God's Child: Sharing my heart regarding Christianity

                                          

In the words of Angus Buchan , “ I may disappoint you, but God won’t.”

So, you don’t want to become a Christian , go to church or know more about Jesus because someone you know, who professes to be a Christian, has shown you a side of themselves that you don’t like.

Just ponder on the following questions and re think your opinion. Consider whether you should let the actions of others jeopardise a possible relationship between you and Jesus and hamper your entry into heaven.

You are denying yourself the privilege of a relationship with God based on the sins of another human. Now look towards yourself.

†    Name anyone you know who is perfect in every way.

†    Do you sin?

†    Name some of your sins if you acknowledge that you do sin.

†    Is your life perfectly “good”?

†    Do you always overcome temptation?

†    Do you always react well to people?

†    Do you know of anyone who does not suffer hardship of many kinds?

How did you fare?

Did you know that The Bible is about sinners who God used for His work? Even the people who did things for God suffered hardships. They were all imperfect, every single one of them. The only perfect person in The Bible was Jesus. Jesus suffered many hardships and this included Him suffering persecution and dying on the cross to free us from our sins.

Are you ready to accept this amazing gift?

Only God and Jesus are perfect and no one else on earth will be perfect, ever!

Christians are actually sinners and they go to church because that is where a group of sinners meet to admit their sins and pray for God’s forgiveness. They also worship God for who He is and for the forgiveness of sins, through His grace.

Not one single Christian earns God’s forgiveness, if we had to do this we would fail miserably.

  

God forgives the sins of everyone who confesses those sins and believe that Jesus died on the cross for them. Yes, even the person who has committed what you believe is the greatest sin of all! That’s why the church is full of these people, because they can profess to God’s forgiveness and how God has helped them overcome their sinfulness.

If you want to know what kind of person God is then learn all you can about Jesus, because He came down to show the world what God is like. Jesus was there for the hurting, the sinners, the people that humans thought were not good enough. Jesus is here for you and for me. He wants to love you and be with you; but you have to invite Him into your life. You need to know that only Jesus can save you. You can rely on His promises.

Christians are not perfect and never will be, but they have a relationship with Jesus and allow Him to work in their lives.  They all fail Him daily, but He loves and forgives them if they admit their sins.

Here is a summary of what it means to be a Christian, I don’t know who wrote this, but it sums things up perfectly.

When I say I am a Christian

I’m not shouting “I am saved”

I’m whispering.... “I got lost”

That is why I choose this way.

When I say I am a Christian

I don’t speak of this with pride,

I’m confessing that I stumble

And need someone to be my guide.

When I say I am a Christian

I’m not trying to be strong,

I’m professing that I am weak

And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say I am a Christian

I’m not bragging of success,

I’m admitting that I have failed

And cannot pay the debt.

When I say I am a Christian

I’m not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are too visible

But God believes I am worth it.

When I say I am a Christian

I still feel the sting of pain,

I have my own share of heartaches

Which is why I seek His name.

When I say I am a Christian

I do not wish to judge

I have no authority

I only know that I am loved. (Anonymous)

  

Now could you also become a Christian? It is because of God’s love for us that He doesn’t require only the “good” to join Him in heaven; if that were the case no one would go there. In The Bible we are told that our good works will not get us into heaven, but that as Christians our good works are to be done to the glory of God.

Read the following passages to help you understand more about being a Christian.

Write down what each verse says to you.

Matthew 7 verses 21to 27

Matthew 11 verses 28 to 30

John 3 verse 3

John 3 verse 16

John 5 verse 24

John 14:6

Acts 2 verse 21

Acts 16 verse 31

Romans 3 verses 21 to 25a

Romans 10 verses 9 to 15

Revelation 3 verses 20 to 22

Please speak to someone reliable should you have questions.

I trust that you will pray and ask Jesus to come into your life.

If you want to invite Jesus into your life

Ask a Christian to be with you if you like or do this alone.

Read those verses I listed.

Pray and Confess that you are a sinner, ask for the forgiveness of your sins, you need to BELIEVE that Jesus died for your sins and say so.

Invite Jesus into your life as your personal saviour and ask Him to be Lord of your life.

Thank Jesus that He has forgiven you and that in faith you accept Him and invite the Holy Spirit to be sent as your helper.

Chef: Corn Bread made in the microwave oven

This Corn bread will take you less than 20 minutes to mix and bake.Keep the ingredients available at all times so that you can bake it quickly for a braai or to enjoy with soup. It stays fresh for a few days.

You need a Tupperware ring mould or a  circular glass or microwave container with a hole in the centre for this . Butter the ring mould and sprinkle with a bit of Paprika and sesame seeds or sunflower seeds if you like them. Due to the very pale colour of the loaf it is best to use Paprika even if you leave out seeds.

500 ml Self Raising flour                       15 ml sugar (3 teaspoons)

pinch of salt                                               black pepper                                                               

Put the dry ingredients in a bowl.

Mix together 2 eggs and 15 ml oil , chopped parsley or a pinch of dried herbs of your choice, then mix in 1 tin sweetcorn.

Add to the dry ingredients and blend together well with a spoon.        

Pour mixture into the ring mould and spread down gently.

Cook in the microwave on MEDIUM for 7 minutes and HIGH for 3 minutes.

Turn out after 10 minutes of cooling and cool completely on a rack.

You can make it just before serving or the day before. Fresh is best!

Chef and Entertainer: Pasta with bacon or ham, mushrooms, cream and blue cheese

Pasta with bacon or ham, mushrooms, cream and blue cheese

Simple and quick to make.

      Chop up 2 onions and a packet of bacon or a generous quantity of good, strong flavoured ham.
             If using bacon  cook it the way you like it, either crisp or soft.

Chop up a punnet of mushrooms

Fry the onions in a small quantity of oil and then add the mushrooms and bacon or ham.

Break up a block of Blue cheese, add to mixture and stir over low heat until melted.

Mix the cheese through well, add cream and heat up slowly while stirring.

Cook the pasta of your choice (I used Fettuccine) according to instructions on packet.



Add the seasoning of your choice, I like Ina Paarlmans Rosemary and Olive seasoning.

Go slowly on the salt if you are using bacon or salty ham.

Ground black pepper is a must and chopped parsley or rocket is optional.

If the sauce does not seem to be enough a little milk may be added.

Be sure that your sauce is nicely seasoned.

Once the sauce is very hot, but not boiling madly, pour it over the pasta and serve with a crunchy salad.

This dish is even yummier served the next day when the flavours have blended.

I often add a bunch of chopped spinach to this dish if I have the time for chopping.

You can also leave the mushrooms out and only add spinach.

This is actually a "play with your food" recipe.... Be adventurous.

I drew on the plate with a balsamic vinegar reduction.

Enjoy!

.

Gallivanter: The Pudding Shop

A feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds awaits you at

THE PUDDING SHOP



 

43 7th Avenue , Parktown North, Johannesburg.

We sat on the enclosed verandah, but behind the tempting  pudding table

is an enclosed restaurant 

   serving scrumptuous meals.



I suggest that when you go you order different puddings and share them!

Share a special treat with your friends.

The waitresses at this restaurant are some of the best I have ever met and made our visit special.



God's Child and Poet: Light

Light

Lord God,

Your light is a constant, sure thing.

Your earthly light radiates by day through the sun

by night through the moon and stars.

No matter whether clouds overshadow these lights they still appear faithfully,

day by day

night by night.

No matter how dark, noisy or violent the storms may be

Your earthly lights are there

evidence of You, Your reliability, Your ever present being.

In my life Lord God

Your light is a constant, sure thing.

Your spiritual light radiates

both day and night in my life.

No matter whether the clouds of life overshadow Your light

You are still there, ever faithful

day by day, night by night.

No matter how dark, noisy or violent life’s storms may be

Your spiritual light is there

evidence of You, Your reliability, Your ever present being.

My light is not a constant, sure thing.

It does not always radiate in all I say or do.

By day or night I am not always the light You require me to be.

When clouds of life surround me

my light is often overshadowed,

I often become dark, noisy and violent.

I don’t always display evidence of Your light and presence,

my light often flickers, fades or just goes out.

Thank You, Lord God that You do not desert me at these times,

Instead You surround me with Your other earthly lights: Your children.

They draw me back to You; remind me that You are there.

Your Word is ever present

calling me to restore my light from You.

Your church a light too.

No matter what ,Lord God, Your light never flickers or fades

and You never remove Your light from me,

all it takes is my move of faith

to restore Your glow in my life.

Thank You, Lord God for Your gift of light.

May I be a light house for You.

Wherever I go

day by day, night by night

Use me for Your honour and glory.

Amen

Written by Heather Botha

Reader: Book Review - BLUE LIKE JAZZ by Donald Miller

                          

                                                    Blue Like Jazz

Nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality

The author delves into the mind of Jesus followers. He demands our consideration; are we really here for Jesus or are we so addicted to ourselves that we actually push people far away from Jesus and Christianity?

Have you ever grappled with the paradoxes of faith? This book is for you.

This book is an eye opener, filled with passion and relevance for the world we live in. The story may be written in America, but it is applicable to South Africa today.

I savoured this book and underlined many parts to refer back to. While reading I felt as though I was sitting listening to Donald relaying his story to me, pointing out how the world views Jesus while interacting with Christians. Raw honesty fills the book like jazz music fills the soul of the jazz player; only a true jazz musician really understands his music like a person who has an intimate relationship with Jesus understands Him. Sadly our human nature, self centredness and sin ruins the beauty of Jesus being seen in us by those around us, however Donald dealt with this in a most unique way in one of the chapters. This man reveals true passion.The most eye opening thing for me was how he explains love and how we misuse it because of our skewed perception. I have never read of love being portrayed like this before, but it makes the most sense to me.

The book has been made into a movie and I will be viewing that soon. I just cannot picture how the essence of his message will be portrayed though.

                          

Story Teller: Delighting children with stories

As "Readathon" time comes up again I urge all teachers and mothers to instill the love of reading into their children. Every year I get my team together and we make simple head pieces and or masks and act out stories for our school children. We have as much fun as the children do. This is a group who acted out some fables and Read the script as they were acting. We ALWAYS read the script so that the children realise that actors need to be able to read in order to be able to act and entertain audiences.

             Simple, large, bright  head pieces work best and can be used for a variety of stories.

        We use a simple backdrop and as few props as possible and involve the children in our stories.


If you are a mom, let your children and perhaps some of their friends choose a story to act out, let them make the props and write up the script and act it out for the family during school holidays. This will keep them busy for ages. Get involved and be in the play if your children would like you to be in it. It's not about perfection, it's about FUN! Children love drama and are mostly uninhibited so expose them to it.

Watch out for more plays I organise and get going with children you know. If you help out at a children's outreach project do this as an activity, you will enrich the lives of the people youe entertain, young and old.

                                 Please let me know if you try this and how it worked.

                                                                Heather

Gallivanter and Crafter: Mosaic supplier and lessons

On a stroll  with friends down 7th Avenue, Parkhurst I came across this treasure chest of bits and bobs for those of you who enjoy the craft. If you haven't already tried mosaic then you should go ahead and do so! Take a visit to Seed Pod Studio and get some great ideas too. You will be inspired once inside the shop.

The lady who works there is very friendly and helpful. Classes are also offered if you need some guidance.

I can assure you that once you have mosaiced an item you will manage at home and be able to make some super things. Visits to shops like this will help you collect all kinds of special bits to make your work unique.

Look for this tree in the Avenue and behind it you will discover Seed Pod Studio.

I made these two items with a friend at her home.

She taught me what to do after she had attended one lesson.

I added stones and broken mirror pieces to this vase to add interest.

Photographer and Wedding Guest: Amazing spot for wedding photographs

                      I found this amazing, deserted farmhouse in the koppies.
                                                 Two friends modelled for me.
                                         The textures make for incredible effects.

Such beautiful textures to enhance the photographs. Photographs have a lot of depth to them due to the openings in the broken down walls.

      

   This appears to be a mirror, but I stood outside the house and  took the photograph through one of the windows.

Keep an eye out for a beautiful couple I photographed in this same house a few weeks later.



Hostess and Chef: Self saucing Lemon Pudding

     

Self saucing Lemon Pudding  

serves 4 to 6

Some advice:                                                                                                               

Ingredients should preferably all be at room temperature, but margarine/butter must be at room temperature.

Whisk egg whites just before you use them so that they do not separate.

Egg whites are to be whisked until just firm, not as stiff as for meringues.

The oven temperature is not for fan ovens and needs to be modified for that type of oven.

INGREDIENTS

2 rounded Tablespoons brick margarine or butter  (40 ml)

         3/4 cup sugar         50 ml lemon juice                     

pinch of salt         3 eggs              4 Tablespoons wheat flour (60 ml)

1 cup milk

optional -grated lemon rind from 1 lemon

               

METHOD

Switch the oven onto 180 C or 350 F.

Cream margarine and butter well.

Separate eggs. Beat yolks and add to creamed mixture,beat in. Now add lemon juice and rind , salt and flour and beat together. Finally add milk and beat well to combine ingredients.

Whisk the egg whites and fold into the mixture with a big spoon. Do not beat into the mixture.

Grease the bowl or spray with Spray and Cook. Stand the bowl in a container of cold water approximately 1/4 of the way up the side of the bowl. Pour the mixture into the bowl. Place in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

Serve with ice cream or cream. It has a generous amount of creamy sauce under the delicate crust.

If you double up the recipe only use 5 eggs, not 6.