Paul, Formerly Known as Saul

“Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye.”  Acts 13:9 (NLT)

Paul, a self described former anti-Christ was transformed to be Jesus’ biggest fan (1 Timothy 1:15). What’s different about us as Christians?  First thing I remember, I stopped tailgating while driving;  the softening of my heart began as He lived there.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV), “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”” says Jesus in John 3:3 (NLT).

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me,” Psalm 51:10

“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

“Give us this day our daily bread,” Jesus prays in Matt 6:11

 

 

 

Healthy Chocolate Cake Recipe

“Sustain me with cakes of raisins…” Song 2:5

Adapted from Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake recipe. So good, it reminds me of my sister and I baking chocolate cake early in the morning before anyone else was awake.

  • 1 3/4 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon each of baking soda and powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 eggs 
  • 1 cup milk (or a little less)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350 degrees F, lightly coat baking pan/s with olive oil, then flour. Combine slightly beaten eggs, milk, honey, oil and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients.  Microwave 1 cup water and stir into bowl (will be a bit soupy). Pour into baking pan/s.  Bundt pan takes 35 minutes. Insert toothpick into cake to check, it should come out clean.

For icing, you can drizzle plain yogurt on each piece and it’s still healthy, lol.

chocolate cake
Photo by Marta Dzedyshko on Pexels.com

 

Sweet Sleep

This is for Ethan, a new friend:

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:24 (NKJV)

Jesus says, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19

 “Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4

“If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.” David to Father God in Psalm 139:18

“When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.” Psalm 63:6-7

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

 

Seeking Your Glory

Proverbs 25:27, “It is not good to eat much honey; so to seek one’s own glory is not glory”

Dull ears, not hearing the call, not staying for the message, they are unphased, forcing a smile.  Need for someone to agree with them. Not looking inside whether they match God’s word.

Jesus says in John 8:50-51, “And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Multitude of heavenly host to the country shepherds in Luke 2:14

Make Me An Instrument

of Your face, God, and Your peace and Your grace.

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’

Psalm 27:8

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty,”                                                                                                                            Psalm 91:1

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”                                                  Psalm 84:11

 

 

 

Nitpickers

A friend checking my voluntary cleaning at a Bible Retreat left me miffed. Then the Lord pointed out that I’m doing the same nitpicking about someone else’s spiritual progress.

Thank You Father, for Your gentle ways, how I should remember what You’re trying to teach me before I react.  How other people are mirrors to us.  

Help us to build up and edify our brothers and sisters, not just nitpick.  Help us to take the ‘log’ out of our eyes first, before attempting to remove a ‘splinter’ in their eyes. And help us to see the humor in situations like You do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”    1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”   Jesus in Matt 7:5 (KJV)

 

 

 

 

Energy Soup

That we live in an energy soup, is a new age saying. Jesus cuts through sharper than a 2 edged sword.

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”  Jesus in John 6:63 (NKJV).

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”             Paul in Hebrews 4:12 (NIV).

Jesus says:

  • “Believe Me now?”    John 16:31
  • “Anyone who loves Me, will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them.”    John 14:23
  • “I am the Light of the world”  John 8:12
  • “He who believes and is baptized will be saved;”  Mark 16:16

“For we do not wrestle against flesh & blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”   Paul’s letter to Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV).

 

Old and New Prophetic Words

We heard a sermon where Jesus said He’s going to breathe on your prophetic word.  He’ll breathe new life on it, though you began to wonder when and if it’s ever going to happen (Banning Liebscher).

The Holy Spirit is innovative, my Pastor’s wife, Martha said, He’s always doing something new.  Recently I listened to a seven year old prophecy that I’m a mighty woman of God.  When people called me that two years ago, I still had trouble believing it.  However, when you’re doing things for the Father, like interceding where there’s no glory, you’re not noticing what you look like.

It reminds me of when Gideon in Judges 6:12, was called mighty in God, and wasn’t feelin it.  “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!'”

Now mostly when I hear a prophetic word, it’s a direct answer and guidance to what’s going on in my life now, not so far-fetched sounding.

ancient antique armor armour
Photo by Maria Pop on Pexels.com

You Have To Forgive Yourself

The Lord spoke this to me while waiting for prayer at a service.  It hadn’t occurred to me yet, because I was focusing on forgiving the other person.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NKJV)

“Love your neighbor as yourself,” says Jesus, Mark 12:31 

“Submitting to one another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:21