Peeking Over the Horizon

"In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a man from Bethlehem in Judah left the country because of a severe famine.  He took his wife and two sons and went to live in the country of Moab."  Ruth 1:1

Welcome!  I'm so glad you're here today.  As I'm peeking over the horizon of August into September I am both saddened that summer is nearly over and excited to gather with you once again!

I've been in August limbo with vacation, end-of-summer, start-of-hockey, back-to-school craziness!  When August arrives I feel like summer has just begun & is nearly over, all at the same time.  It hits me that there was so much more I had planned to do and just didn't get to it yet.  The stores & TV commercials are already in back-to-school mode and of course, hockey is in full swing.  Some day August will be just another month in the year and I'll miss all this, but until then I have to admit, August is a 'lost month' for me.  It is a month where I feel like I live a split personality: summer laziness & full swing craziness!  But I am thankful for every spinning minute!!

I could be facing a life like Naomi's...

In our next book, The Girl's Still Got It by Liz Curtis Higgs, we meet a wife & mother named Naomi.  The opening verse is not your typical "once upon a time" beginning.  In fact, it's about as bleak a beginning as you can get!  Naomi is peeking over the horizon to an unknown future in a foreign & unfriendly land.  She is following her husband to a forbidden place in hopes of saving her family from starvation.

To refresh your memory (or in case you didn't know), the time of the judges was not the best time for Israel, to put it mildly.  In my Bible, Judges chapters 1-3 are given the heading "The Military Failure of Israel" and over & over again, the  Israelites turn their backs on God.  If you haven't yet read the book of Judges, you should.  It's an interesting, scary, "Mad Max" kind of read and many scholars draw similarities to today's society.  The book of Ruth takes place during the time of Judges, setting the stage of the story.  On top of the religious upheaval & continuous warring with their neighbors, a famine sets in.  Could it get any worse?!  Read the book of Ruth to find out!

On Friday, September 11 at 9:15am,  we'll dive right in to our new study.  In order to finish the book by December 11th, we'll need to start right away!  (Yes, I know it's 14 weeks, but we'll have 2 weeks off in November.)

Start reading today!  

Read "Before We Dive In" and "Chapter 1" before our first gathering.  Read Ruth in your Bible, too.  Choose your favorite translation & grab a refreshing beverage - you can probably read the whole book of Ruth before you finish your drink!  It's only 4 chapters.  It will take a little longer to read our study book, but Liz has such an engaging writing style, you won't want to put it down!

Don't have your book yet?  You can get it here, on Liz's website.  Better yet, support our Youth & Family Ministry by going here and ordering through Amazon.

In order to get the most out of our time in The Word, it's important to ponder what we've read and how it applies to our lives - otherwise, it's just story time.  God wants to work amazing things in us and through us, but if we don't take the time to listen and apply His teaching, we won't be ready.  That's where the Study Guide come to the rescue!

After reading each chapter, turn to the back of the book and find the Study Guide (pg 175).  Our topics of conversation will begin with these questions every week.  Write out your thoughts in a cute notebook or journal.  It helps during discussion time - the sound of crickets can be very awkward!  And as we've talked about before, journaling our thoughts has tons of benefits!  The one that I struggle with the most is slowing down long enough to write out my thoughts.  In the fast paced, high demanding, instant gratification world, writing is the opposite of all of that!  But it's cathartic & therapeutic & just what we need!
I'd love to hear how keeping a journal has influenced your life.  Whether it's a faith journal, a personal journal, or a travel journal, how has it helped you?  What benefits have you noticed?

I cannot wait to get started!!!  I'll see you on September 11th, at 9:15 am, in the "library" of Redeemer Lutheran Church!  I'll have the tea & coffee on and light ReFreshments!

Encourage a friend and bring an open heart!

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly

warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24

 

Morning Dovotions for a good day!

"I wait quietly before God, for my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken."  Psalm 62:1-2

Good Morning!

What a beautiful summer day!  I hope this post finds you all enjoying these warm, sunshiny days.  I miss meeting together with you and though I want the remainder of the summer to go as slowly as possible, I do look forward to seeing you again regularly in September with our next book, "The Girl's Still Got It" by Liz Curtis Higgs.

In the meantime....

We have talked about how important it is to stay in The Word daily.  Giving part of each day to spending quiet time with God to renew and strengthen us for the day ahead; to secure His teachings in our hearts; to be spiritually fed every day so that we can become the woman God designed each of us to be.  Proverbs 31 Ministries  is a strong believer in this; several of their leaders have studies and/or groups that encourage starting the day with devotion.  This summer we have been following one of those groups' formats, "Good Morning Girls".  How have you been doing? 

Me - not so great :(  

I'm good with my evening prayer.  You know, the one at bedtime that I sometimes drift off to sleep in the middle of!  I guess it comes from my childhood and teaching my own children to pray before falling off to sleep.  

My mornings are for coffee & breakfast, vitamins & dog medicine, forcing kids out of bed and making them breakfast, throwing in a load of laundry, and figuring out what I'm doing for the rest of the day!  Mornings are a time of action, not meditation. 

However, when I talk to people who spend a few minutes every morning of quiet meditation and prayer, even at the expense of sleep, they possess an attitude of positive energy I admire.  So I have been working on it; some days are better than others.  I'm okay with the fact that it's a work in progress.  I cannot change decades of ingrained habits in a matter of a few weeks.  I continue to do my best to start the day by giving my first thoughts to God and asking that he be with me throughout the day.  I hope you will continue to do this, too.

Did you know there's an app for that?!  Yes, Proverbs 31 Ministries has developed an app to help you spend the first 5 minutes of your day in The Word!  If you are technology inclined or not, it's a great, simple app that makes it just as easy to read Scripture in the morning as it is to check your e-mail! 

Click here to read more about the free app and a devotion from P31!  It's worth the click!!

Perhaps you already have a morning devotion you enjoy, but if you don't and have been looking for something to help, check out the free app, First 5.   I have been using it for a few days and I like it.  There are a few things I would like to be improved, but overall this app has me reading Scripture before my feet touch the ground in the morning!

I know the blog posts have been few & far between the last few weeks and I can't promise they'll be any better in the next few (camping trip coming up all next week), but I will post a few things before the end of summer!  Honestly, I don't know how bloggers do it every day - they must not sleep or have someone else take care of their daily "life things" like cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.  I love posting, but lately life is just a little scattered. You know what I'm talking about :)

I'd love to hear how your summer is going.  How have you been staying in the Word, your struggles & victories with daily devotion.  Insights & questions  you've been pondering.  Adventures far & near.   

Have a fabulous day!  I miss you!

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly

warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24

Tasty Tuesday

"Mmmmm!  Smell this!  Oooo, this smells so good!  Ahhhh!"  ~Shelly Housel, moving from plant to plant in her herb garden

Is it okay to quote myself?  I'm sure there's lots of thought provoking, herb-related quotes in the world, but this captures an herb's best quality - how it effects people.  When I walk through an herb garden, I can't help but touch the plants and take deep breathes.  If you came with me on my meanderings, you may laugh at my habit of gently pulling on the plant leaves and then smelling my hands.  It looks funny, but it is intoxicating!

Right now, my garden consists of herbs in small pots on my porch.  The soil in my backyard is mostly rock, so I find it difficult to dig a real garden, even though herbs usually do well in various kinds of terrain.  Herbs do equally well in containers and for things like mint & catnip, it's recommended because they can totally take over a garden!  The draw back to herb container gardening is that they do require regular watering: not my strong suit.  Thank goodness herbs are fairly hardy and can withstand my occasional neglect.  This year my husband has made that task much easier by installing one of those pocket hoses.  I love that thing!  One of my most dreaded chores is to move a heavy, unwieldy hose, whether it's the central vac (which I no long use, in part because of the hose) or the garden hose, I work up quite a sweat trying to get the thing uncoiled and recoiled.  Seriously, you'd think I was wrestling a boa constrictor if you saw me!  I LOVE the pocket hose and so do my plants!

This year I planted 2 mint varieties, oregano, basil, parsley, cilantro, lemon balm, lemon grass, catnip, citronella, and lavender.  Is there anything better than making dinner and running to the back porch to finish it off with fresh cut herbs from the garden?  My tomatoes are almost ready for harvesting and I can't wait to eat a Caprese salad with my homegrown tomatoes & fresh basil leaves!  Mmmm, that will be a little slice of heaven!

My project, however, is cultivating a larger lavender garden!  I was inspired by my trip to San Francisco.  They planted herbs everywhere, especially lavender!  And before you say, "it's Tasty Tuesday, this is suppose to be about food", let me tell you, you can eat lavender.  I'm sure most of you knew that already, but there are probably some of you picturing a slice of cake that tastes like soap from Crabtree & Evelyn. Trust me, lavender is edible!  I had a scrumptious lavender French macaron (French spelling) from Miette's in The Ferry Building.  The trick is to use the right kind of lavender and not too much of it!  The flowers are beautiful sprinkled on top of cakes & cupcakes.  It can be used in hot and iced teas, too!  I've even seen the herb & the flower candied.  The possibilities are endless.  And if it's still not your taste, it has tons of other personal and household uses, not to mention it's a bug deterrent in the garden!

Here's a close up of my current, medium sized pot of lavender.  I have made several cuttings that will root on the window sill over the next few weeks.  The plan is to then pot them, nurture them over the winter, and plant them in the front garden in the spring!

Do you have an herb garden?  I'd love to hear about what's planted in it.  Even if you haven't had great success, maybe we could give you some helpful tips.  What favorite herbs to you use regularly use in your cooking?  Would you be willing to try a lavender flavored macaron?

I look forward to hearing all about your fragrant and useful herb gardens!!  I can smell their tasty goodness already!

Don't forget, go to the blog to make your comments!

Thank you for reading & commenting - your engagement feeds my soul and connects our community!

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly
warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24

Tasty Tuesday

"He was a bold man that first ate an oyster."  Jonathan Swift

Did you ever wonder who decided to first eat an oyster, or clam or fish, or many things for that matter?!  I mean, who picks up a rock-looking thing, pries it open, sees a slimy glob and says, "Yum!  Let's eat!"    Okay, maybe it was out of desperation or perhaps they saw an otter eating one.  But, raspberries on a thorny bush look far more appetizing than a rubbery blob inside a seashell.

When it comes to food I am not bold.  I do not eat oysters, raw or cooked!  I just can't.  There are, in fact, many foods I just can't seem to stomach, for various reasons: smell, texture, taste, and how it makes me feel.  I know, within minutes, if something I ate will make me sick.  My body reacts very quickly to things it doesn't like!  Over the years I have learned to notice this with my nose before actually eating it, to avoid complications later.  I don't consider myself a picky eater, but I have to admit to having a more delicate constitution.  That does not stop me, however, from trying new dishes or eating local favorites.  While on a tropical island I always eat seafood, I just opt for dishes prepared without mushrooms, green pepper and loads of garlic (all things that make me ill).  When in Colorado I ate like a cowboy, though I didn't go for the Bison unmentionables when a plate was ordered to share at the table!

When it comes to traveling, I envy people who eagerly tuck into the local fare without any hesitation.  To be able to experience a place or a culture through it's favorite foods is one of the best ways to imerse yourself!  In a few days my son will board a plane to France to visit, explore, experience and taste the history and culture of that country.  I have always been careful to expose and encourage my children to try new things, including food.  They eat things I don't, can handle far spicier foods, and will try most things.  Although my son likes to separate his food (think divided plate) and eat one thing at a time, I hope his time in France will include savoring that country's delicious gastronomic offerings.  I have no doubt he will devour crepes and croissants (family favorites), but hopefully he'll get to also enjoy a few authentic French meals.

I will be off on an adventure, too this summer!  My husband and I will be spending a few days in San Francisco to celebrate a milestone birthday!  Having perused the tour book and the Internet, I think I'll have a more difficult time with the food in SanFran, than my son will in France!  I can't pronounce the names of many of the restaurants on the list of "Top 100 Place to Eat", which can't be good, with food I've never heard of and some I have and know I can't eat!  But, this will not deter me.  I have no doubt we will find scrumptious food and fabulous dining.  There seems to be hundreds of restaurants in and around the city; it's really quite overwhelming.  I don't need anything fancy or touristy or especially elegant (though one fancy dinner might be nice).  I prefer to move and pick when I'm traveling: a taste of this and a taste of that, leaving room to sample a wide variety of food, while not be committed to any one thing.  I enjoy bringing home from my travels a new recipe, whether inspired by the place I'm visiting or an actual recipe.  I can't wait to see what inspiration San Francisco holds for our family's dinner table!

When you travel, how do eat?  Do you look for the closest American restaurants abroad?  Do you stick to what you know (in other parts of this continent)?  Do you ask where the locals eat?  Do you dig in to dishes you have no idea what they are but have been assured they are authentic and delicious?  Do you eat simple or indulge in fancy meals?

On a more personal note: if you've been to San Francisco, where should we eat?  In such a foodie city, the possibilities are endless and we'd love personal, first-hand-experience recommendations!

I hope this summer holds some food adventures for you.  Even if you can't travel, you can "visit" a place through authentic meals.  Maybe you can try a new local restaurant specializing in another country's food.  Perhaps a "world food" day once a week, where you prepare authentic foreign dishes for your family.  

When you can't get out and explore the world, bring the world to your kitchen!!

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly
warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24

ReAwakenings 1 Peter 3

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.  Don't repay evil for evil.  Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you.  Instead, pay them back with a blessing.  That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it."  1 Peter 3: 8-9.

Oh what a glorious place this would be if we all followed Peter's advice (above)!  Read it again.  Let it sink in.

Welcome!  I am so glad you are here.  I hope you are staying with the reading plan and are reading, pondering, and S.O.A.K.-ing your week in the Word of God.  As a group, we are up to 1 Peter 3, but if  you need to catch-up, that's okay.  Grab a few quite moments to spend with your Lord today, before the festivities of the holiday weekend kick off!

There's a ton of good stuff in 1 Peter 3!   However, the first seven verses are a bit of a 'pill' for me - hard to swallow!  I get it and the notes in my study Bible explain these verses in such a way that help me to process the notion of "submission" and "weaker sex".  But it's still "nails-on-a-chalkboard" for me to read those words.  I think it's because they have often been used to the detriment of women; to justify men's 'superiority' over women and to keep women from being equals to men in all aspects of life.  There is Scripture and examples of women throughout the Old and New Testaments that speak to the equality and strength of women.  When I read the first 7 verses, I did it with gritted teeth and tried to silence the screaming feminist in my head :)  If you don't have a Study Bible that can better explain what Peter is trying to say, let me know in the comments.  I'll be happy to share the notes I have, but I really want to talk about verses 8 & 9!

With all the latest social unrest, wouldn't it be so wonderful if these verses could become the new mantra for America!  It seems lately there is so much stirring of the pot of hatred that it's hard to see a bright future.  The sad part is that much of the stirring is done by religious leaders and 'Christians' quoting the Bible.   Why can't they quote this!?  WHY CAN'T THEY QUOTE THIS!!!

I'm a bit of a romantic mixed with a realist, so I accept that
1) there is evil in the world
2) we all have bad days
3) we're not perfect.

Even the best intentioned person is going to say something against someone at some point; they will lose their temper, be in a bad mood or just totally lose it on some one!  It's what happens after that, that makes all the difference.  How do we respond, whether we are the one being negative or the recipient? If we could pause and bring to mind Peter's words to "... pay them back with a blessing." perhaps the Evening News would be filled with stories of hope & healing rather than bitterness, accusations, and strife.

Evil, circulating in society as discrimination, superiority, entitlement, vengeance, payback, retaliation, human justice, and all manner of negativity, fan the flames of hatred.  God calls us to smother that fire with the cooling waters of Love, Grace, and Blessings.

When you have the opportunity to teach the next generation and influence your peers and children of all ages, teach them this: "Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.  Don't repay evil for evil.  Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you.  Instead, pay them back with a blessing.  That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it."  1 Peter 3: 8-9.  If the world could embrace this - what a wonderful place it would be!

I'd love to read what this week's Scripture means to you.  Leave a few thoughts in the Comments.    

Be a blessing in the world today!

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly
warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24

Tasty Tuesday

"The breakfast of champions!" - Wheaties commercial

It's officially summer in my house!  My son finished his sophomore year of high school yesterday!  I'm letting him sleep in today as a reward for working hard all year!

The catch to sleeping in at our house is that you don't get breakfast.  The kitchen closes at 9 am on weekends, at 8 am during the week.  I'd like it to be earlier, but I've caved to popular vote.  Of course, that's a general rule - we often have to be on a field or in an ice rink at those times, so breakfast is earlier those days!  I choose my battles and I kind of like the quiet time in the morning on the days that aren't dictated by sports schedules, so it's a win-win.

I'm a morning person and I love breakfast!  It's said that it is 'the most important meal of the day' and I can't agree more.  I could eat a full breakfast before my feet hit the ground!  I'm so hungry in the morning, my husband knows food comes first - not even coffee, food!  Being a mother, if the kids are at the table, I will make them breakfast first.  On school days, their breakfast is first so they can get to the bus stop.  But, I have a glass of water & a cup of tea while scrambling eggs and buttering toast.

A typical weekday breakfast in my house is scrambled eggs with fruit or a vegetable (tomatoes, Brussels sprouts & broccoli being the most popular), hot tea, and vitamins.  I make THE BEST scrambled eggs, but I'll save that for another post!  My youngest hasn't fully bought in to the high protein breakfast, so most mornings she'll have pancakes or waffles with fruit and milk. Occasionally,  I will make a pound of bacon on the weekend and reheat it during the week to go with the eggs; sometimes we have sausage.  We also have "dippy eggs" (over easy to the rest of the world), poached eggs, and hard boiled eggs.  My family goes through about 3 dozen eggs a week!  That's just me and the kids - my husband doesn't eat breakfast.

We have cereal on hand, but it's not often eaten for breakfast.  Cereal has become a snack, dinner substitute (on "whatever you can find night") or post dinner meal on those days we have an early dinner and are hungry again at 7!

Weekends are for more involved cooking!  That's when I make pancakes (I love experimenting with flavors and add-ins), waffles, and French toast: a double batch so I can put the extras in the freezer for weekday reheating.  In this house we never have to "le'go my Eggo" because homemade is so much better!
Along with these warm pastries is a toppings bar.  Always start with butter - real butter - nothing fake or butter-flavored, ever.  Then choose from: table syrup, Maple syrup, powdered sugar, fresh fruits (whatever we have), a variety of jams, orange marmalade, sour cream, plain Greek yogurt, vanilla Greek yogurt, chocolate chips, apple butter, and whipped cream are the standards.  Sometimes we'll have some clotted cream or Swedish Creme left over from dessert.  We have even drizzled caramel sauce for an indulgent creation!  If you've never thought of putting anything but syrup on your pancakes, waffles, & French toast you are missing a great breakfast.  My favorite topping combination is chocolate chips (they'll melt to create a chocolate layer), orange marmalade, and sour cream.  It's delicious!

The next time you whip up a batch of pancakes (waffles or FT) let your imagination run wild!  What flavors, fruits, and condiments can you add to the batter or on top to start your morning right!  Add a side of your favorite protein & beverage to kick start your day!

What is breakfast like at your house?  I'd love to hear about your "breakfast of champions".  Go to the blog and share your favorite, typical, unusual, or unique breakfast ideas!

"Greet the dawn with enthusiasm and you may expect satisfaction at sunset."  ~Amish Proverb

Your Partner in Ministry,
Shelly 
warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24

ReAwakenings 1 Peter 2

"It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you."  1 Peter 2:15

Every once in a while I come across a person who seems to not like me, just because.  I'm one of those people who wants everyone one to like me - at least until I give them a real reason not to!  So, when one of those kinds of people comes into my life, I spend way too much time and energy worrying about that 'relationship'.  Often times, it's not even a relationship yet, it's just an acquaintanceship  (is that a word?).  Anyway, I ruminate over conversations trying to figure out if I said something offensive, I plan my next encounter with that person, so that I can be my best in their presence.  I even ask for advice from people who know that person well, as to how I should act or approach our next meeting.  It rolls around in the back of my brain daily, taking up valuable space that I really can't spare!  It shows it's destructive nature when I realize how unproductive I've been in other areas of my life!

I become overly tired, distracted, forgetful, short tempered, and suffer from general air-headedness (I'm on a roll with made-up words today).  It's utterly ridiculous that I become so concerned with something that, in the long run, really doesn't matter.  This is a lesson I learned some time ago, but often have to be reminded of it.  Can you relate?  I have several friends who have no idea what this feels like and I envy them.  My husband is one who doesn't have a worry in the world if, for some unknown reason, someone decides to say something against him or verbally attack him or just doesn't like him.  It's not even a blip on his emotional radar!  And he can't understand my emotional response of not being liked by everyone.  I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm a little crazy - but he loves me anyway - thank goodness!

We're all wired differently, but we are all called to the same Love.  In chapter 2 of Peter's First letter, there is a warning, "Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors...." 1 Peter 2:12, followed shortly by the encouraging words above from verse 15.  While I do believe that it is in my nature, the way my hormones & wiring & thinking are naturally, to want to be liked; it is also greatly influenced by this world's pressure to be accepted, part of the crowd, a follower of 'the norm' rather than a follower of "The Way".  Wanting to be liked by everyone is akin to keeping up with the Jones'!  

So, when I notice my worldly nature eating at my happiness and productivity I check in with my heart, where the Holy Spirit dwells.  I search what I know to be truthful - God's truth that love and acceptance from Him is the only thing that matters.  That what some person says about me or how they treat me is not for me to judge or worry about.  God calls me to love my neighbor as myself and leave the rest to Him.  He promises that, "Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world."  1 Peter 2:12b. 

Lord knows I've said and done some pretty stupid things, certainly any one of them would be reason enough to discount me as your new friend.  But, as best as I am capable, I strive to live as Christ wants me to live.  All I can do is leave the rest to God!  Last year during "My One Word" I chose to work on being a "warrior" rather than a "worrier" (perhaps you've noticed that word under my name?).  Well, I can't say that it has been a remarkable year in making me a "Warrior" for Christ, but I continue to move from worrier to warrior, with God's continued reminders and help.  God doesn't always do BIG things, He is found in the tiniest details and small moments, whispering words of love & encouragement.  God is bigger than any problem we may face, but He also is walking along side us, indwelling our hearts, never leaving us for a moment.  

I'd love to hear your reaction to or part of what you discovered in your S.O.A.K. of 1 Peter, chapter 2.  Go to the blog to jot down your thoughts in the Comment section.

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly
warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24

ReAwakening - 1 Peter 1

"So think clearly and exercise self-control.  Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ."  1 Peter 1:13

My summer has not yet started even though it's the middle of June!  Our schools are still in session this week (half days of exams for the high school kids and mostly fun & games for the elementary), but they are still in school.  The days of sleeping in and being unencumbered by a schedule are still a week away.  In these last days it is very difficult to roll out of bed on time, to stay focused on final projects and tests.  We are distracted by the approaching excitement of freedom from the daily grind and the upcoming vacations that are planned.   It is with great anticipation that we await the glory days of summer!

In the midst of all this hoopla and planning of summer activities, I open my Bible and read Peter's words: "think clearly and exercise self-control".   He seems to be saying the exact opposite of what I hoped the next 9 weeks would be.  Summer is a time of indulgence (lazing by a pool, ocean or lake), ice cream in the middle of the week, sleeping in, and doing as little 'thinking' as possible.  Even if it's not for the entire summer, it is a time when we take a vacation and let loose for at least a week!  So, Peter's words knocked the wind out of my summer sails for a moment.

We all know what happens when we throw thinking to the summer wind for 9 weeks!  We lose knowledge, we become undisciplined, lazy and by the start of the next school year getting back into a schedule is extremely difficult.  Learning becomes a chore and don't even get me started on waking-up on time!  It is so easy to fall into a summer slump of indulgence.

So it is with our faith.  When we are away from God's word for an extended time, it is easy to lose our way.  How have you been doing with your summer S.O.A.K. and reading?  Personally, it's been a bit of a challenge to fit it in.  My youngest was sick for an entire week, my middle child turned 16, and I've been playing catch-up or get-ready for several weeks of household chores.  Yes, my Bible reading has suffered and my soul has felt it, and it's not even summer vacation yet!

If you are like me, and finding it difficult to grab a few minutes to spend reading God's word, don't stop trying!  On the days you can't read, continue to pray and live out the Good News as you go about your day.  The word strengthens and encourages us, but how we live our daily lives shows the world that we belong to Christ!  

In our reading, the Apostle Peter (the guy who cut off a guard's ear and then denied Jesus 3 times) is writing to early Christians who have been scattered and suffering persecution.  Under Emperor Nero, Christians in Rome were blamed for the 'burning of Rome' and were tortured and killed for their faith in the public arena.  Peter's letters were written and sent, (probably from Rome) to those scattered throughout Asia Minor.  The purpose of his letter is to comfort and encourage believers everywhere, especially new believers.

If you feel scattered or discouraged, read Peter's letter as if it was written especially for you (because, in a way, it was).  Be strengthened by his words and by the example of the life he lived.  Even though he stumbled, he never stopped being a follower of Christ.  Peter, formerly Simon Peter, was renamed by Jesus and was told he would be the "rock" on which the church would be built.  He did not become a disciple because he was perfect for the job; he was changed by God's love to be the perfect example for us.

As I embark on a summer of activities, please forgive my lack of posting when it happens.  Like Peter, I go through times of great enthusiasm and times of being scattered & undisciplined.  Summer usually finds me scattered, both physically and mentally.  But, I hope you will continue to follow the reading schedule, S.O.A.K. in your journal, and comment on the blog.  We are called to live in community and share our faith, but remember that our God desires a personal relationship with each of us and one of the best ways to grow that relationship is through reading His Word and prayer.

Take a lesson from Peter's life, "It is better to be a follower who sometimes fails than one who fails to follow", Life Application Study Bible, Profile of Peter, pg. 1469.

Here's to a summer of learning that when we fall (in our faith and our life), we should get back up and continue on our way-  down the path that God has built for us!

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly
warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24 

Tasty Tuesday

"Look who's coming to dinner!"

Although the weather has once again cooled and all this rain has me wondering if I'm really in the north east and not the North West, we are on the cusp of summer!  My back porch has been cleaned, stained & sealed and I can't wait to host my first al fresco meal.  Summer is a time of backyard entertaining, picnics, and just a good reason to randomly invite friends and family over for dinner.

This weekend my son turns 16!!  It's hard to believe my middle child has reached this milestone - I'm still trying to figure out how that happened!  So, instead of dwelling on the swift passage of time, I'm planning the meals we'll have over the course of the weekend, with a house full of family here to celebrate!

How do you entertain in the summer?  From throwing everything on the grill to crock-pots & casseroles, summer is wide open when it comes to meal prep options.

When we are having friends and family over for a cook-out, it's usually the standards on the grill.  Cheeseburgers (because what's a burger without cheese? - naked!), hot dogs (see my previous post about hot dogs!!), and BBQ chicken (boneless, of course), with pre-made sides that can be whisked to the table in a moments notice.  I don't know about you, but I don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen when I'm entertaining, especially in the summer!

But, for an entire weekend of feeding a crowd with as little cooking fuss as possible, I turn to my trusty crock pot!  No, they are not just for winter stews and comfort food.  I'll be making Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork, from SixSisterStuff.com .  Pulled meat always reminds me of outdoor eating & bar-b-que's, the smell as it cooks is just divine, and no utensils required!  I love that cooking it low & slow requires almost no attention and it can be made ahead of time, stored in the refrigerator (or freezer, if you're cooking way ahead of time) and thrown back into the crock pot for heating a few hours before serving.  Throw together some veggies, fresh fruit, and a light dessert and we have a fabulous no-fuss meal for feeding a crowd during an exciting weekend of celebrating and family togetherness!

I'd love to hear your favorite crowd pleasing meal, especially for easy summer-time cooking!

If you're reading this in your e-mail click here to pop over to the blog and leave your comments!

I can't wait to try your mouth watering recipes!

Your Partner in Ministry,
Shelly
warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24  

Tasty Tuesday

"One man's trash is another man's treasure."  

No doubt you've heard this saying before; maybe even used it yourself.  Today, I'd like to find out how you put it into practice in your kitchen and/or cooking!

Don't wrinkle up your nose until you hear me out.  Wastefulness is a pet peeve of mine; maybe to a fault.  I embraced reduce, reuse, recycle before it was mainstream.  Admittedly, the house can become a little cluttered with things that I think might be useful later.  But, I'm getting better at being selective and productive with what I keep.  The one place this has always been a part of my life is the kitchen.  My great grandmother, Minerva, was a master at this (as was many women of her time).  Not much went to the trash from her kitchen!  She passed some of this frugality to my mom, where I absorbed it and continue to use it in my kitchen today!

I know of people and whole families who refuse to eat leftovers - they throw everything into the garbage can at the end of each dinner.  I have a hard time wrapping my head around this wastefulness - ugh!!!  It's the simplest thing to put the extra servings in the refrigerator and have them for lunch or dinner later, especially when you're short on time and need a "heat 'n eat" meal.  I understand that the frig can get crowded with small portions of food, some getting pushed to the back and forgotten, only to emerge as some kind of scary science project.  But, if you make a habit of using the leftovers, that doesn't happen very often.
In our home we have incorporated leftovers into our weekly meal plan.  Sometimes it's called "Buffet Night", sometimes it's "Whatever You Can Find Night", and other times it's labeled "Throwback Thursday" (though that can also mean an old-fashioned meal).   On these nights, we get all the food out of the refrigerator and each person gets to choose (or have a little of everything) from the previous nights' dinners.  The kids really enjoy it because they get to choose their favorite meal of the week to have again; if they don't want a particular food, they don't have to have it.  It's a win-win for everyone!   There's also the idea of "planned overs".  That's when you make twice as much and plan to have the same meal twice.  Either within the week, as lunches, morph it into another dish, or freeze it to have at a much later time or when in need of a quick meal.  Sometimes, just changing the label can change attitudes.  If you "don't do" leftovers in your home, maybe using one of these methods will give new life to an old problem.  

What about the food that's leftover while making meals?  You know, the crusts & heels of the loaf of bread and the parts of veggies that you don't eat.  What does one do with all that kitchen trash?  Turn it into treasure, of course!  Here are a few of my favorite ways to do that:

BREAD (crusts & heels).  Do you trash the crust of toast & sandwiches?  Do you throw away the first & last slices of the loaf of bread?  STOP doing that!  Do this instead: cut them into bread cubes and put them in the freezer (use an empty bread bag to continue to reduce, reuse, & recycle).  You can use these bread cubes in a number of ways, but my two favorites are
     a. stuffing, use your favorite recipe
     b. french toast casserole -  my favorite French Toast Casserole is found here - Mamabelly's.

VEGETABLES There are a few things you can do with veggies.
     a. cooked veggies - if the portion left over from dinner is too small to have again, put it in a container         in the freezer (label it 'cooked veggies'). Add any cooked vegetables to this over time.  When the container is full, make vegetable soup!  Remember that these are cooked, so they won't need to cook in the soup; add them last so they don't turn to mush.
     b. raw veggies  - the parts of vegetables that we don't usually cook & serve, like the stem of broccoli, or when carrots are looking a little old (not pretty enough to serve, but still good to eat).  Cut the vegetables into small pieces put it in a container marked "raw veggies", storing it in the freezer.  These can be used to flavor broth for soup & stews or even cook down into vegetable broth.
     c. ends & leaves - these are the parts that we humans don't eat, but that doesn't mean they can't be useful.  Start a compost!  There are all sizes & variety of compost for every household!  Whether you have a large garden or a few pots of flowers, your plants will thank you for feeding them with the treasure you created from your kitchen trash.

In case you're wondering.... Yes, I have a freezer!  In fact I have 2 refrigerators with freezers and a small chest freezer.  But, I also have 3 children, buy in bulk (including meat), and cook most meals.  You probably wouldn't need this much freezer space :)

There are lots of frugal, trash-to-treasure things that can be done with food!  I'd love to hear how you turn kitchen trash into edible or reusable treasure!  Share your tips, tricks, and ideas in the Comments!

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly
warrior


"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24