I Declare [4.30.12]

Photo taken by Princess Charlie

I Believe:

*God is in control of everything in your life
*Our best days are ahead of us
*We are MORE like Jesus today than yesterday
*Jesus is Our Lord
*Our every step and word will reflect the goodness of God
*We are completely saturated in God's favor

I Decree and Declare:

*We are the head and never the tail

*Goodness and Mercy shall follow us ALL the days of our lives

*We are abundantly prosperous

*God's word is always trustworthy

*God's way is the BEST way

*Our Father provides for ALL our needs

*When you have God you can live in peace and in joy

*God has amazing plans for YOUR life!

*YOU are loved more than you know

Yesterday (Sunday) was a very peaceful day.  I had a lovely lunch date with my bestie Monica.

Came home to cook a delicious meal for my family and I even took a nap (I never nap!).

I believe this week will be filled with God's holy goodness in your lives.  I believe joy and peace

will bloom within each of you in ways you never thought possible.  Even through the troubled times

you will experience joy.

Have A Beautiful Week!!

Lemon Buttery Shrimp [4.28.12]

My family and I are true New Orleanians, so we LOVE shrimp

in any form.  I first cooked Shrimp Etouffee and the family devoured it.

We still had a great deal of shrimp to cook, so the idea came to me to

cook them in a butter sauce with a bit of lemon pepper.  So, here I am

sharing what I did with you!

 

Ingredients:

 

Shrimp

Rice

Butter

Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Oregano

Italian Seasoning

1 1/2 TBSP Garlic

Garlic Powder or Granulated

 

*Note*

I cook with 5 minute rice.  It's quick and there's NO WAY I can mess it up. lol

We are not big fans of regular butter.  We use Olivio's spray butter.

 

Directions for rice:

 

1. Prepare rice as directed

2. After rice is done add oregano, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to rice

Directions for Shrimp and Sauce:

1. In a skillet melt 1 stick butter

2. Add in shrimp

3. As shrimp turn pink add garlic, parsley, salt and pepper

4. Add 1 TBSP flour (to thicken sauce)

 

God Loves YOU [4.24.12]

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  

-Jeremiah 29:11

God loves you so much!  There is NOTHING you can say or do to keep him from loving you.  He yearns to be your Lord and Savior.  He desires to fill you with ALL of His goodness.  God's love is NOT like any love you've ever felt before.  He promises to NEVER fail you or abandon you.  God can NOT lie, so you can find great assurance in his promises.  He Loves You!!

God Says YOU Are:

Loved

Wanted

Chosen

Beautiful

On Purpose

For a Purpose

Wonderfully Unique

Irreplaceable

More than Enough

Worth Dying For

There will always be set backs in life.  There will always be those who seek to hurt others.  But if you give your life to God he promises he will love, protect and guide you in ways no human being can do.  He wants to be the CENTER of your life just as YOU are the apple of His eyes.  You are Valuable to God!  You were created by his very hands.  God does NOT make mistakes, so that means you were created just as you were meant to be.  He can love you through the worst moments in your life.  He can chase away any darkness that haunts you right NOW.

If you ask God to come into your heart, wash you clean and repent of your sins He WILL.  He will make you a brand new person from deep within.  All he asks is that you trust and believe.  God promises that if you share your life with Him it will be the Biggest and Greatest decision you've ever made.  Just call on the name of Jesus and watch him lift you to a place you've never imagined!

*Note* If you've decided to give your life to God know that the angels in heaven are now celebrating your decision! Please send an email to [ichoosebliss@gmail.com] stating your decision, so I can celebrate and pray for you as well! For Jesus states "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you." [Matthew 18:19]

Peach Cobbler [4.23.12]

This weekend I made Peach Cobbler for the very first time

and we tore it up!  It was so delicious and I just had to

share this easy recipe with you!  You can use canned or

fresh peaches for this recipe.  I choose to use canned.

Enjoy!!

 

Ingredients:

 

2 large cans of peaches (if using canned)

1 Tbsp brown sugar

 

For Batter:

 

1 stick butter (melt and let cool)

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup self rising flour

1 1/2 cup milk

 

Directions:

 

1. In separate bowl add peaches and brown sugar. Mix and let sit.

2. In 2nd bowl mix sugar, self rising flour and milk.  Stir until smooth.

3. Pour melted butter into bottom of baking pan

4. Pour batter mixture into baking pan

5. Place peaches gently on top of mixture. DO NOT STIR PEACHES IN.

6. Bake at 350 for 45 to 50 minutes

7. Let cobbler cool for up to 15 minutes, then serve.

*Note* If using fresh peaches in a sauce pan add 1 cup sugar to 1 cup water and bring to a boil 

            to create a simple syrup.

I Will Be Made Whole [4.19.12]

"It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.  -John 9:3

There have been many moments in my life where I've cried behind my birth defects.  As a kid I'd often ask God why?  I couldn't understand why everyone else could ride bikes during the summertime, but I could not.  I'd often fear I'd never become a mom or get married.  Yes, many days I wondered "why did this happen?"

In October of 2008 I purchased my very own bible and began to devour the book of John.  Upon reading John 9 I began to read a story where Jesus and his disciples came upon a man whom was blind.  Jesus' disciples wanted to know if the man was blind because of a sin committed by the man or his parents.  For me this was HUGE and I sat at complete attention as I read Jesus' answer to them.  "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." [John 9:3]

Oh thank you Lord! I shouted with great relief, because NOW I had my answer!  And it was the most freeing answer I could have ever received.  I immediately called my dad and read this passage to him and asked him to free himself from all of the self-guilt he had been holding onto all of these years.  It was not his fault!  It was not my mom's fault!  I was not being punished, but rather being used by my heavenly Father to show his TRUE goodness through my life.  And if you truly knew me as my family and close friends do you'd understand just how big this verse mirrors my story.

God has used me in many ways.  I even believe he's used my life without me ever truly seeing the after effects.  I have a God given purpose in this world.  YOU have a God given purpose in this world.  The Bible tells me that one-day I'll dwell in a perfect, flawless body.  All of my limbs will be right where they should be.  I even like to think that one day I will be able to go on a bike ride with Jesus, himself.  My body has flaws, but my spirit is just as it should be.  And one day soon I will be made whole and you'll know, because I will be the bike-riding, acrobat in heaven screaming, "Look what He did for me!"

As He Is [4.17.12]

As He is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)

I first heard 1 John 4:17 preached by Joseph Prince in January 2012.  I had never read that verse in those exact words, because I was reading from a different version.  I missed the totality of what God was saying in that one verse.  After hearing it from Joseph Prince something within me was suddenly shaken.  It felt as if a new door had been opened and truth came rushing out.

The Bible teaches that God is Spirit and we were created in His image.  So it's safe to say that we are Spirit beings living inside of our bodies.  Learning this was also huge for me, because it took the limits off of who I truly was.  I am much more than a human being!

For a few years now my motto has been "I desire to look, live, love and behave like Jesus."  The truth of that statement was manifested in 1 John 4:17!  Jesus is dearly loved, adored, righteous, made whole, peaceful, joyful, blessed, prosperous, courageous, wise, healed, talented, successful, anointed, approved and chosen in the eyes of the Father.  Now here's the great news!  So are we!  In Jesus' life, death and resurrection we've been gifted this huge blessing of truth.

If you've ever questioned who you are in this world, if you've ever doubted your abilities, if you've ever been stuck in fear or worry you need only look to 1 John 4:17 for your answer.  EVERYTHING good about Jesus, EVERY single quality that He possesses, so do we in this world.  Not someday.  But RIGHT NOW.  Grab a hold to that with all of your might and watch your life change in supernatural ways!

Roasted Pineapple Sundae [4.16.12]

I found this quick recipe via Youtube and I just had to try it.

Let me tell you guys it was indeed Yummy!

I was so excited that I forgot to sprinkle the pecans on top.  lol

Ingredients:

Pineapple

Brown Sugar

Ice Cream

Pecans or any nuts

Directions:

1. In a baking pan add 1/4 cup of melted butter

2. Place pineapple on top of butter

3. Sprinkle brown sugar over pineapple

4. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes or until golden brown

5. Plate pineapple, then place ice cream on top

6. Sprinkle nuts & syrup from pan on top of ice cream

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo [4.13.12]

Ingredients:

5oz of Cream of Mushroom
5oz of Cream of Chicken
1 cup of milk (I used evaporated)
1lb Chicken breast or thigh (I used wings)
3 cups of Broccoli florets
1/2 lb of Fettuccine uncooked broken in half
(Any pasta of your choosing will do)

While preparing chicken boil water for pasta. During last 4 minutes of pasta boiling add your broccoli to pasta.

Directions:

1. In a skillet cook chicken chunks FULLY
2. Add cream of mushroom, chicken and milk
3. Season to taste
4. Add in pasta and broccoli
5. Stir then serve

My family completely devoured this meal! lol
The creamy taste from the cream of mushroom and chicken was simply heaven.
I hope you'll try this easy dish for your family soon!!

A Valuable Lesson [4.10.12]

There is more to life than increasing its speed    - Gandhi

For years now I've been encouraging my husband to "slow down."  He is always moving at warp speed and it shows in his eating and even in his driving.  Just the other morning he said, "Okay, I have to hurry and get there" and I immediately suggested he not hurry to get anywhere.  I suggested as he drove to work he could ask God to clear his path so he could make it there safely and in a timely fashion.  But to know surprise he proceeded like a bat out of hell. 

He called and sounded like a kid who had just gotten in trouble with his schoolteacher.  He said, "I'm on my way and I got to show you something."  I don't know why, but I knew what it would be.  He had gotten himself pulled over by SAPD for speeding.  Yep, my adorable speed demon was caught doing 55mph in a 35mph zone.

Every part of me wanted to scream and fuss about it, but I felt my spirit saying, "what's done is done and right now he needs you to build him up and not tear him down."  When he came into our home he looked very sad and worried, but I immediately put his worries to rest.  I repeated to him what my spirit said to me "what's done is done."  I hugged him and gave him a big kiss.  I did however, remind him of our conversation that morning of how he could pray and ask God to clear his path.

As he headed back to work he realized he had been depending more on his own ability than God's.  He instantly apologized to God and asked him to guide his path.  Since he's a strong believer in the Bible he knew God would watch over him as he's already promised.  He still has to pay the ticket, which is in the amount of $215, but what he learned from this experience - what he learned was far more valuable.

Loving Others As Yourself

Loving Others As Yourself by Tabitha D               4.6.12

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  No other commandment is greater than these.”  -Mark 12:30-31

Since truly getting to know God loving him has been a no brainer.  The first part of this command was easy as pie, but it was the second part, which stopped me dead in my tracks.  Not because I couldn't love others, but in order to truly love them I had to love them as I loved myself.  That was a problem for me, because up until my daughter was born I deeply disliked myself.  I won't delve into whom or what even lead me to this, but I will say it was alive and breathing within me daily.

Everyone would always comment on how beautiful my daughter is and she is, but it didn't register that I was beautiful as well.  Until one day my aunt said, "Jo is so beautiful! Girl, she looks just like you!"  I went home and stared in my mirror and it hit me!  My daughter is amazingly beautiful and if she looks just like me I must be amazingly beautiful as well.

That lifted me up for a few years until I did some things that now lead me to dislike myself from the inside.  Manipulation and selfish behavior made not for a beautiful woman.  I knew my behavior was wrong, but still believed I was justified by what others had done to me.  What did I learn?  Two wrongs will NEVER make a right.

I guess God couldn't take any more because he stepped in and made his presence KNOWN.  He sat me in front of his spiritual mirror and showed me how he had envisioned my life going.  He showed me my faults and it was painful.  As time went on I began to desire to be more like Jesus.  I wanted to look like him, love like him, speak like him and live like him.  That prayer started coming to life and with each new day I fell in love with the new me.  I learned just how much God truly loved me and that lead me to truly loving myself.  The me that He wants me to be is alive and she's flourishing daily.

How could I not love myself when I'm walking in the very footsteps of my Lord and Savior?  Today I can completely love others as I love myself, because God has released the real me from darkness.  Every day I pray and declare that I will love and see everyone as our heavenly Father does.  At first I stumbled, but now I do it with great ease.  All because my Father showed up and showed me how to truly walk out Mark 12:31

For The Weary & Burdened 4.5.12

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

-Matthew 11:28

For far too many years I had been weary and heavy burdened.  Many times I felt death was my greatest escape from the craziness of this world.  But today, I now know a new way of thinking.  A completely new way of living.  When I committed my life into God's hands and declared Jesus as my Lord 4 years ago every drop of weariness left my mind and body.  It did not leave immediately, but as my faith grew it faded with ease.  I am learning of the true power of Jesus' sacrifice and His love.  In learning these things I have grown a confidence I've never known.  I'm experiencing a peace I never knew existed here on earth.

I have been forgiven of:

-Adultery

-Avoiding God

-Denying The Bible

Those, to me, are my three greatest sins.  But I have committed many more in my days of ignorance.  I started reading the Bible in 2008, so it's only been four years.  But let me tell you how huge an impact reading those words have been to my life.  Life giving water to my very being!  I can not go without it.  I refuse to release it from my grips.

God's love is beyond amazing!  Every promise that I've read within the pages of his love letter to you and I are proving to be very real and true.  He promises he will never fail me nor abandon me and in those words I find rest.  The rest he assured I would find.  There will be life struggles, but I know I can be at peace through them.  My faith is grounded and growing by leaps and bounds.  

I can truly trust a Father who would allow His son to die for me and I certainly can trust a son who would voluntarily lay his life down knowing I would sin.  Knowing I would run and hide for years out of not understanding.  They went forward with this sacrifice for you and I knowing we didn't deserve it.  Jesus redeemed us and reconciled us to God out of pure love for the Father and His creation (us).  Through the spilled blood of Jesus I am forgiven.  Through the stripes on his body I am healed and by the words confessed from his very lips I have received heavenly rest right here on earth.

This is what following Jesus has brought to my life.  I pray the same for all of my brothers and sisters in this world.  God Bless.