Memorize-It Monday

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
~Ephesians 6:17


***IMMEDIATE NEED - Items Needed by Wednesday, 11/2 for Children's Home in Haiti. See more info on the "Needs" tab under section called "Needs and Service Opportunities Beyond Heartland."

Focus Friday

Read 1 Corinthians 12:11 and John 14:26
One of the most important roles of the Holy Spirit is to reveal God's truth to us.  In fact 1 Corinthians 2:11 tells us that the Holy Spirit knows God's thoughts!  In the next days and weeks, practice listening for the Holy Spirit to speak God's thoughts to you.  Pray and ask the Spirit to speak to you as you go about your day.  Talk to the Spirit, tell Him how you are feeling, ask Him for help, advice, comfort, or peace.  Journal what you hear and experience, even if you are not sure it is the Spirit talking to you.  The more you practice this, the more familiar you will become with how the Spirit communicates with you.  Share your experiences over the next weeks with your table members.

Think On It Thursday

I shared this experience during last year's testimony meeting, about Mr. Dire. It was an experience in which Holy Spirit was very real and present:

It was Palm Sunday, 2011, and our family was on vacation for my husband Mark's conference in San Antonio. A homeless man (who I didn't entirely trust--I felt uneasy around him) asked for money, and I gathered the kids and rushed by, completely ignoring him, leaving Mark to deal with his request.

Immediately I felt ashamed of my behavior, and was convicted--I did not even look at this man to honor his humanity. About twenty steps later, I asked Mark if we could turn around and offer this man breakfast. Mark, bless him, gave the "if-you-really-want-to" response, which I love about him. We turned around, and suddenly this man was gone--we couldn't find him anywhere. But I felt better knowing at least that I had fixed that part of my heart that had been so dismissive and closed. And I prayed that God would help me be a better person.

I should have known better.

God likes to mess with me.

It wasn't five minutes later when we emerged from a bridge crossing the Riverwalk to find a very filthy, emaciated homeless man in an army shirt, a hood that had been cut and knotted all around the edges, and stained pink pants walking along with all he owned--a bag attached to a rickety walker.

Oh no, God. Please, not him.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but these were my initial thoughts.

But I knew exactly what God was telling me to do. And when I asked Mark's permission, he gave me the typical "if-you-really-want-to" response. This time, it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear, and all the same, it was exactly all I needed to hear.

"Sir, would you like to join us for breakfast? Just down there?"

I don't know who was more surprised by the words that had fallen from my mouth. The man agreed, and I helped him maneuver his walker down the stone steps to the Riverwalk (actually, I tried, and then he took the walker back from clumsy me--there's a special way to fold it). Then I requested a table at the Republic of Texas, right on the river. I had no idea how the restaurant (a nice one, at that) would handle the situation, but all the same we sat down--the kids, Mark, this man and me.

I asked him his name.

"Mr. Dire," he replied, in the gentlest, barely audible voice. I spied on his army green shirt, just above the pocket, this very name, etched in blue pen, which confirmed I'd heard right. The name spoke to everything about him.

We ordered food and endured several curious stares from passersby--not rude, just baffled.

Mr. Dire immediately took a small vial of scented oil from one of his many pockets and rubbed it on his dirty cheeks, as if trying to cover the smell of not having bathed for I-can't-imagine-how-long. It smeared away just enough dirt to show his skin tone through it, a leathery tan. He offered Mark the oil as well--Mark refused kindly--and then reached into his pocket to grab a massive supply of peppermints to litter the table.

It was his way of thanking us.

He told us he gives peppermints to people when they give him money.

And he gave us all that he had.

I wanted to learn about Mr. Dire's life, so asked him about his story. I leaned in and tried to listen the best I could, but his voice was so soft, and his words were so warped by his mouth, not a single tooth in it. And so I just stared into his eyes--beautiful, locked-in hazel blue eyes that seemed so grateful to gaze into the eyes of another human being.

Just as soon as Mr. Dire finished his huevos rancheros, which took little more than fifteen minutes, he tried to give Mark a dollar (Mark wouldn't accept) and immediately excused himself with an ample supply of thanks. I asked if we could take him to CVS for some supplies to help him along, but he wouldn't let us do anything for him.

As he left, I said, "God bless you," and felt tears welling up.

Then the waiter, a young Hispanic guy who had been so graciously attentive to us, walked over to our table and smiled. The hostess was smiling, too.

"Another customer saw," he said, "and he's paid for all of your meals."

By this point, I had to bury my face in my napkin, overwhelmed by tears. My thoughts just spilled from my mouth:

"And that's how our God works," I said, crumbling into a mess.

"You taught me a lesson today I will never, never forget," he said so sincerely, as I thanked him for being so kind to us, so ready to fill our waters and treat us, and especially Mr. Dire, well--I told him I was worried the restaurant might turn us away, but instead they were unusually hospitable.

We left him a big tip as we got up, still deeply touched by the generosity of some anonymous stranger who had been sitting nearby.

Five minutes or so later, this time two blocks away on the street above, we just happened to emerge at the same place Mr. Dire was walking again.

"Mr. Dire!" I yelled down the sidewalk near a street full of traffic. Three boys sitting on a bench nearby looked at me like I was mad, because now I was running after this homeless man. "Mr. Dire, thank you for eating with us today. It really blessed us."

He put his hand on my shoulder, looked into my eyes again, and nodded, and then we parted ways.

He probably went on just the same as he had before, but not me. I felt like heaven had suddenly intersected earth, and was a blathering mess the rest of the day.

And all day long, I could smell the fragrance of Mr. Dire's very distinct, woodsy oil--on our hotel elevator, on the Riverwalk, gusting at me like a breeze as I wandered alone on a long, evening stroll. I could never find the source of it on my clothes or in my hair. But it was clearly there, and it seemed to be following me.

I think this was Holy Spirit.

And it was beautiful.

Wisdom Wednesday

“The Holy Spirit – Hearing His Voice Part 1”
By Frann Wohlers

For the Speaker Notes (Power Point Presentation) on the Holy Spirit, click HERE.

For the Discussion Questions, click HERE.

To complete the Spiritual Gifts Assessment, click HERE.

Bible Study

Have you ever had the desire to "go deeper" into the meaning of a scripture? There are several "tools" you can use to expand the meaning of a particular scripture. Some of the tools available are:

1. Concordance: An alphabetical index of Hebrew and Greek words used in the bible. The concordance will give the Hebrew or Greek meanings of a particular key word in a scripture verse and will give clarity and help expand the meaning. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance is a good, commonly used concordance and can be found online as well; also Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance is good for NIV bible versions.

2. Bible Dictionary: Another excellent tool which gives in-depth definitions of both Greek and Hebrew words used in the bible. Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary or Vine's Expository Dictionary are two good bible dictionary choices.

3. Sparkling Gems from the Greek by Rick Renner: In this very unique book, Renner does an excellent job of making Greek words come alive. There are 365 daily devotionals which include more than 1,000 in-depth Greek word studies.

4. Bible Commentaries: Although I do not personally use bible commentaries, they also can be useful tools in gaining deeper understanding of the scriptures. After doing some research, I found that Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible has been accessed 2,476,268 times since September of 2006. This may be a good one to start with.

5. All scripture is context dependent. As you are reading a passage, ask the following questions: who was the scripture written to? who was the scripture written by? what was the purpose of the scripture? what was going on at the time? It is extremely important to consider context to get true meaning of a particular scripture passage.

6. Always remember that the Holy Spirit is our best teacher. As you begin to study, ask the Spirit to illuminate, teach and give you revelation.

Next week we will take a scripture and use the above tools to get a richer and more in-depth meaning.

Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Breanna H.

Family Stats: Husband Derek; Isaiah, 6; Elijah, 3; Roman, 9
Spiritual Gifts: Outgoing, Leadership, Helps (serving)
Spiritual Pathways: Relational, Intellectual
Passions: Clothing, shopping, scrapbooking, baking

Pet Peeves: dirty dishes in the sink, a bed that is not made

Secret Shames: I am totally addicted to reality TV
Books That You Love: Bringing Up Boys by Dr. Dobson

Can't Live Without: my cell phone

Favorite Room In Your House: my bedroom
Favorite Tradition: Almost every Sunday after church my boys and I go for donuts

Memorize-It Monday

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."
~Ephesians 4:30-31

You Are Like A Pumpkin

A bit of encouragement for your weekend--thanks, Tasha!

You are like a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff--the seeds of doubt, despair, comparison and unforgiveness.  Then He carves you a bright new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.
~Anonymous

Focus Friday

Think and pray through your top two spiritual pathways and decide what will be the simple training practice you are going to add to your life for the next month.  Here are some questions that might be helpful:

When and where will you do this training practice?

What will be the obstacles that might stand in the way from you doing your training practice?

How can you remove or minimize those obstacles?

Who can you share this new training practice with that will pray for you and that you can process with?

Think on it Thursday

As moms, we often fight the battle of comparison.

We are all learning, observing and evolving…

And we are watching other moms.

I hear the “crazy mom” in Target

screaming at her kids,

and I feel like the better mom.

Then other times,

I see a “together-mom” with her clean house,

trendy clothes, tidy hair

and clean children…

and I can feel like a lousy mom.

I sometimes forget that God made me unique.

I am a once-in-a-lifetime mom,

created to be an expression of God’s love.

God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to each other.

In fact, He wants us to be different,

to look different,

to love differently…

Because we ARE different.

And together our differences function like a body,

the body of Jesus present here on earth.

Each of us plays a unique part,

unlike no other,

depending on each other,

to work together

to look more like Him.

“But in fact God has arranged the parts

in the body, every one of them, just as

He wanted them to be…

The eye cannot say to the hand, I don’t need you!

And the head cannot say to the feet,

I don’t need you!

On the contrary, those parts of the body

that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

and the parts we think are less honorable we

treat with special honor…

So there should be no division in the body.”

(I Corinthians 12:18-25)

As you realize your unique mom-gifts,

may you embrace each thing that brings light to your home;

your special version of kindness,

justice, patience, love, righteousness,

and most of all

your faith in Jesus.

“Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom

Or the strong man boast of his strength

Or the rich man boast of his riches,

But let him who boasts boast about this;

That he understands and knows me,

That I am the LORD,

Who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness

On earth, for in these I delight, declares the LORD.”

Jeremiah 9:23-25

Ask God to show you who He wants you to be.

Make a list this week of your gifts and talents

and thank God for the wonderful mom that you are.

~written by Rachel McKenna

Wisdom Wednesday

Comparison and Identity Part 2 of 2:
"Spiritual Pathways"
by Michelle Pemberton

For a printable version of today's Speaker Notes and Discussion Questions, click HERE.

To complete the Spiritual Pathways Assessment online, click HERE.

Bible Study

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Mark 10:46-52
What can you learn from Bartimaeus?
Where do you want to see God in your everyday life?

Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Britton G.

Family Stats: Married to Brad for 10 years, stepdaughter Lorena

Spiritual gifts: Administrative, Helps, Hospitality

Spiritual Pathways: Contemplative

Passions: Slow dinners with family and friends, organization, photos

Pet Peeves: Not replacing the toilet paper roll!

Books That You Love: 1000 White Women: The Journals of May Dodd; Same Kind of Different as Me

Can’t Live Without: family, friends, coffee J

Favorite Room In Your House: Front porch

Favorite Tradition: Fall day trip to Weston, MO with my husband

Memorize-It Monday

This week we are going to be talking about connecting with God and different spiritual pathways. So it is great for us to remember that Jesus promises us His presence.

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ~Matt 28:20

Focus Friday

Focus Friday-Read Psalm 139:1-14

As we talked about on Wednesday, God made you wonderful with unique, passions and strengths. Spend some time thinking with God about the things you love to do and the things that you don’t do. Make a list and share it with your friend or husband.

Think On It Thursday

Identity in Christ and Comparison

I can think of nothing that snares the hearts of women and mothers more than comparisons gone awry. When comparisons seep into our hearts, they begin as a small drip, but the forces that trickle in with them—envy, covetousness, pride and contempt—can carve out a great canyon in the bedrock of our souls. And this emptiness creates a chasm between us, and God.

Separation is the enemy's ultimate goal. It is the pit into which the enemy fell, after clawing desperately to exalt himself over God, envying His power.

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. –Isaiah 14:12-15

The enemy's still clawing. Will you let him snatch away the power of God from you, by casting your vision on the things of this world of which he is the master, and using them as the measure of your worth?

It’s time for some truth:

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. -I John 4:4

Comparison creates a very insidious corrosion of a woman’s soul. It is from the Deceiver, diluting our true worth as it separates us from the perfect and unconditional love of God and attaches us to a lower existence. It undermines our ability to accept God’s grace, because in the emptiness it creates, we begin to believe that we belong to this world and must prove ourselves here. And in this state, feeling so far from grace, we are forever less than. Less than worthy. Which goes against the point of grace entirely.

But hope remains. There is a Redeemer.
God offers us another way, a higher way. His Living Water can trickle into the great chasm of comparison and fill us up again.

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

In Jesus, in thoughts focused on that which exists above this world, our cups go from being half-empty to more than half-full—they bubble over. And when comparisons come, and they will come, they can be received in this same fullness of Spirit. Instead of corroding our souls with envy, comparisons tempered with Living Waters can serve to teach us. And comparisons can inspire us to greater things, so that our internal dialogue is transformed into something higher, noble, worthy:

Instead of: She’s such a better mother than I am.
We say: She is a wonderful mother who I admire, and I can learn from her. What a gift!

Instead of: I’ll never measure up to her.
We say: God, thank you for bringing this confident woman into my life to inspire me to remember who I am—a daughter of the Most High. Help me receive this assurance, too.

Instead of: She’s always so pulled together, and I'm so far from it.
We say: She’s radiant, God, not because of anything she’s done, but because you carry her. Help me to become the radiant woman you have uniquely designed me to be, and let me cast my burdens upon you.

Instead of: I want what she’s got!
We say: Lord, thank you for all you’ve given me. Help me to be a steward of your gracious gifts. You promise to increase what you’ve entrusted me as I give back to your Kingdom, and to fill my heart with your fruit: joy!

Finally, [sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. -Philippians 4:8-9

~written by Wendy Connelly

Wisdom Wednesday

Comparison and Identity Part 1 of 2:
"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"
by Michelle Pemberton

Click here for a printable Handout, Bible Study including a list of references and Discussion Questions.

Handout

We are on a journey of love this year to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30

What does and doesn’t go in our purse for this journey?

• We don’t need to try harder Instead we need add simple training practices.
• We don’t need to bring comparison.
  
• “Don’t judge or you too will be judge” Matt 7:1
  

Two ways we compare-

1. I compare and see myself as less than that person. They are better than me.

• A training practice we can add is to embrace and value my own uniqueness.
• For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Ps 139:13-14
  
• “One of the most important things I’ve learned came from my friend Nancy. She told me that when you compare yourself to another person, you always lose, and at the same time the other person also loses, too. Each of us has been created by the hands of a holy God and our stories and the twists and turns of our lives, the things that are hard for us, and the things that come naturally, are as unique as our own fingerprints. She told me that one way to ensure a miserable life is to constantly measure your own life by the lives of people around you.” Pg112 Shauna Niequist. Bittersweet
  
• Training practice - Be __________________(fill in your name here) make a list of how you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Things you do and don’t do. Share that list with someone close to you.
  

2. I compare and see myself as better than that person. They are less than me.

Training practices when I feel better than:

• Pray for that other person “that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. God help me see that and remind me of their strengths”
• Praise them for a strength
• Ask for their advice
• “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25
• I shut up.
• Work at not participating in gossip. Definition of gossip is making unkind remarks behind the back of someone I know.
• Instead of gossiping, talk to calm, neutral and objective person who will help me think and pray.

“Prayer had become for him primarily a time of listening to the blessing. The real work of prayer, he said is to become silent and listen to the voice that says good things to me. That may sound self-indulgent, he admitted but not if it meant seeing himself as the Beloved, a person whom God has chosen to dwell. The more he listened to that voice, the less likely he was to judge his worth by how others responded to him or by how much he achieved. He prayed for God’s inner presence to express itself in his daily life as he ate and drank, talked and loved, played and worked. He sought the radical freedom of an identity anchored in a place beyond all human praise and blame.”
Henri Nouwen

Table Discussion Questions

1. What is something that you do? A place where you are fearfully and wonderfully made? (It isn’t bragging!)

2. What is something that you don’t do?

3. Which one do you do more of “I am better than others” or “I am less than others”?

4. What is example of area where you judge yourself as better or less than others? (You don’t have to go into details)

5. What is one training practice that you could add to your life?

Bible Study

Read Psalm 139: 1-12

Does there feel like there is a scary area of your life right now that God does not feel present? I would encourage you to journal a prayer specifically telling God about this difficult area and asking him into this scary part of your life. One of my prayers is for God to help me notice His presence in all areas of my life.

Or if you love being outside take a prayer walk and talk to God about this scary part of your life.

Read Psalm 139:13-18 a couple of times and think about these verses

How are you “fearfully and wonderfully made”? What unique gifts, talents and passions has God given you? Thank Him for those gifts.

Read Matthew 7:1-5

Do you judge yourself harshly?

Who do you judge? And what kinds of things are you judgmental about?

When you judge are you more likely to see yourself as less than or better than the other person?

What is an action step you can take when you have judgmental thoughts about yourself or someone else?

Read John 8:1-11 Phil 4:4-9 Prov 12:25

What does Jesus’ response to the woman caught in adultery tell you about how He thinks about judging or comparison?

What “stones” do you need to drop?

What is “right, true, admirable or lovely” about this person you were holding a stone for?

Consider texting or emailing a quick note of gratefulness to that person for something good you see in them.

Other Resources

• Michelle’s sermon podcast on August 14^th -http://heartland.typepad.com/sunday_podcast/2011/08/ancient-marvels-superhuman.html
• The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You John Ortberg
• The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are - Brene’ Brown
• Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way –Shauna Niequist
• Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life Shauna Niequist

Christmas PJs

Every year, during the Christmas season, our family puts on our one-piece pajamas (the kids get a new pair every year), bakes cookies, makes hot chocolate in a thermos and takes our treats out on a Christmas lights car drive.

It's cozy and fun, and we think it's funny to get out of the car in our PJ's and take pictures of all of the annual holiday attractions!

Tasha's Fall Salad

Tasha's Fall Salad

from the kitchen of Tasha Cook

ingredients:
1 container of organic greens- i used baby spinach for the mt brunch
4 honey crisp apples cubed
1 cup of freshly shredded vermont cheddar cheese-i dont buy shredded, i do it myself...less preservatives!
1 cup chopped pecans
KENS STEAKHOUSE lite walnut raspberry vinegarette- dressing

directions:

toss and enjoy

Blueberry-Buttermilk Coffee Cake

Blueberry-Buttermilk Coffee Cake

from the kitchen of Sara Wallace

Yields: 16 servingsPrep time: 25 minutesCook time: about 35-40 minutes

ingredients:
Streusel Topping -

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

4 Tbsp cold butter or margarine, cut up

Coffee Cake

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

10 Tbsp. butter or margarine, softened

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

1 pint blueberries (divided in half)

directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; Grease 13" by 9" metal baking pan. Dust pan with flour.

Prepare Streusel Topping: In medium bowl, combine brown sugar, flour and butter. With fingertips, work in butter until mixture is crumbly. Refrigerate streusel while preparing cake.

Prepare Coffee Cake: In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar with butter until blended. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until creamy, about two minutes, frequently scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to low; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. At low speed, beat in flower, mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat just until batter is smooth, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. With spatula, fold in all but 1/2 cup blueberries. Spoon batter into prepared pan; spread evenly. Sprinkle batter with reserved blueberries. Spread streusel over batter. Bake coffee cake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on wire rack one hour before serving.

3 Gifts and Tree Traditions

3 Gifts and Tree Traditions

from the family of Tasha Cook

Our kids can ask santa for 3 gifts...thats what Jesus got!!

We only buy christian ornaments (angels, crosses, nativity animals, family pictures, stars, tree, hearts,) not secular like santa, snowmen, reindeer, candy, etc.

When we get a real tree, we make an ornament out of the circle from the bottom and date it!

Kindness 'til Christmas

Kindness 'til Christmas

from the family of Tasha Cook

We do 25 acts of kindness leading up to christmas. We all look for ways we can to be kind to each other and to the world and we make a list counting down from 25 to 1. Examples: send gift card to single mom for groceries, buy a friend diapers for her baby, donate sheets to the city union mission, give my gloves to my sister when she forgot hers, etc. One act of kindness motivates others!

Hunt for baby Jesus

Hunt for baby Jesus

from the home of Tasha Cook

We find the baby Jesus who is missing from the nativity on Christmas morning. We place him back and eat Christmas morning coffee cake after singing happy birthday to Him!

Spicy Southwestern Muffins

Spicy Southwestern Muffins

from the kitchen of Maureen Balsbaugh

ingredients:

1/4 lb. bulk spicy pork sausage
1 can (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent rounds or dinner rolls
1 T. chopped fresh cilantro
1 egg
1 T. milk
1/2 t. taco seasoning mix
salsa, if desired
sour cream, if desired
additional chopped cilantro, if desired

directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 8 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray.

In 8-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 5 minutes stirring occasionally, until no longer pink; drain.

If using crescent rounds, remove from package and separate into 8 rounds. If using crescent rolls, remove from package, but do not unroll. Using serrated knife, cut rolls into 8 rounds, carefully separate rounds. Press 1 round on bottom and completely up side of each muffin cup.

In small bowl, mix sausage and 1 T. cilantro. In another small bowl, beat egg, milk and taco seasoning with fork until blended. Spoon about 1 T. sausage mixture into each dough-lined muffin cup. Divide egg mixture evenly among cups. Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until filling is set and edges are golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Run knife around edge of cups to loosen; remove muffins from pan. Top with salsa, sour cream and additional cilantro if desired. Serve warm.

Blueberry Baked French Toast

Blueberry Baked French Toast

from the kitchen of Sarah Leimer

ingredients:

1 Family Sized bag (or two smaller ones) of Pita Chips
7 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp vanilla extract
6oz (or more) of blueberries
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar (use a little more)
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

directions:Grease 9x13 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray. Pour in bag of pita chips and arrange evenly. IN a bowl mix together eggs, milk, cream, sugar and vanilla. Pour egg mixture over pita chips. Cover pan tightly with foil and place in refrigerator overnight or at least six hours.

Preheat the oven to 350. Remove pan from refrigerator. Sprinkle blueberries evenly over the top.

Mix together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Slice butter and add to bowl, then use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it looks crumbly.

Sprinkle flour mixture over the blueberries and make sure its evenly distributed.

Bake for 35-45 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Chips on top should be crispy and crunchy. Remove from oven and drizzle with blueberry or maple syrup and serve warm.

Tortellini Soup

Tortellini Soup

from the kitchen of Kathy Getman

ingredients:

3 T red wine

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1 large can chicken broth

1 pkg cheese tortellini

1 14 1/2 oz canned stewed tomatoes

1/2 bunch spinach, stemmed

1 tsp dried basil

Top with parmesan cheese when serving

Salt and pepper to taste

directions:

Saute garlic with wine for 2 minutes. Stir in broth and tortellini, bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer until tortellini is tender (about 5 minutes). Stir in tomato, spinach, and basil. Simmer 2 minutes. Serve with parmesan cheese for topping.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

from the kitchen of Kathy Getman

ingredients:

dressing -

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 tsp finely chopped onion

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 Tbs poppy seeds

salad -

1 lb loose fresh spinach

1 qt fresh sliced strawberries

1 2 oz package sliced almonds

1 2 oz package slivered almonds

directions:

dressing -

Process first 5 ingredients 30 seconds in blender. Add oil slowly, then stir in poppy seeds.

salad -

Toast almonds on cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, monitoring closely to prevent burning.
Toss all ingredients with dressing right before serving.

Orange Cream Chips

Orange Cream Chips

from the kitchen of Kathy Getman

ingredients:

cookies -

2 1/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup sugar

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

2 tsp orange juice

1 tsp grated orange rind

6 oz. (1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips

orange icing -

2 cups powdered sugar

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 tsp orange juice

1 tsp grated orange rind

directions:

cookies -

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets.

Beat shortening, sugar, and cream cheese in a bowl until mixed. Beat in eggs. Add juice and rind. Blend in flour and salt.

Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.

Bake in preheated oven for 12 minutes or until slightly browned around edges. Cool on racks.

Spread tops with icing.

orange icing -

Beat sugar and cream cheese together. Stir in juice and rind. Spread atop cooled cookies.

Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Elizabeth B.
Family Stats: husband Jason, married 8 years; daughters Ava, 4; Caroline, 5
Spiritual Gifts: Helps
Spiritual Pathways: Serving, Intellectual
Passions: My family, immediate and extended
Pet Peeves: People who love to talk but aren’t interested in listening
Secret Shames: Could easily eat a whole bag of chips
Books That You Love: Too ashamed to admit I can’t remember the last book I read.
Can't Live Without: My coffee!
Favorite Room In Your House: Kitchen/hearth room
Favorite Tradition: Those first few quiet moments with my girls when they first wake up. We sit in a big leather chair and snuggle and talk about the day ahead.

Memorize-It Monday

“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.” Ps 139: 13-14

Focus Friday

It was wonderful to spend time with you and learn about “Knot Parenting”. Now that you have a picture in your mind of the type of “tree” you want to create, what things need to be trimmed, what items need a bit more attention, what’s your plan for making those goals a reality?

-Kasey Johnson

Think On It Thursday

Living out Love

What would my life look like if I truly lived out my identity in Christ?

The Bible says:

If I am in Christ, I am a new creation and an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, 20)

I have been created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24)

I am God’s daughter, an heiress to His kingdom (Galations 4: 6, 7)

Would it change the way I parent, treat others, talk to my husband, or spend my time? Would I view and maybe value myself differently?

Two years ago I caught a glimpse of what that kind of life could look like. I was at the funeral of my husband’s dear Grandma, Helen. Helen raised 8 children who gave her 26 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. Helen spent her days serving in her home, church, and as a registered nurse. She enjoyed a long and (if numbers speak for themselves) fruitful marriage. She easily laughed to tears, cried when people were hurting, shared wisdom with patience, and loved her friends and family. She was far from perfect and her life was far from perfect, and she was the first to admit it. Helen’s story could end here and we could all applaud her life of service and selflessness, but that would be missing out on the most beautiful part about Helen. Helen loved Jesus. Helen knew Jesus loved her and she lived like she was loved. Her children experienced it, her grandchildren witnessed it, and now her great-grandchildren (including my own 3 daughters) will hear true stories about how Jesus’ love was their Great-Grandma’s greatest joy. Grandma Helen’s eulogy didn’t center on her role as Mom or Grandma. It told a story about a woman who knew who she was and Who she was living for.

I walked away from that day with a clearer perspective of what it means to live out your life in Christ. To serve, parent, be a wife, a sister, a friend with a purpose. I want to believe so deeply that I am a new creation, representing my Heavenly Father, being prepared to live with Him in His kingdom forever so deeply that every role in my life is filtered through those truths.

Consider this beautiful translation of Ephesians in The Message as you contemplate God’s love for you and what your life might look like lived out in Him.

“It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Ephesians 1:11-12

~written by Jena Meyerpeter

Wisdom Wednesday

"How to Knot Parent"
by Kasey Johnson, guest speaker

Discussion Questions for Table Groups:

Choose an item from nature to represent your family (tornado, warm spring breeze, thorn bush, hay bail, ivy) and tell us why that item symbolizes your family (examples: we’re uptight, have stress in our home, everyone is relaxed, feel like people are constantly running around and things are crazy, etc…).

Bible study Questions for Blog:

While here on earth Jesus told lots of stories. Read Luke 6:46-49 and think about how you can make this story come to life with your kids. Whether you talk to them about using kind words, sharing toys or how you take time to read the word and be with your friends….we do all these things to help build a foundation for our current and future life so that we have a firm foundation!

Christ is our firm foundation, a rock that cannot be shaken. The great commission extends to us as mothers and as parents – we are to build this fantastic foundation for our family too! As you read 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 hold tight to the words, “…build with care”…it’s not about being perfect, it’s about being available and being obedient to God’s calling on our life. He will show us where the foundation is weak, how to fix it and He will provide peace when the world tries to shake the foundation we have laid.

Stay in the word, hold tight to God’s promise and keep meeting together! You are an amazing group of women and each of you has so much to give to your family and this world – you are wonderful!

Kasey Johnson

Whose Day Tuesday

Whose Day Highlight: Marti H.
Family Stats: married to Brick; Sarah, 6; Cole, 4
Spiritual Gifts: Hospitality, Encouragement, Mercy
Spiritual Pathways: Relational, Serving, Worship, Activist
Passions: transparent, authentic girl time! Chiefs/KSU. Animal rescue. Bible study and quiet time.
Pet Peeves: unmade beds, messy kitchen
Secret Shames: reality TV… shhh!
Books That You Love: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers; Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury
Can't Live Without: coffee, Mexican food, K-Love, podcasts, sports radio

Memorize-It Monday

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.
~Luke 6:43-44