Chicken Shawarma

For some reason, I got myself in the mood to make Middle Eastern food.  Chicken Shawarma got into my brain, and I couldn’t get it out.  I searched the internet for recipes and found a couple that inspired me.

I started off using Rachael Ray’s recipe. That was my inspiration. I basically used her spice mix for the chicken, sautéed some peppers and onions, and grilled the Naan, just as she does.

I also cut some cucumbers into thin strips and diced some tomatoes.

Then, I made my own custom sauce – 1/2 cup of plain yogurt, 1 heaping tablespoon of hummus, and 1 clove of garlic, pressed.

Finally, I assembled it all together, and it was better than good! 

A layer of the sauce, chicken, peppers, onions, cukes, and tomatoes, all inside a nicely-warmed slice of Naan bread.  Delish!

Chicken Shawarma
serves 4 to 6
printable version

1 T coriander
1 T cumin
1 T cardamom
1 T chili powder (or less if your chili powder is spicy)
1 T paprika
1 T grill seasoning
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large garlic clove, pressed
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

2 bell peppers, sliced (I used orange)
2 onions, sliced

1 large cucumber, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 tomatoes, diced

Yogurt Sauce:  1/2 cup of plain yogurt, 1 heaping tablespoon of hummus, and 1 clove of garlic, pressed.

6 slices of Naan bread

Combine spices, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic in a shallow platter. Coat both sides of chicken with spice mix. Marinate for about 15 minutes. Grill, until the chicken is completely cooked.

Grill peppers and onions in olive oil.

Grill Naan, until warmed and charred a bit.

Layer yogurt sauce, chicken, peppers, onions, cukes, and tomatoes inside of Naan bread!  YUM!  A meal the whole family will love!

Sow to the Spirit, Reap from the Spirit

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Usually when I think about this verse, I think about the man who is reaping to the flesh, the foolish man who follows folly, chooses wrong, and chases after the world and its ways. I think of someone who is making poor decisions and think, “A man reaps what he sows”.

However, I read this verse again recently and God prompted me with the other part of this verse:

“He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life”.

The Bible is clear that the man who follows wisdom and chooses God’s ways prospers – just read the book of Proverbs. The man who sows to the Spirit WILL reap from the Spirit! There is a guarantee.

Just after the Bible lays out the law of sowing and reaping, the following verse, Galatians 6:9, states: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Are you losing heart?  Do you feel like your labors in the Spirit are to no avail? 

Don’t give up!

If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap!

Pray.
Think pure things.
Flood yourself with good influences.
Read your Bible.
Read uplifting books.
Choose godly friends.
Worship.
Attend church regularly and become an integral part of the Body of Christ.
Keep trusting God.
Don’t. Give. Up!

Psalm 1 gives a beautiful picture of the man who goes against the grain to delight in God’s ways.

Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

Want to prosper? Sow to the Spirit and reap His fruit!

Take Time to Smell the Roses

In this day and age of technology and machines, our lives are supposed to be better . . . simpler.

In some ways, that is true, but in other ways, that isn’t so true.

We are hurried.
We are stressed.
We live in a frenzy.
Our calendars are extremely full.
We barely have enough emotional margin for life to require something extra.

Today, in the midst of your hustle and bustle,
take time to smell the roses.

Calm your pace.
Enjoy life.
Smile.
Hug your family.
Call a friend.
Light a candle.
Pour a cup of tea or coffee and drink it s-l-o-w-l-y.
Read a book in peace.
Unplug from the TV, computer, and phone and just be ALIVE in your moments.
Draw.
Sew.
Sit on your porch.
Appreciate your toddler’s cuteness.
Place your growing child on your lap.
Hang out with your older child.
Snuggle your husband.

Relish the beauty of life that exists
within your grasp every day.

Take time to smell the roses.

To the Mom of a Wayward Child

As a mom, you pour into your children, hoping they will succeed.  You hope they will grab the torch you passed to them and run with endurance, shining Jesus' light and carrying it to the next generation.

What happens though when your child grows up and rejects the truths you taught him? 

Pain.
Sorrow.
Heaviness.
Tears.
More pain.
Worry.
Fear.
Discouragement.

These monsters want to plant themselves in your soul and weigh you down, making you ineffective.

When your child grows up and rejects everything you taught him, it feels like pure death, BUT God has hope for YOU.

God has a plan for you, apart from the choices your child is making.

• He wants you to be productive.
• He wants you to be an integral part of His community of believers.
• He wants you to live a life of freedom and joy.

Mother of a wayward child, I see you.  I feel your pain, for it can be overwhelming at times.

However, don't let the enemy keep you there, in a pit of pain.

Fix your eyes on God and the purposes he has for YOU.

• Make goals for yourself.
• Seek productivity rather than passivity.
• Surround yourself with godly people always.

Keep going.  Keep serving.

And in the midst of it all, keep praying for your wayward child.

Sending you a virtual hug today!

Encouraging Bloggers

I still remember the day… A few years ago I paid for a blog consultation, hoping to improve my blog.  Really, I was looking for some basic tips on graphic design, reaching readers, making good content, etc.  When I got off the phone, I was nearly in tears.  Okay, I think I was in tears.

I felt pressure to build my blog into a business, making money through ads – something I was not ready to do at the time – and spend at least three hours a day on the internet building my blog.

Three hours a day on the internet?  Nope.  Not gonna do it.  I can’t do it.

Some people may be able to afford that kind of time on the internet.  Not me.  Not at this point of my life.

I guess if I needed the money, I would have been able to justify the time online.  However, I wasn’t doing it for the money.  I was writing and blogging because I have a passion in my heart for it. 

I have a passion to share the love and knowledge of God with others.
I have a passion to equip moms, wives, homemakers, and women to live better lives for God.
I have a passion to share my love for the family and home.

That’s what keeps me going.  My passion.

If you are a blogger, you know it is easy to get discouraged.  It is easy to see the popular bloggers and compare yourself to them.  Sometimes the urge to quit reveals its ugly head, and you push past it, hoping you are making a difference in someone’s life.

Let me encourage you.

If you are following God’s will for your life and sharing your talents with others, you ARE making and WILL make a difference.

You may not have the size crowd you want, and it may not come when you want it.  Nonetheless, you WILL touch people’s lives.

If you have a blog, let me encourage you.

Keep writing.
Keep praying to see how God wants to use your blog.
Keep plodding along in small ways to make your blog known to the world via social media, friends, etc.
Don’t compare yourself to others.  Focus on the task God has for you.

Here are some other resources for blog encouragement.

• My blogger friend, Lisa, from “Stop and Smell the Chocolates” did a series on Encouraging Bloggers.  It is very good!
• Jenni Mullinix did a post about writing for God, that I found very encouraging!

Tilapia Tacos

When I made these tacos last week, my son did not realize I had used tilapia.  He was about to say, “Mom, you should try these with fish”, when he realized I DID use fish.

These tacos are fresh, healthful, and tasty!

Tilapia Tacos
makes about 12 tacos
printable version

1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
3 or 4 tilapia filets
1 or 2 limes, juiced
salt and pepper
corn tortillas
handful of cilantro, chopped
feta cheese, optional

Season tilapia filets with lime juice, salt, and pepper.  Set aside.

Saute onion and peppers in olive or coconut oil until they are well-cooked.

Remove from pan.

Add more oil to the same pan, if necessary, to sauté tilapia filets.  Sauté for a few minutes on one side.  Flip and sauté for a few more minutes until fish is fully-cooked and flaky. 

Flake fish in pan and cook for another minute or two.

Take fish off heat and season with more lime juice and salt.

Warm corn tortillas, if desired, and fill them with peppers and fish.

Top with cilantro and feta cheese.

Enjoy!

Comparison: The Death Trap

Wow!  Look at her!

She’s got the life!

Her house is immaculate and spectacular.

Her appearance is beyond beautiful.

Her blog is popular. 

Her books are popular.

SHE is popular.

Her husband is like no other.

She lacks nothing.

Her children are so well-behaved.

But me… little ol’ me… look at me…

Pity.  Pity.

That’s where we put ourselves when we compare ourselves to others – right in the middle of a PITIFUL hole!

When we compare our lives to others, we are measuring them as our standard, as our goal.

Guess what? 

Others’ lives are not the standard
for our lives.

God’s will is the standard for our lives.

If you try to shape your life into someone else’s, you will fail. 

You are unique.  You are made by God, and He has a special purpose for you!

Don’t fill your mind with the images of other women, husbands, families, blogs, houses, etc..  Fill your mind with what God wants for YOU!

Be content. 
Be thankful.
Be calm.
Be patient.
Be joyful.
Be prayerful.

Choose to live the life God has given you.

Ask God to help you settle into the life
He has designed for YOU!

“But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”  2 Corinthians 10:12