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Cranberry Orange Scones (Gluten-Free)

June 20, 2014 by

Cranberry Orange Scones resize

If you have kids, you probably know what summer break is like:  trying to keep them busy and entertained without letting their brains turn to mush!  One of my favorite ways to do that is baking together.    I have my older girl (first grader now!) read the recipe out loud, and both girls love to stir and mix and pour ingredients.  Today’s group baking exercise?  Cranberry Orange Scones!

These are gluten-free, made with coconut flour.  If you’ve never tried it, I can’t recommend it highly enough.  For six big scones, you only need half a cup of coconut flour!  I like making treats for the girls that are single serving – that way there’s no arguing over whether the slice of bread is big enough, or having to share the last one.  These came together in a snap.  The original recipe (found on the Elana’s Pantry website) directs you to mix all the ingredients in a food processor, and I’m sure that would have made the recipe go even faster!  But because my girls wanted to help, we mixed them by hand – dry ingredients in a large bowl, wet ingredients in a smaller bowl, and then mixed wet into dry.

Try these little heaven-scented beauties today!

Cranberry Orange Scones (Gluten-Free)     makes six large scones

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil or softened butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries
  • zest of one orange, plus the juice of half the orange

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, blend together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
  2. In another bowl, beat together the coconut oil or butter, honey, and eggs.
  3. Mix the egg mixture into the flour mixture.  Stir in the cranberries, orange zest, and orange juice.
  4. On a Silpat mat or parchment paper, make six mounds of dough.
  5. Bake for about 15 minutes at 350*F.

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

To view even more of Dana’s unique recipe, you can visit her at Frugal Girlmet!

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

Can You Feel His Majesty?

June 20, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

1 Praise the Lord!  Servants of the Lord, praise him!
    Praise the Lord’s name.
2 May the Lord’s name be praised
    now and forever.
3 May the Lord’s name be praised
    from where the sun rises to where it goes down.
4 The Lord is higher than all nations.
    His glory rises to the skies.
5 There is no one like the Lord our God.
    He sits on his throne high in heaven.
6 He is so high above us that he must look down
    to see the sky and the earth.
7 He lifts the poor out of the dirt
    and rescues beggars from the garbage dump.
8 He puts them in important positions,
    giving them a place among the leaders of his people.
9 He gives children to the woman whose home is empty.
    He makes her a happy mother. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 113

From the moment of conception, life is a miracle. Although we carry the child for 40 weeks, it seems like forever before we give birth. I know women that have been blessed with many children and those who are blessed with one. Then there are those who may not have given birth to children of their own, but have love enough to share with children as an adoptive mom or as a servant of the Lord at church or in a teaching situation where their influence is great upon those they touch.

God gave us that capacity to love and to love others. Sometimes life will throw us curve balls. We may make a wrong turn down God’s path, get lost along the way, but know that He is there to catch us, no matter what our choices are. King David made mistakes, and truly repented, and God forgave him. Consequences were meted out, but all was forgiven.  After all, do we not want forgiveness in the end? Do we not want the shame, guilt and self-condemnation to be taken away? For all of this to happen, we need to forgive ourselves as God forgives us.

When Jesus died on the Cross for our sins, He took on every single thing we would ever do or think. He knew who we would meet, talk to, be friends with, laugh with, and who our parents would be. And, knowing all of this, He chose to die on the Cross for us.  I have mentored teenagers who have refused to accept that God would just love them. It is hard to teach someone who is not ready to hear that God loves them unconditionally. The best way is to show them unconditional love. This is best demonstrated by our service to our children, whether it is our own or loving on other children.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father, help us to remember that all are Your children. We each have gifting that allow us to minister to those that are hurting. Help us to be content with planting seeds, or with watering seeds, or with helping those seeds grow into a fully-developed Christians. Forgive us for when we do not look to You for guidance, but instead look to others or into ourselves. You have made us to seek You and be a part of community. Give us courage to seek godly women who will help us grow individually. I thank You for this group of women. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Only Love

June 19, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

He maketh the barren woman to keep house,
and to be a joyful mother of children.
Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 113:9

I don’t know what it is like to not have the ability to have children.  I’m a mother, I have been since I was a young woman. However, through the years I’ve learned an important lesson—you do not need to bear children to be a mom, to be a mother. I have come across many women who are mothers to their own children and to others. I’ve come across women who do not have children but who have taken on that role, nurturing and guiding others in life.

This verse doesn’t simply tell me that He will create opportunities for women to fill a void they may have from not having children of her own. What this verse tells me is that God will always meet our needs, He will always make certain that our voids are filled, but it’s not the house or the kids, or whatever it is that’s missing from your life. What He fills that void with is His love. It’s His love that brings the joy that we have as we go about our day

So yes, Praise ye the Lord! Praise Him for meeting our needs, for filling our voids, and for the joy to live out our destiny even when the circumstances don’t match our plan.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes we look at our situations and see that they don’t meet our plans, we have voids; we have empty places, and there is only One Who can fill those voids—and that is You and Your love. Thank You for Your joy that allows us to live each day.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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I Am

June 19, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place where we can’t find peace
There’s no end to amazing grace
Take me in with Your arms spread wide
Take me in like an orphan child
Never let go, never leave my side

I am holding on to You
I am holding on to You
In the middle of the storm
I am holding on, I am

Love like this, oh, my God to find
I am overwhelmed what a joy divine
Love like this sets our hearts on fire

This is my Resurrection song
This is my ‘Hallelujah Come’
This is why to You I run
There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place that we can’t find peace
There’s no end to amazing grace

Singer / Songwriter: David Crowder (with Ed Cash)

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

“There’s no space that His love can’t reach….” Oh, how much God loves us…do you know how loved you are ???  This blogpost I came across states this beautifully:

*  ~  *   ~   *  ~  *

You Are ‘The Apple of My Eye, The Treasure in My Heart 

“You are not worthless; you are the apple of His eye and the work of His hands. God is saying to you, “You are the apple of my eye, the treasure in my heart.”

The Bible states, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-22). In the sight of God you are His treasure, and where His treasure is, there His heart is also. His heart is with you, yes, with you His treasure.

God wants you to know you are deep in the core of His heart and He is watching over you daily. His thoughts are with you. They are thoughts of good and not of evil.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  (Jeremiah 29:11, 12)

You may not know or understand it, but He wants me to reassure you that He is watching over you daily. You are the work of His hands, His own treasure. If you can put your trust in Him, you will see a transformation in your life. His hands are wide open towards you right now, He is waiting to embrace you, wanting to heal and set you free. If you are feeling alone, abandoned like there is no one to help, the Bible states that God is our Helper, He is the glory and the lifter of your head.

And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him. Psalm 37:40)”

from Prayer for Today blog 

*  ~  *   ~   *  ~  *

There is no place we can’t find peace in the storm. In Mark 4 we find the example of Jesus calming the storm….

On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So after leaving the crowd, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat, and other boats were with Him. Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. But He was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” So He got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Calm down!” Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. And He said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey Him!” (verses 35-41)

We must stand firm in our faith and keep believing. We must go by faith and not by what we see. He is faithful and, in the end, we will have the victory!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Heavenly Father, I thank You that there is no place that Your love can’t reach…that there is no place that we can’t find peace. In the middle of the storm may we choose to hold on to You— the One who is faithful…in Jesus’ name, amen!!!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

A Mother to All

June 18, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

He maketh the barren woman to keep house,
and to be a joyful mother of children.
Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 113:9

In all my adult years, I never thought I would meet anybody who would not want children. Now, I have met women who were not able to have children or who, with their husband, had established their families through other means. Needless to say, of all the women in the aforementioned descriptions, they have all felt blessed and that this is the way God intended for their lives to be led. These women still have homes and husbands to care for, but they also have another calling.

There are some of these women in every church. I know of a few in ours. One of these great ladies works with the children in our church. She finds great joy in her role as their teacher. She teaches Sunday School, children’s choir, creative movement, and much more that involves the children of our church. She finds great joy in fostering the spiritual side of the children she works with each week. She finds great joy in the pursuits of her own family and those of working with our children. God has made her joyful in what she does.

Ladies, whether you have children or not, you are blessed to be put in the position you are in. As mothers, we are blessed with the joy of having a family and taking care of it. Barren women can find joy in helping foster a godly spirit in their friends’ children and the children of the church. Through these roles they praise God through their actions. Children look up to both their parents and their elders for guidance. As women of God, barren women still can find joy in helping with children through doing God’s work.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the women that You have placed in our lives. Without them we could not learn from one another or be good examples for each other…or for our children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Mighty Warrior

June 18, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

You call us out from the depths
Into Your freedom
Our chains are gone
No weapon formed shall prevail
Your Word is stronger
We overcome

Your glory resounds through the age
All saints declaring
Your great renown
Your Kingdom forever will stand
We won’t be shaken
We will not fear

Our God a mighty warrior
You’re a consuming fire
In victory You reign
We triumph in Your name
Jesus the great commander
You conquered death forever
In victory You reign
We triumph in Your name

And we declare Your name is power
Exalted One, no name is higher
You stand alone our Strong Defender
Above You there’s no other, above You there’s no other

Jesus the great Commander
You conquered death forever
In victory You reign
We triumph in Your name

Songwriters: Chris Brown, Jane Williams, Matthews Ntlele
Performed by Elevation Worship

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Is there anything that can destroy us if we are His children? As you listen to this song, I hope you are reminded that nothing is impossible for Him and there isn’t anything that is more powerful than our God.
There is freedom in His Name and chains are broken and we are victorious over anything that attempts to destroy us. Because He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place and to redeem us and restore us, we will forever live with Him in His home, Heaven.
We won’t be shaken, we will not fear, for nothing can ever separate us from Him. No weapon can be formed against us. Forever we will be free. Our God is to be exalted in the Heavens and the earth, now and forever more. He is to be praised and worshipped and loved by His children. We are to spread His hope to this dying world. He alone is our Joy and our Hope. He is our Rock and He never changes.
Oh friend, I pray today that you know Him. I pray today that you can rest in Him. Get into His Word and hear all He has for you—all His promises and blessings that are yours. And if you don’t know Him, reach out today. Your life will never be the same!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let us pray: Dearest Lord, we praise You and we love You. We thank You for being our Rock. You are our Provider. You give us joy and peace and make our lives here on earth so much more fulfilled. All around us are Your wonders and Your artwork. Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us and restore us. Thank You for breaking chains and giving us freedom in Your Name. Your Word is our shield and our hope. We can do anything with You as our God. Thank You for songs like this, that remind us of Your character. You give each one of us a way to glorify You. Help us to use it for Your glory. Give us courage to spread the hope of You to this world, for it’s in Your son’s name we pray, amen.

 

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

God’s Condescension

June 17, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth.
Psalm 113:6 NLT

Who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth!
Psalm 113:6 AMP

As I was researching this verse, I kept coming across the phrase “God’s condescension.” I did not like the way that sounded. Who thinks of God as condescending? To me, condescending meant ‘patronizing superiority’.  But biblically it means the exact opposite. I looked it up in several biblical dictionaries and found that condescension means ‘gentleness, meekness, or humility’.  It is used to describe God’s benevolence towards us.

Think of it this way—God’s glory is above all things, even the heavens.  Job 5:15 says: “Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight” (NASB).  Yet, He never neglects any of His creations.  Psalm 138:6 puts it this way: “Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly” (NKJ).  He gives us His constant care and attention. God is aware of even the smallest of details.  Psalm 11:4 tells us: “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; He examines everyone.”  There is not one thing that He does not see, guide, and direct (as if there is nothing else to demand His attention).

What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Psalm 8:4 NASB

Lord, what is man that You take notice of him? Or [the] son of man that You take account of him?
Psalm 144:3 AMP

Who are we that God should be so mindful of us?  Job 36:5 reminds us: “Behold! God is mighty, and yet despises no one nor regards anything as trivial.”  He is infinitely perfect and all-sufficient; and yet, it pleases Him to think of us.  He stoops from His throne on high to lay His hand upon us. God chooses to open Himself to us. Humble beyond any comparison, He stoops to offer us reconciliation.

In the words of Charles Spurgeon:
“It is God making Himself little which is the cause of our being made great.”

If that doesn’t blow you away, nothing ever will!

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father God, I stand amazed and in awe of You. That You, to whom even the heavens are unclean, should stoop down and take notice of me. Mere words will never adequately express the gratefulness and appreciation I feel that You should humble Yourself on my behalf. Thank You Father. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray – Amen, so be it!

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My Passion

June 17, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

You alone are my passion forever
Song of my soul
Desire of my heart
You alone are my passion, my treasure
I love You for all that You are
To the ends of the earth I will follow
There’s nothing that I will not do
You alone are my reason for living
Jesus, my passion is You
Jesus, my passion is You

My Life
My Love
My God

To the ends of the earth I will follow
There’s nothing that I will not do
‘CauseYou alone are my reason for living
Jesus, my passion is You
Jesus, my passion is You

My Life
My Love
My God

You are my Life
My Love
Everything I do
Everything I have
Every breath I breathe
Everything I do is all for You

 Songwriters: David Moffitt, Steve Dean, Travis Cottrell/ Sung by Travis Cottrell

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

So…what’s your story for His glory???   Why is Jesus your passion?

My passion for Jesus started at the age of 22 when two sweet ladies who were my clients invited me to their home and shared the Gospel of Jesus with me. I had already believed in God. However that was the very first time I was introduced to a relationship with Jesus.

My past had not been pretty and, up until that point in my life, I did not believe there was any hope for someone like me who had made extremely poor choices. They began at the age of 16 when I started to dabble in the things of the world and gave in to many of the temptations out there. It was a very dark journey. My poor choices led me into a domestically violent first marriage and then a divorce before I was 21 years old. I felt lost and as though I had failed at life…. So I continued down the dark path of despair.

When I was in the deepest of pits…that was when Jesus found me…and my life has never been the same since! I discovered that I could be forgiven for my poor choices and be made a new creation in Him! I have been running hard after Jesus ever since.

Therein lies my passion….  Amazing grace that saved someone like me and gave me a second chance at life. That one moment, when those sweet ladies took a risk and introduced me to something I had not known, changed my life forever. Today I have been blessed with an amazing life—one that I certainly don’t deserve. However that’s God…He is the God of second chances.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Heavenly Father, You alone are my passion forever…song of my soul, desire of my heart. You alone are my passion, my treasure. I love You for all that You are. Everything I do, everything I have, every breath I breathe…everything I do is all for You. Thank You for giving me a second chance! Jesus my passion is You…amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , ,

Quinoa-Beef Stuffed Portabellos

June 16, 2014 by

2014-06-10 19.36.12

Remember that delicious and so-good-for-you red quinoa recipe from last week? Well, I was looking around for a use for the rest of it and so…these were going to be stuffed sweet peppers but the portobello caps were SUCH a good price!  (Well, y’know I could not resist!)  I par-cooked the mushroom caps on a grill pan but they would be great done on your outdoor grill too!

We enjoyed these as an entree with steamed broccoli–they were VERY filling!  I figure two caps per person unless you choose to serve these as a side dish.  This recipe fit nicely into our ‘healthy but oh-so-yummy’ point of view!  Enjoy!

Quino-Beef Stuffed Portabellos

ingredients:
4 medium-sized portabello mushroom caps plus 1 extra for chopping
1/2 # ground beef (or turkey, chicken, or lamb)
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup kale (or spinach), stems removed and chopped
1-2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (I used havarti)
1 small red onion, cut into 1/2 moons
2 heaping tablespoons chopped garlic
1/2 cup red wine
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
olive oil

directions:

  • preheat oven to 375 (heat grill pan, also, if using)
  • in a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat; add sliced onions and cook for 4-5 minutes
  • using a spoon, scoop out the dark gills of each mushroom cap. (if they have stems, add these along with the 1 extra cap for chopping.)  brush the caps with olive oil & place rounded side down on the heated grill pan (or onto a foil-lined baking sheet)
  • bake for 6-7 minutes; remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly
  • chop up the set-aside mushroom cap (and stems, if any) and add to onions in saute pan; cook over medium heat until mushrooms get brown & fragrant (caramelize them), perhaps another 6-7 minutes
  • once onions and mushrooms are done, pour into a large mixing bowl along with the cooked quinoa
  • (using the same skillet), add ground meat. cook over medium high heat ‘til browned.  lower heat just a bit (don’t want to burn the garlic!) and add chopped garlic and saute for another minute or two stirring constantly
  • stir in red wine and chopped kale (or spinach) and cover pan; simmer ‘til liquid is evaporated
  • add meat and kale to the veggie/quinoa mixture in the large bowl
  • stir in the balsamic and mix the ingredients all together in the bowl. season well w/ salt and pepper
  • place scoops of mixture into mushroom caps (I find my hands worked well!) dividing the stuffing mixture equally amongst the caps. top each mushroom with a few crumbles of cheese
  • bake for about 12-15 minutes, ‘til mushroom caps are tender & filling is slightly browned.

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

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

♥  coleen

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

Washed By The Water

June 16, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Daddy was a preacher
She was his wife
Just trying to make the world a little better
You know, shine a light
People started talking
Trying to hear their own voice
Those people tried to accuse my father
Said he made the wrong choice
Though it might be painful
You know that time will always tell
Those people have long since gone
My father never failed

Even when the rain falls
Even when the flood starts rising
Even when the storm comes
I am washed by the water

Even if the Earth crumbles under my feet
Even if the ones I love turn around and crucify me
I won’t never ever let you down
I won’t fall
I won’t fall
I won’t fall as long as you’re around me

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

Have you ever felt prompted to do something, felt it was right, only to be talked out of it by friends and family, or your own insecurity? I know I have. But you know, if it is of God, there will be opportunities to pursue those outreaches. It may not have the same blessing as before, but you can still receive a blessing from your service opportunity. It is almost like the son that said he would help in the garden, then doesn’t. Then the other son says no, but then does. I so understand.

Age does not mean that we obey any better than when we were younger. Sometimes we just get more stubborn and figure who wants to hear from this old person. Let me tell you, we are not old. We have alot of life to live and experiences to share. We may need to practice our delivery, may need to soften our demeanor, but we also do not ever need to give up hope. There are people I am sure you have been ministering to and praying for. Never give up on them. Jesus has not given up on us!

 

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , ,
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