Heaven's Table

For Life, For Love, For Leisure.

“… I absolutely love to cook! When my body is able to physically handle it, you can then find me in the kitchen, cooking dishes that are my take on what I grew up with, trying out new found recipes…”

Cooking for most people is just a necessity of life, a way to feed yourself and to make sure that you don’t perish alone in your apartment from starvation or malnourishment. For others it’s a way to connect to the people around them. The example of a Sunday dinner is fitting to this vein of cooking, because people in a family come together and put their best foot forward when cooking for others. And, if done right, you can taste the love in every bite (unless you’re eating your auntie’s famous green beans, and she’s notorious for using too much salt!). However, oddly enough, cooking is a form of leisure, a way to disconnect from the stressful grind of everyday living. Now, it may not seem to be all that relaxing, with the chopping and measuring, the onions and the bacon grease spatters that always hit you on your skin and not on any clothed or protected part of your body, but trust me when I say that it is relaxing!

These are the reasons why I cook. I don’t have the story of most (home) chefs and caterers, who cooked alongside their parents or grandparents. I didn’t grow up in the kitchen at all, but I was fortunate to grow up around great cooks. And anytime I tried to assist my Mom in the kitchen she would always tell me no and that she had everything under control. So, I didn’t start cooking until I moved into my first apartment when I was about 23 or 24. I started out by cooking dishes that were familiar to me, and I would often ask my Mom for the recipes, to which she would always say, “Girl I don’t know! I don’t use recipes!” She may give me an approximate of this ingredient or that, but the rest was up to me. Eventually I got into a groove, going off of the tastes that I was familiar with, mixed with the approximations of Mom and reading recipes that I would find online when I had access to a computer. From there I started to create my own versions of these foods. And thus, I learned how to cook.

At first I just cooked for myself. Eventually a friend or two would randomly stop by during a meal time and I would offer to them some of what I cooked. If they liked it, they told other mutual friends. After a while I was being asked to cook at impromptu gatherings and holidays, all with the promise to “help out” by the people who would only help me by cheering me on from the living room while I put on an apron and work like Geoffrey or Benson, or Mr. Belvedere! I complained, but only jokingly. The truth was that I loved the fact that people enjoyed my cooking more than I disliked being promised assistance by those who were just giving lip service.

Now, at this point in my life, I absolutely love to cook! When my body is able to physically handle it, you can then find me in the kitchen, cooking dishes that are my take on what I grew up with, trying out new found recipes, and creating my own concoctions and trying them out on my loved ones (Yeah, that’s right! Y’all were eating experimental foods and you didn’t even know it because it was so good!) Food is a way to feed myself and others nutritious and delicious dishes that are beneficial to the body. It is also a love language for me. So, if I’ve ever offered to cook for you it’s because you are special to me.

Finally, cooking is relaxing to me. There’s nothing better than tuning out the world while I chop and sauté, and then cap my relaxation off with a plate of Spaghetti Carbonara and a crusty piece of bread with a personally blended compound butter (my absolute favorite go-to pasta dishes when cooking for myself).

On this blog, there will be posts about food and related topics. Tips, hints, stories behind a dish, and even the occasional recipe will be posted. Prayerfully this will inspire you to get into the kitchen and cook something amazing! So, until then…

Be Blessed (and stay tuned) in Jesus’ Name!

Smooches!

#GODconfidence

“THE most important accessory I put on is a healthy dose of confidence….
#GODconfidence!”

I absolutely love fashion! I’m not one who subscribes to just any new trend, as some of them are absolutely RIDICULOUS (for example, the squiggly eyebrows….UGH!!!) Even regarding clothing and what’s considered “in season,” I don’t always follow that which is laid out for the next few months. I think that I have my own personal style, and that has been cultivated over the years. There are times when I may have the opportunity to go shopping, but I often times do not wear every purchased article of clothing in the same season. In fact, my favorite thing to do is to match a skirt from 3 or 4 seasons ago, for example, with a top that may be more recent, and then add some new jewelry and cute yet comfortable shoes to the outfit. Then, I look in the mirror, then…. BAM! This big girl is ready to head out into the world, head high and shoulders back!

All of this may be all well and good, but it’s not the most important thing I put on before stepping out. THE most important accessory I put on is a healthy dose of confidence….

#GODconfidence!

So, let’s look at where some of our confidence comes from.

People say that self-confidence is key, and it very much is a vital part of a healthy outlook in any and every area of our lives. But, let’s keep it real: when we know that we are loved inside and out, no matter what we are wearing or how we look, this gives us a big boost. The person or people who love us are instrumental in helping us to see beyond our stretch marks, skin blotches, big bellies, cellulite, thin limbs and hair that doesn’t look like it’s been professionally styled by the people who style J-Lo’s hair in the L’Oréal commercials! They embrace our imperfections and become our biggest cheerleaders. All of this helps us to see ourselves in a more flattering light.

At this point in my life I find myself trying out hairstyles, colors, and wearing styles and patterns that I wouldn’t dare to even think about wearing in times past. Polka dots? Blonde hair? Vintage style swing dresses? Tutus? All white dresses or outfits? Never did I see myself wearing such things! However, when GOD helped me to be comfortable with who I am in Him, this confidence spilled over into every area of my life, including my clothes. You see, when you’re comfortable with who you are, you can be comfortable in the skin you’re in (and the clothes that cover it!) I’m not the woman to dress to impress anyone. I just simply love me, because GOD loves me!

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that we should never wait on anyone to validate us, regarding looks, talent, value, or anything that makes us who we are. GOD validates me. That’s enough for me. If you are comfortable in what you are wearing, and if you an breathe without popping a button and potentially hitting someone in the temple and killing them, then strut your stuff! Be you in Christ!

Be blessed (and sure) in Jesus’ Name!

Smooches!

Topic of Faith: “Saved and/or Holy???”

“…to live holy before the LORD is indeed His plan for all who would come to Him, and that the key is to strive daily to live as such, with the help and strength of the LORD to do so. Here’s the bottom line: HOLINESS IS STILL RIGHT!!!!!!!!!”

Looking at today’s modern day 21^st century Christian, there has become a very noticeable difference between people who profess to be Christians and those on whom you can see (and often times feel) the presence and push of and for holiness. For some odd reason, the two are not the same. Why is that?

To be Saved means that a person has come to the Messiah, Jesus, because they believe in Him as the LORD and Savior of the World. They come to Him humbly to confess their sins to Him, ask Him to forgive and wash them clean with His precious shed blood (acknowledging the fact that He died for our sins so that we would not have to), and then invite Him to live within their heart to be their personal LORD and Savior. To be Holy is, in a way, a believer reenacting this daily. They also look for ways to put away old habits or anything (or anyone) that would divert their attention away from Him as their Father and LORD. It also means that the person has made their life all about GOD and His will, set aside for His agenda in the earth, and they are able to do so while still enjoying life. They are in the world and yet not of the world (John 15:18-19, 17:16). The notion in settling in one of the two can be summed up and seen in these two statements: 1) Once saved, always saved (which is an erroneous teaching); 2) Be ye Holy, for I (your GOD) AM Holy (which is what He wants from all of us)! The second comes with a knowledge that we must repent daily for our sins (sometimes even throughout the entire day) and make a conscious effort to make the LORD Jesus the center of our lives. The reason: if we don’t, then we are prone to walk according to the desires of the flesh (our minds, personal opinions, and desires).

For years, I have heard people who claim to be holy condemn others for their undelivered ways (habits and tendencies that the Bible specifically forbids or warns us against). I have also heard some of those who say that they are Christian (saved) tell a person who strives to walk in holiness before GOD that “it doesn’t take all of that,” basically saying that the person of holiness is overthinking or being too zealous in their salvation. Although both comments and condemning statements are heard way too often, I am so very thankful that there is a portion of the Body of Christ who do not condemn in one way or the other. They have learned that to live holy before the LORD is indeed His plan for all who would come to Him, and that the key is to strive daily to live as such, with the help and strength of the LORD to do so.

Here’s the bottom line: HOLINESS IS STILL RIGHT!!!!!!!!!

What has happened to us as the Body that we no longer strive to put away old habits and carnal appetites? Why have we settled for the blessing of one scripture that says that if we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is LORD, then you shall be saved (Romans 10:9), and not bother to read the rest of the Book to see all of the treasures and blessings that GOD has in store for those who would push for and strive daily to live a life of holiness for Him? The Bible says, “Be holy for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).” When did that become antiquated? Or, have we as people changed the very definition of holiness to suit our flesh and not our spiritual health? In today’s modern ideology, there is an erred belief that the rules change as the world changes. For example, the commandments and the laws found in Genesis through Deuteronomy are sometimes thought of as old, or for Biblical times, and sometimes even allegorical (in fact they see the entire Bible as such). But, this is just an excerpt from the same Book that says that these are ordinances for and through “all of your generations (Exodus 12:14 is just one example),” and that Jesus the Messiah is the Word of GOD (made flesh; John 1:14), and that He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).” Nowhere in any of the 66 books do we see GOD speak (through the writers) that there will come a day when you don’t have to obey His commands, and that you can make your own rules according to seasons, times and flesh. So, what has happened? Are we as His proclaimed people no longer willing to read the Bible in order to gain the necessary strength to live a life that is holy?

May GOD forbid it, and may He open our eyes in this season, for this generation!

This is just something to think about. Are you satisfied with Saved, or are you striving to live Holy?

We’ll talk more about this at a later date. Until then…

Be blessed (and aware of your purpose and proper place in GOD) in Jesus’ Name!

Smooches!

Welcome To The Table!

Greetings! Thank you for taking a moment to visit my blog! It is my prayer that anytime you come to read a post, that you (and all that you would share this information with) will be blessed, uplifted, encouraged, and inspired to live an unapologetic Christ-centered life.

This blog will cover topics such as faith, food and fashion, and any topic that may be related. The purpose for this site is to simply bring an encouraging perspective to these areas in our lives. I have met countless women and men who have had questions or misnotions about one or all of these headings. My hope is that I may shed some light, enough to have people in a better informed place to make quality decisions for themselves. In the same way I must pray before giving out any information, or posting anything to this site, you must do the same thing after reading the posts on this blog, and allow GOD to guide you into all manner of truth. It is more than likely that what I;m able to give on this post will only be a part of what you need. GOD must be allowed to do the rest.

Consider this blog as the table that GOD our Heavenly Father daily sets for His children. When we think of someone setting a table, we automatically think of a table being set for a meal, complete with silverware, maybe even the fancy table settings, capped with our favorite foods. But, one thing about gathering around a table as a unit is the fact that the gathering is about more than just food (even if the food is dynamite!). What makes the table gathering special is the fellowship and the exchange of love and information that often comes even before the last dish of food is placed on the table before us. In the Bible we see several appointed times of feasting that the LORD calls us to, specifically to sit around the “table” with His children to inform them, feed them, and bless them. This table, a small extension of GOD’s table, will do just that.

So, with that being said, come on in, pull up a chair, and let’s talk, share, and feast!

Thank you for visiting Heaven’s Table!

Be blessed in Jesus’ Name!