I was thinking about what I wanted to write about today, and one thing crossed my mind......
thinking on 'what do I want young adult ladies to know...'
One thing crossed my mind.... have a spiritual guider.
I think it is so important to have someone that you can look up to, someone that you can confide in, someone that is spiritual, and that would be there for you no matter what.
(while this also is the same characteristics you should want in a spouse- I'm talking abut maybe a older adult, an older lady that knows her ropes, and maybe has been in the same 'shoes'... a mentor...)
I think this is so important in our lives, to help us in our spiritual walk.
With this person you can 'bounce' ideas off of them, and they may have some wonderful advice (about anything)
with this person you are able to connect with them, and are able to really communicate with them.
With this person you are able to see of how much 'In-Christ' they are...
WIth this person they are able to give you encouragement, but you are also to encourage them too.
I think this is so important if you are getting back into church, or just beginning in your faith, that way you are able to 'stay straight' and you are able to keep going on the path that you are going.
I encourage you to seek out that person, and pray for a mentor, if you do not have one already.
What do you think?
do you think having a mentor is a good thing, or could be a good thing?
- sorry this is such a short post, but I feel like I've said all that I needed to say :)
Friday, January 25, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Marinating
I love food.
I love to cook it, I love to try new recipes, I love to try to 'make-up'.. (adjust) recipes. I love to try the recipes... and I just love to eat good yummy food.
I have this recipe.. that I THOUGHT I 'made up'- only to realize that I didnt... it was actually very similar to something that my mom had made in the past... I just did it a little differently.
It was a 'zesty italian chicken & veggies' ... I still make it... easy, light. yummy.
I take chicken breasts and marinate them in zesty italian dressing... I marinate the chicken for as long as I can (24 hours, if possible... but even if you marinate it for a few hours its fine... or not marinate it all still good, but the longer the better....) I've cooked it in a pan with vegetables - carrots, potatoes, green beans, olives, mushrooms...... just cook it all real good. I should do it in a slow cooker.. bet would be great.. but anyways- when its all done, it is so yummy. - pair it with some rice, and its delicous.
Ok, im getting to my point now... I know you are thinking to yourself (isnt this a christian blog? - not a food blog?)
So the thing here is the marinating part.
The longer you marinate the better it will be.
What exactly is marination?
Marination is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned, often acidic, liquid before cooking. The origin of the word alludes to the use of brine (aqua marina) in the pickling process, which led to the technique of adding flavor by immersion in liquid. The liquid in question, the 'marinade', can be either acidic, (made with ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, or wine) or enzymatic (made with ingredients such as pineapple or papaya).[1] In addition to these ingredients, a marinade often contains oils, herbs, and spices to further flavor the food items.
It is commonly used to flavor foods and to tenderize tougher cuts of meat.[2] The process may last seconds or days. Different marinades are used in different cuisines. For example, in Indian cuisine the marinade is usually prepared with a mixture of spices.
(thank you Wikepedia -)
bottom line, you soak food in spices or something before you cook it.... and it makes it yummy (most of the time)
and most of the time, the longer you soak it, the better that food is.
Why not apply this to our spiritual life.
Have you noticed that the more time you spend with God (in His Word, prayer, etc...) the better you feel, or just have a sense of really haviing that 'connection' or relationship with Him?
If we only give God just a few seconds of our time each day - how are we supposed to GROW in Him? thats just barely maintaining a relationship...
Like with my chicken, when im in a hurry- and just throw the chicken, the zesty italian dressing and everything all into the pan, its good, and its food... but not the BEST that it can be.
When you take a few minutes and really spend time with the chicken, and marinate it, and really spend quality time with the chicken, you get better results....
(get it?)
By marinating yourself in Christ you are seasoning your life...
not just to say 'oh look everyone I spent 10 hours praying.'- nope.
you are seasoning yourself so that you can be in Christ, and with Christ, and so that others can see that love that you have. (make sense??) You are seasoning every aspect of your life. not just your 'spritual aspect.'
When you spend time with God, you are deepening that relationship with God.
Not just maintaining it... you are making it better. you are spending time with Him, listening, talking, praying, praising, being with Him... just making that stronger bond between you and God.. not just 'ok, i've prayed today..i've taken care of that... onto something else...
But it's up to you to make that call on marinating yourself in Christ... No one else can make that decision for you. No one can make you... that is something that you have to decide on your own.
I love to cook it, I love to try new recipes, I love to try to 'make-up'.. (adjust) recipes. I love to try the recipes... and I just love to eat good yummy food.
I have this recipe.. that I THOUGHT I 'made up'- only to realize that I didnt... it was actually very similar to something that my mom had made in the past... I just did it a little differently.
It was a 'zesty italian chicken & veggies' ... I still make it... easy, light. yummy.
I take chicken breasts and marinate them in zesty italian dressing... I marinate the chicken for as long as I can (24 hours, if possible... but even if you marinate it for a few hours its fine... or not marinate it all still good, but the longer the better....) I've cooked it in a pan with vegetables - carrots, potatoes, green beans, olives, mushrooms...... just cook it all real good. I should do it in a slow cooker.. bet would be great.. but anyways- when its all done, it is so yummy. - pair it with some rice, and its delicous.
Ok, im getting to my point now... I know you are thinking to yourself (isnt this a christian blog? - not a food blog?)
So the thing here is the marinating part.
The longer you marinate the better it will be.
What exactly is marination?
Marination is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned, often acidic, liquid before cooking. The origin of the word alludes to the use of brine (aqua marina) in the pickling process, which led to the technique of adding flavor by immersion in liquid. The liquid in question, the 'marinade', can be either acidic, (made with ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, or wine) or enzymatic (made with ingredients such as pineapple or papaya).[1] In addition to these ingredients, a marinade often contains oils, herbs, and spices to further flavor the food items.
It is commonly used to flavor foods and to tenderize tougher cuts of meat.[2] The process may last seconds or days. Different marinades are used in different cuisines. For example, in Indian cuisine the marinade is usually prepared with a mixture of spices.
(thank you Wikepedia -)
bottom line, you soak food in spices or something before you cook it.... and it makes it yummy (most of the time)
and most of the time, the longer you soak it, the better that food is.
Why not apply this to our spiritual life.
Have you noticed that the more time you spend with God (in His Word, prayer, etc...) the better you feel, or just have a sense of really haviing that 'connection' or relationship with Him?
If we only give God just a few seconds of our time each day - how are we supposed to GROW in Him? thats just barely maintaining a relationship...
Like with my chicken, when im in a hurry- and just throw the chicken, the zesty italian dressing and everything all into the pan, its good, and its food... but not the BEST that it can be.
When you take a few minutes and really spend time with the chicken, and marinate it, and really spend quality time with the chicken, you get better results....
(get it?)
By marinating yourself in Christ you are seasoning your life...
not just to say 'oh look everyone I spent 10 hours praying.'- nope.
you are seasoning yourself so that you can be in Christ, and with Christ, and so that others can see that love that you have. (make sense??) You are seasoning every aspect of your life. not just your 'spritual aspect.'
When you spend time with God, you are deepening that relationship with God.
Not just maintaining it... you are making it better. you are spending time with Him, listening, talking, praying, praising, being with Him... just making that stronger bond between you and God.. not just 'ok, i've prayed today..i've taken care of that... onto something else...
But it's up to you to make that call on marinating yourself in Christ... No one else can make that decision for you. No one can make you... that is something that you have to decide on your own.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
What is YOUR new years Resolution?
Happy New Year!
I cannot believe that it is the start of a new year. It is amazing of how time flies.
Being that it is a new year- I know many people make 'new years resolutions' of course many people want to get their bodies in shape or start a new diet...
Since I am writing a blog-- and being that the title of my blog is "awake my spirit"--- how about a different kind of resolution like - awakening your spirit? - and having a relationship with God- or deepening that relationship.....
Maybe you haven't been close with God lately - maybe you have had a stagnant relationship with Him, and you need to deepen that relationship....
As I have mentioned before you can always start 'fresh' get a clean start with God, and really work on having a relationship with Christ.
There are thousands of daily devotionals that are out on the bookshelves these days. But you can also open up your bible and begin to read God's word too - there are also reading plans that are out there too... so you don't get too overwhelmed when reading the bible. You can also incorporate some quiet time in your daily routine, which can include prayer time and/or reading the Bible and just spending some quality time with God.
I think that the important thing is really spending time with God and really getting a strong relationship with Christ going.
For me I am actually beginning to making sure I set a routine and setting aside the time for God. I know that these days it is incredibly hard to do. We have so many things on our agendas, and its hard to say - 'ok, I need to spend time with God.'- I think that it is a matter of discipline and something that can be incredibly beneficial.
Too many people don't fully live out their relationship with God- the relationship is there- but only a day or two out of the week or less. I Really hope and pray that people will learn that its not just about those one or two days out of hte week, but instead dedicating your life to Christ and really having a true relationship with God. I hope that more people will awaken their spirits and live out their commitments to Christ. :)
Happy New Year - and Many Blessings to you all! :)
I cannot believe that it is the start of a new year. It is amazing of how time flies.
Being that it is a new year- I know many people make 'new years resolutions' of course many people want to get their bodies in shape or start a new diet...
Since I am writing a blog-- and being that the title of my blog is "awake my spirit"--- how about a different kind of resolution like - awakening your spirit? - and having a relationship with God- or deepening that relationship.....
Maybe you haven't been close with God lately - maybe you have had a stagnant relationship with Him, and you need to deepen that relationship....
As I have mentioned before you can always start 'fresh' get a clean start with God, and really work on having a relationship with Christ.
There are thousands of daily devotionals that are out on the bookshelves these days. But you can also open up your bible and begin to read God's word too - there are also reading plans that are out there too... so you don't get too overwhelmed when reading the bible. You can also incorporate some quiet time in your daily routine, which can include prayer time and/or reading the Bible and just spending some quality time with God.
I think that the important thing is really spending time with God and really getting a strong relationship with Christ going.
For me I am actually beginning to making sure I set a routine and setting aside the time for God. I know that these days it is incredibly hard to do. We have so many things on our agendas, and its hard to say - 'ok, I need to spend time with God.'- I think that it is a matter of discipline and something that can be incredibly beneficial.
Too many people don't fully live out their relationship with God- the relationship is there- but only a day or two out of the week or less. I Really hope and pray that people will learn that its not just about those one or two days out of hte week, but instead dedicating your life to Christ and really having a true relationship with God. I hope that more people will awaken their spirits and live out their commitments to Christ. :)
Happy New Year - and Many Blessings to you all! :)
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