Face the Music

by Greg Laurie

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. — Romans 3:23

Remember the group Milli Vanilli? They enjoyed great success until it was revealed that they did not sing on their own records. Everyone found out that Milli Vanilli didn't really do what they said they did. Milli Vanilli had to face the music.

There is coming a day when we will all have to face the music. The phrase, "face the music," originated in Japan. A man was a part of the Imperial Orchestra, but he could not play a note. But because he was a man of great influence and wealth, he demanded a place in the group, because he wanted to perform before the emperor. The conductor gave him a seat in the second row of the orchestra, and he was given a little flute. During each concert, he would raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers as though he were playing. But he never made a sound.

This deception went on for two years until a new conductor took over and wanted to personally audition every player. One by one, the musicians performed in his presence. Then came the flutist's turn, and he had to admit he was a fake. He couldn't "face the music."

None of us can live this life perfectly and flawlessly. All of us will fall short of God's glory, time and time again. But there is a difference between a person who seeks to live a godly life, but has their human failures and weaknesses, and a person who tries to appear to be more spiritual than he or she really is.

It has been said that you can fool all of the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool God any of the time.
Copyright © 2009 by Harvest Ministries

Today's Devotional Sponsor:

The Purpose Of The Law

by Pastor C. R. Stam

How little most people know about the Law, the Ten Commandments!

First, most people have a hazy idea that the Law was given to Adam; that it existed as long as the history of man. This, of course, is wrong, for in John 1:17 we read: “The law was given by Moses.” Moses lived some 2,500 years after Adam, about 1,500 years before Christ. So for about 2,500 years mankind lived without the Ten Commandments.

Second, most people suppose that the Law was given to mankind in general, while the fact is that it was given to Israel alone. It was a covenant made between God and Israel. Before giving it God said: “Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people” (Ex. 19:5).This is not to say that the Law does not affect all men, for, as the divine standard of righteousness it affects us all.

Third, most people think that the Law was given to help us to be good. Even some clergymen teach this, though the Bible itself states again and again that the Law was given to show us that we are guilty sinners and need a Savior. Note the following Scripture passages.

Rom. 3:19: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be brought in guilty before God.”

Rom. 3:20: “By the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Gal. 3:19: “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions….”

Thus the Law can only condemn the sinner. But thank God, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal.3:13).

5 minute magic green sauce

Magic Green Sauce? Made with all green foods // whipped up in five minutes // eaten every day for the rest of my life.

I’ve been just WAITING for the right time to share this sauce, and by waiting I do definitely mean hoarding.

Friends, readers, good sauce loving people of the world: let me introduce you to 5 Minute Magic Green Sauce.

Loaded with avocados, garlic, parsley, cilantro, olive oil, jalapeño, lime juice, salt, and pistachios, it might be my favorite sauce I’ve made ever ever ever. It’s reminiscent of guacamole just because of the avocado-cilantro-lime thing, but the parsley, the pistachios, and the olive oil keep it from being decidedly Mexican in flavor and make it compatible with, I mean, literally, everything. Salads, chicken, chips and crackers, sandwiches, dipping vegetables, you name it.

author: pinch of yum

prep time: 5 mins

cook time: 5 mins

total time: 10 minutes

yield: makes about 2 cups (8 servings) - serving size 1/4 cup 1x

DESCRIPTION

5 Minute Magic Green Sauce – SO AWESOME. Made with easy ingredients like avocado, olive oil, cilantro, lime, garlic, and parsley! Vegan.

INGREDIENTS

1 avocado

1 cup packed parsley and cilantro leaves (combined)

1 jalapeño, ribs and seeds removed

2 cloves garlic

juice of one lime (or two – get lots of limey goodness in there!)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup pistachios (you can sub other nuts – see notes)

INSTRUCTIONS

Pulse all ingredients – except pistachios – in a food processor until incorporated.

Add pistachios and pulse until mostly smooth (depends on what consistency you want).

Serve as a dip, spread, or sauce — or add additional water or oil to thin the sauce for use as a dressing or a marinade.

NOTES

I did make this with other types of nuts like walnuts and almonds and it worked just fine, but the taste wasn’t as good IMHO. If you can find shelled pistachios, it’s worth the splurge!

Find it online: https://pinchofyum.com/5-minute-magic-green-sauce

DAILY SMILE:

Great Reward

Teacher Jokes

Submitted by Retired Terp

A professor stood before his class of twenty senior organic biology students, about to hand out the final exam.

"I want to say that it's been a pleasure teaching you this semester. I know you've all worked extremely hard and many of you are off to medical school after summer. So that no one gets their GPA messed up because they might have been celebrating a bit too much this week, anyone who would like to opt out of the final exam today will receive a 'B' for the test."

There was much rejoicing in the class as students got up, walked to the front of the class, and took the professor up on his offer. As the last taker left the room, the professor looked out over the handful of remaining students and asked, "Anyone else? This is your last chance."

One final student rose up and opted out of the final.

The professor closed the door and took attendance of those students remaining. "I'm glad to see you believe in yourselves," he said. "You all get 'A's."