Zucchini Pie

This Zucchini Pie recipe has quickly become a staple in our house this summer. It's a great way to use up fresh summer zucchini. It is similar to a crustless quiche, and is yummy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It can be prepared quickly and it also freezes great!

Ingredients:
1 c. Bisquick
4 eggs
1/2 c. oil
1/3 c. grated permesan cheese
1 medium zucchini - grated (2 c.)
salt & pepper to taste
1 medium onion (chopped fine)

Grease 9 in. pie plate.
Beat eggs in bowl and add rest of ingredients.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Reaching God's Ear

Recently I finished Reaching the Ear of God by Wayne Mack. Part of my goal for the summer was to read one Christian book each month. So for the month of the July I chose this book. It has been so convicting and helpful! Wayne Mack pulls apart the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6. It is such an invaluable in-depth study and has helped bring me closer and closer to God as I've learned to pray more... and more like Jesus - and to love doing it.

One of the most memorable things from the book for me was that prayer is our strongest weapon, and that's why its often so "hard" to pray. Satan knows that when we are on our knees we are stronger than ever because we are so close to God. My prayer life before had been inconsistent, but when I learned that Satan is trying to keep me from praying, I saw how important it is to pray - and I have experienced the benefits and joy of praying.

While I have a long way to go, I'm thankful that I'm finally going. I would highly recommend this book not only to anyone who wants to improve their prayer life, but I would argue that it is necessary for every single Christian because a prayerless Christian is not a Christian at all.

Scripture Memory

When I was younger, Scripture memory was a homework assignment at my Christian school, a piece of candy in Sunday School, a special prize at VBS. As I got older, it became a chore, and as long as no one required it of me, I didn't "waste my time." It's not that I didn't love God's Word, but I didn't love it nearly enough. Thankfully, though, God is never done working on His children.

At the end of the school year, I read 1 Timothy 4:7b-8 - "Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." As summer was approaching, I wanted to make goals. In summers past my goals have included reading novels or exercising more. This summer, I knew God wanted me to train in godliness! I made a plan, and Scripture memory was something I added to my to-do list. I thought that I would never be able to memorize Scripture, but with the Holy Spirit and diligence, God is indeed accomplishing this in me.

My mom and I were going to memorize a passage together, but I wanted to attempt a whole book, not just a chapter. I knew if I put my mind to it, I could do it! I choose 1 John. I started last week with the first four verses. I wrote out copies and put it on my bathroom mirror, in the shower, and inside the medicine cabinet. I found these to be great places, because I can memorize while I'm washing and drying my hair, putting on make-up, and brushing my teeth. None of those things take too much though, so I can focus on memorizing the verses. I decided to take a new section every week, so now I'm on verses 5-10 of 1 John 1. Every Tuesday I say the verses to my mom. I know that this is something I can continue through the school year without cutting into homework time, because I'll still be showering and brushing my teeth!

I've found Scripture memory of such benefit, and would encourage everyone who thinks they can't do it to at least give it a try! It not only puts the Word of God in my heart, it keeps my mind from wandering while I'm in the shower or brushing my teeth. This is one way I'm seeking to "seize the day" and "redeem the time!"

What are you going to do with the rest of your life?

I'm at the time in my life (summer before senior year of high school) where I get asked questions about my future... a lot! Where are you going to college? What do you want to do after high school? Aren't you going to be a nurse? Is music in your future? What did you get on the SATs? Are you looking for scholarships? ... and the list goes on and on. Halfway through my junior year of high school I relunctantly decided that I'd major in music in college after wanting to be a nurse for the previous three years. In my heart I knew I wanted to pursue music further, but in my head I thought nursing would be better for financial stability in my future. But music was (is) still my passion...as far as hobbies go. I knew either route I chose I could choose to glorify God and praise Him in everything. I've become more comfortable and excited about pursing music wholeheartedly.

This morning I read Psalm 150 and I got really excited. I decided when people ask me what I'm doing for the rest of my life I can read them Psalm 150 and say "I'm going to live out this Psalm." Or when they ask why I'm choosing to study music I can say, "So I can live out Psalm 150." Reading Psalm 150 assured me that God loves music, and while it plays a different role than a job in the healthcare field, it stil plays a vital role, and I'm confident I can be useful to God as a musician.

Psalm 150

Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound; [I play the trumpet, so this was very exciting!]
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!

In five years, I don't exactly know where I see myself. Maybe I'll be teaching first graders how to read music or maybe I'll be conducting a middle school band. Maybe I'll be offering private trumpet lessons or teaching AP Music Theory. Wherever I am, though, I know that in it I can praise the LORD with the making of music!

My Only Hope

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward
To my glorious rest above.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus -
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore;
How He watches o'er His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o'er them from the throne.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the best;
'Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
'Tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee.

The Active Christian

Psalm 105:1-5

"Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name;
make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
tell of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and His strength;
seek His presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that He has done,
His miracles, and the judgments He uttered."

I was reading this this morning, and noticed how many active verbs there are:

-Give [thanks]
-Call [upon His name]
-Make [known His deeds among the peoples]
-Sing [to Him]
-Tell [of all His wondrous works]
-Glory [in His holy name]
-Seek [the LORD and His strength...His presence continually]
-Remember [the wondrous works that He has done]

This is nothing profound, but it really struck me this morning: the Christian life ought to be an active one. There is no room for complacency or passivity. In everything we do, we ought to be doing it for God! "Do" being the keyword. We should never stop doing, even if our doing is just simply remembering.

My Favorite Worship Songs [as of right now]

Lead Me To The Cross

Savior I come
Quiet my soul
Redemption's hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom

Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord, I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Oh, lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and trialed
You are
The Word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now You're risen

To Your heart
To Your heart
Lead me to Your heart
Lead me to Your heart



From The Inside Out

A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in Your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart, in my soul
I give you control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord, let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the insdie out, my soul cries out

Perspectives

This morning I was reading Psalm 102. It starts out, "Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you! Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress!" For the next eleven verses, the Psalmist goes on to describe all his woes, focusing mostly on how he's wasting away. He uses a strong word picture in verse nine, and I couldn't help but think how deeply distressed he is: "I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears in my drink."

But verse 12 changes tone abrubtly. The Psalmist suddenly writes, "But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever." He got a new perspective. He was deeply focused on all his woes, but then he remembered his God! He continues his praises of God through verse 17, where his change of attitude is revealed: "He regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer." Not only has he realized that God is so much bigger than Him, he sees that God hears his pathetic cries for help. Through the rest of the Psalm his awe and dedication to God is revealed. Verses 19-20 say, "From heaven the LORD looked at earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die."

In verses 23-24 it seems he has a brief spell of remembering his woes, but in verse 25 he jumps right back to praising God, who remains forever!

This reminded me that in the midst of what seems like a crazy life, a life where I never stop running, always have something to stress about, God is still God. I needed a new perspective, the one the Psalmist gained. I need to stop focusing on me and start focusing on God, the eternal and perfectly holy plan He has for His creation. Praise God that He is above all, even the smallest detail, and the stressful things in my life are there to accomplish God's holy will!

EXCITEMENT! [for the right reasons?]

Yesterday morning I found out one of the most exciting things of my life so far: I got the best position in an state-wide band - seriously a dream come true. I was shaking with excitement. I couldn't get it off my mind. I couldn't focus on any of my school work. It was taking up my every thought.

I ask, "for the right reason?" because although I have no doubt that I had every right to be jumping with excitement, I wondered if everything in my life that's even more amazing than that news makes me jump for joy.

To get right to the point: Does my salvation make me that excited? That is by far the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me - and is continually happening to me. But does it absorb my every thought? Does it make me want to live each day? Is that what gets me up in the morning? Am I so overwhelmed at my salvation that I can't focus on anything else?

Sad to say, my answer is often no. But it should be a yes. The Gospel is by far the most awesome and amazing and undeserving news I could ever hear. I am so overwhelmed by the sacrifice and love shown for me on the cross. Every day of my life should be filled with overwhelming joy because my Savior died for me so I could live for Him.

Are You Willing?

This morning I got up grudgingly. Like every Monday morning I had to drag my butt out of bed to do my devotions. I sat down at my desk and opened my Bible to Matthew 21. I wasn't prepared for what I was about to read. I read the whole chapter, but verses 1-11 stood out to me the most, and particularly verse 8. Here's the passage in its entirety:

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethpage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them' and he will send them at once." 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet saying, 5 "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'" 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son
of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up saying, "Who is this?" 11 And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."

If I'm going to be honest, when I read verse 8 where Matthew records that most of the crowd lay their cloaks in the road, I thought, "I probably wouldn't be one of the most. I would be the exception." I pictured my fluffy black winter coat being trampled on by a donkey. I pictured the furry hood caked with mud.

And then I saw Jesus look at me in my mind's eye, and shame filled my heart.

I knew that this revealed a heart attitude that I needed to take care of. It showed that I was holding onto my possessions more than I was valuing Jesus. At that moment, when all I could picture was my coat being trampled by a donkey, I had lost sight of the worth of my Savior. Isn't He so much more valuable than anything money can buy? And shouldn't everything He's graciously given me stewardship over be used to bring Him glory?

So my challenge for myself was Am I willing to give up everything to serve Jesus? Earlier I had read in Matthew 19:16-30 about the rich young ruler, who wasn't willing to give up all his riches to serve Jesus. As I read Matthew 21:1-11, the verses of Matthew 19 echoed in my ear: "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first" (verses 29-30). If I'm trying to be first in this world, holding onto everything that I think will make me rich, I've lost the Truth that Jesus is the only thing that will truly make me rich - and He's all I need.

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