Issue 22

Reach Community Church 2/177 Beavers Road Northcote VIC 3070

Tel: (03) 9481 6889 Email: info@reachcc.org Website: reachcc.org Pastor: Victor Soo Church Administrator: Sharon Oen

Rea wel ch Com ons comes muni (subite cele you baty Chur on ject to bratio ck to ch che COVID gover n servi our info ck our restric nment ce rma web tion p tion site ). Pl olicy . for u ease p-to -dat e

CHURCH SERVICE Celebration Service REACH Kids

Sunday Sunday

l 10am - 11:30am

l 10:30am - 11:30am

PRAYER MEETING

Monthly Ministry & Prayer Intercessory Prayer

1st Friday of the Month l 7.30pm - 9.30pm

Tuesday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm

via Zoom, please contact our office for further information.

BIBLE STUDY Young Adults

University & Youth Groups Family

Wednesday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm Friday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm Monday l 8pm - 10pm

Friday l 7.30pm - 9.30pm

OTHER ACTIVITIES Praise Dance

MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers)

Men’s Breakfast Reach United Football Club matches

Thursday l 10am - 12pm Every 2nd & 4th Friday l 10am - 12pm

20th Mar, 19th June, 16th Oct 11th April, 19th September

Welcome to this 22nd issue of REACH. As a church, we look forward to what God has in store for us this year. In this issue, we want to encourage everyone to run with endurance to finish the race, and to practise endurance, as we learn God’s perfect way, and God’s heart for us. We also trust that God bestows a crown to those who humble themselves before Him. Lastly, we have a recipe for you so you can party in Cameroonian style.

Reach Message

Run with endurance to finish the race Reach Character

Practise Endurance Reach Testimony

God’s perfect way Reach Reflection

God’s heart for us Reach Book Review

Crown - 30 wife-changing lessons Reach Recipe

Ndole and fried plaintains

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WELCOME

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Reach Message

Ru n w i t h e nd u rance to fini s h t h e race

By Johnson Oen

Reach / Autumn 2021

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept

the faith.

Have you ever felt like you are fighting against the wind? Or is it always an uphill battle? Or everything seems to work against your favour? Have you been wandering in the desert in circles a bit? We all go through seasons in our life where we face such circumstances. They can be frustrating at times. Even as I write this, I am fighting some battles of my own. Here is what I have learnt from the above bible verse.

Fight the good fight

It is autumn now where the amber tones are visible in parks and tree-lined streets.

Deciduous trees are slowly shedding their leaves until they are completely bare.

Why do the trees need to shed their leaves? I did a bit of research. They shed their leaves to conserve water and energy, to better survive the winter conditions, so they can regrow new foliage in the next growing season.

We are always bombarded with different priorities in life. We may not have the resources or capacity to deal with all of them at the same time. Hence, we need to be able to look at the current season and choose our battles. We cannot always fight all our battles, all at the same time, as that will completely drain us. Choosing a handful of priorities (or the good fight) and completing them is better than juggling a larger number all at the same time. Like the deciduous trees, we may need to delay or put aside some fights (shedding some leaves) to conserve our energy (surviving the winter conditions) to have the strength to complete fights in the future (regrow foliage).

In 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven delivered the commencement address (graduation speech) to the graduates of the University of Texas. The first lesson he taught was “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed”.

“If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.”

A scripture to enhance this is Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

If you are arguing and losing sleep over whether the sound is “Yanny” or “Laurel”, or whether the dress is blue or gold, then definitely, you are in the wrong fight.

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Reach Message

Finish the race

I remember the movie Cool Runnings, a story of the Jamaican bobsled team which, against all odds, entered the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. At the end of the movie (spoiler alert), they had great success and was in contention to win.

However, they crashed their bobsled. They then picked themselves up with the bobsled, walked to the finish line and finished the race, gaining much respect from the other competitors.

If you crash your bobsled, find the courage and strength to pick yourself back up and finish the race.

Near the end of the race is where things may prove the most difficult. It is like running a marathon where the last stretch is often the hardest. At this point, your energy has all been drained, and you start having doubts whether you can finish.

It is a physical and mental battle at this point. It is said that your mind will give up far before your body will.

Do not give up. Take a distance at a time. Pace yourself to the finish line.

As mentioned previously, complete one battle at a time to have the energy to complete the rest.

In the Olympics, as the athletes are close to the end, they will enter the stadium for the finish line, they can often hear the roar of the crowd cheering and encouraging them to complete the race. All of a sudden, cheered on by the crowd, the athletes draw the energy from the crowd, overcoming the pain and push through to the finish line. The second lesson of the commencement address was “If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.”

“For the boat to make it to its destination, everyone must paddle. You can’t change the world alone — you will need some help — and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them.’”

Surround yourself with faithful people who can continue to encourage and cheer you on.

We need to push through to cross the finish line.

Reach / Autumn 2021

Choose your battles wisely so that you may have the energy to complete them and move on to the next.

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Reach Message Keep the faith

Reach / Autumn 2021

Merriam-webster dictionary defines “faith”: to continue to believe in, trust, or support someone or something when it is difficult to do so.

Here is the reference point for everything we do, whether we have kept the faith. If whatever we are fighting for does not help us stay close to God, or is somehow moving us away from Him, then we could be fighting the wrong fight or even on the wrong side. We need to ensure that all we do is aligned with what God has called us to or are guided by what the Word of God says as our plumb line.

One thing I learnt during swim school is to follow the swim lane marking so not to stray into other lanes. Easy to do when your face is underwater but with backstroke proves a little more challenging. Still, we have to either follow the ceiling lines or use our peripheral vision to look at the lane ropes to guide us.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. This verse clearly encourages us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” and “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (our swim lane marking).

Keep your eyes on Jesus as you run the race and head towards the finish line.

Failing this, we may be missing the finish line altogether.

Here are some verses to memorise to help you push through to the finish line.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Be blessed.

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It is a well-known saying that our attitude determines our altitude. We also know that our belief determines our behaviour. Just as importantly, we believe that our character dictates our choice, which in turn leads to success (or the lack of it). Let us continue to cultivate good character, to make good Since our character is so important, we have put together some of our favourite quotes on character, choices, to glorify God. We have put together some of our favourite quotes hope this will encourage all of us to cultivate good character. on character, hope this will encourage all of us to cultivate good character.

Character is what you are in the dark. – D.L. Moody If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself. – D.L. Moody

The only thing we can take to heaven with us is our character.

Our character is all we have to determine what kind of a being we will be for all eternity. It’s what we are that will be tested by fire. Only the qualities of Christ in our character will remain. – from book An Unforgetable Story, by Joni Eareckson Tada

Prayer is, above all, a means of forming character…. And a major element in this training is experience in waiting for God to move, not leaping ahead and taking things into our own hands. Out of this waiting experience there comes a form of character that is priceless before God, a character that can be empowered to do as one chooses. – from book The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard

The quality of your character is more important than the power of your gifts.

– from book Leaders of Destiny We must be visible in our Christian character but invisible in Christian service. ‐ unknown

Reach / Autumn 2021

Why Character?

Reach Character

Reach Character

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Practise Endurance

Reach / Autumn 2021

Practise Endurance

It is a well‐known saying that our attitude determines our altitude. We also know that our belief One important character to cultivate is endurance – it enables us to walk determines our behaviour. Just as importantly, we believe that our character dictates our choice, faithfully, and to obey the Word of God, when facing life challenges. which in turn leads to success (or the lack of it). Let us continue to cultivate good character, to make Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s good choices, to glorify God. will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” – Hebrews 10:36, NLT

Equip ourselves with the truth of

And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. (2 Timothy 2:9‐10, NLT)

Not to give up easily.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9, NLT)

Develop a consistent prayer life.

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

Unload our burden to Christ.

Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalms 55:22)

Remain faithful under trials.

This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus. (Revelation 14:12, NLT)

the gospel

In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. (2 Corinthians 6:4, NLT)

Aspire to the goal set out for us.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)

Not let criticism discourage us.

But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews… So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. (Nehemiah 4:1, 6)

Complete each task patiently and

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2‐ 4)

Be Empowered by God.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. (Colossians 1:11, NLT)

joyfully.

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God's perfect way

Reach Testimony

By Agnes Soo

In 2014, I fainted and found out that I had fibroids in my uterus. A fibroid is an unwanted growth in the uterus and I had two of them, one the size of a grapefruit and the other a rockmelon. I had been getting heavy and painful period for many years but I did not know that something was wrong.

Having fibroids meant regular doctor visits and internal scans, lifestyle changes, taking medicines and eating more of and less of certain foods to make sure my iron level was normal. At the time, I was about to get married and we had plans to start a family in the near future. Finding out I had large fibroids and in locations that would possibly stop me from getting pregnant made me feel fearful and devastated.

Over the next one and a half years, I saw six different specialists in the hospital to monitor the growth of the fibroids and to get advice on the best management option for this condition. In a nutshell, the specialists gave me two options: 1.

Wait and see and try for a baby, or 2. Remove the fibroids surgically.

There were risks with both options. Having fibroids and a baby at the same time may affect the pregnancy negatively. On the other hand, if I go for surgery there would be a 17 cm cut on my abdomen and internally in the uterus, and I would have to go for Caesarean section for every delivery in the future. There was also risk of losing my uterus during surgery which meant no chance of getting pregnant in the future. Even though surgery would remove the existing fibroids, new fibroids might grow later. Additionally, surgery had many longterm complications such as scar tissue formation and rupture of the uterus during pregnancy.

From my understanding of the whole situation, the surgeons pretty much told me that they were not God, they were unable to predict what would happen and could not guarantee any specific outcome for me. To top it all off, I was very afraid of surgery, and even if it was successful, I would have to go through more surgeries for future deliveries. I remember thinking to myself, it is a good thing I know God and can hear from Him. I need to ask and seek Him for His guidance on what to do and when to do what He wants me to do.

I spent that one and a half years praying for the fibroids to shrink and disappear while seeing specialists and monitoring the size of the fibroids. I also prayed for God’s guidance whether to do nothing or go for surgery. Even though I knew God, there was lots of heartache and tears during that period.

Reach / Autumn 2021

I am going to share my story about God’s provision, grace, and the lessons I learnt and am still learning along the way.

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Reach Testimony

Perfect timing Eight months into our marriage, we started trying for a baby despite all the uncertainties. We were unsuccessful and it was a difficult experience. In 2016, I met the 6th specialist and I believe this doctor was God-sent to tell me it’s time to go for surgery because: 1. He advised me to go for surgery, and he could do it through keyhole surgery. Until that day, the other specialists said that the fibroids were too large to be removed through keyhole surgery. Only a small percentage of specialists in the world can perform keyhole surgery on large fibroids. Keyhole surgery was good for me because it meant a smaller cut on my abdomen, and I would be able to walk around more quickly, and would not worsen my back pain. At the time, I had been suffering from lower back pain for five years.

2. The already large fibroids were getting larger and one of them grew 3 cm in diameter within six months. This was one of the signs I asked God for when I prayed, “If the fibroids grow bigger quickly in a short time, I will have to do something about it.”

3. I prayed about it and had the overwhelming peace of God to go for surgery.

God also provided me with additional confirmation before the surgery that everything would be alright. I met two sisters who visited our church a few days before the surgery who also had surgery to remove fibroids and their surgery was successful.

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Reach Testimony

On 13th of February 2016, I went for surgery and God healed me through the surgery.

He also blessed us with a child immediately after. Naturally, I had fear and doubts about whether my uterus could handle a growing child as we had problems conceiving and I just had surgery. God was so gracious, He spoke to me through a dream - that there was another heartbeat in me - a few days before finding out I was pregnant, which really encouraged me throughout my pregnancy.

We named our first child “Anna” which means full of grace and favour. We are thankful for God’s grace, favour and provision of a child. During my first pregnancy, a new fibroid grew and still remained after Anna was born. This caused “intolerable” heavy periods again after she was born.

I knew that I needed to trust God, not worry or be fearful, and ask God what to do (try for another baby when the time comes or to remove the new fibroid surgically). The time came to try for another baby and God blessed us with “Timothy” which means honouring God. To God be all the honour for providing us with a second child despite the fibroid. During and after the second pregnancy, I found out there was another new fibroid.

Perfect trust There are currently two fibroids in my uterus. These fibroids cause very heavy and painful periods to the point that it is debilitating every month during my period. It is very timely that I am writing this testimony because I am reminded about God’s grace and provision while I seek God (five years later) for healing and whether or not to have another surgery to remove these new fibroids. I appreciate and ask for prayers and help from family, friends and church members as we navigate this as a family of four.

I have learnt many lessons and I am still learning from this experience. As I share this with you, I hope that no matter what stage of life you are at, you can be encouraged and challenged.

1. Submit to God and ask Him for guidance in all that I do. Going for surgery was the biggest and most difficult decision I had made in my life so far. I am thankful that He had guided and is still guiding me.

In our relationships, career, health etc, will we take things into our own hands or submit it to God and ask for His direction? God knows best.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.

Reach / Autumn 2021

Perfect gifts

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Reach Testimony

2. Find my joy and contentment in the Lord. It is human nature to want more, to feel left behind when people around us have a job that pays more, girlfriends, boyfriends, wives, husbands, children, another child, a house, a larger house, and the list goes on and on. One of the biggest lessons I learnt was that my worth is not in my ability to produce children. Similarly, your worth is not dependent on you having a successful career, finding a life partner, producing children, and so on.

A question that we should ask ourselves, “What am I placing my joy and contentment in?” It is not easy to place our joy and contentment in God but as Paul wrote in Philippians, may we lean on God for strength to do so.

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

3. Trust that God’s way is higher than my way for His way is perfect. Life is hard.

Life without knowing God is even harder. We can surrender our burdens and needs to Him because He is Sovereign and is in control of all things. Spend time talking and crying out to God, He is listening. It was my natural reaction to ask myself and God why I have to go through this again. Looking back at the various difficulties and experiences in my life, I am reminded of how God works all things out for the good (become more like Jesus) of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

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God's heart for us

Reach Reflection

By Lee Chyi Lam

As I reflect on my journey with God (or God’s journey with me), one thing that is important to me is to understand God’s heart for me. What is God’s heart for me? How do I journey into the heart of God? I believe understanding God’s heart for us is the foundation of who we are and what we do as a Christian. I want to share this learning experience with you.

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elationship with God

Matthew 22:35-38 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”

Jesus told His disciples that the greatest commandment is to love God. God does not call us to live by a set of Christian principles. He calls us to live in relationship with Him, the living God. As a paediatrician, I meet many parents at my work, and I observe many different parenting styles. One thing I believe about parenting is that it is not a set of skills to learn, nor a list of checklists to tick off; it is a relationship between the parent and the child - who the parent is to the child.

In the same way, our relationship with God is not a list of to-do things, or a set of skills to learn, there is no such list when it comes to God’s heart for us, it is who God is to us.

A.W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

There is no way to get to know someone without spending time with the person, why do we think it is different with God? Spending time with God comes in many different forms - praying, quiet time, bible reading, worshipping, praising God etc.

What comes to your mind when you think about God? How much do you treasure your relationship with God? How much time do you spend in knowing Him?

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steem the Word of God

Pastor John Piper said, “True knowledge of God leads to loving him, which overflows in loving others”, and “We cannot truly love God without knowing God.” When we love God because we receive blessings from Him, that love is capricious and does not withstand the travail of life. To truly love God even in the valleys of our life, we need to truly know who He is - His character, His purpose for us, His promise, His heart.

Pastor John Piper taught me that God has two books, where His glory is revealed - the inspired Word of God and the created world of God. Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

Reach / Autumn 2021

What is the most important thing to you as a Christian? What do you treasure the most in your journey with God so far? What important lessons have you learnt from God?

Reach Reflection 14

How much do you love the Word of God? How often do you read the Bible? Do you have a sense of awe or joy when you read His Word? Do you see His glory in His Book?

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erve with pure motives and with a sense of purpose

Reach / Autumn 2021

Serve with pure motives (beyond our own ambition) In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus warned us about hypocrisy – giving, praying and fasting for others to see. Paul also instructed us to do the will of God from our heart.

Ephesians 6:5-7 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. (Emphasis added) In his book The Power of Integrity, John MacArthur wrote, “Hypocrisy is dangerous because it is so deceptive. It often uses good things for evil purposes and thus becomes one of Satan’s most common but insidiously effective tools for undermining the church and the reputation of Christians.”

What a sober reminder, when we do good things with a wrong motive, we are used by Satan to undermine the church. Satan can be very subtle but pervasive, even in the church.

Serve with a sense of purpose (beyond external results or rewards) When we focus on the external result or reward, it is very easy to lose focus and get distracted and discouraged. There had been times when I felt discouraged in the ministry of this church magazine, especially when people simply ignored my email or text asking them to submit their articles; or when I did not receive any feedback, not knowing if anyone read it. I had questioned God, “Is this worth the many hours I had put in this?”

And God told me, “If there is only one person who read it and touched by it, it is worth your time and effort; your time belongs to Me. Don’t look for external results or rewards.”

When we are discouraged, it is very easy to have the wrong perspective - to see ourselves too big, and God too small; to see ourselves as victim and forget about the Victor on the throne.

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Why do you do what you do? If you feel discouraged in whatever good you are doing, remember that God sees it. dentity in Christ I have always been proud to be a paediatrician. Being a good paediatrician is an important identity for me. A few years ago, someone I do not know personally wrote a letter to the Director of Paediatrics at my work to criticise me. First, he criticised my management of a sick baby in the hospital (and he was not there at the time). Followed onto that, he criticised me as a person. When the Director showed me the letter, I was devastated. I explained to her why I did what I did at the time with the sick baby, I showed her the chest x-ray. But I had nothing to say about the rest of the content of the letter.

In my mind, my identity as a good paediatrician had been stripped off me. If I was not perceived as a good paediatrician, I was nothing. That night, I lay in bed, thinking to myself, “There is no reason for me to wake up in the morning to go to work anymore.”

The Bible tells us that we are the children of God (John 1:12), His chosen generation and His own special people (1 Peter 2:9), and He called us friends (John 15:15). He laid down His life for us (John 10:11).

That day, I also learnt that God is my defender.

Psalms 3:3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.

What is your identity? Our identity does not come from other people but God, not what we do or own; our identity has nothing to do with our talents or abilities.

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ove – forgiveness Love here particularly refers to loving “our enemies” - people who might have offended us, people who compete with us for the next promotion etc.

Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Emphasis added)

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How do you treat your rivals or people who have offended you? nvest in others Investing in others is to live beyond ourselves. It comes in many different forms, whether it is investing in those close to us e.g. our children and our family; in other Christians or non-Christians; or in the community we live in.

Investing in others involves giving our time, our talents and our treasures.

Acts 20:35 I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

How have you used your time, talents or treasures to bless others?

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mbrace God’s will for us, right now, right here

Contentment is a virtue difficult to attain. The grass is always greener on the other side.

We seem to always have something that we are not happy with. For the singles, “If only I have a husband”; for the married, “If only I have a different husband”, or “if only we have children”; for those with husband and children, “if only my husband is this and that..; if only my children are this and that…; if only we have a bigger house, a better car; more holiday…” There is endless discontentment and dissatisfaction.

Corrie Ten Boom wrote in her book The Hiding Place, “There is no ‘ifs’ in God’s kingdom…

His timing is perfect. His will is our hiding place.”

Reach / Autumn 2021

Until then, I did not realise how much of my identity was in my work. I had measured my value and my worth in what I do.

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Reach Reflection

But God was with me that night, somehow I felt the presence of God very strongly. I fell asleep in God’s peace. I woke up the next morning and went to work. A couple of months later, I met up with the Director again, and she said to me, “Remember the letter that this person wrote; after I spoke to you, I rang him the next day; I explained to him about the chest x-ray, and I asked him if he had any substantial evidence about the rest of the things he wrote about you, and he said ‘no’.”

Reach Reflection

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Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.

Reach / Autumn 2021

In his book The rare jewel of Christian contentment 1, Jeremiah Burroughs defines Christian contentment as “that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”

There is a subtle difference between contentment and complacency. A.W. Tozer once said, “Contentment with earthly goods is the mark of a saint; contentment with our spiritual state is a mark of inward blindness.” Being contented is being happy with our earthly possessions; but being complacent is refusing to improve when it is within our ability to do so2.

The challenge is that whatever circumstances you are in right now, can you trust God’s heart for you?

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urture our health

God cares about our physical health as much as our spiritual health.

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Do you look after your physical health? The challenge is not to become obsessed about it – so fearful of what you eat, what you do - to the detrimental of your mental health.

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hanksgiving

After I read the book One Thousand Gifts3 by Ann Voskamp many years ago, for many months, at the end of each day, I wrote down the things I thank God for the day. I still do (on and off). It helps me to put things into perspective, to count my blessings, rather than focus on the negatives.

Psalms 9:1 (NIV) I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

By God’s grace, I hope to list down 10,000 reasons by the end of my earthly life, and “on that day, when my strength is failing, the end draws near, and my time has come, still my soul will sing (His) praise unending”4.

Will you take up the challenge to write down a few things to thank God for at the end of your day?

In conclusion, my journey with God in learning about His heart for me has helped me to be more R E S IL I E N T . I believe God’s people should be the most resilient people, because WE HAVE GOD! Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

1 2 3 4

For the review of this book, read REACH issue 19, winter 2020, page 17.

See REACH issue 17, summer 2019, page 16.

For the review of this book, read REACH issue 1, summer 2015, page 17.

From the lyrics of the song 10,000 reasons

Crown 30 Wife-Changing Lessons Author: Nancy Kaser Reviewed by Hui Li Guo

“Crown - 30 Wife-Changing Lessons” by Nancy Kaser is one of the best books I have read on biblical wifehood and marriage. Taking its name from Proverbs 12:4a “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband”, this is a meaty book that covers a wide variety of topics including faith and salvation, biblical roles in marriage, physical intimacy and managing the home.

Nancy writes in a friendly, accessible tone that is not dry or “stuffy”.

The book is practical, humorous, and includes many examples I found applicable and relevant (and very convicting at times!).

Crown is divided into the following 6 chapters with 5 mini-chapters or “lessons” within each: 1. YIELD – In this chapter, Nancy discusses the concepts of genuine salvation and evidence of true conversion (hint: growing up in church, knowing a lot about the Bible and saying the sinner’s prayer does not necessarily make one a true Christian), yielding to God’s word as the final authority, marriage as a lifelong commitment, the importance of not minimising sin, and seeking God daily.

2. HELP – Here, she addresses the wife’s role as a helper to her husband. She stresses that the way we help our husbands is dependent on knowing his unique personality, strengths and weaknesses and NOT on our expectations of who he ought to be.

She also takes a few lessons to discuss biblical submission to a husband’s God-given authority (regardless of his spiritual condition).

Reach / Autumn 2021

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Reach Book Review

Reach / Autumn 2021

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Reach Recipe Book Review

She addresses a number of common “but what-ifs” that usually come up on this subject (e.g. What if my husband won’t lead? What if my husband is making a decision that will surely ruin us?) and how we can trust God on this.

3. SMILE – As wives, we can sometimes, consciously or not, treat our husbands worse than we would our friends or even complete strangers (the “oh, it’s just you” treatment). In this chapter, Nancy addresses a wife’s attitude towards her husband. She talks about lighting up for him, guarding against the temptation to manipulate him, watching our speech, forgiving him, respecting and honouring him, and being his friend.

4. ORDER – Our God is a God of order. In this chapter, Nancy discusses a wife’s priorities and the appropriate order of those priorities. She covers the wife’s responsibilities towards God, her husband, her children, her home and “everything else”. She goes into quite a lot of practical detail here including how to set up a master schedule and budgeting time, housework and meal planning.

5. GIFT – In this chapter, Nancy explores the specifics concerning sexual relations in a marriage as well as issues that affect our sexuality outside the bedroom. She discusses God’s opinion of sex, guarding our hearts, modesty (including verbal modesty), and confessing any sins in this area.

6. INCREASE – The final chapter of this book draws our eyes heavenward to glorifying Jesus and reflecting the gospel in our marriages. It asks questions about what we are truly living for – “Are we seeking to be fulfilled in the temporary human relationships we are blessed with, or are we aiming to be ultimately satisfied in Christ alone?”. Nancy encourages us to examine our motives, take up our cross and die small deaths, and to ensure we have oil in our lamps when the Bridegroom arrives (see Matthew 25:1-13).

I heartily recommend this book to any wife (or woman planning to be one) who longs to live God’s way in her marriage, no matter what stage of life she is in. I read it as an e-book and loved it so much I have now purchased a hard copy. It has been a blessing in my marriage and I will come back to it time and time again.

Reach / Autumn 2021

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Reach Recipe

NDOLE (Spinach Stew and Peanuts) and Fried Plantains

By Mrs Tanyi Lesly Kamto

Ndole (en-doo-leh) is a savoury Cameroonian dish made of spinach, flavoured with garlic, dried shrimps, and fortified with beef. It is usually served with fried or boiled plantains at most Cameroonians parties.

Ingredients:

½ kg raw skinless peanuts ½ kg frozen spinach 2 large onions (sliced) 5 garlic cloves ½ kg of beef (cut in chunks)

Method:

2 seasoning cubes 1 cup of dried shrimps salt, to taste vegetable oil - for deep frying of plantains 1 kg of plantains (available in an Asian or African grocery shop)

1. Put beef in a large pot and add some of the onions, 1 seasoning cube and salt to your taste. Add water to boil until tender.

2. In a separate sauce pan, boil peanuts for about 10 minutes. Cool and blend in a food processor or blender while adding water until it becomes a fine and consistent paste. Add this mixture to the meat.

3. Blend one onion and garlic into a fine paste and add to the mixture of peanuts and beef. Stir gently.

4. Add in the dried shrimps and let it simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burns. Add 1 seasoning cube and salt to your taste.

5. Add spinach to the pot. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes.

6. While the pot is simmering, heat 2 cups of oil in a frying pan and add the remaining onions. Stir gently for about 2 minutes.

7. Take the onions out and add into the pot of beef. Stir for a few minutes.

8. Slice plantains and deep fry with remaining oil until brown.

Serve with chilli on the side. Enjoy your meal.