God Tells Us to Ask.

God tells us to Ask.
Make requests of him; tell him what we need, want, and desire.

Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Matthew 7:8
"For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Matthew 9:38
"Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Ephesians 1:17
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Strawberry Almond Cardamom Oatmeal

Remember when I tried that strawberry cardamom oatmeal? I really didn't like the earthy, spicy flavor of the oats. But I think I figured out the trick: add oatmeal to the applesauce. Are you surprised? This is my favorite trick, after all.

Then add the fruit and some almond butter on top. Mmm!

Ingredients:

1/2 c old-fashioned oatmeal

1 c water

1/4 c unsweetened applesauce

1/4 t cardamom

1 T (or more) natural almond butter

4 fresh strawberries, sliced

Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Bring water and oats to a boil and reduce heat to medium.

2. When oats reach the desired consistency, stir in the applesauce and cardamom. Simmer oatmeal on low until some of the liquid from the applesauce absorbs and the oats become thick and rich.

3. Transfer oatmeal to a bowl, and top with the almond butter, sliced strawberries, and cinnamon.

Thanksgiving as an Offering

Thanksgiving as an offering to God.
A gift or contribution made (Dictionary.com, n. d.)

Leviticus 22:29
“When you sacrifice a thank offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf.

2 Chronicles 29:31
Then Hezekiah said, “You have now dedicated yourselves to the Lord. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the Lord.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.

Psalm 50:14
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,

Psalm 50:23
Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”

Psalm 56:12
I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you.

Psalm 107:22
Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

Psalm 116:17
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:26
People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the Lord.

Reference:
Offering. (n. d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved September 13, 2016 from Dictionary.com website http://www.dictionary.com/browse/offering

God Brings Stillness.

God brings stillness to heart, soul, mind, and body, even in the midst of the crazy chaos of life.

Exodus 14:14
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

1 Samuel 12:16
“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!"

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 65:5-7
You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 

Psalm 76:6
At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.

Zechariah 2:13
"Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”

God Arises.

When times are dark, God arises. He is at our side to help us and lift us up.

2 Chronicles 6:41

“Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness."

Psalm 7:6

Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.

Psalm 9:19

Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence.

Psalm 10:12

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.

Psalm 12:5

“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

Psalm 102:13

You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.

Isaiah 33:10
“Now will I arise,” says the Lord. “Now will I be exalted; now will I be lifted up.

Raisin-ette Oatmeal

Sweet chocolate-y coating. Plump juicy fruit. Do you remember Raisinets, that sweet theater candy that probably didn't contain much real chocolate? Well, I recreated it, in oatmeal form.

Yes, I did it. I combined chocolate and raisins, and it was EXCELLENT.


Ingredients:
1/2 c rolled oats
1 c water
1 T cocoa powder
1/4 c raisins
Natural peanut butter and sea salt for topping.


1. Combine oats, water, and raisins in a small pan. Bring to a boil.
2. Simmer until oats reach desired consistency.
3. Stir in cocoa powder, and transfer oats to a bowl.
4. Top with peanut butter and sea salt and enjoy a blast to the past.

Another Month?

Another month has gone by? Really? Life of late seems to be a blur. But here's the update on this year's goals.


2) Stop checking e-mail on my phone while at work.
We're not supposed to use social media at work, so that mostly keeps me off my phone. Students are not allowed to have phones, so I try to be a good example and keep my stowed away. I am in a habit of checking my phone when I arrive at work, eat lunch, and leave work. I think this is a healthy balance.


3) Use more glass storage containers and less plastic.
After a week of using one round plastic container over and over, I bought some two-cup glass Anchor dishes with lids at TJMaxx. With three of them, I have enough to rotate through the wash, and they are so convenient! Additionally, I feel better about microwaving my food every day for lunch.


4) Find my rambunctious side again.
I work with high schoolers, so I try to be professional. But I also want to be personable.


5) Memorize some new scripture, or at least review the old.
I'm not making very fast progress, but I wrote out some Galatians verses to learn.


8) Run a 5K.
I signed up to a run the Patriot 5K in Arizona next Saturday. I pray that works out.


9) Embrace the quiet.
I've been going to bed earlier this week, so that's one way to embrace quiet, I guess.


10) Pursue counseling licensure.
I paid my LAC licensing fee today. We will see where that takes me.


11) Rest.
See 9).


12) Trim down the processed. Bulk up the produce. (In my diet)
I'm trying to keep eating lots of produce, but lately I have really enjoyed big bowls of cold cereal. I'm trying to be okay with that. It's what my body wants right now.


13) Bullet journal plan—streamline my to-do list.
I have a personal and a work bullet journal planner. It's awesome!


14) Finish the books I have and read more.
In August, I read five books. I can read one a weekend if I try. But reading is a good way to rest. (See 11.)


15) Spend time with and love the people around me. 
I am blessed to live with my Dad, Mom, and youngest brother. I spent lots of time talking to them in the mornings, at night, and any other time I see them. Sometimes it feels like I waste time, but I want to savor this time because it is limited.


16) Blog. Instagram. Something. (Experiment.) 
I might not be doing a very good job, but I'm still at it.

God is the Source of Human Flourishing.

God is the source of human flourishing.

Thriving, success, prosperity, growth (Dictionary.com, n .d.).

Genesis 26:22

He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”

Psalm 44:2

With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.

Psalm 52:8

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.

Psalm 92:12

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

Psalm 92:13

planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.

Psalm 115:14

May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children.

Proverbs 14:11

The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

Isaiah 45:8

“You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it.

Reference:

Flourish. (n. d.). Dictionary.com unabridged. Retrieved August 23, 2016 from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/flourish.