Just because you come to Christ does not mean you will not experience suffering. Christians and non-Christians suffer with similar trials. The difference is not in the nature of the trial, but rather the way in which we respond to the trials. You see, the world needs things in their life to go well to stay happy. Therefore they are continually up and down based upon their circumstances. Christians however know that God is sovereign over the trials they experience. They know the trials are specifically customized to their lives sent from the wise and loving hands of God. They are not sent to rob us of our joy. They are sent to refine us and make us more like Christ. Therefore it is our responsibility to by God’s grace remain under the trials until they perform in us the work designated by God. Knowing and believing this, we can have deep joy even in the worst of times because we know God’s refining process is the best thing we can ask for for spiritual transformation, Christlikeness.

Randy Smith

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
		Salads, Yemani	6	Servings

INGREDIENTS

6	md	Tomatoes (firm)
1/2	c	Chopped coriander leaves
1	sm	Hot chili; -OR- Freshly ground black pepper
1/2		Lemon; juiced
		Salt
1/4	c	Olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Peel tomatoes by placing in a bowl and pouring boiling water over them.
Pour off water after 10 seconds and peel off skins.
Slice tomatoes into a bowl and sprinkle with chopped coriander. If using
chili, cut off stalk, slit open and remove seeds. Take care that you do not
put fingers near eyes or mouth. Chop chili finely. Otherwise use plenty of
black pepper.
Combine chopped chili or pepper with lemon juice and about 1 teaspoon salt.
Beat in 1/4 cup olive oil. Pour over tomatoes and leave for 15 minutes
before serving.
Source: The Complete Middle East Cookbook by Tess Mallos Typed for you by
Karen Mintzias
File ftp://ftp.idiscover.co.uk/pub/food/mealmaster/recipes/mmdjaxxx.zip

A Message from our Provider:

“Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.”

Jacob is about to enter the Promised Land. He will be one of the venerated Patriarchs of the faith. But before Jacob can become Israel, the man must be broken. Jacob needs to learn that his life is to be one of continual striving with God, but doing it with full dependence on God. He will learn that with God there is a continual heat from the refiner’s fire, but through the adversity there is an unspeakable joy in the journey. And though God probably won’t be wrestling with any of us physically like He did with Jacob, there is a continual tension of finding our greatest peace when we are most intimate in close communion with God. At times we struggle, but in the pain we learn to submit to His will, allow Him to expose our defects, yield to the wounds He creates and then trust Him that the pain is for our greatest good as the “old man” is further put to death. If we act in the flesh and run away or defend ourselves or blame others or whine and complain, we’ll never experience this. As creatures so prone to follow our selfish instincts, there is a serenity that comes when God wrestles us to the ground, breaks us further of our pride and reminds us that our sufficiency is only in Him.

Randy Smith