Sue's Space

I wanted to let all my friends on here know that I am still alive and kicking even though I haven't posted anything for a while. I can't believe it's been 5 months since my last one though, my how time flies.

My son Pastor Dennis and his wife Jackie will be visiting with us in about 10 days time. Craig my husband and I are really excited about their visit to Lake Tahoe. Dennis has been here many times over the years but this will be Jackie's first visit to the Tahoe area and we will enjoy showing her around. I had hoped the weather would cooperate for their visit but it's still very cold with about 4ft of snow on the ground........One consolation, we can go up in the cable car to High Camp in Squaw Valley as the views around the mountains are magnificent this time of year and as we are still in ski season it should be open when they arrive.

View of High Camp cable car.

They will be with us for a little under 2 weeks so we have some sight- seeing planned and perhaps even a cruise around Lake Tahoe on the steam ship the Tahoe Gal if it's opened this early in the year.

The Tahoe Gal......Lovely isn't she!!

Virginia City an old 1800's wild west silver mining town in Nevada is another must see, I took my sister Babs and her husband Terry there when they were here 2yrs ago and they loved it.

Virginia City boardwalk on main street.

So, dear friends I may not be around for the next couple weeks but hopefully I will have some pictures to show you of there visit next time I post.

Maranatha!!

Sent to me from my friend Joy living in Wales. I loved it and had to chuckle in certain places. Remember my dear readers, Jesus said..."Unless you become like little children".

Matthew Ch.18 V. 1-6

Read on and smile today for the Lord our God loves all his children young or old.

Child's Book Report on the entire Bible...

A child was told to write a book report on the entire Bible.
This is amazing. I wonder how often we take for granted that children understand what we are teaching??? Through the eyes of a child. Children's Bible in a Nutshell

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did. Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat. Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of
Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible
guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence
fell over on the town. After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but
that doesn't sound very wise to me. After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed upon the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the
star of the New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say yes.
During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the
Pharisees and the Democrats. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached
to some Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.
Any way's, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life
again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the
Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution..

In recent years I have heard it said how the body of Christ has been the subject of such ferocious spiritual attack not just on a personal level but collectively as a whole. There seems to be an all out push by the powers of darkness to either bind Christians in constant fear or to neutralize and sidetrack his or her Christian life.

Not a new concept by any means we will all have adversary in our lives the moment we trust in Christ as our own personal savior as did our for-fathers before us. That said, in the last 30 or so years there seems to be a constant onslaught to us on a physical, mental and spiritual level. One must beg to ask the question why? This writer's personal belief is Jesus Christ is very near and ready to return, but for the moment how do we as the body of Christ here on earth deal with these spiritual attacks on a day to day basis?

Many good books are out there in print about the Armour of God written about in Ephesians Ch. 6 v10-18 which I like to call the power of God in the life of the Christian, but what I want to tell you about today is the authority that the Lord gives us.

The word "Dunamis" is used to describe the power of the Holy Spirit which operates in the life of the believer, the word "Exousia" is used to describe authority. Exousia or authority means delegated power, there are 3 words that summarise Christ's acquisition of authority for himself and us.

Crucified   Resurrected  Ascended

You see in the beginning God gave man the authority to govern the earth and have control over everything in it Genesis Ch. 1 v28. After the fall of man, Adam forfeited that right and Satan gained control over all mankind and the world systems (literally, governments, commerce, banking, etc). We read in Matthew Ch. 4 v8-9 that when Jesus was tempted by Satan, he showed our Lord all the kingdoms of the world and said he would give it to him if he bowed down and worshipped him. Jesus never challenged Satan about his rights to these kingdoms of the world because Jesus knew Satan had the legal right to them. 1 John Ch. 3 v8

CRUCIFIED......When Christ hung on the cross with our sins on him, he was not only bearing our sins and its consequence of death, but we were actually hanging their with him. Romans Ch. 6 v6

RESURRECTED.....The defeat of Satan was sealed with the resurrection of Jesus, Satan forever lost his authority over the humanity of Jesus and now every one of us who claim union with him. Colossians Ch. 2 v15 and Colossians Ch. 2 v 9-10

ASCENDED......The culmination of God's whole redemptive plan was to place Christ on the throne at his right hand, forever putting Christ's enemies (and ours) under his feet. Ephesians Ch. 1 v22

Because of my total identification with Christ in the mind of God, whatever is true of Christ is true of me. Our Lord Jesus is now seated on his throne in heaven at the right hand side of God. The center of the most infinite and greatest power of authority in the universe, and we are seated with him. I might be in the state of California (and you my dear reader, whatever part of the world your from) but we are seated with Christ in heaven. I don't have to wait until I die before this is true of me. Ephesians Ch. 2 v 6

What Christ won for us at Calvary enables you and I to have authority and victory over.                         The World. The Flesh. The Devil

Go out there my Christian brothers and sisters and walk in victory the way Christ intended you to live, don't for one more moment live defeated lives. Satan or his fallen angels have NO LEGAL CLAIM to you or me, but only what we allow him, (physically, mentally or spiritually) or to any part of our lives any more, this is your right as a child of God. Claim it and believe it for our Lord Jesus Christ paid a tremendous price to set you and I free in this life and in the next.

A few years ago I bought the much acclaimed DVD 'The Passion of The Christ' directed by Mel Gibson. When the film first hit the cinema's I wanted to go see it but decided to hold off until it became available on DVD. I am so glad I did because watching this graphically violent film in public I probably would have walked out of the picture house.

The film basically deals with the last 12hrs of our Lord's life here on earth ending with his death on the cross. What is most shocking about this film is the graphic scourging, torture and beating our Lord endured, nothing prepared me for it, as I watched in shocked stunned tear-full silence.

I am a visual person which means the film in itself really brought home to me the agony Christ suffered, and what he went through for each and every one of us. I have read the biblical account many times, seen other films about our Lord's life, death and resurrection but this one really hit home like nothing I had ever experienced before. The passages in  Isaiah Ch.53  V.1-12 describe this event so clearly, look closely at verses 3-6 (NIV Version).

3. He was despised and rejected by others, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

5. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

6. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

While I watched the film another verse was brought to my mind.  Isaiah 52 V. 14 GNB (Good News Bible).

14. Many people were shocked when they saw him. He was so disfigured that he hardly looked human.

The above bible verses pretty much sums up what I was looking at with Mel Gibson's film, if you have the opportunity to buy or rent it, do so, but watch it in private because this film is not sugar coated in any way shape or form. Our Lord paid a heavy price to set you and I free. Not a quick humane death, but one of brutal torture, extreme pain, suffering and sacrifice.

The sacrificial lamb of God has paid for each and every one of us in full! 

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Maranatha!

A knock at my door one day and two Jehovah Witnesses started to tell me that God loved me and wanted the best for my life, I wasn't that interested at the time but they floored me on every answer I gave them.

I was brought up a Roman Catholic, as is my whole family although, had pretty much rejected that concept as soon as I hit my teenage years, I didn't back then believe in God as the Catholic church taught....One to be feared instead of loved or so I thought.

So, my time with the JW's for a few months, in my own home doing bible study was what I thought I was looking for, until I went along to a meeting at their Kingdom hall. Did I have a rude awakening.

I was very uncomfortable, as one of the elders on the platform during the course of this meeting was pointing his finger at one of the members because he was not pulling his weight and getting enough converts in. I felt to be singled out like that in a room full of people was very unfair and not very charitable. However, at the time I believe even then the Lord's hand was upon me because that small incident made me start to question whether this was right for me or not!

Back in the 1980's I was going through a separation and eventually a divorce with my ex husband, my mother at the same time was dying of lung cancer and boy did I need answers as my life was a mess. I thought about giving the JW's a second try as the incident was years before. At the time I was an avid reader, and in his mercy the Lord led me to a book that literally changed the course of my life called "Released from the Watchtower" by Valerie Tomsett. The book simply dealt with the writer's bondage under the JW's and at that point I knew they were not for me.

So, I started looking for a Catholic church in my area to attend and not really finding one where I could get to with 2 children easily I started to become a little discouraged. But, the Lord had not finished with me yet, within walking distance to my home in Tottenham there was a church on the corner of the Great Cambridge road but at that point I had no clue what it was but decided to attend Sunday service with my kids. The church was St John's and St. James a Church of England. The Lord after a short time brought a small group of people together there, and the Holy Spirit just exploded in our midst. The rest as they say, is history.......

People that question if the gifts of the spirit are relevant today as they were back then at the start of the early church, all I can say is a big resounding yes. I saw with my own eyes, people given words of wisdom, empathy, prophetic utterances, healing, dreams and visions. But, all this happened within our church because it started with..... Personal Repentance!  

My son Dennis has just had his first Christian book published and a new website created for him. Its the first in a series of books that he will be writing over the next few years. Here is the web link. http://www.pastordennismehmet.co.uk/pdmmain/

Den is a Pastor of a church called Faith Harvest in S.W. London, its a free denominationally church but I would put it on the same par as a Pentecostal church as its teachings and beliefs are the same in my opinion. My Dennis has been dedicated to it since becoming a born again Christian in his 20's and that's where he met his lovely wife and my daughter in law Jackie.

My son's mission in life is to preach and teach the gospel, that has been his calling since giving his heart and life to our Lord and Savior Jesus Chris, and our Lord is making it become a reality in his life. I wrote about Den's early years as a teenager on another blog of mine here, the problems and troubles I had with him regarding attending my church of St. John's and St. James in Tottenham North London many years ago.

Our Lord has such a great sense of humor....Never would I have imagined or believed back then what Den would turn out to become but he has. The same is true of my other son Alan and my good friend Nita's daughters, Karen and Amanda because we were given the same word from the Lord for each of them. Yes, their paths maybe different but they all belong to our Lord, and although we may not see it now, he is true to his word.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

And a bit of a foodie blog this time are just getting off the ground here with the arrival today of family and guest. It's been a hectic week for me, getting the house all spruced up and sorting out what meals I am going to make over the next few days. (Yes, forever the cook).

We have a big 4th of July parade in downtown this afternoon and then the firework display which we are all going to see tomorrow night and probably a visit to our local pub afterwards for a few bevvies. (That's a pint of beer for all you non Brit's, although I much prefer a glass of wine!). Saturday we are all off to Reno to see a show at the Silver Legacy hotel and casino and probably catch a bite to eat in one of their many buffets.

Sunday will be a lazy day of hanging out here and cooking good food on the BBQ. My husband Craig does make the most exceptional New York strip steaks, grilled herb buttered corn on the cob and lemon pepper grilled spuds.

On Monday our guests leave, and I have promised them a full English breakfast. (A full Monty to all you Brit's). Being Americans and not having this before, I'm not sure if they will like it or not, especially fried bread.

If your a Brit in the USA....Keep a low profile tomorrow.

Grandchildren are just plain fun....Love them, cuddle them, feed them, play with them, change them if necessary and hand them back to mum and dad when you've had enough!!                                         

As much as I wish that was true of me...It isn't. My grand daughter Isabella 5yrs old and my grand son Aaron 4 months old lives in London, UK with their parents while I live here in California, USA and only get to see them once a year on my visits home to family and friends.

I really miss their growing up years even though my son Alan and my daughter-in- law Helen keeps in constant contact with me and sends me new updated pictures of them quite often, it just isn't the same as being around them on a regular basis. Couple that with sometimes missing their birthdays, Xmas and Easter holidays and you have a pretty sad Nana on your hands.

My dream is to retire back to the UK to be around my sons and grand kids someday, perhaps it will be possible when the economy turns around, perhaps not and Craig and I will move to the East coast when we retire so I can travel to the UK fairly quick and less travel time and expense that I have now.

However it goes... If you have grand-children that live near you, count your blessings, because you are truly blessed.                                                 

Just us 3 girls without our significant others for 6 days in a remote cabin in the woods with a hot tub, cooking good food and talking non stop till the wee hours of the morning...Just heaven!!!

My trip to Oregon to meet Honey my online friend for the first time from our cooking site RecipeZaar and meeting up with my good friend Chris again was a blast.

So much so, that all the ladies on RecipeZaar are jumping on the bandwagon and wants to make this a once year get-together. Most of them are from the UK as I belong to the British cooking forum on RecipeZaar.

I will be so thrilled if they can all make it over here to the USA next year as will Honey as she will be hosting them in her beautiful cabin in Oregon. A lot has to be said about meeting online friends....some scary stories out there of nightmare situations but I have been really lucky in that respect as I have met up with a lot of the ladies on RecipeZaar for a get-together last November when I was back in the UK for my yearly visit to family and friends, and all though distance separates us I have made some firm friendships.

If your reading this Honey, God bless and keep you my friend and thank you for such a wonderful time.

But, I have been having so much fun on facebook and my food blog that I will now shamelessly plug for all you foodie fans out there.

Back To The Table

Comments and kudos on said food blog are very welcome and encouraged. And, if you happen to be on facebook add me as your friend as I need more to send those silly widgets and make virtual money. I really am shameless today.

Anyway, I admit it I am a foodie buff and love to cook, it somehow relaxes me and my DH is mostly the recipient of my culinary skills without much complaint I might add, except when I see a recipe that I'm dying to try (that he doesn't much like the look of) and he is the number 1 guinea pig.

Not much has been happening in my neck of the woods this last month but I do have another trip coming up in a few days time to Oregon to visit Honey an online friend from my foodie site RecipeZaar. Chris my good friend from Oklahoma that we met up with in Mexico with hubby Bob will also be flying in to Oregon and we plan on spending 6 days with Honey in her wonderful Cabin near Mount Hood.

Having been to one of these foodie get-together's last year in the U.K. I expect Chris, Honey and I will be in seventh heaven just hanging out cooking without our significant others in tow, having fun and generally causing mayhem and getting into trouble. Honey's cabin is right by the river and from the look of the picture below it's huge.

(I know she has a hot tub that I think you can just see on the lower deck because she told me not to forget my swimming cozzie).

So, I expect I will take lots of pictures of this trip and regale you all with our antics when I get back. I will be taking my DH laptop so all the girls on RecipeZaar can see us on webcam while we are there.

I've been to Portland (about 40 miles from Mount Hood and where Chris and I will be flying into) once before many years ago on a business trip for the company that I worked for at the time, it's a lovely place and the weather so reminded me of home (the U.K) while I was there, it was drizzling rain and overcast not something we get much of here in the northern California mountains, something I thought I would never miss but do. Ah, the grass is greener is so true.