My friend is dying

Lauren Saalfeld — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:41:09 +0000

Dear Lauren,

When my phone rang I had no idea it would be my long time friend telling me she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She said the Doctor told her she only had 2-3 months to live. What can I say to her?

lost for words,

Dear lost for words,

I am so sorry for your friend’s news. First you need to be there for her, listen to her heart, and be there when she needs a friend to cry with. Pray with her and declare God’s healing word for her. Your friend will most likely suffer depression as she begins to realize and sense what could become her loss. She will also find it difficult to say good-bye. All these things take time to process. You also will go through various stages as you process your feelings. If she is a non Christian she will suffer more as she won’t have the hope of a glorious eternal life. So first make sure you share the Gospel message of eternal life with her. Then she can have more peace and assurance of her eternal life. Share John 14:1-3 with her,

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

This is our hope as Christians. Sit with her and worship the Lord together and let His presence bring her the eternal peace that Jesus died for us to have.

Negativity

Lauren Saalfeld — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:34:21 +0000

Q I am a grown woman and I have been a believer in Jesus Christ for many years. I was wondering what to do because my Mother is always saying negative things to me. No matter what the situation in my life she says stuff like, “your will never get out of debt”, or “your son will never do good at school.” Because of this I don’t want to share things in my life because I don’t want to hear all her negative comments. What can I do? -PJS

A Dear PJS,
This is a problem in many peoples lives. First, you need to know what the word of God says about your particular situation. Then declare what God says. For example, the word says that you are blessed to be a blessing to others. Debt is not a blessing. So lay hands on your bills and ask God for His way to be able to pay them off and live debt free. Then give God thanks that you hear His voice, will follow His way and become debt free. Next time your Mother speaks a negative word about your debt, say Mother this is what the word of God says and please pray and believe God with me that I am debt free and able to be a blessing to others. Don’t let a negative word take hold in your mind because what you think can become what you say and believe.

Believing God’s best for you,
Lauren

Friendship Betrayed

Lauren Saalfeld — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:21:36 +0000

QI have a problem. Someone very important to me in my life has hurt me very badly and betrayed our friendship. I have known this person for over 10 years and I wouldn’t have expected her to treat me like this. Now I am bitter in my heart and very resentful towards her. How can I get passed this? I love Jesus and I don’t want to live with this unforgiveness any more. I am even experiencing some physical pain over this in my body. Please send me some advice. – Wanting healing

ADear Wanting healing,
I am so sorry for this happening in your life. But I think it happens to a lot of us during our lives. The hurt is deeper when the person is someone we have grown to love and trust. First, please remember she is hurting too. She is probably experiencing some difficult situation in her life. This is the best advice I can give you straight from the Bible. The Word says to pray for our enemies. You might be thinking, how can I pray for the person who has hurt me the most. I have experienced a similar situation, as well. The Lord spoke to my heart and said, you need to pray for your enemies. When we do something for 30 days it becomes a habit in our lives. So start praying for your friend believing God’s word for her. Also explain to her that what she did hurt you deeply but you are going to pray for her and forgive her. In a short time of praying if you open your heart to the Lord, soon He will fill you with compassion for her. We must remember we need to see people as the Lord sees them, beautiful people in need of a savior. I am challenging you to do this, and please let me know when you have been healed and restored by our precious Jesus.

Believing God’s best for you,

Lauren

Cuba

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:39:41 +0000

Ethnic Groups
Religion
Population
Agriculture
Import/Export
Facts

Typical Dish

Coming Soon…

Ingredients

Coming Soon…

Directions

Coming Soon…

Map of Cuba

Coming Soon…

Ecuador

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:38:49 +0000

Land Area
Capital
Largest City
Language
GDP of Ecuador
Exports
Facts

In comparing Ecuador to a US state, about which state is it closest to in land area?

Colorado. It is slightly bigger than Nevada, but not including the islands Ecuador is closest to the size of Colorado.

What is the capital of Ecuador

Quito. Quito is a large and boisterous city in the Andes, located at over 9,000 feet above sea level. Quito is a beautiful and interesting place to visit.

What is the biggest city in Ecuador from a population standpoint?

Guayaquil. Guayaquil is an industrial city on the coast. Quito is considered more upscale, Guayaquil is the ‘city of the proletariat’.

What language do most people speak in Ecuador?

Spanish. Quechua and other Amerindian languages are also spoken.

The GDP of Ecuador in 2000 was $37.2 billion US. What does GDP stand for?

Gross domestic product. The GDP (purchasing power parity) was estimated to be $41.7 billion 2002. The GDP (per capita purchasing power parity) was estimated to be $3,100 in 2002.

Ecuador’s chief exports are: oil, bananas, and shrimp.

What mountain range runs north to south through central Ecuador?

Andes. The Andes bisect the country. To the west is the coast plain and to the east are lowlands which are part of the Amazon basin.

What do Ecuadorian people do as a tradition at the end of the year? (January 1st, 12:00am)

Burn the “año viejo” represented by a puppet that people make.. People burn the “año viejo” (“old year” in English), because it is as if they are throwing away all the bad things of the past year that they don’t want to repeat in the new year.

Transportation

Stop = yield. This is no joke. A friendly tap on the horn as you approach an intersection is about all the warning you’ll get from an approaching car. And following behind the car in front of you? That’s for suckers. Ecuadorians continually tailgate and pass the cars in front of them. We’ve even seen buses pass each other at night on 2-lane curvy mountain roads. No one wants to wait once they get in the car (before they get in the car, that’s another story!).

The “Ecuadorian Nanosecond” is the flash of time between the light turning green and the person behind you honking the horn.

Buses will stop for anyone on the side of the road that flags them down. In fact, the bus driver is joined by a guy who’s job is to stand at the door calling out the bus destination and looking for new riders.

The country uses the metric system, but gasoline is sold by the gallon.

Trash trucks play music just like ice cream trucks in the US. I told our cab driver that children run after that music in the US, and he thought that was funny.

In Baños you can pay the priest $30 to bless your car. We’ve come to realize that everyone in Ecuador must make the trek to Baños for this blessing so they can drive the way they do without fear.

Food

Ecuadorians love fresh-squeezed juice, and you will find it at every meal. This is the most delicious juice you’ll ever taste and from some fruits and vegetables you’ve never heard of (tree tomatoes?).

Street vendors sell roasted maize kernels with onions and salt as a snack, and it is really tasty. I tried making this once and had kernels flying all over the kitchen as they heated up, so it is better to have someone else make it. (I later learned that you hold the lid just over the pan as you roast to deflect the flying kernels.)

Have you ever eaten a guinea pig? Guinea pig (cuy) is a delicacy here, and you can find it in many restaurants or buy a live one yourself at the animal market. We saw them plucked and roasted over a grill – teeth and tail included!

Ecuadorians LOVE ice cream. You can buy it in just about every store, from carts on the street, and even from vendors who get on the buses to sell between stops. You can buy it first thing in the morning or last thing at night. The funny thing is that you can’t find medication for lactose intolerance in the pharmacy. I am jealous of the gift evolution has given them to be able to eat ice cream all the time without getting sick.

Our favorite food discovery is ají. This is a delicious salsa on the table in almost every restaurant, and people eat it on everything from fish to meat to soups. We came to love this spicy sauce – and learned that a little goes a long way.

Typical Dish

Ecuadorian Shrimp Ceviche with Tomato Sauce and Choclo – Ceviche de Langostinos

Ingredients

2-3 cups small to medium shrimp
1/2 red onion
Juice of 1 regular lime (or 4 small key limes)
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup choclo, or other fresh corn kernels
1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves

Directions

Cut the onion into the thinnest possible slices, slicing it with the cut side facing down so that the pieces are semicircular in shape. ?
Place the onion slices in a bowl of cold salted water, and let soak for 20 minutes. ?
Cook the corn kernels in a pot of boiling salted water until just tender. Drain and rinse with cold water. ?
If the shrimp is not cooked, bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and add the juice of one lime to the pot. Boil the shrimp for one to two minutes, until just cooked. Drain shrimp and rinse with cold water. ?
De-vein the shrimp and trim off the tails, and place in a bowl. ?
Drain onions and rinse with cold water. Add onions and corn to bowl with the shrimp. ?
Whisk together lime juice, orange juice, ketchup, sugar, and vinegar. Toss with shrimp, corn, and onions. Taste and season with salt and pepper.?
Chill shrimp until ready to serve. Toss shrimp with cilantro before serving, and drizzle decoratively with ketchup if desired. Serves 4 as a appetizer or light lunch.

Map of Ecuador

Colombia

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:20:23 +0000

Ethnic Groups
Religion
Population
Agriculture
Import/Export
Facts

mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black- Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%

Roman Catholic 90% and other 10%

44,725,543 (July 2011 est.)

coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Imports: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity

Exports: petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, cut flowers

Nicknamed “gateway to South America” because it sits in the northwestern part of the continent where South America connects with Central and North America.

5th Largest country in Latin America

World’s 2nd largest population of Spanish speaking people.

Typical Dish

Sancocho- Typical coastal soup

Ingredients

2 1/2 quarts water
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 cloves garlic, crushed
6 chicken leg quarters
2 plantains, peeled and cut into 6 pieces
1 large onion, chopped
2 pounds potatoes, peeled
4 pounds fresh cassava roots, cut into 6 pieces
2 tablespoons cooking oil
4 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon mild paprika, or to taste
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 pound tomatoes, chopped

Directions

1. Place the water into a large pot, and add 1 tablespoon salt , chopped cilantro (coriander), garlic, chicken legs, plantains, and 1 onion. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 20 minutes. Add the potatoes and cassava to the pot, and continue to cook for another 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
2. While the chicken and vegetables are cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the onions in the hot oil, and season with cumin, paprika, and salt. When the onions are limp, stir in the tomatoes, and remove from heat.
3. Spoon the chicken stew into bowls, and serve topped with the tomato onion sauce.

Map of Colombia

Speak Life!

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:50:50 +0000

Have you ever said or heard others say something like this, “Oh, my back is killing me! or This headache won’t go away, or even hear a parent say to a child, “You are going to be the death of me yet.”

With words like these you will have a hard time ever seeing healing or a child with a positive self esteem. There is power in our words.

In Proverbs 18:21 it says:

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

In order to master self control we must control what we say. Words can cut and destroy peoples lives. They can leave an impression in a child’s mind that will be difficult to overcome. Your words bring prosperity and health or poverty and death. The Bible also says that the words we speak can and will shape our life.

Much in the Bible is dedicated to teaching us what to say.

James 3:6 says,

“And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” NLT

James is comparing our tongues to a raging fire! The enemy uses the tongue to divide people, our fellow believers and yes, our own families. Idle words can cause great damage in your walk with the Lord. Scars from words spoken will remain long after we have said we are sorry. You have control over your tongue because it is in your head!

So think of your words as containers; when you release them from your mouth always let them contain FAITH! Line you your words with God’s word. You will speak life when you get into the word and learn to speak the way God wants you to. You have control of the rudder of your ship. Speak life into every situation and then believe what the Lord says. Give it a try and you will see amazing results!

Grow In Love

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:05:09 +0000

2012…Now is the time…to grow up in Love and Unity with one another!

To grow in God is to grow in Love. Growing in the Spirit means you have to grow up in your character .Every member of the Body of Christ needs to grow up and come into unity and harmony as one whole body of believers.

In Ephesian 4: 1-5 the scriptures says,

“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2, Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4)For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

God has chosen you and me to be His representatives right here where we live. This is an awesome privilege and responsibility that Jesus is trusting us with. So we must live worthy of the calling we have received. This includes being humble and gentle.

The Webster dictionary defines humble as: “not proud or haughty, not arrogant or assertive.”

When we are gentle with people this is more conducive for maintaining unity. Because we have the love of Christ living in us we can make a choice to be patient with others and not judging each others faults. We need to be encouragers not discouragers!

The Holy Spirit leads but we must be willing to be led and to do our part to keep His peace. We can accomplish that by focusing on God, not ourselves.

As believers we can live our lives in His perfect peace. This is a real comfort to our souls. In these difficult times today we can rest in His peace. And we need to let others see our peace as this is another way we can share the Gospel.

Unity just doesn’t happen, we half to work on it every day. We should stand strong on what unites us: one body, one spirit, one future, and one Lord. Have you learned to appreciate the people who are different from you? No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth, so we need to accept and love each other and learn to pray for one another, encouraging each other to be all we can for Christ.