Grace And Love Intertwined

“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins!Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me.‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers.What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord

Mark The Servant's Gospel Lesson 6 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you  hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’For laying aside the commandment of

Acts Chapter 21 Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered

Cajun Wild Rice Rating: 4.43 stars     This is a Cajun-inspired gourmet wild rice dish that I created. It's quick and easy, and can even be cooked unattended in a rice cooker! By JOSH MOBLEY Prep: 10 mins Cook: 45 mins Total: 55 mins 1 cup uncooked wild rice 1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth ¼ cup water ½ pound andouille sausage, diced ½ cup diced sweet onion 1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup Directions Step 1 In a saucepan, combine the wild rice, chicken broth, water, sausage, onion, mushrooms and garlic. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until rice is tender. Remove from the heat, and stir in the cream of mushroom soup. It's that easy! ADVERTISEMENT © Copyright 2020 allrecipes.com. All rights reserved.  This rice dish is delish! Cajun Wild Rice

                          Sermon                            The Rapture  In the popular  Left Behind movie Christians are secretly, silently taken up to heaven while the rest of humanity is left behind to face the seven years of tribulation. But does the Bible support this? No.  1. First the rapture is not silent  The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And those who have died believing in Christ will rise first.After that, we who are still alive will be gathered up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever. - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Thessalonians4:16-17&version=NCV 2. Everyone will see Jesus when He returns  Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. - Revelation 1:7 http://www.bib

                                                            Mark The Servant's                                                            Gospel Lesson 5 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feetand begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”Immediately the fountain of her blood was d

                              Acts Chapter 20 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas.But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.And in a window

                              Spiritual Disciplines                               Fasting  “Moreover,  when you fast, do not be like the  hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.But you, when you fast,  anoint your head and wash your face,so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you  openly. - Matthew 6:16-18 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew6:16-18&version=NKJV Don't fast to seek attention. But to draw closer to God and please Him.  ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day,

                                                                    Sermon                                                                     Saving Faith But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. - Hebrews 10:39 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews10:39&version=NKJV Let's be of those who have saving faith not of those who draw back, who have evil hearts of unbelief departing from the living God (Hebrews 3:13). By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. - Hebrews 11:7 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews11:7&version=NKJV Look at Noah's saving faith.  This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. - Genesis 6:9 http://www.biblegateway.com/pa

                          Mark The Servant's Gospel                            Lesson 4 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds  of the air came and devoured it.Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no  crop.But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”And He said to them, “He who has ears t

                              Acts Chapter 19 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some discipleshe said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.Now the men were about twelve in all.And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.But when some were hardened and did n

                                              Spiritual Disciplines                                              Solitude and Prayer “And when you pray, you shall not be like the  hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.But you, when you pray,  go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you  openly.And when you pray,  do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.  For they think that they will be heard for their many words.“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father  knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.In this  manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your  name.Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth  as it is in heaven.Give us this day our  daily bread.And  forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors

Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies Rating: 4.34 stars     These cookies can be crisp, or chewy. If you want them crisp, leave out the eggs in the recipe. By SANDI Servings: 18 Yield: 3 dozen Ingredients 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup shortening 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons hot water 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 2 eggs   Directions Step 1 Mix sugars, peanut butter, and shortening. Add baking soda to the hot water. Add to mixture. Stir well. Step 2 Stir in the eggs. Add the flour. Roll dough into balls. Step 3 Place balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Press with fork dipped in water to make criss-cross design. Bake at 350 - 375 degrees F (175 - 190 degrees C) for about 8-10 minutes. Partner Tip Reynolds® parchment can be used for easier cleanup/removal from the pan. Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 345.5 calories; 6.1 g protein; 39.2 g carbohydrates; 20.7 mg cholesterol; 147.3 mg sodium. © Copyright 2020 allrecipes.com.  These cookies are so delicious you ca

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                              Sermon:                               Events Surrounding                                Jesus' Death  “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is,  “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”And Jesus cried out again wi

                                                            Mark The Servant's                                                            Gospel Lesson 3 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.”Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. - Mark 3:1-6 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark3:1-6&version=NKJV The Pharisees hearts were hard toward Jesus. Jesus healed a m

                                                         Acts Chapter 18 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.Then Crispus, the rul

                          Giving and Serving  “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.Therefore,  when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret  will Himself reward you  openly. - Matthew 6:1-4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew6:1-4&version=NKJV If we seek praise from men, then that's all the reward we'll get for our giving. But if we give in secret, God will reward us. Seeking praise from men leads to spiritual demise. Giving in secret leads to God's pleasure in us.  Giving and Serving

Ultimate Chicken Fingers Prep 20 MIN Total 34 MIN Servings 4 Hide Ultimate Chicken Fingers Ingredients 2/3 cup Original Bisquick™ mix 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon salt or garlic salt 1/2 teaspoon paprika 3 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips 1 egg, slightly beaten 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted Steps 1 Heat oven to 450°F. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray. 2 Mix Bisquick mix, cheese, salt and paprika in 1-gallon resealable plastic food-storage bag. Dip half the chicken strips into egg; place in bag of Bisquick mixture. Seal bag; shake to coat. Place chicken on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken. Drizzle butter over chicken. 3 Bake 12 to 14 minutes, turning after 6 minutes with pancake turner, until no longer pink in center. Show Expert Tips Show Nutrition Information © 2020 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved Ultimate Chicken Fingers

                                  Sermon: Racism  Racism. Such an ugly word and an even uglier, sinful attitude. Racism says one race is superior to all others. This is a great evil that leads to hate crimes and even murder.  1. God created us in His image (Genesis 1:26) 2. God made one race, the human race and different skin colors from the human race (Acts 17:26) 3. God is not racist (Acts 10:34-35) 4. Racism is a sin (James 2:1, 8-9) 5. Jesus tasted death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9) 6. All distinctoins broken down in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13) Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. - 1 John 3:15 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John3:15&version=NKJV And think on this. Racism is hatred towards others of a different skin color. Hatred is murder in the heart and no murderers will enter heaven.  Lesson: value every human being. 

                              Mark The Servant's                               Gospel  Lesson 2 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. - Mark 1:21-28 http://www.biblegateway.com/p