churning up the sea

this is the japan i know, the japan i saw just a few months ago. praise God that this area and it's people were not affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami. but families, friends, and loved ones in other areas likely were.

the day after the destruction occurred in japan, i was reading through isaiah 51 as part of my study. i came across verse 15: "FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO CHURNS UP THE SEA SO THAT ITS WAVES ROAR--THE LORD ALMIGHTY IS HIS NAME." so often throughout the book of isaiah God identifies himself to his people as their creator--the ones who put the stars in their place and laid the heavens out like a blanket over the earth. he is the one who churns and calms the seas, and he is ultimately the one who knows his reasons why. he is the Lord almighty.

keep praying for japan.

healthy eats : baked oatmeal

some days i really enjoy cooking. i like knowing what goes into my food and where it comes from. i also like to experiment with new recipes and revamp old ones. so here's an old baked oatmeal recipe revamped and health-ified. it's great for warming your soul in the cold months, and providing some nutrients while you're hibernating.

b a k e d o a t m e a l

3 c. quick-cooking oats (old wessex ltd. makes whole grain, high fiber quick-cooking oats and 5-grain cereal)
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 c. fat-free milk (or soy milk)
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. vegetable oil

a combination of any of the following fruits:
3/4 c. chopped peeled tart apple, 1/2 c. blueberries, 1/2 c. cranberries, 1/2 c. peaches, 1/2 c. raspberries or blackberries

in a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. combine the eggs, milk, and apple sauce; and add to the dry ingredients. stir in your fruit combination (the more fruit the better, so get creative!). pour into an 8-in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray. bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. serve warm with milk.

l . o . v . e .

. ..and the not-so-little-anymore things

it's the little things.

[seeds are sprouting!]

[cilantro]

[parsley]

happy (late) love day!

God made green

i'm going through a study on the book of isaiah and am consistently reminded of God's mighty power and love--the same God that can move mountains, part seas, bring rulers to ruin, and breathe life and death into people also loves his people enough to carry, shepherd, and protect them.

as a reminder of his incomprehensible power, i planted seeds in my kitchen. this project started a few weeks ago with a seed kit, a mixing bowl, and my gardening tools (a fork and spoon). the dirt-mixing, seed-sowing, daily-watering business all went according to the plan. but the seeds didn't sprout. admittedly, i felt defeated and frustrated after two weeks of watching my non-sprouting seeds stare blankly at me as i made my coffee each morning. i planted THREE mini plants and i couldn't get them to grow. (fail.) i began to wonder if this was a sign that i'm bad soil. so i worried, then re-read the directions and discovered that i hadn't actually followed them. (that deserves a fail too.)

the good news is that God doesn't make human error. instead he uses human error to remind us that we're not in control. and if we were, well, there would certainly be NO herbs and spices thanks to me. taking care of God's creation--in the form of parsley, basil, and cilantro--continues to remind me how far from in control i really am. heck, God could easily make my whole apartment into one huge herb and i could be the tiny bug living on it. or he could eliminate them altogether and leave us with flavor-less food. whatever he decides to do, the point is that i'm grateful to have a heavenly father who cares for me in a far greater, deeper, wider, and more eternal way than i care for my seeds.


















p.s. the cilantro started to sprout this week.