Fulfillment

Are you truly happy? I can answer that for you. Nope. Happiness is a lot like a bad friend. It comes and goes. But when you have a relationship with Christ, Joy becomes your best friend.
Here is the difference between somebody who is after Gods heart and a poser. Somebody with the joy of the Lord inside of them is fulfilled. Satisfied. Confident in who they are. On the other hand, posers use anything to make themselves feel and look better than they are, such as tearing others down, doing illegal things to fit in or look cool, or using drugs or alcohol to feel good.
"Don’t destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life. "(Ephesians 5:18 CEV)
"It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. "(Ephesians 5:12 MSG)
If they curse or use the Lords name in vain...
"Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. "(Ephesians 4:29 MSG)
All these things show that somebody is not living a good life, the temporary pleasures in life may bring small bursts of happiness but never joy. Drinking, using drugs, bullying somebody, even hurting yourself may seem like the right thing to do at the time. They're not. "Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ." (Ephesians 5:13 MSG)
Need fulfillment? Look to Christ.

Apple pie oatmeal

This is healthy, I swear!

Apple pie Oatmeal
-1tb of wheat germ (adds fiber and protien)
-1/3 cup oats, 2/3 cup water microwaved according to package
-A heaping spoonful of organic applesauce
-half of an apple, diced
-dash of vanilla extract
-cinnamon, nutmeg to taste

Stay tuned for my new post!

Every 2 hours

Have you ever heard that the best way to eat is every two to three hours? I have never done it, and I bet not many other people do either. So I challenge you to take the 2 hour challenge!
Here's my attempt.
Woke up at 11:30 ( I slept in)
-Ate at 12:30.
Decided to make oatmeal, but I switched up the recipe a bit!
Check out my Apple pie oatmeal post for recipe.
-Ate at 2:30, leftovers from last nights dinner, salmon patty with coleslaw on a multigrain sandwich thin. I may put my salmon patty recipe up after I perfect it, trying to make the healthiest version I can!
-4:30, had a piece of bread with nutella
-stuffed jalapeño with a laughing cow lite wedge cheese, and Mexican chicken soup. (leftover chicken soup with taco seasoning and a couple tortilla chips)
Forgot to post this yesterday, went to look at Christmas lights.
So, I think for adults, this way of eating is the best, however, for someone with a high metabolism like me, stimulating it even more wasn't very efficient, I ate so much more than I normally do... And was a lot hungrier all day. If your looking for weight loss... Eat this way, it will get your metabolism started again. Also, drink water before and after you eat. This expands the food in your stomach, making you feel full, but eat less and cut down you appetite!

Trade as one

"Fair trade allows you to use your spending power to make the world a better place."

"Here at Trade as One we’re passionate about using our spending to address 3 crises. 

                      First, the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It’s an emergency on an unprecedented scale. 

                      Second, the problem of human slavery. Fair Trade is about both prevention through employing vulnerable women, and bringing hope and restoration to survivors. 

                      Lastly, the problem of extreme poverty. The worst evils in the world are rooted in the desperation of extreme poverty, and Fair Trade employment is a sustainable route out of that desperation."

My church has events with Trade as One a lot, so I thought I'd do some research.

From John Robbins Blog

Is there Slavery in your chocolate?

Most likely, Yes.

 The US spends 16.7 billion Dollars on Chocolate every year.

70% of the worlds Cacao supply is grown in West Africa, and 43% is grown on the Ivory Coast (the southern coast of West Africa)

 Hundreds of thousands of children are being purchased from their parents or stolen, and then sent to the Ivory Coast, where they are sold as slaves to cocoa farms. 

These children, 12-to-14-years-old, sometimes younger, are forced to do hard labor 80 to 100 hours a week for no meals or pay. And are terribly beaten if they try to escape.

 Most never see their families again.

Some companies that use "slave tainted" cacao beans include:  M&M Mars,Hershey Foods Corp., ADM Cocoa, Ben & Jerry’s, Cadbury Ltd., Chocolates by Bernard Callebaut, Fowler’s Chocolate, Godiva, Guittard Chocolate Company, Kraft, Nestle, See’s Candies, The Chocolate Vault, and Toblerone.

Trade as one sells Slave free chocolate, as well as many other products that help other people through your purchases. So before you buy some chocolate for Christmas presents or stocking stuffers, consider that you may be indirectly funding Child slavery. Just because we don't see it daily, doesn't mean its not happening.

Eggplant and Muppets

If you're ever craving Italian food, but don't feel like consuming empty carbs, here's a great alternative.

Saute some eggplant with olive oil, garlic, and top with tomato sauce ...voila! No guilt!

On another note, are you excited for the Muppets movie, because I know I am!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm all for wholesome entertainment, and the Muppets are just that, clean fun!

Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Gourmet Grilled Cheese and a Black Friday Heart

Here is a gourmet twist on a classic sandwich!

credit: Gina-Taste.blogspot.com

A grilled cheese with not just cheese... Carmelized red onion, Fresh apple slices, 

and 2 cheeses: mild cheddar cheese and asiago cheese.

I of course will urge you to try this on Ezekiel bread... its amazing toasted, and more filling!

It is grrreeattt!

Well, the Thanksgiving holiday is gone, I really don't like how black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, 9the day that we thank God for what we are blessed with and already have) and then turn around the next day and buy a new flat screen TV. But that's consumerism for you! 

King Solomon had a bit to say about possessions:

 Here's a piece of bad luck I've seen happen: 
   A man hoards far more wealth than is good for him 
   And then loses it all in a bad business deal. 
   He fathered a child but hasn't a cent left to give him. 
   He arrived naked from the womb of his mother; 
   He'll leave in the same condition—with nothing. 
   This is bad luck, for sure—naked he came, naked he went. 
   So what was the point of working for a salary of smoke? 
   All for a miserable life spent in the dark?

After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live.

                                       Ecclesiastes 5:13-20 THE MSG

So before you complain about the sale you missed, or the new shoes you want, make sure your heart is in the right place before you buy any luxury items, and make sure that they don't oppress others. it's time we begin to make a difference with our purchases!

Lover

That's right, you read the title correctly.

The bible describes God in many different ways. Alpha and Omega, the great I am, King of Kings.

and Lover.

... what?

In my devotional last night, that very idea was brought to my attention. Hmm... God as a lover.

Well, it makes sense if you think about it.

Some traits that are pretty much universal that a person wants in a spouse or lover:

"I want someone ..."

who loves me
who will never leave me
who provides for me
who protects me
who knows my every detail
who delights in me

Sounds good right??  Well, God fills all that criteria, and more.
While we also see God as a creator, father, savior, and judge, an over looked part of him is a lover.
And it makes sense.
God is literally the perfect lover.

 He'll never break our hearts, while we break his often.
 But he's always there, waiting for us to come back to him.




"At that time"—this is God's Message still— "you'll address me, 'Dear husband!' Never again will you address me, 'My slave-master!' I'll wash your mouth out with soap, get rid of all the dirty false-god names, not so much as a whisper of those names again. At the same time I'll make a peace treaty between you and wild animals and birds and reptiles, And get rid of all weapons of war. Think of it! Safe from beasts and bullies! And then I'll marry you for good—forever! I'll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness. Yes, I'll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go. You'll know me, God, for who I really am.
Hosea 2:15-17