God's Promise of Hope for 2020

      This has been a year like none other, right?  But in the midst of heartache and concerns on so many levels, God's still on the throne of the universe.  That's been a big comfort to me these past months.  As this year is drawing to a close, I started writing up prayers like I usually do for my children and grandchildren. This is a time where I can focus on each child and their family. It''s always been a special time of reflecting on where they are on their journey and writing out prayers of encouragement.

       I also thought about making another flyer to hand out to neighbors when we take our walk. My husband and I wrote it together at lunch a few weeks ago.  The verse that came up in my heart was Isaiah 9:6:

         For a child is born to us, 

A Son is given to us, 

And the government 

Is upon His shoulder;

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor,

Mighty God,

Eternal Father

                                                         Prince of Peace. 

     :  It's amazing that the prophet Isaiah wrote this verse 700 years before Christ's birth!!  And if you carefully read this verse you'll see that the child born to Mary was unlike any child that had ever been born before. 

     Isaiah tells us that Christ would not only be the Son given by the Father but also the Mighty God and eternal Father Himself.  That may be hard to wrap your head around, but this is a window into Christ's incarnation.  

    This may make you wonder why did Christ come anyway?  As we were writing and talking as we wrote this tract, I realized that God didn't leave it up to speculation.  In John 3:16 we have those beautiful words that have been spoken millions of times:

For God so loved the world

That He gave His only Begotten Son,

that everyone who believes into Him would not perish,

but would have eternal life. 

    If you put these two passages together one from the Old Testament and the other from the New Testament, you'll see that the word give is in both.  The Son given to us in Isaiah 9:6 was given by God in John 3:16 for our salvation.  

    It's easy to receive this greatest of all gifts.  If you've never done so before, all you have to do is say from your heart:    Lord Jesus, I believe You died for my sins.

                                        I open my heart to receive You.  Thank You for 

                                        dying for me and coming to live in me.   Amen.

The Best Asian Lettuce Wraps

This summer I  made lettuce wraps a lot.  My garden was running over with lettuce, kale, chard, tomatoes, and a lot of other delicious vegetables.  I discovered this recipe a few years ago.  They said it was a P.F. Chang copycat, but since I've never had those, I didn't have anything to compare it to.  All I know is that these lettuce wraps are fantastic! Even with taking out the bean sprouts and the mushrooms!  

When my two granddaughters stopped in one time after I made these for dinner, I gave them a few wraps, and right away the older one said, "Grandma this is what I want you to make for my birthday this year!"  That's quite a compliment from a 13 year old!!  

Besides the adjustments I made, I also added a few things like some cilantro and brown rice.  The recipe came with a dipping sauce, but I had some jars of sweet chili sauce I needed to use, and they were perfect!  This recipe can be modified by adding different vegetables. It was delicious with some Asian bok choy soup and fruit. 

 Copycat Asian Lettuce Wraps

1.  Prepare vegetables:  Mince ½ of a yellow onion, grate 2 carrots, mince 2 cloves of garlic, finely slice 3 green onions, chop up 1/3 cup of cilantro, and chop up 1 4 oz. can of water chestnuts.

 2.  Meanwhile cook 1 cup of brown rice.

 3.  Brown 1 pound of organic ground turkey; when almost done add the onion and cook for a few minutes.  Then add the grated carrots and garlic and cook for 1 or 2 minutes more. 

 4.  In a large bowl put the browned ground turkey and vegetables.  To that add the sliced green onions and  cilantro.  Then stir in the brown rice and mix well.

 5.  Seasoning:  In a measuring cup put ¼ cup of tamari/soy sauce, 1 T coconut sugar, 1 T rice vinegar, and 2 tsp. of sesame oil.  Pour over the bowl of meat and vegetables and mix well.  Put in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

 6.  Wash lettuce leaves and arrange on a platter. 

 7.  Put a small Chinese soup spoon into the meat and rice mixture so people can make their own.  Let people top their lettuce wrap with some sweet chili sauce.   These are so good. 

 Note:  The original recipe called for mushrooms, and bean sprouts and a special dipping sauce. I substituted cilantro and brown rice, and made the sweet chili sauce the dipping sauce to make it easy.

Other Chinese recipes on this blog:


CHICKEN RECIPES:

Gluten Free Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Chicken Broccoli Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Gluten Free Chinese - Authentic Chinese BBQ Chicken  (From my Bible Study friend Rose)
Rose's Chinese Yellow Curry with Chicken & Vegetables  (From my Bible Study friend Rose)
Gluten Free Chinese - Fantastic Soy Sauce Chicken  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Rose's Authentic Stir-Fried Chicken & Vegetables (Made Gluten Free!)
Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Chicken (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
Authentic Chinese Chicken & Leek Stir Fry  (Shared with me by a Chinese student's mother)

TOFU RECIPES:
My Asian Student's Favorite Tofu & Vegetable Stir-Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Orange "Beef" Tofu Stir- Fry  (Modification of Internet recipe)

FISH RECIPES:
Steamed Scallion Ginger Fish with Stir-Fried Bok Choy  (Modification of Internet recipe)
Fantastic Mahi & Vegetable Stir Fry   (Modification of Internet recipe)
Tasty Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Fish  (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)

NOODLES & RICE:
Gluten Free Chinese Fried Rice    (From my Come & Dine Cookbook)
The Cheung's Gluten Free Chow Mien  (My Bible study friend Rose taught me this)

 Soups

My Favorite Chinese Chicken Soups  - Bok choy chicken, chicken & spinach, and chicken & cabbage (Modified from Internet search by our Chinese students)
Make Your Own Gluten Free Chicken Pho!  (Modified from a newspaper article)
Gluten Free Chinese Hot Pot  (Modified by a Chinese student)
Chinese Egg Drop Soup  &  Chinese Egg & Tomato Soup  (Modified  from a student's recipe)

Vegetarian & Gluten Free Tom Yum Soup (A delicious Thai soup) 
Deluxe Miso Soup (Kenchinjiru)   (Adapted from Internet search)
A Thai Mom Teaches Me How to Make Tom Yum Kung  (A student's mom's recipe)
A Vietnamese Cooking Lesson - Lien's Vietnamese Sweet & Sour Soup  (An International student's aunt's recipe)
Cooking Beef Pho for Vietnamese Students  (Modified Recipe)
Asian Curried Chicken Soup  (From my Come & Dine church cookbook)
Rose's Very Own Recipe for Chinese Beef Bone Soup  (from Rose my friend from Taipei)

SALAD RECIPES
Gluten Free Chinese Chicken Cabbage Salad  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Rose's Refreshing Cucumber Salad  (From a Bible study friend)

Taking Another Look at the Bible & Prayer During This Pandemic Crisis

       For some funny reason when I first started hearing about the spread of the coronavirus to other continents, it made me think about the bubonic plague.  I had a vague recollection of that tragic time in medieval history, but this is the 21st century, and none of this made sense!   So for the past few months I've just been processing coronavirus facts and praying.  

    Probably because I'm a teacher or some other quirky reason on February 27th, I made a chart so my husband and I could track the changes in some of the major countries on earth.

     On that date and the time we checked, the countries with the largest numbers were China, South Korea, Japan, and Italy.  The United States where I live had only 60 cases.  

     A few days ago on April 4th my husband brought up the Worldometers website so we could write down the changes, and the numbers in the world were staggering with a total of 64,691 deaths at the time we checked.  On February 27th the U.S. reported 60 deaths, and on Apeil 4th that number had reached 8,432!  Where have you parked all of these statistics and overwhelming facts from the last few months?  It was more than perplexing for me to wrap my head around.

       Anyway week by week words started trickling in trying to give meaning to what was going on. First I heard a message where the brother underscored the divine truth that God is ON the throne and not absent from His universe!!  I really like Ezekiel 1:26, 27B-28A on this: "And above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne,...and upon the likeness of the throne was One in appearance like a man [Christ], above it....And there was brightness all around Him. Like the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud on a day of rain,.." 

      And this is verified in the book of Revelation in 4:2-3:  Immediately I was in spirit; and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne there was One sitting...and there was a rainbow around the throne.... God's throne is a huge fact that God has taught me through some painful situations in my life.

    It's important to keep God's throne before us, especially today when it feels figuratively like the sky is falling. That's when you need to look at the rainbow that is above the throne which I learned in a Life-Study of Genesis is a sign of God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises! 

      Another pivotal truth I've been encouraged to bank on is because God IS on the throne, He's calling the shots. He's working out His greater purposes even though we don't get what they are.  A recent message I heard brought up Ephesians 1:11 which says: In whom also we were designated as an inheritance, having been predestinated according to the counsel of the One who works ALL THINGS according to the counsel of His will. 
 

 
     Nothing gets past God's gate, and I learned this profoundly when I read through the Life-Study of Job, unless He permits it.  And we see this truth in Daniel 4:25  which says: "...until you come to know that the Most High is the Ruler over the kingdom of men..."  So whether it looks like it or not, that's still the divine fact!

 
     In another message that I recently heard,  a brother stated that at this time God needs His people to pray that His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.   Since April 1st my husband and I have been participating in a 21 days of prayer on Unceasinglypray's website.  Every day there's a prayer burden and the verses from Scripture that support it. 

I've learned from my reading that a powerful way to pray is just to pray back God's word and claim it.  This 21 days of prayer mirrors the time Daniel spent in the prayer recorded in Daniel 10:13.  Besides reaching out to family, neighbors, and coworkers, I really feel that this is one of the main things God is calling His people to share in during this crisis.

CHECK IT OUT!  If you would like to receive a free Bible in another language, check out Rhema's website!  They also have free ebooks in different languages, and a tract that's related to the coronavirus on the webpage. 

Other Related Posts on Prayer:

From the Life-Study of Exodus:
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus: The Incense Altar

From the Life-Study of 1 & 2 Samuel:
What We Can Learn from Hannah's Prayer in 1 Samuel 1


From the Life-Study of 1 & 2 Kings:
Taking a Look at King Solomon's Prayer in 1 Kings 8:48

From the Life-Study of Daniel:
Overcomers In Babylon - What We Learn About Prayer in Daniel

From the Life-Study of Matthew:
What is the Crucial Significance of Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13?
Have You Seen the Battle Between the Two Kingdoms in Matthew 12:26-28?

From the Life-Study of Luke:
Why is Persistent Prayer Important in Luke 18:1-8?

From the Life-Study of Acts:
How is Acts a Book on God's Move & Prayer?
Seeing God's Move & Satan's Frustration in Acts 14

From the Life-Study of Galatians:
How Do We Practically Enjoy Grace in Galatians 5:18?

From the Life-Study of Ephesians:
How Do We Apply the Armor of God in Ephesians 6?

From the Life-Study of Philippians:
Why Does Paul Put Anxiety and Prayer Together in Philippians 4:6?

From the Life-Study of Colossians:
From the Life-Study of Colossians - What Happens When We Pray?
What is Christ Doing at the Right Hand of God in Colossians 3:2?

From the Life-Study of 1 Timothy:
What is Paul's First Exhortation in 1 Timothy 2:1?

From the Life-Study of James:
What James 5:17-18 Teaches Us About Elijah's Prayer

From the Life-Study of Revelation:
What are the Golden Bowls of Incense in Revelation 5:8?

Other Posts on Prayer:
Why Prayer Matters
Hearing God   (From Collected Works of Watchman Nee, Vol. 18 - Tell Him)

Finding God's Peace During the Coronavirus Pandemic

     The statistics each week on the coronavirus are alarming, and it can fill our hearts with uncertainty about the future.  A friend told me that while on the phone with her insurance agent last week this woman started unloading and told her that she was so worried for her kids and that she couldn't even sleep at night.  I'm sure that woman is not alone; there are many people facing financial worries these days with many businesses closing temporarily.  Every day the statistics on the coronavirus are unsettling as these numbers continue to increase.

     Throughout history God has gone to great lengths to reach man, and in the midst of tragedy God is there. We can find the peace that passes all understanding by opening our hearts to God and putting our trust in Him.

     Philippians 4:6-7 says:  In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses every man’s understanding, will guard your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. 

      When I visited Bibles for America's website last week, I saw this encouraging verse from John 14:27:
 
                                “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you, 
                                 Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let
                                 Your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

            When I read that verse on their site, it inspired me to type up a tract, and a lot of what's in this post I put in that tract.  A friend and I passed them out in our neighborhood. We enjoyed stopping to tell neighbors we had a word of encouragement for them!  Then on Saturday when my husband and I were walking, we gave some to the people we met.  With everything happening on earth today, you need to know that you can receive the God of peace into your heart. In Romans 5:1 the Apostle Paul writes: Therefore having been justified out of faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  With an honest heart you can just tell the Lord: 

 

Lord Jesus, I need You. 
Thank You for dying for all my sins.  
Please forgive me, Lord.  
I ask that You would cleanse me from all of my sins. 
Lord Jesus, come into me!   

       For about 18 years my husband and I have been volunteers for Bibles for America, an organization that has already given out over a million free study Bibles. They went to Ground Zero, New Orleans, Virginia Tech, and Europe during the refugee crisis to encourage people’s hearts. You can receive a free study Bible by going to bfa.org; they will ship it to you free. They also have many free booklets available and videos that you can view on their website. BFA can also connect you with a volunteer in your area to read the Bible with you.

List of Posts on Handing out Bibles & Gospel Tracts

Why Do I Volunteer For Bibles for America?
The Best Things in Life are Free! - Bible for America Distribution at WWU
Adventures in Handing out Gospel Tracts - Part 1 of 1
Adventures in Handing out Gospel Tracts - Part 2 of 2
Volunteering for Bibles for America - Part 2 of 2
Volunteering for Bibles for America - Part 1 of 2
My 2013 Bibles For America Volunteer Experience - Handing Out Tracts

Looking at the Major Truths in the Minor Prophets - Why Did God Create the Universe?

Have you ever thought about the size of the universe?  If you have ever looked at a Nova presentation on the Hubble telescope, you know what I'm talking about.  It's huge, it's incredible, and to think that God created it all!! Scientists say that there are two billion to two trillion galaxies in the observable universe.

And when I asked Google how many stars are in the universe, the answer came back 100 billion!  It's really hard for me to wrap my head around numbers like that because in standard notation that number looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!!  Those are the kinds of numbers God works with, and He's the originator of all the scientific formulas that He put into motion to run this universe!

By now you may be wondering where am I going with all of this. That's my introduction to my last post in the Life-Studies of the Bible that I started in July 2011. Zechariah 12:1  says:  "The burden of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. Thus declares Jehovah, who stretches forth the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him," 

 If you look carefully at this verse, it's almost like a target with three circles--the outermost being God's creation of the heavens (Genesis 1:1), then zeroing a little closer, we see God created the earth (Genesis 1:1), and last of all in the center we see God's creation of the spirit of man by breathing His breath into man's soul (Genesis 2:7). (I learned that from a chapter in the Life-Study of Genesis!)

From this one verse in a book of the minor prophets we can see that the center of the entire universe is man's spirit!!  Now that's worth a ta-da!  Have you ever thought about that?  From this verse we can easily see that the focus isn't about what's out there--even though it's marvelous and breathtakingly beautiful. What God is centered on is what's going on in man's spirit!! This one phrase in the book of Zechariah should make us all think why did God form a spirit within me? 

In the New Testament Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers about how God created man with three parts:  And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23  We all learned in school that anything separated by an and is a separate entity. Sometimes philosophers goof up and mix man's soul with man's spirit, but the Bible tells us that they are two different things. 

When Jesus talked to Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, he talked to him about God's Spirit and man's spirit. According to the record in John 3, the Lord was pretty direct with Nicodemus.  He told him in verse 3:  "Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God,"  At first Nicodemus didn't realize that the Lord was not talking about a physical birth but a spiritual one.

 Then in verse 6 the Lord goes on to say:  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. In one of the footnotes in my Recovery Version of the Bible on John 3:6, it says:

"The first Spirit mentioned here is the divine Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, and the second spirit is the human spirit, the regenerated spirit of man. Regeneration is accomplished in the human spirit by the Spirit of God with God's life, the uncreated eternal life...."

Bibles for America has produced a very helpful article called Do You Know the Two Spirits--God's Spirit Mingled With Your Human Spirit? It talks about the different places in the New Testament where these two spirits are used.  You can also order your own free Bible with footnotes on that page. They've given away over a million all over the United States.

    Anyway, back to where I was going with all of this.  It's quite touching that when the Lord spoke with Nicodemus He was showing him his need to be born again or regenerated.  And later the Lord speaks to Nicodemus the beautiful verse in John 3:16 that has brought hope and salvation to millions:  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that every one who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life."

     Throughout the centuries people have complicated God's salvation by making it a matter of doing something to receive forgiveness. But the Bible tells us we can't earn salvation--take a look at Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

     So if it's a gift, but how do you receive it?  Once again the Bible tells us how simple it is and in Romans 10:9-10 are some classic verses that say: "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; For with the heart there is believing unto righteousness, and with the mouth there is confession unto salvation." 

     Right now there's a lot of uncertainty on the earth today because of the impact of the coronavirus. Undoubtedly this is making a lot of people think more seriously about eternal things. If you haven't ever done so, please take this as your opportunity to open up your heart and ask the Lord Jesus to come into you.  By doing so, you will fulfill God's purpose for forming the spirit of man in Zechariah 12:1!! 

Other Posts on the Three Parts of Man & the Gospel:

Why Did God Create Man with Three Parts in Genesis 2:7?
How Does God Preserve Us Complete in 1 Thessalonians 5:23?

Who Says You Can't Eat Turkey in February? Try Out Jeremy's Spatchcocked Turkey

    Who says you can't have turkey in February?  For several years I've been buying two turkeys at Thanksgiving so I can have one on New Year's, but this year I was out of town.  So I kept it until my son came to visit and we could celebrate three February birthdays. 

So my son told me he had a great new way of cooking turkey, and would I let him try it.  He assured me that this would be the moistest turkey I had ever eaten. I was like really? 

 For years I've been cooking my turkey in a roasting bag and I've not complained. So I was a bit skeptical, but I watched him  and took notes just in case it came out incredible.  He told me this was like a spatchcocked chicken just without the lemons. 

Anyway, after the turkey bakes for one hour, he took it out and sealed it with two layers of aluminum foil. It sat on a trivet for an hour and then he sliced it. When he handed me a piece and I popped it into my mouth, I was so surprised!   It was totally moist--much more than anything I had cooked in a bag before. 

So we did the whole nine yards for that meal--mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans with toasted almonds, cranberries, and even  a pumpkin pie.  So about 17 people feasted on that turkey, and everyone was raving about it.  My son-in-law Jer whose Italian and Greek recipes I've posted on this site (and you can some in the list below this recipe) said that it was the best turkey he had ever eaten! 


1.  Prepare spices:
(1)  Peel 10 cloves of garlic.
(2)  Mix together  spices: 1/2 cup each of thyme, sage, rosemary and any other herbs you'd like to try to make a rub of, and 2 T of salt, 2 tsp. of black pepper. 2.  Prepare turkey:  Get out a roasting pan


(1) Take out your turkey and let it sit out for 30 minutes.
(2)  Cut off the legs, wings, thighs, and each breast, but do not remove the skin.
(3)  Rinse and sit in a bowl.

(4)  Squiggle olive oil over the bottom of the roasting pan.
(5)  Scatter garlic cloves around the pan.
(6)  Rub olive oil under the skin and on the top of each piece of turkey and place it in the pan as close as you can to each other.  Some parts may overlap like a chicken wing or leg.
(7)  Rub spices underneath the skin.
(8)  Scatter any remaining spices over the top.

3.  Bake at 400 for 1 hour without a cover.  Check meat temperature and if it's not ready, roast another 15 or 30 minutes.

4.  Take turkey out of oven and put on a hot pad and seal the turkey tightly with aluminum so it can continue cooking. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

5.  Carve and put on a platter. 

 List of  chicken recipes on this blog:

Asian:
Authentic Chinese BBQ Chicken  (From my friend Rose)
The Real Deal GF Teriyaki Chicken  (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)
Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Chicken (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)

Make Your Own G.F. Teriyaki Bowls  (From a collection of my recipes)

Italian & Greek:
Make Your Own Gyros With Jer D.'s Chicken Souvlaki   (Marinade for chicken from my son-in-law)
Gluten Free Chicken Cacciatore With Peppers & Mushrooms  (Modified from my mother-in-law)
Delicious Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan   (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)
My Son-in-Law's Own Recipe for Greek Chicken (Another Jer D. recipe)
Delicious Chicken Florentine Lasagna  (From my church cookbook)

Mexican:
Pollo Guisado (Mexican Braised Chicken)  (From a church friend in Phoenix)
Belizean Chicken, Black Beans & Rice, and Belizean Coleslaw  (From my daughter-in-law's  family reunion cookbook)
Make Your Own Chicken Burrito Bowls (From a collection of my recipes)
Jer D.'s Mexican Lime Chicken  (From my son-in-law)

American Favorites:
The Best Gluten Free Oven Fried Chicken   (From my sister-in-law)
Curried Mushroom & Apple Chicken  (From my church cookbook Come & Dine)
A Gluten Free Twist on Tarragon Chicken (From my  church Come & Dine cookbook)
Chicken & Mushrooms in Wine Sauce  ( From my church Come & Dine cookbook)
Summery Lemon Chicken - (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
Pulled Chicken Sliders  (Modified recipe from my daughter)
Jer D.'s Special Rub for Roast Chicken  (From my son-in-law)

BBQ:
The Best Homemade Chicken BBQ Sauce  (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Amazing BBQ Chicken    (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Blackberry BBQ Chicken - A Tasty Sauce You'll Have to Try! (Off a package of blackberries)
Ray's BBQ Chicken - (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Country Style BBQ Chicken - (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Great for Summer BBQ - Lemon Rosemary Chicken Legs  (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)
Fantastic Gluten Free Chicken Kabobs  (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)
Jeremy's Original BBQ Rub For Thighs  (My son's very own concoction)

Chicken Casseroles
Chicken Divan  - (From my Come & Dine Cookbook)
Chicken Pot Pie - (A combination of 3 different recipes!)
Our Family's Fall Favorite - Chicken & Zucchini Casserole with Gluten Free Biscuit Topping - -( From my church Come & Dine cookbook)
Savory Chicken Mornay - (A classic chicken broccoli casserole from my Come & Dine cookbook)