TWENTY SIXTEEN - PART EIGHT

                                      Hello folks  

it is now 4th February.     Ruth and I are going to town this morning as we need to change my address at the bank             before Ryan has to                   provide banking details for Adsence  re  blogging.

The dogs know we are going -Benji and Harry jumping all over me. Ruth comes into my room to tell me something and Sally is so worked up she grabs Vlooi again. 



 While we are trying to separate them the other three get into a fight but we have to ignore them so that we can separate Sally and Vlooi.  Ruth gets badly bitten on index finger, I get bitten and scratched on my right hand.





Vlooi                                    Sally



We manage to get dogs sorted and off to town we go.  When we arrive at the bank we are told that our proof of residential address is not acceptable so we have to go to Ruth's bank for a statement to prove our address.


We have to walk quite a distance in the mall. Even though I am using my "walker,"  I can't make the distance and have to sit for awhile.  I am out of breath. Why did I take so long to decide to sit and rest? Same story, all the way back, walk and sit.


We did some urgent shopping of fruit and vegetables, bread etc using the money we were keeping to pay Rose at the end of February.


On the way back home in pouring rain, we saw a dog running wild on the busy street trying to avoid the traffic. It didn't know which way to go to avoid being hit.  Ruth pulled over to the side of the road  and managed to get the dog into the car. 


The dog is in very good condition. Clean, well fed, collar around its neck with her name and two cell numbers. 


Ruth phones first number and  informs owner that we have his dog in our car. He says he will be with us in ten minutes. After half an hour, still no owner of the dog. Ruth phones again and gets voicemail. She leaves a message saying that if he is not here in five minutes we would be leaving taking his dog with us.


He arrived before this could happen.  We would have loved to have that beautiful loving dog but that is out of the question.  we can barely feed our own five.


Friday morning, 6th February

Ruth has to see the doctor for a script for an antibiotic as her finger is very swollen and hard to the touch. She did put antibiotic ointment on the wound yesterday but forgot that she should take oral antibiotic as well because of the extent of the wound.


Sally was also bitten by Vlooi and now has to wear her funnel hood to prevent her from licking the wound. We learnt another lesson from this.  When she has the "funnel hood" on it is not so easy for her to bite. 




to be continued..

next  post   8th May

MY FAVOURITE PSALMS - PART SEVEN

                                          The earth is the Lord's 
  and all it contains,
  The world and all who   dwell in it
  For He has founded it     upon the seas
  and established it  upon the rivers.

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
and who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands
and a pure heart
who has not lifted up his soul
to falsehood
neither has he sworn deceitfully,
he shall receive a blessing
from the Lord
and righteousness from 
the God of his salvation

Lift up your heads, O ye gates,
 and be lifted up ye ancient doors.
That the King of glory may come in
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty
The Lord, mighty in battle
He is the King of glory.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates
and be lifted up, O ancient doors
that the King of glory may come in
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord of hosts
He is the King of glory.

To Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O, My God, in Thee I trust
Do not let me be ashamed
Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Indeed none of those who 
wait for Thee will be ashamed
Those who deal treacherously 
without a cause
will be ashamed. 


Make me know Thy ways 
O Lord, 
Teach me  Thy paths
Lead me in Thy truth and
teach me 
for Thou art the God of my salvation

For Thee I wait all the day  
Remember, O, Lord,
Thy compassion and Thy  lovingkindnesses
 Remember me, for Thy                                            goodness sake, O, Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way
He leads the humble in justice
and He teaches the humble His way
All the paths of the Lord are 
lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant
and His testimonies
For Thy Name's sake O, Lord,
pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

Who is the man who fears the Lord?
He will instruct him in the way
that he should choose
his soul will abide in prosperity and
his descendants will inherit the land.

The secrets of the Lord are for 
those who fear Him
and He will make them know His
covenant.
My eyes are continually toward
the Lord
and He will pluck my feet out of the net.


next  post  6th May

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THE AWESOMENESS OF OUR ALMIGHTY GOD? - PART THREE

                                           Hello folks,  


                                           We are now going to           look at  the Omnipresence  of  our Almighty God.





OMNIPRESENCE

"God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
John  4:24


He is present everywhere in the universe. No one can hide from Him and nothing escapes His notice.

"Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven You are there, if I make my bed in Sheol You are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me  and Your right hand shall hold me."
Psalm 139:7


"Am I a God near at hand" says the Lord, "and not a God from afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?  Do I not fill heaven and earth? " says the Lord. 
Job 23:23

For His eyes are on the ways of man and He seeth all his goings.
Job 34:21


The idea that God is everywhere is not the same as pantheism which equates God with the universe. The doctrine of God's Omnipresence says that He is present everywhere in the universe NOT that He is the universe.

Thus says the Lord, " Heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool. Where then is a house that you could build for me? And where is a place that I may rest?
Isaiah 66:1


The fact that God is everywhere should be a constant source of comfort to His children (how few of us understand this) wherever we go and whatever our circumstance God is always with us.
God has promised us that He will always be with us.


"When you pass through the waters I will be with you and through the rivers they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be  scorched neither will the flame burn you"
Isaiah 43:2


"For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the world."
Matthew 28:20

For in Him we live and move and have our being.
Acts 17:28


"For where two or three are gathered together in My Name there I am in the midst of them."


Nearness and distance make no difference to what God sees and does.


The eyes of the Lord are in every place , watching the evil and the good.
Proverbs  15:3

 .


We must also remember that although God is Omnipresent we can become separated from Him.

"Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. "
Isaiah 59:2

You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Galations 5:4

They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
2 Thessalonians  1:9




next post  4th May

RECIPE TIME - 'KRUMMEL PAP'

                                              "KRUMMEL PAP"

        2 cups water
        2 cups mealie meal
        1  level tsp salt


Pour  the 2 cups water into as saucepan.
Bring to the boil.



When boiling pour the 2 cups of mealie meal and the salt into the centre of the pot.

 Do not stir. 

Put lid on pot and simmer for  one minute.
Turn heat down to 3 and leave for a further 4 to 5
minutes.


Now take a long handled fork or an ordinary fork, I use a carving fork - the mixture will  now be a dry centre with a watery circle around it. Using the fork mix the two together and they will form crumbs - thus the name "Krummel pap."





Replace the saucepan lid. Turn the heat down to 2 and slow cook for plus minus thirty minutes.




It is best to stir again a few times, otherwise you get a hard crust on the bottom of the pot and the crumbs are too course as you can see in the picture  below.  It wasn't stirred during the  last 30 minutes of the cooking process.

next recipe  2nd May

TWENTY SIXTEEN - PART SEVEN

                                       

 Hello folks, 

         It is now the 29th                      January. I am still                      patiently waiting on the            Lord, for a miracle.

Rose needs to be paid today. Ruth explained the position to her and suggested that she wait a few days before going to Zimbabwe, but she is adamant.

Ruth phoned Andy and he gave us R2000 . Praise be to God.  If you wait on Him, He will always make a way.

We are now able to pay Rose and have a bit over.

1st February - I launched my blog today with seven posts. Ryan applied to Adsence  - waiting for a reply.

No domestic today.  Rose came just after 8am to say that Loveness, her replacement for the three weeks had not arrived.

She came again late afternoon bringing Loveness with her.  Loveness will be here for work tomorrow.

2nd February -  Loveness arrived for work this morning.  

Ruth phoned Steve and suggested that he buy some of our jewellery . He said it was a bad time of the month. Shortly thereafter he sent me an SMS  requesting a copy of our budget - said he needed it so that he could make contingency plans.

I must mention here that Steve has been paying for my medical aid and all addtional uncovered medical costs for the past plus minus fifteen 

years.

Thanking the Lord. We can see that He is working out something for us.  Just keep on waiting on Him.

Ruth and I spent most of the day working on the budget.

I am hoping that my blog takes off the way I want it to, but God's Ways are not my ways.

"This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are My ways the same as your ways, for just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah :55  

3rd February - Did final calculations to budget and e-mailed it to Steve. We also mentioned that Andy had given us R4000 "this month" which was not quite correct. He did give us R4000, but it was R2000 in mid January and R2000 on the 29th of January.

Ruth has gone to her prayer meeting.  

We are going to the bank tomorrow to change my old address to the new one so that we do not have complications with the blog, if and when it takes off the way I wish.

Spoke to Sue on Whatsapp - her sister is not doing too well - has to go for more tests.

Sally is not very fond of Loveness. She bit her on her hand today, fortunately just a superficial wound, Ruth put some antibiotic ointment on it.

Sally

to be continued

next post    1st May

MY FAVOURITE PSALMS - PART SIX

                                         Now I know that the      Lord saves His                anointed 

 He will hear him            from holy heavens

 with the saving  

strength  of His right                                               hand.


Some trust in horses
and some trust in chariots
 but we will remember  the 
Name of the Lord our God
They are brought low 
and  have fallen
But we are risen and
stand upright.

Save Lord, let the King
 hear us when we call
Be Thou exalted in Thine 
own strength
so we will sing  
and praise Thy power

And all the families
of the nations
will worship before Thee
For the Kingdom is the Lord's
and He rules over the nations
All the prosperous of the earth
will eat and worship
All those who go down to 
the dust will bow before Him
even he who cannot keep his 
soul alive

It will be told of the Lord
to the coming generations
They will come and they will
declare His righteousness
to a people who will be born
that He has performed it.






The Lord is my Shepherd
I shall not want
He makes me to lie down
in green pastures

He leads me beside
quiet waters
He restores my soul
He guides me in the path
of righteousness
for His Names sake
even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow
 of death
I will fear no evil 
for Thou art with me
Thy rod and Thy staff
they comfort me
Thou preparest a table
 before me in the presence
 of my enemies
Thou anointest my head
with oil
my cup overflows
Surely goodness and mercy
will follow me all the days
of my life
and I shall dwell in the
house of the Lord forever

To be contnued

next post  27th April

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THE AWESOMENESS OF OUR ALMIGHTY GOD? - PART TWO

                                        Hello folks,

                                       Today we are going to 
 take a  look at God's
Omnicience - He knows everything and nothing
is hidden from His sight

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account."  
Hebrews  4:13



OMNICIENCE  - not only does God know everything that will happen until the end of world history itself  He knows our very thoughts.

"For You and only You know the hearts of all the children of mankind."
1st Kings  8:39

"before a word is on my tongue, You, O Lord, know it completely."
Psalm 139.40

He knows the minutest details of our lives -

"and even the very hairs on your head are numbered."
Matthew 10:30 and Luke  12:7

"Can a man hide himself  in the secret places so that I cannot see him?"  declares the Lord. "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord.
Psalm 147:5

He determines the number of the stars. He gives to them their names. Great is our God and abundant in power. His understanding is beyond measure.
Psalm 147:5


O Lord, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
Psalm 139: 1-6

O the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His councillor?  Or who has given  a gift to Him that may be repaid?  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans  11: 33-36







Behold the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare, before they spring forth I tell you of them."
Isaiah  42:9

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the  Lord. "Plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah  29:11

Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows Him His council?  Whom did He consult and who made Him understand? Who taught Him the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?"
Isaiah 40: 13-14

For the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him He will be found, but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
2nd Chronicles 28;9

And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, Who know the hearts of all men, show us which of these two You have chosen?"
Acts 1:24

For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
Job  28:24

For who knows a person's thoughts, except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one can comprehend the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
1st Corinthians   2:11

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth , so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55: 8-9

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of His law.
Deuteronomy  29:29

Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times, things not yet done, saying "My council shall stand and I will accomplish all My purpose!"
Isaiah 46:10





Do you know how God lays His command upon them, and causes the lightning of His cloud to shine? Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him Who is perfect in knowledge?"
Job 37: 15-16

He reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells in Him.
Daniel  2:2

And the Spirit of the Lord fell on me, and He said to me, "Say, thus says the Lord; 'So you think O house of Israel,  for I know the things that come into your mind.' "

In Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians  2:3

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."
Matthew  6:8

Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that He judges those who are on high?
Job 21:22

Talk no more so very proudly, let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by Him his actions are weighed.
1st Samuel  2:3

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick, who can understand it? The Lord tests the heart and tests the mind to give every man according to the fruit of his deeds.
Jeremiah  17: 9-10

Next week we will look at God's Omnipresence - He is everywhere!

to be continued

next post  27th April

RECIPE TIME -SLOW COOKER - PICKLED OX TONGUE

LAZY WAY TO COOK PICKLED OX TONGUE
(done in slow cooker)



                                           I have always done          pickled ox tongue inthe pressure cooker -
   until I  recently found a better  way.


   Cooking in the  pressure cooker is an        excellent way and it is quick but you have to
 time it, and when you are busy you sometimes forget with disastrous results.


Also when the rubber band in the lid is not in good condition, you lose too much steam, too quickly, which is also frustrating and possibly more disastrous.


Using the slow cooker, all I have to do is remove the tongue from its wrapping, discard the pickling liquid, place it in the slow cooker - cover it with cold water - switch onto low and leave for plus minus ten hours.

I usually do it overnight by switching it on when I go to bed. There is no way it can burn. So I can sleep in peace.

The only thing that can go wrong is that if you cook it for too long it becomes soft and mushy.  It is best to check it after about nine and a half hours. You only need to do this once and then you will know the best timing for your cooker.

Should you wish to shorten the cooking time you can cook it on high and reduce the cooking time to approximately seven hours.

Don't forget to peel the skin off the tongue while it is still hot, otherwise you won't be able to get it off.


TIP;  I freeze  the liquid the tongue was cooked in as stock for your next pot of soup.  


Next recipe  25th April

TWENTY SIXTEEN - PART SIX (22nd Jan to 28th Jan)

 Hello folks, 

 welcome to part  six Of Twenty sixteen. As you can see we should  have been on page 22 by now, as this new post starts on 22nd January, but due to circumstances and forgetfulness on my part I have missed out quite a bit.

22nd January (Friday)

Spoke to Danny on whatsapp - he is also waiting on the Lord for work. Things are very quiet  at the moment.  Bad time of the year for business.

Ruth got pleasant surprise - Discovery paid R815 into her banking account.  

Feeling a bit better today. - gout improving - not as painful and discoloured.

Rose (domestic) going to Zimbabwe for three weeks,  leaving after work  on Friday 29th.  Something to do with her daughter's birth certificate which she needs for school. (Will bring us a temporary replacement).

This throws all of our plans out of zinc. We overpaid her with R200 in December - she knew but kept silent. Once before when she thought we had underpaid her she was very quick to complain, so we knew she was fully aware of the situation.. (She works three days a week).

Earlier in the month when we were forced to use the money we usually keep to pay her we had decided that we would pay her on the 6th of each month as with the over payment she was only due for payment on the 6th of February and we could keep it that way. 

Ruth hadn't discussed it with her yet, and now the bombshell.  Where do we get the money to pay her on the 29th.  I suggested to Ruth  that she  should  tell her to only leave for Zimbabwe on or about the  the 6th of the month, when we would be able to pay her.

Waiting on the Lord. He is in control. He will lead us and guide us through every circumstance and situation. We must just be patient - put on the full armour of God.  Faith and Trust is what we need now.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you!"
Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5

25th January

Had whatsapp from Ryan.  He has changed the colouring on my blog as requested, and also did some other alterations which is cool.

Worked on blog for the first time after a break of a few days due to gout and other health problems. I actually managed to do two more posts.

26th January,

Woke up at 4.20am.  It was rather chilly in my room, Worked on tablet,  blog etc, until 6.30am 

Fetched a blanket from linen cupboard and went back to sleep.

Woke up at 10am and went onto laptop after having something to eat. Managed two more posts on blog.

My feet are still very swollen.

28th January

Got hearing aid today for left ear.  Absolutely marvellous.  Ruth had to see her doctor after my appointment  and so she parked under some trees so that I could be comfortable in the shade while waiting for her.  I could hardly believe that I was hearing birds chirping in the trees. It took me a long time to believe it till I eventually saw some of them.. 









Also while travelling in the car I could hear some of the lyrics from the C D she was playing. Then when we got home I could hear the dogs panting from excitement.  Usually I would only know they were panting when I saw their tongues hanging out and the happy expressions on their faces.

I could also hear the microwave oven timer bleep.
Previously I could hear it rather faintly but now it was loud and clear, but the strange part was that it was at the back of me and on my right hand side  and I could only hear it on my left which was rather confusing.  This of course was because my hearing aid is for my left ear.

Thanking God for my two sons who provided me with this wonderful hearing aid.



to be continued

next post   24th April

                         

MY FAVOURITE PSALMS PART FIVE

                                          The law of the Lord 
   is perfect

   converting the soul,

   The testimony of the 
   Lord is  sure
   making wise the     
   simple
  The statutes of the 
  Lord are right,
  rejoicing the heart

 The commandments of

 the Lord are pure

enlightening the eyes
The fear of the Lord is clean
enduring forever.
The judgements of the Lord 
are true
and righteous altogether.





More to be desired than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold.
Sweeter also than honey
and the honey from the honeycomb.
moreover by them is Thy servant
warned
and in keeping them there is great
reward.

Who can understand his errors
cleanse Thou me from
 secret faults
Let them not have dominion 
over me
Then shall I be upright and
I shall be innocent from the
great transgression


Let the words of my mouth
and meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Thy sight
O, Lord, my strength and my
Redeemer





The Lord hear thee
in the day of trouble.
The Name of the Lord God
of Jacob
shall defend thee
Send thee help from the
sanctuary and defend thee
out of Zion.

Grant thee according to 
thine own heart
and fulfill all thy council
We will rejoice in Thy salvation
and in the Name of our God
we will set up our banners
The Lord fulfill all thy petitions.

to be continued

Next post  22nd April

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THE AWESOMENESS OF OUR ALMIGHTY GOD.?

   part one                                                 Hello folks,


Did you know that there are no words in any language on this earth that can adequately describe the Beauty, the Majesty, the Power, and the Awesomeness  of our Almighty God?

Have you ever, considered how great and awesome He really is?   

I think that I have always known that He is Powerful and Mighty and that nothing is impossible for Him to do, but I never actually sat down and tried to put all the facts together.

So here goes, I have spent the past week doing some serious research and here are some of my findings:


"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord."
Revelation 4:8

For the Lord your God is God over all gods and Lord of Lords, a Great God, the Mighty and the Awesome God, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh a bribe.
Deuteronomy  10:17


I think we all know that He is Omnipotent, in other words He is All Powerful:  He can do anything that is consistent with the perfection of His being, but there are some things which God cannot do: God cannot do anything that is contrary to His nature: for example:
God cannot lie, God cannot break His promises,
God cannot change, God cannot change His mind,
God cannot die, God cannot abide sin, God cannot be tempted or deny Himself etc.

OMNIPOTENT

"Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?"
Jeremiah 32:27

Great is our God and abundant in Power. His understanding is above measure.
Psalm 147:5

For His invisible attributes, namely His eternal Power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made, so they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20

But Jesus looked at them and said, "with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Matthew 29:26

"For nothing will be impossible with God."
Luke 1:37

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, Who formed you from the womb, "I am the Lord Who made all things, Who alone stretched out the heavens, Who spread out the earth by Myself."
Isaiah  44:24

It is He Who made the earth by His  power, Who established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding stretched out the heavens.
Jeremiah  10:12

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. After making purification for sins He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Hebrews 1:3

And what is the immeasurable greatness of His power towards us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.
Ephesians 1:19

"See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no other God beside Me. I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal, and there is none that can deliver out of My hand."
Deuteronomy 32:39

"Also henceforth I am He, there is none that can deliver from My hand. I work and who can turn it back?"
Isaiah 43;13

All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say to Him  "what have You done?"
Daniel 4:35

As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations," in the presence of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things which do not exist.
Romans 4:17

For behold He Who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, Who makes the morning darkness and treads on the heights of the earth - The Lord, the God of hosts is His Name.
Amos 4:13

And He said "Abba Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from Me. Yet no what I will, but what You will."
Mark 14:36

"The Almighty, we cannot find Him. He is great in power, justice and abundant righteousness, He will not violate."
Job 37:23

"The Spirit of God has made me and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."
Job 33:4

See you next week when we take a look at God' s  OMNICIENCE


to be continued

next post  19th April