resolve 2010

I strongly believe in a new beginning with the new year.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17


I have three categories for my resolutions. What? I like to be organized!

personal
- get into better shape (don't really need to lose weight, but I am so out of shape!)
- journal everyday
- do the laundry every other day
- cook dinner 5 times a week, 1 day for leftovers, 1 day for fend for yourself/out to eat

spiritual
- more consistent quiet time
- don't just ask God for change, embrace what changes he wants from me
- minister to others more

together
- pray together every night
- be completely open/honest about everything we are going through

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

family photo

We sent out Christmas cards this year with our picture on it...a tradition we started our first year of marriage. Only now I feel bad because we have added a new member to our family since the picture was taken. So here is our new family photo!Happy New Year!


Love,
Eric, Heather, Maggie and Nebbie

great grub 15

I recently went to Massachusetts to visit my dad and grandmother (we call her Tata). My dad's family is from Lebanon. He was born in Zahle, about 30 minutes from Beirut, the capitol. Over the last couple years I have been very interested in learning how to cook lebanese food. Tata doesn't have ANY recipes written down and she never measures. So I watch and eyeball and write everything down when I see her. Now I am going to share some with you! We will start simple...

Salata (Salad)

Ingredients:

- 1 bag baby spinach
- 1 yellow onion, sliced thinly
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 1/4 cup dried mint
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- salt

Directions:
Whisk oil and lemon juice together with the salt in the bottom of a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss until coated. Salad should be very wet. Eat with lebanese bread!!!

Enjoy!

stop making excuses

My heart aches for this world that we live in. It aches for the nonbelievers. More so, it aches for the believers who lost their way. For the ones who don't understand what the point to all of this is. It's love people. The main complaints and indescretions from believers and nonbelievers alike that I hear constantly are listed below. I believe we use these as excuses to not grow in the Lord. Here is what scripture has to say about it.

- "God doesn't hear me/care about me."
- The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
(Psalm 145:18-20)

- "Why hasn't God answered my prayer for marriage?"
- There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3)

- "My children are driving me crazy."
- Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
(Psalm 127 3:5)

There are so many more than the ones I have listed. I myself am guilty of being anxious, greedy, gluttonous...the bible makes reference (many times more than once) to all of these sins.

Maybe we should be more conscious of saying these things. God loves us. Hands down he loves us more than anyone we have ever met here on earth. The bible is nothing but one big love story written specifically for me and you. We need to stop worrying so much about what God's plan is for our life that we miss the daily opportunities we have to bless other people that he puts in our lives.

He is sovereign. (Psalm 68:20)
He has a plan. (Jeremiah 29:11)
He does not have to let me in on it. (Psalm 139 should prove that)
Even if he did, I probably wouldn't understand it. (Isaiah 55:8)
So I will love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Galations 5:22, Romans 13:8-10, 1 John 3:17, I could go on...)
And I will not complain. (James 5:9)