Here I thought I was doing so well on keeping everything up-to-date, and then I saw that my last blog post was in September! Sheesh! Well, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year everyone! I hope the holidays were as wonderful for everyone as they were for us. We got to take a trip to Texas to see my family for Christmas, and it was great to be back home. Now my fingers are crossed that when DH gets the academy over and done with, we will be stationed somewhere in Texas :)
Anyhoo... A friend of mine asked me yesterday what my resolutions were for this year. I have to be honest, I rarely make a list and as a rule I never keep any of the resolutions. But I figured this year, I'd give it a shot and see how it goes. So, I'm brainstorming this evening what my resolutions will be. Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to post an official list, and hopefully making it a public thing will keep me more motivated to actually complete some of the resolutions. I know there will be the generic items like "Lose weight; eat right; write letters; connect with old friends" but I'm hoping that I'll be able to spice it up a bit and add some things that will be real challenges. That said, what are your resolutions?
Monday, January 2, 2012
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Pray For Your Kids
To follow the last post about praying for yourself, here are some verses to pray for your KIDS:
"And this I pray, that your love may abound till more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11
"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Acts 20:32
"And this I pray, that your love may abound till more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11
"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Acts 20:32
Prayers for Moms
An interesting part of my Bible study this morning was this verse, Psalm 101:2
"I will behave wisely in a perfect way. ... I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."
I thought to myself "Wow, isn't that just about every mother's goal? The author (Ellen Banks Elwell) of my devotional book also listed some other prayers for mothers to pray for ourselves:
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5
"The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh." Proverbs 11:17
"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23
"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of your hands." Psalm 138:8
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19
Take some time today to pray these for yourself, and find the encouragement and love that God gives to us.
"I will behave wisely in a perfect way. ... I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."
I thought to myself "Wow, isn't that just about every mother's goal? The author (Ellen Banks Elwell) of my devotional book also listed some other prayers for mothers to pray for ourselves:
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5
"The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh." Proverbs 11:17
"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23
"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of your hands." Psalm 138:8
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19
Take some time today to pray these for yourself, and find the encouragement and love that God gives to us.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Where Do You Turn?
I don't know about you, but there are times in my life when there is too much going on for me to be able to handle it all. Between the normal chaos that comes with being a stay-at-home mother of two, let's toss in a semester of school, being a first time PTSA member, Room-Mom for two classes, being on the Women's ministry council at our church, and preparing for my husband to be in a different state for 5 months while he's in training. I absolutely LOVE my life, but there are times when it feels like it's just too much. How can one person be expected to do all the things that we as mothers do? God showed me the answer this morning in my Bible study, and I felt the need to share this wisdom this morning. You know me, if I'm not convicted of it myself, I don't blog it. So grab your Bible, and flip to these verses:
1 John 4:16 shows us that when we accept Christ's love for us, and abide in His love, then we are abiding in God and He with us. Nothing can separate us from God's love - NOTHING.
Psalm 86:3 When everyone is taking their hurts (be it a boo-boo, bad day at work, fight with a friend, or troubles with their family) where can you go? I'm really good at calling my friends and letting them know what is going on in my life, and listening to advice, or just listening to some sympathy. But, there isn't really anything that those dear friends can actually DO to improve my situation. I make take the help they offer, but there is only ONE who can actually change things for me. Why aren't I taking things to God in the first place?
James 5:16 This ties in well with what I said in the previous verse - if I am having trouble with sin, temptation, stress, ANYTHING - I should confess the problem to God. He can help! He may prompt me to confess to another person to make something right, but I should take everything to Him first.
Lord, I thank You for Your Word this morning. Thank You for showing me that when I abide in Your love, I abide in You and You with me. Thank You that I can take my troubles to You, and that when I am struggling, You want me to turn to You for help. You are such a merciful God. Amen.
I hope this is an encouragement to you this morning, like it was to me. Sometimes when things are getting too hectic, I feel like I'm having to do it all on my own - and that's just not true. God is here. He loves us. He wants us to turn to Him so He can help.
Remember the poem by Mary Stevenson:
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."
Mary Stevenson
Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson, from original 1936 text, All rights reserved
1 John 4:16 shows us that when we accept Christ's love for us, and abide in His love, then we are abiding in God and He with us. Nothing can separate us from God's love - NOTHING.
Psalm 86:3 When everyone is taking their hurts (be it a boo-boo, bad day at work, fight with a friend, or troubles with their family) where can you go? I'm really good at calling my friends and letting them know what is going on in my life, and listening to advice, or just listening to some sympathy. But, there isn't really anything that those dear friends can actually DO to improve my situation. I make take the help they offer, but there is only ONE who can actually change things for me. Why aren't I taking things to God in the first place?
James 5:16 This ties in well with what I said in the previous verse - if I am having trouble with sin, temptation, stress, ANYTHING - I should confess the problem to God. He can help! He may prompt me to confess to another person to make something right, but I should take everything to Him first.
Lord, I thank You for Your Word this morning. Thank You for showing me that when I abide in Your love, I abide in You and You with me. Thank You that I can take my troubles to You, and that when I am struggling, You want me to turn to You for help. You are such a merciful God. Amen.
I hope this is an encouragement to you this morning, like it was to me. Sometimes when things are getting too hectic, I feel like I'm having to do it all on my own - and that's just not true. God is here. He loves us. He wants us to turn to Him so He can help.
Remember the poem by Mary Stevenson:
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."
Mary Stevenson
Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson, from original 1936 text, All rights reserved
Monday, August 29, 2011
Natchitoches Meat Pie
Ingredients:
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
1 large clove of garlic, diced
2 cups beef stock
2 9-inch pie shells
1 egg
1/2 cup water
salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium high heat. Saute beef and pork until golden brown, and no liquid remaining. Add onions, celery, peppers and garlic. Cook 3 to 5 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Slow cook for about an hour, adding beef stock as needed to keep it from sticking. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Roll out the pie dough and cut into halves. Spoon a generous helping of the meat into the shells. Brush a little egg wash around the edge, fold over the dough and press with a fork (like a turnover). Now: you can either deep fry (the preferred way, in my opinion) or bake - just placed on a greased cookie sheet, make small slits for steam, egg wash the entire pie, and then bake for 30 minutes.
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
1 large clove of garlic, diced
2 cups beef stock
2 9-inch pie shells
1 egg
1/2 cup water
salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium high heat. Saute beef and pork until golden brown, and no liquid remaining. Add onions, celery, peppers and garlic. Cook 3 to 5 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Slow cook for about an hour, adding beef stock as needed to keep it from sticking. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Roll out the pie dough and cut into halves. Spoon a generous helping of the meat into the shells. Brush a little egg wash around the edge, fold over the dough and press with a fork (like a turnover). Now: you can either deep fry (the preferred way, in my opinion) or bake - just placed on a greased cookie sheet, make small slits for steam, egg wash the entire pie, and then bake for 30 minutes.
Chicken Gumbo
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 whole chicken, cut up
2 cups andouille sausage
4 slices of bacon
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup chopped celery
4 cloves diced garlic
3 bay leaves
1 1/2 tsp creole seasoning
1 T. tabasco sauce
2 1/2 quarts chicken stock (or you can sub water, I do)
1 cup green onions
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Directions:
Add oil and flour in a large pot, cook until about the color of milk chocolate.
Add onions, green peppers, celery, garlic. Saute over low heat until soft, about 10 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients, except for green onions and parsley. Stir well. Bring up to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 2 hours, 3 hours is best. Add water as needed, stir occasionally.
When it's done, add green onions and parsley, stir and cover. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Add salt to taste.
Serve over white rice.
Serves about 10 to 12.
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 whole chicken, cut up
2 cups andouille sausage
4 slices of bacon
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup chopped celery
4 cloves diced garlic
3 bay leaves
1 1/2 tsp creole seasoning
1 T. tabasco sauce
2 1/2 quarts chicken stock (or you can sub water, I do)
1 cup green onions
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Directions:
Add oil and flour in a large pot, cook until about the color of milk chocolate.
Add onions, green peppers, celery, garlic. Saute over low heat until soft, about 10 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients, except for green onions and parsley. Stir well. Bring up to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 2 hours, 3 hours is best. Add water as needed, stir occasionally.
When it's done, add green onions and parsley, stir and cover. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Add salt to taste.
Serve over white rice.
Serves about 10 to 12.
Crock pot Jambalaya
Ingredients:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cubed (about 1" pieces)
1 pound Andouille sausage, sliced
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes (we use petite diced, peeled, when we can)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, shopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons parsley
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 pound shimp, peeled, deveined (you can use frozen if you like, too.)
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to your crock pot (except for shrimp!). Cover and cook on Low for 7 to 8 hours, or High for 3 to 4 hours. Stir in shrimp in last 30 minutes of cook time, if frozen, and 20 minutes if fresh. Serve over rice.
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cubed (about 1" pieces)
1 pound Andouille sausage, sliced
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes (we use petite diced, peeled, when we can)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, shopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons parsley
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 pound shimp, peeled, deveined (you can use frozen if you like, too.)
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to your crock pot (except for shrimp!). Cover and cook on Low for 7 to 8 hours, or High for 3 to 4 hours. Stir in shrimp in last 30 minutes of cook time, if frozen, and 20 minutes if fresh. Serve over rice.
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