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The Beauty of Routine

Routine. I like it. But I grow weary of it…until it’s gone. And then I miss its beauty, the comfort it can bring, and the calm that it instills within me.

In the consistent functioning of His creation, God provides routines: the sun rises and sets; the seasons come and go; the rains fall, and the sun returns. In each of these there is a God-given beauty, comfort, and security-providing calm.

Though God gives us variety and change to enjoy, to grow us, to lead us, He remains the same. Unchanging. Ever faithful. Ever true.

So when my comfortable, familiar routine meets the realities of the ever-changing world around me, it’s my reminder to look to the One Who does not change. It’s time to seek His guidance as I form a new routine, a new normal, and a renewed knowledge of His consistent love and leading in my life.

“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty'” (Revelation 1:8, ESV).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV).

“For I the Lord do not change…” (Malachi 3:6, ESV).

By Petals from the Basket | January 21, 2020 | Bible Reading, Life Changes |

Happy New Year

Taken from the opening page of Pages of Promises: 365 Devotional Thoughts on the Promises of God. Today’s a great day to get your FREE copy for Kindle and start the year off with time in God’s Word! (Available for FREE through midnight, 1/2/2020. Click here to get your FREE copy for Kindle.)

We appreciate your encouragement and faithful readership of Petals from the Basket. Captain Joe and I wish you a joyful start to a blessed year!

By Petals from the Basket | January 1, 2020 | Uncategorized |

FREE Devotional Book!

This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click on the link and purchase items through the use of that link, we will receive a commission, at no additional cost to you, from the seller. You may click here to learn more about our affiliate sales.

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Are you looking for a devotional book to use in 2020? As our gift to you, Joe and I are making the Kindle version of our book Pages of Promises: 365 Devotional Thoughts on the Promises of God FREE today through Thursday (December 30, 2019 through January 2, 2020)! [Reg. price: $4.99.]

We have included our YouTube announcement as well. Feel free to click on the link in bold print above or on the photo of the book cover to receive your FREE copy (12/30/19-01/02/20)!

By Petals from the Basket | December 30, 2019 | Bible Reading, Books, Events, God-and-I-Time, Ideas, Life Changes |

The Jesus Bible: An Honest Review

UPDATED LINKS! Note: I was selected by Bible Gateway to review The Jesus Bible and received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. This post contains that review. Additionally, this post contains affiliate links, meaning that should you choose to purchase items through those links, I will receive, at no added cost to you, a commission from the seller. Click here for more information regarding affiliate links.

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The poem is listed as “Author Unknown,” but its words create in me a desire to sit down with their writer and learn from him or her. I have no doubt that the heart of Jesus would shine through this skilled wordsmith who created a list of how Jesus is seen in every book of the Bible. As a list-maker, I was drawn to this poetic list from the first time I heard it. (After reading this post, you can read the poem-list here.)

Much like the beloved poem mentioned above, The Jesus Bible walks the reader through the pages of Scripture—from the creation of the world in Genesis 1 to the glorious sounds of the eternal praises foretold in Revelation—pointing out Christ in every book. With commentary written by noted biblical preachers, Bible scholars, and theologians and with practical, helpful notes and “side-margin tools” included, this Bible is my study Bible of choice for 2020.

My fear that this was yet another new “translation” or an “unpredictable modern version” of the Bible was held at bay when I realized that this was truly an ESV Bible*, a translation that is well-liked and trusted by many (it is also available in NIV*).

If I don’t like it or use it, I won’t share it. That’s my policy on this site. So the very fact that I’m sharing this with you tells you something! But I’ve also promised to be honest with you (and in this review), so let me first share a few of the negatives I feel are present in this Bible, and then I’ll end with the good stuff (including a link to a more detailed walk through this Bible via our YouTube channel).

The Cons:

  1. It’s not small. For me, this is definitely a study-from-home Bible, not a take-to-church Bible. I took it with me one Sunday, but that clinched my decision to use this for study and general Bible reading.
  2. The cover is not genuine leather; however, that point will also show up under the list of pros.
  3. I rarely (basically, next-to-never) wholeheartedly endorse the words of a preacher or theologian unless I have read the work in its entirety. Therefore, I honestly (and understandably) share that I have not yet read every additional note, essay, or sidebar comment in this Bible. The Scriptures themselves? As stated above, the ESV is my current version of choice, and nothing is changed between this Bible and others. The only thing I will not yet fully endorse (but may at some point) are the notes added by the preachers, commentators, and theologians.
  4. The artistic cover design on the Bible I received is unique. It’s a “watercolor-splashed” look, and I don’t mind it; however, had I selected the cover, I probably would not have chosen this. It’s growing on me, though, and I may change my tune on that! I will say that it tends to have more a feminine appeal (based on comments from the men who saw it at church and asked about it). However, it does come in other cover options, so that is a plus.
  5. I like room to add notes in the margins, and while some pages offer more than enough margin, others (the ones with multiple helpful notes added) have very little “extra space.” Not a huge negative, but it’s worthy of mention.

The Pros:

  1. Every book starts with a title page containing the quality/portrait of Jesus seen in that book. What’s not to like about that?
  2. Sometimes high-quality leather covers scare me. (There. I said it for all the world to see.) I’m afraid to ruin them or mark up the Bible inside of the lush leather cover. However, this cover is the soft, pliable “Leathersoft” that I prefer. Some may find that as a con, so I listed this fact there as well.
  3. For an outstanding, unique, abundantly helpful study-style Bible, the price on The Jesus Bible is outstanding!
  4. The notes, commentaries, and helpful “back stories” are amazing! Yes, I’ve only skimmed the surface of them for the purpose of this review, but I literally can’t wait to go deep into their insight when I begin using this Bible as my study Bible in the New Year.
  5. Again I say, Jesus in every book. The notes that guide you to the truth in those insights will certainly be a sheer delight to any student of God’s Word!

So to wrap up my honest review of The Jesus Bible Artist Version? Two thumbs up! I’m starting mine in January, but any time of the year is a great time to read and study God’s Word! I’d love to know if/when you purchase a copy, so feel free to drop a note (or any questions about the format or benefits of The Jesus Bible) in the comments or reach out to us via the Contact Us e-mail address, available in the right sidebar.

Take a moment to head over to our YouTube channel to watch a brief video we recorded that will give you a closer look at the benefits of using The Jesus Bible. Click here to view.

Additionally, you can view more details about The Jesus Bible and/or purchase your copy on Amazon by clicking here and then selecting which style option, translation, and cover option you prefer.

*ESV = English Standard Version; NIV = New International Version

By Petals from the Basket | December 16, 2019 | Bible Reading, God-and-I-Time, Ideas, Life Changes |

Recipe: “Come on Over” for Second-Chance Potato Soup

I’ve decided that all recipes will now have their “story” at the end. If you’re like me, you hate to hunt for the recipe, so here it is!

“Come on Over,” Second-Chance Potato Soup

Prep time: 10 minutes-ish
Cooking time: 30 minutes-ish
Serves: 6 (or makes multiple meals for two)
From the kitchen of Brenda Henderson

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground pork sausage or turkey sausage
  • 6 medium OR 8 small potatoes
  • 1 medium white or yellow onion
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups whole milk OR not less than 2% milk
  • OPTIONAL: 2 Tbsp butter
  • Leaves of two stalks of kale
  • 1 tsp each of salt and pepper
  • OPTIONAL: 1 Tbsp crushed red pepper (for added spice)
Click photo to enlarge

Directions:

  1. Brown (cook) the sausage. Stir until loose pieces of marble size or smaller. (This can be browning while you peel, cube, and cook the onion and potatoes.
  2. In a second (larger) pot, pour the 2 cups of water and turn on high for water to boil. Allow to boil until you add the next two ingredients.
  3. While the water is heating and the sausage is browning, peel the potatoes and the onion. Cut all into 1/2″ cubes. Toss into boiling water.
  4. Use a lid to cover the pot of potatoes and onions and reduce heat to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If you are using the optional butter, add the 2 Tbsp of butter to this mixture. Allow to cook while you complete the next step.
  5. Strip the leaves from two stalks of kale. Chop into small pieces and set aside. (The sausage should be done by now. Remove from heat and drain off any excess fat.)
  6. Test 1 or 2 cubes of potato to see if you can “mash” it by using a fork and pressing the cube against the side of the pot. When you can do this, the potatoes and onions are ready, and you can move to the next step. (Some people like to “mash” all the potatoes at this point. We like the “bites” of softened potatoes. It’s up to you!)
  7. Add milk to potatoes and onions. Stir well.
  8. Add cooked sausage to the mixture. Stir well.
  9. Add salt and pepper to the mixture. Stir well. (Now is when you may also add the crushed red pepper if you want add that option.)
  10. Add the chopped kale. Stir well.
  11. Cook on medium-low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You may also allow it to simmer on low heat for up to one hour before serving, making certain to stir occasionally.
Click photo to enlarge

Serving Suggestions:

  • Serve with a simple sandwich of meat, lettuce, cheese, and brown mustard.
  • Serve with oyster crackers (just because I like them best!) and muffins.

Why “Second-Chance” Potato Soup? In full disclosure, on a whim, I tried to make this for my “new” family (Joe’s daughter’s immediate family) in 2016, the first Christmas that Joe and I were married. It flopped. Epic cooking fail…to say the least! I used skim milk, added half-raw bacon (instead of using sausage), and on and on the downward spiral went. They were kind…then. Now? Well, we all know each other well enough to just tell the truth, tease a little bit, and laugh at Brenda’s kitchen blunder!

But I learned a lot from that soup catastrophe: Keep trying. Keep learning. Keep it real. I’m not a gourmet chef. I’m a good-ol’ home-cookin’ cook. Period. And when I am who God made me to be, even my failures can be successful lessons. And yes, I’m serving this revised version this Christmas. It’s certain to make us laugh at the memories and to have satisfied tummies—and hearts—when we leave the table. Keep learning, sweet faith-friend. Keep learning.

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13, NASB).

By Petals from the Basket | November 21, 2019 | "Come on Over" Recipes, Family, Friends, Ideas |