Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson's Blog, page 14

Week-ending : An Illustrated Devotional : Salvation

For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God's way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.



"The message is very close at hand;

it is on your lips and in your heart."



And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.



For it is in believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 

~Romans 10: 1-3, 9-13




******







Last week we talked about the freedom found in forgiveness. 




This week our reading in Romans talks about the easy forgiveness we find through our belief in Jesus Christ. 




So often, when we hurt someone we feel that we must do something to make amends. We have to ask for forgiveness, and hope that the other person will forgive us. 




When we do something to harm ourselves, we need to forgive ourselves.




God's Word says that when we believe that Jesus Christ died and was raised from the dead to take away the sins of the world, we are forgiven and we are saved.




God's forgiveness comes without strings or conditions. There's nothing you have to do to earn it. All you have to do is accept God's love for you.

Writerly Wednesday: Chapter 2 in the MAP Novel-in-Progress

In the second chapter we begin to explore the life of our protagonist.












We learn about her secret life.











Her missed opportunities.












The things that will motivate her to make life-changing decisions.

Rainy Summer Day Pasta : 3 Ingredients, 10 minutes Hot Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, and Orichette

This recipe can be made in ten minutes, with just three ingredients, and using just two pans.






That's right, in less time than it takes to call in an order for pizza



and for less money, 



you can have a home cooked meal.



Actually, that was the original idea behind this recipe.



Last week, Mom and I were in the grocery store picking up a few items, with the intention of ordering a pizza for dinner because we'd been out all day and I was too tired to cook.



Then I saw broccoli rabe in the produce section...my favorite green...and my mind was changed.



The weather has been overcast, rainy, and blessedly cool for the past few days, so broccoli rabe and pasta, both of which I normally wouldn't consider in summer, suddenly seemed like a perfect match.



I still wanted a quick, no fuss meal, and this fits the bill. I literally made this dish in less time than I would have spent waiting for my pizza. And it cost less. And tasted better. Win-win-win.



  Three ingredients:



1 lb of hot Italian sausage (can substitute chicken, shrimp, or more veggies)



1 bunch broccoli rabe, bottom stems removed ( can substitute broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, etc.)



1 box (or even half a box depending on how much pasta you want or how many you're serving) Orichette ("little ears") pasta, or other shape of you choice



Plus:

Olive oil



Red pepper flakes





While a big pot of water for the pasta comes to a boil, throw the sausage in another pan and cook in olive oil.



Add the pasta to the boiling water.



When the pasta has about 1 minute left to cook, toss the broccoli rabe into with the pasta, so it will get a quick blanch that eliminates some of the bitterness.



Drain the pasta and broccoli and then add it into the pan with the sausage. Stir gently so all ingredients are coated with the olive oil.



Enjoy!

Week-ending : An Illustrated Devotional : Forgive

"To be forgiven, we must first forgive."











Bear with each other and forgive one another,

 if any of you has a grievance against someone. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:12-14  












When we forgive ourselves and others, we free ourselves to move forward, 

We no longer live in the present looking backward. 




We free ourselves to create lives we value, 

no longer allowing our time to be consumed with anger or regret.














"Keep your thoughts right - for as you think, so you are. 

Thoughts are things, 

therefore, think only the things that will make the world better and you unashamed."

~ Henry H. Buckley







*




Peace.




*

Writerly Wednesday: A Peek from my Novel-in-Progress : Chapter 1

Last week I shared a few images from my novel-in-progress. This week, I thought I'd give you a closer look, beginning with images from Chapter 1 and a poem that perfectly captures the feeling of this novel.






somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond

  by E. E. Cummings

somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond any experience,your eyes have their silence: in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, or which i cannot touch because they are too near  














your slightest look easily will unclose me though i have closed myself as fingers, you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens (touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose  


















or if your wish be to close me, i and my life will shut very beautifully ,suddenly, as when the heart of this flower imagines the snow carefully everywhere descending;  












nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals the power of your intense fragility:whose texture compels me with the color of its countries, rendering death and forever with each breathing  









(i do not know what it is about you that closes and opens;only something in me understands the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses) nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands  










Here's a beautiful reading of the poem on YouTube: http://youtu.be/DTPMa6sPVrU

Friday Devotional : HOPE

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping- believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!" And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead-and so was Sarah's womb.



Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced  that God is able to do whatever he promises.



And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him,  the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.



For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.



Romans 4: 18-23, 5:5





We know that God answers prayers.



We've seen the evidence in our own lives and in the lives of others.



But when we are in the midst of waiting, it's easy to lose hope. Or forget those answered prayers. Or worse, to begin to believe that hope is lost and our prayers will never be answered.



The wonderful reminder in today's reading from St. Paul's message to the Romans is that even when Abraham faced seeming insurmountable evidence that God's promise of a child could not be fulfilled, Abraham 'never wavered in believing God's promise'....what makes that statement really profound is that Abraham didn't wait a couple months for God's answer. Abraham waited many, many years.



So when we feel like our answer is never going to come...rather than become discouraged, let's keep pressing forward in faith and love and with the knowledge that God is working everything out for our good.



Let's lay our unanswered prayers at the feet of Jesus and invoke the faith of Abraham. Let's claim the same promise, that we will 'never waver in believing God's promise' because 'we know how dearly God loves us'.



What are you holding in hope today?

New Testament Friday: HOPE

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping- believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!" And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead-and so was Sarah's womb.



Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced  that God is able to do whatever he promises.



And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him,  the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.



For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.



Romans 4: 18-23, 5:5





We know that God answers prayers.



We've seen the evidence in our own lives and in the lives of others.



But when we are in the midst of waiting, it's easy to lose hope. Or forget those answered prayers. Or worse, to begin to believe that hope is lost and our prayers will never be answered.



The wonderful reminder in today's reading from St. Paul's message to the Romans is that even when Abraham faced seeming insurmountable evidence that God's promise of a child could not be fulfilled, Abraham 'never wavered in believing God's promise'....what makes that statement really profound is that Abraham didn't wait a couple months for God's answer. Abraham waited many, many years.



So when we feel like our answer is never going to come...rather than become discouraged, let's keep pressing forward in faith and love and with the knowledge that God is working everything out for our good.



Let's lay our unanswered prayers at the feet of Jesus and invoke the faith of Abraham. Let's claim the same promise, that we will 'never waver in believing God's promise' because 'we know how dearly God loves us'.



What are you holding in hope today?

Scenes from My Novel -in-Progress

I'm five chapters away from completing my next novel....which makes it sound like it should be ready for publication next week. Right? 

Not so much.








I'm shooting for a publication date in Q4 (Sept - Dec) because this time, I'm going to have the book professionally edited. I can't wait to share that experience with you.








Between now and then, I thought it would be fun to share some pictures that are providing me with inspiration as I write the book.








I'm not going to tell you about the book...I don't want to release the magic.








But there's no harm in giving you a peek at a few images.








Stay tuned for more!

Arguing with Atheists: Let's Agree to Disagree

Go and say to this people;

When you hear what I say,

you will not understand.

When you see what I do,

you will not comprehend.




For the hearts of these people are hardened,

and their ears cannot hear,

and they have closed their eyes-

so their eyes cannot see,

and their ears cannot hear,

and their hearts cannot understand,

and they cannot turn to me

and let me heal them."

~Isaiah 6:9-10




Often, when I'm speaking with someone who doesn't agree with something I've said, especially with regard to my religious beliefs, I'm too quick to defend myself or take offense or worse yet, get angry out of frustration...or dare we say, insecurity.



This morning's NT daily reading covered the last chapter of Acts, and Paul's journey from Malta as a prisoner to Rome where he defended his faith and became a free man.



If you follow this blog, you'll know that I've been terrible about posting my Bible reading lately. I think this is actually my first post about the book of Acts. I blame it on my level of boredom with this particular book of the Bible, all the to-and-fro-ing of the establishment of the early church just wasn't of interest. After all, it seemed that every one who became an early church leader was eventually martyred. Where's the fun in that?



But this final chapter, particularly these verses that Paul actually uses to illustrate his inability to convince the elders of the Jewish church in Rome about Jesus as the Messiah, got me thinking...



That quick, gut reaction doesn't help help me, it simply shuts down communication.



Instead, what I'm trying to learn is to pause, take a step back and try to see things from the other person's perspective. Often, they're not trying to be insulting, they're defending a position that they believe is equally of merit.



What I am practicing is rather than react defensively, what if I simply 'agreed to disagree'? I maintain my beliefs, while keeping my relationship with the other person in tact.



I'm not denying my beliefs, they're as strong as ever. However, I'll accept that not everyone has to believe what I do in order for me to be right, or for me to believe what I believe.



I truly believe that we will each eventually come into a relationship with God.



However, it must be on our own terms, not someone else's...which makes perfect sense because we are each individuals. My relationship with my mother is different than my brother or sister's relationship with her, because we are each different people. That doesn't make any of those relationships less loving or enduring, simply different in their perspective.



I believe it's the same in our relationship with God. He loves each of us equally...yes, even those of us who don't acknowledge His existence. And if we believe that God is in control, can we also believe that He will eventually bring each of us into a relationship with Him?



If we can embrace that idea, we can live our faith, share it with others, and not be insulted or intimidated when we are rejected. We can respect the beliefs (or atheism) of others with the knowledge that everyone is on a different path to God.



What do you think?

Dog Days Call for a Day at the Dog Wash

All the boys needed a bath. But we don't have a bathtub big enough for these guys.

Luckily we have Dogma Pet Supply and Dog Wash where they have walk-in tubs that are large enough for even the biggest Newfoundland.




Four dogs at the dog wash...what could possibly go wrong?

You bring your dog in and DIY the wash.

 Dogma supplies the shampoo, towels and even a blow dryer for a price that's much lower than traditional grooming.




Still...I was nervous about handling this project on my own. 

But when I heard about the 'multi-dog discount'...

I decided to try for a trifecta by bathing all three of my boys and Coco in the same visit.


















George got a bath.




He enjoyed the soothing lavender-scented suds.




Should I not be surprised at the amount of water that ended up outside the tub?














Henry got a bath.




Although by the look of ring of hair around the tub, I think he also used the opportunity to shed half of his summer coat.




Should I be embarrassed by the second stack of towels that were brought out when the owner of the store saw all of the water on the floor?














Charlie got a bath.




This dog wash was a wonderful bonding experience with each of the dogs. 




I'm pretty sure Charlie loved it.




Should I be embarrassed when the store's owner pointed out that I should dry the dogs off before they get out of the tub, not after?




















Even Coco got a bath!




She did not love it.




Do you think the Dogma will ever let us come back again?




I hope so.




We had a great time!











Four dogs smelling sweet and looking pretty.




Thank you, Dogma Pet Supply and Dog Wash!




We'll be back next month...