1.1.11

I love beginnings. They are a great opportunity to start fresh with new goals, no mistakes, and lots of hope for the future. And my OCD also finds tomorrow's date of 1.1.11 another reason to view this New Year's Day as a fantastic time to achieve new things in the upcoming year. I've read that it's important to publicize your goals so that you will be accountable to reach them. I'm asking you to check up on me throughout this year and follow up on my progress. I need your help!

My New Year's Resolutions:

1. Read the Bible through and complete a Bible study every quarter.
2. Post to my blog twice each week, for a minimum of 104 posts by December 31, 2011.
3. Complete the first draft of a chapter for my book every two weeks, or 2 per month.
4. Start fresh with the Know the Cause Phase One Diet, and stay on it faithfully the entire year.
5. Begin Dr. Mercola's Peak Fitness Program, with the goal to fit into the clothes I wore when we first moved to Florida 5 years ago.

Life Without Limbs by Nick Vujicic: A Book Review

A few months ago, I saw this video about a man named Nick Vujicic. It's impossible to see this man, hear him speak, or learn about his story without feeling inspired. Born without any limbs, he has faced adversity that most of us could never understand, yet he travels the world to communicate to others the love of God and the message that their life has a purpose and can be lived without the limits we place on ourselves due to negative circumstances. Nick shares the joy that he has found by determining to live a "ridiculously good life" and using his struggles to encourage others to overcome obstacles and embrace life.

This is much more than a self-help book. This is a story of inspiration and courage. By sharing his own journey to accept that God did not make a mistake allowing him to be born without limbs and that he has an important message to share with the world, Nick Vujicic is a true example of what it means to live life to the fullest. His practical wisdom, humor, and raw transparency will encourage you to change your attitude about life, rise above your challenges, and find a way to ignite passion in others.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Predator by Terri Blackstock: A Book Review

"Riding my bike to Sinbad's. Dying for a soda, and Dad won't keep them in the house." That was 14-year-old Ella Carmichael's last Thought Bubble posted to the social network Grapevyne. But someone was watching - someone with sinister intentions - and took the opportunity to abduct, rape, and brutally murder the unsuspecting teen. Now her older sister Krista is taking on GrapeVyne and laying a trap for the killer, determined that no other young girls become his next victim. Despite the horrible pain of losing the baby sister she practically raised after their mother's death, Krista turns the tragedy into an opportunity to educate teens and young women about the dangers of posting personal information and current locations on social networking sites. In the process, she ends up working alongside the site's creator and CEO, both of them fighting for their lives as they seek to uncover a potential conspiracy or criminal activity originating with GrapeVyne's parent company and stay a step ahead of a killer.

Not only does Blackstock achieve another suspenseful story with a great surprise ending, but she really makes you stop to consider how our innocent comments on social networking sites can be used for malicious purposes by the wrong person. I want every young woman I care about to read this book and take to heart that particular message. This book will give you nightmares, which is the hallmark of a great thriller, and it will certainly leave you contemplating your own online activities. But it's also a story about using personal adversity to reach out to others, about healing in the midst of tragedy, and about the power of our faith and God's grace to carry us through our darkest trial.

View the book trailer and buy the book here

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Where's Tonto?

"I feel like the Lone Ranger," my husband said to me last night, sighing as he made the difficult decision to go home for a good night's rest rather than sticking it out at the hospital for another night with me. Part of me was angry and hurt because I am afraid to stay at the hospital alone due to unpleasant past experiences. On the other hand, I recognized he was burned out physically and emotionally and needed his own bed. While I've been either hospitalized or bed-ridden for the past month, he's been trying to run our small business, take care of things at home, take care of me and/or stay by my side 24/7 in the hospital, plan and prepare most of Thanksgiving dinner, run all of our personal errands, and take over the few administrative duties I can still do for our business all on his own. So his "Lone Ranger" sentiment is understandable.

But even the Lone Ranger had a side-kick: Tonto, someone he could talk to along the trail and count on to have his back. Even his horse Silver would pitch in once in a while, dragging him to water when he'd been injured by an outlaw. Because we have no family living nearby, we recently moved to a new area of a large city and have visited our new church only a handful of times, and we have very few friends in our lives that are willing to roll up their sleeves and be involved in our often-dramatic lives, we have sadly grown quite used to bearing our burdens alone. We are thankful for God's grace, for each other, as well as long-distance family and friends who pray for us and encourage us via phone and internet. But sometimes you just need back-up. Like someone who will offer to drop off one of your diet-specific meals, take you to the doctor, or stop by and let the dogs out for some exercise while you're in the hospital.

Everyone is busy and everyone has less-complicated friendships to put their effort into. I know this. But everyone needs someone to talk to along the trail. Someone to count on to have your back. So for MY Lone Ranger's sake...where's Tonto? Heck...I'm sure he'd even settle for someone to just drag him to water.

Some thoughts and ideas I've shared before about being someone's "side-kick":
If We Are the Body
Get With the Program

Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury: A Book Review

Holden Harris is an autistic, high school senior whose father has given up on his ever being normal again, leaving his mother to deal with the day-to-day struggles of parenting a special-needs child. While Holden's mom Tracy holds on to hope and prays for a miracle to release her son from the prison of his autism, he is reunited with his childhood best friend Ella Reynolds, the popular daughter of Tracy's one-time closest friend, who abandoned Tracy shortly after Holden's diagnosis. Through Ella's friendship and Holden's love for music, miracles begin to happen not only for Holden, but also for his parents, his high school, and Ella's family as well.

So many topics that hit close to home for me were touched on in this riveting story. Karen Kingsbury demonstrates so clearly how those of us with chronic illness and our caretakers are often abandoned by our loved ones -often out of fear or not knowing how to deal with the situation- both physically and emotionally, just when we need them most. And the way people ignore, tease, and treat Holden differently because of his illness is sadly typical of how our culture regards those of us with disabilities. But Tracy Harris' strength in the midst of adversity and her fragile faith and hope in God is nothing short of inspiring. Likewise, the courage and compassion of young Ella to reach out to Holden is a testament to the power of one to make a difference. Unlocked is truly another in a long list of Kingsbury's "Life-Changing Fiction."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

He Knows My Name

A Book "Experience" from Your Secret Name by Kary Oberbrunner

Every once in a while you read a book, and you just know that your life will never be the same. It feels like a personal message, meant just for you. And it becomes more than a book: it's an experience. I'd like to share my experience with you.

Each of us, whether consciously or unconsciously, is seeking our purpose in life - our identity. We want to know who we are and why our life matters in the grand scheme of things. As we go through life, we are given labels or Given Names that describe how others see us; and then we often spend the rest of our lives trying to live up to or to live down those names. But God has a Secret Name for each of us, a name that describes how He, our Creator, see us. Discovering our Secret Name is a journey that leads us to a deeper relationship with God and the beginning of truly understanding His plan for us.

As Author Kary Oberbrunner compared his journey to finding his Secret Name with the story of Jacob in the book of Genesis, I could not help but see similarities in my own life and realize I'd spent too long "playing the Name Game." I learned very early in my life that I could get recognition by being an achiever. The more awards I won, the more top grades I received in school, the more I improved my musical talents, the more people seemed to see me as a valuable person. This worked well for me until age 16 when I suddenly became "The Sick Girl," and I could no longer keep up with everyone's expectations of my being "Most Likely to Succeed." In my senior year of high school and through my freshman year of college I struggled just to get out of bed in the morning and stay awake through classes, but I did my best to put on a front that I had it all together as usual. But by the end of my freshman year I had begun to have major health problems and could no longer stay in school.

That's when I first noticed that I was becoming Invisible. I worked hard at improving my health and would have periods of remission where I would force myself to perform at work or at church so that I could have that feeling of being special and important. But inevitably my health would fail me again, and I would begin to feel Isolated and Abandoned by my friends and family. There were times I was out of commission for up to 6 months at a time, but I rarely had a phone call, email, or visit from any of those people I'd been trying so hard to impress. I felt Worthless and Forgotten, like I was a "Non-person." And as my health issues began to affect my weight, I no longer even recognized myself in the mirror. Pretty soon I was just a Fat, Sick, Depressed Person who meant very little to myself or anyone else. In the midst of a two-year downward spiral in my health and a series of events that left me feeling completely Invalidated by everyone in my life, I decided that my life was no longer worth living. And I attempted suicide.

Despite all the difficult circumstances over the past 17 years, I always felt God's presence and would see His hand at work in my life. I heard Him whisper loving assurances to me and would often picture Him holding me and singing over me, as in Zephaniah 3:17, "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,he will rejoice over you with singing." When Kary asked us at the end of the book to picture ourselves alone before God and to imagine what name He would call us, I immediately heard God say, "I see you. I hear you. I remember you. You are precious to me." I immediately was drawn back to Zephaniah 3:17 and discovered the name Zephaniah means "treasured by God." That's when He confirmed to me that the words I heard Him say all described me as His Treasure. When God looks at me, he values me as a precious treasure, of so great worth that He would never abandon, forget, or overlook me. And I don't have to earn a list of achievements to be treasured in His eyes.

"When I don't measure up to much in this life, I'm a Treasure in the arms of Christ." -From "Forgiven" by Sanctus Real

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Twelfth Imam by Joel C. Rosenberg: A Book Review

Iran has a secret nuclear weapons program. A small cult of religious and political leaders in the Middle East believe they must destroy the nations of Israel and the United States in order to bring about the coming of the Islamic "messiah", or Twelfth Imam, whom they believe will usher in a new era of Islamic rule worldwide. As they are plotting the demise of the Little and the Great Satans, Iran is unaware that a trusted, young Muslim businessman is actually a CIA operative whose objective is to gain solid intelligence to thwart their nuclear efforts. It soon becomes clear that there are spiritual forces behind Iran's evil plot that the CIA refuses to acknowledge until it is perhaps too late.

Joel C. Rosenberg begins another spine-tingling fiction series that hits very close to home. His seemingly prophetic insights into real political events of our day are set in an action-packed, can't-put-it-down thriller that will capture your attention and leave you paying much closer attention to current events in light of this storyline. Whether you're a seasoned Rosenberg fan or a first-timer, you will not be disappointed in The Twelfth Imam.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Recommendations

I've had the privilege to read some really great, life-changing books recently. I'm currently working on writing the reviews to post them here for you. While you're waiting, you should just go ahead and start reading them now; they're THAT good.

Your Secret Name by Kary Oberbrunner
Visit the book's website

The Twelfth Imam by Joel C. Rosenberg
Visit Joel's website

We All Scream for Ice Cream

When it's hot and muggy outside, I like something cold and sweet. But I don't sacrifice my health for an ice cream treat, nor do I trade away "delicious" for "healthy". This yummy ice cream recipe is adapted from Sally Fallon's "Nourishing Traditions" cookbook for the Know the Cause Phase One Diet

Chocolate Raspberry Soft-Serve Ice Cream

3 cups heavy cream
3 egg yolks
6 T. unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup xylitol

Whisk together in a bowl.
Pour into ice cream maker (the kind with the bowl that you freeze. Mine is a Cuisinart model) and allow to mix for 25-30 minutes.
Add 1 pint fresh raspberries and mix another 5 minutes.

Best if served directly from ice cream maker, but can be stored in a sealed container and stored in the freezer. This will change the consistency, however, to something like you would have if you try to refreeze a Wendy's Frosty, for example. But it still tastes good!

Questioning Vaccinations

Questioning Vaccinations

Click the above link to read this article from www.knowthecause.com Newsletter.

The Secret Life of the American with Chronic Illness

My house is an absolute wreck! I live in constant fear that someone will stop by my house and find out that I'm not Susie Homemaker. I like things very neat, clean, and uncluttered. And I'm a classic germophobe. So it's not like I'm oblivious to the mess or don't care to address it. At the moment I'm just overwhelmed. Last month I was hospitalized for heart problems, and my sister came from Michigan and stayed with me for about a month to help out. While she was here, she did nearly all of the cooking and cleaning. Then, it took me about a week or so just to rest and recuperate from her visit. (And if you have chronic illness, you know what I'm talking about: is there anything that DOESN'T take a week of recovery?) Also, she and I tended to stay up late at night talking, watching movies, playing board games, etc., which is great except for the fact that it wreaked havoc with this narcoleptic's sleep patterns.

I look around and see piles of laundry that needs folding, furniture that needs dusted, carpet that needs vacuumed, and dishes that need washed and put away. And I don't know where to start. Of course, telling you about it isn't getting it done either. I guess I just felt I needed to confess the huge secret mess that is behind my front door. You probably think less of me now than before, when I seemed perfect and you thought I had it all together. But this is my reality. Sadly, there will probably never be a time when I will be caught up on all of the household chores and would feel great if unexpected company just showed up. That's just a part of my life that I have to learn to accept. I don't know that I'll ever be completely okay with it.

So today it is my goal to get ONE room in my house clean and clutter-free, and if I can accomplish this through God's strength, then I will choose to be content in that. And if you happen to stop by and see all the other rooms in my home, please don't judge me too harshly. I'm doing the best I can, and everything else will just have to stay messy until I get to it.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" ~Colossians 3:23

The Witness by Josh McDowell: A Book Review

Marwan Accad, owner of a posh international security firm, suddenly finds himself on the run after disclosing to his client that his wife's kidnapping was actually staged as a plot to extort millions from him. Narrowly escaping death himself, Accad is the only witness to that client's assassination and the only person who knows about the extortion. Circumstantial evidence leads police to believe Accad himself may have been behind the murder, and a corrupt detective does all he can to manipulate facts and evidence to show Accad's guilt. Marwan Accad's quest to uncover evidence to clear his name while trying to avoid being killed himself, leads him to a journey of healing deep wounds from his past and discovering God's love.

The Witness is an exciting, page-turning thriller with well-researched detail that makes you feel like you are traveling through the different countries and experiencing the dramatic chases along with the characters. Although some of the conversations about God that arise between characters seem unexpected, the historical Biblical facts they contain are thought-provoking. And despite the fact that the much-anticipated conclusion is a bit abrupt, the story does provide a clear gospel message enveloped within an engrossing and highly titillating drama. I would definitely recommend Josh McDowell's The Witness as an entertaining read but also as a clever evangelistic tool.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Taco Salad - Phase One Friendly

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I thought I'd post my original taco salad recipe. If you're following the Know the Cause Phase One Diet, if you're into low-carb, or if you're just a healthy eater, you'll love this recipe.

Taco Salad
1 – 1 ½ lbs grass-fed ground beef
Chopped onions & green peppers
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can diced tomatoes (check ingredients! No sugar, etc)
Chili powder
Paprika
Cayenne pepper
Salt
Pepper
Onion Powder

Sauté onions & peppers in olive oil until clear
Brown meat, break down into very small pieces
Add diced tomatoes
Add spices
Bring to a boil
Allow to simmer on Low 30 minutes, until liquid is reduced
Add garlic

Guacamole
1 avocado, diced
3 grape tomatoes
Green onion, roughly chopped tops & bottoms
2 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of ½ lemon
Salt
Mix together in Magic Bullet with Cross Blade,
Using Short Cup

Serve over a bed of leafy greens, grape tomatoes, and shredded yogurt cheese. Top with a dollop of real sour cream. Serves 3-4, depending on portion size.

Think Outside the Box - Snack Bar Recipe

For those of you who enjoy trail mix-type bars, I thought this recipe that I adapted from TBS Dinner & A Movie's "Cramming for the Bar" is a yummy alternative to those pre-packaged "healthy" snack bars with all the added sugar and grain. If you're following the Know the Cause Phase One Diet, or if you're just a healthy eater, you'll love this recipe.

Healthy Snack Bars
No Grain, No Sugar


Ingredients:
• 2 1/2 cup dried unsweetened cranberries and other berries
• 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1 cup raw almond slices
• 1 cup raw cashews
• 1/4 cup raw pecans
• 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1 cup unsweetened dried coconut
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 5 tablespoons agave syrup or raw unpasteurized honey
• 1/4 cup Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

Directions:
1. Combine the dried fruit in a food processor. Pulse mixture 10-15 times until a ball forms. Add the remaining dry ingredients and continue pulsing until the nuts are chopped and the mixture begins to come together. Scrape the mixture into a large bowl and add the oil and honey and knead 5 minutes until the mixture holds its shape in a ball.

2. To form the health food bars, line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap and press the mixture forcefully into the pan. Place another piece of plastic wrap over the top and then use a large rolling pin to compress the mixture into a solid block. Alternatively you can press into small cake molds or wrap in foil and twist tightly into cylinders.

3. Cut into bars. Bars can be left plain or coated in your favorite choice (i.e. sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds, dehydrated coconut, green tea Mache, powdered cocoa, etc.) Freeze bars for 30 minutes and then wrap individually and keep refrigerated for longest shelf life.

Happy Happy Birthday Cake

Chocolate Fudgy Bundt Cake
No grain, No sugar
Adapted from Hannah Byers’ Original Chocolate Fudge Almond Butter Cake Recipe

2 cups almond butter
4 eggs
1 cup raw unpasteurized honey
1 tsp. baking soda

8 oz. unsweetened (100% cocoa) chocolate
2 sticks butter
1 cup xylitol* (or more or less to taste)
*This recipe is meant to have ½ cup raw honey in the chocolate mix, which would make the cake MUCH more moist. See Notes below for more info.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Melt butter, chocolate squares, and xylitol in a pot over low heat.
Mix almond butter, eggs, honey, and baking soda with mixer until smooth.
Pour in chocolate 2/3 of chocolate mixture, and beat until mixed.

Pour into a bundt cake pan, greased with extra virgin coconut oil and lightly coated with coconut flour. Bake for approx. 50 minutes at 350 degrees (if you use all honey instead of using xylitol in the chocolate mixture, you will probably need to bake up to 10 minutes longer)
Allow to cool 20 minutes, then flip out onto serving plate.
Reheat remaining chocolate mixture and drizzle over top.
Add fresh strawberries and/or raspberries to center.
Add a dollop of heavy whipping cream, whipped with stevia added, to taste

You can also divide ingredients for cake batter in half (as in Hannah’s original recipe) and pour into two round cake pans lined with parchment paper. Then you can make a filling and ice the top. The following is a recipe for filling/icing. Or you can just half the recipe and bake as brownies, too!

Icing/Filling:
1 8oz. cream cheese
1 stick butter
¼ cup raw unpasteurized honey
3 T. unsweetened cocoa, optional for chocolate icing (or more to taste)
You can also add heavy whipping cream and beat for an extended period to make it fluffier.

Notes:
1. I tried making this in the round pans and greasing the pans with coconut oil but the cake STILL stuck due to the gooiness of the honey. My MIL makes wedding cakes and advised me to line with parchment paper. You can’t do this in a bundt cake pan though. So you just have to carefully work it out of the pan before it’s cooled too much.

2. Almond butter can be expensive, but I do not recommend peanut butter because this is a healthy recipe and peanuts contain mycotoxins which are extremely harmful to the body. Cashew butter can also be used, which is less expensive. You can make your own almond butter (which will save a lot if you find a good price on almonds. Sam’s Club has 3lb. bags of plain unroasted almonds for $10) by putting almonds in a food processor, adding a small amount of almond oil, and mixing until a buttery texture.

3. You can substitute the xylitol in the chocolate mixture for ½ cup raw honey. I opted for xylitol because there was already so much honey in the cake, and honey is very high on the glycemic index, especially for people with diabetes, PCOD, thyroid disease, obesity, and other endocrine diseases.

4. Because this is a healthy recipe, I strongly recommend using eggs from free range, organic hens that are NOT fed grains; butter and other dairy products that are from grass-fed organic dairy; raw, unpasteurized organic honey; and organic ingredients whenever possible.

5. For more information on mycotoxins and why I avoid grain and sugar, please refer to Know the Cause

Ransomed Dreams by Sally John

A book review

Sheridan Montgomery, the wife of Eliot Montgomery, former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, has gone from her dream life to her worst nightmare after her husband was seriously wounded in a shooting. She felt she had lost everything - her husband, her career, her peace of mind, and nearly all contact with the outside world - in a matter of mere minutes. Choosing to retreat to a remote Mexican village to escape the trauma of the incident and to care for her disabled husband, she thought she had put distance between herself and her worst fears. But when her father's failing health and her sister's plea to return home forces her to leave her safety zone and her dependent husband, the realities of her strained family relationships, the disappointments of her marriage, discoveries about her parents' pasts, and the feelings she has developed for her savior Luke Traynor are just some of the realities she must face before she can find herself again.

For anyone who thinks that fiction is simply an indulgence to escape reality, this book will be a huge surprise. The story will resonate with anyone who has ever found himself in the midst of unexpected and disappointing life circumstances and asked, "How did I get here, and how can I escape?" As a person whose life has taken dramatic turns in the area of my health, I empathized with the struggles of both Sheridan's character, who feels forced to swallow the bitter pill of a life lost, and that of her husband Eliot, who is trapped by his body and paralyzed with fear that he will end up alone. But not until they reach the end of themselves and turn back to God, do they find peace to reconcile damaged relationships and rediscover their love for each other. The story is dramatic and action-packed, but it is also full of life-changing truths. This is surely one work of fiction that will be worth your time!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Gigi's Big Break" - Sheila Walsh's Gigi, God's Little Princess

A Children's DVD Review:

"Gigi's Big Break" is a two-story DVD about Gigi, the main character from Sheila Walsh's children's books. In the first story, Gigi breaks a vase but blames it on her pet cat. When her mom doubts her story, Gigi embellishes it to convince her, but the lies continue to grow until Gigi can no longer bear it and finally confesses. Her parents help her see the damage that lying can do.

The second story begins with Gigi learning that she is going to be a big sister. Gigi's first response is, "Why?" She's used to being the only child and the center of their world. Afraid that her parents will no longer love her when the baby arrives, she plans to run away and live with her best friend. But Mom and Dad reassure her their love for her will never change, and she soon discovers the joy of being a big sister.

I am an adult woman with no children, but I enjoy a lot of animated children's movies. This is also my first encounter with the Gigi series. Gigi is quite a self-centered "drama queen" with a vivid and outrageous imagination. But she is quick to learn from her mistakes and grasp the Bible lesson found in her experiences. Although the animation is certainly not the quality most children are used to seeing today, and the voice of Gigi is actually quite annoying, the bright colors and music, as well as the story itself are sure to capture the attention of young school-age children. And the biblical principles taught in the amusing stories are certainly valuable for character building. For those reasons, I would recommend this DVD to friends with young daughters.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this DVD free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Tabitha Who?

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." I Corinthians 12:27

"With all your talent and potential, you're gonna do great things for God one day!" I heard this repeatedly as I was growing up. My competitive/achiever nature often caused me to stand out among my peers, and there was always another award to add to my list of accomplishments. I had big goals and high hopes for my future. That all changed when I became The Sick Girl.

Now my biggest achievements are having the strength to fold last week's laundry, empty the dishwasher for the first time in 3 days, or mop the kitchen floor for only the second time in four months (no, I'm not kidding!). My current successes would be considered failures by most. I may not even see another human being, besides my husband, for a week at a time. How then can I ever expect to do these "great things for God?"

God spoke to me recently through Sheila Walsh's new book. She talks about the story of Tabitha in Acts 9:36-42. If you're wondering, "Tabitha who?" it's because those 7 verses are the only mention of her in the Bible. She never did anything amazing that would stick out in our minds, and we certainly don't think of her when we name the great characters of the Bible. Yet, when she died, the Christians in her home town were devastated. They went so far as to send two men to track down Peter and ask him to come back right away. When Peter returned and found all the widows standing around grieving, he raised her from the dead through the power of Christ!

Why her? She wasn't an apostle or a prominent leader in the church. All she did was sew clothes for the poor. Verse 36 describes her as "always doing good and helping the poor." That's nice, but it's not a great work of God. Or is it? Maybe the things we consider important and worthy of notice are not quite as important to God. That's an epiphany for me! My religious background was always about what I was doing to serve the Lord. It was about being at the church "every time the doors are open," going on weekly visitation, and singing solos before the entire congregation - all things I'm not physically able to do anymore. Does that mean I've missed my chance to fulfill God's purpose for my life? The Enemy would like for me to think so!

But the Bible tells me that God has a purpose for me and a place in the body of Christ where I can serve. These days that may not be a high-profile position in my church or community. Maybe it's being an encourager to others also dealing with chronic illness by praying for them, saying an uplifting word on Facebook, being honest about my struggles through this blog, or making a Prayer Shawl for them in my church's knitting ministry (kind of like Tabitha was doing in her church!).

But let's not miss the end of Tabitha's story. Verse 42 tells us that the story of her resurrection "became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord." Because she became sick and died, Jesus Christ received glory, and many precious souls were saved. What a testimony! Isn't that what all believers are called to do with our time on Earth?

Dear Lord, help me to remember that You have a purpose for my life every single day. Even though I may not feel like an important contributor to Your work, I will trust that you will use my humble offering - right here where I am - to glorify Your name and cause others to believe in You.

"Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God" by Sheila Walsh

A Book Review

Fear: a tool used by the Enemy to keep us from God's purpose for our lives. That fear often paralyzes us, keeping us from having the courage to believe God has it all under control. But as Sheila Walsh shares the story of her own struggles with fear and the journey of several Bible characters who also had to overcome fear to come to a place of faith, we find that beautiful things do indeed happen when we begin to trust God.

I am not usually one who enjoys non-fiction books, but as someone with chronic illness who struggles daily with the subject of trusting God, I was inexplicably drawn to this topic. And I soon discovered God had some amazing lessons in store as Sheila shared her heart through these pages. I was captivated by how closely I identified with both Sheila and the biblical figures as they wrestled with their fear of being too broken for God to use, fear of allowing others to see their failures, or fear that they may have missed their chance in life to do something for God. I feel that anyone who reads this amazing book will come away knowing that, like Sheila, "all I have to offer anyone else is a life surrendered to Christ so that his beauty and grace shine through my brokenness" (p.15).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Pursued

"Why do I always have to be the one that pursues people? Sometimes I want to be pursued!" This was my outcry as I recently explained to a friend how sad and frustrating it can be trying to make friends with women when you have two "strikes" against you: 1. chronic illness and 2. no children. It took me years to figure out what the problem was; I kept wondering what I was doing wrong. Was I not friendly enough? Did I talk too much? Was I too self-centered? Should I have done more to reach out? But then I started to notice how women with children were always getting together with women who had children. They would go to the mall together, take the kids to the zoo, or invite them over for a lunch picnic. I tried to invite women to things that centered on their children, like a day at the beach with her kids. But I kept striking out. I figured that's just one club I will never be invited into.

But even women in different stages of life - single, married with no children, married with older or grown children - they didn't seem to connect with me either. I never got invites for a "girls' night out" or shopping trip. I even tried to have things like make-up or jewelry parties at my house so that I could interact with other women and get to know them better. It wasn't until a recent conversation with my Life Coach that my fears were confirmed: people don't want to be friends with someone who has chronic illness. It's too complicated and requires too much commitment and energy; so why bother? I realize it's more complicated to make plans with me because I need a lot of notice, don't have the stamina for a long day out, and require a lot of "paraphernalia" just to leave the house. But I just wish someone would think I was worth the extra effort.

Ironically, there have been a couple ladies who have reached out to me. But I soon learned they viewed me as a "ministry" or a "project" and not as a real friend. I guess they felt it was their duty to take me to doctor appointments or visit me in the hospital. But when it came time for the fun stuff, I never made their guest list. And those same women never seemed to have any problems of their own. They never asked me for help or prayer and never shared their frustrations about their marriage or finances. It started to feel very one-sided. I wanted to share in her life and be a friend to her. But you don't make friends with your project.

God has blessed me with a very small number of friends who have loved me through some of the most difficult times in my life. But most of these women live far away and can't interact with me in person. We talk on the phone, on Facebook, or by email, and they are a blessing in my life as I believe I am in theirs. But it's just not the same as having a day at the mall or getting mani-pedi's at the day spa. Maybe that's just too much commitment. I wish someone would think I was worth the trouble and pursue a real friendship with me.

"My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away" - Psalm 38:11.

Chicken Veggie Stir-Fry

It's been an adventure for me to find and create easy Phase One (www.knowthecause.com) recipes. Here's one I came up with tonight when I needed to find something quick, using the groceries we already had in the house. Enjoy...

Chicken Veggie Stir-Fry

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
Mrs. Dash Original
Salt & Pepper
Sesame Oil
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
Fresh broccoli florets
(or chunks of any other fresh veggies, i.e
carrots, bell peppers, cauliflower, zucchini, etc)
2 ice cubes

Saute onions on medium heat in generous amount of sesame oil, allowing onions to brown and carmelize (20 minutes) You may need to periodically add more sesame oil to keep them from sticking to the pan.
Cover chicken w/ salt, freshly-ground pepper, and generous amount of Mrs. Dash.
Add more sesame oil.
Brown chicken thoroughly, stirring often.
When chicken is cooked through, add fresh veggies and 2 cubes of ice.
Cover and turn on low heat. Allow veggies to steam for 15 minutes, soaking up flavor of onions)

This was delicious! And if you are on not on Phase One, you can add snow peas, which are yummy in stir-fry. You could also serve this over brown rice. But if you're grain-free like me, you will enjoy it just with the meat and veggies. Also, you could substitute pork, turkey, or beef for the chicken.