James Brown, Spicy Rice, and a Whole Lota Fun!

 

It isn’t every day that I get up singing and dancing around.   I have cut out caffeine and sugar in my already vegetarian diet.  What on earth do I have to be singing about???  First and foremost.. God.  God is the reason.  I really had a good soul searching day yesterday.  We talked about my feelings of insignificance.  We discussed His plan for me.  We fellowshipped.

Also, before I began the Daniel Fast, I revisited the book, Why Am I so Grumpy, Dopey, and Sleepy? by Lorrie Medford.  In her book, she explains the effects of sugar in our diet.  When we have too much sugar, we tend to 1. be grumpy, 2.  can’t focus, and 3.  feel tired.  Then we pump ourselves with more sugar or caffeine to attempt to break the cycle.  Ahem.. I am so guilty of doing that….

So today is the third day of no sugar in my diet and the 6th day of no caffeine.  I feel absolutely wonderful.  In fact I told the family this morning around the table… “God is really smart.”  Daniel really had something going there when he refused the rich foods from the king’s table.  God pointed out that he was healthier than the others who took part in the rich foods.  Huh..  maybe God knows what he is talking about!!  If I feel this great after 3 days , imagine how I will feel after 6 weeks!!!!

No wonder I was singing “I feel Good!!”  James Brown had nothing on me this morning.  I’m sure the family was worried about me when they heard me belting it out from behind the closed bathroom door.

Oh, I just have to share this recipe with you.  It is from the Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast.  It is so tasty!  Mark even commented on how great it was.. and it is spicy!!  YUM!!

Mexican Rice and Beans

1 1/2 cups brown rice

1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup diced red onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 1/2 cups water

1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 cayenne pepper

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley

(I opted to use instant brown rice to cut down on the cooking time) The recipe is for the non instant rice!

Rinse rice in fine mesh sieve under cold running water for 30 seconds, swirling the rice around with your hand.  Drain and set aside.  (If you use the instant brown rice then skip this part)

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add onions and cook until soft and translucent.  Add garlic, cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly so garlic doesn’t burn.

Pour in water, rice, tomatoes and chilies, cumin and cayenne pepper.  Heat to boiling.  Reduce heat and cover.  Simmer 45-55 minutes (instant rice users… 10-15 minutes) or until rice is tender and nearly all the liquid is absorbed.  Add beans and stir well.  Cook another 8-10 minutes.  Add parsley and serve.

Yummy!!!  May I suggest you run out and buy this book!!  The recipes are really really good!!

Okay!  Okay! Okay!  I drew a name for the handbag!!  Melissa, you are the winner!!  Congrats!!  I can’t wait to send this to you!!  Email me so I can get your information!!!  Now for the rest of you.. I will be giving something away again in April!!  I can’t wait to share it!

Now enjoy your weekend!  God bless!!!

Fast and Furious

After an hour from my baked oatmeal and blueberries, I am hungry.  Immediately, my thoughts shot to “What on earth was I thinking?”  The Daniel Fast is going to be tough but come on… an hour into it and I am already whining like a spoiled child.

I opened my Bible to the marked verse for today:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

Sat there numb to the thought of 6 weeks of the Daniel Fast.  I reread the verse.

Then I got mad… furious!  I closed the Bible and crossed my arms.  I was mad that I hadn’t chosen something easy to give up.

The longer I pouted; the more God spoke.  This isn’t just about eating healthier.  This isn’t just about weight loss.  This isn’t about food.  or sugar. or soda.  God whispered into me..  It is about cleansing.  It is about confessing.  It is about leaning on Him.  It is about taking the focus off of food and put it on Him.  It is about praising Him for what I can eat.  It is about praising Him on the changes I am about to embark.

((sigh))  I uncrossed my arms.  Got on my knees and confessed everything.  My fears.  My worries.  My hunger.  My dependence.  My food addictions.  My false needs for soda.  My idol (food, soda, sugar).  I laid it out there.

Soon my anger turned to praise.  And then I ate a cup of fresh strawberries.  Thank God for strawberries!! Thank God for listening and forgiving me.  Thank God for the Daniel fast.

Now if you haven’t done so already… I’ve gotta ask… Why Not???  I have this great handbag to give away.  You have until Friday to leave a comment and get your name in the drawing.  I will be announcing the winner on Friday.  Get your name in the drawing!!   Leave a comment!!

God Bless…

Pancakes, Headaches, and a Handbag

 

I hope you made pancakes today!!  Today is Shrove Tuesday.  In many parts of the world, folks make pancakes to use up the milk, eggs, and butter before observing Lent.  They become vegan for the next 6 weeks.  I did that last year.  This year I am partaking in the Daniel Fast.  It will be tough and I am really afraid.  But I just keep reminding myself that God tells me time and time again “not to be afraid.”

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.   Isaiah 41:13

I trust in that verse.  God will help me.  God will hold my hand.  God will ease my fears.  And giving up sugar and caffeine scares me to death.  My body will freak out!  My thoughts will be racing and trying to convince me to cheat.  My heart will pound from the fear of failing.  Praise God, though.  He will be holding my hand.  I may squeeze the fire out of it but He will be there, nonetheless.

I’ve been preparing a speech now for an entire week.  Snippets of things I want to say are swimming in my head.  I can’t seem to pin down a single idea.  I am getting anxious and worried that I will not be able to pull this off.   I prayed so much yesterday that I made my head hurt.  I got so frustrated with myself that the veins in my head pounded.  Then last night, I went to our prayer service.  I walked in the sanctuary and immediately began to cry.  I laid it all out there for God.  My fears,  my anxiety, my pride..  It all just flowed with the tears.  I was emotionally cleansed and felt so weak.  This morning, I opened my Bible and found this…

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.   Isaiah 40:29-31

I must admit.  After a good cry and a night’s rest, I feel more confident.  I put my weaknesses before the Lord last night.  It is His hope that has given me the strength I need for today.  Praise God!!

Okay, now I have this beautiful handbag I want to give away!  All you have to do to get your name in the drawing pot is simply leave a comment.  I will announce the lucky owner on Friday!!

 

Enjoy your Day!

God Bless…

Wild Wild Weekend

 

Well, my weekend started off great!!  Friday night, the Dettra family spent a quiet evening at home.  I made my famous “Mom’s Pizza”..ahem… so famous, my dear son wants to open a restaurant serving only MY pizza!!  We gathered around the TV and watch a movie while chowing down my famous pizza.  I think lightning will be striking soon if I mention again the famousness of my pizza.

After the pizza and movie, I checked my website for any comments.  Oh heavens!!  You are not going to guess what I saw!!  A comment from Kristen Feola… the author of the Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast!!  You gotta click right here and check it out.. I’ll wait for you to get back…

Isn’t that something????  I freaked out!!!  I have never had that happen before.  I literally flipped out!

Guess what came in the mail on Friday..  Made to Crave!!  I did a little dance at the mailbox.  Everyone knows in my Wednesday night Bible class that I am Lysa Terkurst’s twin sister separated by birth.  I am just waiting for my dad to break the news so I can call her up and say, “Hey Sis!”  But anyway, Friday night I began to read it.  Absolutely. Won.DER.ful!!!  I had a hard time putting it down.  I finally made myself because I had an early start Saturday morning.

“OOps, the potato wagon fell over.”

That’s what my grandmother would say when rolling thunder crashed in the air.  Saturday morning around 2, the potato wagon fell over and over and over and over and over.  I could not sleep for the frightened dog running and shaking.  Poor Ginger.  Bless her heart, storms take a toll on her.  I had put the book down around midnight and now I’m up.  The alarm would be sounding at 4.  UGH!!

So at 4, I’m up and sorta awake.  I know you must be wondering why on earth I would be getting up at 4 on a Saturday.  Oh, the things I do for my kids!!  My daughter’s youth group had a fundraiser at the Little Rock Marathon.  Our job was to pick up trash for Waste Management.  I will spare you the ugly details.  In short, we did our duty and well.. we were wet, cold, and tired before it was over.  Just picture a drowned rat wearing a poncho and leather working gloves… that is what we all looked like!!  I must say, though, the kids were real troopers.

Every year, Winter Jam rolls into Little Rock.  And I am a Winter Jam Junkie!  My fellow rocker, Pam, and I take our girls every year.  This year was one of the best performances.  Maybe because we HAD THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE!!  We danced, screamed, and sang the night away.  I was like a kid again!  Red was great!  Sadly, though, I can’t head-bang like I did in the 80’s!!  Oh, David Crowder and Sidewalk Prophets moved the crowd.  Kutless jammed!  And the Newsboys… brought the house down!!  What a wonderful worship experience!  I just love Winter Jam.  My daughter said that she was moved by the life changing stories she heard.  She called it the “best night of her life.”

Yesterday, I felt my age and then some.  I was so tired.

I had such a wonderful weekend.  I just don’t want to stop celebrating!  So, today, I am giving a beautiful handbag away.  It is a Kristine Accessories handbag.

All you have to do is leave a comment on any of the posts this week.  From a random drawing, a winner will be selected.  On Friday, March 11, I will announce the lucky winner of this handbag.  Good luck!!

God bless…

Baked Oatmeal Recipe

 

My fast begins in one week.  This is going to be a great challenge.  I am looking forward to leaning on God’s strength and wisdom during this adventure.

I am gathering recipes and making plans with this great book.  It has everything lined out for me.  There are recipes and daily devotions.  Kristen Feola explains the techniques and purposes behind fasting. Her great knowledge on fasting makes me want to do it everyday.. well, okay maybe I am stretching it a weeee tiny bit.  But she makes it sound so… well.. Holy.  Ahem..  because it is!!  She shows examples of who in the Bible used fasting and how God responded.  Her devotions are clear and easy to follow.  She has done all the work for me.  And for that, I am truly blessed.

Hey she even has a recipe for corn chips in there… Giving up salsa was going to be hard!!  Praise God for creative geniuses!

Today, I am going to share one of Ms. Feola’s recipes for Baked Oatmeal.  This will probably be one of my most consumed breakfasts!  It sounds great and well.. I am not allergic to it!!

Baked Oatmeal

1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup chopped dried apricots

1/4 cup chopped dates or raisins

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (I will have pecans.. Ugh!  Allergies!!)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put all ingredients in a large bowl and stir well.  Transfer to an 8X8 inch baking dish that has been lightly rubbed with olive oil.  Pour oatmeal mixture into dish and bake 45-50 minutes or until slightly browned and crispy on top.  Double the recipe for a 9×13 casserole dish.

Yummy!!  Enjoy your Thursday and God Bless..