Living for the Master

In this blog I share lessons I've learned and experiences I have had with God. I hope they encourage and bless you! Lynn

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Just a shorty

Well I haven't posted in a couple of days, but I am still eating in balance and I have exercised each morning. Not alot but it is a start.
To all my new friends and Sisters, Be bold and strong. Lean on God when you are weak. I had a rough weekend but I'm going strong now. God was sharing with me, as I've heard before. If I am fearful or worried I am not trusting Him. I am telling Him that my problem is bigger than Him. Ouch. So I had to say, what will be will be. If I stay in the boundaries of God, I have full protection and when something TRIES to come against me I need to give it to Him.
Jesus took everything upon Himself. Everything. If he hadn't there would have been a loophole for the devil to get in, and there isn't.

1 Peter 5:7 Paraphrased Cast all your cares on Him for he cares for you.

So let God deal with it and you go do something nice for someone. It makes God proud, helps the person and makes you take your focus off yourself and your problem. And you might just have some fun. :)

I'll post some more tomorrow and maybe a new recipe. I'm having a dinner party on Friday so maybe I can post the meal and recipes.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Monday, April 28, 2008

Back in Action

Well I did it. I know it's only one day but I'm thinking if I put it in words it will keep me more accountable. I got up early and exercised. And I'm sweating like a hog, (sorry for the visual) but that is what it's all about right. The hog thing is just a little expression we use don't know how it got started but everything is measured in hogs. Raining like a hog, sleepier than a hog...
Anyway, I got so discouraged over the weekend about my weight, and my sweet husband lifted me back up and got me on course again. So God and I had some talks, he reminded me so gently that it's the diligent man that prospers. I haven't been diligent. OOPS! It's so weird, everything else in my life I have overcome or dealt with, I just said OK that's it. But even in typing that the Lord said, but only when I had been fully convinced in my heart. He pointed out that I struggled in area's until I made up my mind. Thanks God. So one day at a time, and one day I'll wake up and go WOW! look how far I've come. (hopefully that day will be before vacations season) :)
I've packed my right size lunch and snacks for work. So I better hit the shower and start the day.

Be Blessed.
Lynn

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Tator Tot Caserole

Well as you see a lot of my meals are ones that I can do quick. We are on the go so much that if we are going to have a home cooked meal I have to get it done in 20 minutes or less. We joke about I'm the new Rachel Ray. Ha ha ha. Well this is a recipe that I got from my sister and I actually give it out more than I make it but I do love it.

1 lb or so of Ground Beef - can use Turkey if you like
1 med to small bag of Tator Tots
1-2 cans of any cream soup or chili
1 Cup of grated cheese - Cheddar, Co-Jack, Monterrey Jack your choice
Salt, Pepper, Garlic, to taste

While you are browning your Ground meat, put the tator tots in the oven to slightly cook them (they don't have to be done). Once the meat is done, mix in the soup or chili add a little milk or water to make a gravy consistency.
Next take the tator tots out of the oven and line the bottom of an oven safe dish one layer high with them. Pour the meat mixture on top and then layer another layer of tator tots on the top. Put it back in the oven and bake 15-20 mins until the tator tots on top are done.
Take out spread the grated cheese on top, put back in oven until cheese melts.

Take out and dish up ... and enjoy.

Be Blessed
Lynn

Check my other blog too!

Monday, April 21, 2008

Lentil Soup

Ok this is really easy and good. I like a lot of vegetables raw, but I'm not real good at eating cooked ones, soups are one way I can get a variety of vegetable and actually like them. :)

Vegetarian Lentil Soup

Bag of green lentils
Vegetable Stock
2-3 large Celery Stocks w/ leaves
Small to Med Yellow onion
Salt, Pepper and Garlic to taste.

Rinse lentils, put in large sauce pan, put enough vegetable stock and or water to cover (may need to add while cooking) Chop Onion & Celery fine or course your preference. Set the Celery leaves aside. Cook until lentils are very soft, can mash part of the lentils to make a little thicker if desired or puree if wanted. When serving sprinkle a few of the celery leaves on top. I don't know why but it is really good that way.

Now for Meat lovers
You can use Ham base instead of Vegetable stock and add ham or bacon to the soup while cooking. Do the rest as above.

This can be served with a Salad, Garlic Toast, Brushetta and Sun Dried Tomato Salsa ... Guess I need to give you that one too some time, any way your choice.

Hope you enjoy!

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Salsa Chicken - Cucumber Salsa - N - Rice

I don't always measure my ingredients so be bold and go for it. I'll try to give measurements but I am only guessing so adjust as you want.

Here's what you will need
4 Chicken Breasts (I use boneless skinless)
2 Tbs Olive oil
1 1/2 Cups Whole Grain Rice (Brown, White - Your choice)
1 Sm Yellow Onion - Diced
4 Green Onion - Coarsely Chopped
1 -2 med Cucumber
Canned Mild Green Chili's whole or diced
Canned Diced Tomatoes
Fresh Tomatoes (equivalent to 5-6 Roma's)
Fresh Green, Red or Yellow Peppers (Optional)
1/3 bunch fresh Cilantro
Cumin
Garlic (Fresh or granules)
Salt and Pepper
Red Wine or White Vinegar
Monterrey Jack cheese ( 1 slice per chicken breast)


Heat olive oil in a skillet, rice,and yellow onion. Stir it around until it starts looking transparent, and remove from heat and pour into an oven safe dish (I use a really large clear Pyrex 9x13?)

Next Season your chicken with salt, pepper & garlic. Brown on both sides, in the skillet, cook until almost done but not quite. Place your chicken on top of the rice in the baking dish.

Now take your canned tomatoes, mix in cumin, little more garlic and more onion if you want. Now add a can of water or a can of chicken broth. Pour this mixture over the chicken and rice.

If you are using whole green chilies slice one side and lay flat over each chicken breast. (If you are using diced chilies, add to tomato mixture and spread with it.)

Bake this in the oven at 375 for about 45 Min's to an hour.

While this is baking make your salsa. Fine (for salsa) or Course (for a salad) Chop, Cucumber, Fresh Tomato, (Fresh colored pepper if desired), Green Onion, and Cilantro. Add Salt, Pepper, Garlic to taste. Now add a small amount of vinegar not to cover just a little more than to coat. Stir real well and let it chill and marinate while chicken is finishing up.

When rice is done and has absorbed all the liquid and chicken is cooked all the way through place a slice of cheese on each chicken breast. (a sprinkle of "Cotija" cheese is a nice treat too, it is a strong cheese found the refrigerated Hispanic section of the store) put back in the oven long enough to melt the cheese.

Place a chicken breast that has the chili and cheese on it on a plate, scoop out some rice and add some of the salsa on the side. Everything can be a adjusted to taste. If you make it, let me know how you like it and if you have a variation that turns out please feel free to share.

Enjoy!
I have some vegetarian things I do also so don't be dismayed if you don't like meat, I'll share those too. (Stuffed Green chili's w/ black bean sauce- for another day!)


Hope you are having a wonderful day. Don't forget to check out my other blog as I will be posting to it later. Leave a comment let me know you've stopped by, it's nice to have visitors, also then I can stop by your blog as well.

Be Blessed.
Lynn

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Fruit Salad and a prayer!

Springtime is here and though the weather very much resembles winter.....rain, rain, rain, I am dreaming of Vacation. We typically take vacations in late summer early fall, because we go to Arizona and it's very warm there. However that also means Swimsuits and Shorts - Yikes!
Funny (or not) how quickly a few pounds find you in the winter. So with that in mind, I am thinking a lite Fruit Salad will be a good choice for breakfast to replace those more loved fried potatoes.

I've been wanting to post some recipes so, as I get back to some healthier eating for my body, I'll share with you.

Fresh Fruit Salad with Topper

Cut up equal portions of 3 to 4 different fruits. I usually use fresh Pineapple, Strawberries, banana's and grapes. Sometimes to make it look more festive I add a little toasted shredded coconut .


For the Topper - Use 1 1/2 parts of Pina Colada yogurt (any brand) to 1 part of Whipped Topping. After mixing chill for a little while it will thicken.

You can mix together with the fruit, use as a dip or just on top. Only put the topping on as you use the fruit or it will separate and looks bad.

I have used different fruits at times, you can put melon, apple, anything you want. If you are going to use a fruit that browns add a little lemon juice, to the fruit and mix up to coat it all. I haven't tried other flavors but as I'm typing this it makes me think I should try it. If you try some variations let me know how they work out.

I love food and I love to cook, and in a busy world it is all too easy to grab a hamburger and fries. But because I am not a little girl running around the playground anymore, and tend to spend a lot of my free time sitting at the computer or at my sewing machine, I find the food stays with me much longer than I would like. It's like an unwanted squatter that takes up residence and you have to go through a real battle to get it out.

I know I will need to work to get these extra pounds off, but I also know that I have an awesome God that will lead and guide me the whole way.

Romans 8:37
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Father God, I thank you for your gentle reminders that I am your child, that my body is not my own, but the temple of the Holy Spirit. I ask you to be with me and give me strength to exercise and move my body to keep it limber and agile. I thank you that you will give me self control to eat in moderation so that I may enjoy foods but not let them rule me. I thank you that I will put them back in their proper spot of nourishing me and giving me life instead of living for them. I know as I commit this area of my life to you, You will be faithful and just to see me through.
In Jesus precious name,
Amen


Be Blessed all,
Lynn

I've posted Pt 2 of Bryant Mountain on my other Blog so check it out. Also I will add more stories of Bryant Mountain and the country.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Jesus and a parking spot!

A few years ago I worked for a small office that only had street parking, (ya parallel, special huh?) first come first serve. So needless to say, the later you got to work the farther you could potentially end up walking.

After being there for awhile I developed a friendship with a young single mother that had an on again, off again relationship with the father of her son.

She knew my husband and were Christians and often asked for prayers or advise. She would talk of how her Grandma used to pray for her, before she passed away. Our friendship grew, and we started taking lunches together. She had grown up close to this neighborhood and knew of a tanning salon that we could tan at on our lunch for 20 minutes, eat in the car and be back to work, within our lunch break. Now this worked pretty slick, and considering I'm very light skinned the aspect of having a little more color was appealing to me. (No it was not my 1st time of tanning) So we started our new lunch adventures. Now there were days we didn't have our lunch so we would stop at Burger King or Taco Bell on the way back and eat as I drove back to the office. However there was a little problem... A parking space. Now I was pretty good at getting one right in front in the mornings but at noon, if you leave, your spot was up for grabs.

So I one day about two blocks from the office, aloud I stated "Thank you Jesus for our good parking spot". I really didn't think anything other than God provides, sure enough we got a good spot, just a few away from the original. So this continued to be our routine, every time we would tan on our lunch. However one day we were really in a hurry, traffic was bad, and my friend said to me, "Aren't you going to say your thing?" Puzzled I asked "What thing?" She said "You know - about Jesus and the Parking Spot?" Wow, what a revelation for me. I said my prayer out loud as usual, but inside, I had a whirlwind of meditation going on. She had listened, was God getting through to her?

Fast forward, Her and her son ended up going camping with us and she accepted the Lord. Fast forward again, I have lost contact with her, however the last I spoke with her, She and the sons father were married and working at a happy family.

This is such a great reminder to me that what I do, what I say and how I act, can shape how someone else receives God. I am to be a reflection of Him. I was made in His image. This is both scary and wonderful. I am such a work in progress and God takes me and loves me where I am at, but I need to be mindful of representing Him in His glory. We may be the only light that someone has in their life. Shine bright so they will see HIS way.

Father I pray that I would represent you well. Help me to be the person that you have called me to be. Show me how to shine a light that would draw people to you not push them away. Help me say what you would have me say to encourage and edify your children.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen


Be Blessed,
Lynn


P.S. I'll be posting "Bryant Mountain" Pt 2 soon on my other Blog so remember to check back.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Love and Honor

Hello my Friends,

Hope you all had a nice weekend, I did. My Husband and I were at a marriage retreat. The weather was great first sunshine we have had in a long time and we were able to walk on the beach. In our free time we took a tour at a creamery and saw how they make cheese and had a very delicious ice cream cone.

Our Pastors taught on things to improve marriages and things to do for each other. We both beamed knowing that we were already doing most of these things. Oh yes we did learn a lot and can delight in the knowledge that we can make our relationship even better. God is the God of increase and so we expect our marriage and our lives together to grow every day.

We took personality tests, not to use our personality as a crutch for how we may act, but to use as tool to understand our similarities and differences. It was fun and informative. Our Pastors taught the men to hold their wives up, nurture them and protect them. Understand what all they have on their plates.

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (Weaker is not a put down, it was meant as physical)

Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.


As women it is our responsibility to act Godly not only to make our marriage better but to set an example for those around us.

Titus 2:4
Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children.


Ephesians 5:

Wives and Husbands -
21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

We had a lot of really good teaching it was a nice time of refreshing and realignment.

My Husband & I connected up with some other couples and got to know them better so that was really nice too.

Tomorrow will be back to work, and as much as I may not want to, I'm thankful for my job, I'm happy that it helps me to be able to take these little trips.

Spending time with my two best friends. God and my hubby.

Be Blessed
Lynn

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

I've got to have it now!

When our 15 year old Granddaughter was about 4 years old, my husband I were doing some Christmas shopping and ran into our Oldest Daughter and Son-in-law and our 4 year old Granddaughter. Our Daughter was thrilled "Hey can you wheel her around for a while so we can pick out her gifts." Oh sure we would love to. Well actually I got the priveledge and it is an event we still talk about today.

As I am walking around the store trying to avoid the toy isles, I am hearing the pleas of my darling Granddaughter. Grandma I want a .... Grandma I want a ....... Which to every request I would answer Now honey you have to be patient Christmas will be here soon and you might just get that. All the sudden she lifts up her head stars straight into my eyes and very frankly states "Nobody believes me I've got to have it NOOWW! I lost it I laughed so hard. (She did not think it was funny) But now she does. :)

I often reflect on this as a fond memory - but also I know that God looks at us like I looked at her.
Honey just be patient, have faith that you'll be taken care of. You have been given the fruit of the spirit:

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Monday, April 7, 2008

Hurting Women

Hi I posted on my other Blog. But wanted to reach out to all of the hurting women. My prayers are for your total restoration. My God Cleanse you with the blood of Jesus and make your life as white as snow. He did mine.
In Gods Love,
Lynn

Check my other Blog it is about trusting God.

Friday, April 4, 2008

A busy day of relaxing

Wonderful I get a day off. I normally work 4 days of 10 hrs, but lately I have been working an extra day. Those are my Fridays. Now I don't always have to work all day long, sometimes its 6 hrs sometimes its 11hrs. But going to work for even a little on your day off can get to you after a while. So today I have the day off. I started planning my day off on Wednesday when I realized I wouldn't have to come in if I didn't want to. So what do I want to do? And as always I plan about six days events in one, so travel with me as I think and - relax - on my day.

Well lets see, we will be out of town next weekend so I guess I should dust and scrub the bathrooms, God I'm so thankful that I have this nice house to clean. (I remembered to be grateful) And after cleaning our 2 1/2 baths, I think to myself hummm, I'm kinda hungry oh I think I'll have a bowl of soup and some crackers. That was good, now lets see - you know it's been a while since I vacuumed the stairs, then I'll do a quick dust mop of the hardwood floor. Oh the Phone ah .... well that was sure nice of my Sister to call, we have been playing phone tag all week. Glad she reminded me of my other Bible study I need to go over that memory verse again. Oh yeah maybe I should put away those magazines I left on the dinning room table. You know if I do that load of dishes now I can empty the old left overs so I can wash those bowls too. Wow it's amazing how fast those fridge shelves get dirty, probably should wipe those down. Ya that looks better. Ok things look pretty good now I think I'll do some reading or sewing... Wow 5 1/2 hrs where has today gone.

Yup that's me - my husband just shakes his head and says "You just don't know how to relax do you?" My common answer is "I relax better if I don't have things hanging over my head."

So now that my chores are at a livable level for me (because I can always find something else that could be done) I am going to go .... relax and sew.

Blessing my friends
Lynn


P.S. I have two blogs please visit both of them often I post on each one back and forth. Some are stories some encouragement, leave a comment and say Hi I'd love to hear from you and get to know you.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Power of Gods Words - My words

Lately the Lord has been dealing with my husband and I about how we use words. So let me just say up front that when the Lord deals with you about something everything is magnified to you. And have you noticed that when you are trying to correct an area in your life or improve an area, how the Devil creates all these wonderful opportunities for you to fail. I heard a teaching that words are containers of power. They can create negative power or positive power. They reflect and create the atmosphere around you. God created the heavens and the earth with words. The words we use call in our future, our children’s future. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” paraphrased Luke 6:32. Matthew 12:37 states that By you words you are justified and by your words you will be condemned, (or judged) . God has also shown me as I over came insecurity that when I spoke out loud that I couldn’t do this (which I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me Phil 4:13) or I wasn’t pretty, or smart, my spirit was hearing what I was saying. So if Faith comes by hearing… what are you hearing come out of your mouth. I’m ugly, I’m fat, I’m stupid, I’m sick….. No! I’m smart, I’m pretty, I’m the healed of the Lord, and I’m getting skinny J.
We are the righteous of the Lord. He chose us. We need to watch our words, “Call those things that are not as though they were” just make sure you’re calling what you want not what you don’t. My family is Saved, My job is Blessed, My health is good. My cup runs over.
Be Blessed everyone. I’m sure I could go on but I will stop for now.

Lynn