Good Health Monday ~ Oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast. Some people may think that oatmeal is an acquired taste. However, it depends how you make it. Oatmeal can be embellished in different in order to make tasty treat and very yummy.



But first, let's talk about a few of oatmeal health benefits:

1. Oatmeal can lower blood cholesterol .
2. Helps with slow digestion
3. Reduce the risk of heart disease
4. Has vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
5. A good source of protein, complex carbohydrates and iron
6. It's very filling because of its soluble fiber. (It sticks to the ribs.)

 


Oatmeal is quick and easy to make, especially you don't have time to cook breakfast each morning. You can make oatmeal so that can be delicious for children. My children love it, but they each have their own favorite way of eating oatmeal. You can even buy flavored oatmeal or can try some of these ideas to make your oatmeal.....mmmmm...mmmmm....good for your family.

1. Add fresh fruit such strawberries, blueberries, bananas, etc.
2. Brown Sugar (about 1 tsp)
3. Dried fruit (I love to add dried cranberries...YUM!!)

4. Maple Syrup (More like a drizzle)
5. Cinnamon
6. Dry breakfast cereal (Honey Bunches of Oats or Fiber One Honey clusters)
7. Granola

You can pretty much make your oatmeal any way want to fit your taste. Another tip: You can use milk instead of water to make your oatmeal, which adds calcium.




Peanut Butter-Banana OatmealJif.com

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 1/2 cups water
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup Simply Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
2 medium ripe bananas, sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Brown sugar and skim milk to taste 
COMBINE oats, water and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and cook 5 minutes or until thick and creamy, stirring occasionally.
ADD peanut butter, bananas and cinnamon; stir to combine. Serve immediately. Top with brown sugar and milk, if desired.      

And Voilà!

Selah Sunday - Pausing for God's WordChristian Behavior (Part 4)

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;" (Romans 12:10-11)

diligence - characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort; painstaking, showing you care


fervent - greek word: zeo; #2204; learning fervor, fiery hot; full of burning zeal, opposite of cold, dignified, unemotional.


In a Christian context, fervent signifies a high spiritual temperature, inflamed by the Holy Spirit

Christian behavior is about being diligent, fervent

(on fire for the Lord and His word) and serving the Him.

Here I am to Worship ~ Michael W. Smith "Lord, Have Mercy"

For this edition of "Here I am Worship", It's "Lord, Have Mercy" by Micheal W. Smith.


Have you ever thought where would you be without God's grace and mercy? I don't think I would ever want to find out. So many times we have fallen by the waist-side only to have God's love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy to lift us up and place us back on our feet. That's why I love this song "Lord Have Mercy" by Micheal W. Smith.


Lord just have mercy on us as we live from day to day.  And please continue to guide and lead us while traveling the road of our divine purpose and divine plan. In Jesus' Name........Amen.







Inspired by The Holy Spirit Made by Toia

"Hear, O LORD,

and have mercy on me;
LORD, be my helper!"
(Psalm 30:10)

"Hear me when I call,
O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer."
(Psalm 4:1)

Good Health Monday ~ High Glycemic Foods

High glycemic foods are foods with a high glycemic index.


According to Wikipedia  glycemic index, (GI) is a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI; carbohydrates that break down more slowly, releasing glucose more gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI.




This is why we should limit our amount of foods with a high glycemic index. Too much of a good thing is not the best thing for our health. When it comes to foods with a high GI, we have to limit our portion.






Foods with a high glycemic index range 70 or above. Foods such as white rice, white potatoes, popcorn, waffles, pancakes, etc.















The SouthBeach Diet Beginners website has a great chart that shows foods with low, medium, and high glycemic index.


Check it out. You will probably be surpeise what foods have a high glycemic index.


Here's to your health.  Have a bless week.

Selah Sunday - Pausing for God's WordChristian Behavior (Part 3)

Last week, we talked about "abhor what is evil" the second part of Romans 12:9. Remember, we are to abhor, detest, loathe anything that is contradictory to God's word and cling to what is good and healthy for spirit man.


Another part of Christian Behavior is Romans 12:10.

"Be kindly affectionate to one
another with brotherly love,

To be kindly affectionate is to be generously having a tender attachment, to be soft not hard-hearted.


Strong's dictionary defines brotherly love (#5360; greek word philadelphia) as the love of brothers, fraternal love, the love Christians have for other Christians.

"Let brotherly love continue," (Hebrews 13:1).

Part of behaving like a Christian is expressing brotherly/sisterly love as well as being generous and affectionate.

"In honor giving preference to one another' refers

to expressing brotherly/sisterly love without selfish ambitions.

In other words, not worrying about what's in it for you.

Instead, you are putting someone else's needs above your own.

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than

himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own

interests, but also for the interests of others,"

(Philippians 2:3-4).

---

Heavenly Father, teach us how to show brotherly/sisterly love to Your people.  Please give us a heart that is affectionate, kind, and generous without any selfish ambitions, so that people will see that Christ lives in me.  It is written that we ought to love our neighbors just as we love ourselves.  In  Jesus' name I pray.....Amen.

---

Until next week,


SELAH

Here I am to Worship ~ Kirk Franklin

For today's Here I am to Worship is a lyrics video I made for Kirk Franklin's "My Life, My Love, My All." This is another great worship song. This song makes you ask yourself..."How much are you willing to give God?" Will you give Him your all in all?


Just allow this song to minister to your heart. I pray this song is a blessing and an upliftment to your spirit.

"'And you shall love the LORD
your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.'
This [is] the first commandment,' "
(Mark 12:30).

Craft it Up!! ~ Ankle Bracelet

I love making jewelry, among other things that has anything to do with crafting. So, I thought when I saw this anklet craft on Love To Know Crafts , this will be perfect for my next post for Craft it up. Try it and see where your creativity takes you.

Things You'll Need
•Fabric measuring tape
•Beading wire
•End cutters
•Pliers
•Pretty beads
•Lobster-claw clasp
•Jump ring
•Crimp beads


What to Do
1.Begin by measuring your ankle. Write down the measurement, and add about four inches. Use the end cutters to cut the beading wire to this length.
2.Put a crimp bead on the beading wire, and string the clasp on behind it. Bend the wire back around, and thread the end back through the crimp bead. Pull the end to secure it, and then use the pliers to crimp the bead.
3.Select the beads you want to use, and string them onto the wire in the order you like. You might want to try laying out your design on a bead board to see what looks best. Stop stringing beads when you have about an inch and a half of wire left.
4.Thread a crimp bead on the end, and then add a jump ring. Tuck the end of the wire back through the crimp bead, and tighten it down. Finally, crimp the bead to secure your work.
Embellishments
Once you've mastered the process of creating a beaded ankle bracelet, you can expand on this simple design. Try some of the following ideas:
_______________________________________________________
•Add fun charms between the beads. These might be symbols of something you enjoy, letters or initials, or just pretty designs. Charms can add a little extra dangly dimension to your work.
•Include a few bells in your design. You can find small bells at any craft store, and they are perfect for an ankle bracelet. Every time you take a step, the bells will jingle.
•Use multiple strands of beads to give your anklet a layered look. This can be fun with several strands of small beads.
•Make a beaded friendship anklet by using beads and charms that represent you and your friend. Estimate the size of your friend's ankle to get the measurement you need.




Enjoy!!!

Mommy and Me ~ Praying for Your Child(ren)

As parents, we are suppose to protect our children like a lioness protects her cubs. Unfortunately, we can't be with them every waking minute. Even as they grow, our children at some point will have to experiences things on their own. However, just cannot be with them physically all the time that doesn't mean we cannot pray and release angels to guide and protect them. Furthermore, just because we are not with our children everywhere they go that doesn't mean God isn't. I am grateful that I serve a God who is omnipresent. He is everywhere we can't be.


That's why it is important to pray and speak God's word over our children. I found this prayer, but the author is unknown.



A mother's prayer for her children


O God, Creator of all things!


Adding mercy upon mercy, Thou hast deemed me worthy of being a mother; Thy
goodness hath endowed me with children so that I may say: these are Thy
children! For Thou hast given them life, breathed an immortal soul into them,
given them a new birth in a life that is according to Thy will, Thou hast
adopted them and received them into the bosom of Thy Church.


O Lord, preserve them in Thy grace, and until the end of their lives deem them
worthy of receiving the Holy Mysteries of Thy covenant.


Illumine them with Thy truth.


Let Thy Name be holy in them and through them.


Help me by Thy grace to rear them for the glory of Thy Name and for the
benefit of their neighbor.


Give me strength and patience to do this, O Lord, and guide me.


Teach me to plant in their hearts the root of true wisdom - Thy fear.


Endow them with the light of Thy wisdom which governs all things.


Let them learn to love Thee with all their souls and all their thoughts.


Let them cleave unto Thee with all their heart and fear Thy words for as long
as they live.


Endow me with the reason to implant in them the conviction that true life
consists of respecting Thy commandments, that labor fortified with piety
offers all that is needed in this life and unutterable blessedness in
eternity.


Reveal to them the understanding of Thy law.


Unto the end of their days let them labor feeling Thy omnipresence at all
times.


Embed in their hearts hatred towards all unlawfulness.


Let them be faultless in Thy ways.


Let them always know that Thou, o All-Merciful God, are zealous in Thy laws
and justice.


Preserve them in chastity and trembling before Thy Name, that they may not
shame Thy Church by their behavior, but that they should live according to Her
commandments.


Give them zeal in their desire for useful learning and enable them to do every
good deed.


Let them acquire a proper understanding of things needed for their everyday
life, illumine them with the knowledge of things beneficial for the human
race.


O Lord, teach me to implant with a permanent seal in their hearts and minds
the wisdom to flee from friendship with those who live not in fear of Thee,
wisdom to decisively turn away from every relationship with the lawless.


That they may not listen to evil talk.


That they heed not imprudent people.


That, led by evil examples, they stray not from Thy path.


That they not be discouraged in that sometimes, in this world, the way of
the lawless is crowned with success.


O Heavenly Father!


Help me by Thy grace to be watchful at all times that I may not scandalize my
children with my actions, but that I may, ever bearing in mind their behavior,
dissuade them from misconceptions, correct their errors, restrain their
stubbornness and self-will.


That they may not gravitate toward pride and reckless deeds.


That they may not be carried away by mindless thoughts.


That they do not follow their desires.


That pride does not infect their thoughts.


That they not forget Thee and Thy law.


That lawlessness does not destroy their minds and health.


That sins do not make feeble their spiritual and bodily strength.


O righteous Judge, Thou who chastiseth offspring unto the third and fourth
generation for the sins of their fathers, avert such vengeance from my
children, punish them not for my sins, but sprinkle them with the dew of Thy
grace, that they may advance in virtue and holiness, that they may grow in Thy
benevolence and in the love of pious men.


O Father, plentious in mercy!


According to my motherly feelings I would that my children enjoy an abundance
of earthly treasures, I desire that they be blessed by the dew in the heavens
and by the good things of the earth, still, let Thy holy will be with them!


Administer their destiny according as Thou pleasest.


Deprive them not of their daily bread.


Endow them with time sufficient for the acquisition of blessed eternity.


Be merciful unto them, when they sin before Thee.


Judge them not for the sins of youth and ignorance.


Make contrite their hearts should they oppose the leading hand of Thy
goodness.


Chastise them and caress them, direct them on the path that is pleasing to
Thee, but turn not Thy face away from them.


Accept with gracious mind their prayers, and grant them success in every good
deed.


Turn not away from them in times of sadness, lest they be beset by temptations
that surpass their strength .


Let the shadow of thy Grace fall upon them, let Thy angel walk with them and
keep them from all calamities and evil ways.


O All-merciful God!


Make me a mother who rejoices in her children, let them be my happiness in all
the days of my life and my support in my old age.


Deem me worthy to stand with them before Thee on the day of Thy dread
judgement and with unworthy courage say: "Here I am and my children which Thou
hast given me, O Lord!"


That together with my children I may glorify Thy unspeakable goodness and Thy
eternal love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.


Author Unknown