Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Yoga

Recently I learned some things about yoga that were very disputing.  Yoga is worship of  false gods!  I can't believe I have done yoga, taught it in public school and at church.  How did I miss it?  At first I was upset and felt terrible, but now I have asked God to forgive me and He has so I can move on and do my best to measure everything even exercise to God's Word.

Webster defines yoga as "a Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation."

You maybe thinking that it is just exercise and my heart is not worshipping any other god.  Well, from my research online I have found that the postures in and of  themselves are serving the idols of Hinduism.

The idea of Christianity is to fill our mind with biblical truth and focus on the God who is above us. That's Christian worship. The idea of yoga is to fill your mind with nothing except to focus on yourself and try to find the god that is inside of you. From a Christian viewpoint, that's a false religion.

This makes me think of one of the Veggie Tale movies about Bob the tomato and Larry the cucumber not sing to the giant chocolate bunny.  This is the Bible story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego found in the book of Daniel.  These men would not bow down to anyone except God.  They could have done it and not meant it in their hearts, but that's not what happened.  They choose to not worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar set up and thus were thrown into a fire, but God saved them and lives were changed.

The lesson here is to let every part of your life worship GOD ONLY and bring others to know Him.  So maybe by choosing not to do yoga you can lead someone to Christ.

I leave you with a wise saying from Mama Bear (The Bernstein Bears), "better safe than sorry."

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Pancakes

Here is the recipe for the whole wheat chocolate chip pancakes I made last Saturday.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pancakes


• 5 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

• 3/4 cup oatmeal

• 3 Tablespoons baking powder

• 1 Tablespoon salt

• 5 1/4 cups milk

• 3/4 cup butter, melted

• 6 eggs, beaten

• 9 Tablespoons raw sugar

• 1 bag chocolate chips

Combine flour, oatmeal, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Beat milk, butter, eggs and sugar together.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet ingredients and mix together. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray or add a sliver of butter.

Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto hot skillet. Cook pancake bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until golden brown on the other side.

Makes 20-24 medium to large pancakes.

These pancakes were so good.  I halved the recipe and it made about 15 pancakes( next time I will make the whole recipe and freeze some).  I also used white chocolate chips because that is what was in the pantry.  Jackson said next time we should use "the black ones" and then the next time mix them.  I will be picking up some more chocolate chips next time I shop.  I thought the pancakes were a little to buttery as next time I will cut down on the butter.  Josh disagreed on that--he loves butter.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Laughter

I am in the need of some laughter, joy and happiness.  There has been to many tears, saddness and plain on bad moods around here lately.  Thus I decided we are having a good day today.  So far so good.  This morning I read Psalm 71:8 which talks about praising and glorifing God all day.  What a great way to have joy.

Josh had to go into work this morning so the boys and I had whole wheat chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.  This is a new recipe and it was great.  Last night I could not sleep so I was reading blogs online.  Crystal from moneysavingmom.com posted this recipe recently.  She got it from another blog and changed it up alittle bit and what do you know so did I.  It is hard for me to follow a recipe to the T.  When I have a little more time I will post the recipe.  After breakfast and getting ready for the day and beds make and such the boys and I did some painting.  We painted boats, rainbows, christmas trees, candy canes and some free style.  It was fun.  Josh then got home and had to have a little snack of pancakes--he loved them!  Now Daddy and the boys are having some time together playing checkers.  It has been a good morning.  Can't wait to see what the afternoon holds for us.

Enjoy your family today and praise God for something.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Thanks and Update

Thank you so very much for all the cards, emails, phone calls, hugs and treats this past week.  Your words and actions have really touched my heart.  It is nice to know that my friends remember and care enough to let me know.  May 7, last Saturday, was the year anniversay of Jamie's delievery and this coming Wed, May 18 is the year anniversay of the funreal.  Please continue to pray for us as it is more painful than I thought it would be a year later.  My grandma said the other day that with each year it will be less painful--I sure do hope so. 

In church Sunday our guest speaker, Dr. Derouen said Ezekiel 24:18 is the hardest in the Bible.  In this verse Ezekiel's wife dies, but if you keep reading you find that her death was for a bigger purpose.  No matter how much pain Jamie's death has caused me and Josh I know that there is a bigger purpose. 

The boys and I went to visit Grandma Tyler yesterday.  She came home from the hospital last Friday.  She is doing tons better.  Please continue to pray for complete healing of her back and that she will obey the doctor's orders.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Face cleaner

For about a month I have been using a homemade face cleaner and I love it!!!!  It removes make-up and dirt well and leaves my skin feeling hydrated and smooth.  Try the recipe below and see what you think.

Combine equal parts caster oil and sunflower or olive oil in a small bottle and shake.  I got a small plastic pump bottle in the travel section at HEB.  I have been using olive oil, but if you have sunflower on hand I am sure that will work well also. 

To use: in the shower or in front of the sink massage a small amount over face and neck.  Place a hot wash cloth over face for about 1 minute, gently wipe and rinse. 

I have really been into making homemade product lately.  If you have any good ones you have tried please share in the comments.

Monday, May 2, 2011

In the beginning. . .

Currently, I am attending a Bible study called Twisting the Truth by Andy Stanley.  Each week we are learning how Satan twist the truth to deceive us.  This past week's study especially hit home for me.  The key passage is found in Romans 8:18-28.  Paul is writing to the Christans in Rome about their current sufferings, but it speaks to us today as well.  Satan wants us to question why we struggle with sin, get sick, children disobey, ect.  He wants us to blame ourselves--"if I had only done ____", this problem wouldn't have happened.  Yes, we do make choices and there are consequences.  However, for those of us that our Christians we have hope.  Jesus Christ is our hope!  When sin enter the world in the beginning God judged the world and all that was in it including us.  We were born into a broken world of sin, decay and death.  But we have hope in Christ because He overcame death and we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us through this present life of sin.  The Holy Spirit is also our guarantee of eternal life.  One year later I still find myself saying "why God?"  "why did Jamie have to die couldn't have you been glorified if she had lived?"  God's answer is "Jamie died because you live in a broken world, yes I could have been glorified if she had lived, but remember My plan is greater than yours and I work in all things even death."