3 Red Letter Privileges

Sitting alone on our screen porch, only a soft breeze and chirping crickets kept me company. My husband continued to sleep the sleep of Covid; for the third time, he succumbed to the nasty virus. So, for me, this summer morning gave way to an extended time alone with God. The thought of my spiritual inheritance arrested my attention. Let me explain.

Many versions of the Bible print the Words of Jesus in red. Am I correct? Well, in like manner, there are times when the Holy Spirit highlights particular Scriptures in red, so to speak, and inscribes them on my heart. The three verses below are just such Scriptures, and they represent privileges in our lives as Believers.

3 Red Letter Privileges

He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

-Proverbs 15:15

The privilege of continual joy

The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

-Matthew 27:51

The privilege of ongoing access

Keep yourselves in the love of God.

-Jude 21

The privilege of amazing love

Think about this: for you and me, God has already extended to us much of our spiritual inheritance. These privileges bless us, nourish us, and make our sojourn on earth a supernatural experience. With all my heart, I want to claim my inheritance. I want to live a life of ongoing joy, wear out the carpet walking into The Throne Room, and bask in the sunshine of His amazing love. And to think, I don’t have to die to claim these treasures.

What about you?

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Which privilege grabs your attention and is highlighted for you today?

Why?

What difference will this make in how you go about your activities?

Labor Day Delight

Kathy’s Delicious Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert

Ingredients:

2 boxes of ice cream sandwiches from the frozen section of the grocery store

Cool whip from the frozen section

1 – 2 jars of caramel dessert topping

3 Heath candy bars

Instructions:

Make this delicacy ahead of time and put it into the freezer until ready to serve.

Place one layer of ice cream sandwiches horizontally in a 9 x 13 dish

Generously pour caramel sauce over the layer (more is better)

In a vertical direction, place the second layer of ice cream sandwiches

Add another layer of caramel sauce over the entire dish

Place the dessert into the freezer

In the meantime, crumble Heath candy bars and lay them aside for later use as a topping.

When nearly ready to serve:

Pull the dish from the freezer

Top the entire surface with a liberal layer of Cool Whip

Sprinkle the crumbled candy on top for appearance

Smile and enjoy the pleasure this brings!

Note:

This recipe can be made in any size pan; simply adjust the sandwiches to fit. Be careful to still created 2 layers of ice cream sandwiches.

Layering the ice cream sandwiches horizontally and then vertically helps keeps the dessert together when serving.

Depending on the size of your dish, you may need to cut the ice cream sandwiches into pieces to fill in the spaces. This is fine.

For a smaller dessert, substitute a smaller dish and only use 1 box of ice cream sandwiches.

Behind the Cupboard Door

My mother’s phone call caught my attention. “Debby, you have got to have this dessert recipe. Kathy served it on Sunday and there was not a bite left. Have you got a pen and piece of paper?” With that enthusiastic introduction, I became the recipient of my sister-in-law’s amazing recipe, which parenthetically, she says originated with a mutual friend, Stevie, from church.

Kathy (Coleman) possesses the gift of feeding crowds of people and remaining cheerful and friendly in the process. Whether for a holiday, a birthday party, Sunday dinner, or a family reunion, she warmly gathers people in her home for delicious food and meaningful conversation. Kathy and my brother Hal truly have the gift of hospitality, and one leaves an event of theirs satisfied on multiple levels.

So, now you know what is Behind the Cupboard Door for this recipe. Let us know how it turns out for you!

Our 49-Year-Old Communication Covenant

Van Gogh The Immersive Experience descended upon our city, and eagerly we made reservations to attend. For a brief hour, the visitor absorbed a vivid array of color in dynamic expression from the world’s renowned artist. Time, effort, and painstaking detail merged to depict a stunning display.

The cultural experience gave me an opportunity to consider marriage.

The artistic masterpiece of marriage also takes time, effort, and attention to painstaking detail. And marriage remains a work in progress over the course of a lifetime. Though the portrait will never be perfect, it can still be perfectly beautiful. Smudges, color variations, and contrasts of light all contribute to the overall richness of the couple’s treasured piece of art.

But hear this: The enemy of our souls relentlessly shoots paintballs at the image, determined to mar the canvas of the Creator. One covenant, in particular, has made a difference for Larry and me in maintaining vigilance against this challenge.

Our communication covenant, a small treasure, has served as a proven asset for more than 49 years. I offer these life-giving statements with encouragement for you to incorporate them as a commitment to your spouse.

Trust me; I will not belittle you to our children.

Trust me; I will not talk about you negatively to my friends.

Trust me; I will not embarrass you in public.

Living with Eternal Intentionality®

“He has also set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

“Glorify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3).

Why is trust essential for ongoing growth in marriage?

What can be done when trust has been broken?

How does a communication covenant serve to build trust?