Can We Celebrate I Have Been Good Too

Can we celebrate that I have been good too
Why emphasize on the bad I have done
That I have to repent
Be sorry I have been bad
Can we at least celebrate the joy too
That I am back.
Please do not insist
Sin is all there is to be reminded of
Can we shift to the image
Of me the child of God
Who is really glad to see me
He is taking me back
With open arms
Not a stern teacher
Expecting the worst
Scolding, nagging all the time
How can I be good to others
When you just made me feel rotten about myself
Can I just bask in His presence
It had been a long week.



I know we are reassured
When we have been bad, sad that we can go to him
We need that reminder of hope
I want to share with him
I was happy too and also been good
So please let us be joyful too.

Why is the music
the liturgy in the mass
all about we have sinned
we have been forgiven
let us not fall
God will save me.

is my life full of sins and falls
do i not laugh too
do not i feel joy and happiness
do i not appreciate the sun, the moon
the food, the water
the friendships, the smiles
the help, given to me and to them
i might have lost it namely my temper
but i am sorry
but i am not a loser the whole day
but why do i feel that i am
i have to be saved
i already have

dear god
i pray
please lift this dark cloak around the mass
lift us celebrate life too
let the music speak of the rejoicing
not the gloom of sinning and being saved
we know that
i want someone to be with
to tell of all the nice things too
i am grateful you are there to save me
but why do i have to reminded of the sins of adam and eve
we have been saved
let us get over that.
looking too much to the future
like today sucks
how do they expect to live now
when it is always better in the future
today is here
God loves us even now
why not tell us how
rather than let us wait
it will get better
hope is good
but living in the moment
will make us happy and satisfied
let us change the emphasis
let us be balance.
God wants it that way
the tradition is tradition
let us make new ones
the truth is truth
the context is changing

Maxim 89 Monroeville Prayer Group Meeting December 17, 2018

Here are the notes prepared by Natalie on Maxim 89. Thanks Natalie!

As a bonus, I am also including the cover of a short book which Natalie read before the meeting. It is relevant to the Maxim. The title might give you a hint how it is so. Happy thinking and Merry Christmas.

Vegan Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread

I love Panera plain bagels and also their array of cream cheese spreads. Once I tried Sally Lipsky’s cashew spread during our Plant Based Group Meeting I was convinced it could take the place of cream cheese and be a vegan version. It has the texture and the taste. I decided to satisfy my craving for a Cranberry flavored one and this is what I came up with. It makes my breakfast and snack times happy these days.

Vegan Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread 

Adapted from a recipe from this book

1 cup cashew
1\4 of a lemon including rind
1 tbsp miso
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1\4 tsp dry garlic flakes
water as needed
1\4 cup whole cranberries from a can (you can add more after blending)

Blend all the ingredients to the consistency you want.  I used a Cuisinart stick blender. Add more cranberries if you like after blending.

Contemplation

To find Him both in
the calm and the busyness.
Keep heart, mind open.

She Intercedes

For me in time of
need. An example of a
loyal friend in deed.

Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Buttermilk Chicken

• 
• This dish made me a Martha Stewart believer.  The recipe was inspired by the one she presented on her Cooking Show at  the PBS Create Channel and shown on this site.  It was meant to be a preparation for a kebab chicken dish which one can easily convert this slow cooker version to that point if you wish.  However, the slow cooker version without the grilling step is so good I had to share it with you.  I skipped the pricey saffron as an ingredient and substituted dried thyme leaves for the fresh ones. I also did not use Greek yogurt and just used buttermilk made from 2 % milk acidified with vinegar. The result is delicious, creamy and full of flavor chicken dish that is definitely a keeper.  And I am sure it will make a Martha Stewart fan out of you too.  

Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Buttermilk Chicken

Adapted from this site

• 3/4 cup buttermilk (made from 2 % milk added with 1 tbsp vinegar and allowed to stand for 5 minutes or till the milk curdled) 
• zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp dry thyme leaves
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Place all the ingredients except the chicken in the slow cooker and mix.  Add the chicken and cook for 3 hours at high setting or 6 hours at low.  I cooked mine in an Aroma brand rice cooker/slow cooker for 2 hours at slow cooker setting.

• 
  

Vegan Lemony Walnut Linguine

My picky taster, my husband, gave this two thumbs up.  Btw he is not vegan.  It is delicious and creamy with that lemony tang.  The sauce is easy to prepare using only five ingredients and a very inexpensive nut, walnut,  not the expensive cashew.  The result is a creamy sauce which makes you think some nondairy milk was used.  Nope!

As I pointed out this is a crowd pleaser with both vegans and nonvegans alike.

Vegan Lemony Walnut Linguine

1 cup walnut
1/4 large lemon juice and rind
2 tbsp miso
1/4 cup water
1 tsp dry garlic flakes
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
Black pepper to taste
8 oz linguine, cooked saving 2 tbsp pasta water

Blend all the ingredients except the linguine in a blender till the consistency you like.  I prefer mine to be still gritty.

Place the cooked linguine including the saved pasta water in a  pan and add the sauce mixture and heat through with stirring till sauce is incorporated.