Inspire

Issue #14 December 2012

To Love Again Ministries

Content October 2012

Christmas Traditions 4 Let us Rest 6

Divide and Conquer 7 Where’s The Love 8

Oh Holly Knight 12

Credits

Founder & Editor Kimberly Borst Writers Kimberly Borst Debra Lilly Mary Corey Sarah Williamson

Editing Alan Porter

Photography Cover Marilylle Soveran (Unnamed with creative commons limited license)

Design Kimberly Borst

Copyright © To Love Again

Ministries 2012, Photos © very

To Love Again Ministries Pick of the month

This month we are highlighting a sermon by Tim Tuttle

Your Boat, His Call, and The Right Response

This is a very encouraging teaching by pastor Tim Tuttle. He does a great job explaining God’s awareness of our situation and His sufficiency to help us in them. Just click the logo above to listen to Pastor Tim.

English toffee We have several traditions we do together as a family at Christmas one of my favorite is making English Toffee (my grandmother’s recipe.) Recipe 1 lb. Butter 2 cups sugar 1/3 cup corn syrup A pinch of salt In a large pot combine ingredients on high bring to a boil. Add ½ cup of slivered almonds, stirring in a figure eight continuously. When your candy gets to temperature it will start to toast your almonds and they will streak brown - give it another minute, then pour it out onto a large cookie sheet and spread it with your spoon. Melt 1 large chocolate bar in a bowl in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Spread your chocolate on your Toffee. Finish it off by sprinkling ½ cup chopped almonds on the melted chocolate. Let your toffee cool then break it up with a knife. It makes a great holiday treat.

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Hot Spiced Cider To kick it all off we decorate the house and tree with a tasty cup of hot spiced cider in hand. Recipe 1 gal. Cider In a spice bag or ball add: 3 cinnamon sticks 1 tsp. Cloves whole 1 teaspoon allspice whole Stir in 2 droppers of stevia or 1 cup sugar. Heat and serve.

CCiinnnnaammoonn OOrrnnaammeennttss Making something special for the tree

can be a fun bonding time with the kids. Cinnamon ornaments are easy and they can be as simple or elaborate as you want them to be. As you bake them, the house will fill with the smells of Christmas. These little treasures can be used for years to come and are not edible. Recipe 1 cup applesauce ¾ cup cinnamon 2 tablespoons clove 1 tablespoon allspice 1 tablespoon nutmeg Combine all the ingredients and roll out your dough on wax or parchment paper. Cut out your shapes with cookie cutters. Use a straw to make a hole on top for a piece of ribbon or twine to hang them with. Bake them at 200o for 15 minutes. After they cool you can decorate them with frosting and/or glue on buttons, ribbons, bells or whatever your mind can contrive. Projects like this create lasting memories for us and our kids.

Hot Chocolate Just before Christmas we all pile in the car and drive around looking at Christmas lights. For a special treat we bring along cookies and hot chocolate (in to-go cups with lids.) Here are some of the ways we spice up our hot chocolate. Recipe For each person: 1 cup milk + coco packet 1 peppermint candy, or a little cinnamon, or 1/8 tsp. vanilla Mini marshmallows, or whipped cream Hope you have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the amazing gift of our savior Jesus!

Let us rest and talk awhile,

Turn my heart from all that’s vile. In your presence does my heart mend,

Truly you are my closest friend. Pick me up and draw me near,

Your tender love chases away all fear. Forgive my busyness and things at hand,

Draw me away to Your Holy Land. My true desire is to be with you,

Only Your Grace can see me through. In You alone are all my remedies,

For Your Blood has washed away my enemies. Debra Lilly

Divide and Conquer Mary Corey

I find myself in the throes of another

holiday season. My heart goes out to adult children from divorced parents. I am no exception, 15 years with husband number one and father of my two great kids and grandfather of our 9 wonderful grandchildren link us for life. Husband number two of 30 years considers himself a second father to my son which can and does get very complicated. Now my children’s spouses are also the victims left in the wake of broken homes. You can imagine the benefits for the grandkids, lots of love from all and the gifts that roll in at birthdays and Christmas are great. However, their parents are left with who and how to split up time. I cannot speak for my two exes but I vow to keep the peace and not cause anxiety for my kids. This means be gracious to all and enjoy the yearly reunions.

I try to always accept the first invitation

with the exception of Christmas, where I have brunch with my daughter and her family and go to my son and his family’s Christmas open-house. This truly is a God thing and it works. There is always loads of great food because everyone brings

something, which leaves no one person doing all the cooking and preparation. There are literally oodles of people and tons of excited children. I consider myself lucky and so blessed to be a part of this big family.

I think we as parents owe our children

not only love but respect. Remember, these are competent adults “we raised” who are very capable of doing life well on their own, who one day we will depend on to care for us. Know that they will love and respect us right back. I ask you - who could ask for more? God truly has a way of making good from all of our mistakes in life, to the good of all.

I hope with all of my heart that this

will speak to many of you who may need to give your adult children the greater gift this year, the gift of peace, joy and happiness. God bless us all and keep us in His greatest care through these holidays and forever.

Where’s The Love Sarah Williamson

Is there a reason why we end up in bad relationships that do more harm than good? Why is it that when we find a good relationship we find ourselves feeling unworthy and undeserving of the love? Sometimes I think we bring the baggage of past relationships that we’ve had with each other into our relationships with God. I find myself questioning why I can’t just receive God’s love the way I know I’m supposed to. I think the real reason why we feel undeserving of God’s love, even in good relationships, is because we choose to only accept the love we think we deserve. I think of all the times I have stood idly by letting good friendships leave my life because I didn’t feel worthy of a healthy friendship. I think the phrase, “too much of a good thing” may apply to the way I view relationships. If someone gets too close or things are going too well I feel that I unconsciously try to sabotage my friendships by pushing away as hard and as quickly as I can. At times I admittedly don’t feel worthy of good things. I definitely feel that I do take some of this baggage into my relationship with God. My illogical thinking tells me that “I’m a good person, but at the same time I’m not

accept a small amount we are only scratching the surface. If we can’t accept the best spiritual gift we can receive from God with no strings attached, how can we expect to give God’s love freely with no strings attached? Think of the amount of people out there in the world that desperately need God’s love. If we convince ourselves that His love is really only intended for those of us that are “holy enough” we are completely missing the point. When we can’t overcome our own feelings of not being worthy we aren’t just holding ourselves back, we are holding back those we could have reached by accepting God’s love and sharing it.

good enough, so I only deserve a small amount of God’s love”. Too often we don’t receive the love that we need, but the love that we think we deserve. If we really dug deep and put our baggage aside in order to receive more love we would ABSOLUTELY have better and stronger relationships with not only God, but each other. We are not called to entertain these feelings of selfishness in this way. Could it be that one of the most selfish acts that we engage in is thinking we are too lowly for God’s love based on imperfect human relationships? If this is the case, we are shoving aside God’s gift of love because of our obsession with our unworthiness... talk about selfish. Once we can receive His love, I think it is important to remind ourselves that God does not ration this unconditional love. We aren’t given love according to how little or how much we have sinned. His love is infinite; it is available no matter how much we think we deserve it. It’s completely normal to feel undeserving of such an amazing gift, but when we only

we can just press in and keep seeking, keep hoping, keep trusting - God will prevail! Nothing is too hard for Him. He is never late. He does not sleep. He makes all things new! So many times Jesus rides in and recues us. But sometimes the greatest miracle is when His comes into us to live another day when all is not well. So, “It is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me.” and in that we have the victory.

Even in a recent miscarriage I wait to

see God’s redemption in our loss. He has comforted us and poured out His grace. In life and in death He still reigns. Eternity hold treasures untold and unseen including our baby, Lexi. The joy of the Lord IS my strength. I have seen God raise the dead, and I know and trust He acts according to our best. So many times Jesus rides in and rescues us. But sometimes, the greatest miracle is when His strength comes into us to live another day, when all is not well. So, “It is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me” and in that we have the victory.

Oh Holy Knight Kimberly Borst

Oh Holy Knight you came in such

an unexpected form, a helpless baby destined to be a king. Your light has shone through the generations and still it burns in our hearts. Our Knight in shining armor, our Savior, our God! You lived a righteous life. You healed the masses and set the captives free. No price too high, you laid down your life as a ransom for mankind. White washed in your blood, made holy, and new we bow at your feet. You say, “Follow me my beloved, my bride. Love as I have loved. Live as I have lived. Be filled with my spirit. I am with you always and I am coming soon!”

Through all the troubles and trials we

face Jesus is still with us. He has not forgotten us or His promises to us. If

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