We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Martin Luther said that God wields two rods. One is the rod of Fatherly kindness – the rod of love and mercy to correct His children. The other is the club of anger flowing from justice and wrath toward His enemies. We know for the Christian, Christ took the rod of anger on our behalf. Justice was accomplished we He took our sin upon Himself. God’s wrath was fully exhausted upon Him. We have been forgiven and adopted into God’s family. Yet in that family we do receive the rod of correction from a Father that seeks to correct us when we sin. It is because He knows better than us the consequences of sin. It is because He loves us! Discipline is always a sign of love.

Randy Smith

There is admittedly a certain tension between the different principles involved in church discipline. On the one hand there is the gentleness of Galatians 6:1, on the other, the severity of Titus 1:13. While we may never be judgmental in our attitudes (Matthew 7:1), we must nevertheless judge among ourselves (1 Corinthians 5:12). Just as we are called to love in a manner that is willing to overlook certain sins (1 Peter 4:8), we must also “exhort one another daily” so that none will be “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). The tension is seen most clearly in that we are to love our brother as Christ loved us (John 13:34-35), yet remain willing to consider him an unbeliever and cast him away if he continues in sin (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:11). We might be tempted to use the word “balance” in describing our desire to manage this tension. But as it is all-too-commonly understood, “balance” means compromise – easing away from convictions and obligations in order not to appear unbalanced or overly zealous. The problem with this understanding is that Scripture never tells Christians to be “balanced” people in this way. On the contrary, we are told to be zealous and fervent, both in our love for one another (Colossians 3:14; 1 Peter 4:8), and in our pursuit of holiness and purity (Titus 2:14; Hebrews 12:14-17).

Jim Elliff

We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Homemade Hot Cocoa

January 26, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Dairy	Vegan	Vegtime4	2	servings

INGREDIENTS

2	c	Low-fat milk or rice milk or oat milk
3	tb	Powdered unsweetened cocoa
4	tb	Sugar
1	pn	Salt
1/2	ts	Vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

2 SERVINGS LACTO/VEGAN
Why prepare hot cocoa from a mix when it's so simple and yummy to make from
scratch? Our cookies bring the best out of this steaming, chocolaty
beverage.
In saucepan, combine 1/4 cup milk, cocoa, sugar and salt. Whisk until cocoa
is dissolved and mixture is well-blended. Whisk constantly over medium
heat, until mixture begins to simmer. Add remaining 1 3/4 cups milk.
Whisking constantly, bring just to a simmer, do not boil. Add vanilla. Cook
for 1 minute more, whisking constantly.
Pour mixture into mugs. Top with whipped cream if desired.
PER 1-CUP SERVING: 290 CAL.; I11GPROT.; 7G TOTAL FAT (2G SAT. FAT); 47G
CARB.; 11MG CHOL.; 141MG SOD.; 0 FIBER.
Converted by MC_Buster.
By Kathleen <schuller@ix.netcom.com> on Mar 10, 1999.
Recipe by: Vegetarian Times, December 1997, page 42
Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.

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