Tasty Bites: Burrito In A Bowl

By Candy, RN (Steele the Day)

I love throwing random foods together and making a tasty meal out of it. I’m more of a cook than a baker, and some of my “Tasty Bites” recipes have been a little difficult to refine as I do a lot of guessing on the amounts of some ingredients. No bakery would ever hire me!

This meal is loaded with whole grains, fresh vegetables, and tender chicken. Many of the ingredients in this recipe don’t have an amount listed – add them to your taste and liking. You will have leftovers of some of the ingredients for tomorrow’s lunch! And if you like, you can even wrap it in a burrito!

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What's In Your Suitcase?

By Pat

Imagine for a moment that your heart is a suitcase, containing and carrying all the character traits you need for life. What's in there?

Well, just like a real suitcase, you may have to rearrange, or add or subtract items in order to have the perfect combination of necessary things to make the right balance. Do you need to add mercy and patience? Well, they might not fit unless you eliminate pride and envy. Could you stand a little more devotional time with God? You might have to get rid of some laziness so you'll have more room in there. What about tolerance, and deeper love for your brothers and sisters? Better unpack and discard judgmentalism. Need more forgiveness? Get rid of bitterness and grudges.

Allow God to repack your suitcase, but remember...you can't expect Him to add new and beautiful things unless you are willing to give Him the things that do not belong in a Christian suitcase. Out with the old...in with the new!

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

YOB: # 30. Have an International Dinner

By Beth

I'm a big fan of food. Probably why I'm not a size 2, but hey, looks aren't everything, right? Right? I can be bribed with cheesecake, or chocolate. Or chocolate cheesecake. Or cheesecake dribbled with chocolate syrup. Or chocolate cheesecake yogurt (it exists, trust me). Or…well, you get the point. Food is great, there are so many flavors, textures, spices; enough to explore for a lifetime. I really wish I could be that guy, Guy, from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Not the hair, just the taste-testing.

Funnily enough, though, I get nervous around foreign food, I was almost an adult before I tried Chinese food. See, I had a bad experience with food overseas when I was quite young. I remember it like it was yesterday….(cue the wavy flashback screen with the wobbly music). It was late winter of my 5th grade year of school. I hated 5th grade, was a 10 year old girl trapped in a 14 year old's body. Don't even ask. So I was looking forward to going to Israel with my family and our church group for 10 days. Any time out of school was okay with me. My parents had been several times, leaving my brother and I behind with various relatives, family friends and strangers. This time we were old enough to go. I was excited, it would be my first time out of the US, there would be foreign boys there and I'd get out of school, did I mention that? It is only looking back now that I can appreciate the places I went and their Biblical significance. I'd love to go back.

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One Word At A Time: Compassion

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Compassion [kuhm-pash-uhn]
synonyms: commiseration, mercy, tenderness, heart, clemency
verb: sympathize, pity
noun: pity, mercy, sympathy, commiseration, ruth, clemency
Compassion is a feeling of pity, sympathy, and understanding for someone who is suffering as well as the desire to alleviate it.

Interestingly enough I never really thought much about the word before. However in 2007 my world changed and the word Compassion has become an active part of my vocabulary as well as my actions. I have always had a heart for children through ministry and education but not to the extent I do now. In that year I had the opportunity to meet the child I sponsor through Compassion International. Those of you that know my story know the life changing moment that was for me. I went from caring to passionate. I saw the love that she had for the simple act that we were doing in sponsoring her and most of all I saw the difference that I was making. Compassion became a verb to me and a ministry.

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Life Is Funny: I Like You Because...

By MAD21

My family had a great weekend. We spent all day Saturday swimming and all afternoon Sunday riding horses. It can't get much better than that, especially when the weather is cooperating. It was a wonderful way to start the summer.

We have some friends who we love enough we consider them family. My daughters call them Aunt and Uncle. My daughters were in their oldest daughter's wedding last year. As much as my girls LOVE Aunt K, there is a special connection with Uncle C. Perhaps because at any given moment he is helping them build a cool hiding place, playing with Barbie dolls, wearing giant purple dress-up hats, sneaking them sweets, or tossing them in the pool. For the rest of us it's just fun to watch considering Uncle C is a tall, big guy who is a retired police officer. So to see him playing Barbies or dress-up is, well, hilarious to say the least.

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