Chick-Fil-A

True Believers on Dead Fig Trees

I worry that there are so many people today that are "true believers on dead fig trees," as my pastor calls it.  So many churches today don't teach doctrine at all.  Some don't even feel the need to teach doctrine.  They think it's divisive, or unimportant.  If the leadership in those churches could only see how easily so many people can go from one church to another without really understanding what the core beliefs of each church is, all because the church has a great praise & worship band.  Or because the church is involved in some great service projects, so they MUST be a GOOD church. 

Those who guide this people mislead them,
       and those who are guided are led astray.
Isaiah 9:16

Turkey, Ya'll

Back in November I got a turkey at Kroger for 5 bucks!  It was a Thanksgiving deal.  It changed the way we eat around here.  Because we got such a good deal on it, I was determined to get everything out of it that I could, and I feel like we did.  Even though I can't get a turkey for 5 bucks now, I can usually find a good deal on one, and really, with things being much, much tighter around here lately, I just have to.  The last one I bought was .79/lb.  Kroger always has the best deals.  It was an 18 lb. turkey.  Here's what we did to get the most of our money out of it....

First, we cooked that baby using this recipe:
-Preheat overn to 475
-Melt a stick of butter
-Separate skin from breast and rub the butter on the meat, then add rosemary and thyme between the breast and skin
-Lightly salt and pepper the skin on the outside
-Place turkey in roasting pan with cover
-Bake for 20 minutes at 475, then reduce heat to 250
-Cook turkey at 250 for 20 minutes per pound.

After the turkey is cooked, we have the traditional turkey dinner.  Stuffing, rice, green beans...you know.  I use ALL the drippings from the turkey to make gravy.  It's a lot of gravy, but we use all the gravy in the Cheddary Chicken n' Broccoli recipe below.  I used to buy packets of gravy mix for this recipe, but no more!

Another thing I do is take the carcass of the turkey and use it to make Turkey Stock.  Oh my goodness. I love the smell of the broth simmering on the stove!  I use the broth in some of the recipes below.  It's so much cheaper than having to buy broth at the store, and much healthier.  Unless you're buying organic broth, other "regular" broths have MSG in them.

Then it takes us the rest of the week to eat the rest in different recipes, and it's so much cheaper than buying chicken breasts, which is what most recipes call for.  I have to double everything, and still always have plenty of turkey for these meals:
Farmhouse Chicken

Chicken Pot Pie

Barbecued Chicken Sandwiches

Soft Chicken Tacos - super easy!  Just mix together 1 lb. cut-up chicken (or turkey ;-), 1 15 oz. can of black beans, rinsed and drained, 1 c. salsa, 1 T. taco seasoning, then serve on a tortilla. 

Cheddary Chicken n' Broccoli
1 package Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Shells, baked (we will use 6) - I use my own biscuit recipe for this.  It's HERE.
2 jars chicken gravy - substitue homemade gravy
2 cups cooked chicken, thawed
2 cups frozen broccoli cuts, thawed
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
In a saucepan, combine gravy, lemon juice, broccoli, and chicken. Heat, stirring frequently. Serve in pastry shells with cheese sprinkled on top.

I try to keep things different every week so we won't burn out on the same recipes.  Others I have put in the rotation are Chicken Lasagna, Chicken Alphabet Soup, Southwest Chicken and Chili Stew.  I try to stick to recipes that are heavy in vegetables.  The one exception in the list I've given is the Chicken Lasagna.  It's heavy in creeeeeaaaaammmmm cheeeeeese.  My weakness.

God Being Real, II

My husband's grandfather died this weekend.  We will miss him a lot!  Ben and Jack had worked up a fun correspondence with Pop that I know they will miss. 

There are many fun and interesting stories that include Pop.  He was such a character.  But the last story he left with us is the most inspiring of all.  Pop knew that he was going to die.  He had already issued a DNR order.  He told my Father-in-Law, "I just want to go Home." 

My Father-in-Law called in the doctor.  They gave him some medicine to help with pain, Pop took off the oxygen mask and waited to see what God's will would be.  He was tired and he was ready to go Home.  He kept saying that over and over. 

As he was drifting off, he knew.  He knew he was going, and that hope within stayed strong and bright!  Every time one of the nurses came in, he must have thought it was his heavenly escort because he would try to get out of the bed to go toward them.  :-)

More than anything, he knew he was going Home.  He had no doubts or fears.  Just a certainty that he was in God's hands.  And as his heart slowed down and he went into unconsciousness and finally death, he rested easy, knowing that God was going to be there to receive him in.

God is real. 

John 5:24 says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

1 Corinthians 15:54-55, "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:
      “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
      “ O Death, where is your sting?
      O Hades, where is your victory?”

Pop's story reminds us of the hope we have in Christ.  Where is the victory of death in Pop's death?  Where is the sting?  Taken away when Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins on the cross.  When we come to our own deathbeds, we can have hope, we can have something to look forward to - eternity with our God who loves us and only wants to be with us.

Jeremiah 31:3, ":“ Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." "