The Way

Posted in Faith, Hope, Joy, Love, Spirituality by

What if we put a pause on calling our faith in Jesus the religion of Christianity and stepped back in time? Those who believed in Jesus in biblical times were referred to as followers of The Way. Think of the implications if today’s believers referred to themselves in kind: the faithful would fully understand what their lives would encompass; they’d literally follow Jesus’ example, His ways.

To many who profess they are a Christian, this simply means one who believes in the gospel – Christ died, was buried, and rose again. Therefore, His free gift of salvation, if one chooses to receive it, offers eternal life. However, the life of a follower of Jesus requires more of a sacrifice, a dying to self, a carrying of one’s own cross.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24)     

Jesus encourages us to follow Him: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This emphasizes effort, not works. Our faith, or fruit of our faith, is revealed through our deeds, behavior, and lifestyle which we assume as we walk in the Spirit. Honestly, this is effortless, but this is not to say the life of a Christian doesn’t come without its challenges.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Denying our sin(s) is difficult but the temptation to surrender to sin(s) wanes over time. The Bible says resist the enemy and he will flee.

Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Temptations soon cease and are forgotten. Sometimes new ones pop up but our strength always increases. As Apostle Paul says, strength is to be had in weakness.

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The Holy Spirit continues to convict us throughout our Christian walk. Our hearts change, our mind is renewed, our behavior is a little different. We become a little softer and people begin to notice. Some drift out of our lives while others make their way into it. And, gradually, we also begin to notice a change in ourselves. We’re more at peace, our faith is stronger, and our desire to spend more time with the Lord intensifies. We spend more time in the Word, and we continue to learn and grow. In other words, we become today’s disciples. We come to understand that we are in this world but not of it.

I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:15-17)

Words are powerful. Referring to ourselves as followers of The Way as opposed to believers in Christ, or Christianity, might help, in some small way, those believers who have yet to fully commit. Those who know the truth but their fruits have yet to be revealed. When a believer is reborn, only then will full understanding of the Truth reside in his heart and mind.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:5-7)

Jesus taught to believe and follow, to have faith and repent. He taught to trust in Him and replace our ways with His ways. His ways are holy, are of God’s kingdom, and are everlasting. They do not end in destruction or create chaos, which are consequences of following the enemy. On the contrary, we follow Jesus into an eternal life to be lived with Him.

Ultimately, His ways allow the flow of love to become part of us in this world. That flow of love – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit become more present in our lives and in us. The fruits of the Holy Spirit become more evident.  Those who interact with us see the unmistakable traits of our faith. In this way, we learn, we teach, we spread the Word.

In the end, we live by example very much like Jesus did when He walked the earth alongside His disciples. We pray unbelievers and believers alike, choose to follow in a deep faith and be active participants as citizens of heaven. Following the Way requires faith that goes beyond belief for even the enemy believes and trembles.

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder. (James 2:19)

The path of the Way welcomes all of us. It’s a journey few partake, many enjoy, but all will understand at the end.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Sharon – Embracing My Joy xx

Cauliflower Gnocchi with Roasted Tomato Sauce – All comfort with Zero Guilt

Posted in Cooking, Recipes, YUM! by

A gluten-free pasta primavera that’s not heavy, but very filling. This is a meal that can serve up leftovers to enjoy throughout the week.

I’ve recently decided to forgo canned tomatoes and venture into making tomato sauce from scratch. What a difference a fresh tomato makes! The sauce is a bit more on the pink side, just like all those appetizing pics from the kitchens of Italy. I also find it less acidic than canned tomatoes.

I was excited to start from a perfect whole tomato rather than pouring out crushed tomatoes from a can. I roasted the tomatoes because why not get the most flavorful tomato sauce possible? I also made this on the spicy side – a nice little kick with a slight taste of honey for a little sweetness.

Here’s a summary of this tasty dish:

For the roasted tomatoes:

  • Nine large off- the- vine tomatoes (plum tomatoes are often used for sauce but my favorite is off-the-vine)
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I’m using Spanish these days – fruity and delicious!)
  • Garlic Powder
  • Oregano
  • Rosemary
  • Black Pepper

For the sauce:

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • ½ large onion, chopped
  • 1 large zucchini, chopped
  • 3 large baby Bella mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 handful of frozen peas (organic)
  • 1 bag of cauliflower gnocchi (I used Trader Joe’s, organic)
  • Garlic Powder
  • Oregano
  • Basil
  • Thyme
  • Crushed Red Pepper
  • Black Pepper
  • Honey

Roughly chop the tomatoes into chunks and place in a casserole dish. Drizzle with olive oil and lightly dust the tomatoes with garlic powder, oregano, rosemary, and black pepper. Roast the tomatoes for 30-45 minutes at 350 degrees until soft. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, sauté all veggies in olive oil for about 10-15 minutes, excluding the frozen peas. Add the spices: the crushed red pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder.

After tomatoes have cooled, blend with an immersion blender or liquify in a blender until desired consistency. I like it on the thick side.

Add the blended tomatoes to the veggies along with the oregano, basil, and thyme. (Of these, add less thyme than the oregano and basil as it can be overpowering.) Stir well to coat all the veggies. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 30 minutes. Add the frozen gnocchi and simmer until cooked through adding the frozen peas in the last few minutes. Sweeten with a little honey if you prefer a sweeter sauce.

Enjoy!

Encouraging Words from Psalm 34

Posted in Faith, Hope, Joy, Love, Spirituality by

Psalm 34 gently reminds us that when God’s children speak to Him and of Him, He’s listening. Our prayers are being heard. He saves us, He keeps us, He delivers us, and He satisfies.

I pray you’re encouraged to follow King David’s example today and discover the joy in trusting the Lord.

Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Sharon – Embracing My Joy