Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!!! I hope that y'all have an awesome day merrymaking with family and friends, eating good food, listening to festive music, and watching those Christmas movies that ABC only show once a year!

Even though our Saviour might not have been born on December 25th, we can still take this time to honour Him with abundant joy and kindness towards others, and thank Him for all that He's given us during this celebration! :) 

Ephesians 5:20 "And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Wishing you a joyeux Noël with love,

P.S.: Who else is having a green-brownish Christmas? Where's the snow!? Haha!

GIVEAWAY Winner Announcement

Happy Sunday! :D

This is it, time to announce the winner of my whimsical wrist warmers giveaway!

The winner is...

1 Year Blog Anniversary + Whimsical Wrist Warmers GIVEAWAY!

Today is Seeking Jesus' 1 year anniversary! 

Scroll down for the giveaway information

Time to get the embarrassing baby pictures!

It's completely staggering to think that I've been blogging for a year! I remember creating this blog with a contrasting mixture of excitement and nervousness way back when I was staying in the heart of Florida. This little fella sure has grown a lot since November 2013 (erm... okay, maybe not in members, but y'all know what I mean), and I'm happy to say that I have grown significantly since then as well!

And in all honesty, my blog has taught me one main lesson: to relax.

You Are Loved! - Dealing With Sadness & Loneliness

It's true, you are marvellously and incredibly loved! Not only by the people around you, but by the Maker of infinity above all! God loves us in such a way that words could never describe, and we can only begin to fathom how grand and eternal His love is towards us!

Yet amidst all this loveliness, perhaps today you feel under weather. You are melancholic, distressed, or even lonely, as if nobody is there to listen to your pain. You can't quite put your finger on it, but you are most definitely not "okay". Circumstances change, friends walk away, or you even turn your back on this whole Christian thing for a while. Because you tried to talk to Jesus, He just wouldn't listen. You asked for a miracle, but you got misery. What did you do wrong? Did He simply get fed up with you and replaced you with better, holier people? One thing's for sure, you're absolutely confused and angry.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy thanksgiving!! ♥

C'est vrai, thanksgiving is already here in Canada! I have to admit that it caught me *quite* off guard this year (hey, weren't we swimming in the river a few weeks ago??), but I'm eager to see what the Holidays will bring! :)

Psalm 107:1 MSG "Oh, thank God—He’s so good! His love never runs out."

Summer Pursuit Follow-up (LTLM)

Hey friends!! :)

Remember the post I made back in May about seeking Jesus this summer? Well, now that summer's officially over (insert slight whine and tea sipping noise here), the 2014 Summer Pursuit with Loving The Lord Ministries has come to a beautiful end as well. I had such an *awesome* time with you all, thank you Amy for conducting such a lovely challenge!!!

I think that it's so easy to let our 'one-on-one' time with Jesus slip through the cracks and think, "Bah, He won't mind" or, "I'll do it later", but our time with Him is so precious, so fundamental for our very essence, that we can't brush Him off this carelessly! I love the following quote, it explains very well:

Gluten-free Loaded Granola Parfait - Breakfast 5 Ways (DAY 5)

It's Friday, Friday, gotta get dow- ...

Happy weekend! :D Today marks the final day of our "Breakfast 5 Ways" series! We are finishing with one of Sara's favouritest breakfasts: a granola parfait! And because we love variety, this breakfast idea is perfect for letting your creativity run wild by mixing and matching each ingredients to your liking. It's so ridiculously simple that we were actually contemplating on whether we should post it or not, but we figured this recipe is such a go-to for us in the morning that we thought you'd might appreciate the idea as well! 

Oh-So-Versatile Chewy Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies - Breakfast 5 Ways series (DAY 4)

Salut! :)

Here we are with yet another delicious breakfast recipe! And yes, you did read right, breakfast cookies. These are so tasty and chewy, they taste just like Grandma's own oatmeal cookies! They pack a punch of protein and fibre, and are so versatile, you can mix and match pretty much every ingredient to make them your own. 

Raw Cereal (Soaked Almonds w/ Dates) - Breakfast 5 Ways series (DAY 3)

Why hello!

Today's recipe is so simple, it's not even an actual recipe! Take the idea and switch the ingredients around to your liking- your imagination is the limit! ;)

Our parents once experimented with a raw diet when Sara and I were little, and this used to be one of their favourite breakfasts. It's so sweet and filling that even our 5 year old and 8 year old selves loved eating it in the morning! :D

Apple Pie Smoothie - Breakfast 5 Ways series (DAY 2)

Joyeux mardis!

I hope you are all having a great week so far! Here's another quick and tasty breakfast recipe that we've come up with for you: Apple Pie Smoothie! Trust me, this earns its name rightfully. It's so creamy, spicy (well, as much as cinnamon can spice), and sweet that you might not even want to share! :D

Kindred Spirit Award

Hey friends! :D

I seem to be on a writing spree... Oh well, I'll take the inspiration as it comes! The amazing Abigail at The Journey of a Lifetime: A Daughter's Musings has nominated me for the Kindred Spirit Award, so here I am with my Q&A's!

Kindred Spirit Award rules:

1. Answer the questions you are given. 
2. Nominate anyone you'd like. 
3. Give 10 questions for others to answer.
4. Share the picture above with the post you make and link it back to Eve's blog (beautiful picture, Eve, by the way).

Slow Cooker Warm Spiced Banana Oatmeal - Breakfast 5 Ways series (DAY 1)

Happy Monday! :D

Now that fall is in full swing and school is filling up everybody's schedules, my sister (Sara) and I have decided to begin a series featuring 5 easy & healthy breakfast ideas that are perfect for busy mornings!

Let's begin the week on the right foot with a warm bowl of spiced oatmeal, shall we? This breakfast is so quick, the only thing you need to do in the morning is serve yourself and you're good to go! ... It might even give you a few more minutes to sleep in.

Announcements (Tumblr + New Series Coming Up!)

Good evening friends!

Guess what? I made a Tumblr!!! It is proudly baptized Blooming Sapling! :D I created it as a branch to Seeking Jesus, in all hopes of reaching more people and sharing the awesomeness of God! Go check it out, it's filled with encouraging Jesus quotes, herbal inspirations, and wacko pastel colourfulness!

Blooming Sapling: my little blooming Tumblr baby

Secondly, my sister Sara and I are beginning a new series called, "Breakfast 5 Ways" on Monday! During 5 days we are going to share easy and healthy recipes that are perfect for the cold Autumn days and busy school mornings, so stay tuned for the delicious breakfast ideas we have planned for y'all (which are all tested and approved by yours truly)!

God bless you all! Don't forget, Jesus loves you, and so do I! ♥︎

From your excited sister,

P.S.: I am going to publish my Kindred Spirit Award answers very soon, Abigail! :D

Being Beautiful - What God Says About 'Ugly' Days

Let's admit it, we ALL get those moments of, "oh my gosh, I AM SO UGLY!".  Whether shallow or significant, we still occasionally think that our arms are too flabby, that our face and whatnot is dreadfully covered in acne and scars, or that our nose is too big for our frame. Whatever it is, sisters and brothers, it's normal to feel like that, but normal doesn't mean it's good...

Since Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), he loooves tricking us into thinking that 'this and that' on our bodies or in our personalities aren't good enough to be beautiful. How subtle and deceiving he can be when we listen to him!

Comparing Satan's voice to God's:

While the devil (who is often mistaken as our own voice) says,

1. You're downright ugly, plain, and weird.
2. You have too many defects on your body to be worthy.
3. If you only alter that one thing you dislike about yourself, you'll finally be happy.
4. You can't go on and live boldly without a perfect appearance.
5. Others won't like you looking the way you do now.

God says,

1. I make you beautiful. - Psalms 34:5
2. Your physical appearance doesn't determine your worthiness. - 1 Corinthians 6:11 
3. You cannot be truly happy without Me (no matter how many things you try to change by buying serums and following diets!) - Matthew 6:33
4. You can live boldly no matter how you look. - 1 Samuel 16:7
5. Others will like you because of the beautiful light you shine. - Matthew 5:16

Now, this might just be me, but I think I'd rather listen to the latter!

To God, our beauty doesn't vary:

Superfood Carrot & Raisin Salad (With Carrot Greens!)

I'm always a little hesitant to post recipes... A part of me argues that they aren't very 'Jesus-related', but then another part of me (A.K.A my mom and my sister) reassures me that they are indeed very relevant, because God Himself advises us to "eat to His glory" (1 Corinthians 10:31)! So, with the school days crunching my time to the core (no pun intended), I have decided to post new healthy recipes more regularly to - hopefully - help busy people find the time in their day to eat more satisfying, good-for-you foods! :)

Without further ado, here's the recipe:

Jesus Made You More Than 'Enough'!

Hi friends!!

One of the many things I have learned during my church's youth meeting yesterday is this very simple truth: Jesus made you enough, you don't have to try and prove yourself to Him!

"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are."

Romans 3:22 NLT

Your past, to God, doesn't change His love for you. Whether you are an ex-criminal like Paul, a doubter like Sarah, an adulterer and plotter like David, or a fearful man like Moses, God wipes all of it away when you believe in His son, Jesus, and trust Him with all your heart. Never forget these words, "Christ made us right with God; He made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin." (1 Corinthians 1:30) Now THAT'S amazing grace! :D

Bucket List Tag: Skills Edition

That's right, I haven't forgotten!

The wonderful Evie at A Period Drama Fangirl tagged me for the "bucket list tag" back in July, so here I finally am after much procrastination and un-inspiration with a freshly made list! :D

Since I can't really think further than a week ahead (haha), and praise Jesus I have too many aspirations to ever write down, I decided to jazz up the tag and do a "skills" or "talent" edition! It consists of writing 10+ things that I wish to accomplish in the very nearby future (or not so near!) that are art or craft related.

I would love to hear about the things that you want to learn, so I tag everybody reading this! Yes, this means YOU! ;) 

Without further ado, here are 15 things that I *will* wrap my brain around very soon!

I want to learn how to...

15th Birthday Pictures

Hi!

Here are the promised pictures from my birthday! Pardon me for the delay, I've been a little too caught up in reading lately... It's so addictive! You'll understand what I mean in a few scrolls ;)

This is the very skirt that my *super talented* sister, Sara, sewed for me as a gift! ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL?! It's a chevron 'maxi' skirt made for a shortie like me!

Thank You Lord for an awesome birthday!! I am so grateful to my family for making my day unbelievably fun and filling it with laughter and love! Merci, je vous aime tellement! :D

How about crazily good 'iHop' pancakes with homemade strawberry and chocolate syrup to start the day? YES!

And a game of Taboo? This game (along with Apples to Apples!) is dangerously captivating- once you start playing, you won't be able to stop and the phrase "Come on, one more round!" will repeat itself very often!

Wait... A COOKIE DOUGH, VANILLA, AND CHOCOLATE CAKE!?! How is this even possible?

*Drum roll* ... Yes, it's true, my babies- I mean, books, now have a home of their own!!! I received this beautiful bookcase from my parents to house all of the books that were engulfing my closet. They added a lovely touch with the vintage wallpaper in the background, and Sara organized the layout of the shelves, I love it! Psst, there is even some room left in the back of the shelves, so now I have a valid pretext to collect more books! :D 

I am so grateful to Jesus for giving me 15 terrific years with my ever-supporting and loving family! I also want to thank everybody who wished me a happy birthday, in person or online, you bless me so much!

♥︎ Now, dear reader and friend, please know that albeit you might not see it or feel it, you are so incredibly important and worthy to be cherished by the One who loves you more than words could ever say! I pray that you have a wonderful day celebrating whoever God made you to be and walking hand in hand with Him! ♥︎

In love from your sister,

Guess Who's Turning 15 Today?

BONJOUR!

That's right, today is my 15th birthday! :D I was born on the 10th during a very hot evening in Montréal at exactly 11:00PM, just before the  end of the 2nd millennium. Boy did a lot happened since then! ;)

Compared to 2013, this year the Lord has been showing me to slow down and simply rest in Him, and I'm very, very thankful for that!

Here is a Bible verse that I think fits my 15th year pretty well:

Psalm 116:7 MSG "I said to myself,
“Relax and rest.    
God has showered you with blessings.    
Soul, you’ve been rescued from death;    
Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears;    
And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." 

Have you ever had a time like this when your year is the total opposite from the last one? Do you remember why and how it impacted you?

Today my family and I are visiting The Loft Board Game Lounge, and I AM SO EXCITED! Pictures will probably be sneaked here soon ;) I made a long list of games I wanted to play, such as CIS: The Board Game, Settlers of Catan, Clue, Fairy Tale, and a little bit of Blokus 3D, of course! What's your favourite board game or genre?

Alright, I will go enjoy this birthday now! I hope that you have a super Sunday, my dear friend and reader, and remember that it's very good to take a break from the hard work once in a while and savour the journey God has so lovingly given you!

In love from your happy sister,

P.S.: Tonight the 2nd supermoon of 2014 will appear! Keep your eyes open and tell me how it was in your region!!

The Ultimate Rebel

HELLO!

It's been a while. Excuse my major case of writer's block, I just couldn't help it (Psst, Evie, I haven't forgotten about the bucket list tag! Sorry for being slow, haha)...  Anyway, I just stumbled into this awfully awesomely stirring rap song by Lecrea; Rebellion Intro. The song speaks for itself, really, so let me write to you a few phrases from the lyrics:

"Jesus was a rebel, a renegade, outlaw
A sanctified troublemaker but He never sinned, naw

And He lived His life by a different set of Rules

The culture ain't approve

So you know they had they had to bruise em

That's the way they do"

"...Everyone's done that,

It's so tiring,

If you really wanna be a rebel,

Read your bible,

Because no one's doing that,

That's rebellion,

That's the only rebellion left"

When I heard this verse, my eyes (almost) popped out of my head. I couldn't have said it better myself at all, Lecrea totally re-defined being a REBEL. 

Of course, the lyrics bear some heavy matters that countless of people, Christian or not, deal with. For some temptation might be the tendency to speak harshly, and for others, it might the craving for drugs, alcohol, or everything else. We can't deny it, it happens, even to "good" people. That's why Jesus came, because our temptations were so big and overwhelming that we couldn't solve them ourselves. If God can't fix our baddest habits or addictions (be it anything), what can He fix?? We can't ever forget that Jesus came for the sick, the dying, the tempted, and not for the healthy people who thought their issues weren't as big as the ones of the sick.

Mark 2:17 "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

I simply love songs that stir a new hope in my heart, and that makes me see a new point of view... I hope that it shook you up as much as it did for me, and that it will help you see that even if we, little humans, can't quite grasp the intensity of other's sins and God's endless grace and love, we can trust Him with all that we have and be a secure anchor for anybody that needs our support, love, and help when going through a tough time.

In love from your sister,

Making Jesus Your Everything

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

When we make Jesus our #1 priority, suddenly everything falls into perfect place. We wake with purpose, we work with joy, we speak with kindness, but most importantly, we live with confidence knowing that He is right there beside us, living and rejoicing with us!

Liebster Award

Thank you Sofia at Teens Live for Jesus and Rebekah at Calico Sistsers for nominating me for the Liebster award! Thank you Sofia also for saying that "liebster" means "dearest" in German. You are both so sweet! Here we go:

1. Jesus brought my heart back to Him (and I dedicated myself to Him!) after I almost lost my life to an anaphylaxis reaction... Although I now stay away from mangoes, I'll always remember it as being a life-changing fruit!
2. English is my second language. Le français est ma langue maternelle!
3. Hablo español un poco también.
4. I'm known as "Ms. Granola" because I mostly eat food in its natural state, but who said Little Debbie's Cosmic Brownies weren't natural...? 
5. I purely detest the idea that there is only 1 kind of "Christian". Salvation is for everyone, regardless of appearance or past mistakes.
6. The first Bible version I read that blessed me the most is the God Girl (GW) Bible. I earnestly recommend it!
7. I live in an historical 18th century village.
8. I *really* dislike cheese... Yet I am a former squeaky cheese lover.
9. I love folk, indie-rock, and Celtic music. Do you know just how many alternative Christian music bands there are out there??
10. I'll try as hard as I can not to take medication and treat my problem naturally with much prayer!
11. I have lived in 2 CAN provinces and 1 US state. 

 

There's a New Blog Design!

I've done some summer cleaning on my blog! I polished and buffed it, and now it's brand new, I'm so excited!

I am ever grateful to my sister who helped me with the "About me" section, because without you, Sara, who knows what I would have written to make it interesting!

I decided to freshen up Seeking Jesus' appearance in hopes that it would be more inviting to non-Christians and Christians alike, in all prayers to make people intrigued by what it truly means to seek the Lord. I was awestruck by what Jesus helped me to do; every new little detail was inspired by Him, He's so amazing!!!

What do you think of the new design? It's fresh and inspiring indeed, and I won't miss the old template!

I'm even not finished yet, so keep looking for more surprises! ;)

In all sisterly love,

What's in Our Garden - Harvesting Stevia and Catnip

Psalm 67:6 NOG "The earth has yielded its harvest. May Elohim, our Elohim, bless us."

Jesus loves you!

Hello! :) Phew, the plants in our backyard garden have grown so much since I made by first post about it. The time is here to harvest some of these beauties, such as: radishes, lettuce, stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), catnip (Nepeta), and much more to come soon! 

How to harvest and dry fresh herbs at home:

Miriam Ibrahim is Free!

2 Corinthians 2:14 NOG "But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ. Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know Christ. It’s like a fragrance that fills the air."

Praise Jesus!!! Miriam Ibrahim, along with her 2 children, has recently been freed from the women's prison in Sudan! The Sudanese government finally dropped the horrid death sentence they had convicted Miriam of (for refusing her Muslim faith) after 4 months of torture.

You can read more about her release here and here to read more about Miriam Ibrahim's case.

Let us keep praying for those who are still in captivity, that they may have strength and be freed by God Himself!!

Psalm 146:7 NOG "He brings about justice for those who are oppressed. He gives food to those who are hungry. Yahweh sets prisoners free."

Easy Dinner: Taco Bisquick Bake

¡Hola! :) Let me tell you about a super easy and speedy dinner recipe: a taco bake! Cheesy, flavourful, and fresh... A very good alternative to traditional tacos!

If you so happen to have a passionate hatred towards cheese like me, cheesy is not always good! :P But do not despair, you can always halve the recipe into two separate dishes to bake if you prefer.

 

Josh Garrels - Farther Along (Folk/Hip Hop song)

Shalom! :)

Yesterday Jesus made me found this AWESOME song by Josh Garrels. "Farther Along" is a classic Christian song which has been interpreted by many talented singers, but so far, this is my favourite version.

Lyrics:

Farther Along 

Farther along we’ll know all about it 
Farther along we’ll understand why 
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine 
We’ll understand this, all by and by 

Tempted and tried, I wondered why 
The good man died, the bad man thrives 
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both 
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes 
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope 
In a house of mirrors full of smoke 
Confusing illusions I’ve seen  

Wholesome Double Chocolate Muffins

Good afternoon!

Here is a recipe of the *most delicious* chocolate muffins you will ever eat... And they so happen to be good for you too! But beware, they are addictive! ;)

My sister, Sara, found this awesome recipe on http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/04/17/skinny-double-chocolate-chip-muffins/ and modified it a little bit. These beauties- I mean muffins, are so good that she had to make them twice this week! Thank you sister for letting me share the recipe! :D

Sara says: These muffins are wonderful... They are moist, filling, and satisfying to the sweet tooth! They make great diversity for busy mornings, plus, they're suitable for anytime snacking as well! :)

Ingredients: 
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (We didn't have any, so I made my own using this recipe:http://www.recipecommunity.com.au/sauces-dips-spreads-recipes/apple-sauce/92142)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (I used coconut sugar)
1/4 cup honey
1 large egg (or 2 egg whites)
1/2 cup buttermilk (or 3/4 cup plain yogurt)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour (or 1/2 whole wheat, 1/2 white)
A dash of salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips, plus a handful for sprinkling on top.

Directions:
Preheat the over to 425F, and grease your muffin tins with oil or use 12 reusable muffin cups.

Mix together the applesauce, sugar, honey, egg, yoghurt, and vanilla until smooth.

Sift together the flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder.

Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, and whisk until combined (but don't overmix!), then fold in the chocolate chips. Put enough mix in the molds to fill about 3/4 of the way. Sprinkle a couple chocolate chips on top, and bake for 5 minutes at 425F.

After 5 minutes, without opening the oven, lower the temprature to 375F and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Insert a toothpick, and when it comes out clean, you know they're ready!
 

They also make wonderful hospitality gifts; just wrap them in a pretty tin, and voilà! I hope that you and your family will enjoy these scrumptious muffins, please let me know how they turned out! :)

In all sisterly love,