Friday with Friends--guestblogger, Angie Breidenbach

Today everyone is in for a treat with this inspiring post by Angie Breidenbach. I know Angie from ACFW where we sang in the choir together and she served 2009-2011 as our publicity officer. Angie wears many hats on her pretty head as you can tell from her list of websites below. I hope you will check them out and her books which have been a blessing to many. Today's post is from her book Gems of Wisdom, which releases next week. This excerpt begins with a foreword from ACFW's president, Margaret Daley.

Foreword

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning;

and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

—Proverbs 1:5



When I read this proverb, I immediately thought of Angie Breidenbach’s Gems of Wisdom. This book is filled with good advice and information to help people overcome obstacles they face in their life.

When I read Gems of Wisdom, I particularly loved the positive advice with the emphasis on setting goals, journaling, and taking small steps toward changing your life. She covers all the positive attitudes we need to counter the negative ones that we can be bombarded with day in and out. This can be done through education and knowledge, both of which lead to wisdom.

Living can be hard, filled with many trials and tribulations, but Gems of Wisdom gives you concrete ways to get a handle on those problems, so you can live your life to the fullest. I cried when reading this, but mostly I walked away with tools to use to solve issues I had been wrestling with. I was able to fight those pirates that wanted to rob me of peace.

Reading Gems of Wisdom will enrich your life. You will find a treasure trove of gems that will equip you to make sound decisions. There is no place for negativity. Embrace life and savor the words to come.


—Margaret Daley




Excerpt from Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life



Chapter 1

What’s Fair?

Gemstone: Tanzanite

Pirate: Injustice

Then I will purify them and put them to the test, just as gold and silver are purified and tested. They will pray in my name, and I will answer them. I will say, "You are my people," and they will reply, "You, LORD, are our God!" Zechariah 13:9, CEV



Heat treatment can turn ordinary gemstones into extraordinary jewels. Tanzanite, straight from the ground, is tinged brown. Dirt colored, plain old brown. It’s easy to take for granted as a valueless rock. But heat that rock and watch the fire flare from the dazzle. A kind of can’t-take-your-eyes-off-it rich purple-blue dazzle.



Tanzanite is most often cut into facets, adding more dimensions to the jewel. The intensity comes from the high temperature that purifies the color. Color that makes you want to take a second look, draw in a little closer, and see it from every angle to absorb the beauty.

Record your answers to questions in the following sections in Chapter 1 of the Companion Guide.



Ponder Point

How skewed is your fairness meter?
As a Christian, it seems as if I live in an open-air zoo. Passersby stop and stare. They watch my every move with fascination like a monkey in an exhibit. Sometimes the people on the other side of an invisible wall mock, taunt, and tease. Sometimes they throw words at me to get a reaction so they can tell their friends about the exciting visit to the zoo. But when a fellow monkey wants to fight over little things . . .

Safe in my little monkey enclosure, I don’t need protection from my own kind. I don’t expect to fight over the branch where I rest or the proper way to peel my banana. After all, we’re compatible creatures, right?

When someone trustworthy attacks, it feels like a hairy arm swipes at my fruit and bare teeth screech an unbearable noise demanding to be in command. Other monkeys watch the commotion as my attacker bites and claws and leaves open sores to scar forever. She wasn’t even hungry. She had a pile of bananas under her own branch.

I want to run and hide from the unnecessary malice. I plead for respite from my Zookeeper. I want to go to a safe enclosure away from the mean monkey. The Zookeeper holds me, binds my wounds, and gives me back my banana. But he doesn’t take the bad monkey out. Instead, he approaches the offender with love. I watch, huddled with pouting, tearful eyes.

The Zookeeper opens his arms to the nasty, selfish monkey. She leaps into them, grasping and clinging, and drops a little bundle in the process. The tiny body is no longer breathing. He picks up and cradles the little lost one. Zookeeper pulls the mean monkey deeper into his embrace.

I needed holding.

“She attacked out of confusion and fear.” He looks over to me. “Her heart is sick.” It wasn’t evident by the way she looked on the outside and the skill she used to keep the hurt hidden. “Oh, my gentle soul,” he says. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Come.”

We are both sick and in need of our Zookeeper’s care.



Pique Points

Do people hide things they don’t know how to deal with?
Is being fair really the issue?
How skewed is my fairness meter?



About the book:
In Gems of Wisdom: For A Treasure-Filled Life you'll embark on a treasure hunt for God's unique gems of wisdom. Be empowered, learn to influence through your own life lessons, and preserve important relationships. Gems of Wisdom invites the reader on a treasure hunt to find important life concepts represented by the beautiful stones God created. Excellent for Bible study and book clubs as well as individual study.


Amazon Sales link: http://www.amazon.com/Gems-Wisdom-Treasure-Filled-Angela-Breidenbach/dp/1936438046/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3

About the author:
Angela Breidenbach is Mrs. Montana International 2009, a multi-award winning inspirational speaker and the author of the Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life from Journey Press, the Creative Cooking Series including the new release of Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance and the new Kindle release, Creative Cooking for Colitis. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from Guidepost, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers. She connects missions to her work with Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries and the Jadyn Fred Foundation. Angela also teaches online classes and coaches one-on-one in courageous confidence, personal growth, and powerful living. She’s certified in mentor/peer counseling as a Stephen Minister and life coach. Angela serves as an assisting minister for her congregation in Missoula, MT. She volunteered as the American Christian Fiction Writer's publicity officer for two years. Not only did she walk the hard line of deciding to donate her mom's brain for the study of schizophrenia, but she’s also on the brain donation list at the Brain Bank-Harvard McLean Hospital. Angela is married with a combined family of six grown children and two grand children. Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life releases May 2011 from Journey Press, a Sheaf House imprint.



Interested in having Angela speak? Contact Christian Speaker Services 800.871.9012 x40250

Interact with or learn more about Angela Breidenbach:

http://www.angelabreidenbach.com/

http://www.mygemofwisdom.comhttp//www.MyGemofWisdom.com

http://www.Youtube.com/AngieBreidenbach


http:///http://www.godusesbrokenvessels.com/

http://www.thefaithgirls.com%20on%20wednesdays%20each%20week/




Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog, Rose!
Angie

And thank you for visiting, Angie. I hope you will come back again and share more of your Gems of Wisdom!

Special E-book giveaway by Angie Breidenbach--Creative Cooking for Colitis

I usually only give away one book a month, but I am happy to share with you that Angie Breidenbach has offered to give away her new E-book to one lucky winner. So, any one who posts a comment on this special blogpost any time this month will be in the drawing for this cookbook. (If you wish to also be in the drawing for the other book of the month, read the last post and leave a comment there.)

Don't you love these pictures? The first one is of the recipe listed below for Spanish tortillas and the second is of Angie and her cute grandson Jude making homemade noodles. What a precious tradition!
Angie is a sweetheart whom I first met at an ACFW conference where several of us did a skit about the ACFW board. I played Gail Gaymer Martin and Angie played Randy Ingermanson. Can you picture that!?!

Angie is a busy lady. Here are a few things she's been up to this past year:

Angela Breidenbach
Montana, United States
Angela Breidenbach, Mrs. Montana International 2009, teaches Creative Cooking for Colitis. She is a multi-award winning inspirational author and speaker. Her book, Creative Cooking for Colitis, comes from living with it daily. Tired of the culinary limitations, Angela set out to create! She shares tips and recipes to add joy back into eating. She is married, has a combined family of six grown children, one grandson. Come uncover your courage and confidence at www.MyGemofWisdom.com Personal growth = Powerful living! Angela Breidenbach's sites: http://www.MyGemofWisdom.com http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com http://GodUsesBrokenVessels.blogspot.com http://twitter.com/AngBreidenbach http://www.facebook.com/AngelaBreidenbach http://WritingByFaith.blogspot.com on Wednesdays each week. And somehow, she also finds time to do a smashing job as ACFW's Publicity Officer and works with Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries, the American Heart Association, and the Jadyn Fred Foundation. In fact, part of your purchase price will go to the Jadyn Foundation. Angela also teaches online classes and coaches one-on-one in courageous confidence, personal growth, and powerful living. She’s certified in mentor/peer counseling as a Stephen Minister and Assisting Minister.

To whet your appetite (I know it did mine!) I am copying one recipe from the book (with Angie's permission, of course.) It is just a sample of the many recipes you will find there, ranging from main dishes to dessert. In the book, she also gives a detailed explanation of how to treat colitis by limiting your food then adding one at a time. She also has marked several of the recipes as ones that are good for celiac disease and also for weight loss.

Spanish Tortilla+*
A tasty, mild egg and potato omelet some might call a frittata. There’s no flour. This is not bread like Mexican tortillas. I
learned this traditional Spanish tapas recipe from Maite’ Pressler when I lived in Spain. Tapas are small snacks served in pubs. It’s
modified for simplicity and easy digestion. Bonus: add ingredients as you build your food list. The trick is two eggs for every potato in
case you want to expand the recipe size. Important: Standard potato—the size of a light bulb for two eggs.
Serves 8 as tapas, 4 as the main entrée.
2 large potatoes, washed, peeled, & bite-size
4 eggs or the equivalent in egg substitute
1 tsp. water
½ tsp. salt
2 Tablespoons Olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped Garlic
¼ Cup chopped onion
2 Tablespoons Sun-dried tomatoes, julienne
4-5 large mushrooms, sliced
Chives to taste
4 thinly cut slices of ham
1 thinly sliced fresh tomato
1 cup grated medium cheddar*
Additional sharp cheddar, grated for garnish
Angela Breidenbach, Creative Cooking 4/2/2010 34
In heavy frying pan coated with olive oil, sauté potatoes over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. If you are able to tolerate onion,
cook with potatoes. Lower heat to low and cover. Allow to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes until soft. Test for
doneness. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 degrees and begin eggs.
Whisk all eggs, salt, and water. (The water fluffs the eggs when cooking.) Oil or spray a round pie glass-baking dish. I prefer
not to use non-stick or dark pans to avoid overdone edges and tough bottom. The traditional round shape doesn’t matter as much as
the depth. This recipe will puff. I make this for large family gatherings of 10-12. Then I use my largest glass-baking pan and multiply
by three.
Add the mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic to the potatoes and sauté for one minute. Pour vegetable mixture into the
glass-baking dish. Pour the whisked eggs over the vegetables. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes. The goal is to set the eggs hard
without turning them overly brown. If the eggs set well on the bottom, but still too much liquid on top, turn on broiler 5 min. to finish.
Top tortilla with cheese. Spread ham to cover the round tortilla, and place sliced tomatoes around the top. Return to oven. Broil
for 2-3 minutes to heat the toppers and melt the cheese. Sprinkle with chives for garnish.
Serve warm or cold. We eat it fresh out of the oven for a dinner and then eat it cold the next day for lunch or breakfast.

Rose here again: I don't have colitis, but I have a daughter who has had IBS. And I am trying to lose a few pounds, plus these pictures and recipes look and sound so good that I will definitely be trying some soon. Hope you will hurry on over and find out more about:
New Release Creative Cooking for Colitis!
Special new release price, $10!

Full color photos for each recipe

You can check out another recipe and tips and learn how to order this e-book at:
http://ColitisCooking.blogspot.com
http://www.MyGemofWisdom.com

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the contest. I will have my husband draw a name when we do our regular drawing on May 1st. And you can always order a book for a friend or family member, too. I'm sure they will thank you for that!