We did it, we did it, we did it!!! (when I say we, I mean us and GOD. :) So, what has God done in you during this fast?

I have quite a few testimonies…but, you are going to have to wait and here them at the DAN FAST CELEBRATION tomorrow night at church, 5:30 p.m. I feel so blessed by this fast - God taught me and had me “tough it out” on some things and then He did some miraculous things. I am so amazed by His goodness!!!

I am planning on staying off caffeine for good. I have never slept better in my life! Seriously, I can see, I use caffeine and sugar to bump up my energy throughout the day. And I don’t need it! It’s just a bad habit, that has made me spiral downward in the energy department. I drink caffeine to get me going, I eat a cookie in the afternoon and another coffee, to help me get through my “wall”. Then, can’t sleep at night from all the sugar and caffeine in my system, then, I’m more tired, so I need more caffeine and sugar! AAAHHH!! I am getting off that ride for good.

Yesterday, I made home made granola (from the Daniel’s Fast book by Susan Gregory) - it was delicious and not loaded with sugar, like more store bought granola is. FUN & EASY!

But, today…I am making 2 loaves of home made bread (there is NOTHING that smells better than fresh baked bread), a batch of Cranberry Nut cookies for my husband, Lasagna for dinner, and some yummy rolls with rosemary, sea salt & butter - oh they are SO GOOD! (can you tell what I have been missing? bread!!)

I hope you all have had a wonderful experience on this fast. I definitely have and want to do it every January. What a great way to get your year started off in the right direction - by really being OPEN to what God is doing in our lives. Purging of the Christmas overindulgence is an added blessing.

CELEBRATE CELEBRATE!
May God’s richest blessings shine down on you today,
Kristen

I just purchased “The Daniel Fast” by Susan Gregory last night (good timing, huh??!!). She also has a website, www.daniel-fast.com

She gave me some good ideas, which I was so glad of, because I was pretty burned out on BEANS. uggg…. Today, I made my hubby a banana-mango-pineapple smoothie. It was SO GOOD!! (just add some oj & unsweetened soy & a little blue agave). For lunch, I had spinach and strawberry salad with a basalmic vinegar & oil dressing (recipe below). For a snack, garlic hummus from Trader Joes and legal crackers. Then, for supper, I heated up a soup I had made from the first week (from the freezer) - corn & potato chowder, added some red pepper flakes. That added some nice zing! And the best thing today was…SWEET POTATO FRIES. Yum! They were so sweet and so good! (recipe below). Be encouraged, only two more days. Hope to see you all at prayer tonight. Kristen

HERB ROASTED SWEET POTATO FRIES: (Susan Gregory)
1 pound of sweet pots or yams
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp salt (next time I will use my chunky salt)
1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper

Chop sweet pots in half and then cut in 4 long slices
Mix together rest of ingredients in a large bowl.
Stir in sweet pots to cover. Put on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
Cook on 425 for about 30 min.

SALAD DRESSING:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup basalmic vinegar
1 tsp dried oregano
2 cloves of garlic, minced
salt & pepper

Good night! Stay warm! Kristen

Do you find yourself getting more hungry for “the bad stuff” this week? I think this has been my hardest week yet (maybe because I am anticipating eating food again. Last night, I seriously wanted to just lick some chocolate! :) ha!

This morning I made the best thing…if you love your morning coffee…this may become your new favorite and it is totally guilt free!

Chai Tea (homemade is easy & WAY cheaper than purchasing at starbucks or even the expensive concentrate at the store)

2 inch piece of fresh Ginger, cut into thin rounds (p.s. you can freeze your fresh ginger - so it will never go bad)
2 cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
10 whole cloves
6 cardamon pods (I used ground & it worked great)
6 cups cold water
6-8 bags of black tea (I used DECAF black tea)
2 cups of whole milk (I used unsweetened soy)
1/2 cup of packed golden brown sugar (I used blue agave syrup - I just kept pouring until it was sweet enough :)

Preparation: Combine first 5 ingredients in a large cookpot. Use back of a large spoon and lightly crush or bruise spices. Add 6 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat. Redue heat to medium low, partially cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add tea bags and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add milk and sugar. Bring tea just to simmer over high heat, whisking until sugar dissolves. Strain chai into teapot and serve hot.
SO DELISH! Makes 6 servings or 3 large mugs. I like this better than coffee. (don’t fall off yuor chairs :)
- recipe from Bon Appetit, Dec 2002

The song that keeps going through my mind this morning - here in your presence, we are undone, here in your presence, heaven and earth become one….
Let me encourage you to make time to be in His presence today. Love you all, Kristen

We are in the home stretch! How exciting to think we have made it two weeks…with less than one to go!

Last night, as we were watching the Viking’s lose the playoff game, my husband declared…”I want some cookies!!” :) and so did I! But, we persevered and drank some orange juice instead.

I was just catching up on my devotions this morning and was reading John 16 - The Message Bible

16:12 - 13- I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But, when the Friend comes, the Spirit of Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is….

It is so amazing, no matter how long you have been a Christ follower, that He still has so much to tell us, so much to teach us, so much to PURGE out of us and so much to PUT into us.

This fast, just like Rob said yesterday in our service, isn’t a “magic wand”, that ensures every prayer is answered but it is a process…a dying out to ourselves, a place where we allow God to speak into our lives to PURGE out the junk and PUT IN some truth, life, etc….Take in this experience with all you’ve got. And make sure to couple it with prayer. Hope you all have a BLESSED week.

Here is a little recipe that might be fun to try this week:
Coconut, Banana & Cashew Tart

Ingredients

Makes one 9-inch tart

* FOR TART SHELL
* 1 1/2 cups whole pecans
* Pinch of coarse salt
* 1 1/2 cups pitted dates
* 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
* FOR FILLING
* 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight and thoroughly drained
* 1/2 cup water
* 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, and more to taste
* 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
* 3/4 cup desiccated coconut
* 3 or 4 ripe but firm bananas

Directions

1. Make tart shell: Coarsely chop pecans and salt in a food processor. Add dates; pulse until thoroughly combined, 15 to 20 seconds. Add syrup; pulse just until combined and mixture sticks together. Press nut mixture firmly and evenly into a 9-inch pie plate, wetting your fingers as needed. Set tart shell aside.
2. Make filling: Grind nuts to a coarse paste in a blender. Add water, syrup, and vanilla scrapings; blend until smooth, about 5 minutes, scraping sides as needed. Mixture should be the consistency of thick pancake batter. Set aside 2 tablespoons coconut; add remainder to blender, and process to combine. Pour into prepared shell, spreading evenly.
3. Thinly slice bananas on the bias; arrange in slightly overlapping rows, beginning at edge of tart. Sprinkle with reserved coconut; serve immediately.

I’m going to make some HORCHATA this morning (the authentic Mexican drink…yummy!) - I have a carton of Rice Milk, so I am just going to add cinnamon and pure vanilla extract. How easy is that?

God bless! Kristen

We had such a wonderful prayer time last evening! We spent time praying for each ministry & their leader ~ please keep praying for the property search, as we feel we may have an opening into Downer’s Grove.

Last night, a couple ladies were expressing their “tiredness” with oatmeal (and I agree!)…so let me give you a few more options:

1. Fresh & fruity FRUIT SALAD - toss together oranges, blueberries, strawberries, apples, etc - either no dressing or a drizzle of honey or blue agave.
2. FRUIT SMOOTHIE - (my personal fav!) One banana, one orange (you can leave the peel on for more health benefits - but then you have to add sweetener), a cup or so of berries (fresh or frozen), 1/2 c of soy milk (unsweetened), 1/2 c of orange juice (blend) - then add 5-6 ice cubes. YUMO!
3. Steamed SALMON AND AVOCADO - (or if you have leftover fish from the night before, this would be a great option) - salmon is so quick to steam (with lemons added to the steamer, salt your salmon with chunky salt), 7 min and it’s done. You could easily broil or bake it just as quickly.
4. Instead of oatmeal, you could fix Quinona exactly like oatmeal for a different taste. Or you could use rice milk, coconut milk, etc, for a different taste for your oatmeal. I cut up an apple and cook along with my oatmeal, just to do something a little different with it.
5. Potatoes & onions - it’s a breakfasty option WITH eggs usually, so just leave out the eggs for the Dan’s fast. Get crazy with them! :)

As another option, go onto MarthaStewart.com go to the recipe search and type in vegan breakfast. TONS of options came up along with all sorts of vegan recipes.

I also posted a beautiful dinner idea (for tonight?? i think I’m going to make it!) on my facebook page, so check it out as well. Love you all! Hope these ideas helped!

God bless, Kristen

As I was reading this morning about the Chief Priests and the Pharisee’s, it really struck a chord in me. Here were men who’s lives were tied to “religion”…that is who they were, yet, in John 11:53 it states, “from that day on, they plotted to kill Him.” (referring to Jesus) ~ for one, at that time, they didn’t have legal authority to sentence anyone to death. ~ but more importantly, they were not following their own procedures of a fair trial before a death sentence. Our own judicial system in America is based on the Jewish judicial system. As strange as it would be for us to condemn someone to death without a fair trial, it also was in the Jewish culture. This was a “secret sin” on their part. They didn’t want to go after Jesus publicly, they even arrested him at night! We also, have our “secret sins”, they aren’t public or done in the day. What are they? Eruptions of anger, control, abuse, addictions…this list could go on and on…

We need to deal with the issues in our lives that we would be ashamed to share. That is “the stuff” of which God is wanting to purge, heal, restore & forgive us. Irwin Lutzer recently spoke about control issues and how most of us attempt to control others in some way. We know some obvious examples of controlling others, but a more subtle aspect of control is even CONTROLLING others perception of ourselves. This isn’t honesty with others, ourselves or usually, God.

Pray today that God will give you the strength to tackle those areas that we are covering and allow God to purge you. Move on from being controlled by secret sins!

Psalms 32:5 KJV
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid . I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Psalm 32 (The Message)
1.Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be - you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean.
2.Count yourself lucky - God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him.
3.When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans.
4.The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.
5.Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.” Suddenly the pressure was gone - my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.
6.These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
7.God’s my island hideaway, keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
8.Let me give you some good advice; I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight:
9.”Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track.”
10.God-defiers are always in trouble; God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.
11.Celebrate God. Sing together - everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof!

God bless you today as you let God in to those secret places.
Kristen

What a wonderful response we have received from everyone who is participating in the Daniel’s Fast! This is a snippet of a conversation that I had with Carol K., she mentioned that her daughter had began eating this way (for a lifestyle) and when she would eat something like fried chicken, it didn’t even taste good to her anymore! It didn’t taste fresh or real.
What a parallel we can draw in the spirit…when we have the real life change that only God can give, our desires for our old ways dissipate. Read these scriptures and be encouraged!

Colossians 3:10
And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Ephesians 4:24
And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Thank you Ruth for bringing “legal” cookies for us today! YUMO! I will be making those tomorrow. Here is the recipe for anyone interested: (p.s. they were VERY good)

No Guilt Tahini Peanut Butter cookies! Delish!

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons tahini paste
1/4 tsp of sea salt
3/4 cup honey (preferably unpasteurized)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds (not roasted or salted)
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
OPTIONAL: 1/2 cup dried cranberries - these give the recipe a festive punch!

Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet and flatten with a fork. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Makes a little over a dozen cookies.

While tahini is high in fat, it’s a source of “good fat”. The vast majority of this fat is mono- and poly- unsaturated. They contain a small amount of omega 3, but mostly have omega 6 essential fatty acids. For all the fat-phobics out there, please remember that fat is what satisfies your belly, so if you skip the good fat, then often you will crave more carbs!

A tip from RUTH - they do not carry the Tahini Paste at Trader Joe’s (she purchased it from Jewel). Also, we all thought it might be a good idea to try it with Peanut Butter instead of the Tahini, so I will try tomorrow and let you know the results.

Best quote from today: Pastor said, “If you haven’t begun fasting with us, please join us! We still have 14 more days of being miserable!” - ha!

Great service today on linking PRAYER with our fast. I know for myself, I am more determined than ever to ASK, ASK, ASK. Tomorrow is a special day of prayer for the people & nation of Haiti. Please put it at the top of your prayer list, as we will be joining with Christians all across the country who will be praying too.

God bless your evening and family time!
Kristen

Yea! You made it a whole week! You are a third of the way there…Way to go!

Tonight, I am making the “Super Easy Potato Corn Chowder” from caringcarrot.com. Sounds like it should hit the spot. Our go-to quick eat is a refried bean tortilla with lettuce, tomatoes and fresh salsa. I need to put some avocado’s on there too. So fast, easy and good!

Are you enjoying your journey through the gospel of John? This is the first time I have read it in the Message Bible…and it is so FRESH. I hope you are enjoying it too.

Please keep praying for Haiti. This coming Monday is going to be an all-out DAY OF PRAYER for the people of Haiti. Please keep them at the top of your prayer list and, if you haven’t given yet, you may do so at clctoday.org. Just go to online giving & choose Christmas as the giving category. (or, you may allocate it on your giving tomorrow.)

Lots of love and encouragement to you all! Kristen

Wow, what a fantastic time we had last night! Beautiful prayer and so encouraging and deep…If you missed it, make sure you are at next Thursday’s prayer service.

We also began our Member’s classes and had a good showing for last night’s class. Please remember to sign up on Sunday, if you have not registered yet.

Well, last night…we wanted some milk & cookies!! ha! But, we persevered and made the “Banana Split” from caringcarrot.com. So simple and yummy.
Split a banana lengthwise and slather on some Peanut Butter. Put it back together and then add, granola, wheat germ, berries, etc. (whatever sounds good!)
Then, a splash of unsweetened soy milk and some blue agave sweetener. (honestly, it hit the spot & we didn’t miss the cookies!)

This a.m. - we had a hardy bowl of “Oats of Alford” with unsweetened soy, again, granola, berries and blue agave sweetener.

Feels good! God bless you today!
Kristen