God's Goodness and Generosity Amazes Me

There are times when I feel awash with God's goodness.  He is always good.  He is always faithful.  Even when I don't stop and see it.  His character never changes. And then there are nights like last night that just blow you away when you realize just how faithful and good He really is.

The church I have been attending here in Kearney since moving here in July hosts an annual celebration dinner each Thanksgiving.  They serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal, hold a worship service, and have a baptism celebration.  Last night went above and beyond anything I could have dreamed God would do.

Over 800 people ate dinner and then found their way into the auditorium for the worship and baptism service.  What a precious time that was.  About 35 people came forward and shared their story of how God had changed their life.  An entire family (father, mother, and child) were all baptized together.  On more than one occasion a father was able to baptize his own child.  Tears regularly fell from my eyes as I heard story after story of life change, and witnessed life after life boldly proclaim their faith and identify with Christ!  What a beautiful scene.

But the thing that really amazed me came at the end of the night.  For months our church has been praying about providing a well for the people of Koat, Sudan.  This village has 4500 people who right now walk a half mile to the Nile River to get their drinking water.  The Nile River is not clean and many people continue to get sick from no clean drinking water.  Through a course of events, we learned about this village through a man who spent time with our church family over the past year.  He is now home in the Sudan with his wife and daughter. 

With Aid Sudan it costs $17,500 to drill a well for clean drinking water.  The village of Koat needs two wells.  We were praying we could provide them with enough money for one well.  The campaign will last for four weeks.  Just last night alone, the church gave $39,000 for the wells!  PRAISE BE TO GOD!  Amazing.  Enough for both wells, and to send someone over to Koat and document the process for those of us back here in the States.  What an amazing night.

As we were driving home, my husband called to tell his kids the good news about the money raised.  He said "God really came through!"  It was then that it hit me, GOD ALWAYS COMES THROUGH!  This should be no surprise to us.  It was His will and desire to bless Koat through our church.  God is always faithful.  I'm proud to be in a church where His people were also faithful and obedient and joined God in the work He is doing in Koat.

Thankful for a year full of adventures

My husband is one of the most spontaneous and adventurous people I know.  He is always up for trying something new and going somewhere new.  We have a new goal to reach with the kids.  We want to hit all the high points of each of the 50 states.  This summer we hit four.  Three are listed below.  Very pumped about working on getting this goal reached.  Each time is a new great adventure!

Iowa High Point

Nebraska High Point

Kansas High Point

More than enough

At work I have the privilege of answering phones when our receptionist is not available.  Many of the phone calls are transfers back to someone else in the office.  More and more lately the phone calls are of a nature that truly humbles me.  There are so many hurting and struggling people in our community.

Our church hosts a food pantry.  It is just about a daily occurrence that someone will walk through our front doors needing food for their children.  And many more phone calls come from someone needing help paying their bill so the electricity isn't turned off or they can get gas in their car to go to work.  I am thankful that I'm not the one who has to determine how we help each individual that comes through our doors.  But I am also thankful that our church does everything within it's power to aid those in need, while still being concerned with where they are at spiritually, and working with them to help long-term.  Our goal is not to enable them, but to show them the love of Christ and walk along side them through whatever struggles in which they find themselves.  However they ended up there, our place is not to judge, but to show them the love of Christ.

It is also humbling to me that despite our tightened budget, we are blessed beyond measure.  Our bills are paid.  There is food in the pantry (when I make time to grocery shop, that is).  We enjoy the support and company of each other and our family and friends.  Our home is a place of refuge.  And every day we are blessed to be paid to work in full-time ministry.

I praise God for His faithfulness and His provision.  He has NEVER failed us and He will ALWAYS take care of us.  For that fact alone, I am beyond blessed and thankful.

A breakfast to be thankful for

Yesterday while the Broncos played - and beat - the Raiders, I kept myself busy with cheering, knitting, and preparing breakfast for the week.  A little bag of wholesome goodness simmering on my pot!

Titus & I had forgotten all about the steel cut oats that were sitting in our cupboard.  But with an effort to continue to make whole food choices, I pulled out the bag and cooked them up yesterday.  Here's what I did:


I used a 3-1 ratio of water to oats:
2 cups Steel Cut oats
6 cups water 


Bring the water to a boil.  Add the steel cut oats and simmer.  My oats took about 35 mins simmering to absorb the water and soften.  I then let them sit until cooled and transferred them to a container to store in the refrigerator.

This morning, I spooned out two bowls full of oatmeal, added some soy milk and reheated in the microwave.  I then added a drizzle of agave nectar and it was just the perfect amount of sweetness.



The best part is that with the steel cut oats being processed less than rolled oats or instant oats, they take longer for our systems to process and the call for insulin is less.  That keeps our blood sugar level longer and the morning munchies stay at bay.  So excited to try mixing in fresh blue berries this week also!  

Thankful for No Bake Granola Bars

I've been on a quest to make more wholesome snacks for our family.  I read labels on everything I buy, and am amazed how much sugar is in everything.  I don't want to avoid sugar altogether, but I do want to make smarter choices when it comes to how much and what types of sweeteners we use.  While we are on a tight budget (both being in full-time ministry and all) it is tempting to go for the cheaper, processed foods.  But I am really making efforts to still make better choices for our family.

I am thankful that I live in a town with lots of options for healthier choices and a husband who supports these choices.

I have started making my own No Bake Granola bars.  It is a basic recipe I have varied based upon what I have available in my home at the time.  This is the variation I have used the most as it is a basic bar we can grab on our way out the door.

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 cup Almond Butter
1/2 cup Agave Nectar
3 cups Oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped nuts
muffin tin - sprayed with canola oil

WHAT I DID:
On the stove - in a pot - over medium heat:
Heat almond butter and Agave Nectar until smooth.  Remove from heat and mix in the oatmeal and nuts.  Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, spoon into the muffin tin and use the bottom side of the measuring cup to press into the muffin tin mold.  Place the muffin tin in the fridge to allow the bars to cool completely.  Once cool, remove from the tin and store in an air tight container.  I packaged mine into plastic baggies and put them in the fridge.  Now, each morning, I grab one on my way out the door and I have a wholesome breakfast I can eat on my way into work.

VARIATIONS:
When you add the oatmeal you can also add a handful of raisins, chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, or dried fruit.  While I think regular peanut butter is too sweet after eating natural almond butter, I did have some on left over from another treat I made to take to a football party and made a batch using that as well.  If you choose to use corn syrup, honey, or maple syrup, you may want to increase to 1 cup.  The agave nectar is sweeter, so you need less. This is a great base recipe that you can make your own each time with what you have on hand.

Thankful for knitting

I learned how to knit one night this past winter.  It was at a Crafty Night event when we were still in Bridgeport.  My awesome friend Susan taught a whole group of us.  While I haven't taken off with it and knit a closet full of items, I am glad that I know how to knit and that I have something to stretch me creatively when the mood strikes.

Mostly, though, I am thankful for the time I spent with my Knit Witz girl friends last spring as we met to knit, talk, enjoy snacks, and mostly laugh with one another.  I miss you all, my dear friends!

pool side project

washcloth for my sister

beanie hat for my new nephew

A Month to be Thankful

I think November is one of my favorite months.  There is a bit of a chill in the air, and tonight we will get our first snow fall of the season.  But more than all of that, I think Thanksgiving is an under-rated holiday.  Just this morning I was in Wal-Mart returning something before work.  I heard Christmas music over the loud speakers.  We went from Halloween to Christmas overnight.  You may find some "fall" decor still stuck between the clearance costumes and the newly opened boxes of Christmas mugs and place mats.

I've been thinking about, and studying more, on the idea of being thankful.  The Bible calls us to pray with thanksgiving.  I have even read lately that it is impossible to focus on worry and be thankful at the same time.  It is physiologically impossible for our brain to do that.  So I have been making a concerted effort to be thankful in all things and with thanksgiving, present my requests to God.

This month, I want to share things for which I am thankful.  Through word, and picture, to remind myself of all that I have been given and all the ways the Lord has taken care of me this past year.

Let me start off with two pictures showing great fun we had one weekend at a hotel.  I love that Madi and Abe are adventurous, and I am thankful for opportunities to allow them to enjoy being a kid.

Madi & Abe leaping from bed to bed during a weekend adventure!

Tired and happy after a massive pillow fight!