” And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’” (Job 1:21) ESV
All in Due Time It is the nature of our sinful flesh to doubt God’s fidelity to us when things go bad. The woman who lost her job due to outsourcing or the man who got the call from his doctor stating he has cancer all are probably asking the same question: Where is God in this? Does He still love me? Why am I suffering when others around me seem to prosper? I can say in my own walk, I have often thought that. Why do these things happen? Why am I blessed with so many good things and at times I cannot see how I can upkeep them? If we remember Job, he was “blameless and upright” and was “one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1). From the start of Job’s tale, we know that this was a man with many things and can see what a mess it would be for him to lose it all. As he loses his wealth, family, and becomes inflicted with sores, he never curses God but blesses His name (1:21). Do we have that kind of faith? When the trials come, are we going to curse God or praise Him, asking Him for faith to trust in His plan?
Easier said than do, is the obvious reply. The bible, though, is full of promises of keeping faith. We are told by Isaiah that: “they who wait for the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings like eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31). Jesus also reaffirms to us that if we: “seek first the Kingdom of God and all of its righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) and “not to be anxious because it doesn’t add a single hour to our lifespan” (Matthew 6:27); all of “these things” will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33). The things may not always be a rent payment dropping from the sky---they are the fruits of the spirit which allow us to trust Jesus no matter what situation we find ourselves in (c.f. Romans 8). God knows the troubled path we may be on, but also He knows that through the blood of Christ Jesus, we are His children by adoption and are therefore subject to His promises to us. These words may not comfort you if you are facing trials, but I can attest that God walks with you in His words, in the fellowship of other believers, and the sacraments of our faith. That is where we can find refuge when everything is falling down. May we be bold enough to say what Job said when his world crumbled! I pray that God will grant you that faith now.
be really safe, wash the grill rack with a strong grease cutting dish detergent and rinse with hot water. The burgers are then placed on a cold, lightly oiled rack. They may stick if placed on a hot rack.
NURSES NOTES: He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The long awaited good weather has finally arrived and we have been anxious to get outside. I have already gotten a whiff of outdoor grilling (a sure sign of spring just like the first robin) and this is what has prompted this latest Nurses Notes. Here are some safety tips for the outdoor grilling of perfect burgers. First, start by cleaning the grill. I was surprised to read an article that said many people do not clean the grilling rack but just “burnoff” the fat and charred remains of last years cookout. If you do not burn the grill until it is really red hot then you are subjecting yourself to a meal of bacteria. To
The Department of Agriculture recommends that all ground beef be cooked to the well-done stage. Live E-coli bacteria found in undercooked ground beef can cause food poisoning and make you really sick. Well-done burgers reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use an instant read thermometer or cut the burgers and observe the running juices. Well-done burgers run golden or clear juices. Pressing the burgers on the grill only presses out the juice and does not improve the cooking. It will make them dry. Burgers should be grilled about 6 inches from a hot fire and the patties should be no more than 1 inch thick. This allows for even cooking and the center will get done before the outside burns. So what is the best ground beef? Ground round, top round and bottom round are the leanest cuts
by Cliff Durkin
of beef and make dry burgers. Ground chuck is from the shoulder and the number-one choice for burgers because it is juicy and flavorful. Ask the butcher to trim the excess fat for you and then grind it. Three ounces of well-trimmed chuck contains 7 grams of fat [3saturated] and un-trimmed chuck has twice that amount. Regular packaged hamburger has the most fat of all the grinds. These burgers shrink a lot. Remember that a lot of fat does not mean a lot of flavor. Pull out that George Forman and grill baby grill. A note on the donated medical equipment supplies. To date we have loaned out: a walker, wheelchair, commode, ice packs and a raised toilet seat. Thanks to all who have donated these supplies. Let pastor know if you or someone in your family is in need. Some insurance companies do not cover the cost of these supplies and our donated medical equipment supplies can really make life easier for a person in need.