coleen hayden

GCH:What’s on Your Plate? – Mac and Cheese

November 5, 2012 by coleen hayden

Coleen’s Mac & Cheese

Mac and Cheese. C’mon, who does not like mac and cheese? I read a poll, and Mac and Cheese was voted overwhelmingly as ‘favorite comfort food!’ Now I am hoping that your favorite version doesn’t come out of a blue box. 😉 But, if it does, perhaps you might try my version and see if it does not convince you to try it versus the blue box, in the future.

This version of Mac & Cheese has lots of veggies hidden in there. Some of the pasta is made with pureed carrots and tomatoes, and there is butternut squash throughout the cheese sauce. I love this because it makes the cheese sauce even more colorful causing the eaters to ‘think’ it is more cheesy! Also, there is only 6 ounces of shredded cheese in the whole dish which helps to ‘healthify’ this recipe.

Have you ever made a white, or Bechamel, sauce? Well, today you will! It is very easy, and a great technique to add to your repertoire! In a future post, I will share some recipes that need a white sauce and by then you will be a pro at making it!

The following recipe makes an abundantly filled 9×13 pan…enough to feed 6-8 hungry folks. (or, if you have a husband who LOVES leftovers like mine, lunch for 2-3 days.) This recipe is easily doubled, and I always make a double batch. A menu suggestion: M&C, steamed broccoli, grilled ham steak. a big, delicious salad is often our only accompaniment.

Macaroni:
1# box small macaroni (shells, penne)
12-oz box veggie pasta (I used penne made with carrots and tomato) *

Cheese Sauce:
1/2 small onion, diced
2 T butter
2 T flour
1 cup 2 percent milk
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen pureed winter squash, thawed
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
4-oz sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 1+1/3 cup)
2-oz Monterey jack cheese, shredded (about 2/3 cup)
1 tsp salt, 1 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 tsp ground (dry) mustard

Topping:
2 slices stale bread, crumbled into fine crumbs
2 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp olive oil

Pre-heat your oven to 375. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with small amount of butter. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1 tsp of salt and the macaroni; cook according to package directions. Drain in a colander and place back into the cooled pot (this is where you will mix the macaroni and all that cheesy goodness together!)

Meanwhile, over medium heat, melt the butter in a medium saucepan, adding the diced onion. Cook ‘til the onion is soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Then sprinkle the flour over the cooked onion and, using a whisk, stir constantly for 1 minute. Adjust the heat to very low, and cook for 2-3 minutes to get the starchy taste out of the mixture. Do not let the mixture brown.

Increase the heat back to medium and immediately slowly pour in 1/4 cup or so of milk while whisking briskly. Just keep stirring! As this is absorbed, continue to slowly add the balance of the milk in a steady stream, followed by the broth; stirring constantly as the liquid becomes absorbed. This will take about 3 minutes. Adjust the heat lower again and let this mixture simmer slowly for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. (You have now made a white sauce!! Congratulations!!!)

At this point, add in the thawed butternut squash, stirring ‘til it is incorporated, allowing the mixture to come back to a simmer. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the ricotta, and the other cheeses, along with the ground mustard, salt & pepper. Carefully taste (it’s hot!) the cheese sauce, adjusting for seasoning.

Pour cheese mixture over the macaroni in the large pot and stir gently to combine. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the 9×13 baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Adjust the top rack in the oven to a higher position, and turn the broiler on. Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oil in a small bowl. Mix with your fingers; get a little messy! Then sprinkle over the top of the cooked mac and cheese. Carefully place the baking dish back in the oven and broil for 3 minutes. Keep your eye on it; you want the breadcrumbs to brown but not burn and for some of the macaroni to get just a little crispy (my husband loves that part!). Again, carefully remove from the oven…and you are ready to serve!

*here is a link to the type of veggie macaroni I used. Check it out!

http://barilla.com/content/prodottobarilla/veggie-penne-freshly-pureed-tomatoes-and-carrots

God loves you…and I do, too! <3

Coleen

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Are you interested in joining us for one of our Women’s or Teens Online Bible Studies? Click HERE for more details, and to sign up!

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: butternut squash, cheese, cheese sauce, coleen hayden, comfort food, GCH:What's on Your Plate?, GCH:WoYP, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, healthy, Healthy Eating, mac and cheese, Macaroni and Cheese, menu, veggie, white sauce

Lord, Teach Us to Pray: Part 6

November 3, 2012 by coleen hayden

Today we continue a series entitled Lord, teach us to pray! Do you ever cry out with that same desire as Jesus’ disciples did — “Teach {me} to pray”?

Each Saturday over the next couple of months, we will intentionally pursue asking the Lord to do just that—teach us to pray. I believe that, as we continue to look at learning how to pray through the Scriptures, we will develop into daughters who PRAY—who delight, yearn, love to pray to their Father. This is my heart’s desire.

Listen to the words that He spoke to them when they asked:

Pray, therefore, like this:

Our Father

Who is in heaven,

hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts,

and have given up resentment against) our debtors.

And lead (bring) us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

The first week, in this series, we focused on the very first, and most important aspect, of Jesus’ instruction—addressing God Almighty as “Our Father….” We found that He wants to be our Father…our Abba Father!

The second week, we looked at the very next aspect of prayer that Jesus deemed of importance—”Who is in heaven.” This attribute tells of the utmost importance of God Who is in heaven. And we also were reminded of an awesome promise from God, that we will dwell for all eternity with Jesus and our Father, Who is in heaven.

Then we came to the third aspect, as we followed Jesus’ instruction,— “hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.” And we looked at five examples in the Scriptures where Almighty God is described as holy: we saw the Psalmist proclaim that ‘You are holy’…that the prophet Habakkuk called Him ‘my Holy One’…that Isaiah saw in a vision God seated on His throne with the seraphim proclaiming ‘holy, holy, holy’…that Jesus our Lord prayed ‘Holy Father’…that one of the seven angels praise Almighty God saying ‘You Who are and were ‘O Holy One.’ What a privilege that our Father…Who is in heaven…would allow us to come before Him and call Him ‘holy!’

The following week we looked at the next aspect of prayer that Jesus deemed important— “Your Kingdom come.” We considered the question, “What is the ‘Kingdom’? by focusing on just two ways to understand what Jesus meant. The first connotation that “Kingdom” has refers to the eternal Kingdom. And then to understand “Kingdom” in another way, we looked specifically at the 13^th chapter of the book of Matthew where Jesus spoke in parables and used tangible examples to help His disciples (and us!) to understand the importance of having ‘the Kingdom’ established in our hearts. .He wants you and me to be in that Kingdom along with Him.

Last week, we focused on the next aspect of Jesus’ instruction ‘Your will be done.’ It is Almighty God’s will that we are to be concerned about…not our own. We continually saw Our Lord’s constant example that it was not His will that was important but His Father’s. We looked at number of records in the Scriptures which clearly spoke of Jesus’ great desire for His Father’s will. If it were ever possible for anyone to justifiably state and act on their own will, it would have been Jesus; true? We were reminded of the great humility and the beautiful love that He and His Father shared in Their relationship. Jesus always desired His Father’s will, always sought His Father’s will, always purposed to know His Father’s will so that He always did His Father’s will. And what did we find was His Father’s will?—salvation and redemption through Jesus Christ. We were assured that at the very foundation of God’s will lies our hope, which is salvation through Jesus leading to eternal life.

Now in this sixth week of wanting our Lord to teach us to pray, we come to the phrase “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” There are a few different avenues of approach to understanding the meaning of this phrase. But, as always Jesus gives the very best, the simplest understanding. In John 6:38 we read,

“For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will and purpose but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me.”

Clearly Jesus states the essence of today’s study. He was coming to earth from heaven to do His Father’s will. Jesus always exemplified the type of heart and behavior that He was teaching to His disciples. He taught them so much by example. So, it makes sense that when He was teaching them how to pray, He would include this critical aspect. The disciples probably had no true concept of what ‘come down from heaven’ really meant. But they were convinced that what Jesus taught them was of vital importance. As we, too, should be convinced.

We, too, can live with that same heart as Jesus did. God has promised to lead us, to guide us, to show us His Will. The following are just a few of the many, many promises God has given us regarding our knowing His will.

Proverbs 3:5,6

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Psalms 32:8

I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

Romans 12:2

…But be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

James 1:5

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and begrudgingly, without reproaching or fault-finding, and it will be given him.

Jesus, Who knew His heavenly Father like no one else did, desired to do God’s will. God’s perfect will. He simply and clearly taught His disciples AND US to do the same.

How thankful are we to know that? Oh. How. He. Loves. Us. So. <3

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This week , in our study A Daughter’s Worth, we have examined some negative and positive emotions, and focused on the truth of knowing God’s will in each of those areas: that when we are disappointed, it is God’s will to help; when we have anxiety, it is God’s will that we give Him our concerns because He cares for us; when we allow jealousy in by having an ungrateful heart, that it is God’s will for us to be thankful; that when we experience confusion in our relationships, it is God’s will for us to reconcile and to have peace.

Ask yourself: ______ (insert your name here), how much worth do I have if my heavenly Father—Almighty God—desires to show me His will? <3

“…Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven...”

_________________________________________________

For the A Daughter’s Worth Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. You can order the book right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email megan@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: a daughter's worth, bible study, coleen hayden, GCH:decaf, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, God, Jesus, Lord's Prayer, pray, teach us, teen girls, teens

Lord Teach Us to Pray: Part 5

October 27, 2012 by coleen hayden

Today we continue a series entitled Lord, teach us to pray! Do you ever cry out with that same desire as Jesus’ disciples did — ”Teach {me} to pray”?

Each Saturday over the next couple of months, we will intentionally pursue asking the Lord to do just that—teach us to pray. I believe that, as we continue to look at learning how to pray through the Scriptures, we will develop into daughters who PRAY—who delight, yearn, and love to pray to their Father. This is my heart’s desire.

Pray, therefore, like this:
Our Father
Who is in heaven,
hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts,
and have given up resentment against) our debtors.
And lead (bring) us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13

The first week, in this series, we focused on the very first, and most important aspect, of Jesus’ instruction—addressing God Almighty as “Our Father….” We found that He wants to be our Father…our Abba Father!

The second week, we looked at the very next aspect of prayer that Jesus deemed of importance—“Who is in heaven.” This attribute tells of the utmost importance of God Who is in heaven. And we also were reminded of an awesome promise from God, that we will dwell for all eternity with Jesus and our Father, Who is in heaven.

Then we came to the third aspect, as we followed Jesus’ instruction,— “hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.” And we looked at five examples in the Scriptures where Almighty God is described as holy: we saw the Psalmist proclaim that ‘You are holy’…that the prophet Habakkuk called Him ‘my Holy One’…that Isaiah saw in a vision God seated on His throne with the seraphim proclaiming ‘holy, holy, holy’…that Jesus our Lord prayed ‘Holy Father’…that one of the seven angels praise Almighty God saying ‘You Who are and were ‘O Holy One.’ What a privilege that our Father…Who is in heaven…would allow us to come before Him and call Him ‘holy!’

And last week we looked at the next aspect of prayer that Jesus deemed important— ‘Your Kingdom come.’ We considered the question, “What is the ‘Kingdom’? by focusing on just two ways to understand what Jesus meant. The first connotation that “Kingdom” has refers to the eternal Kingdom, commonly understood as Heaven, where God and Jesus dwell. Our Lord communicated in His instruction to constantly have the attitude of heart of yearning for that time when the Kingdom comes! And, oh, don’t we long to live for eternity in that heavenly Kingdom!!! And then to understand “Kingdom” in another way, we looked specifically at the 13th chapter of the book of Matthew where Jesus spoke in parables and used tangible examples to help His disciples (and us!) to understand the importance of having ‘the Kingdom’ established in our hearts. Our desire is for Jesus’ words to be at the center of our heart, the focus of our pure living, the impetus for our choosing His ways over the ways, the cares, the pleasures of the world. The kingdom of heaven is of great and precious value; Jesus wanted them (and us!) to know this. Our Lord’s strong desire is for us to have Him, the King, ruling in our hearts and that a lifestyle of that will allow us entrance in the future to eternity, in the Kingdom, with Him and Almighty God. Jesus, Who God has made to be King of our lives, wants us to thoroughly understand the TRUTH about the Kingdom…He wants you and me to be in that Kingdom along with Him.

Now, we are learning about the next aspect of Jesus’ instruction—‘Your will be done— during this fifth week of our study. It is Almighty God’s will that we are to be concerned about…not our own. We continually see Our Lord’s constant example that it was not His will that was important but His Father’s.

“I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord—but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me” (John 5:30).

If it were ever possible for anyone to justifiably state and act on their own will, it would have been Jesus; true? Here we see the great humility He had before His Father. As well as the beautiful love that He and His Father shared in their relationship. Jesus always desired His Father’s will, always sought His Father’s will, always purposed to know His Father’s will so that He always did His Father’s will.

“For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will and purpose but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me” (John 6:38).

And what IS His Father’s will? Listen as this record continues…

“And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I should not lose any of all that He has given Me, but that I should give new life and raise [them all] up at the last day.
For this is My Father’s will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day” (verses 39,40).

We are made aware of a primary aspect of God’s will: salvation and redemption through Jesus Christ. And we are assured that at the very foundation of God’s will lies our hope, which is salvation through Jesus leading to eternal life. How thankful are we to know that? Oh. How. He. Loves. Us. So. < 3
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This week , in our study A Daughter’s Worth, we have read about knowing when and how to defend our faith; knowing about choosing our words; knowing what to/not to wear; knowing how to direct and order our steps; knowing to work hard, and why. And now we can add, knowing God’s will.

Ask yourself: ______ (insert your name here), how much worth do I have knowing that it was God’s will to send Jesus to be my Savior, my Redeemer and God’s will to give me new life in Christ Jesus my Lord! And that it was Jesus’ will to always do the will of His Father! <3

“…Your will be done…”

Crank it up! <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70qxTWhltBc>

With love,

Coleen <3

___________________________________

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, coleen hayden, GCH:decaf, God, Jesus, kingdom, Prayer, teen girls, teens

Lord Teach Us To Pray: Part 4

October 20, 2012 by coleen hayden

Today we continue a series entitled Lord, teach us to pray! Do you ever cry out with that same desire as Jesus’ disciples did — ”Teach {me} to pray”?

Each Saturday over the next couple of months, we will intentionally pursue asking the Lord to do just that—teach us to pray. I believe that, as we continue to look at learning how to pray through the Scriptures, we will develop into daughters who pray—who delight, yearn, love to pray to their Father. This is my heart’s desire.

Pray, therefore, like this:

Our Father
Who is in heaven,
hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts,
and have given up resentment against) our debtors.
And lead (bring) us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13

The second week, we looked at the very next aspect of prayer that Jesus deemed of importance—“Who is in heaven.” This attribute tells of the utmost importance of Who God is…He is in heaven. And we also were reminded of an awesome promise from God, that we will dwell for all eternity with Jesus and our Father, Who is in heaven.
Last week, as we followed Jesus’ instruction, we came to the third aspect referring to Almighty God— “hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.” We looked at one definition of holy: exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness And we looked at five examples in the Scriptures where we saw the Almighty God, ascribed by the Psalmist as ‘You are holy’…that the prophet Habakkuk called Him ‘my Holy One’…that Isaiah saw in a vision God seated on His throne with the seraphim proclaiming ‘holy, holy, holy’…that Jesus our Lord prayed ‘Holy Father’…that one of the seven angels praise Almighty God saying ‘You Who are and were ‘O Holy One.’ There is no doubt Who each of these examples is speaking about—our Father. What a privilege that our Father…Who is in heaven…would allow us to come before Him and call Him ‘holy!’

***************************

Now here we are, this fourth week, looking at the next aspect of prayer that Jesus deemed important— ‘Your Kingdom come.’ We, of course, need to ask the question, “What is the Kingdom?” I believe it is represented in two distinct ways in the Scriptures. There are more than 125 references in the New Testament alone to “Kingdom.”

The first connotation that “Kingdom” has would be in reference to the eternal Kingdom, commonly understood as Heaven, where God and Jesus dwell. Jesus had already taught the disciples the proper and respectful attitude toward God Almighty when He brought attention to ‘our Father, Who is in heaven…’ Throughout the Bible much is spoken of (especially in the books of Isaiah and Revelations) about Heaven, or as we are discussing here, God’s Kingdom. This is one of the things I believe our Lord communicates in the Lord’s Prayer—to constantly have that attitude of heart as we pray to be yearning for that time when the Kingdom comes! And, oh, don’t we long to live for eternity in that heavenly Kingdom ?!!!

Which bring us to another understanding of “Kingdom.” There are a number of records in the Gospels that show us Jesus’ great desire to give us understanding about the Kingdom. (You can use a Bible search engine and do a short study to help you get a better grasp on this; I use <biblegateway.com>). We are going to focus today on just one time that Jesus was teaching about His Kingdom.

In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus spent the day, sitting on the shore and finally, because the crowds listening had grown so large, sitting off-shore a bit in a boat, teaching and sharing about the Kingdom. During this time, He spoke a parable to them about the Kingdom comparing it to a sower and his seed (verses 2-9). He spoke another parable to them about the Kingdom relating it to a grain of mustard seed and how it grows (verses 31, 32). He then told them another parable about the Kingdom comparing it to the leaven used in baking bread (verse 33). Finally, He withdrew along with His disciples and talked with them continuing to help them to understand the parables. However, while still with the crowds, Jesus began to answer privately their questions.

verses 10-13:
“Then the disciples came to Him and said, Why do You speak to them in parables?
And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand.”

And He explained a parable, verses 18-23:

“Listen then to the [meaning of the] parable of the sower:
While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the roadside.
As for what was sown on thin (rocky) soil, this is he who hears the Word and at once welcomes and accepts it with joy;
Yet it has no real root in him, but is temporary (inconstant, lasts but a little while); and when affliction or trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, at once he is caused to stumble [he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey] and he falls away.
As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the pleasure and delight and glamour and deceitfulness of riches choke and suffocate the Word, and it yields no fruit.
As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty.”

Don’t you just love the heart and compassion and attention that our Lord gave to his disciples (and us!) as He explained. The subject over and over is the Kingdom. But He uses tangible examples to help them and us to understand the importance of having ‘the Kingdom’ established in our hearts. Our desire is for Jesus’ words to be at the center of our heart, the focus of our pure living, the impetus for our choosing His ways over the ways, the cares, the pleasures of the world. Further on He uses other examples through parables to explain about the Kingdom.

verses 44-51
The kingdom of heaven is like something precious buried in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field.
Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls,
Who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet which was cast into the sea and gathered in fish of every sort.
When it was full, men dragged it up on the beach, and sat down and sorted out the good fish into baskets, but the worthless ones they threw away.
So it will be at the close and consummation of the age. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God)
And cast them [the wicked] into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and wailing and grinding of teeth.
Have you understood all these things [parables] taken together? They said to Him, Yes, Lord.

verse 53: “When Jesus had finished these parables (these comparisons), He left there.”

The kingdom of heaven is of great and precious value; Jesus wanted them to know and realize this. Our Lord’s strong desire is for us to have Him, the King, ruling in our hearts and that a lifestyle of that will allow us entrance in the future to eternity, in the Kingdom, with Him and Almighty God.

Jesus, Who God has made to be King of our lives, wants us to thoroughly understand the TRUTH about the Kingdom…He wants you and me to be in that Kingdom along with Him… Oh. How. He. Loves. Us. So. < 3

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This week we have talked and talked about fully embracing how beautiful we ARE: because I am who God made me to be; believing the TRUTH not the lies; holding in our minds that truth and not allowing the world’s viewpoint to color our thinking; that who we are in Christ makes us SO beautiful; that our eternal VALUE–it makes us beautiful! As I have reconsidered the value of who God made me (and you!) to be, and I think on these truths, and I recognize that I am beautiful in light of this, it has reminded me that I have value and I am beautiful inside&out because Jesus IS my Lord, my King, and that I have His Kingdom NOW reigning in my heart. And YOU, my sister, too!

So let’s embrace this truth…ask yourself: How much worth, ______ (insert your name here), do I have if Jesus, as King, wants to reign in my heart? My heart…His home! Truly, how beautiful and valuable am I to my Lord and my God…I can only imagine! <3

“…Your Kingdom Come..”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_OB7d-B1Vw

Grace, mercy, and peace to you
from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ

with love,
coleen

____________________________________________

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: bible study, Christianity, coleen hayden, GCH:decaf, God, Jesus, kingdom, Prayer, teen girls, teens

Lord Teach Us To Pray: Part 3

October 13, 2012 by coleen hayden

Today we continue a series entitled Lord, teach us to pray! Do you ever cry out with that same desire as Jesus’ disciples did ––”Teach {me} to pray”?

Each Saturday over the next couple of months, we will intentionally pursue asking the Lord to do just that—teach us to pray. I believe that, as we continue to look at learning how to pray through the Scriptures, we will develop into daughters who pray—who delight, yearn, love to pray to their Father. This is my heart’s desire.

Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors. And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

The first week, in this series, we focused on the very first, and most important aspect, of Jesus’ instruction—addressing God Almighty as: “Our Father….” We found that He wants to be our Father…our Abba Father! We learned that ‘Abba!’ (today we would say ‘Daddy!’ or ‘Papa!’) is used when talking about “a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person.”

Last week we looked at the very next aspect of prayer that Jesus deemed of importance—“Who is in heaven.” Jesus’ first attribute relating to God showed the depth of relationship we have with God. This next attribute also pertains to relationship but tells of the utmost importance of Who God is. He is in heaven. And we also were reminded of an awesome promise from God—in the coming ages, you and I will be seated together with Jesus in the heavens (Ephesians 2:4-8). We will dwell for all eternity with Jesus and our Father, Who is in heaven.

This week, as we follow Jesus’ instruction, we come to the third aspect referring to Almighty God— “hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.” Holy is an adjective, it describes. One definition of holy is: exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness. Another definition would be: (applied to the Supreme Being,) holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character. My understanding of our Lord’s instruction is that Jesus is not speaking about His Father’s actual name but metaphorically that His Father’s “name” is Who He is. The phrase could be stated as, “…holy are You….”

Throughout the Scriptures, we see God described as ‘holy’ many times:

But You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered]. (Psalms 22:3)

Are not You from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? (Habakkuk 1:12)

And one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory! (Isaiah 6:3)

And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are [still] in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your Name [ in the knowledge of Yourself] those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are one]. (John 17:11)

And I also heard the angel of the waters say, Righteous (just) are You in these Your decisions and judgments, You Who are and were, O Holy One! (Revelation 16:5)

Just in these five examples, we see the Almighty God, our Father, ascribed by the Psalmist as ‘You are holy’…that the prophet Habakkuk called Him ‘my Holy One’…that Isaiah saw in a vision God seated on His throne with the seraphim proclaiming ‘holy, holy, holy’…that Jesus our Lord prayed ‘Holy Father’…that one of the seven angels praised Almighty God saying ‘You Who are and were ‘O Holy One.’ There is no doubt Who each of these examples is speaking about—our Father. And there is no denying the great adulation, adoration, worship, and praise that is being communicated to our Father.

And, as such, we are to praise and worship and adore Him with that same heart…He is holy, holy, holy. What a privilege that the our Father, Who is in heaven, would allow us to come before Him and call Him ‘Holy!’ Oh. How. He. Loves. Us. So. <3

He is holy, holy, holy!

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This week we have talked about accepting our Father’s love. We have considered that He wanted us to be born; that He delights in us; that He protects us and He forgives us; as well as that He give us great advice. Possibly you have had to make a few changes in your thinking toward yourself in light of just how MUCH God loves you. Probably you are thinking more in alignment with God’s thinking about you. Perhaps you are even thinking of yourself in the same way that God thinks of you. Here is more truth that God thinks about you; consider this, daughter of God ….

But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. 1st Peter 1:13-17

Clothe yourselves therefore, as Gods own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience…. Colossians 3:12

So I ask you to add this to your new thinking: How much worth, ______ (insert your name here), do you have if you are holy {as Your Father Who is in heaven}is holy.

“…Holy be Your Name..”

with love,

Coleen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w_fdyLRvmE

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Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: a daughter's worth, ava sturgeon, Bibe, bible study, friendship, GCH:decaf, God, holy, Jesus, Prayer, teen girls, teens

Lord, Teach Us To Pray: Part 2

October 6, 2012 by coleen hayden

Today we continue a series entitled Lord, Teach Us To Pray! Do you ever cry out with that same desire as Jesus’ disciples did ––”Teach {me} to pray”?

Each Saturday over the next couple of months, we will intentionally pursue asking the Lord to do just that—teach us to pray. I believe that, as we continue to look at learning how to pray through the Scriptures, we will develop into daughters who pray—who delight, yearn, love to pray to their Father. This is my heart’s desire.

Jesus was asked this important question by His disciples. One of the places that it is recorded is in Luke 11, verse 1: “Then He was praying in a certain place; and when He stopped, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray….” They had observed Him going off to pray many times. In the Gospels it is spoken of numerous times that He “arose early,” “went off to pray,” “withdrew…to pray.” Jesus PRAYED; He spoke with His Father. And His disciples wanted to be like Him! When asked, Jesus very simply taught His disciples how to pray to God.

Listen to the words that He spoke to them when they asked:

Pray, therefore, like this:

Our Father

Who is in heaven,

hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts,

and have given up resentment against) our debtors.

And lead (bring) us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

Last week we focused on the very first and most important aspect of Jesus’ instruction—addressing God Almighty as: “Our Father….” We looked at verses from the Scriptures which taught us about the level of relationship that God (the Creator, the Almighty, El-Shaddai) wants to have with us. We found that He wants to be our Father…our Abba Father! We learned that ‘Abba!’ (today we would say ‘Daddy!’ or ‘Papa!’) is used when talking about “a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person.”

This week we are looking at the very next aspect of prayer that Jesus deemed of importance—“Who is in heaven.” Jesus’ first attribute relating to God showed the depth of relationship we have with God. This next attribute also pertains to relationship but tells of the utmost importance of Who God is. He is in heaven. To me this relates to His being The Creator…’heaven’ always has been. It is where God IS, where He exists (though certainly without any limitations).

In Genesis chapter 1, we read “And God saw everything that He had made…” (v25). Think for a moment…if God was observing what “He had made,” it couldn’t include where He was at. So, where was that? By exclusion, it must have been beyond everything that He had made. God, His existence, is beyond time and space and any limitation within our scope. After all, He is ELOHIM, The Creator. Everything belongs to Him.

Deuteronomy 10:14

Behold, the heavens and the heaven of heavens

belong to the Lord your God,

the earth also, with all that is in it and on it.

Many times throughout the Scriptures, our Father is spoken of as “the Lord, the God of heaven”… “the God of heaven and earth” … “He Who sits in the heavens” … “Who speaks from heaven” … “Possessor of heaven and earth” and in similar other ways. The heavens are His.

When Solomon finished building the Temple, in His prayer to Almighty God he voiced,

But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?

Behold, the heavens and heaven of heavens

[in its most extended compass] cannot contain You;

how much less this house that I have built?

1 Kings 8:27

Solomon, the wisest man on the earth (by God’s blessing) knew that surely a building couldn’t contain the glory of the Lord…the Lord’s presence…if the ‘heaven of heavens’ was not able to! He knew God was above all.

And that brings me to one of the most awesome promises contained in the Scriptures. A promise from Almighty God, Elohim, our Father to you and to me:

Ephesians 2:4-8

But God, who is rich in mercy,

because of His great love that He had for us,

made us alive with the Messiah

even though we were dead in trespasses.

You are saved by grace!

Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up

and seated us in the heavens, so that

in the coming ages He might display

the immeasurable riches of His grace

through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For you are saved by grace through faith….

Sit there, please, for one minute and meditate on this promise: in the coming ages, you and I WILL be seated together with Jesus in the heavens.

In the coming ages, we WILL be seated together with Jesus in the heavens.

We will dwell for all eternity with Jesus and Almighty God “Who is in heaven.” Oh. How. He. Loves. Us. So. <3

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This week in our blogs we have talked about recognizing our worth. We have looked at it from various aspects: how we feel about ourselves; within our relationships—family, friends, boyfriends, school; our hopes, dreams, plans for the future.

I put before you this thought:

How much worth, ______ (insert your name here), do I have if God Almighty has promised
that I will sit with Jesus in the heavens? <3

“Our Father, Who is in heaven…”

~Coleen

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***This is a special Saturday series for GCH:decaf.

For our Bible Study, A Daughter’s Worth, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. We will begin the devotional part of this study next week, so really, you have until THIS MONDAY to get your book! You can even order it right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: a daughter's worth, Bible, bible study, Christianity, God, Jesus, Prayer, teen girls, teens, worth

Balsamic Glazed Turkey Meatloaf

September 16, 2012 by coleen hayden

This week’s edition of ‘healthy…but oh-so-yummy!’ centers on another comfort food— meatloaf. The way we have upped the healthy quotient is to use ground turkey along with <shhhh!> sliding in some veggies, like zucchini, mushrooms and onion. Also, this recipe works for gluten-free eaters as the bread crumbs are eliminated and instant mashed potatoes are substituted! This might be a good recipe for the NON-mushroom lovers to try ‘cause you will never be able to detect them in the final product! Balsamic Glazed Turkey Meatloaf is also low in fat, high in protein, and simply delicious! I almost always double this recipe ‘cause the leftovers make a great meatloaf sandwich. Enjoy!

Balsamic Glazed Turkey Meatloaf

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small zucchini

8 ounces baby bella mushrooms

1 small onion

3 tablespoons chopped garlic in oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon dried thyme

2 tablespoons parsley flakes

1 pound ground turkey (15% fat)

1 pound ground turkey breast (7-10% fat)

1 cup instant mashed potatoes

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup ketchup, divided

3 tablespoons prepared mustard

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar (alternately, I use 1 tablespoon molassses)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a small roasting pan with foil.

Cut up the vegetables into a “small dice”-size, approximately 1/4″ cube (or use a food processor to chop them). Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat.

Add the zucchini, mushrooms, and onions sauteing for 4-5 minutes; take care not to allow them to burn.

Add chopped garlic, reduce heat to low and saute for 2 more minutes.

Remove pan from heat, season well with salt & pepper; set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, whisk the egg and herbs in a large bowl.

Stir in the parmesan, 1/4 cup ketchup, mustard, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar.

Add the cooled vegetables; mix until just combined.

Crumble the ground turkey over the mixture in bowl and add the instant mashed potatoes.

Using care to not overmix, combine all the ingredients.

Pour the mixture onto the foil-lined pan, and shape into a rectangle (or you could use a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan).

Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar and the brown sugar/molasses in a small bowl; brush the mixture over the entire loaf.

Bake for 1 to 1-1/4 hours. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Our menu this night included cauliflower mash (“mock” mashed potatoes), steamed broccoli and rosemary bread. here is a good recipe for the mock mashed potatoes to try: <http://laurasglutenfreepantry.com/2012/08/mock-mashed-potatoes-nightshade-free-dairy-free-option.html> <3

God loves you !

And I do, too.

Coleen

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: At Home w/ GCH, coleen hayden, Girflriends Coffee Hour, ground turkey, healthy but oh so yummy, Main Dish Recipes, Main Entree Dish, meatloaf, veggies

GCH:What’s on Your Plate? – Mac and Cheese

Lord, Teach Us to Pray: Part 6

Lord Teach Us to Pray: Part 5

Lord Teach Us To Pray: Part 4