The God of the living

I had to read through this chapter several times to figure out what I could learn about God’s character. Several of the parables are really interesting but are more about us than about Him. Finally, I stopped on this verse:

I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Matthew 22:32

I can’t exactly put my finger on why this text is so awe-inspiring to me. Maybe because God is the same throughout history. He is the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and Jacob. Not was, but is. From generation to generation, God is the same.

He cares about the living. God cares about me. And you.

We have hope in a future life. Death is not the end. God is the God of those who have died but they will live again. If we choose to accept Him, death is not permanent. We can live again and live with Him!

Father, thank You for being my God. Thank You for being the same throughout history, for being Someone we can rely on and trust. Please help me to remember that You are eternal. Thank You for the hope that this life is not the end, that there is still more to come. Thank You for making that possible for anyone who chooses. Amen.

What’s On My Nightstand?

What's On Your Nightstand
I can’t believe it’s already time for a Nightstand Post. This month has flown by. My husband and I took a week off for vacation, I spent hours trying to find a bridesmaid dress, and hubby’s work hours after vacation were crazy. It has been a great month, but busy!


Bruno checking out my to-read pile
I read too many fiction books this month. In May, I’m going to try to read more nonfiction.

Books completed in April (links are to my reviews)
Bento Box in the Heartland – 3 stars
Dawn’s Prelude – 3 stars
Remembering the Kanji I – 5 stars
Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii – 4 stars
Courting Miss Amsel – 4 stars
The King’s Daughter – 3 stars

Currently reading
Theology – Matthew (Bible) – I’ve been following the Blogging Through the Gospels schedule but haven’t been doing much of the blogging. I really need to remedy that.

Theology – The Whole Bible Story: Everything That Happens in the Bible in Plain English (review copy)

Classics – The Castle, Kafka – My husband’s classics challenge for me this month. Don’t tell him, but I’m actually kind of enjoying it.

To-read in May


This is my “nightstand,” which is actually an end table next to the couch. The pile on the right consists of a Japanese New Testament, KJV, NKJV, and NIV Bible. Right now I’m mostly reading out of the NKJV but I like comparing to the others when I come across hard passages. Under the Bibles is a small stack of magazines from my church. That stack will likely grow before it gets smaller…

The huge stack on the left is my library pile. Even when I go into the library with just one book on my list, I walk out with at least three. Surprisingly, I’ve been finishing almost every book I’ve checked out! As much as it pains me, I am trying to limit my library trips to ensure that I can complete every book.

Priorities for May:
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God, by Francis Chan – YLCF’s May read along

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, by Eric Metaxas – I have heard great things about this book and was really excited when I found a copy at the library yesterday. I thought it would be months before I’d get my hands on it!

The Robots of Dawn, by Isaac Asimov – Hubby’s May classic challenge. I don’t know much about this book and I’ve never read sci-fi other than H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. We’ll see how it goes.

Menu Plan Monday


Two new recipes this week! I keep intending to complete this in advance but I’m still writing up my menu at the last minute. I’ll try again to have a complete menu and shopping list by the end of the week.

Monday – Taco salad (new recipe from last week)
Tuesday – Soba noodles & gyoza
Wednesday – Tacos
Thursday – Orange chicken
Friday – Mushroom-Spinach Curry (new recipe)
Sabbath dinner – Homemade pizza
Sunday – Rigatoni with homemade sauce

I can’t wait to try these new recipes, especially the taco salad. I cooked the black beans this morning so we’re definitely having it tonight. Three weeks on the menu and we’re finally going to try the recipe!

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day! I believe that taking care of the earth is important because God gave it to us.

Then the LORD God took the man
and put him in the garden of Eden
to tend and keep it.
Genesis 2:15

God could have created this world in just an instant. After all, He spoke everything into existence. Instead, He took six days to create the earth, making it a perfect home for man to live in.

Although sin has destroyed much of the beauty, our planet is still beautiful. If you keep your eyes open, you can see the fingerprints of God. Just watch Planet Earth or Planet Seas to see some of the beauty. Or, take a look in your own backyard. God gave us a huge gift and told mankind to tend and keep it.

There are many, many things we can do to benefit our world. They don’t even have to be environmental causes, per se. Taking care of our fellow human beings is also a great way to celebrate Earth Day.

Environmentalism, recycling, reusing, reducing our impact on the planet… all of these things have been on my mind lately. I think the tsunami in Japan brought the issue to the forefront of my mind. Looking at the photos and videos of some parts of Japan, I cry. Not only are the people forced to start their lives over, the environmental impact is huge. What do you do with all of the wrecked buildings? The cars? The trashed belongings? All of that trash has to go somewhere.

Lately, I’ve been looking into the zero waste lifestyle. Don’t Waste Your Homemaking brought it to my attention by posting this video.

I’ll be sharing more later about my first attempts at reducing my waste. Even though I have no intention of going this extreme, it’s a great motivation!

Are you doing anything specific to celebrate Earth Day?

My God is powerful

Today’s reading is Matthew 19.

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26

When you look over the chapters we’ve read thus far, it’s easy to see how all things are possible with God. So far, God has calmed storms, healed the sick, made the blind see, forgave sins, fed a huge crowd from just one lunch (twice!), and raised someone to life. God really is powerful!

And yet He has a soft side.

And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Matthew 19:15

To put this verse in context, little children had been brought to Jesus for Him to bless them. The disciples tried to keep the children away. However, Jesus intercepted them and laid His hands on them. The God of the universe who can raise the dead also takes the time to bless little children. What a God!

Father, thank You so much for revealing Yourself through the word. Thank You for being both powerful and compassionate at the same time. Please help me remember your compassionate side, not to be nervous about how powerful You are compared to how weak I am. Thank You for demonstrating that you care for each of us! Help me to show that love to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Hear Him!

I’ve been keeping up with the reading but my blogging has been a bit intermittent in Blogging Through the Gospels!

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Matthew 17:5

This description echoes what happened at Jesus’ baptism. At that time, a voice came from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Throughout Jesus’s life, God gave evidence to man that He was well pleased with His Son.

I take this to mean that we are to both hear Him (as the Father commanded) and act like Him. Everything Jesus did was approved of by His Father. They acted as one.

Father, please help me to be like You. Like Your Son. Thank You for sending Jesus as an example of what You are like. Please guide me today, tomorrow, and after that. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

If you want to join us in the reading, please visit today’s devotional guide and jump right in!

Menu Plan Monday


Only one new recipe this week. The rest are old favorites.

Monday – Orange chicken
Tuesday – Tacos
Wed – Soba noodles & gyoza
Thursday – Taco salad (a new recipe from the Boca Burger package)
Friday – Curry
Sabbath lunch – Ramen
Sabbath dinner – Pizza with mushrooms and red onions
Sunday – Rigatoni with homemade sauce

Here is a photo of one of our new favorites, Greek Delight. I’ve switched this meal to the occasional lunch as it requires very little assembly time (a much needed requirement for dealing with my husband’s unpredictable schedule).


Yum!

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:8

I had plans to write a fancy blog post about the Sabbath but right now I just have thankfulness in my heart. No grandiose thoughts, only a heartfelt thankfulness for being blessed with the Sabbath.

My husband worked some crazy hours this week. On Wednesday night, he was up until 1AM. Thursday night, he wasn’t finished with work until 3:30AM. We are tired. I don’t stay up quite that late, but I stay up as late as possible to keep him company. We try to sleep in as much as possible but the cats start bugging around 5AM.

So, when Friday night comes around, we are usually exhausted but ecstatic that Sabbath has arrived. Last night we collapsed into bed at 8 and slept for 12 hours.

Anyways, I am really having a hard time putting thoughts together. I said all of that to say that I am so glad that the Sabbath did not end with Christ’s death. We still have a weekly rest day, a day to spend in communion with God. We need the Sabbath every week. Christ knew we would need a day to recuperate and spend with Him. It was a huge gift to mankind and I am so grateful for it.

Project progress!

I decided to hold off on posting my thoughts on today’s Gospel reading. The verse I want to write about involves the Sabbath so I thought I’d wait until Sabbath to post it.

This week, I have been kicking myself off the internet and pushing myself to be productive. I have gotten so much done!

Projects finished

  • Taxes
  • Package for Japan
  • Package for hubby’s parents
  • Remembering the Kanji – 3 month project
  • Ordered my bridesmaid dress – hopefully it fits!

Projects in progress – intended completion dates in parenthesis

  • My grandpa’s quilt – next on the list, must finish! (end of April)
  • Several book reviews for various publishers (end of April)
  • Kanji supplement – only 98 more kanji to learn (out of 157, end of April)
  • Quilt for the church (beginning of May)
  • Order/find accessories for my bridesmaid dress – shoes, hair pins (end of May)
  • Clean/organize spare bedroom (end of June)
  • Homemaking binder (whenever)

Projects to start

  • Clean out oversized clothes in my closet and put together a list of clothes needed (Memorial Day weekend shopping trip planned)
  • Quilt for my nephew (end of June)
  • Overhaul my recipe book (whenever)
  • Research zero waste households (whenever)
  • Redo my blog design (July?)

It looks like quite a list but it feels like I’ve made progress just writing everything down and assigning due dates. Now to start tackling the list!