Virtual Recipe Index

My food blog over at Recipes from Naomi has undergone a few updates lately. For some time I had been wanting to build a virtual index of the ninety-three recipes (and counting) that I have on my recipe blog. It finally happened! This new feature should make browsing much easier for my visitors. Now to resize all of those old photos... =)

Apple Yogurt Muffins

I hope to have some new recipes posted soon. How do these sound?

• Chocolate Applesauce Muffins
• Pumpkin Muffins 
• Coconut Bread 
• Garlic Breadsticks
• Cornmeal Hotcakes
• Cinnamon Biscotti 
• Chocolate Biscotti 
• Peanut Butter Biscotti 
• Chocolate Cream Pie 
• Butter Pecan Ice Cream
• Chocolate Ice Cream  
• Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (yes, I've been experimenting with ice cream recipes lately!)
• Cheesy Meat-Stuffed Manicotti
• Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Casserole 
• Au Gratin Potatoes
• Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole 
• Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Spaghetti Corn 
• Creamy Chicken Rice Soup 

An Enduring Root

T h e  r i g h t e o u s  s h a l l  n e v e r  b e  r e m o v e d : 

but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

Proverbs 10:30

In the photo: Grass that had been buried in the snow for over seven months, waiting to be replaced by bright new grass.

The Queen Who Chose to Be a Servant

Esther was a great woman. Her greatness did not come from prestige or riches, nor did it come from her beauty or personality. The source of her greatness was her simple willingness to do all that her Lord commanded her to do. God honored Esther in such wonderful ways only because she placed herself in the position to be an instrument to Him. She is the central figure of a marvelous story, a true story full of beauty and glory to God.

The story of Esther took place after the captivity of Judah and during the time of their restoration. Judah was first captured by Babylon, and Babylon was then overthrown by Persia. Therefore, Persia was the world power at this time, controlling a total of one hundred twenty-seven provinces. These provinces spanned from Ethiopia to India. The Biblical period of the book of Esther is between those of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem had been completed under the leadership of Ezra but the walls of the city had not yet been rebuilt under Nehemiah's direction.

God placed Judah in captivity because of their rebellion against His laws and His prophets. Although He allowed them to return after seventy years of judgment, they did not even desire to do so. They were content to remain where they were, having little to do with the LORD their God and His righteous laws. It would seem that God would chastise them yet again in order to drive them back to their homeland, but we see from this story and others during this period that God was merciful to them; He loved His people with “an everlasting love.” (Jer. 31:3)

It was during this time that an enemy of the Jews, a man named Haman, sought to utterly destroy God's chosen people.  Though they were completely undeserving of His mercy, God rose up a deliverer to save them from certain destruction. Through the amazing story of a woman named Esther, we see God’s marvelous mercy and kindness toward His sinning people. It is also worth mentioning that, although the name of God does not once appear throughout this account, His hand can be traced through even the most minute of circumstances.

Welcoming Spring

On April 29, I wrote about Spring's Slow Arrival and about Promises of Spring on May 2. But today I rejoice to say that WINTER IS OVER! =) Spring has truly arrived in the Arctic and I am welcoming it with all of my heart. What a wonderful season! The singing of the birds, the warming air cleansed by melted snow, sunshine the whole day (and most of the night) long, the first smile-inducing sprigs of grass popping out of the cold earth. (enormous sigh) At this point we can see more dirt than snow -- even so, folks are still driving their snow machines!

Have You Died?

Devotional by Evangelist Tim Green in Baptist Bread

"Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin..." (Rom. 6:11a)

While preaching in Spain in 2010, the good missionary I was with told me of reading George Mueller's secret of success. Mueller was questioned as to why he had such unusual spiritual success. His profound reply was, "There was a day I died." And as he spoke he bent lower and lower until he almost touched the floor, "I died to George Mueller; his opinions, his preferences, his tastes, and will. I died to the world, its approval or censure, died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends, and since then I have studied only to show myself approved to God." My father has often said that he got a divorce from public opinion! The truth of the matter is, that ultimately we only must answer to God. The approval of men is based on bias at best and lack of experience at worst. The approval of our heavenly Father is based solely on holiness. Besides, He is the only One that knows the true motives, secret faults, and He distributes talents as He will. God is the One we must deal with, and He is the One who deals with us.

I am sure that if you picked up one of the thousands of self-help books, or secrets to success tomes that litter our libraries these days, you would be hard pressed to find any that espouse Mueller's plan of success. However, in this case I think I'll side with Mueller. See you at the cemetery!

Remember, "...whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27)

Have You Died?

Written and sung by Abigail Miller

There are so many Christians who name the name of Christ,
Who are washed in Jesus' blood, and are partakers of new life,
But deep inside they struggle with strong, besetting sin,
And they wonder if they'll ever learn the victory to win.

Have you died? Have you signed the warrant for your own execution?
Have you come to the end of self, and all your resolution?
When we finally fail in trying, we will find success in dying,
Have you died that you might live in Christ anew?

Lord Jesus, when You came to earth to give Your life for me,
You faced every strong temptation, but from sin Your life was free.
And if my perfect Savior had to die a cruel death
To obtain my freedom, how can I escape by doing less?

Have you died? Have you signed the warrant for your own execution?
Have you come to the end of self, and all your resolution?
When we finally fail in trying, we will find success in dying,
Have you died that you might live in Christ anew?

The only way to victory is not through strong resolve,
It is not through anything that I can do.
I must learn to see myself upon the cross in Jesus Christ,
And in Him I've resurrected to a pure and holy life.

I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live,
Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.
And the life which I now live in the flesh,
I live by the faith of the Son of God
Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

Have you died? Have you signed the warrant for your own execution?
Have you come to the end of self, and all your resolution?
When we finally fail in trying, we will find success in dying,
Have you died that you might live in Christ anew?

When we finally fail in trying, we will find success in dying,
Have you died that you might live in Christ anew?

In the photo: Tundra foliage

In the Way of Life

He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: 

but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

Proverbs 10:17
 

In the photo: American wisteria

A Cheerful Little Soul

Sunday evening, about 9:30 PM, my sister and spotted a snowbird on the sled outside our bedroom window, happily munching some yummy birdseed we had so generously provided. After numerous failed attempts to photograph the birds while eating, I determined this time I would not fail. I hopped into my pink rubber break-up boots, slung on a jacket, and grabbed the camera while rushing out our two back doors. As I crept around the house, icy snow crunching much-too-noisily beneath my booted feet, I readied the camera.

There he is! "Sorry to disturb your meal, Mr. Snowbird, but will you please hang around for a few minutes so I can get a few beautiful pictures of beautiful you?" =)

Children of the Storm

A book written by Natasha Vins

Today I finished reading an amazing true story about the Vins', a Christian family who lived in Soviet Russia. Children of the Storm is an autobiography written by the eldest daughter, Natasha. She shares events that took place as she was growing up in a Christian home during the 50's and 60's under the Communist government of Soviet Russia. While it is rated as a book for young adults, it is a must-read for people of all ages. I appreciated the book tremendously and highly recommend it.

Natasha's father, Gerogi Vins, was a Baptist preacher and a marked man. "As Nikita Khrushchev's anti-religious persecutions began in 1959, the state imposed new regulations on the Baptist church that drastically curtailed the small measure of independence they had enjoyed. As the Baptist movement split acrimoniously, Vins became one of the leading figures in the campaign to resist state pressure. He publicly opposed the pastor of his own congregation, in Kiev, who had accepted the new measures. Vins formed his own breakaway congregation, becoming its pastor, despite a lack of formal theological qualifications. The group met in a forest outside Kiev." (Source)  Despite these precautions, the KGB often discovered their places of worship and violently disrupted their services. During one invaded meeting, Natasha watched as her father was led away by the police. His crime was preaching the Word of God. Georgi Vins went into hiding so he could continue his ministry underground. After numerous arrests and brief imprisonments, Georgi Vins was sentenced to three years at a prison camp in the Ural Mountains. Natasha shares many memories of visiting her father at the prison camp during this time and other imprisonments.

Can you imagine sending your children to school where you know they will be constantly drilled into believing that God does not exist? As a young girl, Natasha was told to stand before her class as her teacher asked her, "Do you believe in God?" When Natasha said that yes, she did believe in God, her teacher mocked her before her classmates, and then Natasha was sent to the principal's office -- a terrible shame because only bad boys were ever sent to the principal! And following that first visit to the mean-tempered, shouting principal, she was sent back regularly for "re-education."

The Worth of Silver

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: 

the heart of the wicked is little worth.

Proverbs 10:20

Take away the dross from the silver, 

and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

Proverbs 25:4

In the photos: My mom's beautiful Cival War Era silver teapot, recently polished, and a bouquet of pink roses (now faded) that my dad gave to me a few months ago.

Further Reading on Submission

I have learned a great deal about submission as a daughter, but seeing as I am unmarried, I do not yet have any experience in submitting to a husband. =) Mrs. Julie Fink at her wonderful Journal for Women has some excellent articles on what the Bible has to say about this topic of submission. Mrs. Fink is a very wise and precious lady and I just love learning new truths from her! I hope you will prayerfully read these articles she has written and benefit from them.

• Submissive by Choice
• Reverence for a Husband
• The Sweet Side of Submission
• The Ministry of Submission
• The Blessings of Submission
• The Blessings of Submission (continued)
• The Blessings of Submission (concluded)
• All He Wanted Was Reverence
• Know Him, He's Your Man

What Is Submission?

Warning! If you're a normal, thinking woman you will not enjoy this blog post. You might even dislike ME halfway into reading it! Perhaps you will grow red with indignation; maybe your stomach will even churn. (chuckle) But be brave! Press on and read to the end. And please pray that God would create a work in your soul that you are unable to do yourself.

It is with an earnest desire that God would work in the hearts of His dear ladies that I have written this entry and have chosen to share it publicly. It is a work we desperately need Him to do, for the evidence of our need is written plainly on the epistles of our hearts, known and read of all men. Humble yourself as a little child and please let Him do it, for you will be so richly blessed. I can say that because I know. Oh, I know!

Lovingly,

Naomi

We teach little ones the verse, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." (Eph. 6:1) We want them to grow up loving and obeying Daddy and Mommy. Parents tell their children to do this and that, and not to do this and that because they want their children to be happy and safe. The methods of discipline chosen by parents are not pleasant but the goal in mind is good. When a child comes to realize the good purpose of spankings and other forms of discipline, that knowledge will instill in the child a desire and a willingness to obey. The child understands the truth of God's Word: "for this is right." It transforms that child's heart and attitude completely. Happy submission to Daddy and Mommy becomes his response to instruction.

When God established the first institution, the family, He designed it according to a very specific structure. Just as a contractor builds a house according to a well-thought-out plan, God created the home according to how it would best function and endure. We see in chapters five and six of Ephesians that God's structure for the family is God: Christ: husband: wife: children. It only works one way. This structure of authority does not equal various levels of superiority and inferiority, but simply different levels of "say-so."

Girls, what is your heart like? When a situation arises between you and your parents and you disagree with them, what is your response? Are disagreeable words the first thing out of your mouth? Do you resist their counsel and instruction? Is your attitude, "But I'm right; they're so unreasonable; they don't understand"?

As I have grown up, I have struggled with arguing. I have not always seen it as arguing, but my dad is more perceptive than me. =) My logic was that if I did not speak disrespectfully or have a saucy look in my eye, that constituted not arguing, regardless of my disagreeing with him and voicing those opinions. (Ha! Hardly.) I am thankful that whenever we have had a disagreement about something, he has firmly but quietly told me, "Don't argue." Ouch! I would close my mouth at once, but in my heart I would continue arguing. My simmering rebellion evidenced itself in the "silent treatment." Sure, I knew better than to act disrespectful. As I entered my teens I made a commitment to never speak to or treat my parents disrespectfully, and though I have had my failures God by His grace has helped me keep my commitment. But I soon came to learn that disrespect goes far deeper than how you merely treat and respond to your authorities. I finally realized this truth and how it helped me! God started creating a change in my silent rebellious spirit. But there was one thing I still needed to learn.

Regency Lace Shawl

I figured it was about time to write about the shawl. Counting the two times I reworked my first shawl, this is my fifth one to knit. I absolutely love this shawl pattern. It's graceful and warm yet lightweight enough that it doesn't feel cumbersome. The pattern is fairly simple to knit and it gets easier every time. As always, I used Lion Brand Homespun yarn, this time in the color "Regency." I originally made it to sell at our village craft fair but, seeing as no one was interested, it's mine now. =)

Life-Giving Labor

The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Proverbs 10:16

In the photo: A "baby" rose hip bush (North Pole, Alaska)

Promises of Spring

Today I took a lovely walk with my sisters and our dog Max. It was one of the warmest days we've had yet and it felt simply glorious!