Fall on Jesus

"And remember when we walk, sometimes we fall"

~Chris Rice Untitled Hymn

Sometimes we fall. I know I do. But let us not grow discouraged down hearted. Let us "fall on Jesus." In Him there is hope, life, a bright future. It is easy to grow discouraged. To fall and not want to get up. We would like to just lie there, we are tired and discourage, downhearted and blue. Why keep struggling? The truth is, lying still on the ground is tempting. It sounds so peaceful, but nothing is really peaceful without Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace. In Him only is there true peace.

We must not buy the lies that Satan tries so hard to feed us. The ground is no place to rest, in the warm and loving arms of our Savior, now that is a place where we could lay contented, safe. Stand firm, stand tall, push forward though it seems like a strong wind is determined to push you down. He will uphold you. He will give you hope. He will give you rest. Be encouraged. For Christ died to save the World! To save you! We may fall, but we don't have to stay down. In fact, let's fall up...up into the arms of Jesus.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6

Witnessing, Let's Do It!

"Witnessing is not some hocus-pocus thing. It's simply showing up in life every day, expressing what God has done for us, how He's met us along the way, and how He can do the same for the person with whom we're sharing."

~ Lucy Swendoll

Often times when we think about witnessing we feel that we cannot do it. It is too hard, we do not have the right words to say, etc. That is why I found this quote so refreshing. God does not expect me to have all the answers! Yes, witnessing can be challenging, but it is a good kind of hard. The stretching kind. How are we showing up in every day life? How are we shining for Christ in what we do and in what we say? How has He met us today? How have we been blessed? And most importantly, what are some ways that we can share what He has done for us, how faithful He is, with those around us?

God is Forever Faithful

Sometimes we get to what seems to be nearing the end of a road, and we start thinking about the crossroad we will be coming to, mentally looking in all ways and wondering which way we will go. All roads look the same. Unknown, and the high hills that the paths climb block the future from our view. "God, what now?" We weight our options, we think, we seek, we pray...still nothing. "So, God, now what? I can't just stand still and do nothing, but none of the options look right." And then right when you feel like you have gone as far as you possibly can, He answers. Many times in unexpected ways. Now all your worry over what you would do is a source of shame to you. You should have trusted. Where was your faith?

I have been at what looked to be the nearing ending of a path recently. I sought out God. I did my best to trust, I knew He would be faithful, but once in a while a doubt would sneak in. I would brushed it away like a pesky fly. "God, I don't know what you have for me, but I'm choosing to trust, even when I don't understand." I kept walking, intent on finishing faithfully on this path He has had me on. The pesky doubt tried to land in my heart, but I brushed it away again and again with what I knew to be the truth. God would be faithful. And He was!

Now as I look towards the future I rejoice that God was with me, and that He kept the doubt away with His Word. Many times I have faltered, but this time I can rejoice with no regrets because I was faithful in believing that He is always faithful. I thank Him everyday for keeping me close to His heart, and faithful, because I know myself too well. Alone I would have doubted, been scared, sat down and refused to walk forward, and then missed all that He had planned for me.

"You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your Word" (Psalm 119:114).

"You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God and I will exalt You" (Psalm 118:28).

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore" (Psalm 121).

"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever;
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations" (Psalm 89:1).


You can walk in faith, because He will always be FAITHFUL!

Asian Orange Chicken

Sauce:

1 1/2 c. Water

4 T. Orange juice concentrate

1/4 c. Lemon juice

1/3 c. Rice vinegar

2 1/2 T. Soy sauce

1 c. Brown sugar

1/2 t. Minced garlic

2 T. Chopped green onion (white or yellow onion minced is just as good)

1/4-1/2 t. (three good hard shakes) Red pepper flakes

6 T. Cornstarch

4 T. Water

Chicken:


2 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 c. All-purpose flour

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. black pepper

Oil

Pour water, orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce into a saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir in brown sugar, garlic, onion, and red pepper. Bring to a gentle boil. Remove from the heat and cool until it is warm to the touch, or 10-15 minutes. Place the chicken pieces into a resealable plastic bag and add 1 cup of the cooled sauce. Reserve the remaining sauce. Seal the bag and refrigerate at least 2 hours. In another plastic bag mix the flour, salt and black pepper. When the chicken is done marinating, take out of sauce and put into the bag with the flour mixture and shake until all the pieces are well coated. Reserve the sauce used to marinate chicken. Heat oil (start with 3-6 tablespoons, then add to oil as need as you cook, keeping about the amount you started with in the pan) in a medium skillet over medium heat. Place the coated chicken in the skillet, making sure the pieces are not touching (you will have to cook the chicken in about 3 different batches). Cook until chicken is well browned, and totally cooked. This is why small pieces is important. Take out of skillet and drain on a paper towel covered plate. Cover chicken with foil to keep warm. Add reserved marinating sauce back to the sauce pan of saved sauce from earlier. Bring to a boil. Mix cornstarch in 4 tablespoons of water pour this mixture slowly into sauce while stirring vigorously. Keep stirring to prevent burning, until sauce has thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Now dump chicken into the sauce, and stir. Cook for another 1-2 minutes stirring constantly but gently so as not to break the chicken cubes. Turn heat off and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Serve over fried rice or oriental rice noodles. Then prepare to have the best dinner ever! Serves 4-6 depending on how hungry the eaters are. :)