Poetry Friday

ATMOSPHERE

Let me live beneath the sky
Where the breezes blow,
See the glory from on high,
See and feel and know.

Mind and body are at rest,
Balmy is the air;
All my nature is the guest,
Of the freshness there.

Bird and tree and flowing brook
Deferential are;
Hills the valley overlook,
Also moon and star.

Clouds like curtains may be drawn,
Storms in fury break;
Yet there comes a brighter dawn
Nothing less could make. 

Nature has her atmosphere,
You may have one, too.
Charged with Christian life and cheer,--
Do men say you do? 

Rev. Lawrence Keister
The Shining Pathway 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

May 25
God's Treasury

The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure. (Deuteronomy 28:12)

This refers first to the rain. The Lord will give this in its season. Rain is the emblem of all those celestial refreshings which the Lord is ready to bestow upon His people. Oh, for a copious shower to refresh the Lord's heritage!

We seem to think that God's treasury can only be opened by a great prophet like Elijah, but it is not so, for this promise is to all the faithful in Israel, and, indeed, to each one of them. O believing friend, "the Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure." Thou, too, mayest see heaven opened and thrust in thy hand and take out thy portion, yea, and a portion for all thy brethren round about thee. Ask what thou wilt, and thou shalt not be denied if thou abidest in Christ and His words abide in thee.

As yet thou has not known all thy Lord's treasures, but He shall open them up to thine understanding. Certainly thou hast not yet enjoyed the fullness of His covenant riches, but He will direct thine heart into His love and reveal Jesus in thee. Only the Lord Himself can do this for thee; but here is His promise, and if thou wilt hearken diligently unto His voice and obey His will, His riches in glory by Christ Jesus shall be thine.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Another Lazy Post

What Your Favorite Color Green Says About You:

Balanced --- Relaxed --- Flexible Compassionate --- Philosophical --- Humble Loyal --- Inventive --- Unique

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

Random Music Meme

I'm behind on two memes already (I haven't forgotten, really I haven't, I just haven't taken the time because I know it's going to take some time to do them right!) .  Even so, I'm going to do this one because it's very, very easy.

 Rebecca started a
"put-your-iPod-on-shuffle-and-confess-publically-what-comes-up" meme.  I don't have an iPod, but I do have iTunes on my computer, so I took the lazy way out.  I put iTunes on shuffle and then took a screen shot of the songs that came up.  I didn't even listen to them--how lazy is that?

  

Update on Thursday, May 24, 2007 at 10:29AM by Kim from Hiraeth

Leslie asked what would come up if I shuffled only my music.  I don't know how to do that; so, I'll shuffle again and pick out the first 10 songs that I would play (not all necessarily my "own" songs, but ones I like and would listen to:

Treebeard, London Philharmonic, Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers Soundtrack
Cello Concerto in B Flat, Cello Adagios
Life on Mars, David Bowie, Hunky Dory
Dowland: Can She Excuse My Wrongs, Sting and Eden Karamozov, Songs from the Labyrinth*
Fisherman's Blues, Waterboys, Waking Ned Divine Soundtrack
Hedwig's Theme, John Williams, Sorcerer's Stone Soundtrack
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, The Beatles, Help!
Brand New Day, Sting, Brand New Day
Frozen Man, James Taylor, New Moon Shine
Marlene, Todd Rundgren, Something/Anything?

* The boys bought me Songs from the Labyrinth for Mother's Day, so I am listening to that a lot lately.  Sting, John Dowland, and the Lute--gotta love it!  (you can listen to samples here)

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

May 24
One a Majority!

One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. (Joshua 23:10)

Why count heads? One man with God is a majority though there be a thousand on the other side. Sometimes our helpers may be too many for God to work with them, as was the case with Gideon, who could do nothing till he had increased his forces by thinning out their numbers. But the Lord's hosts are never too few. When God would found a nation, He called Abram alone and blessed him. When He would vanquish proud Pharaoh, He used no armies, but only Moses and Aaron. The "one-man ministry," as certain wise men call it, has been far more used of the Lord than trained bands with their officers. Did all the Israelites together slay so many as Samson alone? Saul and his hosts slew their thousands but David his ten thousands.

The Lord can give the enemy long odds and yet vanquish him. If we have faith, we have God with us, and what are multitudes of men? One shepherd's dog can drive before him a flock of sheep. If the Lord sent thee, O my brother, His strength will accomplish His divine purpose. Wherefore, rely on the promise, and be very courageous.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Check Book of the Bank of Faith

May 23
Full Reliance on God

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. (Psalm 72:12)

The needy cries; what else can he do? His cry is heard of God; what else need he do? Let the needy reader take to crying at once, for this will be his wisdom. Do not cry in the ears of friends, for even if they can help you it is only because the Lord enables them. The nearest way is to go straight to God and let your cry come up before Him. Straightforward makes the best runner: run to the Lord and not to secondary causes.

"Alas!" you cry, "I have no friend or helper." So much the better; you can rely upon God in both capacities-as without supplies and without helpers. Make your double need your double plea. Even for temporal mercies you may wait upon God, for He careth for His children in these temporary concerns. As for spiritual necessities, which are the heaviest of all, the Lord will hear your cry and will deliver you and supply you.

O poor friend, try your rich God. O helpless one, lean on His help. He has never failed me, and I am sure He will never fail you. Come as a beggar, and God will not refuse you help. Come with no plea but His grace. Jesus is King; will He let you perish of wants What! Did you forget this?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Recipe: Grandma's Citrus Chiffon Pie

When I was home visiting my mother over Mother's Day, we sat around the kitchen table and sorted and sifted through the collected recipes of many years.  It was great fun looking through the old recipes with my mother.  I saw recipes written in my sister's and my childish handwriting.  There were recipes from relatives long dead, half forgotten neighbors, aunts and cousins.

The recipe I am sharing with you is from my Grandma Smith.  I've taken care to transcribe the recipe exactly the way she wrote it down.  I don't remember ever tasting this recipe of my grandmother's, but both my mother and my Aunt Bonnie remember it well.   It seems as though this pie has an uncooked meringue--not a good idea in this day and age.  Perhaps they didn't worry so much about salmonella poisoning back in the late 50's or early 60's when this recipe was popular.  Either that, or she left that part out.  Regardless, I will be topping mine with whipped cream and not meringue.

 

 Click to Enlarge

Citrus Chiffon Pie
Mildred Smith, Norco, California
Late 1950's, early 1960's

1 envelope of (1 tab) unflavored gelatin
1/2 c. sugar
dash salt
4 egg yolks
1/2 c. orange juice
1/3 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. water
1/2 tsp. grated orange peel
1/4 tsp. grated lemon peel

4 egg whites
1/3 c. sugar
1 baked 9 in pastry shell

in saucepan, thoroughly mix together gelatin the 1/2 c, sugar and the salt.  Beat together egg yolks orange juice lemon juice and water stir into gelatin mixture.  Cook & stir over med. heat just until mixture comes to boiling.  remove from heat stir in orange & lemon peel.  chill stirring occasionally till mixture mounds slightly when spooned.  Beat egg whites till soft peaks form gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar beating to stiff peaks.  Pile into pastry shell  Chill until firm  Trim with dollops of whipped cream and a sprinkle of shredded orange peel.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

May 22
Song of Confidence

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt receive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. (Psalm 138:7)

Wretched walking in the midst of trouble. Nay, blessed walking, since there is a special promise for it. Give me a promise, and what is the trouble? What doth my Lord teach me here to say? Why this—"Thou wilt receive me." I shall have more life, more energy, more faith. Is it not often so, that trouble revives us, like a breath of cold air when one is ready to faint?

How angry are my enemies and especially the archenemy! Shall I stretch forth my hand and fight my foes! No, my hand is better employed in doing service for my Lord. Besides, there is no need, for my God will use His far-reaching arm, and He will deal with them far better than I could if I were to try. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." He will with His own right hand of power and wisdom save me, and what more can I desire?

Come, my heart, talk this promise over to thyself till thou canst use it as the song of thy confidence, the solace of thy holiness. Pray to be revived thyself and leave the rest with the Lord, who performeth all things for thee.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

An Excellent Online Resource

This week's Quote of the Week comes from Studies in the Person and the Work of Jesus Christ, by W. E. Best.

This excellent book begins by establishing the impeccability of Christ and then, as the title says,  systematically examines  the person and the work of Christ.  The subjects covered are as follows:

1 Introduction

2 The Eternal Son Of God

3 The Son Declares The Father

4 The Mystery Of Godliness

5 The Manifestation Of Godliness

6 The Incarnation

7 The Virgin Birth

8 Christ’s Human Nature

9 Christ’s Human Body

10 Christ’s Human Soul

11 Christ’s Human Growth

12 Christ’s Baptism

13 Christ’s Temptation

14 Christ’s Impeccable Life

15 The God Approved Man

16 Christ’s Prayer Life

17 The Drawing Power Of Christ

18 Christ’s Discriminating Message

19 Christ’s Miracles

20 Christ’s Death

21 Christ’s Headship

22 Christ’s Kingship

I think the book may be out of print, or at least difficult to find, but the entire book is offered online  at the W. E. Best Book Missionary Trust.

You can also find it used at Amazon.com for as little as $1.99.  If you'd like to explore some selected writings of W. E. Best, you can find some at this link from Monergism.

Update on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 12:37PM by Kim from Hiraeth

I find that I can no longer unreservedly recommend this book to you.  While I still find it theologically sound, the tone is polemic and harsh. 

Mr. Best wrote this book in the mid-70's, during a period of time in which the ideology of the 60's was coming home to roost within the church.  Jesus Christ Superstar was all the rage and the Person and Work of Christ was under attack in churches across America.  I offer that as an explanation, not an excuse. 

Check Book of the Bank of Faith

May 21
Rain Without Clouds? Never!

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. (Ecclesiastes 11:3)

Why, then, do we dread the clouds which now darken our sky? True, for a while they hide the sun, but the sun is not quenched; He will shine out again before long. Meanwhile those black clouds are filled with rain; and the blacker they are, the more likely they are to yield plentiful showers. How can we have rain without clouds?

Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will. They are the black chariots of bright grace. These clouds will empty themselves before long, and every tender herb will be the gladder for the shower. Our God may drench us with grief, but He will not drown us with wrath; nay, He will refresh us with mercy. Our Lord's love letters often come to us in black-edged envelopes. His wagons rumble, but they are loaded with benefits. His rod blossoms with sweet flowers and nourishing fruits. Let us not worry about the clouds but sing because May flowers are brought to us through the April clouds and showers.

O Lord, the clouds are the dust of Thy feet! How near Thou art in the cloudy and dark day! Love beholds Thee and is glad. Faith sees the clouds emptying themselves and making the little hills rejoice on every side.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

A second quote

Just because I liked it. . .

"In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them."
Johann von Neumann

(And because I can relate. . .) 

Quote of the Week

Grace has always seemed like an insult to the natural man.  It cannot seem other wise since its principle design is to mortify the pride of man and display the glory of Christ.  The grace of God which brings salvation does not look for righteousness from the sinner, but gives it to him.  Grace is more than an objective fact presented to man; it is a subjective experience wrought by the Holy Spirit within the recipient.

W. E. Best,  Studies in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ
(emphasis original to the text) 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

May 20
We Dare Not Doubt

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron. (Isaiah 45:2)

This was for Cyrus; but it is evermore the heritage of all the Lord's own spiritual servants. Only let us go forward by faith, and our way will be cleared for us. Crooks and turns of human craft and satanic subtlety shall be straightened for us; we shall not need to track their devious windings. The gates of brass shall be broken, and the iron bars which fastened them shall be cut asunder. We shall not need the battering ram nor the crowbar: the Lord Himself will do the impossible for us, and the unexpected shall be a fact.

Let us not sit down in coward fear. Let us press onward in the path of duty, for the Lord hath said it: "I will go before thee." Ours not to reason why; ours but to dare and dash forward. It is the Lord's work, and He will enable us to do it: all impediments must yield before Him. Hath He not said, "I will break in pieces the gates of brass"! What can hinder His purpose or balk His decrees? Those who serve God have infinite resources. The way is clear to faith though barred to human strength. When Jehovah says, "I will," as He does twice in this promise, we dare not doubt.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

May 19
We May Speak for God

Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth. (Jeremiah 15:19)

Poor Jeremiah! Yet why do we say so? The weeping prophet was one of the choicest servants of God and honored by Him above many. He was hated for speaking the truth. The word which was so sweet to him was bitter to his hearers, yet he was accepted of his Lord. He was commanded to abide in his faithfulness, and then the Lord would continue to speak through him. He was to deal boldly and truthfully with men and perform the Lord's winnowing work upon the professors of his day, and then the Lord gave him this word: "Thou shalt be as my mouth."

What an honor! Should not every preacher, yea, every believer, covet it? For God to speak by us, what a marvel! We shall speak sure, pure truth; and we shall speak it with power. Our word shall not return void; it shall be a blessing to those who receive it, and those who refuse it shall do so at their peril. Our lips shall feed many. We shall arouse the sleeping and call the dead to life.

O dear reader, pray that it may be so with all the sent servants of our Lord.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Sisters

Look what my sister, Kathy, gave me when I was back home last week:

 

 

That's Kathy, holding my hand.  When I look at that picture, I am reminded of how many times my sister has "held my hand" over the years.  Of all God's blessings to me, my sister is one of the very best.  Is there any  friend so wonderful as a sister?

 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

May 18
Losses Overcome

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten. (Joel 2:25)

Yes, those wasted years over which we sigh shall be restored to us. God can give us such plentiful grace that we shall crowd into the remainder of our days as much of service as will be some recompense for those years of unregeneracy over which we mourn in humble penitence. The locusts of backsliding, worldliness, lukewarmness, are now viewed by us as a terrible plague. Oh, that they had never come near us! The Lord in mercy has now taken them away, and we are full of zeal to serve Him. Blessed be His name, we can raise such harvests of spiritual graces as shall make our former barrenness to disappear. Through rich grace we can turn to account our bitter experience and use it to warn others. We can become the more rooted in humility, childlike dependence, and penitent spirituality by reason of our former shortcomings. If we are the more watchful, zealous, and tender, we shall gain by our lamentable losses. The wasted years, by a miracle of love, can be restored. Does it seem too great a boon? Let us believe for it and live for it, and we may yet realize it, even as Peter became all the more useful a man after his presumption was cured by his discovered weakness. Lord, aid us by Thy grace.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

May 17
No Need to Stint

The upright shall have good things in possession. (Proverbs 28:10)

The book of Proverbs is also a book of promises. Promises ought to be proverbs among the people of God. This is a very remarkable one. We are accustomed to think of our good things as in reversion, but here we are told that we shall have them in possession. Not all the malice and cunning of our enemies can work our destruction: they shall fall into the pit which they have digged. Our inheritance is so entailed upon us that we shall not be kept out of it, nor so turned out of the way as to miss it. But what have we now? We have a quiet conscience through the precious blood of Jesus. We have the love of God set upon us beyond all change. We have power with God in prayer in all time of need. We have the providence of God to watch over us, the angels of God to minister to us, and, above all, the Spirit of God to dwell in us. In fact, all things are ours. "Whether things present or things to come: all are yours." Jesus is ours. Yea, the divine Trinity in unity is ours. Hallelujah. Let us not pine and whine and stint and slave, since we have good things in possession. Let us live on our God and rejoice in Him all the day. Help us, 0 Holy Ghost!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Thank you!

A big thank you to everyone who participated in today's appetizer Recipe Round-up!  There are now 22 recipes in the Appetizer sub folder in the Blogger's Recipe Round-up Cookbook!  As before, if anyone would like the recipes, just send me an email and I'll send them to you!

 Karen, from Simply a Musing Blog, is hosting June's Recipe Round-up--Desserts!  So keep that in mind and be ready to share your yummiest dessert recipe.  I've got one in mind already!

May Recipe Round Up: Appetizers!

I had a hard time picking out just one appetizer to share with you, so I am going to share two!  The first one is from my mother-in-law; she is the hostess with the mostess!

HOT ONION SOUFFLE

12-16 ounces frozen chopped onions (3-4 cups)
24 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 cups parmesean (one whole can)
½ cup mayo (not Miracle Whip)

Crackers

Thaw onion.  Roll in paper towels and squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible.  Preheat oven to 425.  Stir together onions, cream cheese, parm.cheese, and mayo.

Transfer to 2 qt. soufflé dish.  Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with an assortment of crackers.

The next one is one of my own creations:

Kim’s 3 Olive Tapenade

1 cup pitted Kalamati olives, drained
1 cup pitted ripe black olives, drained
1/3 c. pitted green olives, rinsed and drained

Take about ten of each type of olive and pulse in blender until fine.  Drizzle in olive oil until a paste is formed.  Squeeze the juice of half a lemon.  Add minced garlic to taste.  (maybe a half teaspoon?—I just add until I like the way it tastes) Pulse until combined.

The remaining olives should be minced fine and placed in a bowl.  Add the olive paste to the bowl, about a tablespoon of fresh, finely minced flat Italian parsley and about a quarter cup of finely shredded, fresh parmesan cheese.  Mix well, adding additional olive oil, if needed to “bring it all together.”  Refrigerate for several hours before serving—gets better with time.  Serve with a crusty French loaf.  Makes approximately 3 cups.

We've got some great recipes so far!  I'll be posting updates as recipes are added.  Please get your recipes to me by 8 pm. CDT if you want them to be included in the Round-up.

Sesame Chicken Bites from Karen at Simply A Musing Blog 

Shrimp, Watermelon and Avocado Salad from LanaG! at Above the Clouds

Grilled Asparagus Proscuitto Wraps from Ellen at The Happy Wonderer 

 7 Layer Tex-Mex Dip from Rosemary at Seasonings of the Heart

Pam, from a rustling of leaves, shares several recipes: Smoky Salmon Spread, Crab Dip,  Bagna Cauda (Anchovy & Garlic Dip), and Fried Zucchini Blossoms

Cream Cheese Bruschetta from Kathie at A Sparrow's Home 

Mustard Pretzel Dip from Me

Artichoke Nibbles, Crab Goodies, Lobster Bisque Dip, Crab Rangoon Dip from Rabbit at The Hutch 

Easy Cream Cheese and Spinach Roll Ups from the Founder of the Recipe Round-up, Rebecca from Rebecca Writes 

Fried Ravioli and Homemade Marinara from Leslie at Lux Venit 

Blender Pesto, and Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip from Me, too. 

A Late Entry:  Chicky Baskets from Suzanne at ::adventures in daily living:: 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

May 16
We Receive as We Give

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

It is not meet that the man who will not forgive should be forgiven, nor shall he who will not give to the poor have his own wants relieved. God will measure to us with our own bushels, and those who have been hard masters and hard creditors will find that the Lord will deal hardly with them. "He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy."

This day let us try to give and to forgive. Let us mind the two bears-bear and forbear. Let us be kind, gentle, and tender. Let us not put harsh constructions upon men's conduct, nor drive hard bargains, nor pick foolish quarrels, nor be difficult to please. Surely we wish to be blessed, and we also want to obtain mercy: let us be merciful, that we may have mercy. Let us fulfill the condition, that we may earn the beatitude. Is it not a pleasant duty to be kind? Is there not much more sweetness in it than in being angry and ungenerous? Why, there is a blessedness in the thing itself! Moreover, the obtaining of mercy is a rich reward. What but sovereign grace could suggest such a promise as this'. We are merciful to our fellow mortal in pence, and the Lord forgives us "all the debt."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon