From The Land Of Milk And Honey

Resources for Christmas Gift-Giving

2009-11-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

Check this out! Save 25-50% off on custom printed products at VistaPrint. Order today!
I had fun designing my own card, using my niece's art work, adding my own message... Went to VistaPrint and got a great deal on some to send to family and friends this Christmas. Oh, and I designed a wall calendar (more gifts), and got some of those handy magnetic calendars as well (even more gifts!). Even got a free T-shirt and a few other goodies. I'm excited. Now I'm telling friends: Check out VistaPrint!

Ecclesiastes 3:1

2009-11-04T11:00:00.001-08:00

I'm excited about my latest creation: A new desktop wallpaper for fall. I just had to take a picture of the simple flower arrangement I threw together with the few bits of color left in the yard. (Yes, in November in California, you may still get a few die-hard Dahlias...)

In any case, I added one of my favorite verses ("To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"), and posted it here. I recommend stopping by that link to view it larger; plus, the photo there is full-size, so you can just click on it to enjoy a quality desktop wallpaper (complete with inspirational Christian verse) to get you in that Autumn kind of mood :)

Goals

2009-11-02T16:56:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy Valorie Burton's pointers, sent to my email box on occasion. The latest message was on goals, and one of my goals is to stay organized. Another goal is: Just do it. Don't put it on a list that will never be addressed. Either decide when you can do it, or be honest with yourself that you'll never do it, and don't even bother adding it to a list!

It's kind of a serenity prayer philosophy (God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference). Only it's more like: God grant me the energy to tackle the things I must, inspiration to tackle the things I should, and wisdom to know what not to tackle!

Valorie mentioned some good stuff about goals in her post, like: Actually getting specific about naming a goal. Figuring out why this is a good goal ignites the passion, which helps keep you going. Another thing she mentioned was to define the specific steps to be taken to work towards a goal.

But here's where I go back to my "Nike-Just-Do-It" approach. If I start thinking about it too much, I might just get overwhelmed. I'm thinking of my garden, for example. It was starting to fall apart. (See photo above...) I had a simple goal: Keep the garden from falling apart. I had to consider what it might take to repair the eroded posts on the terraces. I thought of how much it would cost to replace cheap wooden posts with tons of bricks. I was getting bogged down just by the thought of it!

But then I stopped thinking, and just started to do the first thing that would need to be done, regardless of the final approach: I started digging away the dirt around the post and terrace. It was a first step. But it helped my husband to get a vision of how this could be accomplished, and he came to the rescue. He actually finished the whole project, digging giant holes, setting new posts in cement, the whole shot. I moved on to the outer regions of the garden, and found some new areas to attend to. Goal accomplished- Garden has not fallen apart! (Yet.)

Valorie Burton also mentioned having that it's good to share about goals. It does seem that one can almost "speak" it into existence. I almost hear myself saying, "I'm going to do this", which does encourage me to actually do it. Ooo- and I like her advice that we ought to celebrate an accomplishment. Humm, I'm thinking small: Just being able to sit in our back yard with some friends and family, enjoying the fruits (and flowers) of our labors seems like reward enough. But perhaps I should reach for the stars- I'm thinking Yogurt Park. It is a treat. And my husband loves it too- he loves a cheap date. I'm sure he'll help me with some more gardening if the reward doesn't have to be an expensive dinner out on the town :)

In God We Trust!

2009-09-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

I'm always "snopesing" around to see if the emails I get are accurate. So of course I had to check into the validity of the one going around again about the coin on the left.

Apparently, it still technically has the "In God We Trust" inscription; it's just been stamped around the rim. My concern is this: Isn't it just a short step from there, to getting rid of it altogether? And it wouldn't be all that easy to read if it's stamped on the rim, would it? Is that the point?

So... are there any in circulation? Someone on the Snopes forum said they had personally distributed hundreds of them, and another person there said they received them as change from their work's vending machines. (Kind of hard to say, "NO!" to a vending machine...)

In any case, I think the email I received is legit. It suggests that we: REFUSE TO ACCEPT NEW COINS!

I guess Teddy Roosevelt had decided that our coins should not have the "In God We Trust" on them, back during his presidency. But that policy didn't last; thankfully, the motto was reinstated. We can do it again. We CAN force these coins out of circulation!

Making Money Being A Stay at Home Mom

2009-09-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

My friends at "Christian Work At Home Moms" have produced the following book... pretty cool. And what a great way to be a stay-at-home mom! Check it out:

Home-based businesses are estimated to be a $427 billion-a-year industry. In recent studies it was found that as many as 105 million people in North America alone were working at home. Considering this information, it is obvious that home-based businesses can be successful and authors Jill Hart and Diana Ennen will help you succeed with your own.

So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom details all the basics of starting a business in a spiritual, motivational, and comprehensive manner. From deciding what type of business to start to keeping your family and faith first, this helpful tool details every aspect of establishing a business. With proven success tips utilized by the authors and others who own work-at-home businesses, this inspiration approach will provide you with the resources you need to start your own home-based business.

So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom includes:
* Detailed information on types of businesses to start
* Ideas and assistance for setting up, operating, and marketing your business
* Definitions and descriptions of work-at-home terminology and processes
* Help for developing your Website
* Explanations of the business nuts and bolts, including bookkeeping, taxes, and more

About the Authors
JILL HART is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Jill is a co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom. Jill has published many articles and is a contributing author in Laundry Tales, The Business Mom Guide Book, I'll Be Home for Christmas, and Faith Deployed. She holds a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies. Learn more about working from home at http://www.cwahm.com/work-at-home/ .

DIANA ENNEN has been a leader and mentor in the work-at-home industry since starting her business, Virtual Word Publishing, in 1985. She is the author of many books, including Virtual Assistant the Series; Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and Words from Home: Start, Run, and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business. She resides in Margate, Florida, with her husband and their three children.

Below is an interview with the authors of So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom – Jill & Diana.

If
have questions they are happy to answer your questions anytime. Leave a comment below or email Jill@cwahm.com or Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com

How long have you been working at home?

Jill Hart - I've been working at home since 2000. I had to go back to work full-time for a brief period in 2003 when my husband got out of the Air Force. At that point I got even more serious about making my business work and I've been home full-time since then.

Diana Ennen – I’ve been working at home since 1985, when my son was born. He’s now graduated college and already working towards his own career. I absolutely love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

What types of businesses do you operate?

Jill Hart – I run Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com, a website full of free resources, job listings and information about home businesses. I also write articles and books (yes, more books to come!) and am a blogger for sites like Time/Warner's Christian Momlogic.com and a member of the Guideposts blogger team

Diana Ennen– I’m the President of Virtual Word Publishing. I’m a virtual assistant and specialize in marketing & publicity. I’ve also written numerous books on how to start a VA business and offer PR and VA Coaching.

Tell us about your book? How do you think it can benefit those who want to start a business?

Jill Hart - The book has been such a "God thing." He orchestrated the entire sequence of events - from putting Diana and I together as co-authors to bringing us to the right publisher. The book is a hands-on practical guide for anyone who wants to build a business from home. We cover topics ranging from how to select the right type of business for you, to how to get started, to how to market and grow your business.

Diana Ennen - I think one of the best features of our book is that it’s not only informative, but motivational as well. You’ll feel like friends are helping you on your journey to success. Also, we discuss numerous types of businesses to start and provide proven methods to achieve success. We also often hear how starting a business can be so overwhelming. That’s why we pay special attention to all the how tos. We feel very confident our book will help, not only those starting a business, but those already in business wanting to expand it.

What types of businesses are featured in your book?

Jill Hart - We have such a great range of contributors - everything from direct sales companies like Southern Living at Home and Avon to unique product-driven businesses like BSM Media and GrillCharms. These woman are amazing and give readers a great insight into how they've grown their businesses in very different ways.

Diana Ennen - We cover everything from direct sales companies to specialized areas such as medical transcription and virtual assisting. Also, Jill shares detailed information on starting a community based membership site. We think you’ll get a lot of helpful tips too from such work-at-home powerhouses as Maria Bailey and Lesley Spencer Pyle.

Do you have any tips for success for Christian entrepreneurs that you’d like to share?

Jill Hart - I think my favorite tip - shared with me by one of our contributors, Tammy Degenhart, almost ten years ago is that working together benefits everyone. She told me, "Jill, what you give to others God brings back tenfold" and I've seen that hold true time and time again. It may not be in financial gains and it may not look like what we expected but God is so faithful in that when we work together there is no competition - it's a win-win situation.

Diana Ennen - Do what you believe in and use your own skills and prior experience to find the business that’s just right for you. Research/Research/Research. The more you research, the better your business. Continue to market and be out there. So many once they find a few clients stop marketing. You need to get out there continually. You then become the go to person when someone needs services or products that you offer.

What are some of the challenges that you see with those starting or operating a business?

Jill Hart – In my experience, I've talked with many women who get frustrated because success doesn't come easily or quickly. Working from home may sound easy, but in reality it can actually be just as hard as working outside the home. There are many unique challenges, especially when working at home while raising children. If women don't prepare themselves, they can become discouraged and disheartened.

Diana Ennen– One of the major challenges I see is losing belief in yourself that you can do it. That’s why I think a faith-based book will be so beneficial. Even when times get tough, you can rely on your faith to forge ahead.

With the economy, do you believe it’s still a good time to start a business? Why?

Jill Hart – I think it's a better time than ever. The internet is so much more widely used than it was even nine years ago when I began my website. If people do their research and find a company that fits them as well as their budget this can be a great time to break into the work-at-home field.

Diana Ennen – Absolutely. In fact, I think there’s never been a better time. You might have to work a little harder, but it absolutely can be done. Plus, there are so many businesses who need us more than ever because of the economy. For example, with virtual assistants because businesses are downsizing they are seeking the help of a VA to help on an as needed basis.

Your book is written from a Christian perspective? Tell us a little about that and how you feel that makes it so unique?

Jill Hart – My faith is central to who I am and therefore central to my business. I began Christian Work at Home Moms because I wanted women to have a safe place where they could discuss not only business things, but also talk about an area that doesn't get talked about a lot in business circles - how our faith affects our businesses. The book is written in a way that doesn't hit anyone over the head with our faith, but it's true to who we are and talks about things from the vantage point that we see life - through the lens of our faith.

Diana Ennen – There are so many books out there today on starting a business. However, few have the Christian mom in mind. We provide a lot of scriptures and examples of how you can use your faith to help you. Our hope is that not only will your business thrive, but it might just give a little boost to your faith as well.

Learn more about the book at Beacon Hill Press or SoYouWantToBeAWAHM.com.

Why Do Christians Go To Church?

2009-08-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

One night, a little while back, I dreamed that I had a reputation of being a fifty-one-year-old "church lady". Oh wait, that wasn't a dream... It's true!

Well, in the dream, I was telling some of my friends about my past, how I used to be a rebel. I used to believe in all kinds of debauchery: Premarital sex, drugs, rock n' roll, drinking, etc. And that's another true part of the dream. I was a wild child of the 70's!

In my dream, people were surprised to hear that I'd ever been anything but a sweet lady with rather wholesome, conservative leanings.

When I woke up, I felt the urgency of admitting my "guilt". Yes, I was "guilty" of promoting values that I've since reevaluated. And it took awhile to reevaluate. Even after escaping some radical teen-age years, I maintained a different kind of rebellion as I became a mother in the 80's. Still avoiding God and His "Do it My way" approach, I figured I would do well enough (or maybe even better) if I just did things my way. I sought answers to my problems in the New Age Movement, in Eastern Philosophies, in Nutritional Approaches (to name a few).

When all my efforts at bettering myself proved futile, I finally turned to God. That was some 13 years ago. With a husband, an 8 year-old, and a 12-year-old in tow, we began our life of church-going. And what keeps us going? Well, from my perspective, I've seen how my way didn't work. And as I look at my sons, who never rebelled quite like I did, I see God's hand of blessing upon them. They've grown into the young men God had designed them to be, and we have enjoyed the process.

We go to church because we meet "family" at church. We stay connected; we're a community. We grow as we learn more about Christ, about loving our neighbors, about loving God. If you don't currently go to church, do consider it. It's not a members-only club; our doors are open!

One Week...

2009-08-08T09:09:00.001-07:00

This is a fun thought: "Seven days without God makes one weak". That's about it, hey?

Lukewarm

2009-07-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Wow- Just noticed one of the random Adsense ads on my site. It's for people seeking a local church in our Bay Area: "Visit Liberal Religious Communities and explore your values, morals"...

I checked out the website, and they say, "If you believe religion should be more than a narrow statement of faith, that it should have more than one answer, and that the mystery of creation can be acknowledged without having to be named, maybe Unitarian Universalism is right for you."

Could it possibly get any wishy-washier than that?! If you happen to go to such a church, perhaps you might want to ask yourself if you really have a problem believing the bible to be true. After all, what good is an instruction book if you only read bits and pieces of it and disregard the rest? Either you believe God created the universe, and Jesus died to bring salvation to God's people, and that the bible is the infallible word of God, or...

You don't!

I suspect that one would be better off not proclaiming themselves to be "Christian" if they can't accept that the bible is truly God's word. Why not be just one more heathen in this twisted world- you'll be better off! The book of Revelation says, in Revelation 3:15-16 (NLT): "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!"

The verse about our "deeds being as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) comes to mind. The Lord said, "This people draw near with their words and honour me with their lip's service, but they remove their heart far from me." (Isaiah 29:13).

Lord help us all!

New: Devotional Excerpts

2009-07-13T09:38:00.001-07:00

I've just started posted some of my devotional excerpts, on my pccuisine.com website. Spread the Word, right? James 3:16 is a good one...

Sandra Tsing Loh: Sadly Misguided

2009-06-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

Surely selfishness is key to failed marriage. The irony is summed up in the verse, "He who seeks to save his life will lose it, and he who loses his life will save it." (Luke 17:33)

Our society preaches that you must seek to satisfy yourself, but look at how little satisfaction there is! I'm sure that Sandra Tsing Loh was out for self-satisfaction when she sought the career that now brings her $120,000 salary. Funny, isn't it, that that still wasn't enough?

Yet now she will continue to use the same formula to pursue that "satisfying life". Sad.

If the career didn't bring her satisfaction, I wonder why she thinks that seeking anything else for herself is going to bring satisfaction?

Heartbeat Magazine Interview

2009-06-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

My friend Connie Moss, at Heartbeat Magazine, was inspired to interview we folks who write for Heartbeat, so I thought I'd post it here:

Where were you born? Detroit, Michigan, car capital

Tell me a little bit about growing up? Life in the suburbs: Dad was (and 50 years later, still is!) an engineer, and mom was an aspiring home chef. She taught me and my little sister the basics, and we fed our younger brother all our experiments. I wished upon a star, at age 10, that I might be famous one day. Needed specifics, so I pondered becoming a famous singer. That seemed like a long shot, so I settled on becoming famous as a cookbook author. Yes, at age 10 I had such aspirations.

Married? Married husband Tom in 1976, when I was 17 going on 30.

Children? Miles is 26, with two sweet kids and one sweet wife; Ty's 21 and an aspiring helicopter pilot.

Animals? Just the fish in the big pond out back now... the cats have passed on. There are several that think they're adopted, but we haven't told them otherwise yet.

Describe your salvation experience? At age 38, I really needed to pray about a "blast from my past", an old flame who was coming awkwardly back into our life. I didn't want to leave it to chance, praying to a pie-in-the-sky God whom I didn't really know, so I asked for God's Holy Spirit to come into my life. He revealed Himself to me through the gift of tongues; my intellectual mind could no longer dispute this external power that came from somewhere other than myself. I gave up on the old philosophies of "Me as god, creating My universe", and bowed down to the all-powerful, all-sustaining, omnipotent God of the universe.

Hobbies, sports, entertainment? I love music. Wrote songs and recorded with husband Tom and our sons several years back (yes, Partridge Family style)... Now I'm happy just to be on worship team, learning new songs, finding new ways to praise the Lord. I also love gardening and have created a little Garden of Eatin' in our back 40. Organic gardening, medicinal herbs, flower arranging are a few other hobbies. Sports: Love walking/hiking... Entertainment: Life is pretty entertaining!

Favorite scripture of the Bible? "Perfect love casts out all fear." How many people live in fear of what might happen, as if God is out to punish us? What a revelation to realize that God loves us so much that He isn't out to punish, but to offer us grace and mercy. I thank Him for that daily!

Future plans or desires of your heart? To be more involved in community events, sharing the joy God's put in our hearts, sharing any talent I have. When I realized there were people out there who would jump in and do it, even if they didn't know how, I realized: The least I could do is offer my services when I actually did know how. I've gained some confidence in the catering realm, and hope to share in that area. Creating a platform for the cookbook in the process would be a nice afterthought : )

Anything else you want to add about yourself? It's wonderful to see the body of Christ working together. I'm excited about the future, and know God has great plans for us all!

Scripture and Photo for your Computer

2009-06-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

"Peace of God" is my favorite latest creation in desktop wallpaper at this point. Check it out at: PCCuisine.

Free Christian Desktop Wallpaper!

2009-06-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

I'm excited about adding desktop wallpapers onto my website. Check it out! Hope you enjoy it : )

Promoting a Book...

2008-01-15T19:13:00.000-08:00

I've discovered a few things as I moved from the creative process of publishing my dream cookbook, to actually marketing it. I've apparently promoted myself somewhat inadequately, having had but nominal impact thus far. Right now I'm just trying to be not too intimidated, as I discover: The competition is fierce. In 2004, it was recorded (see BookStatistics.com), that there were 17 new books published each and every hour of each and every day. Whoa. I'd better get cracking...

Wondering if I might drop a few of my books off at a gift store in Napa Valley, I discovered that Giada De Laurentiis will be dropping in there, literally, as she hot-air-balloon-rides over to taste the specialty olive oils and wines that the Valley has to offer. Humm, I think my appearance on the scene would be anti-climatic...

Inquiring of the manager at the local Sur La Table, I asked whether they might consider carrying a local author's cookbook. If I happened to be insanely popular, then yes, that might work. But I discovered that "Corporate" would ultimately decide whether any given book had enough potential selling power to be carried by such a popular shop. I suppose my book might not really qualify.

Doing a word search for "Cooking Stores" in various trendy, touristy areas here in California, I thought perhaps a smaller, independently-owned shop might appreciate my "home-grown" little cookbook. But there are very few such stores. I suppose the money isn't in selling kitchenwares, but in offering cooking classes. With Emeril Lagasse and other acclaimed chefs showing how to make Foie Gras Toast with Sauterne Gelee and the like, how will I stand a chance?! I checked out a local station's interview of another local chef, who presses her own olive oil. Oh boy, I feel so small.

I just read of how a fellow chef's favorite food is whatever new thing she's just now made that she hasn't made before. Not me. I like having a bunch of tried and true recipes to depend on. Most of my days are fairly routine; I do my routine things, work up an appetite, and start craving some of those recipes I've shared in my cookbook. Will it prove popular to start checking out my recipes? To start buying my cookbook? To realize the beauty of having a solid repertoire of best recipes that fit a range of moods and situations, from formal to simple?

Well, time will tell if anything will come of this chef/author, and her cookbook. Did I mention, the book is also a devotional, with scripture in it? Oh-oh. That could be a problem in our liberal, left-wing world. Humm. We'll see.

Faith-based Cooking Show?!

2007-10-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

You may say, "What?! A faith-based cooking show?!" And rightfully so, because it is rather unique at this point. But that's exactly what we've got going on: "Chef/author Jennifer Cote" (that's me), plus supportive husband Tom, and a friend in the film industry (Chris Evans), have put together a new show, From the Land to the Table. It's an inspired cooking show, encouraging Christian family values and featuring healthy, made-from-scratch recipes, and great cooking tips. To be aired locally in the Bay Area, California, we also have a sneak preview of the first show airing here.

Meanwhile, if you go to the website, you can sign up for my monthly recipe newsletter and get even more news and recipes. You can get the recipe for the first show, Black Bean Enchiladas with homemade Red Sauce, either at the website, or in the November newsletter.

And what's the big noise anyway? Is this just another ploy to get fame and fortune as Jennifer's promotional efforts go full-steam ahead? No! It's actually just a small voice in a very large world, hoping to encourage fellow Christians to be blessed with a bit of cooking expertise from a pro, to be encouraged to spread the word to any non-believing friends who like to cook, and to perhaps recognize the value of putting a woman of God out there in that giant stew of celebrity cooking divas, to stand (even alone) in support of what we, as Christians, hold dear. So, if you want to sign up for that newsletter and spread that news, you have my grateful appreciation, and: God bless!

My Latest Thing

2007-10-14T19:29:00.001-07:00

I started up a Monthly Recipe Newsletter; leave me a comment if you'd like to receive it. I email it out to various friends/acquaintances here on the web, and it can be forwarded to any friends you know who also like to cook. Thanks to all the friends and family who've given me their support; meanwhile, hope to hear from you too, if I haven't already. P.S. There's also an easy email sign-up at my website: From the Land to the Table. (At the bottom of the page.)

2007-09-28T16:45:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder: My friend at "Overwhelmed with Joy" is hosting a recipe blog-fest next week! Check back for details!

Another Cooking Show?!

2007-08-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

I'm excited--a cooking show is in the works. So funny how things work out. When my good friends Ron and Judy found out I wanted to do a cooking show, they advised me to get in touch with Chris Evans, an old friend of the family. (Well, he's young, but... you know). I'd seen Chris a few times at our friends' big get-togethers; I said, "What?! He's into filming?!" Cool.
Being brothers in Christ, Chris and his friend Isaac could appreciate that I was aspiring to bring a Christian element into an otherwise spiritually-neutral field. You know, food for the stomach and the soul. What a concept! Also, being brothers in Christ, these guys were willing to work with me to produce this, even given my limited resources. It typically costs $300 to $1000 dollars a minute to produce a quality show. And I work at my deli, so, I'm not rolling in dough, ya know? Yeah, yeah, except cookie dough. They do say it's the best cookie dough, but man does not live by cookie dough alone...
Isaac mentioned that we might be able to appeal to fellow believers for donations; we're setting up the website to do that. (At http://www.fromthelandtothetable.com) We're not proud; we will gratefully accept any offerings, as that will help offset the cost of this. You can wait until we get the show on YouTube and on the public-access stations here in the Bay Area, but judging by the pace these guys keep, that could be any time in the next few months.
So, talk about "Godspeed"! Eight days ago, I was talking to our friends Ron and Judy about the cooking idea over dinner. By Friday, Chris, Isaac, husband Tom and I met to discuss it, and by Sunday, we were knee-deep in enchiladas, caramel sauce, and chicken stock, filming the body of three cooking shows at friend Judy's house. These guys mean business! And I'm excited. Stay posted. This should be fun.

WEIGHTED DOWN?

2007-03-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

A friend has wondered if I had any dieting tips. So I will tackle the subject, but not head-on. Have you noticed that our rebel bodies don't like to be told what they can and can't eat?!?!? So you have to bypass that. Seriously. Don't tell your body what it can and can't eat. It doesn't like that.
Start with some scripture: "Your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit." 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19
When we meditate on that scripture, we realize our bodies can reflect God. It's an opportunity. We can witness to others in many ways, and one of those ways may well be to let that fruit of self-control manifest in our bodies. A desire to "run the race to get the prize", as Paul describes, ought to inspire us to eat those foods that will make us most healthy and full of life for His purposes. But again, let's not tackle "WEIGHT" head on, because weight is not at all as important as the things that stand between us and God. (Which may not be weight at all.)
C.S. Lewis wrote on gluttony, saying that even a skinny person might have the sin of gluttony if all he does is think about food all day. The time spent thinking of food (whether it's eaten or not) is time not spent thinking about God and His goodness. We must break free from bondage to food thoughts, and get out of the "DIET" rut!
God in His goodness provides for our every need, and we hardly have to think about it. When I have faith in God's provision, I discover He always has the perfect food for me, even if it's just a perfectly ripe piece of fruit. AND, when I ask God to bless my food, my food tastes so good! I don't have to be held hostage to some diet plan that dictates every move, overwhelms my thoughts, and leads to obsessing.
I have experienced just about every diet plan there's been. Beverly Hills, The Zone, The Macrobiotic, Dr. Atkins, Low-Fat, Hi-Fat, Low-Carb, Hi-Protein, Body-Type, Allergy Diets, Fasting... need I say more?! With that experience, and knowing a bit about nutrition, I've drawn some conclusions, which seem to keep me fit and slim withOUT obsessing about it. So let's move on to the nuts and bolts. Are we ready for that? Because, remember: We can't tackle this head-on. If our only goal is to get as skinny as so-and-so or whatever, we may be doomed. How would God be in that?! God doesn't want us to try to be anyone else. He created us uniquely, to be who He made us to be. And that may not be twiggy-girl. But where's our head- in the pantry? THAT's the problem. If our mind is focused on all that is awesome and wonderful (as Philippians 4:8 tells us to do), we will be right where we're supposed to be.
O.K., so back to nuts and bolts. If we're clear on our goal, to be a temple for God's Holy Spirit, to be worthy of all He has planned for us, to be able to run the race, then we're ready for the hot tips. After all this build-up, you may not like the hot tips! Oh well... works for me...
I start my day with flax seed. I use a little electric coffee-grinder to whir a tablespoon of flax seeds into powder; I add half-cup or so of water, and down the mix. (Already-ground flax seed is probably rancid- don't bother with it.)
There are many reasons for this ritual. The flax-mix is certainly not the most appetizing thing (as the texture becomes a bit strange as it sits). But what a great way to start out! If I can start out with the flax, suddenly something like plain oatmeal with dried fruit and toasted pumpkin seeds seems like quite the treat! Actually, ANY thing seems especially tasty after my flax-ritual. But what a great way to break the corruption of our taste-buds. Man-made foods, with all that extra salt, grease, sugar, and synthetic flavorings, only serve to pervert our senses to the point where we can't appreciate the REAL food that God created for us.
More hot tips: I eat a lot of homemade soups, without salt. Bean soups, vegetable soups, with brown rice, etc. I'm convinced that the salt corrupts my taste-buds and often makes me eat more than I meant to. I generally eat more simple foods earlier in the day (like the soups, fruit, cereals, etc.), so that if I splurge on some salty, cheesy, meaty thing for dinner, it doesn't set me off course for the rest of the day. I even have dessert on occasion, but usually ONLY if it's super-deluxe, home-made, fresh, and excellent. Why waste calories on something less than the best?!
I bet America would trim down if it started making food from scratch. I suspect that the closer our food is to its natural state, the better it is for us. I generally don't use convenience foods or store-bought dressings, and I find that I have a better appetite for the healthy stuff that way. Even oil and vinegar on a salad can be a treat, letting the flavors in the salad come through. Something as simple as olive oil is full of wonderful flavor, but the modern-day palate has indeed been overwhelmed by all the man-made foods. Beware!
Whoa- enough about food.
P.S. Walking and gardening are wonderful exercises- don't forget that.

FINDING REDEEMING QUALITIES

2007-03-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

When we see something wrong, we need to remember Philippians 4:8. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."
And the paragraph continues: "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in Me- put into practice. AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU"!!!
OK, so I saw something wrong. I detailed what I saw wrong with "The Secret" in the last post. But NOW, I must focus on what is excellent. So I've considered: What redeeming qualities might be found in this latest fad? Fact is, "The Secret" may be a good primer to get people to yearn for more truth and peace, which just may lead them to seek God. We may read a self-help book and imagine that some worldly things, or some conditions, might bring us peace, but when it's discovered that it's not an eternal peace, perhaps more searching will ensue.
If one applies some of "The Secret" concepts in a quest for God, one can indeed find "a peace that surpasses all understanding." Because in focusing on God, the Creator of all things, we are tapping in to the most powerful force in existence. I'd rather leave my life in the hands of the Maker, who knows what's best for me.
"The Secret" just needs to go a few steps further...

THE SECRET?!?!?!

2007-03-10T19:42:00.000-08:00

I was so "priviledged" as to see some of the video clip from "The Secret". It's the latest, hot, new self-help kind of book/video that's capturing the attention of all who can be had. It makes me think of how God does not promise to force His will upon us; we have choices in this world of free will. He will allow even the lies of the enemy to exist, and we can choose to believe them or not.
I see a lot of hungry people responding to this latest phenomenon in their quest for the things of this world. Satan himself promises every worldly thing to Jesus after Jesus' forty days in the desert. (If only Jesus will bow down to him. If only Jesus will prove himself by turning stone to bread. If only Jesus will... ETC.) And Satan could no doubt promise us anything as well, if only... IF ONLY.
If only we take our eyes off God? If only we get selfish and think of how many things we need? If only we skip feeling grateful for the many blessings God supplies and start thinking of the other "blessings" we would rather have?
I tried the whole thing before: "Imagine everything you want coming to you, and truly believe it is coming, and it will happen." "The power of attraction", they call it. Ah yes, and then the world will know me, and will be attracted to me, because I will have attracted all those worldly things that the world holds dear. Well- it didn't work for me, and I thank God it didn't. HIS plan for me was far greater than anything I could've imagined at the time. But at the time, my plan for me was to become a rock star. I sat on a chair every morning, doing the "see it and believe it" exercise. I did a lot of sitting. Nothing happened. But the years went by, and God's plan for me unfolded, and it was indeed far more than I could've ever hoped or imagined.
But hey, if Satan said to you, "You can have all this, if you just bow down to me", would you do it? Because by lusting for those things that God apparently has been slack in providing, we basically are saying, "I will bow down to this other thing; it IS greater than God." Yipes. I'll pass on that one.
But are the masses almost brainwashed? An article appeared in today's paper, and I'm sure it had been run through by several people (editors, what have you), before it appeared in print, and yet: No one saw the faulty logic?! A woman with a bad back from an injury in her youth wanted one of those special mattresses that costs $7,000. She couldn't afford that, so she applied "The Secret" principle, and lo-and-behold, she went to the store and one of those mattresses was on sale for half price.
First problem I have with that: If the principle works so well, why didn't she see her back healing instead? Then she wouldn't even need the mattress!
Second problem: Has anyone noticed that material goods very often have a hyped-up list price, but then go on sale regularly, so that we can feel good about "only" paying $3,500?!?
I will close for now. There's only one thing I really need to hope for, and I totally believe it is coming: That God sent His only begotten Son, to die for us, so that whosoever would believe in His name would have eternal life. If I have a God who loves me that much, and if I have eternal life in heaven, what more do I really need?

BEING READY

2007-03-01T21:51:00.000-08:00

I'm speaking at a women's event at our church, so I've been processing my thoughts about work at the deli. I want to share some time-saving kitchen tips. But Why? Why save time? If we have time on our hands, what's the rush? New employees at our shop soon discover that the boss-lady (me) is big on efficiency. Matthew 25:13 says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour (when the bridegroom will arrive)." Five of the ten virgins were prepared, with oil in their lamps, when the bridegroom came. I see our time in the kitchen as practice. We're in training. The day comes when The New Deli is deluged with customers, and we have some relief if we've practiced doing things efficiently. If we've slacked and done things the slow way, what do we do when it's a crazy-busy day?! Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, "...Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training...we do it to get a crown that will last forever." In valuing the time we have here on earth, we can appropriate the lessons available that will help us accomplish our goals. One of my goals is to be available on those occasions when the Holy Spirit calls me. I certainly don't want to be caught up in a to-do list, because I've neglected being prepared for what's really important!
Again, the point of efficiency? If we practice efficiency, even in our home kitchen, the time comes when we're called to a higher task, like having to cook for a wedding or special occasion, pressed for time in a demanding situation. But we're ready. Another story about stewardship mentions the ten talents. The wise steward invested his ten talents, and multiplied them. The owner was quite pleased with that steward, and rewarded that steward with more. Our time is like the talents. It is something we have been given; we can invest that time, using it wisely and not wasting it. We end up with more time, and more opportunities to invest it for Kingdom purposes. It may seem at times like serving people daily at our deli is so "Not Ministry". We can supposedly "just" go through motions, getting the prep done, giving people their food. We probably don't bring them their soup and say, "Jesus loves you and died for your sins". AND YET. What did Jesus do? He served. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 says, "Be joyful always: pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I want to go through my deli day following God's instructions, despite challenges, despite mistakes, despite ornery people. I need to express my joy, I need to pray, and I need to give thanks. Perhaps that IS a ministry!

A NEW BLOG PLACE

2007-02-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

Check it out: Ezraweb.com is a Christian site, giving news without a hard, secular, liberal slant. It's also like a Christian "myspace", full of encouraging people cheering each other on. The layout makes for easy-to-understand, creative blog design, which adds to the fun.
I had a blog at my official website for my cookbook (fromthelandofmilkandhoney.com), but I ended up with a few questionable contacts I'd never sought out. When "Keiko", the Bravenet.com DOG (who has contacts that swear up a storm) became one of my contacts, I knew I had to move to another space...
Another fun thing happened because I'd joined some "mybloglog" community. Someone emailed me to say they'd like me to co-author on their site, and when I clicked on the site, it informed me, "Congratulations! You are now a co-auther on F---Master.com. What?!?! Aw, come on! So I deleted my membership at "mybloglog"...
This site hasn't been too weird, except for the one person with a two-foot-long post about aliens, lesbians, gods, and how there WAS no Christian god. Humm. Lord, help that person!

"REJOICE IN ALL THIINGS"

2007-01-18T07:29:00.000-08:00

God is still good, and has His plans. We can "be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for (us) in Christ Jesus", right? (That's from 1 Thessalonians 5:16)

But to practice what we preach?! I was challenged to do that when I discovered a glitch last week. My "marketing plan" for my book wasn't going to go as anticipated, due to the glitch. I started thinking of how I may, instead, need to talk up my book at some women's events...

The next morning, I went to church, where I met up with a friend who said, "So when are you going to, like, market your book at some women's events?" An interesting confirmation. THEN, I sat listening to the day's message, and the pastor said, "You know, I think we give the devil too much credit sometimes. We say, 'Aw, the devil's messing with my plans', when actually, maybe it's God trying to work in our life." That gave me the insight I needed to realize: This glitch was no accident!

My first impression was that the glitch was something that would have to be fixed, so that things could happen according to my plan. But the glitch actually helped me get a different perspective on marketing, and now I'm actually excited to be taking a new approach.

SO- maybe I'll end up speaking at some event! Even when I think I know the plan, it's God's plans that prevail.

A QUESTION FROM THE "FAITH LIFTS" BLOG- HOW DO WE DO "PEACE AND JOY"?!

2006-12-03T22:49:00.000-08:00

This is the season of "peace and joy". But the dull roar of a sighing, overworked, overambitious people can stifle that peace and joy. I'm not talking about the angst of a post-modern society driven by materialism. I'm talking about me! Putting up that Christmas Tree from that box in the garage, and redecorating it once more with the weariness one might have in going through their "Things To Do" List is not the pathway to peace and joy.
A feeling of obligation sucks the joy right out of Christmas. In years past, I must confess: I had streamlined my holiday preparations into a manageable routine . But that wasn't the solution! It's not about bringing my house "up to code" for the holidays. It's about FILLING the season with the joy we have in Christ, letting that overflow into every effort we make. That's what makes spirits bright indeed. I'm ushering in the season of celebrating Christ's birth!
We all have our different ways of expressing the joy we have in Christ. But that should be our ultimate goal, no matter how we show it: To express that joy. If what we're doing isn't pouring out of our heart, then we should just cross it off our list. What good will it do anyone in the end?!
This year, I set aside some extra time for decorating, not because I "had" to, but because I was excited about Christmas. Our shop is festive and fun for the holidays, and everyone coming into the deli seems to enjoy it. The decor can remind us of an awesomely wonderful thing: JESUS is coming to town. He came once. He's coming again. Let's get ready for THAT!