Photo Friday #34

Photo Friday #33 - May Your Christmas Be Bright

Photo Friday #32 - Backyard Immigration

Fearless Women

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 

2Timothy 1:6-8

 I recently received something exciting in the mail!

 I am thrilled about this book for many reasons!

First, I am thrilled because of the truth it teaches.

It is about love and how love makes us fearless women! I John 4:18 teaches that

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

Fearless is a collection of stories about women who like all of us have faced fear. By sharing their stories with us, they express the great truth that God’s love casts out fear. When women repent of sin and trust in Christ, the love they experience transforms their lives. Christ’s love teaches us that He can be trusted. His love enables us to depend on Him for strength to do daily tasks and for peace during heart-rending grief.

Eighteen women share their story in Fearless. I love the Table of Contents, because it shows the names of real-life women who have experienced the fear-casting perfect love of Christ!

Second, I am thrilled about the reason the editors published this book. 

Fearless encourages women who read it to also tell their story. The Last chapter entitled Your Story  states,

“We all have a story. And we invite you to join us in the sharing. There can be healing and overflowing joy in the telling. For as we tell our story of broken fear, we remember the story of Perfect Love – Love that writes His story in our lives and gives us courage to speak out.”

The third reason I am thrilled about this book is the editors!

 Fearless  is edited by my sister and her dear friend!

And, reason number four that I am thrilled:

The photos in Fearless are ones that I took when I visited my sister’s farm last summer! My sister lives on a beautiful piece of land in upper New York. I had a wonderful time visiting her and was pleased to capture memories with my camera. I am blessed and honored that the editors chose to use those captured memories in Fearless.

You can own your own copy of Fearless by ordering it here.

You can share your story by emailing the editors at themains@gmail.com

Photo Friday #31 - All Thy Wondrous Works Proclaim, The Glory of Thy Name

 

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done...

 

Great King of nations, hear our prayer,

While at thy feet we fall,

And humbly, with united cry,

To thee for mercy call.

 

The guilt is ours, but grace is thine,

O turn us not away;

But hear us from thy lofty throne,

And help us when we pray.

 

Our fathers' sins were manifold,

And ours no less we own,

Yet wondrously from age to age

Thy goodness hath been shown.

 

When danger, like a stormy sea,

Beset our country round,

To thee we looked, to thee we cried,

And help in thee was found.

 

With one consent we meekly bow

Beneath thy chast'ning hand,

And, pouring forth confession meet,

Mourn with our mourning land.

 

With pitying eye behold our need,

As thus we lift our prayers;

Correct us with thy judgments, Lord,

Then let thy mercy spare.

 

~ John H. Gurney ~

Pantry Purge

 

We are fully in the throws of my favorite time of year. Knee deep in the holiday happy. I love this season: the aroma of cinnamon, pumpkin, and apple pie. The twinkle lights, the festive music, the children decked out in matching pajamas. Bing Crosby belting out our favorite holiday tunes. Oh yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. In preparation for the good eats and sweet treats that come with the holiday season, I take the opportunity (loathingly...is that a word?) to clean out the pantry of miscellaneous ingredients collected throughout the year and to delve into the bowels of the deep freeze in order use up any extra random cuts of meat or frozen casseroles. This sometimes usually results in my family enjoying choking down meals consisting of my haphazard concoctions thrown together from said miscellaneous ingredients. Such is life. They will survive. Occasionally, however, I hit a home run with my unpredictable meals and happen upon a winner. Something I might actually make intentionally at some other time of year. Totally lacking in any great feat of culinary skill, but yummy and simple and fairly quick too - I hope you and yours enjoy it as much as we did. 

 

 

Italian Chicken & Rice

 

2 cans chicken broth

2 cans italian diced tomatoes

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder

4 large chicken breasts, split in two to yield 8 cutlets (cutlets cook faster and are more tender)

garlic salt and pepper to taste

mozzarella or monterrey jack cheese

 

First, bring to boil 2 cans of chicken broth, 1 can italian diced tomatoes, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp pepper and 1 tsp. garlic powder. Add two cups of rice, cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook about 20 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. While the rice is cooking, melt 3 Tbs. of butter in a cast iron skillet. Season about 8 chicken cutlets on both sides with garlic salt and pepper and brown in the cast iron skillet until cooked through, about 3-4 minutes on each side. Then place the chicken on a sheet pan, cover with a spoonful or two of italian diced tomatoes and a layer of mozzarella cheese, sprinkle a little extra dried oregano or basil on top. Place in the broiler for a few minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve on top of rice. 

 

 

*photo's taken with iPhone 4s and edited in Photoshop CS6

Photo Friday #30 - I Walk Alone