Bread is it worth it?

We have had a glorious time on vacation in Punta Banda, Mexico just outside of Ensenada Mexico. Long walks on the beach, strolling through shops in La Bufadora, fish tacos, watching dolphins meander by, kayaking in the bay and did I mention rest? What's not to love?  One afternoon we visited Walmart, yes even in Mexico Walmart has made It's presence known! There right in front of us was a glorious sight! "pan dulce"! Mexican sweet breads!   I wish for the sake of understanding that you could smell what we smelled! 

Holding onto the grocery cart, almost whining, okay really whining, "I have to get out of here! This will be the death of me!"

In a flash, all of the knowledge that I have about what gluten does to my digestion went out of my mind and instead it was filled with fantasies about how good the pastries would taste. Sweet concoctions of pineapple, apple, creme, chocolate, cinnamon and on and on. The sweet breads seemed to beckon me, "Come closer, come closer and take a bite, just a little one, it won't hurt you!" 

This article explains the dangers of gluten. I know about the impact of gluten on my digestive system and have felt the discomfort of eating bread, so why am I tempted when I am surrounded by it? 

In case you are wondering, I didn't have any pan dulce. I smelled it, enjoyed looking at it and then, even though my family bought some, I walked away! It was difficult but there was victory for me in making this choice. It seems that each time I make a choice to eat only those things that are happy for my body the decisions become easier! 

True confession time! Smores called out to me and I answered, "Yes please!" I gave in to the ooey, gooey tastiness of the marshmallows. Plural, since I consumed 1 smore and 7 roasted marshmallows.  I made the decision to enjoy these with my family and although I wouldn't recommend that I do it every day, this vacation treat was worth it.

What I learned, 

Making a conscious decision to abstain from things that are unhealthy for you strengthens you to continue to make wise decisions.  If something cause you to sin, remove it!  Matthew 5:30

This is different for every person.

 It can be people, 

food, 

alcohol, 

television,

 music, 

shopping. 

What is it for you?

Planning ahead would have kept me from partaking, and partaking and partaking of the marshmallows. If I had made this Paleo Smores recipe I would have had the best of both worlds! I just must plan ahead and be wise in my decisions. This is true in so many areas of my life. 

Solomon asked the Lord to give him discernment, It is my prayer today as well.

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. I Kings 3:9

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The Perfect Game, the Unexpected Play

My husband and I watched the movie, The Perfect Game this week. It was based on a true story about the 1957 Little League World Series. An unknown team from a steel town of Monterrey, Mexico was portrayed in the movie. It tells the story of how these small, raggedy boys won the little league world series.  The pitcher, Angel Macias  threw the only perfect game in the history of the championship. The movie was not just about baseball.  I loved how the coach taught and learned life lessons throughout the movie. One of his favorite things to demonstrate to the boys was to be ready for, "The unexpected play at the unexpected time". Woven into the movie was this theme, over and over again.

When this came up in the movie I began to think about how often God has done that. We see it throughout scripture that God will do the unexpected in His perfect timing. Remember the first time you heard about Moses taking the Israelites to the red sea?  Would God save them? Of course He did and just at the perfect time. In I Kings a widow serves Elijah and then her son grows ill. In anger she cries out to God. Will God let this child die? Her child is spared in God's time. Even Jesus as an unborn child in Mary's womb was in danger. We see the unexpected happen as He is protected from Herod. Jesus on the cross did not alter from this concept.  It would have been so easy to stop the whole circus. He did the unexpected thing at the unexpected time. He died, that we may live.  

In my life God has done this very thing. It may not have been as exciting as Daniel in the lions den or a burning bush but, none the less, He has surprised me with provision, protection and peace when I did not expect it. When I did not know what to do, where to turn or how to respond He showed up. Learning to trust Him to do and be who He says He is has been a journey. 

I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? 

Jeremiah 32:27

He is the God of the unexpected play. I always knew He loved baseball!

Casa de paz

Guest Blog

About two years ago I felt that God was calling me to serve in Mexico. Getting this calling at the age of 15 was a little scary. I didn’t think that I would be able to do it, but God made it happen. It took me two years to get there, but I took a leap of faith and spent three and a half weeks in Mexico. This was the most rewarding experience that I have ever had in my life.

Before I got there, I was sure that I would be ok, no problem, it’s just three and a half weeks. Yeah right. The first week was very difficult. But the second week got better, and I met some amazing kids at the orphanage. By the third week, I didn’t want to leave. The people down there, the kids at the orphanage, and my Mexican family mean so much to me. God showed me a lot in the 24 days that I was in Mexico. He showed me how blessed I am, He showed me how to really trust Him, and the biggest thing of all, He showed me how to love others in a way I hadn’t known before.

Blessings… I have so much, and everything is at my fingertips and most of it is readily available. I never truly saw how much I had until I didn’t have it. The saying, “you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone”, really shined through for me. When I was at the orphanage, I watched the actions of the kids. It’s hard to explain how their faces lit up when they were playing. Their outside toys, the few that they had, were broken and worn down. But they didn’t care. They still played with them like they were new. They were so thankful for everything they had, even though there wasn’t much. It was a reality check. Hello, Mandy! What do you even have to complain about in your life?H

As for trust, I am a planner. So for me, not knowing what’s going to happen the next day, or even that night, was a very big challenge. I had to trust that things were going to happen just as God wanted them to, even though I wasn’t making the plans. God showed me that everything was going to be okay, no matter how scared I was, how worried I was, or how anxious I was. I really had to fully rely on God to mentally get me through those 3 weeks. That was probably my biggest challenge being there.

The most beautiful thing that God showed me was how to love those beautiful kids. Watching them at the orphanage gave me so much satisfaction, pure joy. They loved with everything that they had inside of them. They don’t have much in their life. But what they do have is love for their Savior and love for brothers and sisters in Christ.

It’s really hard to explain my trip, my experience, in one word. But the only thing that I’ve been able to get out is ‘beautiful’. Simply, beautiful. 

This was a once in a lifetime experience that I wish more people could have experienced with me. But I can’t wait to go back. I can’t wait to see those kids smiling faces and have them run and give me a hug every time they see me. God has blessed me with new understandings, and a new outlook on life. And I can’t say thank you to Him enough. I will forever be impacted and changed by Mexico, in the best way possible.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28

Mandy

Mandy is a high School Senior and has fallen in love with God's people in Mexico.

Raise the Red Warning flag!

In the city of Puebla, Mexico something that has been around forever has begun to be a problem. The Popocatepetl crater stands 5,452 meters (17900 foot) above this town. This sleeping giant began to spew out a huge dangerous swelling cloud of ash and steam eight kilometers (five miles) high.  Officials proclaimed that it was not dangerous.

Popocatepetl has been smoldering since 1994 and threatening to harm the population who live close by. The public is required to stay at least 7 miles away from the base of the volcano.  A volcano warning system is n place for surrounding cities. Raising a yellow flag means there is no danger, while a red flag will cause a city to be evacuated.  38 miles north in Mexico City, officials have decided that the volcano is not a significant risk and would not be instituting their warning flag for the surrounding cities.

  

I am not sure that I would be as calm if something that is so dangerous was looming behind me! 

As soon as I said this, the Spirit reminded me that I have a dangerous, vicious enemy even closer to me.

The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6

The tongue is like this volcano!  It sleeps, waiting to spew at any time. When it does erupt the effects are felt for miles. When it comes to my tongue, there is always a red warning flag flying! 

Ouch!  This was not a pleasant reminder, but necessary.

 

This Red flag tongue check is for all of us. God's word has much to say about our speech.

Only speak what is pleasing to God-May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Keep your tongue from evil -Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Psalm 34-12-13

Speak with wisdom- Thee mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. Psalm 37-30

When you don’t have anything nice to say-don’t! -I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence." Psalm 39:1

Speak of the goodness of God-I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. Psalm 40:10

Be gentle-A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. Proverbs 15:1-2 

Think before you speak-The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. Proverbs 15:28 

Build up others with your speech -Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 

Speak with grace -Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

Clean up your speech-But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 

Colossians 3:8 

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:9

Father, you have given us a red warning flag concerning our tongues. I am choosing to read you word and focus on what is good rather than allow my mouth to spew out unpleasant and hurtful things.

It’s Easy to Destroy Relationships—try this!

 

In the middle of the valley of Guadalupe just north of Ensenada, Mexico is the church of Tierra Santa. We have been going to this location for many years to stand alongside of Alejandro and his congregation. Upon arriving, high school students tumbled out of the large dusty white vans and began to unload the trailer of supplies and what seemed like thousands of sleeping bags.

Soon it was time for the evening message and worship. My husband asked if I could walk down to the house and retrieve a bag that had been left in the trailer. He warned me that opening and closing the trailer was difficult and maybe I should have someone come with me to help. I proudly exclaimed, “I got it!”

He handed me the keys and a flashlight and I went alone. I was grateful for a few moments away from the hustle and bustle of the students and briskly set off down the dirt road. Behind the Pastor’s house in the dark was the large white equipment trailer.

Reaching up on my tiptoes, I unlocked the large metal door at the back of the trailer. As I pulled the door down it became a ramp. “That was remarkably easy,” I proudly thought to myself! Shining the flashlight into the back of the trailer, I quickly found the bag and walked out.

This is when the fun began! The door that had so easily opened was now a formidable opponent! It felt as though a thousand pounds was pushing against me! I tried all sorts of creative ways to get that door closed. First, I tried pushing it up halfway and then quickly getting my back under it, but I didn’t have enough strength to close it. After that I climbed up on the bumper and slowly pulled the heavy metal door up, but that ended with me falling off the trailer and landing in the dirt.

While lying in the dirt, pondering what I might do, it occurred to me that I had only two options:

(1) I could leave the trailer open with the contents vulnerable to theft and walk back to tell my husband that I was unable to complete my task, or
(2) I could figure out another way to close it.

Clearly failure was not an option after my bold declaration of “I got it!” At that moment a new thought arose, “use a rope to pull it closed.” Somehow those science classes came rushing back to me and I remembered how to construct a pulley system. MacGyver has nothing on me!

I strutted to the church, bag in hand, ready to proudly deliver it to my husband. As my moment to gloat became closer I was convicted and realized that my husband had simply been looking out for me and it was my pride that blinded me. Getting the bag would have been less of an ordeal if only I would have just heeded his advice to take help.

Scripture warns us over and over again about pride.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Here are my lessons:

1. We have a hard time loving when we focus on ourselves. If I would have seen my husband’s desire to take care of me, instead of thinking that he saw me as weak, the trailer wouldn’t have been so difficult.

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground? Obadiah 1:3

2. We have a hard time loving when we think that we are all sufficient. God has created us to need others. My desire to do it by myself clearly missed the mark.

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Psalm 10:3-4

3. We have a hard time loving when we leave God out of the picture. I don’t recall asking God for help during this entire process. Yes, I pretty much tried to do it by myself.

Marriage is difficult enough, don’t let pride be a relationship killer.

• When you are tempted to focus on yourself, remember that pride is a relationship killer.
• When you think that you don’t need anyone’s help, remember that pride is a relationship killer.
• When you think that you can do it without God, remember that pride is a relationship killer.

Question: How does pride affect your relationship with your spouse?

Father, help me to honor, respect and show love to my husband.  Thank you for giving us great examples of how to build a relationship built on your love and grace. Forgive me for being proud. I have been humbled sufficiently!  Jann

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This is a re-post from a guest blog on Dougfields.com

Watch and Learn

Fish tacos are one of my favorite things to eat!  I love them grilled and deep fried!  My belief is that they are filled with fish, which is good for you, full of omega 3 fatty acids! I just don't think about the calories or fat grams when it comes to these marvelous creations! I first tasted fish tacos in California and then had the great pleasure of biting into their crunchy goodness while visiting Ensenada Mexico.

Fish tacos consist of these ingredients;

• White fish, battered and deep fried, or marinated and grilled
• Corn tortillas
• Shredded cabbage
• Sour cream or crema
• Salsa
• Lime wedges
• Mayonnaise if desired

When I have made fish tacos the process is; dip the fish into an egg batter and then place it into the dry flour mixture to coat, next you deep fry to golden brown.  Assemble your taco with your chosen ingredients and have a party in your mouth! Yummo!

Recently we visited with our friends Juanita and Alejandro in their home.  Juanita had invited us for lunch and fish tacos were on her menu! Yippee! 

I wanted to watch and learn from Juanita's expertise so I watched as Juanita prepared her fish. 

Lesson #1-She dipped the fish into a combination of an egg and flour mixture and then deep fried them.  "Juanita, why do you do only one step?", I asked her. "Es mas facil" translation, It's so much easier, she said.  

Lesson #2-Later she squeezed lime juice into the cabbage that was shredded. Again I ask her why, I had never seen anyone do that before. "The lime kills off any little bugs and flavors the cabbage" she informed me.  

Lesson #3- Sitting at the table I learned my third lesson about fish tacos. There is a sequence to how you construct them. Normally, I would have placed the fish into the tortilla and then added whatever I liked, but watching Alejandro I learned that there was a definite order to how one was constructed. 

1. Start with a warm corn tortilla
2. Spread a little mayonnaise
3. Place some cabbage on top
4. Lay the fish on the bed of cabbage
5. drizzle with salsa
6. Spoon on some sour cream or crema
7. Squeeze lime to complete your creation
8. Perfecto

I learned three things from watching and Learning with Juanita and Alejandro,

• Things don't always have to be so complicated. Easier can be better

• Adding something new can bring flavor and health into your life

• There is an order of things in life that may need to be followed to achieve the desired result.

Every day God is teaching us new things! I want to watch and learn so that I can know Him better.  

This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.Isaiah 48:17

Father help me to watch and learn from you today! I am excited to know more about you as you reveal yourself to me. Jann