Star Spangled Pie

Someone e-mailed this pie recipe to me, by: When The Dinner Bell Rings.
Great for a Patriotic Holiday.

STAR SPANGLED PIE
 
INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups Keebler® Chips Deluxe® Rainbow Bite Size cookies
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened*
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tub (8 oz.) frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1 Keebler® Ready Crust® Graham Pie Crust
Red, white and blue sprinkles

DIRECTIONS
1. Chop cookies. Set aside.
2. In small mixing bowl beat cream cheese on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and lemon juice. Beat until combined. Fold in cookies and whipped topping. 3. Spread in crust. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or until set. Garnish with sprinkles. Store in refrigerator.

What's It Like To Die?

I received the following from a friend of mine and wanted to share it with you. The author is unknown.

Years ago, a wise Christian mother explained it best.....
Her son developed a fatal disease. The disease progressed rapidly. At first he was unable to go to school. Then unable to go outside to plan and finally confined to his bed. One day the question his mother dreaded most came. “Mommy, what’s it like to die?” he asked. Though she’d prepared herself for that moment, but she couldn’t handle it when it came.  She left the room, and there in the bathroom she prayed for strength and wisdom. When she came back into the room she said, “Honey, remember when you were little and you would fall asleep in the car? The next morning when you woke up you would be in your own bed. Do you know how you got there? Your father came and lifted you up and gently carried you to your own bed in your own room. That’s what it’s like to die.”

A few months ago a dear Pastor friend of my husband and myself passed away after a long battle with cancer. He spent months preparing his congregation for his passing. Every time someone would ask him if he was afraid to die he would respond with, “How can you scare someone into heaven?”

He knew, and trusted the God he served. He knew that a place had been prepared for him after leaving this earth. He was confident in knowing that to depart from this body meant he would be at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

Jesus said in John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Dieing is just like this little boy...falling to sleep in one place and waking up in another. We don't need to fear the journey as long as we have made provision in advance.


We never know when our time will come to leave this earth. But we can know where we will spend eternity. It’s as easy as A. B. C.

A.   Admit you are a sinner.
"There is no one righteous, not even one ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:10,23. (See Romans 5:8; 6:23.)

Ask God's forgiveness.  "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."    Romans 10:13

B.   Believe in Jesus
(put your trust in Him) as your only hope of salvation.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (See John 14:6.)

    Become a child of God by receiving Christ.
    "To all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 (See Revelation 3:20.)

C.   Confess that Jesus is your Lord.
"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (See verse 10.)

Prayer:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to You alone and not to myself.

Thank You Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

If you have questions concerning your eternal future or if you would like a Bible, please contact me at: Mckinleyclm@gmail.com or call Calvary Christian Center at 610-323-0380.

Weebles, Wobble

On Wednesday, April 11, I began a Bible study at our church, Calvary Christian Center. Our topic is the book of James from the New Testament Bible.

James has a lot to say about trials and how we can grow in the midst of them.

He starts his book with a somewhat strange statement:  "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (Some translations use the word patience.) James 1:2,3

I’m sure that not many of us put the words, pure joy and trials in the same sentence. Yet James wants us to know that it is possible.

When I hear the word, patience, the first thought that comes to my mind is waiting on or for something. However, the word patience really means: “To hold one’s ground in conflict, bear up against adversity, hold out under stress, persevere under pressure."
                                                                                        
Truly this is not a passive resignation to adverse circumstances, but a positive steadfastness that bravely endures. It is an active, strong, unshakable trust in God that finds it base in belief in the integrity of God’s character, His Word and His care.

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

That makes me think about a popular toy that came out in July of 1971. The Weebles, those roly-poly toys that were egg-shaped with a weight located in the bottom-center. The weight kept them standing. No matter how hard you tried to knock them over they would pop right back up. The popular saying for Weebles was: “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down.”

Jesus Christ is the weight within us that can keep us from being knocked down and destroyed. No matter how many difficult circumstances come our way. No matter how many times we feel as though we are being knocked off our feet we can still pop back up. Not in our own strength but in the strength that comes through the Lord.

Romans 5:3-5 tells us: "...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
We are constantly in a transformation process.
 
How thankful I am for a Heavenly Father who loves me so much that He will help me to hold my ground in conflict, to bear up against adversity, to be able to hold out under stress, and to persevere under pressure. In the midst of it all He gives me HOPE and does not disappoint me.

My prayer for you today.

Father God, I ask that you would bless those who read this blog. Help them to know and understand that you can give them joy, strength and HOPE in every situation they face in this life. I pray you would help them feel Your love in a tangible way today. In Jesus Name, Amen

If you would like to join our study on the book of James, I invite you to come on Wednesday nights to Calvary Christian Center located at 426 Laurelwood Road (beside the Coventry Mall/food court side). The class starts at 6:30pm and goes till 8pm. If you have any questions or would like prayer please feel free to call the church at 610-323-0480 or send a message to Mckinleyclm@gmail.com

Transition vs Transformation

I’m not sure I know many people who like change. In fact, a lot of people have difficulty with change at all. Whether we like it or not transitions come into our lives all the time.

The word transition means, ‘Passing from one place to another.’ It is a change that occurs on the outward. Like moving from one city to another, or getting married, having a baby, going off to college, etc.

There are a couple of ways transitions can come into our lives.
One way is by the personal choices we make.  We make choices every day...good and bad.

Another way is by the choices others make. These transitions are out of our control. And more times than not they come unexpected, uninvited, and unwanted. And there is nothing we can do about it.

Growing up my mother would always tell me, “The choices you make will not only affect you, Cindy, they also affect those around you.” It took me some time to realize the full impact of that statement. But how true it is.

Now, the word transformation means, “Total Change”. It’s a change that happens on the inside of us. It's like the transformation that takes place when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. What a beautiful out come!

I truly believe that God will use every transition that comes into our life to draw us closer to Him. That is, if we will allow them to. He does not cause bad things to happen, but He will use them to make us a stronger person who can bring glory to Him. He will take us through the process of being Totally Change for the better.

In 1999 something happened in our family that totally caught me off guard. In a matter of seconds my whole world was turned upside down. Not because of something I had done but because of a choice someone I love dearly made.

A transition that quickly moved me from one direction to another in a matter of seconds. For the next five years I found myself undergoing a deep transformation process. It was not easy! In fact it was one of the hardest things I have ever faced in my life.

Some things I have learned about Transitions and Transformation

1.  Transitions Will Come
Transitions are going to come, one way or another. They will altar our journey in a direction we may not wanted to travel.

2.  Transition Will Transform Us
We will be transformed by the transitions that come unto our life. However, what we are transformed into is up to us. We can choose to become bitter or better.

3.  We can always turn to God
2 Corinthians 1:3-4,  in the New Testament says:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles...

I can’t tell you how many times I read and re-read these verses. Turning to God caused me to trust Him more than ever before. Turning to Him not only gave me the comfort I needed each day but HOPE knowing that He was working in the situation.

4.  What’s on the inside will show up on the outside.
Some people can be read like a book just by looking at their faces. If our heart is filled with pain and suffering it will show up on our face. In the same way, if our heart is filled with joy, and peace that too will show up.

I pray for you today. No matter what transition has come into your life may you find the comfort, peace and HOPE that comes through Jesus Christ. May you run to Him and allow Him bring about a ‘total change’ in your life that will make you a better person, not a bitter person.

He Is Not Here!

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just a
s he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” 

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Matthew 28:1-15

May you and your family have a wonderful Resurrection Day!
Happy Easter

Seventy-Two Hours Before She Died

For the past seven weeks our congregation at Calvary Christian Center has been reading a devotional book called “Follow” (Learning To Follow Jesus) written by Daniel McNaughton and Bryan Koch.

During my reading this week Daniel shares an entry from his sister’s journal. Maralyn’s entry was written seventy-two hours before she died.

I want to share her entry with you.

Water is essential to life, and even though food will no longer propel down my throat, I’m still drinking. Amazingly, I don’t feel hungry ... but I am thirsty, and I’m drinking as much as I possibly can. Without divine intervention, I will get to heaven some time within the month.

These 18 months since my ALS diagnosis have been the worst and best of my life. Worst because of my deteriorating body ... best because of my relationship with Christ.

And I’m beginning to see my friendship with Jesus like water when I’m thirsty ... so essential to life. He is the real “living water” referred to in John 4:1-26.

I have many lovely friends, but I’ve never before known a Friend SO close. Everyday we have smiled, laughed, and cried together. And He has comforted me. I’ve asked His opinion, and He has nodded one way or the other. His close friendship has given me many new perspectives on this earthly life that I had never considered before. He’s been closer than my skin...

The only thing that makes me sad is realizing that this intimate friendship with Him has been available to me all throughout my life, and I never chose it until now. I missed it ... big-time! I guess I was always so busy with my lists, projects, plans and events that I was too occupied to be open to such an idea. Oh, I did my devotions, but so often because I knew I “should.” That’s a different thing. Now I long to be with Him, to feel His hug, to hear His voice, to see His smile. It’s so different.

Here’s a piece of motherly advice: Don’t wait until you have a terminal illness to seek a true friendship with Jesus. He’s ready! It takes setting aside some less important things. It takes listening. It takes openness. But it’s so worth it! I hop you become literally thirsty for Jesus.

Soon I’ll be in heaven, and it will be great to see the scenery, gardens and mansions. It will be great to hear the singing and see what’s on the banquet tables. BUT! I can tell you, the thing I’m most looking forward to is meeting my Best Friend face-to-face for the very first time. I’m trying to imagine the thrill...

Maralyn passed away on January 4, 2009. She had Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Maralyn’s journal entry was full of HOPE because she knew what awaited her on the other side of this life.

My heart was challenged as I read that day. For it’s easy to busy one’s self with list, projects, plans and events and miss it big-time.

I pray for you today and leave you with Maralyn’s motherly advice: “Don’t wait until you have a terminal illness to seek a true friendship with Jesus. He’s ready! It takes setting aside some less important things. It takes listening. It takes openness. But it’s so worth it! I hop you become literally thirsty for Jesus.”

Choose Your Battles

As our boys were growing up we, like all parents, faced challenges during the teen years. By the time our youngest son became a teenager I had learned to choose my battles. Getting stressed out over green hair just wasn’t worth it. People would ask me a lot, “Doesn’t it bother you that his hair looks like that?” I would smile and say, “It’s just hair and I know next week will be a different color.” And it was.

Everyday can be a fight for something or with someone if we choose. We can learn to choose our battles wisely, and fight for the things worth fighting for.

The truth is there are some things and some people we will never be able to change.  God has given each person a free will, the ability to choose between what is right and wrong. I am reminded of another situation our family was facing several years ago. I did everything I knew to do to try to fix the problem. No matter what I did it only got worse. There came a day that I reached the end of my rope and realized their was nothing I could do that would change the situation. It was at that moment I was reminded of a verse in the Bible.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...” Ephesians 6:12

Slowly, I began to give this situation to God in prayer. Things didn’t change over night, but change did come over time. Not only in the situation but I changed in the process.  Because I knew this was a battle I wasn’t going to win on my own.

It doesn’t matter what you are facing today. God is able to bring peace to your heart in the midst of it. Ask Him to help you to choose your battles and to give you strength as you walk your journey. Remember, it takes a long time to turn a battleship around but in time it will eventually be going in a new direction.

My prayer for you today:

Father God, I ask that You would help each person who reads this blog. Help us all to understand as we face life’s challenges that there is an unseen spiritual war going on and that our real battles are not with people but against the enemy of our souls. Send your Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom to know what issues are worth fighting for; help us to walk away from meaningless battles; and remind us that the best way to win the battles in our life is on our knees in prayer. Help us Father, to surrender all to You today and choose to put our hope in You. In Jesus Name, Amen.