Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

How has God strengthened you this week?

This week on Kitchen Chat: Suzanne Woods Fisher!

Join us on Friday as we chat with the author who has grown up around the Amish all her life. Her book The Choice was #8 on the CBA Best Seller List last week. Wow! The Choice is book one in a fresh fiction series and explores what happens when one young Amish woman must make the choice of a lifetime…

With a vibrant style and authentic understanding of the Amish way of life, author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings readers into the world of a young Amish woman who is faced with a choice that will impact the rest of her life.

Curious about the Amish and their lifestyle? Call in with your questions 1-877-864-4869 on Friday between 11-12 am CST!

Suzanne Woods Fisher has straddled the world between the Amish and the English all her life: Many of her relatives are of a strict religious sect like the Amish, known as the Dunkard Brethren Church. Because of Fisher’s ties to the Amish, she has made every effort to keep her storytelling authentic, showcasing the Amish’s strong communities, their simple life-style and their willingness to put each other first. She is also the author of the nonfiction collection of stories about the Amish that came out in October, Amish Peace. Want more? Suzanne is in the process of launching her own radio show, Amish Wisdom. The debut show will be March 11th - mark your calendars!

About The Choice: In her fiction debut, The Choice, Fisher paints a moving picture of the decision Carrie must make as she comes of age: to follow the man she loves and leave the Amish community, or stay and marry another man. Her choice begins a torrent of change for her and her family, including a marriage of convenience to silent Daniel Miller. Both bring broken hearts into their arrangement—and secrets that have been held too long.

Official Blurb: Combined with Fisher's exceptional gift for character development, this novel, the first in the Lancaster County series, is a welcome reminder that it is never too late to find your way back to God—no matter what choices your past may hold.

One moment, Carrie Weaver is planning to elope with Lancaster Barnstormer Solomon Riehl, leaving their Amish community behind. The next, she is staring into a future as broken as her heart. Now Carrie faces a choice. An opportunity. But will this decision, this moment in time, change her life forever?

Sound intriguing?

Win a signed copy of The Choice! Just leave a comment at Kitchen Chat!

Oh, and I'm super excited about the recipe Suzanne is sharing with us! Whoopie!

WHOOPIE PIES

Join Margaret every Friday at 11:00 CST for Kitchen Chat!

Guest Blogger ... Esther Feng

Peace

Peace and quiet. World peace. Peace of mind.

Peace is one of those intangible things we all want, but have a hard time getting. It’s easy to identify the lack of peace -- a knot in your stomach, sleepless nights filled with tossing and turning, worry that eats you up, fear of the unknown, a restless mind you can’t turn off. No matter what it is, it often leads to arguing, stress, and feeling out of control.
But what is peace exactly? Is it half an hour of silence while the kids are napping? Is it a world with no war? Perhaps a zen-like calmness?

For me, peace is knowing without a doubt that it’s going to be OK. It’s all going to work out. Confidence I’ll end up in heaven. A sureness that my life is worth something when it’s all said and done. An assurance that my current situation will get better. Knowing my needs will be met.

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

Jesus gives us his peace. And he gives it generously, not as the world gives. This world is cruel and gives stingily. The world gives only if you can give something back. The world doesn’t care about you until it needs something from you.
Not Jesus. He lavishes his love and peace on us, especially when we have absolutely nothing to give to him.

Because Jesus is so generous with his love and peace, we don’t ever have to be troubled. His peace is available to us. We don’t ever have to fret. We don’t ever have lay awake at night, worry about what will happen, or be subject to an overloaded mind. We don’t have to live with insecurity. Jesus has it under control. Jesus reconciled me – us-- to God through the cross. I can even have peace with death. (Colossians 1:19-20)

I admit, even in the midst of this peace, life still storms around me – in the form of loneliness, tragedy, pain, death. Sometimes I grab my “security blanket” of worry, doubt and insecurity, instead of Jesus’ peace. But I don’t have to, because Jesus has generously given his peace to me.
Lord, would you help me to grab on to your peace, that you so generously give?

________________________

Esther is a field leader for MOPS International. Her passion is to encourage others to live fully for Christ. A former science teacher, she has rediscovered her love of words and blogs at http://forsuchatimeasthis-esther.blogspot.com/. Her two daughters love giggling, dressing up and wish they were princesses.

FRIDAY on Kitchen Chat: Marc Klaas from Klaas Kids Foundation!

“A mile a minute – that is how fast your child can disappear.” Haunting and truthful words posted on the website for Klaas Kids.

On Friday, February 19th, I will interview Marc Klaas, father of Polly Klaas who was kidnapped and murdered in 1993. As a legacy to his daughter, Marc founded Klaas Kids to help stop crimes against children

“A mile a minute – that is how fast your child can disappear.” Haunting and truthful words posted on the website for Klaas Kids.

On Friday, February 19th, I will interview Marc Klaas, father of Polly Klaas who was kidnapped and murdered in 1993. As a legacy to his daughter, Marc founded Klaas Kids to help stop crimes against children

Here is an excerpt from Marc’s journal that is posted online:

“There is nothing that can prepare one for a murder trial. My family sits as the last few hours in Polly's life are dissected, analyzed, de-constructed, reconstructed, cross-referenced and compartmentalized. The constant assault on our sensibilities by horrible revelations that defy the principles of civilization seem overwhelming much of the time. It is impossible to withstand or rise above the continual dehumanizing facts that are revealed in a constant, monotonous stream of revelation. There is no room for anything but the processing of nightmarish information. The killer laughs throughout the video tape and I want to shout, yet I must sit unflinching and stone-faced for fear of causing a mistrial. Every day my family is drawn into the world of murder, mayhem, rape and deprivation and there is no way out.”

Learn about effective ways to keep your children safe from harm and find out what you can do to help stop crimes against kids. Please tune in and call in with your questions for Marc this Friday 11-12 CST on Kitchen Chat: http://toginet.com/shows/kitchenchat


Marc will also being sharing his famous Fish Taco recipe with us! Yum.

Please call in with your questions during the show: 1-877-864-4869

Join Margaret every Friday at 11:00 CST for Kitchen Chat!

Guest Blogger ... Wendy Alsup

The Profound Nature of Christ’s Love for You

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

When we read this passage from Ephesians 5, we often tend to focus on instructions to husbands. If you have a husband, you may measure him up against this standard. If you don’t have a husband, you start to think about the qualities for which you should be looking. Husbands who love their wives sacrificially – who doesn’t want to meditate on that?! But let’s not let our romanticism cloud the big idea that the Apostle Paul is trying to communicate here. The really big thing in this section is the beauty of what is revealed about the relationship Christ has with His church. Earthly husbands and wives are an imperfect picture of something deeper and of eternal significance.

My husband and I recently had a painful conversation about some hurt and concerns I had in our relationship. In that conversation, my husband was stunned that I had doubts about his love and commitment to me and told me in strong words, “You complete me!” Wow! I can say boldly that while my husband and I get many things wrong, he loves me well as Christ loves his church. I know that many beautiful godly women do not have a husband who loves them that way. I do not tell you that story to make you feel bad. Hang with me for a minute for the conclusion.
After my husband told me those words, I basked in the beauty of his love for me for a while. It meant so much to me to hear him say it like that. But as I drifted off to sleep, the Spirit prompted me to think of this passage in Ephesians and it seemed He nearly audibly said to me, “Wendy, you complete Me!”

At first, I pushed the idea away. “No, Wendy, you don’t complete Jesus!” That sounds blasphemous. That sounds like touchy, feely, emotional, Jesus-is-my-girlfriend fluff. But I kept thinking of the exact wording of this passage. Christ loved the church. He gave Himself up for her. He is washing her, cleansing her, and clothing her in splendor. Christ loves the church as His own body. He nourishes and cherishes her because she is a member of His own body. The two of us, Christ and the church, have become one. I am part of this corporate thing He loves dearly and for which He gave Himself completely.

The Scripture does not give me any other choice but to accept that you and I as God’s adopted children do indeed complete Jesus. Oh, that thought humbles me. I push it away because it conflicts with my own self-identity. But Paul wants you and I to get this. You complete Jesus. He has given everything He had for you, He loves you, and He will present you spotless as His beautiful bride. Dear sister in Christ, whether you are loved on earth this way or not, I hope you find great peace and worth in knowing of Jesus’ deep affection for and commitment to you.

You are His, and He is yours.

____________________________

Wendy lives in Seattle, Washington and is a wife and mom to two preschool boys. She teaches math at a local community college and is the author of Practical Theology For Women: How Knowing God Makes a Difference in Our Daily Lives. She blogs at theologyforwomen.blogspot.com.

Guest Blogger ... Alma Chandler

Valentines Day is a Time to Remember Jesus

I remember what it was like, being “single”, when Valentines day rolls around and you still have no one. Another year alone (or so you think). You see pink and red hearts everywhere, you think of romantic dates, and being given chocolate and roses by a wonderful man. You think of being loved for who you are, and feeling acceptance and happiness.

But whether or not we have a romantic special someone, we have something amazingly better, if we trust in Christ for salvation. We have everlasting love from a Savior, love sincere and true enough to suffer and die for us. We have total acceptance by God, purchased for us by Jesus. We have eternal joy. As Christians, we know what true love is. Valentines Day is a perfect time to put aside the thought of wishing our lives were different, and recall to mind the wonderful truth of what we have. It is a the perfect time to remember the love of Jesus.

What is a better encouragement to us than Scripture? IT IS the truth. Our own feelings or thoughts are not necessarily true, unless they are in line with God’s Holy Word. Let’s look at the love of God as revealed to us in the Bible. It is indeed marvelous. We have graciously been saved from sin and set apart for a relationship with our God!

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10) “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1) “In love, he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:5) “He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every on to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6) “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7) “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.” (Isaiah 54:5) “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:8-9)

Yes, let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. It is the very best love ever!
　

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Alma is the wife of Vaughn Chandler, an arborist. When he’s out climbing trees, she spends her time teaching piano, reading books about babies (they are expecting their first child, a boy, in a matter of days), cooking, walking, visiting, cleaning, etc. She finally got married at age 30, so she knows what it is like to wait, wonder and work at looking to Jesus as the years go by.

TODAY! on Kitchen Chat: Author Beth Patillo!

I'm so thrilled to have Beth on the show this week! I was fortunate to attend the launch party for her latest novel, Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart in New York this week! It was fabulous! Wow - Beth is lovely and a talented writer!

About Beth's latest book:
Claire Prescott is an unemployed office manager from Kansas City who leaves behind her nice, if somewhat neglectful, boyfriend to attend a Jane Austen seminar in Oxford, England. There, she discovers the original manuscript for Pride and Prejudice titled First Impressions. Rumored to have been destroyed centuries ago, it reveals Austen’s secret struggle to find the right leading man for Elizabeth Bennet. Was she really supposed to end up with Mr. Darcy after all?

As Claire pieces together Austen’s original story, she crosses paths with a dashing stranger—her own Mr. Darcy—who causes her to question the direction of her current relationship. But Neil’s unexpected arrival in Oxford complicates Claire’s quest to find her leading man, and she realizes that a true hero can appear in the most unexpected places. Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart is a lively mixture of humor, romance and intrigue perfect for the Jane Austen fanatic to the hopeless romantic.

About Beth:
BETH PATTILLO currently resides in Nashville, Tenn., with her husband and two children. Her passion for all-things Jane Austen began when she studied abroad for a semester at the University of London, Westfield College. She has made regular trips across the pond for the past 20 years, the most recent of which took her on a pilgrimage through Hampshire, where she visited many of the sites featured in her popular book, Jane Austen Ruined My Life. Pattillo is also the author of The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society (WaterBrook Press, 2008), Earth to Betsy (WaterBrook, 2006) and Heavens to Betsy (WaterBrook, 2005), for which she was awarded the RWA RITA (Romance Writer’s Association) award for Best Inspirational Romance.

Win a copy of Beth's book by leaving a comment and your email address here!

Join Margaret every Friday at 11:00 CST for Kitchen Chat!

Guest Blogger ... Holley Gerth

I sat on the back deck thinking about what a failure I’d been.

What must God think of me?

I was writing in my journal as I had been every day.

Lately, I felt like God had been impressing on me to only write good things—compliments people gave me, ways He used me, blessings in my life. I didn’t know why He wanted me to do this, but I felt compelled to do it.

But on this morning I sat and stared at the blank page. I began to write about my mistake. I finished and looked at the black and white evidence that I was a failure yet again.

Then I heard a whisper in my heart, “Rip out the page.”

I paused and listened closer, “Rip out the page.”

“God, what are you saying? What do you mean rip out the page? I need to record this mistake. I need to remember it.”

Again the clear message came, “Rip out the page.”

I touched the white page of my journal, now covered with my writing. Then slowly I pulled from top to bottom. The paper made a sharp sound as it separated from the journal. All that was left were a few fragments of white paper where my mistake had once been. The picture couldn’t have been clearer.

Forgiveness.

Mercy.

Grace.

It was right there on the clean, white pages of my journal.

God whispered to my heart again. “All of the mistakes and failures that you remember, all the secrets you run from, all the regrets and remorse…they are all gone. Every one of them has been torn from the story of your life. You are forgiven. You are accepted. You are loved.”

My heart was overwhelmed.

I kept thinking about what God had spoken to me on the deck. Later in the morning, I was praying about it again. This time God added something more to what He had whispered.

“Daughter, do you know why I wanted you to keep a ‘good things’ journal? It’s because that’s what my journal about you is like. If you were to read the story of your life, that’s what you would read. Not mistakes or failures, but the times you were a blessing, the ways you please me, the love you show others. The good things I think about you.”

God’s love was so real and strong, so much bigger than I even had imagined.

I realized at that moment that God loves me. He doesn’t just tolerate me. He doesn’t just put up with me because I’m a Christian and he has to. He really, truly loves me.

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins...who could stand?But with you there is forgiveness.
PSALM 130:3-4 NIV

So wherever you are, whatever mistake you have written in the journal of your life, know that God has ripped it from the pages. There’s only love. There’s only grace.


The story of your life is far different than you imagined

…

and the Author loves you far more than you ever dared to dream.


Ready to explore “The Rest of Your Story”? Join Holley for an exciting series on her blog!

_______________________________

Holley Gerth is an award-winning writer and editorial director for DaySpring. Her devotional book, Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times(Summerside Press) is now available online and in bookstores. Holley is also a counseling intern for the women’s ministry and care center of a mega church with close to 10,000 members. She has been married to her college sweetheart, Mark, for almost nine years. Holley is not a morning person and once put chocolate on her alarm clock to bribe herself but ate it and went back to bed. You’re invited to find encouragement any time of day on her blog,Heart to Heart with Holley.

A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

This week on Kitchen Chat: The gals from Wings!

Listen in tomorrow as I interview Rita and Rebecca from Wings. Wings is one of the charities supported by the work of Pearl Girls. We'll hear how Wings helps women and children in the community and what they hope to accomplish in 2010.

Please visit the Wings website for more information about their services and programs.

Their Mission

The mission of WINGS is to provide a continuum of integrated services in an effort to end domestic violence and homelessness one family at a time.

What They Do

WINGS helps homeless and abused women and children by offering integrated services that meet their needs for shelter, education, guidance and support. We provide safe, secure living environments, through transitional housing and emergency shelter, in residential neighborhoods that allow women to go to school, work, and care for themselves and their children.

WINGS is a 501(c)(3) publicly supported organization.

Who They Help

Our residents are women and children who are victims of domestic violence and need temporary safe shelter or who become homeless due to other extreme hardships and circumstances. Most of them come from the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago’s Cook and Lake Counties, the city of Chicago and surrounding areas.

WINGS receives an average of 200 calls per month from women of all ethnic backgrounds and ages and touches the lives of hundreds of families with direct services, information and referrals.

Rita will be sharing her recipe for a delicious Apple Walnut Cake!

Join Margaret every Friday at 11:00 CST for Kitchen Chat!

Guest Blogger ... Jill Hart

Comparisons

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:15-26

Not long ago I was feeling defeated and disheartened. Things in my life were actually going well at the time - my website was growing, business was picking up and my book had just released. But there was unrest stirring within me, but I couldn't put my finger on exactly what it was that was bothering me.

Until, that is, I was talking about it with a friend one day.

"I'm so frustrated," I said to her.

"I don't see why," she replied. "You're doing thing many people only dream of doing. Lots of people wish they could write a book or work from home."

"I know. But I wish my business could be more like..."

And that's when it struck me. Instead of being content, or even more than that, rejoicing in what God was doing in my life I was stuck in the dangerous trap of comparing myself to others. Or, in essence, envy.

Envy is a slippery slope that can trip you up when you least expect it. Simple thoughts like "I wish my kids were as talented as her kids," or "If only my business included travel like her business."

And envy can take root in any area of your life and in the most innocent forms. A friend tells you about something special their husband did for them and you wish your husband would do something thoughtful for you. Your child tells you about the new car a family you know just purchased and you consider what it would be like to upgrade your mommy-wagon for a sleek, new design. You see an interesting idea that someone is implementing in their business and wish you'd thought of it.

None of these thoughts are bad or sinful in passing. It's when we allow ourselves to dwell on what we don't have or worse yet, what someone has, that it becomes a problem.

Proverbs 4:23 (NCV), tells us, "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life."

We're shown in the very first pages of the Bible how powerful the emotion of envy can be - and what it can cause. In Genesis chapter four, we see the first murder in human history. At the root of the issue is Cain's envy of his brother, Abel.

The question that remains is how do we combat envy? How do we keep from comparing ourselves to others - and always coming up short?

The answer is simpler than you might think. We must learn to practice contentment with what God has given us and where He's placed us in life.

One of the greatest examples of learning to be content comes from the Bible. The apostle Paul went through many, many trials after he became a follower of Christ. And yet in Philippians 4:11-13, he explains:

"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

We can't be content in our own power. Human nature is such that we are constantly wanting more - to achieve more, make more, spend more, and so on. And yet, Paul shares with us the "secret" to being content in "any and every situation." Do you see it? The secret is asking God for help in this area.

When Paul says, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" he is referring back to the prior sentence - "I have learned the secret of being content..." The secret is relying on God, not trying to force contentment on ourselves. Only God can provide true peace and contentment. Only God can provide true freedom from comparison-making and envy.

________________________

Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. She is a co-author of the upcoming book So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom (Beacon Hill, Sept. 2009). Jill welcomes work-at-home questions at http://AskJill.cwahm.com. Learn more about working from home at http://www.cwahm.com/work-at-home/ .