Label Me Redeemed!

We seem to walk through this life with "labels" and with each label comes a set of expectations.  Expectations we put on ourselves and expectations others have for our label.  Depending on each person's perspective their expectations for labels can be different.  In other words we walk through this world constantly being labeled and then rated on our performance for each label.  Or at least we think we are?  We think we are being labeled and we think we are being judged.  Worse yet we label ourselves as we think others might label us and then act in accordance with assumed expectations of living up to those labels or striving to be "better than" those labels.  Add on feeling shame when we don't succeed at the "good" labels (such as: I am successful) and feeling justified in self-loathing when we do succeed at the "bad" labels (such as: I am unworthy and I can't)

Wow that can be tiring!  I am exhausted just thinking about it!

The Good News is we only have to accept one label for ourselves:   

Beloved Child of God!

The only expectation the Divine has on us is to open our lives up to accept Love and to shower that Love unto all other Beloved Children of God!

If I have to be labeled I choose REDEEMED ! Beloved Child of God!!!

Thanks be to God!

Recipe #11

Pick Me Up:  A cup of warm water with 2 tsps of Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar!  Think you miss caffeine?  Have a sip of this.  Warning - it is an acquired taste, try it at least 3x before you decide.

Recipe #12

Veggie Spaghetti - Just took my favorite jarred spaghetti sauce (read the label - make sure no sugar or hydrogenated oils and I also don't do dairy) add fresh kale, spinach and zucchini and let simmer.  We use Spelt noodles for our noodles, but cabbage works well for noodles too if you can't have spelt.

Tonight is Tuesday Taco Night - so here are some adjustments we have made:

Recipe #13

Instead of sour cream make guacamole - tonight I am making Creamy Avocado Dip for the first time (from the Vitamix Create recipe book)

3 ripe organic avocados, pulp only

1/4 cup fresh organic cilantro leaves

1/4 cup chopped organic onion

2 organic garlic cloves, peeled

1 small organic jalapeno pepper, halved

1 TBSP organic lemon juice

1 tsp Celtic sea salt

1 large ripe organic tomato, quartered

I will dump everything except the tomato into the Vitamix and blend, then I will add the tomato and just blend a little as the tomato chops.  Can't wait to try it!

Recipe #14

Peppers and Onions sauteed with some of your fave spicy seasonings instead of ground meat.  Make any salsa combo with chopped tomatoes, peppers, onions, cilantro and we like corn and black beans in ours.  I just bought my first block of soy cheese to try tonight but we have been eating our tacos with no cheese and it was fine.

Recipe #15

Corn tortillas - we found a soft tortilla that only has corn as an ingredient and we use crunchy shells made with only corn and expeller pressed oil.  We often do rice bowls instead of any shells, use jasmine, brown rice or quinoa; all are yummy choices.

Encountering Obstacles

One of my daily devotions is by Sarah Young "Jesus Calling".

Yesterday's devotion was perfect timing to prepare me for today - why should this surprise me?  God's timing is always perfect.

"I am with you and for you.  When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you.  You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don't be discouraged  - never give up!  With my help, you can overcome any obstacle.  Do not expect an easy path as you journey hand in hand with Me, but do remember that I, your very-present Helper, am omnipotent.

Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come.  One of the main ways I assert My sovereignty is in the timing of events.  If you want to stay close to Me and do things My way, ask Me to show you the path forward moment by moment.  Instead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let Me set the pace.  Slow down, and enjoy the journey in My Presence."

I could complain that I am still fasting, that my Letter still has not come.  But truly I feel God is prolonging the receiving of the Letter to prolong my fast.  To keep me dependent on God, to keep me awake on this journey, to help me to know in mind, body and Spirit that the Letter, while an answer to a question is not the goal.  The goal is the journey, the goal is staying present in each moment seeking God's presence, God's sustenance, God's courage and God's wisdom.  There is no relying on myself.  There is no illusion of control.  The only control I can practice at this time is "self-control" and this my brothers and my sisters, is a fruit of the Spirit.  This is a gift!

Obstacles in the beginning of this fast were what to do and how to stay on course.  Day by day as God readied me I was given more and more information, news clips, articles by nutritionists, friends who shared experiences and documentaries that taught me so much.  I am still learning, that will never end.  But I also have a good handle on how and what.  It no longer takes me 2 hours to grocery shop pouring over each label 2, 3, 5 times making sure what it is supposed to have and not have.  I now have a pattern and routine.  So much so I am able to experiment and have fun.  Who would think fast and fun would be found in the same post?

Up until now my support system has been amazing.  Friends asking me to cook for them and acting as my guinea pig, friends and family knowing what I am doing and making something special and yummy for me.  But I think we have hit fast fatigue - if there is such a thing.  It is now starting to, quite bluntly, tick off some of my friends.  I am not quite sure the cause - maybe they are tired of hearing about it, maybe they are tired of talking about it, maybe they are tired of my endless need to check labels and question waiters.  I believe my obstacle now is living this fast as normalcy and hoping my friends do not feel I am judging them.  Food is so integral and it seems to go so deep, ingrained in family traditions and cultures and faith.  Turning down someones favorite recipe does not make one popular.  And while I don't judge anyone else's journey I believe people do feel judged.  And I truly believe there is a greater purpose to all I am learning than just my fast.  Every piece of education and awareness I am given and each thought and feeling I have with this experience is preparation for something God is planning. 

It's easy with my hubby. If he eats a double bacon cheeseburger in front of me and offers me a bite I put up my hand and say "Get behind me Satan" and he laughs and loves me still. 20 years together offers you that opportunity. Not sure I am ready to test that out on others ;-)

Tomorrow is my sabbath and I will take this obstacle into prayer.  How do I live an authentic life praising God for all I am and all I have and honoring the Holy Spirit at work in my life, opening the eyes of my heart and in turn changing the ways I act and react to the world around me - in all choices I make, without hurting the ones I love in the process?  Hasn't this been a part of my larger journey?  Opening myself up to become who I am called to be, not being discouraged, never giving up, always turning to God for my true encouragement.  There are those who have rejected me and those who have embraced me, there are those who made some distance but have come back in full support.  This is the grace of God at work!  I have learned that people will be disappointed but God will help me to love them and journey through that disappointment with them to find ourselves in a new place, in a new way.

Recipe #8

A yummy sauce I used for a veggie stir fry.

1/4 cup Tamari

1 tsp Expeller Pressed Peanut Oil

1 tsp Hot Sauce

2 TBSP Agave Nectar

1/8 cup of Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

1" cube of Fresh Ginger

1 clove of Garlic

Blend until smooth.  It would also make a good salad dressing I think.

Recipe #9  Orange Carrot Smoothie - great with above stir fry!

(click on picture to head to the recipe)

Recipe #10

Comfort Food when my Spirit is weary

1/2 - 1 onion

Turmeric

black pepper

2-3 potatoes, cleaned and chopped

1 pepper - I like red or yellow - chopped

chopped green chilies to taste

1-2 tomatoes, diced

Saute pan on medium heat, place onion, turmeric and black pepper, stirring until onion softens, add potato, cover, stir often for about 10 minutes, adding peppers, lower heat and add chilies and tomatoes.  Let slowly simmer until potatoes soften.  Eat and enjoy!

Blessed Be!

Monday Morning Blues?

Do you look like this on Monday mornings?  My hubby does today after his beloved football team took a dive last evening.

Personally I Love Monday mornings.  All begins again.  Kids at school, hubby at work, laundry humming, grocery list ready.  Years ago I learned from FlyLady about the House Blessing.  I love to start at the front door and walk through the house picking up from the weekend and thanking God.

Thanking God that I have a home to live in.  I have heat and electricity, running water.  I have toys, shoes, books and blankets strewn around and can still feel the warmth of my kids, hear their voices, see their faces.  I have dishes to wash, proof that I have food in my pantry and my kids went to school with full bellies and healthy hearts with minds ready to work and study.  I have laundry to fold, proof of a house full of love and active people, healthy and growing strong (and taller than me!) every day.  Sweeping and vacuuming up all the pesky doggy hair from the puppy I adore who keeps me company, loves me lots and takes me for walks every day which lifts up my heart and I wouldn't be tempted to go without her.  And all this is made possible because I have a hubby who gets up before dawn and works his tail off at a job which God has provided for us, financially caring for this active family of 6!

So I praise the Lord as we begin again this Monday!  May your week be filled with work you love, that you are paid a fair wage to do and may it enable you to care for your family as you grow deeper in love with one another and the God who provides.

Recipe #7

My favorite Asparagus

Take a bunch of Asparagus.  Peel the bottoms so they are almost white or white.  Steam them a 1/4 of the time you normally do (5 min in my steamer).  Drop them directly into a bowl of ice water.  Prepare a saute pan or wok on medium-high heat with a little Olive Oil and pepper and garlic to taste.  Drain the aspargus and place in the pan tossing for a few minutes until covered.  Done!

Eat warm or cold - perfect as a side dish or a snack while playing cards.  Yummy!  (Thanks to my Sister-in-law's brother, amazing Chef, who made this for me on Thanksgiving and now I indulge weekly!)

Psalm 103

Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness

Of David.

¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵ who satisfies you with good as long as you live^[a]
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.

¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
²⁰ Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
²¹ Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will.
²² Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Bible Challenge Week 2

Our Diocese began the Bible Challenge on Pentecost Sunday.  We are currently in week two.  I am intrigued.  The thing I keep hearing the most from people is how much they are enjoying it and how they never noticed the relevance between the Old and New Testaments before.  The bible is my favorite book.  An amazing love story of a relentless God searching and calling out to His people to be in relationship with Him and these same people falling in and out of love with God; one minute running from Him the next running to Him.  Some people think this book is 2,000 years old and has nothing to do with their lives.  I think the Bible Challenge will "challenge" that thought!  It is relevant, the story - HIS story - is still speaking to us today, it is the Living Word of God.

The readings today are:
Reading: Genesis 28-30; Psalm 10; Matthew 10

and you can find the Meditation here.

The question before us today that intrigues me the most:

How might God be working through you – in spite of yourself?

I have blogged before on the Genesis readings - there is so much there to talk about, the love triangle of Jacob, Rachel and Leah; beloved sisters caught in love and ill used against one another; the lies men weave to gain an upper hand in power and money.  Today though the Matthew readings are sitting with me.  Again too much to unpack in one blog post but here is what caught my eye to meditate on:

The Mission of the Twelve

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,⁶but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.⁷As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.”^*8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,^* cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.⁹Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts,¹⁰no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food.¹¹Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.¹²As you enter the house, greet it.¹³If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.¹⁴If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.¹⁵Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.

and we come back to the question:

How might God be working through you – in spite of yourself?

This portion of the Matthew 10 reading can be seen as our job description.  Go!  Go in peace to love and serve the Lord with whomever you meet on the path God has set you on.  Wherever in the world you find yourself today Proclaim the Good News!  Take nothing so that nothing can distract your attention from your holy work.  hmmm now that is where people often stop.  I wonder if this could be the piece that answers "in spite of yourself?"  What might be garnering more of our attention today than God?  What might be drawing our time, energy, money, heart and taking us further from proclaiming the Good News? 

How might God still be working through you - in spite of that challenge? 

Where is God still able to shine your Light?

Sign up here to take the Bible Challenge.