November 20, 2024

“I AM” Chapter 6 – Day 5: I AM…Able to Do Anything

August 16, 2013 by

Eph2_10

 

Hasn’t it been such a great joy and encouragement to consider just some of what I am (I AM) and who I am (I AM) IN CHRIST these past couple of weeks?  My heart has been revived and refreshed because of the TRUTH that has been presented in our I AM study.  I am so thankful for all that God revealed to Teresa as she wrote this book.  We have reflected upon the truth of who and what God has made us to be in Christ. Here in the Book of Ephesians, listen to this truth:

 

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through HJesus Christ…In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us…In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will…And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory. — Excerpts from Ephesians 1:3-14

How about a little review?

I AM accepted
Colossians 1:12 and 13
…and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves…

I AM family
Galatians 4:4-7
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.  Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”  So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

I AM free to be me
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

I AM fit for service
Ephesians 1:3-7
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

I AM complete
Colossians 2:9 and 10
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

I AM significant
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

I AM a branch of Christ
John 15:5-8
I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.

I AM God’s workmanship (His masterpiece)
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I AM a minister
Ephesians 4:3-6
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

whew! …or rather… HALLELUJAH!  And who and what I AM in and through Christ leads us to—I AM able to do anything!  His grace covers me!

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

The Apostle Paul, sharing of us struggles to live for God’s glory, tells us what the Lord revealed to him.  This truth applies to our lives, too.  In our weakness(es) we, too, are given the sufficiency of Jesus’ power through His gracious help and provision.  Through all that I AM in Christ, I AM able!  God has provided for us in so many ways!

 

Let’s Pray:

Lord, we offer our hearts to You!  We stand in awe, so amazed and so thankful…hearts full of praise to the One Who has made us accepted, free, in Your family, fit to serve, complete, significant, a branch of the Vine, Your masterpiece, a minister of Yours, and able to do anything!  It is in Your Presence, Your indwelling of our hearts through Your Holy Spirit that we can be anything…and we are!  We are!!!  Thank You, Lord.  May You be honored and glorified as we live today in light of all that You have made us to be.  May our voices and our actions prove “I AM His!”  We praise You and we love You!

Amen.

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Guard My Mouth, Lord

August 14, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3

Now this is not the thing to pray AFTER letting a tirade fly out of your mouth!  RATHER it should be our prayer—perhaps at the opening of each day—before any words even come out.

Oh, sometimes it seems that we truly might have been better equipped if our Creator had chosen to give us a zipper for our lips, do you agree?  But, He Who knows best, chose to give us mouths to speak AND the responsibility to use our lips, our tongues, our words for blessing not cursing.

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, blessing, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.  For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit…’*
1 Peter 3:9 and 10

As in all things that the Lord charges us to do…we are never left alone.  He is always helping us.  So as we pray asking for His help with these mouths and tongues of ours, we can be assured that He WILL help us!  Temptation(s) will come, and sometimes we may feel that we are just going to succumb and sin.  But we have the Lord on our side; He is strengthening us.

[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
Philippians 2:13 AMP

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Today, friends, let’s choose God’s way—and seek His help in guarding our mouths and watching our lips.  May we speak blessings today!

* * * * *

Dear Lord, I so desire to be pleasing to You with my words!  And to be a blessing to those who hear them!  Truly as the psalmist prayed: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  Praying in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

* quoted from Psalm 34

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Ratatouille

August 12, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  Today our series of summer recipes featuring in-season produce continues. Our featured ingredient this week is zucchini!  Here is a link showing the nutritional value of this summer squash as well as it’s health benefits.

As prolific as zucchini is both in our own gardens as well as the farmstands from which we purchase some of our produce, I suppose we could continue for the rest of the summer with recipes utilizing zucchini.  Earlier this year, I posted a recipe for Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins; check it out!

Today’s recipe is for Ratatouille—a yummy melange (mixture) of zucchini and other seasonal veggies!  Ratatouille can be served hot, room temp (my favorite), or even cold.  It can be a delicious side dish served with something yummy off the grill.  It is a tasty alternative as a pizza topping, too.  Our favorite way to enjoy Ratatouille is as a vegetarian entree with the addition of fresh mozzarella pieces; oh yum!   And bread…don’t forget some bread!  A nice crusty baguette or loaf of Italian bread is great!  This is also a dish which can be served—and enjoyed by all—when you have any combo of vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters.

And, of course, I would be remiss to fail to mention my favorite (yours, too?) Ratatouille… Actually, a little rat who yearned to be a French chef.  Remember him?

Ratatouille2013-07-31 18.56.35

Ingredients:
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more as needed
Kosher salt and ground lemon pepper*
1 medium-sized eggplant, cut into cubes
2 medium-sized zucchini, halved and cut into halfmoons
1 red pepper, cubed
1 yellow pepper, cubed
1 large sweet onion, chopped
8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, chopped
3-4 medium tomatoes, chopped
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 stem fresh rosemary, pulled into sprigs
3 tablespoons good balsamic vinegar
optional: 8 ounce container of fresh mozzarella balls

Directions:
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan.  Cook the vegetables, individually, (separately) for 5 or 6 minutes each, seasoning lightly with kosher salt and a few grinds of lemon pepper.  Remove each and place into one large bowl to hold ‘til remainder of veggies (eggplant, zucchini, peppers, onion, mushrooms) are finished. Add additional olive oil as needed.  Combine all of the cooked vegetables back together in the pan, and then stir in the chopped tomatoes, garlic, thyme, and rosemary.  Allow to gently simmer for 20 minutes.  Finally, add the balsamic vinegar, and taste for additional salt and pepper.  Enjoy!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

♥  coleen

_________________________________

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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“I AM” Chapter 5 – Day 5: I AM…Complete

August 9, 2013 by

GFCHmemverse3

Complete!  Could that really be true?!?  For years I struggled, truly suffered, being tempted by the enemy of our souls to doubt the truth and veracity of this fact: I, Coleen Ann Brigit Hayden, AM complete in Him!  I AM!  (And you, my friend, you are complete in Him, too!) ‘How do you  know that?’ you ask?  The Bible tells me so!

For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body,
and you are complete through your union with Christ.
Colossians 2:9 and 10

The word complete communicates that the thing which is complete has no lack or deficiency.  So if we are complete through our union or relationship with Christ then there is no lack or deficiency in all that comes through that relationship.  It is enough.  We are fully, perfectly, completely equipped.  ‘With what?’ you ask?  Well, a couple of days ago in our lesson, Teresa gave us a beautiful graphic which contains the essence of what I am saying.  It presented ‘character traits’ that became ours when we were born-again, or had our spiritual new birth.  Among other things, it said we are:

  • Chosen – 1 Peter 1:2
  • Forgiven –  Colossians 2:13
  • Free – Galatians 5:1
  • Justified – 1 Corinthians 6:11
  • Redeemed – Ephesians 1:7
  • Righteous – Romans 5:9
  • Sanctified – 1 Corinthians 1:30
  • Sealed – Ephesians 1:13

It is ONLY through our relationship or union with Jesus that we are complete—there is nothing,  absolutely nothing, that we can do by ourselves that will make us complete.  Remember who and what we were…

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:1-8

Doesn’t that just melt your heart AND revive your heart all at the same time!?!  Read through those verses again, and pick out your very favorite phrase and praise our Great I AM through it!  (I would LOVE to hear which phrase hits your heart the most…and why!)

  • God being rich in mercy
  • By grace you have been saved through faith
  • Because of the great love with which He loved us
  • Might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness towards us
  • It is the gift of God

This—His love, His grace, His mercy, His gift, His riches—is what gives us the opportunity for a relationship or union with Jesus!  How GREAT is our God!

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.  In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.
Ephesians 1:4-6

Hold this truth in your mind and never doubt that you are completely, completely, completely  COMPLETE through your union with Jesus—He is your Lord!

 

* * * * *

Let’s Pray:

…that Christ may dwell in <our> hearts through faith, as <we> are being rooted and grounded in love.  I pray that <we> may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that <we> may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.

Amen.
(paraphrased from Ephesians, chapter 3)

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Summer Fruit Crisp (Gluten Free)

August 5, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes. We are continuing our series of summer recipes featuring in-season produce. Our featured ingredient(s) this week are peaches and cherries!!!  Here are a couple of links to the  nutritional value along with some incredible health benefits  of these delicious fruits (peaches and cherries)—besides the fact that they are just yummy!

Nothing says summer to me more than the fruits that are available just during this season!  My most favorite is cherries; I just love cherries!  They are not in season for very long so indulge while you can!  We are!

2013-08-02 09.21.43

Summer Fruit Crisp

Ingredients:2013-08-02 09.52.20
3 large peaches, sliced
1 cup (18-20) cherries, pitted* and halved
1/2 cup raspberries (optional)
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3/4  cup oats
3/4 cup almond flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375.
Cube up the butter and place in refrigerator until ready for it.
In a baking dish or pie plate, toss the cut-up fruit with 1 tablespoon of the sugar and the almond extract; set aside.
Place the oats, 1/4 cup sugar, almond flour, cinnamon and salt into the large bowl of a food processor.  Pulse a couple of times to combine.  Add the cold butter, pulsing just until it comes together and forms clumps.  (Of course, you can mix this by hand, too!)
Mound the oat mixture on top of the prepared fruit.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
Serve warm or cold; a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream completes this!  Enjoy!

*  Here is how I pitted the cherries—with a drinking straw.  Yes, ma’am!  2013-08-02 09.01.35Now I am a girl who l-o-v-e-s her gadgets!  And, of course, you can go out and buy a cherry pitter.  But sometimes simple is the better answer.  And besides, then one can save her pennies to buy an incredible kitchen tool!  😉   Just do it like this:
Remove the stem from a cherry.
Place the end of the straw over the indentation of the cherry.
Firmly, but gently wiggle the straw straight through the cherry; the pit will pop right out!  Easy-peasy!

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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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Make a Joyful Noise

August 5, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into His Presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, He is God!  It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!
Give thanks to Him; bless His name!
For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever,
and His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100

‘Make a joyful noise!’  Oh, you don’t have to tell me twice!  (And sometimes it is just that—a joyful noise.)  Do we not just love to sing our praises to the Lord God?!?  We have so many, many reasons to praise Him, to thank Him, to bless His Holy Name.

Here in Psalm 100, verse 5 offers three extremely compelling reasons to praise Him:

He is good

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for  those who trust in Him.
Nahum 1:7

This we know…in fact, isn’t there a praise chorus that we love to sing: ‘God is good ALL the time!  And ALL the time, God is good!’

His love endures forever

Give thanks to the God of Heaven for His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalms 136:26

Twenty-six (yes, 26!) times in Psalm 136, this praise is exclaimed!  (Here’s a link to read the whole psalm.)  Throughout the entire history of mankind from Adam & Eve, all the way along through the Scriptures, we read of the myriad of ways that our Great God has manifested His steadfast love.  AND He has made promise after promise to His children (us! you and me!) that His love will endure for eternity!

He is faithful to all generations

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9

What a promise of hope He has made—His covenant of love to those who love Him and obey!  Our God always brings to pass His promises!  What a faithful God!

Dear Lord,
We love to make a joyful noise, Lord, singing Your praises!  You are the Almighty God Who deserves all the praise there is to give!  Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your goodness, and Your love!  HalleluJAH!  Amen.

* * * * * * *

Today’s devotional has been written by Coleen Hayden.

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“I AM” Chapter 4 – Day 5: I AM the Resurrection

August 2, 2013 by

GFCHmemverse2

This week in our study, we have been learning about Jesus’ character from someone who knew Him very well—His chosen disciple, and friend, John.  Throughout the gospel written by John, we learn much about Jesus.  We come to understand, know, and love Him through

  • The 7 ‘I AM’ statements
  • His relationship with His Father
  • His promises
  • His incredible love for His followers
  • His prayers and intercession for them (and us!)

It is this deep love and tender care for His followers that I would like to focus on today.  With all that we have come to understand and know about our Lord as He walked this earth, should it surprise us at all that He had great relationships?  His love…unconditional.  His forgiveness…just amazing.  His patience…looooong-suffering (think about the manner in which the Pharisees seemingly were constantly looking to snare Him).  His grace, His mercy…just amazing!

In today’s lesson, Teresa wrote about Jesus identifying Himself as ‘I AM – The Resurrection.’  And she shared the record from John chapter 11 about Jesus’ dear friend, Lazarus’ death…and Jesus raising him from the dead.  I always love reading the account of Jesus dealing with Mary and Martha’s deep grief.  He loved these three siblings very much!  (You can read the full account here.)

Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the same spot where Martha had met Him.  When the Jews who were sitting with her in the house and consoling her saw how hastily Mary had risen and gone out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to pour out her grief there.  When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she dropped down at His feet, saying to Him, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who came with her [also] sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  And He said, Where have you laid him? They said to Him, Lord, come and see.  Jesus wept.  The Jews said, See how [tenderly] He loved him!

(verses 30-36)

What a true Friend, and how tender, gentle, compassionate Jesus was to these two sisters!  This record gives us the opportunity to know more about our Lord and Savior.  We know from the Scriptures that ‘…we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning’ (Hebrews 4:15).

But He knew there was a purpose and plan in the waiting.  He told them that their brother would be made alive again.

Jesus said to her (Martha), Your brother shall rise again. (verse 23)

Can you imagine how hard it must have been for Jesus to not run immediately to them when He first heard that Lazarus was sick!  But He—Who was always busy about His Father’s will—denied His own desires to bring glory to God!

Then Jesus said “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said,
“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  I knew that You always hear Me,
but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here,
that they may believe that You sent Me.”
(verses 40-42)

This great care and concern for others was supremely evident all throughout His life; we could talk about time after time after time after time when He loved to the utmost…even up until the very end.  As He hung on the Cross, His very life dripping out of His Body, He made sure that His mother, Mary, was taken care of.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her,  “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple,  “Here is your mother.”  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:25-27

This same love, care, and compassionate concern that our Lord had for those who lived and walked this earth with Him—He also has for us!  Nothing less!  The worries, the burdens, the cries of our hearts…all are known by our Lord.  He intercedes for us as He reigns at God Almighty’s right hand.  There is not a moment of our lives that Jesus is not watching over us.  There is not a need we have that He is not providing for.  There is not a tear that falls that He is unaware of.  There is not a burden that threatens to overwhelm us that He is not willing to help us carry.  And so we must do the following.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, we come before the Almighty’s throne of grace and mercy acknowledging Your perfect provision of everything we need!  We love You, Lord, and we are so thankful for the privilege of learning and knowing more about You, our Precious Savior!  May we speak and shout to the world about You, Lord Jesus, helping them to know the Truth that we know—YES!  Our Jesus cares!  He cares for You!  We pray, Lord, for each life we reach out to and each heart that we speak life and peace and truth into…by Your grace may they be drawn into a relationship with You—You Who are The Way, The Truth, and The Life!  By Your grace!  We love You, Lord…and pray and ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen

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Caprese Quiche with Hash Brown Crust

July 29, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  We continue our series of summer recipes featuring in-season ingredients.  Our featured ingredient this week is grape tomatoes!  Oh, I love tiny tomatoes…do you?  They are just so sweet!  Here’s a link  to some great info on the incredible benefits of these beautiful little orbs!

In today’s blog, I am sharing a recipe for a filling, nutritious, delicious quiche.  Included along with our feature ingredient is another in-season vegetable: fresh spinach.  (Baby spinach would be awesome here!)   Also, here is a link to a recipe posted previously on our At Home with GCH blog for Caprese Salad.  Both recipes meet our standard for healthy but oh-so-yummy!  Enjoy!

 

Caprese Quiche with Hash Brown Crust

IMG_0189

Crust:

Ingredients:
3 cups frozen hash browns, thawed
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 425.
  • Thaw hash brown potatoes, and blot between paper towels to remove excess moisture.
  • Combine in mixing bowl with melted butter, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings.
  • Lightly grease 9″  glass pie plate.
  • Pour potato mixture into pie plate and press firmly onto bottom and up sides of pie plate…go all the way up to the rim.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned; do not let burn!
  • When done, remove from oven.  Place on a cooling rack and allow to cool slightly while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.  Reduce oven temp to 350.

Filling:

Ingredients:
1 medium sweet onion, diced
2 teaspoons olive oil
good-sized handful (12-14 grape tomatoes), chopped
1/2-3/4 cup fresh spinach leaves, sliced 1/4″ slices
1 heaping tablespoon chopped garlic (I use jarred)

Directions

  • Heat olive oil in medium-sized saute pan over medium heat.
  • Add diced onions and cook for 6-7 minutes until softened but just slightly browned.
  • While onions are cooking, chop tomatoes (drain away any excess juice).
  • To slice spinach, stack a number of leaves, and then just carefully slice down through them into 1/4″ slices; repeat until all spinach is sliced.
  • When onions are ready, add tomatoes, spinach, and garlic.  Saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until spinach has wilted.
  • Remove from stovetop and allow to cool.

Egg Custard:

Ingredients:
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup 2% milk
1/2 cup ricotta
dash of Kosher salt
1/2-1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup breadcrumbs (I used gluten free)

1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, rough chopped

Directions
To the lightly beaten eggs, add the milk, ricotta, seasonings, and breadcrumbs; whisk together until smooth.

To assemble: Once baked crust has cooled slightly, layer in filling ingredients.  To make this spill-proof, I then put the pieplate on the oven rack and then pour the custard on top.  Add chopped cheese and swirl with fork to evenly distribute ingredients over the crust. Bake until eggs are set and cheese is slightly browned, approximately 30 minutes or so.  Let stand for 10 minutes to set up and finish cooking.  Cut into four – six wedges.

Here are a few other great ways to do caprese:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelysanders/delicious-ways-to-eat-caprese

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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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“I AM” Week 3 – Day 5: Malachi: The Bridge

July 26, 2013 by

Memory Verse

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;  

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, 

he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:19

____________________________

We have been so very inspired (perhaps revived?) as we have spent the past three weeks considering the character of the Great I AM as He has made Himself known throughout the Old Testament.  How AWEsome is He!

The Great I AM deserves our all—our love, our obedience, our worship, our devotion, our service, our focus, our praise, our whole heart, our everything.  Actually, He requires our all.

When Moses gave the Law to the Israelites, he said:

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe…so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:1-4 (excerpts)

The prophet Jeremiah was given a compelling message to send to the exiled Israelites who had been carried into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar and his army.  Think about how comforted they might have been hearing God’s Words!

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,
thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil,
to give you hope in your final outcome.

Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord….
Jeremiah 29:11-14

Our Lord also gave this same convicting message to His followers.

And one of the scribes came up…and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”  Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-32

We know from the Scriptures that God desires us to–

  • Trust Him with all of our heart (Proverbs 3:5 and 6)
  • Work heartily as if for Him with all of our heart (Colossians 3:23)
  • Seek Him with all your heart (Deuteronomy 4:29 and 30)
  • Serve Him with your whole heart (1st Chronicles 28:9)
  • Love Him with all our heart (Matthew 22:37)

Our author, Teresa, asks the following question today in our study…

What would it take for you to give service “your all?”
Go “all in?”  Be “sold out” for God?

Have you answered that question yet?  Would you share your answer (below in the comments) with all of us?

Friends, whether the anointed words of this song—this prayer—cause you to throw your hands in the air raised in praise, or fall on your face in humble submission, may you voice your commitment to the Great I AM with all your heart!  <3

Praying for each of you!

♥  coleen

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, You have heard the cry of our hearts…we each do SO want to love You with all our hearts; to serve You with our whole heart; to obey You with our whole heart; to seek You with all our heart; to trust You, and You alone, with all our heart!  We choose You, Lord…You are the Great I AM Who deserves our love with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength!  May our words accompanied by our strong conviction, and commitment be pleasing to You!

Amen.

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Blueberry Frozen Dessert

July 22, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Mondays are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  We continue our series of summer recipes featuring in-season ingredients.  Our featured ingredient this week is blueberries!  Check out just some of the healthy benefits of this tiny but powerful fruit!  Today’s recipe is for a blueberry frozen dessert—not quite ice cream but it fits perfectly into our ‘healthy but oh-so-yummy’ category!

2013-07-18 22.09.43

Here in the NorthEast, we are in the midst of berry season.  Blueberries are so plentiful that I have six four pints sitting in my refrigerator.  A few weeks ago, we had a recipe for Blueberry Almond Muffins.  But we are also in the midst of a heatwave; so I went looking for a recipe for a frozen treat to make for Robert.  Oh, I found m-a-n-y recipes for blueberry ice cream, sorbet, sherbert, and frozen smoothies…and they all looked so good!  However, I really wanted to keep it light, simple, and healthy but oh-so-yummy!  Over on Amy Green’s website, simplysugarandglutenfree, I found a quite easy recipe that I have tweaked just a bit.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:2013-07-18 21.01.21

1/2 very ripe banana, cut into 1/2″ slices and frozen
1/2 cup blueberries, frozen
1/2 cup ricotta
1 teaspoon maple syrup, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Toppings:
1 tablespoon sliced almonds
1-2 dollops whipped cream
Additional blueberries

Directions:

  • First things first: if you haven’t already…place the cut-up banana and blueberries in the freezer for a couple of hours.
  • Put the frozen fruit into the small bowl of a food processor or blender. Process just until it’s in small chunks.
  • Add the ricotta and flavorings; process until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as necessary.
  • Put your “ice cream” in a bowl and top with chopped nuts, whipped cream, and additional (non-frozen) blueberries.  Best if eaten immediately as a ‘soft-serve’ type dessert!

Substitutions:
For the blueberries – almost any flavorful summer fruit (I am going to try peaches tonight!)
For the ricotta – cottage cheese
For the maple syrup – agave nectar or honey
For the almonds – any of your favorite nuts

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

♥  coleen

_________________________________

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

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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