Our dear biblical friend, Paul, was an excellent writer. Oh yes, there are some of Paul’s words that get jumbled up in my mind, but once unjumbled are beautiful examples of Christian living.

Paul also likes the phrase, “a trustworthy saying.” When Paul starts a sentence with these words, they are words he wants us to remember. Words like, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (1 Timothy 1:15 – NIV)

And another states, “That we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:9-10 – NIV)

The list continues. Here are three more passages where Paul uses this phrase. 1 Timothy 3:1; 2 Timothy 2:11; and Titus 3:8.

Yes, these are trustworthy sayings. Words to live by and to share. So today, I pray that you will listen to Paul’s words and strive to live according to the Bible.

Today’s repeated blog post is about a skillet. Enjoy!

Cast Iron Skillet

I bought a magazine to read on my flight home from Florida. The entire magazine is about cast iron skillets. There were articles about the different size and shapes available and the uses for each. There is plenty of advice on how to care for cast iron cookware. It even contained testimony after testimony from famous chefs regarding the impact cast iron had on their chosen career path.

Of course there are loads of recipes to create in these case iron skillets and Dutch ovens. Some I cannot wait to prepare…in a cast iron skillet or not! They sounded delicious and full of flavor. The first one I might have to try is Skillet Steak with compound butter.

The advice was interesting. One would say to never place iron skillets in soapy water, and then another would say it was okay to do so. One said to never air dry, another thought it wouldn’t hurt it. I suspect if the results are the same, how you achieve the finished product isn’t relevant, at least when it comes to cast iron. Or maybe it does matter. They’ve just managed to confuse me on these issues.

I did enjoy the stories from the chefs regarding the cast iron that had been passed down from generation to generation. Some even felt the cookware was as valuable as jewels or family heirlooms.

Is there something that you have received from a grandparent or ancestor that is of value to you? What makes it so? Is it the memory that is attached to the item? Is it valuable because of your relationship with the person who gave it to you? Or perhaps it is the combination of many things. Regardless, when we receive something from a loved one, it is precious indeed.

While inheriting items from loved ones can be wonderful, we have received far greater gifts from God our Father. Here are a few.

Love: God loves us. He wants to lavish that love upon us. 1 John 3:1 states, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” As His children we receive the inheritance. The true treasure, eternal life.

Glorious Riches: Grace. (Ephesians 1:7-8; 3:8). Again God lavished it upon us. “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6-7) Without this glorious gift, we would be lost. Forever.

Jesus: God gave us His Son so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16). We are “…adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ…” (Ephesians 1:5).

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

If you love cast iron cookware, one from a great-grandmother would be a treasure! I have a couple that have been handed down and one that I have seasoned myself. Any of them will do. They simply are the best for making fried chicken or cornbread.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna