Food- My new Wok

I just bought my first wok.  I was real excited about cooking up some wok style sauteed vegetables.  I started chopping and chopping and suddenly I had a whole mound of veggies.  I very glad that I bought a LARGE wok.  The veggies were delicious along with the shrimp that I added.  Everyone ate a bunch and there was just enough left for two leftover lunches.  We had a healthy delicious dinner.
What is your favorite wok dish?  Feel free to also leave the recipe.

Family- Loss of a Loved One

I recently lost my father to heart disease.  It still seems hard to believe that he is gone until I see a picture of him, with his big smile.  One of the last unspoken words to me was the sign language sign for "I Love You."  How did he know that I would know that sign?  God was definitely at work that night.

Faith- Psalm 23

God has a plan to soothe us when we are worried or going through a dark time in our lives.  This is a wonderful devotional that I receive daily.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me."  Psalm 23:4

What one of us hasn't faced fright and fear head-on by softly quoting the twenty-third Psalm?  We repeat those old familiar verses time and again to soothe our souls and break the suffocating grip of fear.

            I'm particularly fond of the fourth verse.  Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.  The psalmist doesn't focus his attention on the dark valley, and he's not distracted by the shadows.  He sees through the valley, past the darkness, and looks with confidence toward the other side.

            The dark valley is a place to go through, not a place to stay in.

Are you in the middle of a dark valley?  It could be a bad financial report.  Perhaps you just discovered drug abuse in your family.  Your son is to be sent overseas.  You are facing two weeks of bed rest.  Your reputation has been stained by gossip.

It may look dark and gloomy right now, but please remember that God does not intend for you to stay in those shadows.  The valley He has led you into is the same valley out of which he will lead you.  You will, by His grace, go through it.  There is, thanks to our Shepherd, a smile on the other side.

Lead me, Shepherd, through the dark times.  I promise to follow You closely and to stay on the path, to remember that Your rod is with me and Your staff is there to comfort and guide.  Thank You for that little word, "through" in this beautiful psalm... I trust that You will lead me to the other side of the dark times to safety, rest, peace, and joy.

Blessings,

Joni and Friends

www.joniandfriends.org

 

Taken from Diamonds in the Dust.  Copyright © 1993 by Joni Eareckson Tada.  Used by permission.  Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Food- Lights Out!

Wow! A power outage can make you be really creative with your dinner plans.  I had fun today planning on beating the dark after learning the my power would be out for the next 24 hours.  Chicken breasts defrosted and marinating.  Leftover spaghetti and broccoli warmed up on the stove, that I had to use my "clicker" since it has an electronic igniter.  The BBQ did it's magic on the chicken breasts.  Thank God we added the natural gas BBQ to the back yard.  I cooked down the marinate for topping the chicken after grilling.  Yeah! everything was done before dark, about 5:30pm.  The power was supposed to be back on by 5:00pm, NOT!  Just as I suspected it was extended until 7:00am the next morning.  Thank God also for "smart phones" technology to check with Edison.  Happy this morning that at 5:45am we have power and only the ice cream melted.  That's okay, we are cutting back and trying to eat more healthy anyways. 

Family- When the children start taking care of the parents.

Wow!  Time does fly.  It's my time to start thinking about the care of my parents.  My dad is especially having some health issues that just recently have become a problem.  I have become very protective of him and only want the best care for him.  That means my entire family pitching in to love and care for him when he needs it.  Outside care is not an option until we can absolutely not do it ourselves.  I grew up with a loving caring family that has always cared for each other instead of an institutional option.  I know that this means personal sacrifice, the kind that my parents gave when I was a child.  It's my turn to care for them.  My faith that God will provide the strength and timing for everything is what I am clinging to today.  Tomorrow I will visit my dad in the hospital, where he has been for testing for the past few days.  I am comitted to making him feel loved and cared for in his own home for as long as possible, then at my home for the long haul. 

Fun- Continuing Education

I like to continue to learn new things to keep it fun.  My pastor at Church encourages us to improve on the talents that God gave us and to continue to learn new things.  Even if it is just trying a new cooking skill or a crochet pattern.  Last year I finished a Catering/Gourmet cooking career diploma program through Penn Foster College/Career School.  This year I think that I will try to take either the Dressmaking and Design or Floral Design career diploma program.  What will you do to improve on the talents that God gave you?

Faith- No Plateaus

It's a New Year.  I found a memento from a past Church conference.  Its a smooth rock with my name carved into it.  The following words are also carved into it- "No Plateaus" and Ephesians 4:13- "We must become like a mature person, growing until we become like Christ."  The New Year is the best time to commit to grow more in your relationships, especially the one with Christ.  Be a good example in your daily walk with the Lord.  You never know who is watching you.  You may be the only "Christ" that they see.