Spiritual CPR

Our Daily Bread
I joke with some friends about doing the Heimlech maneuver or mouth to mouth resuscitation. Noooooooo, not you! we would joke! Ha! I don't think we would joke about it if one of us acutally needed it! No sir!

The devotional made me think about "spiritual CPR". What would we do to rescue our friends and family from spiritual danger? Would we do more than pray? It can be tough to talk to them since they actually know you! Ha! We need to try. Live the right way to show them God's love. Talk the right way so they hear his love!

Lord, you give us the power to reach out to others. Please help us use it!

Movie Monday
The only movie I saw at the theater last week was a repeat because a friend hadn't seen it. I rented a recent movie off of Uverse Saturday night.

Out of the Furnace
This film received some critical acclaim because of the cast. It was a truly amazing cast! The plot is about a man who is constantly trying to keep his younger brother out of trouble while still managing his own life and problems after spending time in jail for a drunk driving accident that killed two people. The acting was amazing. The story line sort of predictable. I thought it was too long for the story they were trying to tell.  That is just me.

I give this one two bear paws. Not a bad rental, but it is not the feel good movie of the the year.

At the theater I saw Maleficent again. I liked that movie.

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God has two dwellings, one in heaven and the other in a meek and thankful heart. —Walton

Prophet

Our Daily Bread
It must have very, very difficult for a small town boy to become a prophet for the entire nation of Israel! There are examples of God using the least of these to do great things for him because they believed and were obedient.

 I can't imagine trying to be one of those guys (or gals) today! The media coverage would be suffocating! Fox News trying to find the flaws in your past. CNN trying to scoop everyone on everything from your diet to your bathroom tissue. Paul Harvey (is he still alive?) trying to tell the rest of the story. LOL Seriously, folks then and folks now usually focused on the unimportant stuff instead of the message God sent. Folks today would also refuse to follow God's instructions.

God doesn't call each of us to be a national prophet. We are called to love God and love others to the best of our abilities. Praise God!

Lord, please help us follow you so we can lead others to you!

Psalm Sunday
Can you believe we read ALL the psalms now!?! Almost three years in the process! Today is Psalm 150. May songs are based on this psalm. It is amazing!

We will start on the Proverbs next week (Sunday Wisdom). There aren't as many of those!

Psalm 150

Praise for God’s Surpassing Greatness

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty firmament!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
    praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
    praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
    praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with clanging cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

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 “The highest pinnacle of the spiritual life is not happy joy in unbroken sunshine, but absolute and undoubting trust in the love of God.” = A. W. Thorold

Grow together

Our Daily Bread
I liked the reference to measuring the growth of children over time. My family never lived anywhere long enough where we could do that. Nice idea. I wondered what our spiritual lives would be like if we could "measure" it like our physical growth!

Then I think of how full of pride we are. I am sure we would wear tshirts or have fantasy spiritual teams to compete with each other! All kinds of silly possibilities!  I think the formula that God has for us is best (Amen!).  We are to share our experiences in community. When we do that we find that we all are at different levels, many times with different areas in our lives.  We can help each other grow based on our gifts and abilities from God and the many experiences we have had. It is amazing when you experience it! Praise God!

Lord, your ways are not our ways. Please help us share, love and grow together!

Simply Saturday
While I usually prefer upbeat songs, slow songs like All I've Ever Needed often catch my attention. Check out the lyrics to this beautiful song.

All I've Ever Needed [video]

Honestly it's time for honesty
My heart is on my sleeve
Oh will you hear me out?
I've got nothing left to give of me
I gave up everything
So there is nothing less to loose from me now
But you forgive me somehow

I've chased a million things
Bright lights and empty dreams
Now here I am
Right where I thought I wanted to be
I'll trade it all right now
Leave it all and lay it down
To get back to where I belong
Lord all I've ever needed was your love.

Truth be told I made this world my home
I let it steal my soul, but now I want it back
Cause all I need is waiting
In your arms a place to hang my heart
Where I am known at last
You're the one true thing I have

I've chased a million things
Bright lights and empty dreams
Now here I am
Right where I thought I wanted to be
I'll trade it all right now
Leave it all and lay it down
To get back to where I belong
Lord all I've ever needed was your love.

And I know that I was meant to be
More than just a melody
I know that You had hopes for me
I hope you still believe in me...

I've chased a million things
Bright lights and empty dreams
Now here I am
Right where I thought I wanted to be
I'll trade it all right now
Leave it all and lay it down
To get back to where I belong
Lord all I've ever needed was your love
Lord all I've needed was Your love.

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Waiting for God is never a waste of time. - Our Daily Bread Jan 26 2014

Every breath

Our Daily Bread
I may have shared this story before, but I am telling it again since it fits so well with the devotional! While talking to a seminary professor and his wife, we discussed relying completely on the Lord. The professor said something like "Oh YES, for every breath!" His wife and I looked at each other in amazement. We agreed that we need to work harder towards this goal!

I also pondered this devotional from the point of view of a person getting older and wondering how long I can retain my "independence" with all of my health issues. Even the injury last weekend that resulted in 14 stitches and "taking it easy" left me a little wounded otherwise. I am praying about it. While I don't have a roommate any longer, I am fortunate to have many friends that are willing to help me out. I guess my pride keeps me from asking and "being a bother". I am praying about that too.

Regardless of our life situation, we need God, OH how we need God!

Lord, we need thee, really need thee.

Foodie Friday
So I combined two different recipes for a bourbon and chocolate lover cupcake recipe. I made it last night. They turned out great. A hint of bourbon, but not too strong. I used the 85% Cacao chocolate from Aldis. I also only made a half recipe of the frosting.  It was plenty for 24 cupcakes.

Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes

Cupcakes
Ingredients
1 box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ devil's food cake mix
1  cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan).

Generously spray 24 regular- size muffin cups with cooking spray. Make cake batter as directed on box, using cake mix, water, oil, bourbon, eggs and vanilla.

Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about two-thirds full).

Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

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FROSTING
Chocolate Bourbon Buttercream:

8 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
6 cups confectioners' sugar
16 Tbsp. (2 sticks) unsalted butter
6 Tbsp. milk, plus more, if needed
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. good-quality bourbon whiskey

Directions:
Melt the chocolate and cool to room temperature.

With an electric mixer, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, milk, vanilla and  salt, and beat on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes, then reduce the speed to low.

Add the chocolate and bourbon, and beat until combined, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 minute more.

If the frosting is dry, add more milk, 1 tsp. at a time, until it is creamy but still holds peaks.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Weighted down

Our Daily Bread
I accidentally got my days mixed up this week. I am writing about yesterdays devotional today since I wrote about today's yesterday morning. Been that kind of week for me! Oh well. But I digress...

While trying some new training techniques when I was younger, I tried wearing a weighted vest while exercising. I also wear wrist wights many times while I am walking. The extra weight added additional difficulty and made my body work harder.

Worry is like that too, but not in a good way! I kept thinking about the exercise stuff while reading the devotional this morning. I also thought about King David. If he could give his situation to God, shouldn't we be able to give over our cares and worries to God as well? I don't know about you, but I don't have NEARLY the problems that David did!

Lord, you have assured us of your faithfulness over and over in your Word!

Technology Thursday
5 Great Reasons to Surf the Internet with Private Browser Windows
by  Alyssa Bereznak

Whether you like it or not, your actions online are being monitored by social media networks, advertisers, and even the U.S. government. But it’s also pretty easy for other people — your kids, your significant other, or your boss — to see where you've been on the Internet.

When doing normal Web browsing, your computer keeps track of all the websites you’ve visited. Anyone with access to your computer can check out your Web history.

That’s where the private browsing options available in the popular browsers come in handy. In Chrome, the feature is called Incognito Mode, and you can open a new incognito window with Ctrl+Shift+N in Windows or space bar-Shift-N on a Mac. In Internet Explorer, you can access InPrivate Browsing by holding down Ctrl+Shift+P. To open a Private Browsing window in Firefox, it’s Ctrl+Shift+P in Windows or Command-Shift-P on a Mac. In Safari, you’ll have to access it manually by clicking on the Safari menu bar and selecting the Private Browsing option.

These are good tools to ensure that not every online footprint will be seen. See below for some especially good times to use the private option:

1. When using a public computer.
Maybe you’re checking your email real quick on the hotel lobby’s guest computer, or logging in to Facebook while you wait for assistance at the Genius Bar. Whatever you’re doing, a regular browser window will automatically save every Web address you visit to its history folder. If you forget to clear that history, or to log off, someone might be able to see everything you were doing, or even access any accounts you left open.

2. When using a communal computer.
Take it from me, a kid who would relentlessly search every corner of the house for my Christmas gifts from my parents: If you are sharing a computer in your home, a family member will find a loophole to spy on your search history. And if you happen to be shopping online for birthday gifts, engagement rings, or anything else special, all your planning for a memorable surprise will be ruined once another person wanders into the History folder.

The same goes for when you’re sharing a computer with your significant other. Just one quick click on another girl’s Facebook page can pique suspicion, even if it’s completely innocent.

3. To see what others see while searching.
Most search engine algorithms take into account your search history and the basic information you’ve given them to bring up the most relevant, personalized results. That’s usually helpful, but it also means that when you search your own name, you might not see what a potential employer sees. To test your results against a clean search history slate, open a private browsing window. This is how the rest of the Internet views you.

4. To get past paywalls.
Some news sites (cough, The New York Times, cough) have erected paywalls that allow readers to view only 10 articles a month. It tracks the number you’ve clicked and then blocks you from reading any further unless you sign up for a digital subscription. If you don’t care to do that, however, you can simply open a private browsing window, and it’ll have no memory of your past browsing on the site. Sneaky, huh?

5. To keep your shopping history private.
Suggested shopping results at Amazon, for example, work by using cookies to track your browsing. They’ll then advertise similar products when you log back in to the site, or even visit another one. After I bought kitty litter on Amazon, for instance, every single YouTube ad became cat related. That’s a little creepy. And if you happen to be searching for a nose trimmer, or a wart cream, it could even be embarrassing.

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Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Tender hearted

Our Daily Bread
Many folks are surprised to find out this old bear, who is sometimes a grizzly bear, is also very tender hearted.  I inherited this from my grandfather. Our family joke is our bellies are so big to hold our oversized hearts!  LOL

I can relate to Paul who was also seen as a grizzly bear of sorts for the way he wrote to the fledgling churches. Most folks don't remember him for the kind, nurturing father/mother images that he wrote about at times. He tried to take folks where they were in their journey and gerntly guide them along. Wow! I wish I were more like that! Though I am very good at the grizzly bear thing! Ha!

Lord, please help us to be what we need to be to bring others closer to you.

Wellness Wednesday
10 Ways to Ditch Your Cravings for Sugar, Salt, and Fats
by Mark Hyman, MD [article]

According to a recent article in the New York Times, "Food Corporations Turn to Chefs in a Quest for Healthy Flavor," Big Food companies like PepsiCo, Kellogg's, and even fast food giants like Taco Bell are changing their ways in response to the increasing public demand for healthier food options. To improve their image as healthy food manufacturers, Big Food corporations have called upon top chefs to help them create healthy menu makeovers, infusing real, fresh, whole food into old recipe favorites.

Why is this happening now? Intense pressure brought on by politicians and their constituents (you and me!) has given these food manufacturers no choice but to respond to the public outcry for healthier food. It's no longer enough for these companies to earn a profit by selling food that tastes good. People are beginning to use the power of the pocketbook to show these companies that the food they sell must also be nutritious.

That's because people everywhere are waking up. They are beginning to see the dangers of genetically-modified ingredients and all the sugar, salt, and fats hidden in our food supply. From fancy restaurants to fast food chains, chefs are catching on that people want their food to make them feel good, not just while they are eating it but hours, days, and years afterward.

Really, this news shouldn't make the headlines. This is common sense! Paying for food that makes us sick is as crazy as shooting ourselves in the foot. It just doesn't make sense.

Big Food is finally getting the message and getting on board.

But remember, no processed or fast food option will ever be better than a healthy home-cooked meal. The best way to ensure you are eating the highest quality, most nutritious food possible is to prepare your own food in your own kitchen. We are all chefs. You don't have to be trained at Le Cordon Bleu to know your way around a kitchen. You just need a little knowledge, some imagination, and a sense of adventure.

A desire for real food is a fundamental part of our basic biological blueprint. Given the chance, our taste receptors will naturally gravitate toward the inherent sweetness found in vegetables, fruits, and even nuts and seeds.

So, how do you reprogram your taste buds to ditch the cravings for sugar, salt, and fats? You can start by eating real, fresh, whole foods. Avoid fake, commercialized foods that come in convenience packages or are made in a lab.

Here are 10 more tips to get you excited about ditching the sugar, salt, and fats:

1. Sauté or roast your veggies to bring out their natural sweetness. Properly searing your chicken or meat brings out the inherent sweetness by way of the Maillard reaction. This is a fancy name for what happens when you create that nice, brown crust on your meat.
2. Play with herbs like cilantro, parsley, dill, basil, and oregano to add flavor and phytonutrients! Finish a meal by adding fresh herbs before plating or serving. This last-minute addition kicks the flavor up a notch!
3. Healthy fats found in avocado, coconut, and tahini not only increase the flavor of your meal, they also add that creamy, luscious texture found in many rich foods.
4. Try creating a savory, umami (Japanese for "delicious") flavor. Add moderate amounts of tamari, umeboshi plum paste, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, dried mushroom, or sea vegetables to your next stew, soup, sauce, or stir-fry.
5. Cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and even cayenne or chipotle pepper powder are all extremely flavorful additions to a meal. Spices like these excite your taste buds and grab your attention. This is helpful, because, as studies show, when we are focused on actually tasting our food rather than mindlessly gobbling it up, we actually need less food to feel satisfied.
6. Befriend some kitchen must-haves like real vanilla extract or vanilla bean or coconut butter. Or use common, every-day foods like lemons in some creative ways. For example, use lemon zest to add real zing to any meal!
7. For the most flavor, eat seasonally and locally. Canned or packaged foods or foods that have traveled great distances in the back of a truck just can't compare to the succulence of a fresh piece of locally grown fruit.
8. Check your hydration. Digestion starts in your mouth with your saliva, which helps us taste all the magnificent flavor in food. If you are dehydrated and not producing enough saliva, you won't really be able to enjoy your food.
9. Check your medications. Believe it or not, most medications interfere with the body's ability to taste and smell. Some of them can even create an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth. Wondering how you might decrease the number of pills you take? Learn more about functional medicine.
10. Got nutrition? Nutrient deficiency is an important cause of improper taste perception. A lack of certain vitamins and minerals can markedly impair your ability to smell and taste food. Most Americans have several nutrient deficiencies, but there is one in particular that can especially keep you from enjoying your next meal: zinc. Try adding foods like oysters, pecans, sunflower seeds, and lentils to increase your daily intake of this important mineral.

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, MD

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For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.- Psalm 117:2

I heard about a man

Our Daily Bread
I heard a beautiful song by Cynthia Clawson decades ago called I Heard about a Man [video]. The song talks about some of the things that Jesus did in very creative language. I love this song! Click on the link above to watch and listen.

Who was Jesus? Sooooooooooooo many folks have offered their opinions over the centuries! Each of us needs to make oue own discovery and answer the question for ourselves.Listen to and watch the beautiful video above and decide for yourself!

Lord, please help each of us find our way to you!

Teaching Tuesday
Not sure
I am not sure about the first book I planned to read this summer. I read the preface and was not impressed. It sounds like the author is going to explain all the details of the after life and how all that is going to work. What? He says he is going this under the guise of "hope" in the future. Hmmmmm. I will try skimming some more before I try a full fledged reading.  This sounds like a LOT of speculation!  Oh well.

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We are far from perfect, but despite our mistakes and our sins, we will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon us - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide