31 Bone-Chilling Bible Verses: The Truth Doesn’t Have to be Scary
The Bible is full of inspiration, wisdom and truth, but sometimes the truth can be a little scary.
The question is: Does it really have to be?
Since you can’t enter October without at least a thought of the spooky and creepy things, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight some of the less mentioned verses of the Bible. Are they less mentioned because they are less important or less appropriate?
Not at all.
The truth is, they can be intimidating or feel threatening, especially to those who don’t have a personal relationship with Christ.
We have a tendency to share only the loving side of our Creator. The Bible is full of verses that give us hope, bring us peace, inspire us, and comfort us in our times of trouble or sorrow. These are also very important and just as full of truth. However, it’s dangerous to ignore that we have a just and jealous God who willingly gave his only son so that we could live eternally with him in heaven. This gift to us came with a great cost to our Lord, and although it is free to us who are willing to humble ourselves and accept Christ into our lives, rejecting this precious gift will cost us our very soul.
If that doesn’t give you the chills, I don’t know what will.
The good news is, these truths don’t have to be scary at all! John 8:32 of the Bible says, “…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
The word of God is the key to the truth, but you have to be willing to seek that truth. You have to believe that truth. John 3:16 of the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
That verse confirms how much God sacrificed for us and why, but the verse that follows confirms God’s hope for the entire world.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:17, KJVOne of the amazing things about God is that he loves us enough to give us free will to choose the fate of our own soul. God isn’t going to make us choose Him over the world. He simply gives us the truth, and we make the choice.
What will you choose?
I hope you enjoy reading these verses, but if you find them scary, I pray they prompt you to seek the real truth about them.
You can also find these on my Facebook page where I posted one verse for each day in October. Enjoy!
- “The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: But he blessed the habitation of the just.” Proverbs 3: 33, KJV
- “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6, KJV
- “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10, KJV
- “The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.” Proverbs 4:19, KJV
- “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” Isaiah 13:11, KJV
- “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;” Genesis 3: 17, KJV
- “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Luke 16:24, KJV
- “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 20:13, KJV
- “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31, KJV
- “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelations 6:17, KJV
- “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3: 36, KJV
- “So shall it be at the end of the world: And the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,” Matthew 13:49, KJV
- “And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:50, KJV
- “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:” Mark 9:43, KJV
- “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,” John 5:28, KJV
- “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:29, KJV
- “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, who the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:” 2 Thessalonians 2:8, KJV
- “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Luke 12:5, KJV
- “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Revelations 20:12, KJV
- “God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.” Nahum 1:2, KJV
- “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21, KJV
- “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:23, KJV
- “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” Mark 13:8, KJV
- “And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.” Exodus 11:6, KJV
- “And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.” Deuteronomy 8:19, KJV
- “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8, KJV
- “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16, KJV
- “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire during with brimstone.” Revelations 19:20, KJV
- “The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” Psalm 34:16
- “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelations 20:14, KJV
- “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelations 20:15, KJV
We Are Finally Home!
On Oct. 21st, 2020 we broke ground on our dream home. It was a long time coming and a long and trying journey to the finish line, but it was surely worth the wait!
On April 21st, exactly 18 months later, we finally received our certificate of occupancy, which basically means our house is livable and safe to move into. On May 3rd, we spent our first night here. It has all been very surreal, and I have continued to remind myself how blessed we are to have made it here. I don’t ever want to take this for granted.
Since I am already months overdue posting this update, I will be minimal with my words and get onto the pictures of our progress. Keep in mind that although we have officially moved in, the house is not quite finished. We have several small things that still need to be done, like staining the front door, as you can see from the picture below (although, this will have been completed by the time you see this post). Oh, and please ignore the mess in the kitchen. I was lucky to have found time to take the picture in the first place – no time to fuss about the work clutter. 🙂 So, without further ado, here is our home!
Entry 
Bedroom 1 
Bedroom 2 
Bathroom 
Open-concept Dinning Room 
Open-concept Living Room 
Open-concept Kitchen 
Master Bedroom 
Master Bathroom 
Master Bathroom 
Laundry/Utility Room 
Entry to Stairs 
Stairs to 2nd Level 
Upstairs Office 
Upstairs Bonus Room There are still a few spaces in the home, which I’m not ready to share just yet. Once we are officially settled and things are completed, I look forward to sharing those spaces and follow-ups to how we’ve chosen to decorate it.
Thanks you so much for taking the time to stop by the blog. I hope you visit again soon!!
Love,
Sarah
Choose Love
Photo by Emmanuel Phaeton We often associate Love with how we are feeling. When we’re feeling happy, excited, romantic or loved, it’s easy to tell someone we love them, because our feelings are positive in that moment and everything feels right. But, what about when we’re sad, angry, disappointed, lonely, or feeling unloved? Love usually isn’t the first word that comes to our mind in those moments. Why is that?
Does it mean that we don’t really love someone when we don’t feel love in those moments?
No, not at all.
We don’t feel love in those moments, because that is when it’s truly revealed to us that love is not a feeling at all.
Love is a choice.
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
Ephesians 1:4Probably the biggest mistake people make in their relationships with others, and I don’t just mean our spouse, is setting an unattainable standard for what love should feel like.
I’ve been guilty of this myself, and what I’ve experienced is a lot of disappointment and heartache.
Does that mean love won’t make us feel happy? Nope. True love brings more than just happiness. It brings joy, peace, confidence, security, honor, trust and loyalty. True love never fades nor can it ever be taken away.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, not powers, not things present, not thing to come, Not height, nor depth, not any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Roman 8:38-39True love is what we choose to show someone – what we choose to give someone – regardless of how we are feeling.
Today. Tomorrow. Always. Choose love.
Construction Update: Insulation and Drywall
It is hard to believe it has been over a year since construction began. Time has flown by, but sometimes it has also seemed to have stood still. Building in the age of Covid has not been easy! Nothing has gone as planned, and we still have a pretty good way to go, but we are thankful for the progress so far and love watching everything come together, even if at a slow pace.
Last week we hit another milestone with the completion of the drywall, followed by the garage doors installation just a few days later. We are ready to start painting just as soon as the HVAC is running, supposedly early this week. With more cold weather days left this year than warmer ones, we are eager to wrap up the outside and move our focus completely to the inside. Concrete work on the steps and sidewalks will begin next week and gutters should be installed sometime in the next couple of weeks. Landscaping will likely be put off until the spring.
In case you are wondering, we chose to do batting insulation, instead of spray foam. We also did batting in the attic, as opposed to blown-in. This was just a personal preference, after considering the pros and cons of each. Here are some additional pictures of the progress so far.
Again, I know there is still so much left to be done, but I feel like we have jumped a huge hurtle with the completion of the drywall. I look forward to seeing what’s next!
Simple and Quick Marinara Sauce
You will need:
- 1 15oz. can of tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp. of minced or finely dices onion
- 1 tbsp. of minced or pressed garlic
- 1 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup of chicken broth
- 2 tsp. of white sugar
- 1/4 tsp. of Italian seasoning
- Pinch of salt and pepper to taste
One day, not long ago, I made some cheese breadsticks and didn’t have any pizza sauce or marinara on hand for dipping. I don’t know about you, but I can’t eat cheese breadsticks without some sort of dipping sauce. And, I had to think up something quick because I also don’t like to eat cold, cheese breadsticks…yuck!
After a quick look in the cupboard, I found that I had some tomato sauce, so I decided to try my hand at whipping some up myself. Turns out, it wasn’t bad. Actually, it was really good.
Here’s how I made it.
Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan on medium heat. When hot, add the onions and stir around in the pan until translucent, and then add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
Next, add in the chicken broth, tomato sauce, sugar, Italian seasoning and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Stir the sauce until it gets steaming hot, and then reduce heat to low and simmer with lid on for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
This sauce is actually better the next day, but if you’re serving it the same day, allow it to cool and serve warm, not hot. Once cooled, you can store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days.
I’ve made this sauce a few times now and I’ve used it as both a dipping sauce and a pizza sauce. Yes, sometimes canned sauce is more convenient, but this recipe definitely wins first place on simplicity, especially for a homemade marinara sauce!
If you decide to give this recipe a try, let me know what you think!
The Most Simple and Powerful Homemade Fabric Stain Remover
You will need:
- 1 tbsp. of baking soda
- 1 tbsp. of blue Dawn dish soap
- 1 tbsp. of hydrogen peroxide
I stumbled upon to this homemade stain remover, while watching one of my favorite YouTubers, Hillary, from Old World Home. She said it was good for set-in stains, which can be nearly or completely impossible to remove. It is also recommended for white or light colored fabrics. I would not recommend using this on bright or darks colored fabrics. Additionally, if you have a delicate fabric, I would test an inconspicuous area before using it on a stain in a noticeable area.
The recipe is simple. You mix equal parts, baking soda, original blue Dawn dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide, in a dish. I stated one tablespoon per ingredient because that was a good amount to cover your average sized stain, but you can make as little or as much as you like. Just be sure to make only the amount you need because the hydrogen peroxide will breakdown when exposed to light, so it will loose it’s effectiveness over time.
I’ve used this stain remover several times, and I’ve found that it is most effective on dried or set-in stains if you treat the stain for 24 hours before washing. However, if the stain is still present, you can treat it again for another twenty-four hours. For fresh stains, treating for 30-minutes to an hour before washing should do it. I recommend applying the stain remover with a soft bristle toothbrush, and then gently brushing it into the fabric. Don’t scrub hard, or you can damage the fabric.
Below is a video demonstration of removing black eye makeup set-in stains from two different white wash cloths. In the video I demonstrate how to make the stain remover, apply it and the results after pre-treating for 24 hours.
If you try this stain remover, let me know what you think. Also, if you have a recipe for a homemade stain remover you love, please share it. I’d love to try it.
Veggie Pizza: Two Ways!
For the Original Veggie Pizza, you will need:
- Stonefire Prepared Crust (square or round)
- 1 cup of original or light sour cream
- 1 tsp. of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip (more, if need, for desired ranch flavor)
- 3/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
- About a 1/4 cup each of your favorite fresh veggies (sliced and diced)
For Taco Style Veggie Pizza, you will need:
- Stonefire Prepared Crust (square or round)
- 1 cup of original or light sour cream
- 1 tsp. of Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch Dip (more, if need, for desired ranch flavor)
- 3/4 cup of Mexican style (fiesta blend) shredded cheese (cheddar will also work)
- About a 1/4 cup each of shredded iceberg lettuce, diced red onion, diced tomatoes, diced green bell pepper, and sliced black olives (You can also top with sliced Jalapeno and avocado).
I’ve been making vegetable pizza for years, but, recently, I created a taco style version that my whole family loved, so I thought I’d share it. It makes a great finger food for picnics or get-togethers, but it also makes a great everyday healthy snack. The great thing about veggie pizza is that you can customize it to your family’s liking.
For the original version, there’s really no exception for which veggies you can use as long as they can be eaten raw. I used my family’s favorites for this recipe (broccoli, bell peppers, red onion, tomatoes, and carrots), but feel free to customize it to how you like it.
For the taco style version, you’ll obviously want to use veggies that are normally used on tacos or other Mexican style dishes, or otherwise it won’t be….Taco Style. 🙂
You can use any pizza crust you want. I just happen to like the Stonefire crusts, but I’ve also used Pillsbury Pizza crust, and you can even use your own homemade pizza crust. However, if you use an unprepared crust, be sure to bake it to desired crispiness and allow it to cool completely to room temperature before you assemble the pizza. This veggie pizza is not baked!!
Here’s how you make both versions using the prepared Stonefire crusts:
Now, this is a preference only, but I like to bake the Stonefire crust for about 5 minutes at 375° F. It just makes the outside a little crispy, but, again, this is totally optional. In this case, I still allow the crust to completely cool before I assemble the pizza.
Place your room temperature Stonefire crust on a round serving platter, or baking sheet if you don’t have a platter. Put the sour cream in a small mixing bowl, add the ranch seasoning mix (or fiesta ranch seasoning mix, if you’re making the taco style version), and whisk or stir together until completely blended.
Ranch 
Fiesta Ranch
Using a rubber spatula, spread an even layer of the dip mixture over the entire surface of the crust. Don’t spread it too thin, or the pizza won’t be as good. Trust me!
Original 
Taco Style
Next, sprinkle on the shredded cheese. I put the cheese on first, because it makes for a less messy veggie pizza. The dip helps keep the cheese in place. Use as little or as much as you like.
Original 
Taco Style
Next, add your veggies. Be sure to dice them about the same as you would for a regular pizza. If the toppings are too big, it’s not as easy, or as appetizing, to eat. You should be able to get all the veggies in every bite!
Original 
Taco Style
Now, you can slice it up with a pizza cutter and enjoy! This will keep well in the fridge for up to 48 hours, if you store it covered well with plastic wrap. I have also stacked the slices in an air tight container and stored in the fridge, so that works great too.
If you decide to give this recipe a try, let me know what you think. Also, if you’ve made or tried another version of veggie pizza, I’d love to hear hear it. Let me know in the comments. Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Simply Cheesy, Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms
You will need:
- 16 oz. package of whole Baby Bella Mushrooms
- I package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp. of finely diced red or white onions
- 1/4 medium green bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp. of real bacon bits
- A few dashes of your favorite hot sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
I love this recipe, and you will too, if you like stuffed mushrooms with a savory, creamy, cheesy filling! These make a great appetizer or finger-food, and so simple to make. I’m the only one in my house who likes mushroom, so I make them for myself as a treat now and then. I haven’t tried stuff mushrooms at a restaurant that were any better than these.
How to make them:
Pre-heat the oven to 350° F. Gently brush off the mushrooms, remove the stems, and place them in a baking pan or dish. I spray a little olive oil spray in the bottom of the pan, but it’s not really necessary if your pan is nonstick.
Add all the ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl and mix, using a hand or stand mixer, until just combined.
My favorite! 
Can’t be beat! 
Finely diced! 
Using a small spoon, stuff the filling down into the bowl of each mushroom and then heap another portion on top.
Tip: It’s not good to crowd the mushrooms in the baking dish, but you want to make sure they are close enough that they can’t topple over while baking. I only had an 8 oz. package of mushrooms, so they were spaced out quite a bit. A few of them toppled, but no big deal. I just scooped up the melted filling with a spoon and heaped it back on top. It tasted the same, just not as pretty. 🙂
I only had an 8 oz. package of mushrooms, so I had plenty of leftover filling. Bake for 20-24 minutes. The filling should be hot and the cheese should be melted. Some of the filling may spill/melt over the side of the mushroom, and that’s okay. Mushrooms will look a little creped/shriveled when done.
If you give this recipe a try, let me know what you think!
10 Simple Pleasures of Winter
Every season is filled with simple pleasures that you can enjoy with your family for little money and effort. Take a moment and enjoy some of these this winter season.
1. Snow Days
It’s easy to get frustrated when you’re stuck at home, due to inclement weather, but take this opportunity to enjoy the extra time you have with your family. We live in such a fast-paced society, so most of us are overdue for some downtime.
2. Hot Cocoa
There’s nothing like coming in out of the cold and whipping up a cup of hot cocoa or hot chocolate (yes, there is a difference). Bump it up a notch with some marshmallows, a drizzle of caramel and a leftover candy cane from the Christmas tree. My kids love to make hot cocoa sundaes!
3. Wood Fires
We have electric heat in our home, which effectively keeps us warm throughout the winter season, but there is nothing like the bone-warming heat that comes from a wood fire! If you are blessed with this option, build a fire and enjoy a game of cards with the family, read a book, or just simply have a conversation with one another.
4. Winter Scenes
Who doesn’t love the sight of a white blanket of snow or ice over a country landscape? There’s just something magical about how it coats the trees and brightens a gloomy winter’s day.
5. Soups and Chilis
Winter is the perfect season to enjoy all of your favorite soups and chilis. Switch up your dinner routine one evening when the temperatures are freezing and make a pot of something soupy to warm your family’s bellies. Be sure to add some crusty bread on the side for dipping!
6. Warm Blankets
I love slow, winter evenings, like on Friday or Saturday, when the whole family can pile in the living room and watch a favorite movie or show underneath a warm, plush throw or quilt. I keep an electric throw on my favorite chair for those extra cold winter evenings.
7. Snow Cream
If you’ve never tried this old-fashion favorite, you just haven’t lived! One of my favorite winter memories from my childhood is of my mom making me and my siblings a batch of snow cream. We were told you had to wait for at least the second snow of the season, and it had to be a good one too. Be sure to avoid the yellow snow! 😛
8. Building a Snowman
It’s a winter tradition that’s fun for all ages! After a good, wet snow, get the whole family involved and start rolling. Me and sisters used to try and guess how long our snowman would last after the snow started melting.
9. Sledding
A great way to unleash your inner child is to spend an afternoon sledding with the family. You get cold and wet, and you have to climb a hill to begin your fun, but it’s all worth the rush you get on the way down.
10. Books
I hear it all the time from friends and family… “I would love to read, but I just don’t have the time.” Winter is the perfect season for book nerds! Take that time you would’ve spent cutting the grass or tending the garden and curl up to a good book. For an even better experience, read in front of a wood fire with a mug of hot cocoa at arm’s length. 🙂
Simple Refried Bean Dip
You will need:
- 1 Can of refried beans (We love Rosarita brand!)
- 1/2 Cup of your favorite salsa
- 3/4 Cup of shredded cheddar cheese (Monterey Jack would also be great!)
- 1/2 8oz. package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 2 Tsp. of prepared taco seasoning mix (or your own taco seasoning mix)
My family loves refried beans with any Mexican dish, but once I started making this dip, they pleaded that we never go back to regular refried beans.
I love this recipe because it’s simple and it’s easy. There are only five ingredients, unless you prefer to mix up your own blend of taco seasoning, and the prep time is less than five minutes!
Here’s how you make it:
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Combine all five ingredients in a medium to large mixing bowl, and mix with a hand mixer until just combined and there are no lumps of cream cheese.
Tip: If you use Philadelphia 1/3 less fat cream cheese, you won’t need to let it soften. It will mix beautifully straight from the fridge!
Pour your refried bean mixture into a glass baking dish and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until the edges of your dip are bubbling. And that’s it folks! You’re ready to enjoy.
This dip is great to server along side any Mexican dish, but it also makes for a great party dip, served with tortilla chips. Add a dollop of sour cream and/or guacamole on top for some cool creaminess. If you like it spicy, you can add your favorite hot sauce or top with fresh slices of Jalapeno pepper.
If you give this dip a try, I’d love to hear what you think of it! Drop me comment below if you prefer your refried beans plain or if you prefer to mix it up.
