Whose Side is God On?

This morning my devotion was on 2 Chronicles 15:1-15 "Asa's Reform". It touched my heart, so I thought I would share it with yal.

Abraham Lincoln's words (pictured above) paraphrase the thoughts of Azariah expressed to King Asa of Judah. After the Spirit of God came upon Azariah, he said, "The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you" (2 Chronicles 15:2).

Throughout history, people have done despicable deeds while boldly claiming that God was on their side, but being a Christian doesn't guarantee that God is "on our side" any more than being an ancient Israelite guaranteed that God was on theirs (Isaiah 3:14-15). God is on the side of those who are on His side-who know His heart and mind and do His will-not those who insist on convincing God and others that their way is right.

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord indicated that He sides with the oppressed (Isaiah 58:6-7,10). 

For Christians, that means it is right to be on the side of those who are being wronged.

Instead of jumping into a situation with the presumption that God is on our side, we need to be certain that WE are on HIS SIDE!

It's dangerous to mistake our wishes for God's will.

Red Velvet Bundt Cake w/ Cream Cheese Icing

This cake was absolutely delicious. I am not even a huge fan of red velvet & I loved it. The cream cheese icing is just perfect as well.

 Ingredients

Red Velvet Cake

•                2 1/2 cups flour

•                2 cups white sugar

•                1 cup vegetable oil

•                1 teaspoon baking soda

•                1 teaspoon salt

•                3 Tablespoons cocoa powder

•                1 Tablespoons white vinegar

•                1 teaspoon vanilla extract

•                2 eggs

•                1 cup buttermilk (OR 1 c. milk + 1 T. vinegar)

•                1 oz. red food coloring

Cream Cheese Frosting

•                1 8 oz. package cream cheese

•                1/2 cup unsalted butter

•                4 cups confectioners' sugar

•                1 teaspoon vanilla extract

•                approx. 1/4 cup milk

Instructions

Red Velvet Cake

•                Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a Bundt pan really well. In a medium bowl, mix eggs with a wire whisk. Add oil, vinegar, vanilla, buttermilk and food coloring. Whisk together and set aside.

•                In a large mixing bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients and mix on medium high until combined. Bake for 50-55 minutes.

 Cream Cheese Frosting

Let cream cheese and butter sit in mixing bowl until softened. Mix together. Add sugar, vanilla and milk. Pour over cooled cake. 

Since it has been a couple weeks since I've written anything, I have a couple books to tell yal about.

I wish I could give The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven a better review, but I just did NOT enjoy it. I thought I would enjoy it because I LOVED 90 Minutes in Heaven and Heaven is For Real, but it just did not measure up.

For the most part, it is written by Kevin Malarkey (Alex's father) with only tiny excerpts from Alex. The main problem I had with this book was the parts that were supposedly written by Alex, were NOT written the way a small child would write or talk. I also did not like how Alex made comparisons between 90 Minutes in Heaven to his personal experience.

In conclusion, stay away from this book, however, I highly recommend 90 Minutes in Heaven & Heaven is For Real!! 

31 Dates in 31 Days is also a book that didn't peak my interest once I got into the book. The excerpt I read seemed so interesting that I even PAID for the book. It was boring & dragged on and on and on and on. I will say I am not sure if I didn't like it because I am not in the dating world anymore & have been out of it for about 3.5 years. 

I do commend the author on the idea of the book & the idea of bettering yourself, but it just feel short for me.

Now to the book I do RECOMMEND! :)

I am LOVING Heaven by Randy Alcorn right now. I am only about 30% done (it's very long), but it is AMAZING. I love how Randy backs everything up with scripture & he really helps you to understand everything we need to know about Heaven and what the Bible tells us about Heaven. I also love how he says what some people believe as well as what he, himself believes. He does not push his ideas on you, just gives you the facts. 

I have always been so excited to be with God in Heaven and now I am so excited to see all the amazing surprises God has for us in Heaven.

I have already learned so many facts that I did not know previously.

This book is a MUST READ!!!!

Jason & I have been so busy lately (good busy)! This past weekend we were able to spend some time with our dear friends, Jody & Gary MacDonald. Gary leaves for Shanghai China for a project on Wednesday. He will be gone approximately 1 month. Keep him in your prayers as he travels to a foreign country and also for Jody that she will be able to stay busy & not worry while her hubby is away.

This coming Friday we will be attending Married Life Live at Shandon Baptist Church (our church home). We are both extremely excited as this will be our first seminar as a married couple & at our new church home, SBC. We can not wait to see what God has in store for us, the people he is putting in our lives and the knowledge that he is graciously giving us.

My birthday is in a couple weeks, Sept. 9!!! lol Mark your calendars! We aren't even going to talk about how old I am going to be. Granny is coming from MS!! YAYYYYY Best birthday present ever! I love when she comes to visit. There are always so many things I want to show her and I feel like I finally am more familiar with Columbia so I will be a much better tour guide than before. 

Gracie is spectacular, as always. She has been SO unusually sweet lately. I am not sure if she is getting sweeter with older age or it's just a phase, but whichever, I am so thankful. She makes me the happiest mommy.

Ok, well, I believe that is all I have to say for now. I hope yal have enjoyed it.

God is Calling, Ceramic Tile Flower Pots, & Butterfinger Rice Krispie Treats

"Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." Hebrews 4:7

There are several different instances at which we get multiple chances to be prepared for what we are about to face i.e. sports, driving tests, dating, college, etc., but when it comes to being ready for eternity, we won't get that kind of practice. No one knows when we will depart this earth through death or be called home at Jesus' return.

There have also been many false predictions about the date of Christ’s second coming - despite our Lord’s emphatic words: 

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36). 

Christ told His followers that instead of trying to predict the date of His return, they should “watch” (v.42) and “be ready” (v.44).

If you were called to eternity today, would you be prepared to meet God face-to-face? Have you opened your heart to Him (Hebrews 4:7)? Are your sins forgiven? Are you ready to go to Heaven?

God's call may be at any time-so be ready ALL the time.

 

Jason & I decided to do "Our First Pinterest Project" together. We both agreed upon a Ceramic Tile Flower pot. 

They were so much fun to make together, however, it did become a quite expensive project. Here is a great "How-To Guide".

I am currently reading Defending Jacob by William Landay. 

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.

I am thoroughly enjoying this book! It definitely has kept me intrigued the entire way through. It's a MUST READ FOR SURE!

BUTTERFINGER RICE KRISPIE TREATS

These are so quick, easy, and delicious. What's not to love?

Ingredients:

•               2 tablespoons butter

•               1 (10.5 ounce) package miniature marshmallows (about 4 cups)

•               ½ cup peanut butter (I used crunchy, but it is whatever you prefer)

•               5 cups Rice Krispies cereal

•               8 “Fun Sized” Butterfinger bars, crushed (about ½ cup)

You may want to set aside 2-3 butterfinger bars for garnishing the top, but again, personal preference.

Directions:

1.            In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2.            Stir in peanut butter until melted. Add Rice Krispies cereal and chopped Butterfingers; stir until well coated.

3.            Using a buttered spatula, evenly press mixture into a greased 9-inch by 9-inch square pan. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, then cut into squares.

Yield: 9-12 bars