"Storms" of Life Can Set Us Apart

Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong."

Have you ever planned something in your life and it did not go at all like you had PLANNED?

This is a theme in my life. As I consider what my "plans" were 5 years ago, 10 years ago, etc.. my life looks nothing like I expected or planned.

My poor husband has been planning a Disciple Now Weekend. The weekend's theme is "Set Apart".

D-NOW Set Apart Weekend

Several things have put a kink in his plans like the "STORM" of the century. Our speaker, Curtis Jones lives in TX. His flight was cancelled (and they didn't even get a drop of snow). He is booked on a new flight and we are PRAYING he makes it.

I love that I can rest in the truth that God is IN CONTROL. 

I love how ironic (not really ironic... because God is at work) the theme of "Set Apart" and "Storms" go together.

After all, it is the STORMS of life that SET US APART.

I have been so impressed with my husband and how he has handled this stress. It says a lot about who he is and in whom he places his trust.

We have two sets of friends who just had newborns. Both of those precious babies are having complications. The strength and peace these parents are displaying in midst of their uncertainty is amazing. (Please pray for babies Jackson and Micah). 

I think of the parents of Kate McRae. Kate is a beautiful 6 year old little girl who is BATTLING brain cancer. This storm has set them apart. (Please pray for the healing of this precious child.)

In the midst of all this on my mind are two verses and I think they go together beautifully. 


Set yourself apart:  "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5


As you set yourself apart:  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7




How do you handle the "storms" of life?


What do you do to set yourself apart?


Do you have a Bible verse you cling to?


Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear.




**UPDATE: Curtis' flight was delayed and he would not make his connection. The D-Now weekend was canceled due to inclement weather. 


TRUTH we are clinging to: We know that God is in control!

Easy Wing Recipe - Italian Parmesan Wings

In honor of it being Super Bowl week... I have to share a wing recipe.

This recipe is easy and involves no frying.

The first restaurant where best wings in the country are made is in my home town. The name/place is controversial... so I'll leave it up to your imagination.

I grew up with a single dad... I am a wing connoisseur. (I know, I'm fancy like that.)

I prefer my wings breaded, fried, smothered with hot buffalo sauce and served with ranch.

I live in Arkansas now, and they don't have a great wing place (they have some ok ones).

I wanted to share an EASY and versatile wing recipe. It is not as good as the breaded and fried ones, but a good and healthier alternative. The base recipe can be made with any dressing or even BBQ sauce.

Italian Parmesan Wings

Ingredients:

10 lbs of Chicken Wings
1 16 oz Jar of your favorite Italian or Vinaigrette dressing (it is best if it has Parmesan in it)
1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (it can even be out of the jar)
Salt & Pepper to Taste

1. Place Chicken Wings in 2-3 gallon size zip lock bags.

2. Season generously with Salt and Pepper.

3. Evenly pour dressing over chicken.

4. Let marinade (in fridge) for 1-3 days.

5. Line 2 large jelly roll pans with foil (for easy clean up).

6.  Lay chicken out on 2 large jelly roll pans.

7. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.

8. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook for another 5 minutes.

I sprinkled them with a little parsley for color.

Enjoy!

Parmesan Herb Wings

Ingredients:

10 lbs of Chicken Wings

1 16 oz Jar of your favorite Italian dressing (it is best if it has Parmesan in it)

1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (it can even be out of the jar)

Salt & Pepper to Taste

1. Place Chicken Wings in 2-3 gallon size zip lock bags.

2. Season generously with Salt and Pepper.

3. Evenly pour dressing over chicken.

4. Let marinade for 1-3 days.

5. Line 2 large jelly roll pans with foil (for easy clean up). 

6.  Lay chicken out on 2 large jelly roll pans. 

7. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook for another 5 minutes.

Photo of the Week: Outdoor Wonders

My kids are growing up way too fast! I am going to try to post one picture each week so I will remember what they were like at this age.

I loved this one!

John is so curious.

He was looking outside in wonder.

I can't wait to take him out and play!

Party Food Recipe: Bacon & Cheese Stuffed Sliders

My husband is laying aside his diet for the Super Bowl. So the pressure is on to make him (and my small group) something good!

I'll be testing recipes this week and sharing them with you (if they are good).

This one was AMAZING!

Our neighbors in Wake Forest were the best cooks. (We miss them so much! Not only for their cooking.) He made us stuffed burgers one night and they were the best burgers I'd ever had.

Here is my "party food" version of his burgers.

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Sliders

makes: 16 sliders

Ingredients

5.5 lbs of Ground Chuck  

4 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

Montreal Steak Seasoning (I used McCormick's)

1 cup of chopped onions (sauteed) 

8 oz Block of Colby Jack Cheese

8 slices of bacon

16 Soft dinner rolls

Directions:

In a large bowl mix together Ground Chuck, Worcestershire, Steak Seasoning and Sauteed Onions. Set aside.

Fry Bacon, let cool and crumble. (I also added some bacon grease to my above burger mixture.. don't judge)

Divide Ground Chuck into 16 equal sized balls. Then divide into 32 equal sized balls.

Flatten each ball to make a burger shape and press thumb in center to make a well.

Slice 16 pieces of Cheese. Place one slice of cheese in well of 16 burgers.

Top cheese with crumbled bacon.

Top each burger with the unfilled burgers.

Press sides to seal.

Fry or grill each burger. I used the same pan I cooked the bacon and onions in. I want as few dishes as possible!

Cook for 3 minutes on each side for medium or 4 minutes on each side for well done.

Place cooked burgers on rolls and serve with favorite burger fixings.

Here is an easier version of the recipe. You can copy and print.

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Sliders

makes: 16 sliders

Ingredients

5.5 lbs of Ground Chuck
4 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
Montreal Steak Seasoning (I used McCormick's)
1 cup of chopped onions (sauteed)
8 oz Block of Colby Jack Cheese
8 slices of bacon
16 Soft dinner rolls

Directions:

1. In a large bowl mix together Ground Chuck, Worcestershire, Steak Seasoning and Sauteed Onions. Let sit.

2. Fry Bacon, let cool and crumble.

3. Divide Ground Chuck into 16 equal sized balls. Then divide into 32 equal sized balls.

4. Flatten each ball to make a burger shape and press thumb in center to make a well.

5. Slice 16 pieces of Cheese. Place one slice of cheese in well of 16 burgers.

6. Top cheese with crumbled bacon.

7. Top each burger with the unfilled burgers.

8. Press sides to seal.

9.  Fry or grill each burger.

10. Cook for 3 minutes on each side for medium or 4 minutes on each side for well done.

11. Place cooked burgers on rolls and serve with favorite burger fixings.


Tomorrow I am posting an easy wing recipe.

What is your favorite party food?

What are you making for your Super Bowl Party?

Leave a comment below. I'd love to hear!

Women Acting Like "High School" Girls. Do We Ever Grow Up?

For some girls.. high school was the worst four years of their life. Although for me it was some of the best four years. I loved every minute of it. (Well, almost every minute.)

I loved the movie Clueless. Who were you most like in high school? Cher (Alicia Silverstone) or Tai (Brittany Murphy).

Have you ever met someone and know that you want to be friends with them?

There could be several reasons why you think you could be friends. It could be that you have a lot in common, it could be because of "who" they know, they may be in the "cool" group, or maybe they seem like so much fun.

This happened at the church we just left. There was this awesome girl, she was so much fun and we had everything in common. We eventually became great friends and she blessed my life greatly!

That doesn't always happen. Sometimes we feel like him:

Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) in Can't Buy Me Love (one of my favorite movies of all time). We so badly want to be accepted we would just about pay for it.

By the way.. WOW did Patrick Dempsey get better with age.

I don't know how that happened, but aging did him good. I digressed... 

I recently went to dinner with some mutual friends. There was a girl there who I have met a couple times. We seem to have a lot in common. I feel like we could be great friends, but it was a little awkward. We just didn't seem to click in the way I pictured or wanted to in my head.

Out of nowhere a sense of self consciousness welled up in me. I remember that feeling so well from High School. Although I knew a lot of people and I was VERY SOCIAL. I was just on the outskirts of the "popular" crowd.

Questions I used to ask my self from High School came rushing back.

What is wrong with me? Why didn't she like me?

I then ask myself: WHY DO I CARE??? (A questions I needed to ask myself in High School).

The answer is usually something stupid and self centered.

I am an adult for goodness sake. Why am I acting like I'm in high school again? Sadly, I think many women struggle with the same feelings.

It brought me back to my favorite verse.

Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. - Psalm 86:11

Sometimes we focus so much on other people, pleasing them and fearing them. Our hearts get divided. Let us focus on the Lord and our relationship or "friendship" with him. In the end, that is the only friendship that will truly matter.

Do you struggle with the same thing (wanting to be liked and accepted)?

Does your heart get divided?

We are in a new town and in the middle of making friends. What do you do to make new friends?

Just for fun.. I mentioned two of my favorite "teeny bopper" movies. What is your favorite "High School" movie?

Please leave a comment below. I'd love to hear.