Thursday Thanks

Today I am thankful for restaurants. 

Yummy food served right to your table. And the best part.....No Clean-up! :)

What are you thankful for today?

Wednesday Worship

Our pastor is concluding his sermon series on Ecclesiastes with two messages titled "The Absurdity of Death." After his message on Sunday, this song that we sing came to mind. The next day we received an e-mail with this coming Sunday's songs. It Is Not Death To Die was on the list of songs! Click on the message title above to listen to the message and click on the song title below to listen to the song. 


It Is Not Death To Die  
Original words by Henri Malan (1787–1864). Translated by George Bethune (1847). Music, chorus, and alternate words by Bob Kauflin


It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high
Who’ve found their home with God
It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne
Delivered from our fears

Chorus 
O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die

It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing
To live among the just
It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Tuesday Treats

I love this idea for "Balloon Lollipops!"

(via saraspartyperfect.com)

I Love My Church!

Redeemer Bible Church

Minnetonka, MN

I have been a member of Redeemer Bible Church for 4 years. I came to Redeemer, because I had a friend who attended there with her family. She recommended I come visit. So I did, and I haven't left! :) The first thing that I loved about Redeemer was the gospel-centered preaching and world-view. I also was drawn in because of the transparency of the people. God has used Redeemer to grow me immensely in my knowledge and love for Him and the gospel. I have become so aware of my depravity, my self-righteousness, and my daily need for Christ, His work on the cross, and His rescue and forgiveness. I am learning to rest in His sovereignty. This life is all about Him, and not about me! I have met people that have truly become my family. I was introduced to my husband through friends from church! We have been able to be involved in Small Groups, the music ministry, children's ministry, and Prayer Meeting. 

Where do you go to church? What do you love about your church? Or what are you looking for in a church? And if you live in the Minnetonka, Minnesota area, please come visit my church!

Friday FOOD!

Pepperoni Pretzels

Recipe courtesy Guy Fieri for Food Network Magazine

Prep Time:

2 hr 0 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

15 min

Level:

Intermediate

Serves:

28 small pretzels

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoons dry active yeast
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar
• 2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan, plus more for sprinkling
• 1 1/3 cups diced pepperoni
• Coarse salt

Directions

Mix 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F to 115 degrees F), the yeast and agave in a bowl. Set aside 5 minutes.

In a food processor fitted with the dough blade, pulse the whole-wheat flour, 2 cups all-purpose flour and the sea salt. Add 1 egg and the yeast mixture and pulse in 10-second intervals until the dough comes together, about 3 pulses. Turn out onto a floured board. Knead 10 to 12 times, adding up to 3/4 cup more flour if the dough is too sticky. Cut the dough into 4 equal portions; cover with a clean towel.

On a floured board, roll out one piece of dough into a 14-by-11-inch rectangle, 1/4 inch thick, with a shorter side facing you. Sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella across the middle of the dough; fold the bottom third of the dough over the cheese, then sprinkle 2 tablespoons parmesan and 1/3 cup pepperoni over the folded part. Fold the top third of the dough over the parmesan and pepperoni. Reroll the dough into a 14-by-11-inch rectangle. Cut into seven 11-by-2-inch strips.

One at a time, pinch the cut long edges of each strip together and roll into a 12-inch rope with your hands. Transfer the rope to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Grab the ends and bring them toward each other, forming a U shape, then cross the left end over the right end to make a pretzel shape. Cross the left end over the right again to make a twist in the middle.

Repeat with the remaining 3 pieces of dough and the remaining cheese, spacing the pretzels 3 inches apart. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes; preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.

Beat the remaining egg in a bowl. Brush the pretzels with the egg; sprinkle with parmesan and coarse salt. Bake until browned, 16 to 18 minutes, checking on the pretzels every 5 minutes to avoid overbaking.

Photograph by Victor Schrager

Thursday Thanks

I am thankful that God uses my anxiety, a sin, to see my desperate need of Him.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Wednesday Worship

Being a Wife is All about Jesus
1 Peter 3:1  Likewise, wives,  be subject to your own husbands
Any woman who has turned to the Bible for an understanding of what it is to be a biblical wife has encountered this verse.  Like an old familiar friend, we strive to know its meaning and go about applying modern-day relevance to this command.

It Starts with, "Likewise"

All too often, we skim over the most important piece.  We jump straight to the slightly heavy-feeling task of defining wife, submission, and the subsequent implications for our lives. We do not stop to consider the likewise.

Likewise changes everything. It means similarly; in like manner. 1 Peter 2 discusses Jesus’ mission, life, and death -- so that becoming wife is even possible. Who he is and what he has done paves the way for women to be wives. Often, we look to the Proverbs 31 woman alone for our template of female godliness. We are tempted to think, “She was the wife who did it all. Let’s copy her”.

It’s All About Him, Not Her

Jesus alone is our means, our model, and our motivation for biblical wife. And yes, I do realize he wasn’t a woman.  Peter is telling us ladies that as Jesus subjected himself to obedience and suffering, we must likewise place our hope and purpose into the hands of the Father to be wives at all. He exchanged our sin for his righteousness so we could offer something of his love and selflessness in our marriages. 

Mine before Mrs.

We belong to Jesus. God calls us to be his daughters as the core identity of our womanhood. For some, he will call to become wife in addition, but never in competition, to that identity. Being a godly wife flows from being a committed daughter. 

4 R’s for the Biblical Wife

Reason: Worship

Genesis 1:27 tells us we are, male and female, created in the image of God. Our sole reason for living is to reflect the image of our Father in worship of Him alone. John 4:23 lays out the call, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” As women and as wives, we are to pour out our lives in worship to the King.

Role: Helper

The role woman was given by God in Genesis 2:18 is helper. It is the Hebrew word ezer which God also uses for himself in Psalms, John, and Hebrews. Helper is not a second-class position. It is a high calling accepted with humility and confidence. We are not vying with our men to “arrive” someday as something other than what we were called to be -- a support, advisor, comfort, and friend to our husbands.

Response: Submission

Submission is the heart response of a godly woman who has put herself under Christ and her husband. It is an act of the will carried out joyfully and willingly because she recognizes the gift of grace she has received. Submission is the single-most precious place of safety and freedom that a woman could ever know. Deep belief and complete trust in Jesus to sustain a wife makes submission to even the most difficult man possible.

Responsibility: Respect

Ephesians 5:33 urges wives to see to it that we respect our husbands. It is a command and not a suggestion. It is our responsibility to communicate respect in our words, tone of voice, attitudes, and actions. True respect for our husbands will spring out of a heart that rejoices in the grace we as wives have received and the grace that we know our husbands need. They desire your respect; they need Jesus. The most respectful posture you can take as a wife is one of grace -- the same grace offered to you in your time of need.

In Christ Alone

We try to muster up submisson, respect, and help for our men without humbly recognizing this thing called wife is made possible by Jesus alone. A marriage license and a sparkling ring do not automatically transform a woman into a wife who honors God. The grace offered and the righteousness bestowed at the cross is what makes you a godly wife who willingly subjects herself to her husband. Dying to yourself because the Savior died for you is the call for the biblical wife. Your marriage will thrive because of life found in Christ; recognizing your daily need for a Savior and dependant upon his righteousness alone.

by Jennifer Smidt via the Resurgence