Why did God choose to create? Certainly not from the anguish born of need, as if creation might supply God what He lacked. God didn’t take inventory and suddenly realize there was a shortage that only you and I could fill up. So what prompted God to act? The source of God’s creative energy was the joy of infinite and eternal abundance! God chose to create from the endless and self-replenishing overflow of delight in Himself... God created us so that the joy He has in Himself might be ours. God doesn’t simply think about Himself or talk to Himself. He enjoys Himself! He celebrates with infinite and eternal intensity the beauty of who He is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And we’ve been created to join the party!

Sam Storms

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Grains, Vegetables	Sami	Soups	12	Servings

INGREDIENTS

6		Cl Garlic; peeled and quarte
2		Onions; peeled and sliced
2		Cucumbers, sliced, seeded; p
6		Tomatoes, peeled, halved, se
2		Green and yellow peppers; qu
1/4	c	Tomato paste
1	c	Balsamic vinegar
2	c	Vegetable juice cocktail
		Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

In a blender, combine all ingredients, except juice, salt and pepper. Blend
well.  Stir in juice, salt and pepper. Chill 4 hours (or longer) before
serving. Garnish individual servings with croutons and plain yogurt, if
desired.

A Message from our Provider:

“God doesn’t want us to just feel gratitude, but for us to show it by giving thanks to God with our lives. #R.C. Sproul”

Godly concern is caring about important things for the right reasons. It is also accompanied by a trust in God's ultimate control and faithfulness. This kind of concern helps you be responsible to God and does not send you into a confused status. It will involve a focus on the responsibilities for today, eternal goals and others... For your concern to be the right kind of concern you must be focused on what is true and helpful from God's perspective (see 1 Cor. 7:32-33; 2 Cor. 11:28; Phil. 2:20)... [However], ungodly concern (anxiety) goes beyond reasonable concern and involves worry about mere possibilities. When we are anxious, we are not focused on God and what is true and helpful. When we are anxious, we are often concerned that something we want to happen may not happen. Therefore, we are focused on difficulties of the future, temporal matters, and self (see Mt. 6:31-32).

Stuart Scott