Good Eats

It's already time for the 2010 office Christmas party!
 

We all filled our stomachs with some really good sushi at:

Miraku Japanese Restaurant

1121 Bethlehem Pike, #80, Spring House, PA 19477

(215) 643-0100 

Quotable Quotes

I started reading a new book a few days ago and honestly if I could quote every other sentence, I would, it's that good. Allow me to share one sentence that struck a chord with me:

The very thing we are afraid of, our brokenness, is the door to our Father's heart.  -  Paul Miller, A Praying Life

Quotable Quotes

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.  ~ Les Brown

Good Eats

I haven't done a Good Eats post in awhile.....so I'm gonna attempt to remember some of the good places I've dined at over the past couple months ....I just love sharing good food with y'all =)

I had my birthday dinner here, and everything (and I mean everything) was good!

"The menu is a seamless blend of Mediterranean and Latin influenced small and large plates of seasonal specialties."

Valanni * 1229 Spruce Street * Philadelphia, PA 19107
            215.790.9494 * http://www.valanni.com/

"The emphasis is on great tasting food and beverages crafted from local, organic, and artisanal producers."


FARMiCiA Restaurant
15 S. 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.627.6274
http://www.farmiciarestaurant.com/

This restaurant wasn't at all what I expected it to be when I walked in, but it ended up being a really low-key place to chill with some good pizza and sandwiches.

NOCHE
1901 CHESTNUT STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103
PHONE: 215.568.0551
http://www.noche215.com/

Vintage Bar and Bistro

129 S. 13th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107

215.922.3095

http://www.vintage-philadelphia.com/index.html

A few of us came here for a wine tasting class, but we were more impressed and blown away by how good the food was . . .

"Vintage focuses on wine and the food that it complements. We offer over 60 wines by the glass and another twenty or so by the bottle. Our wines represent regions, countries and varietals from around the world chosen for their taste and character."

And finally I'll end with something sweet...

I was in NYC for a weekend taking some classes and right across from Bryant Park was the Crumbs Bakery . . . just awesomely delicious cupcake concoctions :)

Crumbs Bake Shop
Bryant Park
43 West 42nd St (5/6th Ave)
http://www.crumbs.com/

A Time for Everything

We're coming up on the last month of 2010, and looking back, this year has been filled with a lot of good things and a lot of difficult situations I could not have imagined. But as I start to end this year, I find myself back to a state of neutrality.  Despite the past year's many ups and downs, I feel like God has kept me mentally and emotionally grounded, something I'm extremely grateful for.

If you take a look back at your own life, it's amazing to see everything you experience as a human being living on this earth....there's the good, the bad, and the ugly.  We have seasons in our life and I've noticed amongst my friends and my family, some are experiencing great joy, and some experiencing personal struggle.  Whether you find yourself in a season of happiness or a season of sorrow, it's important to remember it is just that....a season, a temporary circumstance that will change whether it be good or bad. Though seasons change, one thing remains the same:

. . .we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.   Romans 8:28

I find such hope and joy in that! Do you? God knew everything I would experience before I was even conceived. Of course I'm human, and I question His timing and why He allows certain things, but there's hope in knowing that God's timing is perfect, that I can't come up with a better plan for my life than He already has. 

So no matter what season you're currently in, remind yourself that God is in control....and as is it is written in Scripture, there is a time for everything:

A Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

JJ Heller - What Love Really Means

Reminders...

I was looking through some of my old journaling this past week and I came across a devotional that I had read about a year ago today.  It was very pertinent to things going on in my life at the time.  More recently, I shared it with two friends as an encouragement for things they are dealing with in their own lives, but re-reading this just reminded me that I need to align my thoughts with these truths again....

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you.
-Psalms 71:5-6

When the psalmist asked God to be a refuge and rescuer in Psalm 71, he boldly proclaimed his dependence on the Sovereign Lord. When we feel weak-kneed and lack confidence, we are most open to relying on God. The Bible gives us affirmation after affirmation of God's strength in the face of our limited ability: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Nothing silences the voice of timidity as powerfully as the voice of Scripture. If you find yourself in a new situation today, make sure you don't rely on your own limited talents or skills, but that you place your unshakable confidence in the limitless God.

Timeless . . .

I heard this song today in the grocery store of all places and it just brought me back. It had come out my freshman year of high school and definitely had made an impact on me at the time.  Doing a little research on the song, I found out that the songwriter, Martin Page, wrote this in the midst of a "spiritual journey."  Although I can't say we're on the same journey, the song does make me think about my particular journey, about the ups and downs and everything in between....I guess that's what makes it timeless.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

Sometimes I look for guidance in all the wrong places.  It's crazy how much I rely on me, myself, and I to get me through difficult situations and circumstances.  I forget that there's an amazing power freely given to me to overcome any sin and any worry. 

I read this post from James MacDonald yesterday morning and am reminded of this power that is freely given to us.

"Every good thing God wants to shower on your life comes through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit.

Everything.

The fruit of the Spirit, understanding of God's Word, love of worship, strength in a trial, grace to forgive, compassion for the lost, comfort in heartache, boldness in witnessing, power in ministry; all of this is yours when you live the Christian life in the Spirit's power."

                                                      - James MacDonald

Amen to that! The key word I often fail to understand here is "everything".  The Holy Spirit can guide me in everything.  It's a wonder why I make things so difficult and continue to use my own devices when the Lord asks us, even implores us, to trust in the Holy Spirit.

Worry . . .

something I've been doing in overtime lately....the following are some thoughts on the subject from a article I recently read...

"Do you know what the greatest help has been for me when it comes to anxiety? It is this truth: "Worry is sin". When we are anxious it shows that we really don't trust God. It means that either I believe God is not capable or that God does not care. Neither is true. So when I realize that I am beginning to be filled with anxiety I ask myself an important question, "Do I trust God, or don't I?"
-Rev. Bruce Goettsche

Quotable Quotes

"Wrong believing brings fear. Right believing brings faith."

More than words . . .

Since getting my new car and getting an initial free subscription to XM radio....I am now thoroughly hooked to satellite, something I swore I wouldn't do and had vowed to myself I would cancel once my free subscription was up....no willpower I tell you, none whatsoever.

So part of the reason I'm hooked is because I'm listening to two particular stations that are strictly dedicated to the 80's and 90's. And without fail, I frequently get nostalgic emotions from songs that were part of my youth.  I feel like I can remember exactly what I was thinking 15 to 20 years ago when I hear these songs.  At least for me, it's a strange bizarre giddy feeling when I remember things from my childhood and teenage years.  This one came up today on my drive back from work...tell me it's not the most perfect song for a beautiful summer evening...

Quotable Quotes

"If you look for truth,
you may find comfort in the end;
if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth
only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin,
and in the end, despair."

- C. S. Lewis

Good Eats - RAW

For dinner last night, great sushi with a great ambiance at......

1225 RAW SUSHI & SAKE LOUNGE

1225 Sansom Street

 Philadelphia / 215.238.1903

http://www.rawlounge.net/index.html

A comedy sketch on ....well....eye doctors

And yes, I've probably thought everything that he said the doctor was saying during his eye exam.

Quotable Quotes

Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.

 - C. S. Lewis

Identity Crisis

In bible study tonight, we were discussing how we see ourselves and our identity, in view of God's holiness.  And the question was asked, "What do you think is the look on God's face when he thinks of you right now?"

I was the first to answer, and I answered with my honest gut reaction, I said "disgust."

I see God's heavenly face filled with disgust. Disgust at dealing with the same sins, disgust at my lack of faithfulness, disgust at my lack of trust, disgust at everyday struggles, disgust with my hypocrisy, and so on and so forth.

And then I read this: "If you imagined God as anything but overjoyed with you, you have fallen into a performance mindset.  Because the gospel truth is: In Christ, God is deeply satisfied with you."

God, satisfied with me?? Not only satisfied, but overjoyed??
Ha, yeah right!  I can understand it intellectually, but I can't grasp it emotionally.

This is obviously an important component of my faith that I have yet to properly understand.  I always imagine that if I were "better", he would love me more, approve of me more, be more merciful towards me.  I know....it sounds juvenile, but when I break it down, that's how I'm living my life.

And in all honesty, living this way is just draining, physically and mentally draining...it "saps the joy and delight out of following Jesus."

I've become acutely aware today of the fact that I need to recognize my freedom and feel that joy that can only come in Christ. To be ever joyful that He has already made me His daughter, that He has already clothed me in righteousness, and that the work is already done!

Good Eats

So I've been severely neglecting posting much these days but I want to get back into it.....so why not start back up with food  :)

There's been some good places I've been to in the past couple weeks....from my first real taste of filet mignon at a high end steakhouse down to getting some cheesesteaks at a classic Philly favorite.

Really good filet mignon and lobster at ....

Davio's

Northern Italian Steakhouse

111 South 17th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 563-4810

http://www.davios.com/

   

" ... few have delivered delicious specialties with the consistency I experienced at Davio's" wrote Craig LaBan of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Davio’s is a stylish, up-scale northern Italian steakhouse located on the second floor in the historic Provident Bank Building just off fashionable Rittenhouse Row. Come enjoy a prime steak or our cutting-edge northern Italian cuisine. We also feature an award-winning wine list.

Can't go wrong with some sinfully delicious chocolate desserts here...

Naked Chocolate Cafe

1317 Walnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

 

http://www.nakedchocolatecafe.com/

 

Gourmet burgers at Bobby Flay's new Philly venture (and yeah, it's considered normal to spend about $20 for a burger, fries, and a milkshake here :)

 

 West Philly

3925 Walnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Tel: 215.387.0378

Fax: 215.387.0401

http://www.bobbysburgerpalace.com/

And last but not least, a philly classic: the cheesesteak...

Geno's Steaks

1219 S. 9th St.

Philadelphia, PA 19147

http://www.genosteaks.com/

Ramblings

Tomorrow's the 10 mile Broad Street Run,
And I feel like a student,
The night before a major exam,
Knowing I haven't studied/trained as much as I need to....
And now I'm desperately praying that by some small miracle,
God will give me the necessary smarts/strength to pull through.
That's what I'm hoping for.
What will actually happen?
I'm afraid He may decide to teach me a lesson,
One that I would rightfully deserve.
It's funny how I put my inadequacies and lack of work and diligence,
All on God's shoulders at the last minute,
As if He is supposed to make everything better.
And if by some small miracle I did well,
That would of course be due to my own talents.
Backwards thinking,
I do that to Him a lot.
Anyway,
Ready or not,
Race day is coming tomorrow...
Yikes!

Dulac Mission Trip

So this past week, my best friend and I were able to join some other people from around the country to do some rebuilding work in New Orleans. We were in an area about an hour south of New Orleans called Dulac which is mostly resident to a tribe of Houma Indians. Most of the homes and buildings there were severely damaged due to Katrina, but also due to the high incidence of flooding that occurs on a regular basis.

The whole trip was truly a great experience. Our day would begin at 7 am cooking breakfast, doing the dishes, working on the community center for 4 hours, coming back and making lunch, work for another 4 hours, shower, make dinner, and then hang out playing 28 or spoons till 2 in the morning (these games were intense =P). It was a blessing to experience the teamwork and camaraderie amongst us initial strangers displayed on practically every level.

Much to my surprise, I also loved the feeling of getting my hands dirty doing some hard core manual labor! We were putting up drywall, spackling, sanding, painting, etc. and at the end of the day we were covered in mud, paint, dirt, and sweat.....and it all felt very good. There was something very satisfying in the exhaustion we felt at the end of the day. Everyone who came was there to work and work we did.  In the end, it was really gratifying to see the tangible fruits of our labor.

I know what we did doesn't even make a dent into what needs to happen there, but the fellowship and friendships that were formed and what we learned of the Native Americans there, just made our world a little bit smaller in seeing the plight and hardships of other communities. I look at these projects, not so much as an opportunity to serve, but to observe how God works in other communities and to broaden my sometimes very narrow worldly perspectives.

I pasted the link below to an article written about our trip in their local newspaper....some of the facts in it are wrong but you'll get the gist of the mission that's run there =)

http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20100416/ARTICLES/100419562?p=1&tc=pg
Bond attracts Indian Americans to Dulac
HoumaToday.com

DULAC — A couple of times each year, a kindred group of volunteers visits Dulac to help rebuild the bayou community from hurricanes and flooding.