MIRACLES LINKED TO PRAYER AND FASTING

The following insight and blessing was written by frequent blog contributor CHERI MAJORS M.S., a former (and occasional) movie actress, model and more:

God Hears the Devoted Prayers of His People 

The Bible declares that any need or insurmountable problem, requiring quick resolution, should begin with prayer and fasting. Miracles always followed these events in Biblical days of old, and can still happen today.

I was not raised with fasting and prayer, as it was even a foreign concept to my Christian Sunday-School-teaching grandmother. Fasting or any other means of self-control was certainly never followed in my immediate non-practicing Christian home, so the very concept of starving myself seemed extremely uncomfortable at first.

I had even questioned whether fasting was Biblical, because my family dismissed it as a spiritual concept (not literal starving) but I had my doubts. I did however fast faithfully during my modeling years, without employing Christian or other religious doctrines as the basis for my exercises in restraint.

Practicing Restraint

Every Monday I would fast, in an effort to clear out the damaging effects of weekend dating, drinking, and dining (the Devil's playground) and although I tried, I was not very good at throwing-up the excesses. God did however patiently allow me to continue my wildly-excessive weekends, without losing my modeling face or figure, as I enjoyed the abundance of His undeserved, yet unending grace.

Miracle Fasting

As idiotic as my "Barbie" logic was, fasting once a week to continue living wild on the weekends, God blessed me anyway. For my simple, 1-day-a-week fast and show-of-restraint, He kept me thin and semi-flawless through many years of self-inflicted misery-filled weekends.

As I got older I began hearing more about Biblical fasting through various televangelists, and the whole concept started making more sense. God didn't want to deprive us (He was the One providing for us) but He did want us to show restraint, and dedication, along with prayers to get us past any roadblocks.

Biblical Miracles

There are 25 passages in the Bible (New International Version) about fasting, as well as the book of Esther. A short story in the Old Testament, turned into a novel, inspiring the movie "One Night with the King" (2006) explaining how an orphan girl "found favor" with King Xerxes and with God.

Queen Esther uncovered an insidious plot, intended to destroy her heritage along with the entire Jewish nation, so she called her people to prayer and fasting, in an effort to save them from extinction (mass genocide) at the hand of the King's adviser. The nation of Israel needed a miracle, and God not only granted their prayer requests, by allowing the survival of the Jewish race, but turned the extinction plot around on those who would harm the "apple of His eye".

Other Biblical miracles can be found in the book of Daniel, showing how his refusal to bow down to a foreign King (in place of God) or even eat the King's food (not ordained by God) got him, and his friends, thrown into a furnace, and a lion's den. However Daniel's devotion to God, coupled with his restraint, brought God's angels to ensure that no one was harmed in the fiery furnace, or in the lion's den. 

Following Biblical Instruction

Isaiah 58 gives us the Lord's instructions and guidelines for fasting and praying, and offers us miracle solutions for our problems. Although God is not specific about the food and liquid intake (or lack thereof) he does tell us how we should be acting toward one another while fasting, in order to experience the fullness of our miracles, and blessings from Him.

The "Esther Fast" is an extreme 3-day liquids-only fast. We learn through the book of Esther that the Jewish people prayed and fasted while only drinking water for 3 days. The first day begins after eating dinner, and after the sun sets. Only healthy liquids are consumed until the sun sets on the 3^rdnight, when you can once again eat dinner.

The "Daniel Fast" is a much longer 40-day fast, without eating meat, sweets, or bread, but those are the only restrictions. Vegetables, grains, nuts, pasta, beans, fruit, dairy, (some say fish is allowed) along with healthy liquids, such as water, milk, and juices. If you are already a healthy eater this extended fast is not as difficult as you think. 

Remember to pray along with the fast of your choice, to bring miracles, even if there doesn't seem to be any hope left. Today we can stand on the same miraculous promises as provided by God, and documented in the Bible, whether personal, national, or world-wide. But don't take my word for it, try it for yourself, and wait for your promised miracles to happen.

by Cheri Majors, M.S.

A former model & actress who cared for more than 70 special-needs foster children, while earning a Masters degree in Human Sciences & Early Childhood Education. Authored 5 books (including childrens bilingua...  View profile

BAKE INDULGENT CUPCAKES TO SHARE...OR NOT BY CHERI MAJORS

These exquisitely-presented cupcakes are so indulgent you will have to bake them up for yourself, but you don't have to share them, unless you want to. The cupcakes listed are favorites at Better Homes and Gardens online.

Cupcakes Flavored with Coffee

These "Mochaccino Cupcakes" contain strong brewed coffee, chocolate pieces, a coffee butter cream frosting, and are topped with a rolled, cream-filled Pirouette wafer stick. Cocoa powder and ground cinnamon can be sprinkled over all.

Make these "Mocha-Filled Banana Cupcakes" for breakfast, with coffee and banana muffins rolled into one. Using bananas, cream cheese, espresso coffee, semisweet-chocolate, and buttermilk, these indulgent muffins are cream-filled, topped with a banana-butter frosting, and then sprinkled with chocolate-covered coffee beans (or instant coffee)

Mega-Chocolate Cupcakes

Bake these "German Chocolate Cupcakes" with a thick frosting layer of chocolate-pecan ice cream, toasted coconut, pecans, and then drizzled with a gooey-caramel sauce. Or make these indulgent "Triple-Chocolate Cupcakes" with cream de cacao liqueur, chocolate butter cream frosting, and chunks of bittersweet chocolate; beware you may slip into chocolate nirvana.

Tangy-Citrus Cupcakes

These Popsicle-stick wielding "Orange Cream Pop Cupcakes" boast a zesty-orange, and cheesecake-flavored frosting, to eat like a Popsicle or not. An authentic peaked-meringue frosting tops these "Lemon Meringue Pie Cupcakes", and lemon liqueur with lemon-drop candies tart-up these "Lemon Drop Cupcakes", frosted in your choice of a lemony glaze, or cream frosting.

Nutty Cupcakes

For these "Peanut Butter-Chocolate Twist Cupcakes" use your own "Healthy Homemade Peanut Butter" (made in minutes). Then frost using peanut-butter and chocolate swirled icings, with an optional, mini-chocolate peanut-butter cup on top.

Bake "Peanut Butter Cupcakes" which contain a hidden chocolate peanut-butter cup, and topped-off with either jam, or a chocolate candy kiss. And make these elegant "Hazelnut Creme Brulee Cupcakes" with chopped nuts, hazelnut liqueur (or extract) plus hazelnut-butter-cream frosting, caramelized sugar drizzles, and sprinkled with nutmeg.

Tropical Fruit Cupcakes

These "Pineapple-Carrot Cupcakes" include baked-in flavors of cream cheese, cinnamon, and toasted walnuts, then frosted with a dreamy, traditional carrot-cake cream-cheese frosting, and rolled in chopped nuts. Or "Island Bananas Foster Cupcakes" with a banana-rum drizzle, over whipped-cream-topped banana coconut cupcakes.

No rum in these "Pina Colada Cakes", but you won't need it with the delicate flavor of macadamia nuts, a pineapple-preserves filling, and toasted coconut flakes sprinkled over a light and fluffy white-coconut frosting. See if you can make this cupcake a little healthier by substituting crushed pineapple for the preserves, replacing all-purpose flours with coconut flour, and then make an authentic frosting by combining coconut butter, and softened coconut oil to mix with the powdered sugar.

Cream-Filled Cupcakes

Serve spoons with these gooey, "Chocolate Cupcake Ice Cream Sandwiches" cut in half, and filled with layers of chocolate-chip ice cream, and cherry-pecan sauce, with a dab of whipped cream on top. Over-the-top "Boston Cream Pies" are a mini version of the heavenly cream-filled dessert, these cupcakes are filled with a vanilla-custard, and then topped with a dark chocolate ganache to serve chilled, with-or-without whipped cream on top.

Old Fashioned Sundae Cupcakes

Make these old fashioned "Root Beer Float Cupcakes" with real root beer and root-beer extract, then frosted with a foamy, soda-head topping, and decorated with half-a-straw. This is a fun theme-birthday party treat.

This after-Sunday-dinner treat, "Banana Split Cupcake" is served with scoops of ice-cream frosting, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Hint: use extra ripe bananas for these muffins, and you can cut down on the sugar.

MAKE YOUR OWN FATHER'S DAY CARD!

HOMEMADE MEMORIES WITH CHERI MAJORS
You'll be able to create your own Father's Day cards using these simple directions and thoughtful sentiments listed below. Simply fold an 8 ½" x 11" piece of paper or card-stock in half (either direction), and depending on your age and/or abilities use your own artwork, stickers, or collages with any of the original greetings below. For more card and gift ideas for Father's Day, see my article "5 Free Gifts to Make for Mother's or Father's Day".

The front of your card (with your unique artwork) should say "Happy Father's Day", whether it's for your father, step-dad, uncle, grandfather, husband, best friend, or father-in-law. You can start by saying; "For A Special Dad on Father's Day", or "To the Best Dad Ever on Father's Day", or "To My Grandpa on His Day", or perhaps, "Thanks For Being Such a Great Step-Father", you get the idea.

Inside your Father's Day card attempt to write your own heart-felt message , or try using the ones I've listed. Feel free to add-on to or re-work any of the following phrases, personalizing them for the important dads in your life.

"Dad you've always been there for me, and when the time comes that you need me, I will be there for you! Thanks for being my dad!"

"Grandpa you are One-in-a-Million, and I'm so happy you're mine! Have a great Father's Day!"

"Poppa you have always been my biggest fan, but did you know that I'm your biggest fan? You're the best grandpa I could've ever hoped for!"

"I might not be the smartest, cutest, or even the most well-behaved, but I'm all yours dad, so suck it up! Try to have a great day anyway!"

"Even though your only my step-dad, I'm convinced all your better qualities have rubbed off onto me! I'm better for having you in my life, thanks!

"Uncle you've been such a great friend! Happy Father's Day!"

"Of all the fathers I could've ended up with, I was blessed with you! Thanks for all you've helped me with and taught me! I only hope that one day I'll be as great a dad as you are!"

"Dad thanks for all your guidance and encouragement over the years, but I'm just not ready to leave home yet! Happy Father's Day anyway!"

"Grandpa I've always looked up to you, and you've never let me down, thanks for everything! I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day!"

Now you've got the tools to make a great Father's Day card for the special men in your life. So get started and have fun with it.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM CHERI'S BLOG - "TWINAS LATINAS"

About the author of this post - Cheri Majors:

Cheri is a former model & actress who cared for more than 70 special-needs foster children, while earning a Masters degree in Human Sciences & Early Childhood Education. Authored 5 books (including childrens bilingual Spanish/English primer, due out soon) and Co-Founder, Editor & Publisher of the overnight cultural phenomena, Twinas Latinas Magazine (catering to the traditional family)! Join us on our joyful FIESTA journey!

GUEST POET: CHERI MAJORS WRITES "A FATHER'S DAY LETTER OF LOVE"

A Father's Day greeting 

for the faithful!

A Father's Day greeting,

Straight from my heart,

And even though poetry,

Has become a lost art,

I just wanted to say,

On your special day,

How awesome you really are!

Our Heavenly Father's

Extended his hand,

Hoping to guide us,

Toward everything grand,

With free saving graces,

Throughout our land,

Eternity for us was always His plan!

READ MORE BY CHERI MAJORS HERE FROM

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PIZZA PARTY!

(Mexican Pizza Variation)

From sister Blog TWINAS LATINAS MAGAZINE

Ingredients

1 bag of Corn Tortilla Chips

1/2 cup grated Jack Cheese

1/4 cup BBQ Chicken, cut into small pieces

1 tablespoon Black Beans

1 tablespoon Salsa

1 tablespoon Sour Cream

Directions
Pour out the chips onto a sturdy, microwave-safe plate. Sprinkle grated cheese evenly over the chips, creating a barrier to prevent the salsa from making chips soggy. 

Pile on the chicken pieces, black beans, and strategically dot salsa over the top, as shown.
 
Microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, until the cheese is melted.  Add a mound of sour cream in the middle, and serve. 

Mexican Pizza Ole` 

For mouth-watering pizza with a Baja-fresh flair try making these 2 unique varieties!  Baja shrimp with garden veggies or Mexican beans and Spanish rice! Both are covered with cheese and can be topped with hot peppers or olives. The perfect no-fuss crust is easiest made in a breadmaker but you could also purchase a ready-made pizza-pie crust, and then add your own sauce and toppings!

Breadmaker Pizza  Crust

Makes 2 large 10" -12" pizza crusts

(add ingredients to the canister in this order)

1-1/4 Cups water                                           
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1  Tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
4  Cups whole wheat bread flour
1   teaspoon rapid-rise dry yeast 

Put canister into the breadmaker, set it on the "dough" cycle (1 hr. 20 min.) and 
your breadmaker will do all the kneading.At the end of the cycle take the dough out and split it in half for 2 pizzas (pictured above).  Pull the dough at opposite angles around & around until you have it shaped round enough to put into a pizza pan.

Continue pulling opposite sides until it fits your pan.  Don't worry, it doesn't have to look perfect, as it will be covered with sauce and/or toppings! No need to pre-cook the crust either!

Pizza Sauce
  
For Baja-Fresh Shrimp Pizza add your favorite variety of spaghetti sauce.  I'm using my homemade chunky spaghetti sauce (my secret recipe for Pasta Primavera Sauce is found in our Hot Sauces section along with my Sassy Salsa).

 
For Mexican Pizza spread refried beans, as you would the sauce, and cover with a layer of Spanish rice, and optional salsa.

Pizza Toppings

Top both with healthy onion slices, which cook up nicely. I like using a variety of white and purple/red onion slices.

Smother with cheese shavings, or grated white cheeses, such as jack on the Mexican pizza or mozzarella on the Baja shrimp pizza. Over the cheese add either mild Greek pepperoncini, or jalepeno HOT pepper slices.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTICING RECIPE!

MOVIE REVIEW: BEN-HUR

BEN-HUR (1959) Winner of 11 Academy Awards

CURRENT REMAKE IN THE WORKS AT MGM!

Before anyone think it is strange that I would be reviewing a movie that has been around for almost 54 years, check this! MGM, the makers of this version of BEN HUR is in the process of raising the capital for a massive remake of the Lew Wallace book, which spurred this classic epic into existence! This monthly movie review feature aims for cutting edge commentary which never conforms to current cultural configurations. Therefore, for this wonderful month, we look at an action packed thriller set around the time of Jesus Christ: BEN-HUR!

Union Civil War General Lew Wallace wrote and released Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ in 1880 and it is still called the most influential book of the 19th century.  Including 1959, there have been four movies made on this book and the upcoming MGM remake will be number 5! Wallace's story revolves around Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish nobleman (played by Charlton Heston) in the Jerusalem of AD 26. Judah was childhood friends with the Roman Messala (Stephen Boyd) who has now Roman military elite! Rome had conquered Judea at this time and ruled Jerusalem with an iron fist causing conflict between these two long time friends. Due to some evil shenanigans by Messala against his long time, now ex-friend, Ben-Hur is taken prisoner by Rome and sentenced to the Roman ships as a galley slave. 

On the way to the ships, Ben-Hur and a group of slaves stop in a town called Nazareth, dying of thirst. Local natives start giving the slave gang water out of gourds, but the brutal Roman guard are under orders not to give any water to the parched Ben-Hur....that is, until a local Carpenter shows up! This is AD 26 and the Carpenter, Whose face is never seen, stands His ground in giving water to Ben-Hur, even when the Roman prison guard threatens Him! The look on the Roman guard when the Carpenter turns around and looks at the guard, while giving Ben-Hur more water is priceless. The audience knows by now that the Carpenter is Jesus. It is a great object lesson of evil shrinking away under the Powerful Stare of the Creator!

The long narrative sees our hero, Ben-Hur, still full of hate against Rome,  going through many personal trials and then victories when he is adopted by Arias the Roman consul (Jack Hawkins) after Ben-Hur prevents him from committing suicide. Life takes an amazing turn for him now as he returns to Jerusalem, having been a champion chariot racer, in his new station in life. The greatest chariot racing of any kind, in Hollywood movie history, then takes places in this Wilder's 1959 version of Ben Hur! It is 15 minutes long and breathtaking. 

Apart from this excitement, the story really turns on Ben-Hur's new wife, Esther, who hears a man named Jesus Christ preaching "The Sermon on the Mount"! Hoping to cure her husband of his long time hatred of the Romans, Esther takes him to listen to the Messiah preach of love and forgiveness. He could hear but not see the speaker close up. After hearing Jesus, Ben-Hur rejects his favored adopted status as a great Roman charioteer and returns to his Jewish roots. He tried to take others to see Jesus, but the Christ's trial before Pontius Pilate is already going on and Ben-Hur is too late! As the Romans parade a badly beaten Jesus through the streets on the way to crucify Him, Ben-Hur finally recognizes Jesus as the Man Who gave him some water in Nazareth seven years before! He tries to return the favor to Jesus, but this time, the Roman guard has his way, and knocks the water away.

This is a beautiful movie of forgiveness and made for family viewing on the many cold long winter's nights as we have been having! Ben-Hur's famous line "I felt His Voice take the sword out of my hand" is a classic in redemption stories. The quality of Ben Hur was high definition, before HD was cool! It was restored and remmastered to be released for its 50th Anniversary in 2009, frame by gazillions of frames in this 222 minute long film! If you get the Blue Ray version or even the regular DVD or stream it live from Netflix or Amazon.com Prime, you won't be disappointed in this widescreen delight. The music score is classic as you would expect from a William Wilder movie and scored by the famed Hungarian composer Miklos Rozsa. Miklos is famous for other Academy winners like Spellbound (1945) and A Double Life (1947).

Be on the lookout for the sixth and amazingly technology to be introduced into the coming MGM remake of Ben-Hur! The script has already been written by Keith Clarke and will have a more focused protrayal of the adult life of Jesus, including the Crucifixion. Keith Clarke wrote the remarkably intense movie "The Way Back" and this new remake of Ben-Hur marks another in the sudden turn to religious epics in Hollywood! The History Channels' upcoming 10-part series called THE BIBLE, produced by Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel); Pontius Pilate (Warner Brothers): Moses (Spielberg) and the upcoming Noah, starring Russell Crowe, are surprising in this secular age when  Christians are under persecution everywhere!

Ben-Hur is recommended as the movie for such a time as this!

READ TWINAS LATINAS MAGAZINE FOR MORE ON MOVIE REVIEWS!

FRIDAY NIGHT DELIGHT - FRESH SNACK DIP!

 Ingredients

1 ripe Avocado, mashed

1/4 Onion, diced

1 tablespoon fresh Cilantro leaves (as shown below in Sassy Salsa)

1 tablespoon Lemon or Lime juice

Directions

Remove the avocado pit, slice and cube the avocado right in the skin.  Squeeze the cubes out, into a mixing bowl and mash into the desired consistency.

Add the onions, cilantro, and lemon or lime juice, and mix thoroughly. 

Scoop out into a serving dish for a veggie or chip dip, or add onto Mexican dishes such as enchiladas.

THIS FRESH GUACAMOLE DIP IS EXCLUSIVE  FROM:

TWINAS LATINAS MAGAZINE!

VISIT THE FASTEST GROWING WEB MAG HERE

PRE-CHRISTMAS SPECIAL DINNER OF THE WEEK!

Roast Chicken with Apple-Bacon Stuffing

Time: 1h 15 min

Difficulty: Easy

Price: Affordable                                   

Serves: Approximately 4 to 6

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken -or substitute-

1 Cornish game hen (per person)

2 green apples

2 bacon slices

1 teaspoon of salt

2 tablespoons of olive oil

You might also want to add (optional) chestnuts, walnuts, and raisins.

Instructions:
  

Remove everything from inside the chicken (no head, neck, wings,  organs, or the paper they come wrapped in) while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees for ten minutes. 

Peel & core the apples, slicing very thin & stuffing into the empty chicken cavity. Brush the chicken with oil, as well as inside the roasting pan prior to placing the stuffed chicken inside. 

Top the chicken with two slices of bacon and sprinkle salt over all. Then bake at 350 degrees for one hour. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THIS DELICIOUS CHRISTMAS SEASON SPECIAL!

RECIPE COURTESY OUR SISTER BLOG: 

TWINAS LATINAS ONLINE MAGAZINE!

MARIACHI MEAL - TANTALIZING TACOS

RECIPE FROM OUR SISTER BLOG

 There is no fiesta, without tacos! Tacos are the ideal buffet food, perfect for any family-fun gathering! Instead of meatloaf Monday; or fish Friday or salad Sunday, why not go for this one! Ana and Cheri have prepared a great dish for us to take a run at, big time! I hope you like it as we kick Tacos, our Mariachi Meal of the Week, up to a new height! Woot! (BL)

Ingredients:

Tortillas (corn tortillas for a stiff taco shell, flour tortillas for a soft taco shell)

Cooked & Seasoned ground beef, cubed steak, shredded pork, cubed chicken, or flaked seafood (Vegetarians can substitute meat for beans, as pictured at bottom)

Grated Cheeses, Monterey Jack (white) and Colby or Cheddar (orange)

Shredded Iceburg Lettuce (thinly sliced with a plastic cook's knife & the edges won't brown, or rip into small pieces)

Chopped Tomatoes

Chopped Onions

Sliced Jalapenos

Sour Cream

Sliced Olives

Fresh Guacamole and Salsa (instructions found under Saucy Salsas)

Instructions:

Simply place each ingredient into a taco shell, in order, as listed above, and serve! 

  

Tacos are also the ideal serve-yourself-buffet meal, by placing any combination of the above-listed ingredients in separate serving dishes, will allow guests to make their own unique tacos, as in the variations pictured below.  Have fun!

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPES, PHOTOS ETC...AND TO READ THE WONDROUS TWINAS LATINAS MAGAZINE BLOG!

A MUST SEE FILM - OVERCOMING CHALLENGES!

MOVIE REVIEW

by Bernie Lutchman

(For Twinas Latinas Magazine)  

The 22-minute movie (WATCH HERE FOR FREE: “Butterfly Circus”) has been seen by over 20 million people worldwide, and has won the following awards: Clint Eastwood Filmmaker; Crystal Heart; the Vision Award for Best Short Film, and the Audience Favorite Award at the 2010 Heartland Film Festival.  It also won Best of Show at the Fargo Film Festival, and the Best Short Film from the Feel Good Film Festival at the Historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood!  RECOMMENDED: FIVE STARS!

Set in Depression-Era America, when traveling circuses and sideshows abounded; Butterfly Circus stars the well-known Mexican actor, Eduardo Verastegui, and was written, directed, and produced by Joshua and Rebekah Weigel. However it is Nick Vujicic, playing “Will”, who steals the show! 

Called  the “Limbless Man” by the cruel owner of a fairground sideshow, Will is exploited, insulted, and abused for financial gain, until he encounters the kind Mr. Mendez (Verastegui) causing him to stow away in Mendez’ vehicle, to join the Butterfly Circus.

It is at the Butterfly Circus that Will is transformed from a hopeless, angry, young man to become an inspiration to other physically-challenged young people! From "the man whom God Himself has turned His back upon” (and so full-of-hatred) Will grew to be a man inspiring the phrase "the greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph” under the kind-but-tough love Mendez, and others, offered him at the Butterfly Circus.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS MOVIE REVIEW

(movie graphic from google images)