Friday, May 29, 2009

Doing Right!

Photo borrowed from http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-photos-l10615-s2-p89198-burro.html

Today, I am going to share a teaching which the Lord has expanded and developed within my heart since Wednesday night. This is not anything which I have really every taught on or thought about, but somehow, the Lord began speaking to me and dealing with me regarding this theme and I have chewed on it like a cow chews their cud for about 36 hours.

Several events in the lives of people, whom I love and care for, has precipitated the development and thought process of this study. The circumstances surrounding these “friends” and their relationships with their family members, spouses, spouses’ family members and friends has finally developed into a festering sore, as they fight for their right to “do their own thing”. It is because I have seen the degeneration of the spiritual life of these people that I am saddened and for this same reason, sadness, I feel compelled to share this recent insight. For those of you who follow my blog, you know this is really out of character for the blog, however bear with me for today and know that the next blog will be lighter and may even have a recipe or two.

There comes a time in the life of all of us, when we must take a tough stand when people lie, steal or attempt to destroy us, our family or our friends and/or those whom God has given us to care for. This predicament is one of the hardest struggles we must all face in life.

Some of you know me, some do not, but in my life, like I am sure in everyone else’s life on planet earth, oft times I am placed in a position where I must fight for what is right.

Deuteronomy 6:18 Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that it may go well with you.

I have asked myself this question a million times if I have asked it once. Am I “IN” the will of God? Am I doing what He wants me to do? Do I know what His will is for my life and those He gave me to care for? Paul tells us:

Ephesians 5:10 Find out what pleases the Lord

This is a simple statement, but it is at the same time an extraordinarily profound statement. If you know what pleases the Lord—and then you do what pleases Him — you will be positive that you are in His will. When you are where you are supposed to be, doing what you are supposed to do, you feel good inside! It is the Spirit of God inside of you will make you feel good and make you sure when you are in God’s will.

I know people which refuse to speak to their brothers or sisters, mothers or fathers or children and yet somehow they pretend think they are in the will of God. I know pastors who refuse to speak to family members and yet they pastor and expect to be blessed. Yet, according to the same Word of God which they preach from the pulpit, IF you are in this position of strife, you are in sin.

There are three ways to be in sin like this:

If you are not in His will it is because you either didn't obey God's explicit Word for you and your life and ministry, like Jonah

Jonah 1"1-3 (NIV) 1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

or if you have moved out, before God’s timing, like Joseph and Mary did in

Luke 2:41-44 (NIV) 41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Festival, according to the custom. 43 After the Festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
or you have simply done the wrong thing, done what seems right in your own sight and not obeyed the explicit Word of God. Without fail, if you are in this position, God will allow things to happen to you until you become so frustrated that you make the needed adjustments in your life. When someone is in this position, they KNOW deep down inside that their prayers will be frustrated and many times go unanswered, even though they may be praying according to the will of God. We will only find rest and confidence when we return to Him and His will.

Isaiah 5:21 (KJV) Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

1 John 5:14-15 (KJV) 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him

Isaiah 30:15 (KJV) For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

For example, the word of God is very clear that you are to “honour your father and your mother”. If you honour one and not the other, are you in the will of God? Can you pray and expect your prayers to be answered? NO! Because your own heart condemns you, you do not have confidence. Why do you not have confidence? Because you are completely sure what you should do and you know no matter what the excuse, your excuse will not stand up when scrutinized in the light of the Word of God.

1 John 3:19-21 (KJV) 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

“If” your heart does not condemn you then and ONLY THEN will you have confidence towards God. About now, you might be saying, “But I have good reason.” But the Word of God says…

Proverbs 14:12 (KJV) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
The Word of God is also clear that only a fool picks up and carries the offences of others. How many times have you known people that got mad at someone else, because a friend or family member was mad?

Proverbs 26:17 (KJV) He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Proverbs 16:25 (KJV) There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Shakespeare "all's well that ends well," or as my dad says, “It will all come out in the wash” or his other saying “In a hundred years, it will not matter” are all so very true, however many people do not take into account the lost time as they continue on in their stubbornness.
In the end, but not before having strong words with the Lord, Jonah ultimately “allowed” God have His way. But even later, he grumbled and complained to God. Somehow, Jonah in his infinite wisdom thought that he could out-maneuver God. Have you ever been there or done that?

Jonah 4:1-10 (NIV) 1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, "Isn't this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4 But the LORD replied, "Is it right for you to be angry?" 5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a gourd and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the gourd. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the gourd so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." 9 But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the gourd?" "It is," he said. "And I'm so angry I wish I were dead." 10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this gourd, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?"

A similar thing happened with Joseph and Mary

Luke 2:45-52 (NIV) 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." 49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And as Jesus grew up, he increased in wisdom and in favor with God and people.

Both of these Bible stories have several things in common—the people were temporarily outside of the will of God, but by the end of the story they were reconciled to the fact that in order not to be miserable, they MUST make adjustments, because God doesn’t change and He is NOT going to make adjustments to His plan and His Word.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

We humans in our finite wisdom tend to allow ourselves to get sidetracked. But eventually, unless we are really hard headed we will come around to God’s plan. Wouldn’t it be much better if we did it the easy way instead of the hard way?

There is a very funny yet very informative story in Numbers about a prophet of God who was going to do what he wanted to do for money. Money became a very important priority in his life and come “hell or high water” he was going to prophesy against Israel.

Numbers 22:21-40 (KJV) 21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay. 31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. 34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

Whether you have sinned grievously like Jonah in refusing leave all to be a missionary warning people of impending judgement, or whether you have run ahead of the Lord like Joseph and Mary, or whether you have refused to honour your father and your mother for whatever reason, or whether you have taken up another’s offence, or whether you are willing to do whatever or take a stand against the people of God all because of money, no matter what your sin, God will not desert you. His intention is to teach you His "ways"— if you will listen. As long as you can hear God's voice when He rebukes you, it means you are not totally deaf to the Spirit of God. Not only is God not finished with you, but He has better things in store for you.

If what I have written has made you angry and made you think to yourself, “I am justified in what I think or in what I am doing, there are always exceptions to the rule,” then you are pregnant and waiting for an “ass speaking” experience, a near death experience or something similar. God will do all He can do to help you to understand that in the end it is an exercise in futility to “kick against the pricks”. Now or later you will make changes or wish you had. I know I speak from experience.

Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

On the other hand, if you are the “speaking ass” the one who sees the danger in the road and tries to warn another about that impending disaster, be prepared to be the beneficiary of a few swift kicks and several unkind words from hard headed, self willed people. There comes a time in the life of all of us, when we must take a tough stand when people lie, steal or attempt to destroy us, our family or our friends and/or those whom God has given us to care for. This predicament is one of the hardest struggles we must all face in life. But if you are looking for wisdom, knowledge and joy remember this…

Ecclesiastes 2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Earthquake In Honduras and Welcome to Mike

This morning at 2-ish in the morning, Honduras was hit with a 7.1 earthquake! Several hours later, there was an aftershock. I just received a call from Jose (my "adopted" son) and all is well with everything which the Lord has given me to possess.

This photo is by MSNBC and I found it on the web this morning. This is one of the major bridges in Honduras.

The "bodega" (warehouse) at the farm is perfect, no damage. All the retaining walls at the farm are fine. A very special missionary who lives in the farm house, says that there was no damage to the farm house, but he, his wife and their young son did run outside at 2:00 in the morning in their pajamas. Jorge the farm worker almost fell, running out of the adobe house on the farm where he lives, but there was no damage of any kind to anything at the farm.


Meanwhile, Jose and Esther (the poodle) ran outside because the apartment was "shaking like crazy" in Tegucigalpa. Jose who is house/dog sitting while I am visiting Kansas, says Esther jumped on his bed and warned him, waking him from a deep sleep. Erlinda, my neighbor and friend, and her 3 teens were in the street also, visiting with Jose in the wee hours of the morning. So much excitement and I missed it!

Many years ago in the Philippines I awoke in the midst of a earthquake for the first time, it was an interesting experience. Several years later at a birthday party for my, then soon to be, son-in-law Rene in the mountains of Guatemala, I experienced another quake. Then several years ago I was asleep in a hotel room in San Pedro Sula Honduras and once again experienced an earthquake. We have small tremors in Tegucigalpa every year or so, but nothing of this magnitude.


Also a huge WELCOME to Mike as one of our latest blog followers. I had no idea that he was so interested in what is going on in Honduras! Yesterday was proof positive that he follows, ever so closely, all that is happening in Honduras. He is even sharing the blessing of the Lord giving me a free move to Honduras with other people.

Last week a friend blessed me with many, many, many new roofing shingles. It may not seem like an interesting item of news, BUT I needed shingles and in fact was getting price quotes on them. Now I don't have to buy them!

By the way Wireless Internet is wonderful! You can be in airports, restaurants where ever and get on the Internet. Do we have this in Honduras? I don't know! I know we can get email on telephones for a fee, but this free stuff is great!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

May 9, 2009 Breakfast With Four Friends, Blueberry Cashew Waffles, Egg Casserole and Poached Pears

This morning when I awoke, I jumped out of bed, spent some time in prayer and reading the Bible. I am still in Jeremiah, slowly plowing through verse by verse.

When suddenly I had an insatiable urge for Blueberry Waffles. NO! I had an urge for Cashew Waffles. But waffles aren’t that good for someone watching their weight, so then I thought about making a Spinach Egg Casserole and then I thought but I want a Poached Pear too. Finally I decided that if I was going to go to all the trouble to make all of this, I might as well invite a few friends. This is what I LOVE about Honduras! Life is NOT so structured that you can’t invite people at the last minute.

I have no idea where the above photo came from, it was sent to me by someone else. Sorry I cannot give credit where credit is due.

So I called my friend Mercedes who is my neighbor and my dentist. Her mother Vicky was with her, so she decided to join us also. Then I called another friend and he decided to join us too.

I started cooking and the telephone started ringing. Saul, one of the young policemen that has been a friend for years, called to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day. There are several of the COBRAs which always make it a point to call me and they are some of the same ones which stop by when they are hungry for a home cooked meal. Even though my own two daughters are far away in Kansas, the Lord has given me several surrogate "kids" here in Honduras. I cried, thankful for the sweet call and continued to cook. My friend, Erlinda, showed up and made the passion fruit juice for me and fried the turkey bacon. She has a big party with 20 church ladies at her house for lunch tomorrow so she couldn't stay.

Everyone arrived, the table was set for four, Erlinda had eaten earlier standing in the kitchen as we talked, so there was no place set for her at the table, since she was leaving to run some party errands and had just “dropped by”. I had the menu totally prepared; we sat down, and ….. there was another knock on the door. Another neighbor, Lisseth, was walking by and heard us laughing and talking and decided to drop in to talk also. I quickly added another plate and then we started eating.

What had been planned as breakfast for four, turned into breakfast for seven. Before the table was completely set one of Jose’s professors dropped by to see if Jose had returned from his spring break trip. Jose, another one of my Honduran “kids”, flew with friends to Kansas and then returned driving from Kansas through Mexico and Guatemala. He called and is back in Honduras but will not return to Tegucigalpa today. I also ended up taking food outside to one of my friend’s bodyguards, where he could eat.

The BRUNCH Menu

Poached Amaretto Pear with Grapes, Kiwi and Fresh Sweet Cream on the side
Spinach Egg Casserole
Turkey Bacon
Blueberry Cashew Waffles
Passions Fruit Juice (Passion Fruit is in season right now and is cheap)
Coffee

For some people the arrival of Lisseth might have been a problem, but I have learned that in Honduras, I must expect the unexpected. I love the culture here! It is much more like at home in Arkansas when I was growing up. Everyone is welcome; you just scoot over, pull up another chair, set another plate on the table, divide the portions a little differently and keep going! My table seats six, but many times we squeeze in eight or more, depending on size.

I love having so many friends around me all the time. Mercedes is a GREAT friend; she always is inviting me to her house for dinner and also for special occasions. Christmas day was wonderful at her home with all of their family and friends, who over the years have become my friends.

This week has been a week of paperwork, UGH! And I really needed a break from paperwork. It was fun to make a nice brunch and it was even more fun to spend time with my friends.

Even though I see several of my friends daily, in passing, there is nothing in the world as wonderful as sharing well cooked food, a well planned menu and a nicely set table with a group of friends.

Tonight I will start making a Thanksgiving Turkey with all the extras for Mother’s Day. This is by special request from one of my “kids”. Tonight I make the homemade Southern Cornbread to go into the Cornbread Dressing, because white bread dressing is a CRIME! I have a feeling that the table will be full again tomorrow evening. It just happens when people smell the aroma of freshly cooked GRINGA food!

Isaiah 3:10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

Blueberry Cashew Yogurt Waffles

Ingredients


1 cup oats placed in a food processor and made into flour
3/4 cup salted cashews placed in a food processor and made into flour
Undetermined amount of flour

Be careful when processing the cashews and the oats not to make cashew-butter, you want cashew flour not cashew-butter. Place both of the above ingredients together in a large measuring cup after they have been processed and then add enough flour to make the ingredients come to a total of 1 ¾ cup

1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt 2 eggs
1 teaspoon almond flavoring
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1 cup milk 3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon sugar
½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions:

Preheat a waffle iron.

In a big bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt.
Separate the eggs, putting the whites into a small bowl and the yolks into another small bowl. Whisk the milk, yogurt, almond flavoring, vanilla flavoring and oil into the yolks. Stir the milk mixture into the flour mixture until moist yet still lumpy.

Beat the egg whites with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Increase to high, add the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form when the beaters are lifted, about 5 minutes. Fold the egg whites into the batter just until the whites are almost incorporated (fold gently to avoid deflating the whipped whites).

Coat the waffle iron with spray oil and scoop batter onto the grids, spreading gently. Close the lid and cook until the steam is almost gone and the tops are golden and the waffles are stiff. Lift the waffle from the iron with a fork. Re-oil the grids and repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve with real Maple Syrup and Whipped Cream mixed with a little almond extract and 1 Tablespoon sugar.

Notes: For richer waffles you may use 1/4 cup oil and 1/4 cup melted butter in place of the 1/2 cup oil. To keep waffles warm, set your oven to 225ºF and place the waffles directly on the oven rack. If you have leftover waffles, cool them completely then freeze in a zipper-lock bag for up to 6 months. Reheat in a toaster or in a 325ºF oven.
Poached Pears

1 Fresh Pear per person dining.

Slice a flat place off of the end of the bottom of the pear where the pear will stand in place, stem side up on a plate.
Using a vegetable peeler, peel all of the skin off of the pear, being careful not to remove the stem.

Stand pear on an individual serving plate and place 1 tablespoon of Almond Liquor "Amaretto" over the top of the pear.

Carefully sprinkle with Cinnamon.

Place plate in the microwave and cook uncovered for 2 to 2 ½ minutes on high.

Take pear from the oven and place other fruit around it.

I like to place some type of fresh green around the stem before serving. I like to use cilantro because the leaves are pretty.

Serve with a dollop of whip cream.

Spinach Egg Casserole

1 cup fresh spinach leaves only, not the stems, cleaned and the hard stem pulled out of center of the leaves.

8 sun dried tomatoes cut into small pieces

½ pound mozzarella cheese shredded

½ cup sautéed onion pieces (I use olive oil to sauté)

Several slices of turkey breast cut into thin fingers

Place all of the above in a 9” x9” square glass casserole dish heavily sprayed with PAM

12 eggs well beaten

Pour over the top of the other ingredients

Italian Seasoning to taste

Place casserole dish into preheated 400 degree oven.

Bake approximately 1 hour.