Fishes & Loaves

An Unique Shopping Experience

2009-10-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Come on over for some holiday shopping, Friday & Saturday November 14 - 15.
All of your favorite products under one roof!

(click on image to enlarge)

Preparation

2009-10-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

God has set me in an unique place at an unique time in history. Or at least it feels that way. I've been reflecting on what it means and how it works to be used by God for the Gospel here. I've come up with, from my own experience, the key steps.

First, we must come to God open not only to be moved where He wants us, but to desire and love what He would have us. We must come ready to empty ourselves of our own junk and be ready to be filled up with much more of Him. May what He has done for us truly overflow our cup.

Being filled up requires that we continuously put ourselves in position before God to hear Him (through His Word) and to talk with Him (in prayer).

We must then cover or clothe ourselves constantly not only to be on guard, but to be "found in him" when the time comes (Philippians 3:9). We are kept for Him to be servants on this earth and fellow heirs in heaven.

Following a plan of coming to God open, sitting before Him to be filled up, and allowing Him to cover and keep us, will help us on the path of being used by Him in our communities. Let us not give up, but press on and be His earthen vessels.

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Speaking of preparation:

The Pampered Chef Prep Bowls are ready to be used by you! Not only are they perfect for measuring out ingredients before you begin cooking, but they are great for storing small amounts of leftovers or making portion sized snacks. Fill 'em up and cover them over!

Prep Bowls come in a set of 6 with lids (1-cup capacity) or try the new 2- cup capacity set of 2.

Thanks for the Pizza!

2009-09-10T18:43:00.001-07:00

Daniel 6 tells the story of Daniel being thrown into a den of lions by decree of King Darius. The King had been convinced by some corrupt servants that he should issue an order that anyone who did not bow to worship and pray to him should be thrown into the pit. The Scriptures tell us that as soon as Daniel heard of the order he "went home to his upstairs room . . . Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before (vs 10). What I love about this story is how calm, cool, and collected Daniel appears throughout the entire process. His circumstances changed, but his contagious faith does not. He continues to do as he had always done because he knows the consequences of failing to worship God are far greater than anything man could do to him. Of course his friends upon facing the fiery furnace also responded in a similar way in chapter 3:

O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (vs 16-18).

Oh to have the faith to walk into the fiery and tough circumstances of this life believing God would rescue me! And even if there be no rescue in this world, to know something greater lies beyond. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17). When God shows up either way (and He will!) let us respond in praise and thanks, knowing all along He would do it!

"Thanks for the pizza!" - a quote from Larry the Cucumber playing Daniel in Where's God When I'm S-scared? Daniel came out of the den of lions thanking them for giving him a good time during his stay! Somehow I think this children's version adequately displays Daniel's relationship with God and attitude toward His inevitable rescue.

Hungry for pizza???

One pizza stone . . . $29.50
One family size pizza mix . . . $4
Extra toppings . . . $5
Family fun in the kitchen with a stone that can be used again . . . priceless

Save money and create memories with The Pampered Chef®

A bbq chicken pizza on the Large Round Stone with Handles

The Pizza Stone comes in two sizes and is now available with handles! Don't forget a pizza cutter! Both are available through our catalogs and online.

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September Stoneware & Bakeware Sale

*Have your friends over in September and receive 60% off 1-2 pieces of Stoneware or Metal Bakeware. Plus, your guests can choose from a selection of pieces for 20% off (no limit and no additional purchase required).

* Just want to browse the sale? E-mail me at pamperedbyemma@gmail.com and I will send you the list of both 60% off and 20% off pieces.

Mixed & Chopped

2009-08-21T11:44:00.001-07:00

Do you ever have days where it seems like you're facing what Jesus declared over Peter: that Satan has asked to sift him like wheat? (Luke 22:31) Wow, have I ever felt that! Not only has nothing gone "right" but I just feel squirmy inside. Very unsettled, emotional, even angry for no reason. It kind of feels like you're being mixed and chopped inside and out. How do we combat the thinking that leads to us saying things we wish we hadn't or acting in a way that really is contradictory to what we believe?

We mix and chop right back, with the Word of God. It sounds simple, but truly there is power when we open the Word. (But do we really believe that?) Scripture memorization is KEY to throwing off any authority but God's upon our lives. I'm currently working on Isaiah 66:1-2 and would challenge you to do the same this week. Build up your resources! Take up the "sword of the spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17)

Below is a physical reminder of the power of God's word applied to Satan's falsehoods: the Mix-N-Chop on a pound of hamburger! This is one of my favorite tools in the drawer of my kitchen. It really does chop up meat so quickly and it's dishwasher safe. The job gets done quickly and easily every time. Joseph also uses it as a way of mixing up frozen concentrate drinks. He's so clever! It's also one of the most popular products with my customers.

Before

After

The Mix-n-Chop from The Pampered Chef® is available through our catalogs and online.

Watching Him

2009-08-14T12:59:00.001-07:00

For those of you who know me, I love to cook. But simple things can be extremely difficult for me: sandwiches (with condiments I don't eat!) and drink mixes make me nervous. My husband has worked in different coffee shops in the past and so he is the ultimate drink maker at our house. I'm always requesting that he make me a pitcher of iced tea (decaf of course). One day this week, he turned to me and said "Do you really think you can't do it? You've seen me. You should try." So try I did. I realized that I could follow his procedure just because I've watched him do it so many times.

It got me to thinking about my life in Christ. Am I now able to do things because I've "watched" Him do those things? He has sent us all out with a commission to do greater things (John 14:12), but I'm not sure we ever try because we think we might fail. Well, my tea my not have been exactly like my husband's, but at least I know it won't kill me to try! I'll keep persevering and hopefully one of these days find myself to be an excellent tea maker.

The same goes for all believers. We read and study God's Word and come to him in prayer and worship - I think we'll eventually find that we're becoming like him. Able to show compassion and mercy; loving unconditionally; teaching boldly. The list goes on. Watch him and do as he does.

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My first iced tea making experience, the Joseph way:

I used the Bamboo Tongs from The Pampered Chef® to fish out my tea bag. It worked really well! The Bamboo Tongs are perfect for small jobs like that. We also use them for turning over meat and veggies on our George Foreman Grill. They fold up nicely in the utensil drawer.

My bamboo utensil collection from The Pampered Chef® (Bamboo Spatula Set, Bamboo Spoon Set; Bamboo Tongs, Small Bamboo Spoon Set)

Did you know that Bamboo is actually a grass, not a wood? And it's grows quickly enough to be harvested often so it's a renewable resource! It's the strongest grass in the world and that is how we can make spoons and spatulas with it. Bamboo will not absorb moisture and is virtually stainless. None of these will scratch cookware surfaces either. Each of these products is available through our catalogs and online.

Freely Give

2009-08-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog! Check back often for recipe ideas, things to do and not to do in the kitchen, cool new gadgets, and of course what I'm learning through it all.

For now:

Luke 9:10-17 What an astonishing sight the disciples must have had upon coming back together to see that each was holding a basket still filled with food, even after giving to nearly 10,000 people! Had they forgotten Jesus' words to them earlier: "freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8) Oh, that we would know we cannot run out of the things God gives us. Jesus took what little they had, blessed it, and it multiplied.

May you find blessing from these meditations from the kitchen.