He saved us

Olive oil brownies

We have friends coming tomorrow for a bbq of course and I thought I'd do some brownies of a different kind, without butter! I found this recipe. Also I replaced two of the eggs by a banana. So we shall see!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on at least 2 sides. Oil the foil (not including the overhang).

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and salt in a medium bowl. Melt the chocolate with the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently. Let cool slightly. Stir in the sugar and eggs. Add the flour mixture, and stir to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes.

Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack. Use the foil overhang to help lift them out of the pan. Cut into 16 squares. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Recipe

Have an orange!

Not sure why but in the last week or so, I found myself eating more oranges and I forgot how nice they tasted. I knew they were good for us in the winter but I found out that they had a wide range of benefits too. 

They are rich in Vitamins C and A, flavonoids, antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, potassium, dietary fiber etc. Oranges have more than 60 flavonoids and 170 phytonutrients that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and anti-oxidant properties.

Here are some of the health benefits for oranges.

1 Relieves Constipation

The dietary fibre in orange helps in stimulating digestive juices and relieves constipation.

2 Regulates High Blood Pressure

Hesperidin, a flavonoid in oranges helps to regulate high blood pressure. Magnesium in oranges helps to maintain the blood pressure.

3 Prevents Cancer

The high amount of vitamin C protects the cells from damages by free radicals. Liminoid, a compound in oranges helps to prevent cancers like oral, skin, lung, breast and colon.

4 Protects Against Heart Diseases

The high amount of vitamin C and flavonoids protects against heart diseases.

5 Fights Against Viral Infections

Studies show that the abundance of polyphenols protects against viral infections.

6 Purifies Blood

The iron and Vitamin B6 in oranges help in the production of haemoglobin and increase the oxygen carrying capacity. They also purify the blood.

7 Protects Against Skin Diseases

Beta-carotene, the powerful antioxidant protects the cells from being damage. It also protects the skin from free radicals and prevents the signs of aging.

8 Keeps Bones and Teeth Strong

The calcium in oranges helps to keep your bones and teeth strong.

9 Prevents Kidney Diseases

The regular intake of orange juice prevents kidney diseases. It also reduces the risk of forming calcium oxalate stones in the kidney. But take the juice in moderate amounts. Otherwise it can cause the decay of bones and teeth.

10 Helpful in Many Diseases

Oranges are effective in both preventing and treating certain diseases like asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, rheumatism etc.

Source

Five reasons to spend your next holidays in France!

You may wonder if it is a good idea to spend your next holidays in France. Here are five very good reasons!

1 - Space
Going to France will suddenly widen your horizon. Most motorways are empty and on the way you will drive through an amazing countryside. You may want to take the 'Route nationale' (free of charge) and stop in cafés or typical town restaurants along your journey.
2 - But I can't speak French
The amount of Brits living in France has increased so much that French people will cope with your hesitant French and will graciously put up with your lack of accuracy. They will be very helpful so fear not!
3 - It's fun
You've never done it before! So what, it's fun and exciting to start a new project. It's easy to plan your destination in advance.
4 - Culture
We live in a changing world and you may want to experience yourself a different culture instead of listening to your mate's point of view. We are all different and what you will discover and feel will be yours to cherish forever.
5 - Take your children, your teens with you, 
Don't leave them behind! They will remember a trip abroad and it will improve their listening skills in French. Fair enough, it may cost you more money but discovering France is more interesting (in my view) than being squeezed in a Majorca beach.

I didn't come to judge the world but to save the world.

John 12:37-50New International Version (NIV)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs(A) in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[a](B)

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”[b](C)

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory(D) and spoke about him.(E)

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.(F)But because of the Pharisees(G) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;(H) 43 for they loved human praise(I) more than praise from God.(J)

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.(K) 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.(L) 46 I have come into the world as a light,(M) so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.(N) 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them(O) at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me(P) to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life.(Q) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”(R)

The only type of meditation!

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, 

And in His law he meditates day and night. 

3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither; 

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so, 

But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.…

What is suffering for the name of Christ?

The context in 1 Peter is that of persecution and suffering for the name of Christ during our sojourn on this earth. Suffering is a training tool that God uses, like the blast furnace used by a refiner of fine metals, to purify and develop our faith. This is a humbling process in that it causes us to live more and more in dependence on God. For the refining concept, note 1 Peter 1:6-9.

6 This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. 7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 because you are attaining the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-9.

God's personal care for believers in Christ!

Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.

As God is perfect, so His care must also be perfect and complete. The following overview covers some of the key areas of God’s personal care for believers in Christ as His beloved children. These are truths that are of special importance to new believers.

Que la joie du Seigneur soit votre force en 2017

Dans le livre de Néhémie, Esdras dit au peuple : 

« Ne soyez pas tristes, car c'est la joie de l'Éternel qui fait votre force. » Néhémie 8: 10

Mes amis, ne restons pas abattus en cas de problème majeur, mettons notre confiance dans le Seigneur car il nous sauvera et nous aidera. Quelquefois un membre de notre famille va mal et ne connait pas encore le Seigneur Jésus mais quand même ne nous morfondons pas, prions pour qu'ils cherchent le Seigneur et qu'ils ouvrent la porte de leur coeur lorsque Jésus frappe!

Esaïe 26 : 3
3 A celui qui est ferme dans ses sentiments Tu assures la paix, la paix, Parce qu'il se confie en toi.

Avant même qu'on lui parle, le Seigneur sait ce qu'on va lui confier, il connait nos craintes, nos déceptions, nos déchirements, et sachant qu'il est le rocher, et qu'il nous aime tant, nous sommes réconfortés par sa présence. 

He will judge between nations

SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES (1937)
Lee Lawrie (American, born Germany. 1877 - 1963)

At the Rockfeller Center, 19 West 50th Street entrance of 630 Fifth Avenue

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Isaiah 2:4

Mog’s Christmas Calamity

As I am looking for a short video clip to show to my French pupils, I found this one!
Loving everybody!
Have a blessed and peaceful week!

Consider Jesus!

I have called you by name;
You are mine!
Have a blessed day today.

It's the week-end!

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

2 For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.

3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.

4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

5 Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.

6 And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

10 For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.

11 And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swims spreads forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.

12 And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.

Jesus is the reason for the season

Only a week left

at work

the pupils' eyes

dilate at the thought of 

Christmas

They can't wait

for Christmas day

I pray that every child

on that day hear Jesus' voice

whispering in their ears

I love you

You are mine

I knock on your door

Let me in

A precious note

signed 

Jesus-Christ, 

the Saviour of the world.

I’m Washed in the Blood of the Lamb!

4 John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, 

and the first begotten of the dead, 

and the prince of the kings of the earth. 

Unto him that loved us, and 

washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

(Revelation 1:5 KJB)