Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 42

Christian Devotional: God is... Forgiveness

“I’ve messed things up, how do I make it right?”

God is… forgiveness. As we continue praying through psalms that describe attributes of God, we see one of the most foundational attributes to us. God is forgiveness. He is the only one who is truly able to overcome the gap that our wrong doings have created in our relationship both with Him and with others. Interestingly, we do not have to ask for forgiveness, God promises forgiveness on the condition that we confess our wrongs to Him. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Our condition is confession; God promises forgiveness and cleansing, or restoration. If we do not feel we are experiencing forgiveness or restoration, we need to examine whether we have truly brought our sins before God and confessed them and repented from them. This psalm can help guide us as we come to God for confession.

God is… Forgiveness, Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.

Father, I have sunk down so far. The weight of my sins is overwhelming and threatens to crush me. I feel that I am in quicksand that is pulling me farther and farther away from You. I long to hear Your voice. I long to see Your face. I am crying out desperately for You.

2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

Father, hear me! You say that you know us more intimately than we even know ourselves. You know my voice. You hear me calling. Listen! Please focus on my cries as I beg for Your help and Your mercy.

3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

God, I know You know every wrong I have ever done. You know all the wrongs I am going to do. You know how often I fail You and how far short of Your standards I fall. If You were to hold all of them against me I would be crushed by the weight of my wrong doings. I would be obliterated by the very sins I, myself, committed. I have doomed myself and You know it.

4 But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.

Oh, such sweet relief! Such joy and hope in these words! In You there is forgiveness. In You I have hope. I cling to this as a dying man to a life raft, a falling man to a rope. You have forgiveness and You offer it to me. Why? Because You know that You will receive the glory for doing that which only You can do. You are shown to be truly glorious as You extend Your mercy to one such as me.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.

Since I am so completely reliant on You for my very breath, I will find contentment waiting on You. I will move only when You say move. I will breathe only as You say breathe. My innermost being longs to be in sync with Your desires because in You is my very hope. Your words are the very breath of existence for me.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

O my country, O myself, hope in the Lord. Lord, You are lovingkindness. You redeem me. You rescue me. You make me to be a source of joy and pride for You because You love me. You are all my hope. You take me from such a desperate, dangerous existence and You set me up as one of Your children because I will bring my wrongs to You and trust You and accept Your sacrifice in my place. Father You are forgiveness and I will praise You for it every day.

Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page

**Check out my newest release: The Daily Devotional Series: Psalm, volume 3 now available on Smashwords and Amazon**
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Stretched

In looking back over the events of this week, I
can sum up how I feel in just one word: stretched.  Dictionary.com defines stretch this way: “to extend, force, or make serve beyond the normal or
proper limits; strain: to stretch the imagination; to stretch the facts; to
stretch food to feed extra guests; to stretch money to keep within a budget.” That pretty much describes my life these days.





Most women can relate to what it feels like to
be stretched. We get up each day, drive our kids to school and their various
afterschool activities, keep house, manage the family finances, and romance our
spouses—and that’s just the beginning. Throw into the mix an unanticipated trip
to the emergency room or a couple of extra business meetings, and we quickly go
from stretched to overwhelmed.





Anyone who jogs knows that it is critical to
stretch one’s muscles before jogging in order to avoid injury. Whether or not you jog, you are involved in running
a race that requires every bit as much discipline, if not more, than running a
marathon! That race is called “life.”  If we are to “run in such a way as to get the
prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24), we must stretch our spiritual muscles by daily spending time
with God in prayer and Bible study. Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”





Why run when you can soar? By the grace of God
and with the strength he promises to those who wait upon him, we can run—and
finish—the race.





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From Good to the
Last Drop: Refreshing Inspiration for Homeschool Moms and Other Busy Women


Copyright © 2009 by Dee Dee Wike. All rights
reserved.



***********







Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Book Review: Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate

"Heather Hampton returns to Moses Lake, Texas, to help facilitate the sale of a family farm as part of a planned industrial plant that will provide the area with much-needed jobs. Heather's future fiance has brokered the deal, and Heather is in line to do her first large-scale architectural design--if the deal goes through.


But the currents of Moses Lake have a way of taking visitors on unexpected journeys. What was intended to be a quick trip suddenly morphs into Valentine's week--with Blaine Underhill, the handsome banker who just happens to be opposing Heather's project. Spending the holiday in an ex-funeral parlor seems like a nightmare, but Heather slowly finds herself being drawn into the area's history, hope, and heart." (book description)




Lisa Wingate scores with yet another good read. Blue Moon Bay contains a well written plot that kept me guessing throughout the book. It took me almost until the plot reveal to figure out what actually happened in Heather's past and what was happening now with her family. The characters were well-rounded and developed and each character lent something interesting to the story. This was Wingate's newest book, and, as usual, she did not disappoint. I even liked the first person writing (which I usually do not care for) and felt that it gave the book an interesting look at the story line. 



I would definitely recommend this book.


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Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Zuppa ToscanaBecause it is almost September and soup ...

Zuppa Toscana



Because it is almost September and soup season is rapidly approaching and because I am going to an Italian Potluck supper tonight, I decided to share this delicious recipe.



I love Olive Garden’s soup, Zuppa Toscana. I especially love the kale. My husband loves the sausage and my son loves the potatoes. My daughter loves all of it and is bugging me so I will make more.



Here is the recipe I use. It’s delish. It is perfect for a cool fall day. It is the soup of hoarders.



Start off with some good Italian sausage. Don’t skimp. You won’t get the full flavor of the soup if you do.





Next, you will want some red skinned potatoes, chicken stock, onions, kale, garlic, and heavy whipping cream. You’ll notice I use a good portion of sausage…and potatoes…and kale…cause we all make sure our bowls are full of our favorite ingredients.





Chop a large onion. Add to a Dutch oven with a bit of olive oil. Sauté until onions start to become translucent.





Add minced garlic and sauté for a couple more minutes.





Add sausage (I actually used 3 pounds. My husband loves me so much!). Cook sausage until it is no longer pink.





Add 2 large cans of chicken stock.





Peel 3 pounds of peeled, cubed potatoes. Cook until potatoes are tender.



Rinse kale and tear leaves from stalks. Add to soup. Stir. Add cream and let simmer for 10 minutes.





Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese in large bowls. A good chunk of bread on the side is nice too! Enjoy!





Recipe:



3 lbs Italian sausage

3 lbs red potatoes

2 49oz cans chicken broth

2 cups heavy whipping cream

2 large bunches of kale

2 garlic cloves

1 large onion

Olive oil

Grated parmesan cheese



Chop large onion. In dutch oven heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion. Sauté until tender. Add minced garlic. Sauté for two more minutes. Add sausage. Cook until meat is no longer pink. Add chicken stock. Peel and chop potatoes. Add to soup and cook on medium high for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add whipping cream and kale. Heat through and serve with grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy! Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

DIY Natural Lotion Bars

With cracked, hurting hands, I reached for the lotion dispenser…and I came up empty.




Nothing. Nada. Zilch. 



I was completely out of lotion. Again. To make matters worse, I didn't want to go to the store. I mean, come on. Gas is $3.75 and we live half an hour away from, well, everywhere.



I had seen lotion bars once a long time ago, and I thought it was kind of weird. Until I touched the sample they had lying out. For people like me. That just have to touch everything. (Yes. I used to drive my mother crazy. Quit touching was her favorite phrase.)



Having been in this Mad Scientist mood for a long time…insert years here…I decided to make my own lotion bars. Because I was desperate. And I wasn't going to the store. (That'll show them, right?) With a little tweaking, testing, and experimenting, this is the recipe I came up with.



Lotion Bars

Ingredients:

2 oz beeswax

2 oz coconut oil

1 Tbsp Olive oil

Essential oil of your choice - Eucalyptus, peppermint, vanilla, lemon

Mold for lotion bars - silicone molds work fantastic











Combine the beeswax and coconut oil in a microwave safe container. 
Microwave on high, stirring at 45 second intervals. 
While waiting for the mixture to completely melt, combine olive oil and several drops of essential oil. I used eucalyptus oil, but the choice is yours. I used approximately 25 drops. 
Stir until blended together. 
Once beeswax and coconut oil are completely melted, stir in olive oil mixture until combined. Be careful, this can get hot! 
Pour into molds of your choice. I used a star silicone mold and a silicone ice cube tray. 
Place in refrigerator until set. 
When they're firm, pop out and store in a container. Empty Altoid tins work great. Waste not, want not…









Do you like DIY tutorials? Do you like to make your 

own beauty products using natural ingredients you can trust?

What about crafts? Cooking?

Seriously?! 




That's just awesome! I'd like to invite you to join my 

Monthly Newsletter and you will have a special

code to download multiple *Exclusive, Member's Only*

Recipes. Crafts. Tutorials. DIY. Discounts. 

...and more!

Join today!





Amanda Stephan~Christian Author

BooksByAmanda.com


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Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Suggestions for Music Lovers

Although reading and writing are an integral part of my family's life, we also love music. My husband tends to lean toward bluegrass gospel and music from the seventies while I have more eclectic tastes. I love Jazz, Easy Listening, Golden Oldies, Calypso, Big Band, Eighties Light Rock, Classical, Some country if it isn't about how the guy's wife left him and took his dog, Gospel, Mediterranean music, and so much more. Our daughter, Emily, seems to have picked up my eclectic tastes and listens to most anything as well.



Recently I have found myself listening more and more to children's songs. This probably has something to do with my buying a new car that had a three month free subscription to Sirius FM Radio, but that's a story for another day. Why children's songs? Because my daughter insists that we listen to Kids Place Live every day. Not that object, mind you. In all honesty, I really do prefer the children's channel to most modern day offerings. And while being subjected to daily doses of children's songs, Emily and  I have come to find several songs that we absolutely love. Some songs like Kitty Fight by Joe McDermott simply makes us laugh because not only is the song funny, but very true to life about how cats behave.  Throw It Out the Window by Trout Fishing in America and Toast by Haywood Banks are so ridiculously funny that I would defy anyone to listen and not laugh. Other songs like Robbie Schaefer's Fits Right In, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo's Gotta Be Me, and  Mista Cookie Jar and The Chocolate Chips'  Inner Child Rock all have good messages. And we have a particular fondness for a song called I Think I'm a Bunny by Todd McHatton and we have no idea why. It's just one of those songs you either love or hate and we love it.

But my absolute favorite song of the year has been another song by the very popular Secret Agent 23 Skidoo called Space Cadet. Secret Agent 23 Skiddo is a Family band and Space Cadet is an ode to one of their children who has a very creative mind and asks very interesting questions like how do you pee when you wear a suit of armor and can you ever be wrong if your always right there? It's such a catchy song I find myself randomly singing the words to it over and over and over. Definitely a group worth checking out if you are looking for something new to listen too.



So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

Christian Devotional: God is... Holy

Set apart, sanctified, divine, sacred. In a word, holy.

As we continue to look at attributes of God that are defined in Psalm, today we’re looking at the holiness of God. God in His glory and majesty is truly the only one who could ever be considered holy. As we look through the verses in Psalm 99 that speak to the holiness of God, use the prayers in italics below to respond back to God. Share any additional thoughts or prayers below in the comments!

God is… Holy - Psalm 99

1 The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!
2 The LORD is great in Zion, And He is exalted above all the peoples.

Lord, if we could truly grasp how great and might and holy You are, we would be in awe of You. We would tremble with respect and We would see You high and lifted over everything. You are truly great and worthy to be exalted above all peoples.

3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He.

You are Holy, You are Holy, You are Holy. I know no other words to express the profound and incredible awesomeness of who You are. I praise and lift You up. I look to no one other than You. You alone are the only One worthy of my praise.

4 The strength of the King loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the LORD our God And worship at His footstool; Holy is He.

Lord, You are just, You are righteous. Even when I don’t understand how sometimes, I believe You are fair and You will make all things right. I know that You are amazing and I am so thankful just for the opportunity to come into Your presences and worship You at Your footstool. You are my whole praise.

6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called on His name; They called upon the LORD and He answered them.
7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; They kept His testimonies And the statute that He gave them.
8 O LORD our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds.

Father, even the great and amazing examples of believers that we have from the Bible came to worship You. They, too, called upon Your name and You answered them. They spoke with You and they shared all that You had done in their lives. They listened for You and You spoke with them. You forgave them, and You avenged the injustices that they experienced according to Your plan and purpose.

9 Exalt the LORD our God And worship at His holy hill, For holy is the LORD our God.

Father, I praise You. I lift You up and worship You in all Your amazing and wondrous glory. You are the Lord. You are God. You are more than I can possibly imagine and I am blessed beyond measure to come and worship You.

Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

A Bird in the Hand

True confession: I am an animal lover. I own a poodle named Madison, a black cat named Gypsy, and a guinea pig named Tinkerbell. I can’t afford them, but I love them all for the unique qualities they possess and the lessons God teaches me through them.

 

God sometimes allows other animals to cross my path, as was the case one morning. As I came through the garage after watering my flowers, I noticed that a small bird was perched on the windowsill, trying to figure a way out.  Gypsy was quite interested in the bird, sizing it up for a meal, no doubt. As I have done many times before, I donned a pair of garden gloves and approached the bird in an effort to pick it up so I could release it.

 

It has been my experience that normally a bird will struggle in its quest for freedom, but this little one simply allowed me to scoop it up and carry it outside. At first I thought it was an adult sparrow, but a closer look told me otherwise; it was just a baby, a breathless, fearful baby bird. I carried it out of the garage, watching to make sure the cat wasn’t following us. For five minutes or so I held and talked to the bird in an effort to coax it to fly to safety.  During that time it began to relax, catch its breath, and look around. Once it even turned its sweet face toward mine, as if in a gesture of acknowledgment and gratitude. The bird was totally calm in my hand, just as we should be when God holds us.





How often do we struggle to break free from our strongholds—bad habits, bad relationships, financial

hardship, and such—by relying on our own effort? The Bible tells us that God cares for us more than he does the sparrow and that the very hairs of our head are numbered.  Don’t you think that a God who loves his children that much would do anything he could to guide us to a place of peace and safety?

 

What is it that keeps you from trusting such a loving God? Let him hold you and carry you to a place of freedom
today.




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From Good to the Last Drop: Refreshing Inspiration for Homeschool Moms and Other Busy Women


Copyright © 2009 by Dee Dee Wike. All rights reserved.



 



Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

The "Right" Stuff

I walked through the house, taking my time, looking at the collections and the dark paneling.



The house was old. Well, kept, but old. By the contents the owner was obviously older. There were no electronics to speak of and definitely no gaming systems. There were old vinyl record and a few VHS tapes.





The kitchen was filled with green and orange Tupperware and glassware that was cut with jagged edges. Very little, if anything, was up to date in this kitchen. One big iron covered roasting pot caught my eye. I guessed a roast would taste pretty darn good coming out of that.



The furniture through out the house was of the same time period. Low sitting couches with ottomans and chairs in velvet coverings graced the shag carpet throughout the living room. The vintage bedroom furniture lay in pieces, waiting for someone with breath to lay claim. I doubt the set was old enough to be called an antique, but definitely not modern by any definition of the word.



I ran my hand along the headboard, wondering about the woman who had laid her head here for so long. I turned my attention to the box of scarves on the sideboard. Scarves of every color filled the box. The very items that gave her some measure of dignity had been reduced to fifty cents apiece. My heart ached for this woman I had never met.



I chose a few towels to take home to remember her by. Several kitchen, a few bath towels and hand towels made their way into my hands, and later my home. As I walked from room to room I wondered about the woman. Did she wrap this towel around her grandson after removing him from the olive green bathtub? Did he giggle when she tried to dry his underarms? After Thanksgiving did she use this flour sack towel to dry the platter that housed the turkey legs that her granddaughters fought for? Did she smile in spite of the terrible disease that was pulling her farther and farther from her family?



After I paid for my purchases, I ran into (quite literally) an elderly lady who had her hands full. She was leaving, as was I. We stood for a moment and chatted on the front sidewalk. I voiced my thoughts, wondering about the woman who lived and loved in the home that now stood empty.



The woman thanked me with tears in her eyes. She told me that the woman that passed was one of her dearest friends. She watched strangers walking around, touching the things that held so many memories and she wondered if anyone gave thought to the woman behind the things for sale. She squeezed my hand and walked across the lawn to the house next door.





I unlocked my car door and deposited my things in the backseat. I studied all the cars lined up and down the street.



One thing came to mind. No matter what we collect, or call our own, we will not take it with us when we go. I wondered if the woman came to know Christ before she died. Did she possess the one thing that would truly bring her joy?



What matters to you? Make sure your heart is wrapped around the “right” stuff. Everything else is truly stuff.



Thanks for taking the time to grow with me this Wednesday!

Darlene Shortridge, Author of Until Forever and Forever Blessed

Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com

From Spice to Eternity

What does life have to throw at you to wake you up. Spices and herbs do it for recipes, but in life, the answer is much more elusive.  An intriguing Journey with Yvonne Pat Wright into her life of heartbreak, disappointment and despair and how she found her way to fulfilment and purpose through a love she never thought she would find.

 From Spice to Eternity is a compilation of inspirational stories drawn from personal life encounters while living on two islands: Jamaica and Great Britain. Stories of tears, loss and grief are balanced by joyous, exciting and triumphant tales, which above all, demonstrate the unrelenting and indefatigable love of God.  

What does “spice” have to do with it? Much indeed!  Each chapter is framed within the context of cooking with herbs and spices -a fitting metaphor for exploring and finding out how the common garden herb Rue ties in with the Jackson Five brothers, or what Rosemary does Rosemary have to do with faithfulness.

An ideal present for both budding cooks and persons interested in self-improvement, From Spice to Eternity is a timeless serving of inspiration that will feed both soul and body with heart-warming stories and delightful, easy-to-prepare recipes. 



See the free goodies you can receive when you purchase From Spice to Eternity August 21, 2012 here: http://yvonnepatwright.weebly.com/



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Yvonne Pat Wright, in happy retirement, enjoys reading, in several genres, but finds it hard to accept obscenity and accept it as standard author’s license.   A devout Christian she teaches in church and is a trained lay preacher.  Born in Kingston, Jamaica she has spent equal number of years living alternatively in Jamaica and the United Kingdom. She’s won the hearts of daughters, grandsons and nieces and several ‘adopteds’ with her hearty home cooked meals, delicately spiced and served up with healthy doses of the value of Christian living. She is particularly pleased to have been ‘mother’ to a very famous singing family, the Jackson Five.



From Spice to Eternity is her first book and a sequel is in progress.  She also intends to switch to fiction writing and the plot and outline are being developed.

Yvonne Pat Wright - Author -From Spice to Eternity website:   www.spicetoeternity.co.uk email:     yvonnewright@spicetoeternity.co.uk Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SpicetoEternity?v=wall&ref=pdem Available: Amazon::  http://amzn.to/qnNITb  ;  http://tinyurl.com/d3kaysj Twitter:  Twitter.com   http://twitter.com/#!/spicetoeternity Google :   http://tinyurl.com/c3jy2vq YouTube:  http://tinyurl.com/bl9exgn





Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com