LiveSlow

Bigness

It's past time that I give God praise for the amazing things he's done in my life during this fasting time. I've seen him work in the most amazing ways....in spite of my failure....and honey, there has been failure during this time.  Yesterday I was almost giddy and I caught myself thinking, "I should fail more often because it's been a great teacher about the mighty power of my God."  Then I thought, "Wait! What kind of loser thinks she should fail more often?"

No, I don't want to fail - I want to be victorious in Christ.  In spite of my weaknesses though, I see that even when I do fall down, God still holds me up.

He's shown me just how BIG he really is.  Big is a small word - huge is better, but as I think about it, I keep coming up with "bigness." He answered prayers that I hadn't dared to utter out loud.  How does He do that???  And why would he?  Because He is grace and love in its fullness.

I've seen him change the hearts of people I've been praying for and those surrounding them - people I don't even know, but I know He's at work and it's marvelous and mysterious.

"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

          Are you an eyewitness of his majesty? 

 

Fail

When something goes wrong my kids yell, "FAIL!!"  They usually do so with much exuberance and seem to be able to move past the failure pretty quickly, but it's not the same for me.  I tend to hold onto things and beat myself up a little before I'm able to move on.  The last few days has felt like one giant FAIL!! for me.  I'd told myself at the beginning of the fast that if I needed to, I'd add in eggs and cheese as a protein source, but my pride got the best of me and I didn't.  

If you know me, you know that I'm smallish in stature and form....I'm thin.  Eating only vegetables and grains had an opposite effect on me and instead of feeling healthy, I felt like a half dead animal on the side of the road.  I also started praying like a half dead animal needing rescue.   Instead of focusing on God, I focused only on determining which foods wouldn't make me sicker.  I'll spare you the details of my delicate digestive system and simply inform you that I've added some necessary lean protein to my diet.  I feel semi-normal again.  I also drank coffee for a couple of days this weekend in order to clear away headaches related to some joint and muscle pain. It worked. I'm coffee free again, but if that feeling comes back before this fast is over, I'm back on coffee.  Now, if only I could use chocolate as medicine....

Also, in the last few days my husband had a health crisis and my doctor told me I need a biopsy - we both need prayer!  The irony of all this is that the timing of this fast couldn't be better.  My husband's health crisis is dietary in nature and will require an overhaul of the way our entire family eats.  The type of cooking I'll have to do is based on using food AS medicine.

 Today I had a veggie sandwich on homemade whole wheat pita and I used mashed avocado with a little salt as a sort of "mayonnaise" - it was great.  Avocados are nutrient dense, contain more potassium than bananas and are high in lutein which promotes healthy skin and eyes.

                  GUACAMOLE RECIPE*

3 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed, 1 lime - juiced, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 cup diced onion, 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, 2 plum tomatoes - diced, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 pinch cayenne pepper.

In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice, and salt.  Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes and garlic.  Stir in cayenne pepper.  Refrigerate 1 hour for best flavor or serve immediately.                                                                   *  found on allrecipes.com

 

 

Daniel fast - Day 6 - Porridge Recipe

I finally gave up my coffee.  I'd gotten myself weaned down enough that I think tomorrow my caffeine headache will be about half what it'd normally be - we'll see.  I'd struggled with that aspect of this fast because my coffee time IS my God time.  We've been sitting together that way for almost 7 years. Early in the morning, when everyone's sleeping and the house is still and quiet - I have my quiet time with God and it's my favorite part of the day.  

Why would I give up my favorite part of the day? I've got to make it about God alone.  I'm going to do it as an offering.  I'm not a new faster...it's pretty regular for me, but I'm hoping I'll see God in a fresh way new way.  The big part for me, is that I'm determined not to substitute that cup of coffee for tea or anything else warm.  I'm praying that as I leave that bit of human comfort behind and turn to Him, I'll discover that sweetness and warmth without any kind of outside help.  I'll let you know how that goes!

 This morning when I was thinking about the offering part of it, I was reminded of Gideon.  I was reminded that he - when the Angel of the Lord visited - asked for a sign and then asked him to wait so he could make an offering.  He ran inside, cooked a meal and then brought it back out to God.  Isn't that strange?  That's a little of what I'm doing.  I can't go cook a meal for God and bring it back to him, but I can offer what I have.

It's a great story and you can read it in Judges 6:1-40.

Here's a recipe:  Porridge (not gross like the kind the orphans ate in Oliver Twist!)

Steel cut oats (I use John McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal), agave nectar or honey, sliced bananas, pecans, 1 tbsp unsweetened coconut.

Cook oats according to directions (1 cup of oatmeal makes too much for me so I usually halve it), once oatmeal is cooked, put it in a bowl, swirl a little agave nectar on top, add bananas, nuts and coconut.  Soy milk will also make it creamier.

This rough oatmeal is really good for you and very filling.  I eat it frequently for breakfast and make different varieties using dried fruits, nuts and when I'm not fasting, pure organic maple syrup.  

 

Daniel Fast - Day 5 (for me)

Yesterday as I was walking through the grocery store to stock up on more vegetables, I passed by the dairy case and thought, "There's not a thing in there I can eat."  I walked over to it and started to scan the items hoping and praying there was some sort of butter type product that would pass as Daniel fast acceptable.  Sigh.

Then I looked around and thought, "No wait, think about all the AMAZING foods God does provide for us!"  I think that was a gentle reminder from the Holy Spirit and I was grateful for it.

                          The last several days have been eye opening in many ways:

I realize how I take food for granted - often eating without thinking

My pantry is stuffed with carbs.  I look in it every day and yet, every day it doesn't change - it's chock full of unhealthy carbs!  The question should be,  "Why do I keep looking in there?"

I'm starting to feel more nutritionally satisfied - nutrition is a good thing!

As for God, my time with him each morning is always satisfying and nothing fills me up more.

Here are some random snack ideas and a recipe for really good black beans:

edamame (soy beans) with sea salt, dried figs and plums for sweets cravings, homemade trail mix (pepitos, sunflower seeds, raisins, almonds).  Tomorrow I'm gonna try to make homemade potato chips and will write out the recipe if they're good.  I've been experimenting with other recipes and some are definitely not worth the time I put into them.  Because I'm the only one in my house fasting, I'm eating a lot of leftovers (blech).

The last couple of days I've eaten salads, brown rice pasta with marinara, and veggie sandwiches on Ezekiel bread and black bean and brown rice burritos*  The tortillas were made with Spelt because I don't like whole wheat tortillas.  I also cook my rice in vegetable broth to add flavor.

Black Bean Ingredients:

1 can black beans (drained & rinsed) 1/4 cup diced green pepper, 1/4 cup diced red pepper, 1/4 cup diced onion, 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth, 1 tbsp cumin, 2 tbsp olive oil, seasalt to taste.

Recipe:  saute peppers and onions in olive oil until tender, add black beans, broth, cumin and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until most of the broth has evaporated.  

The beans can be mixed with rice to make a complete meal and rolled into a tortilla, or just eaten out of a bowl.  

                     These are great, but they're still better with cheese and sour cream:)

Heavenly Hummus

I am a snacker...so you'll be seeing snack recipes.  Like right now I'm eating Terra Chips which are chips made out of root vegetables.  So good, but not as good as my mother-in-law's hummus which comes from heaven.  The key to making silky hummus is "slowness", so take your time and be patient, it will be worth it.  Eat it with whole wheat pita bread and if you like, have some kalamata olives on the side.  

Ingredients:

   One can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans-rinsed and drained

   1 clove of garlic (peeled)

   2 tbsp of tahini (Sesame paste) can be found at the    grocery 

   the juice of two lemons (as my M-I-L likes to say)

   tsp of salt to taste

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend.  The key is to get a wooden spoon or rubber spatula and, as it's blending, "help" the process along.  Gently dip the tip of your spoon into the blender and pull the mixture toward you slowly at first.  I've ruined many a wooden spoon by putting it in too deeply, so be careful.  Only once have I gotten a splinter in my tongue....and that was two weeks ago and I didn't make the hummus!!!

You may need to add a tbsp or two of water to get it to your desired texture. This helps ensure that your hummus is silky and not chunky/grainy.  If it feels too grainy, keep at it.  It can take up to 15 minutes to get the hang of it, but don't give up. 

Taste test and add more lemon or salt as necessary.  

Daniel Fast - Day 2

Ra-tio-nal-ize/ 1. To make (something irrational) appear rational or reasonable.  2.  To provide a natural explanation of (as a myth).  3.  To justify (as one's behavior or weaknesses) esp to oneself.  4.  To find plausible but untrue reasons for conduct - 

Today is Day 2 of the fast for me, but it turns out that my church - Lifepoint - doesn't start corporately fasting until Thursday, Jan. 13th.  Between the Facebook messages and planning to fast with other friends during this time, I got the date wrong.  I decided to start yesterday anyway.  Here's why:

I went nuts.  When I realized I didn't have to give up my coffee, chocolate, pastry habit....all sorts of happy joyful feelings flooded my being.  But this isn't about food, it's about me and God.  You see, I have a problem (not just pastry related).  

I've become a rationalizer.  My morning prayer time includes prayers like this,

"Dear God.  Thank you for today.  Give me the energy to do what I need to do, the strength of Christ and excellence in all areas so that I may reflect your glory to others."  

Then I have another cup of coffee

        and another

             and later, a bit of chocolate (for the antioxidents)

                   and later, dessert (just a little something sweet)

Then I have a caffeine and sugar induced crash.  Fatigue sets in and I get cranky with people.....people I love and people God loves.  And I haven't done the exercising I'd promised myself I'd do.  

Neither have I reflected excellence or God's glory.  When I drag my sorry self up the stairs to bed, I marvel at the weakness of my leg muscles.

So I started the fast yesterday as an act of submission to God, so that I can cooperate with Him as he answers the prayers I've been praying.  I need purging of my sin and I'm not just being hard on myself - it's my gluttonous sin:

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me."  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  "   James 1:13-15

This is good for you, if you want to fast but have been making excuses of your own. It means you still have time to get to the grocery store before you change your mind:)

Later today, I'll be posting a recipe for my mother-in-law's amazing hummus. 

Daniel Fast - Day 1

So, I just finished the last sip of my morning coffee.  "What?!  Isn't that cheating?" you ask.  

No, it's preventing an incredible headache is what it's doing.  Don't worry.  I only had 2 cups instead of my usual 3 during my quiet time with God.  That's what I love about the guidelines on this fast, it tells you to start "Where you are" and specifically mentions caffeine withdrawl.  So I'll be cutting it out incrementally - a little each day.  It doesn't count for my other great love - chocolate.  

Chocolate is bye-bye for now and since I polished off an entire Lindt Intense Orange chocolate bar last night, I'll be satisfied for a day or so.  

As of two days ago I hadn't committed to this fast, but as I was complaining about it God showed me that I needed to "return to him" in certain areas of my heart that are frankly pretty crappy.  I'm eager to seek him through this time,  allow him to show me what's really in there and help me get rid of it. 

The post before this one is a shopping list for the fast.

I'll be posting some recipes - not every day though!  So if you've never done a Daniel fast before and don't know what to cook, use the recipes at the end of the guidelines provided by Lifepoint Church.

And remember, this fast is not about the food - it's about getting closer to God, so follow along using the daily devotional as well.  You can follow online or print it out.  The recipes are just a bonus!

My meals for today are:

Breakfast - fruit, brown rice cake w/almond butter and a touch of sea salt

Lunch - marinated chickpeas.  

               Drain and rinse one can of chickpeas, add a little olive oil, lemon juice, red onion, and diced fresh tomatoes.  Refrigerate 1-2 hours and eat - yummy!

Dinner* - Butternut Squash casserole (butternut squash was not on the shopping list - sorry!)

Ingredients:  1 small butternut squash, peeled, halved, seeded and thinly sliced.  1 small red onion, thinly sliced, 1/2 cup apple cider or juice, 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil (substitute olive if you want), 2 tsbp agave nectar or liquid Stevia if you have it, 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds or pecans.

Preheat oven to 350 F, combine squash and onion in 9 x 12-inch casserole.  In small bowl, whisk together apple cider, oil and nectar.  Pour over squash, top with almonds, cover with foil and bake 45 minutes or until tender.  

*This recipe comes from the cookbook:  Clean Food by Terry Walters, slightly adapted however because she uses pure maple syrup as a natural sweetener.

 

Shopping List for Daniel Fast

Here's a quick and easy list to have on hand in case you'll be following some of the recipes I'll be making during the 21-day Daniel Fast.

The devotional and fasting guide can be found online at Lifepoint Church and there are additional recipes that can be found at the end of the guide.  Check out the link: http://www.lifepointnow.com/

Shopping List:

carrots, blueberries, tomatoes (3-4), bananas,

red onion, bag of lemons, butternut squash (1)

apples (5-6), fresh parsley, pineapple, cucumbers (2),

limes (3), sweet potatoes (2), veggie broth (2-3 cans),

apple juice/cider, unsweetened soy milk, agave nectar,

almond butter, rolled oats, steel cut oats, quinoa (keen-wah)

brown rice cakes, pecans, walnuts, honey,

almonds, unsweetened coconut, sea salt, 2 cans of chickpeas

2 cans of white beans, Ezekiel bread*, dried cranberries

romaine lettuce, olive oil, balsamic vinegar,

*Ezekiel bread can be found in the freezer/refrigerated section of most grocery stores.   It's sprouted grain and needs to be kept refrigerated.

     Because of the large amounts of fruits and vegetables it's better to shop more frequently in order to keep them from spoiling.

 

Rejection Wrap Up

Happy New Year everyone.  I'm back from a long trip from the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is an amazing place with perfectly turquoise blue waters.  We ended 2010 in a celebratory fashion and let me tell you how grateful I am to God.  My commitment to Live Slow allowed me to have Christmas all wrapped up well before the trip.  We came back Christmas Eve and had more wonderful family time. After that, I enjoyed a visit from my best friend Terri and then, traveled to Virginia to visit my ailing grandma.  Again.....if my life had been junked up with "stuff" I may never have experienced all of the blessings I've received in the last 3 weeks.  And now I'm back....

I'm going to take this time to wrap up those gifts of rejection I never got to, because tomorrow marks the beginning of a 21-day Daniel fast with several churches nationwide.  I'll spend the next 21 days, blogging about the fasting and posting recipes for those following along.  Here are the rest of the gifts:

Gift # 3:  Rejection draws you closer to Christ, as you intimately experience what he dealt with almost daily.

Gift # 4:  Rejection changes your perception about yourself and those around you.  It allows you to empathize and have compassion for people who face rejection for whatever reason.  

Gift # 5:  Rejection also makes you aware of how you reject and judge others...you may think you don't, but it helps you look deeply into the depths of your heart.

Gift # 6:  Rejection cuts to the heart of truth and makes you keenly aware of your dealings with others and God.

Gift 7:  Rejection is a fact of life.  I'm reminded of this when I watch children experience bullying in any form.  It's always been a problem and while painful, trains us for the future.

Gift 8:  Rejection is a great teacher.  Jesus reminds us what to look for in his disciples.  A disciple produces fruit.

"Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."  

                                                              Matt 7:15-20

Gift 9:  Being rejected, is a great reminder of how you reject God.  Every time you decide to disobey or decide that you know better than He does, he'll remind you otherwise.  This is a great gift.

Gift 10:  Rejection makes you realize how much God loved you.  He loved you so much that he endured it on your behalf and died for you.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16 

                That's the best gift EVER!!