Fried Green Tomatoes

“Guess what I had for supper?” My friend asked me in a text. “Fried green tomatoes . . . Aren’t you jealous?” I looked at my phone in amazement. Fried green tomatoes? Nope. I wasn’t jealous a bit. I had absolutely no appetite for fried greet tomatoes. Now, my husband . . . That was a different story! He DID have an appetite for them . . . So I texted my friend back, letting her know that she could have all the green tomatoes she wanted, and it wouldn’t matter to me . . . It was my husband’s mouth that would water! :)

If she would have said she was having corn on the cob and watermelon . . . Oooooo . . . My mouth WOULD water! The different foods of summer . . . the fresh fruits and veggies . . . How we enjoy them!

What is it that keeps us physically going out to the garden to pick fresh veggies, or picking certain things when we grocery shop — or in some cases, pulling through the drive-thru yet, again? We know it as our appetite . . . For what are we hungry?

Jesus talks to us about our spiritual appetite in Matthew 5:6. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,” He tells us, “for they shall be filled.” An appetite for things that are righteous will grant us His blessing — and He will fill us — with Himself. He is our righteousness!

One sure way we can tell if our physical bodies lack health is if they lack appetite. It’s the same way with our soul. A hunger after God and His word. A thirst — or a longing for His Spirit and His Presence daily in our lives. These things tells us our souls are healthy and on track. When we feel ourselves gravitating toward other things to try and “take the edge” off our spiritual hunger —instead of His Word — or we seek to quench our thirst with something or someone else — allowing Him to slip out of first place in our lives, we soon find ourselves dissatisfied.

An appetite for God is cultivated by being with Him. Spending time in His Word and communing with Him creates in us a love for Him that produces an appetite to keep coming back for more! Fall in love with Jesus — all over again! Keep the first love STRONG!

Just as we enjoy the fresh foods of summer, we can feast on fresh, new discoveries in our relationships with Christ. Let’s ask Him to help us keep our appetites healthy — for righteousness!

By Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it with You

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You,

O God.” Psalm 42:1 (NKJV)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

 Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)

Kick Off Those Shoes

Even as my ears heard the news and my mind began to reconcile the reality, my heart continued to bulk at acceptance. A college friend of mine was gone. Not “gone” as in taking a vacation — but gone as in a transfer of worlds.

She had been such a jovial person. Cheery, fun-loving, easily excited. When she loved something — her eyes lit up, and her whole face glowed. “Her grave is right up there on the hill,” her mother told me.

We were ministering in a family camp at the time, and had the afternoons free. So, one afternoon, we took a drive up the hill, past the other graves decorated so nicely, to one that overlooked the valley below. I stood and looked down on the tombstone. Around it were beautiful pink flowers, and on it were delicately engraved flowers and birds. It was the birth date the caught and kept my attention. April, 1968 — she was born two months before me. It was a sobering thought.

It lingered with me through the week . . . And beyond . . .

During that same week, my youngest son voiced a question that had nothing to do with the above circumstance, yet they somehow go together . . .

Being in the fourth week of family camp — and having been home only one night during those four weeks he was beginning to get a little “road weary.” Needless to say, even though we were enjoying the privilege to minister, we were all feeling a little that way! As we finished yet another mile in our van he longingly asked, “Mommy, when are we going to go home?”

Home. In an earthly, temporal sense there’s no place like it. No matter how grand the travels taken, or how enjoyable — there’s still nothing like home. You can kick off your shoes and relax. . . Until you have to put them on again . . .

Home. In the eternal, heavenly sense — THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE IT! No more pain, struggle, sorrow, temptation — simply peace in the Presence of God! Not a temporary resting place — an eternal place of rest! We won’t have to “hurry” — for time will be no more. We can “kick off our shoes” so to speak — and never have to put them on again!

Thousands of songs have been written in our feeble human attempt to express what is coming. Books continue being penned with great expectation. Sermons revealing the truth of our future ring in our ears and cause hope to rise in our hearts. Yet, one day our inadequate endeavors will be swallowed up in the glorious realization of the Truth — we will be home!

We smile through our tears as our hands stretch forward — reaching — reaching toward those who have gone on before. Not for one moment would we bring them back — it only deepens our longing — and our determination to meet them one day. And . . . Just imagine for a moment the welcoming of the One we live for, love, and serve. His Presence! Now, that’s home!

Take it with You

               “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth,      wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

II Peter 3:13

Father Power

Many things in life are simply underestimated! Joy brought into our minds by a simple ray of sunshine through a window shade. Ripples of a brook waiting for feet to find the calming coolness of its waters. Shade from the sprawling tree spilling its shadows as a refuge from the midday heat. Sometimes untouched — often underestimated.

Father power is one of those amazing touchable untouchables that falls into this category! Dad, YOU are important! What you say by your presence is vital. What you say if you choose absence is absolutely deafening.

There is something very conscious involved in this subconscious phenomenon of “father power.” What “dad” breathes into his child through words! Words are something else we of the human race tend to grossly underestimate. We often fling them into the air at will — expecting the receiver to “deal with it.”

So . . . What did your dad say to you? “Good job,” or “Go for it.” Did he say, “I believe in you,” or “Here, let me help you with that.”

Perhaps you weren’t blessed to have a father who spoke positively into your life — and that, no doubt, had a less than positive effect on your life.

No matter what wounds or blessings came from the words of YOUR earthly father, you, as a dad have a chance to turn things around for your own children. As a dad, “father power” is yours — whether you want it or not.

Through prayer, hard work, proper discipline, laughter, playing, and yes, even tears, you are a key part in the masterpiece God is designing in each of your children. Through God, YOU have what it takes — “Father Power!”

“Dad, how do I hit the ball?”

He took the bat and showed him how

Patiently, deliberately — the child his focus in the now

And then he whispered in his ear

“Just do your best that’s all it takes,”

The swing — to dream — the crack of ball—

Or wind just whistling in his face?

“Dad, how do I handle this?”

A phone call with a broken sob

He knelt beside a well worn chair —

It filled the air with silent prayer—

And Father power prevailed once more.

By: Janene A. Dubbeld

For God’s Glory

Take it with You

“Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding;”

Proverbs 4:1



Change Your Style, Not Your Soul

The merchandise of the lovely bookstore called out to me. Titles of books begged my brain to devour them – if only my pocketbook would allow me to purchase! Standing to one side my eyes actually fell on one of the free stands boasting its stuff with this advertisement, “Change your style, not your sole.”

Magnetic strips for flip flops – different designs and colors – it piqued my interest. Why, you could change shoes just with a change of stripe! Again my eyes went to the top. The words penetrated my brain with a different message this time. “Change your style, not your soul!”

Our world is inundated with change. It’s the “progression” of the human race! Some of it is progression – while at times it seems to resemble regression . . .

But the soul . . . the soul of the creation still finds its home in its Creator! We are HIS workmanship – created by HIM! Styles come and styles go. We no longer drive the Model “T”! But our Creator? He remains the same!

Age to age HE stands. Timeless, steadfast, truth in love!

By Janene Dubbeld

For Gods Glory

Take it with You

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV)

All -- Now!

The morning news sizzled the airways punctuating our minds with information from interesting to disastrous. Capturing my interest was a commercial that flashed in the middle. Some store was having a sale, (imagine that?!) and in the background music played with the words, “I want it all . . . I want it now.”

As I turned to the Word for my morning devotions, that thought was still playing in the back of my mind. Silently my heart cried out to God, turning the philosophy of those words in a different direction. “I do want it all, Lord, all YOU have for me. . .”

He took me to Luke 4 and began penetrating my heart with Truth. Jesus, being tempted of the Devil, was confronted with this same temptation being used today! First, the enemy plays on his immediate physical need. “You want something to satisfy your hunger.” What’s the philosophy behind it? ALL --- NOW! Comfort, satisfaction, temporal filling – immediately!

Jesus responds with an eternal perspective. “Man does not live on bread alone” (John 4:4 NIV.) The Message paraphrases His words like this, “It take more than bread to really live.”

Ousted! Overridden! Still persisting, the enemy tries another path – same philosophy! Immediate, fleshy, earthly power. He shows Jesus in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. “. . . Worship me, and it will all be yours” (John 4:5 NIV). ALL – NOW!)

Jesus takes out the temporal pressure by sticking with the eternal Word, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only!”

Silenced. Superseded. Pressing on, the devil resorts to the same philosophy, slightly re-arranged. At the highest point of religions recognition – the Temple of Jerusalem he tempts him with, “prove it – NOW.” “IF you are the Son of God . . . throw yourself down from here. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” “All – NOW!”

Jesus takes out the temporal temptation with the eternal TRUTH! “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

Hushed! Overcome! The enemy leaves Him alone . . . only until he can find another way to slip in.

Isn’t it amazing! All these hundreds of years and the enemy of our souls still uses the same tactics!? The “All-NOW” philosophy of our world today still gets us into trouble if we let it. But, when we turn it from temporal to eternal it can be the biggest blessing of our lives!

GOD – I WANT ALL OF YOU – and TODAY, I WILL LOVE YOU MORE, OBEY IMMEDIATELY, AND TRUST YOU IN EVERYTHING. ALL – NOW!

By Janene Dubbeld

For Gods Glory

Take it with You

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5

Following Through

   Isn't it amazing how God works in our lives? When I posted the blog named, "Doing Unto Others," I had several responses. One of you mentioned you liked it that I used the word, "actively." This got me thinking.

   One day last week we were working hard at cleaning out a room in our basement. As it neared lunchtime, I decided to take the two children home with me and head to a local restaurant. They have the most delicious nachos and cheese -- and offer it in sort of "family style" at an affordable price!

   Arriving at the restaurant I knew we were in for a wait! My schedule pressed upon my brain -- but since hunger pressed upon my stomach -- and children's hunger pressed upon my heart -- we went in anyway.

   This "doing unto others" blog was still fresh in my mind. I kept thinking, "actively" . . .

   There was one waitress on duty that I could see --maybe one more on the other side. She was working like crazy to help everyone. Soon after we sat down, she let us know there was one other table in front of us -- then, she would take our order.

   We were hungry! We were thirsty! We waited, and waited, and waited! FINALLY she came over. She was so apologetic, and I honestly felt sorry for her. She took our drink order -- and our food order. After the drinks came, we WATIED and WATITED for our food. When it came out she again was soooo apologetic. We did everything we could to reassure her it was ok.

   At one point I said, "We know you are doing your best." She responded with, "Thanks for noticing that!"

   Soon the meal came to an end, and she brought the check. As we were leaving she was frantically moving to another table, but over her shoulder she threw out the desperate words -- "Just please pray for me!"

   It halted me in my tracks for a moment. None of us had said anything about church, or Jesus, but she saw Him in our kindness and response -- ACTIVELY! It convicted me again . . . "Do unto others . . ."

O, Jesus! Help me actively LIVE the WORD today!!!! (And although I didn't know her name, Father does, and I know HE heard my prayer . . .)

By Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it with You

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

(Galatians 5:22 NKJV)

Doing Unto Others

Our oldest son is much like his father in many ways! In fact, not long ago “grandma” was visiting us. Either the way he was standing, or the expression on his face – something caused her to say, “You looked more like your Dad right then than ever.”

She should know! She raised his dad!

But one thing he always liked to do that dad didn’t was practical jokes! Don’t get me wrong, my husband loves to laugh – his middle name MEANS laughter – he just doesn’t like practical jokes. He doesn’t do them to others, and he doesn’t want them done to him.

When Vincent was small, he loved practical jokes. (He still does!) One evening at the supper table, he decided to pull one. Unbeknown to any of us, he carefully unscrewed the salt shaker lid. We were happily eating and sharing together. No one used the salt for awhile, and he forgot all about the “joke.”

He forgot – until HE decided to use the salt! There he was, looking chagrined with a pile of salt and the lid in his food. He really did get a “taste” of his own medicine!

The simple law of “sowing” and “reaping” tends to carry with it some compound consequences. So carefully Jesus spelled it out for us, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.” These words are known to bring peace from little to big, weak to strong, and in every kind of situation. They are easily said – harder to consistently carry out!

It is the action that comes from these simple words which causes the result of Christians being the “salt of the earth.” Those who give it the right kind of flavor. Not piled in the plate with briny, overbearing declarations of faith – or void of freshness with only stories of the past – but active, up to date relationship with Christ-- complete with caring acts of kindness, edifying words, and a willing “I’m sorry” when necessary.

Let’s flavor the earth – by living Him!

Precious Spirit of God, please enable us to live out your will and Word!

In Jesus name, Amen

By Janene Dubbeld

For Gods Glory

Take it with You

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 NKJV)