How to Eat Right

Care to take a peek at my "proper nutrition" guides?

Would you like to see my menu options?

I've reserved the seat across from me just for you, and you'll note your glass of wine is already poured.

I'm looking forward to sharing the meal with you.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.  Deut. 8:3

Vitamins and Veggies (or Devotions)

• Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals ~ Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Enuma Okoro
• At the Still Point: A Literary Guide to Prayer in Ordinary Time ~ Sarah Arthur
• The Seven Checkpoints: Seven Principles Every Teenager Needs to Know ~ Andy Stanley and Stuart Hall (together with the boys at the beginning of each day)

Healthy Brunch (or Faith Stories)

• Reluctant Pilgrim ~ Enuma Okoro
• No Longer a Slumdog: Bringing Hope to Children in Crisis ~ K.P. Yohannan
• Spiritual Torrents ~ Jeanne Guyon

Meat and Potatoes (or Prayer)

• Praying with the Psalms ~ Eugene Peterson
• A Diary of Private Prayer ~ John Baillie
• Morning and Evening: Daily Readings ~ C.H. Spurgeon
• The Night Offices: Prayers for the Hours from Sunset to Sunrise ~ Phyllis Tickle

These are the words I eat every day.  These are the voices of brothers and sisters who share the banquet table with me ~ laughing, lamenting, leading, and loving as we feast together at the Lord's Table.  Some things change, as the seasons of the Church change.  Others are staples that are found at each table gathering.  And of course, there is always Bread.

Ah, Coffee and Dessert (or Reading for Pleasure)

• Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Story ~ Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor
• In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin ~ Erik Larson

Food in the Cupboard (or What's on the Bedside Table)

• The Beautiful Fight: Surrendering to the Transforming Presence of God Every Day of Your Life ~ Gary Thomas
• Sacred Influence: How God Uses Wives to Shape the Souls of Their Husbands ~ Gary Thomas
• Sabbath ~ Dan Allender
• Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy ~ Eric Metaxas
• A Patriot's History of the United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror ~ Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen

Recipes I would Recommend

• One Thousand Gifts ~ Ann Voskamp
• When Two Become One: Enhancing Sexual Intimacy in Marriage ~ Christopher and Rachel McCluskey
• Eastertide: Prayers for Lent Through Easter from the Divine Hours ~ Phyllis Tickle
• The Help ~ Kathryn Stockett
• The Hunger Games Trilogy ~ Suzanne Collins
• Her Mother's Hope (and) Her Daughter's Dream ~ Francine Rivers
• Devotions for a Sacred Marriage ~ Gary Thomas

Okay, so every so often I just have to have a creative outlet!  Thanks for humoring my food post and I hope some ideas have been helpful!  I'd love to hear what you read for sustenance ~ I do have a habit of adding to the book stacks!

Favored One, you are loved.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest, and repent.  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.  Rev 3:19,20

It's all about the Feast.

It's about Prepositions

I am weary. Anyone know what I mean? I'm so glad to be rooted firmly in my faith and growing in the knowledge and wisdom of God, but it is hard work. This Friday morning I'm watching for Sabbath. I'll be watching all day, "more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning."

I've been captured by God again, breathed new life into, and one of His means has been reading One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) and her daily posts at aholyexperience.com. He is drawing me to a deeper level of freedom, and the words He's used through Ann regarding gratitude and thanksgiving are reshaping my outlook. You can only feel one thing at a time. It's impossible to feel anger, rage, malice, slander (Col 3:8,9) from a thankful heart. So I'm practicing. I'm practicing replacing familiar defensive postures, quieting the voice that's journeyed with me through life to remind me that I can't be everything to all people and that I fail. I'm practicing watching and waiting. When I don't know exactly what to say, exactly what to feel, exactly how to respond, I'm waiting on the Lord. Waiting longer. Waiting more patiently. Waiting expectantly. And through the waiting and the thankfulness I think He's giving me one of my heart's desire - to see what He sees. To begin to love as He loves. And because I am a chosen one, holy and dearly loved, He has clothed me this day with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Col 3:15)

About Prepositions?
Over and With

In my first morning prayers, from The Night Offices by Phillis Tickle, I spoke from Psalm 149:2-5

Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise his Name in the dance; let them sing praise to him with timbrel
and harp.
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people and adorns the poor with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice in triumph, let them be joyful on their beds.


~And adorns the poor with victory~

It's less about victory over-
Something
Someone
It's more about victory with-
Something
Someone

I think it's about the prepositions. To be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, and gentleness requires bent knees. Victory in God's kingdom bends and bows low, kneels with the Christ who humbled Himself and served us all, the poor. There is only one victory that has been raised over - the sacrifice, the cross of Christ, the Resurrection - the Kingship of Jesus. I don't think I can have personal victories anymore. They all belong WITH Christ. Less victory over Something and more victory with Someone.

I'm learning so many things, this new sight I have opening me to miracle moments. I'm weary. But the most satisfying, joy-filled, enduring things my life has offered have come often with a work that leads to bone-weariness. And in my waiting and watching with Victory I am learning to be so thankful for weariness. Because in my poverty, He will fill me with His strength and power. I will choose the WITH of Christ instead of OVER every time.

Love you, Favored One.

*Ken and I bow together morning and evening, praying The Night Offices, Phyllis Tickle. We will move to Eastertide: Prayers for Lent, Phyllis Tickle, beginning Ash Wednesday. I have been using A Diary of Private Prayer, John Baillie, as well, and praying it with the boys before bed. In addition, I am reading Colossians daily, sometimes several times. Originally I was planning to for 20 readings through. Now, I'm reading it until God moves me on. Maybe a month, maybe a year. He knows. I pray you are encouraged in spirit and hope.

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony WITH one another, in accord WITH Jesus Christ, that together WITH one accord you may WITH one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

Always WITH Christ. Never OVER.