Oh Valentine..commercial hoarder..I choose God's love Instead...

Oh Valentine ’s Day, how we love to love and hate you with the every moving tide of our relationship status.  Of all of the holidays that we celebrate, Valentine ’s Day is my least favorite. One of the unhealthiest things we can do to ourselves is to use others as a litmus test to gauge our success. Yet to me, that’s exactly what Valentine’s represent. I got flowers delivered.  You didn’t. I went to a fancy dinner. You didn’t. You got diamonds. I didn’t.  Someone fails every single time. Either you become envious of someone else’s life or you deem your life worthy based on someone else’s misfortune or circumstance. True love should genuinely be celebrated every single day, not crammed into one tiny day of the year and compared to everyone else.

True love is respectful. We quote this one all the time, but you could spend your whole life trying to get it right.

1^st Corinthians Chpt 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I don’t want a love where you have to cram in all of your love for me in one day to make up for all the ways you disrespected me the rest of the year. I cringe to think of all the husbands sending flowers to their wives AND girlfriends.  When I worked at Frederick’s of Hollywood, I actually had a customer buy two of the same outfit in two sizes and he had the audacity to tell me one was for his wife and one was for his girlfriend. DISGUSTING!

Which (mini tangent in a tangent) reminds me to say, when someone shows you who they really are, believe them the first time! If they cheated with you, they will cheat on you. If they cheated on you, they will cheat again. If they treat you like crap, disrespect you and those around you- FLOWERS WILL NOT FIX IT!!! YOU CANNOT FIX IT!!! Let that person go with all the peace and love in the world and let God work it out. Only He knows the path and timing for each of us. This is a hard hard lesson. Sometimes we see the writing all over the wall and we just want to help someone. I really do believe the old adage is true, you can bring a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink. The best you can do is providing insight, walk away, and let God do the rest.

True love isn’t mystical or magical. It is two people making a commitment to one another to respect one another, to put their relationship first, to love one another when things get tough and not fly away. Sadly, we don’t live in a society where commitment is taken very serious. It’s actually really sad to me how many people try to sweep their deep seated issues under the rug and pretend how amazing their lives are so no one guesses they are really falling apart.

Now, I do not pretend to be an expert in love. I certainly have made my share of mistakes. I have been TERRIBLE in relationships.  I have prayed for God to forgive me for the people who trusted me with their love in the past and I intentionally and selfishly stomped all over them, manipulated them and disrespected them. When I met Nikki, I didn’t miraculously receive some healing in relationships. Together, we made a conscious decision to respect one another and to stick it out, come what may.

For my friends that are feeling solemn today because they hate Valentines, I hope this will allow you to pause, reflect, and reconsider.

The single most important love we can ever experience is the love of our father God. He is truly our great provider and the one who will see us through in our darkest and most private moments.

The second most important love is the love we have for ourselves which honors the gift of life that God gave us.

The third love we should consider is the love we give to those around us, not just our lovers, but every single person we come in contact with.

Romantic love falls to the bottom of the list, where it belongs.  And if you only get to be successful as some love, isn’t finding the love God has for you, learning to love yourself, and learning to love others a much greater gift?

I am not saying being alone is easy. Sometimes it just sucks! But I want to remind you of God’s perfect timing. God absolutely has a plan for you. He will not be late, but He won’t be early either. He sees everything, knows everything, and can make anything happen. Do you really think you can get in God’s way if He has a plan for you??? In fact, I am going to share a love letter with you. It’s the very best, most personal, amazing love letter you could ever receive and I promise you it is more than enough to see you through whatever moment you are in.

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me.John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father.Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad Almighty God

Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications

© 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

Asian Cooking

Tonight I prepped dinner for tomorrow. On the menu? Grilled chicken with peanut satay; Asian pork tenderloin & coleslaw. 

The tenderloin should be marinated overnight with 1/2 jalapeno diced finely and equal parts rice wine vinegar, sugar, ketchup, orange juice, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce. I then will cook the pork with all of the marinade in a casserole dish until the pork is done. 

The coleslaw is cabbage(you can pre-cut or cut your own and add carrot slices), 1/2 a finely chopped jalapeno, a head of cilantro chopped, rice wine vinegar, sugar and salt. 

You'll notice I don't have a lot of measurements for this... I like to cook to taste, so you can add more or less of something depending on if you like salty, sour, or sugary more. My rule of thumb is to start of with less ingredient than you will need to so you can course correct as you go vs trying to fix food once it has too much salt. :) 

The chicken Sate with Spicy Peanut dipping sauce comes from Ellie Krieger who specializes in healthy foods. If you try any of these, let me know what you think!!!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock
• 1/2 cup lite coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 shallot, sliced thin
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Thai fish sauce (or 2 additional teaspoons low sodium soy sauce)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast pounded slightly and cut into 1-inch strips

Directions

8 (8-inch) bamboo skewers, soaked for 20 minutes

• 3/4 cup Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce, recipe below
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil or cilantro leaves
• 1/4 cup chopped toasted peanuts

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, coconut milk, soy sauce, shallot, garlic, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime zest, and ginger. Add the chicken strips and marinate for 1 hour. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade.

Spray a nonstick grill pan with cooking spray and preheat over a medium-high flame. While pan is heating, thread chicken onto skewers. Grill 2 to 3 minutes per side, until meat is cooked through and has light grill marks.

Serve chicken skewers with Peanut Dipping Sauce, and garnish with basil or cilantro and chopped peanuts.

Yield: 4 servings (2 skewers and 2 tablespoons peanut sauce per serving)

Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce:

• 1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 teaspoon red curry paste
• 1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.

Sauce can be made 1 day ahead of time, and will keep 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Yield: about 1 1/4 cups

Onion Dip: A healthier and yummier alternative

If you love onion dip, but hate the calories, I have a fix and it is SUPER simple:
You will need: 2 large white onions, olive oil, salt, 4 or 5 pieces off a garlic bulb, fat free sour cream and Veganaise. Veganaise is a Mayo alternatives that is more natural, more flavorful, better for you and vegan friendly. You will find this in the dairy section as it has to be kept in the fridge.
Heat up you large sauce pan with a bit of olive oil. Toss in the garlic, salt, pepper, and sliced onions. Sweat the onions down completely until they are super soft with a browned and caramel appearance. Meanwhile, mix together 1 medium container of fat fee sour cream and 1/2  cup of Veganaise.
Once the onions are complete just add to the sour cream mixture. Mix well. Refrigerate for a couple of hours. It also happens to be really good warm as well. Serve with low fat whole wheat pita chips. DONE! ;)