Do Not Forget All God's Benefits

If you set aside the technological and industrial changes of today, people are the same today as they were in the days of Jesus. If you look at Jesus' words in the gospels and Paul’s Words in the epistles, you see that they are both telling people that they need the one and only true God. They are telling people that they need to forgive, they need to be kind, and they need to put evil thoughts and behaviors out of their life—that they can’t live their life without God’s help through Jesus Christ. The technology may have changed. The landscape and conveniences may have changed. Cultural ideas and behaviors may have changed, but people are still people. They have the same basic wants, needs, and desires. Meat

I say all that with this thought in mind: People of that day just like this day, suffered from sickness and disease and/or were surrounded by the sick. Supernatural healing was no more accepted or fit into the general public’s everyday thoughts then, than it does today. When Jesus went around from place to place laying hands on and praying for the sick, to some it looked like God had sent a messenger from Heaven, to some a prophet or the awaited Messiah, and to others, some kind of scam artist. There was no more reason for Jesus and what He did to be accepted then, than there is today. 

Your mind could never wrap itself around something supernatural for any reason. Miracles are unnatural, not logical, and outside or your mind's comprehension. Your spirit is capable of knowing and believing its from God. I have prayed for people and have seen many miracles but my mind still hits the wall.

Life always has its skeptics and Jesus was surrounded by them. It did not stop Him. Acts 10:38 NKJV reminds us Jesus' life here on earth saying, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.”

One Sunday I greeted a couple that I see most weekends in church. I was reminded of a time about eleven years ago. They walked up to me prior to church starting. She told me that the doctors had given her medical options with limited hope. I am sure they were experiencing an array of emotions that come with such a report, yet they also loved God and believed what Hebrews 13:8 declares; “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” That means His heart, mercy, and compassion, toward people is the same today as it always has been.

They believed that and asked for prayer. Their words at the time were something like, We appreciate the medical advances of today and the doctors and medical people that help us. They are compassionate and amazing and are trying to do all they can do, but they don't have much hope. They are not God and they are not our Healer. They are not the end of the story. Pastor Burt, will you pray for my wife? I did pray for her as I knew others in the church were also. 

They remind me of people in Jesus’ day that needed healing from God, but were also probably surrounded by doubting family, people, and critics debating whether this Jesus character was real or not. One blind man healed by Jesus was verbally attacked by the doubters of his day. He wasn’t about to enter into the debate. He had already experienced the healing power of God. When they wanted to debate he simply told them, "I don't know whether Jesus is a sinner," the man replied. "But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!" (John 9:25) 

This couple didn’t care about what others thought. They just knew that Jesus never changes and that James 5:14-15 NKJV instructs, “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.” 

Here they are eleven years later sitting in the sanctuary worshipping God. They are wonderfully happy and are two people that clung to all who their Savior is. Just seeing them puts a smile on my face!

Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV) Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Frozen meat

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt

Wild Rice and Turkey Casserole

'Showing We Care With Holiday Fare', by Mississippi's Toughest Kids Foundation

• 1 cup white rice, cooked
• 1 cup wild rice, cooked
• 2 cups diced turkey breast
• 2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 12 oz. evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 tsp. salt and pepper
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a 8-by-12-inch or 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Combine rices and spread evenly over bottom of dish. In a large bowl, combine turkey, cheese, milk, bell peppers, eggs, salt and pepper. Spoon over rice. Halal Meat

Bake 45-55 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean and top is lightly browned. Sprinkle with parsley. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Note: Very good served as a side dish with turkey. Look for frozen or canned cooked wild rice at the grocery store. Buffalo Meat

Rosh Hashanah Recipe

Hi All,

This sounds like a great recipe for Rosh Hashanah, it's from the Epicurious site

PERSIAN-SPICED CHICKEN WITH SPAGHETTI SQUASH, POMEGRANATE, AND PISTACHIOS

BY ANNA STOCKWELL EPICURIOUS JANUARY 2016

4/4 fork user rating

Spice-rubbed chicken legs get roasted alongside spaghetti squash and onion for an easy sheet-pan dinner that’s bursting with bright, comforting flavors.

YIELD4 servingsACTIVE TIME30 minutesTOTAL TIME1 hour

INGREDIENTS

1 medium spaghetti squash (2–2 1/2 pounds), halved lengthwise, seeded

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

1 medium red onion, peeled, quartered

2 teaspoons ground turmeric

1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice, divided

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, divided

4 chicken legs (thigh and drumstick)

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses (see cooks' note)

1/2 cup roasted salted pistachios, coarsely chopped

1/3 cup pomegranate seeds

1/4 cup coarsely chopped dill, plus more for serving

1/4 cup coarsely chopped mint, plus more for serving

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Sprinkle each half of squash with 1/4 tsp. salt, then place facedown on prepared baking sheet along with onion quarters.

Combine turmeric, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. allspice, and 1/8 tsp. cayenne in a large bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Arrange chicken skin side up alongside squash and onions on baking sheet. Brush tops of chicken with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Bake until interior of squash and onions are fork-tender, chicken skin is crispy, and an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F, 35–45 minutes; if chicken is done before squash, remove from oven and let rest until squash is finished cooking. Buffalo Meat

Meanwhile, whisk lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, and remaining 3 Tbsp. oil, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. allspice, and 1/8 tsp. cayenne in a large bowl.

Finely chop onion quarters and transfer to bowl with dressing. Using a fork, scrape squash crosswise to pull strands from shells into bowl with dressing; discard shells. Add pistachios, pomegranate seeds, dill, and mint and toss to coat.

Divide chicken among plates, top with dill and mint, and serve alongside squash mixture.

Cooks' Note 

Pomegranate molasses is available at Middle Eastern grocery stores and specialty food stores. You can substitute 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey for the 1 tablespoon of pomegranate molasses in the dressing. If the squash is difficult to cut, poke it all over with a paring knife and microwave on high for 5 minutes before cutting.  Frozen Meat