Our God – Creator and Sustainer of the Universe!

Sometimes we just need to go back to the basics. I simply went back to the Merriam Webster for this one. Clarity – God CREATED and CONTROLS the UNIVERSE and everything in it!

So, when it is said that the Universe did this or did that –- again, God CREATED and CONTROLS the UNIVERSE.

God is our provider, preserver, sustainer. God is gracious, merciful, patient, perfect, holy, faithful, good, accessible, unchanging, a promise keeper, our light in the darkness, our guide who leads us in the right direction, our teacher, and he lavishes his abundant love on us. And so much more!

I give God all the glory! I am so thankful for all that he has done for me and all of humanity. And I am so thankful that he created this body of things that make up the whole of the universe. What an amazing imagination and what power to create this out of nothing! It is just beyond our comprehension. And yet he created us in his own image!!!! How wonderful is that?

White Bean Chicken Chili

I made this White Bean Chicken Chili after a beautiful hike on New Years Day 2020. I had been thinking about this dish for quite some time but it was absolutely perfect, hearty and flavorful on this day! Actually I doubled up this recipe so we would have lots of extra to freeze and eat on another day when I need a quick meal, but I am so looking forward to having another bowl today. It was that good! You can adjust the ingredients to your own preferences. Take out the chicken for vegan. Leaving out the spicey peppers makes this dish something the whole family will enjoy too!

Ingredients

1 TB extra virgin olive oil

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 jalapeño, seeded and minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

½ tsp. ground coriander seed

2 (4.5 oz.) cans green chilies (optional or sprinkle in some crushed red peppers)

1 (18.75 ounce) can tomatillos, drained and chopped (or use fresh and cook with the onions)

1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes (can use all tomatoes in place of tomatillos as another option – use 2 cans)

3 boneless skinless cooked chicken breasts (I pull the meat apart with a fork)

32 oz. low-sodium chicken broth

Kosher salt/Freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 (15 oz.) cans white cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 c. frozen corn

Freshly chopped cilantro, for garnish

These are optional and are not included in the nutrition facts and calorie count.  But they add so much great flavor!!

1/2 c. sour cream

1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack

1/4 cup crushed tortilla chips

  1. While prepping, place chicken in a baking dish and cook at 350 for about 25 minutes until cooked through.
  2.  In a large pot, over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and jalapeño and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. (If using fresh tomatillo, add it in now too). 
  3. Add garlic, oregano, coriander, and cumin and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
  4. Add green chilies, chicken, and broth and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, 10 to 12 minutes, until chicken is tender and cooked through.
  5. Transfer chicken to a plate and shred with two forks. Return to pot and add white beans and corn.
  6. Bring to a simmer and let cook, 10 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in sour cream at this time)
  7. Ladle chili into bowls and garnish with cilantro, cheese, and chips before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

220 calories; 6.1 g total fat; 40 mg cholesterol; 786 mg sodium. 21.2 g carbohydrates; 20.1 g protein

New Year / New You!

I hope and pray that some of my personal shares are helping to make a difference in other’s lives because I am not going to stop sharing great things! When I find something I love and it’s working for me to make me a better person, to bring more joy into my life, or secure my future, or helping me to be the best version of me, then I’m going to be talking about it!

I’m so ready to rock 2020! How about you? Are you ready for a change? Being more intentional? Setting goals, getting more active, less alcohol perhaps or maybe enjoying more nourishing foods, reading more inspiring books, less TV time for more prayer time? I am!!

Change is hard but I find one step at a time works for me! I look back and I can not believe the personal progress that I have made in all these areas of my life.

I am thankful that I have had encouragement and support through my health and wellness team. I joined a team and then later found out that they were called Y.A.C.H.T. Club! (You Are Called to HIS Team). I knew that this was no accident! I was where I needed to be. Of course we focused on Weight Wellness, amazing Nutrition, and of course Healthy Aging but what was also taking place was alignment with like-minded people, with common goals, and a common faith in Jesus!

So if you want to make some changes in this area, tomorrow night a team member and all-around amazing person is going to share how YOU can make one step towards a better LIFEstyle. I’d love for you to join us as she shares her LIVE video so you can learn more about this awesome Health and Wellness company and it’s network of amazing people!

You don’t have to change everything at once. Just start. And start dates are flexible anytime between January 6 – 15th! One step at a time, linking arms with other people on the same journey.

20/20 Vision of the Decade!

What is my personal vision for the new year and the new decade? What do I want the most as I refocus and recommit to my goals and intentions? First of all, I want to remember that I have been FORGIVEN, I want to also forgive and be GRATEFUL for all that have forgiven me – especially God for forgiving me of my sins. I want to live in HIS abundant JOY too. I want to know God more!  I want to desire what God wants from me and for me!  I want to enter into God’s rest! And I want to help others do the same! So what is the first step? Let’s find out what I am planning to do to prepare for the New Year and the New Decade.

There are many examples of people that knew God that we can explore from the scriptures, God’s Word, that was inspired by the Holy Spirit and documented for us to gain knowledge and wisdom.  Here are a few examples of men who knew God, were called by God, spent time with God, knew God’s voice, saw God’s glory, and were called faithful by God:

  • Enoch who walked faithfully with God for 300 Years! 
  • Moses who was given the privilege to “hear” Gods glory pass by him from the cleft of the rock and even see God’s back!
  • Samuel who was called specifically by God while he was sleeping and was a prophet of God.

Through scripture I know there is so much more to know and experience of God!  Personally, I have experienced a deeper and more meaningful relationship with the Lord and I can only image the abundance of more there is to come! I also know that being in the Word, communicating with God through silent prayer/my prayer journal, spending time listening to God, and spending time with HIM throughout my simple daily activities is how I am going to further deepen our relationship to know HIM more and experience HIM more! I’m looking forward to the new year and the new decade! What about you?

Here are a few scriptures about ways to experience more of God:

  • Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
  • Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him
  • Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Just like God called Samuel, God calls us specifically into a relationship with him too. God is calling me and he is calling you too! John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

God gives us the desire to pursue him – He is the “Way maker”! And his thoughts about us are numerous! Psalm 139:17-18 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!  How vast is the sum of them.  Were I to count them, they would out number the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.

God offers us rest from all of our burdens!  Surrendering our will and embracing His will!

  • Matthew 11:28  Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yolk is easy and my burden is light.
  • Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to his disciples “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

What does it mean to deny myself and follow Jesus? 

Understand, here in these scriptures, that Matthew had already laid down his life and was following Jesus.  Just as many people today have done as well.  They have made a commitment to follow Jesus.  But have we “denied ourselves” and “laid our life down”?  Let’s take a quick look –

What do we prioritize, “what” or “who” has a grip on us?   Perhaps it’s even a blessing that the Lord has already provided that has taken our attention and focus from Him? 

When God created us, he left a space in our hearts for Him.  What have we put in there?  What have we placed into our hearts instead of Him?  ‘”What” or “who” is God sharing our hearts with?  Maybe we’ve filled our hearts with all the blessings God gave us—things that God gave us for joy, comfort, security, or even love.  Maybe we’ve just put those blessings in the wrong place—God wants all things in their right place. 

Consider the biblical example of Abraham and his son Isaac in the book of Genesis Chapter 12-28.  Abraham received promises and the blessing of his son Isaac in his and his wife’s old age.  Then God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.  Why after he had provided this significant blessing to them?  We know through the scriptures that God never intended to kill Isaac but rather to remove him from the place in Abraham’s heart that belonged to God.  Abraham was faithful and did as God asked by taking his son Isaac to the alter and trusting in Him.  We know God is always faithful, and he was faithful here to Abraham and provided a ram to sacrifice on the alter in place of his son Isaac!

As we enter into this new decade, it would be a great time to take a look at our own situation, our own priorities, what is taking up residence in our own hearts?  What are we clinging to out of desperation?  This is where I am starting and have been evaluating as I prepare for the new decade.

If you are feeling nudged, if you find yourself with thoughts or dreams surfacing about the direction you are headed, or your priorities, perhaps this is the Holy Spirit gently guiding you.  I always ask God for clarity and always make sure that it aligns with scripture!   In my past, I have even experienced a lack of belief that the direction was from God—but I now know first-hand that he will continue to guide me for as long as it takes to understand and know his voice. In those instances, in hindsight, I really wished I would just have trusted God and addressed the shift that I needed to make in my life at the time. I missed out on some of HIS abundant joy! As we enter the New Year 2020, maybe it’s time to surrender “it” “whatever” or “whoever”, to God and then see how he provides for us as he did Abraham.  To let God take possession of that space in our hearts that was meant for him to dwell. 

This is the process that I am working through and I have been working through —- as our walk with the Lord is a journey! I pray that all who read this will be called by God to desire him, to thirst to know him more, and to take the time to evaluate how to make God the sole resident in your heart – in that space that you were created with that was meant just for HIM!

The Christmas Story

Baby Jesus

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

The gift of baby Jesus was “world altering”, “humanity changing”, and have impacted those before and after the life of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Gift of Forgiveness

“Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!

He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:7-12‬ ‭

We must acknowledge and accept the gift of Jesus

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭

This is the miraculous gift that is waiting to be opened under the “Christmas” tree!!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16

So would you open the gift of Jesus this Christmas, receive forgiveness, and gain eternal life, a life full of joy and contentment. No pain, no suffering, no ailments or disease? I did! I just called out to him—-he is waiting for you to seek him too!

Vegan Wild Rice Cauliflower Soup

Vegan Wild Rice Cauliflower Soup recipe… from my friend Casey!

This is LOW in BAD Fats too! 💪🏼 Take advantage of Organic ingredients to really stay on top of your health ❤️

INGREDIENTS

1 cup chopped celery (150 g)

1 medium white onion, diced (approx. 1 1/2 cups, 215 g)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp each ground thyme and oregano

2 cups peeled and diced carrots (300 g)

4 heaping cups or 1 small head of cauliflower, chopped into small florets (450 g) (high in protein with One cup of chopped cauliflower has 27 calories and 2 g of protein. ) 💪🏼

5 cups vegetable broth (I use organic low sodium)

1/2 cup nutritional yeast (30 g)

1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice (250 g)

1 tsp each sea salt and black pepper, or more to taste

Squeeze of fresh lemon juice (1-2 tbsp)

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook the wild rice according to package instructions. I used a wild rice blend. Once it’s cooked, set aside.

Add the onion, garlic and celery to at least a 7.5 qt soup pot with 2 tablespoons of water and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until starting to soften, stirring often (alternatively, you can saute the veggies in 1 tbsp of olive oil). If the pot starts to dry out at any time, add another tablespoon of water.

Add the thyme and oregano, stir to combine and cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.

Add the cauliflower, carrot and all of the vegetable broth and simmer over medium heat until the carrots and cauliflower are tender. This should take approximately 20 minutes.

Stir in the nutritional yeast.

Scoop half of the soup into a blender. Make sure you leave a crack in the lid to let the steam escape. Start blending on low then increase to high and blend until smooth and creamy. Once it’s blended, pour it back into the soup pot with the rest of the soup.

Stir in the cooked wild rice. Season with the salt and pepper and if desired, a squeeze fresh lemon.

Serve right away with chopped fresh chives or green onion or store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freezer for up to 2 months.

You Are Never Alone!

Look for God in absolutely everything and everywhere for he is Omnipresent! There is nowhere in the physical universe where God is not. There is nowhere in the spiritual world where God is not.

God is also with his children at all times. You are never alone. Even when you feel alone which can be extremely difficult when families gathering together during the Christmas season, just remember that you are NOT alone!

The next time you see a candy cane in the store, in your stocking, or hanging on a Christmas tree, let it be a reminder that you are never ever alone. Call out to Jesus and he will let you know that he is right there going before you and holding your right hand!

Isaiah 41:13 “For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

Psalm 139: 7-10. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Jeremiah 23:24. “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.”

Romans 1:20 “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

Chicken Enchilada Un-Stuffed Peppers

This is such a healthy dish yet so flavorful and satisfying! You won’t even miss the tortilla!

Ingredients

  • 3 medium bell peppers, , any color (I used orange, red, and yellow)
  • 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
  • 1 (10 oz) can enchilada sauce
  • 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn
  • 1/2 cup black beans,, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese, divided
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth or water

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a large baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Remove stems from peppers, slice in half lengthwise and and scrape out membranes and seeds. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the chicken, enchilada sauce, green chiles, corn, black beans, cilantro, cumin, garlic powder, salt, chili powder, and 1/2 cup of the Monterrey Jack cheese. Mix everything together well.
  • Pour chicken broth into the bottom of prepared pan. Spoon the chicken enchilada filling evenly into the pepper halves and place in the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over the tops of the stuffed peppers.
  • Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and return to the oven to bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until peppers are soft and cheese is melted. Serve with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, diced avocado, diced tomato, and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 887mg | Potassium: 378mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2510IU | Vitamin C: 85.1mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 2.2mg