Wedded Wednesday:Never Once!

Wednesdays are my favorite day in the blogging world.  I love talking about marriage, because, well, I just love being married.  Not in a "I live a fairytale life where it has always been dreamy" way, but "I love marriage because we have worked and prayed hard to get where we are today, and now I can appreciate marriage more" kind of way!

As I sat and pondered on what subject I might write about today, my mind drifted off.  I was thinking about two friends going through hard times in their marriages.  My heart was so heavy that I had to stop and pray for them.  When I see another sister-in-Christ in turmoil over her marriage, it absolutely breaks my heart.  Maybe as you read this, you are facing a storm in your marriage.  Today is for you, my friend. 

If you have been married very long, you know that there are ups and downs.  You don't always feel an overwhelming, fairytale emotion for your spouse.  As a matter of fact, you might occasionally wonder if your Marriage Boat  will sink. 

 

When I think back to a rough time in my marriage, I just remember what seemed like a deluge of helplessness.  I felt like I was falling into a black hole with no one to drag me out.  Maybe, you can relate.  I wanted to be able to snap my fingers and magically make everything better, but it doesn't happen like that.  I didn't know how long I could stand the fire, but God knew what I could handle.  I needed to go through that to grow me (even though I couldn't see it at the time).  Our battle was a spiritual battle over authority (Praise God, He has changed my heart!), but there are many trials that we can face in marriage.  Adultery, financial issues, unbelieving spouses, or spouses who have turned their back from God.  These are just a few I can think of, but God knows what we are walking through.   

If I can convey one message today it would be this, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  No matter how alone you may feel, God has not left you, nor will He ever!   

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV

We might not all walk through the same trials in our marriages.  We might not all have the outcome we wish for.  One thing that I do know is, that as Believers in Christ, HOPE IS NOT GONE!  WE ARE NEVER LEFT TO WALK THROUGH THE STORM ALONE! 

The lyrics of Never Once by Matt Redman say it best.  I have made this my anthem.  It rings true about my life and about marriage!  I added the lyrics for those of you who can't view the video from your phones. 

Never Once



Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

 

For those of you who needed this today, just know, you have sisters praying for you!  If you have a friend in need of some encouragement in her marriage, share this with them.  You might even call or send them an email/text and just let them know that you are praying.  Then purposefully and passionately pray that God will do a work that only He can do in their marriage!

 

Spiritual Eyes!

Today's post is by Naomi Chance: wife, homeschooling mom, Women's Ministry Director, fantastic chef, and my friend!   

 

 

My youngest daughter, Jane, made me this bracelet on Saturday.  When we were getting ready for church on Sunday morning she asked me if I was going to wear it.  Well, being my baby girl and all, how could I possibly say no?  It matched nothing I was wearing but that didn’t matter to this Momma!

 

 

As women we are so concerned with how we dress, what matches, and what looks good.  After all, we love beautiful things and God created us this way.  However, The Word of God is so contradictory about this when it comes to looking at this lost world.

 

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height,

for I have rejected him.  The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. 

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

~1 Samuel 16:7

 

We should walk out of our home with our “spiritual eyes” on.  When we go to the grocery store do we look at a woman who is speaking to her children in an overly harsh tone in judgment?  OR are we looking at her through the eyes of Christ???  She is, after all, fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14).

When I look at this bracelet made for me by my sweet girl my heart is full.  I know she was thinking of me when she made it.  I know she made it with love and care: just as God created that woman in the grocery store.  I know that the years of such innocence won’t last forever.  Isn’t our spiritual walk sometimes the same way?  Do we become lackadaisical in our salvation and the great commission we’ve been given?  Is the innocence of our first experience with  Jesus, and all that was paid for us, submerged in religion and dulled at a certain point?  WHY????  Have we left our first love??? (Revelation 2:4)

 

As you go about your daily routines as a stay-at-home Mom or a woman in this workforce, take with you the Holy Spirit and JOY!  This world is full of hurt, pain and turmoil.

 

No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl.

Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ~Luke 11:33

 

We are the ones to bring light and hope.  That woman in the grocery store needs light.  That homosexual family member needs light.  That drug abusing neighbor needs light.  That teenager that has gone astray needs light.  That foul mouthed co-worker needs light.

Sometimes showing your light is nothing more than a kind word or action.  It’s called love. Condemnation has no part of the love of Christ. I f we as the church of the living God can’t love them, who will??  We can’t change someone, but the Holy Spirit at work through us can.

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds

and glorify your Father in heaven. ~Matthew 5:16

 

 

Flawless!

I love Sundays!  There is just nothing better than great fellowship with Brothers and Sisters in Christ, hearing the Word of God preached, and worshipping Our Savior, Jesus Christ!  I am not going to lie though, by Monday morning, I can hardly drag myself out of bed because I am so tired.  Every Monday, when my alarm goes off,  I push snooze about 15 times.  Anybody else seem to have this problem!?!  : )

Have you received an email "Scripture Exchange" before?  If you haven't, it is a letter that gives you instruction to send the person on top of the list an encouraging Bible verse.  Then, you take that email address off and add your name.  Pick 20 friends and email it to them.  I guess you would call it a chain letter.

I had one sent to me recently by my sister-in-law, Tiffany, and decided to join in.  I emailed the first person one of my favorite scripture passages.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10  But God said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,"  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, petitions, calamities.  For when I am weak, THEN HE IS STRONG!

I received two scriptures myself.  They were at different times of the days, on two different days, but I am serious when I say, they were right when I needed them.  (How awesome is that!)

The first verse was sent to me by my sweet friend, Naomi!

Psalm 18:30-36

As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
 For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
 He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
 You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.

 You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.

 

When I read this,  I was absolutely overwhelmed by God's goodness and love for me.  I know with God, there are no coincidences.  That week, Billy Joe and I had been discussing the fact that sometimes people use scriptures that appear to contradict each other to say that God's Word is fallible.  I believe that in our human understanding we will not understand all of God's ways and that The Bible is the Infallible, Inerrant Word of God.  This scripture was in perfect timing to remind me...... God is perfect and His Word is flawless! 

 

The next verse I received came as a surprise to me.  It was from a very special woman, Darlene Aime, from our church that had to move away.  Every time I would see her at church, she would have such an encouraging word for me.  This is what she sent me.  

 

  Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord O my soul, And forget not His benefits.  

I realize this was an email chain letter, but I have learned something valuable.  When you feel like you are supposed to send an email or text with a scripture and a word of encouragement, don't hesitate.  There are no coincidences with God.  His Word will bear fruit and accomplish its purpose. (Is.55:11)  We just need to learn to be faithful to deliver!

Do you have a favorite scripture that you go to for strength and encouragement?  Please share with us in the comments or on the FB page!  I hope you have a great Monday.

 

Prepare for Battle!

Is it Friday, already!?!  It seems to me that time just flies by.  Speaking of time flying, my baby is turning 7 years old in less than 2 weeks.  How did that happen?  The time we have our children at home with us is so short and precious!  Just ask a mother who has raised all of her children and she will tell you: It all goes by so fast.  (My goodness, I better move on!  Sniff, sniff!)

As you can tell, I am feeling a bit more serious today then I have all week.  I hope that is okay with y'all!  Today, as I think about my children and what their future will hold, I am brought to the realization that I am far from done battling for my children.  

Many times the battle is too hard for her. Her hands grow weary to the task and her aim isn’t steady. But God. He is faithful when she isn’t. Her General is aiding her in combat, by His Spirit. She falls and He picks her up and bandages her bruised knees and scraped elbows. The righteous fall seven times and yet rise again…Prov. 24:16              - Bambi Moore, In the Nursery of the Nation

What wise words from a precious woman of God!  Do you ever feel a bit weary from the battle?  Mothering is hard.  There are times you feel like a failure.  There are times when you feel uncertain that you have the ability to do this, let alone, do it well.  When we feel like we have fallen, we must GET BACK UP!  There is a battle for our children's souls and we must continually wage war on the enemy.  When we you brought that little darling (or those little darlings) into the world, our home became the front lines.

We must never forget that Satan hates life, and he hates children.  It has become apparent in our society.   Children are being viewed as a burden, and abortion is being widely accepted.  (What a contradiction to God's Word! Just read Psalm 127.)  Parents, we must realize: Satan hates our children and wants nothing more than to kill, steal, and destroy their life. (Matt. 10:10)   

  

 

We must be reminded that our battle is not against teenage attitudes or disobedient toddlers, it is against the spiritual forces that pull at the sin nature of our children.  We have been given two very important tactics for war, and we must use them to engage the enemy. 

 

First, we must pray constantly for our children.  I pray everyday for my children to love God and honor His Word.  I also pray for their future spouse to be raised up in the admonition of the Lord.   

 

Secondly, we must equip our children to join the battle.  We must be taking our call to make disciples VERY seriously.  Our home is a boot camp for future soldiers of Christ.

 

We don't have to go outside of our home to fulfill The Great Commission.  Our children need us to teach them to become disciples of Christ by training them to use their very own weapon, The Word of God.  Multi-generational faithfulness does not happen by accident.  If you want to see your children, your children's children, and so on, faithfully serving Jesus Christ, you have to be intentional in your parenting.

“Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children

because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if

you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.”

                                                                                                    -Rachel Jankovic, Femina 

Certainly some ministries are integral to The Great Commission, but none so much as a father and mother who understand the “nation” within their walls, the potential of exponential discipleship in the years to come with faithful laboring and intentional walking beside those to whom we are first given to bring to Christ.                                             -Kelly Crawford, Generation Cedar 

Zuppa Toscana

These pictures are for you to enjoy just because I love my chickens!  Ok, maybe they were really for me to enjoy, but I like to share.  You know the saying, Sharing is Caring!  Now doesn't this just make you love farming!  

 

Big Daddy!

Curious George....one, out of 8, new Buff Orpingtons.

Our Dominickers do not have names yet, but they are beautiful, and oh, their eggs are beautiful too!

 

 

 

The weather has caused me to drag out of all my favorite soup recipes!  Soup is probably the only reason I love winter.  If you know me well, you know that I am very cold natured, so during winter I think I must surely be freezing to death.

 

Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden's Potato Soup) is my favorite recipe of all times.  It's great for wintry days!  I found that even during summer, when our gardens are ripe with New Potatoes, Zuppa Toscana is just as enjoyable!  This is definitely one of my go-to recipes if we have guests coming over, or I am bringing a meal to someone that has been sick or lost a loved one.  (I have never messed this recipe up, so I think it is safe to say, it probably can't be done!)

 

ZUPPA TOSCANA

 

1 lb. Italian Sausage (Really, any pan sausage will work!)

1 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (If you have kids that don't like spicy food, use about 3/4 tsp. or omit altogether.)

4 Tbsp. butter

1 large diced onion

4 Tbsp. bacon pieces

2 Tbsp. minced garlic

10 c water

5 cubes chicken bouillon

1 c heavy cream

1 lb russet potatoes ( This just isn't enough potatoes for my likin'!  I normally use 10 medium New potatoes.)

 

*Optional:1/4 bunch of kale.  My kids don't want anything green floating in their soup, so I don't normally add it.  It doesn't really add to the flavor anyway.  It just makes it look pretty!

 

DIRECTIONS:

Brown sausage, drain excess fat, and refrigerate.  Sauté bacon, onion, and garlic in butter for about 15 minutes.  Mix bouillon and water and add to the pot.  Bring to a boil.  Add potatoes and red pepper flakes and cook until soft, which will be between 15-30 minutes depending on how thick you slice your potatoes.  Add cream and cook until thoroughly heated.  Stir in sausage.  (Add kale right before serving.)

 

 

1.  Because Janet and Naomi have added pictures for their recipes, I felt like I better join the club!  In this step, gather all your ingredients.  (Then, put them in front of your most picturesque wall and admire!  Or not...whatever you think!) 

 

2.  If you love yourself, go ahead and get some bread sticks ready to go with your soup.  You can't enjoy the full experience without them!

 

3.  Brown your sausage.  Just as a side note, if you don't have one of those handy dandy meat chopper thingies from Pampered Chef, you are just missing out!  You will thank me later for that tip!  When browned, place your sausage in a bowl and set in the refrigerator.

 

4.  Put butter, onion, bacon, and garlic in pot to sauté for 15 minutes. 

 

5.  While my house is starting to smell wonderful and my goods are sautéing, I chop my potatoes, measure my water, and put my cube of chicken bouillon in.  (Truth be told, I normally measure my water and throw the cubes in the pot when everything is coming to a boil because I almost forget to add them every time!)

 

 

 

6.  This step is very important.  Do you hear me: IMPORTANT!  Find the cutest little assistant chef and get them in on the action.  Preferably, they need to be missing a front tooth or two!  She added the water to the pot and let it come to a boil.  Then, she carefully added the potatoes.     

 

7.  Next, we added the red pepper flakes.

 

8.  After about 15 minutes, our potatoes were done.  The heat was turned down to about medium low and we added the cream.  The directions say to let it warm thoroughly, but I have not found that a pot of just boiled broth and potatoes will be cooled by 1 cup of cream, so we just move directly to the next step.  (Ain't nobody got time for that!)

 

9.  Add your sausage back to the pot.

 

10.  DIG IN!  Don't forget your bread sticks.

 

All I can say for today is, YOU'RE WELCOME!