March2008

The Believer's Mission...

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."

1 Peter 2:1-10

Letter from the Editor...

Dear Folks,

Life can get complicated. For many of us that is an understatement. We live in trying times, uncertain times that make us fearful. Many of us struggle with relationships and finances. Nothing is certain anymore. Combine that with unfaithful friends, the heartbreak of a divorce or a death. For many life is a trial with an uncertain ending.

As believers we have HOPE! Our hope is in Jesus, the Messiah. This month we will be celebrating Easter and our Lord's resurrection. He gave His life for us that we might have life and that more abundantly. We can rest, for He is in the boat so said a preacher on a local radio broadcast. I like that thought. Our boat may be low in the water, but it isn't sinking because Jesus is in the boat.

In this issue we will be reminded that we can trust God's Word and its accuracy. Jesus' birth and death were foretold. Isaiah reminds us that He is our intercessor, having borne our iniquities, and healed us from our wounds. Our sin has been forgiven and we are healed. How is this possible? Is Jesus really the Messiah? Find out...

"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?" John 18:4

A little girl is my Sunday School class asked the question, "Did the chief priests believe that Jesus was the Messiah?" I thought at the time it was a very unusual question. The question stayed with me all week. I had never thought about the theological position of the chief priests who plotted to have Jesus killed. They never really admitted their belief. Yet they believed enough to decide they would not share their glory with another. Jesus was a threat. How could they ever admit it, if they did believe? They had what we call intellectual belief. That's what I told my class. They saw what He did, they knew the prophecies, and they saw changed lives. The disciple John tells us that though many witnessed the miracles, they did not believe.

"But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: that the saying of Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, he hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." John 12:37-40

We know from reading the Scripture that Jesus was frequently harassed by the Jewish leaders. They enjoyed trying to entrap Him with His words, hoping to find some fault in Him. Always, he won these verbal sparring matches. Listening to Him speak in the Temple, they questioned His authority. They marveled at His knowledge and understanding. Secretly, they were envious, fearful of losing their influence among the people.

It was obvious that Jesus had quite a following, particularly among the poor and diseased. He performed miracles of healing that defied even modern medicine today. Was Jesus the Messiah? There was certainly evidence that His power was outside of human ability. The problem of Jesus heated up even more when Lazarus was raised from the dead. The miracle was seen by many people. From that time many believed on Jesus according to John 12:11.

The Jewish leaders wanted to get rid of Jesus, but they had to be careful. Their opportunity came when Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the chief priests and offered to betray Jesus. The price was right and for thirty pieces of silver, Judas was committed. There would be no turning back.

That evening when Jesus and the other disciples were in the Garden by the brook Cedron, Judas who knew it well, took a band of men to arrest Jesus. With a friendly greeting and a kiss, Judas identified Jesus to the men who were with him. Upon His arrest, Jesus was taken to a secret meeting with Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest, Caiaphas, and interrogated about his doctrine. Jesus reminded them that He had taught openly. He did nothing in secret. Was Jesus the Messiah? They couldn't be sure. They didn't want to believe it. They wanted to put Jesus to death, but they could find no fault. False witnesses were brought in, but their testimony was not consistent. Jesus said nothing to their accusations until the question was asked...

Now the Jewish leaders did not have any power to sentence a man to death, so they presented Jesus to the Roman ruler of the time, Pontius Pilate, a vicious and cruel man. He too questioned Jesus curious about why the Jews would turn over one of their own. He had heard the rumors that Jesus was the King of the Jews. This was cause for concern, because it sounded like Jesus might attempt to overthrow the Roman government. Jesus explained that His kingdom was different which seemed to soothe Pilate. Pilate went to the Jews and offered to release Jesus, a custom that was done at the Passover. The people, primed by infiltrators, chose a criminal named Barabbas instead. Jesus was led away to be crucified.

If Jesus was a mere man, then the story would be over. But Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah. On the third day from His death, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of James and John, Salome and Joanna visited His tomb. They came with burial spices, wondering how the stone covering the entrance to the tomb would be removed. It was dawn on Sunday when suddenly there was an earthquake. The stone was rolled away and an angel was sitting on it. The guards who had been placed there to prevent the body of Jesus from being stolen fainted. Imagine seasoned soldiers fainting! I find it amusing that the women who had come to the tomb were afraid, but they didn't faint. The angel according to Matthew 28 had a message for the disciples. He told them that Jesus could be found in Galilee. Found? But Jesus had been killed. How could He be alive in Galilee? Was Jesus the Messiah?

The rules of research tell us that determining truth or fact is based upon three things. The first is physical evidence. The second is trustworthy witnesses, and the third is to compare it with known truth. If we apply these three criteria to determine if Jesus was the Messiah, we will discover that He could be no other.

First, the physical evidence is His virgin birth, the miracles He did, the dead raised to life, and His own sinless state.

Second, Acts 1:3 tells us Jesus was seen alive for forty days after his death. We know He died. There was no evidence of life when He was removed from the cross, else the Jewish leaders would have finished the job. They purposefully placed guards at His tomb for they feared that His followers would claim He was alive after stealing His body. Paul testifies in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:6) that over 500 people at once saw Jesus after His burial and resurrection.

Third, ancient prophecies had been fulfilled as written by Isaiah, Moses, David, and others.

Was Jesus the Messiah? Jesus meets the criteria to establish fact. The fact is Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus was resurrected. The tomb is empty. Paul says it best:

"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen; and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:12-22

The final evidence is in the changed lives of people who believe in Him. Jesus makes a difference in a life. They are transformed. If you are overwhelmed with seemingly insurmountable trials and tribulations, then the only hope you have is in Jesus. He alone can change a heart, calm a storm, heal the sick, and feed the hungry. He can change you.

If you are struggling to believe the truth and do not know Jesus as your Savior, then please go to Do you know for sure?

“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” Luke 15: 24 (KJV)

I watched a family program on television yesterday. It was about a family with two children. One of the children had gotten into trouble at school and the principal called the mother on the telephone at her job and demanded that she come to the school immediately. She explained to the principal that she would come to see him tomorrow, that she couldn’t leave her job. The principal asked her if her job was more important to her than her son. At the same time, her boss was telling her to get off the telephone and yelling orders at her. It was too much for her to handle.

She was supposed to have gone on vacation that night but her boss had just given her another assignment and told her that she could not go on vacation. He told her that he would try to give her an extra day of vacation to make up for it. She walked out of the office and got on a bus and couldn’t get off because she was in such a depressed mood that it was like she was sleep walking and in a daze. She didn’t realize what she was doing and couldn’t have controlled it at that point even if she did know what she was doing.

She finally called her husband a few days later who was frantic with worry and said “I’m okay. I don’t know where I am. Please don’t say one word or I will have to hang up on you”. Her husband couldn’t be quiet. He had to say it. He was so relieved to hear from her that he said to her “I love you”. She said “I told you not to say anything.” and she hung up the telephone.

Was she being hateful and mean to her husband? No, she wasn’t being mean or hateful to him. Her mind had completely shut down like a defense mechanism. She had been pressured by so many people at the same time for so long that she was about to have a nervous breakdown. Her family, her friends and her boss all wanted her to do something for them all the time and at the same time. They had demanded it of her for so many years that it was overwhelming to her.

It was impossible for her to stay at her job that day. She knew that if she didn’t get away from it all, and get away right that minute, that she really would have a nervous breakdown. So she didn’t say anything to anyone and simply left. Was that selfish on her part? No, it was a desperate attempt to save her sanity.

About a week later, she finally had peace in her heart once again and she went home to her family. As she walked in the door, her husband met her at the door. Without saying a word to her, he held her tightly as he cried. She said “Do you want to talk about it”? He replied with just three words but those three words touched my heart and I cried like a baby. He said to his wife who he loved so much “Up to you”. What a picture of unconditional love by a husband! O that we would have more marriages like this one.

I think if we will listen with our hearts we will hear Jesus saying to us “Up to you”. He doesn’t force us to do anything. We are not puppets and He doesn’t pull our strings. He allows us to make the choice. Many times He calls us to do things for Him and we either aren’t listening for His call, or we ignore His orders. Sad to say, sometimes we just don’t care enough to stop what we are doing and answer His call.

The greatest call that He gives us is when He calls us to repent of our sins, ask Him to forgive us and come into our hearts to be our personal Saviour. His heart is filled with unconditional love for us and He is standing at our heart’s door and knocking. Have you opened the door for Him? Have you accepted the sacrifice that He made for you on the cross of Calvary? If not, please don’t put it off another minute.

Sometimes we as Christians allow Satan and the world with all their poisonous barbs to defeat and discourage us and we stop serving Jesus. We feel that we just can’t go on. He knows how we feel because I’m sure that He also felt like that many times when He was here on earth. He probably said to Himself “I can’t go on because the rejection, criticism, sarcasm and scorn hurt too much”. Yet because of His amazing and unconditional love for His Father and for us, He went on day after day as He endured horrors that you and I will never experience or ever fully comprehend.

Yes, it is up to us to either accept His unconditional love or to reject it. What is your choice? If you have wandered away from Jesus, He is waiting for you to come home to Him with His arms open wide. He will hold you tightly in His arms of compassion and understanding. You won’t even have to talk to Him about it because He already knows. It is enough for Him that you have come home. He will give you the choice of talking about it as He says “Up to you”.

My name is Joanne Lowe. I was born in Peoria, IL sixty three years ago. I didn't grow up in a Christian home. We never went to church. For those of you whose parents took you to church when you were a child, you are very blessed indeed. I started going to church with one of my friends when I was in high school because she invited me to her church.

I walked down the aisle when I was a teenager and prayed the sinner's prayer and thought that I was saved. However, the only thing I had ever heard preached was that I was going to hell if I wasn't saved. I really had no idea what I was doing; I didn't know what salvation really meant. I didn't know that Jesus loved me so much that He hung on a cross of torture and horror and died for my sins. I just knew that I didn't want to go to hell. That day I made a head and verbal commitment to Jesus but I didn't invite Him into my heart. Until we have made a heart commitment to Jesus, we are not saved.

On August 14, 1980, I gave my heart and life to Jesus. I asked Him to please forgive me of all my sins and come into my heart to be my personal Saviour. From that day until now, I have known without a shadow of doubt that I am saved and that Jesus lives in my heart. He has never left me, not even for one minute.

The more I fall in love with Jesus, the sweeter He becomes to me. There is no friend like Jesus! No one loves like Jesus Loves! He is my very best Friend and I love Him with all my heart. I fail Him and hurt Him like everyone else, but He knows my heart and He knows that I love Him. Without Him, life would be meaningless.

If you don't know this beautiful Friend of mine as your personal Saviour, I plead with you to open your heart to Him and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart and be your personal Saviour. He will give you a peace that you have never known and will never leave you.

In His Service,

HOME SCHOOL TIPS

As mothers, but also teachers, we have a responsibility to our children and to our Lord to teach our children the Word of God. It is not the responsibility of the Sunday School or the Church or the School. Parents, we have been entrusted by God to teach our children. If we don't, then we cannot be assured that anyone will effectively pass on the message of the cross. We aren't looking for intellectual knowledge, but heart knowledge. Our children must be taught the truth so that they may come to the Lord realizing they are sinners and in need of a Savior. We must not rely on others who may pervert the Word of Truth or add to the Word, or worse, minimize the Word.

"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, an when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 6:7

Too often we get caught up in the fun myths of the Easter/Spring Equinox season. We've so mixed up the message that many children are confused about the true meaning of Easter. Let's purpose in our hearts to focus on Jesus during this time of celebration.

There are lots of ways to teach the Word. For real family fun, try making the ever popular Easter Story Cookies to teach the message of the cross.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don't wait until you're half done with the recipe)! Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. Vinegar into mixing bowl.   Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents --in God's eyes -- the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.

Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matthew 28:1-9.

Share The Easter Cookie Story With Friends and Family

Providing Christian Homeschool Curriculum and online courses for families who want to build a Biblical worldview.

In the past, I always wondered, "Why Aaron? Why would the LORD choose generations of priests to come from a sniveling liar like Aaron?

How easily he buckled when the Israelites doubted in Moses' absence. I thought about the time he spent collecting the gold from a million plus people. How days must have gone by while he melted it down and then fashioned it with an engraving tool. Much planning, much thought and much effort went into this Golden Calf Crisis..........and yet, the priestly lineage would be through him! I was stupefied!

Then, this morning, it hit me! What a different man we see in Leviticus 10. The death of his two sons on the day of their anointing must have jolted him to the core. Any father, no matter what the relationship, would have been devastated. Yet, Aaron remained unswerving, standing in the door of the Tabernacle of Meeting while the charred bodies of his boys passed. He was forbidden to uncover his head or tear his clothes lest he die and bring wrath upon the people.

As a parent, I can only imagine his heart; the thoughts that pummeled through his very soul. "No mourning, or I'll die?" "What's left?" ""My boys are gone!" Not one child, but two, consumed by Holy Fire! In those heightened moments, Aaron had the burden of the Israelites' future, once again. Yet the Bible tells us that Aaron was speechless.

The once-presumptuous, man-pleasing Aaron had become a cautious, God-seeking priest. His ambitions had become conviction. His uncertainty was gone and he understood his position as a leader. He was able to look past his needs and lead his people toward the LORD. Today Aaron would stand. Today Aaron would purpose it in his heart to please the LORD - whatever the cost.

Tina came to Christ as a young adult. She is a lady who loves the Lord with her whole heart, soul, and mind.

"Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction." Psalm 119:92

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"Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." Matthew 15:10-11

Blushing Pears

1 (1 lb 13 oz.) can pear halves, drained

1 (4 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained

2 tablespoons chopped maraschino cherries

Blend cream cheese, pecans, pineapple, and cherries together. Fill pear halves. Arrange on decorative plate. Cover and chill overnight. Serve on saucer.

Orange Smoothie

2 cups orange juice

1 ripe banana

1 navel orange (juice oranges have a lot of seeds and pith)

4 oz. vanilla yogurt

1 1/2 cup ice

Cut banana into 1" pieces. Place in bottom of blender. Peel orange and slice into quarters. Add to blender. Add yogurt and ice. Blend at slow speed first, then high speed for about 30 seconds or until ice is completely chopped.

To extend the life of your fresh flowers, be sure to cut the stem on a slant. Place bulb flowers in cold water immediately. Daffodils prefer to be in a vase alone. For more tips, check out this web page: http://www.plantea.com/cutflowers.htm

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

In This Issue

Letter From The Editor

Letter from the Editor...

Dear Folks,

IN THIS ISSUE

GRANDMOTHER'S SCRAPBOOK

HOME SCHOOL TIPS

THOUGHT PROVOKERS

RECIPE CORNER

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Thank you and God bless you!