Can I find "GRACE" in Christmas Music

I'm sitting at my desk listening to some of my favorite music in my iTunes library, Christmas music. I'll admit, I listen to it all year long whenever I feel the mood come on. I should also admit that at this moment I'm not listening to the nice religious Christmas music...Ella is bellowing out "Good Morning Blues". Please don't hold that against me.

However, as I was listening to Ella sing, (I do have sacred music in the lineup, that I listened to earlier) the message topic for the past few Sundays came to mind - "GRACE". Our Bishop has been preaching on Grace since November 20, and other of our ministers have tried piggyback on the topic. I have to say, what better time to speak on such a topic than during the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The story of Grace is best understood through the "Christmas story". And if I may add, when people use "X" instead of "Christ" it feels like they have played into the intention of the devil to totally X God's love out of the greatest story ever told. Without CHRIST in Christmas, GRACE becomes silent...we could even say absent.

So when I hear my Christmas music, whether secular or sacred, I can't help but know that without Christ there would never be a Christmas. Without Christ, grace would be the hardest thing to comprehend. It just would never add up in our minds. How would we relate Grace? What proof would we have that it exist?

If it were not for Christ, the fat dud in the red suit would never get any play time, the snow man would never grace Christmas cards, and that little famous reindeer would have never made it to our tvs each year. While Santa is supposed to be the guy who gives gifts every year, teaching our kids that they never have to thank their parents, it is Christ's life that has given the gift that keeps on giving. Thank God for His grace!

So even while Ella sings Merry Christmas to me, I can hear a more beautiful song playing...a song about God's grace.

Assistant Pastor, Mel Perry

Celebrating A Time of Thanksgiving

Most of us can all ready taste the Thanksgiving feast that will be spread across our American tables this Thursday. In fact some people have already began to plan out the menu - on what day they will cook this or that, the best place to pick up this item, what china set they will use this year, and the list goes on and on.

But how much time will be spent in true thanksgiving unto God who has made all of this possible? Will we speed through grace because our mouth is watering from the smell of the dressing and greens? Will we be able to forgo, just for one day, spending our prayer time "asking God for" and decide that today I want to "thank God for"?

I remember my days in private school. I loved the last day of school before the Thanksgiving holiday. Of course we would have our little Thanksgiving party, which meant no class work for the day. But there was something special about hearing stories about the Pilgrims. Being a very mentally visual kid, I would allow my mind to paint a moving picture of what life must have been like for both the Native Americans and the Pilgrims as the later struggled to survive in their new home and the former tried to learn how to live with these new inhabitants and all of their "baggage".

In all of the death, cold, hunger, diseases, and only God know what else, they all came together for a time to celebrate God's provision in their lives. In all of the hardship, they found a way to be THANKFUL.

This week as we prepare for Thanksgiving Day, let us remember it's not what we have or don't have, it's about God's goodness throughout our lives. For some, Thanksgiving is about getting their grub on and Black Friday shopping. But as believers, it should be about celebrating God's mercy and grace over the course of another year.

So if you open your eyes on Thursday, November 24, make being Thankful your top priority of the day.

Have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving week!


Pastor Mel 

Whatever it takes

We are just a few days away from the beginning of a new holiday season. I'm sure many people have already began to make mental preparations for next Thursday's Thanksgiving dinner. And some may already be making plans for Black Friday.

Speaking of Black Friday, several retailers have made some major changes so that they can ensure to dig deep into the pockets of the consumer. If you haven't heard the big news, here it is - Black Friday this year begins at midnight for most of our favorite stores. That's right, you don't have to wake up at 3am to stand at the end of the line. You get to set up your spot at 3pm after dinner with your portable tv and watch the football game while waiting for the doors to open at the strike of midnight.

It's amazing how the retailers will do whatever it takes to get our money! It's doubly amazing how we get excited about giving them our money...money that could probably be used for better purposes. WHATEVER IT TAKES!


What about the church? Are we willing to do whatever it takes to reach souls for the Kingdom of God? Will we find joy in the inconvenience in order to snatch souls out of the flames of hell? I have to wonder how many shoppers will see waiting in line for 6 or more hours to buy a toy as inconvenient? A toy that will soon be forgotten about hours after the excitement on Christmas day.

As we enter the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, let's remember the true reasons of our celebration. Let us make it our joy to share with others the Greatest Story ever told. Let us do our part in changing lives for the Kingdom.

Mel - Assistant Pastor

Looking Ahead

I truly pray that this time of prayer and fasting has been enriching to your spirit. Many churches go through a time of consecration in the new year. For some it's a ritual they would rather skip over, some a way to kick start their healthy year resolution that they will soon forsake. But I believe that for many it is truly a time to present themselves to God as an offering to be sacrificed for His glory and purpose.

Though this year's fast was only 14 days, I believe the corporate prayer added weight in truly bring a local assembly together to seek God collectively that we may also reap individually. While the numbers may have been disappointing at times, the realization is that everyone will not go after God. Even in scriptures we see where there was often a person or a group of people who were content in the status quo or refused to follow the simple plan of God in order to enjoy the corporate blessing. But the season of waiting on others to join in the "work" so that we can enjoy the harvest is over. In this season, those who wait will miss out, but those who yield to God will reap a great harvest.

I'm waiting to see what shall unfold for us...the foundation has been laid. As we continue, we can't stop and expect to see the completion, I believe that the end result will blow our minds and overwhelm our hearts. So let's keep the harvest in sight, our hands to the plow and our ears to the lips of God. What He has for us is out of this world.

WHAT SHALL WE EAT

Healthy Pasta

• 12 ounces (4 cups) multigrain penne
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 10 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 3 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 large red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Cook the pasta.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes.

Stir in the garlic, zucchini, red pepper, and vinegar and cook until tender, 3 to 4 minutes more.

Add the cooked pasta and toss to combine. Divide among individual bowls.

MEAL IDEAS:

1. Grilled veggie (your favorite) soft tacos. Add black beans for protein, avocados or guacamole for healthy fat, and lettuce for added crunchiness.

2. Sweet potato fries. Julian a couple sweet potatoes, spray with olive oil pam or brush with olive oil and cook them in the oven until tender but slightly crisp.

3. Taco salad - make chips with corn tortillas. Top with green leave lettuce corn (grilled for more flavor), grilled portabella mushrooms, black beans, tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, and oil and lime juice for dressing. Season if needed.

Even though the fast has come to an end, let's try to maintain healthy eating. After Daniel and his 3 companions prove that eating natural, as God had instructed them, was better for the body. Junk food may be fun, but let it not become our norm.

Until next year...

Blessings!!!

Mel

It's Not the End, But the Beginning

As we near the close of the beginning of what God desires to do for us, we must be wise to know that the enemy will do his best to distract us. We should not be surprised when he sends oppositions from the outside, disagreements and offenses from the inside, doubt and fear and the list goes on. But we must hold strong to what we have received and what we are believing God to do. Our faith, commitment, faithfulness and love is what is going to help us to witness live in the promise that God has for us in 2011. Let's grab a hold of His hand and not look back!

THE VICTORY IS OURS FOR GOD'S GLORY!

Blessings!!!

Mel

ON TO THE FOOD:

Sweet Potato Tacos

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 cups canned kidney beans, drained
• 2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 4 teaspoons prepared mustard
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 4 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
• 12 corn tortilla, warmed

• (After the fast 8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat oil in a medium skillet, and saute onion and garlic until soft. Stir in beans, and mash. Gradually stir in water, and heat until warm. Remove from heat, and stir in the chili powder, cumin, mustard, cayenne pepper. Divide bean mixture and mashed sweet potatoes evenly between the warm corn tortillas.

MUSHROOM BARLY SOUP

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup diced carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 3/4 cup barley
• season to taste (Natures Season or pepper and sea salt)

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic; cook and stir until onions are tender and transparent. Stir in mushrooms and continue to cook for a few minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and add barley. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until barley is tender, about 50 minutes. Season before serving.

SIMI- GREEK PASTA

• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes
• 1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 10 ounces fresh spinach, washed and chopped
• 8 ounces penne wheat pasta

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water (add a table spoon of olive oil to water for tender pasta). Meanwhile, combine tomatoes and beans in a large non-stick skillet. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.

Add spinach to the sauce; cook for 2 minutes or until spinach wilts, stirring constantly.

Serve sauce over pasta. After the fast try sprinkle with feta.

Words of Wisdom

Proverbs 3:1- 10 - 1My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your pathsstraight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

TODAY'S RECIPE:

Corn Soup

6 ears corn (cut off the cob)
6 medium-large red potatoes (chopped in 1/2 inch pieces)
6 carrots (finely chopped)
1 medium-large onion (finely chopped)
2 green peppers (finely chopped)
2 bay leaves
3 teaspoons thyme
2 teaspoons marjoram
3 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons pepper
3 32oz. boxes of vegetable broth
Water, as necessary

Put vegetables and spices in a large soup pot. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Add broth and maintain a light boil. Cook 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from heat. Blend 3/4 of the soup mixture in a blender in batches. Put blended soup in a large bowl or container until the blending process is complete. Pour the blended soup back into the pot. Add water to thin and obtain the desired consistency. Heat through and serve.

Blessings!!!

Mel

God's Will Is Always Perfect

Even though our fast is nearly over, the purpose of the fast is not. And it will take more prayer and fasting from us to see that purpose come to pass and continue in our live. The purpose...God's will to be fulfilled. Our lives are to be lived out fulfilling God's will.

The only will that God will accept is His. Why? Because His is the only one that is perfect and acceptable. Our will may have good intentions, but it is not perfect or acceptable. While there are people who have incorrectly created a second will of God called the permissive will, God has not.

First, we must remember God never contradicts Himself. So if He had a permissive will it would go contrary to His perfect will. Secondly, the permissive is fancier way of saying "my will". In order to be in the "permissive" will I must first step out of the perfect will and do my will. Then when my will does not work God accepts my will and make it His will and we continue on like nothing happened. But then we are back at the first point, God does not contradict Himself. If my will is not His will, then my will contradicts His. God never gives me permission to contradict His will. So the erroneous believe of a permissive will is in fact a lie the enemy wants us to believe so that we miss out on the benefits of God's wonderful perfect and acceptable will. Thirdly, in order to once again be in the will of God I must forsake my will and return to His perfect and acceptable will.

It is His grace that allows me to leave my will and come back to the will he had planned for me. But God never bows to my will and allow mine to trump His.

Throughout this year we must continue to rehearse God's will in our lives. There are going to be distractions that will try to lead us away from His. But if we keep in mind that the God's will is perfect and acceptable, leaning not to our own strength but His, we shall endure until His will is completed in our lives.

On To The Food...

Cilantro Grilled Vegetables

1/2 cup of Olive Oil (or melted butter substitute)

4 Garlic cloves shopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 package (4 count) of ears of corn

6 Roma tomatoes, each cut into 4 wedges

3 medium zucchini, cut into 2-inch diagonal slices

Natures Season (salt and cracked pepper after the fast)

Directions:

Combine oil, garlic, and cilantro in a bowl. Heat oven on 400F. Layer 2 sheets of foil (24 inches each) on a baking sheet and arrange corn, tomatoes, and zucchini in center. Season veggies. Pour oil mixture over over veggies and toss lightly to coat. Wrap veggies in foil to create a bag. Grill veggies for 20 minutes.

Until tomorrow...

May God bless you richly,

Mel