I've always toyed with the idea of starting up a blog, but now I know it's just what I need. I am beginning to go through Shari Rose Shepherd's book "Fit for My King" with a couple friends and I process information best by writing notes. So I'm hoping that by typing out what I'm learning, it will help me remember and process what God wants me to learn during the next 30 days.
Day One: I already forgot to start and ate some White Chocolate Popcorn and an Oreo Truffle by the time my friend called to ask me if I was starting today! Whoops. Get out the book and start again with the second half of the day. (Supper was a delicious meal that fit in with the guidelines perfectly. I'll post the recipe.)
What are the reasons for following God's plan for eating? Sheri Rose has some convincing ones!
1. To Honor God--1 Cor 3:16-17 " Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temping and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."
I would say that I don't think of my body in that way most of the time.
2. To Experience Good Health--3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."
In this section Shari Rose challenges us to think of what Christians could accomplish if they were in good health--health and energy to complete ministry without burnout, energy and clear minds on Sunday morning to hear the Word of God preached and REMEMBER it all week long!
3. To Gain Strength and Energy--Ecclesiastes 10:17 "Happy is the land whose king is a nobleman and whose leaders feast only to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk."
Strength and energy to complete God's call on our lives, not for personal glory.
4. For an Eternal Prize--1 Cor. 9:24-25 "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that fades away, but we do it for an eternal prize."
Ooof, this one hit me close to home since I am competitive and love to race. So what would happen if I put the time an energy that I put into my running, into learning more about God and striving to win the race that He has set before me.
So here is my Covenant Letter with God for the next 30 days:
"For the next thirty days, I want to honor You with my body by fasting off all white sugar, white flour, artificial sweeteners, and other artificial food. I commit to give up any other food or drink that may harm my body. I give You control of what I eat and make a covenant with You to take care of Your temple (my body), I commit to eat well, get proper rest, and exercise to bring glory to You, not to myself. I ask that You give me the fruit of the Spirit, self-control. Help me be disciplined in my mind, body,and my spirit. I give you my word and promise to commit to the above for the next thirty days."
Signed Heidi
Witness All of you!
Supper Tonight: Heidi's Special Chicken Pesto Skillet Dinner
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped
1 can Goya brand chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
4 oz quinoa pasta, spaghetti style, broken up
4-5 cups broccoli florets, in small pieces
2 slices cooked,chopped bacon (cook after chicken if using raw)
3 TBLS coconut oil
Approx 1/4 C pesto--to taste ( I make a big batch and freeze it in blobs)
Parmesan cheese
1. Saute chicken in two batches over medium-high heat in large skillet, 1 TBLS of oil per batch. Set chicken aside. While chicken is cooking, boil noodles per pkg instructions.
2. Add 1 TBLS of oil to skillet and saute broccoli and bacon together until broccoli is crisp tender. Add chickpeas to pan and cook 1-2min. Add chicken back to pan and drained, cooked pasta. Add Pesto and mix well. Serve with parmesan cheese.
It got a 5 person approval rating at our house and Sam even said, as I was packaging up the left overs, "I can't wait to have it again at lunch tomorrow!"
Here is my Spinach Pesto Recipe
Sparse 1/4 C dried basil
2 C fresh spinach
1/8 C dried parsley leaves
3 TBL walnuts
3 TBL olive oil
3 garlic cloves
3/4 C parmigano romano cheese
1/3 C chicken broth
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp bk pepper
Combine first six ingredients in food processor (through garlic) until well mixed, then add the rest of the ingredients.
I pkg it up by several TBLS and wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it. Be careful if you thaw it out in the microwave because if it gets heated the cheese will clump together and get kinda yucky.
