November 19, 2024

Give Love

December 19, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

Each week during the season of Advent, our blogs will focus on a central theme which is associated with the coming of Christ—His Advent.  This week’s theme is LOVE.  Christians throughout the world celebrate Advent.  Some light candles or sing songs; some give gifts or  hang wreaths.  All of these are simple joyous ways of extending the celebration of Jesus’s coming beyond a mere 24 hours on December 25. Our prayer is that these devotionals throughout this season of Advent would help you to celebrate His first Coming and anticipate with the peace and joy of His second Coming.

* * * * * * *

Christmas is all so much about giving. Even the stingiest folks that we know…the ones with the ‘bah! humbug!’ attitude…understand the giving of the season.  Little children understand about giving; big kids, too.  So much of our conversation at this time of the year centers around the subject of giving.

Now…back to my first sentence.  What I first wrote is true. ‘Christmas IS all about giving.’  THAT is the absolute, total, complete, whole TRUTH!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16

But, wait…let’s look at those words again.  God ‘so loved the world…’ His love was the motivation.  And what He gave (His only begotten Son, Jesus), well that’s love, too.  Almighty God has set the standard for giving—LOVE.  Giving should be all about love.

  • Just like God, love should be the motivation for our giving.
  • Just like God, love should be what we give.

And we, as His children, have been enabled and equipped to be ABLE to love.

…for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts
through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5

So, in the midst of the sewing, and the wrapping, and the baking, and the shopping, and all the other activities, here’s a challenge I would like to set before each of us: let’s purpose to give love!  I can only begin to imagine the myriad of opportunities that we will have to give love if we look to do so!  Start small, perhaps…give love by smiling at those you meet.  Whether wandering through the aisles or in line at the grocery store…look into the eyes of those you pass and smile.  (Oh!  And pray for them!)   Or go a little bigger…there are so very many needs in this world!  Go to a battered women’s shelter and sit and talk.  Visit an assisted living community and sing Christmas carols.  If we ask God to lead us and give us opportunity to show His love…I KNOW He will!

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:7-11

* * * * *

Oh Dear Father, You have shown such a perfect standard for giving.  And we thank You for that! And You have enabled us to show Your love by pouring Your love into our hearts.  Help us, Father, to reach out with that love.  Help us to go beyond our comfort level, and be love to those who need love.  May You be pleased by our obedience and our actions.  And may the love we show draw others to You.  Thank You for Your love, gracious Father!  We love You so!  In Jesus’ precious name, we pray.  Amen.  <3

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Pignoli Cookies

December 18, 2013 by

One of the ways I like to mix up the variety of baked goodies included on a cookie platter is to include some cookies traditionally made in other countries.  Spritz cookies from the Scandanavian region, and Pfefferneuse from Germany, and French Madelines are among the varieties that we enjoy!  But the following cookies are a must-have!

Pignoli (pronounce it peen-yO-lee) cookies…a traditional Italian cookie. Their name comes from the delicious tiny pine nuts that are the outer layer of these yummy cookies.  Have you ever had one?  They are very decadent  with a softish, creamy almond paste middle and a slightly crunchy exterior surrounded by those delectable pine nuts. And these are very easy to put together. They are a tiny mouthful and so cute with all those toasted pine nuts on the outside. I think that they are a must for our cookie platter!  Be sure to hide a couple away for yourself!  They disappear quickly!

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These little morsels have a pronounced almond flavor that comes from the hit of almond three ways: the almond paste, almond extract, and almond flour. They are gluten free, grain free, dairy free but not sugar free!  You can bake them to be just a little on the softer side, so that just the outsides are crisp and the insides are super soft and moist; or, the way my husband, Robert, likes them—a little crispier and chewier by baking just 2-3 minutes longer.  Just keep an eye on them…the pine nuts can burn…you DEFINITELY do not want that!   Enjoy!

Pignoli Cookies

Ingredients:
1 can almond paste  *** 2013-12-17 22.49.02
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspooon vanilla extract
1/2 cup blanched almond flour
1 extra-large egg white, lightly beaten
6 ounces pine nuts
confectioners (powdered) sugar, optional

*** be sure to purchase almond paste not pie filling

Directions:

  • preheat oven to 325
  • line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  • place the nuts onto a dinner plate
  • in a food processor, break up the almond paste into small pieces, and pulse with the sugar, salt, and almond flour
  • once the mixture is finely ground, slowly add the extracts and egg white just ‘til the dough comes together
  • dump the dough onto a piece of waxed paper
  • use a tablespoon measure to figure out the correct amount of dough and then pinch off pieces this size dropping them into the nuts (keeping your fingertips just slightly wet helps so much!)
  • then, working quickly, roll a piece of dough covered with nuts into a small ball and place it on the lined baking sheet
  • form all of the dough into cookies in this manner, placing them 1+1/2 inches apart
  • bake the cookies 20 to 25 minutes
  • remove from oven and allow to cool 5 minutes on pan and then completely cool on a rack
  • optional: dust with confectioners sugar before serving

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

♥  coleen

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Cookie Week – GF Chocolate Chip Cookies

December 16, 2013 by

2013-12-15 23.12.46

Cookies.  A lovely tradition of giving during the Christmas holidays.  There are cookies to make for exchanges.  There are cookies to make to fill tins and baskets that are given to friends and loved ones.  There are cookies to make for the cookie monsters in your own home! (I have one of those…do you, too?)

Our own Dana, Wendy, Amy (and me!) who blog here for At Home w/ GCH are each sharing a favorite cookie recipe!  Dana started us off last Friday with her Monkey Bites (Paleo Banana Chocolate Chip cookies).  They looked so moist and yummy!  And today I am sharing Gluten Free Chocolate Chip cookies. *See below for adaptation for a dairy-free version.*  Can’t wait to see Wendy and Amy’s delicious contributions later in the week, too!

AND…we will be having a ‘virtual’ cookie exchange over among our Girlfriends Coffee Hour – Fellowship group.  Come join us Tuesday through Friday as our sisters post a picture of their own homemade cookies…and possibly share their recipe, too!

My recipe for Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies starts off with putting together a basic mix.  I would strongly suggest doubling the ingredients so that you can make a batch AND have the basics mix set to go to quickly throw together another batch!  Or perhaps you could take the second batch and put into a large Mason jar and gift someone with it!  Just sayin’!!!

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix2013-12-15 21.10.34

(makes approximately 4 cups; enough for 4 dozen cookies)

Ingredients:
2+1/4 cups good quality all-purpose gluten-free flour blend
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 cup coconut sugar
12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Place all ingredients (NOT the chocolate chips) into a large bowl and whisk together well.  If using immediately, pour in the chocolate chips.  If not, pour the mix into a storage jar and add the chocolate chips right on top.  Seal well.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:2013-12-15 21.25.04
1 batch of above GF Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
8 tablespoons butter (unsalted), room temperature
2 extra-large eggs, room temperature
1+1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract (NOT imitation, please!)

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 325.  Line two (2) large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
  • Beat together the room temperature butter and eggs to thoroughly incorporate; stir in the vanilla.
  • Pour 4 cups (or one batch) of the cookie mix into a very large bowl.  Stir in the liquid ingredients and thoroughly blend.
  • Drop balls of dough (approximately 1+1/4″) onto the prepared baking sheets.  Place the baking sheets (one at a time) into the freezer for 5 minutes to firm up.
  • After the chill time, put cookies (one sheet at a time) into the oven.  Bake for 12-14 minutes (depending on the size of your cookie balls) or ‘til the bottoms are beginning to brown.
  • Remove from the oven.  (I carefully remove the cookies ON the parchment paper from the cookie sheet directly onto a cooling rack—works beautifully!)
  • Store in an airtight tin or jar.  Enjoy!

*To make these cookies dairy-free, simply substitute 1 stick of butter-flavor shortening for the 8 tablespoons of butter; and purchase chocolate chips with no milk or milk products.  I use the Ghiradelli or the Enjoy Life brands.

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

Merry Christmas from mr. hayden and i!

♥  coleen

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Go Tell It On the Mountain

December 16, 2013 by

gchcarolsbloggraphic

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.

The shepherds feared and trembled when lo, above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Saviour’s birth!

Down in a lonely manger the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

lyrics: John Work, Jr., music: Af­ri­can-Amer­i­can spir­it­u­al, performed by: Sara Evans

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Go tell!  How do you voice your ‘halleluJAH!’ during this season?  Such an opportunity…such open doors to speak out our praise of our great God and His provision of love for all mankind!

Angel Gabriel was the first to go tell! when he was sent to the young Mary:
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
Luke 1:26-31

An angel along with a host of angels were also sent to go tell! the good news to the shepherds:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”
Luke 2:8-13

When the shepherds were returning from Bethlehem where they had seen the proof of the angels’ good news, they also had the compulsion to go tell!
When they had seen Him <the Babe>, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child,
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Verses 17-20

Just as the Lord was leaving  and returning to Heaven, the disciples were commanded to go tell!:
Jesus came up…to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

And we, too, have a message to go tell!
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Romans 10:13-15 NLT

Oh, halleluJAH!  We HAVE heard, we DO know, and we DO believe!  So let’s go tell! 

so whether you GO TELL on a mountain, or on a city street, or at the beach…in your workplace, or at your child’s school…in the grocery store, or on that long checkout line at the ‘big box’ store…at the supper table, or as you talk with your kiddos and grandbabies—just GO TELL! 

* * * * *

Lord, we love You oh-so-very much!  And we are oh-so-very thankful for Your perfect Gift of Love to us!  May our oh-so-very full hearts and lips just spill over with praises!  (And, Father, if we should feel hesitant or anxious to do so…please encourage us through Your Holy Spirit.  Remind us that we are Your ambassadors!  And we have an awesome message to tell!  Thank You!)  Praying and praising and asking these things in Jesus’ precious Name.  Amen.

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Cream of ‘Just About Anything’ Soup and Sauce Mix

December 9, 2013 by

2013-12-08 20.35.59So, if you are like me, you are in the thick-of-it-all…the sewing/knitting/painting of gifts; the baking of cookies (and more cookies); the caroling and school concerts; the shopping (online AND out in the stores); and the wrapping of all these treasures you have shopped for and made with love!  But supper is still expected (I KNOW, right?) on our tables each evening by our loved ones.  Most of us really don’t want to be going through the drive-thru and bringing home ‘less than the best’ to feed our families.  However, time escapes us some days and we have not prepared for suppertime!

2013-12-08 21.36.25

 

One great solution to this dilemma is to put together a yummy CrockPot meal early in the day.  At this time of year, my CrockPot remains out on the counter…handy and ready to be filled with yummy goodness.  However, I find that many recipes designed for the CrockPot call for a can of condensed soup of one variety or another.  And that creates a problem in our household: 1) canned condensed soup contains wheat (we eat gluten free, remember), and 2) there is just too much sodium (and a few other not-so-good-for-you ingredients) in a can of condensed soup.  Below is a recipe for a mix you can put together and keep in your pantry (OR gift to someone else in a cute little jar with a label giving directions).  Here, too, is a link to a great resource for quite a few ways to use this ‘Cream of Just About Anything’ soup and sauce mix.  Enjoy!

Ingredients: 2013-12-08 20.23.15
3 cups nonfat instant dry milk
1 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup chicken bouillon granules
2 tablespoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions:

  • Mix all the above ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk.
  • Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place.

On our menu for this week are two recipes using the CrockPot and a portion of this healthy but oh-so-yummy ‘cream of just about anything’ soup.  One will be Chicken and Mushrooms in Wine Sauce and the other will be Beef Stroganoff.  How about you?  Are you already planning on utilizing your CrockPot to save you time but still feed your loved ones a yummy, healthy, satisfying meal?  Please share with us about what’s on your menu this week in the comments below!

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

♥  coleen

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Hot Cocoa Mix (and more!)

December 3, 2013 by

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year
There’ll be much mistletoe-ing
And hearts will be glowing when loved ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time, it’s the most wonderful time
It’s the most wonderful time, ♫ ♪ ♫ it’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

Oh, don’t you know it!  There’s all that AND the celebration of God’s love come to earth—Jesus’ birth!  Oh, yes, and baking and cooking and gift-making! Lots of joy and fun and happiness!
This week I am sharing a homemade Hot Cocoa mix with you. This would be great kept in your own pantry!  However, one of my favorite things to do with it is to package them up in cute little jars with handmade labels and gift them to loved ones. They pack up nicely, too, to be mailed.  If you really want to go over the top, google a recipe for ‘Chocolate Dipped Spoons’…easy-peasy!  Also here is a quick link.

2013-12-02 14.29.40
Next week, I will share a recipe for a ‘Cream of Just-About-Anything’ Soup and Sauce Mix.  What makes me happiest with these mixes is that they are all gluten-free and all fall well within our healthy but oh-so-yummy point of view!  Try them!  Gift them!  Enjoy them!

Hot Cocoa Mix

Ingredients: 2013-12-02 14.16.18
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup dehydrated nonfat powdered milk
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup baking stevia OR 1+1/2 cup “measures like sugar” sweetener (I used Truvia) * of course you can choose to use plain old sugar
Add-ins:
small peppermint candies
mini chocolate chips
tiny marshmallows
Options:
Mocha: substitute 2 tablespoons of instant coffee crystals for a like amount of cocoa powder
Peppermint: include a small jar of peppermint extract (“add 1-3 drops to each prepared cup”)

Directions (for preparing mix):
Mix everything together in a medium mixing bowl until ingredients are well combined. Pour mixture into a closed container, such as a mason jar for a beautiful and festive gift! If you are ‘adding’ anything, just pour onto the top of the mix and cover.

2013-12-02 22.53.52

Directions (print on a tag to attach):
To enjoy hot cocoa, mix 1 tablespoon dry mix with your choice of: 1 cup HOT almond milk, OR skim milk, OR water. Stir until hot cocoa mix is completely dissolved and well combined.  Add additional sweetener (if necessary).

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

♥  coleen

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How Suddenly a Baby Cried

December 1, 2013 by

gchcarolsbloggraphic

“How suddenly a baby cried and all forever changed.
Through history soul by soul have come to find His healing grace.
He filled my troubled heart with peace, with hope of endless worth.
My voice will join the song of praise that tells Messiah’s birth.”

How Suddenly a Baby Cried ~ Keith and Kristyn Getty

A baby’s first cry gets the attention of everyone around, yes? At the very moment of birth, all in attendance pause to hear a baby’s first cry—expectant parents, other relatives and loved ones, the nurses, doctors, and other caregivers—and then sigh with joy, with relief and with thankfulness at that wonderful sound! When the baby Jesus was born, His cry, too, brought great joy to his parents, Joseph and Mary. Think of the setting:

And while they were there, the time came for her delivery,
And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn;
and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room or place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:6 and 7

Joseph and Mary had traveled many, many miles to come to Bethlehem to register in the census. Upon their arrival, there was nowhere for them to stay but in a stable…and this is where Mary birthed her firstborn, Jesus, God’s Son. Not the best surroundings! So I would think baby Jesus’ first cry meant oh-so-very much to them!

But, remember, both Joseph and Mary were fully aware of just Who this tiny Baby was! Both had been told of the significance of this Baby’s life by angels. (Read the records here: Luke 1:26-38;  Matthew 1:18-25). They each had contemplated, wouldn’t you think, for the entire duration of Mary’s pregnancy the magnitude and the awesome, eternal implications of just Who their Son would be! Think for a moment…place yourself in their sandals…when the baby was birthed and took His first breath and released a cry, can you only imagine the praises that must have welled up out of their hearts? Can you imagine the look they must have exchanged as they realized that the promises that the angel had made to each of them came forth into fruition? That initial cry of baby Jesus truly changed the world! Perhaps Mary remembered the words she spoke when she was visiting her cousin Elizabeth:

Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
…because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy.
His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.
Luke 1: 46-47 and 49-50

And so we do also exclaim and praise! Even now, don’t we love to sing these beautiful carols and anthems and songs that tell of Jesus’ coming and His birth. We are reminded of all that first little cry meant as it sounded out that the Savior was born! He had come…just as promised throughout the ages!

As the words of this beautiful song say,
“How suddenly a baby cried and all forever changed.
Through history soul by soul have come to find His healing grace.
He filled my troubled heart with peace, with hope of endless worth.
My voice will join the song of praise that tells Messiah’s birth.”

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

May your voice rise up in praise and thankfulness to your heavenly Father!  Because of His great love for you, He sent His Son to redeem and save you; to rescue you and make available to you a relationship with Him for all eternity.  Never—don’t ever—doubt His love!

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38 and 39

God bless you!    ♥    Merry Christmas!

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His Love Endures Forever

November 26, 2013 by

 

Don’t you just love to sing this praise anthem?!!?  The words give our hearts such an awesome way to acknowledge God’s goodness and praise Him for His enduring love!

This praise-filled phrase—He is good; His love endures forever—is recorded in many places throughout the Old Testament.  One of the most outstanding records, in my opinion, is found in the 2nd Book of Chronicles, specifically chapters 5-7.

We see (2 Chronicles 5) King Solomon calling the elders of Israel, the leaders, the heads of the tribes (along with all the people of Israel) to accompany the Ark of the Covenant to its long-awaited proper home in the Temple. (It had been his father, David, to whom God has given the vision and provision for the building of the Temple, which was never accomplished in his lifetime.)  The priests brought the Ark to its proper, anointed place in the Holy of Holies.  Surrounding the altar were the Levites and the priests ready to praise in unison with all their instruments and their voices.

The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice.
They raised their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments,
in praise to the LORD: For He is good; His faithful love endures forever.
The temple, the LORD’s temple, was filled with a cloud.
And because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering,
for the glory of the LORD filled God’s temple.
(Verses 13 and 14)

The record of the dedication of the Temple continues (chapters 6 and 7) as Solomon prays and blesses the people.

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven
and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices,
and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
2 Chronicles 7:1

The peoples response?

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down
and the glory of the LORD above the temple,
they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground,
and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,
“He is good; His love endures forever.”
Verse 3

And throughout the continued sacrifices and the ceremony of dedicating the Temple, continual praise “His love endures forever” was offered to God by the priests and the people along with the sacrifices of animals.

And, as such, this <without the animal sacrifice!> should be our continual praise. We are oh-so-very blessed!  The provision and supply that our great God brings to our lives deserves our continual exclamation, “He is good! His love endures forever!”  Just as the psalmist communicates in every single verse of Psalm 136, our conversation and our communication  should always include this praise.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His (steadfast) love endures forever.
Verse 1

As we thank God for His goodness our hearts should overflow with words of gratitude and praise confessing that truly, “His love endures forever!” … Perhaps in your celebration of Thanksgiving with your friends and loved ones, you could have a time of praise and worship and use these same words that David, and Solomon, and the Israelites used to declare God’s goodness.  Because no matter what the age, the situation, the circumstance, the season, the time, the day or the hour… ‘He is good! His love endures forever!’

Here are a few different ways this glorious praise is written in different translations:

  • His love endures forever (NIV)
  • His faithful love endures forever (NLT)
  • His lovingkindness is everlasting (NASB)
  • His mercy endureth for ever (KJV)
  • His steadfast love endures forever (ESV)
  • His love is eternal (HCSB)
  • His loyal love endures (NET)
  • His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting (AMP)
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Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

November 25, 2013 by

The countdown has begun!  The lists are made…the shopping for groceries is happening…maybe the forks and knives, plates and napkins have been counted out, too! Just a few days now ‘til we will celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones recognizing the goodness of our great God (and eating some yummy food, too)!

For the past few weeks, we have been sharing some of the dishes that we will be preparing to serve and share; did you take a peek at that scrump-diddly-umptious Mocha Brownie Torte that Dana gave us her recipe for?  Today I am sharing my recipe for an equally delicious dish that is in a totally different category: Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad. This recipe keeps within the parameters of our healthy but oh-so-yummy point of view.  A very light vinaigrette is served on this salad.

I hope you each have a wonderful, thanks-filled, counting your blessings kind of Thanksgiving Day!  May we each always remember how very, very much we have to be thankful for and give thanks to the One Who so mercifully and abundantly and graciously provides for our every need!

Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and lovingkindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and rehearse His deeds with shouts of joy and singing!
Psalms 107:21 and 22

2013-11-24 18.55.52

Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

Ingredients:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3-4 medium beets, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
6 cups fresh arugula (or your favorite lettuce blend)
1/2 cup pistachios
3 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, coarsely crumbled

Directions:
Line a baking sheet with foil. Preheat oven to 450.
Whisk the balsamic vinegar and honey together in a small bowl to blend.
Slowly whisk in the oil. Season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper.
In a different bowl, toss the beets with just enough of the vinaigrette to coat.
Place the beets on the foil-lined baking sheet and roast ‘til the beets are slightly caramelized, stirring once or twice, for about 30 minutes.  Set aside and cool.
Toss the arugula (and/or other lettuces) along with a small amount of the remaining vinaigrette in a large bowl ‘til lightly coated.
Season the salad, to taste, with additional salt and pepper. Place the dressed salad onto a large serving plate.
Arrange the beets around the salad.
Sprinkle with the nuts and small dollops of the goat cheese.
Serve the balance of the vinaigrette alongside in a small pitcher.

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

♥  coleen

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Bless the Lord, o my Soul

November 25, 2013 by

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Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Psalms 103:1 and 2

Now that is what I want to do! How about you? Of course…it comes so easily to the heart of one of God’s children! Oh, how we love to praise and declare His goodness!

I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will [earnestly] remember the wonders of old.
I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds.
Psalms 77:11 and 12

Haven’t we all had times when you have so palpably experienced the goodness and faithfulness of God so intensely that you want to leap in the air and shout and say, “How could I ever doubt You, my God, after this? How could I ever again despair of your help?” And we go along remembering His goodness and blessing…and then…some short time later…we falter. We find ourselves doing just that—being discouraged, and doubting, forgetting our confidence in the goodness and greatness of God. Why does this happen? Perhaps because we so easily forget the evidences of God’s goodness which we ourselves have experienced; not to mention the vast number of records in Scriptures which tell us of God’s faithfulness and His goodness.

What are some of His ‘mighty deeds’…the ‘wonders of old’ spoken of in Psalm 77? Think about it; I am sure you won’t need to think but a moment to recall God’s awesome works! Here’s a few that immediately came to mind—and these are all from the very first book in the Bible:

  • God spoke into existence His Creation (Genesis 1:3-31)
  • God gave Noah His plan for saving a remnant of mankind, along with the animals and the birds (Genesis 6:13-21)
  • God protected mankind from making too much of themselves (Genesis 11:3-9)
  • God promised (Genesis 18:10-15) AND then made a way for a 100 year old man and a 90 year old woman to conceive a child (Genesis 21:1-7)
  • God provided in an incredible way as Abraham intended to sacrifice to God his precious boy…obeying to the uttermost (Genesis 22:1-14)

That God is GREAT in every imaginable way that greatness could possibly be described should be obvious to everyone. Paul reminds us,

Ever since the creation of the world, His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So men are without excuse for, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give him thanks.
Romans 1:20 and 21

We ARE without excuse if we are not continually voicing our gratitude and our thanks! Our great God, the Great I AM, has done many and mighty works throughout time! And His lovingkindness and goodness continue…His faithfulness to each of us is incredible! We each have numerous stories to share praising God for His incredible blessings in our lives. Every day in a variety of ways we should be expressing our thanks.

I will praise the name of God with a song. I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High;
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.
He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.
Psalms 50:14 and 15, 23

* * * * * * *

My prayer…for you and me; let us bless the Lord with all that is within us:
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Psalms 34:1-3

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