Be A Peacemaker

Scripture Inspiration

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.  (Matthew 5:9)

In my morning devotions I read that there are three ways to calm strife.  We all need to incorporate these into our lives!
1.  Patience
2.  Self-control
3.  Wisdom (seeing things from God's perspective)

What a difference each one of us can make if we remember those three qualities, and work on them at every given opportunity.  We could diffuse a lot of anger around us if we ourselves can remain calm and strive for peace!


Food Inspiration

You want something really simple to prepare and to eat?  Something that is good for you?  Something that satisfies a sweet craving and is nutritious at the same time?

GRAPES!

It doesn't matter whether you eat green or red, both have the same good qualities.  A cup of grapes contains 6 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C, which helps your immune system.  Even the seeds are good for you because they contain the highest concentration of antioxidants, which help fight diseases.  And grapes are available all year round! (thanks to importing)

According to the article I read in Weight Watchers, you will find significantly fewer pesticides on grapes grown in the US versus those that are imported.  It is so easy to clean grapes however.  Just rinse them under cool running water for a minute.

My son likes to put the rinsed grapes in the freezer and just pop one into his mouth now and then.  A nice little frozen treat with good nutrients!  Other ways to use grapes is to put them in your salads, perhaps instead of cherry tomatoes, or make a fruit salad  with grapes, blueberries, oranges, and apples.  That fruit salad packs a bigger punch of antioxidants than eating each fruit alone.

And how about raisins?  After all, they are just dried grapes.  You can get 13% of your daily potassium (which is helpful in regulating blood pressure) in half a cup of raisins.  Just keep in mind, they are higher in calories than grapes, because grapes have a lot of water in them.  They do make a good alternative, and are something you can keep on your shelf longer.

Simple Peanut Butter Cookies

I have a simple recipe for cookies, given to me by my son.  He doesn't take credit for it, as he found it on the internet.  After I had one of his cookies, and I heard the recipe, I knew I would need to make some.  Here's the very simple recipe:

Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg

Mix ingredients together, roll into one inch balls, coat in sugar, drop on cookie sheet, bake 10-14 minutes at 350 degrees.  Let sit 10 minutes to firm after removing from oven.  If desired, push one chocolate kiss in each cookie.  Makes 1 dozen cookies.

I like that it just makes a dozen cookies.  I don't want a great big batch from which I tend to overeat.  One little batch, enough to share with some friends, and have a few for myself without feeling guilty.  Yum yum.  You can't even tell the other normal ingredients are missing!

Off to a Fresh Start

My first post on my newest blog.  I want to keep my posts simple, jotting down things I hear, read, see, or experience that makes LIFE more simple.  I do not want the posts to be long, so they may be more frequent.  I will also sub-title the topics within my posts.  So here goes...


Scripture Inspirations

Through love serve one another.  (Gal 5:13)
Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good.  (Gal 6:10)
What is important is faith expressing itself in love.  (Gal 5:6b)
For the whole law can be summed up in this one command:  "Love your neighbor as yourself."  (Gal 5:14)

What can be more simple than simply expressing ourselves in loving ways to those about us during the moments of our days?  We can choose our attitude!  I choose love!!


Food Inspirations

Weight Watchers Magazine was the inspiration to kick start a new healthy life through what I eat.  I have not joined WW, but I did subscribe to their magazine, for it is loaded with good ideas, good recipes, fashion ideas, and practical stuff to help me live better.  I will be sharing some of my inspirations from the magazine in my posts.  

I want to try Weight Watchers Smart Ones meals when I am eating alone.  The first one to catch my eye is Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables, which happens to be Gluten Free.

Gluten Free is almost a fad, growing at the rate of 28% a year, but that does not make it a weight-loss program, due to many of the products having more sugar and fat calories.  A simple blood test, ordered by your doctor, can tell you if you have a gluten intolerance.  I plan to ask for this the next time I visit my doctor.  I highly doubt I have that problem, but I don't mind checking it out.  Since I do have high triglycerides and blood pressure, I need the gluten found in whole grains.