Christmas in the Heart

Christmas Day...almost over...and what a Christmas this has been...

Christmas season for the past few years had been time with the family back in Malaysia, then back to Singapore for Christmas events with the church family. With travel restrictions, Christmas season this year has been over Zoom, a quick half-hour chat with her parents and extended family on Christmas Eve instead of almost two-weeks of togetherness. With safe management measures, there were a couple of Christmas events, again over Zoom, instead of face-to-face meet-ups and even then, with no handshakes or hugs.

Yet, when the Swallow reflects on the changes that the pandemic brought with it, there is a measure of comfort. And hope. And joy. And peace. In the hustle and bustle of Christmas festivities, it was easy to lose sight of the real reason that Christmas celebrates...the birth of the Messiah who came to save a lost mankind. But now, when the hustle is gone and the bustle has slowed, it was a gentle reminder that Christmas is always in her heart...the Lord has come to save her and He is coming again! And that reason for Christmas will never change. Maranatha!

Kid's Craft: Creation Story Spinning Wheel

Something to do with the young ones during school holidays...

The wheels are made with recycled cardboard

Use a push pin to hold the wheels together

Seeds Oat Muffins

Seeds Oat Muffins

Click here for the recipe.

Thought for the Day #4

Better to thank God for putting roses on thorns than grumble that He has put thorns on roses - a matter of perspective.

Proverbs 15:13 (NKJV)

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Advanced Planning Makes an Easy Lunch to Prepare

Spicy Mediterranean Chicken

Click here to find out how you can have lunch ready in less than an hour with a little advanced meal planning.

Pan-Fried Corned Beef Patties

Corned Beef Patties

Click here for the recipe.

Mee Jiang Kueh (Sweet Peanut Pancake)

Growing up in Malaysia, the Swallow loved staying with her maternal grandmother during school holidays. Besides enjoying her gentle nature, the Swallow enjoyed the Mee Jiang Kueh which would surely appear at least once for breakfast during her stay.

The Swallow remembers how her grandmother would go out of the house for some time and came back with this delicious pancake. She recalls how it was packed full of crushed roasted peanuts, tasting sweetness yet with a hint of salt in each bite. How the peanuts didn't fall out each time she took a bite. How warm it felt in mouth, freshly cooked. How warm it felt in her heart, because of her grandmother's love for her.

Her grandmother passed away many years ago, bringing with her the knowledge of where she had bought this pancake. Her grandmother had also been suffering from dementia several years before her passing, and with the Swallow having moved to Singapore prior to that, there was not an occasion when she could ask her grandmother.

Unable to find something similar to her recollections, she decided to try her hand at making her own Mee Jiang Kueh a couple of times. She managed to get pretty close this latest round as the peanuts didn't fall out as much as the previous time.

MEE JIANG KUEH (serves 4)

Mee Jiang Kueh

Ingredients

130 g plain flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp instant yeast

2 tbsp sugar

Pinch of salt

150 ml warm water

1 large egg

1 tsp oil

60 g ground roasted peanuts

40 g sugar plus a pinch of salt

Method

1. Place flour in a large bowl. In separate areas of the flour, place the baking soda, yeast, sugar and salt. Give each area a gentle mix so that each ingredient is coated with the flour. When this is done, mix them together well.
2. Add warm water to the mixture and mix well so that there are no lumps in the batter.
3. Add the egg and continue to mix the batter well.
4. Set the batter aside, covered and leave to proof for an hour. Bubbles will form during this time.
5. Soak a clean kitchen paper towel with the oil and smear this over a non-stick 9” frying pan.  Heat the pan over a low heat. When it is heated evenly, pour the batter in. Cover and cook for 2 minutes.
6. Sprinkle the ground peanuts and the sugar/salt mixture over the pancake. Cover and cook for another 5 minutes.
7. Fold the pancake in half with a spatula. Remove from the pan, cut and serve warm.

Notes

Keep an eye on the batter. Timing may have to be adjusted if the heat is inconsistent e.g. windy conditions. It should still be sticky when adding the peanuts at step 6 so that the peanuts do not fall out easily when eating. But if too late, no worries, just add some peanut butter at step 6, then proceed to sprinkle the ground peanuts and continue with the rest of the steps. Taste may change a little. Alternatively, just enjoy it with some peanuts falling out 😊

Daily Acts

A few nights ago, the Swallow's family was discussing about mental health over dinner. The topic came up because on two occasions that very same day, the family had heard quarrels erupt from their neighbours (staying in a heartland flat, that could be from any direction).

One of the young ones raised the possibility of a higher occurrence of mental or emotional breakdowns during this period of isolation and stay-home. The rest of the family was in full agreement. The same young one thought of Philippians 4:8.

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.

Good advice? Definitely, because it is from God's Word!

The other young one quipped, "Easy for someone who has no mental health issues".

The Swallow used the example of playing ping-pong (her favourite sport) to 'reject negative thoughts'. Like the sport, if you practice, over time you will get better. Giving it some thought, the other young one then said she preferred the example of throwing a shot-put instead as 'the negative thought would not be given a chance to come back, unless you went to pick it up'!

Regardless of the example used, the Swallow admits submitting to God's advice in Philippians 4:8 was not easy to do. Not in her own strength, thus the struggles she had faced all those years. But!!!

Redefining Your World for Jesus, a Daily Submission

We live in a changing world. Just at the start of 2020, change has been wrought in many lives due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Some changes came with a heavy price - lives lost...

Some came with a price though not as heavy - jobs lost, opportunities lost...

Some came with heavier responsibilities or challenges - caring for young ones / the elderly while working from home, continuing to work because you are in essential services...

Some changes were seen as rewards or benefits instead - extra bonding time with young ones, no need to commute to work, can sleep-in a little...

And the Swallow sees this time (and every other day) as a time for reflection...

• What is the world to you?
• What are your priorities in life?
• Where will you be when the world or your life ends?...

And the following song puts her answers well...

JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME (author unknown)

Jesus is all the world to me - my life, my joy, my all.

He is my strength from day to day - without Him, I would fall.

When I am sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so.

When I am sad, He makes me glad - He's my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, my Friend in trials sore.

I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them over and over.

He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest's golden grain.

Sunshine or rain, harvest of grain - He's my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I'll be.

O, how could I this Friend deny, when He's so true to me?

Following Him, I know I'm right, He watches over me day and night.

Following Him, by day and night - He's my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better Friend.

I trust Him now, I'll trust Him when life's fleeting days shall end.

Beautiful life with such a Friend, beautiful life that has no end,

Eternal life, eternal joy - He's my Friend.

1 John 4:19 (NKJV)
We love Him because He first loved us.

Because He first loved her, she is willing to redefine her world i.e. to see change as allowed by Him and submit to His will, His ways, His time, His results - whether in life or service for Him.

Rejoicing in Jesus, a Daily Testimony

Philippians 4:4 (NKJV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV)
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"