Day 1: Hannah’s Prayer Challenge {Praise and Deliverance}

May 20, 2014Leave a comment

“My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn[a] is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.”

The first memory that comes to my mind when reading this verse, is that of a child and two women in a park blowing a shofar. And, that child my friends, happens to be me.

I was fortunate enough to be raised by a godly family. My mom and her friends were rooted in scripture – so when they read of the shofars being blown around the City of Jericho that meant that we were going to blow on a shofar in the present day and praise the Lord for knocking the walls down in our lives. I thank God every day for this experience with them.

There is something about the horn in scripture that really brings chills to my body. It is often quoted as the ‘horn of praise.’ In Psalm it is used to make music and truly exalt the Lord. But, it is also referred to as the ‘horn of salvation.’ This phrase is cited with physical words such as rock, fortress, strong rock and shield.

And in Hannah’s prayer she lifts her horn up to the Lord which denotes the power of truth. I love that in ancient days the shofar was used for both battle and praise. To me, this points to the significance in praising our Lord and Savior. If an instrument for war was used to praise the Most High God, imagine the effect our praise out of our lips today.

Deliverance. That is the second part of this opening prayer of thanksgiving. She is delighting herself in the deliverance of the Lord. How often do we think of despair and ruin? Sadly, I know my thoughts run haywire when it comes to that subject.

I aspire to be like Hannah and truly delight myself in the precious deliverance God has purchased me with his blood. He died for our deliverance. So, this is something that we should praise him for each and every day.

Take time to delight yourself in his goodness, which means to allow our hearts to truly find peace and fulfillment in Him and Him alone. I pray today reading Hannah’s pray inspires you and makes you think of the power of praise and His deliverance.

20 Day Hannah Prayer Challenge

May 19, 2014May 19, 2014Leave a comment

Driving to work today, I was listening to Michael Youssef, one of my favorite pastors of all time. If you have not checked out his daily podcast, Leading the Way, you should. Dr. Youssef was talking on prayer – the importance of it in our lives. And one powerful prayer he mentioned was Hannah’s song of Thanksgiving. It resonated within my soul and something within my spirit told me to take a ‘20 day Hannah Prayer Challenge.’ So, that is what I am doing and would be thrilled if you joined me.

Every morning or every night, say this thanksgiving song (below) either aloud or just quietly within your soul to your Maker. There is power in praise.

I have always known about Hannah. She was a kind, lovely lady in the Bible; however, she was sorrowful. She could not have children and was deeply upset by that fact. However, in her pain, she did not give in to tempting worldly vices; she dropped to her knees and asked for her deepest desire – a son.

She promised to give that son to the Lord if he granted her that one desire. And, the Lord breathed his favor upon her and gave her that beautiful desire. She was true to her word and set aside her son, Samuel’s life, to the Lord. I also love the fact that God did not bless her with just one child, later in scripture it notes, she had many!

Hannah’s song of thanksgiving comes from the mouth of a lady who sacrificed and trusted her all to her Lord. May we be women of this caliber. Let’s join together and pray this woman’s fervent prayer. Let’s praise the Lord for his presence in our lives, lift up to him our desires and early wait for him to do great and mighty things. Amen.

1 Samuel 2

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn[a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.

4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.

7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.

8 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.

9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;

10 those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
“He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Kale Chips {Gluten Free}

May 16, 2014Leave a comment

Finished product. These got a little too crunchy for my taste. Try to take them out of the oven sooner rather than later.

Have you ever made kale chips? If you have not you are in for a big surprise. They are crunchy, tasty and just really melt in your mouth with exploding flavor.

I am obsessed with Trader Joe’s Kale Chips. Oh my goodness – they are good. But at $3.99 a bag, I can’t love them too much or my little wallet will pay big time. Ummm – here is a blog post written about them.

That is why you can and should make these scrumptious chips at home. They are so easy to make and taste very very good. You can make them have any flavor you like – cheesy, curry seasoned, salty, a burst of garlic – whatever you like.

You will need: 2 cups of kale (I used baby kale leaves), a pinch of salt, 2 tbsp. olive oil, a seasoning of your choice (for this batch I used a curry powder from Home Goods).

Kale Chip Preparation

Dump your leaves in a big bowl and douse in oil. I used my hands to mix up the goodness. Yes, my hands did get a little messy but you want all the chips coated with the olive oil.

Next sprinkle in your savory seasoning and fold it in using a large fork. You want your leaves to get coated in the spices as well. That way they will have loads more flavor.

Line a cookie tray with foil and dump your leaves on the tray. I sprinkled the leaves with salt (just a little bit). Set the oven temperature to 400 degrees. You want it nice and toasty in there.

Place your leaves in for about 20 minutes or maybe less. And, enjoy your yummy little crunchy snack. These are low-fat and gluten free. Much guilt free on these babies.

Simple Summer Gifts for Outdoor Parties

May 15, 2014Leave a comment

The heat of summer is here, finally. Being a Texas girl, the winter in the Washington, DC area this year was a little too chilly for my liking. Pools open soon and you can already lay out and get your tan on.

It’s also the season for summer backyard parties. I have my patio decked out for a little dinner party. The only thing it really needs to complete it are some of those cute bulb string lights from Target or Home Depot.

If you attend a dinner party or outdoor get-together, it’s really etiquette and nice to give your host a gift. I put together a little grouping of some great summer gift ideas. You will be the talk of the party when you give these sweet presents away.

Here are a few ideas pictured on the left that might get your creative juices flowing. Homemade gifts are always cheaper and mean more to the person hosting the party.

DIY DRINK LEMONADE KIT: What a cute idea to give a little DIY lemonade drink kit. Just buy a plastic clear pitcher from Target or Walmart, add a few big lemons and a wooden spoon.

BOWTIE WATERMELON: For a real simple darling gift, tie a cute bow around a medium sized watermelon. This is creative and also practical. You can whip out a knife at the party and everyone can enjoy this fruit of the summer.

TERRACOTTA BERRIES: Gather some fresh berries at the farmers market or local grocery store, add them to a cute inexpensive terracotta pot lined with some fun tissue paper.

BEACH PALE FLOWERS: You can get flowers at a pretty good price at Trader Joe’s – but a bouquet for $5.99 and add them to a cute little beach pale. Your host will love this, and they can use them to add some color to their outdoor tables!

Fear – The Nasty Poisonous Berry

May 14, 2014May 14, 2014Leave a comment

Fear. It rears its ugly head in our lives so often. It’s fear that tells us that we are not good enough or will never measure to the standard of perfection.

It’s fear that is that snake in the garden handing us that apple of pleasure. It whimpers ‘eat,’ knowing full well, that we are protected and under the power of God’s grace.

Fear is a nasty poisonous berry. It hinders and destroys us from blooming fully and assuredly into the beautiful flower that God has called us to be!

You see, God waters us every day with his loving kindness. His Word is the Miracle Grow to our lives; but, we can so easily get entangled and chocked by the thorns of fear.

We can choose to listen to the thorns around us and forget that Jesus wore that crown of thrones for you. He choked that weed, took your fear and replaced it with his grace and mercy. He did this all at the foot of the cross.

You can grow fully in Him, if you follow his Word. He has spoken everlasting promises over you, sweet one – promises that no eye has seen nor ear has heard. He has handed you the keys to his kingdom and said ‘love me and others.’ How beautiful.

Don’t let fear steal your perfect joy. Don’t let it rob you of your eternal riches. Look at that snake in the face and say, ‘Christ died and took my thorns of fear and insecurity. He replaced it all with grace, hope and anticipation.’ How great the love the Father has lavished upon us!

A Picture of Love: Mother’s Day

May 11, 2014May 11, 2014Leave a comment

White House Christmas: Kimi, Mom and Kristen

My mom is the picture of southern sweetness and sass. Born in Dallas, Texas, her boots were made for walking. She is a spitfire – always the first to chime in to group discussions, tell stories or share of the goodness of her Savior.

She has taught me to always be a light for God. A flight attendant by trade, she never meets a stranger or shies away from talking about the wonderful righteousness of the Lord’s hands.

She reads voraciously anything she can get her hands on. From health food books to Christian living, she makes the most of every word printed across a page.

As a child, living under my parent’s roof, the image I saw of her every night was that of her in a chair, lamp on – reading the Bible. She was praying for both me and my sister. That is a mom of strength. That is a true picture of greatness.

I often think about how my mom has impacted my life. She has not just impacted me; she has made me who I am. She taught me kindness and introduced me to messy crafts. She’s joined me while playing in mud puddles and held my hand while crying on the kitchen floor.

I can only hope one day I will be the type of mother she was and is to me. I love her with my whole soul. Her heart is gold and much larger than the size of Texas.

I love you, mommy. You are beautiful and the person I look up to the most. You have been the steady source of love in my life. You are my friend, mother and mentor. You are more than a blessing. And, I truly cannot thank you enough for everything you are to me, Kristen and Daddy!

Happy Mother’s Day.

Seek To Be Worth Knowing Rather Than Be Well Known

May 6, 20141 Comment

This phrase hit me like a load of bricks. I absolutely love it especially in the culture we live in – the culture of instant stardom. We see pictures of beautiful movie stars online. These starlets or superhuman men grace the pages of the magazines or stand like a pristine statue on the runway.

They are graceful and elegant with their painted smiles and piercing eyes. But, honestly, what do we know about them? There are some stars that I’ve never even heard their voices. Being well known does not define your worth.

Your worth is defined by who you are inside – your personality, kind heart and desire to serve. This has nothing to do with outward appearance. Society has it messed up. it associates beauty and celebrity status with worth. Not so.

Jesus says in John 17:25,

‘O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.’

This verse shows that the ‘world’ did not know the Father – the King of Kings. He was not Cesar. He did not have elaborate parties. He washed people’s feet and ate at the table of sinners. His heart was not fame focused but rather God focused.

Beautiful One – seek to be worth knowing rather to be well known. The actions you make today may not be splashed across magazines or proclaimed on news sites; but, your Father will take note of it in heaven.

The hungry man you feed or buy a sandwich for may go unnoticed here on earth; but God sees you. That song you sing to that bed bound elderly lady will not be posted on YouTube, but God hears it. The love you give to your family members and friends may not win an award – but your Maker notices.

May we seek to be people of humility – people truly worth knowing, unaffected by the limelight and the bright billboards of fame. Like moths, we are surely drawn to the flame but the flame of self gratification burns and destroys. Dear One, do not seek to be a star – because you already are one in the eyes of the Lord.

Sparkle and shine with the light of Christ. You live for an audience of one. Tabloids will last for a moment, but your character and love and will stand the test of time.

Rosemary Bread Bites {Gluten Free}

May 5, 2014Leave a comment

This is a surefire appetizer winner especially for you gluten free mavens!

Don’t get jealous of those Olive Garden breadsticks. Now, you can make your own in like 15 minutes.

This is a great way to use some of that gluten free pizza crust mix, you may have laying around at home. My problem is I will use ¾ of the package and have that awkward ¼ mix laying around.

Now, you don’t have to throw that not so cheap mixture away – use it to make a bread bite appetizer!

You will need: ¾ cup gluten free pizza bread crust mix (I used Bloomfield Farms Mix), ½ cup water, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tbsp. dried rosemary, 1 tbsp. garlic powder, 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning and ¼ cup parmesan cheese.

In a bowl, pour in your gluten free mix and add in the water. Stir this up to create a pastey dough. Next add in the olive oil and stir it up again.

Add in the parmesan cheese and fold into the dough. It should make the dough thicker and not as runny. Sprinkle in the spices: rosemary, garlic and Italian seasoning. Let the dough sit for about 10 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 475. You need it hot to make your bread bites. And then spray a pan with some cooking spray. Take the dough and mash it down into the pan- creating a flat surface.

Once the oven is heated, pop it in there for about 18 minutes. After it’s baked to your liking – take it out and cut into little strips and serve with an olive oil and rosemary dip mixture. Yum.

Avocado-Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad {Gluten Free, Low Carb}

May 4, 2014June 4, 2014Leave a comment

Looking for a summer dish, well – look no further. This little summer salad will be perfect for outdoor grilling, potluck dinners or just a simple dinner at home.

This salad was easy as pie to make, and it really tastes like you brought it pre made at the store. It is sure to be a show stopper. This dish is gluten free and low carb! Yeah – so you don’t have to feel so guilty eating this creamy little dinner.

You will need: 1 rotisserie chicken (you can use regular chicken breasts, sliced too), ¼ a bundle of cilantro, ¼ cup shallots, 2 tbsp. light mayo, 1 lime, 2 avocados, sprinkle of garlic powder and sea salt.

In a bowl, add in your shredded chicken. You can buy a whole chicken at Costco for $5. I think rotisserie chicken shreds a whole like easier than just plain chicken breasts. But, nevertheless, you can still bake some seasoned chicken breasts and use them instead. It’s really up to you.

Next, dice up your cilantro and shallots. Just make them into little fine pieces and dump them on top of the chicken in the bowl. Mix them in with the chicken. It’s better to mix each ingredient in – before you get too many in the bowl.

In a separate little bowl, spoon in 2 tbsp. of mayo and squeeze your lime juice into the mayo mixture. I cut my lime in 4 parts – and squeezed each part separately into the bowl. Feel like I got more juice out that way. Just dump this little dressing on top of your chicken salad.

Lastly, cut up your avocados into little cube pieces and add to the bowl. Gently mix in all the ingredients. You don’t want to mash up the avocados too much.

Sprinkle in a little garlic powder and sea salt – and serve or cover and take to your outdoor party.