When do we think of ourselves, and when do we consider others' feelings?

In the last few months I've been forced to reanalyze how I've been eating, becoming more rigid in what I allow myself to eat with regards to corn. I've had to eliminate a lot more out of my diet including yeast, sugar (I can still have evaporated cane juice), and more. I was afraid stand up for myself and let myself suffer instead of aggravating certain people who often cooked for me. But I've come  to learn that this type of suffering isn't honorable in ANY way. God did not intent for us to suffer in silence for something that does not glorify Him or anybody else. I was doing this only to avoid confrontations.

How many of us eat or behave a certain way to appease others? Maybe it doesn't seem obvious, but have you ever let yourself eat unhealthy food constantly because you didn't know how to ask your significant other to use a healthier alternative? Many of us were raised to eat whatever was served in front of us when we go over somebody else's house. But at expenses of our bodies? Where does the line begin and end when it comes to respecting others and ourselves. I truly do believe that if our bodies isn't in a tip top shape, it affects how we live our lives.

How would you handle this type of situation?

What does it really mean to honor God?

The title of this blog is called "Honoring God with our temple", but truly, what does that mean? Am I just using this blog to come across as intelligent, as if I know better than others? That sincerely was not my intention, and if I appeared that way, I apologize.

I guess I was hoping to use this as a way to educate myself, and share with others my thoughts. As an open forum of some kind. I've always loved writing, so this was an exciting medium for me. Until I let myself become too busy. I want to return to this, but how so? How do I approach it in a manner that actually reflects my purpose? Honoring God, that is. If you have any suggestions, please share them.

Thank you.

Romans 14:15:21

“If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother or sister for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”



When reading that particular verse, it is very easy for somebody to think along the lines of “don’t drink around an alcoholic”, but it’s so much more than that! It can apply to somebody who might be watching their face; is it Christ like of us to polish off a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in front of a person who is struggling to lose weight, whose weak spot is ice cream? It could also mean avoiding certain foods in front of a person who is allergic to those fare.

I can personally attest to how difficult it is watching somebody else consume what you know you shouldn’t have. As a person who is gluten, corn and soy intolerant, a LOT of food are off limits for me. I actually avoided going out to restaurants for nearly a year when I first found out what was making me sick because I didn’t want to burden others. Gradually, over time it became easier to deal with, and I became more familiar with what I could eat or couldn’t have. It does not mean I still don’t have moments where I just want to eat without abandon, not caring how I was affecting my body. Why would I do that to myself? I hated watching other people eat exactly what I was craving, time after time. I am not saying to never eat a slice of bread in front of me ever again, but to at least be considerate.

How can one be considerate? Find adequate substitutions. This could mean finding a gluten free loaf that tastes delicious, so they’re not green with envy watching you nibble away at your freshly baked Italian bread. What if there are no substitutions, at least convenient ones? Make other APPEALING options accessible, such as for a box of cookies riddled with corn and soy, how about a bowl of fresh and firm green grapes for me to snack on?

I do not mean to sound selfish, but if I struggle with this, chances are others does too. When my cousin was first diagnosed with Celiac disease, we all scrambled to find ways to recreate food that were similar to what she loved but were now gluten free- it made all the difference in the world. And it still does.

Isn’t food often a way to bring together loved ones, even for those who might feel like outcasts with dietary restrictions, whatever the cause? It goes back to what I wrote about drinking in front of an alcoholic; do you really want to tempt them with a lousy bottle of cheap beer after years of sobriety? Knowing what devastating things it may cause them to do? Why bother?

Christ calls us to act with love. Let us love others the way we want to be loved, starting with what nourishes our body; food.
I’ll share a simple recipe that is a huge hit at parties, and I often serve as hors d'oeuvres: stuffed mushrooms.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients

1 package of Baby Bella mushrooms

1 tsp. (or two cloves) of minced garlic

2 jalapenos, minced (canned is acceptable)

¼ c. Mexican cheese, shredded **

¼ tsp. chili powder



1.) Spray a glass pan with olive oil.

2.) Cut stems from the mushrooms, and mince them. Place in a bowl, separate from the caps. (which goes in the pan)

3.) Mix all other ingredients in the bowl with the minced mushrooms.

4.) Using a baby spoon, or a teaspoon to stuff the mixture in the caps. Continue until the mixture is completely used up; the caps will be overflowing.

5.) Broil until the cheese is completely melted, or if you want the mushroom cooked longer, do so until it is browned.



** You can easily substitute the Mexican cheese with soy cheese for a dairy-free version!

Ephesians 6:7

“Serve wholeheartedly; as if you were serving the Lord, not people,”

What does it mean exactly, to serve? 

1. to act as a servant.

2. to wait on table, as a waiter.

3. to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests: Come early, we're serving at six.

4. to offer or distribute a portion or portions of food or a beverage, as a host or hostess: It was her turn to serve at the faculty tea.

5. to render assistance; be of use; help.

6. to go through a term of service; do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc.

7. to have definite use: This cup will serve as a sugar bowl.

8. to answer the purpose: That will serve to explain my actions.

9. to be favorable, suitable, or convenient, as weather or time.

10. Ecclesiastical . to act as a server.

That’s quite a variety of definitions for serving, but they all share a common theme; assisting others, helping others, laboring for others, attending to others’ needs, and more. Notice something similar in all of those synonyms?  It is all about others, not ourselves. It is a time of being selfless.

It brings me to ask you a question: how are you serving others? Do you have a smile on your face? Are you joyous? Are you anxious to get the task completed? Or even aggravated that you’re even in this position, believing that you should be the one served?  We all know the truth about ourselves. It is far too easy to put on a mask and feign pleasure at giving others what they need instead of what we want.

In the Bible, we read about Jacob serving Laban for fourteen years so he could marry Rachel, God decreeing that Jacob would serve Esau, how it was a huge honor to serve God as priests in His temples, and many more similar stories. Serving is a common theme in the Good Book. And it is intentional, because even Jesus came to serve mankind. Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. Jesus led by example, even up to His death. The night before He knew He would die on the cross, He knelt on His knees and washed His disciplines’ feet. Then the ultimate sacrifice was made with His final breath. He could have easily decided to be selfish, to refuse the burden of our sins, but instead He chose to serve us, to help us enter His Father’s kingdom by dying for in our stead. 

What does this mean for us as Christians? We all could take a lesson in serving, myself included. How have you served today? Or should the question be; have you served yet today? If you have, great! What was your demeanor? This is where many of us are flawed, for we don’t often consider our attitudes when serving others. Now think back to the verse that this posting began with: serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord, not people. Now the people you’ve served today, what if it was the Lord in their place? Would you employ the same posture, facial expressions and tone? Or would you stand more erect, smile broadly and sound upbeat? If you admit that you would have probably changed your disposition, then this is where we can make improvements!

The challenge of this blog is this: I want you to go forth and serve as if you’re serving the Lord, instead of the person you’re looking at or even talking with over the phone. One might not notice any difference, but the other person might! Especially if it’s somebody who hasn’t had a kind word all day, or a person who’s extremely frustrated and wants a break in his or her daily grind. Here is your chance to make that difference for that person! Remember, ultimately we are not serving them; we are serving God. By honoring others, we are honoring Him.

I felt that this was an important issue to discuss, in addition to food, especially since serving is such an integral aspect of cooking. We labor over how to plate the meals, how to make it taste so the eater will moan with pleasure, If we chose not to do this, we are denying others and ourselves the whole meaning of being nourished. It is not only biological, but socially as well. 

Genesis 43: 11

“Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.”

This is an excerpt from the story of Israel (also known as Jacob), how his sons went to Egypt to find food. Little did they know that their younger brother, Joseph, was now in charge of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh. In short, Joseph recognized them and ordered them to return with their youngest brother, Benjamin. Israel was distraught but accepted this as something that they had to do. He then ordered his sons to bring gifts including, balm, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.

I couldn’t help but notice that Israel viewed almonds as significant enough to present to Pharaoh’s second in command. To those unfamiliar with this story, Israel did not know that his son, Joseph was alive when he made this gift. 

In Numbers 17, the Israelites were grumbling against Moses and Aaron, against the Lord about the priesthood of Aaron’s tribe. After sending fire, plagues and earthquakes, the Lord then commanded all twelve tribes to send their leader’s staff in the Tent of Meeting, saying that the man he chooses, his staff will sprout. Moses found that Aaron’s staff had sprouted, but not only that; it has also budded, blossomed and produced almonds!

Again, almonds played a significant role in a biblical story. It made me wonder, there must be more to almonds than meets the eye?

Almond is a drupe (commonly mistaken for a nut), a fruit with a shell surrounding the seed, produced by flowering plants. It is rich in vitamin E, monounsaturated fat (a good fat which lowers LDL cholesterol), phenolics, and flavonoids. People claim that it improves complexion, movements in the colon, and prevents cancer. All of these are fine qualities that can enhance our health.

Obviously God does not need us to tell Him what is good for us, but rather we learn from Him. If He chose to use almonds to determine the chosen one, He did so intentionally. He is not careless and knows that we rely on Him to teach us. After all He is our Master, and He knows what’s the best for us.

With almonds playing a significant role in the Good Book, it might be wise to incorporate this in our daily lives. Almonds can be found in many mediums including its raw form, almond oil, almond butter, almond milk, and almond syrup.

Taking this into consideration, I have decided to include a recipe for almond-coconut macaroons.  It uses almond flour, or almond meal as some people calls it. It is easily found in grocery stores, often in the natural food section. Or you can buy raw almonds and throw it in the food processor until it is fine.

Almond-Coconut Macaroons

2 1/2 c. almond flour (meal)

1/2 c. coconut flour (you can grind coconut flakes for this purpose)

2 Tbsp. Tapioca starch

1 c. sugar

3 egg white

2 tsp. Vanilla extract

Coconut flakes to roll in (optional)

1.)            Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease 2 large cookie sheets.

2.)            Combine dry ingredients (except for sugar) in a bowl. Set aside.

3.)            Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.

4.)            Slowly add sugar to the egg whites. Add vanilla.

5.)            Mix in the dry ingredients.

6.)            Roll small spoonfuls onto cookie sheets (you can place them closely since they will not spread).

7.)            Bake for about 20 minutes.

8.)            Enjoy! Tastes great with coffee.


PS. It won't look like your typical macaroons because it is homemade. 

Ecclesiastes 3:13

"That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God."

Earlier I asked you where you are getting your food. The reason why I am asking is because the verse of the day focuses on how our harvest, what we reaped, finding satisfaction in these is the gift of God. If any of you ever grew anything, whether it’s a flower, herbs, or vegetables, you might be familiar with the pride one has when they watch it grow. Even more for people who are able to incorporate this into their meals.

I remember last summer; I had an abundance of zucchinis and summer squash. I indulged in finding ways to cook with those delectable vegetables. One of my favorites was a very simple recipe: I sautéed the golden vegetable in olive oil and splashed balsamic venerate. It exploded with flavor in my mouth, making me salivate even more while chewing. My family also delighted in zucchini bread as I pulled them out of the oven, moist while being rich in both flavor and nutrients (folate, potassium, vitamin A and manganese can be found in this common vegetable).

How can one not be satisfied in eating what they have grown? To think that this is an intentional gift of God only puts me in awe. He planned it this way, for us to kneel in the soil, digging with our hands and gently patting the seeds in. For us to water it daily, to gasp when we first see the greens sprouting of the brown earth. Then to be able to witness its growth to a full-fledged zucchini, complete with flowers. It truly is a beautiful plant, which mesmerized me as I watched it stretch across my garden last summer. My good friend told me that even the flowers were edible. One could simply stuff it with a mixture of ricotta cheese and mozzarella along with herbs, then frying it. I remember thinking to myself; even the flowers are considered food? That was new to me, yet it did not completely surprise me. After all, anything is possible with God.

How can one not see that as a miracle? All we do is kneel, plant, water and harvest. While we may set the catalyst, by combing the seed with soil, water and placing it where the sun will shine. God alone is the one who preplanned it all. Without him, we would not have the soil, water or even the sunshine. He knew the exact combination required to produce such reaction. He made it so that we had to do a bit of work, or a lot, depending on how big your garden or even farm is. We are a part of his equation. You could say we are the catalyst in this scenario, but again, not without Him. He determined that it was us who would toil, and us who would gain the satisfaction from doing so. He could have easily arranged it so that we would have to work all day long to get no results, but instead, He made it so that we are rewarded with succulent food and flowers.

I say that it truly is a gift of God. Doesn’t it make you want to go out and plant something? I sure do! One could even gain the satisfaction by buying it from a farmer, who worked hard, and we can genuinely enjoy it by honoring that. Can we say the same when we walk into a massive supermarket? A faceless vegetable that is bland compared to a possibly misshapen vegetable packed with flavor, handed over by a tanned farmer with a smile on his face. I know what I would rather.

To find a farmer’s market close by, you can search at http://states.farmersmarket.com/ or google it and see what comes up.

Furthermore, I wanted to include a recipe with zucchini.

Vegetarian Greek Moussaka

1 1/4 lb eggplant

1 1/4 lb zucchini

1 1/4 lb potatoes

1/2 tsp sea salt

3 Tbsp breadcrumbs (can substitute with gluten free)

1 bag of Parmesan cheese, shredded (use fresh if possible)

Tomato sauce

2 medium tomatoes

1 large garlic clove, minced

1 tsp sea salt

1/4- 1/2 c olive oil

1/4 c balsamic vinaigrette

1/2 c water

1.) Preheat oven to 475 degrees.

2.) Slice the vegetables thinly, toss in a bowl with salt. Set aside.

3.) Make the sauce by combining ingredients in a blender. Can be chunky, it depends on your preference. Pour in a saucepan and boil until chunky. Set aside.

4.) Cover the bottom of a glass casserole pan with breadcrumbs.

5.) Layer with vegetables and cheese: I suggest two vegetables then cheese, and et cetera.

6.) Pour tomato sauce over the pan, evenly. Use the rest of the cheese and sprinkle over the vegetables.

7.) Bake for 20 minutes, and then reduce heat to 400 degrees.

8.) Bake for 30-40 minutes more, until the top is browned and you can easily penetrate the vegetables with a fork. You also want the smell to envelop the kitchen.

9.) Enjoy!

Psalm 104:13-15

"He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; _ the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, _ and plants for people to cultivate— _ bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, _ oil to make their faces shine, _ and bread that sustains their hearts.”


Gardening is a way for us to eat healthier, for it means fresh produce on our tables. Not only that, but it also requires dedication, manual labor and time. All positive qualities in a Christian, for the Lord wants dedication to Him, people who are not afraid to work hard for life is not handed over on a silver platter and time. He wants us for eternity, not just a fleeting moment every once in a while.

When I get down on my knees in the soil, I can only praise God for allowing me to do this seemingly simple task. All I do is “cultivate” as the verse states, after all He is the one who gave us the plants. He designed the seeds to react to the combination of fertilizer, soil and sunshine. How much simpler can it get? Yet it takes a great deal of effort, which in our society seems unreasonable when we can simply walk into a grocery store and buy a perfectly mundane fruit or vegetable. Have you ever tasted a zucchini freshly plucked off the stems mere hours earlier? How about basil you harvested only a minute earlier, added to your sauce or topped on your meal. If you have, you know how much fresher, how much more zest they have to offer than days or even weeks old produce. Harvests from our garden have not yet been frozen, bruised from travel, or even sprayed with chemical. God did not intend food to be created that way. Instead He wants us to cultivate.

When looking at the word cultivate, I was curious to see what the exact definition was. Here it is:

Cul-ti-vate [kuhl-tuh-veyt] Show IPA
–verb (used with object),-vat-ed, -vat-ing.
1.
to prepare and work on (land) in order to raise crops; till.
2.
to use a cultivator on.
3.
to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.) by labor and attention.
4.
to produce by culture: to cultivate a strain of bacteria.
5.
to develop or improve by education or training; train; refine: to cultivate a singing voice.
6.
to promote the growth or development of (an art, science, etc.); foster.
7.
to devote oneself to (an art, science, etc.).
8.
to seek to promote or foster (friendship, love, etc.).
9.
to seek the acquaintance or friendship of (a person).

To prepare and work on, to promote or improve growth by labor and attention, produce by culture, devote oneself to, and to seek. All actions that the Lord wants us to apply to our relationship with Him as well. While gardening itself is important, let’s not forget that in the Bible, Jesus himself stated that his Father is THE gardener.

John 15:1-3

"The Vine and the Branches
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you."

He also wants us to cultivate our relationship with Him, promoting growth by devoting ourselves to Him. We can do this by spending time with Him, reading the Bible, taking time to pray, memorizing His Words, applying His lessons to our lives and more.

With this in mind, I encourage you to garden! Maybe you already have one in your backyard, or you might be thinking that you don’t have any space to grow anything, whether you live in the city or not. You can buy a pot, or even find an old bowl and fill it with soil. The simplest of those are herbs, such as basil. Be sure to water it daily and let it bask in the warmth of the sunshine on a window sill. If you want to start a garden outside, be sure to clear out a space, perhaps a square by building a landscaper’s box. I have two, since the raised bed allows for deeper roots, better water distribution and faster warming system. There are plenty of how-to books or even articles on line that you can look up to see how to accomplish this. Or perhaps you already have a huge garden! If you feel you cannot do any of these, how about finding a farmer’s market or a local grocery store that buys directly from local farmers?

I began prepping my garden a week ago, by using the compost pile we have out back. I was able to loosen the soil and plant the seeds. I felt like a little kid playing in the dirt! Hopefully it will do well this year with labor, attention and dedication.



My garden all prepped to go!



The compost pile- you can see how much we've used. It comes from yard trimmings, leaves and discarded roots from my garden last year.

Don’t forget to cultivate your relationship with the Lord; perhaps study the passages included in this posting.