Songs of Praise

fall trees

“I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence…” [Exodus 33:19] Life begins when dawn breaks and light reveals the goodness of God—not just some of God’s goodness is promised but ALL God’s goodness. That’s His moral goodness—all that is righteous, holy and merciful. His goodness is seen in the created natural order of the things of a life. Though imperfect, they are perfected within the {Read More}

Thanksgiving Appetizers & Football Munchies

football1.jpg

Looking for some great Thanksgiving appetizers and football game munchies for this weekend? Here are a few of my favorites: Strawberry Won Tons. These little bites of goodness will be disappear as fast you make them! Quick Buffalo Chicken Dip. Loi’s Buffalo dip is a fun appetizer and game day munchie. Don’t be surprised when it’s gobbled up in record time. Royal Plum Cake. A co-worker’s wife gave me this recipe years ago. It can be made in a bundt cake {Read More}

Turkey & Wild Rice Soup

Photo by Kellie Renfroe

Plan for a great soup using leftover Thanksgiving turkey, a recipe that’s both fast and yummy. Turkey and Wild Rice Soup 8 cups chicken or turkey broth 1/2 cup chopped green onion 1/2 cup wild rice, rinsed 1 stick butter, melted 3/4 c. flour 1 Tbsp sherry 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning 1 1/2 cups turkey or chicken 1/2 of a large box of Velveeta cheese 1 cup half and half Bacon bits, crumbled Simmer together the chicken broth, onion and wild {Read More}

Who to Thank this Thanksgiving

pumpkin2

While it’s a nice thought, very polite, and good manners to teach your kids to be thankful, it is not the whole truth.  It’s like wishing someone good wishes, when you could be praying for them.  It’s like saying a good word, when you could be saying a good word about Jesus.  It’s like hoping they get well, when you could be praying and trusting for the Great Physician to heal and comfort them.  It’s like standing in the middle {Read More}

Thankful for a Word

Jan's signature

Everything about the Thanksgiving holiday stirs my heart.  I bid a fond farewell to summer and look forward to it again next year, but for now… My heart begins to ponder countless things I’m thankful for, the many blessings I’ve received.  At the top of my list is God’s faithfulness.  I am genuinely thankful for the oft-spoken blessings: food, shelter, health, family, provision.  For the past five years, I am also thankful for a word -a single but profoundly important {Read More}

Edible Twist on Five Kernels Tradition

skittles

A few years ago I bought a large bag of Skittles for our Thanksgiving family gathering.   I opened the bag and instructed each family member to take some Skittles.  The bag made its way around the family circle. The younger children chose to pour a small mound; older family members kept just a few.  After the Skittles made their way around, I instructed everyone to share one thing they were thankful for for each piece of candy they held. We had {Read More}

Thanksgiving: Least Favorite Food, Favorite Dressing, and Leftover

turkey cartoon

I thought this poll was funny that I saw about holiday food on AOL. I narrowed it down to traditional Thanksgiving foods. Least favorite Thanksgiving food in no particular order: a. dry turkey b. lumpy mashed potatoes c. giblet gravy d. stuffing with weird stuff in it e. too-fancy cranberry sauce I’m going to go with “d” with “c” running a close second! Strange crunchy, unidentifiable items are what stress me most when I eat any casserole-like item. I must be {Read More}

Blessed to be a Blessing

Photo by Kellie Renfroe

Last year at church I listened as a sweet sister in Christ shared how someone provided her family with a Thanksgiving dinner. A man said that the Lord impressed him to do this for her family. My friend is a stay-at-home mom whose husband had been out of work for over six months. Things had been hard but, as she shared, God has met every need and continues to be good. After losing their home and moving in with another family, her {Read More}

Grateful for Nothing

pumpkin 1

I have nothing to be grateful for this year.  Nothing that I know of, anyway.  We had no major illnesses requiring miraculous healings.  No job loss, no house fire, no broken bones.  Nothing whatsoever interfered with the normal, peaceful rhythm of our lives. What I mean to say is that life has gone along as usual this year, and that is the “nothing” that I’m thankul for. The Lord is always actively intervening on our behalf, even though we often {Read More}

Testimony of Faithfulness

Beckie's Signature

My husband and I knew the heartache of losing a loved one through a car accident while we were still college sweet hearts.  I received the call late one night:  my stepsister had been tragically killed only six days after her twentieth birthday. My husband had lost his aunt only a few years earlier. The fourth of our five children obtained her driving permit earlier this year.  I would love to say that it brings joy to my heart when {Read More}