Pistachio Nuts

Pistachio Nuts
- shelled (left) & with shells (right)

A pistachio nut is green and it is covered with a purplish skin.  It sits neatly in a hard white shell that opens slightly in a slit.  The Mandarin word for pistachio nuts is 'kai xin guo' and it is an apt description of the nut, as the word 'kai' means 'open' and the word 'xin' means 'heart'.

The nuts are usually sold in Singapore supermarkets in 1kg bags during festive periods.  At other times, smaller bags of 180g can be found although they would be pricier.

Occasionally, the slits are too small and it is difficult to remove the nuts from the shells.  At such times, insert the end of a teaspoon into the crevice, and twist the spoon.  This will usually work, but if it does not, one can always resort to a hammer...

Be Exalted, O God

Today's Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)'s lesson stopped at the end of chapter 12 of the book of Isaiah.  After several chapters of judgement and destruction upon Israel, both this chapter as well as chapter 11 brought hope of a brighter future - a time of peace, a time of harmony - when "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of His roots" (Isaiah 11 : 1, NKJV).

Amidst the numerous news of natural disasters and personal pain, this is a welcomed reminder that the Lord God is sovereign.  He holds the future.  The Swallow's hope is in His everlasting and steadfast love.  The obstacles that lay in her journey on earth are merely instruments of restoration and tools of refinement so that she will be more like the Lord Jesus Christ, bringing glory to God.

The trick to overcoming such obstacles is to apply the Lord Jesus' instructions to the Samaritan woman at the well in the city of Sychar, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4 : 13 - 14, NKJV).  Only then can one echo the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'" (Isaiah 12 : 2, NKJV).  Only then can one "Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted, sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things: this is known in all the earth."  (Isaiah 12 : 4 - 5, NKJV).

The members in the BSF were asked what song they would like to sing to God after studying the first twelve chapters of Isaiah.  This was the Swallow's choice...

BE EXALTED, O GOD (author unknown)

I will give thanks to Thee
O Lord, among the people
I will sing praises to Thee among the nations
For Thy steadfast love is great
Is great to the heavens
And Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness, to the clouds
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth!
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth!