize Your mighty hand of blessing…Your directing our path as You did the path of Esther’s life.  May we see how You have done this, too, in our lives.  We praise You, Lord, for Your sovereignty!  Please help us to never doubt Your goodness and grace and favor; may we rest in Your care knowing that all is well.  May Your perfect will be done in and through our lives.  In Jesus’ precious name.

Amen.

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Basil Pesto

September 2, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes. We are continuing our series of summer recipes featuring in-season produce. Our featured ingredient this week is basil!  We can all identify the pungent aroma of basil…mmmm!  Basil has all kinds of health benefits <who knew?!>; check out some info here.  While basil is definitely ‘in-season’ here at the height of the summer growing season, it actually is easily grown as a houseplant.  Consider purchasing a small pot of basil (even in the grocery store) and keeping it in a cute little pot right on your sunniest windowsill.  Easily you could be pinching off a handful of leaves to make into pesto, or scatter some into a Caprese Salad, or slicing them up to finish off your best pot of spaghetti sauce all winter long!  Enjoy!

2013-08-29 22.52.06

Pesto

Ingredients:
2 cups basil2013-08-28 17.06.40
2 cups baby spinach leaves
3 tablespoons (or more!) chopped garlic (I use jarred)
2/3 cup pine nuts
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lemon, juiced
2/3 cup olive oil

Directions:

  • Place the  pine nuts and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and blend for 15 seconds.
  • Add the basil, spinach, salt, and pepper.
  • With the food processor running, slowly pour the olive oil and the lemon juice into the bowl through the feed tube.
  • Process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed.
  • Add the Parmesan and puree ‘til thoroughly incorporated (30-40 seconds).
  • Use immediately. *See below for hints on storing the extra pesto.  Enjoy!

2013-08-28 18.05.05

This is how we enoyed the pesto: Mix 1/4 – 1/3 cup into a pound or so of shrimp sauteed with LOTS of garlic.  Bread on the side.  As you can see, we also enjoyed a delicious Caprese salad (click link above for recipe) as well as spaghetti squash sauteed along with some zucchini.  No complaints were heard!  🙂

Store extra pesto in the refrigerator for up to 1 week in a small container with a very thin film of olive oil on top (to seal out air).  Can also be frozen in an ice cube tray, or (my favorite) in mini-muffin cups.  To do this, wipe the muffin tin compartments with a paper towel dipped in olive oil.  Spoon in a heaping tablespoon of pesto into the compartments.  Place in freezer.  After a couple of hours, remove tin from freezer.  Set gently into a sink with just a little bit of hot water; this should loosen the individual portions of pesto.  Pop them all into a freezer container…you will be so glad you did!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

♥  coleen

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