"...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."
2cupsshredded cheeseI prefer mozzarella and sharp cheddar
chopped fresh cilantro, sour cream and hot saucefor topping
Instructions
Add all
ingredients, except cheese and cilantro, to your Instant Pot. Set to
manual and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Allow pressure to
naturally release for 15 minutes then release remaining pressure.
Serve in bowls
Sprinkle with cilantro and cheese and enjoy! Feel free to add sour cream and/or hot sauce to taste
I got an
instant pot for Christmas, and have had an odd fear of not knowing what to do
with the pot so it sat in it’s box until yesterday.I love to cook by adapting to recopies, not
measuring and going by texture or smell.I wasn’t sure if the instant pot was going to be picky and blow up or
not cook properly if I don’t follow certain rules...However, I breathed in deeply and took it out
from the box.I did the initial water
test (and will admit I hid in my living room, peeking around the corner afraid
it might blow up) and than, after much Pinterest searching, decided to use up
some unhappy apples in a delicious gluten free instant pot apple crisp.
Gluten Free Instant Pot Apple Crisp
(Adapted from
http://www.lifemadefull.com/recipe/gluten-free-instant-pot-apple-crisp/)
Ingredients
6 apples, sliced thinly (I
used gala)
2 tsp cinnamon
¾ cup water
½ cup melted butter (or gee)
¼ cup melted coconut oil
2 cups gluten free rolled oats
1 ¼ cup 1:1 gluten free flour
½- ¾ cup brown sugar
Instructions
Put the sliced apple pieces in
the bottom of the instant pot. Add cinnamon and water, then
stir to combine.
Stir together the remaining
ingredients and spread on top of mixture..I pressed it so it wasn’t too crumbly once cooked.
Secure the lid on the instant
pot. Use the manual setting, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
Let pressure naturally release
for 10 minutes, then turn the valve to vent. Let release the rest of the
air, and then you can remove the lid, let cool for a few minutes, and eat!
Thoughts about the recipe:
-It looked a bit wet when I first opened the intant pot, but that seemed
to absorb in as it sat.
-We scooped the crisp and turned it upside down on our dish to let the caramelized
apples cover it with sticky goodness.
-I’ll add cranberries, saskatoons or blueberries to the apples next time.
-I think I’ll try a bit of maple syrup next time in place of some or all of
the sugar.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
A moment to Breathe, day 9.
"For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified." ~Hebrews 10:14
In today's reading by Sarah Mae I was reminded that Jesus isn't waiting for me to have everything figured out and together. He isn't waiting for me to say the right words or do something to earn my worth. He's waiting for me to look to him Him and trust him. It is in my deepest weakness and messes that I can grow and mature when I rely on Jesus strength.
And right now, in the mess, He calls me loved, comforted, healed and victorious. The Holy Spirit is at work in and through me. I am not looking back at who I was or thought I was. My failures, mistakes and the lies I believed don't hold me back. Through the redeeming blood of Jesus I have been sanctified. I am washed clean. I am free. And so I breathe it in. My eyes are on Jesus and I never want to look away from the love in His gaze.
Day 5 of "A Moment To Breathe" made me pause. Our upcoming move to a new
community has brought many emotions to the surface. Today a fear of
mine was revealed and Jesus' truth was able to replace it. Our family is
noisy and busy. In turn, my ducks aren't in a row and I feel I appear
less than put together. Our community has have been part of our lives
for 18 years. They've celebrated births and homecomings of our children.
They've heard our kids laugh, tantrum, talk and yell.
They've seen us parent through many situations, and yes, witnessed our
less then wonderful reactions to our children as we parent... But it's
safe here in the known, in the place where we are known and loved. And
now we are leaving this to go to a place where we aren't known, where we
don't know how our family will fit and where nobody knows about our
everyday mess. I sat here thinking about this quite a while. I know we
are being called to our next home to love our neighbors, to bless others
in our home and to raise our family in a larger space and so I am
choosing to put aside how I want others to see us. My identity and worth
is not based on how well behaved (or noisy and wild) my kids are. It's
not based on how watered and weeded my flowers are. It's not based on
having my home decorated just right. I am a forgiven child of my
heavenly father's. I am loved, chosen and victorious. I am also a work
in progress, being shaped by my creator. I am called to love others to
love Jesus. And, although my life isn't tidy and controlled, it is going
to be lived by meeting and freely loving our new community. "For am I
now trying to persuade people or God? Or am I striving to please
people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a
servant of Christ"-Galatians 1:10 #amomenttobreathe#documentlifesmoments#thesonisalwaysshining
I'm
ready to live fully. The reheated coffee (that I'd originally made so
carefully by roasting my own beans to the perfect darkness and then made
in a clay jabana the traditional way that the Ethiopian founders of
coffee make it) boiled over in the microwave. My throats burns and my
sinuses throb but I know there is more to this day. I eased my weary
aching body into the hot-tub. And my sanctuary didn't fail me. I breathed
in deeply, slowly and held my breath, my lungs open and full before
releasing it and all that I was carrying. The demands of life,
committees wanting members, the weariness from our
cleaning-purging-fixing-buying-selling that has happened, the seasonal
urge to can and forge for winter food for my family and the ever present
question of what's for supper slips away. There is just me, sitting in
the sunshine in my place, in peace. But yet there is more than just me- I
allow myself to go deeper, to the things that matter and that are to
many unknown and unseen. My thoughts turn to my Heavenly Father and the sunshine
turns into a warm embrace from Him. And I was swept away, to a place
where I am whole, I am healed and I dance in praise and worship. I am
left in awe of my God and His powerful love. Tears wash away the stress
and the mess I make on my own. And what I feel is more than having a
silent house. It's more than the freedom of not having preschoolers to
care for. It's more than anything this world offers. My heart is open
and my hands release what they tightly held. His glory settled on me,
making me come alive. The bigness of my life made minute compared to the
wonder of Him. I praise the One who loves me and created me. And I breath in, fully alive.
"I pray that he will use his glorious riches to make you strong. May his Holy Spirit give you his power deep down inside you. Then
Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in him. And I pray
that your love will have deep roots. I pray that it will have a strong
foundation. May
you have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to understand
Christ’s love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is. And may you know his love, even though it can’t be known completely. Then you will be filled with everything God has for you." ~Ephesians 3:16-19
"If you don't FORGIVE sins, what will you do with them?" -John 20:23.
Forgiveness. There are certain things and people that are easier to
forgive, but the one who hurts us deeply or intentionally... Maybe it's
not a struggle for you, but for me it's a daily battle to not hold onto
other people's words or insults. It gets pretty heavy and messy when we
hold onto what others have done or said to us. When we don't forgive,
we can grow bitter, depression can set in, anxieties and
grudges grow. We are called to forgive everyone. And, when we do
forgive and let go there is freedom. Healing doesn't happen in the mess
of what is not forgiven. The verse before this says "Receive the Holy
Spirit. If you forgive someone's sins, they are gone for good". And
although forgiveness is often a journey for us to work through, the
moment we do forgive, the sin is gone. It's not there. It doesn't define
us. And like the song below declares,
"You met me at the sinners table I found You waiting by the well, unexpected You are always there Tracing all my steps"
And that is beautiful. It's not the work of you or me but is
because of the redemption found in the cross.
Light up the way of Your heart Move me like You do the mountains Move me like You do the wind And I'll chase Your voice through the dark Fix my eyes on the unexpected In the wonder of Your shadow step So take another step
You met me at the sinners table I found You waiting by the well, unexpected You are always there Tracing all my steps
Light up the way of Your heart Move me like You do the mountains Move me like You do the wind And I'll chase Your voice through the dark Fix my eyes on the unexpected In the wonder of Your shadow step So take another step
You never left the lost forsaken Your mercy paves the road ahead, unexpected You are always good You are always good
Light up the way of Your heart Move me like You do the mountains Move me like You do the wind And I'll chase Your voice through the dark Fix my eyes on the unexpected In the wonder of Your shadow step And I won't be afraid In every way, You never fail So have Your way, here God And I'll sing Your praise Fix my heart to Yours Ready for the unexpected Ready for what You will do next
I can't explain Your heart Or dare to trace-out all You are But when I think about the road You took for love I know Your grace will stay the path
Light up the way of Your heart Move me like You do the mountains Move me like You do the wind And I'll chase Your voice through the dark Fix my eyes on the unexpected In the wonder of Your shadow step And I won't be afraid In every way, You never fail So have Your way, here God And I'll sing Your praise Fix my heart to Yours
The tears threaten to spill as the anxieties swell.
I don't look up expecting to find you there,
but you always are.
Like a whisper,
you remind me that I am loved.
I am yours.
In the stillness
and the storms
it's always you.
It's your voice,
your love,
You.
Rest in the unknown
Peace when the wind rages
and I don't know whose voice to listen for
An anchor,
bringing me back
binging me hope,
You restore.
You heal.
You strengthen while I wait.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your
gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." – Philippians 4:4-7
Find you Here
-Ellie Holcomb
It's not the news that any of us hoped that we would hear
It's not the road we would have chosen, no
The only thing that we can see is darkness up ahead
But You're asking us to lay our worry down and sing a song instead
[Chorus]
And I didn't know I'd find You here
In the middle of my deepest fear, but
You are drawing near
You are overwhelming me, with peace
So I'll lift my voice and sing
You're gonna carry us through everything
You are drawing near
You're overwhelming all my fears, with peace
[Verse 2]
You say that I should come to You with everything I need
You're asking me to thank you even when the pain is deep
You promise that You'll come and meet us on the road ahead
And no matter what the fear says, You give me a reason to be glad
[Chorus]
And I didn't know I'd find You here
In the middle of my deepest fear, but
You are drawing near
You are overwhelming me, with peace
So I'll lift my voice and sing
You're gonna carry me through everything
You are drawing near
You're overwhelming all my fear
[Bridge]
Here in the middle of the lonely night
Here in the middle of the losing fight, You're
Here in the middle of the deep regret
Here when the healing hasn't happened yet
Here in the middle of the desert place
Here in the middle when I cannot see Your face
Here in the middle with Your outstretched arms
You can see my pain and it breaks Your heart
[Chorus]
And I didn't know I'd find You here
In the middle of my deepest fear, but
You are drawing near
You are overwhelming me with, peace
So I'll lift my voice and sing
You're gonna carry me through everything
You are drawing near
You're overwhelming all my fear with peace
[Outro]
Rejoice, rejoice
Don't have to worry 'bout a single thing, 'cause
You are overwhelming me with, peace!
Don't have to worry 'bout a single thing
You're gonna carry us through everything
Overwhelming peace ...
