Perfect New Years’ Eve Bible Quote!

“This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

Recipe – One Pot Meatless Meal – Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole

I’m not much of meat eater, so for me this was dinner, but for you perhaps a crisp fresh salad and some meat or fish would complete it to your liking.  Either way it’s “homemade ish” as you will soon find out:

My ingredients:

shredded sharp cheddar cheese

French’s French Fried Onions

Fresh or frozen broccoli

Uncle Ben’s Country Inn Broccoli Rice Au Gratin

In one pot cook your broccoli until barely done if frozen and if (unlike me) you have fresh broccoli in hand, I would steam it so it still has some crispness . . .  my preference, cook it as you like but it will cook a bit more when incorporated in the finished dish.  Drain and hold aside.

In a second pot cook rice mix as directed.  When it is finished cooking and gets to the “cover and let stand five minutes” stage of prep, add your broccoli, a couple of palm fulls of shredded sharp cheddar, and stir.  Replace cover and allow to stand 5 minutes.  Just before serving, stir in a couple of handfuls of French’s onions, stir them in and add some more on top – not stirred in.  Done!  Eat.  Yum.

The Art of Being – A Poem In 3 Stanzas

They say the eyes are

Mirrors of the soul,

And I really do believe

That this is true.

.

For, when I look into yours,

Though sometimes conflict

And pain look back,

Jesus looks back at me as well.

.

I see Him holding you so close,

Loving you so much,

And I hope that my eyes

Reflect Him back to you.

.

By Martha L Shaw – Copyright 12-30-2012

The Problem With New Years’ Resolutions – DPchallenge

Most of us write New Years’ Resolutions and some of us live by them for a short time.  I could be mistaken on the time assumption, but I’ve never known anyone who lasted longer than a very short period before putting the thought away with the tinsel.  This year, I’m putting the whole concept away before the lights on my tree get wound up on an old paper toweling roll.  Why?  I looked up the word in the dictionary and I’m not liking its true meaning.

You see, resolution, resolve, resolute . . . no matter how you look at it, is all about me making a firm determination.

• My thoughts
• My plan
• My firm and unshakable opinion  and purpose

I ask you, my readers, how’s that working for you?  I’m of the opinion that unless my life is planned by the Lord and resolve is to follow Him, then I am not necessarily living into my true purpose.  I believe it is also true that He desires that I stay in step with Him.  The world we live in is constant in its quest to mold us into something we are not, worry us with things that should not concern us, and change our focus to a place defined not by us and not by our faith but by some misguided opinion we should not pay attention to, so why do we do so?

Furthermore, why do we focus so much attention on the day and time in which our world will come to an end?  We miss the blessing of the time we are in and we miss the opportunity to live our authentic lives while we fuss about whether “they” are right this time.  What do we gain aside from a headache in doing so?  If we live by faith, then we know “if” this world were to come to an end tomorrow we know where we are going, and Matthew  24:36 tells us “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[a] but only the Father.” so where’s the problem?

So, the challenge, to write my resolution for the coming year?  That’s no challenge to me.  I’ve got many “challenges” to face but mapping out the next 365 days on a resolute “plan of attack” sure isn’t one of them.  I’m working on faith to eliminate the rest of the challenges as well.  I’m determined to follow the leader, Jesus Christ.

Happy New Year!

Halfway Into the CHRISTmas Season . . .

 

We are halfway into the Christmas season and the magi should, at this point, likewise be halfway to the Babe . . . that being said . . . if we take our custom of celebrating literally,  then Jesus and His earthly parents spent 12 days (at least) living in the stable/cave with animals and dung . . . and His life was going to grow much more difficult than this and ALL FOR EACH ONE OF US.

Miracles – A Poem of Rebirth

Lord,

you take the darkness of night

and through your might alone

you dispel it

for each morn

brings with it

the miracle of birth

and the opportunity to begin anew!

by Martha L Shaw – copyright 12-29-2012

Quote of the Day For Sunday

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” Meister Eckhard