Jesus – Feasting Is Fun

Golden Egg Chocolate Sponge Cake

Easter is nearly upon us. Shops are filled with fluffy bunnies, chocolate chicks and all manner of chocolate eggs. While surveying the vast selection, I found Galaxy Chocolate Golden Mini Eggs. And they are perfect for decorating an Easter celebration cake. Especially my Golden Egg Chocolate Sponge Cake.

The reason for Easter

Easter Sunday is the Christian celebration of new life. Although Jesus had died two days prior, hanging on a cross. Yet when His friends went to visit Him the following Sunday, the tomb where He had been placed was empty. Shocked and outraged, one of the women spoke to the gardener, wanting to know where He had gone. The response came “Why look for the living among the dead.”

As the prophecies had foretold, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, had risen from the dead. He had overcome death. Forever. So that we, may have life, in Him. Hence the chicks and eggs, bunnies and lambs in the shops, represent new life. Gold, for me on this cake, represents the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus. He who could not be contained by death. Even though He was brutally punished and died wearing a crown made from thorns. Is now alive, bearing the scars of death, yet as alive as you and I. Please see Important Stuff.

FF Golden Egg Chocolate Sponge Cake — **Golden Egg Chocolate Sponge Cake**

While celebrating over Easter, take a moment, to think about what it means to you. As you make and bake this cake, remember the love, His love, that He offers you. Even now, as Easter is treated as an extra holiday. Consider the real truth behind it. With Jesus their is always hope, without Him, who do you place your hope in?

Recipe: Golden Egg Chocolate Sponge Cake serves 8-10

225g/8oz Unsalted Butter softened

225g/8oz Light Brown Sugar

1tsp Vanilla Eaxtract – I use Nielsen-Massey

1/4tsp Salt -I use Maldon

5 Large Free Range Eggs

100ml Buttermilk

150g/5oz Plain White Flour

75g Cocoa Powder – I use Callebaut

2tsp Baking Powder

For frosting and decorating:

3-4tbsp Salted Chocolate Spread – I use Hawkshead Relish new MUDD spread

alternatively use a chocolate spread of your choice.

200g/7oz Unsalted Butter

400g/14oz Plain Icing Sugar

1tsp Vanilla Extract

2tbsp Hot Water – from a recently boiled kettle

2 x 80g bags Galaxy Mini Golden Eggs

Optional – gold/copper sprinkles

Method: Preheat the oven to 160C/140C fan, gas mark 3, 325F

Grease 2 x 20cm/8″ sandwich tins with butter. Line the base of each tin with baking parchment.

Making and baking the chocolate sponge cakes

First of all, place a sieve over a bowl. Then sieve the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into the bowl. Set the bowl to one side. Dry ingredients.
Next, place the eggs and buttermilk into a jug. Whisk lightly using a fork. Wet ingredients.
Place the butter, brown butter and salt into a large bowl. Beat until well combined and free from lumps.
Next add the vanilla extract. Continue to beat until incorporated.
Take the jug of wet ingredients and pour on to the butter mixture. Then add the sifted dry ingredients.
Beat the ingredients in the bowl gently, scraping down the sides of the bowl halfway through. Continue to beat the ingredients until fully combined.
Divide the chocolate sponge batter equally between the two prepared cake tins.
Place the cake tins into the centre of the preheated oven and bake for 40-50 minutes.

The cakes are baked when they spring back from a light touch and a cake tester comes out clean.
As soon as the cakes are baked remove them from the oven.
Allow the cakes to cool in the tin for 20 minutes and then tip them out on to a cooling rack.
Once cooled carefully remove the baking parchment from the base of each cake.

Making the frosting and decorating the cake:

While the cakes are cooling the buttercream frosting can be made.
Place the butter into a large bowl, or the bowl of a free standing mixer with paddle attachment.
Next add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Now whisk or beat the butter until it is softer and pale.
Add all of the icing sugar to the bowl and 2 tablespoons of very hot water.
Start mixing very slowly and then as the butter and icing sugar start to combine increase the mixing speed. Continue until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Fit a large icing bag with a large closed star, or drop flower piping nozzle. I have a Wilton #2D piping nozzle.
Fill the piping bag with the whipped buttercream.
Place the bottom of the cake on to a plate.
Spread the Salted Chocolate Spread over the cake. Follow by piping the buttercream so that it covers the spread. Start at the outside edge of the cake, piping in circles until the centre is reached.
Place the top of the cake evenly on to the bottom.

Pipe buttercream on to the top of the cake, in the same way the base was covered.
And then pipe 6 swirls, slightly set in from the edge of the cake. See the photograph below.

Finally, decorate the top of the cake with the mini golden eggs and sprinkles.

And the cake is now ready to be served.

Serve with a smile to friends and family. Alternatively gift the cake to someone special.

This cake will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Refrigerate is the weather is hot.

If you have enjoyed this Easter recipe for Golden Egg Chocolate Sponge Cake you may also like these:

Vanilla Mini Nest Egg Cupcakes

Hot Cross Buns

Chocolate Monster Mini Egg Cookies

While celebrating Easter is especially important to me, having a real, everyday relationship with Jesus is more important. Rather than dealing with life on my own, He is always there. Because of what He endured on the cross and in His life, Jesus understands. So as well as being my Saviour, He is also my friend.

So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

Hawkshead Relish gifted a jar of Salted Chocolate Spread to me. This is not a sponsored post. All views, opinions, content including photographs are my own. The entire content of this post is covered by Copyright and I.P. laws. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns

Is there anyone who doesn’t enjoy a hot, toasted and buttered Hot Cross Bun, in the run up to Easter? While my previous post shows you how to make the regular version I wanted to make a wholemeal version. Because some people, for various reasons, can only eat 100% wholemeal bread. Since they shouldn’t have to miss out on all the Easter food fun I developed this recipe for 100% Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns.

Almost everyone can enjoy these Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns, eaten as they are or split and toasted with a light spread of butter. While, the added beauty of these buns is the spicy, cinnamon aroma, filling the house as they bake and then again when they are toasted. Also these buns are packed full of fibre. So, they are tasty and good for you!

While I toasted a hot cross bun, there was a knock on the front door. Our postman had a parcel to deliver and as I stood there signing for the parcel, he revealed the smell of a toasted bun was making him hungry!

Most importantly, making Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns is as straightforward and easy as for the regular ones. While switching the flour from strong white bread flour, to 100% wholemeal flour, not bread flour, I also upped the yeast content and with a few more tweaks, these gorgeous buns were made.

Why The Cross On Top Of The Bun?

The cross on top of the bun, is there to symbolise and remind us of The Cross on which Jesus died. Two days later His tomb was empty, He had risen from the dead, surprising many people, including some of His own disciples. So, the small symbol of a cross on a bun, reminds us that Jesus came for a reason. To love the unloved, to heal the sick, to befriend those that society cast out. And remember, within His followers, one was a tax collector and the other a prostitute!

So, amidst all the chocolate and bunnies, lovely though they are, take a moment to remember you are loved.

In the bible the book of John chapter 3 verse 16 says:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that who so ever believes in Him shall not be lost (perish), but have everlasting life.”

One small verse packs quite a powerful punch. You and I are the who so ever. Whether you believe or not, know that you are loved. Regardless of your circumstances and the life you have lived, you are loved more than you could ever imagine.

If you would like to know more, please read Important Stuff.

Now, time to show your body some love by making these Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns.

Recipe: Makes 12 Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns

For the bun dough

500g/1lb 2oz Wholemeal Flour (not bread flour) – I use Duchy Organic from Waitrose

160ml/scant 6fl oz Whole Milk – slightly warmed (body temp)

120ml/4.5fl oz Water – slightly warmed (body temp)

2 Large Eggs – I use free range

1tbsp Honey – I use runny honey

14g/ 2 Sachets Fast Acting Dried Yeast – I use Allinsons

10g/ approx 1.5tsp Salt – I use Maldon

50g/2oz Unsalted Butter at room temp. – plus extra for greasing the baking tray.

3tsp Cinnamon

150g/5oz Sultanas or Raisins

For the crosses:

50g/2oz Wholemeal flour

60ml/2.5fl oz Water

Apricot jam or honey to glaze approx 2tbsp

Method: This method is for use with a bread maker or stand mixer. Alternatively you can make these Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns by hand.

The ‘bowl’ refers to the bowl of a stand mixer or the mixing compartment of a bread maker.

Making The Wholemeal Bun Dough

First of all, add both the milk and water to the bowl.
Next add both eggs, the honey and yeast.
Swish about with clean fingers to mix.
Now add the flour on top of the liquid mixture.
Place the salt and butter on top of the flour.

For a bread maker, set the cycle to dough and press start. When prompted by the machine, or 5 minutes before mixing stops, add the cinnamon and Sultanas. Allow the bread maker to complete the dough cycle.

As soon as the bread maker has completed the dough cycle, ensure the dough has doubled in size, if not wait until it has. Then re start the dough cycle for 2 minutes, this will ‘knock back’ the dough for you.

For a stand mixer attach the dough hook. Start mixing on a low speed. Once the contents of the bowl resemble dough continue to mix on medium/slow speed for 5 minutes. Stop the mixer. Scrape all the dough, from the hook, into the bowl. Add the cinnamon and Sultanas. Lower the dough hook and mix on medium speed for a further 5 minutes.

After the 5 minutes mixing is complete, stop the mixer. Scrape all the dough back into the bowl, it will be very sticky, don’t worry. Cover with a damp cloth and leave in a draught free place until doubled in size – 1 – 1 1/2 hours. As soon as the dough has doubled in size it can be tipped out and shaped.

Shaping The Buns

Grease a large baking tray (40cm x 28cm x 2.5 cm) with butter.
Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
Shape the dough into a ball and weigh. Divide the weight by 12 and this will give you the weight of dough needed for each individual bun.
Alternatively, cut the dough in half and then cut each half into 6 even portions.

Cut the dough in half using a large knife or metal dough scraper.

Roll each portion into a ball. Tucking the seam at the bottom.

Cover with a damp cloth and place in a draught free place until doubled in size – approx. 1 hour.
While the buns are proving make the paste for the crosses. Mix the flour and water together in a small bowl and then spoon into a small piping bag or plastic sandwich bag.

As soon as the buns have doubled in size, snip the end off of the piping bag (corner of a sandwich bag) to leave a small hole.
10 minutes before the buns are ready to bake preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan gas mark 7, 425F.
Pipe crosses on to the buns.

Baking The Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns

Place the buns into the middle of the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
The Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns are baked when they are a deep golden brown and sound hollow when rapped on the base with your knuckle.

As soon as the buns are baked remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack.
Place the apricot jam into a heatproof bowl and microwave for 20-30 seconds to melt.
Brush the warm buns with apricot jam using a pastry brush.
Leave to cool completely.

Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns ready to be shared with loved ones!

Split in half, toast and spread with butter or eat as they are.

Store in an airtight tin for up to 3 days. Freeze in an airtight container for up to one month.

If you have the capacity, why not bake a double batch of these delicious Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns and give some away?

If you enjoyed this recipefor Wholemeal Hot Cross Buns you may also like these: then you may want to take a look at these:

Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns

Ginger Date Hot Cross Buns

Cherry Bakewell Hot Cross Buns

Easter is a time when our family comes together and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Saviour. And sitting together, around the table, giving thanks before a meal is important. Giving thanks for the food we share and the provisions we have however is not only for Easter. Rather, it is an important daily practise in our lives. So is sharing the love that Jesus shows us. Whether it be through words, or more practically. And that is why I am so passionate about sharing food outside of our normal circle on this blog.

So whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Living With Seizures

Hi. Ok, so you know this isn’t a usual recipe blog? I felt it was time for a honest update on me. Please don’t think this is some ego-crazed post. I just want to be honest with you all about what goes on, behind the scenes, recipes and photos.

In today’s shiny, perfect, Instagram world it’s very easy to portray yourself online, in an unreal way. That isn’t who I am. Not for a moment.

As some of you may know I have regular, disabling migraines. In addition I also have chronic lower back and neck pain, oh and I’ve recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. So yep quite a bit to deal with, until……..

Just before Easter, when I started having seizures (fits). This resulted in me spending two and a half weeks in hospital over the Easter holidays. We have three children, that is NOT where I wanted to be!!

Living With Seizures www.feastingisfun.com

The seizures have continued since April and I can have anywhere between 2 – 15 seizures in a day, each lasting between 10 minutes to an hour and a half. I do not have Epilepsy. Today I was diagnosed as having Disassociative Non Epileptic Seizures.

I have been Living With Seizures for the past 6 months and yet I’ve still managed to post recipes on this blog. How???

Determination. A deep sense of not allowing the seizures to rob me of my life and loves. There are certain things I cannot do, for example driving. I could let myself become despondent about not being able to drive, but I haven’t. Instead I have been more thankful than ever for online grocery shopping, in fact, online shopping for everything!

I love to bake. In spite of the physical pain I experience standing for more than a few minutes, I can’t give it up. Even though I am Living With Seizures, I still, somehow manage to create new recipes and make them and post them on this blog.

I’m pretty darn proud of that! Yes migraines may slam me for a few days, where I am unable to leave my bed, but in my first year of blogging I wrote over 100 posts! Yep I’m proud of that too.

On a practical level Living With Seizures has limited certain activities, for example I haven’t made any jam or preserves as I simply don’t know if I will be ‘fitting’ just at the point of the jam setting!! Larger cakes are baked when someone else is home so that they don’t burn away merrily in the oven whilst I am mid-fit. Recipes are broken down into small sections, weighing out, combining, baking, icing. All do-able just not necessarily in one smooth sequence. Occasionally one of our daughters will complete the ‘photo shoot’ – usually so they can then tuck into whatever I’ve baked!!

Having frequent seizures is also exhausting. So baking is carried out over the morning. If I start to edge to far into the afternoon, it becomes more challenging and sometimes impossible to complete what I’ve started. For me that is sooo frustrating. I hate leaving a job unfinished – yet sometimes that’s the only option.

Writing up posts, editing photos etc. all takes place when I am resting. I spend a significant amount of time in bed. Having ‘something meaningful’ to do gives me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Very important for my mental well being. Anyone who lives with a chronic condition knows that keeping positive is a daily challenge.

Everyone needs a purpose for getting up (not literally on some days) in the morning, don’t they?

Living With Seizures who do you place your hope in?

My Faith in Jesus is the Rock upon which my life is built. If I get down and I do sometimes, He lifts me up. Being given the full diagnosis today and being referred to a Neuro-Psychiatrist is scary. Very scary. I will get through it because He is holding my hand. Crumbs, most days Jesus is literally carrying me in His arms. In Him I have hope. Where, who or what do you place your hope in?

I know I have a long difficult journey ahead of me. I am determined to make it to the finish line. I will not be like this forever.

I have found that when I open myself up, here, on the internet, I connect with people’s hearts. As I have said in The Pain Payoff, pain is not comparable between people. In fact John Green put it so beautifully in his book A Fault In Our Stars – “Pain deserves to be felt.”

That doesn’t mean I think it is healthy to wallow for days on end, when dealing with a disabling medical condition, rather, that denying ourselves the time to come to terms with what you are faced with, is, detrimental to our wellbeing.

My hope is that each post I publish connects with you. Whether through your heart and emotions, your rumbling tummy with one of my recipes, or both. I appreciate each and everyone of you who stop to read my little corner of the blogosphere. Your comments encourage me to keep going.

I want to encourage you, in whatever you are dealing with right now or facing in the future. Lean on Jesus, your Friend and Saviour. He loves you more than you could ever, ever know. From personal experience I know that any battle fought is easier with Him by your side.

You may find this helpful

Important Stuff

Are you struggling at the moment?

I will happily answer any questions to the best of my ability.

Sammie x

All photographs from Pinterest.

Adapting My Life To A New Normal

Hi, it’s taken me ages to write this post and come up with a title that accurately describes where I’m at : Adapting My Life To A New Normal. What I am going to share with you, is my journey, over the last few weeks. Honestly. But maybe a bit back to front!!!

My life was about to take on a whole new direction.

About 3 weeks ago I came home from a 2 week stay in hospital. My stay was unplanned, difficult and was preceded by one of the most frightening periods of my life.

At the end of March my husband called the Paramedics, as I was having, what we now know are Seizures. Failing a series of, quite brutal tests, designed to get a response out of me (trust me – if I could have responded I would have – having various pressure points pinched, poked and twisted was painful. Very painful!!), it was decided I needed to be take to our local A & E via Ambulance.

Whilst there, the eye twitching/mouth contorting, developed into full body jerking. Arms shaking, legs moving, my whole body rocking and rolling and I was completely unable to stop or control any of the movements. I was very scared. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before.

The road ahead is going to be a very bumpy one.

Ok so I live with Chronic Pain and Frequent Migraines, so I’m used to my body not behaving as I’d like. But this, this was a whole different thing,

During each Seizure I remain completely conscious and aware of my surroundings and what people are saying – although during the longer Seizures (15 minutes plus) all I can focus on is trying to keep my breathing as steady as possible and getting through it!

After various tests I was admitted to a ward, where I spent the next 2 1/2 weeks. Easter was spent in hospital, not at home planning egg hunts with my hubby for our children – that was hard. I missed them so badly. Even though they visited on some days, we spoke or text everyday. Whilst I was still stuck in hospital, having upto 15 Seizures a day – our eldest daughter, Star was revising for her GCSE’s at home. Not that anytime would be ideal for what was happening to me, but to say the timing sucked would be a massive understatement.

It became clear, as more tests were carried out on me, that my future would mean Adapting My Life To A New Normal. Daunting to say the least!

What does the future hold? Which direction will it take me?

Gradually, over the 2 weeks the Seizures reduced to 5-10 a day, with a couple of rare days where they were absent altogether. I kept a record of the Seizures, time, length, previous activity etc. There was a lovely lady diagonally opposite me, she would note the time a Seizure started and then I would raise my hand, once it was over, she’d say “OK Sam, I’ve seen your hand” and then let me know how long it had lasted once I’d recovered.

Having a Seizure, for me, feels like I am strapped to a Bucking Bronco, unable to get off. My body is bucking and doing a full workout, whilst inside everything is spinning and dropping and it’s a very exhausting, frightening experience. During a Seizure I lose ALL control of my muscles. I can no more make a muscle move, at will, than stop it. I get through each episode by singing, in my head – this helps to give me something to regulate my breathing and to hold onto the one person that is immovable and constant, Jesus.

Without my Faith and the amazing love and support of my husband, I do not know how I would have got through the last month. Jesus is ALWAYS there, in the middle of a Seizure, during the long lonely days and nights. He truely never left me or gave up on me.

The cross. A reminder of my Rock and Anchor, Jesus.

The good news is that I don’t have Epilepsy, or a brain tumour (that was a bit of a shock when it was mentioned as I hadn’t eveen considered it!!). I am now home awaiting an appointment at a London Neurology Hospital. I get to see my hubby and children EVERY DAY. Oh and I haven’t had a Seizure since last Sunday – 5 days clear!!!! The flip side is, as I start to feel better, stronger and less ‘spacey’ I’ve realised I can’t drive and won’t be allowed to for at least a year. That’s going to be hard, very hard. All the time I was having regular Seizures I didn’t even want to drive, but as I get further away from my last Seizure I know I can’t. I’m Adapting My Life To A New Normal.

I will make it, we are adjusting as a family. True the timing is horrid given that Star has started her GCSE’s. Would the timing ever be right though? We have a strong Faith in Jesus, who has brought us through adversity before and we will get through this together, with Christ at the helm, steering our ship through choppy waters.

So I’d like to pass on a word of encouragement to all those of you who are going through difficult times and sailing in troubled waters, place your trust in Him who loves you with such a powerful, unyielding Love. Jesus loves you with a Passion and He will hold your hand, if you reach out to Him and guide you through the unchartered waters ahead.

Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments section.

Have your circumstances changed? Are you saying I’m Adapting My Life To A New Normal?

Who do you place your hope in?

Sammie x

Spring Has Sprung

Hi everyone, Spring Has Sprung finally. The Daffodils are filling gardens and hedgerows with sunshine, even on the dullest, chilliest days. Newborn lambs are gambolling about in the fields, snow white and bleating for their mummies.

Spring is truly the Season of hope. Winter’s icy claws fight with the rising sun, whose warmth and light is needed more than we’d remembered.

The noisy chattering of Sparrows, in their happy little communities, only broken through by the song of a Blackbird. Morning truly has broken when you hear Blackbirds singing.

Spring, with it’s promise of new life. Blossom refusing to obey the flat grey clouds, springs from the trees, once spent, will create Natures greatest show of confetti. Pink and white petals, flutter down, covering the ground like colourful snow.

Winter is behind and the long, scorching days of Summer lay ahead. Treasure every day. Each new bud that turns stark landscapes to vibrant green.

Yes Spring for me is truly the season of Hope. Easter, a prominent reminder, that what was dead, can indeed break the shackles of darkness and live again. Christ who gave His all on the Cross, the ultimate reminder, that when He arose from Death to Life, that we too, can have new life in Him.

Yes Spring Has Sprung, grab hold of the Hope and New Life it offers. Take delight in the sounds of new birth. For One is crying out louder than all others “Come unto me, you weary and heavy laden and I shall give you rest?”.

What does Spring hold for you?

Sammie x

Important Stuff

Good morning to all you lovely people. Whatever today holds for you I hope when you read through this blog the Important Stuff will encourage you to smile & when you smile I hope that it encourages others to smile too.

Why Write This Post On Important Stuff

It may sound odd, but I actually believe that HAPPINESS is a choice for most of us (please don’t think I am any way mocking people who are depressed, anxious, lonely, grieving, sad & all other manner of terrible situations – I ABSOLUTELY AM NOT). When I say Happiness is a choice, what I’m mean is that during the hundreds of thousands of situations & circumstances we are in and go through in life, most of us have a choice.

FF Important Stuff — Happiness as a result of being loved.

That choice usually represents itself simply as: Do I concentrate on all the bad stuff that I’m going through at the moment, or amidst the darkness & fog that I’m in, do I try to find something Good & Positive to hold on to? I’ve said being Happy is a choice for most of us – I didn’t say it was easy! Of all the difficult circumstances that I’ve only just started to touch on, I’ve been through most & more. But I’M NOT SAD! I should be but I’m not.

Choosing What Is Important

Some may say that’s easy for me, I have a loving family & friends: you can still be lonely in a roomful of people. Others may argue that we all naturally have periods of sadness in our lives: that is true, but it is our choice as to how long we dwell on them. Still others may say ” You don’t understand, my situation is HOPELESS & I can’t see a way out”. To those I say, I’ve been there. Whilst I may not know exactly the circumstances of your situation, I do understand what it is like to be trapped, with no clear exit route in view.

My life has never been a bed of roses, EVER! I face daily challenges and also difficult memories. Yet I still smile. I smile because amongst all the darkness I choose, to see LIGHT. Amongst all the noise I listen for the bird song. Against all the ugliness of a situation I will SEEK OUT the beauty. I make the choice to find the POSITIVE amongst the negative. Also I have HOPE. A never ending certain HOPE. I KNOW that I am LOVED.

The Ultimate Price Paid

A man named Jesus, a long time ago, took all the wrong doing that is in this world, all the injustice, hatred, hopelessness and wrongdoing (sin) upon HIS shoulders and died on a Cross. Naked, humiliated, despised by the very people He had come to help, Jesus knows loneliness, pain, neglect, suffering. And yet He still loved them. His love was shown when He took the place of ALL MANKIND, took all the SIN OF THE WORLD and paid the price, that we should have to pay, HE GAVE HIS LIFE, SO THAT WE MAY HAVE LIFE, IN HIM FOREVER.

Not only did He die on the Cross, for us, but HE OVERCAME DEATH WHEN HE AROSE from the dead THREE DAYS LATER. HE OVERCAME DEATH and in doing so laid a path for us to know Him. TO KNOW JESUS AND OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. Jesus said “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH THE SON”. JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD!! If we know Him, then we too can know God. HE IS OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER.
THIS IS TRULY AMAZING.

You Are Important

Every living person on this beautiful planet IS LOVED BY GOD. Every living person, has at some time, said or done something that is wrong, the Bible calls this Sin. The penalty for Sin is Death. Whether you believe in God or not, one day every person will stand before God and be judged, asked to give an account of themselves, their lives and their actions. You can choose not to believe this will happen, I am letting you know IT WILL.

That sounds pretty scary to me. I know I’m not perfect, yet I have nothing to worry about because; “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOSOEVER (that’s you & me) BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT DIE BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE”. WOW! No need to be afraid now. GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON!

You Are Loved

Firstly for those of you who are lonely or feel unloved YOU ARE LOVED – GOD LOVES YOU.

Secondly for those of you who are aimlessly walking through life, no real direction (except to go to work, pay your bills, raise your family – but somewhere inside of you, you question: Is there more to this??), JESUS SAID I AM THE WAY!! Now you can have direction – straight to God & ALL the Goodness & Love that He has for you.

Thirdly, for everyone who is searching for something. Looking for a bigger picture, but there are SO MANY religions, ideas to follow: JESUS SAID I AM THE TRUTH. You’ve found your answer. Jesus IS THE WAY TO GOD. Next, for those of you that feel hopeless, dejected, worthless: JESUS SAID I AM THE LIFE. A life lived with JESUS has HOPE, PURPOSE, WORTH.

GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON.

JESUS LOVES YOU SO MUCH THAT HE WAS WILLING TO DIE ON THE CROSS, BEARING THE PUNISHMENT WE SHOULD RECEIVE. HIS MOTIVATION – PURE LOVE FOR US AND TO DO THE WILL OF HIS FATHER.

He gave His life freely, at any point He could of spoken up in His own defense & saved Himself, but He didn’t – HE GAVE HIS LIFE FREELY.
JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THIS WORLD.

What does ‘Important Stuff’ mean to me?

No longer do I live a life without purpose but can smile each day, even through the tough times, for I know, I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN, that JESUS WHO IS THE LIFE, lives in me, by the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Not only that, but God promises ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL (not a chosen few elite individuals). I have a lot TO SMILE ABOUT.

You too can make this choice. Indeed nothing in life is more important, God is waiting with His arms open wide for you. His desire is that you would know HOW LOVED YOU ARE. While this may sound ‘Too good to be true’, I promise you it isn’t. God loves you whether you love Him back or not. He accepts you no matter what life you have lived, or however bad you think you are.

GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST IS FREE. You cannot work for it, earn or buy it. Jesus desires to be part of your life. He wants to be the SMILE IN YOUR HEART. As for me, I love my Lord JESUS with all of my heart. He has helped me, healed me, guided and protected me and saved me.

Important Stuff is the most important post I have written to date!

If you too would like to know JESUS as your personal Saviour and Friend, then you can pray to God now. Ask Him to forgive you for all the wrong you have done, acknowledge JESUS as God’s Son and ask Him to come into your life, to be your Lord and guide you. Ask God to reveal His love for you through the bible & to guide you to a local Christian Church that loves God, His Word (the bible), Jesus & God’s Holy Spirit.

If you prayed that prayer CONGRATULATIONS.

What to do next?

I suggest you start reading the Gospel of John, found in the New Testament part of the bible (NIV, NKJV are both very good bibles to start with, accurate & written without thee’s, thou’s & older day language – although personally the King James Bible will always be my preference!). John is the fourth book of the New Testament & before reading I suggest praying and asking God to reveal Himself to you through His Written Word.

Finally it would be lovely if you would share your experience in the comments box. If you would rather I did not make your words public, then please say so & I promise not to publish your comments. Also if you would genuinely like more information, please leave a message & I will do my best to help.

No disrespect to people of other Faiths, but I will not get drawn into time wasting arguments regarding this post, I will only answer genuine queries & politely ask that you respect this.

There is NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT OR PRECIOUS THAN KNOWING JESUS AS YOUR VERY OWN LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOUR.

IMPORTANT STUFF is and always will be THE most important post on the blog.
Thank you for reading, I pray that God will open your heart to His love.

Sammie xx

For more information and resources on becoming a Christian and learning about Jesus please visit jjohn .