where were you?

Commercials are pretty captivating these days, and sometimes really funny. Marketing is getting so sophisticated..... There are so many things that seem appealing...... How does one choose?

But if we take time to look around us, with naked eye and aided eye (microscope and telescope) we get the idea that God's creation is too expansive to comprehend.

^{Job 38}: ⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
⁵ Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
⁶ On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
⁷ while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

^{Psalm 8:3} When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
⁵ You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.

If commercials seem to be intruding too much on your "mind space"....let it meditate on the words God's revelation .

Thank you, God, for revealing Yourself in marvelous ways to those who seek you.

Pina Colada Slaw with Coconut Oil Mayo

The days are coming where we will be bombarded with sugar-laden goodies. This is may help to balance your diet--but you may just love it as much as the other goodies.

I made jicama coleslaw with extra virgin coconut oil mayo and it was REALLY tasty! If you haven't discovered the "Miracle of Coconut Oil", then this recipe might be reason enough to switch to a much healthier oil.

Pina Colada Slaw
1 15 oz can crushed pineapple (drained well, save juice for something else)
1 small-med jicama peeled & shredded
1 small-med green cabbage shredded
1/3 - 1/2 c. coconut oil mayo (you choose the amount according to taste)

Coconut Oil Mayo
1 large raw organic egg
1 T. apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. paprika
1- 1 1/4 c. coconut oil

Blend 1st 4 ingredients in blender. On med speed, slowly add coconut oil in a very small and slow stream until all has been added. Your mayo should be thickened with a slightly more color than the commercial kind.

If you like the flavor of coconut, then use virgin coconut oil. If you want a neutral taste, then regular expelled coconut oil works well. Either way, the health benefits are the same.

Yes, you heard me right. The health benefits are exciting. Coconut oil got a bad rap for a long time.....Why? Coconuts don't grow in the US, and well, soybean farmers had to create a market....long story, but worth looking into.

May the food that God gives provide energy to the body, and the Spirit of God energize your soul.

littlemazza

Would like to take some time to express my gratitude to the Pastor-Teachers in my life who have so faithfully studied and taught the Word of God.

News reports focus our attention on American citizens who are looking to politics to find solutions to the many ills that threaten the strength of our country. But those of us, who treasure a doctrinal knowledge of God, can be living, invisible heroes, and by their actions demonstrate that it is "In God We Trust". We will not allow a plethora of information and distractions to blur our focus on God's unfailing truth. It is by seeking God's unfailing truth that He reveals His unfailing love.

Please pray for current doctrinal pastor-teachers; that the Lord would sustain them, encourage them; and give them confidence.--that they may continue to teach God's word to us May the ministries of these men encourage other young men; who have the gift, to follow the good example that has been set.

May they learn what it is to be properly prepared, just as Paul said in 2 Timothy 1: ¹³ "What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."

The following is an exerpt for the Preface of Lewis S. Chafer's Systematic Theology.

No substitute will ever be found for the knowledge of the Word of God. That Word alone deals with things eternal and infinite, and it alone has power to convert the soul and to develop a God-honoring spir­itual life. There is a limitless yet hidden spiritual content within the Bible which contributes much to its supernatural character. This spir­itual content is never discerned by the natural (yuxikoj) or unregen­erate man (1 Cor. 2:14), even though he has attained to the highest degree of learning or ecclesiastical authority. The natural capacities of the human mind do not function in the realm of spiritual things. The divine message is presented “not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13), and the Spirit has been given to the re­generate that they might “know the things that are freely given to us of God.” When, on the ground of scholarship, unregenerate men have been permitted to dictate to the church what she shall believe, she has descended from her supernatural character to the level of a human in­stitution, and it is safe to conclude that men are unregenerate who deny the only ground upon which a soul may be saved.

Acquiring the knowledge of the spiritual content of the Bible is a life task. The great preachers who have moved the hearts of men with di­vine power have been saturated with Bible truths secured through a first-hand, daily study of its text. General facts of human learning may be acquired by the usual means, but spiritual truths are apprehended only as taught to the individual heart by the Spirit.

Christmas Morning 2008

It was such blessing to have lots of family with us this year at Christmastime. This picture was taken on our lanai on Christmas morning. Seated you see my mother, daughter, and 27-month-old grandson.

It was also very special to share with our daughter and son-in-law what they have been learning in their church in New York City. Thanks to the internet, we were able to listen to the lessons taught by their pastor on line.

Nathan really loves being at Grandma/Grandpa's house; I think he especially appreciates the ability to go outside and run around in the back yard. He loves helping Grandpa water the plants in the back yard, too. He likes going to the beach; not particularly for the water, but for building "sand" towers and knocking them down. He also likes riding in "Papa's Truck".

Merry Christmas to you all, Little Mazza

I am so proud of my neice, serving as a missionary assistant in Ethiopia. She's been able to publish several posts about her experiences there. So please, if you have time, check out what she has to share at staciainethiopia.blogspot.com.

Can you guess how old? I had a great birthday last Sunday.
Thank you, Bob, Mazza, and Papa John.

Birthday lunch at Todai

A fresh start

I had a few of my co-workers ask me what my "New Year's Resolution" was. I had to frankly tell them that if I were to try to make a resolution, I would ultimately fail. Romans 7:15 It was a great opportunity to give a short testimony; giving credit to my Lord for giving me a new life in Him.

But yes, I love January and February; because it is a great time for getting things cleaned up and organized for the new year. 1 Corinthians 14:40 "Let all things be done decently and in order."

It feels great to take some time to weed out, purge, and reorganize. At this time when we start a new year, our thoughts should turn to what Scripture tells us about living in newness of life in Him. Through the Holy Spirit, we can master the details of life, and not allow details of life to rule over us. Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires, 6:13 and do not present your members to sin as instruments ¹⁰ to be used for unrighteousness, ¹¹ but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments ¹² to be used for righteousness. 6:14 For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.

The real dynamic of our lives is doing all that we do as unto the Lord, in the power of the Spirit, Galatians 5:25 Ephesians 5:18. What a difference it makes in our mental attitude to know that
we rely upon His Spirit to accomplish His will. No longer do we trust in our own strength. Living in the power of the Spirit produces divine good, that will not be considered as wood, hay, and stubble; but gold, silver and precious stone.

And it all starts at the point we use 1 John 1:9. What a wonderful provision, God is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Every day can be like a new year, with a fresh start.

Thank you Mom and Papa John for the file cabinets, shelf, and drawer. You are a blessing!

Love, Little Mazza

Going through testing?

Good morning, isn't it wonderful to start a new day? May this new day be filled with praise to our Lord; but if you feel the stress, it is an opportunity to allow the Lord to turn cursing into blessing.

Look at all that God revealed to Job after his time of testing. Job 38-39

Learning about my creator and details of His creation has been a wonderful addition to my thinking, and thus my love response to HIM in recent years.

Little Mazza

There is no neutral ground

Do you belong to the God of the Universe? Does he occupy your thinking, your being, your love?

Then you might become more aware of bold attempts to counterfeit God's plan.

Here's only one current example--
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/smith-oprah.htm

Hasn't God already told us that Satan is highly intelligent, Ezekiel 28:12? We have been told what Satan said he would attempt to do. Isaiah 14:13

My prayer today: That we (Christians) would not be caught off guard; that we would rely on the POWER of the Word to guide and strengthen our minds. 1 Peter 5:8-9 and oh, yes, go ahead and read verse 10, too. May your soul be singing songs of victory that are the LORD's.

Little Mazza

All dressed up for the Spring Banquet