God's Masterpiece

Matthew 5:14

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid

 I love the verse Eph. 2 : 10 NLT  ^"For we are God’s Masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago". I love to quote or think of this verse every time I think that I am not good enough or I am not special. When I think there is nothing that I can do or I have no talent I recall this verse and know that none of that is true according to God's word. We are special and God created us and made us new in Christ so that we could do the things He has planned for us. It might not be what we would think of doing, but it is what God has planned for us. He made each one of us unique and special, His masterpiece. So when I am thinking that I am not enough then I am really criticizing God for He is the one who made me into who I am. God has a job for all of us to do, we just have to pray, and meditate on what it is and then jump in and do what God has planned for us. Most of all I try to remember that I am special because God made me and He made me and molded me into the person He wants me to be.

Another favorite verse of mine is Jer 29:11 NIV   ^"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
God has a plan and it doesn't include harm but hope and a future. What a great promise from God.

I try to repeat both of these verses everyday along with Rom 8:1KJV "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit". and also Rom 8:28 KJV "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." and Rom. 8: 31 NIV "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

So next time you are feeling down or thinking that you are talentless or not special remember these verses.  Try to memorize them so that they come to mind when these feelings start and remember most of all YOU ARE GOD'S MASTERPIECE and HE LOVES YOU

Snow, Snow and then more Snow

Yesterday it snowed and snowed and snowed and at the end of the day and snow storm we had 12- 14 inches of snow. It was up to the door and in fact when I opened the screen door it would not open all the way because the snow was that high. I didn't get to do any blogging because we were afraid of losing power so I had the computer off. When I thought it was safe to try I turned the computer on and not 5 minutes or so later the power went out. Maybe I jinxed us, but luckily it was only out a minute or so but I decided to wait to turn it on till today. Now after we get dug out I will be back to blog more. Hope everyone has a safe warm day.

Month of Love

February the Month of Love, the month that we show our love to others with cards, flowers and candy. We write love notes and add them to those cards, flowers and candy to give to that special someone that we love.  We want to make sure that our Valentine knows how important they are and how much we love them.  I think that we get caught up in showing our love in special ways just one day a year when we should show the ones we love how special and loved they are everyday.
No it doesn't have to be candy or flowers any thing like that, it can just be little things like a special note in there lunch or making a special dinner. Baking cookies or a snack that they really love. When you get a chance to just hold there hand or just listen to them when they are talking can be special. We think big when it is the little things that are important. When Mike, my husband and I were dating there was a cartoon in our paper that was a girl and boy and the caption always was Love is followed by something that love is. One of my favorite ones was Love Is You and Me. Mike would cut those out and give them to me and it was really special. I kept them for a long time just because it was our special way of telling each other how much we loved each other. To others that would seem silly but to us it was special. That is what you should do, find out what is special between the two of you and then cherish each other by doing it.
I also think it is important to say I love you to each other and not just assume they know it. Every time I talk to Mike on the phone or he leaves for any reason we say I love you to each other. People might think we are crazy, but at times we can just be watching TV and look at each other and say" you know I Love You." We have been married 39 years and have been together 41 and I can truthfully say I never get tired of hearing him say I love you even though I know he loves me. I guess what I am saying is don't just spend one day telling the one you love that you love them and try to show them all in one day, but let them know each and every day.



Also we always have one who loves us unconditionally and thinks we are special and that is God. God loves us and has given his most precious gift His Son because He loves us.
John 3: 16 KJV  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Never think that you have no one who loves you or that your not special because God Loves You and You Are Special.

Spicy Hamburger Hashbrown Dish or Nana's Mess

Have you ever had a day when your best laid plans for dinner just didn't work out. That's what happened to me tonight, so when the steaks were still frozen and dinner had to be done in a hurry I had to improvise. So taking what I had this is what I came up with and we called it Nana's Mess because I messed up and didn't thaw the meat out for dinner and was out of pasta.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (ground turkey would probably work too)
1 4.2 oz carton dehydrated hash browns
1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup picante sauce
2tsp dehydrated onions
2tsp garlic salt
2tsp taco seasoning
4 slices of american cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
2 Tbs ketchup
 Parmesan cheese for top

Directions:
In a skillet brown the ground beef, onions, garlic salt and taco seasoning. Drain
Cook the hash browns as it says on the box. You can use frozen or fresh hash browns if you like I used what I had available. Just cook the hash browns as directed on the ones you use.
Combine the cooked hash browns and ground beef together. Add the diced tomatoes, picante sauce and stir. When this is warm add the sour cream and ketchup and stir to mix together. Cook on low. When heated through add the american cheese slices ( you can use shredded cheddar cheese here instead but again I was out). When the slices start to melt stir into the hamburger hash brown mix. Dish up and add the Parmesan cheese to the top like and dig in. Very good, filling and the family loved it.

Even though I didn't fix what I had planned and had to go to the pantry to make something, it really didn't turn out bad. You can add more of the onions, garlic salt and taco seasoning to your taste but in our house less is used because some don't like to much of the seasoning.

Give this a try it really was good. It can be gluten free if you use gluten free seasonings, sour cream, ketchup, picante sauce and cheese.

Instead today of a favorite quote I thought I would share our family prayer that we taught our kids and grandkids. Remember to always be thankful.

Family Prayer
Come Lord Jesus Be Our Guest
Let All This Food To Us Be Blessed
Amen


So Dig In and Enjoy!

Break is over

I have been on a break from all my blogs but I am ready to get back to them. I hope to post once a week if not more often.  This will be posts from what's going on in my life to favorite verses,  quotes and devotions. Ready to get started here are two of my favorite quotes:

 Ronald Reagan "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

"There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way.""
- C. S. Lewis

Food for thought. We need to put God first and make sure we are doing his will, that should be how we live as a person and nation.