Domestic Diva Devo

Domestic Diva.

mentor mom devotion by Misty

I wouldn’t even know how to define that term. I do like to make meals for my family from scratch. However, I am the least crafty person I know. As a matter of fact, when I was a MOPS mom, I avoided doing the craft. And we had a craft every week! I feel that there is even more pressure on moms to be “Pinterest” moms. So, today, I thought we would look at who we are in Christ.
These are adapted from a post written by Joyce Meyers:
*We are God’s children for we are born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, which lives and abides forever. (1Peter 1:23)
*We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10)
*We are joint-­‐heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17)
*We are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
(Revelation 12:11)
*We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possessions, that we may declare praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.
(1 Peter 2:9)
We are royalty. We are princesses, girls! However, I know that we all have insecurities. If you are feeling insecure and unworthy, those are the lies of Satan. Our true identity is in our Creator.
In Genesis, the Bible tells us that Jacob waited seven years to marry Rachel but to him it seemed only like a day because of his love for her. I feel fairly certain that we all have the desire to be loved like that. Whether or not we find that kind of love in this life, we will have a King who loves us desperately and will have an eternity with Him. We are the brides of Christ!

Cinnamon Baked French Toast

recipe from The Pioneer Woman

 

Thank you Sarah Brass for finding this yummy recipe and giving it a try for our meeting this morning. After the first bite everyone fell in love:) It even made the room smell delish!! A little secret she shared with us at our table is instead of sourdough bread she used wheat bread from the Great Harvest Bread Co!! Enjoy:)

Ingredients

French Toast:

1 loaf Crusty Sourdough Or French Bread
8 whole Eggs
2 cups Whole Milk
1/2 cup Whipping (heavy) Cream
3/4 cups Sugar
2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract

Topping:
1/2 cup All-purpose Flour
1/2 cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 stick Cold Butter, Cut Into Pieces
Fresh Fruit (optional)

Preparation Instructions

Grease 9 x 13-inch baking pan with butter. Tear bread into chunks (or cut into cubes) and evenly distribute in the pan.
Mix together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread. Cover tightly and store in the fridge several hours or overnight.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add nutmeg if desired. Add butter pieces and but into the dry mixture until mixture resembles fine pebbles. Store in a Ziploc in the fridge.
When you're ready to bake the casserole, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove casserole from oven and sprinkle crumb mixture over the top. (If you're using fruit, sprinkle on before the crumb mixture.) Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, more bread pudding texture. Bake 1 hour or more for a firmer, less liquid texture.
Scoop out individual portions. Top with butter and drizzle with maple syrup

Make N Take fun!

Taco Seasoning (makes a single serving)

1 Tbsp chili powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (we omitted)

 1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp paprika

1.5 tsp ground cumin

1/2 to 1 tsp sea salt (more or less to taste)

1 tsp black pepper

1. In small bowl, mix all ingredients and store in airtight container. (Or you can mix it together in the container you are going to store it in–just give it a shake!) 2. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of this mixture plus 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water to one pound of cooked meat (of your choice). Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently until there is very little liquid left in the pan.

Ranch:

5 tablespoons dried minced onions

7 teaspoons parsley flakes

4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix together and store in an air tight container.

For dressing: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk or sour cream.

For dip: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 2 cups sour cream.

Mix up a few hours before serving, so the flavors all blend.

Hummus

4 garlic cloves

2 cups canned chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/3 cup tahini (sesame paste)

6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

2 tablespoons water or liquid from the chickpeas

8 dashes hot sauce (we omitted)

Turn on the food processor fitted with the steel blade and drop the garlic down the feed tube; process until it's minced. Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and process until the hummus is coarsely pureed. Taste, for seasoning, and serve chilled or at room temperature.

Powdered Laundry Detergent (16 heavy loads)

1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap

½ cup washing soda

½ cup borax

Mix together and pour into container

For light load, use 1 tablespoon, for heavy or soiled, use 2 tablespoons

Powdered Dishwasher Detergent

Equal parts baking soda and borax

One load = 2 Tbs

Homemade Eczema Cream/Skin Moisturizer

¼ cup of oats

¾ cup of coconut oil

few drops of rosemary oil (optional)

1 tbsp of olive oil

Finely grind the oats to a powder/flour consistency and set aside. (You can use a blender, food processor or Magic Bullet type of appliance)

Over a low heat, melt the coconut oil in a pan until it has a liquid consistency.

Add in a few drops of rosemary oil (optional)

Add ground oats in the pan and mix until well blended

Now pour the olive oil into the mixture until blended

Once all the ingredients are mixed, remove from heat and pour into a small storage container. Let it harden for several hours.

Apply to hands and skin as needed.

mentor mom devo Romans 12:15

Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”  

I love being able to celebrate good things happening in a friend’s life. But how can I begin to help a friend who is going through something difficult?

 Sometimes it feels easiest to pretend that nothing has happened, to say nothing, do nothing. I can justify it by telling myself that I don’t know what to say and it is probably better to just stay out of it. Has that worked for you? For decades I regretted not saying anything to a classmate whose father had died suddenly. I came to realize that my lack of knowing what to say was much less important than his pain.

 A big first step is to listen to what your friend feels comfortable with sharing. Look for a time when the two of you can talk without others around. Instead of asking how she is, try asking how she feels about something. Each of us reacts to things differently. What can be small to one may be a deep grief to another. The important thing is to listen to her, to acknowledge her pain, and to listen without giving answers.

 Respect how much she feels like sharing and don’t push for more than she wants to give. Focus on her. Remember that what she shares is private. Ask before sharing with another person. The only exception to this would be if you felt your friend was in danger of hurting herself or another. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it may be appropriate to suggest she get help from a professional. There should be no shame in asking for help.

 A hug might be the best thing you could give.

 Be sensitive to her. If you have something to share that may be painful for her to hear, let her know the news privately before sharing it in front of a group or sending the news electronically. If you can think of some practical service to offer your friend, and are able to give it, offer. Could she use a meal? Would an hour or two of childcare help? Pick something up at a store? Ask her what would be helpful.  Sometimes a short note of encouragement can be wonderful. Take the time to write out a special verse that has encouraged you.

 I asked the other mentor moms for any suggestions they might have, and Mary mentioned women like to get stuff and bringing a small gift of something that is your favorite is a practical thing. A gift card, even in a small amount says you took the time and made the effort.

 Letting others know you will be praying for them is good, but Mary also had a wonderful suggestion. “Instead of saying ‘I’ll pray for you’, say ‘May I pray for you right now?’ And then do it. This can be scary, especially for people who are not comfortable praying out loud in front of others. But this is the time to get over that and realize what comfort and peace come from hands on, face to face delivering of blessing from God. Make it simple. Be honest. ‘Lord, I’m not so good at praying out loud, but I love______, and I’m asking you to bless her with Your comfort and peace.’ The enemy hates when we do this and would much rather we go away and then forget that we promised to pray. Obedience is stretching, but we need that.”

 I’ve realized over the years that I want to make a difference in someone else’s life, but that shouldn’t be my focus. If I am intent on making someone feel better, I’m more focused on myself than them. It is better for me to remember that while God can use me in the life of a friend, He is the only one that can bring healing.

I recently came across a new translation of the Bible called “The Voice” and love how 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 reads. “All praise goes to God, Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. He is the Father of compassion, the God of all comfort. He consoles us as we endure the pain and hardship of life so that we may draw from His comfort and share it with others in their own struggles.”

 As I finish today, I’d like to pray a prayer from Ephesians. “Father, out of Your honorable and glorious riches, strengthen Your people. Fill their souls with the power of Your Spirit so that through faith the Anointed One will reside in their hearts. May love be the rich soil where their lives take root. May it be the bedrock where their lives are founded so that together with all of Your people they will have the power to understand that the love of the Anointed is infinitely long, wide, high, and deep, surpassing everything anyone previously experienced. God, may Your fullness flood through their entire beings. Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, to Him be all glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen.”

Spinach Salad with Avocado-Ranch Dressing

 Here is the recipe everyone has been raving about from our meeting this morning!! Thank you Amber for making this yummy salad!! She found the recipe from eatingwell.com and said her trick with the dressing was instead of blending the dressing in a blender, she used an emulsifier to make the dressing a little thicker/creamier.

 INGREDIENTS

1 ripe avocado, halved and pitted, divided

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or 2 teaspoons dried

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 5- to 6-ounce package baby spinach (about 8 cups)

1 medium red bell pepper, sliced

1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed

PREPERATION

Scoop 1 avocado half into a blender; add buttermilk, dill, vinegar, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth.Cut the remaining avocado half into 1/2-inch chunks. Combine spinach, bell pepper and chickpeas in a large bowl. Add the dressing; toss to coat. Divide among 4salad plates and top with the chopped avocado.