What Do You Value?

What do you value? It sounds like a simple question, but there's a lot more to it that it seems. A lot of us would respond to that question with things that we would like to say that we value, but our lifestyles would show otherwise. To further this point, take a look at your checkbook register. What are you spending the majority of your money on? Are you buying a lot of "stuff" for yourself? Or are you allowing God to use the resources He's given you to bless others and further His kingdom? You place your money in things or people that you value. What does your checkbook say that you value most?

Now, take a minute to write down what you've done this past week or weekend. Look over that list and take note of what you spent the most time doing. How much time did you spend serving others or spending time in scripture? If we're truly honest, most of us probably spent our time doing things we wanted to do. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with enjoying time with friends and having fun. The problem is when we invest the majority of our time in what we want to do and we give a fraction of that time to Christ to serve Him and others.

The reality is that if we seriously value our relationship with Christ, we would invest time and resources (money) in that relationship. Look at it this way. Suppose you wanted to get together with your best friend to catch up and share some exciting new events in your life. You call your friend to set up a time during the week to get together, but your friend informs you that she doesn't have an opening until a month later and even then would only be able to give you maybe 10 minutes of her time. She rationalizes it by saying that she's just really busy right now. How would that make you feel? Would you feel very valuable to that friend? No! That wouldn't make you feel very good, would it? If your friend is only willing to work you into her schedule and give you 10 minutes, that doesn't give the illusion that she values your friendship or what's going on in your life very much.

That's exactly what we do to God. We say that we value our relationship with Him, but we don't back our words up with action. We work God into our "busy" schedule, which, if we were honest, isn't as busy as we make it out to be. We could make more time for God, but do we want to? Is He a priority? Do we value our relationship with Him enough to put Him first with our finances and with our time? Spending 10 minutes a day with God doesn't constitute a relationship. You're simply an aquaintance with Christ, because, how can you truly know someone if you don't spend time with them?

Take time to evaluate your priorities and what you value most. Ask God to help you restructure your life/time to put Him first. You won't regret it!
Focus on your eternal dwelling, not your earthly one. This is not our home, so don't live like it is. Build the legacy you want to leave when you are gone. Start with your values/priorities. What do you want people to say you valued most in life?

Freedom & Focus

This morning, while I was sitting in church, this question came to mind...Why do we not worship freely when we can freely worship? Take a minute to dwell on that question. I know I was convicted, especially when I thought about the millions of Christians in the world who must worship in secret, risking their lives for what they believe and who they believe in. Could you even imagine having to do that? It's hard to put yourself in their shoes when here we sit in our safe, American "bubble," with nothing to really fear. We aren't persecuted for what we believe in and we are free to go to our nice church buildings and worship together whenever we want.

Why do we live like we are in chains? One Sunday, I looked across the sanctuary and, from the way people looked, it seemed to me that many of them were chained. I think a lot of times we allow our insecurities and what others think about us to dictate what we bring before our Father. What will people think if I raise my hands? Will they look at me funny? What if I sing off key? If we're honest with ourselves and others, we've all had those thoughts before. The truth is, no one else cares! We worry ourselves with those thoughts, when no one else is thinking them! We need to let go of those worries and insecurities before we go before our Daddy to bring praise to Him. If we can't let those go, we're inhibited from giving Him ALL of our heart and soul and letting Him speak to us, because the focus is on US.

Switching gears, today's message in church was about Jairus, the official and the woman who'd been bleeding for 12 years....no that wasn't a typo...it was 12 YEARS. What I love about the teaching pastors at my church is that they want the members to be able to self teach/grow and they teach through Scripture verse by verse. Today, Lloyd (one of our teaching pastors) showed us the process he goes through when he prepares to teach a message. It was really awesome to be able to see how true Bible STUDY comes about. There are 4 parts of Bible Study: Observation (What do I see?), Interpretation (What does it mean?), Application (So What?), and Correlation (How does it fit in the whole Bible?). 80% of Bible Study is focused on Observation.

In this story, there are many interesting points. I don't have much more time to write, so I'll be brief. There are several parallels between Jairus and the woman. Jairus fell down before Jesus, imploring Him to come to his house. The woman came up behind Jesus and just touched his cloak. She fell at His feet later, but initially she did not meet Him face to face. Jairus' daughter was 12 years old and the woman had been bleeding for 12 years. So, as long as his daughter had been alive, the woman had been bleeding. What they both have in common is the fact that they both came to the point where they were SO DESPERATE for Jesus that NOTHING would keep them from Him.

The woman had been in isolation for 12 years (because in that time, when women were on their menstrual cycles, they were considered unclean and anyone that touched them would be considered unclean). She had tried everything to make the bleeding stop. She was so desperate for Jesus that she didn't care if she touched other people and made them unclean. Jairus waited a long time in the crowd to see Jesus. It didn't matter that he was an official (and officials don't fall at Jesus' feet), but he so desperately wanted Jesus that he sought Him out.

One question I had when reading the passage was why Dairus' name was written, but the woman was just called a woman...she had no name. Then I realized that she did have a name and it was far better than just any name. Jesus called her "Daughter."

W.O.W. (With Out Words) Many times I am rendered speechless when I think about how Jesus calls me HIS daughter. THAT sums up my identity. Nothing else matters. I AM a daughter of Christ. What an incredible gift!

I'm not exactly sure how to sum up all these thoughts that are raging in my mind. I guess the best advice I can give you is to seek after God with EVERYTHING that is within you. You won't be sorry you did. There is unimaginable joy and peace that comes in His presence. Let Him free you from the bondage you've placed yourself in. Run to him unashamed, with reckless abandon and see your life transformed by his all encompassing, unfathomable, and eternal love.

Patience & Growth

The past few weeks have been about just that...patience and growth. Patience is a word that I have grown to despise. A long time ago, I asked God for patience and I learned that when you really do ask, you will receive. (don't doubt it!) God tested my patience back then and the past few weeks He's really taught me what true patience is all about.


Starting three weeks ago, I started waking up at 5:30 am to be able to spend time in God's word, focusing on Him first thing in the morning. It's become a time that I really cherish and look forward to. I've grown more spiritually in the past few weeks than I have in a long time. God's taken that time I've devoted to Him to show me more about Him and more about myself and things in my life that I need to change. He's given me a renewed passion for His word and to grow closer and closer to Him.


God really convicted me in the area of my finances. I haven't been a good steward of what I've been given and I haven't been as focused on how I can help further His kingdom through my giving. It's ironic that when God speaks to you about something, sometimes he pounds it into you. Throughout the past week, in the devotional I've been reading along with my scripture reading, it's been speaking on the very topic of money and being a good steward.


Matthew 6:20 says, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." This is a phrase that many of us have heard time and time again. This time it sunk in. When Peter preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, 3,000 people became believers. Since many of them were undoubtedly poor, the early church had to give to meet their needs. As a result, believers began selling their property and possessions, sharing them with all as they have need. That is what it means to lay up treasure in heaven...realizing that "stuff" doesn't matter. People matter and furthering God's kingdom matters. To lay up treasure in heaven is to be generous and ready to share the riches God has given to us, instead of hoarding and stockpiling them.


If you look back at Matthew 6:19, it reads, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." In that time, wealth was identified in commodities such as: garments, grain, and gold/precious metals. Garments in the Bible were always an expression of wealth, but there is one problem with garments, moths eat them. Have you ever noticed that moths don't eat what you wear, only what you store? Nothing we own is completely safe from destruction or theft and even if they remain safe throughout your lifetime, you can't take them with you when you die. The question was posed, "Are you putting your treasure in a safe place?" Wow...take a minute to dwell on that in your own life. That's powerful stuff right there.


God really spoke to me about letting go of my grasp and worries about finances and to trust Him completely with it all. Last Sunday, I placed a check in the offering plate. It was made out for more than the 10% I would give. I wanted to give more. I can't describe how excited I was to put that check in the offering plate. Once I did, an overwhelming peace and joy came over me. It was a freedom I haven't experienced in a long time. I think it only comes from having an eternal perspective and a heart that truly understands what's important in life.


God also spoke to me through the sermons at church the past few Sundays. We're working our way through Luke chapter 8. This particular Sunday, we were focusing on verses 1-15...the parable of the sower. Many times I've heard and read these verses, but few times have I come to understand it the way that I do now. These verses focus on the HEART of the HEARER. It's all about the condition of the heart. The seed that fell on the rocky soil is a shallow heart with shallow roots. When persecution comes, they run. The seed that fell among thorns is the divided heart. Other things grow as quickly as the seed, but there's not enough room in the heart for anything else. It's easy to get caught up in the "weeds" (the world). Other things become the priority and the Word is choked out. The good soil is a fruitful heart where God's Word is welcomed in. It stays the course, even when things of the world press in...God still remains the priority. The challenge was "Consider the condition of your heart (your soil). Is your heart so hard that you can't hear God? Are you excited about God one minute and on to something else the next? Is your heart divided? Is it ready for more of God?" Which is the most true of your life?


I have nothing to hide, so I'm going to be honest. This sermon hit home for me. I realized that I was like the seed that landed in the thorns. I've allowed the things of this world to choke out my passion for God, His Word, and His work. I don't want to be caught up in the weeds any more. Since that sermon, my prayer has been that God would redirect my focus, my desires and passions so that He will continue to be the priority in my life.


It's ironic that throughout the past few weeks, I've been reading Jeremiah, all the while God has been molding me and shaping me more into the woman He wants me to be. In Jeremiah 18:2-4 it says, "Go down to the potters house, and there I will give you my message. So I went down to the potters house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him." When I read those words, I smiled. This is exactly what God has been doing to me the past few weeks. I am but marred clay in His hands, but he fashions me into a beautiful pot, as seems best to Him. God has a plan for my life and He knows the woman that He wants me to become and He is ever fashioning me more and more into that person. Praise God I am a new creation in Him!


The renewed passion God has given me can be summed up in Jeremiah 20:9, "But if I say, 'I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed I cannot." I hope those words have rekindled a blaze in your own heart. This is how each and every one of our lives, as Christians, should be. They should burn like a wildfire, so much so that we cannot keep it inside! We must share it with others. It's like hiding a light under a jar. (this was the following week's sermon...ironic? I think not!) (Luke 8:16-21) Light is how our lives thrive. The statement is repeated in scripture, "He who has ears, let him hear." Those who hear well will gain a better understanding and knowledge of God. Be careful how you hear. The kind of hearing that produces fruit and a greater experience of God is not audible, but is has to do with ACTION. Careful listening is not about concentration; it's about obedience.


Then, this past Sunday, the sermon was about Faith, Luke 8:22-25...the story about Jesus calming the storm. Many of us have faith in between a problem and it's solution, but when things are going fine, we don't have faith at all. The disciples woke Jesus, because they were afraid the boat would sink with the strong waves. Just like this situation, when problems come, we become religious....we seek God's help. What is commonly overlooked in this story is the fact that Jesus is with them in the boat. He's with us today in the midst of our storms and difficulties. Jesus didn't say, let's go drown, but a lot of us live that way. Faith is placing your trust in a situation with no definition. Where's your faith?


I've learned a lot about the character of God the past few weeks as well. In Jeremiah, the people were constantly disobeying God and God gave them a chance to repent time and time again, but they continued in their sinful ways. Even once God told them they would be destroyed and gave them a chance to repent, the people didn't. How merciful He is! We make Christianity out to be so difficult, when all it is is putting God first, loving His people, and bringing Him glory through sharing His word to others and caring for others. We've made Christianity out to be traditions, not true faith and belief in Christ. Imagine how different things would be if we let go of our legalism, tradition, and materialism and truly sought Christ. Let everything else fade. It doesn't matter in the scheme of things. The only thing that matters in this world is our relationship with Christ and making Him known.


The biggest struggle the past few weeks has been being patient. I've asked God for wisdom and rest in Him and I truly believe He's granted it. I've come to realize how much I try to make my timing God's timing. When I do that, I only cause myself pain, because my timing will never be God's timing. He knows best and He knows what I need when I need it. I have to rest in the knowledge that He does know what's best for me and anything I try to do to speed up His timing is frivilous. I'm not going to let patience be a battle for me anymore. I'm going to give in to the wait and enjoy the growth process along the way. God's used this time of waiting to grow me in Him. I can't think of a better use of this time.

Recipe Overload

The past week has been a little rough for me. One of my wish kids (a kid who's wish I helped grant) lost her 5 year battle with cancer at the young age of 11. She was such a sweet, strong, and courageous girl who was always smiling, even when she wasn't feeling the best. My heart has been heavy for her family, who laid her to rest this afternoon. I can't even imagine what they must be going through. Well, when I find myself in these moments where I feel low and sad, I know that if I just bake something, I'll feel a little better. I can't explain why, but it just seems to help. I guess baking is my own personal therapy. Oh well!

So, yesterday, I decided to take on the challenge of making homemade bagels and blueberry muffins. This may be recipe overload for you, but bear with me because it's not as difficult as it seems. Let's start with the bagels. I did make a few modifications to the recipe (adding a few ingredients) to make them flavored bagels. This recipe is for plain bagels. If you want flavor, you'll have to add it yourself.

For the recipe, you will need:

4 cups bread flour

1 T sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 T vegetable oil

2 tsp instant yeast

1-1/4 - 1-1/2 cups of warm water

Start by mixing all the ingredients in a bowl. The dough should feel stiff, but add extra water if it's really stiff, or you can't get all the dry flour incorporated.

Plop the dough down onto the counter (flour the counter in advance), and knead for about 10 minutes, or until the dough is uniform and smooth.

Cut the dough into 8 equal sized balls, and let rest for 10-20 minutes.

Now, take each of the dough balls and using two hands, roll it into a little snake on the counter.

When the snake is longer than the width of your two hands, wrap it around your dominant rolling hand. The dough rope should be wrapped so the overlapping ends are together at your palm, near the start of your fingers. Now take the two overlapping ends, and use your palm to squish/roll these two ends together. Once the dough is fused, you should have a perfectly circular bagel-to-be!

Let your bagels rest on the counter for about 20 minutes, and meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil and lightly grease a large baking tray. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

After the 20 minute wait, your bagels will start to look puffy, and it's time to get them boiling!

Add them as many at a time as you can to your boiling water without crowding them. Boil for about a minute, turn them over, and boil for another minute.

Take them out and let them dry for a minute and then place on your oiled baking tray. (and add any toppings to them at this point) Repeat until all the bagels are boiled.

Add the tray to the oven, and after 10 minutes, flip the bagels over, bake for another 10 minutes and they're done! Let them cool for at least 20 minutes, get the cream cheese ready, and feast on what's got to be one of the best weekend brunch treats possible!

You can add any toppings you like to this recipe. To make sesame, onions, poppy seed, caraway, etc. bagels, just have a dry plate ready with the seed or spice topping spread out on it. After the bagels have come out of the boiling water, place them face down onto the seeds, then place the seed side up onto the baking tray. Bake and flip as for bagels.

**For this recipe, I made cinnamon & raisin bagels (adding cinnamon and raisins into the bagel mix. I also made asiago cheese bagels by adding shredded asiago cheese in the bagel mix. (in hopes of duplicating Panera's bagel) After boiling the bagels, I added a mixture of cinnamon and sugar to the cinnamon & raisin bagels and for the asiago bagels, I added some shredded asiago cheese.

I will say that they turned out better than I'd expected for my first time making bagels. Not all recipes will always turn out perfectly and this one could use some tweeking. I'll have to keep working on it to perfect it, but for now, it's not too shabby!

Now for the blueberry muffins.....

You will need:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Grated zest of 1/2 lemon

1/4 tsp. salt

1 egg, beaten

5 T unsalted butter, melted

1 cup buttermilk

2 cups fresh blueberries or 2 1/2 cups frozen unsweetened, blueberries, unthawed.

Topping:

1/3 cup sugar

3 T all-purpose flour

Grated zest of 1/2 lemon

2 T unsalted butter, melted

1/3 cup pecans, finely chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Put paper muffin cups in muffin pan.

To make the topping, in a small bowl, stir together the sugar, flour and lemon zest. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture is crumbly. Add the pecans and stir to combine. Set aside.

To make the muffins, in a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, lemon zest and salt.

Make a well in the center and add the egg, melted butter and buttermilk. Stir just until evenly moistened. The batter will be slightly lumpy. Sprinkle with the blueberries and gently fold in with a large rubber spatula just until evenly distributed, no more than a few strokes. Take care not to break up the fruit. Don't over-mix.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffing cups, filling each to a bit above the rim of the cup. Top each muffin with the topping, dividing it evenly (the sugar will melt and produce a glazed effect).

Bake until the muffins are golden, dry and springy to the touch, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25-30 minutes.

Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Unmold the muffins. Serve warm or at room temperature, with butter. Makes 12 muffins.

Introduction to French Cooking

Before I begin this Introduction to French Cooking, I must apologize for my lack of attentiveness in regards to updating my blog. In the future, I hope to post more regularly, should my schedule allow.

Now, to the juicy stuff. Today is an Introduction to French Cooking, compliments of Julia Childs. A few weeks ago, I made "Boeuf Bourguignonne" from her "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" book. Needless to say, it was quite awesome, so I wanted to share it with you. I'm going to include a more simplified way of making this, in case you don't have 4+ hours to spend, laboring over it in the kitchen. (though, I was making 3 recipes at the same time...)

Alright, let's begin. Here are the ingredients you will need:

6 oz chunk of bacon (I just bought a package of thick cut bacon that had a bit of fat on it)

9 to 10 inch fireproof casserole 3 inches deep (meaning, a deep pot)

1 T olive oil or cooking oil

A slotted spoon

3 lbs. lean stewing beef, cut into 2-inch cubes

1 sliced carrot

1 sliced onion

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 T flour

3 cups of full-bodied, young red wine such as a Chianti (which I used and it gave a delicious flavor)

2-3 cups brown beef stock or canned beef bouillon

1 T tomato puree

2 cloves mashed garlic

1/2 tsp. thyme

a crumbled bay leaf

blanched bacon rind (I just cut the fat off the bacon slices and blanched it)

18-24 small white onions, brown-braised in stock

1 lb. quartered fresh mushrooms sauteed in butter

parsley sprigs

The recipe states to remove the bacon rind and cut bacon into lardons (sticks, 1/4 inch thick and 1 1/2 inches long). Simmer rind and bacon for 10 minutes in 1 1/2 quarts of water. Drain and dry. My modification for this (since I have no clue where to get a bacon rind) was to cut the fat off the bacon, and simmer that in water for 10 minutes. Then cook the rest of the bacon in a skillet and remove it with a slotted spoon and place it on a papertowel to drain. Set it aside. Reheat until fat is almost smoking before you saute the beef.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Dry the beef in paper towels; it will not brown if it is damp. Saute it, a few pieces at a time, in the hot oil and bacon fat until nicely browned on all sides. (the meat doesn't have to be entirely cooked through as it will finish cooking in the oven for several hours) Add it to the bacon.

In the same fat, brown the sliced vegetables. Pour out the sauteing fat.

Put the beef and bacon in the deep casserole dish and toss with salt and pepper. Then sprinkle on the flour and toss again to coat the beef lightly with the flour. Set the pot or dish in the oven, uncovered, for 4 minutes. Toss the meat and return to the oven for 4 more minutes. (This browns the flour and covers the meat with a light crust.) Remove the dish and turn oven down to 325 degrees.

Stir in the wine, and enough stock or bouillon so that the meet is barely covered. Add the tomato paste, garlic, herbs, and bacon rind. (or pieces of bacon fat) Bring to simmer on top of the stove. Then cover the dish or pot and set in the lower third of preheated oven. Regulate heat so liquid simmers very slowly for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The meat is done when a fork pierces it easily.

(At this point, you could just stick with what you have and throw in the towel and go sit down, prop your feet up and watch a good movie or read a book for the next 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The stew will taste great with the ingredients you already have. If you would like to continue and prepare the stew the way Julia's recipe requires, then please continue reading.)

While the beef is cooking, prepare the onions and mushrooms. Set them aside until needed.

Brown-braised Onions:

You will need:

18-24 peeled white onions about 1 inch in diameter

1 1/2 T butter

1 1/2 T oil

skillet

1/2 cup brown stock, canned beef bouillon, dry white wine, red wine, or water

salt & pepper to taste

a medium herb bouquet: 4 parsley sprigs, 1/2 bay leaf, and 1/4 tsp. thyme tied in cheesecloth

When the butter and oil are bubbling in the skillet, add the onions and saute over moderate heat for about 10 minutes, rolling the onions about so they will brown as evenly as possible. Be careful not to break their skins. You cannot expect to brown them uniformly.

Then either braise them as follows: Pour in the liquid, season to taste, and add the herb bouquet. (and you can find cheesecloth at your local grocery store (Kroger, in my case), but you may have to get some help finding it) Cover and simmer slowly for 40 to 50 minutes until the onions are perfectly tender but retain their shape, and the liquid has evaporated. Remove herb bouquet.

Or bake them as follows:

Transfer the onions and their sauteing fat to a shallow baking dish or casserole just large enough to hold them in one layer. Set uncovered in upper third of a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 to 50 minutes, turning them over once or twice. They should be very tender, retain their shape, and be a nice golden brown. Remove herb bouquet.

(The onions may be cooked hours in advance and reheated before serving.)

Sauteed Mushrooms:

You will need:

a skillet

2 T butter

1 T oil

1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, washed, well dried, left whole if small, sliced or quartered if large

Optional: 1 to 2 T minced shallots or green onions

salt & pepper

Place the skillet over high heat with the butter and oil. As soon as you see that the butter foam has begun to subside, indicating it is hot enough, add the mushrooms. Toss and shake the pan for 4-5 minutes. During their saute the mushrooms will at first absorb the fat. In 2-3 minutes the fat will reappear on their surface, and the mushrooms will begin to brown. As soon as they have browned lightly, remove from heat.

Toss the shallots or green onions with the mushrooms. Saute over moderate heat for 2 minutes. (I didn't bother with the shallots in my recipe.)

(Sauteed mushrooms may be cooked in advance, set aside, then reheated when needed. Season to taste just before serving.)

Ok, back to the stew....

When the meat is tender, pour the contents of the dish or pot into a sieve set over a saucepan. Wash out the dish and return the beef and bacon to it. Distribute the cooked onions and mushrooms over the meat.

Skim fat off the sauce. Simmer sauce for a minute or two, skimming off additional fat as it rises. You should have about 2 1/2 cups of sauce thick enough to coat a spoon lightly. If too thin, boil it down rapidly. If too thick, mix in a few tablespoons of stock or canned bouillon. Taste carefully for seasoning. Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables.

For immediate serving: Cover the dish and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce several times. Serve in the pot or arrange on a platter surrounded with potatoes, noodles, or rice and decorated with parsley.

For later serving: When cold, cover and refrigerate. About 15 to 20 minutes before serving, bring to the simmer, cover, and simmer very slowly for 10 minutes, occasionally basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce.

(The final product! It was one of the best meals I have ever put in my mouth! It was definitely worth the time, effort, and price.)

Of course, no delicious meal is complete without a delicious dessert to go with it! I also made Chocolate Souffle from Julia's cookbook. It was delicious (especially with a little vanilla ice cream)! That recipe will have to wait until another blog, but until then, I'll leave you with a picture to keep your taste buds coming back for more!

The Origin of Ole Saint Nick & the Meaning of Christmas

At church we're going through a sermon series called "Vintage Christmas." Last week we talked about the Christmas tree and the deeper meaning to it. The main point was that each Christmas we put up a Christmas tree and it reminds us of the tree that Christ died on, the cross. Today our sermon was about Christmas gifts. Our pastor explained how good ole Saint Nick came about. I found the same info. online and I am pasting it for your viewing pleasure...

Where did Santa Claus come from? Let’s journey back to 300 A.D. to the country we now call Turkey. A young boy named Nicholas has just become an orphan and gone to live with his uncle. A large sum of money was bequeathed to Nicholas, to be presented when he came of age. Being a wise man of faith, his uncle taught Nicholas about God and giving to others.

When Nicholas received his inheritance, his dream of being able to help others in need came true! Shortly after receiving his fortune, he left Myra to attend an all boys’ school in the neighboring town of Patara. While at school he heard about a homesick, lonely boy. To cheer him up, Nicholas secretly began carving a wooden animal for the boy to play with.

Late one night when everyone else was sleeping he crept out of bed and slipped his gift into the little boy’s shoe. In the morning when it was discovered, all the boys were so excited that they decided to create an entire Noah’s ark for the younger ones. Back at his uncle’s home in the summertime, Nicholas heard about a local merchant who had borrowed money from an evil slave trader. Since the merchant couldn’t pay the money back, the slave trader was going to sell the merchant’s three daughters into slavery. Grieved by the situation, Nicholas knew what he must do. In the middle of the night he quietly crept up to the merchant’s house and dropped a bag of money through a window. The bag landed in one of the girls’ shoes. What joy they had the next morning when the merchant was able to keep his lovely daughters.

Nicholas continued secretly giving throughout his entire life making him a very beloved man.He became a role model parents wanted their children to admire and pattern their lives after. Caring more about the needs of others, he was willing to sacrifice his own comfort to provide for others. He sought only the reward of knowing he had made another’s life easier.

As he grew older he was overwhelmed by the poverty in the world. Where could he begin to help? An elder gave him these words of wisdom:

Each of us must do our very best and trust in God. Who knows how many people are happier because of one kindhearted deed? It is like lighting a candle in the dark. One candle brightens the night for so many people. And some light more candles from it, to carry the light to others.

So did Santa Claus come from Nicholas of Myra? It is a possibility. But consider the differences between the men as well as the responses of those who received the gifts. Nicholas sought to give people what they needed, whereas Santa Claus focuses on the wants of others. As a result the people to whom Nicholas of Myra ministered were deeply grateful, and, in turn, sought to “light a candle” for others in need. Today, our modern day Santa Claus promotes the idea of “What can I get?” not, “What can I give?”

As I think about it, what a great thing to instill in children...to teach them to give. One day, should the Lord choose to bless me with children, I would like to teach my children to give to others and to care more about them. That's the kind of role model I want to be and the kind of legacy I want to leave way after I'm gone. This puts all of the gift giving of Christmas in perspective. We should give to others because we sincerely want to, not out of obligation. We should really put thought into the gifts that we give, otherwise we are just spending money and giving useless, meaningless gifts to others.

So, back to today's sermon. Jeff, our pastor, made several points about gifts and what makes them special. He said that there are 4 characteristics that make a gift special:

1. If a gift meets a need.

2. If a gift is useful.

3. Who gives the gift.

4. What the gift costs (if there is a sacrifice involved).

These same characteristics can be said about the gift of Jesus.

1. The gift of Christ meets the ultimate need for us.

2. The gift of Christ is useful for everything we face.

3. The gift of Christ is special because He is from our Father.

4. The gift of Christ costed God His very Son.

All of this really puts Christmas in perspective. There isn't anything wrong with giving gifts and receiving gifts. We just need to not lose sight of the most important gift we've been given, Jesus Christ.

I hope this gives you a new perspective on Christmas and gift giving. More importantly, I hope it makes you think about what some of you may be teaching your children about giving. For those (like myself) who don't have children, I hope this will make you think about what you want to instill in your children one day. Christmas is all about the gift of Jesus.

Thankfulness

First I would like to apologize for not having kept up with my blog better. The past few months have been really busy and there've been a lot of changes in my life.

God has blessed me with a new job that I love and look forward to going to. I'm still getting adjusted, but I'm loving the people that I work with. It's been difficult lately since several of the children that we help grant wishes to have passed away. I don't understand why children have to deal with such horrible illnesses/diseases. Children should be able to play and have fun with their friends and not have to worry about treatments and getting sick and just trying to make it through the day. It breaks my heart to see children so sick. I'm thankful to work for an organization that helps bring hope, strength, and joy to them and gives them something to look forward to and smile about amidst their treatments. I'm learning more and more to not take good health for granted because there are others are not so lucky.

As the holidays are upon us, take some time to count your blessings, spend time with loved ones, and do something for someone else to bring a smile to their face and show them they are loved.

I will try my best to write more and keep this thing more to date. I've got several pictures to share with you as well. For now, I'll leave you with a picture that I took at my former roommate's wedding two weeks ago. Enjoy!

Going Organic & Some Yummy Recipes to Boot

In my attempt at being more healthy, I am going organic. It's not an instantaneous thing, but I'm slowly moving in that direction. I bought a new organic cookbook, " Anna Getty's Easy Green Organic" and figured I would share a few recipes that I just tried out today. (and they were scrumptious, if I might say so myself) :)

Double Lemon Chicken Breasts with Fresh Tomato Basil Salsa

For the salsa you will need:

5 plum tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4 inch cubes

5 large fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

1 tablespoo minced garlic

2 tablespoons olive oil

pinch of salt

pinch of pepper

For the lemon chicken you will need:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

salt and pepper to taste

8 skinless boneless chicken breast fillets, pounded until 1/2 inch thick

grapeseed or canola oil for cooking

2 to 3 lemons, halved

1. To make the salsa, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Set aside.

2. To prepare the chicken, combine the flour, lemon zest, and salt and pepper on a flat dinner plate. Using a fork, mix together until thoroughly combined.

3. Wash the chicken breasts and pat them dry. Dredge each fillet in the flour mixture, making sure to coat both sides. Set aside.

4. Heat a large saute pan over medium heat and add the grapeseed oil, using just enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the chicken fillets in batches, cooking each side until lightly golden (about 2 minutes per side). Before removing the chicken from the pan, squeeze generous amounts of lemon juice over each piece. Serve topped with the basil salsa.

Balsamic-Broiled Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan Cheese

You will need:

1 1/2 pounds asparagus, trimmed

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

one 2 oz piece Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat the broiler.

2. Lay the asparagus in a single layer in a large gratin dish.

3. In a small bowl, mix together the vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the asparagus and bake for about 20 minutes, or until tender but still firm.

4. Let the asparagus cool and then transfer to a small plate or serving dish. Using a potato peeler, grate 6 to 8 thin pieces of Parmesan and crumble the cheese over the asparagus.

Here's a picture of the final product. (ok, it's not the best picture, but it was taken with a simple point and shoot camera, so perfection can't be expected) It was as yummy as it looks. (in case you were wondering)

I've also tried some other pretty great recipes. I've made a healthy chocolate mousse (yes, it is possible!), almond berry cereal, and a berry smoothie. (which all turned out well and tasted delicious) It's amazing how better I already feel now that I've started eating organic. I've also started burst training along with some weight training and running throughout the week. It feels great to get outside and enjoy the weather while exercising. I highly recommend it. You can also go with a friend. You can help motivate each other to run further that you would normally.

Whether it's running or walking with a quickness, doing weight training, or going for a hike at Radnor, I encourage you all to get out and get some fresh air and exercise. You'll feel better and you'll have a chance to "disappear" for a while in nature. (well, you can do this at Radnor...unless your house just naturally has a ton of plants)

Alright, that's it for now! Let me know if you've got any great recipes or if you try these, let me know how they work out for you!

So Complicated, So Frustrated

Yes, I am fully aware that those are lyrics to a Carolyn Dawn Johnson song. And, unfortunately, that is the perfect description of many situations between boys (men) and girls (women). In talking with one of my good girl friends recently, I realized how many women get frustrated when they don't know what to do when it comes to the men they are interested in. (I am going to put a disclaimer here: What you are about to read below has been written by a somewhat scatter-brained female who has been running on little sleep. If this blog seems random, it's because it is.)

In most relationships (though I'm no expert here), it takes a little time to get out of the "I'm trying to look my best to impress you" phase and get into the "I've decided to just be myself because I'm tired of taking so much time to get ready and you're eventually going to have to see me the way that I am" phase. The amount of time going from phase 1 to phase 2 differs based on the couple, but you have to be patient. You will eventually get to where you are totally comfortable with the other person and you aren't trying to put up a front anymore, but you're being yourself. (though if you have been friends for quite some time, this may be easier) Guys & girls, if you think someone is worth taking a risk with, give that person some time to break out of phase 1 into phase 2. You won't necessarily get to know the true person with only 3 dates. Give him or her a chance. You would want them to do the same for you.

To better explain my point, I am going to use an example. It's like trying to find a new church. You visit one Sunday, but you can't make a decision based on one Sunday. The first week you visitied, they could've been doing things differently and it wasn't a typical Sunday. You have to visit several times to really see if that's the right place for you. You have to make an effort to get involved. In comparing this with dating, you have to be able to give the other person a chance. Give him or her some time because maybe they're a little nervous or having a bad day and you're not really getting to see that person for who he or she is.

About 2 years ago, I went on a few dates with a guy and when things fizzled, I felt like he didn't know the real me. We'd only been on 3 dates and I was still in the "I'm trying to impress you" phase and I was trying to impress him with my super straight hair and cute attire. Needless to say, once things fizzled, I found myself feeling like he hadn't really given me a chance to get to know me. Granted, it helps to be in an atmosphere that's comfortable and more relaxed (such as a hike at Radnor Lake..well, for me at least) instead of in a fancy restaurant, but we can't always be in our element all the time. What I'm saying is that we have to give people a chance and not just judge them based on one or two dates.

Sometimes it's difficult for a woman to show a man that she's interested in him without him freaking out or thinking she's too forward. The man has to be the one to take the initiative. It shows that he understands his role as a leader and that is important. The tricky thing is when a man is interested in a woman and she is interested in him, but maybe she has a hard time showing her interest in him. Will the guy continue to show interest if she doesn't seem to reciprocate? (even when she really does, but has a difficult time conveying it) This is why communication is important, but so is patience.

On the flip side, what do you do when you attract someone you aren't interested in? That's always a touchy subject. You don't want to hurt the person's feelings, but you don't want to lead that person on. Some people choose to distance themselves in hopes that the interested person would lose interest. Unfortunately, not all people get that hint, so sometimes honesty is the best route. When I say honesty, I don't mean brutal honesty. There is a difference. You can say it in a nice way without being more hurtful than you have to be.

The other issue is when you are in a relationship and the other person ends it for one reason or another, but that person doesn't give a reason. Guys, when you do this, you leave the woman wondering what is wrong with her or what she did to make you end the relationship. It doesn't matter if you tell her that it's not her fault. She will blame herself. In order to save her the time that she will spend over-analyzing the situation and hating herself, please just do her a favor and give her a valid reason for ending the relationship. Closure can be painful, but it helps you move on. Be honest and explain why you feel like the relationship needs to end. If it is some strange quirk that she may have, please tell her (nicely) so that she can be aware of it and maybe work on it. Girls, I'm not saying that just because one guy doesn't like one of your quirks that you have to change. I believe that God has someone out there for each of us that is perfect for us and who will love our flaws and quirks. Guys, please please please, save women the time and be honest with us. (and if possible, please give closure when ending a relationship)

In writing this blog, I am realizing all the more how much women really do blame themselves for the demise of their relationships. (whether it's their fault or not) I wish I better understood why we immediately question ourselves and think we must be unattractive or horrible people because one guy has decided we're not right for him. I think sometimes it has to do with our own self-esteem. We have to be confident enough in who we are so that we're not looking for validation from someone else. I'm not saying that's always the case, but it could be part of the problem. Even though break-ups can be really painful (believe me, I've been there), I think the important thing to focus on is that God has someone out there for each of us. Why waste your time crying over a guy or girl who isn't interested in you?

One more thing before my eyes shut permanently....I want you to read this next sentence VERY carefully. It may change your life. Are you ready? Ok... You DO NOT have to be perfect to be in a relationship. (*gasp!*) You don't have to be at a certain point to be in a relationship. If you are waiting for that time, you may miss out on a great relationship because you will never be perfect. In a relationship, both people work together to help each other through their frustrations, problems, and issues. That's how you grow together. You need to be open and honest and share what you're struggling with because then you know how to support one another and pray for one another. That's what relationships are all about.

So, despite my randomness and sleepy brain, I hope I conveyed something to you that will help along your journey. I'd love to hear any more thoughts/comments on the subject too, so comment away!

When helping really does hurt

So, I'm in the process of reading a book called "When Helping Hurts" by Corbett & Fikkert. I haven't read very far yet, but the purpose of the book is to identify things we may be doing as we go overseas to "help" people that actually hurt more than they help. There are a lot of things we haven't thought about, that's for sure.

Today I realized I was in the middle of a "when helping hurts" situation. Before I go into the situation, I am going to explain a little of the background so you can better understand everything. When Colleen & I were in Moldova, we spent our second week with the boys in the transitional living program, teaching them English and some life skills. One of the life skills we tried to teach them was saving money for the future, or for things they would want. Well, one of the boys mentioned that he wanted a nice camera (digital SLR) and a new phone. I asked him what was wrong with his old phone. He said nothing was wrong with it, but he wanted a new phone because it had a lot of cool applications and gadgets. I tried to explain to him the difference between a NEED and a WANT, but it didn't work. He bought a new phone with his money instead of saving for the camera he wanted. Actually, he had a Canon digital SLR, but he gave it away because it didn't work quite right. He could've had it fixed cheaper than buying a new camera...

This same boy found out that I have an old Nikon D100 that is not reliable and is in need of repair. He asked me time and time again if he could have it. I made no promises, but said "I will see what I can do." He went as far as to ask one of the guys on our team (who is a photographer) if he could fix the camera so he could have it. Well, since I've been home, the only communication I have had with this boy has been about my camera. Yet again, I have made no promises.

Today he was on skype and, yet again, asked me about my camera and if it'd been fixed yet. He pleaded with me to get it fixed so he could have it. I finally had to explain to him that I could not give him my camera. I asked that he pay me $200 for it (which is WAY cheaper than I would sell it for, since it's still in great condition). He originally agreed to those terms. I explained that I could not just give him the camera because the other boys in the transitional living house would want me to give them something expensive as well. I also explained that he needed to focus more on his studies and that a camera could not distract him from his studies. I asked that he really focus on school and work harder and for the camera to be an incentive.

Well, a few minutes after agreeing to the $200 deal, he changes his mind. He says that he doesn't want to wait for it, so I should go ahead and sell it to someone else. He says that he will wait for God to give him one for free. I tried to explain to him that God doesn't always give you what you want for free. I told him that I had to work to buy that camera (that he wanted) for about $1200. God provided me with a job that paid well, so I could buy that camera.

He then got cross and sarcastic with me and "thanked me." I told him to not be upset. I explained that he made a decision to buy a new phone with his money instead of saving for a camera and that he could not expect someone else to just give him the other things he wanted (a camera). I told him that I was not trying to be mean, but I wanted him to understand that. I want you to know that it was extremely hard to be so firm with this boy, but I love him and the other boys so much and I want him to understand that he has to be willing to work for what he wants.

After this conversation, and feeling very frustrated and upset, it hit me that in our attempts to help these orphans, we'd actually done them a great disservice. We've brought them numerous things (clothing, electronics, etc.) in the hopes of bettering their lives, but in actuality, we've hurt the situation. Instead of going out and earning money to buy the things they want/need, many of them (I won't say all of them because they don't all do this) expect us (Americans) to just give it to them. We've conditioned them to rely on us to bring them what they want instead of teaching them to rely on themselves to earn money to buy what they want. We've gone with the intention of helping, but we've only made matters worse.

I encourage any of you that read this blog to really think through what you are going to do if you go overseas on a mission trip. (or anywhere for that matter) Be sure that what you are going to do will truly help, and not hurt matters. I know that my eyes were opened today to that realization and I hope yours will be too.

Never Fear! Eggplant is here!

Ok, so before I get to the Eggplant Parmesan, I want to share a delicious snack or dinner (whichever you choose) combination that I was recently introduced to by my wonderful friend, Dana. (whom I totally blame for my new-found love of these two foods)

May I introduce you to the deliciousness that is Cracked Pepper & Olive Oil Triscuits combined with Fire Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (from Harris Teeter)...

It's wonderful and very filling. I must say, I was a little skeptical since I'm not a big hummus fan to begin with, but, being the good sport that I am, I will at least give it a try. I am glad that I did because it's quite yummy. So yummy, in fact, that I went and got some for myself. I highly suggest you do the same. You'll be happy you did!

Ok, on to the Eggplant Parmesan. I was a little intimidated at first when I considered making this recipe since I've never really cooked with eggplant. My first encounter with eggplant parmesan was at my best friend's rehearsal dinner for her wedding this July. It was wonderful, so I thought I'd try to make it myself.

Here's the recipe I used (though I made a few changes from the original):

1 cup Italian breadcrumbs

1 cup Panko breadcrumbs

1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

2-3 small to medium eggplants, peeled & cut into 1/4 inch slices

4 eggs, beaten with 3 tablespoons water

2 (26 oz) jars Ragu pasta sauce (I think I used the Parmesan & Romano sauce)

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Since I didn't know how to peel an eggplant, I will share with you my new-found knowledge. First, you cut off the green top, since it's hard and you can't use that part.



Next you use a potato/carrot peeler and peel the skin off. Then you slice them in 1/4 inch slices.


Now, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine Italian breadcrumbs, Panko breadcrumbs, and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese in medium bowl. Dip the eggplant slices in the egg mixture, then the bread crumb mixture. Arrange eggplant slices in single layer on lightly oiled backing sheets. Bake for 25 minutes or until eggplant is golden. (I took out the sheets after about 10 minutes and flipped the eggplant over so the bottoms didn't burn.)



Here's the eggplant in the oven!



Next, evenly spread 1 cup pasta sauce in a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.

Layer 1/2 of the baked eggplant slices.

Add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, repeat. cover with aluminum foil and bake 45 minutes.

Remove foil and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

So, in the end, eggplant isn't as scary or intimidated as I thought it would be. It's actually quite good and quite good for you. :) Enjoy! Let me know what you think of the recipe!