New Year's Resolutions

With New Year's coming in just a few days, many of you are thinking about plans for the upcoming year. I would like to make some suggestions as you "resolve" to do things differently, or better.

1. Pray and then pray some more.
2. Set Biblical goals: Will God be pleased or help you if your goal is to get even with someone who's hurt you in the past, or if you're selfishly setting a goal of making a million dollars to spend on yourself?
3. Don't be in a hurry to make a lot of resolutions. Take your goals seriously: you'll be much more likely to work to accomplish them.
4. Have a plan: I suggest setting goals under 4 main headings: Spiritual, Physical, Mental (or Intellectual/Academic), and Skills.
5. Choose just a few goals to start with (1 or 2 in each area): Succeeding in a few is better than being overwhelmed by too many and giving up in frustration.
6. Make your goals achievable. "Become an Olympic swimmer" is not achievable if you don't even know how to swim. Break your larger-than-life goals down into achievable smaller goals: "Sign up for swimming lessons." "Practice 3 times per week for 30 minutes," etc.
7. Make your goals measurable. For example, "Become a better cook" is not measurable. "Try 1 new recipe per week" is measurable and you will know if you have accomplished it or not.
8. Set goals first in the area where you need it most.
9. Write down your goals and look at them often.
10. Make a plan for how you will achieve each goal, and keep a record of daily/weekly achievement.

Below you will find a very simple list which has been handed out at my church the last few years, which I have found helpful in my goalsetting for the new year. This list gives some ideas for areas to think about, and plan for, which you may not already have on your list. (It came to me in a different format, but I give it to you in outline form for readability. You will want to change the format to one which will give you ample space to write out your ideas and goals.)
Just a note:  We all learn differently:  For some, color is very influential and important.  Try using bright-colored pens and markers, if you have never done so before, as you write out your goals. I find it amazingly helpful.

Name______________________

Goals For the Year __________

    I. SPIRITUAL

      A. Bible Reading:

      B. Verses to Memorize:

      C. Subjects to Study:

   II. FINANCIAL

      A. Where will I Give:

      B. How Much Will I try to Save:

      C. Spending I am Saving For:

  III. SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

  IV. LEISURE PLANS

  V. TRAINING I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE

  VI. BOOKS I WOULD LIKE TO READ

 VII. FAMILIES OVER FOR DINNER

VIII. PEOPLE TO MINISTER TO

 IX. MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES

  X. MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

 OTHER PLANS

Habits are often the subject of resolutions--bad habits, that is. I ran across some excellent questions that may help you in overcoming yours.

• What sin or sins prevent me from reaching my goal?
• How do these sins hinder me?
• What are the Scriptures on this sin?
• What changes am I going to make to combat this sin?
• What positive things am I going to do to change this habit?

May God help us all to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Hebrews 12:1-4

My Testimony--Part 3--Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas!

Here is Part 3 of "My Testimony."  Please go back to Part 1 and Part 2 first if you have not read them.  Thank you.

My purpose in sharing my testimony is to be obedient to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to bring Him glory. I pray that the sharing of this testimony will not bring any pain or offense to any one, especially my family, whom I love dearly. These details of my life before I came to know Christ as my Lord and Savior are painful for me to relate, but I have tried to relate them as truthfully and lovingly as possible. I pray that the Lord will use my story to help others and cause them to love and trust Him, and perhaps save some from the painful consequences of sin which I've suffered. I'm so thankful to the Lord Jesus for saving me and I dedicate this testimony to Him.
As I stated earlier, I only began drinking after going to bars for many months. But now I was getting drunk often. I was going to bars alone, leaving when the bar closed at one o'clock in the morning. One night, very late, while driving home after a night of drinking and dancing, I fell asleep at the wheel of my car going 65 mph down the highway. I woke up to find the left wheels of my car up on the median and my car heading straight into the lights of the oncoming traffic. Somehow, miraculously, I was able to pull the car safely back into my own lane of traffic and continue on home without harm to myself or anyone else. Suddenly wide awake and sobered by the realization of what had just taken place, I drove home knowing, without a doubt, that God had saved my life.


If I hadn't believed there was a God before, I did now. Growing up, I knew about God and knew the facts surrounding salvation: that Jesus Christ was God’s Son and that He had died on the cross to save us from our sins. I knew that He had risen from the dead and that believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior was the only way to go to heaven, and escape punishment for your sins in hell. I knew that if you believed in Jesus, you were called a Christian. I thought I was a Christian. But I thought I could say, "Jesus, I believe all this and someday when I die, you’ll let me into your heaven, but right now I’m going to be in charge of my life and make my own decisions. You just go someplace and don’t bother me unless I think I need you and then I’ll call for you." I was not ready to let Him run my life.  I knew about Jesus as a Savior, but I knew nothing about Jesus as Lord.


When God saved my life that night that I fell asleep at the wheel, I was very grateful to Him.  I knew that He wanted me to change my life. There were a number of times when I had gotten drunk and behaved in a way that I wanted to forget. Now, drinking had almost killed me. I knew I had to do something.  I was a mess. So, right then and there, I decided to quit drinking, forever. And I did.  But, even though I was ready to change in this area, I wasn't ready to change anything else. God did not let me go, though.


As I continued in my search for someone who would love me forever and never leave me, I became more and more empty inside. I had a longing inside me that I couldn’t satisfy. I was going further and further down a road paved with the world's thinking. I would read books and listen to people who told me lies and I would believe them. I was so mixed up in my thinking and believing more and more of satan's lies.


Interspersed with guys from bars were legitimate boyfriends. One was quite serious. When, at the end of the summer, he broke up with me, I became very depressed. All through this time of searching, I thought that I was looking for a man:  some person who would promise to love me truly, forever and without leaving. Now, I was alone again. I didn't think there was any reason to go on without someone to love me. I would listen to sad songs on the record player in my apartment and cry for hours. What I didn't realize was that all this time the One I was searching for was Jesus Christ. He is the Only One Who can perfectly love you, knowing everything there is to know about you, and He is the Only One Who can promise His love forever and ever and fill your emptiness. He is the Only One Who will never die and never leave you.  But I still didn't get it.


When my boyfriend and I broke up, I really hit bottom emotionally. That was when God finally got through to me. One night about a year after my bar-hopping had begun, my family was all together at a restaurant celebrating my brother’s birthday. My brother, who was 7 years older than me, and I had become very close, but he scoffed at Christianity. He knew that I had professed Christianity in the past and he wanted nothing to do with it. During our conversation that evening, I mentioned something in passing, referring to, and using the words, “my Christianity.” Unbelievably, I still considered myself a Christian, and thought my family should see me in that context as well. But my brother's reaction took me totally by surprise. His response was like a slap in the face. He scoffed at me, “I thought you’d given that up!” I couldn't have felt his disgust more if he had spit at me. But, as I drove home alone that night, all I could think about was that my brother saw nothing in my life to indicate that I was a Christian. It was as if my brother had held up a mirror in front of me, and I was appalled at what I saw. For the first time I saw myself for who I really was: a filthy, rotten sinner, in need of a Saviour.


As I drove home that night, I cried out to God, tears streaming down my face, and said, “Lord, I’ve tried to run my life and I’ve made a mess of it! Please God, take over my life—I'm giving it to you; I want You to run it from now on.”


I had been sobbing so hard that I could barely see to drive, but instantly there was Someone there, a Presence filling my car.  I didn’t know exactly what had happened, but I felt an enormous peace come over me. Somehow, something had changed. I was changed. Jesus had come into my heart and taken control of my life and filled me with peace. I was filled with His Love and I wanted to burst with joy.  That moment began my new life with Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I immediately had an insatiable desire to read the Bible, and I read every spare moment that I could.


I had found the One I was searching for all my life. The One True Love Who would love me forever and never leave. And my emptiness was filled. My life began to change. God brought a young Christian man into my life--no, he wasn't "the one," but he and the group of friends I met through him helped me immensely in my Christian life. In essence, they discipled me that first year. They showed me what it looked like to follow Christ, helped me establish Christian disciplines, and loved me--even though I was a very immature baby Christian, with a lot of baggage.


On that day that I accepted Jesus' payment for my sins on the cross, and based my righteousness and claim to heaven on His righteousness, death and resurrection, I surrendered control of my life to Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord.  I thank God with all my heart for saving me that day, October 6, 1975, 34 years ago.


So, where are you in this story? Are you the one who drinks socially? Hardly ever, really. What if just one person is influenced to drink by your example, or becomes an alcoholic, or kills someone while driving drunk?  Or, perhaps you get drunk fairly often yourself.

Maybe you're searching like I was, for Someone to Love you.

Maybe you are trying to run your own life.  And maybe you're not doing such a good job of it.  Whoever you are: son, daughter, mother, father, please seriously consider these words. Please give your life to Jesus Christ right now. Whatever changes need to be made, He will help you. You don't have to fix yourself up first to come to Him. There is NOTHING you can do to save yourself.  He is your only hope of salvation and heaven.  He is in the business of changing lives. That is what this testimony is all about. If he can take someone like me and love me and forgive me, then He will fill you with peace and pour His love into your heart. Put your trust in Him and give Him control of every area of your life. Don't wait. You may not have tomorrow.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."  Jim Elliot

Romans 10:9-11--"...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

If you are ready to believe in Jesus, and surrender control of your life to Him, please pray this prayer with me now:
"Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my sin. I've turned my back on you, but now I want to give you my life. I believe that, Jesus, You are the Son of God and that You died on the cross for me--that You were punished for MY sins, and that God showed by raising You from the dead that He accepted that payment.  Thank you, Lord.  Please forgive me and come into my heart. Change me and help me, Dear Lord, in Jesus' Name and for His glory!
Amen."

My Salvation Testimony--Part 1

It's the perfect time of the year to share my salvation testimony with you.  Everywhere you see people celebrating. Christmas parties at work, neighborhood get-togethers, extended family exchanges of gifts and celebrating together. There is an air of festivity, a reason for partying, and...alcohol will play a big part in many lives and homes this time of year. Lives and reputations will be ruined, marriages will disintegrate, car accidents will take the lives of some, and children will be beaten and abused by those under its influence, and many tears will be shed by those who love someone who drinks.  Oh, yes, it's the perfect time of the year to share my testimony with you, because alcohol played a big part in it.

At this time of year, Christmastime, with New Years Eve following closely on its heels, the celebration becomes one long-running excuse to drink for many people. But, also, it is a time when those who have never even considered drinking are tempted to "just try it once--"Go ahead, just have one, what harm can it do." They are tempted by the sheer number of times alcohol is offered to them, and by the fact that everyone else seems to be "doing it," and by the messages in the media encouraging them to drink. Everywhere we look, we are bombarded with messages that say drinking is cool, the perfect finishing touch to your special dinner, choosing just the right wine is a sign of refinement and class, it will impress your friends, it adds to the fun, it makes things more festive and it's for everyone. Yes, of course, there is the added message, these days, not to drink and drive. These messages that drinking is not only ok, but encouraged, are not really surprising when you're out in the world. However, it still takes a firm resoluteness to one's convictions to get through the gauntlet unscathed. But, what is amazing, and alarming to me, is the number of instances where drinking is taking place even in some conservative Christian circles.  Christian twenty-somethings, homeschooled their whole life, from Godly homes and families, are going to Wine-tasting Weekends or passing a bottle around at Bible studies. They have broken down the wall and stepped over, ignoring their Godly forefathers' longstanding ban on drinking for anyone who was serious about following Christ in obedience to His Word and anyone who cared about their testimony before a lost world. Please listen to my story and think deeply on this subject. It affects every one of us.

This is "My Testimony," by Wendy Gunn
My childhood was a blending of stability and instability, happy and very sad events, just as my family was a blending of two people, both widowed, and their two children, each. My mother's story had been a traumatic one prior to marrying my dad. Her first husband was an alcoholic who died very young from the damage to his liver which he'd inflicted upon himself.  My mother never knew. She found the bottles hidden in the back of their closet. Her little boy, who'd been suffering with a life-threatening disease, lost his battle with death, and died not long after his father, at the age of 4. When mom married her former landlord, they blended two families: my mom and my sister, now 4, joined with my dad and my 13-year-old sister and 6-year-old brother. I was born a year later. We never ever called ourselves anything but family.  It never occurred to us children to use words like "step" or "half"--what did that mean anyway?  We were brothers and sisters. I give my mom, especially, a lot of credit, for the loving, close family we still have today.

My mom, dad, brother, and 2 sisters—loved me. We were a religious family and went to church regularly.  Things were very happy in those early years for me.  But death was looming around the corner.  It became a prominent part of my story from the time I was 8 years old onward. Every year from then on, year after year, someone whom I loved dearly would die. First was my 2-day-old niece, then both my grandparents. Next, my oldest sister, fourteen years older than I, who had been like a second mom to me, died when I was 11. Her husband had been exempted from serving in the Vietnam war while she was alive, but so sick with kidney disease. Upon her death, he was drafted and soon after was reported missing in action. In my childish affections, I had idolized him from the moment he came into our family when I was 7. My sister had married young, and he was a few years younger than she, only 18, when they wed.  He must've been about 22 when he died. I still remember the day my parents told me he was missing. I was 12 and it hit me hard.  In the following years my other grandma died, and then a favorite uncle had a fatal heart attack and died very unexpectedly. As I finished out junior high, my brother became very sick and unless he had a kidney transplant, he would die, too.  Many special people, and some of the most important men in my life, had been taken from me.  All I wanted was to find someone who would love me forever and never leave me.

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31:3)

"...he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  (Hebrews 13:5)

Please return to read Part 2 of "My Testimony" which will be posted tomorrow.

Thanksgiving 2009

We've been a little busy! No time for blogging...

So here are a few photos of what we've been up to!

Thanksgiving Dinner

Mom, Kelsey, Dane, Di, Ron and Jerry

"Sisters, Sisters--

There were never such devoted Sisters!"

"Time-honored Thanksgiving Traditions"

were observed, of course

...reading the sales ads...

...and watching the football game...

Friday's Family Project:

Painting Kelsey's Bedroom

"Chaos Central"

Thankful Thursday: Top Ten Thanks

Thankful Thursday:

Thanksgiving Day Top Ten Thanks Today

(To participate and read other thanks-giving, go to Grace Alone )

• Salvation
• His Marvelous Grace and Mercy to Me, the Worst of All Sinners
• My Family: Jerry, Dane and Kelsey
• My Home and Everything That It Means To Me
• My Church: Everyone Who Is A Part of It and All That God Is Doing There
• Health and Life:  Cancer-free for 7 years
• Godly Friends Who Encourage and Love Me
• God's Provision Through A Job and My Husband's Faithful Work
• Health for All our Family and Safety Through Another Year
• God's Faithfulness to His Promises; His Presence; and The Hope of Heaven, nearer every day

Thanks be to God!

Ps. 95:1-3--"O Come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise tot he rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods."

Ps. 26:7--"That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works."

Ps. 29:1-2--"Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.  Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Psalm 100:1-2--"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's...

Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion:

Bless the Lord, O my soul."

Recipe(s) of the Week: Chex Party Mix and Cranberry Cashew Romaine Salad

"Nuts-and-Bolts" Prior to Baking

   I thought about posting the "Ghastly Guest" story today and I couldn't do it for two reasons, so if you were anxiously awaiting it, you'll have to wait another week because I couldn't bear to talk about something negative on the day before Thanks-giving!  And secondly, the Lord had different plans for my days yesterday and today, when I would have written it!  Yesterday, in His wise judgment, He allowed me to have the most "horrendous computer day" ever; and today, we are blessed to spend the day (mostly) with my mom helping her prepare for our Thanksgiving Celebration! I guess the Lord is teaching me Flexibility!
   So...I decided to post some recipes which are part of our Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions, and which I think you might like to have as part of your recipe collection.

   Our family has a tradition.  Every year, right before Thanksgiving, we make Chex Party Mix.  But we don't call it that.  We call it Nuts-and-Bolts.  I grew up with Nuts-and-Bolts at Thanksgiving.  So, my mom probably used the 1950's version of the recipe, but she doesn't remember:)  Now, I make a version of the newer recipe, but we don't just make one batch.  We make a quadruple batch.  We take some to the Thanksgiving celebration with my family, and for many years, when we'd always spend Thanksgiving weekend, leaving the day after Thanksgiving, with my husband's family at the farm, we'd take one big Tupperware container-full up there, too, because his family loves it, as well. Then we freeze the rest in Tupperware containers, having it on hand for our skating parties and any unexpected guests who might drop by.  It's also nice when I need something to bring to unplanned-for parties over the Christmas holiday, too!
     I have changed the recipe a little.  I like to use Wheat Chex and Bran Chex, as well as Rice and Corn Chex, giving it a little more fiber and "health"--but I also put a whole can of mixed nuts and a whole can of cashews into the quadruple batch for "good taste"!  You only have Thanksgiving and Christmas once a year, you know!
     Here is the Original 1950's Recipe (right off of a 1950's cereal box), and below you'll find the recipe that I use.  Also you'll find one of my favorite recipes, Cranberry Cashew Romaine Salad!  Since it says Cranberry in the title, I thought some of you might like to make it as a side dish during the Thanksgiving Holiday, as it's so simple and goes so well with Turkey!


The Original 1950's Recipe for Chex Party Mix
(Makes 1 Batch)
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1-1/4 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp garlic salt
3 cups Wheat Chex square cereal
2 cups Rice Chex square cereal
1-1/2 cups peanuts
1-1/2 cups small pretzel rods


Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Melt butter in a shallow pan. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and garlic salt (not garlic powder).  Add Wheat Chex, Rice Chex, nuts (peanuts, pecans or cashews), and pretzel rods. Mix until all pieces are coated with the butter mixture.
Place on a shallow baking pan with sides. Bake for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool...enjoy!

(Part of) The Finished Quadruple Batch

"Nuts-and-Bolts" (Chex Party Mix, My Version)
Makes a Quadruple Batch = About 50 cups (approx. 2 Large Tupperware-Containers-full)
It's easy to halve this or just make 1 batch--Try it!

12 cups Corn Chex cereal (one 14 oz box)
12 cups Rice Chex cereal (one 12.8 oz box)
12 cups Wheat Chex cereal (almost 2-14oz boxes)
(I substitute Bran Chex for part of the Corn and Rice Chex)
*1 can Mixed Nuts
*1 can Cashews
4 cups pretzel sticks (less than one bag)
*4 sticks of butter (you can get by with 3, which is 24 Tbsp:)
8 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
6 tsp Lawry's Seasoned Salt
3 tsp garlic salt (or garlic powder)
2 tsp onion powder
*you can use 3 sticks of butter and less nuts for a lower fat version

Directions:
   In 2 large oval roaster pans, melt the butter (half in each), at 250 degrees F.  My oven requires that I overlap the top edges of the pans to get them in side by side, but this doesn't matter to the recipe or the pans.  Also, you'll need to remove the top rack from your oven.
   While the butter's melting, mix your dry ingredients in two large Tupperware or other plastic bowls, (or do this in shifts).  Check your butter--you just want it melted.
   When the butter's melted, take the pans out and add half of the Worcestershire sauce (4 Tbsp) to each pan.  Then add half of the other seasonings to each pan, and stir it all up.
   Now SLOWLY add the dry cereal mixture, a large stainless steel spoon works best, so you can scrape the bottom of the pan, stirring after every little bit, to thoroughly coat it with the butter mixture, but not crush the cereal.  (If your butter mixture has had time to cool, put it back in the oven to heat it a little for easy pouring and coating consistency.  Otherwise it will glop onto some of the cereal, and not coat some, and you'll have burnt pieces, which makes it all taste yucky.)
   Now, put the pans in the oven at 250 degrees and bake for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes, so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan and burn.  If you're using roaster pans, you can put the cover on and holding both handles tightly, shake it up and down and around, to mix.  You'll still have to stir a little with a spoon to scrape the bottom.
   After an hour of baking, spread the mix out on paper towels or paper bags cut open and turned inside out, to cool.  When cool, store in airtight containers in the freezer for up to a month.  Enjoy your new tradition from Our House to Yours!


Cranberry Cashew Romaine Salad
Serves 6-8 (Use a Large Bowl)
1-1/2 heads of romaine lettuce, washed, dried and torn, or chopped
1 large eating apple, cut into small square pieces just before serving
3/4 cup Craisins
1 cup cashews
1 cup Swiss cheese; diced
--Dressing--
1/2 cup sugar or honey
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup oil
2 tsp fresh grated onion
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dijon mustard
2 tsp poppy seeds

Mix dressing ahead of time.
Mix salad just before serving.
Enjoy!
and Happy Thanksgiving!