Gluten Free & God Seeking: October 2016

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Taking Another Look at the Priesthood of the Believers in Exodus 19:6

What picture comes into your mind when you hear the word priest? For most of us it's probably of a man in a dark robe. I know that was mine, and when I heard for the first time that God sees all His believers as priests--I was like what?! But that's exactly what the Bible says:

Ebey's Landing

And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel. Exodus 19:6

I've learned from my reading through the Life-Study of Exodus that this was God's full intention when He brought the Israelites out of Egypt. But because of their failure with the golden calf, only the Levites were given this privilege.

In these chapters Witness Lee pulls out all the other verses in the Bible that point out that this is God's eternal intention. Sometimes I have to do a double-take when I read something I haven't understood before. That happened to me when I got to pages 1325-1326 in chapter 116 and I found out that the tabernacle and the priesthood actually symbolized the same thing! It might help to read the following excerpt slowly:

The last two verses of chapter twenty-seven indicate that immediately after the tabernacle came into existence, there was the need of the priesthood for the lighting of the lamps.This indicates that spiritually speaking, the priesthood and the tabernacle are one entity. In the typology of these chapters, God reveals that His redeemed people are both the tabernacle and the priesthood. The tabernacle is a dwelling place. But how can such a dwelling place be a living people? With the fulfillment of these types in the New Testament, the tabernacle and the priesthood are put together. First Peter 2:5 says we are built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood. In this verse, according to the grammar, the spiritual house and the holy priesthood are in apposition. This means that these terms refer to the same thing. Therefore, the spiritual house is the holy priesthood (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Exodus. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1982, Print).

It might help to take a closer look at that verse in 1 Peter: You yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 Stop for a minute and think about what you've just read, like I did. This is what I get from this: The New Testament believers are being built together into a spiritual house. Paul says this clearly in 1 Timothy 3:15 ....in the house of God, which is the church of the living God...Don't forget that church in Greek means the called out assembly--the people! So God's house is not made with lifeless materials but with His believers. And these believes also are God's priesthood spiritually serving Him. You can go wow now, because that's what I did.

Finally, you have to tie all of this into two verses in Revelation that fully show that God's intention from the beginning was that all His people would serve Him: And made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and the might forever and ever, Amen. Revelation 1:6 And then in Revelation 5:10 the 24 elders of the universe and the four living creatures declare: And have made them a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign on earth.

You can listen to excerpts of this life training and some outstanding commentary by listening to Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee on Exodus.

Other Posts on the Life-Study of Exodus:

Why Did God Use So Many Women in Exodus 1 & 2?
Taking a Closer Look at the Conflict Between God and Pharaoh in Exodus 5
What Does the Name Jehovah Mean in Exodus 6:2?
Why Did God Really Send the Manna in Exodus 6?
What is the Meaning of the Bitter Waters at Marah in Exodus 15:23?
How are the 10 Commandments Like God's Engagement Covenant in Exodus 20?
How Can You Keep the 10 Commandments?
Why Did the Israelites Build a Tabernacle in Exodus 25:8?
Taking Another Look at the Priesthood of the Believers in Exodus 19:6
Seeing God's Spiritual Building in Exodus 26 - Part 1 of 1
Seeing God's Spiritual Building in Exodus 26 - Part 2 of 2
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus 25 - The Ark
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus 25 - The Showbread Table & the Lampstand
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus 27 & 30 - The Bronze Altar & Laver
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus - The Golden Incense Altar

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Dale's Gingersnaps Made Gluten Free

As soon as the temperature dips, I start getting into hibernation mode or something. I start pulling out fall decorations, and then I begin some serious fall baking. With no school on Friday last week my granddaughter and I made an apple pie on Thursday night and gingersnaps, banana muffins, and a peach crisp on Friday. My house smelled amazing.

I love cooking with my grandkids and watching them get into it. There's some ownership that happens when they become a part of the cooking process. This recipe for gingersnaps come from my church cookbook Come & Dine. It was submitted by a man who grew up baking for his family's restaurant. And he is one amazing cook!

These gingersnaps had just the perfect amount of ginger. Not like a ginger chew that explodes in your mouth--if you're looking for that maybe add a bit more. My oven runs on the hot side, so I had to adjust the time. Nothing says fall is fun like some good home baking and the smell of gingersnaps!

Gluten Free Gingersnaps

1. Prepare dry ingredients - In a medium sized mixing bowl put:
(1) 2 cups of gluten free flour - I like to use 2/3 cup of white rice flour, 2/3 cup of sorghum flour, and 2/3 cup of tapioca flour.

(2) Stir in 2 tsp. of baking soda, 4 tsp. of ginger, 2 tsp. of cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp. of salt.

2. Creaming: Cream butter and sugar. Then beat in 1 egg and 1/4 cup of molasses.

3. Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture. Stir well.

4. Roll dough into balls and dip in sugar.

5. Place sugar side up on ungreased cookie sheet.

6. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes. Cook shorter or longer depending on how crisp you want them to be.

Other Gluten Free Baking & Desserts on This Blog:

Breads & Coffee Cakes:
Gluten free & Low-fat Banana Bread   (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Celebrate Fall With Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread  (A friend's recipe)
Delicious Gluten Free Zucchini Bread (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
My Favorite Gluten Free Cranberry Nut Bread  (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
Claudia's Blueberry Coffee Cake (Made Gluten Free!) (From a former neighbor)
Here's a Zucchini Bread with a Hawaiian Twist! Gluten Free Pineapple Zucchini Bread (From my Syre School Cookbook)

Cakes:
Gluten Free German Apple Cake (From my grandmother)
You Won't Believe It's Gluten Free Carrot Cake (From my daughter's husband's grandma--whew)
Judi's Super Moist Gluten Free Chocolate Cake   (From a church friend)
Judi's Gluten Free Orange Chiffon Cake   (From a church friend)
Marilyn's Spectacular Gluten Free Oatmeal Cake (My mother-in-law's specialty!)
The Best Gluten Free Black Bottom Cupcakes (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Delicious Gluten Free Rhubarb Cake (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Grandma's Gluten Free Applesauce Cake (From an Internet search--tastes like my grandma's!)
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Banana Cake (From my grandma)
Rosie's Gluten Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Overwhelmed By Your Bumper Crop of Zucchini? Try Claudia's Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake! (From my former neighbor Claudia of 12 years)
Decadent & Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake  (From my Come & Dine church cookbook)
Debbie's Delicious Hot Water GF Chocolate Cake (From my Come & Dine cookbook)
Debbie's Less Oil Carrot Cake (Made Gluten Free!)   (From my Come & Dine cookbook)
Jud's Crazy Cake (You Can Easily Make It Gluten Free!) (From a church friend)

Cookies:
The Ultimate Gluten Free Cowboy Oatmeal Cookies (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Mom's Go To For Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
The Best Gluten Free Recipe for Snickerdoodles   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Gluten Free Rocky Road Brownies   (From a church friend)
Mark's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies - Made Gluten Free! (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Judi's Gluten Free Oatmeal Craisin & Coconut Cookies (From a church friend)
Marie's Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies (Also Great Gluten Free!)   (My friend Marie's recipe)
Bebe's Gluten Free Whoopie Pies (From my friend Debbie)
Scrumptious Gluten Free Blackberry Cake
Gluten Free Coconut Chocolate Chip Macaroons - (Recipe on Baker's bag of coconut)

Cornbread & Rolls:
Beth's Amazing Gluten Free Cornbread   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Judi's Favorite Gluten Free Buttermilk Biscuits   (My friend Judi's sister's recipe)

Crisps & Pies:
Lena's Rhubarb Crunch (A crisp with a gluten free top and bottom crust!) (My daughter-in-law's mother. She's an amazing cook, which I think most of us moms become after a few years!)
Delicious Gluten Free Apple Crisp   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Ginger's Outrageous Apple Pie   (From a church friend)
The BEST Lemon Meringue Pie with Mrs. Lauralicious Gluten Free Pie Crust  (Internet)
My Grandmother's Favorite Banana Cream Pie  (A recipe from my grandmother)
Granny's Lemon Cheesecake Squares   (From my friend Judi's granny)
Simple & Gluten Free Chocolate Cream Pie (From my Syre School Cookbook)
Judi's No Fail Gluten Free Pie Crust   (From my friend Judi)

Desserts with Fruit:
Sensational Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake (From the back of Costco's organic sugar)

Terrific Gluten Free Strawberry & Peach Trifle (Modified from an Internet search)
My Favorite Gluten Free Strawberry Cheesecake (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Just Like Grandma's (But Only Gluten Free) Berry Cobbler (My husband's grandma's recipe)
Gluten Free Lemony Rhubarb Bars (From my Syre School Cookbook)
Old Fashioned Strawberry Buckle (Made Gluten Free) (A recipe I picked up from a berry farm)
From New Zealand - Triple Berry Pavlova (A friend's recipe - Heritage School Cookbook)

Holiday Cookies & Baking:

Old Fashioned Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies  (Modified from back of the Libby's pumpkin can)
My Family's Favorite Gingerbread Cookies (Now Made Gluten Free!)  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
My Grandkids Favorite Gluten Free Peppermint Sugar Cookies  (From Syre School Cookbook)
Our Favorite Pumpkin Pie (With extra spice-- from back of Libby's pumpkin can)
Perfect Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake (From back of cream cheese box)
Gluten Free Polish Fruitcake  ( Modified from Internet search)
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Gluten Free Nordy Bars  ( From my Syre School Cookbook)
Grandma Pitcher's Old Fashioned Sandies (Made Gluten Free)  (My husband's grandma)
Make a Family Tradition & Make Your Own Fruitcake   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Muffins:

My Favorite Banana Nut Muffins (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Gluten Free Tremendous Pumpkin Muffins (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Bursting with Blueberries Gluten Free Muffins (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Toni's Outrageous Gluten Free Corn Muffins (From back of a Bob's Red Mill package)
Sassy Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Puddings & Ice Cream:

Dairy Free Strawberry Coconut Ice Cream (And other ice cream favorites!) (From searches)

Baked Coconut Pudding (Something I worked out from my Aunt Sue's rice pudding recipe)

Tangy Lemon Pudding (From my daughter-in-laws family reunion cookbook)

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Why Did the Israelites Build a Tabernacle in Exodus 25:8?

Exodus isn't just about getting the Israelites out of Egypt. Although Moses paints a vivid picture of Pharaoh's oppression and the Israelites plight of forced labor, drowning babies, brick making, and 10 devastating plagues, the story doesn't end there.

Shortly after their exodus, the children of Israel camped near Mt. Sinai where God gave Moses those famous 10 commandments. But soon after that God called him up again to receive the vision of the tabernacle.

Exodus 25:8 And they shall make for Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.

I don't know if you have focused on the chapters on the tabernacle in your Bible reading or not. When I was a young believer, I pretty much glossed over it all. Why didn't God just call a tabernacle into being like He did in Genesis 1? And why the immense detail?

So as I was thinking about all of this today, I remembered how I had learned in the Life-Study of Genesis that there's a thread of life and building that runs throughout the entire Bible. God doesn't want just one person on display nor does he want a nick-knack shelf of various spiritual believers, God wants a spiritual house. Let me stop here for a minute and say this is something I have deeply appreciated about the ministry of Witness Lee. Many times he shared that he was standing on the shoulders of countless other believers before him. By God's mercy he was enabled to see more revelation in God's word about God's house.

It's actually all throughout the New Testament--beginning with the Lord in Matthew 16:18B ...and upon this rock, I will build My church... All of brother Lee's sharing is strongly supported by the Bible, and I'll just put here two classic verses that clearly show that God's intention is to build His people together into a spiritual house. Take a look at 1 Peter 2:5: You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. And then compare that to Paul's word in Ephesians 2:21-22 In whom [Christ] all the building being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.

What's amazing about Exodus is it gives us a detailed picture of the process the Israelites went through in building the tabernacle. All the details like using acacia wood, gold, silver, and bronze, and certain types of fabric, and specific colors of thread all have spiritual meaning!! Even as I write this, I'm trying to wrap my head around it more. It's just plain incredible!! Here's an awesome excerpt from pages 949-950 of chapter 81 of the Life-Study of Exodus that shows how the tabernacle is a type of the church:

To be sure, the ark typifies the individual Christ. The tabernacle, however, typifies both the individual Christ, the Head, and the corporate Christ, the Body....The Body of Christ is the church. In Ephesians 1:22 and 23 Paul speaks of the church which is Christ's Body, the fullness of the one who fills all in all....To repeat, in Exodus we have not only the ark, but also the tabernacle. This means that we have not only Christ, but also the church....It is vital for us to see that the second section of the book of Exodus is concerned with the tabernacle as a type of the church as the enlargement of Christ. In order for Christ to be enlarged into the church, we need to have many spiritual experiences. For this reason, as we consider chapters twenty-five through forty of Exodus, our emphasis will be more on experience (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Exodus. Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim. 1981, Print).

I found out in my reading that the construction of the tabernacle and each piece of furniture typifies specific spiritual experiences that are spoken about clearly in the New Testament.

You can listen to excerpts of this life training and some outstanding commentary by listening to Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee on Exodus.

Other Posts on God's Building