Like An Anchor

Times and Seasons

11 January, 2014

I’ve been studying Ecclesiastes this past week, and a thought popped into my head that I would like to share with you. If you agree, disagree, or just feel like weighing in on this topic, let me know what you think.

To everything there is a season…

In reading Ecclesiastes, I spent Thursday morning pondering the first half of chapter 3. The idea of time as portrayed here fascinates me — it seems cyclic, steady, patterned. In my KeyWord Study Bible, Zodhiates says that what Solomon discovers here “is that there is One who keeps the world in order — that is God.”

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (Ecc. 3:1-8)

Another take-away from this section of scripture is the necessity of trusting in God for our security in life. Just a few lines later, Solomon reminds readers that “no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end” (Ecc. 3:11). Though we cannot know what is coming in our lives or exactly how the times and seasons will play-out for us, we can have confidence in God and say with Solomon, “I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it” (Ecc. 3:14).

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11)

No Man Knows

With this in mind, let’s go to another place in the Bible where times and seasons are mentioned. Before Christ’s ascension to His Father in the book of Acts, His disciples asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). His response is interesting. “And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority’” (Acts 1:7).

This started me wondering if trying to pin down a date for Christ’s return is another symptom of the age-old problem people have of trying to find stability and control by taking matters into their own hands. I’m not talking about being watchful and knowledgeable about how events are prophesied to unfold — we are clearly instructed to do that (Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36; 1 Pet. 4:7). I’m talking about predictions regarding something we are specifically told is not for us to know. In another place, Jesus Christ said even He did not know the day or hour: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).

Like Solomon, we have to learn to accept God’s timing and trust Him to be in control. He will work out all things for good, just like He has promised (Rom. 8:28).
Korean Beef

8 January, 2014

I found this recipe through Pinterest, and we have all fallen in love with it. The flavor is so good, yet there are very few ingredients and it is very simple to make. The original recipe is by Lizzy Writes, and I have changed nothing. Her suggestion about ginger has also been very helpful — freeze it. She chops it into sections, which I am trying, but I’ve also discovered that grating it fresh and wraping the grated ginger in aluminum foil to freeze it works as well.

Korean Beef

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1 pound lean ground beef

1 Tablespoon sesame oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 – 1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

1/2 – 1 teaspoon crushed red peppers (to desired spiciness)

1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced

Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat and brown hamburger with garlic in the sesame oil. This works best if the beef is fresh or unthawed.

Drain most of the fat and add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, and red peppers. Simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors. Serve over steamed rice and top with green onions.

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What Are Your Favorite Board or Party Games?

6 January, 2014

There’s a stack of games in my closet that rarely get dusted off and used. It’s a shame, because every time we actually play them I’m reminded how much fun they can be. We had guests over Saturday evening, and played Pictionary until 11:30 at night. My brother and I think so much alike that it’s scary — we teamed up and were moving around that game board at super speed. I don’t usually like team games, but Pictionary is one I’ll make an exception for.

Here a few of the other games I like. What are your favorite party and/or board games?

Apples To Apples

This game gets played more often than most in my closet. Every year before Thanksgiving at least one family member will call and remind us that we are not allowed to show up for the family gathering unless we bring Apples To Apples. A large number of people in a wide variety of ages can play, and at family gatherings we even rival the euchre table for enthusiasm and laughter.

Clue

Why my cousin was here over New Year’s, we played Clue while waiting to watch Series 3 Episode 1 of Sherlock.
Known as Cluedo in the UK (which I did not know until I Googled the history of the game), it is a murder-mystery game now available in a Sherlock version. Since we only had an old Clue game from the ’80s tgat I picked up at a resale shop, we made do by re-naming all the characters with Sherlock names (Plum=Sherlock, Scarlet=Irene Adler, etc.).

Lord of the Rings Monopoly

Monopoly in general is a pretty good game, but Lord of the Rings Monopoly is better. There’s fortresses, and Shelob’s lair, and you can buy Bag End and Mount Doom. The little game pieces are so cute. Also, with a version that moves the Ring around the board toward Mount Doom every time someone rolls a 1, the game can have a time limit.

Herd Your Horses

I’m going to guess you’ve probably never heard of this game. Herd Your Horses is a game my mother came across in a homeschooling catalog years ago. There are three game variations. It is easy enough for young children to play but, as we proved before the Pictionary battle on Saturday night, still engaging for older teens and young adults.

Star Trek Trivia

Unfortunately, it’s hard to find people to play Star Trek Trivia with. The version I have covers The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, and Voyager. It’s perfect for me and my sister since we’ve watched all of those and haven’t seen Enterprise. When we can find people with the same Star Trek watching background, though, it’s fun to play.
Necessary Fire

4 January, 2014

I started this study intending to focus on the idea of Jesus Christ in us, but got distracted by the Greek word translated “reprobate” in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Digging into the root words, I found that it is a negative form of a word that refers to the process of refining metals with fire. Therefore, “reprobate” in this verse could be understood to mean someone who has not been refined by fire. Intriguing …

Untried Metals

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Cor. 13:5)

The word “reprobate” is from the Greek adokimos (G96). It means “Unapproved, unworthy, spurious, worthless.” It is the negative form of dokimos (G1384), which means “Proved, receivable, tried as metals by fire and thus be purified. … Hence, to be approved as acceptable men in the furnace of adversity” (Zodhiates). Here are a few places it is used:

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. (2 Cor. 10:18)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15)

So, we can say that to be “reprobate” means to be the opposite of approved and refined. It is someone who has not be proved by God and tried “as silver is tried” (Ps. 66:10). In several scriptures, our refinement is likened to the purification of metals, which must be heated in a furnace to remove impurities (Zech. 13:9; Mal. 3:3). Being tested and proved is a necessary step in becoming acceptable.

Burning Buildings

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul writes about building our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). He is the only foundation upon which we can build a proper Christian life. However, we each build with different materials, and with differing degrees of success.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Cor. 3:12-15)

Note that the people whose work endures and those who get burned down to the foundation both have to go through the trying fire. No one is excepted from being tried in the furnace of adversity. Some come through stronger. Some “suffer loss,” but are saved to begin building again with better materials. It is part of God’s plan for making us part of His family.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Heb. 12:7-8)

Without refinement and trials, we would be among those described as “reprobates” and bastards.” We need to be purified to be part of God’s family and to become a fit place for Jesus Christ to dwell.

A Habitation of God

In the verse following 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, we are told what type of building we are becoming. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16). This is why we need to be refined. As we are now, we are not fit vessels to house God’s spirit and the presence of Jesus Christ. If we keep Their commandments and submit to Their work in our lives, though, we can be.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (Jn. 14:23)

God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are not in the habit of holding people at arm’s length. They desire a close, personal relationship with us. They want to dwell in us now, and they want us to literally be part of Their family in the future. The writer of Hebrews describes us as a house which is built by and belongs to Christ, “if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (Heb. 3:6).

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph. 2:19-22)

One of our purposes on this earth is to be the place where God dwells. There was a time when He put His presence in a physical temple here on earth, and now He puts His presence inside the people He has chosen — a people refined in the furnace of adversity and approved by Him.
Top 5 Recipes of 2013

1 January, 2014
I was reading a Top 10 recipes post from another blogger, which gave me the idea to start off this new year of blogging by sharing a list of my most popular recipes from 2013. Since I didn’t have a full year’s worth of recipe posts, I decided to post my top 5 instead of top 10. Honorable Mention: No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake was only one view away from being tied with General Tso’s Chicken for 5th place.
A tasty side-dish that can be made in the microwave or oven. Click here for the recipe.

One of my favorite pasta dishes. I’ve also made it with turkey and penne. Click here for the recipe.

My family agrees this is the best sweet potato casserole recipe. For a little extra flavor, try adding 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to the filling. Click here for the recipe.

I was a little surprised to see this recipe was so popular. It’s one of my favorites, but I didn’t expect so many people to be looking for unleavened bread recipes. Click here for the recipe.

It seems fitting that the most popular Chinese recipe in our house should be one of the most popular recipes on my blog. Click here for the recipe.
More Favorite Quotes

30 December, 2013

I was hoping to write a somewhat lengthy post today, but found I ran out of time to finish it. I didn’t want to just skip posting today, though, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorite quotes which were not yet listed on my Quotes page. These are all one’s I came across for the first time on Pinterest. I’d read several of Hans Christian Anderson’s writings before, however, and he is an author I like.

“Every person’s life is a fairy tale written by God’s fingers” — Hans Christian Anderson

This next quote is by Kurt Vonnegut, and I’m afraid I must confess I’ve never read any of his books. I like this quote, though, so I’ve included it here.

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” — Kurt Vonnegut

I was determined not to become a Tom Hiddleston fan and join the ranks of the crazy Loki fangirls. Then I started reading quotes from him (like these two), seeing interviews, and learning about his work helping children. I can admire a guy who likes kids, respects women, values humility, and describes his apartment as wall-to-wall bookshelves.

“Stay hungry; stay young; stay foolish; stay curious. And, above all, stay humble because just when you think you’ve got all the answers, is the moment when some bitter twist of fate in the universe will remind you that you very much don’t” — Tom Hiddleston.

“This generation has lost the true meaning of romance. There are so many songs that disrespect women. You can’t treat the woman you love as a piece of meat. You should treat your love like a princess. Give her love songs, something with real meaning. Maybe I’m old fashioned but to respect the woman you love should be a priority” — Tom Hiddleston