Perfect... Imperfection... Seeking A Balance...

Friday, September 3, 2021

Institute Project: Christlike Attributes Journal

I have registered for Brother Brian Chan’s Institute class of Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel (REL 250) this semester. It is one of the four Cornerstone Courses of the Institute.

Unlike last semester, we will have a project for this 14 weeks study – Christlike Attributes Journal. We are asked to make at least one entry per week in a personal journal about our deliberate efforts to develop Christlike attributes. We will not be required to turn in our journal. Our journal can be keep anywhere that we comfortable. It can be a word document, Google Doc, a Notebook, Personal blog or even an App on our phone.

We can choose to work on one attribute for the entire duration of the course, or we may select select a number of different attributes. However, we are asked to focus on one attribute at a time, and spending at least a week on each one.

Each week, we will be asked in the Report Your Progress quiz if we have added an entry to our Christlike Attributes Journal. And, in each entry we are asked to explore one or both of the following questions:

  • What experiences did you have as you developed your specific Christlike attribute?
  • When did you realize that you did not act in a manner consistent with your specific Christlike attribute? What might you have done differently?

At the end of the course, instead of turning in our journal, we will submit to our teacher a brief writing assignment in which we describe what we have learned from keeping this journal.

I think that it is fair enough and sounds just right to have this project because this course we study about Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father invited us to ‘Hear Him’ when He introduce Jesus as His Son. Jesus Christ invites us to ‘Follow Him’.

The Savior is our perfect example and instructed us to become as He is in 3 Nephi 27:27, “… what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” his Atonement enables us to become more like Him and Heavenly Father.

We can accept the invitation to follow Jesus Christ by becoming like Him. An important part of becoming like Jesus Christ is to learn about how He lived, behaved, and taught. One of the way is to develop His attributes.

So, now I need to choose which attribute I would like to work on? It is kind of difficult to choose because there are so many of Christlike Attributes and I know that I am very poor in every each of them!

After much researches done on the Church website and resources, I decided to use Chapter 6 in “Preach My Gospel” as a guide to further study and create a plan to more fully develop one Christlike attribute that I choose.

First of all, the first step is to complete the Attribute Activity and identify the attribute I most need or want to develop.

Capture

The Attribute Activity sheet credit to https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org.

Friday, April 2, 2021

Let God Prevail

It was my intention to read and study President Nelson’s talks just before the upcoming General Conference which will be happening this weekend. And I planned this talk to be the last.

Let God Prevail

by President Russell M. Nelson

President Russell M. Nelson shared his experience studying the doctrine of the gathering of Israel for 36 years and has increased his knowledge. He explained his new insight of the word Israel.

“I learned that one of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is “let God prevail.” Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. That concept stirs my soul!”

He recalled the crucial turning point in the life of Jacob. He explained that the inspiration he received and recalling Jacob's life can add meaning to our commitment to follow God and our role in the gathering of Israel.

President Russell M. Nelson told us that by choosing to let God prevail, the Hebraic interpretation of Israel can be of help to us in many ways. He emphasized several ways this interpretation can help us.

“The word willing is crucial to this interpretation of Israel. We all have our agency. We can choose to be of Israel, or not. We can choose to let God prevail in our lives, or not. We can choose to let God be the most powerful influence in our lives, or not.”

He showed us what will happen if we desire to let God prevail in our choices in life. He asked, how does the Lord feel when people let God prevail? And what is the Lord willing to do for Israel?

“With the Hebraic definition of Israel in mind, we find that the gathering of Israel takes on added meaning. The Lord is gathering those who are willing to let God prevail in their lives. The Lord is gathering those who will choose to let God be the most important influence in their lives.”

“Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?”

“If you are married to a companion who has broken his or her covenants, your willingness to let God prevail in your life will allow your covenants with God to remain intact. The Savior will heal your broken heart. The heavens will open as you seek to know how to move forward. You do not need to wander or wonder.”

“If you have sincere questions about the gospel or the Church, as you choose to let God prevail, you will be led to find and understand the absolute, eternal truths that will guide your life and help you stay firmly on the covenant path.”

“When you are faced with temptation—even if the temptation comes when you are exhausted or feeling alone or misunderstood—imagine the courage you can muster as you choose to let God prevail in your life and as you plead with Him to strengthen you.”

“When your greatest desire is to let God prevail, to be part of Israel, so many decisions become easier. So many issues become nonissues! You know how best to groom yourself. You know what to watch and read, where to spend your time, and with whom to associate. You know what you want to accomplish. You know the kind of person you really want to become.”

“Now, my dear brothers and sisters, it takes both faith and courage to let God prevail. It takes persistent, rigorous spiritual work to repent and to put off the natural man through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It takes consistent, daily effort to develop personal habits to study the gospel, to learn more about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and to seek and respond to personal revelation.”

“During these perilous times of which the Apostle Paul prophesied, Satan is no longer even trying to hide his attacks on God’s plan. Emboldened evil abounds. Therefore, the only way to survive spiritually is to be determined to let God prevail in our lives, to learn to hear His voice, and to use our energy to help gather Israel.”

He closed his talk with an invitation to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel. Following his promise and testimony.

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Sometimes when I face my unique challenges, I tend to complain silently. Especially when I wrestled with my emotions. I asked the Lord of many whys. I realized that at that moment, I only think or care about what is happening and I was not able to clearly see God's will.

I also gain new insight from President Russell M. Nelson's talk. I now understand it more to let God prevail is my willingness to choose God to be the most powerful influence in my life. Thus, I want to practise my skill and better prepare myself to “hear Him” during the upcoming general conference.

I listed down my questions in mind, pray to look for the specific answers for my worries and concerns that trouble me at the moment. I want to hear and record down what answers from the Lord that He will send me through His servants during general conference.

  • How can or what can I do to keep my body healthy and keep an physical exercise goal?
  • How can I do better in my calling as Relief Society President?
  • How can I being a better wife?
  • How can I be a better cook and improve my cooking?
  • How can I being a better mother for 2 teenage children?
  • How can I manage my time between family, job, daily personal scripture study and my BYU-Pathway study?
  • How can I increase my income?
  • How can I improve my financial situations?

And, I am most eager to hear from the Lord speaks through His prophet and apostles. He may have other things that He wants to tell me. I am prepare to open to any messages that He may have for me.

“If you pray to Him and genuinely ask for help in hearing and recognizing His voice, He will help you find those messages meant for you during general conference.”

Monday, March 29, 2021

Embrace the Future with Faith

At the time of this writing, my mind is so blank and cannot think of anything else. My car had been involved in an accident this morning, during on my way to office. It was a rainy morning, from morning 8.00am till almost noon.

We were in the Maybank Puchong Jaya to open saving accounts for both Issac and Annabelle. It took us so long time from 9.30am till it is almost 11.30am then just done.

After I sent Alvin back to his office, then I sent both kids back home. Both Alvin and I were late to office. I cannot deny my eagerness that wanted to reach office as soon as possible, and what happened was after I cut into the lane and slowed down. The outcome is the back of my car had been banged by the car behind as the driver couldn't stop his car in time.

After the whole saga, the driver agreed to pay me RM350.00 for settlement, for the cost of making good and reinstate to of my car bumper. I am glad that I got the help and monies that I need for this accident.

Lately, my mind is cluttered with a lot of stuffs – my exercise goal that stopped, cooking and prepare bento for both kids to bring to school, my up-coming BYU-Pathway class that is going to start soon, my current salary that still not up and back to before Covid-19 pandemic time, my Come Follow Me programme that I should follow and study every week, my general conference talks that need to catch up before this coming Easter 2021 General Conference, my photos that need to be tidy up and digitalised, my blog that need to update, my calling that need to work on it more, and so many other things!

I am unable to focus at one thing at a time. This week supposing that I should read President Nelson’s 2 most important talks last October 2020. My life seems like so messy! I feel it is because I do not feel security of the my future.

In the Women Session of General Conference, President Nelson lovingly reiterated the love that he and our Heavenly Father have for the women of this Church.

Embrace the Future with Faith

by President Russell M. Nelson

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“How are we to deal with both the sober prophecies and the glorious pronouncements about our day? The Lord told us how with simple, but stunning, reassurance: “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”

“If preparation is our key to embracing this dispensation and our future with faith, how can we best prepare?”

“For decades, the Lord’s prophets have urged us to store food, water, and financial reserves for a time of need. The current pandemic has reinforced the wisdom of that counsel. I urge you to take steps to be temporally prepared. But I am even more concerned about your spiritual and emotional preparation.”

He continued to speak of spiritual preparation by referencing Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon.

Principle Number One: Create Places of Security

“…As turmoil rages around us, we need to create places where we are safe, both physically and spiritually. When your home becomes a personal sanctuary of faith—where the Spirit resides—your home becomes the first line of defense.”

“Likewise, the stakes of Zion are “a refuge from the storm” because they are led by those who hold priesthood keys and exercise priesthood authority. As you continue to follow the counsel of those whom the Lord has authorized to guide you, you will feel greater safety.”

“The temple—the house of the Lord—is a place of security unlike any other. There, you sisters are endowed with priesthood power through the sacred priesthood covenants you make. There, your families are sealed for eternity. Even this year, when access to our temples has been seriously limited, your endowment has given you constant access to God’s power as you have honored your covenants with Him.”

“Simply said, a place of security is anywhere you can feel the presence of the Holy Ghost and be guided by Him. When the Holy Ghost is with you, you can teach truth, even when it runs counter to prevailing opinions. And you can ponder sincere questions about the gospel in an environment of revelation.”

“I invite you, my dear sisters, to create a home that is a place of security. And I renew my invitation for you to increase your understanding of priesthood power and of temple covenants and blessings. Having places of security to which you can retreat will help you embrace the future with faith.”

Principle Number Two: Prepare Your Mind to Be Faithful to God

“Just as the physical foundation of the Salt Lake Temple must be strong enough to withstand natural disasters, our spiritual foundations must be solid. Then, when metaphorical earthquakes rock our lives, we can stand “steadfast and immovable” because of our faith.”

“The Lord taught us how to increase our faith by seeking “learning, even by study and also by faith.” We strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ as we strive to keep His commandments and “always remember him.” Further, our faith increases every time we exercise our faith in Him. That is what learning by faith means.”

“…few things build faith more than does regular immersion in the Book of Mormon. No other book testifies of Jesus Christ with such power and clarity. Its prophets, as inspired by the Lord, saw our day and selected the doctrine and truths that would help us most. The Book of Mormon is our latter-day survival guide.”

“Of course, our ultimate security comes as we yoke ourselves to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! Life without God is a life filled with fear. Life with God is a life filled with peace. This is because spiritual blessings come to the faithful. Receiving personal revelation is one of the greatest of those blessings.”

“The Lord has promised that if we will ask, we may receive “revelation upon revelation.” I promise that as you increase your capacity to receive revelation, the Lord will bless you with increased direction for your life and with boundless gifts of the Spirit.”

Principle Number Three: Never Stop Preparing

“The adversary never stops attacking. So, we can never stop preparing! The more self-reliant we are—temporally, emotionally, and spiritually—the more prepared we are to thwart Satan’s relentless assaults.”

“I am not saying that the days ahead will be easy, but I promise you that the future will be glorious for those who are prepared and who continue to prepare to be instruments in the Lord’s hands.”

“My dear sisters, let us not just endure this current season. Let us embrace the future with faith! Turbulent times are opportunities for us to thrive spiritually. They are times when our influence can be much more penetrating than in calmer times.”

“I promise that as we create places of security, prepare our minds to be faithful to God, and never stop preparing, God will bless us.”

Although this talk already 6 months ago, the counsels, invitations and promises that President Nelson extended are never expired and still in force if we keep on trying our best to do it!

It is just about time for me to prioritise and focus on what is truly important, and seek the best way to balance each one of the my needs according to His will.

Friday, March 26, 2021

Spinach Prawns Spaghetti Bento

I tried another recipes again. This time is spinach prawns spaghetti, chicken popcorn and mashed potatoes!

Spinach Prawns Spaghetti

20210326_064952Ingredients:

  • Spaghetti, 300 grams
  • Prawn oil, 50ml
  • Spinach, 100 grams
  • Garlic, 5 gloves
  • Prawns, 12 pcs
  • Garlic seasoning powder, 1 tablespoon
  • White wine, 1 tablespoon
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Night Before

  1. Prepare the spaghetti according to the instructions given at the packet. Rinse with cold water after cook it, dried and add in prawn oil and mix well.. Store it in the fridge.
  2. Unfrozen the prawns, prepare for the next day. Wash and cut the spinach ready for the next day.

Actual Day

  1. Take out the prawns, pat dry and sprinkler salt and pepper.
  2. Heat up the frying pan over medium-high heat. Add in the prawn oil, and pan-fry the garlic slices till fragrance. Put in the prawns, pan-fried till cook. Add in the white wine at the side of the pan, add in the spaghetti and stir-fry. Add in the seasoning powder, and the spinach and mix well.

 

Garlic Chicken Popcorn

20210326_065004Ingredients:

  • Chicken breast, 180 grams
  • Salt, little
  • Pepper, little
  • Multipurpose flour, 1 tablespoon
  • Minced garlic, 2 tablespoon
  • A – Sugar, 1 tablespoon
  • A – Soy sauce, ½ tablespoon
  • A – Rice wine, 1 tablespoon

Preparation:

Night Before

  1. Cut the chicken breast into bite sizes, season with salt and pepper. Store in the fridge for next day.

Actual Day

  1. Take out the chicken breast, dip with thin layers of multipurpose flour.
  2. Heat up the frying pan, add in more oil as usual, put in the chicken breast, fried till golden colour, take out.
  3. Use the same pan, add in the minced garlic stir-fry till fragrance, add in [A}, cook till the sauce thick then add in the fried chicken breast and mix well.

 

Kyuri Ham Mashed Potatoes

20210326_064945Ingredients:

  • Kyuri or Japanese Cucumber, 1 pc
  • Salt, little
  • Sugar, 1 tablespoon
  • Apple cider, 1 tablespoon
  • Potatoes, 2 pcs
  • Ham, 2 pcs (cut to cube size)
  • A – Butter, 40 grams
  • A – Salt, 1 teaspoon
  • A – Pepper, 1 teaspoon
  • A – Mustard, 1 teaspoon

Preparation: 

Night Before

  1. Wash and cut the Kyuri into thin slices. Mix with salt and let for 10 minutes. Rinse the salt away with clean water. Squeeze the water out. Add in the sugar and apple cider. Mix well and store in the fridge for next day.
  2. Peel off the potatoes skins, cut into cubes, steam the potatoes cubes.
  3. Take out the steamed potatoes, add in [A], and mash the potatoes and mix well. Store it in the fridge.

Actual Day

  1. Take put from fridge, add in the Kyuri cucumber slices, and ham cubes, and gently press it into ball shape.

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For the spaghetti I did add in extra canned mushroom. I had my portion as well today!

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So satisfying when I know that my children love to eat the bento that I prepare for them!

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts Lemon Chicken Bento

Another two new recipes for children's bento today — sautéed brussels sprouts lemon chicken and beef roll sushi.

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts Lemon Chicken

20210324_065454Ingredients:

  • Brussel sprouts, 150 grams
  • Chicken stocks, 50ml
  • Chicken chop debone, 2 pcs (about 360 grams)
  • Lemon, 1 pc
  • A – Soy sauce, 1 tablespoon
  • A – Sugar, 1 tablespoon
  • A – Rice wine, 1 tablespoon
  • Salt, little
  • Pepper, little
  • Corn flour, little

Preparation:

Night Before

  1. Wash and clean the Brussels sprouts, cut into half per piece.
  2. Heat up the oil, put in all the brussels sprouts and pan-fry till it crisp, add in the salt and pepper, continue to stir-fry. Add in the chicken stocks, and shimmer for about 3 minutes. Open up the pan cover continue to stir fry and its done. Let it cool and store in the fridge for next day.

Actual Day

  1. Cut the chicken chop into bite sizes, add in salt and pepper and marinate about 10 minutes.

  2. Cut the lemon into half. The first half mix together with [A]; second half cut into thin lemon slices and quarter cut again for garnishing purpose.

  3. The chicken chop dip into the corn flour. Heat up the frying pan, put in little bit oil, place the chicken with skin face down onto the frying pan. Pan fry till golden brown, then only turn to the other side and continue to fry till the same.

  4. Add in the lemon mixture sauce, then add in the brussels sprouts, continue to stir-fry till the sauce thicken and it is done.

Beed Sushi Roll

20210324_065505Ingredients:

  • Shabu-shabu beef slices, 180 grams
  • A – Soy sauce, 1 tablespoon
  • A – Sesame oil, 1 tablespoon
  • A – Sugar, 1 tablespoon
  • A – Rice wine, 2 tablespoon
  • A – Chili sauce, to taste
  • Corn flour, 1 teaspoon
  • Eggs, 4 pcs
  • B – Chicken stocks, 25ml
  • B – Sugar, little
  • B – Salt, little
  • Seaweed, 1 pc
  • Kyuri Japanese Cucumber, 2 pcs

Preparation:

Night Before

  1. Mixture [A] together with the Shabu-shabu beef slices, marinate overnight and store in the fridge.

  2. Beaten the eggs, add in the mixture [B] mix well, and make the tamago. Cut the tamago to slices after cooling, and store in the fridge for next day.

Actual Day

  1. Take out the marinated beef slices, add in the cornflour.

  2. Heat up the oil, put in the beef slices and stir-fry till cook. Let cool.

  3. Cut the kyuri into thin slices.

  4. Roll out the sushi roll mat, put the seaweed sheet on top. put a layer of white rice, add in the tamago, beef slices and cucumber slices. Roll up the sushi from bottom till top. Let it cool down for 3 minutes and cut the sushi.

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On top of that, I add in the stir-fry shimeji with Worcester sauce as well, which I did last week. I am getting more and more love to prepare the lunch for children to bring to school now, even though I know that there are a lot of rooms for improvement ^^

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Saturday, March 20, 2021

A New Normal

From his talk, we can know that President Nelson has so much optimism for the future and it gives so much hope!

A New Normal

by President Russell M. Nelson

He begin by expressing his concern for all of us:

“I have asked the Lord to help me understand what you are feeling, worrying about, or trying to resolve. I have wondered what I might say to conclude this conference that would send you forth with the optimism about the future that I know the Lord wants you to feel.”

“We live in a glorious age, foreseen by prophets for centuries. This is the dispensation when no spiritual blessing will be withheld from the righteous. Despite the world’s commotion, the Lord would have us look forward to the future “with joyful anticipation.”

“Let us not spin our wheels in the memories of yesterday. The gathering of Israel moves forward. The Lord Jesus Christ directs the affairs of His Church, and it will achieve its divine objectives.”

President Nelson knows our challenges is to make certain that each of us will achieve our divine potential.

“If you really want to embrace a new normal, I invite you to turn your heart, mind, and soul increasingly to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Let that be your new normal.”

He outlines some actions steps for us to embrace our new normal:

  1. Repenting daily.
  2. Seek to be increasingly pure in thought, word, and deed.
  3. Minister to others.
  4. Keep an eternal perspective.
  5. Magnify your callings.
  6. And whatever your challenges, my dear brothers and sisters, live each day so that you are more prepared to meet your Maker.
  7. Build and maintain yourself so you can be worthy to enter the holy temple.

I know that as I follow the Prophet and do all these things, I can gain the power to embrace the new normal that has been put upon us in these times.

He leaves a beautiful blessing upon us,

“I bless you to be filled with the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ. His peace is beyond all mortal understanding. I bless you with an increased desire and ability to obey the laws of God. I promise that as you do, you will be showered with blessings, including greater courage, increased personal revelation, sweeter harmony in your homes, and joy even amid uncertainty.”

“May we go forward together to fulfill our divine mandate—that of preparing ourselves and the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.”

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Friday, March 19, 2021

Fish Fillet with Orange Sauce Bento

Fish fillet with orange sauce and the sautéed French beans are the additional two new recipe that I tried out today.

Fish Fillet with Orange Sauce

IMG_7212Ingredients:

  • Fish Fillets, 300 grams
  • Salt, little to taste
  • Pepper, little to taste
  • Corn flour, little
  • Orange peels, little
  • A – Orange juice, ½ pc
  • A – Sugar, 1 tablespoon
  • A – Soy sauce, ½ teaspoon

Preparation:

Night Before

  1. Ready for Mixture [A]. Defrost the fish fillets to get ready for the next day.

Actual Day

  1. Cut the fish fillets into bite sizes, season with salt and peppers for 10 minutes.

  2. Dip the seasoned fish fillets into the corn flours.

  3. Heat up the frying pan, put the coated corn flour fish fillets into the hot oil, frying till both sides turns golden brown.

  4. Turn the fire to low heat, add in the mixture [A], till the gravy thicken and take out, garnish with some orange peels if you like.

Sautéed French Beans

IMG_7212Ingredients:

  • French beans, 150 grams
  • Salt, to taste
  • Olive oil, little

Preparation:

Night Before

  1. Wash and cut the French beans into 5cm lengths, store in the fridge.

Actual Day

  1. Boil a pot of hot water, add in some salt, add in the French beans for 1 minutes.
  2. Take out rinse. Add in some salt and olive oil and mix well.
  3. I did some changes as I use the olive oil to stir-fry the garlic slices till fragrance and I used the oil to mix the French beans.

IMG_7210IMG_7209

On top of that, I cooked tamagoyaki. I cooked the tamagoyaki same as few days back the Okra Tamagoyaki, just without tamagoyaki only. There were still some bean sprouts salads, salt pepper fried tofu, and pan-fried pumpkin slices in the fridge, thus I just took it out and add into the bento.

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