Baked Oatmeal Cupcakes To Go

These delectable breakfast treats are a lifesaver every morning & Daniel Plan friendly!

I got the recipe off of the internet somewhere & tweaked it.

I apologize for not being able to cite the source.

Of course, there are probably a few recipes of these types running around out there.

But, lest someone think I am claiming credit, I share in the interest of full disclosure. (smile)

Baked Oatmeal Cupcakes

5 cups of rolled oats

2 1/2 cups (or so) of ripe bananas (measure after mashing)

1 tsp salt

5-6 tbsp of organic PURE maple syrup

2 1/3 cups of water

1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp of coconut oil

2 1/2 tsp of vanilla

Optional add-ins:  cinnamon, chopped nuts (I use walnuts), chia seeds, flax, raisins or other dried fruits

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Line 24 cupcake tins.

Combine all dry ingredients in large mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine all wet ingredients.

Pour wet mixture into dry.

Stir.

Scoop into tins.

Bake for 21 minutes

Broil for 1-2 minutes (optional)

You can eat these right away.

OR

Freeze them in tupperware & heat in micro for about 30 seconds.

Each "cupcake" is about 90 calories.

Seriously, so good & worth the time you save every morning! 

A great clean eating breakfast.

Happy Thursday, friends!

 

Sons of Light/Daughters of Day

I'm a collector of words.

If you're a collector, you won't need an explanation to the sentence above.

 

A word...

A phrase...

A sentence...

A paragraph....

when they touch that place deep down inside me,

I want to remember them.

Memorize them.

Own them.

 So, I write them down in a journal.

Or, type them up,

print them out &

tape them to a mirror.

Encase them in a frame.

Write them on 3x5 cards and tuck them in my purse.

Slap a magnet on them & put them on the fridge.

This evening as dinner was cooking in the oven,

I sat down at the kitchen island & opened up my bible

and started on my daily readings...

I am currently in the Psalms

(I am always in the Psalms),

Isaiah & I Thessalonians.

  I was feeling my brokenness.

And, feeling the brokenness of others.

The hurts we carry.

The pain we hide.

My heart leaped when I read as Paul called us...

"Sons of Light, Daughters of Day".

I spoke it aloud.

I love how it sounded.

 It felt a bit like The Cider House Rules

 "Good night, you princes of Maine,

you kings of New England."

 

Or, The Dead Poet's Society...

"Oh Captain, My Captain".

And, being a collector of words...

I wrote it down.

And, I started reading His Words to me...

this time as a 

Daughter of Day.

In Isaiah 9 (MSG)

His name will be:  Amazing Counselor,

Strong God,

Eternal Father,

Prince of WHOLENESS!

His ruling authority will grow

and there will be NO LIMITS to the WHOLENESS He brings.

Broken Sons of Light and Daughters of Day...

we are loved by the Prince of Wholeness!

There is NO LIMIT to the wholeness He can bring to our brokenness.

I Thessalonians 5 (MSG) goes on to say, "May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and WHOLE, make you holy & WHOLE, put you together--SPIRIT, SOUL, and BODY--and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.  The One who called you is completely dependable.  If he said it, he'll do it."

Broken ones...

He makes us WHOLE.

Spirit.

Soul.

Body.

I came close to standing on the kitchen counter (again, Dead Poet's Society) and proclaiming...

I AM A DAUGHTER OF DAY.

I am loved by the 

PRINCE OF WHOLENESS!

He put me together.

Spirit. Soul. And, Body.

He makes the broken WHOLE.

There are NO LIMITS!

He is completely dependable.

He said it.

So, He will do it!

If you're sitting at your kitchen counter, desk, couch or lying on your bed

because you are so broken you can't get up...

PROCLAIM IT WITH ME...

I am a Daughter of the Day!

(you Sons of Light can join the party too.)

 (all photos from google images)

.

 

What I Wore Wednesday

A crazy thing happens when you're at home for five weeks on bed rest after surgery,

you wear a LOT of yoga pants.

A LOT.

And, don't do any yoga. (smile)

But, let's have a little fun a see what I managed to put together when I did actually have to get out of my yoga pants.

I wore my Target skinny jeans a lot & broke out some leather.

Target boyfriend jeans were another fave with a thrift baseball tee & plaid shirt.

I feel like I should have sported a backwards blue baseball cap & channeled my inner Luke Danes...(I may or may not have binged on the Gilmore Girls while I was convalescing.) 

This was a farewell to a fave above...

my sweater got to be way TOOO big.

It made me a little sad because I always felt like Ralph Lauren was going to walk around the corner when I wore this & ask me to go horseback riding.

(Note:  I have never met Ralph or ridden a horse)

 

Again with the skinnys & my Charlotte Russe jacket that I love.

A bit of a Jackie Kennedy feel...or at least I pretend.

 

I love these cropped pants from Banana Republic.

I've had them for ages.

I like to mix them up with some denim & faux fur.

 

I am ALLLL about the long sweaters this season.

And, Aztec print. 

And, skinny jeans from Target.

Gheesh.

 

Thrift Old Navy shirt that I love to mix & match with a LOT of things in my closet...

including skinny jeans from Target. (smile)

 

The coat is a scene stealer.

It's vintage.  

I picked it up this summer at the antique show at Crown Center.

I absolutely love it.

Love. Love. Love. 

It.

 

Picked up this Calvin Klein dress at Ross for a steal. 

I'm loving textured tights this winter....

 

I love this sweater from The Pink Suitcase...

the back is my favorite.

And, the shoes...

I love the shoes too.

Cuz who doesn't love something a little sparkly???

 

I retired this sweater as well & the necklaces.

I'm still on my purge & they didn't make the cut.

The bangles & the boots stayed.

 

The blanket scarf is a most wonderful addition to my wardrobe.

I am wearing the snot out of it.

I want to own a million...

 

Again, with the blanket scarf.

And, my glasses...

which I have LOST.

I could cry looking at this picture.

I went to dinner with a friend & set my glasses on the table.

Promptly forgot them.

And, alas...they were no where to be found when I went back.

I think the people at the restaurant are tired of me calling.

Ugh.

That was one EXPENSIVE dinner.

So, it's back to readers until I feel like coughing up another $350.

Grr.

 

A fun sweater I picked up at Savers on a 50% off day & my black booties.

 

Thrift sweater, fleece-lined leggings (a gift from heaven...if you don't have a pair STOP right NOW and go get a pair! Seriously!  Go!  Now!), & my riding boots.

The cuff was a gift from a dear friend. 

 

BCBG Max Azria sweater from Marshalls.

The pom poms get caught on everything...EVERYTHING!

In doors, drawers, elevators....(don't ask)

The bracelet was a gift from McQuiston's sweet girlfriend, Hannah, for my birthday!

Does she know me or what???

 

Finally back to work...

Kicked it off with a boyfriend shirt from Old Navy.

They were on sale for $10!

 

And, last...

a great Daisy Fuentes blouse from Kohls, a thrift sweater, denim trousers, 

& this AWESOME statement necklace from...

WAIT FOR IT....

WALMART!

$10, friends.

I heart it.

So, if you are worried the statement necklace trend might go out & don't want to spend a lot of dough....go pick up a couple at Wally World for $10!  

So, there you have it...

I think we're all caught up!

If you want to play along with 

What I Wore Wednesday...

just send your pic & the details to 

justjilly@rocketmail.com.

I'll share your photo along with my outfits 

NEXT week!

Happy Wednesday, friends!

But, I don't wanna forgive...

I've been raised in church.

I feel like I have heard every sermon on forgiveness.

I've read books, blogs & articles in magazines.

I've downloaded pictures of little inspirational quotes on forgiveness,

printed them out, and washi-taped them to my wall.

"We hold onto pain because we want to control the punishment of those who've wounded us.  But what happens is that they end up controlling us."

Elisa Morgan

The Beauty of Broken 

(yes, this is hanging on the wall in my bathroom) 

But, here is the honest to God truth...

the thing that is holding me back...

is

THAT I DON'T WANNA FORGIVE THEM.

I don't.

Not at all.

Let Jesus forgive them.

I don't WANT to.

I'm still pissed 

(yes, I used the word pissed).

I'm still hurt.

I'm nursing the BIG gaping wound.

And, truth be told, 

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY 

don't 

like 

them.

I'm teetering on HATE here.

But, I am MUCH to MUCH of a 

CHRISTIAN 

for that.

(or am I?)

They're not really likable people.

They're selfish.

Thoughtless.

Rude.

Self-important.

Liars.

Adulterers. (yes, I went there)

And, 

UGH

loved by Jesus.

 

"Real forgiveness--whether of someone who has wounded us or of our our sins--comes from God.  God provides it.  He cracks open his very heart and carves forgiveness into existence through the death of His Son on a cross.  Then he welcomes us into the very center of his heart creation."

Elisa Morgan

The Beauty of Broken 

 And, I have done my human best to forgive even if I don't want to...

But, man...I feel like He is asking me to take it TOO far 

when He tells me to BLESS them.

Are you stinkin' serious, God?

Bless them.

I can barely say their name without wanting to spit.

And, you are asking me to pray blessings on them.

Awesome.

If I have read it once, I have read it a million times...

forgiveness is releasing my right to resentment.

I am reminded of Colossians 1 in The Message...

As you learn more and more how God works, your will learn how to do your work.  We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul--not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives.  It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into JOY, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

That is what I want, friends.

I don't want to forgive & bless them through gritted teeth.

But, through GLORY-STRENGTH.

I wanna rejoice when I hear that they've been loaded with blessings.

Not, stomp my feet & pout that life's not fair.

"Quit keeping score altogether and surrender yourself with all your sinfulness to God who sees neither the score nor the scorekeeper but only his child redeemed by Christ."

Thomas Merton

Colossians 3

So, chosen by God for this NEW (there's my #OLW) life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:  compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.  Be even-tempered, content with second-place, quick to forgive an offense.  Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.  And, regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It's you basic all-purpose garment.  Never be without it.   

 

 As I look back at that list of how awful those people are

I see a lot of me.

Okay, maybe not ALL of me.

But, a LOT of me.

Who am I to hold onto this unforgiveness

when I have been pulled out of the pit?

Psalm 103

He forgives your sins--every one.

He heals your diseases--every one.

He redeems you from hell--saves your life!

He crowns you with love & mercy--a paradise crown!

He wraps you in goodness--beauty eternal.

He renews your youth--you're always young in His presence!

He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, 

Nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.

As HIGH as the heaven is over the earth,

so strong is His love to those that fear Him.

And as far as sunrise is from sunset,

He has separated us from our sins.

As parents feel for their children,

God feels for those who fear Him.

He knows us inside & out,

Keeps in mind that we are made of mud.

 So, who's with me...

let's forgive those boogers, 

and

BLESS THEIR SOCKS OFF.

 

 

 

 

A Peace That Passes All Understanding....what does that mean?

You don't have to be around me for long before you learn of my deep appreciation of several authors.  Some of them are on repeat...kinda like my favorite songs on my iPod.  Years ago, I fell in love with Brennan Manning.  I felt like his words were written just for me.  I devoured his books & then promptly forgot what I had learned.  Grr.

So, this past year I have begun reading differently.  It is a SLOOOW process for a fast reader, but my system seems to be getting the words stuck in my heart & head.  The process is so simple that I am almost embarrassed that I didn't think of it & put it into practice before.

So, here it is...

I read one chapter in the book.  Underline the passages that really speak to me.  Make notes in the margin of the book.  (I rarely loan my favorite books.  If you ask to borrow one of my faves, I'll most likely go to Amazon & buy you a copy before I loan out my marked-up, dog-eared copy.  One, because I don't ever seem to get my books back.  And, two...because I want you to a have copy that YOU can mark up.  I'm totally cool with this.)

After one chapter, I write down the passages that I underlined & my thoughts from the margins into my journal.  I have found that any more than one chapter & I feel overwhelmed by what I have to transcribe.  

Something happens as I write down those words onto the pages of my journal...

it's as if the words dig down deep into my soul.  They begin to take root.  

Soon they begin to grow & flourish.   

I reference my journals ALL. THE. TIME.

I cut out pages of magazines & glue them in there as well.

I print inspirational quotes from the internet & tape them to the pages.

I stick yellow post-it notes everywhere on the pages because my journal wasn't handy when I read something I wanted to remember. 

I shared ALL this to say (and kudos if you are still around) that I have spent the past several days mediating on a passage from Abba's Child by Brennan Manning.

There are some things going on in my life.  I've eluded to them, but don't feel released to share them just yet.  The situation is heart-wrenching.  The future holds great uncertainty.  And, I'm scared, anxious, worried...the list goes on.

So, I took great comfort in my bud, Brennan's, words the other evening.

He shared that if we are in Christ; we are in His peace.

That the peace that passes ALL understanding is NOT subjective.

That peace is ours no matter if we feel it or not.

Somewhere in my human mind I had thought that someday I would "attain" that peace...once I was a "good" enough Christian, memorized enough scripture, told enough people about Jesus...the list, again, goes on.

 Philippians 4:7

 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

As I read it again, he is right. 

There aren't any caveats.

That PEACE is mine.

And, it will guard my broken heart & anxious mind.

Can a sista get an AMEN???

Today, I'm walking around with such an assurance of His peace.

So relieved that it isn't attained by anything I have to do except love Him.

Friends, if you're in it deep like me.

Grasp onto this truth.

Dig in deeper to Him.

Rest in the promise of His peace.

 (peace picture from google images)

One Little Word

I'm not a girl who jumps on the bandwagon.

I bought my first pair of "skinny" jeans this past year...

probably right when they are going out of style in California. (smile)

I drive a VW cc.

huh?

Yeah, not a Passat or Jetta like the rest of the free world.

I make my coffee at home. (gasp)

I still shop at Wal-Mart occasionally.

I don't Snap Chat.

I would consider watching The Bachelor a form of torture.

I went from blonde to brunette.

Are you getting the idea???

So, a few years ago...when the concept of 

ONE LITTLE WORD

came about in the blog world...

I rolled my eyes, shook my head, & said,

"Pluh-eez..."

But, last year it nagged...

And, I need something to grab onto...

so, I jumped onto the bandwagon.

In 2014, my ONE LITTLE WORD was

J.O.Y.

I grabbed hold of it & studied it & I endured one of the most difficult years of my life.

But, as I have reflected back on this past year...

I do truly feel JOY.

Not happiness.

But, JOY that is not dependent on external circumstances, but

JOY

that comes from

Jesus.  Others.  You.

So, this past December I was praying about my 

ONE LITTLE WORD for 2015.

And, I felt the the word 

NEW

drop

into 

my

head.

Isaiah 43:19 (MSG)

See, I am doing a NEW thing!  Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness & streams in the wasteland.

And, he gave me this song...

I Am New

Jason Gray

 

Now I won't deny
The worst you could say about me
But I'm not defined by mistakes that I've made
Because God says of me

I am not who I was
I'm being remade
I am new
I am chosen and holy and I'm dearly loved
I am new

Who I thought I was
And who I thought I had to be
I had to give them both up
Cause neither were willing
To ever believe

I am not who I was
I'm being remade
I am new
I am chosen and holy and I'm dearly loved
I am new
I am new

Too long have I lived in the shadow of shame
Believing that there was no way I could change
But the one who is making everything new
Doesn't see me the way that I do
He doesn't see me the way that I do

I am not who I was
I'm being remade
I am new
I am chosen and holy and I'm dearly loved
I am new
I am new

I am not who I was
I'm being remade
I am new
Dead to the old man, I'm coming alive
I am new
I am new

Forgiven, beloved
Hidden in Christ
Made in the image of the Giver of Life
Righteous and holy, reborn and remade
Accepted and worthy
This is our new name

This is who we are now...

And, I am excited for NEW in 2015.

Because out of this broken place, He is creating something new.

So, wanna jump on the bandwagon with me?

What's your 

ONE LITTLE WORD?