through and for Jesus
Today, I’m sharing my favourite breakfast recipes from some of my favourite bloggers. In my opinion, if you have these recipes, you have all your delicious breakfast cravings covered.
First, my absolute favourite overnight oat recipe from this Instagram game changer, JJ.
Next, the greatest, fluffiest dairy free pancakes (Gingerbread!) by Katie
Really though, what is a breakfast series without poached egg and avocado toast? Pinch of Yum
This question sums up my most recent conviction.
Daily, we are faced with lies. Ads telling us we need to focus on anti-aging when the truth is that we all age.
Or that implementing x could add 5 years to your lifespan.
That “just getting through the day” via shortcuts in order to get home earlier in order to veg and then sleep and then get up and work again is worth sacrificing “little moments” with people.
That a certain diet will fix all your problems.
Plain and simply, none of it is true.
Maybe, if we saw a fickle life on this earth as all there is, these things might make sense. But even then, even if one doesn’t believe in the Lord, we all know the quantity of a few more years spent focusing on the goal of survival is not much to boast about.
This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15
If we delve into Scripture and embrace God’s Truth, we begin to recognize the idols and false hopes in our lives. The soul sucking truths of the world, and the Truth we were created for: the grace and cause of a God whose love is unfathomable, who goes before us as Leader and Ruler, and who came to save us from sin.
And I don’t know about you, but I recognize more every day my need for that grace.
I will never understand the price of the Son of God’s life for my cruddiness, but I vow to live each day for Him. I know that my life is best lived not in accordance with seeking more (lifespan, clothing, money, affection, health), but in accordance with seeking His will for my step by step. Which looks like joy. It looks like miracles. It looks like Jesus.
And He promises that, if we’re seeking other things, the best thing we can do is look to Him, because He will provide.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Matthew 6:25
Last night was the bachelorette party of one of my beautiful best friends, Beth.
It was such a special, funny night, and I was honoured to do some of the baking for ma girl, who is a baking queen herself!
Here, the recipe for my French Vanilla Cupcakes:
Ingredients
2 1/2 c flour
1.5 T vanilla extract
3 eggs, beaten
2 c sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 T salt
1 pint French vanilla ice cream
1/2 c milk
1/4 c margarine
Icing
1 c cream cheese
1/2 c powdered sugar
2 T vanilla
2 T milk
Method
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, mix together all dry cupcake ingredients. Add wet ingredients; mix well.
3. Split evenly amongst sprayed or lined cupcake tray. Bake for 30-35 mins, or until fork inserted comes out clean.
3. Beat all icing ingredients together in small bowl. Ice Cupcakes when completely cooled.
I believe it’s our generation’s sickness.
The need to be busy and the association with productivity and identity.
This past weekend, I got to go to my cottage with one of my amazing sisters and my amazing boyfriend.
Johnny, bless his heart, drove about nine combined hours so we could be at the cottage for just about 24 hours. And it was so worth it.
Not doing much but chillen on the beach, plus a solo canoe trip and a gorgeous hike, I wanted to be there simply to be there, my favourite place on my planet earth, one of Jesus’ simple gifts to my family. 
And I heard lies about it being pointless. About missing out on work and money, etc.
But here’s the thing about the cottage.
God has always used to remind fickle me how constant He is.
When I’m there again for another summer, it’s always as if no time has passed. And yet Jesus has gone before me, and I am so small. But Him and His love alive in me?! SO BIG!
Jesus, Jesus, draw me back to the simplicity that is intimacy and relationship with YOU FIRST. Remind me that nothing is worth doing without You, and that my life is for You. Jesus, Jesus, I pray for more of your life giving Spirit in me. Thank you for being my rock, and for saying “I need only be still,” and know that yours is the fight (2 Chronicles 20:15).
Enjoy the rest of these cottage pics!
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been on the blog!
I guess I’ve been busy living. Ive been trying to stay off social media and technology because every time I get a little taste of LIFE I’m like, This is how it’s meant to be. This is freaking GOOD.
I also realize how much more equipped I am to serve when I’m actually livin’.
I wanted to drop in to share a simple, time saving dinner recipe for you guys. Super simple, ingredients probably already in your fridge, and impressive.
Looks average, tastes gourmet!
Chicken (or Fish) and Potatoes, Vamped Up
Ingredients (for 2 servings)
1/2 Tbsp butter or margarine
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 1/2 c chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 c uncooked corn
1 cup baby potatoes, quartered
2 tsp oil
2 tsps miso paste
For the chicken
1 Tbsp oil
2 large chicken breasts
2 cups broccoli
1 Tbsp margarine
2 tsps balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
Method
1. In soup pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add remaining soup ingredients and stir. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes.
2. In medium skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add chicken and butter and cook about five minutes; flip, and cook 5 minutes more. Add broccoli and more butter if needed. Add balsamic and season to taste. Reduce heat, and sauté until chicken is done and broccoli is tender.
3. To serve, split potato mixture and chicken mixture into two portions. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and serve with extra boiled corn or steamed broccoli for variety, if desired.
Finally, I guess I’ve been feeling this pressure that I can’t quite articulate. To be on it. To be the best friend and “perfect” to every person I encounter. But these feelings of needing to “measure up” in my own strength will only lead to burnout, because I can’t do it. Only He can, and I know it. So it’s time to surrender.
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ Phil 3:8
Jesus, thank you for being such a loving, forgiving, always gracious Father. Your love for us blows my mind! I feel that I don’t deserve your grace, and yet You always grant it. Thank you. Show me Your peace, Lord, so that I am actually equipped to serve You and love others the way you would have me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
The amount of times the phrase “he did evil in the sight of the Lord” appears in some way in the Old Testament is shocking.
As I’ve been studying 1 and 2 Chronicles, this phrase has struck me the most. Moreover, the amount of leaders, those who were supposed to lead people into relationship with God and right, loving, peaceful living, who failed to do so, and instead lead people to worship false gods and create idols that took God’s place, is shocking. There was a pattern of kings being called to lead God’s people, and turning from God and to other things instead.
This sounds like…
me.
I notice this pattern in my own life and walk. Knowing always that Jesus is all I need, that to sit with Jesus is the best life, the only life, the desire of and song on my heart, and the very air that I breathe. And then… “forgetting.” Choosing to numb myself with useless planning, temporary pleasures or comforts, or believing that a substance of some sort can heal or love or save.
It’s not about me. It’s about Him.
And when it’s about Him, He directs my heart to others. To true serving, to glorifying His name in my life and the way that I go about each day. Relationship with Him means allowing His Spirit to dwell within me, rather than going my own way and trusting human wisdom over His wisdom.
I don’t want to be another leader called by God who turns away from Him. I want to be facing Him and adoring Him; obsessed with no one but Him and experiencing the joy and freedom of His presence and Spirit and Truth. Giving Him my faith and undivided obedience every day. Oh Lord, how I love you and long to be your True servant, and live alongside you and Your Truth at all times. Keep me in your perfect grace and smiling with the joy of You, because I know it is my strength. Amen.
One of those days where none of my plans happened the way they were supposed to.
I could list off quite a number of things that didn’t go today the way I’d thought them out or planned them through.
BUT
I can also list a number of things that happened that were blessings, amazing, and special.
Like the fact that one of the greatest people I’ve never known, Rachel, a barista I worked with at Starbucks, came to see me at my new job, and I wouldn’t have seen her if it weren’t for some cancelled plans.
Or the fact that I have time later to catch up with my momma.
When I choose to focus on where I am and the outcomes that have actually occurred, I am set free to accept, embrace, and live in God’s Truth, the path that I cannot change. But when I stress about changed plans, I subconsciously believe that God’s way wasn’t the best way, and I miss out on submitting to His perfection.
I am learning with age, and ultimately, Jesus, that patience and trust are key components of His Spirit that He calls me to rely on, in order to serve Him, and everyone around me. Trying to forge my own way never works… so I might as well sit back and trust, allowing the miraculous and blessing of the Holy Spirit to work through me. It will forever be the best life.
