Praise

Zechariah 11:4-17
Psalms 120, 121, 122, 123
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Luke 18:31-43

What has God given me? For what can I be thankful and praise him. Plenty.

Macaroons and do not be pompous.

Malachi 3:13-4:6
Psalms 107:33-43, 108
James 5:13-20
Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:9-14

After this reading it is difficult to say anything except help me Lord.

Today I made some macaroons. Here is my variation of the recipe.

5ozs ground almonds (almond meal)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg white
about 1/4 cup buttermilk

Mix the almonds and powdered sugar until well blended. I used a wooden spoon. add the egg white and gradually add the buttermilk. Do not let the mixture get soon soggy.
Grease a baking tray and spoon the mixture into dessert spoon piles. Bake at 425 deg F for about 15minutes but check frequently to make sure that they do not burn. Take off the tray immediately.

Soap Powder

Malachi 3:1-12
Psalm 102
James 5:7-12
Luke 18:1-8

Malachi 3:1-12

Laundry powder or liquid, what is your preference? I am a liquid person, preferably eco-friendly. My socks get bundled into the washing machine swished around with in a wet and soapy environment, pressed by centrifugal forces against the side of the drum, rinsed and squeezed again and then hopefully emerge in a cleaner and less smelly state than they entered the washing machine. Forget the soap and the outcome is not so pleasant, not half so acceptable to garb a freshly showered foot.
So I suppose the moral of this is to want God to work on us as soap on a sock.

Apple Mist (Snow)

An almost healthy dessert.
About 1 lb of apples
1 egg white
sugar to taste

Core and slice the apples. If you like you can peel them before you slice them.
Cook the apples gently with a little water until they are soft. Mash them.
Whip the egg white until it is firm. Fold it into the apples whilst they are still warm and return to the stove of a minute or two to slightly cook the egg white. Taste and add sugar if necessary.

This is another of Auntie Clem's recipes.

Mists

Malachi 2:10-16
Psalm 105:1-22
James 4:13-5:6
Luke 17:20-37

James 4:13-5:6

The road from Katy to crosses the Colorado River many times. Early in the morning the mist lingers over the river hovering in wisps above the watery bed wistfully lingering for a few more moments before rising for the day. The river wends its way through the sandy banks and caressing the diminishing treasure until it is released to the morning sun.
We are the mist lingering on earth as long as we can before being dried up and absorbed by the warmth of God's love.
Let us share God's love whilst we can.


Image source
Easton Maudit in the early morning mist. Picture by R Neil Marshman (c)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/MauditIn_Mist.JPG
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".

Come and Give the Best

Malachi 1:1, 6-14
Psalm 101, 109
James 3:13-4:12
Luke 17:11-19

Today two thoughts, perhaps making up for the time when I have been otherwise occupied with my substituting.

James 3:13-4:12

Come, Come near to God.
The sun is shinning, the dew is drying, the weather is not oppressively hot. I worked for 23 days and can spend time catching up on the rest of my life. God is indeed good. He gave us money to fix our house in the aftermath of Ike and we are fairly sure he is providing us with a rental car to drive to Illinois for Thanksgiving. But here I am mentioning material comforts again. The greatest gift that God has given me is the example and companionship of Jesus. This is what I should be shouting about. The peace of knowing that whatever happens, when the neighbors sue because they do not like the yard and the hurricane hits and the cars get old and so does the job he is there, just there. Not necessarily with a material benefit but with his presence and comfort which is beyond description.

Malachi 1:1, 6-14
Give God the best.
I have left the Advent book to the last few days. It cannot be compiled and printed by Thanksgiving in time for Advent Sunday. I might have excuses but I have also had time that I could have spent working on the book.
In all things give one's best to God for it is a gift from Him to be used wisely.

Psalm 70, 71
Revelation 16:12-21
Luke 13:18-31


Luke 13:18-31

Do I know Jesus? Is he my friend?

144 000

Psalm 56, 57, 58
Revelation 14:1-13
Luke 12:49-59

Revelation 14:1-13

Perhaps this appeals to me because I am a numbers person. The irony or Godinstance is that I was talking to another member of our Sunday School class yesterday and he mentioned this passage, the numbers in particular. Our conclusion was that we cannot get our brains around the number, how that many people will be chosen to live on earth, or a special place in heaven, or indeed comprehend what is going to happen to us on that day that Jesus returns to earth or we day- whichever comes first. Our conclusion was that all we can do is live our life guided by God, sharing his love to all whom we meet.