C.H. Spurgeon's Evening Devotional
Tuesday April 1, 2025

"It is time to seek the Lord."-Hosea 10:12
    
    This month of April is said to derive its name from the Latin verb aperio, which signifies to open, because all the buds and blossoms are now opening, and we have arrived at the gates of the flowery year. Reader, if you are yet unsaved, may your heart, in accord with the universal awakening of nature, be opened to receive the Lord. Every blossoming flower warns you that it is time to seek the Lord; be not out of tune with nature, but let your heart bud and bloom with holy desires. Do you tell me that the warm blood of youth leaps in your veins? then, I entreat you, give your vigour to the Lord. It was my unspeakable happiness to be called in early youth, and I could fain praise the Lord every day for it. Salvation is priceless, let it come when it may, but oh! an early salvation has a double value in it. Young men and maidens, since you may perish ere you reach your prime, "It is time to seek the Lord." Ye who feel the first signs of decay, quicken your pace: that hollow cough, that hectic flush, are warnings which you must not trifle with; with you it is indeed time to seek the Lord. Did I observe a little grey mingled with your once luxurious tresses? Years are stealing on apace, and death is drawing nearer by hasty marches, let each return of spring arouse you to set your house in order. Dear reader, if you are now advanced in life, let me entreat and implore you to delay no longer. There is a day of grace for you now-be thankful for that, but it is a limited season and grows shorter every time that clock ticks. Here in this silent chamber, on this first night of another month, I speak to you as best I can by paper and ink, and from my inmost soul, as God's servant, I lay before you this warning, "It is time to seek the Lord." Slight not that work, it may be your last call from destruction, the final syllable from the lip of grace.
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Monday, October 21, 2013

It'a an AUTUMN kind of day...


It was an AUTUMN kind of day when this book arrived in my mailbox.  I was so excited to get started testing the recipes.  Now I'm going to share one that I tested and offer you a chance to win your own copy of Gooseberry Patch's newest cookbook...Hometown Harvest.  The recipes are endless and so are the tips in this book. Each page not only has a yummy recipe but also a fun tip.  This recipe was the just perfect thing to start off the Autumn season with.


This Garden-Fresh Chili submitted by C.T of Batesville, AR was just the thing my family needed on a fall crisp day. Unfortunately our tomatoes in the garden didn't do much this year.  We didn't even get green ones for green tomato pie or relish.  The few we did get didn't get much bigger than a golf ball.  Pretty disappointing this year.  Anyway, this Garden-fresh chili said to use home-canned tomatoes or store bought....So guess what we had to use?  Yep, store bought ones.  However, it was delicious none-the-less. 

  • 2 & 1/2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 green pepper, chopped
  • 4 cups. home-canned tomatoes, or 2 to 3 - 14 & 1/2 oz. cans whole tomatoes
  • 2 - 1 & 1/4 oz. packages chili seasoning mix
  • 6 Tablespoons water
  • Garnish:  shredded cheese, cornbread or corn chips
  • optional: if you like chili with beans just add a can or two of kidney beans
In large stockpot over medium heat, cook beef, onion and green pepper; drain.  Stir in tomatoes with juice; mash tomatoes until well blended.  Add seasoning mix and water; stir until mixed.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low.  cover and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.  garnish bowls of chili with cheese.  Serve with cornbread or corn chips.  Makes 6 to 8 servings.  I added the beans; however, I did a chili bean and a kidney bean.  We love beans in our chili.  And we loved the cheese on top it melted so nice.



Tip at the bottom of the page - On a crisp autumn afternoon, load up a thermos with chili and toss in some lunch-size bags of corn chips, shredded Cheddar cheese and spoons.  Take a hike in the woods, then enjoy a portable picnic of chili ladled over the chips and eaten right from the bags.  Kids will love it. 
 
Check out Parmesan Pork Chops here
Check out English Toffee Cookie Bars here
Check out Spicy Meatball Noodle Soup here

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I'd like to thank Gooseberry patch for giving me the opportunity to review this book.  They provided me with a copy of this cookbook plus one for the giveaway.  I was not compensated in any other way. This is my honest review.

butterfly changing colors photo butterfly_zps353e18d0.gif

5 comments:

  1. love taking drives in the country to see the nature colors on display

    Grand MaC

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like taking long walk or hikes in the fall.

    ReplyDelete
  3. like when the leaves change colors

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the review--I love Gooseberry Patch cookbooks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. love it when the leaves change color and going to the apple orchard
    thanks
    aunteegem@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

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