You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2Corinthians 3:2-3
Another healthy, gluten free, option. I’ve combined several different recipes to come up with one we like. This one is a crock pot/slow cooker meal. Serves 6-8.
Ingredients
4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 can coconut milk
1 c unsweetened applesauce
1/2 onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c mushrooms, chopped
1 T curry powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
1 T cornstarch
Fresh or frozen vegetables of choice (green beans, baby or sliced carrots, peas, sliced zucchini)
2 apples, peeled, cored, sliced
Directions
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place in crockpot.
Add green beans, carrots, peas.
In a 4 cup measuring cup, combine coconut with onion, celery, garlic, mushrooms, and seasoning. Pour over everything.
Cook on low for 5 hours.
Combine cornstarch with 1/4 c warm water. Add to crockpot.
Add zucchini and apple slices. (I add them near the end so they don’t break down into mush)
I will give you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and offer my prayer to you.
Psalm 116:17 (GNT)
“There is this: We give thanks to God not because of how we feel but because of who He is.”
Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”
G.K. Chesterton
Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. To reflect on your blessings is to rehearse God’s accomplishments. To rehearse His accomplishments is to discover His heart. Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread. So practice gratitude! As Ephesians 5:20 puts it, “Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Max Lucado, You’ll Get Through This
If having a thankful heart came naturally, if it was something we easily do, we wouldn’t need to be reminded to do it. Looking on Biblegateway/NIV, Scripture mentions giving thanks and thanksgiving 133 in the Old Testament and 72 times in the New Testament. Paul mentions it 46 times in his letters.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
God’s will for us. To give thanks. In all circumstances. Not just when things are going our way. Not just when we feel like it. Not just when God answers our prayers the way we want.
In. All. Circumstances.
That’s not easy. That takes cultivation. Work. A renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). A renewed spirit (Psalm 51:10). A new self (Ephesians 4:24).
It’s easy to be a grumbler, complainer, whiner, protestor, groucher, fusser, criticizer. Allowing negativity, cynicism, and a bad attitude to poison our thoughts, our hearts, our spirits. For that is what they are. Poison. Like an insect invasion to a garden destroying plant and fruit. Or fungus in the roots killing the plant’s ability to take in life giving nutrients. Or toxins leeched into the soil damaging the plant’s growth and health.
God’s prescription? Gratitude. Thanksgiving. Appreciation. Remembering the good things he has done. Trusting his promises. Acknowledging his gifts. Giving him thanks, not because he needs it, but because we do.
Ann Voskamp in her book One Thousand Gifts speaks of the first sin being “the sin of ingratitude.” The first man and woman, instead of giving thanks for all God provided, were painfully ungrateful and wanted what God did not give.
In the book, Ann tells of a dare she received from a friend: could she write a list of a thousand things she loves? Name one thousand blessings? One thousand gifts?
And so Ann grabs a scrap of paper and begins the list.
I encourage you to begin a list as well. Grab a piece of paper, a notebook, the next page in your journal, and number down the left hand side, all the way to the bottom. Today. Right now. Close your eyes. Picture the special moments from the week, think of the unexpected interruptions, remember the ordinary. Because they all hold that which you can be thankful. Write them down. See them as gifts from our Father. Blessings poured out. Expressions of his love.
Crescent moon rising in the cool clear sky
Little girls’ giggles late into the night
Worship, music swelling, hands held high
Sunshine splashing across the backyard deck
Cuckoo clock striking twelve
Wind chimes playing melody in the breeze
Furry warmth curled up in lap
Shelves stocked full at the grocery store
Desk cluttered with keepsakes and mementos
Growing list and filling heart
Continue the list…
Receive these gifts, theses blessings, these things given to you in love. And keep going.
Another healthy, gluten free, option. We tried this one out for the first time and the husband decided it’s a keeper (not all the recipes I find are keepers).
Ingredients
2 T lime juice 2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 2 T oil 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut in 1/2 inch pieces1 zucchini, quarted and cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1 yellow summer squash, quarted and cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1 can black beans, drained 1 can corn giblets, drained (or 1 cup frozen) 1/3 c picante sauce or salsa 2 T fresh cilantro, chopped
Directions
Mix lime juice, chili powder, garlic, salt, and pepper in medium bowl. Stir in chicken until well coated. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
Heat oil in large skillet over high heat.
Add marinated chicken and stir fry until chicken is no longer pink in center, about 5-6 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Add 1 T oil to skillet and coat bottom. Add zucchini and yellow squash and stir fry until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
Stir in black beans, corn, chicken, picante sauce and cilantro and cook until hot, about 4-5 minutes.
The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration; the act of attributing reverent honor and homage to God
In the Greek, the word used for worship in the New Testament is often Proskuneó – to prostrate oneself, to fall down. It comes from two words, Pros meaning to move toward and Kuneó meaning to kiss. How might the definitions and an understanding of the Greek word provide you fresh insight on the following verses?
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24
And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17
In the Hebrew, the word used for worship in the Old Testament is Shachah – to bow down, to prostrate oneself. The Scriptures are filled with worship, unfortunately often God’s people did not worship Him, but the gods and idols of other nations. But God promises that one day, all nations will worship Him and He calls the whole earth to worship Him now. Do you take the time during your week to answer this call?
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
Psalm 22:27
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalm 96:9
Worshipping God is not merely confined to Sunday mornings in our church service—there are many ways to worship. In fact, everything we do, as we’re doing it in and for the Lord, can be a form of worship.
Music – singing (Psalm 66:4), playing instruments (Psalm 144:9), dancing (Psalm 149:3), hymns (Colossians 3:16)
Prayer – listening to and talking to God (Psalm 32:6),
Study – God’s word, his statutes, commands, instructions, teachings, precepts, laws, testimonies, prophecies, and promises (Psalm 119)
Serve – ministry (Romans 14:18), meeting the needs of others (Matthew 25:40), working (Colossians 3:23), one another (1 Peter 4:10), giving (Deuteronomy 16:17)
I’m thankful that everything I do can be a form of worship to God. However, I’m often busy about whatever I’m doing and I forget to surrender my activities, to offer them up to God. My deeds, no matter what they are, can become something other than worship. In fact, they can become tedious and burdensome, a sort of counter-worship.
When this happens, I know its time for a heart check. And intentional, focused, worship provides the realignment the heart needs. Sometimes it’s listening to music, sometimes it’s sitting in the shade of the tree listening to the wind, sometimes it’s working on a devotional like this one, sometimes it’s reading the Psalms out loud.
A very simple and practical way to adjust my heart is to focus on God and not myself. I mentioned the Psalms—they’re a great place to turn my eyes on Him. There is also what I call the Adoration Alphabet and it can be done anytime, any place. Driving, walking, cleaning house, exercising, trying to fall asleep.
Start with the letter A and think of all the attributes, characteristics, qualities, actions, and nature of God that start with A. Discuss with Him what each one means to you. Then move on to B, then C, until you’ve either run out of time, fallen asleep, or realized that your eyes are now on Him and not yourself or your circumstances. Your heart has been readjusted and realigned.
I’ll help you start.
God, you are ABLE to realign my heart as I focus on you.
God, you BLESS me everyday with so many good things.
God, you CARE when my heart isn’t right with yours.
God, you DELIGHT in me and my worship.
God, you EQUIP me for whatever I may face each day.
God, you FREE me from the things that weigh me down.
God, you GUARD my heart so that I can worship you.
8 oz tuna steak, cut into 3 pieces or 1 12 oz can tuna
4 T extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 t freshly grated lemon zest
2 t chopped fresh rosemary 0r 1 t dried, divided
1/2 t salt, divided
1/4 t freshly ground pepper
6 oz whole-wheat rotini or penne pasta or 1/2 spaghetti squash
1 can artichoke hearts
1/4 c sliced olives
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 c grape tomatoes, halved
2 T lemon juice
1/2 c fresh spinich, wilted
1/4 c chopped fresh basil for garnish
1/4 c shredded parmesan
Directions
If grilling, preheat grill to medium-high. Put a large pot of water on to boil.
Toss tuna pieces in a bowl with 1 T oil, lemon zest, 1 t fresh rosemary (or 1/2 t dried), 1/4 t salt and pepper. Grill the tuna until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. When cool enough to handle, flake the tuna into bite-size pieces.
If using canned tuna, drain and toss in a bowl with 1 T oil, lemon zest, 1 t fresh rosemary (or 1/2 t dried), 1/4 t salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Or microwave 1/2 spaghetti squash on a plate in 2 T water for 5-8 minutes until fork tender. When cool enough to handle, fork the squash into noodles.
Heat the remaining 3 T oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add artichoke hearts, olives, garlic and the remaining rosemary. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes; bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are broken down, about 3 minutes more. Wilt spinach in a separate pan and stir in with the noodles, tuna pieces, lemon juice and the remaining 1/4 t salt; cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Garnish with basil (or parsley) and parmesan, if desired.
"The Lord God gives me the right words to encourage the weary.
Each morning he awakens me eager to learn his teaching;
he made me willing to listen and not rebel or run away."
Isaiah 50:4-5
"We are your symphony, Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life."
— Governor Gertrude Lang (Joanna Gleason) in Mr. Holland's Opus
"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
C.S. Lewis
"...to be little with God is to be little for God."
E.M. Bounds
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
Mother Theresa
"He became what we are that He might make us what He is"
Saint Athanasius, 295-373
"It is the Christ in you, who recognizes the Christ in me...From now on, wherever you go, or wherever I go, all the ground between us will be holy ground."
Henri J.M. Nouwen
Why pray?
"…I have no better answer than the example of Jesus, who knew above any of us the wisdom of the Father and yet who felt a strong need to flood the heavens with requests."
Philip Yancey
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried."
G.K. Chesterton
"The well of your incompleteness runs deep, but make the effort to look away from yourself and to look toward Him."
Oswald Chambers
tablets of human hearts 