May 8, 2026

GCH: What’s on Your Plate? – Orange Salad

December 1, 2012 by

orange salad

No family get-together at my mom’s is complete without her orange salad. She’s been making it for years, and it has become one of those dishes we look forward to whenever we’re there for dinner. My daughter literally jumped up and down with excitement when I told her I was making it this week. She savored every single bite, and asked if she could have it for her fruit in her lunch yesterday. I’m not one to pack desserts in her lunch bag, but I thought I’d treat her this once. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

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Ingredients:

  • 3 oz. pkg. vanilla cook & serve pudding
  • 3 oz. pkg. tapioca cook & serve pudding
  • 3 oz. pkg. orange gelatin
  • 8 oz. tub Cool Whip
  • 15 oz. can mandarin oranges
  • 3 c. hot water
  • This recipe serves about 6 people.

Directions:

  1. Pour 3 cups of hot water into a medium saucepan.
  2. Empty the packages of vanilla and tapioca pudding, and orange gelatin into the saucepan. (Do NOT make according to the package instructions.) Turn the heat to medium-high and heat until boiling, stirring constantly.
  3. Once it starts boiling, continue to stir for about 30 seconds, then remove from heat. (The mixture will thicken as it heats, and will continue to thicken as it cools down.)
  4. Empty the mixture into a glass bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or you can make it first thing in the morning and it will be ready to go by dinner time. My rule of thumb is an 8 hour cooling time.
  5. Once it is completely cooled, fold in the Cool Whip.
  6. Drain the juice/syrup from the mandarin oranges, then fold in the oranges, making sure everything is completely incorporated. os3
  7. Serve cold, and enjoy!

Praise God! Let’s eat!

Shandy

Be sure to visit Shandy’s personal blog Aprons ‘n Pearls for recipes, crafts, homekeeping tips & more!

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

A Daughter’s Worth – Week 9/Day 5 – God’s Presence is Unmistakable

November 30, 2012 by

Girls, as an International English Teacher, I have been fortunate to travel to different countries. One of my teaching assignments was in the Middle East. My daughter and I lived in Qatar for 3 years.

Qatar is a Muslim country and as you can imagine, you could not find Bibles and Christian reading material in the book stores, no gospel or Christmas music were heard on the radio, no Jesus t-shirts  were worn and no church steeples were visible from a far.

At first I thought I would be miserable having to live and work with non-believers and teaching kids who don’t believe in the God I serve and love.

Although I could not talk to my students about God, as is the case in the USA and other countries, I could show them the God I serve by the way I presented myself; my positive attitude; the way I did my work- always well prepared; the loving, welcoming atmosphere in my classroom.

I have found myself in foreign countries on numerous occasions, and not all of them have been positive. I remember a time when the Head of the English Department tried to get rid of me, saying that I did not do my work properly. On another occasion in the USA, I had parents who complained to the principal about my accent, they could not understand how a South African could teach their kids English. One year, before school started, I had a parent asking for her child to be removed from my class because the kid did not understand me, this was a kid that I have never met before, I did not even know what the child looked like!!!!!! But you know what? My God promises in His Word that He will always be with me.

Well, as you can imagine, on both occasions I kept my job, and that boy stayed in my class and passed his End of Grade test for the first time!

 

Be blessed!

Edwina

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Let’s Pray:

Lord Jesus, I thank You for this wonderful group of girls. Thank You for being present in their lives wherever they find themselves. I ask that it will be their desire to serve You with all that they have, that they will always shine Your light. Bless each one of them as they go about pursuing their studies, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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For the A Daughter’s Worth Online 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! Please email GCH_Decaf@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

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GCH: What’s on Your Plate? – Creamy Squash Soup with Ginger

November 30, 2012 by

Today’s blog post is brought to you by Renee Porter Sullivan, CHt

This recipe was part of a class I took a few months ago through Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.  It was a required class in my Nutrition program.  The class was taught by Chef Rachel Albert.  You can find her website and information on her website The Healthy Cooking Coach.   http://www.thehealthycookingcoach.com/  This squash soup was one of my favorite dishes.  I even made a double batch and froze some in a quart ball canning jar for later.  If you do this make sure you leave an inch or more of space at the top for expansion.  I highly recommend you make extra, you will love this soup.

During my classes with Chef Rachel, I learned she has been recovering from Cancer.  She is doing well these days.  As many of you reading this are all too aware, the financial toll this illness can take is extensive.  Chef Rachel has been paying for her treatments out of pocket.  When I learned of this I wanted to help any way that I could.

Chef Rachel has agreed to allow us to post her recipe on this blog this week, and any of her other recipes; and for that I am very grateful.  I would like to invite all of our readers to go to http://www.thehealthycookingcoach.com/, read Chef Rachel’s story and purchase the wonderful book she has created.  Many of the recipes I will be sharing in the coming weeks will be variations or exact replications of the recipes I have learned from Chef Rachel.  All proceeds from the sale of her book go directly to help with her medical expenses.  I know she will be grateful for financial support as well as your prayers.

One final note, I am honored to be attending a gathering of amazing folks this next April in Ventura, California as Chef Rachel’s assistant.  The gathering is called PrimalCon.  You can learn more about PrimalCon and so much more on the Primal Blueprint website http://primalblueprint.com/products/PrimalCon-Oxnard-2013.html.  This event is sold out but there will be another round in Lake Tahoe later in the year.

 

Now for the recipe:

 

Image Courtesy of: Renee Sullivan

Prep: 30 minutes Cooking: 40 minutes Yield: 6 to 8 (1 Cup) servings

I’ve been making this sweet and creamy squash soup for more than 20 years. It makes a great addition to breakfast, lunch, or dinner and freezes well. You can vary the kind of squash you use during the fall, winter, and early spring––or the spices. If you get a not so sweet squash, you can doctor it up with a dash of Stevia or a tablespoon or two of honey, or maple syrup. Note: Do not use a dark or strong-flavored homemade vegetable broth in this recipe. See variations below for using baked squash to reduce peeling and chopping time.

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Ingredients:

2 to 3 teaspoons extra virgin coconut oil, clarified butter or ghee

1 medium to large onion, halved and diced or cut into thin slices (1 to 1 1/2 cups)

1/4 teaspoon unrefined, mineral-rich sea salt (Celtic, Lima, Si, Muramato, RealSalt, or Eden)

1 to 2 tablespoons peeled, minced fresh gingerroot

1/2 teaspoon dried, ground ginger

5 to 6 cups halved, seeded, peeled, and cubed uncooked winter squash: Kabocha, Hokaido, buttercup, butternut, sweet dumpling, honey delight or delicate

4 cups filtered water, homemade chicken broth or preservative-free vegetable or chicken broth (you may use part water, part stock or broth), plus more as needed to blend

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper or white pepper, optional

3/4 teaspoon additional sea salt or 1 to 2 tablespoons sweet white, yellow, or mellow miso (reduce by one-half if using salted broth)

1/2 cup preservative-free, full-fat coconut milk or 1 cup rich, homemade almond milk

1/4 teaspoon Stevia extract powder and/or 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, optional

1/4 cup finely minced fresh fennel fronds, parsley leaves or chives for garnish

Preparation:

1. Heat oil and onions in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add sea salt and stir until tender and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Add ginger, stir, and cook for one more minute. Add squash and water or broth. Cover, bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Meanwhile, wash, spin or pat dry, and chop the garnish, and set aside.

2. Purée the cooked vegetables and liquid from the pot with coconut milk using an immersion blender or in 2 to 3 batches in a blender or food processor until smooth and silky. Add additional water or broth a little at a time as needed to yield 6 to 8 cups of soup. Add sea salt or white miso. Taste and adjust with sweetener as needed. Return the soup to the saucepan and heat gently if serving right away. Do not allow soup to boil.

3. Ladle soup into bowls, garnish, and serve. Transfer to wide mouth jars, allow the soup to cool, then cover, and refrigerate. Freeze whatever you do not plan to consume within 3 days.

Entire recipe with coconut milk: 662 calories, 16 g protein, 84 g carbohydrate (13 g fiber), 29 g fat, 265 mg calcium, 1936 mg sodium

1 cup soup made with coconut milk: 110 calories, 3 g protein, 14 g carbs (2 g fiber), 5 g fat, 44 mg calcium, 322 mg sodium

 

Variations:

Soothing-Squash Soup with Pie Spice: Replace ginger with 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.

Creamy Squash & Apple Soup: Replace 2 cups of winter squash with 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced. Replace 1 cup of water or broth with apple juice.

Soothing Ginger, Squash & Pear Soup: Replace 2 cups of winter squash with 2 medium, ripe, peeled, cored, and diced pears. Replace 1 cup of water or broth with pear juice.

Cut one large or several small buttercup, butternut or kabocha squash in half from top to bottom (about 2 to 2 ½-pounds worth). Scoop and discard seeds. Arrange squash cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Do not add water or foil. Bake in a preheated 400° F oven until soft and juicy, 35 to 45 minutes. Scoop out flesh and discard skin. Add cooked squash (about 3 cups) to sautéed onions in step 2 above with spices and liquid. Cover, bring to boil, and simmer for 15 minutes then purée as above.

© Copyright 2004 Rachel Albert-Matesz, www.TheHealthyCookingCoach.com

from The Garden of Eating: A Produce Dominated Diet & Cookbook

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Healthy Eating!

Renee Porter Sullivan, CHt

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Lady in Waiting: The Man Worth Waiting For

November 30, 2012 by

“When you finally submit completely to God’s authority and come into complete obedience, that is when His blessings begin to pour out!!!” Beth Thompson

My lovely Aunt who I admire a great deal, had this quote posted on her facebook wall years ago.  When I read that it hit my heart!  I was just starting to come into complete submission with God and as I read this quote, my heart smiled because of the truth behind each and every one of these words!  I was seeing how faithful God is and experiencing His many blessings, and for once I was overwhelmed with joy and not fear or heartbreak!  There is no doubt that God will bless us richly when our heart is right with HIS and in HIS control.  One blessing that I am still holding out for is a man who knows my story and loves me still.

Just as you, I sometimes wonder why I am still single.  I think to myself everything in my life is going so well except for one little detail…I do not have a husband to share it with.  If we were honest with ourselves, would everything really be going so well?  We pray for the right man to cross our paths, but are we even on the right path to find that man?  When our hearts are right with the Lord, are feet will follow suite on HIS path.  We must get rid of the urge to settle down with the wrong man; the men that come wrapped in perfect packages but when unwrapped they prove to be empty.  The man we will find on the right path one day will be filled with the Holy Spirit in his heart.  The package will not even matter, just his heart being right with God will leave a lasting impression.

Please think about this for a moment.  Ask God to direct you to the right path.  Desire to see the unfailing handsomeness in the man God has for you and not be distracted by the fading looks on the outside. 

My sister is one very wise woman, she told me once that God is preparing me for my husband just as much as He is preparing my husband for me.  Maybe my husband is not ready yet to meet me.  LOVE THAT, DON’T YOU?  She has also told me once that I should be praying that God will open my heart to the man HE has for me and not the one that I think it should be.  OK, LOVE THAT EVEN MORE, DON’T YOU?  Thank you Kristen!

Please think some more about that advice.  Remember why you are waiting; God’s timing is the best; you have no idea where your husband is right now.  Just as we are becoming ladies in waiting, our husbands are being molded into OUR VERY OWN MR. RIGHT.  Wouldn’t you wait forever for that?  Pray that God would open your heart and eyes to the man He has planned for you; get rid of any personal ideals (B.B.B or T.D.H’s).

Do you even know the man you are waiting for?  Yes it is the man that will be your husband one day, but what other qualities will he possess?  Sit down and think about the characteristics given on pages 131-133 in the Lady in Waiting book.  Which of these do you desire in a husband?  Husbands are just people; their characteristics are what make them worth waiting for!

I want to leave you with this excerpt from one of my personal blog posts.  This is the man I am waiting for, I know him and most importantly HE knows GOD!  This is my heart’s desire for our relationship.

 We will make God number one, and live our lives completely surrendered to God’s plan and will for our lives. We will do great things all in the name of Jesus. We will worship, praise, love, honor, glorify, and spread Jesus to the ends of the Earth. I will have Jesus holding my right hand, and this man holding my left, and together we will be an example of true love that comes only from Jesus Christ!

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Let’s Pray: 

Lord, I want to thank You for the many blessings that You pour out into our lives on a daily basis!  Your love is life changing and I pray each woman reading this blog experiences a new level of Your love today and every day forward.  I pray that she sees her future “husband” for what he truly is and waits patiently for the one You have planned.  Our hearts wait patiently for You, and they also wait patiently for our Mr. Right.  I pray that when the time comes, You show each of us the man You have planned for us.  I ask that You help each of us to submit completely to YOU and that we come to complete obedience to YOU.  Thank You Jesus for being all we need.  I love You so much!  Amen

You’re Assignment: 

You guessed it, please share with us what the man you are waiting for is like.

 

Love and Prayers,

Diane

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For the “Lady In Waiting” 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 by clicking the “sign-up here” button at the top of our webpage; which is also where you can sign up to participate in this awesome bible study!

Filed Under: Singles Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Winning Him Without Words: Weekly Review

November 30, 2012 by

Picture this scene:

God:  I have called you to the Mission Field.

Woman:  Praise the Lord!  I’ve always desired to go into the jungles of Africa and preach your word.

God:  I have not called you to “go and preach” my Word in Africa or any other part of the world.  I have called you to “stay and show” my love to your un-saved husband.  You might say I have called you to be a home missionary.”

Woman:  Okay, God, if you insist.  But, where do I go to for training?  My church sends missionaries to school for training before sending them into the field.  And, not that I am hung up on money, but the church even gives them financial support.

God:  May I  break it to you gently:  You won’t be getting either of those.

Woman:  What do I get?

God:  Quite simply – –  the best of ME.  As a missionary wife, you are my personal ambassador, and you will receive the best training and equipment any soldier ever had going into battle. You see, a soul is at stake, but my armor is your shield of protection against all attacks, and you will come through each battle in victory and not defeat.

As for the financial support – -your reward shall be great.  Just like Esther, you have been brought into the Kingdom for such a time as this.

Woman:  I want to know more about this armor.

Weekly Review

Monday:  Beverly – Keep Your Armor On—You’re at War– -Beverly points out that when we get up each morning we are entering a battlefield

She directs us to Ephesians 6:12-17 that describes who the battle is with and what to do about it.

  1. Who?  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and the powers and the principalities of the air.

  2. What to do?  Put the armor on the whole armor of God and stand.

Beverly points to the fact that our strength for the front line of  battle comes from our commander, God.  It is God who also provides our armor to wear in order to go into the battle with strength.

She challenges us to wake up each morning, prepare your heart, put on your armor, and stand ready and prepared to help lead your man to the commander by your example

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The question is: “What are the pieces of this armor that God tells us to use?” Jennifer, Donna, and Sarah describes each of the pieces.

Tuesday:  Jennifer

  1. The Belt of Truth – – The enemy will try to deceive us by telling us lies disguised as truth. We can stand firm against Satan’s sneaky attacks by having the Belt of Truth around our waists. With God’s Truth, we can rebuke the devil’s lies, schemes, and manipulations. We can turn to Jesus, who is Truth, when the devil tries to deceive us.

  1. The Breastplate of Righteousness – – Satan wants to attack us where we are most vulnerable – -in the heart where our emotions and sense of self-worth stem from. Protect your heart with the Breastplate of Righteousness which will never cause you to doubt God’s unending love for you and offer a barrier from despair and discouragement that Satan will try to use against you.

  1. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace – – Our foundation is Jesus Christ and the Good News of His saving grace. The shoes that God fits us with will allow us to move when the time is right to share this Good News with others.

  1. The Shield of Faith – -God’s Shield of Faith will enable us to see past our current circumstances and difficulties to our ultimate victory.

Wednesday:  Donna

  1. Helmet of Salvation

  2. Sword of the Spirit

Our thoughts can be a real battle. A thought creeps in, and one thought leads to another, invading our mind, which leads to a pity party! Why am I in this marriage with an unsaved husband? Why do I have to be Christ’s representative to this man? I’m not equipped to handle this! I’m not spiritual enough, I’m not good enough!

The Helmet of Salvation and The Sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, is our protection against these doubts and lies that enter our minds.

Donna challenged us to think of our Bible heroes as our examples. When Daniel was told he must bow, he followed his God and put on his armor and went into the battle equipped.  Esther fasted and prayed and said “if I perish, I perish”  The ULTIMATE sacrifice was Christ when he went to the cross.  He went into the garden to pray first and put on his armor. He told the Father, “not my will but yours be done” then he followed through with the plan of Salvation for us all!

Thursday:  Sarah  concluded the chapter with points on Basic Training

  1. When someone questions your faith, your beliefs, or your God; you need to be ready to give a logical answer that explains the hope and love you exude for Christ. BUT…you have to do it in a courteous and respectful way without yelling and degrading them.

  2. It is so important to arm yourself with the Word.

  3. Dig deeper than what you hear in church or from your most knowledgeable Christian friend. Educate yourself on what is said between the pages of the good book.

  4. The mission God has given you is to spread His message of love, hope and faith. To complete this mission, it is important to know scriptures and the meanings behind them. Then, once you have sharpened your sword with the Word, you are then able to present His Word logically and courteously.

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In conclusion, I’d like to review the assignments that each blogger gave us this week. May we see them as a way of judging ourselves in order to be better equipped for the call God has on our life – -Missionary Wife.

  1. Beverly:  Have you recognized any attacks from the enemy in your marriages lately? How did you take a “stand” against the enemy?  What have you learned new that God has shown you from studying this chapter that will be of help in future attacks against the enemy?

  2. Jennifer:  Which piece of the armor do you have the most difficulty wearing? Which piece is the easiest for you?

  3. Donna:  What is holding you back from putting on the armor everyday?

  4. Sarah:  Share your life verse – -the one that you read and almost felt the earth shake when you were finished!

Friday: Discovery/Prayer – Father, God, I thank you for what you have taught us this week about your armor through Winning Him Without Words, as well as personal thoughts of Beverly, Jennifer, Donna, and Sarah.  Help us to make it a part of our daily routine of putting it on as we began our day.  In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

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For those who are reading this blog and would like to join the Bible study, we would love to invite you to join us!  Click here and follow the instructions, (you can also click the SIGN-UP link in the menu bar above to be taken to the form). It’s that simple!  We hope to see you soon!

Above all, if you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and would like to have someone pray with you, please email us at GCH_Prayer@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com and one of our prayer team members will contact you.

Have a blessed day,

Martha

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Winning Him Without Words: Basic Training

November 29, 2012 by

But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

Our verse comes from 1 Peter 3:14-16, but I pulled out verse 15 because this is what it’s all about ladies. When someone questions your faith, your beliefs, your God, you need to be ready to give a logical answer that explains the hope and love you exude for Christ. BUT…you have to do it in a courteous and respectful way. Have you ever listened to someone who was trying to make their point by yelling at you or trying to degrade you by telling you what you believe is wrong? No, probably not. I know I haven’t. I just shut down and stop listening.

There is a lot to be learned when you have a conversation with someone who doesn’t believe the same as you. Not only will you learn about the theories behind what they believe, but also you will be driven to learn a bit more about what YOU believe. You are given a chance to hone up your basic training.

We’ve been talking this week about putting on the full armor of God. The helmet, the breast plate, the belt of truth and the shield. Today we will talk about the weapon God has given us to fight our battle. The sword.  Also known as the Word of God. It is so important to arm yourself with the Word. If you don’t know what is written in the Bible, you have nothing to use in defense of your beliefs. You have to dig deeper than just what you hear in church or from your most knowledgeable Christian friend. You need to educate yourself on what is said between the pages of the good book.

By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set – apart ones). Ephesians 1:18

These are the basics of basic training! Just like a student studies his textbook to get an A in class, you need to study your bible to be able to spread God’s Word in a logical way. When someone asks you questions, you have to be prepared to answer and explain how powerful God’s Word is. If you are a believer, you are a soldier of Christ. The mission He has given you is to spread His message of love, hope and faith. To complete this mission, it is important to know scriptures and the meanings behind them. Then, once you have sharpened your sword with the Word, you are then able to present His Word logically and courteously. And God will be so pleased with you, His soldier.

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Let’s Pray:
Lord, sometimes we are happy to just know we believe in You. But Dineen has showed us in this chapter that it is important to not only know You, but to really dig deep, read Your Words, study them and gain an understanding of them. When we do this, wonderful things happen. Truths are discovered, our love for You is deepened and our relationship with You is strengthened. We promise to continue to stay in Your Word every day Lord and then go out and spread it far and wide. In Your Son’s precious name we pray, Amen.

Your Assignment:
For today’s assignment I’d like you all to share your life verse. You know, the one that you read and almost felt the earth shake when you were finished! Then head over to our secret Facebook group where we’ll discuss those verses further!

Godspeed,
Sarah

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For the “Winning Him Without Words” Online 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 by clicking the sign-up here button at the top of our webpage, which is also where you can sign up to participate in this awesome bible study!

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

Lady in Waiting: Lady of Conviction – Wedding Day Chains

November 29, 2012 by

 

Today, I want to introduce you to Carissa Markantone.  Carissa will be blogging for you every Thursday, for our Singles Ministry.  I am extremely excited to have Carissa join us!   — Christi Wilson

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He asked. She said yes.  But in the back of her mind, something wasn’t right.  To be honest, something wasn’t right way before he asked.  But she ignored it.  After all, she’d seen his progress.  He was actually going to church now, he was leading prayer before each meal, he was reading his Bible on a … weekly basis.  That has to count for something, right?  She’d convinced herself that his “progress” was good enough.  Good enough to put a ring on it.

Three weeks later, she took the ring off.  And with tears streaming down her face, she gave it back.  Oh, and did I tell you? That woman…was me.

I’d love to tell you that since then, I’ve changed my ways.  I’d love to tell you that I haven’t been out on a date with a non-believer or lukewarm Christian ever since my broken engagement.  But I can’t because that would be a lie.  As our authors point out, I’ve definitely justified a date or two “in the guise of being a witness for Jesus.”

When you think of a missionary dater, what does she look like? My imagination runs wild with some Bible-banging woman speaking about Jesus with every other sentence.  In reality, this isn’t the case.  Missionary dating looks just like normal dating.  I think of Mary Poppins and her “spoonful of sugar.”  What does Ms. Poppins do when the children don’t want to take their yucky medicine?  Why, she simply adds a spoonful of sugar! What does the missionary dater do when her man doesn’t want to include Jesus in his life?  When he doesn’t want to pray, read his Bible, or go to church?  Why, she simply adds romance (the spoonful of sugar) to help that yucky medicine go down!

Have you ever caught yourself justifying a relationship or a date that wasn’t God-centered as I have?  Missionary dating begins as a condition of the heart.  We’ve discussed motives a lot in this study, but the missionary dating motive is a dangerous one because it intertwines both emotional and spiritual intimacy with someone of the opposite sex.  Once those intimate bonds are formed, they are hard to break. In fact, only God can break them. So avoid creating those bonds with non-believers or even those with superficial faith.  If a man isn’t encouraging you to grow and isn’t challenging you in your own walk with the Lord, then he isn’t God’s best! Proverbs 4:23. Guard your hearts, ladies!

“You must set a higher standard and resist dating a guy who is not growing in his intimacy with Christ.”

So what does “growing in his intimacy with Christ” look like? I’d like to draw on the commonly quoted distinction –it’s more than religion; it’s a relationship.  Relationships require a desire for commitment, a devotion of time, and a consistent communication.  Does the man you’re interested in display these characteristics?  Did he prior to meeting you? Ladies, it’s more than attending church every week.  It’s more than saying a prayer before each meal.  And it’s certainly more than a coerced time spent with God every week.  He must want God.  He must want God more than he wants you.  Wow, that’s powerful.  He must want a relationship with Jesus more than he wants a relationship with you.

Regardless of your relationship status right now, let’s meditate on Ephesians 6:18:  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (NIV) So, ladies, pray in the Spirit.  Submit your hearts and minds to the direction and leading of the Holy Spirit, and then pray in His power. Let Him lead you, and listen to Him and only Him.  Put aside your good intentions, and let God take the reins.

God bless,

Carissa

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Let’s Pray:
Father God, we thank you for Your awesome power.  Father, that You and only You have the power to change the hearts of men.  Help us surrender our own will and our good intentions to You.  Father, give us patience for Your timing, trust in Your plans, and hope for the future You have in store for us.  While we wait, Father, let us live for You and You alone.  Let us be a light to a lost world by living for You each day.    Thank you, Jesus, for your unfailing love and grace.  In your Holy Name we pray, Amen.

Your Assignment:
These questions are loaded, so be prepared!

What is the problem with dating guys who are good, but who are not Christians? What is the difference between a good man who goes to church and a growing Christian man?  What difference would it make in marriage?
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For the “Lady in Waiting” 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 by clicking the “sign-up here” button at the top of our webpage, which is also where you can sign up to participate in this awesome bible study!

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Carissa Markantone joins us from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she’s lived nearly all of her 25 years.

Carissa was saved at the age of 5, but recently rededicated her life to Christ a little more than a year ago.  She has a huge heart for serving others, especially children with terminal illnesses.

Carissa desires to live every day for her King, striving for more of Him and less of her with each waking day.  Outside of her analyst duties at a major sporting goods retailer, Carissa enjoys spending her time with friends and family, reading, writing, working out, and singing praises to her Savior at the top of her lungs (the neighbors haven’t complained…yet)!

Carissa desires for every woman to know her worth through the eyes of God.  Her motto for 2012 (which will definitely carry to 2013) is “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.”  God doesn’t call us to an easy life.  Living for Him is hard, but it will be so worth it once we get Home!

Girlfriends Coffee Hour is very excited to add Carissa to our Singles blogging team!.  She has been an active participant in our Singles Ministry, and has been such a joy!  God is doing great things in her life!

Filed Under: Singles Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Daughter’s Worth: Week 9/ Day 4 – Peer Relationships are Difficult

November 29, 2012 by

 

Peer Relationships are Difficult

I was always the type of girl who stayed to myself, until I got grown. I was a very shy young lady :-/ It wasn’t that I didn’t want friends, because I had them; it was just that my friendship circle was small. I valued my friendships, but like I said before, I was shy and wasn’t comfortable being around a lot of people. I don’t know, maybe some of you are like that too. I can’t say that I was a social butterfly like my two sisters were, and are, but I had some friends who were very close and dear to my heart.

Whenever you are in any kind of relationship, it has its potential of being difficult at any given time. You can be so close to someone that it can get to a point where maybe some of the things that they have always said or did, may begin to bother you, or get under your skin. We are being honest…right? Well, for me, that is true. I am the type of person that when I am bothered by something, I would never say anything about what bothered me, and girls, that is so not good! Learn from me!!! If something is bothering you about someone, go to them. It will be hard, and yes, you all have heard me say this before, but it will be beneficial to your relationships and friendships.

I can hear God saying…  “Is anything too hard for Me? NO! Nothing is EVER too hard for Me!!!”

Peer relationships can be difficult because these are the people that you possibly spend as much time with, as you do your own family, so that means that you are so close to these people that sometimes you can get on each other’s nerves, but that is okay.  Love each other enough to always make amends.  Anytime that you are really close to someone, small problems will happen from time to time…arguing, being upset with each other, etc…

Peers that you may not be so close to…you know…the ones that may pick at you or get on your nerves, all I can say is do what I KNOW works…pray, pray, pray for them! God will handle those types of peer relationships as well.

 

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord thank You for the girls that You have placed in GCH: Decaf. Help them to remember that You love them oh so much and that You want what is best for them. When they start to feel like the relationships that they are in become too stressful for them, remind them to gently come to You and place those relationships at Your feet and You will take care of them. I seal this prayer with the name of Your precious Son Jesus. Amen.

Love,

Tonya

 

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For the A Daughter’s Worth Online 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! Please email GCH_Decaf@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

GCH: What’s on Your Plate? Dubu Buchim (Pan-Fried Tofu, Korean-style)

November 29, 2012 by

Okay ladies, are you ready to step outside the box?  Time to put on your Big Girl shoes, be brave, and try something new!  This is a recipe called Dubu Buchim (pronounced “Dooboo Boocheem”), which means pan-fried tofu in Korean.  It’s easy, it’s tasty, and it’s a perfect way to get your first taste of homemade Korean food.

If you read my previous post about stocking an International pantry, you may have already purchased a tub of gochujang.  That’s the red pepper paste used frequently in Korean cooking.  It’s hot, fruity, spicy, and complex.  You’ll need it for the sauce.  A little goes a long way if you are new to spicy foods, so when you make the sauce, start with only a teaspoon of gochujang.  Taste it and see if it needs more heat – you may like it so much you’ll want to add a lot more!

One of my favorite things about Korean dining is that, unlike a typical American meal of meat, vegetable and starch, Korean meals  have many components.  Steamed rice is always served, as is some kind of kimchee.  Then there is the protein – either meat, tofu, or fish.  And my favorite part is the banchan.  Banchan means simply “little dishes”, and these are small portions of vegetables and other side dishes meant to be shared: some pickled vegetables, some steamed, some in different sauces, little salads, kim (seaweed), noodles – the possibilities are endless!  Also, a soup is usually served, something light and brothy.  So instead of eating large portions of three things, you get to eat small portions of a dozen different things!

When you make this at home, don’t worry about making twelve different banchan.  Make some steamed rice, open that jar of kimchee you were brave enough to buy (and now try!), and serve with a spinach salad or steamed broccoli.  You’ll be so proud of yourself for trying something new, and may even find a new favorite cuisine!

Dubu Buchim

Ingredients:

  • 1 block firm or extra-firm tofu
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • kosher or sea salt for sprinkling
  • 1 heaping teaspoon gochujang
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • 2 green onions, minced
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions:

  1. Drain the tofu, then squeeze it in between two plates to get out even more water.  Press firmly, but don’t crush the tofu.  Cut the tofu in half lengthwise, and then slice each half into eight equal squares so you have sixteen total.  In a large pan, heat 2 teaspoons of sesame oil and cook the tofu until golden-brown and crusty, about 7 minutes.  Flip and cook the other side until golden, about 5 minutes more.  You’ll probably need to do it in two batches.  Remove from heat to a plate lined with paper towels and sprinkle the tofu with salt.  You can be generous with the salt, since the tofu is very mild-tasting.
  2. While the tofu is cooking, make the sauce.  Simply mix the gochujang, oil, garlic, onions, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and sugar together.  The gochujang is kind of stiff, so you are really going to use some muscle to stir this stuff together.  You can do this next to the stove, since the gochujang gets a little smoother when it’s warm.  Now taste it – it should be balanced – not too spicy, not too salty.  You can add more oil or sugar if it’s too spicy.  To serve, spoon the sauce over the tofu.

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

Find more recipes from Dana, Korean and otherwise, at Frugal Girlmet!

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

Lady in Waiting: Avoiding Bozos

November 28, 2012 by

But, he seemed like such a “nice guy”.  How many times have we heard that?  How many times have I said that myself? I thought I had a Boaz, but after awhile the disguise fell off and the Bozo came out. I think we’ve all been there before.

Like so many things in life the difference between spotting a Bozo from a Boaz boils down to the condition of our hearts. Three aspects actually, our standards, our convictions, and our motives (yes, back to the motives!)

Oh, those motives, they seem to determine so many things in life. But they have such a large impact on our thoughts and actions that we have to constantly evaluate why we are doing things, why we are saying things and even why we  are thinking things. When it comes to dating we have to ask ourselves why we are dating who we are dating. Questioning our motives will impact our standards and our convictions in this situation or in others down the road; I believe that if our motives do not line up with God, then our standards and convictions won’t either.

God already knows why we are doing what we’re doing. He already knows why we’re dating someone. He wants us to see that we deserve more than accepting a date with a bozo because it’s been a long time since we were last taken out.  He knows we deserve more than dating a man who isn’t a Christian because the loneliness is growing in our hearts. He knows that we deserve a Boaz, and that a Bozo is not fit for a daughter of the King.

As a daughter of the most high, we can have standards that line up with His word, and yes those standards are high. But those are the standards our Father set for us, remember He has our best interest in mind, and wants us to have the Boaz that we deserve.

With Love,

Tonya Ellison

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Let’s pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, again we are found examining our motives, why do we do the things we do, and why do we accept the things from people that are less than we deserve? Please help us to examine our motives before we act.  Please help us to line our motives up with Your will and Your word. We are daughters of the Most High, and as such You have set Your standards in place for our Boaz. Please help us embrace these standards, and thank You for only wanting the best for our lives.  In Jesus. Name, amen.

Your assignment:

I love how the Auburn University student wrote down her standards and carried them with her. We are going to refer back to this list for today’s assignment. Are there any characteristics that you want to add to your list? Next, make a list similar to this if you don’t already have one, what qualities and standards do you want on your list for your Boaz. Remember, these are standards that our Father has already placed here for us may seem high, but they are what you deserve.

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For the “Lady in Waiting” 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 by clicking the “sign-up here” button at the top of our webpage; which is also where you can sign up to participate in this awesome bible study!

Filed Under: Singles Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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