Tag: trust God

Trials

Never Forget 9/11

meghanewhite

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It was a typical Tuesday morning. Dylan was playing with his toy trains. At 2 1/2 years old, life was uncomplicated for my little boy. Our peaceful morning was interrupted by a phone call, then another, and another. Call after call alerting me to turn on the news. America had been attacked.

I went into my bedroom and turned on the t.v. The shocking images of the World Trade Center on fire with smoke pouring out did not seem real. The grim reality set in at the horrific sight of the towers rapidly collapsing. Chaos, people covered in dust running, and crying. I was in complete shock like everyone else. Safe America was no more.

Our church filled up that night with people praying. Crying out to God. Looking for answers. Trying to make sense of what happened. Our false sense of security had been breeched. It was the first time I had experienced real fear living in a free and presumably safe country.

Almost 3000 people were killed in the 9/11 terror attacks on America. It’s the largest terrorist attack in world history. Four planes in total were hijacked. Two planes struck the World Trade Center towers, one plane struck the Pentagon, and flight 93 crashed into a Pennsylvania field.

Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, children, aunts, uncles, and grandparents were gone. Real people who were dearly loved. Those who lost their precious loved ones on that awful day never forget. They can’t.

There are countless miraculous stories from that tragic day. So many first responders ran into the danger to save people, to help. Many gave their lives. Ordinary citizens became heroes as well. Like those who helped bring flight 93 down. Sacrifice, honor, humanity, service, and love are what I think of when all these heroic people come to mind.

One of the most tragic days in American history brought us together. There were U.S. flags everywhere. A new sense of patriotism. Not because we were better than any other country, but because we were better together. What was meant to destroy us, made us stronger.

Churches were filled to the brim. Those of us with faith clung to Jesus, our only hope. Some who had ignored God, started seeking and searching Him out. We were a little kinder to each other, gave a little more grace, and hugged our loved ones a little tighter. Our human frailty confronted us all on that dark day.

May we never forget those cherished lives that were lost on 9/11.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

Father God,

Thank you for your grace and mercy. We lift up all the families and those hurting today as they remember their loved ones who’s lives were lost on 9/11. Comfort them, Father. Give them peace and surround them with Your love. Remind them of the good memories they have of their loved ones. Bring love, support, and encouragement to these special people. May they experience your deep abiding love.

We lift up all those who suffered injuries and trauma from those evil attacks. Give them peace, healing, and comfort. Draw each of them to you Lord. May they experience the life changing love from the Prince of Peace, Jesus.

Heal our land, Lord. As we remember 9/11 today, remind us of who we can be in Christ. We cry out to You, Abba, for mercy, grace and forgiveness. Turn our hard hearts back to You.

In Jesus Mighty name,

Amen

God

Known by God

meghanewhite

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There are 17,000 Union soldiers buried in Vicksburg National Cemetery. The vast majority of tombstones say “Unknown”. Thousands of grave markers with no name. Were these men really unknown? Of course not. They had mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, wives and children who knew them. Unfortunately the makeshift grave sites during the Civil War identifying these soldiers were gone by the time a national cemetery was created.

I looked at row after row of these unknown soldiers thinking of their families who knew them well. The generals and high ranking officials have grand memorials with statues of bronze, yet the enlisted guys have simple markers with a number. God knew each and every one of them. They were known by a loving God.

Who knows you? Does your husband or wife know you? Maybe your friends know you. Your siblings might know you or your parents. Sure we all have people in our lives who know us better than anyone else, but who knows you the best? God knows us better than anyone, even better than we know ourselves.

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.

Psalm 139:1-4, NIV

Our creator, God, knows every single thing about us. He knows when we sit, and when we rise. He is familiar with all our ways. Before we say a word, He knows it completely.

God knows our struggles, our heartache, our deep pain. God knows our sins, and bad choices. God knows our ugly thoughts and our deepest needs. God knows every single thing about us, and still loves us like no one else can. God’s love for us is perfect.

Every person has the desire to be known. There is only one who knows us deeply, perfectly, lovingly. God knows you and He knows me. Do you know God?

There is only one way to the Father, that’s Jesus.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6, NIV

The God of the universe knows you. He made you, and loves you so very much. No one knows you like God. If you are feeling invisible or unknown, please be assured that you are known and you are loved by God.

God is always there, watching over you. Even when you think no one sees or cares, God does. He loves you passionately and will pursue you all the days of your life. God knows you, really knows you, like no other. You can trust Him fully. Do you know Him?

May you feel the deep abiding love of God, who made you and knows you. You are known.

Love you all,

Meghan

Food, mustard seed sentinel

Oven Roasted Tomatoes

meghanewhite

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I love tomatoes in any and every way possible. Sliced on a sandwich, chopped in salsa, cooked in sauce and fresh from the garden are all scrumptious. Tomatoes are versatile and delicious. One of my favorite ways to prepare the all-purpose tomato is roasted.

Roasted tomatoes have the most amazing flavor and are very easy to make. I love to use Romas when roasting tomatoes but any tomato will do. You can slice them thin or just halve them depending on how you will use your roasted tomatoes.

Add them to salads, soups, or sandwiches. Toss roasted tomatoes with some pasta, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan for a delicious simple meal. Compliment your main dish of chicken, fish or pork with some roasted tomatoes. Put some roasted tomatoes on a charcuterie board or the top of crostini.

There are numerous ways to use roasted tomatoes to add wonderful flavor and texture to just about any dish. It’s also a great way to preserve tomatoes since they can be kept in the freezer for up to six months. I hope you are inspired to give roasted tomatoes a try.

Happy Eating!

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

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Oven Roasted Tomatoes

Ingredients

2 pounds plum tomatoes

olive oil

Salt and pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400℉
  2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
  3. Slice tomatoes in half. Gently remove the seeds and stems.
  4. Place the sliced tomatoes on prepared baking sheet.
  5. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper.
  6. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until tomatoes begin to carmelize.
  7. Cool and add them to your favorite dish.

Notes:

Store roasted tomatoes in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

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Crostini

Ingredients

Baguette

Olive oil

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350℉
  2. Slice baguette into ¼ inch rounds.
  3. Brush each side with olive oil and place on a baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 15 minutes until crisp and golden brown.

Notes:

Add whatever toppings you like to the crostini.

I topped mine with ricotta cheese, roasted tomatoes, and fresh oregano.

For this recipe and more go to Mustard Seed Sentinel.

https://www.mustardseedsentinel.com

Persecution

How to Pray for Afghanistan

meghanewhite

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My heart sank as I watched the tarmac filled with Afghan people wanting to leave. Some were desperate enough to cling to the massive C-17 in hopes of rescue. Like many of you, I wanted to do something but felt so helpless being so far away. One of the best things we can do is pray.

According to Open Doors, Afghanistan is the second most persecuted country for Christians. Open Doors is a non-denominational Christian ministry that supports the persecuted church around the world. They keep vital statistics on persecution.

“Open Doors USA is dedicated to the radical idea that every Christian belongs to one Church and one Family“

Another incredible ministry to the persecuted church is The Voice of the Martyrs. I love both of these amazing ministries because they are passionate about prayer, and helping the suffering church all over the world.

Every province in Afghanistan has Christians, according to The Voice of the Martyrs. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ. How can we help? We can pray.

The Voice of the Martyrs has put together a list of ways we can pray.

How to Pray for Afghanistan Today

  1. PRAY FOR GOD’S PROTECTION. The situation on the ground is fluid right now. Pray for God’s protection over His people.
  2. PRAY FOR WISDOM. Ask God to bless our brothers and sisters with discernment as they decide whether to stay or go and even with whom they should talk.
  3. PRAY FOR FELLOWSHIP. Believers in Afghanistan often must keep their faith a secret — even from family members. Pray that God will help each Afghan believer to connect and fellowship with at least one other believer in person, by phone or through some other technology. Pray that God will remind them that they are not alone, but are part of the global body of Christ.
  4. PRAY FOR SAFE PASSAGE. Pray that God will provide safe passage to those who feel led by God to leave Afghanistan and provide for their immediate needs in their new location.
  5. PRAY THAT MUSLIMS WILL MEET CHRIST. The Taliban claim to be “true Muslims,” strictly adhering to Sharia (Islamic law). As Muslims in Afghanistan see this cruel face of Islam, pray that they will be drawn to Jesus Christ, the shepherd Savior who doesn’t oppress but instead chose to lay down His life for His sheep.
  6. PRAY FOR CHRISTIANS TRYING TO HELP. For decades, VOM has provided help and encouragement to Christians in Afghanistan. Pray for the wisdom of front-line workers, and pray that God will open new pathways for them to continue their work under Taliban control. 

THANK YOU for standing with our Afghan brothers and sisters during this volatile time.

Love you all,

Meghan

Home
Click on the above link that says “Home” to access Open Doors.

https://www.persecution.com

Click on the above link to access The Voice of the Martyrs.

Bible

Are You Hungry?

meghanewhite

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Photo by Valeriya Kobzar from Pexels

Each morning I grab my beat up old Bible from the nightstand. I’m very attached to my old Bible. The binding is taped. Pages are falling out. It’s a mess and I love it. My Bible holds a spiritual legacy. It was my mom’s first Bible when she placed her faith in Jesus. Mom gave me her Bible when I was in Junior High and she bought a new one. It’s the only Bible I’ve used ever since.

Mom’s notes are written in certain books of the Bible that she studied. Every so often as I’m flipping through the pages I’ll see Mom’s perfect handwriting reminding me of her passion for God’s Word. When she got saved it ignited a hunger in her to learn as much as possible about Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. 

I see the craving and passion in Mom’s words scrawled on the pages of her old Bible. She was blessed as a new Christ follower with great Biblical teachers at our church. 

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I love these notes. It’s Mom reminding me of what really matters.

  1. Remember your Savior.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3, NIV 

  1. Love one another.

 Love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22b, NIV 

  1. Rid yourselves of sin. Malice, envy, deceit, etc. Crave pure spiritual milk.

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3, NIV

As a new Christian my mom was so excited to devour the Word of God. She couldn’t get enough. Mom was spiritually hungry and she was going to the right place to get fed. Mom was feeding on God’s Holy Word. It was filling her up and she kept coming back for more.

We are all hungry. We were born hungry for more. The only satisfaction is in Jesus Christ. Nutritious food for our soul is in the Word of God. We can feast on it day and night and never get full or bloated. We can’t get too much of God’s Word in us. 

If I feast on worldly things that temporarily fill me up I will get queasy, and never truly satisfied. It leaves me empty, so I have made the mistake of pursuing more of the worldly things in hopes of satisfaction that never comes. It’s a vain pursuit. 

When we fill up on God’s word it changes us. God’s words are alive. There’s no other book like it. The entire story of humankind is written in the pages. God wrote the end from the beginning. God’s word stands forever.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,

“All people are like grass,

    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

    but the word of the Lord endures forever.” 

1 Peter 1:23-25, NIV 

There is a beautiful feast waiting for us in the pages of the Bible. One verse can transform a heart. The more I read the Bible, the more I am changed, convicted, filled with hope, joy, love, wisdom, knowledge, and excitement. God’s words to us are more powerful than any book we have ever read. 

I have to ask myself what am I feeding my soul with? Am I settling for the junk food of the world? Am I sitting at the table with the Lord filled with inexhaustible resources of grace and mercy? I want the same hunger for God that my mom had as a new Christian. 

Thanks Mom for the legacy you left me. Each time I hold my torn up Bible in my hands I am reminded that’s where it all began for you. It continues on for me and I pray the same for my sons. 

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4, NIV 

Love you all,

Meghan 

Father God, 

Thank you for Your incredible book, the Bible. It has the power to transform hearts and minds for it is Your life giving words. Give us a hunger for Your word, a hunger for Your presence, a hunger for more of You in our lives and our world. Help us to make daily Bible reading a priority and a passion. We praise You almighty God!

Amen