God Revealed

We are often scrambling for the presence of God in our lives...to see Him work miracles in life and to hear his voice, to speak to our hearts and make things clear. We wonder why we are going through certain things or why we aren't feeling His presence in our day. Whenever questioning anything, remember that the answer is always pretty simple. God is revealed in scripture. His Word is the first source of wisdom for all who believe. Don't be ashamed to claim the gospel in your life and proclaim the power of God that flows from it into your life. Through it He will reveal himself to you and you will be blessed. -jenna 

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ^[17] For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."  Romans 1:16-17

Pilgrimage

"Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage...they go from strength to strength, till each appears before God..." 

Psalm 84:5-7

As I read this passage of scripture, the word pilgrimage grabs me and I think about what it implies. The dictionary says this:

Pil.grim.age 

Any long journey, especially one undertaken as a quest or for a votive purpose, as to pay homage; a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion. 

What does it mean for us, God's people, to have our hearts "set on pilgrimage"? It means to live with endurance and discipline, to acknowledge that we are are on a journey towards something. A devotion to something above and beyond our selves and this world. A long journey towards something sacred. 

Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." If we have our heart set on pilgrimage, if we "treasure" pilgrimage, we are not necessarily anticipating an easy or comfortable journey. We are prepared. I always say that I don't know how to travel light =). We are not to travel light because that would mean vulnerability along the way. The water must be poured for thirst, the bread must be baked and packed for hunger, the blanket folded up for warmth, and those we love brought along for companionship and support. We are to travel prepared for the long journey ahead because that is exactly what our life is, a long journey. How we prepare for that journey speaks a testimony to what and who we believe. What and who we are vulnerable to. 

Today as you set your heart on pilgrimage, consider how you have prepared for the journey ahead and the purpose you are paying homage to. What has your heart treasured above all else and to what sacred place are you devoting your walk to? Where does your strength lie? May all that you do speak testimony to the God we are serving because truly, it's all about the long journey towards Him. -jenna

Edamame!

Thanks to my dear friends Samantha and Mary, I have discovered the wonderful-ness that is edamame! It is super easy to prepare and delicious. Edamame is the soybean in the least-processed form with a ton of fiber, protein, and folate. Because it is a low cal snack that has no cholesterol, this is the perfect food to have prepared and to nibble on throughout the day. 

The thing that partially kept me away from this fantastic veggie (besides the fancy name) was my ignorance of how to eat it. I knew you didn't eat the pods, but what the heck did you do with them and what to do with those little beans inside? Have no fear it's actually super simple! You buy it frozen in the husks or already shelled and then you steam it or boil it for a few minutes. Next you just squeeze the pods gently and out pop the sweet, bright green beans. For the simplest of snacks, blanch them in salted water, drain, and serve in a bowl with coarse sea salt or salt mixed with different blends (my friend Mary uses a dried seaweed blend that is delicious). You can also make hummus with the beans, but if you aren't up for the task, Trader Joe's has a great Edamame hummus you can buy and we love that as well. 

I think we can all say that we'd like to eat healthier in this new year and adding this to your diet is a great start! Happy, healthy eating friends! -jenna
ps. this is great for kids and it gives them something fun to do! Jude loves to sit and pop the beans out of the pod. =)