Bring Them to Jesus

And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four friends. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him, and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Son your sins are forgiven."  Mark 2:3-5

Picture this. 

Via Google Images

Four friends who cared deeply for their paralytic friend. 

Their friend had a need. They couldn't meet his need. Their love motivated them to act. 

They BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS.  Arriving at the house where Jesus was teaching,  they find the crowds too dense to push through. 

They climbed on the roof and removed the roof.

They dug an opening in the roof - wouldn't you have LOVED to hear this conversation???

They let him down - in front of Jesus. ::snort:: 

Jesus saw the faith of the four friends who had brought their friend to him. 

The friend, brought to Jesus, receives salvation, wholeness - physically and spiritually. 

How determined am I to bring my friend to Jesus? 

Am I passionate enough to push through the obstacles to introduce my friend to Jesus?

Do I care enough to REMOVE the obstacles to bring my friend to Jesus?

Do I have the faith to carry my friend to Jesus?

Do I believe she will find eternal life, wholeness ONLY in Jesus???

Why do I fear being pushy?

Why do I fear labels?

 This is life and death.

I dare not love half-way...Jesus calls me to love courageously.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Shrugs, Candy, Books, Sweats and Ice Cream

We have been BUSY - and I think we are going to get another two full weeks of our core curriculum done before tomorrow is over. 

I ordered three shrugs in various colors and had them sent to Krista's. I still cannot find nude shoes around here....maybe tomorrow. We still need to go find a barber or something too. 

Today is gloriously rainy. 

I began the tedious job of bagging and tying all the wedding candies...and Arielle came down and RESCUED me. It's much more fun with a partner. 

Sometime in the midst of school and such I realized we have TWO birthdays coming up - SOON. As in Saturday and Tuesday. YIKES.

It only took six months for me to adapt to America. I headed to walmart in my SWEATS with my tie dyed Sweat Shirt, no make up, hair up in a clip and crocs. ::snort:: Arielle said I would fit in and not to worry about it. I didn't find the birthday gifts I wanted - but I did get the ingredients for an ice cream cake, I also got more ribbon and plastic bags.

Arielle took over making the ice cream cake! I got busy making dinner. Now? Since Michael won't be home until late, and we're all tired from studying so hard.....we're going to go relax in the backyard onsen. The perfect way to enjoy a rainy night.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Hearty Potato Soup (Instant Pot/Vegan)

Another one I found on  the Instant Pot site. Forgot to take a photo.....

INGREDIENTS

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 t minced garlic - (used WAY more)
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 4 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 2 1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1 inch cubes
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
• a dash of dried red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 T flax or chia seed (opt - adds nutrition)
• 2 C non dairy milk - or 12 ounce can of evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
• black pepper to taste

Garnish with cheese, green onions, "unparmesan cheese"

DIRECTIONS

1. Press Saute on Instant Pot. Add onion, garlic and olive oil. Stir while sauteing for 3-4 minutes. Do not walk away or this will burn.
2. Add chicken broth, vegetables and spices/seasonings. Stir. Place lid on pot, press soup button and set minutes to 10. (It takes about 10 to come to pressure and then cooks for 10 minutes.)
3. When beeps, do a quick pressure release.  Add 2 cups of chicken broth and milk. Insert an immersion blender and run on short bursts until a creamy consistency that you like, but make sure to leave chunks of potatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste, stirring gently to incorporate.
4. Makes 8 cups of creamy, comforting potato soup. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Steel Cut Oats (Instant Pot)

Tracy helped me adapt this recipe from the Instant Pot booklet. I make a pot and then portion the leftovers and use them throughout the week. Works well. 

can't get a good photo

INGREDIENTS
3 C water
1 C non-dairy milk
pinch of salt
1 C steel cut oats
1 T vanilla 
2 tsp cinnamon
2 T ground flax seed
1/4 C craisins or dried fruit
1-2 T of Agave Nectar or Honey

*The recipe says non dairy milk works better than dairy milk as dairy milk tends to scorch. You could skip all milk. 

DIRECTIONS
I dump it all in the pot. 

Put pot on manual and cook 3 minutes. 

When time is up, let the pressure come down and open the pot. 

Add extra fruit (banana, apple, blueberries, peaches) and pecans. Yummo 

Some add the seasonings after it cooks...I'm lazy and I'm the ONLY one in the house who eats Oats so I tend to go heavy on the cinnamon. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sweet Potato Chips (Vegan)

So simple it's really not a recipe...but yummy nonetheless. I found the basic directions in Happy Herbivore Light and Lean. 

INGREDIENTS
Sweet Potato - sliced thinly

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375*. 

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (or grease).

Slice Potato - I like to spray with olive oil spray and sprinkle with onion powder and garlic powder or minced garlic.

Place chips on pan and bake for 5 min.

Flip over and bake another 5 min.

Check and bake up to another 5 more minutes until the side are curly and lifting.

If your chips are stubborn try broiling for 30 seconds or so. Allow chips to cool; they crisp slightly as they cool.

Serves 2 - about 50 calories per serving.....but I also eat the whole thing.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

In a Minute God....

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Mark 1:18, 20

"In a minute, Mom!" 

Via Google Images

Delayed obedience is disobedience. 

We teach our children to begin to obey immediately and respectfully appeal as needed, as they obey. Too simply ignore a call is disobedience. 

Mark likes the word immediately. He uses it ten times in this chapter - that I see. I note that things begin to HAPPEN when Jesus shows up.  The relationship between Jesus' call to Simon, Andrew, James and John and their reaction is what speaks loudest to me this morning. 

Jesus called. 

They left their nets IMMEDIATELY and FOLLOWED. 

When we hear Jesus calling the proper response is to IMMEDIATELY follow. Sometimes we need to respectfully clarify...but we clarify from a position of obedience. 

To be a disciple is to be a follower. In this context it is to follow a teacher. It meant to live, work and sleep with the teacher.  The word involves*:

• Abiding fellowship
• Clinging in trust and obedience
• Cleaving to Jesus means acting according to His example
• Fellowship of faith as well as life
• Inner moral and spiritual fellowship is essential to outward fellowship
• Self denial 

If I am struggling to follow a clear call of Jesus I need to evaluate my heart....I need  God to "search my heart" Psalm 139:23.  Personally, the times I struggle most with a call from Jesus involve a lack of trust or an unwillingness to deny my self and my plans. 

There are many things He has called me to - things He may call you too as well.....

• Relationship with Jesus
• Die to a habit
• Practice a spiritual discipline
• Rest
• Change a career
• Step into a new activity

My goal is to  FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY when Jesus calls...not tomorrow or "in a minute." 

*Strongs 190 - sources Strongs, Vines, Dr. Zodhiates Complete Dictionary of  NT Words 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Mission Minded

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Farther and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe  all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 25:19-20

Growing up as a missionary kid (mk) these verses were very familiar to me. Many have come to think of these as a "missionary commission" since "all nations" are mentioned.  I've been asked by others if I'm "mission minded." This confuses me.

These are the very last words Jesus spoke to his followers on earth. They matter.

This is a command - not a suggestion. It's for all of us - not a chosen few. Christ followers are all to be mission minded.

Jesus says to GO...as we go we are to make disciples. I note it doesn't say "make converts." Disciples are ones who  follow and enjoy abiding fellowship with Jesus. I think sometimes we put a lot of emphasis on making converts, but  fail to make disciples.

If we are to make disciples, it would follow, we have to BE disciples.

As we make disciples we are to keep on BAPTIZING them and keep on TEACHING them to observe ALL Jesus taught and commanded.

As we do all this - we are guaranteed Jesus will be with us, always. We can't claim the promise if we aren't obeying the command.

We do have a mission - to make disciples.

This makes me evaluate my relationship with Jesus. Am I following Him closely? Am I a disciple?  Are we making disciples of our children? Are they growing in their fellowship with Jesus or are they simply learning a list of dos and don'ts. What am I doing to help others become disciples? What am I doing well and what could I do better?  What about our church? Is it making disciples? Am I helping in this endeavor? Is there someone I need to talk to on church staff about our church's discipleship efforts?

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...