I am making some red cabbage relish for Go Red for Women day, a heart awareness campaign started by the American Heart Association to inform women cardiovascular disease is most common cause of death for women. Guys don’t feel left out! It matters with you, too! However, most of you men know heart disease is your number one killer, a lot of women don’t.

Regardless of our age or gender, you and I can enjoy the huge benefits of this red cabbage relish. It is loaded with antioxidants, like anthocyanins and glucosinolates. Plus is has all the benefits of red onion, red beets, and apple cider vinegar. The best part is it is stable in the fridge for weeks!

I came up with this recipe when we were growing red cabbage in the garden several years ago. It can be used as a slaw for a side dish, topping for a salad, or sandwiched with fish, chicken or burgers as a condiment. Here are some heart healthy properties of the combined antioxidants in this relish you will benefit from:

Benefits of Red Cabbage Relish

• 100 grams has 40mg of calcium, 2.5mg of fiber
• Reduces oxidative stress causing cell damage in test tube and animal studies, due to 74% polyphenols, 40% vitamin C, and glucosinolate content. (1)
• Blunts imbalances in liver enzymes, renal osmolytes (increased numbers excreted in the urine indicate chronic kidney problems), and lipids. (2)
• When combined with microgreens, lowers circulating LDLs, liver enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines. (3)
• Helps treat mastitis (an infection of breast mast cells in breastfeeding women) (4)
• Red beets and red cabbage have been shown to reduce tumor production in prostate and breast cancer cells in animal studies. (5)
• Destroy free radicals that damage cells, protects the protein kinase pathway (which modifies lipids, carbohydrates, and other molecules), and helps reduce inflammation. (6)

The bottom line my friend, is God provides exactly what we need when we need it! Regardless, if it’s our heart, liver, or our immune system! His love is never failing. He sent His Son, not only to heal the brokenness of our hearts spiritually, but physically. Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, visible and invisible (Colossians 1:15-16a) You and I can take confidence in the radiance of God’s goodness in His provision of Christ for our souls and all the invisible properties in food to sustain and nourish our bodies.

You and I are knit together in love!

…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2 ESV – For I want you to know how great a – Bible Gateway

Red Cabbage Relish Recipe

I hope you enjoy this recipe and all the others as you eat from God’s garden! He is so worthy of praise! I look forward to sharing all the recipes I come up with and come across that help you build your cells, make you stronger physically, and help you restore your health. As you can see, they are advertisement free!

If you try this and like it, please give me a rating and let me know what you think! I appreciate all who take the time to read this, if you feel led, please share it with others. I enjoy simplifying health God’s way for you.

Mysty

References:

Huang H, Jiang X, Xiao Z, Yu L, Pham Q, Sun J, Chen P, Yokoyama W, Yu LL, Luo YS, Wang TT. Red Cabbage Microgreens Lower Circulating Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Liver Cholesterol, and Inflammatory Cytokines in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet. J Agric Food Chem. 2016 Dec 7;64(48):9161-9171. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b03805. Epub 2016 Nov 28. PMID: 27933986.

Kapadia GJ, Azuine MA, Rao GS, Arai T, Iida A, Tokuda H. Cytotoxic effect of the red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) extract compared to doxorubicin (Adriamycin) in the human prostate (PC-3) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2011 Mar;11(3):280-4. doi: 10.2174/187152011795347504. PMID: 21434853.

Khoo HE, Azlan A, Tang ST, Lim SM. Anthocyanidins and anthocyanins: colored pigments as food, pharmaceutical ingredients, and the potential health benefits. Food Nutr Res. 2017 Aug 13;61(1):1361779. doi: 10.1080/16546628.2017.1361779. PMID: 28970777; PMCID: PMC5613902.

Coaching through food preparation is so much fun for me. I get to come up with a creamy celery & spaghetti squash entree like this one for my classes and workshops. It’s exciting to equip working families with easier and healthier ideas for dinner.

Although I had every intention of using the crunchy bunch of celery stalks for my snacks this week, it didn’t work out that way. All I had to do was wash them, cut off the ends, and place them in some cold water in the fridge. But I got busy working and left them two days too long.

They were soft and limp, not crunchy and juicy—the way I like celery best— when it is ready for slathering some all-natural peanut butter or hummus over. However, I really didn’t want to waste them or put them in the compost pile. So, I decided to make a creamy celery soup with onions, garlic, and almond milk.

I had a spaghetti squash in the fridge too, and some left over rotisserie chicken. The entree in my mind began to take shape and form, you see the picture coming together too, don’t you?

Celery Benefits Are Amazing!

According to a horticultural college in Nanjing, China, celery’s medicinal benefits include anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, lipid lowering, and glucose lowering properties. It is loaded with antioxidants like: caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, apigenin, luteolin, tannin, saponin, and kaempferol. (1)

That’s impressive, however, it’s vitamin A, vitamin C, and abundant flavonoid compounds are why it is used medicinally in cultures around the world. Here is a list of benefits from this amazing plant:

• Reducing risks of cardiovascular disease
• Preventing jaundice and liver disease
• Eliminating Urinary tract obstructions
• Gout
• Rheumatic disorders
• In animal studies it increased sperm count and fertility
• Reduces blood pressure and lipids, therefore strengthening the heart
• The seeds are used for chronic asthma, bronchitis, and skin disorders
  (A Review of the Antioxidant Activity of Celery (Apium graveolens L) – PMC (nih.gov)

Devotion

God’s divine nature is clear in the things He made. Our cells’ every need was thought of and provided for before we were born. It gives me a sense of trust and amazement every time I study the antioxidants in food. With a deep feeling of appreciation, we can enjoy items like this from the garden and steer clear of ultra-processed foods that rob our health.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:7-9 ESV – “Blessed is the man who trusts in the – Bible Gateway

We are blessed when we trust in the soul saving Word of God and when we take part in His gardens around the world. I want to be like this tree planted by the water with roots deeply seeded in God to bear fruit. You and I are wise to understand the heart is deceitful above all things and maybe, too, are the American taste buds for harmful food. We can’t really be to blame; it is all we’ve been taught since we were old enough to sit in front of Saturday morning cartoons.

It can change and so can we. Knowlege, my friend, is the beginning of wisdom!

I hope you enjoy this very easy to prepare meal. You’ll be happy to know it counts as an anti-inflammatory and a low carb meal, too! If you’re into that sort of thing. The spaghetti squash can feed a family of four easily or be ready for a family of one for several meals. I’ve used it for chili and with Kale Pesto to make some delicious low carb dishes!

If you are in need of more individualized attention to feed your family good food or in need of health coaching, let me know, we can book and appointment! I look forward to serving you!

An easy no knead bread can be fresh milled with hard red wheat berries or made with regular unbleached flour. I’m not sure where this recipe originated, but I adapted it from two Youtubers, Jennie Can Cook and The Frugal Fit Mom.

Although this recipe, and the way I make it, is with fresh-milled wheat, you can use regular unbleached organic flour. I purchased five pounds of Simple Truth Organic Unbleached flour for a Teaching and Tasting Monday night and the bread turned out very nice.

I chose this route because I had used that same flour for many years and wanted this process to be doable for the average person. And purchasing and working with wheat berries, requires an investment of time and money. Plus, you need a grain mill to grind it for flour.

So, $5.99 for an organic bag of flour makes more sense for the purpose of a teaching and tasting. I made two loaves of bread and 60 tortillas. That is a pretty good deal! There are no pesticides or fertilizers on this bread, and it’s not bleached.

You may think, “Why is this important?” And I’d have to respond, “We don’t know what the bleach and preservatives do to our gut bacteria or our overall health.” The 100% whole grain bread I use for my class as a demonstration of preservative power is still free of mold after ten months.

Bread on a shelf lasting 10 months without mold scares me for all of us. The good news is we don’t have to participate in the deception any longer. We can splurge a little on the flour and create our own artisan masterpieces. We may find in the process; we don’t have a gluten sensitivity after all.

Maybe it is just a mono-diglyceride, sterol sulfate, ammonium sensitivity. By the way, I’ve read flour will go rancid 30 days after opening if it is not refrigerated. So, remember that when buying and storing your flour.

I personally like to take it a step further and use fresh wheat berries, griding them up in a grain mill and using them right away. The leftover flour can be stored in the freezer 6 months or the refrigerator 1 week.

Benefits of Baking Easy No Knead Bread

Well obviously, a big benefit is, it’s easy and it’s free of pesticides. You mix four ingredients, cover with plastic and let it set a minimum of three hours or a maximum of 24 hours. The countertop is fine, and there is no need for it to rise in a warm place. Timing of how long it sets depends on you and your schedule. I’ve waited 3 and it’s fine, I’ve waited 6 and it’s perfect. I didn’t have the patience to wait 24, so I don’t know how it tastes.

Other benefits for the fresh-milled grain include a decent amount of protein, a wonderful amount of selenium, vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and manganese.

Devotion

God’s perfect plan for the seed-bearing plant to nourish and sustain our bodies is present in the things He made.

And God said, “Behold I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.”

Genesis 1:29 ESV

It’s always exciting to me to see the love of God in the gifts he gives us throughout creation. Every plant yielding seed on the face of the earth is mind boggling. The kiwi alone can have up to a thousand seeds! The mustard seed that Jesus talks about in Mark chapter 4 is so small yet grows into a towering tree to house and feed the birds.

It is a parable describing how the kingdom of God starts very small with Jesus and twelve disciples yet spreads across the globe. Every tribe, nation, and language will see and hear of his great love. His power to work miracles in our lives and sow seeds of righteousness is also pretty impressive. 2 Corinthians 9:10 says,

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Yes! God’s great love is working through us and in us as we enjoy the fruits of every plant bearing seed and the greatest seed of all. . . His Word. The powerful Word that transforms lives, fuels loving service, and explodes into peaceful contentment beyond this world’s understanding.

It too, is a gift like the seeds in the very first garden that keep on giving, century after century. I don’t know about you, but the similarities of physical and spiritual provision bring out humility and adoration in me when I witness such thoughtful planning.

Four Easy No Knead Bread Recipes

So, as we look at the wheat seed my friend, and you and I can take full advantage and have plenty to share with others. One 5-pound bag of flour makes 4 loaves of bread! We would normally spend $8 to $10 on one loaf.

Another fantastic part of this versatile recipe is you can use any of the recipes above to make English muffins, too!

1.

Easy No Knead Bread— Taken up Several Taste Notches!

There are fun ways to add to this basic recipe and create your own flavor sensations. The following additions below will be just as easy and maybe even more delicious than the two above!

No Knead Cinnamon Raisin

This is not my favorite choice for fiber or protein, but I am trying to make it as easy as possible for the MetS Busters group I am coaching. I’d use a whole grain bread in place of the unbleached white flour to add more fiber and protein. But as an alternative to store-bought bread with hazardous chemicals and preservatives, it is the better choice.

You make it, you know what’s in it.

You can also remove 1/2 cup of the flour in this recipe and use the ground flaxseed instead. Adding the chia seeds for more protein and fiber works too.

2.

Easy No Knead Garlic & Cheddar Bread

Here is another version of the no knead bread that is healthier than a store-bought biscuit mix of cheddar and garlic. You’ll be impressed with the price and the ingredients when you calculate making 4 loaves of artisan bread for roughly $6!

No, it’s not the greatest as far healthy is concerned. However, when making healthier choices we want to avoid extremes. It does not have hydrogenated oils, trans fats, or harmful preservatives like the box brand offers.

In my book, that is always a win! Plus, I’m not eating the entire loaf or eating it every day.

3.

However you decide to make your easy no knead bread with the following recipes, I hope you enjoy it as much as me and my family do! It is worth the little bit of time and very little effort. I am here for you if you need coaching or want to book a speaker for your next event.

I want to help you simplify health God’s way. So, have fun making the bread your own way! I’d also love to hear your ideas and variations, if you care to share them!

Take care, and remember. . . What God puts in the garden is good!

If you are looking for a delicious and healthy dish to power up your energy, try this Turmeric & Pumpkin Power Bowl!

I think if I were only given three food items and water to live off of for the rest of my life, I’d choose quinoa, fish, and greens.

I’m curious, what would you choose?

This combination of turmeric, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds, and pecans are so delicious and nutritious you can eat it as a light evening meal all by itself. That makes it perfect for all my vegan friends who are eating plant based.

However, if you’re like me and you believe everything God mentions for food in the bible is good for eating, you can top your turmeric and pumpkin power bowl with eggs, chicken, or beef! Plus, the benefits of this tasty dish are amazing!

Benefits of Turmeric & Pumpkin Energy

Bowl

The turmeric in this dish is fresh ground from the root, you can order is from places like Etsy, Azure Standard, or ask your local grocery store if they will order it for you. Trust me, there is a difference in flavor! My husband will not eat anything with ground turmeric spice, but he never says a word when I use fresh.

According to a Cleveland Clinic public article, turmeric is well known for the following benefits:

• Reducing inflammation and the pain that goes along with it
• Improving memory
• Fighting cancer by reducing harmful free radicals
• Helping to fight depression
• Lowers the risk of heart disease

The benefits of pumpkin seeds are pretty impressive too! They are loaded with vitamin and minerals like magnesium, vitamin E, and carotenoids. All of which contribute to improving fertility in men, as well as fighting cancer and heart disease.

Quiona and Pecans are adding extra benefits like protein and more antioxidants to improve skin and hair, slow aging, and boost blood vessels. Don’t let man-made items pull you away from God’s goodness. The evidence of his divine power is revealed in the things he made.

When Jacob and his family were in the midst of a famine, I assume they were living off pistachios, almonds, and honey. There were enough of these “choice fruits of the land” to exchange for what they needed most, grain!

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 

Genesis 43:10-12 ESV – If we had not delayed, we would now – Bible Gateway

I pray you see the benefit of intentional eating when you prepare your family’s dishes tonight. You don’t have to settle for plain quinoa with salt and pepper. You can bump any dish up to a power bowl when you add these ingredients. Your taste buds will rave, your cells with rejoice, and you’ll get the energy you need to start or finish your day.

Turmeric & Pumpkin Power Bowl

I hope you enjoy this turmeric & pumpkin power bowl as much as I do! If you are looking for more ideas for healthy recipes check out the garden page! I am looking forward to simplifying health for you physically and spiritually. You can enjoy all the recipes and encouragement on this site for free and without annoying advertisements. If you need help with lifestyle ideas check out the workshops I offer!

References:

7 Health Benefits of Turmeric – Cleveland Clinic

Ros E. Health benefits of nut consumption. Nutrients. 2010 Jul;2(7):652-682. doi: 10.3390/nu2070652. Epub 2010 Jun 24. PMID: 22254047; PMCID: PMC3257681.

I’m sharing 10 ways to use your leftover turkey today!

You’ve praised and thanked God for this year’s provision and survived your 3rd turkey dinner of the week. Feeling full as a tick about to explode, you may be wondering what to do with the rest of your leftover turkey. Rest assured, in today’s post I have a few ideas that will help you’ll enjoy enhanced and varied flavors of the leftover bird.

#1 Way to Use Leftover Turkey–Turkey Tortilla Soup

I love to make a Turkey Tortilla Soup. It’s as simple as using my Chicken Tortilla Soup-Autoimmune Style and substituting the chicken for turkey. This soup base has a puree of boiled beets, carrots, onion, and garlic that make an amazingly tasteful broth for the soup. Best of all its anti-inflammatory, something we need after a little too much celebrating.

If you’re used to the old-fashioned way, and can tolerate tomatoes without inflammation, feel free to use a large jar of salsa in place of the beet puree. The recipe is easy and will be ready within the hour. Spice it up with some fresh or dried oregano, garlic, onions, and chopped zucchini. It’s delicious!

# 2 Way to use Leftover Turkey—Turkey Salad

This is a no brainer, right? Chop some turkey, add a little cranberry sauce, chopped fresh celery, pecans, and you have a delightful turkey salad to eat for lunch on some fresh tortillas and greens! Staying on track with your health plans is doable during the holidays! Click here for my full Turkey Salad Recipe.

#3 Way to Enjoy Leftover Turkey—Turkey and Butternut Squash Enchiladas

You will enjoy the simplicity of this very tasty dish. Using 2 cups of the leftover turkey (instead of chicken in the original recipe) combine it with 1 teaspoon of cumin and 1 tsp of oregano, 1/2 cup chopped onions, and a small can of green chilies, in a small bowl. Mix well and place 2 tablespoons of the mixture on a fresh tortilla and roll up nice and neat, place it in a 8×8 pan. Cover with butternut squash sauce. See full recipe Here

# 4 Turkey Pot Pie

Yes, easy leftover turkey pot pie is so good! All you have to do is combine 2 cups of chopped turkey in a large soup pot, add 2 bags of frozen mixed vegetables or your own leftover vegetables (corn, green beans, carrots), add 3 cups of broth bring to a simmer and add 1 cup of milk (I use plain almond milk) mixed with 2 tablespoons of flour, (or thickening regent of your choice), and seasonings (salt, pepper, onion powder). Once the liquid thickens, place onto your favorite pie crust and top with remaining crust. Bake according to Pie directions about 25-35 minutes at 350 is what I usually do. It’s so delicious.

5. Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

Replace the beef or lamb, in your favorite Shepherd’s pie recipe, with turkey. Combine the turkey with mixed vegetables, 3 cups of broth, spices, and flour milk mixture. Brink to a simmer until thickened, and then place in a 9×13 dish, cover with your left-over mashed potatoes and bake at 350 until heated through.

6. Buffalo Turkey Dip

Yep, this is going to go very well with some nachos! Combine 2 cups of leftover turkey with 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 block of cream cheese, 1 can of green Chilles (with the juice) and 1/2 cup chopped onion. Heat on the stove or place in a small crockpot until ready to serve.

7. Mini Turkey Pizzas

A turkey mini pizza uses a tortilla wrap, cover with butternut squash sauce (baked squash, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tsp salt blended in a blender) or your favorite tomato or yummy green pesto sauce, cover each tortilla with 1/2 cup shredded turkey, 1/2 cup red onion, and 1 cup chopped kale. Top with a sprinkle of aged parmesan, or Romano cheese, or a dab of mozzarella.

8. Turkey Frittata

Oh, so good. Line a oven-safe skillet with avocado oil, shred a sweet potato over the bottom about an inch thick, season with a little salt, paprika, and pepper. In a blender grate fresh turmeric and a teaspoon each of cardamom and pepper with 8 whole eggs. Blend well and pour onto shredded sweet potato. Add 2 cups of shredded chicken, 1/2 cup shredded cabbage or Brussel sprouts, 1/2 cup chopped orange or red peppers. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until eggs are fully cooked. Enjoy!

9. Turkey Cabbage Rolls

This is very tasty and delicious way to use your left-over turkey. In a pan, slightly boil 1/2 head of cabbage until just tender, about 20 minutes. Pull out of the water to cool until its ready to handle. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of shredded turkey, 1/2 cup of onion, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tesp pepper, 1 tsp oregano, and 1 clove of mince garlic, mix well. When the cabbage leaves are cooled, remove one and place a tablespoon or two of the turkey mixture into a leaf, roll it up and place it side down into a casserole dish. Continue until all the mixture is gone. Preheat oven to 350. Cover the cabbage rolls with 2 cups of cream of mushroom soup (I use 1 package of fresh chopped sauteed mushrooms in avocado oil, then combine 2 cups of broth and 1 cups of milk (I use almond) and 3 tablespoons of flour, mix while all are cold and add to the heated mushrooms, stir until thickened). Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through.

10. Turkey Avocado Cups

This refreshing and filling little appetizer looks great on a serving tray and is a nice treat during Saturday festivities. All you have to do is mix 2 cups of leftover turkey with 1 large, mashed avocado, 1/2 cup red minced onion, 1/2 red minced red pepper, and 1 minced clove of garlic, with the juice of 1 lime. Place a tablespoon of the mixture in some fresh baked phyllo shells and enjoy!

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8 ESV – Ezra Reads the Law – And all the people – Bible Gateway

I hope you enjoy these 10 easy ways to use your leftover turkey this weekend! I pray you have a blessed holiday season and remain thankful for all of God’s many blessings!

I’m here for you if you need coaching through the holidays! Staying on track and eating good food is possible, all we need is the right attitude.

The harvest of butternut squash is storing well for winter and I’m using one today to develop a butternut squash pie for my family, Thanksgiving Day. God’s design for this winter squash is something to be admired. The skin hardens to protect the flesh inside and it stays well protected for months.

It gets so hard, I don’t even bother to peel it when I’m ready to use it! Instead, I place it on a baking sheet to bake at 350 degrees. After about 45 minutes in the oven, I let it cool until it’s ready to handle.

Benefits of This Butternut Squash Pie

• The pie is naturally sweet so you and I can use less sugar.
• It tastes like pumpkin pie, so you won’t need a store-bought unknown source of pumpkin to bake with, you can create your own.
• It’s super easy to make!
• It has the same antioxidant benefits of all butternut squash recipes. They have beta-carotene and A-carotenoids. This is helpful to deter macular degeneration and cataracts and help protect the epithelium (the inner lining of our blood vessels). We need all the heart protection we can get.
• One cup has a large amount of vitamin A (212%), some C (35%), B6 (10%), and a little potassium and magnesium.
• God’s plan for your physical health is evident in the things He created. We see this every time we read how many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are placed in the plants and what they do for our bodies! On the other hand, we know man’s ultra-processed items destroy the cells and cause chronic disease.
• Let’s get our families away from that practice and towards a less toxic cooking experience.

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
    he remembers his covenant forever.

Psalm 111:4-6 ESV – He has caused his wondrous works to be – Bible Gateway

Recipe for Butternut Squash Pie

I hope you give this zero refined sugar pie a try for your holiday! I love developing recipes from God’s garden goodness, He supplies such abundance and gives so much thought and care into what we need, it is easy to be thankful!

If you are looking for other recipes using your butternut squash here is another one you might like! I do an entire workshop on using butternut squash too, so look at my booking a workshop page to see if you and a few friends might want a girl’s night out to enjoy this creative workshop!

I look forward to serving you and offering you add free recipes and browsing on this site! Share this recipe with a friend or on your social media so others can be encouraged too!

References:

Tang G. Bioconversion of dietary provitamin A carotenoids to vitamin A in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 May;91(5):1468S-1473S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.28674G. Epub 2010 Mar 3. PMID: 20200262; PMCID: PMC2854912.

I am reviewing “Everyday Theology, What You Believe Matters” by Mary Wiley, today because it’s so good you’ll want to add it to your list of must do studies! It is not only foundational, encouraging, and biblically solid, it will prepare you to articulate solid truth for the world.

Why is that so important?

Well, because the world is really busy filling my mind, my kids’ minds, and your mind with its views!

I notice this every day in media, marketing, articles, and even health promoting sites. However, I experienced it yesterday through casual conversation, meeting a new person for the first time. The person was so adept at incorporating his worldview into everything he said, I left the encounter knowing exactly where he stood on every frontline issue.

His choice of words to describe his role at a previous school gave a brief view of what he taught. However, the Hillbilly antics of the people who lived there filled his conversation and expressed his perception of the racial divide. By the time we were ready to leave, I knew his views on marriage, abortion, and conservatives.

My friend, I want our radically different views of life, marriage, and family to roll off our tongues in casual conversation too! Mary Wiley’s, “Everyday Theology” is going to help us do that! More importantly, it will show us how to do it in a non-confrontational or negative way.

Sessions Covered in Everyday Theology

We will start the study learning about the following topics:

• Scripture
• God
• Jesus
• The Holy Spirit
• Humanity
• Salvation
• The Church
• The End Times

In this eight-week study, you will get a clear view of everyday theology and how to talk about your beliefs with others. If you want a study guide to follow, you can order it with her video teaching sessions at Lifeway.com.

A sneak peek for the study is also available if you want to check it out too.

In our introduction and the following weeks reveal the importance of forever. When we examine scripture and see God’s plan for order and protection, we see love and guidance for a more peaceful way to live. I want that for myself and my family, and I want it for you!

Let’s take a look at the term “forever”.

What does forever mean to you?

To me, it means to the end of the age and beyond death. Our scripture memory verse today in Isaiah 40:8 describes God’s Word as standing forever.

I invited a lady to bible study yesterday because this day of study helped me clarify my purpose.

Sharing with her how studying the bible has changed my life for the better just rolled off my tongue. The thought provoking questions that make me think about what I’m reading has transformed my life more than just sitting down to read a chapter or listening to a sermon ever could.

However, even though I’ve enjoyed bible study for personal growth over the years, it’s never been something I wanted to keep secret.

The urge to share it with you and others just kind of took over my life. It has nothing to do with me being a good person, but evidence of the transforming Word of truth hitting a humbled heart. I want everyone I know to experience this!

My friend, God’s Word is forever, because it’s relevant, meaningful, and purposeful. It is everyday theology coming alive is us as we share his living and active Word that is sharper than a double-edged sword to pierce the thoughts and attitudes of every heart!

Spend some time in the following Psalm to understand a heart longing for God and understanding how important it is to communicate with our heavenly Father.

Psalm 119:89-91

Psalm 119:92

Psalm 119:97-104

Mary Wiley says, “If we love God without loving God’s Word, we don’t really know the object of our affection.

Pray for a desire to seek God in His Word over every other desire in your life. He’ll gladly answer this prayer and give you the true desire of your heart…Him.

I look forward to walking alongside you in your journey, please check out the blog for recipes and the devotions for encouragement.

Mysty

Simplifying Health God’s Way

I’ll be the first to admit, I am not a good baker. However, that does not stop me from making these fresh-milled whole wheat buns!

Guess what? You don’t have to be a good baker to make them either!

I adjusted this recipe from Sue Becker’s adaptation of the Sojurishi recipe. Her blog post is here if you want to see what she does to make hers. She is the pro, not me! My journey started here!

However, in baking we do what works for us, don’t we?

God provides us just what we need when we need it, and He has gone above and beyond with the benefits of the various grain varieties He created. Even if you have a wheat sensitivity, there is a grain for you.

The choices of millet, barley, oats, quinoa, and buckwheat are some that come to mind. They are filling and satisfying.

Anyway, I hope you like the recipe, and the ways I used them for my various meals in the pictures below.

If you like this no sugar bread, give it a rating and let me know how you make yours!

Ok, confession time…I am a huge fan of omega 3. Since wild caught tuna is a good (and cheap) source of this wonderful oil, sneaking it into the spaghetti alfredo for our Wednesday night children’s program is right up my alley. I want them to have a healthier snack with more omega 3 for better attention and less inflammation.

There’s also a decent amount of finely chopped vegetables throughout the dish. Thankfully most of them avoided picking out the items from the sauce… and they even came back for seconds! I’ll keep trying to convince them they won’t notice the veggies. Who knows? They may even start to like them.

Benefits of Tuna Spaghetti Alfredo

One serving of this tuna spaghetti gives them a decent amount of protein, calcium, and iron. Alongside some vitamin A, potassium, B vitamins, and fiber they’ll get more nutrients in this “snack” than a packaged item.

Exposing children to vegetables each meal teaches them, this is how we eat. It also teaches them this is what we are designed to eat. God created all the vegetables for our growth and the maintenance of our cells. When children’s taste buds are trained to only eat sweets and processed food, they’re cheated out of good health. Plus, they don’t have the fuel or energy they need to function in school, nor do we in life!

The cream cheese gives this dish the rich full cream texture and the parmesan gives it just the right amount of sharpness.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?

    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

⁷ You have put more joy in my heart

    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Psalm 4:5-7 ESV – Offer right sacrifices, and put your – Bible Gateway

I hope your little ones like this tuna spaghetti alfredo as much as our church kids did! Check out more recipes in The Garden on this site!

It is a joy to serve you!

The cool air of fall brings with it the thoughts of pumpkin spice…everything. Today, I’m making a pumpkin pecan coffee cake using a blend of fresh-milled hard white, hard red, and oats. It has half the sugar of a normal coffee cake, while the bran and germ remain from the fresh-milled grain to provide a guilt-free treat.

Benefits of Pumpkin Pecan

Although all cake is to be enjoyed small amounts and for an occasional treat, it’s nice to know this one provides a good amount of fiber and nutrients. It has alpha carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene in the pumpkin that provides antioxidants to help with repairing cells and combating free radicals. Toxins, and chemicals we are exposed to create these free radicals, so it’s beneficial to have a defense system in place.

Pumpkin also has a blend of various vitamins like A, E, and natural folate. Minerals present include some iron and potassium. By adding pumpkin with the pecans, we get a healthy monosaturated fat, and magnesium. They also add more vitamin A and E to this dish, with some zinc.

Moreover, the fresh-milled whole grains provide added fiber and minerals to make this cake a little more nutritious than your average coffee cake. I love how God places such wonderful items in the garden for us to enjoy! He is worthy of praise!

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

    and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:2-4 ESV – The LORD is my rock and my fortress and – Bible Gateway

I hope you are free from your enemy of chronic disease by making better choices and staying active. While you’re at it, enjoy items like this fresh-milled pumpkin pecan coffee cake!

If you’re not sure where to get your fresh-milled grain, check around your neighborhood to see if someone mills their own grains. I’m sure they’ll sell you some reasonably priced. I like to mill mine and use them in workshops to show people how wonderfully health they are to use in place of store-bought flour. I also give them to friends and family.

If you need help simplifying health God’s way, be sure to let me know, I help individuals and families meet health challenges head on. I can meet you online for a free consultation. While you’re here check out the other recipes in Garden!

I look forward to serving you.