How Art Thou?

Are you affected, one way or other, by the current economic recession? Last Sunday I learnt from some of my church friends how they and their companies have been affected by it. My dear husband is also facing some challenges at work lately.

I may sound naive, or may not understand what you are going through but whenever challenges like these come along, we can take comfort that we have Jehovah Jireh, our God who provides. This week's Bible reading reminded me of who our God is when He gives the Isrealites Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. Caleb said to the ever-complaining Isrealites "If the LORD is pleased with us.... He WILL lead us ..... and WILL give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid.... THE LORD IS WITH US."

God said to Moses "HOW LONG will my people treat Me with contempt?

HOW LONG will they refuse to believe in ME, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?"

I am guilty of taking God and His goodness for granted at times, guilty of even thinking that I deserve God's blessings. We are always dissatisified and always murmured against this and that. God defines defiant sins as "despising the LORD's Word and breaking His Commands." That's how serious our murmurings and disbelieve in God is.
May God help us keep right with Him and grant us the faith to trust Him. He has seen us through thus far in our live's journey, He will surely see us through this economic downturn (whether be it monthly bills to pay, jobs to hold on to in order to provide for our families, etc.) God is still on the throne and is faithful to what He has promised.

Blessed be Your Name in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your Name

Blessed be Your Name when I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed be Your Name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord,
Still I will say "Blessed be the Name of the Lord
Blessed be Your Name
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious Name."

You give and take away, You give and take away

My heart will choose to say, "Lord, blessed be Your Name."

Blessed be Your Name when the sun's shining down on me

When the world's all as it should be

Blessed be Your Name

Blessed be Your Name on the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your Name

Fresh Blueberry Cheesecake

I use fresh Blueberries in my Blueberry Cheesecake.
Look at the Blueberries at the side of the Cheesecake. This just came out of the oven. Doesn't it look tempting? :)

Do you know what goes into the cakes and pastries you consume from the bakery shops? My friends often comment that there's so much butter, sugar, eggs, etc that goes into a cake that they are afraid to eat them.

Well, that is one reason why I started to bake my own cakes and pastries. When you do your own baking, you can select the recipes and control what you put in your baking. I also use fresh ingredients for what I bake.

Secret to Management Success??

One of the things I noticed when I read the first few books of the Bible is how detailed God is. I marvel at the detailed instructions God gave to Moses about the construction of the Tabernacle, what to do and what not to do, the materials to be used, etc.

Yesterday, in Numbers I read about God's detailed instructions for distribution of work for the Tent of Meeting - each tribe and clan to perform a certain task. WOW - He is really our first class Model. He did not ask Moses to check with the people where they would like to serve in but instead He assigned.

Hmmm... I wonder would this help to solve the lack of labourers in the various ministries of our church??? It would be so wonderful to see everyone guided by godly motive, seeing service as an offering to God, celebrating our love and faithfulness to God through all that we do. Things ordained by God leaves no margin for personal bias. No one is inferior or superior. We are all part of the Body of Christ and the priviledge is ours to be able to serve God in gratitude for what Jesus has done for us.
The God we worship is of such high standard in His love, in His justice and in everything. This is really beyond human description and comprehension.

"You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful for comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom

Who can fathom the depth of Your love

You are beautiful beyond description

Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand, in awe of You

I stand, I stand in awe of You

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of You."

Teach Me To Love

This Good Friday, may the words of the song below
"Teach Me To Love" by J W Peterson be our prayer as we respond to what Jesus had done for us:

"Teach me to love - this is my prayer,

May the compassion of Thy heart I share.

Ready a cup of water to give

May I unselfishly for others live
To cheerless lives and bleak,

But kindness I would speak

The good of all I'd seek

And when I'm wronged by others,

Help me to smile and turn the cheek

So in my heart, Thy goodness prove

As Thou hast loved, O Lord, Teach me to love."

Delicious Lemon Tarts

A sister-in-Christ baked this Delicious Lemon Tart when I attended one of her Bible Study classes and I fell in love with it.

Thank God for her generosity to share her recipe with me. Since then I have baked this many times and almost everyone who has tasted it loves it.
Thank you Annabel :)

This is like God's love, when you have experienced something good - you want to pass it on and share it with others.

"It only takes a spark to get a fire going

And soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing

That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it

You'll spread His love, to everyone,

you want to pass it on....."

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?

What life would be like for a Christian or a Pastor if Jesus Christ has not died on the Cross and rose again for us? I like to read through the Bible at my own pace and slowly absorb what God has done us, how much He cared for us and to what extend He goes to show how much He loves us.

I have read through the Bible a few times and each time I learn something new or it helped to refesh my memory (cause I do not have a mind of a sponge - it's more like a flower pot with holes) I was just sharing with my daughter this morning that if Jesus Christ did not come we Christians would still be offering animal sacrifices for the atonement of our sins, guilt, etc and I can't imagine us and the pastors having to go through the rituals again and again. THANK YOU JESUS for first loving me :)

My husband and I have been Christians for more than 30 years. We came from the BP background where the church emphasizes much about God's Word. Due to the need of an extra room for children, we moved to Woodlands sometime in 2001. Since then we have been attending the church nearby. It took a bit of adjustment to settle down in the new church after being with our ex-church for more than 20 years. By God's grace and goodness, I have learnt to be obedient and submit to my husband's decision to move church. I remembered very clearly that we asked the Lord to make us a blessing in this new church as we do not want to be Christians who just receive but to give and be used by God to be a blessing to His people.

How time flies, after about 8 years in the present church, our teens are now growing as they serve. My husband and I have been serving since the year we joined. During this period, I have learnt to apply what I have learnt. It has not been an easy 8 years - whilst serving, I get accused, hurt and I cried many times here (don't remember going through such pains when I was in my ex-church). It is really not an easy road travelling to heaven. THANK YOU JESUS, for being there with me and my family all these times and for the days ahead.

Hmm... I wonder what would my life be like without You, JESUS?

V1

"It's not any easy road, we are travelling to heaven
For many are the thorns on the way

It's not an easy road, but the Saviour is with us

His presence gives us joy every day

V2
It's not an easy road, there are trials and troubles

And many are the dangers we meet

But Jesus guards and keeps so that nothing can harm us

And smooths the rugged path for our feet.

V3

Tho I am often footsore and weary from travel

Tho I am often bowed down with care

A better day is coming when home in the glory

We'll rest in perfect peace over there.

Chorus:
No, no, it's not an easy road,
No, no, it's not an easy road
But Jesus walks beside me
and brightens the journey
And lightens every heavy load."