He's surely alive

Today I sat in a room as a spiritual battle was fought. I felt the pressure stifling the room. And I felt pressure to say something... something perfect. Isn't there a checklist for leading someone to Christ?

I was overwhelmed by my own imperfections.. my own lack of words. I prayed in broken sentences. I prayed for the broken individual as he fell apart in front of me. And then he spoke the words.

"I think it's time." His voice wavered, his shoulders shook. And ever so slowly, the straps of his burden loosened. Who knew a tear stained face with a snotty nose could be so beautiful?

Surrender. The most difficult step we ever leap.

Today, I heard an atheist ask God to take control of his life. It's overwhelming. I can't comprehend it. But I'm so thankful that I had no perfect words. I'm so thankful that all the work was so evidently done by the Spirit.

And at Gateway, we can become calloused. How long will this change last? We have a hard time believing once we've been so educated in deceit. But we must not stop believing in the Spirit. He's surely alive.

And once we've experienced a taste, the ordinary is so ordinary. Please pray for the Spirit to continue, and for discernment to know the Spirit.

Posted by sarenaw in

He's surely alive

hidden healthys

This is my method.... For some reason, I feel like a recipe is so much healthier if you add healthy elements. I mean, it isn't true that if you eat 20 carrots with your pizza, it makes the pizza any healthier, but... it just makes it seem healthier! But, of course, along with adding healthy things to cookies, I try to cut back on the sugar, add whole wheat, etc etc etc.... :)

So if you ever come over for dinner, if you look closely at any baked goods (breads, cookies, muffins, biscuits, bars, etc.), you may see some.... flaxseed.

And, when frying hamburger, it's always great to throw some..... spinach in with the onions.

Spinach hides super well in lasagna, chili, and my favorite, spinach smoothies! Ok, so the color of spinach doesn't hide well in smoothies. But, the taste is pretty well disguised. I even tested it by serving all of Pine House spinach smoothies... and after some complaint about the bright green color, the smoothies disappeared.

My favorite is spinach, orange juice, banana, peaches, pineapple and yogurt. But, you can pretty much add any variety - I've just found the sweetness of tropical fruits cancels out the bitterness of the spinach. If you don't have a great blender, I've found its easiest to blend the spinach and orange juice first and then add the rest. Its better to have chunks of fruit than chunks of spinach! :) Oh! and the great news?... you can add flaxseed to the spinach smoothie to make it uber healthy!!

So, these are some of my methods. If you'd rather eat a spinach salad, go for it! I do like salad.. but its so simple to just drink a nutritious smoothie. And, here are reasons why spinach is good for you.

Posted by sarenaw in

hidden healthys

things i love thursday, october 25

jersey knit skirts | finding the coziest leather loveseat | tea with honey | the colors of fall - they must be more amazing this year, or I forgot how amazing they were last year (I post a lot about fall) | leggings | bench pressing.. haha maybe

not: the sun going down so early (7 pm??!)

tilt

Posted by sarenaw in tilt

things i love thursday, october 25

tidbits, oct 16

First off, you've probably all already heard of Felix Baumgartner. If not, here's what he did...

And, here is why he's important....

Yep, cause he looks like Mark Wahlberg! :)    (Felix in the top photo, Mark in bottom)

other interesting tidbits:

lack of zzzzzzz's = gain of p's according to abc! (p is pounds... i just thought it should rhyme :)

one of my friends just launched a line at shabby apple with the cutest name ever, all aboard

tidbits

Posted by sarenaw in tidbits

tidbits, oct 16

lychee

First off, the weather today is amazing! It's the kind of weather where I just want to bask in it! On to tea...

definition: litchi: Chinese fruit having a thin brittle shell enclosing a sweet jellylike pulp and a single seed; often dried.

Last night, on a Meijer run, I found this.... lychee coconut...

And, if you're a fan of bubble teas, you may like this! I made the tea, iced it and mixed it with some coconut milk - it's pretty delicious. There isn't a strong tea taste at all, just a light coconut taste. Best of all, it's for radiant skin! (I'll let you know if my skin glows:)

Let me know if you've tried this.. or if you have any better ways to mix it versus just ice and coconut milk.

Posted by sarenaw in

lychee

things i love thursday, september 6

pumpkin spiced coffee | watching 12 baby pigs be born (grossest and most amazing thing I've ever seen) | everything fall - as I post every fall | concord grape apple cider vinegar | festivals | katelyn | actually running a distance at a decent speed (decent for now) | garage sales | coffee mugs | molasses

tilt

Posted by sarenaw in tilt

things i love thursday, september 6