Thursday's hope

How true is this quote:

Nothing ever becomes real until it is experienced. -- John Keats

There is a real-ness in experience. The Bible teaches me that experience comes with a rationale reason. It doesn't mean that all experience is good, and nor is it bad. Neither does it mean that experience has come because of God or because it originates from Him. All I know is that in ALL these things, God works together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Romans 8:28 (Amplified Bible)
28We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Experience isn't always what we want - but as Christians, and in trusting God, He can make something beautiful come out of whatever the experience is.

Who knows why we experience certain things? Only God? And we may never know... but we can trust that whatever experience, God can work it into His plan.. which is ultimately good for us.

Jeremiah 29
10"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. "

The 'exiles' had 70 dismal years but God had plans which would bring all the 'experiences' to reason and into goodness. He wanted them to 'hope' for the long term.

Somehow, God will turn ALL the experiences into His plan. God is not interested in the short-term but the long-term of what the experiences will result in.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

Lord help me remember that!

Wednesday thought

Philippians 2:9-11
(9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
(10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
(11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus name is so powerful - the name given under heaven by which we must be saved!

How precious!

Tuesday thought

I found this quote last week and it inspired me greatly. Infact it still is inspiring me. I fail all the time – and as I understand my fallible human nature, I learn that there is as much hope as I am willing to embrace.

So this week if I fail in anyway (I mean it's inevitable), I pray that the opportunity will become the bigger part of my vision than the failure in my view.


Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. -- Henry Ford (1863-1947) American Industrialist

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4 NKJV)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)

Monday Thought

Colossians 3:2
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

There is a time that the things of this earth should capture our attention... and there are times that the things of this earth consume our attention. God wants us to remember the important things!

New Year

It is a New Year and many things before me this year. Many choices, many events and many unknowns.

I rest in the steady hand of God tonight as I remember His love for me.

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

Thoughtful Tuesday

I found this quote when I arrived at work today. It got me thinking....

Don't wait for your "ship to come in" and feel angry and cheated when it doesn't. Get going with something small.
-- Irene Kassorla

It is more often than not that God will teach and speak to us through the small and simple things and not the momentous and big things.

After all God is not complicated, it is us who are the complicated ones.

1 Corinthians 1:27 [KJV] "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;"

And in context [Amplified Bible] :
26For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth.

27[No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.

28And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are,

29So that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God.

30But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].

31So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and proudly rejoices and glories, boast and proudly rejoice and glory in the Lord.

Thank you God for reminding me that life is really simple and thank you for reminding me that I can work with the little things I have at hand - in the face of life itself, you have already worked it out for me, so I trust in you for everything!

To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Rom 16:27

Wonton Soup (our version)

I was thinking of what to make for dinner last night and decided on making one of our favourite soups, Wonton Soup. Hannah happily made it for us :) Maybe we will have Goulash Soup later in the week if this cool weather keeps up?



Filling
400g mince pork
2 tspns sliced ginger
2 cloves garlic
2 shallots
10ml cornflour
2 tspn Kecap Manis
1 carrot
Corriander

Blend all ingredients together in food processor



Wonton wrappers
1 egg (for sealing wontons)



Soup
Chicken Stock (optional as to how you make it)
1 tblspn Shao hsing wine
1 tspn Sesame oil
2 tspn Soy Sauce
Shallots
Corriander