Lisa Carter's Blog, page 30

March 4—Beneath a Navajo Moon Release Day

I love this cover!!!

What do you think?

For behind-the-scene photos from Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

Why I Wrote Beneath a Navajo Moon

Several years ago, God put it on my heart to get serious about this secret dream of writing I’d had since I was a child. In fact, He compelled me to take the stories that had been swirling in my imagination and write them down. That story became Carolina Reckoning. My second novel, Aloha Rose, was the result of a God-ordained reunion and now in March Beneath a Navajo Moon releases.

Olivia’s story came to me in its entirety in a dream. The Navajo put great stock in their dreams; God often reaches them through the kind of dreams with which He once visited upon Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I think maybe we’ve grown too sophisticated to hear His voice either in our nighttime or waking dreams.

Sometimes people stop themselves for reaching for their dreams because of fear of failure. Whatever your dream, I am the living proof that there is no expiration date on dreams. Rather in my life, God carefully orchestrated my experiences with me being at a place that would bring Him honor through my writing offerings.

The desire for the God-planted dream overcame my fear of taking a risk—to risk a maybe failure versus the certain regret of never having dared to reach. I want my life to be more than a dash between two dates. If there is some dream God has given you, my advice would be twofold: 1)obedience is yours to choose; the outcome belongs to the Lord, and 2)examine your motivation for the dream. God honors those who honor him.

Questions to ponder—Does your life proclaim Christ or self? Will this dream if realized honor God or self? Are you willing to allow God to billboard your sufferings and difficulties so that the light of His glory is able to shine? How transparent are you with your weaknesses, cracks, and wounds?

II Corinthians 4:7-9 reminds me that when I give back to God my plans, goals, and dreams—offering all on the altar of service to Him—He shines all the brighter through my cracked, broken jar of clay.

God requires complete consecration. This consecration begins with an awareness of God’s presence—Are you listening? When God speaks, He will ask you to do something. This dream consecration continues with total abdication of self without reservation to His purposes—all you are, all you have, all you dream of. And because an altar (Romans 12:1-2) implies sacrifice, consecration finally demands the hardest thing of all—giving to God what is most precious. That person or thing and most especially the dream itself. If not submitted, that object has usurped God in His preeminent position in your life. If He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all. This is the painful lesson Erin Dawson learns in Beneath a Navajo Moon; a lesson I’ve also wrestled with.

We must learn to trust God more than we trust ourselves or want this dream. Whatever your talents or desires, we are here on this earth for His glory. God blesses us with dreams and abilities so that we may use what He’s given us for His purposes, not our own. And we should prepare ourselves for the probability that His purposes will take us places—on wonderful, scary, exhilarating adventures—that we couldn’t have begun to imagine.

And so, I write. Stories given by God of incredible loss and unforgettable triumph. Humanity in all its weakness. So that others might see their great need of Him and find healing and the truest of all loves in Jesus Christ. The ultimate paradox is that although I proclaim His worthiness, each story brings me to my own weakness and unworthiness. Perhaps this is indeed the moment we become of use to Him—when we’ve reached the end of our confidence, the end of ourselves and our own sufficiency. When we embrace Who He really is and accept who we really are. It is as Erin remarks in Beneath a Navajo Moon often “a long obedience.”

What about you? What has God appointed for you to do? Are you satisfied with the easy life filled with comfort? Or are you willing to embrace the hard life of great significance for His kingdom? Will you live a life of blessing to those around you? Will you choose obedience so that you might make a difference in this life and in the life to come?

What dream is He calling you to in 2014?

For more photos on the inspiration behind Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

Navajo Fry Bread #Recipe

Ingredients:

3 cups unbleached flour, sifted

1/2 cup dry powdered milk

1 Tbs. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup warm water or milk

Vegetable oil for deep frying

Directions:

1. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large mixing bowl and knead until smooth and soft, but not sticky. Depending on the altitude and humidity, you may need to vary the liquid or the flour.  Don’t overwork the dough, or it will become tough and chewy.

2. Brush a tablespoon of oil over the dough and allow it to rest 20 minutes to 2 hours in a bowl covered with a damp cloth.  After the dough has rested, heat  about a 1/2 inch of oil in a deep frying pan until it reaches a low boil (375º). 

The traditional puffy texture is achieved by frying the bread quickly!  The hotter the oil, the less time it takes to cook. Test oil first.

3. Pinch egg-sized balls of dough and flatten them out into large, saucer-sized circles with no more than 1/4 inch thick. 

4. Fry circle one at a time.  Allow about 2 minutes cooking time per side before turning dough.  When golden brown, place on paper towels to finish draining.

Serve hot with honey, jelly, fine powdered sugar, cinnamon, agave, or fill with a breakfast omelet.

For more recipes and behind the scene photos of Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

 

On the Rez with Adam Silverhorn—2 Minute #Video Character Sketch

For behind-the-scene photos from Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

On the Rez with Erin Dawson—2 Minute Character Sketch #Video

 

For behind-the-scene photos from Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

2 Minute #Video Sneak Peek—Beneath a Navajo Moon Book Trailer

For behind-the-scene photos from Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

My Favorite Cookie #Recipe—Hershey’s Cinnamon Chip Cookies

Sweet mercy . . .
Ingredients


3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 egg
1-2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY’S Cinnamon Chips, divided (I order these online)


2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely ground pecans or walnuts


Directions

1. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Add corn syrup and egg; mix well.

2. Place 1 cup cinnamon chips in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at MEDIUM an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chips are melted when stirred. Stir melted chips into butter mixture.

3. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to cinnamon chips mixture, beating just until blended. Cover; refrigerate dough about 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.

4. Heat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in nuts, lightly pressing nuts into dough. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden around edges. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Enjoy.

For more recipes and behind the scene photos of Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

1 Minute #video Navajo Phrase of the Day for Valentine’s—I Love You

For behind-the-scene photos from Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

French Silk Pie #Recipe

1 sheet refrigerated pie pastry

2/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 oz. melted unsweetened chocolate

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tsp. powdered sugar

Optional whipped cream & chocolate curls

Divide pastry sheet in half. Save one half for another use. On a lightly floured surface, roll out remaining half into an 8″ circle. Transfer to a 7″ pie plate, fluting edges.
Layer pie shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake at 450° for 4 minutes. Bake 2 minutes longer without the foil or until crust is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
In a small saucepan, combine sugar and eggs until well blended. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture coats the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the heat. Stir in chocolate and vanilla until smooth. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
In a small bowl, cream butter until fluffy. Combine with cooled chocolate mixture; beat on high speed for 5 minutes or until light.
In a large bowl, beat cream until it thickens. Add confectioners’ sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into chocolate mixture.
Pour into crust. Chill for at least 6 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls if desired. Refrigerate.

For more recipes and behind the scene photos of Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

#Recipe—Chocolate Chess Pie from Beneath a Navajo Moon

Ingredients:

•1 stick butter

•2 (1 oz.) squares Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate

•1 cup sugar

•2 eggs, beaten

•1 tsp vanilla

•Dash salt

•Pie shell

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Melt butter and chocolate squares in top of a double boiler.

3. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, eggs, vanilla and salt.

4. Add to melted chocolate mix in the double boiler and mix until well combined and sugar melted.

5. Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell and bake until set, 30-35 minutes.

6. Cool and top with whipped cream.

Enjoy.

For more recipes and behind-the-scene photos from Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.