In last week’s post, I mentioned that I added my new California flight friend to my prayers. Although I prejudged her for her reaction to my story about Emmie (as explained in that post), we never know what others are going through. What hard things in her life was she possibly struggling to get through? How could I tell? While tough seasons give us a tender heart for others, before that eventually kicks in, our own pain can dull our senses. A pain bucket that’s filled to the rim can cause us to block any pain from outside sources above what we’re already dealing with on our own. Your subconscious…
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3-Minute Sinless Chocolate Almond Candy
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. (Psalm 119:103) Does including the word sinless in the title of this candy make you less interested in this recipe or more interested? Do we somehow associate really decadent chocolate candy with naughtiness? After writing this full post yesterday, I went on Facebook LIVE this morning to demonstrate the quick and easy process for making this candy. It really does take only three minutes to stir everything together. Surprisingly quick! Please excuse the brief camera debacle at the beginning. It’s been a long time since the last time I made a FB LIVE video. But, it…
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How A Cheapened “I Love You” Negates True Compassion
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. (Psalms 51:1) Flippant I love you’s seem to have taken over. Rather than saving them for meaningful encounters, we spread I love you’s all over the place, nearly thoughtlessly – especially during Valentine season. Do you “heart” Facebook posts often? I do (even when Like is sufficient). When something rings true spiritually or if the post involves people for whom I feel affection, I’m super-quick to click the heart. How about you? There is absolutely nothing wrong with spreading the love. But, I just wonder if we’ve cheapened the…
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Easy and Healthy How-To For LEMON CHICKEN & VEG Dinner
For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. (Psalm 107:9) This recipe is one of my quick weeknight go-to’s. You’ll love the taste of eating out in a nice restaurant without ever leaving home. It just occurred to me that this recipe is perfect as a special Valentine dinner without the hassle of fighting the crowds to get into a restaurant. As a bonus, it doesn’t take all that long to prepare! The original recipe is for chicken with asparagus, which is usually the way I make it. This time, though, I had fresh Brussels sprouts in the refrigerator calling out to me. On a whim,…
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How To Reach Your Prodigal On THEIR Turf
“Many in the church today are being held captive spiritually, not because of the enemy’s power, but because we do not clearly understand our authority and calling in Christ… As we begin to understand the hope of His calling, we will begin to walk in an abundant life of freedom and power.” Angie Weaver That quote is so true! We have more power than many of us realize. When crying out to God for answers to your prayers for your prodigal, why not go directly to the source of the trouble? I don’t mean physically going to the places where they hang out. Nor to stand face to face with…
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How to Make Broccoli Stem Soup with Kale Garnish
“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.” (Proverbs 15:17) When you buy fresh broccoli at the grocer, do you cut off and cook the florets and then throw away the stems? I always have. It seemed like such a waste, but I didn’t know what else to do with the stalks. I didn’t realize broccoli stems can be so tasty – and extremely healthy for restoring our temple! Read on ahead to find out why and how. Does this soup look dairy free to you? I have to say, it definitely is smooth and creamy. And, it absolutely IS dairy-free. There’s something about…
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Making Time for Time With Jesus
What sort of season are you in right now? I know winter and possibly snow season, but in your life. Is it snowy in your life . . . cold . . . lonely . . . a hard time right now? If so, I picture you staying inside, huddling by the fire, drinking warm cups of tea. Are you taking time to be with the Lord? Our tendency is to turn to God when we are in a season of suffering. If you happen to be in a good season right now, I picture you in a season of joyful sledding . . . laughter . . . friends…
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Healthful Baked Zucchini Ziti
So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) There is more to this pasta dish than meets the eye. This zucchini ziti is not meatless. You can choose ground beef or turkey – or even ground deer. The American diet is overloaded with sugars and simple carbs and, worst of all, it’s lacking in ample quantities of veggies. We are the most healthy when we eat foods close to the way God created them, adding in more vegetables to our meals whenever possible. Zucchini is the health star of this dish! Why Zucchini is a Health…
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Easy and Healthy How-To For LEMON CHICKEN & VEG Dinner
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But, WILL He? How to Know God WILL Do It
Will He? That was my question. For months. Soon after our prodigal season began, a very close friend (and 2 AM sister) sent me the book, He is Able by Priscilla Shirer. It’s a great book for recounting all the ways that anything is possible with God! All the while . . . I had another question. I Know God is Able. But, WILL He? You might ask, “Will He what?” And my answer would have been. “WILL God answer my plea? WILL He bring our daughter back?” If you read last week’s (shameless) post He First Loved Us In The Hard Seasons and my continual tears for months, today’s…
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Four Quick and HEALTHY Breakfast Ideas
Welcome back into my kitchen, where we discuss Restoring Your Temple. God’s Temple in you. Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.’ (Genesis 1:29) Last Saturday when we covered how to Boost Your Healthy Tea Time, I promised to continue by reviewing healthy breakfast ideas. These are some of my regulars (and I’ll share others in the future individually). These today are my faves because you can largely prepare them in advance for grab and go breakfasts later. Don’t we all like to make mornings easier? A little planning ahead pays off big time! To…
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He First Loved Us In The Hard Seasons
It was a Sunday morning. Just like all the other Sundays during that hard season, I stood during our morning worship welcome time with my eyes cast downward, trying to hide my tear-streaked face. Poor choir! Our third-row-pew afforded the choir members an up-front-and-personal view of raw emotion so visible that I know it grew somewhat irritating and tiresome for them to endure every Sunday. Week after week turned into month upon month. When would it end? That’s the way it is with a prodigal season of shame, sadness, and indescribable grief. Well, that’s the way it was for me, at least. If you’ve experienced a season of brutal betrayal,…
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Boost Your Healthy Tea Time
In my last post (How Anything But Optimal Health Limits Us In All Seasons), I kept thinking, “With so many healthy additions to my meals these days, where do I begin?” God gave us His perfect food to keep us healthy. He designed our bodies with a restorative ability gleaned from the nourishing foods we eat. The problem is that man changed the food, insinuating that fresh fruits and vegetables are plain, boring, not tasty, and not good enough. The truth of if it is that we get very little nourishment from the popular foods of today. It takes a targeted effort to include foods that pack a nutrient punch…
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Gluten-Free Flour Blend – Soft and Fluffy!
“I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning, you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.'” (Exodus 16:12) Do you often begin with a recipe you find on-line and then tweak it? That may describe you if you have any food issues, sensitivities, or health goals, and I’m with you. What is your process for tweaking recipes? My Process For Making Recipe Changes Recipe Evaluation: As you read through the original recipe’s list of ingredients for the first time, make mental notes of things you…
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Four Quick and HEALTHY Breakfast Ideas
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How Anything But Optimal Health Limits Us In All Seasons
Neighbors, Welcome Into My Kitchen! Excuse me while I freshen things for company. I have my face on this morning, so no more Instagram pictures like I shared last weekend, surrounded by Christmas clutter sans make-up. (Horrors! And, please follow me.) Dusting my hands off now with Christmas decor all boxed up (woohoo!). All I lack now is bribing hubs to pack away the Christmas Tree of Hope. A question for you: As you look back at the long line of hills and valleys of your life, through hard seasons and celebratory times, can you agree that you needed God’s strength most of all and also good health? As Christians,…
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How To BE Without BEing Stressed!
I’m afraid that I may have left you with the wrong impression in my last post (TO BE or NOT TO BE in 2019). Did you take it that I said you should BE something spectacular? To pile onto your already-filled-plate to BE more? To BE better? Maybe even to outBE others? What pressure! Part of BEing who God wants us to BE is BEing at rest in Him. BEing at peace. BEing content to simply BE who He calls us to BE. Yesterday This morning in my happy place (where it’s just God and me, alone without distraction), I was reading the passages and questions from a 50-day personal…
