How I Fed My Family of 6 Tonight For Less Then $3

Tonight we had a delicious and nutritious dinner for less then $3 that fed 6! I want to share to inspire you that food doesn't have to always be so expensive if you plan ahead and grow some yourself. What was on the menu? Giant baked potatoes (grown in the garden from leftover organic sprouted potatoes from the grocery store), sour cream and cheese from Costco (I am guessing what we ate tonight of that is about $1.75 worth), topped with stir fried broccoli and tomatoes (both fresh from the garden) and black bean soup. The black bean soup is super easy and delicious and costs about $1.19 depending on where you buy a bag of dried black beans. I rinse them well and put them in the slow cooker and high in the late morning and check a few times to make sure there is plenty of water. I add a little oil, salt, and garlic powder. That's it! By dinner time the beans are soft, falling apart and delicious.  You can top the black bean soup with cheese too if desired. The approximate total out of pocket for this dinner was $2.94. I understand that food grown in the garden isn't completely free- but it is close!

Spider Webs: Making Invisible Traps Visible

I was watering my garden this morning. The sun was shining, the insects were buzzing and fluttering all around. It was so pretty out, but I kept hitting invisible snares: icky spider webs. This late in the summer the spiders are really coming out- they are everywhere! I got a big one crawling on my leg when I was mowing last evening- ick.. . . ! And the casualties are evident, mummified mason bees stuck in webs scattered about. As I hit another lead wire web between my shrubs and my rose buses and wondered what was attached to it; the Lord spoke to my heart. I sprayed all around me with the midst setting of my hose, and suddenly what was invisible, or barely discernible, became completely visible. The water outlined the webs so brightly in the sun.

"to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. . . ." Ephesians 5:26

"But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." John 4:14

This short but meaningful experience was a reminder that if we stay close to Jesus, letting him wash us with the water of His Word, and drinking the fresh Water of communion with Him, He will highlight the traps in our path. What was invisible becomes visible and we can avoid traps that would ensnare us and lead us in the wrong direction.

Unity in Jesus Christ

It's time for the body of Christ around the world, across denominations, to come together in unity! Lets put aside what doesn't matter and embrace what really matters. Jesus prayed this over His people: "I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." John 17:23 NLT
What really matters?
"Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12



"For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." Romans 10:13

Photography Competition Exposure 2015

I entered Exposure 2015, an international photo competition. It is really exciting because if I get 100 comments and 100 votes I get to be a part of a digital show at the Louvre!  A dream come true! Please visit the site and leave a comment to help me out (I'm almost there! I have enough votes, but not enough comments yet)

https://chelseacarbonell.see.me/exposure2015

Mind be Renewed!

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 NIV

Science is confirming what the Bible teaches us. Negative thoughts hurt our mind. I painted this painting thinking of trees and ocean, life, and thoughts. God showed me, and many other people who have viewed it that it represents our thoughts being renewed in His glory and presence. The tree-like design are the dendrites in our brains that grow or shrink depending on our choices and environment. When we have positive thoughts our dendrites can look like healthy lush trees.

"They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." Psalms 1:3 NLT

When we have negative thoughts like hatred, unforgiveness, ungratefulness, etc. . The dendrites in our brain can wither and look like dead trees.  We need Christ's presences day to day to renew our minds and bring life, creativity, and joy! Be filled with joy and peace as you seek the Lord and His creativity and life abundant.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 ESV

See the painting and some of my other artwork here.