Ingredients

  1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
  2 cloves garlic, minced
  3/4 teaspoon sea salt, plus more as needed
  3 cups homemade or no-salt-added vegetable broth
  Two 14.5-ounce cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes, plus their juices
  1 1/2 tablespoons peeled, minced fresh ginger root (from a 3-inch piece)
  1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  1 1/4 pounds orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1-inch chunks (4 cups)
  8 ounces broccoli florets, chopped (3 cups)
  4 ounces (1 large bunch) Swiss chard, stalks removed, leaves cut into ribbons (4 cups)
  1/3 cup almond butter
  1/2 cup loosely packed chopped cilantro, plus small sprigs for optional garnish
  Flesh of 1 medium avocado, cut into thin slices, for garnish
  1/2 cup sliced raw almonds, for garnish

Directions:

Pour the oil into a large pot over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt; cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft, 5 minutes.

Stir in the broth, tomatoes and their juices, the ginger, crushed red pepper flakes and sweet potatoes. Increase the heat to high; once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, so the liquid is bubbling gently. Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cook the stew, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are just fork-tender, about 15 minutes.

Add the broccoli; cook for 5 minutes, then stir in the chard and almond butter. Cook just until the chard is wilted, 5 minutes. The stew should be creamy. Stir in the chopped cilantro, then taste and add more salt, as needed.

To serve, divide among bowls. Top with avocado slices, almonds and cilantro sprigs, if desired.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings
(makes 9 cups)

Nutrition

Per serving (based on 8 Servings):

190 calories,
6 g protein,
28 g carbohydrates,
8 g fat,
1 g saturated fat,
0 mg cholesterol,
300 mg sodium,
5 g dietary fiber,
10 g sugar

Adapted from "The Perfect Blend," by Tess Masters (Ten Speed Press, 2016) By Joe Yonan.

By Joy & Gary Lundberg

It appears nowadays that too many parents are afraid of their kids. Some are hesitant to teach moral values with the strength that is required if they're going to stick. Do you fear your kids won't like you if you come on strong? We maintain that they will like you far less if you don't teach with a solid conviction of what is right and wrong.

A former college president, concerned over the unpreparedness of too many students, advised parents to not be afraid to say no when needed. Letting your children know that there are some things that members of your family simply do not do is vital.

It has been rightly said that parenting is not a popularity contest. Parents must have the courage to teach in a way that children will know exactly what is expected of them, and why it's so important.

To effectively teach family values to your children takes some planning. First of all, you and your spouse need to discuss and decide what your values are. What do you stand for? You must have your own convictions firmly in mind if you intend for them to be planted firmly in the minds of your children.

Once you have established these values, and both of you support them, you can move forward in teaching them to your children. If you are a single parent, move forward on your own. A strong and loving parent can make all the difference.

Teaching can be done in many ways. Here are a few suggestions

1. Be specific

If you think a comment like, "Now, be a good girl," is enough you are sadly mistaken. They need to know what being good means-in very specific terms. That's when the real teaching begins. If you want your child to be honest, make that point perfectly clear with a statement like, "We don't cheat on tests. No matter what anyone else does, we don't cheat. We study hard and do our best, but we never cheat."

Then teach why that's a pathway to failure in life. No one wants to hire a cheater. No one wants to marry a cheater. Jails are full of cheating, dishonest people. Give examples in your own life when you or someone you know learned the value of being honest.

2. Teach the "why" behind the rule

There is always a good reason why parents have certain standards. If children understand why this rule is important they are more likely to abide by it. If, for instance, you're teaching about the dangers of under-age drinking, have an article handy-one that tells of a teenager involved in an accident while under the influence of alcohol. Let them see the tragic results.

You may also find it helpful to show them this quick list of "Tips for Teens: The Truth About Alcohol". Arm them with facts. For a humorous nudge that shows parents responding to a drinking situation watch "Don't Be a Bobblehead Parent."

3. Be kind and understanding in your teaching

For example, let's say you have decided the proper age for dating is sixteen. According to psychologist Leslie Beth Wish, "Sixteen-and even a bit older- is a good age for dating, provided that the teen is mature." Start teaching this family rule before your child becomes a teenager. Let it get implanted firmly in their minds before the desire to date comes along. Even so, your daughter still may say, "But Suzie gets to date now, and she's only fourteen. Why can't I?"

Be understanding and firm. Simply say, "I know that sounds fun, nevertheless the dating age in our family is sixteen." Then encourage her to have a party with a few friends, boys and girls, closely chaperoned by you or another parent with your same values, where no dating is involved. Make sure you approve of the party plans. Help make it fun.

4. Show examples of people making wise choices regarding moral values

The famed singer Adele stands out as one who embraces modesty in dress and behavior. Her fame in the music world is unprecedented. "Her trademark dress of a long-sleeved black dress with a lacey overlay is almost startling in this era where most female singers strut onstage in tight and degradingly revealing outfits. Nor does she prance or dance when she sings. 'I don't make music for eyes, I make music for ears,' she has said."

Do a little searching and find other examples of people you admire with values you hold dear. Share them with your kids.

5. Listen to your kids

Parents can teach best when you are listening to the concerns of your children. When they are sharing about a mistake they may have made, don't look shocked and horrified. Ask how they feel and what they will do next time. After all, there is nothing like a little experience to help a kid learn a lesson the hard way.

Lastly, enjoy living your values. Have fun as a family doing things that promote healthy, moral behavior. Let them see that being good is the happiest way to live. That's the kind of love kids desperately need today.

by Charles R. Swindoll

Life is difficult. That blunt, three-word statement is an accurate appraisal of our existence on this earth. When the writer of the biblical book named Job picked up his stylus to write his story, he could have begun with a similar-sounding and equally blunt sentence, "Life is unfair."

No one could argue the point that life is punctuated with hardship, heartaches, and headaches. Most of us have learned to face the reality that life is difficult. But unfair? Something kicks in, deep within most of us, making it almost intolerable for us to accept and cope with what's unfair. Our drive for justice overrides our patience with pain.

Life is not just difficult, it's downright unfair. Welcome to Job's world.

Job was a man of unparalleled and genuine piety. He was also a man of well-deserved prosperity. He was a godly gentleman, extremely wealthy, a fine husband, and a faithful father. In a quick and brutal sweep of back-to-back calamities, Job was reduced to a twisted mass of brokenness and grief. The extraordinary accumulation of disasters that hit him would have been enough to finish off any one of us today.

Job is left bankrupt, homeless, helpless, and childless. He's left standing beside the ten fresh graves of his now-dead children in a windswept valley. His wife is heaving deep sobs of grief as she kneels beside him, having just heard him say, "Whether our God gives to us or takes everything from us, we will follow Him." She leans over and secretly whispers, "Why don't you just curse God and die?"

His misery turns to mystery with God's silence. If the words of his so-called friends are hard to hear, the silence of God becomes downright intolerable. Not until the thirty-eighth chapter of the book does God finally break the silence, however long that took. Even if it were just a few months, try to imagine. You've become the object of your alleged friends' accusations, and the heavens are brass as you plead for answers from the Almighty, who remains mysteriously mute. Nothing comes to you by way of comfort. It's all so unfair; you've done nothing to deserve such anguish.

Pause and ponder their grief--and remember that Job had done nothing to deserve such unbearable pain. If it had been you, how would you have responded?

Oh Jesus, You are my God!
You are my Lord !
You are my Love !
You are my Master!
You are my Saviour!
You are my strength!

Oh Jesus, You are my Hope!
You are my Passion!
You are my Redeemer !
You are my Faith !
You are my Light!
You are my Path !

Oh Jesus, You are my Truth!
You are my Life!
You are Immanuel!
You are my Wisdom!
You are my Motivation!

Oh Jesus, You are my Joy!
You are my Happiness!
You are my Dream!
You are my Mission!
You are my Answer!

Oh Jesus, You are my All!
Oh Jesus, I love you from my Heart!
Oh Jesus, I praise You from my Heart!

by Dr. Judy Williamson

Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not. - Robert Kennedy

Good movies help you create mental imagery that can aid in the visualization of your own dreams. One of the movies that has impact for myself and others is The Field of Dreams. No matter how often I watch clips from this movie, I am inspired to listen to my inner guidance and pay attention to that still, small voice within that often speaks softer than a whisper. When we stop and listen attentively seeking insight, we might think others hear what we hear too. We may even ask, “Did you hear that?” What we really mean to ask others is if they can perceive the beauty of our dreams. By placing ourselves in the moment, we can literally catch our dreams and pull them closer and closer to earth (reality) for manifestation.

One of our Certified Instructors, Loretta Levin, believes in the beauty of her dreams. Recently, she decided to go on a field trip with her family to visit the actual Field of Dreams filming location in Iowa. With her camera in hand, she captured moments that relate to her own future dreams and their fulfillment. One video that she shared with me was that of rows and rows of new growth corn softly swaying in the breeze. She said that to her the breeze was like divine inspiration gently inspiring the corn to grow and produce, to take action towards its own fulfillment. Loretta then mentioned that God demands action from us towards our goals too. It is not a simple wait and see process. The corn has a purpose that it has to fulfill and so do we.

Loretta does many things to bring her goals to fulfillment. Some of these things include reciting affirmations, journaling, goal setting, placing herself physically in places that motivate and inspire her, reading, practicing healthy living, and caring for both her body and soul. One of her favorite sayings is: “The Party is in the Palace!” I like this location because it reminds us to think BIG! When that idea of greatness, splendor, and majesty is seen in our mind’s eye, it is only a matter of time before it is manifested in our lives.

You can do these things too. By taking time to catch your dreams before they reach fulfillment you are taking part in the process of creation. It has been said that we are God’s hands and feet. What that means is, the Creator uses each and every one of us in the evolution of the Universe. Be as ready to receive as Loretta is. Begin by envisioning your role. Next, proceed directly to create the intended outcome by discovering and harvesting your own field of dreams.

Be Your Very Best Always,