March 20, 2026

At Home with GCH: Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins

May 13, 2013 by

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

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

2013-05-10 12.11.00

Zucchini Muffins (Gluten Free)    – makes one dozen

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

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

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

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

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

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

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

♥  coleen

_________________________________

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

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Let My Life Be the Proof…of His Love

May 11, 2013 by

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

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

Here is one answer that I am sure of:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Will you pray with me, please?

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

Let all that you do be done in LOVE.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Praying for each of you!

♥  coleen

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At Home with GCH: Caprese Salad

May 6, 2013 by

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

IMG_0222

Caprese Salad

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

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

IMG_0220

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

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

 

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

♥ coleen

_________________________________

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

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Girlfriends Coffee Hour!!!

May 5, 2013 by

GCH_Anniversary

 

Woo Hoo!! Happy Anniversary to GCH!!!

1-year ago today, Girlfriends Coffee Hour published its first LIVE Online Bible Study on this website! We had just a few women sign-up for that study, and we had a blast!

Today, GCH, as we all so fondly call it, is now in 150+ Countries across the globe!! Never in a million years would I have ever dreamed that God could use a simple housewife from Southeast Wisconsin to help spread the Gospel!! Many times, I had to be reminded God’s God This!!  Don’t ever think that God can’t use just ordinary people!!  He can, and He will, if you let Him!!

Today, we have 20 women on our Ministry Leadership Team, who help keep this ministry functioning on a daily basis! Thank God, because there is no way this housewife from Wisconsin could do this on her own! I am so very BLESSED by this amazing Team of women who give so graciously of their time, prayers, support, and LOVE!! Truly without these women …. wow!

God has blessed this ministry in so many ways. Each day we dedicate GCH to Him in our prayers, and we give Him thanks for all that He has done, and continues to do.

The scripture that God gave us for this ministry is Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) “…as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” In this ministry, we are blessed to sharpen each other. We are blessed to hold each other accountable to building our relationship with our Heavenly Father, and being the Leaders that He has called us all to be! We are blessed to have such a Sisterhood in this ministry, where faith, friends, and fellowship flourish in our Fellowship & Study Groups!

I give God all praise, honor, and glory, for Girlfriends Coffee Hour! I hope you will help us celebrate this week! We will be giving away some amazing prizes this week in honor of our anniversary! Stay tuned … on Monday (tomorrow) we will announce the first prize!! These prizes are going to bless your socks off!!

Be sure to leave a comment below to let us know how GCH has been a blessing in YOUR life! We’d love to hear from you!

Thank You ALL so very much for joining us this last year! We hope to see you around for many more years to come!!

May the Good Lord Bless You,

Christi Wilson
Founder of Girlfriends Coffee Hour

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LOVE One Another

May 4, 2013 by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praying for each of you!

♥  coleen

LOVE God, LOVE People (lyrics)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

_________________________________

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

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

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

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

April 29, 2013 by

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

IMG_0218

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 tablespoon sugar, to sprinkle (optional)

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

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

http://www.elanaspantry.com/

http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com/

http://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/

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

♥  coleen

_________________________________

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

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Loving God = Obedience to Him

April 27, 2013 by

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

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

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

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

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

But loving God = obedience to Him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praying for each of you!

♥ coleen

_________________________________

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

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Your Word Have I Hid in My Heart

April 20, 2013 by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My prayer before our loving Father is that you…

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

Praying for each of you!

♥ coleen

_________________________________

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

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

At Home with GCH – Perfect Soft Boiled Eggs

April 15, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH  blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  This month I am on a “7” month journey with a few friends AND my husband!  We are fasting from some of the excess in our lives, and endeavoring to establish better boundaries to help us keep God as the focus of our hearts.  It is a ‘mutiny against excess!’ Our journey has certainly come along with quite a variety of challenges…but not necessarily setbacks!

This month, our journey is focusing on dealing with excess in the category of food.  In keeping with the “7” theme, we are choosing seven (ONLY!) foods.  That comprises our menu choices for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.  Total.  So here’s what Robert and I are keeping in our NON-excessive food list for 30 days (20 down…10 to go).  (Ready? it really is a short list.) Eggs, chicken, salad greens, grapes (me) and strawberries (him), potatoes, broccoli, -and- protein bars/smoothies.  Also, I am endeavoring to have everything that my husband and I eat be UNprocessed and made from fresh ingredients.

Needless to say, I am becoming very proficient in different methods of cooking eggs.  (Practice makes perfect, y’know!  If you made eggs virtually every day….)  But I have never prepared the PERFECT soft-boiled egg.  You know…firm, tender white with runny, yummy yolk.  I perused the Internet and found out that *Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen had set out to accomplish this task and communicate it to all of us.*  I am here to tell you that you, too, can perform this task in your own kitchen…here’s how!

Perfect Soft-Boiled Eggs

Be sure your eggs have no cracks and are straight out of the refrigerator. You can use this method for one to six large, extra-large, or jumbo eggs without changing the timing.

tools:
medium saucepan, with lid
tongs

ingredients: 
4 large- or extra large-size eggs
kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

frozen hash-brown patties

directions: 
Follow package directions for baking the desired number of hash-brown patties.

Bring 1/2 inch water to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Using the tongs, gently place eggs into the boiling water (eggs will NOT be submerged). Cover saucepan and cook eggs for 6+1/2 minutes ONLY. Remove saucepan from stovetop.

Bring saucepan to sink, remove lid and run cold water over eggs for 30 seconds to stop cooking. Remove eggs from saucepan and serve, liberally seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.  Perfect!

IMG_0211

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

♥ coleen

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

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* Read all about it!  This is a link to the article from Cook’s Illustrated.  Very informative!   http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/article.asp?docid=41579

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Prayer is the Final Piece

April 13, 2013 by

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by the strength of His might.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.
For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist
in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest,
and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.
In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able
to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request,
and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:10-18

In our current study of Lisa Bevere’s book, Girls With Swords haven’t we SO loved looking at this encouraging section in the Scriptures?!?  We have considered the various pieces of the Armor of God.  We have been encouraged to put them on each morning as we prepare for our day. We have been reminded that they are TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, and SALVATION—a strong foundation on which to take our stand.  We have seen that, clothed with this Armor of God, we are equipped and enabled to stand, resisting all the tactics and wiles of the enemy.

Now, consider this…. We garb ourselves in this protective suit of Armor.  We take up the sword of the spirit.  And then we are told “pray.”  One would think that we are ready to go, right?  But truly prayer is the final piece, the item that links all the pieces together.  It reminds me of a football player…outfitted with all those pieces of his uniform (pads, helmet, etc.) that are designed to protect him…ready to head out of the locker room to battle his ‘enemy’—the other team.  And the coach says, ‘Take a knee.’

This final piece—prayer—is not the half-hearted whispering of a prayer.  But rather it is prayer spoken with passion, with faith, with ‘strong purpose and perseverance.’  It is prayer uttered with humble wholeheartedness to the One Who hears our prayers and answers.

So often when the Scriptures communicate to us on the matter of prayer, the words used are compelling.  As you read these next few verses see which words jump out at you.  (Clue: they are NOT the words marked in red!)

Philippians 4:6
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Colossians 4:2
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Romans 12:12
Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.

Which words did you find grabbing your attention…were they words like, ‘steadfast’ and ‘constant’ and ‘everything’ and ‘watchful?’

prayer

So as you put on your Armor, my sisters, never forget that the last piece—the prayer piece—is not put ON but rather put IN—into your heart!  Prayer is a truly important part of the equipping of a Jesus girl who desires to be a hero…a warrior.

My prayer is that as you draw near to Your heavenly Father, seeking His guidance and direction, His help and protection, you would recognize how tenderly He looks on you…His daughter, His child, His warrior, His hero.  He loves you with an everlasting love, and He never EVER will leave you…You are His!

Praying for each of you!

♥ coleen

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

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