My Morning Meal... in a Glass!

Fun at the Dallas Zoo!

This momma needs her energy to keep up with two little ones, care for the home and minister to others.

If I don't start the day by eating something with lots of protein and fiber, I'm HUNGRY by 10am! That's a little early for lunch  :o)  A bowl of cereal for breakfast doesn't cut it anymore.

I have to say... I'm a bit of a smoothie snob. I'm picky! It has to taste good and be thick! One job that I really enjoyed during high school was working at Zumba Juice (before it became Jamba Juice). Making smoothies at home reminds me of all the fun I had and my experience has helped me know the combinations that I enjoy best.

Hope to try some tropical combos this summer... mango, pineapple, and peach (maybe not all in the same drink).

Here are a few favorite smoothies that I enjoy!

Cool and refreshing... and filling too!

Blue-Bana-Berry Smoothie
3-4 lrg. ice cubes
1 cup milk
1 frozen, chopped banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 packet Acai + Acerola Puree (found this at Sprouts - a local natural food store)
1/2 cup raw oatmeal
2 Tb ground flax seed
1 Tb honey

PB Bana Blast ready to spin!




PB Banana Blast
3-4 lrg. ice cubes
1 cup milk
1 frozen, chopped banana
2 Tb smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup raw oatmeal
2 Tb ground flax seed
1 Tb honey
1 packed cup baby spinach

Good for Momma and Jo Jo too!

Food for the soul:

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

Hope you will share some of your favorite smoothies with me too - could use a few new ideas!


Have a blessed, safe weekend,

I'm linked up with:

Women Living Well

and

Comfy in the Kitchen

Proverbs 31 Study ~ Week 1 ~ Finding Hope and Strength

I have heard from others that the Proverbs 31 woman's lifestyle is unattainable, impossible, outrageous, etc. But her character outline must have been included in God's Word for a purpose.

I believe that God desires us women to be dependent on Him alone to grow and mature into the woman mentioned in Proverbs 31. And, as reminded by Courtney from Women Living Well, this woman did not accomplish everything listed in one day! It was over her entire lifetime that she spun clothes, bought fields, helped the poor, and provided food for her family.

May we keep growing and learning as women, wives and mothers! May we realize that we fall short every day and NEED Christ's strength and help to live a full, blessed life.

Do you feel weak, unable to complete the tasks that need to be done in your home, overwhelmed by life, tired and drained? There is hope!

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:28-31

All we need to DO is wait on the Lord and He will encourage our hearts and renew our strength! Try it, you may be surprised by the great results of depending on our faithful God.

Our Good Morning Girls summer study has just begun this week. It's not too late to join in! If you would like to join our Facebook group "Women of the Word" and be encouraged through the study of Proverbs 31 this summer, please let me know! We would love to have you join us!

Have a blessed week,

I'm linked up with:

Grace Under Cover

"Grace is God's empowerment to do what we are called to do. When we are properly aligned under the leadership God has placed in our lives, grace flows freely."

- Banning Liebscher

As I think on unity and spiritual covering and the blessing that flows from them, I can't help but think about my husband.

Me and my love (and our little girl) ~ Oct. 2011

Our last devotional session of Good Morning Girls was on the book of Ephesians. Certain verses come to mind when I think of being under the protective covering of my husband:

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be subject to their own husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:22-24

There is blessing in being aligned properly - according to God's Word. Our husbands are the head of our home and we are told to follow their lead in everything! (as long as it honors God and doesn't break His commands) I am not to only listen to and submit to my hubby when I feel he is right, or when I like his decisions and requests, but always. This commands blessing and grace on my life!

The book Spiritual Java is so encouraging! Here are a few more results of God's grace under the cover of proper authority in our lives (from the aforementioned book):

• God accelerates us towards our destiny (1 Peter 5:5)

• God grants us wisdom - we can learn from the experience of those who are in authority above us, whether our husbands, spiritual leaders, or mentors.

• God provides protection - we are truely under cover (like a big umbrella protecting us in a rainstorm) when we are under His great grace!

• God gives us a strong identity. "Knowing who you are in God produces security, and that security produces confidence." - Banning Liebscher

You are free to be who God created you to be, under the cover of spiritual authority!

So many blessings are sure to follow us as we follow those in authority in our lives. As a married woman that first person is my husband.


I would encourage you, and myself, to pray for our husbands as often as we can. They need our love, support, acceptance, encouragement and submissive hearts if they are to lead our families successfully.


May God bless you and pour His great grace on you today!

Much love,




PS - Don't miss out! The next session of Good Morning Girls begins May 14th! We will be studying the book of Proverbs 31 this summer. It's a great opportunity to be encouraged and challenged to grow in the Word and in our role as wives, mothers and keepers of the home. Read all the details here!

If you are interested in joining a group, please let me know and I can add you to our Women of the Word GMG Group on Facebook! Blessings!

I'm linked up with:

 

Chicken Lettuce Wraps - just like the real deal!

What do you do when you want a tasty dish from P.F. Chang's, but the closest restaurant is an hour away? Look online!


Thanks to Kristin from Iowa Girl Eats, my husband and I enjoy this delicious, fresh meal that tastes just as good as the "real thing"! (and was budget friendly for sure!)


You may have to buy a few ingredients that you usually wouldn't have in your cupboard, but trust me - it's worth it! You will make this again and again!

Ready to serve!

P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps Re-Made

Serves 2-3
(I double this so that there are leftovers to enjoy the next day!)

Ingredients:

1lb ground chicken breast

1/2 medium onion, minced

salt and pepper, a dash of each

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1 inch nob fresh ginger, peeled and minced

1 Tablespoon sesame oil

2 1/2 Tablespoons soy sauce

1/2 Tablespoon water

1 Tablespoon peanut butter

1/2 Tablespoon honey

1 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon rice vinegar

2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (or more if you like it hotter)

dash of fresh pepper

3 green onions, chopped

1/2-8oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped

1/4 cup peanuts, chopped

10-12 large outer lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry

Directions:

1. Heat a large, non-stick skillet on high. Add chicken, onion, salt, pepper, and cook until chicken is nearly done, stirring often to break up the meat. Add in minced garlic and ginger, and continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink.

2. Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, combine sesame oil, soy sauce, water, peanut butter, honey, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce and pepper. Microwave for 20 seconds, then stir until smooth. Add into the skillet and stir to combine.

3 Add green onion and water chestnuts into the skillet then cook for 1-2 minutes until the onions are soft and the water chestnuts are heated through.

4. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, and serve with cold lettuce leaves

YUMMO!

I hope you try this dish soon. It's fresh and filling and SO tasty!

I'm making this tonight for my parents, sister and brother-in-law when we gather for dinner. I look forward to getting them hooked on this delicious meal!


Have a blessed week,

For the Soul:
 

Here is a song of praise in response to remembering that God has blotted out

our transgressions and redeemed us!

"Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel." Isaiah 44:23 NKJV

I'm linked up with:

Craving the Spirit of God

Today being Friday, I thought I'd be posting a recipe of some delicious Chicken Lettuce Wraps, but that will have to wait. This is burning on my heart and in my mind, I have to share!

I am part of an online Bible study called Good Morning Girls. We are in the middle of studying the book of Ephesians and it's getting so good!

The past few mornings we have read Ephesians 5: 15-20 (NKJV).

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,"

God has given us a choice. We can crave the Holy Spirit or spirits (alcohol).

We can finish up a tiring day with the desire for a strong drink or ask God to satisfy us with a drink of His Spirit! One leaves us empty and detached from reality, the other leaves us overflowing and in the most "real" state we can ever be!

Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but

whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.

But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain

of water springing up into everlasting life."

John 4:13-14

Could this Water of life, His very Spirit, be the same that flows from the throne?

 I don't know, but what a picture that is!!!

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from

the throne of God and of the Lamb."

Revelation 22:1

Our wonderful Saviour, Creator and the Lover of our soul wants to fill us up! He wants to meet our physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

God is not far off (Acts 17:27), even so we are told to SEEK Him, GROPE for Him, ASK for Him.

Be encouraged today - God is near and HE alone is enough.


Blessings,

I'm linked up with: