Choosing Your Foundation

How many of you have pointedly been aware of your foundation in life? Or even cared to think on it for that matter?

I can't tell you exactly when I became aware of the importance of having a firm foundation in life but I can tell you it is a subject that has been on my heart since I was young. Young enough that I didn't even know what foundation meant at the time. That alone speaks volumes to me on that it had to be God himself pressing the importance of it on my heart because I can tell you for a fact that it was not a lesson taught to me at home growing up.

Jesus said, “He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:48-49) What have you built your house upon?

"Two words, differentiated by two letters, have two contrasting meanings. “Obvious” means clear, understandable, palpable, noticeable, apparent, evident, and observable. “Oblivious” means unaware, unconscious, unmindful, ignorant, and insensible.

Two groups of people are walking this earth, those who are wise and those who are fools." The Bible says, “A wise person thinks much about death, while the fool thinks only about having a good time now.” (Ecclesiastes 7:4 NLT) It also states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” (Proverbs 12:15 NASB)

It is obvious to the wise that Jesus could return at any moment. They know that our time could run out at any given moment. Tomorrow is never promised to us, However, the fool is totally oblivious and live as if they know they have plenty of time.

Greed, morality and violence are off the charts, but fools continue to rush head-long into the mouth of judgment without a care in the world, without pause of what tomorrow may bring. This truly baffles me that people can be so reckless with their souls let alone their time on this earth!

This is why every Sunday while many pews are filled with people who would rather be somewhere else, and jump at the chance to sneak out of the service 10 mins early to beat the traffic....I myself look forward to the last 10 minutes because it is when in our church, we witness those who have been without foundation come finally to Jesus and say "I need you Lord!" To see others eyes Finally opened and arms suddenly outstretched ready to receive God's promise and ask for His foundation....it fills me and rejuvinates me! I am shown that all hope is not lost and there are still plenty willing to change their ways and build anew for themselves. It also reminds me that while I know I have my firm rock solid foundation in the Lord, it is continually my responsibility to build my home, and to fill it with meaningful lessons (spiritual furniture) and to leave out the junk!

I have much in life to learn but yet I am SO blessed to be sure of the fact that I know NOTHING in this life can shake me of my foundation!

In Christ Alone!

Dee

For Lord's Day Evening
by Isaac Watts

Lord, how delightful `tis to see
A whole assembly worship thee!
At once they sing, at once they pray;
They hear of heaven, and learn the way.

I have been there, and still would go
'Tis like a little heaven below!
Not all my pleasure and my play
Should tempt me to forget this day.

O write upon my memory, Lord,
The text and doctrines of thy Word,
That I may break thy laws no more,
But love thee better than before!

With thoughts of Christ and things divine
Fill up this foolish heart of mine:
That, hoping pardon through his blood,
I may lie down, and wake with God.

Getting Ready For the 4th!

Well actually the 2nd and the 4th will be filled with BBQ goodness! Like many of you I'm sure most will be celebrating this year on the 2nd since the fourth of July fallls on a Monday so I guess this means we will need to plan for 2x's as much food and drinks.....Isn't it a tragedy!!?? :-)
One dish I know I am planning on is one of my favs, Tomato Mozzarella Pesto Pasta Salad....can you think of a better way to kick off the Summer than tomatoes and fresh basil??

Tomato Mozzarella Pesto Pasta Salad

Ingredients
16 oz uncooked penne pasta
1 cup pesto sauce (recipe follows)
1 cup boconccini (small fresh mozzarella balls marinated in olive oil)
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 cup fresh baby spinach

Procedure
Prepare pasta according to package directions until al dente. Rinse in cold water and drain.

Toss cooked pasta with prepared pesto sauce. Cool pasta mixture. Divide fresh baby spinach on serving plates. Arrange pesto pasta mixture on top. Garnish with fresh mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes.

Pesto Sauce

2 cups of fresh basil leaves
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup pine nuts
2 tbsps Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated
3 gloves garlic, peeled
1/2 tsp kosher salt

In a food processor or blender, combine basil, pine nuts, garlic, salt and half of olive oil. Process steadily until mixture turns into a grainy paste, while adding the rest of the olive oil in a thin, continuous stream. Remove to a container. Gently fold in grated cheese. Add more olive oil if sauce is too thick.

More recipes to come as I continue to plan my menu! :-)

The Moments That Make The Difference~

Wishing a very Happy Father's Day to all the men out there who have bandaged skinned knees, looked under the bed for monsters, looked in the closet for monsters, checked under the bed again for monsters, held the back of bicycles that have newly been rid of traininng wheels, played ballerina when they thought no one else was looking, who has worn a tiara at tea time while using his best table manners, emptied out their pockets so piggy banks can be newly filled before bed, sacrificed dreams for their families, worked 2-3 jobs to give a twinkle to litttle eyes come Christmas mornings, worked 2-3 jobs so food is always on the table, worked 2-3 jobs for that perfect Prom dress, worked 2-3 jobs for that perfect wedding, who risk their lives to prepare for learners permits, who shows that one saved bullet to the "first date" that comes to the door, who chokes down those cookies that a bit too much salt or baking soda was accidentally used yet then claim they were the BEST they have ever eaten.....the list of those often unseen moments can go on and on. But it is thos unseen moments that make such a difference in a child's life. Happy Father's Day to all the men who chose to be Daddys and not just fathers!

To my Daddy whom I always knew had a softer side....I miss you...."Bob" :-)

To my Husband of whom I could NOT ask for more in as a father to my children!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I read this online this week that I have been itching to pass on! I absolutely LOVE it! I found it on http://femininefarmgirl.blogspot.com/  So very inspiring!

Unashamed~

"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast.
The decision has been made.
I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or back away.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future, is secure.
I'm finished with low living, sight walking, small planning,
smooth knees, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.
I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.
I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow,
my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I can not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary,
negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, spoken for the case of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me.

My banner is clear. I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed."

- A final testimony penned by an African Christian just before he was martyred for his faith.

After much looking, I was unable to find a source for this; there seems to be some uncertainty about exactly who said it.

Dinner Tonight

Had one of my favs tonight! Balsamic Glazed Chicken, "Asian" Broccoli Slaw and Rosemary Steak Fries (sorry forgot to take a pic tonight of those). Yummy yummy for my tummy!! :-)

Balsamic Glazed Chicken
Ingredients

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup soy sauce

5 sprigs of rosemary

5 garlic cloves, halved

10 to 12 chicken drumsticks, wings or thighs

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (optional)

DirectionsCombine the balsamic, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, rosemary sprigs, and garlic cloves, in a large, re-sealable plastic bag. Shake and squeeze the contents of the bag to dissolve the honey and the brown sugar. Add the chicken drumsticks to the bag and seal with as little air as possible in the bag. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the chicken drumsticks on a foil-lined baking dish. Bake until the skin is caramelized and very dark in spots, about 30 to 45 minutes. Up Heat to 450 at end if needed to brown chicken more after basting with glaze.
Meanwhile, place the marinade in a small saucepan. Bring the marinade to a boil (in order to kill bacteria). Reduce the heat to simmer and cook over low heat until thick, about 15 minutes. Reserve.
Use a pastry brush to brush some of the cooked marinade on the cooked chicken. Place the chicken on a serving platter. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and the chopped parsley.
Cook's note: I like the rosemary and garlic flavors in the background. Brushing the cooked drumettes with the reduced marinade helps the flavors along. Also, re-moistening helps the parsley and the seeds to adhere.

Enjoy!

In Your Father's Hands

"One thing that I have learned in life is that through trial and adversity your faith will increase.
It will grow tremendously, and you will be ever thankful for the hard times that God has taken you through.
You will look back and say, “Thank you, Father. You are so good to me.”

~ Author Unknown


I have noticed this difference in myself  in the past few years. Whether it be from being a mother, or a wife or even more likely since inviting the Lord into my life fully. I have noticed that I deal with hardships in life completely diffently than I ever have before. Now I don't mean every day annoyances or petty inconveniences. I still lose my temper from time to time (in my self opinion at least) and plenty of things still frustrate me. But I have noticed that when it comes to dire situations...a knowing comes over me. A Knowing that we will overcome... a knowing that I am not alone....a knowing that what ever the outcome to said situation, it will be as it should be and it will soon be perfectly clear as to why it happened....a knowing that I or we will be grateful for the low times because it reminds us for all that we have...and most esp. a knowing that we are in these great mighty hands that wants the best for us and is the ONLY one that KNOWS what is indeed best for us!
I often wish I was able to pass on that comfort and "knowing" to those closest to me or even someone who I see who is without it. But unfortunately I don't believe it is something we can just simply tell others and they will just "get it".  I think one has to find it on their own.....am I wrong? Maybe I am just not savy enough with words to get the message accross. But I wish I could. What a gift it would be don't you think?

Just wanted to voice that want to you tonight...


“I’d much rather be with God in the storm, than all alone in comfort.”

Blessing,
Dee

Dinner tonight: Asian Grilled wings with Steamed Rice, Roasted Carrots and Brussel sprouts

Dinner tonight: Asian Grilled wings with Steamed Rice, Roasted Carrots and Brussel sprouts Recipe:

chicken pieces of choice (wings, thighs or drums)

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp curry powder

2-3 cloves garlic minced

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1 TB lime juice ( I was out so I used lemon)

sesame seeds for garnish

combine marinade ingredients in freezer size zip lock bag and add chicken pieces. Marinade in refrigerator for 3 hrs turning occasionally.

Heat grill to med heat. Remove chicken from marinade and set aside. Place marinade in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and allow to boil a minute or two to kill any bacteria from chicken. Grill chicken pieces basting with marinade often until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink and juices run clear. Aprox 12-20 mins depending on pieces. Remove chicken and sprinkle with sesame seeds for garnish.

~~~~~~~~~

I have not had brussel sprouts since I was little and have always sworn up and down that I HATED them! I remember being forced to eat these boiled vinegary things and could hardly swallow each bite without gagging! I have lately been wondering if maybe I might like them now as an adult esp cooked in a different method than what was given to me ( my family was not known for their culinary endeavors......well I am SOOOOO glad I took the leap finally to give them a go esp. with roasting them! I absolutely loved them and was even dissapointed I didn't make more! Even more shocking was I convinced my 4 yr old (ok bribed with a popsicle more like) to try a bite and she actually liked them! If you knew my girl you would realize this is quite a miracle esp. when it comes to the battle of vegetables! But before I celebrate too much I will wait until I make them again and see if she will eat them or suddenly claim she no longer likes them.......sigh~

Roasted Carrots and Brussel Sprouts:

1/2 bag frozen carrot coins

1/2 bag frozen brussel sprouts

olive oil

salt pepper to taste 1 TB butter

Preheat oven to 400

Toss carrots and brussel sprouts with olive oilve in small baking dish. Season with salt/ pepper to your liking. Roast in oven approx 20 mins until just staring to lightly browm. Add butter and turn to coat. turn up oven to broil and cook until brown and slightly crispy.

EXTRA Crispy Fried Chicken

I've been off and on experimenting with different fried chicken techniques. Tonight I made a batter fried chiken that gives tons of crunch! For those who like munching on the coating on fried chicken, this is the recipe for you!

Dee's Fried Chicken

Chicken pieces of choice

Marinade:
hot sauce (I used franks)

paprika aprox 1 TB

Seal Coating:
1/2 cup approx corn starch for dusting

Wet batter:
1-2 cups biscuick (can use flour,I used biscuick because ofbaking powder and such in it)

1/2- 1 cup corn starch

garlic powder

ceyenne

paprika

lawrys seasoning

black pepper

rosemary

pasrsley

onion powder

1-2 eggs

oil for frying

enough water till slightly thinner than pancake batter

Add seasonings in amount of your preference. Add water to mixture until you reach the right consistency. You want it runny but not watery.

Dry Flour Mixture:
1-2 cups flour

1/4- 1/2 cup corn starch

salt /pepper to taste

Method:Marinate the chicken pieces in hot sauce and paprika to coat. Keep in fridge 3hr to 24 hrs. The heat of the hot sauce will cook out this is just for flavor.Preheat about 3 inches of oil in large pan , leave at least equal amount of pan to the top to prevent oil from over flowing.
Lightly dust chicken piece with corn starch and shake off any excess. Dip each chicken piece in wet batter mixture. Shake of excess so its not dripping. quickly toss in dry flour mixture, large ziplock baggie works great for this. Lightly shake off excess. Slowly lower chicken pieces into oil. Do not over crowd pan, cook in batches. Try not to handle chicken too much esp. at the beginning of frying so batter does not fall off before it has hardened. Cook chicken until no longer pink in center aprox 15-20 for medium to large pieces about 10 mins for wings. If unsure. take a pieces out and pierce with sharp knife, chicken is done if clear juices run out.Drain chicken pieces thoroughly on paper towels or brown paper bag.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded...

No matter how strong your faith or even when your faith hasn't been in the forfront of your life for awhile...we all need to be reminded sometimes how much we all each are loved and appreciated! How we are so precious and cherished. Not only to those in our lives but by our Father!
For those who may need a reminder.....
I have some great news~ God loves you more than He loves what you do. When tears fall~He wants to wipe them away ~collecting them so that He can pour them back into our lives as a refreshing rain of restoration. God is waiting with outstretched arms for you to run to Him ~sharing every hurt and rejoicing in each victory. The Heavenly Father wants to bring peace and balance into our lives that we so desperately need.

Love what you have ladies and KNOW that you are loved by a force so great that no earthly love could come close!

This picture I took the other night just made me feel in awe as I watched these clouds roll in at such an awesome speed! They looked so dark and mysterious yet beautiful!

Smell every flower you come in contact with and KNOW that it was given by your greatest love of all!!
Blessings,

Dee