Saturday, June 15  Heritage Days Festival Schedule

6:00 - 9:00     Pancake Breakfast

    a.m.     (Masonic Lodge)

9:00 a.m.-      East Woodsment Native

7:00 p.m.          American Re-enactors (LP)

                Indian Artifacts Display

            (Large Pavilion CP)

                15th/16th Century Musical

                             Instrument Display (CC)

                Food Vendors

                Artists/Artisans Booths

                Barrel Train Rides  (RF)

                  Historical Cemetery Walk

                Carriage Rides (LP) *fee

                Quilt Show  (CC)

                Antique Tractors  (RF)

                Ft. LaMotte Rangers

9:30-1:00      Big Blue Mountain (CP)

10:00 a.m.    Equine Parade 11:00 a.m.-   Demonstrations (See  

 1:00 p.m.        Demonstrations Schedule for     

                             time & location)

Noon             Cake Walk  (Downtown)

12:00-4:00     F.F.A. Petting Zoo (LP)

1:00 p.m.      Patty Winn, Storyteller

              (Stage)        

2:00-4:30     The Blacktops  (Stage)

2:00 p.m.    Stone Cleaning Demo

                  (Old Cemetery Downtown)

2:00-5:00     Demonstrations  (See   

                        Demonstrations Schedule for     

                             time & location)

5:00-6:30     Motherlode   (Stage)

7:00 p.m      Patty Winn, Storyteller

              (Stage)

8:00-9:30    Trouble & Company

   p.m.                 (Stage)

			Saturday Demonstrations                    Schedule
		Com.Center	Downtown	City Park-White Tent	Linn Park
	11:00	Mary Todd Lincoln*	Graves, Pottery/Wood Bowls	Debbie Green,  Alpacas	Blacksmith**
	11:15		Ashley Henigman, Baskets	Vicki Roberts, Spinning
	11:30	Music Instruments	Larry Waller, Bee Keeping	Jeannette Husinga, Weave/Knit	Native Americans
	11:45		Ned Shipley, Wood Carver	Cal Campbell, Storyteller
	12:00	Quilting  *		Bonnie Cross, Ribbon Lace	Lumber Milling****
	12:15
	12:30	Rug Hooking***	Graves, Pottery/Wood Bowls		Blacksmith**
	2:00	Music Instruments	Ashley Henigman, Baskets	Debbie Green, Alpacas	Native Americans
	2:15		Larry Waller, Bee Keeping	Jeannette Husinga, Weave/Knit
	2:30	Rug Hooking***	Karie Cook, Goats etc	Vicki Roberts, Spinning	Blacksmith**
	2:45		Graves, Pottery/Wood Bowls	Cal Campbell, Storyteller
	3:00	Mary Todd Lincoln*	Ned Shipley, Wood Carver	Bonnie Cross, Ribbon Lace	Lumber Milling****
	3:45		Larry Waller, Bee Keeping	Debbie Green,  Alpacas
	4:00	Music Instruments	Ashley Henigman, Baskets	Jeannette Husinga, Weave/Knit	Blacksmith**
	4:15		Ned Shipley, Wood Carver	Vicki Roberts, Spinning
	4:30	Mary Todd Lincoln*	Karie Cook, Goats	Cal Campbell, Storyteller	Native Americans
	4:45			Bonnie Cross, Ribbon Lace
	Ongoing--Gurley's Root Beer and Wood Lathe (DT) --Mike Brown, Deer Antler Art (DT)--Scarlet Williamson, Hand Quilting (CC)--Serenity Carriage Rides (LP) (Fee)
		* National Road Quilt Guild,  * Mary Jo Billingsley as Mary Todd Lincoln,  **Doug Moreland--Blacksmith   ***Betty Lawhead--Rug Hooking,  ****Sam Brown--Lumber Milling

Very Astute H. L. Mencken Quote

H.L. Mencken (born 1880 - died 1956) was a journalist, satirist, critic, and Democrat.  He wrote this editorial while working for the Baltimore Evening Sun, which appeared in the July 26, 1920, edition:

"As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people.  On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron."

----H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

Substitutions when cooking from Cook's Illustrated

      I discovered these tips many months ago on the Cook's Illustrated website and saved them because they contained things I didn't know.  (FYI: I've learned much from their free email newsletter if you're interested in subscribing.)  
      I have often wondered what to do when a recipe called for wine and I didn't have any.  (I usually leave it out.)  And I could never figure out why I should use unsalted butter instead of salted.  (I rarely buy unsalted.)  If you, too, have been curious about those things you may find these tips interesting and helpful, as I did.  I'm afraid I'm really not into cooking enough to care too much about some of these things, but I still find it interesting to understand the rationale behind using them.

        "Let’s talk about wine – whether red or white, it’s by far the most called for liquor in our recipes. We use it in many pan sauces, braising and stew liquids, soups, and sometimes gravy. The role of wine in these applications is to brighten and add bracing acidity to a dish. As the wines cook down, the complexity of its flavors are drawn out.

       But in any case where wine is part of the equation (as in the entire sauce isn’t built on wine only) we have a great substitution. For every half-cup of wine that you are substituting, use can use ½ cup broth plus 1 teaspoon of either lemon juice, or wine vinegar.

         There are three things that will make this substitution work. One is that you use the appropriate broth for the recipe – so if your soup or risotto is calling for chicken broth already, use more of that. Likewise, use the appropriate vinegar – red wine vinegar for red wine, and white wine vinegar for white wine. But most importantly, to mimic the acidity of the wine, you’ll want to add the vinegar to the dish just before serving. If added along with the broth, the brightness of the vinegar will be muted too much."

     "Want more good news (who doesn’t these days?) When a recipe calls for a tablespoon or so of various liquour – say sherry, port, madiera, it’s more than likely that the dish will be fine without it. Instead of these fortified wines (which are sweeter than regular wine), you may find that a pinch of sugar or splash of vinegar added along with your final seasonings may be all the dish needs."

      "Ok, I’ll go ahead and let you know that I keep both kinds in my house. The salted butter I spread on my toast (or homemade waffles – yum.) But I, and the test kitchen use unsalted butter for everything else. There are a few reasons for this.

       The amount of salt contained in a stick of butter is not regulated. So depending on the brand, the salt content can make up between 1.25 to 1.75% of the total weight. That’s quite a range, and since we in the test kitchen love consistency with all of our hearts, it’s better to start with unsalted butter and then give a specific amount of salt to use.

      Salted butter also contains more water than unsalted butter, and while this might not make a difference when slathering a compound butter on your steaks, it can literally change the texture in baked good. We found that brownies and drop biscuits made with salted butter were pastier than those made with unsalted butter. I don’t want pasty biscuits, do you?

      So, if all you have in your fridge is salted butter and you’re dying to make that batch of sugar cookies or crescent rolls, just know that they may come out a little heavy, and possibly a bit salty."

        "Of course we aren’t going to tell you to ignore your health concerns, but know that swapping dairy products can have a huge impact on the resulting recipe. And the reason all comes down to the beautiful, misunderstood milk-fat. Fat gives custards richness, fat makes heavy cream whip to puffy perfection, and fat also prevents a “cream” sauce from breaking as it boils away. That’s why the pan sauce made with milk will look split and greasy, while the one made with cream or even half and half will look, and feel silky smooth.

        So here’s what I suggest – if you want to reduce the amount of fat found in a recipe, or you just happen to be out of the dairy in question, only substitute similar ingredients (close in fat content) for each other. Here’s a guideline:

Cakes

       Many cake recipes call for milk, and we’ve found that 2% or 1% milk will work just about as well as whole milk. Skim milk can be used, but know that the resulting cake will be slightly tougher and/or dry.

Custards

        By and large we’ve had good luck when making custards and puddings with half and half instead of heavy cream. In fact, we often find the lighter result more enjoyable. Since custards don’t come to a full rolling boil, there is no need to worry about the mixture splitting.

Be wary of using lower fat milks in custards. As they set up, the texture can be slippery and bouncy.

      Here’s where it’s easy to make a mistake. You want a “fill-in-the-blank” casserole that doesn’t contain all of that fat! I understand, but don’t pour in the half and half instead of the heavy cream. Here’s why -

       Half and half is homogenized to prevent the milk fats from rising to the top of the carton. While this process is helpful to prevent your morning coffee from receiving an unfortunate glob of fat, it’s actually harmful to the ability of dairy proteins (casein) to coat the fat – which is necessary to prevent splitting as the sauce bubbles away.

       Heavy cream is not homogenized, so if you wish to cut back on the fat in a casserole, just use ¼ cup heavy cream mixed with ¾ cup whole milk (that’s for every cup of half and half used in the recipe.) This will give you a stable, and still pleasantly rich filling."

The Healing Prayer

       This is a beautiful prayer written by the late Dr. William Standish Reed and set to music by Roger Spanke.  It was recently posted to YouTube so that it's now possible to share it with you.  Thank you, Joyce Carole, for sending me the link.

Don't use artificial sweeteners

       Do you use artificial sweeteners?  I have been on a campaign for several years to educate people to the dangers of aspartame.  (See blog posts here and here if you are not aware of aspartame dangers.)  I have always doubted that any artificial sweetener could be good for you, but after reading the following  article when I happened upon the website: http://thepeopleschemist.com on the dangers of Splenda I believe it as bad as aspartame.  If you are using Splenda you might want to read this article and reconsider whether saving a few calories is worth the risk.

Splenda: The Artificial Sweetener that Explodes Internally

By: Shane Ellison, MS

Sucralose

Agent Orange

If there were a contest for the best example of total disregard for human life the victor would be McNeil Nutritionals – makers of Splenda (sucralose). Manufacturers of Vioxx and Lipitor would tie for a very distant second.

McNeil Nutritionals is the undisputed drug-pushing champion for disguising their drug Splenda as a sweetener. Regardless of its drug qualities and potential for side-effects, McNeil is dead set on putting it on every kitchen table in America. Apparently, Vioxx and Lipitor makers can’t stoop so low as to deceptively masquerade their drug as a candy of sort. There is no question that their products are drugs and by definition come with negative side-effects. Rather than sell directly to the consumer, these losers have to go through the painful process of using doctors to prescribe their dangerous goods. But not McNeil…

A keen student in corporate drug dealing, McNeil learned from aspartame and saccharine pushers that if a drug tastes sweet then let the masses eat it in their cake. First though, you have to create a facade of natural health. They did this using a cute trade name that kind of sounds like splendid and packaged it in pretty colors. Hypnotized, the masses were duped instantly. As unquestionably as a dog humps your leg, millions of diabetics (and non-diabetics) blindly eat sucralose under the trade name Splenda in place of real sugar (sucrose).

Splenda was strategically released on April fools day in 1998. This day is reserved worldwide for hoaxes and practical jokes on friends and family, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. McNeil certainly succeeded.

The splendid Splenda hoax is costing gullible Americans $187 million annually. While many people “wonder” about the safety of Splenda they rarely question it. Despite its many “unknowns” and inherent dangers, Splenda demand has grown faster than its supply. No longer do I have to question my faith in fellow Man. He is not a total idiot, just a gullible one. McNeil jokesters are laughing all the way to the bank.

Splenda is not as harmless as McNeil wants you to believe. A mixture of sucralose, maltodextrine and dextrose (a detrimental simple sugar), each of the not-so-splendid Splenda ingredients has downfalls. Aside from the fact that it really isn’t “sugar and calorie free,” here is one big reason to avoid the deceitful mix…Think April fools day:

Splenda contains a potential poison

Splenda contains the drug sucralose. This chemical is 600 times sweeter than sugar. To make sucralose, chlorine is used. Chlorine has a split personality. It can be harmless or it can be life threatening.

In combo with sodium, chlorine forms a harmless “ionic bond” to yield table salt. Sucralose makers often highlight this worthless fact to defend its’ safety. Apparently, they missed the second day of Chemistry 101 – the day they teach “covalent” bonds.

When used with carbon, the chlorine atom in sucralose forms a “covalent” bond. The end result is the historically deadly “organochlorine” or simply: a Really-Nasty Form of Chlorine (RNFOC).

Unlike ionic bonds, covalently bound chlorine atoms are a big no-no for the human body. They yield insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides – not something you want in the lunch box of your precious child. It’s therefore no surprise that the originators of sucralose, chemists Hough and Phadnis, were attempting to design new insecticides when they discovered it! It wasn’t until the young Phadnis accidentally tasted his new “insecticide” that he learned it was sweet. And because sugars are more profitable than insecticides, the whole insecticide idea got canned and a new sweetener called Splenda got packaged.

To hide its dirty origin, Splenda pushers assert that sucralose is “made from sugar so it tastes like sugar.” Sucralose is as close to sugar as Windex is to ocean water.

The RNFOC poses a real and present danger to all Splenda users. It’s risky because the RNFOC confers a molecule with a set of super powers that wreak havoc on the human body. For example, Agent Orange, used in the U.S Army’s herbicidal warfare program, is a RNFOC. Exposure can lead to Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma as well as diabetes and various forms of cancer! Other shocking examples are the war gas phosgene, chlordane and lindane. The RNFOC is lethal because it allows poisons to be fat soluble while rendering the natural defense mechanisms of the body helpless.

A poison that is fat soluble is akin to a bomb exploding internally. It invades every nook and cranny of the body. Cell walls and DNA – the genetic map of human life – become nothing more than potential casualties of war when exposed. Sucralose is only 25% water soluble. Which means a vast majority of it may explode internally. In general, this results in weakened immune function, irregular heart beat, agitation, shortness of breath, skin rashes, headaches, liver and kidney damage, birth defects, cancer, cancer and more cancer – for generations!

McNeil asserts that their studies prove it to be safe for everyone, even children. That’s little assurance. Learning from the Vioxx debacle which killed tens of thousands, we know that studies can be bought and results fabricated.

Some things are worth dying for. Splenda is not one of them. What people think of as a food is a drug or slow poison – little distinction there. It wouldn’t be wise to bet your health on it. If safe, sucralose would be the first molecule in human history that contained a RNFOC fit for human consumption. This fact alone makes sucralose questionable for use as a sweetener, if not instantly detrimental to our health. Only time will tell. Until then, Ill stick to the safe and naturally occurring stevia plant to satisfy my occasional sweet tooth in 2007.

Be forewarned though, as long as drugs can be legally disguised as sweeteners, watch out for drugs being disguised as vitamins…Oh wait, they are already doing that – think Lipitor.

22 Things Happy People Do Differently from Dr. Mercola's website

 22 Things Happy People Do Differently

By Dr. Mercola

Many people spend their lives waiting to be happy.  You may think, “if only I had more money,” or “could lose weight,” or you fill in the blank, then I would be happy.

Well here’s a secret: you can be happy right now. It’s not always easy, but you can choose to be happy, and in the vast majority of circumstances there’s no one who can stop you except for yourself.

The truth is, happiness doesn’t come from wealth, perfect looks or even a perfect relationship. Happiness comes from within. This is why, if you truly want to be happy, you need to work on yourself, first.

22 Positive Habits of Happy People

What’s the secret to being happy? You can learn how to do it, just as you can learn any other skill. Those who are happy tend to follow a certain set of habits that create peace in their lives; if you learn to apply these habits in your own life, there’s a good chance you’ll be happy too.

The featured article compiled 22 such behaviors that you can use to enhance your life and your happiness:¹

1. Let go of grudges

Forgiving and forgetting is necessary for your own happiness, as holding a grudge means you’re also holding onto resentment, anger, hurt and other negative emotions that are standing in the way of your own happiness. Letting go of a grudge frees you from negativity and allows more space for positive emotions to fill in.

2. Treat everyone with kindness

Kindness is not only contagious, it’s also proven to make you happier. When you’re kind to others, your brain produces feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters like serotonin and you’re able to build strong relationships with others, fostering positive feelings all around.

3. Regard your problems as challenges

Change your internal dialogue so that anytime you have a “problem” you view it as a challenge or a new opportunity to change your life for the better. Eliminate the word “problem” from your mind entirely.

4. Express gratitude for what you have

People who are thankful for what they have are better able to cope with stress, have more positive emotions, and are better able to reach their goals. The best way to harness the positive power of gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal or list, where you actively write down exactly what you’re grateful for each day. Doing so has been linked to happier moods, greater optimism and even better physical health.

5. Dream big

Go ahead and dream big, as you’ll be more likely to accomplish your goals. Rather than limiting yourself, when you dream big you’re opening your mind to a more optimistic, positive state where you have the power to achieve virtually anything you desire.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff

If the issue you’re mad about will be irrelevant a year, a month, a week or even a day from now, why sweat it? Happy people know how to let life’s daily irritations roll off their back.

7. Speak well of others

It may be tempting to gather around the office water cooler to get and give the daily gossip, but talking negatively about others is like taking a bath in negative emotions; your body soaks them up. Instead, make it a point to only say positive, nice words about other people, and you’ll help foster more positive thinking in your own life as well.

8. Avoid making excuses

It’s easy to blame others for your life’s failures, but doing so means you’re unlikely to rise past them. Happy people take responsibility for their mistakes and missteps, then use the failure as an opportunity to change for the better.

9. Live in the present

Allow yourself to be immersed in whatever it is you’re doing right now, and take time to really be in the present moment. Avoid replaying past negative events in your head or worrying about the future; just savor what’s going on in your lifenow.

10. Wake up at the same time every morning

Getting up at the same time every day (preferably an early time) is deceptively simple. Doing so will help regulate your circadian rhythm so you’ll have an easier time waking and likely feel more energized. Plus, the habit of rising early every day is one shared by many successful people, as it enhances your productivity and focus.

11. Don’t compare yourself to others

Your life is unique, so don’t measure your own worth by comparing yourself to those around you. Even regarding yourself as better than your peers is detrimental to your happiness, as you’re fostering judgmental feelings and an unhealthy sense of superiority. Measure your own success based on your progress alone, not that of others.

12. Surround yourself with positive people

The saying “misery loves company” is entirely true. That’s why you need to choose friends who are optimistic and happy themselves, as you will be surrounded with positive energy.

13. Realize that you don’t need others’ approval

It’s important to follow your own dreams and desires without letting naysayers stand in your way. It’s fine to seek others’ opinions, but happy people stay true to their own hearts and don’t get bogged down with the need for outside approval.

14. Take time to listen

Listening helps you soak in the wisdom of others and allows you to quiet your own mind at the same time. Intense listening can help you feel content while helping you gain different perspectives.

15. Nurture social relationships

Positive social relationships are a key to happiness, so be sure you make time to visit with friends, family and your significant other.

16. Meditate

Meditation helps you keep your mind focused, calms your nerves and supports inner peace. Research shows it can even lead to physical changes in your brain that make you happier.

17. Eat well

What you eat directly impacts your mood and energy levels in both the short and long term. Whereas eating right can prime your body and brain to be in a focused, happy state, eating processed junk foods will leave you sluggish and prone to chronic disease. My free nutrition plan is an excellent tool to help you choose the best foods for both physical and emotional wellness.

18. Exercise

Exercise boosts levels of health-promoting brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which may help buffer some of the effects of stress and also relieve some symptoms of depression. Rather than viewing exercise as a medical tool to lose weight, prevent disease, and live longer – all benefits that occur in the future – try viewing exercise as a daily tool to immediately enhance your frame of mind, reduce stress and feel happier.

19. Live minimally

Clutter has a way of sucking the energy right out of you and replacing it with feelings of chaos. Clutter is an often-unrecognized source of stress that prompts feelings of anxiety, frustration, distraction and even guilt, so give your home and office a clutter makeover, purging it of the excess papers, files, knick knacks and other “stuff” that not only takes up space in your physical environment, but also in your mind.

20. Be honest

Every time you lie, your stress levels are likely to increase and your self-esteem will crumble just a little bit more. Plus, if others find out you’re a liar it will damage your personal and professional relationships. Telling the truth, on the other hand, boosts your mental health and allows others to build trust in you.

21. Establish personal control

Avoid letting other people dictate the way you live. Instead, establish personal control in your life that allows you to fulfill your own goals and dreams, as well as a great sense of personal self-worth.

22. Accept what cannot be changed

Everything in your life is not going to be perfect, and that’s perfectly all right. Happy people learn to accept injustices and setbacks in their life that they cannot change, and instead put their energy on changing what they can control for the better.

George Washington quote

George Washington: "Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

Joey LeTourneau: Drawbridges Opening:

        Analogies and examples of earthly things are so helpful and easy to remember when explaining the spiritual.  I especially liked Joey's example of placing a battery in an electronic device.  Alignment is important.

Joey LeTourneau:

Drawbridges Opening: A Unique Kingdom Invitation and Advancement

       I was in a prayer time recently, asking God about a potential open door that looked to be guarded. While seeking to gain His perspective, I was taken aback by a vision of a drawbridge that was being lowered for me. As I inquired about such, I heard Him clearly whisper to my heart, "Man may guard the doors, but it's the favor of the King that opens the drawbridge."

       A drawbridge is an invitation into the special favor on our lives for this season, the unique identity we are called to live out for this time. Drawbridges portray a clear focus on kingdom, and no king invites you in lightly without a special appointment.

Advancement vs. Placement

        We are often looking for doors of advancement, but the drawbridge is an even bigger entrance for the purpose of your own special placement. I believe this is a matter of authority. We are often seeking the Lord for how to move forward, and from our perspective that usually requires an open door. While we may be watching for such advancement, God is welcoming us into the greatest access of all to walk in the authority of our unique and specific Kingdom placement. (Photo courtesy: Travels With Nathaniel/Linda Orlomoski/Hawthorne Hotel)

     If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7

       Advancement often requires striving, but true Kingdom placement is about identity and creates advancement through far fewer steps or strides. It is about knowing, appreciating, and accepting the special "niche" He has created us for and living this out toward the world.

Kingdom Alignment

      But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the Body just as He pleased. 1 Corinthians 12:18

       Think of a battery in an electronic device. You can put a brand new, full, top-of-the-line battery into the hatch, but if it is not aligned in its own specified way, the light or power will not be generated. This usually only requires the slightest adjustment and leads to a natural and steady flow of light and/or power. It is about alignment and knowing our own special grace for this time.

        Who has He made you to be for this season in the world? How is He calling you to join Him? Such alignment always begins with our intimacy with Him and surrender to Him.

       The animal kingdom demonstrates this wonderfully. On a recent trip to the zoo I couldn't help but take in the beauty of how "difference" is so wildly scattered for such strategic and even life-altering reasons. As you watch the animals or read the descriptive placards, you are reminded that they are created vastly different on purpose. They are placed in habitats or regions that are unique to their place in the animal kingdom. When an animal is taken out of its special habitat there is so much more necessary work just to help them function and survive. To the contrary, when an animal is living freely in its unique identity and natural alignment, it flourishes and causes other surrounding species to do the same.

Uncommon Unity

        We often think of unity as an end that we pursue. It is commonly seen as a state of existence where everyone compromises to come into alignment. But unity in the Spirit is different. Unity in the Spirit is a seemingly misaligned alignment held together by the One who celebrates our diversity and created us to come together – not in spite of but because of our differences. Such unity is uncommon and marked by intimacy, identity, and difference. As we align with Him, He will align us in His ways with one another.

      ...And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. Isaiah 10:27

Many of us are battling difficulties that seem to keep hanging on. But it is the anointing that breaks every yoke. When we step into our unique, different anointing there is an alignment, a special kind of uncommon unity with Christ, that releases the fullness of favor we already have, breaks off the yokes we've been carrying, and invites us in to the joys we've been waiting for.

Jesus' Final Prayer

       That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:21

      Drawbridges are opening, calling us away from the few doors we may all be crowding into, inviting us into a Kingdom alignment that will bring ultimate glory to God. You have been specially appointed by the King to walk in a new grace for this time. Will you leave the doors of the past to accept His special invitation?

       Ground will not just be taken in the world by how we move forward, but exponentially so through how we move into and through intimate and diverse alignment. There is a power in this kind of different oneness that Jesus prayed for in John 17 that will cause the world to believe as we each release ourselves to live out His image of us rather than the one we ourselves have been chasing.

        The sooner we understand such vital placement for ourselves, the more freely we can bless and empower others to live out their own – even, and especially, when it is different than us! Do you know your grace for this time? Are you struggling to accept it? Just say yes, and watch how the light comes on!

Joey LeTourneau
M.A.R.K. 10:14 Family/Heavenly Hope Ministries
Email: joey.letourneau@gmail.com
Website: bringhishope.org / uncommonvision.org

Galatians 4

Have you ever studied Galatians?  I am so amazed at how relevant it is today.  Paul wrote to the Galatians because they were mixing law and grace.  It seems that almost every church I've ever visited has a tendency to do this!

Paul explained how the law was given to show us how far we fall short of fulfilling the requirements of God's perfection.  But the Galatians were insisting that fulfilling parts of the law be required of those who had accepted Christ's sacrifice.  Paul tells us that Christ fulfilled the entire law and in so doing he cancelled the law's requirements on us.  When we accept Him we are no longer under the law.  Our sins are totally forgiven--every sin that we have committed and every sin that we will commit--already forgiven.  But not only that--he then gave us His Spirit to live in us so that we are enabled to live a life acceptable to God.  Everything God has and is, He has give to us in Jesus!  It is wonderful Good News!  Why are we so inclined to water it down with rules & regulations?

I was reading Galatians 4:1 this morning "Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had." 

It occurred to me that one reason we don't see all our prayers answered is that we have not matured in the faith.  I realize Paul was explaining that the law was our tutor till Jesus came and sent the Holy Spirit, but I was also thinking that we are still immature in many spiritual areas.  It is only through spending time with Our Father that we get to know Him and what He desires.  If He allowed us to exercise all our inheritance immediately upon becoming a Christian we might use it in ways that seemed right to us but were not in line with His purposes.  But I also believe there is another reason we don't see our prayers answered and that is because we do not yet know who we are.  We don't really believe we are His heirs and are entitled to everything that Jesus did.

I'm sure there are lots of reasons for unanswered prayer but these are thoughts I want to meditate on awhile longer.  Why don't I truly accept who God said I am and act on it?  Why is it so easy to forget the magnificent inheritance I have in Him?

Lord, I believe.  Help thou my unbelief!
     

I have a Light lyrics - Don Potter

I love this song by Don Potter--actually I love almost all songs by Don Potter--so since I've been singing it in my mind for several days, I thought I would post it in case you also need a new song running through your head.

MIke Shreve: Claiming God's Promises for Your Children

      This article written by Mike Shreve for Sid Roth's newsletter, "Mishpochah", is great encouragement for parents.  It also shows the necessity of knowing God's Word.  How can we agree with and declare His promises for our children if we don't even know what they are!

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When facing challenges as parents, we need to focus on God's promises.

Claiming God's Promises for Your Children
By Mike Shreve

For years I had studied the soul-strengthening subject of the Promises of God. (There are 7,487 according to the respected author, Herbert Lockyer.) But this was different! God had just given me a flash of inspiration—it dawned on me that He has given a number of promises that specifically concern the sons and daughters of those who serve God.

I knew I had just tapped into a mother lode in God’s Word (a primary vein of gold). Knowing God’s promises is essential because that gives His people a basis for their faith. Once promises are known, believers do not need to beg God to do those things He has already pledged to do. Instead, they can come to Him boldly, confessing His Word, fully expecting a manifestation. Too often mothers and fathers do the opposite. They pray in desperation, begging God to move in the lives of their children. That “pleading” approach went out the window forever when the breath of God breathed this insight into my spirit. One of the first promises He led me to was Deuteronomy 7:9:

“…He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

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“How amazing!” I whispered, shaking my head. I knew a generation, biblically-speaking, was 100 years long (see Genesis 15:13-16), so I quickly concluded, “A thousand times a hundred years! Wow! If I sincerely walk with God in this life, an invisible blessing will pass down through my family line for 100,000 years.” (Of course, this is most likely not an exact figure, but a symbolic one, showing how dependable and long-lasting this promise is.) “If we have that long,” I mused, “then long after I am gone, God’s covenant will hover over my offspring to empower them and a reservoir of mercy will be there to restore them in time of need. And if that works for a thousand generations, how much more powerful it is for the next two or three generations!” It was a Holy-Spirit-saturated moment that opened my eyes to the enduring impact of a life committed to God.

I concluded, “Never again will I plead for a move of God in my children’s lives.” Instead, in the words of Psalm 2:7, I began to “declare the decree.” In ancient times after a king made a “decree,” he would send representatives into every corner of his domain to “declare the decree,” establishing as universal law what was initially a decision heard only by those present in the throne room. Because the enthroned King of all creation has decreed these promises over our children, now it is our responsibility to declare them—to verbally reinforce God’s laws in this natural realm, defying everything that opposes His purpose.

So I began praying prophetically, “I choose life for our family! The death-dealing elements of this world WILL NOT destroy our children. According to God’s promise, He will circumcise their hearts (cutting away the influence of the world) and awaken within them love for Him and love for the truth. Yes, I claim it. He will pour out both His blessing and His Spirit on my seed.”

Within a few months of praying this way, my five-year-old daughter was baptized with the Holy Spirit. After lying on the floor for about 30 minutes, crying and speaking in tongues, she fell into my arms and whispered, “Daddy, Jesus filled me—He really filled me.” Was the timing just coincidental? I don’t think so. Actually, my wife and I have had to fight the good fight of faith just to have a family. We were told initially that it was impossible for us to have children, but we prayed and the God of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah did it again. He healed Elizabeth of barrenness. Then my firstborn, Zion Seth, suffered oxygen deprivation during a very traumatic birth. The attending doctors claimed it would definitely result in serious mental and physical challenges, to the point where he would probably never function normally. Instead, he entered college three years ago in the top honors society on campus and physically he has no problems.

The challenges escalated with Elizabeth’s next pregnancy. Around the fifth month, we went in for her normal check-up. With a very grim look on their faces, the doctor and his attending nurse showed us the ultra-sound image explaining that our daughter had spina bifi da (a hole in the spine) and would be crippled as a result. Next, he advised that she would also have cretinism (a type of retardation) because of a thyroid condition Elizabeth was battling. Much to our surprise, even though he knew we were committed Bible believers, he suggested an “alternative’”(we knew he meant abortion). Our response? We agreed never to return to his office again, but instead, to rely on the Word of God.

Often we prayed Psalm 138:8 (“the Lord will perfect that which concerns me”) and Psalm 139:13 (“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb”) expecting the curse to be reversed. Then we chose a name for our daughter—prophetically calling her Destiny Hope (to counteract the prognosis they gave of no hope and no destiny). It worked. At some point in the next few months, the healing took place and Destiny was born perfect.

I believe these miracles happened because we dared to believe the PROMISES God gave in His Word. In a variety of ways and means, this is a major part of what faith is all about—each generation transferring to the next what we have received from the Everlasting Father. This is God’s perspective too. For instance, when He revealed Himself to Noah, God made a pledge that continues even to this day:

“As for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you… never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:9-11).

Even if your children are presently walking in darkness and refusing to acknowledge the truth you embrace, don’t give in to discouragement. If you are a lover of God, He has actually adopted your children as His own. Read the following promise carefully:

“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth — Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:5-7).

The Shreve family, Mike and Elizabeth with their miracle children, Destiny Hope and Zion Seth. Mike is the author of eleven books and the founder of Shreve Ministries.

Notice God initiates this passage calling them “your descendants,” then He commands, “Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth.” Apparently, because they belong to you, God claims them as His own (since what belongs to you is “on the altar” and actually belongs to Him). So the Redeemer promises to place His canopy of protection and provision over their lives. Though satan and his demonic underlings are constantly fighting for the control of their lives, God has uttered the war cry:

“I will contend with him who contends with you; and I will save your children” (Isaiah 49:25).

That settles it! You and I had better not put a question mark where God has placed a period! As far as He is concerned, “It is done.” He just needs you and me to pray the prayer of agreement, then make a commitment to wait on the Lord.

Surely by now you can sense the tremendous power of knowing and confessing these promises. You need to become well acquainted with all 65 promises, and start building a spiritual “wall of fire” around your family (Zechariah 2:5).

This is me!