Easter Is Not Possible Without Good Friday

To truly immerse yourself in the meaning of Easter is not an easy task when you are to understand and truly feel the emotions that you are meant to feel.  This year I decided I was going to give up something for Lent.  I am not Catholic nor Lutheran. I am a Christian girl (in my mind but at my age a woman) that felt that it was a need to give something up leading up to Easter.  Many do not understand why I did this but it was for my relationship with Christ that this was done.  I gave up something very precious to me- don't laugh, ready....- I gave up Coke A Cola.  Oh my sweet coke. The amazing thing about what I gave up is that yes I have wanted it but not like I thought I would.  When I would think oh how good would an ice cold coke be right now, I would think of my relationship with Jesus and I was good, I could wait.  So tomorrow marks Good Friday.  If you believe that Jesus is Christ and died for you, then you celebrate Good Friday, I don't care who you are.  I get so upset when someone says yes I celebrate Easter and its full meaning but I don't celebrate Good Friday.  I have news for people, if He didn't die on Friday, He would not have risen on Sunday.  Its that simple.  I think of Jesus coming into the city on the donkey, knowing what he was about to have to do.  I think of the torment that happened to him, the agony. . . the shear agony that He went through for each one of us. When I think of Jesus dying on the cross I bawl every time.  That should have been me but He wouldn't allow His child to be put through such a horrible death, just like I would die for my children without even blinking, no hesitation, He too died for me, because our Father loves us unconditionally.   He gave us a gift that no one but Him could give.  We all go through life with problems, whether it is family, finances, health.  But I am so thankful the one thing that would be the biggest one of all is taken care of and its that Jesus died for you, for your soul.  Its taken care of, you have no worries about it.  He did it lovingly and selflessly.  So this Easter remember, you have a loving God, who died for you, no questions asked, so that you could be forever with him.  Grace and Mercy is such a gift and one that I am completely in awe of, we all make mistakes, but He forgives. 

God is Love,

Reuben's

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of marble rye
• thousand island dressing 4 tablespoons
• sauerkraut, 1/2 cup
• 8 slices of roastbeef or corned beef
• 4 slices of swiss cheese

Directions

1. Preheat a large skillet or griddle on medium heat.
2. Lightly butter one side of bread slices. Spread non-buttered sides with Thousand Island dressing. On 4 bread slices, layer 1 slice Swiss cheese, 2 slices corned beef, sauerkraut. Top with remaining bread slices, buttered sides out.
3. Grill sandwiches until both sides are golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Serve hot.

Monday Menu Planning

Sunday: Reubens with broccoli salad (Recipe to Follow)
Monday: Lemon Pepper Chicken with baked cabbage and cheesy rice
Tuesday: Pepporoni and Mushroom Pizza with salad
Wed: Pancakes
Thursday:  Chicken with Peppers and Onions and mashed potatoes
Friday: Sloppy Joes and Mac & Cheese
Saturday: Steak with mushrooms, baked potatoes and salad

If you want more ideas head over to Orgnanizing Junkie's Website.

He Did It Lovingly

I am humbled by the grace that is bestowed upon me every day.  I am not deserving of His mercy, none of us are.  When you look at how we act and react to any given situation it astounds me to no end that every morning I awake to a new day.  A day that has never been lived before and God takes my hand and says come child, with me anything is possible.  So here I am with mercies anew, undeserving of them but loved so much that it isn't even a question whether or not any of us should have them, its that our Father wants us to have them. 
I look at my own children and there are days that they make mistakes and don't listen but I still want what is best for them no matter what.  And that my friends is what God does for us.  Jesus didn't come here to be tortured and die such a horrible death for nothing.  He came here to play fair with the Devil because God is a fair and loving God.  He died on a cross that was meant as the ultimate punishment, death.  He did it lovingly and in shear agony, but did it for us.  Because we are loved more than words could every say.  He reached out his arms and said I love you this much and died.  Who does that for you? A parent, that is who does it.  A parent is to love, care, wipe tears away, to pick you up when you fall, dust your knees off and say we can do this together.  That is what God does.  So the next time you wake up remember God gave you a new day, mercies anew and did it with love.

You are good enough.

Friday, December 4, 2009

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.

This title is so true.

Remember that we all have things going on in our lives.

But God has a plan, a plan that we sometimes don't understand.
But have faith. Because sometimes our problem is anothers lesson. A lesson that could only be learned from using us.

And when the Lord sends help. Let him. Don't fight it. I have learned this one the hard way.

Why is it we pray and pray and then when the answer arrives on our doorstep with arms full of exactly what we needed, we try to hide as if we aren't good enough.

Step aside let God be God. He sends certain people into our lives to bring us peace, laughter and most of all a glimpse of his unwavering love for us.

Nectar of the gods . . .

I have this thing about coffee. I CANNOT go a day without it.  Just cant, or maybe wont. Either way, since having my little girl 4 months ago I have found that my coffee is more than cold before I actually get to enjoy it.  I was in search of a better way.  To my wonderful surprise 2 Boys + 1 Girl = One Crazy Mom had a post about iced coffee.  MOCHA ICED COFFEE! Okay I am a sucker for MOCHA ICED COFFEE, in case you haven't guessed that within the passed sentence.  My husband does the Sugar Free Vanilla and loves it.  I am now back into the swing of things and am purposely drinking cold coffee now.  I am also enjoying my time with my sweet Lily.

Corned Beef HEAVEN!

On St. Patrick's Day I decided to make Corned Beef and Cabbage for the very first time.  I knew what I wanted had to be so good that I would want to lick the bowl.  So I set out on a quest to find the best of the best. The road I was taken on would lead me to the door of my Aunt Maryann.  I remember as a child her corned beef being so very tasty.  I called her and the following is the recipe that she gave to me for the corned beef.  The cabbage was my own recipe.

Corned Beef:
4 lbs of corned beef rinsed and put into a pot.  Fill just above the meat with water.  Put in spices it comes in.  Simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. 
Take out and put in a Pyrex dish and top with a mix of Dijon mustard with brown sugar to make a glaze.
Put a small amount of water in the bottom of the dish and bake uncovered at 325 for 1 1/2 - 2 hours.  The glaze will form a crust. 

Cabbage and Carrots:
In a small dutch oven quarter your cabbage and and place inside with carrots.  Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper.  Add as small amount of water to steam.  Place in oven for the duration of time you have the corned beef in the oven.

Can I tell you that this was so good that I didn't want to share.  This is my new go to recipe for Corned Beef and Cabbage.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

God can use you too!

My Pastor sent this out awhile ago and I wanted to share it. . .

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper,David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer,Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossip, Mary was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, Lazarus was dead and Sampson was lustful and disobedient.  So what’s your excuse now?  GOD can use you too!