Wheat-free, Egg-free, Dairy-free Recipe/Tips Website (updated links, info, & photo)

Elizabeth enjoying a DELICIOUS gluten-, dairy-, and egg-free meal.

There are many such websites out there, but I’d like to recommend: Surprisingly Thankful (food blog) by Elizabeth. She’s a newbie to blogland as her start-up was this January 3rd (2008).

Elizabeth says, “I cook weird and often surprisingly good recipes because of my food allergies. I am a little restricted in what I can eat: no cow dairy, chicken eggs or gluten (which is in wheat). Being allergic to “all things American” has forced me to be creative in another avenue of my life.”

The recipes on her food blog run from  . . .  smoothies,

• to salad dressing
• to themed months (like recipes inspired by Monks).
• Check out this garlic chicken pizza. 
• The sweet potato soup also sounds delish.

Elizabeth has tips on how to clean your blender -the easy way and how to make home-made “soy sauce substitute.”  There are sections on food reviews, Getting Started, and (of course) DESSERT. She suggests 2 cookbooks that support the wheat-free, egg-free, dairy-free lifestyle.

Elizabeth’s art blog is just as amazing.  Weird and Surprisingly Good is about the art secrets, trials, and triumphs Elizabeth experiences as a practicing visual artist. She has a strong interest in braille, reading, juggling, and labyrinths, and is the creator of cactus lights. 

So stop by Elizabeth’s place (food blog, art blog, or website) and give her a hello by leaving a comment or two. I know I will frequent her blog.

“Don’t Worry America, Mum’s Got Your Back”

In honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I’d like to repost this.

“Don’t Worry America, Mum’s Got Your Back.”

I spoke with Kathleen last night and she said, rather proudly, that an announcer on BBC America said the above statement.

Danger is always a tactical option for our enemy.
The news coming out the last twelve hours has once again reminded us that danger and death are a stark reality in a world consumed with following man-made and demonically influenced ideologies (from simple selfishness to terrorism). Our out-of-control world will always remain that way as long as we insist on ignoring our Creator God and His plan.

When we don’t embrace God’s plan, by default we follow the god of this world’s plan. Satan’s plan is to steal, kill and destroy all and any good thing – including people, especially people.

But God is in Control
In 1994, Twila Paris wrote a song titled God Is In Control after obsessing about the world’s instability.

God spoke to Twila’s heart. “He said, ‘Just remember, people do what they will, but at the end of the day I’m the One with the ultimate authority. Remember that I am in control.’ ” (Taken from an online article in Christianity Today, August 2006).

“Oh, yeah. God is in control, Twila thought. The overused phrase had almost become a cliché. But as Twila reflected on the meaning of those four words, it hit her. We as humans sometimes choose to do terrible things. But the truth remains: He is in control.”

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for Your all-consuming care for us and that sometimes we get to visibly see that care.

Thank you, Lord, for friends (like Great Britain) who look out for us at a time when people in other nations and even in our own, denigrate* our government, our help and our way-of-life.

Mighty God, please use this latest terrorist attempt to bring people to You and to help us to place our trust in You in a bigger way. Help us to believe and live like You are in control. Help us to live in a more selfless way in order to do Your will on Earth like it is being done in Heaven.

Finally, Merciful Saviour, bring sweet relief and salvation to the family and friends who are left behind after terrorist attacks everywhere and specifically to those of 9/11.

Amen.

* I think there is a huge difference between denigrating, maligning and defaming America and openly discussing, in a polite helpful way, our “growth” areas.

Oh, and God? Thanks for getting my back too!

Related Posts

• Personal Response to Evil (at Virginia Tech, Columbine & 9/11) 
• Remembering a Hero: Rudolph Riccio
• Mother Teresa’s Faith Crisis:Similar to Mine?

7 Posts I Like

 

 

Crafts

• Tie-On Shoes – A LA Doris Day Style

Health

• 14 Ways to Supercharge Your Brain – All are legal and most are fun

Ministry

• A Women’s Place in Ministry – What are your thoughts?

Writing

• The Why & How Scanable Content – This is the best way to write for blogs
• Writing Your Life – a few tips
• Storytelling – These ideas are good for copy writing and blogs, around the campfire and for bedtime stories
• Summer Writing Tips – While these tips are for kids, adults could benefit from them too.

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Peace and Hope While in the Depth of Pain – John Stumbo’s Story

The theology one has about God makes all the difference in how one handles the pain of hard times. It is the person with faith, the person who sees God rightly, that can say in the most painful of times, “God is in it and God is good.”

I recently heard John Stumbo’s story. At that time he was the pastor of Salem Alliance Church in Salem, Oregon. At the beginning of the week of October 17, 2008, John thought he had the flu. By the end of the week that was far from the truth. Many months and 100 tests later, the doctors still don’t know why John’s body weakened to the point of death (several times). One of the medications produced delusions some fun, but many dark and eerie.

Overview of John’s Reactions to Pain (Illness)

• John described having a deep peace despite his desperate illness.
• The hope John had in seeing Jesus upon his death helped John get through the dark, delusional times.
• This deep sense of hope helped keep John sane.
• The prayers and encouragement (verbal as in calls and cards, practical as in money and meals) aided John in his journey during the dark times and now in his journey back to health.
• These events have been good for his spiritual journey, marriage and congregation. God has already begun to use it.
• After 100 tests the doctors still don’t know what was/is wrong with John.  But God is still in it and God is good.

Quotes I especially liked

• I had my hand on death’s doorknob ready to push the door open but I had about 3000 of you pulling back on me not letting me in. I didn’t have a chance to get into heaven with all you people praying for me.
• I’m running a marathon I didn’t plan on running.
• I don’t really like the journey I’m on…but God is in it and God is good.
• Some of you don’t like the journey you’re on either right now. You’re in a tough spot . . . Economically hard times . . . Financially bad news . . . Relationally tough situations . . . Physically struggling. Please know according to Psalm 139, He is the God of the light and the darkness.
• God is in it and God is good.

When I’m going through a painful time in life, I listen more readily to people who have been through their own painful times. John has been through such a painful time. Yet he still clung, and clings, to the truth that God is in it and God is good. I love this example of perseverance and faith, this illustration of a man’s deep love and trust in God.

Many times life doesn’t make sense and in fact its not always a likable journey. But it is also a fact that we, Christians, don’t travel alone. God is with us. And often, often we are surrounded by a faithful group of people who cheer us on with their prayers and encouragement.

Let’s Talk About It. Where are you in this journey?

1. Needing prayers and encouragement? Who will you contact for this? Will you do so today?
2. Able to offer prayers and encouragement? Who has God laid on your heart to help? Will you do one thing today?
3. Do you believe that God is in your painful journey and that God is good? Why or why not.
4. Listen to the video. What are your reactions? Favorite quotes?

34,684 Applicants Think Australia Job Best in the World; I Disagree

This “best job” involves getting paid to explore the Great Barrier Reef islands.  And then singing the praises of  the sea, the sun, and the outdoors surrounding those islands via blog and video.

This exposure will hopefully increase Australian tourism. Go here  for the official website to vote on your favorite applicant. Voting for the 50 final applicants closes March 24, 2009 . Go here and here to read more about this job.

While it would be marvelous to partake of this lifestyle for its 6 month duration, I don’t think it is the best job in the world. I think I Chronicles 16:4a describes the best job . . .

“David appointed Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord and to celebrate [by calling to mind], thanking and praising the Lord, the God of Israel (I Chronicles 16:4a Amplified Bible).

Here’s an advert David could have posted in the Jerusalem Gazette: Looking for Levites to lead the people in worship. Duties: celebrating, thanking and praising the Lord God.

Live the abundant, grace-filled life and then publicly share via celebration, thanksgiving and praise what God has done. Now that’s something I’d love to get paid to do!  Hopefully this public exposure will show who and what God is like, increase faith, and lead people into a closer walk with God.

I am thankful for the worship leaders at my church. I believe they do the above.

Today, I’m going to celebrate by calling to mind things that cause me to thank and praise the Lord God Almighty!

Isaiah 43:25

1. God wipes out my transgressions.
2. He remembers them no more.
3. He does this for His own sake!

Isaiah 46: 4 – one of my favorite verses right now for obvious reasons.

1. God will take care of me . . .
2.  . . . Even when I am old.
3.  . . . Even when I have grey hair.

Habakkuk 3:19

The Lord God is my . . .

1. . . . Strength.
2. . . . Personal bravery.
3. . . . Invincible army.
4. He enables me to walk and not stand still in terror.
5. He helps me make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble, suffering, and/or responsibility.

What would be your best job in the world? What causes you to celebrate, thank and/or praise God?

Happy Birthday to Lynette!

Hey friend, sister and co-worker,

Happy Birthday on your 45th year. I am blessed to know you, Lynette.

You’ve been a source of joy, friendship, and wisdom in my life. Thanks. 🙂

May God continue to gift you with His discernment, strength, and laughter. This come with lots of love, prayers and friendship too.

Hey to my other friends, Leave a message for Lynette here in the comments or at her place at this post.

Understanding God Through (some of) His Attributes

 Recently my daughter, an artist, created a piece that tried to explain color to a non-sighted person. She did this by assigning textures to each color. Obviously a sighted person can immediately see the short-comings in this comparison. But to the non-sighted this effort was as good as any since color, to them, is an incomprehensible attribute of our world. She was trying to explain by building a bridge from their known world to the unknown world of color.

Trying to explain God is like trying to explain color to a non-sighted person. He is totally incomprehensible. So, the only way to even get a glimpse of God is to build a bridge from our known world to the unknown world of God.

Author and theologian A.W. Tozer builds such a bridge on attributes of God. Tozer, in his book The Knowledge of the Holy, says an attribute is “whatever God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself” (12). Though Tozer shares 19 attributes he maintains, “God, being infinite, must possess attributes about which we can know nothing” (13). So, obviously this explanation of God through attributes falls short.

Though this bridge falls short, Tozer uses it for an important reason: to get the Church thinking rightly about God once again. The sad truth is, the Church does not even realize that she has surrendered her high opinion of God by making Him something manageable and understandable.

Indeed theses ideas “lie buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an intelligent and vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is” (2). We all have heretical thoughts/beliefs about God. One way to unearth these is to read about God’s attributes and compare our ideas to truth.

The Knowledge of the Holy describes 19 attributes of God. Each chapter begins with a prayer and in six to eight pages boils down the essential points of each trait. The information is concise and simple enough for a new Believer and yet deep enough to use as support material for papers in seminary. (Several years ago I read chapter 13, The Divine Transcendence, many times in order to get a grip on that topic for a final.)

Don’t be fooled though. Even were I to memorize each word of The Knowledge of the Holy, I would not fully know God. But any information I do internalize surely helps me grow in knowledge, faith, hope, and love. Every time I read this book my AWE of and for God increases.

NOTE: In October 2006 I wrote about The Knowledge of the Holy here. I had to reread the book for an assignment for today and so updated the report. If you do click back to that post, be sure to answer those questions here.

Daughter’s Sculpture is Airing on History Channel July 14th

My daughter sculpted a caveman tattoo kit from clay for a History Channel program about tattooing.

The program airs July 14th, 9 pm Eastern on the History Channel. Anybody have cable that can tape this for me?

Go here to see more views.

I’m one proud mama.

Hot Air Balloon Pictures That Sista Took

Sista said I could show her pictures from our hot air balloon flight in Napa, CA. If you haven’t read about the trip yet, go here. You’ll read about my 11 observations.

Aren’t we up so high? 1000 feet was our highest flight. Amazingly my son saw a deer from up there. The white tail gave him away. He also spotted a rabbit!

Can you believe that we flew over this gorgeous country? Initially there was a bit of fog – which flowed along underneath us.

What a huge shadow. We are coming in for our landing . . . . and for our champagne breakfast. There were lots of food choices so that even my daughter was able to get filled up.

This trip doesn’t compare to the one taken by the Professor in The 21 Balloons book. But I am quite content with the lack of adventure. Plus, how cool to make the memories with my kiddos and sista. How fun to be able to cross off something from my 51 Things To-Do list.

11 Generations Participate in 6 Word Philosophy of Life Meme

I’ve been reading the answers people have been leaving to this meme. It’s causing me to think some more; AND the opportunity to investigate blogs outside my norm.

Since I’m the curious sort, I investigated to see how far back this meme goes. Looks like about 11 generations. Heidi (who lives in the Netherlands) is the first person mentioned. Heidi has 2 blogs and I wasn’t able to find the original post. Her blogs are as follows: Celebrate the Seasons, Needle Necessities. She is also part of a group blog titled Creative Home Life.

1. Heidi from the Netherlands tagged Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses. Rhondi’s answer is . . . Laughed, cried, worked, played, loved, prayed. Rhondi tagged Deb of Posted From Home.
2. Deb’s six words are: Live Life With a grateful heart. Deb of Posted From Home tagged Tara from Days Missed on a Hammock.
3. Tara’s philosophy is . . . Make Lemonade Out of Life’s Lemons. Tara from Days Missed on a Hammock tagged Oliver Rain.
4. Oliver Rain’s answer is . . . Everything Works Out in the End. Oliver Rain tagged My Cakies.
5. My Cakies lives by the following philosophy . . . Enjoy God & Make Him Known. (Side note Look here for a beautiful felt crown for a princess. Can you tell I’m a princess at heart?) My Cakies tagged Jenny at Babyfingers.
6. Jenny’s answer is . . . Exit your comfort zone everyday. Jenny from Babyfingers tagged Julie at the Knotted Apron Strings.
7. Julie’s contribution is “Do the Math . . . Count Your Blessings.” Julie at Knotted Apron Strings tagged Theresa from Knitting Non Pareil.
8. Theresa’s answer is . . . Learn to love who you are. Theresa from Knitting NonPareil tagged Theresa from Stitches of Grace.
9. Theresa’s 6 words philosophy is . . . . Seek first the kingdom of God. Theresa from Stitches of Grace tagged me. My answer is Joyful Hope. Patient Affliction. Faithful Prayer.
10. So far one person has responded to my tag. Catlady doesn’t have a blog but she commented: “One day at a time, sober.” … “I stayed with the basics. After all, if I’m not sober I’ve lost God and me and, ultimately, everything else.”
11. Theresa also tagged Amy from Journaling Back to Joy. Her 3 people have answered. Teresa, The Virginia Queen Bee’s Answer: When I am weak, then I am strong. Perri’s, My Life in Bits & Pieces wrote: God’s in control, I’m at peace. Michelle at Happy Mom 777 also said: Seek first the Kingdom of God.

This was fun researching. So many wonderful projects, photos, thoughts and recipes to look at.

Your Turn . . . Have a looksee and tell me what struck your eye. Either on the blogs or about the 6 word summaries.

Also let me know if we can go back further than Heidi. Thanks. 🙂

Four Related Posts  . . .

• 6 Words That Define Philosophy of Life
• My 6 Word Philosophy of Life Brings Perspective
• 11 Generations Participate in 6 Word Philosophy of Life Meme
• Philosophy of Life Hasn’t Changed in 9 Years

What “Online Places” Do You Read On A Regular Basis?

1. Of course the ones on my blogroll: These are family and friends and it’s a great way to “see” what’s on their mind. Any one of them is a GOOD read.

2. Widow’s Quest – Anna is “learning how to redefine and rediscover life” as a widow. Although I’m not a widow, I benefit greatly from many of her posts that deal with grief, healing and moving on.

3. Scribbit – Michelle, born in and still living in Alaska, writes daily entries about “favorite recipes, reviews, crafts and giveaways mixed with stories of life in the Last Frontier.” She also has time to be a mother to 4. Besides the previous, I like to read this blog because I lived in Anchorage for a year or so when I was in elementary school.

4. LifeHack – This blog features “hacks, tips and tricks that get things done quickly by automating, increas[ing] productivity and organizing.” Today’s post shares how to have a more effective weekly review. Since I want to review my days three times a week, as part of my 51 things to do this year, I find this article to be most helpful.

5. See Through Faith – Lorna (in Finalnd) is journaling her walk with God as a mother, wife, woman and seminary student. Since I’m an older seminary student as well, I find her blog interesting and encouraging.

6. Tammy’s Recipes – This is more than a food blog -although there are lots of good recipes, with reviews and pictures. Take a look and tell me why you like this site.

7. Unclutterer – Blog about getting and staying organized. There are several other good blogs on this topic as well. Someday I’ll do a roundup of them.

8. Like Merchant Ships – Blog about being a well-rounded woman, wife and mother with posts on a myriad of topics that are helpful, encouraging and interesting to even me a divorced, empty-nester who is finishing her masters.

9. A Creative Journal – Posts with lots of creative journal ideas – for those who like to do that sort of thing. I used to journal a lot and I miss it. While I don’t journal that much any more, I at least think about the journal idea generators.

10. The Simple Dollar – “Financial talk for the rest of us” – many tips on how to manage finances and save some money. Reading this site has given me some useful ideas to incorporate into my financial life.

11. Free Rice – This vocabulary-building game helps me with this aspect of English and do a good deed. For each word I get right, 20 grains of rice are donated through the UN World Food Program to the poor. I confess that I sometimes do this while having dictionary.com open.

12. Positive Psychology News Daily – Because I like to read research-based articles about “the Science of happiness and positive psychology.” Read this one about Positive Abnormality: Be a Genius by Discovering your Specialty, Uniqueness and Meaning. Leave a comment on what you think. I think these types of articles are thought-provoking, helpful, and fun to read.

13. Cordova Neighborhood Church – This site lets you know what the latest sermon series is – you can access this through an mp3 tab; gives info on the Youth, Big Kids Club and Socks and Gloves ministry. Go here for the Calendar. There’s also info about What we Believe, the Staff and more.

These are some of the sites I check on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Where do you spend your time?

For more Thursday 13 posts, go here.

A Winner & A Passer

A WINNER – SISTA

My talented Sista won a photo contest (photo-a-go-go) that KFBK hosts every week. Go here and look under WEEK ENDING FEB 29. In this photo gallery it is picture 16 out of 28. Or you can go here to see it as well. She won a slew of prizes! OK – only 3. But isn’t that awesome? Go to her site and leave her a congrats.

A PASSER – LORI

Lori took her nursing test Saturday morning. She ended up doing the short on-line test – the computer decides. This means she did REALLY well and so didn’t have to answer more questions. OR she did really BADLY and there’s no hope of passing, even with getting all the rest right. Well of course, SHE PASSED. Lori’s permanent license will be arriving in a few weeks. You can go here and leave some congrats.