What's the Focus of the Psalms?

      Who doesn’t love the Psalms?   I’ve turned to them many times for encouragement and comfort. I’ve always liked Psalms honesty; David and other writers told it like it was with any pretense.   But I learned as I started reading the Life-Study of the Psalms that not all of the Psalms are God’s sentiments; some are a mixture of some of the writer's  human concepts and views.

 

My daughter and children in Arizona

     In chapters 3 and 4 I found Witness Lee's explanation  about what was going on in the Psalms really helpful. These excerpts are   from page 41 and 44 of chapter 4:

 

“Suppose that we were the arrangers of the 150 psalms.  Which Psalm would we place as the first one? The Lord’s way is the best way.  He put Psalm 1 first where we see the law in man’s appreciation.  Then we see Christ in God’s economy in Psalm 2....David, who appreciated the law with its keeper in Psalm 1, murdered Uriah and robbed him of his wife (2 Samuel 11:14-27)....In his great sin, however, he broke all the last five commandments, which require men to have virtues expressing God's divine attributes. Did David, the one who wrote Psalm 1, keep the law? I do not believe that many readers of the Psalms ever thought about this. They agreed with David's exaltation of the law in Psalm 1. The greatest teacher in the New Testament, Paul told us that no flesh can be justified by keeping the law (Gal. 2:16; 3:11). It is impossible for fallen man to keep the law (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of the Psalms. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1993, Print).

 

      So instead of boasting in himself  or the law,  he said David should have been repenting. Because of his human concepts, not all of David’s sentiments were spot on.  David didn’t have the book of Romans and Galatians to explain to him that fallen mankind can't keep God’s law.  In Galatians 2:16 Paul says, "Knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,...."  It was neat to learn that in the Psalms it's important  to see that Christ is the center and focus of the entire Bible not the law.

 

   You can listen to excerpts of Witness Lee's speaking the Life-Studies of Psalms on Life Study of the Bible  with Witness Lee.   You can also read the online Life-Study of Psalms and check out other resources available to enhance your study of the Bible on Living Stream Ministry's website.


Others Posts on the Life-Study of Psalms:

What is the Focus of the Psalms?
How Does Psalm 8 Show Us God's Purpose in Creating Man?
Taking a Closer Look at Psalm 23 - Part 1 of 2
Taking a Closer Look at Psalm 23 - Part 2 of 2
Why is God's House Important in Psalms 25 -41?
Seeing the Divine Romance in Psalm 45
What Did the Psalmist Perceive in Psalm 73?
What are the Highways to Zion in Psalm 84?
Why Did the Psalmist Delight in God's Law in Psalm 119?
  

Jer's Authentic Pasta Aioli with Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella

 

When you have a son-in-law who's half Italian, you pay attention when they're cooking pasta!  In June we were invited over for dinner, and he was making Pasta Aioli with Tomatoes, Basil, and fresh mozzarella. Of course, he wasn't using gluten free pasta, but that's an easy adjustment to make! 

 

     I've made another one of his aioli recipes and you can see it below. It was so yummy;  I knew this one would be great, too.  When the bowls were served up, I could tell by the way everyone chowed down that it was fantastic!!

 

 

 Pasta Aioli with Tomato, Basil and  Mozzarella

 

 

1.  Prepare vegetables & cheese:

 (1)  Chop up one .66 oz. container of basil or pull some out of your herb garden like I usually do in the summer.

(2)  Quarter  1 cup of grape tomatoes.

(3)  Mince 6 cloves of garlic.

(4)  Cube  8 oz. of fresh mozzarella or more.

 

2. Prepare noodles: Cook 1 package of Trader Joe's brown rice penne pasta according to instructions. Try to cook it so that they're done just about when you're ready to mix in the aioli and vegetables. When done, drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid or more for adding at the end if necessary.

 

3.  Meanwhile prepare the aioli - In a small saucepan put:

(1)  3/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil and warm up on medium high.

(2)  Stir in  the 6 cloves  of minced garlic and 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes if you like a bit of spicy heat. Then bring the heat down to a simmer.

(2)  Let it simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes being careful not to overcook the garlic so it doesn't burn and become bitter.

(3)   Jer said you can add  a bit of fresh basil--like half a tablespoon chopped up.

 

4. Assembling the pasta - Into the pan of pasta:

(1)  Then stir in the warmed oil and garlic.

(2)  Then stir in the vegetables and mozzarella

(3)   If the pasta needs it, add 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

.
Other Italian & Greek Pasta Recipes on This Blog:

Italian & Greek Chicken:
Incredible Gluten Free Chicken Souvlaki   (My son-in-law's marinade recipe)
Chicken Cacciatore with Peppers & Mushrooms  (My mother-in-law)
You've Got to Try This Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan!  (From my church cook book, Come & Dine)
My Son-in-Law's Own Recipe For Greek Chicken   (Family recipe)

Pasta Cassroles:
The Best Gluten Free Lasagna   (From my church Come & Dine cookbook)
Delicious Gluten Free Chicken Tetrazzini     (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
Jan's Classic  Baked Spaghetti Casserole

 Classic Pastas:
My Mom's Splendiferous Gluten Free Spaghetti  (My mother's amazing sauce!)
Ginger's Family Favorite Gluten Free Beef Stroganof   (From my friend Ginger)
Gluten Free Pasta Aioli - Sausage & Vegetable Penne  (From my daughter and son-in-law)
Incredible Gluten Free Pasta Primavera     (Combination of two Internet searches)
Fantastic Gluten Free Salmon Fettucine 
Easy to Make Gluten Free Shrimp Linguini   (From my Syre School Cookbook)
Carmine's Authentic Italian Pasta Sauce  (From my son-in-law's father who was born in Italy)

Mac & Cheeses
Fantastic Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese  (Modified from Heritage & Internet search)
Gluten Free Comfort Food - Downright Delicious Gluten Free Tuna Noodle Casserole  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Northwest Crab Mac & Cheese  - From a 5th grade friend's recipe project
Whidbey Island Crab & Noodle Bake - A classy crab mac & cheese recipe from my mother-in-law

Pizza
Judi's Gluten Free Crazy Crust Pizza -  Spinach, Artichoke & Feta Pizza (From a friend)

Soups:
This is the Best Minestrone Soup!  (From my son's Internet search and tweaking)
Mouth Watering Italian Turkey Sausage Soup   (This is  my friend Debbie's recipe)

Salads:
Tasty Gluten Free Pasta Salad   (I've been making this salad for over 20 years!)
Jeremy D's Sensational Greek Salad  (From my son-in-law who is half Italian)
Michelle's Greek Quinoa Salad   (My daughter came up with this way to use quinoa)

From the Life-Study of Job - What was God's Intention with Job?

     If you look at the book of Job, you can see that it took a really long time for all of his friends to run out of things to say! Then it was God's turn. He obviously wasn't too impressed with how the conversation was going because the first thing He asked Job was:  "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:2) It's obvious that nobody got what God was doing in Job's heart and life through all the devastating losses that God had permitted.

Hiking with my daughter

     I've always loved reading chapters 38 and 39 of Job. God asks Job question after question concerning the mysteries of creation with the specific purpose of showing Job how little he really knew. And because of that could he really be so sure that he knew why God had allowed so many unusual sufferings to befall him? It's almost like God was whittling him down to size--so you think you can tell Me not to do something?  God knew the whole time what He was doing. 

     I really like chapter 31 of the Life-Study of Job where Witness Lee points out God's intention in appearing to Job; this excerpt is on pages 161-163:

"God's intention in appearing to Job was to expose him, to show him that he really was nothing....Thus, God questioned Job again and again in order to silence him....Job was in the realm of building up something that was wrong. He was building up himself in his perfection, uprightness, and integrity. He thought that he was absolutely right....God in His eternal economy has no desire to build up these things. Rather, He considers all these things as frustrations and intends to strip them away from us, consuming them bit by bit. When everything is stripped away, then you will see God, and He will attract you to receive Him....As a result of this transformation, you will be a person reflecting God, that is expressing Him and dispensing Him to others. This was God's intention with Job, and this is His intention with us today" (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Job. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, Print 1993).

     In this chapter Witness Lee also explains that Job's seeing God (Job 42:5) transformed him, and that this is similar to the truth Paul brings out in 2 Corinthians 3:18. In these chapters he states that because the divine revelation is progressive, God couldn't explain too much to Job.   To really get the book of Job he said you have to couple it with what the Lord and the apostles taught in the New Testament such as 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, 16:  

We are pressed on every side, yet not straightened;

perplexed, yet not unto despair;

 pursued, yet not forsaken;

 smitten down, yet not destroyed;

 always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus

 that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

 For we who live are always delivered unto death

[figuratively like hard situations] for Jesus' sake

that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

...Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying,

yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is for the moment,

works for us more and more exceedingly an

eternal weight of glory:
 

 ~1901 American Standard Version

 

 You can listen to excerpts of Witness Lee's speaking the Life-Study of Job on the  Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.   You can also read the online Life-Studies of Job and check out other resources available to enhance your study of the Bible on Living Stream Ministry's website.

From the Life-Study of Job - Have you Ever Asked God Why?

Garrett's Peppy Cauliflower Rice

     We had lunch at a friend's house when my son Jeremy came to visit.  And not just any friend; this guy used to be a chef.  And so it's always exciting to be invited especially if Garrett is manning the grill!   On the last post I wrote up Jeremy's BBQ thigh rub recipe.  This cauliflower rice would make a great non-carb complement for that.  

I took this while Garrett was cooking it up.

      When we got there Garrett told me he was smoking up some tri-tip.  I brought along a green salad, and he made two other delicious side salads.  

      When we walked in the door,  Garrett was flipping some cauliflower rice in the air, just like you see when you're at Anthony's or some other place where they let you see the chefs at work. Because  over 90% of the recipes on this blog are from friends and family, church cookbooks and friends and friends, I was taking notes and asking questions!  This was so tasty.

Garrett's Peppy Cauliflower Rice



1.  Wash a small head of cauliflower.  

2.  Chop it up to the texture that you would like for serving.

3.  Put some butter and oil about 2-3 tablespoons into a large stainless pan.

4.  Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic salt over the caulflower while it's sautéing.
 

5.  Mince up some fresh herbs:  Garrrett had a container in his kitchen of rosemary, thyme, and oregano.  It looked like he had about 3 to 4 tablespoons on his cutting board.  

6.  Right before the cauliflower rice was done, he sprinkled it with red pepper flakes.  I would add that to your own liking because his had a bite!  Then he quickly added the  fresh herbs, flipped it a few times and then it was ready!  

 

From the Life-Study of Job - Have You Ever Asked God Why?

     Have you ever asked yourself what's really going on in the book of Job?  Is it just about a man who loses almost everything and a God who seems a bit detached and uncaring when calamities strike?  On the surface, the book of Job may look like that. This book may cause you to  question God's motives with His people. And you're on the right track if you do!  Keep reading, and you'll find out what God was really up to with Job. 

     I'm on my sixth time reading through the Life-Study of Job, and it is one of my very favorites!  Here's the reason--if you don't understand what God is doing when heart-rending situations hit you, it could cause catastrophic damage to your Christian life. 

     I know what I'm talking about here, and if you're not careful you become like one of Job's friends thinking maybe God's angry with you, or maybe you didn't do something you were supposed to  do and God is punishing you for it. I've been there, I've done that, and sometimes I still fall back into that thought pattern!  And the Life-Study of Job has been like a life-line to me, and that's why I've read it so many times. 

    If you remotely know what I'm talking about here, and you've gotten stuck asking God why, you have to read this Life-Study--it will encourage you so much!!!  Whenever I read these opening chapters, I'm in awe at what Witness Lee saw in this book.  The following excerpts come from pages 7, 10-11, 34-35:

The subject of the book of Job is the purpose of God's dealing with His holy one. Ethically speaking Job was very good....Only God knew that Job had a need, that he was short of God.  Because of His loving concern for Job, God held a council in the heavens to talk about Job....The book of Job shows us that God, through Satan as an ugly tool, was tearing Job down by two ways: stripping and consuming....God's stripping and consuming were exercised over Job to tear Job down that God might have a base and a way to rebuild Job with God Himself that He might become a God-man (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Job. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1993).

So although God does bait Satan to take a closer look at Job, it's not because God is playing with him like a pawn. Job was so humanly perfect and upright, but it didn't have anything to do with God. 

And God couldn't let that situation persist because all men were created to contain and express God. It has helped me so much to see that God touches our lives because we are SHORT of His expression.  And it is because of His love that He does touch us.  He can't leave us like that. 

     God lovingly arranges environments and situations that may or may not devastate us just like He did with Job.  And when we're screaming why and unloading all our angst, God is accomplishing His stripping and consuming work.  Have you seen it in your own life?  I know I have. Through all these talks with God, He gets the crack that He was after so He can seep more of His divine life into us.  Over and over things happen and sometimes just like with Job they come one after another.  But this Life-Study has helped me to see we have to  compare the book of Job with what the New Testament says so we know where God is going with everything. 

      In Romans 8:29 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 we get a window of what God is doing in our lives--He's conforming us to the image of His Son!!!  This is important because God has to fulfill His initial purpose in creating man that He stated in Genesis 1:26.  God needs to get a people who express Him and represent Him on this earth. Not always easy or pretty because God is working with people who have been wrecked by the fall.  But because He's God, He knows how to accomplish His purpose! 

Here's a song that has ministered to my heart many times when I've been in situations asking God Why.  It's called There are Times (click on the song title) and it's on a CD put out by New York City Young People.

    And far from being detached from our lives, God is actually lovingly overseeing everything that comes into our lives, and He's working like Romans 8:28 says everything together for our ultimate good and that good in God's eyes is that we express His Son! 

 You can listen to excerpts of Witness Lee's speaking the Life-Study of Job on the  Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.   You can also read the online Life-Studies of Job and check out other resources available to enhance your study of the Bible on Living Stream Ministry's website.

From the Life-Study of Job - Have you Ever Asked God Why?
From the Life-Study of Job - What Was God's Intention With Job?

Jeremy's Original BBQ Rub For Thighs

According to my son Jeremy, thighs are really great for grilling because they're a lot more tender than breast meat and don't dry out so much. When he and his family were visiting us in April he told me  that he was going to make his special chicken BBQ.  He loves to cook, and he usually just shakes stuff into a bowl.  So while he was at it, I had to pick his brain to get an idea about what was going into this amazing thigh BBQ rub he was bragging so much about! 

When the chicken came off the grill, my husband told me I had to try some of it because it was so good.  As soon as my lips touched that chicken I could hardly believe he had come up with this.  My husband was like quit your job and start a restaurant-- they were that good!

 

The Best BBQ Rub - for 4 Thighs

1.   In a small dish blend together the following ingredients:
(1)  1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
(2)  1/4 teaspoon of dry mustard
(3)  1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder (we were out so he had to mince some fresh)
(4)  1 teaspoon of thyme
(5)  1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper
(6)  1/2 teaspoon of Herb de Provence from Trader Joe's  or my son suggested since I couldn't find it in my store of making a blend of  marjoram, savory, rosemary, basil, sage, and lavender and using a bit of that.

2.  Prepare chicken:  I usually trim the fat off chicken.  Rinse off and put in a bowl;  then put about 1/4 cup of olive oil on them.  My son says he likes to do that to help the rub stick to the chicken. Place chicken thighs in a ziploc bag  and add the rub, so you can shake it around and massage it into the thighs.  Let sit in the fridge for as long as you can.

3.   Let the chicken sit for at least  25-30 minutes.

4.    Get the grill going about 400-450 degrees. 

5.    Grilling chicken:  Put the chicken on the grill and flip it after  5 minutes.  Then flip it and cook for 4 minutes.  Keep flipping and cooking for 4-5 minutes until the internal temperature is between 180-185 degrees. When the thighs are almost cooked, mix up about 2 teaspoon of honey and 2 teaspoon of agave in a small ramekin and  brush a light coating onto the chicken.  Cook on each side the last 4-5 minutes.  This will give the chicken a nice glaze.

Note: On August 9, 2018 I made recipe for some friends and they loved it!

 List of other chicken recipes on this blog:

Asian:
Authentic Chinese BBQ Chicken  (From my friend Rose)
Gluten Free Soy Sauce Chicken   (Modified from Internet search)
Tasty Gluten Free Filipino Chicken Adobo  (Modified from Internet search)
Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Chicken (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)
Make Your Own G.F. Teriyaki Bowls  (From me!)

Italian & Greek:
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
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's family)
Make Your Own Chicken Burrito Bowls (From a collection of my recipes)

American Favorites:
Amazing BBQ Chicken    (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
The Best Gluten Free Oven Fried Chicken   (From my sister-in-law)
Fantastic Gluten Free Chicken Kabobs  (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)
Great for Summer BBQ - Lemon Rosemary Chicken Legs  (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)
Curried Mushroom & Apple Chicken  (From my church cookbook Come & Dine)
The Best Homemade Chicken BBQ Sauce  (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
A Gluten Free Twist on Tarragon Chicken - (From my  church Come & Dine cookbook)
Saucy Chicken 
Chicken & Mushrooms in Wine Sauce   -( From my church Come & Dine cookbook)
Our Family's Fall Favorite - Chicken & Zucchini Casserole with Gluten Free Biscuit Topping - -( From my church Come & Dine 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 cookbook)
Country Style BBQ Chicken - (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
Summery Lemon Chicken - (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)

Chicken Casseroles
Chicken Divan  - (From my Come & Dine Cookbook)
Chicken Pot Pie - (A combination of 3 different recipes!)
Savory Chicken Mornay - (A classic chicken broccoli casserole from my Come & Dine cookbook)

What's Really Happening in the Story of Esther?

     Hatred, an evil plot, and a gallows all come together to weave a tale of intrigue in the book of Esther. It may be hard to believe with all those sinister elements that this is a story in the Bible. But it actually did happen during the time of the Jews' captivity in Babylon. 

 I learned by reading the Life-Study of Esther that although we can't see God right now, He was definitely on His throne ruling over everything happening, just as He is now. 

    And the book of Esther shows us this includes the good, the bad, and the ugly.  This is important because when bad things happen to God's people, sometimes it can shake our faith. That's why I liked this explanation Witness Lee gives on page 1 of the Life-Study of Esther about God being hidden in the book of Esther:

During the years of captivity God was hiding, and He is still hiding. Even today, in the church age, God is hiding Himself.  Both for the children of Israel and for us today, it seems that there is no God in the universe. We need to realize that God is living and real, but He is hiding. He is a God who hides Himself (Isa. 45:15)....While the people of Israel were in dispersion and captivity, God was taking care of them in a hidden way, and at the right time He came in openly to save them....Eventually God used the Medo-Persian Empire to overthrow the Babylonian Empire....From this we see that the hiding God did many things for Israel in a secret way (Lee, Witness. Life-study of Esther.  Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1995 Print).

      You can really see the hiding God when you see His sovereignty in how King Ahasuerus chose Esther out of all the women in his kingdom to be the new queen. Before Esther had been chosen, Mordecai told her not to tell anyone that she was a Jew. For some reason when Haman was promoted above all the other princes in the kingdom, he despised Mordecai because he was the only one who wouldn't bow down when he walked by.


My youngest grandson enjoying the beach

   
    This rankled Haman, and he devised an evil plot to get rid of all the Jews in the kingdom.  Mordecai hears of this plot and relays to Esther that she needs to plead with the king for the lives of her people. The long and short of this story is that Esther gains favor with the king and at the second banquet for the king and Haman she exposes Haman's wicked intentions. 

    Ironically the gallows that Haman built for Mordecai become his own punishment.  Over and over in the book of Esther you can see God's footprints hiding in so many situations to preserve and protect His people. Only God knew that eventually He would raise up Cyrus another Gentile king to release the Jewish captives so they could return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. 

     Maybe in your story right now it seems like God is hiding.  You pray and He doesn't seem to answer.  This word about the hiding God has touched me for many years. The story of Esther encourages me to trust in the God who is always working out His will behind the scenes.  And some day just like in this story, we will  be able to see like the Jewish captives that God was there all along. 

 You can listen to excerpts of Witness Lee's speaking the Life-Study of 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, & Esther on Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.   You can also read the online Life-Studies of these books and check out other resources available to enhance your study of the Bible on Living Stream Ministry's website.

Other Posts from the Life-Study of 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, & Esther:

From the Life-Study of 1 & 2 Chronicles - How did Watchman Nee & Witness Lee Take a Stand For the Truth?
From the Life-Study of 1 & 2 Chronicles - Why Did God Make Man in His Image?
From the Life-Study of Ezra - How God Used a Gentile King to Fulfill His Purpose
From the Life-Study of Ezra - Why Did Ezra Return to Jerusalem?
How Did God Use Nehemiah's Aggressiveness in Nehemiah 2:20?
Why Did Nehemiah Charge Ezra to Read the Bible to the People in Nehemiah 8:1-8?