Thankfulness and Mushrooms

Its hard to be thankful when you have everything... or close to everything. In fact, the more I've lost recently, the more I've become less dependent on the things I have. Its peculiar that way, but after facing difficult circumstances in life, we learn to live without. The one I cannot live without however, is Jesus, my daily bread. With gratitude comes serious attitude adjustments, i.e. we learn that we aren't the only one's who's lives are unfair and that everyone is facing challenging circumstances. In fact, when we lean on each other and reflect on God, we are humbled into having happy hearts once again. What we are most dependent on, we would be better off losing.
Philippians 3:8 is my new favorite verse, it says:

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

I believe that no one can be truly happy without the bread of life even if everything else in life is perfect. We all have temper tantrums, get massive anxiety, and are ready to implode from holding in the stress. Somehow, God has used the entire summer to humble me, to teach me, and hopefully, to encourage others. Its funny to think about how bitter we become towards ourselves and others, and how our strength doesn't have to be entirely our own.

I'd like to reinforce the fact that I am far from perfect. That although I am trying to read through the entire new testament this summer, my boyfriend is more or less gently picking me up with the shovel and sliding me across the bumpy path. WHY IS THAT? Humility has changed my heart. I realize there are some things I can't do easily on my own. One is organizing my time outside of work to be efficient yet stress free. I also like cooking, which takes up some of my time. But by the two of us reading through the Bible together I am less stressed out, and getting more done than I was.

 This comes to another conclusion I'd like to make. "If you can, DO." I work with very nice people, but the humblest are the mexicans who push food into your mouth and make you laugh. When have people made you laugh, and what does their heart look like? On the second to worst day of my summer here in Coatesville, I got a lesson about God at work. In summary, the mexican man who could easily have been my father said, Don't sweat the small stuff, and watch out because God's watching. We can't always have our way. We can always learn the hard way, but the easy way is so much better. He told me about his life's struggles, and I was taken back by how happy he was, and yet, his wife was paralyzed in a car accident so can't live with him, and he lost many years to drinking and over working where he ended up not getting his earned pay week after week. I could have chosen the hard path after talking to him, but I decided the easy path was better. I am so glad I did.

I just randomly opened up the Bible, and found a very applicable verse. Job 34:2-23 says so well,

"Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.

For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

Job says " I am innocent, but God denies me justice. 

Although I am right, I am considered a liar;

although I am guiltless, his arrow inflict an incurable wound."

What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water? 

He keeps company with evildoers;

he associates with wicked men.

For he says, "It profits a man nothing when he tries to please God."

So listen to me, you men of understanding.

Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.

He repays a man for what he has done;

he brings upon him what his conduct deserves. 

It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, 

that the Almighty would pervert justice.

Who appointed him over the earth? 

Who put him in charge of the whole world?

If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, 

all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust.

“If you have understanding, hear this;
   listen to what I say. 

Can one who hates justice govern?
   Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
   and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
who shows no partiality to princes
   and does not favor the rich over the poor,
   for they are all the work of his hands? 

They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
   the people are shaken and they pass away;
   the mighty are removed without human hand. 

“His eyes are on the ways of mortals;
   he sees their every step. 

There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
   where evildoers can hide.
God has no need to examine people further,
   that they should come before him for judgment.

Now for some meatballs. Here's my recipe, its what I had.

2 pieces honey wheat bread, torn

1 large chopped portabella

1 egg

3 preformed hamburger patties

1/2 large onion

3 cloves garlic chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon mustard powder

water

olive oil

Defrost hamburger patties or ground meat. Put egg, mustard powder, salt, onion, and garlic in bowl. Break up and add the frozen ground meat, bread, and 1/2 a cup to a cup of water (as needed). Mix well with hands. Add portabella. Form into balls.

To cook, add olive oil to cover pan. Put mushroom meatballs or rounded patties in pan. Put on medium high to get cooking. I flipped them a few times, then covered pan with a plate for a good three minutes on each side at a medium low heat. Uncover frying pan to brown the sides. Pat off excess oil if desired. Enjoy with ketchup.

And I conclude...

John 6:26-40

 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.  All whom the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.  For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”