May 2, 2026

Tarragon Green Bean Salad

Tarragon Green Bean Salad resize

Green beans – get ’em while they’re hot!  Or cold.  They’re in season now, so green beans are cheap and plentiful.  My husband likes them best splashed with olive oil and roasted in the oven, but sometimes you don’t want to heat up the house.  For a yummy, summery green bean dish that’s delicious warm or cold, try this Tarragon Green Bean Salad!

Fresh herbs are a joy, and this recipe uses parsley, tarragon, and green onions.  Technically this may be a green goddess salad dressing, and it IS wonderful on a salad with fresh tomatoes.  You will have enough dressing left over to do just that!  Make the dressing while the beans are cooking and this recipe is ready in a snap.  Let’s go!

Tarragon Green Bean Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound fresh green beans
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1-inch squeeze of anchovy paste or one small anchovy fillet (you can sub soy sauce if you must)
  • 1 fist full of parsley
  • 1 fist full of tarragon leaves
  • 2 green onions
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons yogurt (or sub sour cream)
  • juice of 1 lemon (or sub tarragon vinegar, if you’re fancy!)

Directions:

  1. Prep the green beans:  cut off tops and tails and cut the beans into 1-inch pieces.  Put the beans in a covered dish with some water and cover.  Microwave for about six minutes.  You want the beans tender-crisp.
  2. While the beans are steaming, make the dressing:  Blend all the rest of the ingredients in a food processor.  It doesn’t have to be homogeneously smooth, but you don’t want to bite down on a big chunk of garlic!
  3. To serve:  Toss the beans in half of the dressing.  Serve warm, or refrigerate until ready to serve.  It’s great cold too, especially with grilled meats.  Serve the leftover dressing with salad and tomatoes, or use it as a dip for carrots and peppers.

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana


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

Where Is God?

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8

There has been so much heartache this past week. I have heard many question where God has been lately and has He taken a vacation? And He reminds us in His Word that He is sovereign and He is to be trusted in all things. “He gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

In my little hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, a precious young athletic football player lost his battle and passed away.  One minute he is running down the field, the next in a hospital, and his parents and friends are devastated.  No one expected it, but His Creator knew.  In the town of Birmingham, Alabama another precious young woman is visiting home, doing laundry, and eating one last meal with her family before she heads back to school.  Her parents say it was a joyful occasion and full of laughter.  In a blink of an eye, she is with Jesus.

In Jackson young people from rival schools are coming together to pray. Across town, a young person plans a prayer vigil at a public school. The kids come voluntarily at 6 a.m. to pray for this family that they do not know.  In Birmingham, the girl’s father says that we will not call her accident a tragedy but a triumph because she is with Jesus now.

And when the question is asked, “Where is God?” the answer will be—He is exactly where He was when His own Son died on the Cross.  He is watching His children hurt; and the Holy Spirit is moving and comforting all those who lost someone and all those who don’t understand.  God is in the young people who are gathering for prayer vigils.  He is with the parents who are devastated and He will carry them when they can’t put one foot in front of the other.  He is with the family of that young woman who was taken too soon…yet…right on time. He was there when the young man’s parents donated his organs and a 14 year old got a heart.  And He is with us now.

Yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

Psalms 23:4 and 6

As His Word proclaims, He really does bottle up our tears.  The Creator of the universe keeps track of all our sorrows.  That’s how much you matter to Him.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Do you know this Lord, the Creator of the universe?  Do you have His hope to cling to?  If the answer is no, then I ask you to pray a prayer with me and ask Him to be Lord of your life.

Let us pray: Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and I need a Savior.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son.  I believe that He died on the Cross to save me from my sin.  I ask You today to come into my heart and walk with me daily.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Singing to Infinity

SeekingHimLogo

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Psalm 81:1

Disney’s Frozen is one of those hits that just don’t leave your mind a few days after watching it. For kids and toddlers, mainly girls, it has been a huge hit. Try finding an Elsa costume in a Disney store. It’s not happening most days. The music itself is not going away either. This music has stuck around longer than most one-hit wonders. It’s amazing. My daughter is three, and all she has to do is hear the first strains of Let It Go, and she breaks into song. She almost knows the entire song word for word. My parents were amazed at how much she knew.

However, worldly songs and things are only finite.  Our love of them should not interfere with our love and wanting of God.  When things begin to interfere with our relationship with God, they become idols.  Worldly things can grab such a strong hold over people that they lose sight of what is really true in this world—God’s love and a relationship with Him.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 3:19

But yet we can have an infinite love and life.  We cannot let the worldly things get in our way.  If we repent and accept a relationship with God, our sins will be blotted out.  Our lives will be refreshed by the Spirit and love of God.  We shall always be in His Presence.  We are able to rely on the strength of God when we are down, sick, or in need.  He is our Rock and Shield.  All we have to do is have faith.

When our relationship with God is strong and unbroken, we are so much more than we could be without Him—which is weak.  We can sing to the moon and back about His love and saving grace.  We can shout to the Lord about His wonderful and fulfilling love.  With God as our strength, we can fight any fight that we are thrown into.  We can help those who need it, and we can share the joy of loving God.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love.  Thank You for Your grace.  Without You, we would be weak.  You give us strength to get through these troubling days.  You love us like no one else.  You are our Rock and Strength.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I Exalt Thee

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth
Thou art exalted far above all gods
For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth
Thou art exalted high above all gods

I exalt Thee
I exalt Thee
I exalt Thee, O Lord
I exalt Thee
I exalt Thee
I exalt Thee, O Lord

please take the time to enter into a time of worship with your God!

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Does it not thrill your heart to sing this simple song…glorifying and exalting the Lord God?!!?  I just love that the LORD, our God IS exalted…and that is one reason why we exalt Him.  He IS exalted—high above the cherubim, high above the peoples, high above the earth—we simply voice our confession and belief of this Truth!

The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble [with reverential fear]! He sits [enthroned] above the cherubim, let the earth quake!
The Lord is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples.
Let them confess and praise Your great name, awesome and reverence inspiring! It is holy, and holy is He!
The strength of the king who loves righteousness and equity You establish in uprightness; You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob (Israel).
Extol (exalt) the Lord our God and worship at His footstool! Holy is He!
Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called upon His name; they called upon the Lord, and He answered them.
He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept His testimonies and the statutes that He gave them.
You answered them, O Lord our God; You were a forgiving God to them, although avenging their evildoing and wicked practices.
Extol (exalt) the Lord our God and worship at His holy hill, for the Lord our God is holy!

Psalm 99

ex·alt

: to raise (someone or something) to a higher level

: to praise (someone or something) highly

: to present (something) in a way that is very favorable

 

And here are some synonyms for the word exalt; perhaps these are part of your vocabulary?

praise, acclaim, applaud, pay tribute to, bless, worship, magnify (archaic), glorify, reverence, laud, extol, pay homage to, idolize, apotheosize, set on a pedestal

This—praising, extolling, blessing, worshipping, magnifying—is exactly what Moses led the Israelites to do when they stood on the far shore of the Red Sea.  I can only imagine that their feet were still sandy and mucky from that trek across the ocean floor!  Their hearts must have been utterly amazed and their mouths filled with praises for God’s miraculous saving of their lives from what should have been utter demise at the hands of their captors.  Listen to Moses’ words…

The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Exodus 15:1

Even more than using our words and praises to exalt Almighty God, our actions prove what our hearts and minds hold. What does it look like to ‘exalt’ God in our daily lives? Here are a few I thought of:

  • to exalt God is to put Him above all else in your life
  • to exalt God is to surrender yourself to Him
  • to exalt God is to recognize that He is over all, above all
  • to exalt God is to praise His mighty works

What are some other ways you can add to this list? (I would love it if you would  leave your answers in the comments section below!)

O Lord, You are my God;
I will exalt You, I will praise Your name,
for You have done wonderful things,
even purposes planned of old [and fulfilled] in faithfulness and truth.
Isaiah 25:1 (and the rest of the chapter, too!)

And we know that for all eternity we will have the privilege and the blessing to exalt and praise our great God along with the saints and the angels, all the living creatures and the elders…all those gathered around His throne…forever and ever!

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:11-13

For now, we can rehearse our eternal ambition and bow our hearts, our bodies, our whole selves before the throne of God singing loudly or quietly within ourselves but always acknowledging Him and exalting Him Who is worthy to be praised!

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Psalm 34:3

God Our Strength

SeekingHimLogo

Sing for joy to God our strength, shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Psalm 81:1

Jacob is an excellent example of a man who knew God gave him strength.  In times of trouble he called on God who helped him overcome the challenges.  He had run away from Esau and met Laban (his uncle who also became his father-in-law.)  He worked for 14 years to get his best wife.  In all those years Jacob endured painful circumstances through his God who gave him strength.
We can also do the same through Christ who strengthens us. We can trust God for His strength.

Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
Psalm 84:5

In Psalm 89:21, God is saying, “My hand will sustain him, surely My arm will strengthen him.” This promise is for you and me. God’s promises are Yes! and Amen!  Let us embrace this truth that His arm will strengthen us.

It is about 2-3 weeks now I have been down with pain inside me due to feeling not favored, and not loved, etc., due to failing in my exams many times in the same subjects.  I could not even stand in prayer because of the pain and disappointment.  But I am here to tell you that I had an encounter with God, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in their Trinity—Who confirmed to me that this is not the end of the world…and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And that God REMAINS God…He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

At first it wasn’t making sense, but later I came to realize that “NOTHING can separate me from the love of God” and so, with that feeling, I am up again. I may have been dropped down but not knocked out!!

I beseech you, my dear friends, we need to give it all to God in prayer and in Jesus’ name. And He WILL answer us. And give us His strength when we are weary. He gives strength to our weak souls.

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father, I thank You for Who You were, Who You are, and Who You will be forevermore. You are such an awesome God, the Creator of the universe. The heavens and the earth are full of Your glory. Holy are You, Lord! We glorify Your Holy name. May we always find strength in Christ Jesus Your son. May He give us the strength we need to carry on! We need You more than ever before. Dwell in us always because on our own…we cannot make it. Let Your joy be our strength. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen!!!

Angels

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

“Take this man to prison,” the man heard Herod say
And then four squads of soldiers came and carried him away
Chained up between two watchmen, Peter tried to sleep
But beyond the walls an endless prayer was lifting for his keep
Then a light cut through the darkness of a lonely prison cell
And the chains that bound the man of God just opened up and fell
And running to his people before the break of day
There was only one thing on his mind, only one thing to say

Angels watching over me, every move I make
Angels watching over me
Angels watching over me, every step I take
Angels watching over me

God only knows the times my life was threatened just today
A reckless car ran out of gas before it ran my way
Near misses all around me, accidents unknown
Though I never see with human eyes the hands that lead me home
But I know they’re all around me all day and through the night
When the enemy is closing in, I know sometimes they fight
To keep my feet from falling, I’ll never turn away
If you’re asking what’s protecting me then you’re gonna hear me say

Got his angels watching over me, every move I make
Angels watching over me
Angels watching over me, every step I take
Angels watching over me

Singer/Songwriter Amy Grant
along with  E. Brown Bannister,  Gary Chapman, Michael W.  Smith
*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  * 

God only knows how many accidents…in the car or just walking…I have come near to being in. I have also seen other people have some near-misses. Every day is full of near-misses . Yet God is protecting us. We may not understand how, but God is there and knows when we really need Him. Life is hard. Without God, we would not be able to survive every day.

My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me:
forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me;
and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Daniel 6:22

In today’s world we are being persecuted left and right by those who do not believe in God or those who religiously believe in something else.  We are thrown into the proverbial ‘lion’s den’ every day.  Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den because the king had been misled about Daniel.  However, Daniel knew that he would be safe.  He testified to the king the next morning that an angel of the Lord had come and shut the lion’s mouth through the night.  The king, having seen and heard of Daniel’s survival, decreed that the kingdom would follow Daniel’s God.

God’s angels are always looking out for us.  We may not be able to see them, but we know that He sends His angels to look after us.  We can think of all the near-misses we have had and realize that God was looking out for us.  God and His angels are always there fighting for us.  They are protecting us from the forces that are always out there trying to make us fall.

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for guarding us and protecting us. Thank You for sending Your angels to give us protection from the many things that are trying to make us fall and take us away from You. Without You, we would certainly fall and not be able to get up. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Never Gonna) Steal My Joy

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

 

I look at my life and I still can’t believe it
How could I make it to where I stand now?
You don’t understand, I was up against the whole world
And all I could feel was it breaking me down
But out of a hopeless situation
There came a song of redemption

Life may push my heart to the limit
But I won’t let go of the joy in my soul
‘Cause everything can change in a minute
And the world may try
But they’re never gonna steal my joy
No, they’re never, no, they’re never

So get up, stand up and rise above it
If every plan that you made go so wrong
You don’t have to give into the struggle
You may be down but don’t stay there for long
In every hopeless situation
There is a song of redemption

The world may say you’re never gonna make it
The world may say you’re not strong enough to take it
But I don’t care ’cause of the joy of the Lord is real
And they’re never gonna steal my joy,
Never, no, never 

 Songwriters: Sam Mizzell and Matthew West / Performed by Mandisa

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

‘Get up, stand up, and rise above it’!!!  We were never meant to live a defeated life. Not when we have Jesus on our side.  ‘The world may try but they’re never gonna steal my joy’!!  Our joy can only be stolen if we ALLOW it to be….

Joy is not dependent upon our circumstances.

For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me;
at His sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.
Psalms 27:5-7 NIV

Joy is possible when we feel secure in the Lord.

Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of Your face shine on us.
Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalms 4:6-8

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the fullness of joy that can only be found in You…for Your faithfulness in all circumstances…and for the strength to conquer whatever life brings.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!

When Jesus Says Yes

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvWhen Jesus say, “Yes,” nobody can say, “No.”
(When Jesus say, “Yes,” nobody can say, “No.”)
When Jesus say, “Yes,” nobody can say, “No.”
(When Jesus say, “Yes,” nobody can say, “No.”)
I’m not worried ’bout a thing
‘Cause I know You are guiding me
Where You lead me, Lord, I will go
I have no fear ’cause I know who’s in control
There’s no limit to what You can do
‘Cause it all belongs to You
Yes, it all belongs to You
(The world should know)
You’re almighty and all powerful
And it all belongs to You
Yes, it all belongs to YouWhen Jesus say, “Yes,” nobody can say, “No.”
(When Jesus say, “Yes,” nobody can say, “No.”)
When Jesus say, “Yes,” nobody can say, “No.”
(When Jesus say, “Yes,” nobody can say, “No.”)

Unknown author.  Nigerian Praise Song

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

This is such an upbeat and energizing song.  I pray you enjoy it.  Jesus is with us. He is the same today, tomorrow, and forever.  We are the ones who put limits on God and what He can do in our lives.  I am discovering this as I continue my walk. Praise Him with this song this week, and feel His goodness envelope you.

 

He Is Our Strength

SeekingHimLogo

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Psalm 81:1

It is the simplicity of this sentence that grabs my attention—a simple act that makes such a difference.  In life there have been countless times when God has proven His love for me, countless times when the only way I made it through a situation was by relying on God for my strength.

I look at what God for Jacob and for Israel.  I look at the battles won, the victories celebrated, and I know that the glory for those victories belongs to God.  He gives strength in the tough situations, He gives strength in day-to-day life…and everything in between.

Shouting for joy is a simple request compared to what He has accomplished in my life.  I’ll sing His praises to my kids, to my husband, to my friends and family.  I’ll thank and praise Him in my quiet time, when I’m driving, during soccer practice, while working, and whenever I can because it is in these times when His strength sustains me.  It’s in the everyday when His strength surpasses the weakness of my flesh.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, teach us how to sing Your praises! Thank You for accepting our songs and shouts, for reminding us that what we have to offer in thanks is good enough.  Thank You for the victories in the everyday and in the tough spots.  Your love gets us through it all.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Mango-Pineapple Guacamole with Tajin

I think that many of you will agree with me that one of the best things about faceBook is the opportunity to meet women who love God, who desire to seek Him and serve Him…and to become friendly with them.  Yes?  My heart has been encouraged and admonished and helped by my fB friends!  I am so very thankful to God for this good use of technology!

And I love the virtual conversations I’ve had with these friends about oh, well, everything, practically! they’ve run the gamut from spiritual matters—prayer, the meaning of a particular passage of Scripture, doctrinal questions to relationship (aka, marriage) problems to ‘foodie’ talk to political discussions to grandchildren boasting to…y’know, EVERYTHING.

so recently, one friend from California was ‘sharing’ how much she was enjoying a new spice she had gotten at the grocery store.  LOTS of comments were made about the awesomeness of this product!  So I chimed in saying how it didn’t appear to be available in our area, and that I was going to check it out on amazon.com (doesn’t everyone buy groceries from amazon?)…and THEN one of my Texas girlfriend’s messaged to say she was sending me some!  Woo-Hoo!  How sweet and kind is THAT?!?  Just sayin’!  Needless to say…not too long afterward…the mailman left an awkwardly-shaped package along with the day’s mail.  For the life of me, I could not figure out WHAT it was…’til I turned it over and read the return address!  Then I knew exactly what it was…’love in the mail’ for sure!

tajin

For any of you who are NOT familiar with Tajin seasoning…it has 3 ingredients: chiles, lime, salt.  Really…not kidding.  AND, (shhh!) it is NOT too spicy!  Really…not kidding.  Tajin’s claim to fame (from what my fB friends tell me) is as a condiment on fruit—mango, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, etc.  So I thought that I would make a mango-pineapple guacamole.  This was delicious over some grilled salmon.  Enjoy!  (And thank you to my sweet and spicy friend, Melanie!  xo)

Mango Pineapple Guacamole (with Tajin)

2014-08-23 20.02.21

ingredients:
2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, cubed
1 large mango, peeled, pitted, cubed
1/2 large lime
1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
1/2 small red onion, very finely diced
sea salt, freshly ground pepper (I use lemon pepper mixture)
Tajin 1 tablespoon (or MORE)

directions:

  • using a large mixing bowl, put 1/2 of the avocado into the bowl and mash slightly
  • then add the rest of the avocado, the mango, the pineapple, the onion
  • squeeze the juice from the lime and the pineapple juice over all; gently stir together
  • add the seasonings and again stir; taste and add more seasoning if you like

2014-08-23 20.17.03

Pssst!  I also sprinkled the Tajin over top the salmon before it went onto the grill!

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

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

♥  coleen