“The bill does not only add to the power of the president. It also grants the Secretary of Commerce “access to all relevant data concerning [critical] networks without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule, or policy restricting such access.” This means he or she can monitor or access any data on private or public networks without regard to privacy laws.”
This is one of my new favorite mom-blogs! I laughed through tears as a I read this beautiful post about a little toy elephant that served as a reminder of God’s love through loss and life.
The tastiest grilled cheese sandwich I have ever eaten was at The Dash-In Cafe in Fort Wayne: Grilled sourdough bread, melted Swiss cheese, wilted baby spinach and sauteed portabella mushrooms with a hint of honey mustard.
This week, I came across Andrea’s blog and her encouraging words are really sticking to my heart — especially after our recent Hoki fish (a.k.a. Hokke in Japan) meal that was scrapped on the cutting board.
Her post made me giggle. “Sorry Jesus. Those fish were pretty on the outside but were infested with worms on the inside. Looks like we’re having hot dogs instead! Would you like mustard, ketchup or both?” There’s got to be a parable in there somewhere…
Andrea is a mom of four children, close together, and is soon expecting baby #5 to arrive. I could relate to every word of her post! I appreciated her reminder that Jesus my friend.
Thursday, March 19, 2009 – I Made a Meal for Jesus
I made a meal for Jesus.
I think He would eat chicken….maybe? Along with His felafel.
I made it with Love.
Instead of lamenting I am 20 weeks pregnant with my fifth, tired, and why doesn’t anyone ever bring me a meal out of the blue when I need it? Or why isn’t there some magic fairy meal-maker?
I cut up the onion, celery, carrots, carefully.
Thinking how He would enjoy eating it.
Probably sopping it up with yummy, crusty bread. And maybe some wine?
I would use my best china, of course.
It gave me immense pleasure.
So maybe when I am making dinner each night for my family… (and breakfast. and lunch. and snacks. Oh mamas, it never ends, right?)
…I’ll think of serving Him.
And how He would smile. And enjoy it. …and I’d probably cry.
‘Cause He would understand my heart.
And what I put into it.
And why.
And He’s already given me everything I will ever need, so He wouldn’t need to bring me a meal.
‘Cause I feast daily at His table.
And because of that, I am honored to serve Him.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve; and to give His life as a ransom for many. ~Matthew 20:28
Jesus is our friend.
John 15:12-15 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
“God wants to be your best friend.”
“In Eden, we see God’s ideal relationship with us: Adam and Eve enjoyed an intimate friendship with God. There were no rituals, ceremonies or religion – just a simple loving relationship between God and the people He created. Unhindered by guilt or fear. Adam and Eve delighted in God and we delighted in them. We were made to live in God’s continual presence, but after the Fall, that ideal relationship was lost…”
“Then Jesus changed the situation. When he paid for our sins on the cross, the veil in the temple that symbolized our separation from God was split from top to bottom, indicating that direct access to God was once again available.”
God “planned the universe and orchestrated history, including the details of our lives, so that we could become his friends.” (Acts 17:24-31 from the Sermon on Mars Hill)
“The classic book on learning how to develop a constant conversation with God is Practicing the Presence of God . It was written in the seventeenth century by Brother Lawrence, a humble cook in a French monastery. Brother Lawrence was able to turn even the most commonplace and menial tasks, like preparing meals and washing dishes, into acts of praise and communion with God. The key to friendship with God, he said, is not changing what you do, but changing your attitude toward what you do. What you normally do for yourself you begin doing it for God, whether it is eating, bathing, working, relaxing, or taking out the trash.”
In October of 2007, I wrote the post, “Can I Trust in Jesus” after visualizing Jesus, as our close friend, sacrificing himself on our behalf. Here’s an excerpt:
Imagine you are sitting at home enjoying a delicious meal with an old friend. As you are talking, the familiarity is so great, it is as though he can read your very soul. You love him deeply and never wish to be separated from him. Your friend is kind and good. For as long as you can remember, he has never wronged you – or anyone else, for that matter – in any way.
Suddenly, you hear a loud crash in the adjacent room….
The goal of parenting is not to make our children like us, it is to raise up warriors for Christ.
In fact, if we indulge our children in hopes of winning their approval, our strategy will backfire. We won’t end up with children who like us at all — we will end up with children who are too selfish to visit us when we are old.
It is our responsibility to say “no” to them and to teach them what is right. To say no to unhealthy indulgences is to love them.
Parenting must not be rooted in short term self-gratification, but in the purpose of glorifying the eternal God.
Put the weight of eternity behind your parenting.
Photo Credit: BadaBee via Flicker
Do you want to eat more fish, but are tired of salmon with lemon and dill? Please try this delicious alternative that may inspire an entire Moroccan themed meal!
The cumin and cinnamon flavor combination is uncommon and unforgettably delicious. The rub is rounded by ginger and all-spice, heated by a pinch of cayenne pepper, sweetened with a tad of sugar, and balanced by a squirt of lime.
1. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon, cumin, salt, ginger, mustard, nutmeg, cayenne, allspice, and sugar; set aside.
2. Line a baking sheet with foil, then spray with nonstick cooking spray. Rinse the salmon with cold water and pat dry. Lightly sprinkle the skin with the spice mix, then place the salmon skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the remaining spice mix evenly over the salmon. Allow the salmon to come to room temperature, 30 to 40 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
4. Sprinkle the salmon with lime juice and roast in the oven for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. The salmon will still be rare when removed from the oven, but will continue to cook as it rests. After 15 minutes, wrap the fish tightly with foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Serve with couscous, roasted veggies (broccoli drizzled with olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper is easy!)
Notes:
The salmon is refreshing cold and comforting served hot. We’ve eaten it both ways depending on the weather.
Leftovers are great for breakfast!
The salmon can be broiled if you do not have an oven for roasting. Broil it on a wire rack (so the spices don’t stick to a pan) skin side up for a few minutes, until the skin is crispy. Then, flip and broil for a few more minutes spiced-meat side up until the meat is tender and flaky. The flavor quality was NOT lost by broiling vs. baking.
If you serve the dish on a warm day, consider pairing with a cold side of couscous or rice salad (a wheat-free alternative!). Couscous and Cucumber Salad and my friend Beth’s Summer Rice Salad are great options.
Drizzle some Persian Cucumber Yogurt over the fish and cold couscous or rice salad to bind the flavors together on your plate!
Couscous with salt, pepper, butter and simple fresh herbs is delicious – but in a pinch, Near East seasoned couscous (even the herbed chicken flavor works, as it’s not too “chickeny”) is a perfectly acceptable time saver. I have found all of their products to be fantastic in quality, consistency and taste. Their website also has an inspiring “Dining With Style” that I’d highly recommend if you are looking for a few easy ideas to brighten your table.
