March 17, 2026

Shrimp and Asparagus Saute over Red Quinoa

June 9, 2014 by

It is starting to be the season when simpler suppers are more agreeable, wouldn’t you say? No need to heat up the kitchen when preparing this dish. AND, this is equally good served hot from the pan, warm, or even as a cold salad!

This dish, Shrimp and Asparagus Saute over Red Quinoa, also fits into our healthy but oh-so-yummy POV since it is full of fresh ingredients with less than 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the entire preparation, and a bit of shredded parmesan cheese to finish it off!  This easily serves 3 hungry adults and can be doubled with no trouble at all.

Have you and your family enjoyed quinoa <kEEn-wah> before?  Quinoa is a grain but it is the seed that we eat!  (Good news for the low-carbERs, right?)  And it is jam-packed full of protein.  Usually when I prepare a pot of quinoa, I make enough extra to use for another meal.  To find quinoa in your grocery store, check the natural food section, or perhaps where they sell different rice products.  Our favorite is ‘red’ quinoa.  Quinoa does come in three varieties (white, or ‘golden’, red, and black).  Basically they are the same with shades of differences, basically in texture.  But I have used all three totally interchangeably!  Here are some nutritional facts about quinoa.  I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do!

2014-06-08 18.45.20

Shrimp and Asparagus Saute over Red Quinoa

ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
1 cup chicken broth and 1 cup water
½ medium sweet onion, sliced into half-moons
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
10-15 grape or cherry tomatoes (I used yellow), sliced in half
1 pound uncooked shrimp peeled and deveined
2 cloves garlic, minced
1+1/2 tablespoons freshly ground lemon pepper seasoning
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
shaved Parmesan cheese
lemon wedges (optional)

directions:

  • preheat oven (or toaster oven, as I did) to 400.
  • line a baking sheet pan with foil
  • in a medium saucepan, bring liquids to a boil; stir in quinoa. return to a boil, reduce heat to low; cover with lid and simmer gently ‘til liquids are absorbed (20 minutes or so)
  • in a large saute pan over medium-high flame, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and add sliced onions; saute for 7-8 minutes to soften
  • while onions and quinoa are cooking, place asparagus on the lined baking pan, and season well with 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning. pour 1 teaspoon olive oil evenly over the asparagus and then roll back and forth on the baking sheet to distribute. bake for 10-12 minutes
  • (back to the saute pan!) add the halved tomatoes placing flat side down in pan; heat for 3-4 minutes.2014-06-08 18.36.49
  • stir in the shrimp, minced garlic, lemon pepper seasoning. allow to cook without stirring for 3 minutes or so, ‘til shrimp are starting to turn pink. flip shrimp over and cook for 2 more minutes. pour in the wine, give everything a good thorough stir and let simmer for just 2-3 minutes to reduce the liquids. remove from heat and check for additional seasoning
  • asparagus should be done; remove from oven
  • To plate: scoop some quinoa into an even layer on plate or shallow bowl. spoon shrimp&veggies over top. add stalks of asparagus on top and sprinkle with cheese.

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

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

♥  coleen

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Corporate Worship

June 9, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness
and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people
and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.
Psalms 107:31-32

From the beginning only God is to be worshipped.

Why do we need to corporately worship? Because He commands it and takes it seriously!

There shall no strange god be in thee neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
Psalm 81:9

For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord whose Name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14

This is based on a previous command of false worship in Exodus 20:4-5.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above
or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children,
on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me….

God deserves it – 100% He deserves it.  He alone deserves worship—

  • He is The Alpha and the Omega
  • He is absolutely Holy, Righteous, Just
  • He is Love
  • He is our Savior

Worshipping in spirit and truth flows naturally from faith, love, and trust.  God deserves it even when we are facing adversaries for He is the same God—He never changes and what He says He will do shall completely come to pass! Therefore worshipping God should be our lifestyle, He deserves it.

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying,
Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying,
I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 8:2-3

And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:33

You will take note in these Scripture references, some worshipped Jesus for who He was (before He did any miracle); others worshipped Him afterwards.

The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne
and worship Him who lives forever and ever saying
You are worthy, O Lord to receive all the glory and honor and power.
Revelation 4:10-11

We need it and the world needs it too. We worship God for it benefits us, anything else we worship doesn’t work out to benefit us and, in fact, brings harm. Others worship their jobs, businesses, food, money, other humans, nature, false gods, etc. It never works out. Stick with worshipping the Perfect Being Who loves you and cares about you. It works out a lot better in the end.

Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’”  After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear and understand.  It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”  Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Matthew 15:1-14

This passage in Matthew 15:1-14 isn’t all about worship, sisters. There can be those that worship in a way that is completely meaningless. Their worship is in vain. Salvation isn’t about worship; it is about faith, trust, love, etc. Worship flows so naturally from these things that many Christians get a bit confused. Let us worship God in spirit and in truth.

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Our dear heavenly Father, we thank You and glorify Your holy Name for there is no other True God besides You. You alone are worthy of all our praise and worship for You are holy, mighty, wonderful, faithful. We pray for the spirit of worship to be awakened in our lives for You deserve it. May our worship be like a sweet aroma to You! We pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN!!

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Cielo (Latin for Heaven)

June 8, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I’m walking through the bright white gates
Breathing in and out Your grace
All around me melodies rise
That echo with a joy inside
So I start to sing

But I can’t sing loud enough
I can’t sing loud enough
When I’m singing for You, My God

With a thunder roll and a brilliant light
Your glory bursts and the heavens shine
Saints and angels stand in awe
Captured by the beauty of it all
So I fall to my knees

But I can’t bow low enough
I can’t bow low enough
At the vision of You, my God

I can’t hold it all inside
I’m reaching for the One
Who brought me out of death and into life

Now I can’t lift my hands high enough
Lift my hands high enough
When I’m reaching for You, my God

 

Singer/Songwriter: Phil Wickham

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

I heard this beautiful song—a psalm, really—for the very first time yesterday.  I had the joy of attending the 2014 Recital of The King’s Dancers.  And “Cielo” was the musical script for one of the ballet numbers.  I can truly say that my heart was overwhelmed by this song!

This beautiful, captivating song is written to paint the picture of being in God’s Throne Room.  Phil Wickham shares his heart about this song in the very beginning of this video clip.  Here is what he said: “The song is kind of a story about a man, kind of waking up…his first kind of entrance to the heaven and seeing God and being overwhelmed, in the light, in the love, in the mystery and beauty of the whole place, so I wrote the verses as a story and the chorus is kind of a sing-a-long response.”

And each verse DOES depict such a vivid mind-picture, don’t you think? “Thunder rolling, brilliant glory bursting, walking through bright white gates, breathing God’s grace, hearing joyous melodies rising about…” But what caught me and drew me in was the idea of it not being possible to sing loud enough…or bow low enough…or lift my hands high enough in worshipful response to the absolute Presence of my God!

It reminded me of this passage in the very beginning of the Book of Revelations:

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me.
And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man,
clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow;
and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace,
and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword;
and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man.
And He placed His right hand on me, saying,
“Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One;
and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore….

Revelations 1:12-18

The apostle John was given incredible and amazing and awesome and hard-to-fathom revelations. He was shown the most magnificent and truly breathtaking things in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Perhaps, do you think that, had he known this song, he might have been singing, “I can’t bow low enough, I can’t bow low enough at the vision of You, my God!”

Listening to this song, I desire to be real before my God recognizing my desperate need for Him.  I would love to plead with you, friends, to take your music-listening device and go in your ‘closet.’  Play it as loud as you are comfortable with…and worship Your God!  I pray that you won’t be able to sing loud enough or bow low enough or lift your hands high enough!   But DO sing and bow and lift your hands because God is as close as your breath…and He SO desires to receive your worship and praise!

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Give Thanks To The Lord

June 7, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love
and His wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of His works with songs of joy.
Psalms 107:21-22 

Give thanks to the Lord (for He is good)
For He is good
Give thanks to the Lord (for He is good)
For He is good
Give thanks to the Lord (for He is good)
For He is good
His love endures forever

His love will reign forevermore
His power will reign forevermore
His grace will reign forevermore
His peace will reign forevermore
His love will reign forevermore
His power will reign forevermore
His grace will reign forevermore
His peace will reign forevermore

His love endures forever (praise the Lord)
His love endures forever (Hallelujah)
His love endures forever

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Crockpot Curry Chicken and Curry Chicken Stew

June 6, 2014 by

Curry Chicken Stew resize

Two for the price of one!  That’s what you get when you start this recipe in the crockpot.  It’s not very glamorous, but oh boy! does it smell and taste divine!  A simple list of ingredients  and a crockpot are all you need to make two delicious meals: Crockpot Curry Chicken and Curry Chicken Stew!

First you need a can of coconut milk or coconut cream.  It needs to be a can, because the coconut milk “beverage” they put in cartons is all watery, and you need the high fat content of the canned stuff.  Trader Joe’s has both canned coconut milk and coconut cream, or you can try an Asian market or online.  Next thing you need is curry.  You can use curry paste; I just used curry powder and it was lovely.  You’ll need an 8-ounce package of mushrooms, any kind – I used regular button mushrooms, but shiitakes or creminis would be nice too, and give it a stronger flavor.  And last is this beauty:

Chinese Broccoli resize

I buy it at the farmer’s market from a Vietnamese lady who tells me it’s called “Chinese broccoli”.  A little online research shows its real name is kai lan.  Its leaves are like spinach, and its cooked stems have the consistency of asparagus.  If you can’t find it, use spinach instead…although the Chinese broccoli has a stronger, more bitter flavor.

I made this with whole chicken legs – skin, bones and all – but I think next time I’ll try it with just boneless, skinless thighs.  Chicken skin in the crockpot is not a nice thing – we actually peeled it off before we ate the Curry Chicken the first night because it just seemed kind of rubbery.  But I think the skin and bones do add to the stock for the stew the next day, so it’s up to you.  Either way, you get two healthy, delicious meals out of one crockpot – you can’t beat that!

Crockpot Curry Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds whole chicken legs
  • 1 can of coconut cream, or use coconut milk (not low-fat)
  • 3 tablespoons curry powder or curry paste of your choice
  • juice of 1 lemon or lime
  • 1 tablespoon salt

Directions:

  1. In a large crockpot, set the time for 8 hours on low or 4-6 on high.  Put the chicken legs on the bottom.
  2. Mix together the coconut cream, curry, lemon juice and salt.  Pour over the chicken and stir to combine.
  3. Cook until a thermometer reads 180*F.  Remove chicken legs from the pot and cover them with foil.  Pour the coconut broth into a large pan and simmer for about 15 minutes.  It will reduce a little.  Serve chicken legs with coconut broth.

Now, at this point, I had 2 very large legs leftover and about a cup of coconut broth.  I put them together in a Tupperware container.  Then the next day, I made…

Curry Chicken Stew

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon butter, coconut oil or olive oil
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, quartered
  • 1 pound Chinese broccoli, cut into 2-inch pieces  (or use fresh spinach)
  • 2 large cooked chicken legs (or use 1 pound of chicken thighs)
  • leftover coconut broth – as much as you have
  • optional chicken broth
  • optional jasmine rice to serve

Directions:

  1. In a large pan, saute the mushrooms in 1 tablespoon butter, coconut oil, or olive oil.  Stir, and after five minutes, add the Chinese broccoli and cover.
  2. While the mushrooms are cooking, prepare the chicken:  peel off the skin and any subcutaneous fat you find from the cooked chicken legs.  Remove the meat from the bones and roughly chop.
  3. Add the chopped chicken and remaining coconut broth to the mushrooms and Chinese broccoli.  If you want it to be soupier, add some chicken broth.  Cook until the chicken is hot, about ten minutes.

This would be lovely with some steamed jasmine rice!  I ate this for lunch, and liked it so much I ate it again for breakfast.

 

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

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

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A Quick Reminder

June 6, 2014 by

“What has God done for you lately?”   Whenever I’ve been asked this question in the past, I thought it was cheesy.  Why does it matter what God has done for me?  (Or better yet) why do you want to know?  I used to think that my struggles were my struggles, and my victories were my victories, and the things that God did for me…were for me.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love
and His wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of His works with songs of joy.
Psalms 107:21-22

The answer to my questions are simple.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO KNOW OR BE REMINDED THAT GOD IS ABLE.

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves,
others will praise God for the obedience
that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ,
and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you,
because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
2 Corinthians 9:13-14

We can forget sometimes that our God is able.  Oh, how we can forget!!  When bills pile high and the fridge is empty…we can forget.  When the bank account says $0 and the gas tank is on ‘E’…we can forget.  Those are times it’s easy to forget that God is able.  But hearing about how God provided for a brother or sister can be a quick reminder of our God’s ability and a spirit-lifter.

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy,
and they shared her joy.
Luke 1:57-58

So. I ask again… “What has God done for you lately?”

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Thank You, God, for being a God who answers prayers and gives perspective. Thank You for being taller than any mountain we could approach.  And thank You so much for providing us with sisters and brothers to help nudge us on when we are temporarily dazed by our circumstances.  What an awesome God we serve.  Amen.

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You Have a Friend in Me

June 6, 2014 by

On the very day that David killed Goliath, Jonathan pledged his loyalty to him. God did this.

The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David,
and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel 18:1

Jonathan loved David and gave him his own sword.  He gave David his garment and crowned young David as king.  And then, he protects him.

When Jonathan hears of Saul’s plot to come after David, Jonathan tells his new friend, and hides him.

My father Saul seeks to kill you.
Therefore please be on your guard until morning
and stay in a secret place and hide.
1 Samuel 19:2

Jonathan gave David a promise, a wardrobe, and protection from his own father. David found a good friend.

Do you have a friend like Jonathan?  A soul mate to protect you and who seeks nothing but your interests.  Only your happiness matters to them.  You feel safe with that person and you can be yourself.  You don’t have to think before you speak…they already know what you’re about to say.  They know what you’re thinking.  You know that their hand will shield you.  And you know that you matter.

David had that kind of friend, sent from God. You have a friend that God gave you like this. Remember these words from Matthew 28:20?

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Hasn’t Jesus clothed you?  (He really outdoes Jonathan, don’t you think?)  He took your sin so that you can go to His home with Him.

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21

Hasn’t He equipped you, like Jonathan did with his sword? He tells us to put on all His armor so that we can resist the devil and his strategies (Ephesians 6:11).  As part of His armor, He gives us a belt of truth and a body of righteousness.  And He gives us the sword of the Spirit in the form of His Word.

You have the truest friend of all.  No one can, or ever will, love you more. No one can take your sins from you so that you can enter into Heaven’s gates.  No one but Jesus.  He is your Hiding Place from all that wants to harm you.  He is the Lover of your soul.  He alone can fill that empty place.  And until you know and receive His love, you may not have the joy and peace that He wants to give you.

Do you know Him?  He is waiting for you with arms open wide.  He is so ready to be your friend.  He will always have your interests first.

Do you want to know Him?  It’s never too late and you’re never too far that His arms can’t reach you. If you are ready to receive Him, will you pray this prayer?

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I need You to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. You alone can set me free.  I need forgiveness.  I want to walk with You in this life.  Thank You for paying the price for me.  It’s in Your precious name I pray, amen.

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More Than Enough

June 5, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.
Psalms 107:21-22

Thanksgiving and rejoicing…those are two beautiful words.

I think it’s wonderful that we can practice thanksgiving at any time during the year; that the act of being thankful isn’t limited to a holiday in the fall.  I’ve decided that one of the best feelings to have is when I can take a deep breath, and offer a true Thank You to my Heavenly Father.

For me, I know that the idea of these two words was somewhat intimidating.  I would wonder what thanks I could offer that would be sufficient, that would truly express the praise He deserves for all He has done in my life.  I knew that I could never meet the requirement (or that’s what I thought).  But I came to learn that He didn’t place requirements on the thanks we offer.  He just said to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving.  And how we can—with the gifts we’ve been given, offer thanks through writing, through song, through helps, through whatever method you can.

I learned that thanksgiving and rejoicing are everyday acts.  They are things we can do when we wake up, when we’re working, when we’re talking to friends.  They are things that can become part of our character, things we can practice, and things that can become second nature.  This is definitely something that I have been working on and something that I want to continue to work on.  Daily He is by my side, helping me in these endeavors.  This week let’s focus on thanksgiving…let’s focus on rejoicing!

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for Your love and kindness, for Your patience, and for the gifts You gave us that we can use to offer You thanks.  At times we may not know how to offer thanksgiving, it may not feel adequate, but to You it is beautiful.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Set Me Free

June 5, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

It hasn’t always been this way
I remember brighter days
Before the dark ones came
Stole my mind
Wrapped my soul in chains

Now I live among the dead
Fighting voices in my head
Hoping someone hears me
Crying in the night
And carries me away

Set me free of the chains holding me
Is anybody out there hearing me
Set me free

Morning breaks another day
Finds me crying in the rain
All alone with my demons I am
Who is this man
That comes my way

The dark ones shriek
They scream His name
Is this the One they say
Will set the captives free
Jesus, rescue me

As the God man passes by
He looks straight
Through my eyes
And darkness cannot hide

Do you want to be free
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on Heav’n and Earth
Belong to me

You are free, you are free, you are free

 

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the bog and the mire.
He set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing praises to our God.
Now many will hear of the wondrous things He’s done for me
and stand in awe before the Lord and put their trust in Him.

Psalms 40: 2, 3

Praise the Lord for ALL that He endured with you and me in mind! Praise Him for the Freedom that we have in Him!

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

The following article by Beth Moore is a great illustration on steps you can actively take on receiving Freedom in Christ.

Beth Moore: Break Through 5 Obstacles to Freedom in Christ

Speaker and Author Beth Moore exposes the 5 barriers that keep you from Freedom in Christ.

“…When I was 18 years old, I surrendered to God’s call to vocational ministry. But I really had no idea what I was surrendering to. Some years later, God gave me a mandate: “I sent My Son to set the captives free. You will go forth and ring the liberty bell.” This mandate sounded evangelistic to me, and I was certain my calling was in the area of discipleship. I shake my head and marvel now when I recall that I once thought the only people who were captives were the spiritually lost! But if anyone had told me then that Christians can be in bondage, I would have argued with all the volume a person can muster—when a yoke of slavery is strangling her neck! I was the worst kind of captive: a prisoner unaware. In fact, I had no idea I was in captivity until God began to set me free. Perhaps you’re also unconvinced that Christians can live in bondage. Don’t take my word for it; take God’s.”

(The full article can be read here at Charismamag.com)

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Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me free from the chains that once held me.   Thank You that as Jesus passed my way the darkness could no longer hide and keep me in the bondage that once held me.  Thank You, Jesus, You have set me free!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!

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An Attitude of Gratitude

June 4, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Let them praise the Lord for His great love
and for the wonderful things He has done for them.
Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about His glorious acts.
Psalms 107:21-22

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

A sacrifice can be defined as ‘something valuable given to God.’  An offering can be defined as a ‘gift or anything presented to God.’  According to the Lexham Bible Dictionary , all sacrifices are offerings but not all offerings are sacrifices.  In the Old Testament there were two primary reasons for sacrifices and offerings. One reason was for atonement/restoration and the other reason was for worship and thanksgiving.  Sacrifices and offerings were needed to approach God.

Jesus became our permanent sacrifice, our eternal sin offering. But that does not mean we no longer need to bring offerings before the Lord. We can still bring a sacrifice of praise, a peace offering before God. Psalm 96:8 (NLT) encourages us to do so.

Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
bring an offering and come [before Him] into His courts.

The idea behind a peace offering was communion with God; sitting down to a meal with God and drawing close to Him. Through praise we can come into communion with God. Our praise celebrates His mercies, His goodness, His provisions and our redemption. In the Old Testament sacrifices served to restore relationship with God and to please Him. Praise gives us the opportunity to do the same. We can bring a ‘thank you’ offering to the altar and a grateful heart to God. Sharing what God has done encourages others and keeps our victories fresh in our minds.

As Charles Spurgeon states:

“Such things are worth telling, for the personal declaration honours God, relieves ourselves, comforts others, and puts all men in possession of facts concerning the divine goodness which they will not be able to ignore.”

Psalm 73:28 (NLT) reminds us that when we draw close to God we can’t help but sing His praises!

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my Shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.

And, don’t you know, that pleases God.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Heavenly Father, You are deserving of our praise. May our hearts and our lips joyfully ring out in worship of You. We come to You with a grateful heart, thankful for all You have done for us.  We know that if we don’t praise you, even the rocks will cry out Your name.  Our desire is to please You and we know our praise is pleasing to You.  Let an attitude of gratitude inhabit all that we do. In Your name we pray, Amen – so be it!

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