Chicken Vegetable Soup

I know it is time for warm weather and cookouts but I don't think mother nature got the memo. So with all the colds going around, I thought I would share one of my favorite soup recipes. My mother taught me and it is a great way to get the veggies in your kids. Hope all of you are feeling well but if not this soup will help.

8-10 chicken tenders
1 stick butter
salt and pepper
1 chopped yellow onion
4-6 peeled and chopped potatoes
1 can of Rotel
1 can of tomato sauce
2 or more cups of chicken broth
1 can drained green beans
1 can drained sliced carrots
1 can drained lima beans
1 can drained golden corn
1 c. elbow macaroni
1/2 head of green cabbage, chopped

In a 9"X13" pan, cook chicken tenders with a stick of butter and salt/pepper covered for 1 hour at 350*. Cool and cut into small chunks. Keep in butter until needed. In a stew pot, saute onion and potatoes in 2 Tbs. of olive oil. Cook until onion is tender. Potatoes will not be completely cooked. Add rotel, tomato sauce, chicken broth, green beans, carrots, lima beans and corn. Add salt and pepper again to taste. Bring to a simmer. Add macaroni and cook until almost done. Then add cabbage and chicken with all the butter and juices. Continue to cook until cabbage is wilted and flavors combine. Serve with cornbread. Yummy!!

He Never Changes!

Last night during Praise and Worship I was feeling low. I know we have all had one of those days where you don't know why but you just feel bummed. Well, that was my day yesterday. As we began to sing the last song, I felt the Lord speak to my very core. No matter what kind of day we have, He never changes. When you feel weak, He reamains strong. When you feel hopeless, He is still the God of hope. When you feel sick, He is still your Healer. He is never changing. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Isn't that comforting? It doesn't matter what you think, feel or see. God has never left your side and He is in control. The world around us is constantly changing. Things in this life are often like a roller coaster ride. But your Heavenly Father is riding the same ride with you. In fact, He is even in the same car. I woke up this morning at 6 a.m. My eyes just popped open and so I began to pray for all the people I knew were needing a miracle. Before 8 a.m. this morning, I had received 3 phone calls. One was informing me that my friend's baby was being air-lifted to Lubbock. The next call was that another friends step father had passed away at 2 a.m. And then my cell phone began to beep. I rushed over to find a text that said my girlfriend that had a tumor removed from her skull yesterday, was being taken back into surgery because of blood clots. This was all before I even brushed my teeth. Later in the day I talked to a friend who just lost her brother and her father due to cancer. And 30 minutes ago I received another phone call. Last nights praise report has become an urgent prayer request today. A little 2 1/2 year old boy has an unexplained medical condition that is affecting his oxygen levels. I tell you all that to say this. I sit here in this chair amazed at how I feel. Normally I would be a ball of nerves. But by the grace of God I am full of peace. No, I don't understand. Yes, I want a miracle in each one of these stories. But I will not be shaken. I will not be overwhelmed. The enemy wants me to be frazzled. He wants you to be frazzled as well. But if our God never changes and He holds us all in the palm of His hand. Why should we fall apart? He is God and He is good. So all I am going to do is Pray and Believe. Will you do the same?

What is God saying?

Well, I am reading another book. I go through seasons of reading everything I can get my hands on and then I won't pick up a book for months. A couple of days ago I was reading a book by Beth Moore called, "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things." There was one particular paragraph that caught my attention. Beth Moore gave a warning to all of us who have been called to speak to the Body of Christ. She said that we must be cautious to remember that God doesn't just want to talk through us. He wants to talk to us. When we stop letting God speak to us, it is only a matter of time before He will stop speaking through us. This statement hit me right between the eyes. I think this is true for everyone. When we stop letting God speak to us, it affects our ability to make a Godly impact on others. It is so easy to tell myself, "Heather, you have done enough. You have been in church twice this week and you have prayed for many people." I can then get real lazy in my personal prayer and study time. But how can I expect to give to others when I am empty myself. This past year I have gone through a lot in my private life. During this time God showed me a picture of my life. It was a water pitcher turned on its side laying in a puddle of liquid. The Lord spoke to my heart and said, "Heather this is you. You are trying to give to so many people but you are empty." He said, "Let me sit you back up and fill your cup so that you may give again." These past 6 months I have been very selfish with my time. I have had to take care of my walk with the Lord. We can get so busy doing for God that before we know it we are drained of everything we have to give. We are then no good to anyone. I challenge myself and you as well. Don't lose focus of your private time with God. Make the time to hear His voice. Make the time to be filled back up. I heard someone say once that we are to be a river not a reservoir. We are to be filled so we can pour out. But don't pour yourself out and stay empty. God wants to use you but more importantly he wants to be with you. Many times throughout the Gospels Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, Let them hear." Are you listening? Make sure you take the time to do so.

The View From My Seat!

What an amazing Sunday and Monday service. Once again, Praise and Worship was incredible. Lesley's song before Ty spoke was just beautiful. I think of how blessed we are to have such an incredible team of musicians. Our volunteers were all working so hard this weekend. They work so hard because they love to serve. They give unselfishly of their time and energy. Not to mention the thirty people that showed up on Saturday to clean the church and the surrounding area. Eggs were stuffed, stage was mopped, trashcans cleaned, litter picked up, classrooms organized, wood was dusted and the list continues. All I can say is,"Wow." The church never ceases to amaze me. And then there is the Word that Ty delivered. I have never heard salvation explained that way. But it is so true. I personally know many people who refuse to give their life to Christ because of obstacles. They have unanswered questions that "seem" too big for God. Therefore, how can they give their life to Him? If you can't wrap your head around certain things, can you possibly trust God with your LIFE? Ty made the point that if you would start with a personal relationship first, then the obstacles wouldn't seem so big after all. It is all about making Christ personal. He is not just "his" God but He is "my" God too. When things become personal it becomes a matter of the heart instead of the head. I swear the mind is one of our biggest enemies. I just recently finished reading, "Battlefield of the Mind," by Joyce Meyer. If you are like me and you struggle with your thoughts, I highly recommend reading this book. We can't serve God with our mind and be successful. Faith is not logical and yet as Christians we know that it works. But until you take a blind step you will never experience the fullness found in Christ. Faith first Answers second. Get a hold of your mind and give God your heart.

Book Review

I have never done this before but I can't keep it to myself. I just finished an easy read. The book is called," The Noticer", written by Andy Andrews. I read it off and on in 3 days. If you have the time, you could easily read it in one sitting. This book is going to change many lives. In fact, it may have already changed yours. After reading this book, I definitely have a different perspective on my own life. I recognize how even more blessed I am. I have also realized that no matter how old you are, your life is full of influence. My life can make a difference in the lives of millions. I'm not being proud I just have a new perspective. Are you down on yourself? Do you lack hope in the life you live? Please take the time to find and read this book. The problems you seem to have right now just need to be looked at from a different angle. Your life will be how you see it. It is never too late to change your view. You deserve joy and peace. Not only did this book cause me to look at my life differently but the lives of those around me as well. I'm learning more and more that a friend is not one who keeps the peace but one who is lovingly honest. All around us are people who are struggling in their daily lives. They are negative and rude. They are so self focused that they are of little benefit to the world around them. Something is missing. They may just need a "Jones" in their life. If you want to know who he is, go buy "The Noticer" today. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Fresh Fire!

Church service ROCKED today! I love to see people be unashamed of their love for God. JD Brown, our missionary friend, shared his testimony and his heart for our Lord. I sat there with my mouth open. I wanted to jump and shout. I could hardly stay in my chair. But it started with the beginning of service. The praise and worship time was so anointed. Each song led up to the Word that was spoken. The presence of God showed up in a tangible way. I love it when God does this. He makes Himself so real to His children. I have loved God most of my life. I have followed Him and searched for more of Him for as long as I can remember. There have been times when I needed my flame to be fanned. Today the fire was stoked. It is so encouraging to watch another believer share their faith with passion. It is so great to be reminded that God is doing great things all over the world. Our problems may be big but they are not bigger than our God. He is capable and willing to help us in our times of need. I feel like I have a theme going in my relationship with God right now. I am EXPECTING big things in my life. I smell RAIN in the air. Something is about to happen. And today was just another confirmation of what I know is coming. My encouragement for everyone is to start believing God for MORE. He is so willing to give you the desires of your heart. So Let Him! Pray for a Fresh Fire to fall from your Father above.

Back Burner!

You are doing so well. Spending time in prayer and the Word has been a daily priority. You can't imagine not giving God a part of your day. Then you wake up one morning at 3:30 a.m. because you can't sleep. You realize laying there in bed that it has been 5 days since you spent time in your bible study. Not that anyone is keeping count. Prayer has been the furthest thing from your mind because like I said,"Things are going great." Why is it that we can get so out of the habit from spending some time focused on our Lord? I don't ever get out of the habit of brushing my teeth or feeding my face. I've experienced insomnia before so I know how bad it feels to go without sleep. I would do everything I could to make sure I could rest at night. There are certain things in life that seem to be a must. Why not my intimate time with the Lord EVERY day? I know that the Lord is not disappointed. And I know He is not hurt. He goes with me everywhere. He is a part of every step in my day. I just desire to make time for Him. I want to set apart a special time just to focus on our relationship. One great thing about my relationship with our Savior is that I know tomorrow is a new day. I get the chance to start again. He won't be distant tomorrow because it has been 5 days. He won't give me the cold shoulder or take time to warm up to me. He will meet me right where we left off. No need to get caught up. He is aware of what's been going on. The thing I have learned is that God knows my heart. He has not established a point system with our relationship. In other words, He is not keeping score. He just loves spending time with me and He knows I feel the same. If you find yourself putting Him on the back burner, don't beat yourself up. Just recognize and start again. Our time with Him should be important to us whether life is great or tough. It is truly just as valuable as breathing in air.