Sermon on the Mount

Love one another

I was reading in Luke for my Bible reading this morning. It's interesting that I had been thinking about the Sermon on the Mount for a couple of days and then that is where my reading plan took me today. I still don't know how to put my thoughts on this into words, but I figure I can't say it any better than the Holy Spirit led Luke to write it, so I am just going to share it.

Luke 6 

 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30  Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.  41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. 43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.  45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (KJV)

Little by Little

Exodus 23:29-30 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

When we cry unto God for deliverance, His answer is not always yes. However, even if His answer is, "yes", it does not mean the deliverance will be immediate.

In this scripture, God tells the people that it would be bad for them if it was immediate (which, in reality, a year still isn't immediate in our eyes) and He explains why it will happen "little by little". We can grow though the struggles and waiting. God wants to increase us and not only will we appreciate it more if it takes time, but it helps us truly appreciate how far He has brought us.

The next time your prayer isn't answered as quickly as you had hoped, remember that God is growing you through the process!

Trim Healthy Mama Fruit Pizza

I saw a recipe for a THM fruit pizza on Facebook the other day and saved it since I didn't have any fresh fruit in the house. I was going to stop by the farm market on my way home today and forgot, but fortunately, I did bring home some fruit salad from our last MOPS meeting today so I decided to make it for myself tonight. I'll post the original recipe and then mention the changes I made.

FRUIT PIZZA WITH "SUGAR COOKIE" CRUST.
I sort of threw this together and it was pretty darn good!! Recipe: crust- 3/4 cup finely ground almond flour, 3 packets of Truvia, splash of vanilla, 6 tbsp of butter, 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder, 3 tbsp. of egg whites. Mix together and bake, 400 until lightly golden. Topping- block of 1/3 fat cream cheese, splash of vanilla, 3 tbsp of swerve, 4 packets of Truvia (sweeten to taste), 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream. Mix with a hand mixer, chill and top. Then top with your "S" approved fruits!!! And maybe a squirt of whipped cream wink emoticon YUMMY S DESSERT!wink emoticon YUMMY S DESSERT!

I don't like to measure things so I didn't do anything exact. I did use approx. 3/4 cup almond flour, a splash of vanilla, approx. 6 tbsp butter, and approx. 3 tbsp egg whites; however, I only used 3/4 scoop of protein powder and I used a few shakes of green leaf stevia (big hole opening on my container) all for the crust. For the topping, I used about 2/3 of a block of regular cream cheese (because that is what I had), a splash of vanilla, a few small ladles of cream off a jar of raw milk, and then about 3 tbsp of my homemade truvia (xylitol and green leaf stevia mixed). I baked the crust at 400 degrees until golden brown, cooled it, "frosted" it with the cream cheese mixture and then topped with the fruit from the fruit salad.

I have to say that I really like it! I'm glad I made it and will enjoy it (I'll probably have some for breakfast tomorrow!).

Amena Brown Be You Bravely Anthem MOMcon 2014

Wow!

Heart Change

I recently discovered a blog that I enjoy reading. I was originally drawn to it because the blogger's last name is Smith which was my last name before I married, but I have continued to read because I agree with everything I have read so far and often find encouragement.

She recently wrote about how her (and her husband's) hearts changed on the issue of birth control, babies and family size. I have to say that our story is similar to hers, but not exactly. I encourage you to read her story at the link below.

How My Heart Changed Towards Birth Control, Babies, and Family Size

Whatever You Do

Colossians 3 
 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Whenever something is repeated in scripture, we must really pay attention. Repetition is a way of stressing the importance of the message.

Here in Colossians 3, we have a repeated thought--whatever you do, do it unto God and not unto man.

This thought is just before and just after directions of how wives are to treat husbands; husbands, their wives; fathers, their children; children, their parents; and servants, their masters.

I think an important point to take from this is that the other persons' behavior should not dictate your own. We are responsible to God for our words and deeds; therefore, as long as we act how we are commanded by God, then He will bless us.

Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: 

God's promises--if only I would remember them and dwell on them!

I had a stressful 24 hours and I wish I would have read these scriptures before those stressful hours began instead of after.

"Perfect peace" is what I long for as well as strength. How do I find those things? I find them by keeping my mind on Him!

I need to keep reminding myself that God is in control and that He has a plan for me. I may not see the plan or understand the plan, but I know that He knows and He desires good things for me.

Fall Feasts

Chad's sermon today was a brief overview of the Fall feasts. He is planning on going more in-depth in future weeks. Below is a copy of what was inserted in the bulletin as a reference (for the Spring Feasts) and to use as notes for the Fall Feasts. (The formatting is a little off, but you will get the idea.)

Timeline of Spring Feasts & Appointed Days
	Nisan 10		Nisan 14	Nisan 15	Nisan 17			50 days later
Moses
	Pick the Lamb No blemish		Killed the Lamb	First born killed Left Egypt	Pharoah was killed in the Red Sea			God spoke 10 the Commandments
Jesus
	Jesus Entered Jerusalem		Jesus Died		Resurrection of Jesus			Pentecost

Timeline of Fall Feasts and Appointed Days

Ethanim 1

Ethanim 10

Ethanim 15

Ethanim 22

Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-6 

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

The Word of the Lord is living! This scripture is one example of that fact. I have understood this scripture in different ways at different points in my life. Neither is wrong, but both give comfort.

One way to look at it is that when we suffer, sometimes it is so we can better help someone else who goes through the same suffering. When we receive comfort, it is so we can share that same comfort to others who need it. In this way, we help one another in this world.

Another way to look at the scripture is that when a brother or sister in Christ is suffering, we can step along side them and join in their suffering; thereby, we reduce their burden. When they need comfort, we join together to comfort; thereby, we increase their comfort.

In either interpretation, we are to be there for one another, help one another, and encourage one another.

One Flesh

Mark 10:6-9 

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

When God created the world, He created male and female. Adam saw that every animal had a mate of the opposite sex. When God saw that Adam needed a help meet, He created a woman, not another man.

It is God's design for a man and a woman to go through life together. They join together and become one new being.

When we enter a marriage covenant, it is for life. No one, not even us, should attempt to break it. God fuses the hearts together and they can never be completely separate again. There will always be a connection.

P.S. Happy Birthday to my other half (of our one flesh)!