Did You Know

Happy Passover

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Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It is a time when the Jewish people celebrate the  story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.

In the narrative of the Exodus, the Bible tells that God helped the Children of Israel escape slavery in Egypt by inflicting ten plagues upon the Egyptians before the Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves; the tenth and worst of the plagues was the slaughter of the first-born.  The name Passover was a true passing over.  The Israelites  mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes.

It was the last plague that gave the Israelites their freedom.  The Pharaoh had a very hard heart.  It sometimes reminds me of how stubborn people can be, and how they only focus on one thing and not see the whole picture.

This story may seem harsh.  Like, why did God sacrifice the first born of the Egyptians?  Well, it was not  just the Egyptians, it happened to anyone who did not have blood on the door.  Then you ask,  “What kind of God would do such a horrible thing?”  But if we step outside of the story we should realize that they did get fair warnings.  God could have started with the slaughter of the first-born and worked his way down, if it need be.  God wanted to give  Pharaoh and his people a fair chance, even though, God, who knows all, knew  Pharaoh would never concede to letting his people go .  I mean who would they use to build their Sphinx’s and Pyramids.

God was fair.  God sent warnings to Mr. Pharaoh, and all Pharaoh had to do was let Mose’s people go, but he was being controlling and selfish.  We are our own worst enemy.

Passover is a true victory celebration.

 

HAPPY PESACH

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/871715/jewish/What-Is-Passover.htm

recipe, Time of the Season

Resurrection Cookies

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I was looking through Pinterest last month and I saw a photo of these cookies. So I went on a search for the Resurrection Cookie recipe and found this one from ChristianCrafter.com.

To be made the evening before Easter. Love this.

You need: 1c. whole pecans, 1 tsp. vinegar, 3 egg whites,
pinch salt, 1c. sugar, zipper baggie, wooden spoon, tape, Bible.

Preheat oven to 300 BEFORE BEGINNING.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 c. sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know this and how to belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.

GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty! Read Matt. 28:1-9
Tell your friends about this treat.

community

Gym-Believable

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Donald Archer, a personal trainer at Bally’s, worksMeet Esther Cohen.  Esther is 95 years old and  is a gym rat.  I was so impressed when I read how dedicated she is to the gym.  She started going to the gym when she was 59 years of age.

Esther was introduced to the gym when her retired husband, Abe,  joined.  See her husband just wanted to lounge around the house, and get old, but their son  said, “You can’t just stay home, dad, you’ve got to do something.”  So Abe signed himself up at the local gym and Esther followed.

Esther follows a circuit of six strength training machines, which target certain muscle groups.  She does 15 to 20 reps on each, trying to accumulate a total of 100 reps.  (Wow, 100 reps, I get annoyed when I have to do 50 jumping  jacks, Bernie gets a cross look from me).

So, for more than 30 years, Esther, and the gym, became real good friends.  Of course, Esther’s diet, along with her dedication to working out, played apart in keeping her body from  knowing its true age.  According to her doctor, Esther  is   “Healthy for 45,”  fifty years younger than her true age.

OK, Esther you have shown me that I will never be able to retire from the gym.   I will  always need to keep on gym-ing it.   I now have a new goal.  My goal is to be just like Esther.  If I live to be 95 , I want to bend and touch my toes, kick up my heels, and play ball with my great-grandchildren, just like Esther is doing now.

http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/retirement/pushing-95-this-lady-s-a-gym-rat-1.3633728

mb

product review

Diaper Pods

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When I first heard about Diaper Pods I remember thinking, pods? Would that be anything like the movie,  Body Snatchers?  I mean, what would Diaper Pods be replacing?  Upon further investigation, it turned out that diaper pods are replacing something.   Diaper Pods are not just your ordinary average diaper, no sirree.  Diaper Pods are a revolutionary new concept for disposable diapers.

Diaper Pods make changing a stinky diaper more convenient.  How do diaper pods do this?  Well, the diaper turns into a disposable bag.  Really, no kidding it does.  What an ingenious idea.

Diaper Pods are designed with safety and sanitation in mind, the receptacle is packed and sealed into a pod located in the rear of the diaper.   DiaperPods, LLC is an organization that was founded by a parent’s need for a more convenient method of diaper disposal. The world is always looking for something simpler and convenient.  I believe they have found it in Diaper Pods.

Diaper Pods have entered into Walmart’s Get on the Shelf Contest and could use your vote –    http://www.getontheshelf.com/product/546/Diaperpods

http://www.diaperpods.com/

 

http://youtu.be/bgC_BbMypoM