May 24, 2013

About coleen hayden

Coleen Hayden – Prayer Ministry Leader - Blog Contributor
Coleen and her husband Robert have been married for 18 years and currently live in the Capital District area of New York State. They have one beautiful daughter, Kassia, who is married to Matt, and 3 delightful grandchildren Elijah, Kaylie Joy, and Levi. She enjoys sewing, cooking, and playing the piano.

Italian Almond Cookies, Gluten-Free by Coleen Hayden

May 20, 2013 by 3 Comments

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  Today’s recipe makes a delicious, slightly decadent sweet which still fits into this category!  This recipe has no oil or butter, uses gluten-free almond flour which is high in protein, and can be made very successfully using alternative, unrefined sugars.

These yummy little almond cookies are so reminiscent to me of Italian bakery cookies called ‘amaretti.’  Going to make a confession here: I just l-o-v-e Italian bakery pastries!  For my birthday, thank you but no birthday cake, please!  Just a platter of mini pastry and almond cookies.  For sure!  So when my darling daughter, Kassia, called and told me that she had made ‘amaretti’ and they were gluten free—happy me!  Perhaps you will find these little cookies as delightful as I do; maybe even turn you into an amaretti fan!  Enjoy!

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Italian Almond Cookies      makes approximately 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
2+1/2 cups almond flourIMG_1563
1+1/4 cups superfine* sugar
3 room temperature egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
extra sugar for dusting

 

 

Preheat oven to 300.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using a food processor, blend together the almond flour and sugar for 30 seconds.  Add both extracts, and pulse 5 or 6 times to blend.  Add the egg whites ONE at a time, and continue to process the mixture ‘til the dough is nice and smooth.

Using a small cookie scoop, place teaspoons of the dough onto the lined cookie sheets, approximately 1″ apart.  These cookies do not spread.  Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with the extra sugar.  Bake for 20-24 minutes for chewy cookies; 24-30 minutes for a slightly crispy cookie.  Remove to a cooling rack.  Easily stored in your favorite cookie jar!

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*If, like me, you are using alternative sugars, put them into the food processor first and give them a 20 second whirl to pulverize them and make the sugar “super fine.”  I used a mix of coconut sugar and evaporated cane juice sugar.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blogpost, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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Pentecost—The Holy Spirit Has Come

May 18, 2013 by 12 Comments

Tomorrow is the celebration of the Day of Pentecost—the day almost 2,000 years ago when the Holy Spirit was sent by God Almighty to take Jesus’ place in the lives of His disciples.  You can read about this dramatic, unique event in the Book of Acts.  Acts 2:.

After Jesus had ascended to Heaven, the apostles and many disciples had been waiting as their Lord had told them to do.    They were gathered together…the apostles, Mary, the other women who followed our Lord, along with some of His disciples.  The Scriptures tell us that they spent their time praying.  After Jesus’ arrest, His trial, and His crucifixion, Jerusalem was not a safe place for them to be (as many of them were known to have associated with Jesus).  But they were obedient to their Lord, even in His absence, and yearned to receive His promise.

While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise.  ”This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:4, 5 and 8

Jesus had promised them, “If I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). That promise was fulfilled on Pentecost. Just as Jesus was always there to help them, and to guide them, and to teach them, the Holy Spirit would be also.  The Holy Spirit was, essentially, to be Jesus’ replacement.  Now they would have the Holy Spirit—One who would, just like Jesus, minister to them in all the ways that He had.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.
He is the Spirit of truth…
John 14:16 and 17

   (read the context in verses 15-26)

What an incredible promise!  Can you imagine?  During the Last Supper, Jesus taught His disciples much about much!  He was preparing them.  And He was helping them to know that, when the time came, they would not be alone. He loved them SO much!  And so His communication with them during this time included instruction and encouragement regarding His promised sending of the Holy Spirit.

Now before the Passover Feast began, Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father.  And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.
John 13:1

Just as real as Jesus was to the disciples when He walked this earth, He is just that real to us, His current-day disciples, through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit continues to be Jesus’ presence with His disciples today—you and me.

Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16

To the same degree that those who were alive in Jesus’ time needed a Helper and a Comforter, so do we; wouldn’t you agree?  Our Lord loves us (you and me) also “…to the last and to the highest degree.”  His promise extends to every one of those who are His; who obey His commands.  His promise of One Who would take His place, to be Helper, Comforter, to teach and guide, to walk alongside is to you and me!  We are not alone!

This song conveys my heart toward you, and my prayer over each of you!  May this incredible, miraculous gift of love—the indwelling of Jesus in your very heart through the Holy Spirit—give you agape love for others, joy, peace, patience, comfort, bravery, and strength.  May your heart be revived…renewed to love and serve the One Who loves you so!  ♥

Praying for each of you!

♥  coleen

Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God lyrics

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blog post, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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At Home with GCH: Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins

May 13, 2013 by 3 Comments

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  Today’s recipe fits into this category being it is low in fat (uses greek yogurt and a small amount of coconut oil or butter), is gluten-free (uses no grains) and is full of really good for you ingredients.

Have you ever used crystallized ginger?  If not, I would like to introduce you to it!  I just love crystallized ginger, and always have some stored in a sealed container in the freezer.  It is a great ingredient in many spicy foods.  We especially enjoy it in Thai food!  Try adding a bit to any baked goodies that have cinnamon, or nutmeg, in them.  I buy mine in the grocery store; look for it either in the Asian food aisle, or the baking goods aisle.  Below I have posted a couple of links for you so that you can check it out!  Enjoy!

2013-05-10 12.11.00

Zucchini Muffins (Gluten Free)    – makes one dozen

Topping Ingredients:
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1 tablespoon sugar (I use coconut sugar)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons almond flour
2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into little cubes 2013-05-10 11.09.39

Muffin Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar (I use coconut sugar)
3 eggs
3/4 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup softened coconut oil
1+1/2 cup shredded zucchini
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 cube crystallized ginger*, grated fine
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1+1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

  • Heat oven to 325
  • Place muffin cup papers in muffin tin
  • Make topping first: mix all dry components of topping together; then drop in the cold butter and quickly use your fingers to incorporate the butter ’til crumbly.  Set aside.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together first 4 muffin ingredients until sugar is dissolved
  • Add shredded zucchini (and crystallized ginger, if using) to the wet ingredients; stir well
  • In a large bowl, mix together the flours, spices, and baking soda
  • Add wet ingredients to the dry, mixing until incorporated
  • Divide batter into muffin cups evenly
  • Sprinkle on almond topping
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes ’til toothpick comes out clean

*Here is where you can buy crystallized ginger .  I have bought this brand before; it is a very nice product.  NOTE: the price listed is for a “12 pack.”  When you buy them individually at WalMart, they run approximately $1.89 or so.  And the grocery store price runs just about the same.

Here is Alton Brown’s recipe to make your own!  I am going to use this recipe this week!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blogpost, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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Let My Life Be the Proof…of His Love

May 11, 2013 by 12 Comments

Let my life be the proof … the proof of Your LOVE
Let my LOVE look like You and what You’re made of
How You lived, how You died—LOVE is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof … the proof of Your LOVE

Do these words echo in your heart as they do my own?  So, may I ask you then, what does ‘…let my life be the proof of Your LOVE…’ look like?  (I would love to know your answer!  Please leave a note in the comment section below.)

Here is one answer that I am sure of:

By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us,
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:16 and 18

If my life truly is the proof of His LOVE, then there is sacrifice as well as action, not simply words.

In the Gospel of John, there is also this record of Jesus teaching His disciples about LOVE, and giving them command to follow.

“When you bear much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My LOVE and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His LOVE.  I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.  This is My commandment: that you LOVE one another [just] as I have LOVED you.  No one has greater LOVE than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.  You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do.  I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing.  But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father….This is what I command you: that you LOVE one another.”  (chapter 13:8-15, 17)

Jesus gave those who walked Him and lived with Him and saw with their very own eyes how He perfectly LOVED many, many examples of how to LOVE.  They were with Him when:

  • He healed (Mark 3:10)
  • He brought back the dead to life (Luke 7:12-15)
  • He cast evil spirits out (Matthew 8:16)
  • He miraculously fed thousands (Mark 6:31-44)
  • He saved a sinful woman from being stoned to death (John 8:3-11)
  • He touched lepers (Mark 1:40-45)
  • He actually washed their own feet (John 13:5-13)
  •  A few of them were even there when, dying on the Cross, He asked His Father to forgive those crucifying Him (Luke 23:34).

They were eyewitnesses and recipients of His compassion and His care and His LOVE.

Jesus not only taught them by His example but He clearly and purposefully gave them instructions for when He was gone.

This is how everyone will know that you are My disciples,
if you have LOVE for one another.
John 13:35

Simply put, LOVE—in order to be LOVE—must be shown through our actions, not just through our words and how we feel.  Our LOVING actions ARE the proof.  When we choose to obey God and to LOVE others in the way that He has told us…it is LOVE just like Jesus’ love.  Here’s the best list of actions that ARE the proof that I know….

Love is patient,
Love is kind and is not jealous;
Love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly;
It does not seek its own, is not provoked,
does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness,
but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails;
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

And lastly—but of vital importance—is to always remember who we are AND Whose we are!  Jesus pointedly stated,

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

Nothing.  (ummm, that IS what Jesus said.)  Nothing of importance, nothing of value, nothing of eternal weight.  But, as we abide in Him, and follow His direction and example, we can be instruments in the Master’s hand.  We can be part of His purpose and plan.  Our lives CAN be the proof of His LOVE!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Will you pray with me, please?

Dear Lord, how incredibly thankful we are that You did not just demand that we LOVE…You prepared our hearts. You gave us examples (oh, so many!). You promised to help us. You gave us much instruction. You gave us the Holy Spirit to be our Helper!  We so desire to LOVE as You LOVED, Lord!  We so yearn to be Your hands and feet!  We so want to help to draw others to You, as we have been drawn!  Please help us to be humble, recognizing our immense need for Your help!  By God’s grace and mercy, may we bring glory to our Father as we live lives that ARE the proof of Your LOVE!  Thank You, Lord…we pray and ask these things in Your name, amen!

Let all that you do be done in LOVE.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Praying for each of you!

♥  coleen

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At Home with GCH: Caprese Salad

May 6, 2013 by 4 Comments

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  This week I am sharing a dish that I often prepare for gatherings—Caprese Salad, aka Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato Salad.  Here we are thick in the season of bridal showers and graduation parties and Mother’s Day  and Father’s Day celebrations.  Today I made this for a bridal shower, and so I multiplied the recipe 4X.  It served over 40 ladies as a side dish on the salads table.  If you are preparing this in advance, add the vinegar and olive oil just prior to serving.

IMG_0222

Caprese Salad

8 ounces fresh mozzarella
1/2 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
basil * (fresh is best); if using dried, 1/2-3/4 teaspoon)
kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (I use ‘white’ balsamic)
1-2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

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Easy-peasy!  Depending on the size of the fresh mozzarella you have bought, you might need to cut the balls of mozzarella into small, bite-size pieces; halve the tomatoes, and sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste.  Thinly slice the basil*.  Add the sliced basil to the seasoned tomatoes and cheese.  Pour a small amount of olive oil and some of the balsamic vinegar over and gently mix. Taste; add more vinegar and olive oil, if necessary.  Serve immediately.

*tip: stack 3-4 basil leaves; tightly roll-up (like a tiny cigar!); then carefully slice into very thin slices. You have now accomplished the technique known as ‘chiffonade!’  You are amazing!  :-)

 

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥ coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this series, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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LOVE One Another

May 4, 2013 by 10 Comments

Last week, I brought up a simple fact: loving God = obedience to Him.  After delving into the Scriptures, we were convinced that there is no way around it: if we want to love God we must obey His commands.

For this is what LOVE for God is: to keep His commands.
1 John 5:3

This week, we will look at one very specific area in which our obedience (or disobedience) clearly shows our LOVE for Him—our LOVE for one another.

1 John 4:21
And we have this command from Him:
The one who LOVES God must also LOVE his brother.

God specifically communicates, just as distinctly as in 1 John 5:3, that LOVE for Him requires obedience.  If we LOVE God, we keep His commands—we obey Him.  His command in this area is that we must also LOVE our brother (and sister).  And we are encouraged that ‘yes! I CAN do this!’ because we know that His commands are not too hard for us “…His commands are not a burden…” (1 John 5:3b).

Jesus was preparing His disciples for His soon-coming death, resurrection and departure.  One of the very important things that He spoke to them about was this very thing—LOVE—when He told them,

This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples,
if you have LOVE for one another.
John 13:35

Think about that for a moment, please.  Was there ever anyone who loved more, or better, or more completely, or selflessly than our Lord?  No…not ever.  But, we understand from His communication with His disciples that they would be recognized as His by their LOVE for one another.  Just amazing, isn’t it?  Truly, I believe, we also are recognized as His by our LOVE for one another.  How blessed are we!!!

We all know the ‘LOVE’ chapter of the Bible…that’s right, 1 Corinthians 13.  Contained in that portion of the Scriptures is God’s definition of what LOVE is.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient,
Love is kind and is not jealous;
Love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly;
It does not seek its own, is not provoked,
does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness,
but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails;

Dear children, let us not LOVE with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18

The actions  are clearly defined for us in 1 Corinthians chapter 13:

  • being patient
  • kind
  • displaying no jealousy
  • or bragging
  • not being arrogant
  • acting becomingly (appropriately)
  • being selfless
  • not being provoked
  • not worrying about wrongs done to us
  • not rejoicing in unrighteousness
  • rejoicing in truth
  • bearing and believing and hoping and enduring all things

These are the actions—the attitudes of our hearts—that show, or prove, or display our LOVE.  Words are easy to say…but actions show the truth.  Amen?

Praying for you each (please pray for me, too!) as you endeavor to be obedient and to treasure the commands of our God.  Remember, loving God = obedience to His commands.  He has commanded that we LOVE one another and to LOVE with actions, not just idle words.

Let all that you do be done in LOVE.
1 Corinthians 16:14

Praying for each of you!

♥  coleen

LOVE God, LOVE People (lyrics)

how can i thank You for the way that you freely gave
LOVE so beautiful, unconditionally
had to stop, take a break, feelin’ good today
everything’s wonderful…You didn’t have to do this for me
but then i look and see all of the suffering, i wanna do something
but something’s gotta start with me

i can’t give it ‘til i live it
now that my eyes are open, teach me how to LOVE

LOVE God…LOVE people!  LOVE my neighbor as myself
my brother, my sister; everybody LOVE somebody

and now it’s time to make a change—revolution day
put it into action…live compassionately
you take the black and the white…red, yellow, brown
life gets better, it just gets better when we
we look around and see all of humanity
waiting on someone—someone is you and me

you can’t give it ‘til you live it
now that your heart is open, just reach out and LOVE

you can’t give it ‘til you live it
you can’t live it until you give it away
you can’t give it ‘til you live it
now that your heart is wide open, you gotta give all of your LOVE

you can’t live without giving LOVE
so let your heart be open; just reach out and, just reach out and LOVE <3

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen, you may email her at:

Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com, or leave a comment below.

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At Home with GCH: Gluten-Free Cornbread Mini-Muffins

April 29, 2013 by 1 Comment

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes. This week we are making Gluten-free Cornbread Mini-Muffins.

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They fit right into our healthy but oh-so-yummy category because they are:

  • full of fiber
  • low in sugar—and non-refined sugar, at that!
  • very low in fat
  • gluten-free

Last month, a few friends and I began a journey of reducing excess in our lives.  The first area we tackled was food.  Uh-huh…you read that right.  So, right off the bat, sugar, flour, and caffeine were eliminated.  (Can you say detox?  We did…and it was good!)  I learned many things over those four weeks one of which was that I knew that refined white sugar and wheat flour were permanently removed from our eating lifestyle.  My husband, Robert, and I purged our pantry of all wheat: pasta, cake and cookie mixes, all-purpose wheat flour, crackers, snacks, cookies, and a few stray cans of condensed soup were even found and tossed!

I had been dipping my toe into the gluten-free baking world for awhile.  My daughter, Kassia,  exclusively bakes with gluten-free flours and is a fantastic baker.  She is my hands-on instructor in the field and has taught me so much!  (Thank you, Kassia!!!  Love you!)  So, after purging the bad out…I found I had quite a few basics to get started with.  For those of you considering doing the same, there are any number of really good websites to peruse and follow.  At the bottom of this post, I have listed just a few of my favorites.  These women all are quite knowledgeable, their recipes can be trusted, they are very skilled, and have been baking gluten-free for many years.  Please consider trying a few of their recipes, and wandering around their websites where you can learn and experiment!  Each of them also has tons of valuable information on how to set-up a gluten-free pantry, the types of flours and starches to buy (and why you should consider those particular products).

You will probably be surprised to know that, to get started, you won’t need to go out and spend tons of money…. I would suggest buying a few products that are new to your pantry each week.  Each of the ingredients that I used in this recipe can be purchased at Super Wal-Mart, or Whole Foods, and probably at your favorite grocery store also.  May I suggest, too, that you do not hesitate to purchase some of these products online; I have and will continue to do so.

So, here is this week’s gluten-free recipe.  We are having these with my Veggie Chili…oh, yum!  Enjoy!

Gluten-free Cornbread Mini-Muffins   (makes approximately 32-36)

Ingredients:  IMG_0212
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup millet flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour/starch
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon psyllium husk (unflavored metamucil!)
3 tablespoons sugar, of your choice
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup milk, of your choice
1/4 cup melted butter, slightly cooled

1 tablespoon sugar, to sprinkle (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425.  Thoroughly grease mini-muffin pan (this recipe makes 30-36).   Melt butter; set aside to cool slightly.  Combine dry ingredients; stir well.  In a small bowl, whisk eggs; then add milk and melted butter.  Whisk together ‘til combined.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.  Stir ‘til smooth but don’t overbeat.  Fill muffin tins 2/3 full.  If desired, sprinkle a tiny bit of sugar over top of batter.  Bake for 12-15 minutes, ‘til just slightly browned and springs back when lightly touched with finger.  Keep your eye on them; don’t overbake.  Cool in pan for 2 minutes.  Loosen by running small spatula around edge.  Remove to cooling rack.  Enjoy plain, or with butter, honey, or marmalade.  Excellent toasted, too!

Here are links to a few of my trusted gluten-free websites:

http://www.elanaspantry.com/

http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com/

http://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/

God loves you!   ♥   (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this recipe, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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Loving God = Obedience to Him

April 27, 2013 by 10 Comments

I am going to ask a seemingly ridiculous question.  Do you love God?  Yes, really; this is not a rhetorical question!  Alright, here’s another one: How about Jesus…do you love Him? Without any stretch of the imagination, I can see y’all enthusiastically nodding your heads!  Of course you are…me, too!  Oh, how we love Him so!

So then, if/since we do so VERY much love our heavenly Father and our Lord then we will equally affirm that we live out the following statements of our Lord’s…

If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.
John 14:15

If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]….
Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching.
And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine,
but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me.
(verses 23 and 24)

So I ask you, Jesus girl, follower of the Master, fellow-believer, child of God, “Is there any other way to REALLY love Him other than obeying?”  The answer—Jesus’ answer—is a simple, decisive, emphatic ’no.’  Oh, there are other ways to demonstrate our love for Him, such as prayer, praise, worship through song, service to others, love for others, etc.

But loving God = obedience to Him.

There is only one way—His way.  We have not been left on our own, to figure out how to obey His commands or even to figure out what His commands are!  By the grace of God, we have a ‘ rule book,’ guideline, structure.  We have the Bible—His Holy Words!  God has never left His people—starting with Adam and his Eve…to Abraham…to Moses and the children of Israel…to David…to Solomon…to the long line of prophets that God used to bring His Words to His people…to John the Baptist…to Jesus’ Apostles…to Paul…to us—without direction, without reminders of His commands, without loving reproof to help them back to the Truth.  Our God is a Faithful Father Who is always there to help and guide and correct and lead, so that we can live lives of obedience to His Words.

We know that an intrinsic part of obedience is knowing His Word and keeping, or treasuring, His Word in our hearts and minds.

I have treasured (hid) Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.
Psalms 119:11

 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.
Psalms 40:8

In the epistle of 1st John, Jesus’ words are reiterated by the Apostle John.

 But he who keeps (treasures) His Word,
truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected.
chapter 2, verse 5

For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands.
Now His commands are not a burden…
chapter 5, verse 3

I am sure that you, my friend, are just like me—we SO yearn to show our love for our God!  We voice our love for Him often and passionately!  We sing our love for Him out from the depths of our hearts in songs of praise and worship and adoration!  Let us never, ever, not ever forget what comes first…what proves our love for Him…what is the start and finish of our love for Him…is a life lived in obedience to His Words.

Praying for each of you!

♥ coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com, or leave a comment below.

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At Home with GCH: Chicken Shepherds Pie with Cauliflower – Parmesan Topping

April 22, 2013 by 7 Comments

Now that title’s a mouthful, hmmm?  Pun FULLY intended!  My husband loves Shepherd’s Pie—and any variation I can come up with!  And so I indulge him!   This recipe fits into our healthy but oh-so-yummy category in a couple of ways:

  • it is low-carb (with the absence of mashed potato topping)
  • it  is made with natural ingredients that you can pronounce (as the gravy is made from scratch)
  • it is low in fat/high in protein (using boneless chicken breast as the protein and just 1/3 cup of shredded cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan)

This recipe could easily be doubled and baked in an 11 x 13 baking dish.

Chicken Shepherd’s Pie with Parmesan-Cauliflower Topping

2012-12-05 19.56.17

Filling Ingredients:

1 sweet (vidalia-type) onion, chopped in pieces about 1/2 inch
4 ounces baby bella mushrooms, wiped clean sliced chunky
2-3 tablespoons chopped garlic in oil (from a jar)
3+ teaspoons olive oil
1# boneless chicken breast, pounded flat, cut into 1″ cubes

1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup white wine (or broth)
1+1/4 cups chicken broth

1 bag frozen mixed vegetables (your choice) set out to defrost

Topping Ingredients:

1 medium-sized head of cauliflower, cored and chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/3 cup shredded cheese (sharp cheddar, smoked gouda) *use a flavorful cheese

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375.  Bring a medium-sized pot of salted water to a boil. Chop cauliflower into small pieces and simmer ‘til  soft enough to mash easily (10-12 minutes). Drain cauliflower very well in a colander; place back into pot and  use an immersion blender or hand beater to “mash” the cauliflower with the milk and Parmesan. Season very well with salt and pepper to taste.

While the cauliflower cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan and saute the cut-up chicken adding the chopped garlic for the last minute (don’t let the garlic burn).  Saute ’til just getting brown but don’t overcook.  Remove pan from stove; set aside cooked chicken.  Wipe frying pan with paper towels to remove bits. Then add 2 additional tablespoons olive oil; heat over medium, and saute chopped onions for 3 minutes.  Add chopped mushrooms and saute for 4-5 minutes more to caramelize.  Reduce heat to low; add 1 tablespoon butter, and sprinkle flour over the mushroom-onion mixture, stirring with a whisk.  Cook this mixture for 3 minutes occasionally scraping the pan.  Then gradually whisk in the wine ’til the mixture is smooth.  Gradually whisk in the  broth and your gravy will come together.  Gently simmer for 5 minutes.  Add back the cooked chicken and the defrosted veggies and heat together for 1-2 minutes.

Spread the chicken-vegetable-gravy mixture in the bottom of a 8 cup casserole dish.  Top with the cauliflower mixture, and spread across the pan almost to the edges.  Bake for 20 minutes, and then top with the grated cheese.  Continuing baking another 10 minutes or so ’til bubbly.  If top is not lightly browned, can be carefully placed under broiler for 2-3 minutes.  Enjoy!

God loves you!   ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen, in regards to this blog, please email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com.

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Your Word Have I Hid in My Heart

April 20, 2013 by 12 Comments

 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalms 119:11

It doesn’t matter whether one is a child learning to memorize Scripture, or an adult who has endeavored to walk in the Truth for twenty years, or a new believer just learning the power that can be wielded by God’s Word—this can be the cry of every single child of God. May I be so bold as to say, ‘This SHOULD be the cry of every one of God’s children!’

As I studied this particular verse, and read the beautiful expression of it in different Bible versions, I saw such a bigger picture.  Here, listen:

  • Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
  • In my heart I have hid Thy saying, That I sin not before Thee.
  • In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.
  • I have treasured your promise in my heart so that I may not sin against you.

The word hidden is also translated as ‘treasured’ and ‘store up.’  I think it is like certain items that we treasure and hide, or store away.  I keep cards.  Birthday, Christmas, Happy Hearts Day, encouragement, thank you, miss you, Thanksgiving, sympathy cards…I keep ‘em all.  Why?  It is because I treasure the words of the loved ones who have given them to me and so I hide them away and store them.  (It is a BIG box!)  Similarly with God’s Words…we treasure them and so we hide them in our hearts storing them away.

Here are a few other verses that we can hide in our hearts to help us, to strengthen us:

I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.
Psalms 40:8

The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks with justice.  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Psalms 37:30 and 31

My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.
Proverbs 7:1

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you,
Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures,
Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.
For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity,
That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.
Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path.
For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you.
from Proverbs chapter 2

One last point: in every single one of the translations of this verse in different Bible versions, one thing remains the same.  (Did you notice it, too?)  “…that I may not sin against You.”  The motivation of our hearts, yes?  Our hearts desire is to love God and be pleasing to Him.  We know from the Scriptures that the way to do that is to obey Him.  We obey God by having His Words hidden (treasured, stored up) in our hearts so that we will not sin against Him.

John 14:15
If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.

1 Samuel 15:22
Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

1 John 5:3
For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands….

The Word of God is our most powerful weapon against sin.  But useless are words on a page that are not hidden, treasured, and stored in the heart.

My prayer before our loving Father is that you…

…Put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness,] and the readiness of the Gospel of peace.
Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:13-17

Praying for each of you!

♥ coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com, or leave a comment below.

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