What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ?

The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory.[1]

1. John 17:21, 24

   … that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
   
   O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.

   Eph. 2:5-6

   even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…

Question 65, Westminster Larger Catechism

It's a Holiday

It’s the 17th of May (Syttende Mai) or Constitution Day for Norwegians. It was in 1814 that Norway broke away from Denmark after being under Danish control for several hundred years, and on May 17th of that year Norway’s constitution was established.  Nevermind that Norway was part of a kingdom with Sweden until 1905; this is still the day that they celebrate their independence. 

 

So to celebrate the Seventeenth of May here on the blog, I’m posting the words to the Norwegian national anthem, Ja, vi elsker dette landet, and including a link at the end so you can hear it as well.

 

In Norwegian:

Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
Som det stiger frem,
Furet, værbitt, over vannet,
Med de tusen hjem.
Elsker, elsker det og tenker
På vår far og mor
Og den saganatt som senker
Drømme på vår jord,
Og den saganatt som senker
Senker drømme på vår jord,

Norske mann i hus og hytte,
Takk din store Gud!
Landet ville han beskytte
Skjønt det mørkt så ut.
Alt hva fedrene har kjempet,
Mødrene har grett,
Har den Herre stille lempet,
Så vi vant vår rett,
Har den Herre stille lempet,
Så vi vant, vi vant vår rett.

Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
Som det stiger frem,
Furet, værbitt over vannet,
Med de tusen hjem!
Og som fedres kamp har hevet
Det fra nød til seier
Også vi når det blir krevet,
For dets fred slår leir,
Også vi når det blir krevet,
For dets fred, dets fred slår leir.

 In English:

Yes, we love this country
as it rises forth,
rugged, weathered, above the sea,
with those thousand homes.
Loving, loving it and thinking
about our father and mother
and the saga night that sends
dreams to our earth.
And the saga night that sends,
sends dreams to our earth.

Norseman, in house and cabin,
Thank your great God!
It was His will to protect the country
Although things looked dark.
While fathers fought
And mothers cried,
Our Lord quietly opened the way
So that we won our right.
Our Lord quietly opened the way
So that we won our rights.

Yes, we love this country
as it rises forth,
rugged and weathered, above the sea,
With those thousand homes.
And as our fathers’ struggle has raised it
from distress to victory,
even we, when it is demanded,
for its peace will encamp
even we, when it is demanded,
for its peace will encamp.

—Listen. 

Easy Cream Cheese and Spinach Roll Ups

These are good for when you need something that looks more fancy than crackers and cheese, but takes just about as much time and thought .

 

• Several flour tortillas, either plain, sun-dried tomato flavored or spinach flavored.
• Flavored cream cheese (I use Arla Buko Whipped Cream Cheese, Garlic and Herbs flavored.)
• Fresh spinach

Spread tortillas with cream cheese. Place spinach leaves in a single layer on top to cover the cream cheese. Roll up the tortillas, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours or until serving time. Slice each tortilla roll into 1-inch thick pieces, place pieces cut side up on a platter and serve.

Variations:

• Egg Salad and Spinach Roll Ups—Substitute egg salad for the cream cheese.
• Tuna and Spinach Roll Ups—Substitute tuna salad for the cream cheese.
• Ham and Spinach Roll Ups—Place a layer of thin sliced deli ham between the cream cheese and the spinach.
  

Be sure to browse more appetizer recipes in May’s Recipe Round Up found at Hireath today. There’s still time to participate if you’d like, since Kim will add recipes to the collection until 8pm CDT today.  (Isn’t this fun?)

 

Next month’s Recipe Round Up will feature desserts at Simply A Musing Blog. I’ll be sure to post more details of that one as the date for it approaches.