I was incredibly blessed and overwhelmed this last week as my friends and family helped me celebrate a milestone birthday. It really warmed my soul to have the precious people around me go to all this effort. It reminded me yet again how important it is to encourage each other. Moreover to do so in many ways. There are excellent resources available to instruct and explore love languages - how to bless others and understand and ciommunicate what your need is. Some folks need to hear words of affirmation, others quality time spent, others love receiving gifts, still others appreciate acts of service or physical touch (the huggers :-). Combine these precious gifts and you have abundance extraordinaire! If you have not yet read more on this philosphy, I highly recommend you do. It is sure to bless your husband, children, friends and family to take relationship to a whole new level of appreciation. Here's a good online place to start:
http://www.5lovelanguages.com/learn-the-languages/the-five-love-languages/
Enjoy living life purposefully!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Home Cooking - Simple Spinach Mushroom Salad
Toss this one together at the last minute and you can have it all ready in the fridge to toss at after being outside all day. We love it with a loaf of fresh french bread.
Combine and refrigerate until ready to make:
1 bunch fresh spinach leaves
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1/3 cup sliced green onion
6 bacon slices, cooked crisp and crumbled
Dressing:
2 tbsp cooking oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 large egg yolk
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 granulated sugar
Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Pour over spinach mixture. Toss.
Combine and refrigerate until ready to make:
1 bunch fresh spinach leaves
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1/3 cup sliced green onion
6 bacon slices, cooked crisp and crumbled
Dressing:
2 tbsp cooking oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 large egg yolk
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 granulated sugar
Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Pour over spinach mixture. Toss.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Home Cooking - Quick Rice Pudding
This is a great left-over remake.
1 6-serving size vanilla pudding powder
3 cup milk
3/4 cup plain white rice
1/4 cup raisins
Stir all four ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm or cold. Makes 3 1/4 cups - enough for 6 servings. This recipe doubles nicely too.
1 6-serving size vanilla pudding powder
3 cup milk
3/4 cup plain white rice
1/4 cup raisins
Stir all four ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm or cold. Makes 3 1/4 cups - enough for 6 servings. This recipe doubles nicely too.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Composure and Courage
Ever have trouble biting your lip when feeling assaulted, experiencing something unjust or feeling like you need to jump to your child's defense? It's hard to maintain our composure and respond with words like honey - words that would help the situation and not add injury to insult.
It is better though - that is - to walk away, PRAY, then address - or not - as the LORD leads. I seem to have this situation arise quite a bit ~lol~. I have found it helpful mostly - to not respond. We are called in the Bible to give an answer when asked - but not "provoked". If someone is stirring up anger in you, try to step away, seek God for what He is teaching you in the moment and deal with it - quickly! If it is not clear to you, then take it to the counsel of a godly, trusted friend.
Do you feel like you are under attack? Perhaps you have made a wrong choice (again ~lol~ :-) and need to move forward. There are powerful words in the Word to claim. Remember the words of Paul to his crew as outlined in Acts:
No one had eaten for a long time. Finally Paul called the crew together and said, "Men you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even thought the ship will go down. For last night an angel of God to Whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me and he said, "Don't be afraid Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in His goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you. So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as He said."
So, to Whom do you belong. Who do you serve? Believe in His goodness. Believe in His faithfulness. Live righteously. Claim His goodness in your life. Take courage! Keep fighting the fight - grow in Christ and be an example of His abundant grace.
It is better though - that is - to walk away, PRAY, then address - or not - as the LORD leads. I seem to have this situation arise quite a bit ~lol~. I have found it helpful mostly - to not respond. We are called in the Bible to give an answer when asked - but not "provoked". If someone is stirring up anger in you, try to step away, seek God for what He is teaching you in the moment and deal with it - quickly! If it is not clear to you, then take it to the counsel of a godly, trusted friend.
Do you feel like you are under attack? Perhaps you have made a wrong choice (again ~lol~ :-) and need to move forward. There are powerful words in the Word to claim. Remember the words of Paul to his crew as outlined in Acts:
No one had eaten for a long time. Finally Paul called the crew together and said, "Men you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even thought the ship will go down. For last night an angel of God to Whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me and he said, "Don't be afraid Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in His goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you. So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as He said."
So, to Whom do you belong. Who do you serve? Believe in His goodness. Believe in His faithfulness. Live righteously. Claim His goodness in your life. Take courage! Keep fighting the fight - grow in Christ and be an example of His abundant grace.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Play Ball?
Notice big brother at the mound.
Now, here's one of his most loyal fans...
We're looking forward to the weather warming up! :-)
Home Cooking - Banana Chip Muffins
Yummy!
Beat well:
1 egg
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup milk
3 medium mashed bananas
Add:
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Batter will be lumpy. Fill greased muffin tins 3/4 full . Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Makes one dozen muffins. These are great for breakfast with yogurt, a slice of cheese and piece of fruit. Enjoy!
Beat well:
1 egg
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup milk
3 medium mashed bananas
Add:
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Batter will be lumpy. Fill greased muffin tins 3/4 full . Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Makes one dozen muffins. These are great for breakfast with yogurt, a slice of cheese and piece of fruit. Enjoy!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sacrifice
It's amazing what we do for those we love, isn't it? We'll skip personal pleasure and comfort for the greater good - whatever that may be at the time.
"...just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep."
John 10:15
Sometimes we can plan and prepare for the offering and other times we just need to answer the call. Do what you can, when you can. In denying myself I have found joy and reward - a life of simplicity.
"...just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep."
John 10:15
Sometimes we can plan and prepare for the offering and other times we just need to answer the call. Do what you can, when you can. In denying myself I have found joy and reward - a life of simplicity.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Women's Conference Fun!
We enjoyed a beautiful and delicious dinner banquet.
Which was pre-empted by some fiction novel cover drama.
But ultimately,
LIFE CHANGING!
Home Cooking-Butter Chicken
Preparation time is short. This dish comes together so quickly - especially if you have the chicken pieces cooked ahead of time. I like making it very saucy. It can make a nice leftover dish by stir frying together after the flavours have had even more time to mingle. This recipe serves 4, but is easily doubled.
2 tbsp vegetable oil divided
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp ginger, finely chopped
2 tbsp butter
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp of cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup plain yogurt
salt and pepper to taste
Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan. Cook the chicken pieces until lightly browned. Remove chicken and set aside.
Heat remaining oil in a large saucepan and saute garlic, onion and ginger until soft and fragrant. stir in butter, juice and spices. Cook stirring for 1 minute. Add tomato sauce, cooking for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in milk and yogurt. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often.
Add reserved chicken to sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes until sauce is thickened and chicken is cooked through. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.
Serve with Naan bread or over rice.
2 tbsp vegetable oil divided
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp ginger, finely chopped
2 tbsp butter
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp of cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup plain yogurt
salt and pepper to taste
Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan. Cook the chicken pieces until lightly browned. Remove chicken and set aside.
Heat remaining oil in a large saucepan and saute garlic, onion and ginger until soft and fragrant. stir in butter, juice and spices. Cook stirring for 1 minute. Add tomato sauce, cooking for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in milk and yogurt. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often.
Add reserved chicken to sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes until sauce is thickened and chicken is cooked through. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.
Serve with Naan bread or over rice.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Chasing Dreams with Ideas
God has placed dreams in our heart that are from the very heart of GOD! The dream of God is at the very centre of who we are. Our very purpose proceeds who we are. To that which we believe, we must commit! God will provide. Allow Him to be your provision. Know that God will not surrender you to something that ia not good for you. He gives you authority. Believe it. Embrace you!
Psalm 139
What ideas do you have about serving the LORD?
Psalm 139
What ideas do you have about serving the LORD?
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