Sodium-savvy living does not mean you have to eat bland foods. I certainly am not a gourmet cook, but I had to rethink my preparation of foods for my beloved and me. As you may remember, Mark was in the hospital for a week last year, and we had to switch to a low-sodium diet. Believe me, I have learned so much about sodium in foods and drinks. I call myself now the sodium-savvy lady. And I love to share what I have learned. So, here is the quick recipe of my Southwest Tuna Salad.

What you need:
2 cans of very low sodium tuna (StarKist), Green Onions, couple of Sweet Mini Peppers (by Wilson Produce), ¼ cup of No-Salt Sweet Corn, ¼ of Organic Black Beans (Fry’s/Kroeger Brand), Mango Tequila Jalapeno Sauce (by Earth & Vine), Extra Virgin Olive Oil (light – your favorite brand), Pepper (4-Corn Pepper Blend by Penzeys is my personal favorite), Red Chili Pepper Flakes, and Low Sodium Tortilla Chips (I get On-The-Border)

Preparation:
Drain the water of the tuna and flake it so you do not have big chunks. Chop the green onions, sweet peppers and add to the tuna. Rinse the corn and the organic black beans, add as well to tuna. In a small bowl, combine the Mango Tequila Jalapeno Sauce with the extra virgin olive oil. Use a ratio of two parts of the sauce and one part of the EVOO. Rub the Red Chili Pepper flakes in the palm of your hands to release the oils (don’t touch your eyes after this process – wash your hands first – trust me on this). Add the pepper flakes to your sauce/EVOO mixture. Pour the mixture over your tuna salad and mix well. Chill at least for 2 hours. Serve with your favorite kind of Tortilla Chips (check the sodium content on the back of the package)

The recipe is for two people and two lunches. You may need to adjust the quantity of tuna, and the rest of the ingredients. And from my experience: the salad tastes better the second day.

Honestly, you don’t know how much sodium we consume each day until you have to change your diet. If you want to reduce your sodium intake, please read the labels of the products you are buying. You will be surprised how much sodium is in the products we purchase every day.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to share more recipes in future.’

Love & peace,

Iris

Current Mood: Happy

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One my current favorite groups is “The Afters“. I first got ‘hooked’ on their song “Every Good Thing”. Last month “The Afters” released their new album called “Life is beautiful“. The title song of the new album reminds me of the things that are truly beautiful: a grateful heart!

I guess that is why love photography so much. You can capture truly beautiful moments and share them with others. On Sunday afternoon I created a very short (30 second) picture slideshow with Animoto from my Germany trip last year:

Yes, Germany is my ‘happy’ place, but life is beautiful anywhere God places me. He has given me the greatest gift anyone can have: His love for me.

Lord of mercy and grace. Thank You for the family and friends You have placed in my life. Thank You for the gift of photography; it helps me to remember the beautiful moments in my life. But the true beauty in my life is Your incredible love. Help me to remember that all the days of my life. Life is Beautiful! In the precious name of Jesus. Amen

Photo Copyright © Iris Nelson

Current Mood: Blessed †

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“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV)

This past weekend, I read the book of Esther. It is an interesting story of plots, secrets, drama and intrigue. After Vashti gets disposed by the King of Persia, Esther becomes the new queen. Esther has a secret though; she is one of the exiled Jewish people. Haman (a high official of King Xerxes) plots against the the Jewish people, because he has a run-in with Esther’s uncle, Mordecai. At the end all turn out well for Esther, Mordecai, and the Jewish people.

What baffled me most about the book of Esther is that God was not mentioned once. So, why is this book in the Bible, I am wondering. I really don’t have an answer, but maybe it shows that God places us in certain areas so that we can be faithful, no matter what?!? I don’t know.

But one thing I know for sure is that God has placed you and me where we can be best utilized by Him. I have shared more than once that I really do not enjoy Arizona. But I know in my heart that He has me here for such a time as this to serve Him. I just need to be open to Him so that He can use me wherever He needs me.

Lord of Mercy and Grace. You know my heart and You know that I would be rather somewhere else. But I also know that You are faithful and placed me here for such a time as this. May I follow You without resistance and keep close to You. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen

Photo Copyright © Iris Nelson

Current Mood: Blessed †

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Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)

Over the last couple of weeks I have shared on my blog and on FB about a book I am currently reading. It seems like the author, Holley Gerth, has been in my head. The book is very encouraging and I have been sharing about it with my friends. One of my biggest encourager of course is God and His Word.

I also have people in my life that have been on my photography journey for a long time. They have been encouraging me all these years, and I am finally having the courage to step out of my comfort zone. Now I am praying with great confidence (like I mean it about my business – ha); it is awesome. I know that God will guide me through the process and I can trust Him to see me through. Even when I encounter roadblocks, I will not get discouraged (not this time).

I know that many of you have been on their own journey of a God-sized dream. I have made it one of my priorities to encourage others on their journey. I know it can be a tough and scary journey, but take heart, God is your biggest encourager. If you are on a journey, please let me know so that I can pray for you.

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us with a link to your Thankful Thursday post below. Please note, that next week my friend Laurie at Women Taking A Stand will be hosting Thankful Thursday for the month of May.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: encourage each other! “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 ESV)

Love & peace,
Iris

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Current Mood: Thankful

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Currently I am reading “You’re made for a God-sized Dream” by Holley Gerth. What a powerful book (thank you Lori for your review on it)! I have had so many dreams for my life; but most of them have not come to realization.

“It’s tempting to hide our dreams away. We tell ourselves we’ll pursue them later or that we need to feel safer first. But the reality is, later may not come and living out a dream is risky no matter when we decide to do it.” ~ Holley Gerth

My sweet friend, the quote by Holley pierced my heart. Isn’t it true that we often concern ourselves with the nay-Sayers, but do not listen to the ones that encourage us? God has given us all dreams, and we need to stop being scared and move forward trusting Him to see us through. Take heart my friend and step out in faith, as I am now, trusting Him to give me the faith I need.

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:3-4 ESV)

Lord of Mercy and Grace; thank You for giving me a God-sized dream. Thank You for giving me faith to see this one through and not get discouraged by the few nay-Sayers that want to squash my dream. I have let so many dreams slip through my hands; this one I am holding on to, because You give me the courage. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Photo Copyright © Iris Nelson

Current Mood: Blessed †

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Today I write my Thankful Thursday post in remembrance of my father; is a bitter-sweet day. My dad would have celebrated his 75 birthday today. He has been with the Lord for the past 22 years though. He was only 53 years old when he passed away from cancer. Some would think that I should have gotten over his passing. To tell you the truth, I am not. I miss talking to him. I miss getting his advice on so many things. Even though I am myself now in my 50′s, I still miss him. The picture was taking  the year my son was born and my dad was so happy to be a first-time grandfather.

So, today, I am thankful for my earthly father. He has shared his wisdom with me. He taught me what is right and what is wrong. And that the Lord is faithful, not matter where we are in our life. I am looking forward to see my dad again in heaven. Maybe than he can tell me the things I missed in my life. But then again, we might be just celebrating being in the presence of the Lord .

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving a link to your thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: Honor your father and mother; you never know how long you have them this side of heaven.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
(Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV)

Love & peace,
Iris

1. Kathleen 2. The Two Choices Every Mother Faces Daily 3. Refreshment for Desperate Times

4. LaughingLady 5. bp 6. Run With Patience

7. annies home

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“…forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
(Colossians 3:13b-14 ESV ~ emphasis added)

At the beginning of 2013 God put me on a journey. It has been an interesting one to say the least. Every year, I like to focus on one particular word. I wanted to focus on ‘grace’ or ‘mercy’. But little did I know that God had a word already picked out for me to really focus on.

You see, the journey we are on, is really not about us, is it? God prunes and grows us so that He can use us to show others the Light. My forgiveness-journey has changed how I see others; especially those who do not know the saving grace our God offers to all. Sometimes I want to yell from the top of my lungs, that people need Jesus in their lives. But then I remember, that some need a humble, small voice that leads them to the foot of the cross. I need to step out of the way and let God do the work. I need to remember what it took for me to return to Him, and following Him hard.

Lord of Mercy and Grace. Today, I am coming before You and ask for Your lead in my life and that I stop my own, stubborn ways to tell others about Your saving grace. Lord, keep me humble and show forgiveness to those who need it. You forgave me so much and I want others to experience the freedom I have in You. In the precious name of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Photo Copyright © Iris Nelson

Current Mood: Forgiven †

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Some of you who know me for a long time, might think I fell of my rocker sharing a Hip-Hop/RAP music video on my blog. You see, God gives us all different talents, and Lecrae is reaching a different group than the ones you and me reach. Isn’t that what we are called to do? Tell the world about Jesus Christ?

So, my sweet friend, look past the music style; listen to the message Lecrae and Mali Music are sharing in this song, AND tell the world about Jesus!

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
(1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV)

Love & peace,
Iris

Current Mood: Thankful

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Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
(Psalm 33:2 ESV)

Some times I wonder if we will have real books in 10 or 20 years. I have to admit that digital books are great (don’t need much room for them except on your reading device). However, I still like to read real books. My husband smiled at me the other day as I was reading Iscariot by Tosca Lee. He said: “I like that you still read real books.” Me too honey …

Well, I finally finished reading “Iscariot” and I truly enjoyed it. I would give it 5 stars out of 5, but I had trouble understanding some of the words. I never heard or read some of them before (e.g. mikva). But I still did not deter me to finish the book; it just took me a little longer. I really liked how Tosca Lee took a different look at Judas and his relationship with Jesus. Yes, it is a fiction book, but Miss Lee conducted extensive research before writing the novel. I truly recommend this book. I hope you will check it out.

So, this week, I am thankful for authors that still publish real books . Have you read any good/great books lately?

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving a link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: read a real books once in a while.

Love & peace,
Iris

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Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
(Proverbs 3:5 ESV)

Do we trust God only when life is good? Or can we trust Him every day, even when life is not so sunny? I go for the later! God never promised us that life, as a Believer of the Way, would be easy (see John 16:33 ).

This past week I encountered more challenges at work. I had to make a decision: either getting frustrated and giving up, or I could put my trust in the Lord. I made my choice to trust in the Lord. And I pray and hope that I, with the help of the Lord, will make a difference in other people’s lives.

You see, it is easy to just give up; throw in the towel so do speak. But then, how can we show others what we are made off and WHO we trust. My sweet friend, I hope that you will not give up and do good as the Lord commended us in Galatians 6:9 (ESV).

Lord, I am trusting You that You will work everything for the good who love You. Lord, I love and trust You with all my heart. I some times do not understand Your ways, but I know that You have my best interest in mind. May I let Your light shine in my life. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Photo Copyright © Iris Nelson

Current Mood: Blessed †

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