Author: © Christian National Church of Christ

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
{Prayer}
Our trust is in Thee, O God. Let us never give into discouragement in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

Everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. Matthew 7:8
{Prayer}
Heavenly Father, Thou hast prepared things for us that we can have if only we believe. May we come to Thee in our weakness and ask in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

Father God, let this touch someone’s heart and thank You for leading us in the right direction. Thank You and praise You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12″

Ever made Banana Bread and left out an ingredient. Then the banana bread comes out hard or doesn’t taste well. Maybe you over cook it and cut it up for the dogs as biscuits. Then later on think: How did I leave that ingredient out or how did I over cook the banana bread? You rack your brain with thoughts. Well, I had to feed the baby, answer the door to the neighbor, I finished making out my grocery list oh and I went and answered the phone. Well God I messed that up! But all and all you were able to use the banana bread for something. Maybe make banana pudding and crumble up the banana bread and throw the dark part away. While you mix the crumbs in the pudding or just fed it to the dogs as biscuits. You were able to solve the problem and do better next time. This is how it works with forgiving yourself and asking God for forgiveness when we mess up and start all over again. Then God blesses us as we walk right.

So last week I was wearing a dress. Let the dogs in the house and my big dog JoJo jumped on me with mud on his paws. So, there was mud on my dress. I wiped what I could off and left the rest because I had no time to change. Got to church and the dirt was dry. So, I went in the restroom and took a dry paper towel and wiped it off. Good as new. The dirt was gone. That is what God does! He wipes our past clean as we walk in obedience with Him. Let me give you the recipe for Banana bread.

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“Banana Bread”
Bananas remind me of sinners. I look at old bananas and I see banana bread. I take the 3 bananas and stick them in a bowl with 1 cup of sugar. I cover the bowl and let the sugar flow into the old bananas. Praying no mold will grow and that it blends together good. {Thats LOVE!} {God works through us sinners like this, he flows His love through our ugliness} “Then remove the cover and stir up the sugar and bananas. {God lets us be confused about doing what is wrong, so we turn to right thinking.} Great! The sugar and bananas blended smoothly! {Mixing sinners and saints together} 1 egg {Volunteer greeting you to the church} 1 tsp vanilla {Praise and worship} Mix together in a separate bowl 1-1/2 cup Self-Rising flour {The Pastors Preaching} 1 pinch of salt. {Mix together} Bible study and then finally! Now add 1/3 cup butter Crisco {accepting Jesus as your savior} Now add the 1/3 cup butter Crisco by blending it good with the dry ingredients. Mix all the ingredients together in the same bowl. Preheat the oven to 350~ degrees. Grease and flour a 1-pound bread pan. Add the batter to the 1-pound bread pan. {All people going in the same direction} Bake for 1 hour or till the toothpick comes out clean. Remove banana bread from the oven to cool.

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{Blessings for Obedience-Deuteronomy 28:1-14}
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground, in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

{So how do you feel when your children do everything you tell them to do? I know I used to love when I could go through my routine and the days go by smoothly because everyone was doing what they were supposed to do. Or one would come and say hey mom I messed up and broke a glass. I would say: You didn’t get cut, did you? They would say no, and I cleaned up the mess mom. I’d say cups can be replaced. Just be careful next time.}

If we go to God and let him know we messed up and repent and ask for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9. ~ It reads in Isaiah 55:7 ~ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

“Curses for Disobedience-Deuteronomy 28:15-22
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees, I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out. The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him. The Lord will plague you with diseases until he has destroyed you from the land you are entering to possess. The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish.

Last thing God wants to do is bring curses on you or me. He wants us to make right choices. Obey the commandments. God is a forgiving God. God’s love for us is unconditional and the very foundation upon which we are forgiven. No matter what we have done or how long we have been away, God is going to welcome us back with loving, open arms. As we feel sorry for our sins and acknowledge our sinfulness, we return to God time and time again. Love is the greatest virtue and the greatest commandment. One time, Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-40 reads, “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

{Prayer}
Father God, I rejoice and sing of Your great love, Your mercy and Your faithfulness to all Your people, even when we go astray. You guide us back to You. I thank You and praise You that You are the Author and Giver of true ‘social justice’, and that You care for the needs of the poor, the fatherless, the widowed, the foreigner, and the oppressed. Honestly, You are worthy to receive sovereignty and power, honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

{Power Verses}
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
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Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

Psalm 91:14-15 KJV

{Prayer}
Lord, help me always to look to You in any situation, knowing that whatever my need, You will in some way supply it in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

And whosoever shall give drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water, he shall in no wise lose his reward. Matthew 10:42
{Prayer}
Dear God, today I want to share the gifts of Your love and happiness with one who has less chance than I of finding them in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

At the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee.

Isaiah 30:19

{Prayer}
O God, thank You for being ready and willing to rescue me in the midst of the trials of life in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

At the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee. Isaiah 30:19
{Prayer}
O God, thank You for being ready and willing to rescue me in the midst of the trials of life in Jesus Precious Name Amen. 

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:10
{Prayer}
Our Father, help us to lift our eyes above the disquieting things around us. Help us to center our thoughts and affections on You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 NIV
{Prayer}
Thank You, Lord, that I have my brothers and sisters in Christ who offer a consoling word when the tears fall in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

Father God, let this touch someone’s heart in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

I love seeing pumpkins all kinds of shapes and sizes.
If you want to grow them, they are fun to grow and teaches patience and how to schedule waterings, pull unwanted weeds and timing which is always perfect with God.
First, you plant a little pumpkin seed in the nice, warm, brown dirt. If the little pumpkin seed gets enough sun and water, it sprouts up out of the ground. If the little sprout gets enough sun and water, it grows into a pumpkin plant. If the pumpkin plant gets enough sun and water, it grows into a pumpkin vine with orangey-yellow flowers. If the pumpkin vine with orangey-yellow flowers gets enough sun and water, little green pumpkins start to grow. If the little green pumpkins get enough sun and water, they grow into big orange pumpkins, ready for you to pick. You can also cook pumpkin seeds that come from the inside of the pumpkin in the oven salted or unsalted as a snack. We see them in fields and grocery stores.

Be a glorious sight for others to see the love of Jesus!
I really like this about {The Pumpkin Patch Parable, by Liz Curtis Higgs} She tells how a farmer takes a pumpkin, cleans out the yucky stuff inside, and puts a light in it for all the world to see. God does that for us too. Jesus died on the cross and rose again so we can turn to Him, have our sins forgiven, and tell others about Him as we live for Him.
The Parable about a Farmer
” It reads in Matthew 13:1-9, ~ That day Jesus left the house and sat down beside the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the entire crowd stood on the shore. Then he began to tell them about many things in parables. He said, “Listen! A farmer went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on stony ground, where they did not have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once because the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they did not have any roots, they dried up. Other seeds fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew higher and choked them out. But other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop, some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. Let the person who has ears listen!”
There are a variety of pumpkins. I get to see them each year. Wish I could stuff them and keep them looking unique each year. The fake ones that you buy that last seems forever doesn’t have the uniqueness as the real ones to carve and hug because of their zeal.
The ceramic ones that come closer to the real pumpkins are beautiful. Fancy Nancy has beautiful pumpkins on her shelf. I saw several different decorative pumpkins. I saw one with an antique truck. Which was awesome. People can create just as God encourages us too.

1. Acorn Pumpkin
   Acorn pumpkins grow on trees and have an oval shape. These pumpkins taste similar to butternuts, but they contain more protein than their cousins. The seeds inside acorns make excellent snacks. You can eat them roasted, ground into flour, or even used to make bread.
2. Baby Boo Pumpkins
   Baby boo pumpkins are miniature pumpkins perfect for kids’ Halloween costumes. They come in many shapes, sizes, and styles, including jack o lantern, ghost, witch, spider, and more.
3. Butternut Pumpkin
   This pumpkin is orange in color with smooth skin. It tastes like a sweet potato when cooked. Butternut pumpkins have high amounts of vitamin A, which helps protect your eyes from diseases such as cataracts. They’re also rich in potassium, which lowers blood pressure and strengthens muscles.
4. Cucumber Pumpkin
   Cucurbita Pepo Pumpkins are grown commercially for their edible fruits. They come in different colors, like green, yellow, white, red, and purple. When you buy Cucurbita pepos, check the stem end to ensure it doesn’t smell bad. If it does, throw it away.
5. Delicata Pumpkin
   Delicatas are small pumpkins that look like miniature jack o’ lanterns. They’re usually found in grocery stores during the fall season. Delicatas have thick rinds that help keep the flesh moist. They’re low in calories and fat, making them perfect for baking.
6. Gourd Pumpkin
   Gourds are considered one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world. They’ve been used for food, medicine, and art throughout history. Gourds are available all year round, but they peak in demand during October and November.
7. Honeycomb Pumpkin
   Honeycombs are round-shaped pumpkins with thin skins and a honeycomb pattern on the outside. They’re often sold at Halloween time because of their appearance. However, these pumpkins don’t produce any honey.
8. Hungarian Blue Pumpkin
   Hungarian blue pumpkins are a hybrid variety of pumpkins. They were created by crossing two different species of pumpkins together. One parent was a sweet potato, and the other was a pumpkin. This particular variety of pumpkin has a deep blue color and is often sold as decorative items.
9. Marina di Chioggia Pumpkins
   Marina di Chioggia pumpkins are Italian pumpkins with an intense flavor and a beautiful greenish-yellow color. They’re usually found in Italy, Spain, France, and Germany.
10. Miniatures Pumpkins
    Miniature pumpkins are smaller versions of regular pumpkins. They range from about 2 inches to 4 inches in diameter. Some varieties include Baby Boo, Jack O Lantern, Sugar Pie, and Sweet Potato.
11. Muscat Pumpkin
    Muscat pumpkins are a type that comes from Turkey. They have a light golden-brown color and a strong aroma. They’re usually relatively small, ranging from 1 inch to 3 inches in diameter.
12. Muskmelon Pumpkin
    Muskmelons are very popular summer squash. They’re available year-round, but they peak in popularity during the summer months. Muskmelons are easy to prepare since they’re mostly water. You can slice them, dice, steam, grill, boil, bake, or even pickle.
13. Pepitas
    Pepitas (also known as pepitas) are hulled pumpkin seeds with high protein, fat, iron, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin E content. They’re often used in Mexican dishes like tacos and burritos.
14. Peruvian Pumpkin
    Peruvian pumpkins are native to South America; they are similar to other pumpkins, except they’re much more extensive. The average size is about 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
15. Squash Pumpkin
    Squash pumpkins are giant pumpkins that grow up to 10 feet long. Their skin is tough and rough, so you should peel them before cooking. Squash pumpkins are best known for their ability to store well. They’ll last longer if stored properly.
16. Turbans Pumpkins
    Turbans pumpkins are a cross between a squash and a pumpkin. They’re shaped like a football with a pointed tip and are typically yellow or orange. They’re most common in the United States, sometimes called “footballs.”
17. Warty Pimpled Pumpkins
    Warty pimpled pumpkins are gourd that has bumps on their surface. They can be eaten raw or cooked. They’re delicious when stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon.
18. Winter Melon Pumpkin
    Winter melons are another kind of cucurbit that’s commonly grown in tropical regions. They’re harvested around November through February. Unlike muskmelons, winter melons are not only great for eating; they can also be used to create juice, jam, and wine.
19. Valenciano Lumina Pumpkins
    Valencianos lumina pumpkins are Spanish pumpkins that are known for their bright colors. They’re typically red, white, or yellow.
    When you love you should not say, God is in my heart, “but rather, “I am in the heart of God.” © Kahlil Gibran

“The Pumpkin Prayer”

Dear God…

Open my mind so I can learn about You.

Take all my sin and forgive the wrong that I do.

Open my eyes so Your love I will see.

I’m sorry for times I’ve turned up my nose at what You’ve given me.

Open my ears so Your word I will hear.

Open my mouth to tell others You’re near.

Let Your light shine in all I say and do! Amen.

{Power Verse}
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NIV