Are You Desperate Enough?

They had hardly arrived when a Canaanite woman came down from the hills and pleaded, “Mercy, Master, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly afflicted by an evil spirit. Jesus ignored her. The disciples came and complained, “Now she’s bothering us. Would you please take care of her? She’s driving us crazy. Jesus refused, telling them, “I’ve got my hands full dealing with the lost sheep of Israel.” Then the woman came back to Jesus, went to her knees, and begged. “Master, help me.” He said, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs.” She was quick: “You’re right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table.” Jesus gave in. “Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!” Right then her daughter became well. Matthew 15:22-28

We all know that Jesus was called to the Jews and the gentiles. We know that he even sought out those that were not Jews to come to him (i.e. the woman at the well John 4). So why in this instance was Jesus not only making this woman go through humiliation, but making her demand her daughters healing? Why did he choose to treat her so curt, and dismiss her, literally calling her a dog!? If you heard that there was a minister who could make your dream of healing or financial breakthrough, that he could lay hands on you and you would become pregnant, or heal your marriage, would you go? Now, if He called you a dog, and said you were not worthy of his time, would you become offended and walk away, or would you care?

This woman did not care. She did not have time to be offended, she did not have time to think “why does he make me go through more than others do?”. She did not have time to feel sorry for herself, or decide that He should come to her. I mean after all he went to the centurion’s home when his daughter was sick, right? No, she did not care. She did not even care at that moment whether he was nice, or liked her, only that she knew He was her only hope to heal her daughter. She had one purpose in her mind and that was pursuing the healer until she got her breakthrough no matter what it took.

So why? Didn’t he know she deserved her daughter’s healing? Didn’t He know she had the faith? Was it not enough that she had come to him in such a humble manner? Who knows? I can make some guesses. Maybe she had lived a life feeling inferior to Jews, and he wanted her to push past that and decide for herself that she was indeed good enough. Maybe there was someone in the crowd that day who had not reached for their healing because of that, and her response made them realize they deserved it, too. Maybe he was trying to teach the disciples a lesson. How many times did they try to shoo people away from Jesus. Maybe he wanted them to see that they were bothered by someone who had greater faith than they did.

What is my point? This woman could have easily walked away, and with good reason, angry and offended. But she stayed, and got her healing. My Bishop says that sometimes “God will offend the flesh to reveal the heart”. Sure, she was probably hurt by his comment, but not enough to not press forward. We can not always understand why God does things differently for others than he does for us. The timing, the healing, the fulfillment of our dreams; it is different for everyone. However, if we allow ourselves to become offended and bitter because he does not do it the way we think He ought to, or when he ought to, then we may very well miss out all together.

Eating Healthy… Can it be done in a hurry!

If you are like me, lunchtime rolls around and the kids are screaming “we are starving” (even though they just had snack 30 minutes ago 😉 ) and you are trying to find something quick and easy. A lot of days our lunch ends up being their peanut butter and jelly left overs right?

Well it can be easy and quick to eat healthy. Here are some quick tips:

  • My favorite lunch time healthy meal is a salad. It can be made in a hundred different ways, so I rarely get bored. You can by the whole kit in a bag, Caesar, Oriental, Mexican, etc. (I know it is about $4 not on sale, but you would spend more than that at Mcdonalds) You can make your own. I keep lunch meat for sandwiches but you can cut it up on a sala, add black olives, mushrooms, cheese, tomato, green onion, and some salad topping, and you have a fantastic, tasty healthy lunch. ( I know you think it will take soooo much time. But time yourself and see how long it takes you. Little more than it does to make a sandwich.)
  • Leftovers… If you are cooking a healthy meal the night before, make a little extra. Be sure to make you a small plate and wrap for the fridge before you serve dinner, otherwise someone may think it is just extra and eat it. The next day it is already on a plate and you can pop it in the microwave and enjoy. You can do the same for the kids.
  • Try to wait to eat your lunch until the kids are done, and you can either put them down for nap, or at least let them have some down time. This allows you to sit and enjoy your lunch, making it so much more satisfying.
  • Finally, we do want to avoid picking off our kids plates. This is a huge problem for me. So I have started either a) giving it to the dog, or b) telling them when they are done to immediately put it in the trash. It is o.k. for that food to go to waste, otherwise it will waste on your hips, because I know I do not need more PB&J on my hips. 🙂

Home Remedy

Today’s is short and sweet. A great home remedy tip from Kelly from “Journey’s With Kelly”.

Vics on the feet is good for keeping high fevers away from the brain and letting them run their course to kill the infection. If you give tylenol in small doses to keep it away from the 103 range the infection will be fought off a lot faster. It is a pain for mom, but I have found that the healing time is much faster when the body heals itself.

Chicken Marsala

Here is a great recipe I found in Taste of Home Comfort Food (diet) Cookbook. It is delicious, and Low in fat and calories!!!

Ingredients:

  • 6 Boneless skinless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
  • 1 cup fat-free Italian salad dressing
  • 1 tbs. all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp. paprika
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 2 tbs. olive oil, divided
  • 1tbs. butter
  • 1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup marsala wine or 3 tbs. unsweetened apple juice plus 5 tbs. additional reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

Directions:

  1. Flatten chicken to 1/2 in. thickness. Place in a large resealable plastic bag; add salad dressing. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
  2. Drain and discard marinade. Combine the flour, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika and pepper; sprinkle over both sides of chicken. In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook chicken in 1 tbs. oil and butter for 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Transfer to a 13X9in X 2in. baking dish coated with cooking spray.
  3. Gradually add broth and wine or apple juice mixture to skillet, stirring to loosen browned bits. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Strain sauce; set aside. In the same skillet, cook mushrooms in remaining oil for 2 minutes; drain.
  4. Stir sauce into mushrooms; heat through. Pour over chicken; sprinkle with parsley. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25- 30 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.

Nutritional Information: 1 chicken breast half with 1/3 cup mushrooms mixture equals 247 calories 9grams of fat 1gram fiber.

Not what Paul Meant…

This was today’s devotion from Bob Gass, I thought it would be fun to share.

“Husbands, love your wives.” Ephesians 5:25 NIV”Bob’s last letter

The following hilarious letter illustrates what Paul didn’t mean by “Husbands, love your wives.” Dear friends: Men must remember that as women grow older it’s harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping. When men notice this, they should try not to yell. Let me relate how I handle the situation. When I took early retirement, it became necessary for Nancy to get a full time job. Shortly after she started working I noticed she was beginning to show her age. I usually get home from fishing about the same time she gets home from work. Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always has to rest before she starts supper. I try not to yell, instead I tell her to take her time and just wake me up when she does get supper on the table. She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished eating. Now they sit several hours after supper. I do what I can by reminding her each evening that they aren’t cleaning themselves. I know she appreciates this, as it does seem to help her get them done before she goes to bed. It also gives her more time to do things like shampooing the dog, vacuuming and dusting. And if I have had a good day fishing, it allows her to gut and scale the fish at a more leisurely pace. Now I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support Nancy. However, guys, if you just yell at your wife a little less often because of this letter, writing it was worthwhile. Signed, Bob. P.S. Bob’s funeral was on Saturday. P.P.S. Nancy was acquitted on Monday.

Why It’s Hard To Simplify (And What To Do About It)

By: Aby Garvey

So you want to simplify your life. Get more organized. Make life just a notch or two easier and better. But where do you start? And honestly, why is it so hard to create simple?

Even though “simple” can be a tough thing to achieve, with a few basic strategies it is possible to simplify. Here are seven techniques that will help you create the “simple” you crave.

Know what’s important to you.
If you want to simplify, it means something in your life is too complicated. The life you’re living is out of whack with the life you really want to live. Can you put your finger on what that is? What do you want more of? What do you want less of? What areas of your life are too complicated? Take a few minutes to really think about what’s most important to you. By knowing what matters, you can eliminate the clutter—all that stuff that’s getting in the way of what you really, really want. Knowing what you want is like a roadmap—it helps you get where you want to be. Without this roadmap, it can be hard to even take the first step in the direction of simplicity.

One thing at a time.
Once you know what is most important to you, take steps to eliminate the clutter, one thing at a time. When I look back over my own efforts to create change in my life, I often set the stakes way too high. For example, when I refocus my efforts on eating healthy, I attempt to cut out every single not-so-healthy food I love. In the end, I get frustrated and have a desire to go back to my old ways. This year, I’ve decided to add one fresh piece of fruit a day at breakfast. It seems almost too easy to say out loud, doesn’t it? But by focusing on just one piece of fruit a day, I set myself up for success. I keep my point of focus simple and clear in my mind. Plus, I don’t feel deprived.

Simplifying your life is just the same. Find one thing that is too complicated or out of sync with what’s most important to you and simplify it, or eliminate it altogether. Focus on one life change, one project, one task, one piece of fruit. By focusing on less, you increase your power of attention on that one thing. Once your “one thing” becomes part of your routine, then add the “next thing”. One-by-one, little-by-little, you’ll create the change you crave.

Avoid complications.
I’m willing to bet there are certain people, places and things that make your life more complicated than you’d like it to be. I have that, too. It’s called Target. I always go to Target because I need something, and yet, I always find things at Target that I don’t need. Unneeded stuff unnecessarily complicates lives.

Let me say that again.

Unneeded stuff unnecessarily complicates lives.

You probably have a Target, or two in your life. What places do you go where you always say “yes” to obligations you don’t really have the time or desire to do? Where do you go and come home with stuff you don’t really need? And who do you encounter in your life whose presence weighs you down, instead of lifting you up?

Avoid these complications and you’ll quickly add a bit more simplicity to your life.

Eliminate the Clutter
I define clutter as anything in your life that isn’t serving its intended purpose. Clothes hanging in your closet with the tags still attached. The piles of paper you aren’t reading or dealing with. Scrapbook supplies that are too old, too new, too pretty, too disorganized, too something to be used! Break free from the clutter by eliminating anything that isn’t serving its intended purpose.

Say yes.
This may seem like a complete contradiction to what I’ve told you to do in the past. “Just say no” is one of my favorite principles for simplifying life, and gaining control of your time and schedule. However, focusing on “no” assumes there isn’t a yes to go along with the no. And there is. Each time you say yes to one thing, you’re saying no to something else. I say “say yes first!”

Fill your time and space with your “yeses”—those things you want to do and have in your life—first. Then, when an opportunity comes along to say yes to something else, you’ll know whether or not it fits. Is there any room for another yes?

“No” becomes much simpler when you say “yes” first.

It’s OK if it’s easy.
Simple is easier than complicated, right? So if we want to simplify, this means we have to be willing to accept easy. And quite frankly, that’s easier said than done. I’d be willing to bet there’s a hard-work ethic deep at the core of your being (or even right at the surface, for that matter.) Our culture teaches us that life is hard. Success requires hard work. If we don’t work hard we’re lazy. Without breaking through this, and seeing the contradiction between striving for simplicity and our deep rooted beliefs about how hard life is supposed to be, simplifying becomes very complicated. You’ll continually and subconsciously push against simple, without really understanding why.

Here’s a new mantra for you: easy is good.

Embrace the white space.
As you may know, I dabble in scrapbooking a bit. I’m no scrapbook design genius, but I love to study the pages of the design geniuses. I love understanding what the scrapbook designer has done, and trying to figure out what makes her pages work. One of my favorite scrapbookers is Cathy Zielske. Her pages are clean and simple, with consistent margins and white space.

This idea of white space on a scrapbook page is a 180-degree turn-around from one of my main motivations for using 12 x 12 pages for scrapbooking. I naively thought by using 12 x 12 pages, I could load up my scrapbook pages with oodles of photos. How efficient! How much money I’ll save! Flash forward nine years…and I see things differently. I crave the clean and simple feel that white space gives a scrapbook page.

I crave white space in my home and life, too. Yet, it’s just as counterintuitive to create white space in our homes and lives as it is to have white space on a scrapbook page. If you don’t have something on your calendar for the weekend, do you feel unpopular, unloved, or all dressed up with nowhere to go? If you have white space in a closet, do you feel inefficient, that there has to be a better way to use that space? White space in our homes can feel like scarcity—that somehow we don’t have enough.

White space is simple. When we fill our spaces with things we don’t use, need, or love, and spend our time doing things we don’t like to do, life becomes complicated. Appreciating white space is essential to creating simplicity.

If you’re uncomfortable with white space, but crave simplicity, pick one drawer, closet, or shelf, and create emptiness. I bet it will feel very uncomfortable at first—perhaps even wasteful. But over time, your white space will come to represent possibility and breathing room. The emptiness creates the possibility to fill your space, if you choose, with something new and meaningful.

Or just keep it empty altogether, and relish in your newly found simplicity!

In a nutshell, simple can be hard to create because you may have built-in resistances to it. Perhaps it’s hard for you to slow down and really consider what you want. Maybe for you the idea of white space feels very uncomfortable—lonely, wasteful, empty. Perhaps you’re just in the habit of getting into situations that complicate your life, like my Target habit. Whatever it is that’s making it hard for you to simplify, once you can put your finger on it, you can do something about it—one thing at a time.

Simplify your filing!

January is a great time to rethink (a.k.a simplify!) your current filing system. For financial records, I use a simple monthly filing system. Instead of filing bills away by the various creditors, I file them all in one monthly folder. This makes the act of filing super simple, yet I still know exactly where everything is. If you have a “to file” folder that’s overflowing with last year’s bill statements, take this as a queue that your current system is too complicated. Simplify by using a monthly filing system, and it’ll be a snap to keep up with your filing all year long!

Aby Garvey is a professional organizer and the owner of simplify 101, inc. Her mission is to help you create time and space for what matters most in your home and life. Aby is the author of the e-book “the happy scrapper – simple solutions to get organized and get scrapping!” Visit the simplify 101 website for organizing ideas and to subscribe to Aby’s organizing email newsletter.

Crescent Cream Cheese

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans Crescent Rolls
  • 1 stick of butter (melted)
  • 2 packs cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • Cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Spread one can of crescent rolls in a 13X9 dish
  2. mix cream cheese and brown sugar and spread on top of crescent rolls
  3. layer second can of crescent rolls over cream cheese
  4. Drizzle melted butter over crescent rolls
  5. sprinkle cinnamon and Brown Sugar on top
  6. Cook at 350 degrees until Crescent rolls are fully cooked and browned on top.

Moving Forward

Last week I shared a song and a very timely letter from a friend of mine about Moving Forward. This has pretty much been the theme for me this month. I am realizing that it is for so many others. Accepting that while part of our problems may be an attack of the enemy, it may have also been poor judgment on our part. Whether it is financially, relationally, parenting, or eating, even in the attacks we made choices that affected those outcomes. But the next step to getting out of the place is to let it go and move forward. You will not get where you want by rehearsing what went wrong.

This mornings devotional from Joel Osteen was very appropriate for my theme this month. In fact it is titled “Forgetting What Lies Behind”:

“This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I press forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

Are you determined to forget what lies behind? I know many people don’t fully understand what it means to forget the past. They wonder, “How can I forget something that’s happened to me?” But one definition of the word forget means to disregard intentionally, or to overlook. You have to intentionally disregard your past so that it doesn’t keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the bad. Sometimes our past victories keep us from rising higher as much as past failures. If we don’t let go of the old, we’ll never be able to embrace the new. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your history, it’s time to forget what lies behind. Make the choice today to press forward. Trust that God has a better future in store for you. Trust that He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life the Lord has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, I choose to forget the past today. I don’t want anything to hold me back from the future You have prepared for me. I choose forgiveness and ask that You help me, by Your Spirit, to press forward in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

I wanted to share again: Moving Forward

[audio:http://angelsreflections.com/mp3/movingforward.mp3]