God loves you

Don’t you just love it when something suddenly just makes so much sense that you can’t believe you never saw it that way before? I was looking for the verse that says ‘ God is for us, who can be against us?’ just to make sure that I got the wording right. It’s really easy for me to write a verse in my own words, and in doing that, possibly corrupt the meaning. I found the verse I was looking for – Romans 8:31 – ‘What then shall we sat to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?’

Yaaay!! I got the words right for once. I continued reading that piece and verse 35 hit me like a ten ton truck and stopped me dead in my tracks.
Romans 8:35 ‘Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or nakedness, or distress, or persecution, of famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?’ Paul goes on to say in verse 38 and 39 that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Therefore!! I love that word – Therefore, it doesn’t matter what state we are in, God loves us. That knowledge is so liberating. If I am sad God loves me. If I am really hurt god loves me. If I am hungry, or angry, or lonely God loves me. When someone has broken my heart with their words or their actions God loves me. When life is unfair and I feel like I’m always drawing the short straw God loves me. When my friends or family let me down God loves me. When I’m sick, or just sick and tired, God loves me. If I lose everything I own God loves me. If I suffer from stress or depression God loves me.

That’s just such and absolutely awesome truth I had to share it. Therefore, remember the next time something bad happens or someone lets you down – GOD LOVES YOU!

A hot, dry season

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I am not going to say much about my garden right now.  The weather is so hot and dry, and water restrictions have been imposed in our area.  I have mulched with wood shavings which really makes a big difference, but on the whole my garden is looking like an old person with sagging skin and wrinkles.  Everything seems slightly droopy and tired.  The temperatures are going up to 39ºC. We all go through different seasons in our lives and the hot dry seasons build resilience and perseverance in our lives.  Just like the plants we learn to overcome the drought, often with a little bit of help from our friends.  Just like mulching and carrying water in a watering can instead of using a hosepipe, a little TLC goes a long way. The apple trees are looking great and that’s wonderful because they are long term.  They have to be able to withstand all kinds of weather conditions.  We just have to remember, in our own lives, that no matter what happens to us it says in the bible in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

This little basil plant doesn’t seem to mind the heat.

This Copia tomato plant appreciated the mulch which keeps its roots cool – this is one if my heirloom tomatoes

Gluten Free Bisquick Mix
Ingredients:
2 cups white rice flour (500 ml)

1 ¼ cup coconut flour (325 ml)

1 cup milk powder (250 ml) (Nespray)

¼ – ½ cup white sugar (75 – 125 ml) (I’m sure Xylitol or a sugar substitute will also work)

½ cup cornstarch (125 ml) (Maizena)

1 TBSP Baking Powder (15 ml)

1 tsp Baking Soda (5 ml) (Bicarbonate of Soda)

½ tsp salt (2,5 ml)
Method:

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container.
I made the pizza crust and even though it was sweet it was a really nice contrast to the savoury topping.  Here is my pizza recipe:
2 cups pre-mix (500 ml)

1 tsp Xanthan gum (5ml)

3 eggs

¼ cup of oil ( 75 ml)

1 cup water (250 ml)
Add the Xanthan gum to the flour and combine.  Beat the eggs and add together with the oil and water to the flour.  The consistency is like mashed potatoes.  I used two rectangular foil of which the inner measurements are 24cm x 14cm.  Spread the dough into the bottom of the containers. 
Topping:

1 sachet Tomato paste

bacon

mushrooms

onion

cheese

Spread the tomato paste on the dough and top with the rest of the ingredients.  Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180ºC for 20 minutes.

The dough must be the consistency of mashed potatoes

These ingredients are only a guide.  Use what you like to eat and as much as you need.  The dough rises and make a soft crust.  I usually prefer a thin crisp pizza crust but this was so good.  
Enjoy trying this recipe and feel free to share your thoughts and your own recipes in the comment section.

The finished product – delicious!