Do this in Rememberance of Me

Monday is Memorial Day.  It’s a day when we, as Americans take time to remember the freedoms that we enjoy came at a price.  Over the years, many men and women have paid the ultimate price to ensure that all Americans have the right to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

We take the time to honor their sacrifice.  But in this day and age, I have to ask the question: "Do we really understand what it means to honor?"

Honor /hon·orˈänər/ is defined both as a noun and a verb: 

Noun: honour; noun: honor

      1.     High respect; esteem.

      2.     A privilege.

Verb:

1.     Regard with great respect.
2.     Fulfill (an obligation) or keep (an agreement).

To me, honor is more than a parade.  It’s more than eloquent speeches and floral wreaths laid on tombs.  It is an action.  It is living your life understanding and valuing the price that was paid.

As I watch the news stories and posts on social media, I can’t help but think of the bigger picture.  What about their families?  What about the Moms and Dads, sisters and brothers?  What about their spouses and kids?  These men and women had lives that they put on hold to serve their country.  They had plans and dreams.  It is humbling to think of all they sacrificed, so that we may live in freedom.

How do I honor that?  What do I do to show that I value and esteem their sacrifice?  The Word is clear that we are to honor the sacrifices of other’s by putting ourselves in remembrance of what they did.  This is why we celebrate Memorial Day.  We come together as a nation to remember and give thanks to all who laid down their lives so that we may enjoy ours. 

The Word tells us that just before Christ died, he shared a very special moment with his follower’s.  Unbeknownst to them, in the simple act of breaking bread and sharing a drink, they were foretold of an act of Love so great; the world would never be the same.

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself.  On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.  Do this to remember me.”  In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood.  Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”  For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NLT

Through this act, we honor Christ's life and death.  It’s not merely the partaking, it’s also the remembering.  That is why we take the time to put ourselves in remembrance.  I have often wondered why Jesus chose the elements of bread and wine to symbolize his death.  Could it be because food and drink are necessary to life and he knew that at the very least, we would come together 3 times a day to partake?   

I believe He knew that every time we broke the bread and drank the wine, it would put us in remembrance.   So, I encourage you the next time you “break bread,” to take the time to remember that it symbolizes the Blood that was shed for all, so that we may enjoy Life, Liberty and pursuit of Holiness!

White Chocolate Lemon Biscotti

In my previous post, I mentioned how much fun I had cooking and baking with my friend when we were on our Tennessee Sojourn. We enjoyed our coffee times in the morning where we would drink iced coffee and talk about our Daddy God and the Word.
One of the recipes we tried was a biscotti recipe that we tweaked to become our White Chocolate Lemon Biscotti. Here is the recipe in honor of my lil' sis and our morning "cawfee tawks."

White Chocolate Lemon Biscotti 
3 c Flour
¼ tsp Salt
1 c Sugar
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon zest
3 eggs
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
¾ c white chocolate chips 
Pre-heat oven to 325°. Coat a large cookie sheet with non-stick spray. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk egg, lemon zest and juice together. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Mix well. Add chips. Working on a floured surface, shape dough into 2 logs and 14” long and 1 ½ “thick. Place logs apart on cookie sheet (at least 4” apart) as dough spreads. Bake 20-25 min, until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and allow logs to cool before slicing. Reduce oven temp to 300°. Cut logs diagonally into ½” slices using a serrated knife and sawing motion. Lay cookies on sheet and return to oven and bake an additional 40 minutes. As they cool, they will crisp up. These will store in an air tight container for 1 month. 
Variations:
Dried cranberries with orange zest and juice
Add sliced, blanched almonds with dried cherries
Lemon and dried blueberries

Buttermaking in Tennessee

Our first 4 months of our Tennessee Journey were spent at our friend's home in Manchester. To say that we were blessed by their hospitality is an understatement. I met my friend in choir at my home church in Ohio, through a series of events, she found herself back in the state of her youth, married to a great guy and with a wonderful, adorable son. My friend and I are both "foodies" and one of our favorite things to do together was trying new things in the kitchen. My hubby would laugh at the two of us and tell us we were better than watching the "Food Network!"
I love baking and cooking, my friend loved cooking too, but was just beginning to flex her baking muscles so we would try new recipes like Lemon Blueberry cake and White Chocolate Lemon Biscotti. I also showed her how to make butter. Who would have thought such a simple task would have such a powerful message! Here is a page from my journal:
Butter Making - Aug 24, 2012
I just wanted to share something with you....the other day my friend and I decided to make some home-made butter. She and my husband had never made it before, but I had, and I knew what to expect.
We began by pouring some heavy cream into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. We secured the lid and then we began to shake the daylights out of it. We shook and shook and even shook some more. Eventually the cream turned into a frothy whipped cream. My friend wanted to open it up and look at it, but I said, "No, you can't disturb the process."
She stated, "Nothing is happening, I can't see anything moving and I can't hear anything either." I told her, "Be patient and KEEP SHAKING." We continued passing the jar around and we each took turns shaking it. As our arms grew weary, we would hand it off to the next person. They would take up where we left off.
Eventually, on the side of the jar, I began to see some clear patches and I knew what this signifies... we were getting VERY CLOSE, so I intensified my efforts, then SUDDENLY....WHUMP, WHUMP! The cream came together and we had a ball of very soft butter!
However, it was not done yet and we shook the jar some more. The more we shook, the more you could hear the sound of "an abundance of rain" as the liquid whey separated from the rich thick butter. My hubby thought we had added more liquid, but I had to tell him, "No, it's just the process."
Finally, we had a nice hard lump of butter, so we poured it out and separated the liquid whey from the solid butter. But, the butter wasn't ready....not just yet! We placed the butter in a dish and began to press it. As we applied pressure, more liquid whey came out of the butter. You would be surprised at how much pressing is required to get the butter to it's final state.
The pressing process is also the time that we give the butter its special flavor! Depending on what you have need of; this is the time when you add the right ingredients to create just the right flavor profile you desire. To one bowl, we added a little salt to make savory butter. To another bowl we added a little brown sugar and cinnamon to make it sweet! After the whole process, my friend said that in the middle of it all, when it didn't seem like anything was happening...it was! She then said, "Wow, that'll preach!"
Last night, we enjoyed the fruit of our labor slathered on some nice hot biscuits! I smiled as I look at my friends and family and reflected on what we had been through to enjoy this "promise." It spoke deeply to my spirit because many times we want the end result but we don't want to count the costs of what it takes to get there. The rewards of obedience are rich but it often takes time, pressure and a little bit of shaking to get there.
Fresh Butter
8 oz of heavy whipping cream
1 large, clean quart jar with a tight fitting lid
salt, optional
Pour the creamy into the jar, close the lid tightly and shake it until the soft ball stage. Continue to shake until the butter firms up to a ball. Open jar and pour out whey and then place butterball into a bowl. With the back of a spoon continue to press whey out of butter until all liquid is removed. Add salt or other desired flavoring. Pack into a pretty mold or other container and place in refrigerator to chill.

On the Move...one step at a time

It seems that the month of May is when my hubby and I get on the move.  This May, marked two years since we stepped out in faith, packed up our lives and headed south on a journey that brought us through many tests and fiery trials.

We have seemingly come full-circle, as we just completed a move into a new apartment.  This may seem minor to most people, but to us, it is a major step UP since we have been living out of our suitcases for two years.

What began our journey, was an unction from the Lord about my husband taking the next step in fulfilling his calling.  I love it when you are equally yoked to your mate!  You find that God will speak to your heart individually and then when you come together, you realize that He has spoken the same thing to you as He has spoken to your mate.  Since the very beginning, my hubby and I have almost always been on the same page.  Even the times when we weren't, it didn't take much to adjust our hearts and get there.

In our prayer time, we both heard the word Chaplain.  Desiring to be willing and obedient, we began to inquire what he would need to become a Chaplain.  We found he needed more education and training, so after praying about it, we began pressing towards that mark. (Philippian 3:14 NKJV)

Through a series of events and over the course of  the next year, we found ourselves sowing what we could and packing up the rest of our things and putting them in storage.  We brought along only what we could fit into our car, and began our journey south to Tennessee.  It was May 6, 2012.

As we were driving, we came through a severe rainstorm and a beautiful rainbow crossed the sky.  I took it as a sign from our Daddy God that we were in covenant with Him and He would see us through what lay ahead.  In my naiveté, I imagined the road ahead would be full of hearts, flowers and rainbows.

Looking back on all we have been through, my hubby and I wondered if we would have been so willing and obedient to get out of the boat if we had known then, what we know now.  But my friend, that is exactly what it means to walk in faith.  It means moving forward when only the next step has been revealed and trusting the one who called you.

Often times we pray and sing songs about going where He wants us to go, doing what He wants us to do and saying what He wants us to say; however, in my experience, as humans we tend to go, do and say ONLY if we can be assured that the path ahead will be easy and the reward will be great.  
Realistically, the song many of us would sing would be...I'll go where you show me to go, I'll do what I see you want me to do, and I'll say what you want me to say as long as it doesn't get me into trouble.

However, the Word tell us exactly what faith is.

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.  Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith.By faith—by believing God—we know that the world and the stars—in fact, all things—were made at God’s command; and that they were all made from things that can’t be seen. Hebrews 11:1-3 TLB

Through the Tennessee Sojourn, as I like to call it, my husband and I walked by faith and not by sight and we learned that walk is not for the faint of heart. 

Over the next several blogs, I feel led to share some of what we encountered and learned.  It is my prayer that it would help someone else who may be on a path in their life that they took in faith and they can't see the next step. 

I encourage you to keep your eyes on Him and take the next step in faith, even if you can't see the whole path. He will light the way one step at a time.

Joy, Joy, Joy!

When I began researching all the verses that contained the word Joy for Our Shelter, I was astonished to find so many.  Obviously our joy is very important to our Daddy God.  He understands the power that comes from Joy.  He understands the strength that is found in Joy. 

Joy is not a suggestion, it is a command.  We are to count is all Joy when we face troubles.  Rick Renner shared that the in the Greek that word is translated at "Bake a Cake and have a Party!"  We can have Joy in the midst of our troubles because we know to whom we belong and we know that we always have the Victory...we always WIN!  Just don't give up, press on and press through and you will find that when the breakthrough occurs you will not be able to contain your Joy!

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:17

“But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin. Job 5:17

He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21

When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing.  Job 33:26

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. Psalm 5:11

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11

The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living. Psalm 19:8

May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers. Psalm 20:5

[ Psalm 21 ] For the choir director: A psalm of David. How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because you give him victory. Psalm 21:1

You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence. Psalm 21:6

The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.  Psalm 22:6

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.Psalm 30:5 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy. Psalm 30:11

[ Psalm 32 ] A psalm of David. Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! Psalm 32:1-2

So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! Psalm 32:11

[ Psalm 33 ] Let the godly sing for joy to the LORD; it is fitting for the pure to praise him.  Psalm 33:1

Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.  Psalm 33:3

What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. Psalm 33:12

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Psalm 34:5

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalm 34:6

But give great joy to those who came to my defense. Let them continually say, “Great is the LORD, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!” Psalm 35:27

I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” Psalm 40:8

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!”  Psalm 40:16

[ Psalm 41 ] For the choir director: A psalm of David. Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The LORD rescues them when they are in trouble. Psalm 41:1

There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God! Psalm 43:4

You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.  Psalm 45:7

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.  Psalm 51:12

But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.  Psalm 59:16

Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 63:7

What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple.  Psalm 65:4

Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.  Psalm 65:8

But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.  Psalm 68:3

God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.  Psalm 68:6

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!”  Psalm 70:4

I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me.  Psalm 71:23

What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Psalm 84:5

O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.  Psalm 84:12

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.  Psalm 89:15

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.  Psalm 90:14

You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.  Psalm 92:4

Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions.  Psalm 94:12

[ Psalm 95 ] Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.  Psalm 97:11

There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.  Psalm 106:3

Let me share in the prosperity of your chosen ones. Let me rejoice in the joy of your people; let me praise you with those who are your heritage.  Psalm 106:5

[ Psalm 112 ] Praise the LORD! How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands.  Psalm 112:1

Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! Psalm 118:15

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.  Psalm 119:1-2

As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Psalm 119:143

We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”   Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!  What joy!  Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.  They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. Psalm 126:2-6

Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.  It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. Psalm 127

You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be! Psalm 128:2

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.  Proverbs 2:10

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13

Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace! Proverbs 12:20

The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.  Proverbs 13:9

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful.  Proverbs 16:20

It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel. Proverbs 17:21

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers. Proverbs 21:15

The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. Proverbs 23:24

The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted.  Proverbs 29:3

Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.  Proverbs 29:6

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.  Proverbs 29:18

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:26

So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Ecclesiastes 9:7

With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! Isaiah 12:3

But those who die in the LORD will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead! Isaiah 26:19

The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the LORD. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.  Isaiah 29:19

The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes they see the LORD returning to Jerusalem.  Isaiah 52:8

[ Future Glory for Jerusalem ] “Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,” says the LORD.  Isaiah 54:1

You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Isaiah 55:12

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.  Isaiah 61:3

Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.  Isaiah 61:7

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.  Isaiah 61:10

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.  Jeremiah 15:16

Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child.  Jeremiah 31:9

They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the LORD’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone. The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing. Jeremiah 31:12-13

For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”  Jeremiah 31:25 
For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17

In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!  Luke 15:7

In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”  Luke 15:10

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!   This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:10-12

You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. John 16:24

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin Romans 4:7-8

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. Romans 5:2

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Romans 14:17

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  Philippians 4:4

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, Colossians 1:11

Always be joyful.  1 Thessalonians 5:16

You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.  Hebrews 10:34 
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  James 1:2-3

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 1 Peter 1:6

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1 Peter 1:8

Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 1 Peter 4:13

All scripture is from the New Living Translation, unless otherwise specified.