Really Rotten Relationships

Ruth had a really rotten relationship. Her husband had died and the only one she had left was her very bitter mother-in-law, who only wanted to get rid of her. But Ruth refused to do anything but unconditionally love her mother-in-law, even going out to work so she could provide for both of them. God rewarded her perseverance in repairing the really rotten relationship by sending her a wonderful husband and putting her in the lineage of kings, including the King of Kings. Just think of everything she would have missed out on had she decided not to actively pursue repairing a really rotten relationship.

SM Davis' message to us today challenged us to be the first one to attempt to restore really rotten relationships in our lives. If Ruth willingly followed her bitter mother-in-law to a country she didn't know, to people she didn't know, to a God she didn't know, and leave behind everything that may have been near and dear to her heart, if Ruth could do, why can't I take the first step, too?

Weekly Recipe: Cabbage Kugel

This is one of our family's favorites, which we had for Sunday Dinner after our home church this morning!

Cabbage Kugel
(This Jewish dish is a major hit at potlucks! I usually double this recipe and put it in a crockpot on low to keep warm.)

1 large onion, chopped
¼ c. butter
½ head green cabbage, shredded
s/p
1 t. honey
½ lb. egg noodles
2 T poppy or caraway seeds

Sauté onion in butter. Add cabbage, cover, and cook over low heat 14 minutes. Season with s/p and honey, if desired.

Meanwhile, cook pasta. Add drained pasta to cabbage and add seeds (we love the caraway!). This is wonderful just like this, but we have added sour cream or plain yogurt for an absolutely heavenly meal!

The Missing Word

I don't have anything against the King James version; it is a fine version of the Bible, and very lyrical if read properly; however, there are a few mistakes here and there and here is one: In 1 Peter 3:3, it is missing just one little word - "merely." Here is the King James version:

"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;"

Notice the difference in the (appropriate) New King James version:

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—"

So, ladies, God is concerned with our outward appearance (more on this later!), but He is much more concerned with our inner adornments (more later).

Dress for the Lord!

Everything But the Kitchen Sink

You know the old saying, "Everything but the kitchen sink." Well, this week it was the kitchen sink - that is, it was the kitchen sink that didn't work, for 8 LONG days! We had the plumber come out last Friday to fix our kitchen sink, which had literally fallen apart into pieces recently but, Master Plumber though he was, after spending 5 hours under our kitchen sink, he just couldn't fix it! Several tries and several trips to Home Depot later, we FINALLY have a kitchen sink again! We thanked God for indoor plumbing tonight. Sometimes we don't realize our blessings until we have to lose them for a while.

As much of a blessing as indoor plumbing truly is (even though it costs a LOT sometimes), people are our truest blessings from the Lord. We are created for two purposes:

• To love the Lord our God
• To love others

I thank God for each person He has put in my life to teach me how to love. Some are easy to love and some take a little more work, but each person in my life was put there by the Almighty for His purpose: to love. I thank my God always upon each remembrance of all those God has put into my life to love. Lord, help me to love others in a way they can perceive today.