July 4 - Warmed on the Outside

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, "You're not one of that man's disciples, are you?" "No," he said, "I am not." Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself. John 18:15-18 NLT

Are you one of His disciples? If that question were asked of you today, how would you respond? Does your life show that you are a Christian--a follower of Jesus? How do you or others tell a Christian from a non-Christian? Peter said he wasn't a disciple of Jesus' and then he calmly stood around a fire with others and warmed up on that chilly evening. We're so spoiled with electric or gas heaters that we don't know what it is to stand by a fire outside on a cold evening to get warm. The custom then must have been for the servants and guards to share the fire within anyone--so even though Peter was a stranger, he could stand there by the fire and stay warm. Even with the warmth of the fire, do you think Peter felt cold after he denied knowing Jesus...and being one of His disciples?

 

RSVP: Jesus was taken away. If you were asked if you are a follow how would you respond?

Prayer ~ Come Holy Spirit--guide and direct our thoughts, words, and actions the we would never deny Jesus as our Savior and Lord of our lives. Bless our nation as we gather and commemorate our freedoms.

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

It's rhubarb time in the garden.  Here's my Mom's favorite rhubarb recipe.

Rhubarb Dessert

6 cups rhubarb - cut in small pieces and put in bottom of greased 9x13 pan

2 cups sugar - sprinkle over rhubarb

1 10 oz pkg strawberry Jello - sprinkle over rhubarb

2 cups small marshmallows - sprinkle over rhubarb

In a separate bowl cream 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1 egg

Add 1/2 cup milk, 3/4 cup flour, 1/8 tsp salt, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder. Drizzle this mixture over rhubarb. 

Bake at 300 degrees F for 50 minutes. Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Happy 4^th of July – Be Safe