Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie!

Dave and I got back from our honeymoon to St. Thomas late Sunday night. Dave had to be in to work bright and early Monday morning and I was left at the apartment to make it look more like a home. YAY unpacking boxes ??

We are also on a super tight budget but lucky for us its 65 degrees outside. Off goes the AC and open go the windows! "Way to pinch those pennies!" was the text I got from the hubby. Ever too quickly though I found my self freezing to death so I closed the windows. But this whole time all I was craving was a smoothie. I think I miss the frozen drinks at the resort. 

So now I'm sitting here with frozen fingers sipping on this smoothie. Totally worth it though, so good. 

Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1/2 cup frozen peaches

3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup strawberry yogurt

1 tbsp honey

1 cup apple juice

Place frozen fruit in the very bottom of the blender. Add all other ingredients. Puree until nice and smooth. :) 

Proverbs 3 & 4

Chapters 3 and 4 ... Benefits of Wisdom and its Supremacy
Chapter 3 of Proverbs is full of God's promises about wisdom. But, verse 6, stands out.. not because its one of those common verses you hear all the time, but because of the Hebrew wording.
"in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  (3:6)
The word acknowledge here is translated in Hebrew as yada (יָדַע). Yada is a deep, personal word. It means to know, to really know, to know by experience. So in other words, in all your ways, KNOW him, and he will make your paths straight. Think yada type of knowledge goes further than facts, and numbers, and head knowledge. We are to know our Lord with all we are, in the inner most of our beings.

Chapter 4 describes wisdom in all her supremacy. Its very uplifting and encouraging. Until I read verse 25, which says, "let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you". And clear as day I realize, I can't keep referring to and living in the past. The things of the past are over and I can't change them. Then I started thinking about my future, and again, clear as day, I can't plan my future, only God can. I have to rely on the promise that His plan is perfect and the best thing for my life. So what do I do? Focus on the present, the "directly before me.".

So take this world Lord, and give me Jesus.

Proverbs 1 & 2

Proverbs provide us with wisdom, discipline, and understanding. They teach us to live right, just, and fair lives. God offers wisdom, shows us discipline, and teaches us understanding. Fully seeking a life that mimics Jesus's life causes us to live right, just, and fair lives.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." (1:7)

How do we begin to understand what 'fear of the Lord' is though? The Hebrew translation for "the fear" in this passage is yir'ah (יִרְאָה). Yir'ah of God is to respect. We respect Him by wholly accepting His words and the Word, keeping His commands with us, listening, accepting, and applying the wisdom He gives, living with an understanding heart, crying aloud to Him, and seeking Him like hidden treasure. All of these draw us closer to living in yir'ah of God. 

When we learn to live in yir'ah of God and gain His wisdom, things happen! Wisdom enters our hearts, knowledge of God is pleasing to the soul, discretion from the Holy Spirit protects us, and wisdom saves us from the wicked.

"For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in the dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.... ....Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of righteousness." (2:10-15, 20)

Did you catch that? When we live according to scripture, mimic the life of Jesus, and apply the wisdom we are given, we walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of righteousness!  

Chapter Three contains so much goodness that it deserves its own post! :)

April & Proverbs

My dear friend inspired me. For the month of April I will be reading through the book of Proverbs -- a chapter a day, and two on the last. I plan to blog about it too -- my thoughts, reactions, highs, lows, anything really.

So I'd like to invite you to either read along with me, or follow my posts, or both. April is going to be a good month. :)

"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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11-14