Friday, February 17, 2023

Because of the Spirit

Prayer – I believe in You, Jesus. I love You, Lord God—with all my heart, soul, mind and strength—and I long for constant and continual fellowship with You. You live in me—because You have given me spiritual life through the Holy Spirit. I praise You. Open my eyes, heart, and mind to even more fully understanding You.

 

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. 1 John 3:23-24

 

Meditate. The Spirit lives in us.

 

Continue looking at this scripture again from yesterday, but focus on the portion of the verses…the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. Romans 8:26-27

The Holy Spirit indwells—lives within—all Christians when each person becomes a Christian by repenting of their sins and yielding their life to Christ. Paul wrote about the Holy Spirit in several of his letters to different churches.

It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

 

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25

The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity—He is God, living in us. I especially like the fact that the Holy Spirit speaks to the Heavenly Father for me—when I just can’t find the words to express myself. This is one more dimension to God—and our fellowship with Him. Father. Son. Holy Spirit. Find for yourself that triune depth in your relationship to the Lord God.

 

Verses of Salvation ~ As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation--a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

When I was growing up we always had a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at the Church we attended. It was a complete meal with big fluffy pancakes, sliced ham or sausage links, homemade applesauce, and coffee for the adults. Usually the teens helped serve, so it was a fun time. What is Shrove Tuesday all about? It is traditionally a time to eat heartily and consume fatty foods before Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, the following day. The season of Lent, the six weeks or forty days, actually 46, days prior to Resurrection Sunday (Easter) was a time of fasting to reevaluate one’s relationship with the Lord. This year Easter is April 9th, so Shrove Tuesday is on February 21st. How do you like your pancakes…fluffy thick, or thin? Some people prefer to eat their pancakes very thin like a crepe and roll their applesauce inside. Either way—fluffy or thin—pancakes have been a favorite of mine until I cut back on carbs. I will eat some pancakes on Tuesday…and remember what my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done for me. I’ll consider fasting from carbs again beginning on Ash Wednesday.

 

Family Favorite for Perfect Pancakes

2 C. all-purpose flour (or Gluten free blend)

2 tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp raw cane sugar

½ tsp salt

2 eggs (use an additional egg for thin, crepe pancakes)

2 C buttermilk, adjusting to the desire thickness: less for thicker pancakes, or more ~ 3C for crepes.

2 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp melted butter or oil

 

Preheat griddle to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl add flour, baking powder and soda, sugar and salt. Mix well.

Make a well in the center and add eggs, milk, vanilla and butter. Stir to combine, but don’t overmix. My Dad always said, “Lumps are OK.” No lumps for crepes. You can mix this several hours ahead of time.

Oil the griddle—it should be sizzling hot.

Use about ½ C of batter per pancake, more or less depending on the desired size.

Cook about 3 minutes, until bubbles begin to pop and the edges are browned.

Flip pancake and cook for about 2 minutes on the other side.

 

Serve hot, with your choice of condiments. Butter, hot maple syrup, blueberry syrup, peanut butter, jam, Nutella, honey, or yogurt and chopped fresh fruit.

 

Of course, for Shove Tuesday you’ll want to serve ham or sausage and applesauce.

Enjoy!

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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