Failed to Mention Another Current Favorite...

I was so quick to post about the delicious crockpot salsa chicken and in the meantime forgot to mention a delicious chicken chili (a variation of it) we have also recently made.

Here are the details...

Ingredients:
2 Boneless Chicken Breasts
1 Can Black Beans
1 Can Kidney Beans
1 Can Vegetarian Baked Beans
1 Can Yellow Corn
1 Can Diced Tomatoes
1 Package McCormick's Taco Seasoning

Top with a little shredded cheddar cheese, serve with some fresh fruit and you've got a tasty meal (even in this summertime heat)!

Directions:
Place chicken in the bottom of the crockpot
Pour all  canned items (including juice) on top
Cook all day on low

A little Pinterest find

Lately, I just cannot stop pinning. Pinterest was such a great thought and has brought organization to the many categorized bookmarks I've had on my computer.Sheer brilliance I tell you.

Crockpot Salsa Chicken caught my attention last week and so Nathan and I gave it a try (since we are just head over heals for our crockpot right now).

Here is the link to where the recipe was originally posted... Crockpot Salsa Chicken

What you need:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup salsa (On a whim found some Paul Newman's Tequilla Lime Salsa and decided to try that instead of a regular and let me say it was quite a good decision)
1 package taco seasoning
1 cup sour cream (We nixed this for ours)

We served ours with some blue corn chips and topped the dish of with just a sprinkle of cheddar cheese.

Directions:

1.  Mix soup, salsa and taco seasoning in the bottom of your crockpot.  Sink chicken breasts into the mixture, covering completely.  Cook on low for 5 – 6 hours depending on size of chicken breasts.
2.  Remove chicken, shred and return to the crockpot.  Add sour cream and mix well.  Heat until everything is warmed through.  Enjoy!

Last night my family came down and were our guinea pigs for this dish and there were many positive remarks!

2 months.

When our one month anniversary passed, it felt normal and fairly accurate. TWO months? Now that makes time seem as though it has just flown right on by. Either way, yesterday July 21st marked our two month anniversary and we celebrated it just like we should-with a little Mexican dinner.

Over and over again Nathan has been telling me about "this hidden restaurant downtown" called Picantes. Finally, I was able to experience this sweet little restaurant thanks to a surprise dinner from my sweet husband.

I am truly grateful and extremely blessed. Lord, your plan has ALWAYS far exceeded my own (which of course I always seem to think is best).

Thanks to our sweet waitress Maribella for snapping this picture!

Blessings

Heard this beautiful song on the way to work and had to share the lyrics. Laura Story, you never fail to write beautiful songs with such sound doctrine.

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

-Blessings, Laura Story
(Listen to it on YouTube)

10 Thing to Pray for Your Marriage

Studies do bear out this fact—couples that pray together, stay together.  When folks ask us for marriage advice, our first question to them usually focuses on their prayer life.  It’s amazing how many problems will be corrected when a couple will diligently pray and ask God for help.  Here are a few tips: - Pray with your wife/husband every day at the same time. - Limit interruptions.  Let your kids know the two of you will be praying, and you expect them to give you a few minutes of peace. - Take a couple moments to talk to each other about what you will pray for.  If you feel awkward praying, it’s OK!  Just do it…even if it’s only for 30 seconds…it’s a start. - Pray for your marriage. Prayer is a high level of family communication. Here are 10 things to pray specifically:
1. Pray for one-another:
   Scripture is consistently clear regarding the focus of energy in a relationship: it should always be “other” oriented. When we pray for our spouse as a primary focus, then we are likely to:
   - Be willing to be a part of the answer to that prayer
   - Value our spouse more intentionally
   - Love our spouse more deeply
   - Avoid marriage conflict
   
2. Pray for this day (today):
   Today is the most important moment in a marriage. Not what we might do some other day, but how our marriage functions right now. When we ask God specifically to be a part of our today, then we are more likely to keep God in each moment.
   
3. Pray to be the presence of Christ in your marriage:
   This is more than WWJD (What Would Jesus Do). This is understanding that God uses us to actually be the presence of Christ. Be Christ to your wife. Be Christ for your children. Be Christ in the home.
   
4. Pray that your marriage will be a positive influence for others:
   “So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”—Philippians 2:15-16a
   
5. Pray for your partner’s dreams:
   This is helpful because it requires us to listen and to value our partner’s dreams. When we understand our partner’s dreams then we are by definition more loving husbands.
   
6. Pray for your children:
   Then let them know you pray for them every day. When kids know their parents are actually praying for them, and that they can count on those prayers every day, that knowledge is powerful.
   
7. Pray that you will be a better husband:
   Jack Nicholson’s classic line in As Good as it Gets testifies, “You make me want to be a better man.” Ask God to help you to be a better husband, and do it while in prayer with your wife. Humility and love in one breath.
   
8. Pray for wisdom:
   Parenting is tough enough. Pray for wisdom. Then believe God honors your prayer.
   
9. Pray for a family vision:
   It’s easy to “mark time”, both as a marriage and as a family. Pray for a guiding, overarching family vision.  If you need it, here are 10 Ways to Set a Vision for Your Life.
   
10. Pray for protection:
    Families are vulnerable in our culture. Relationships are vulnerable to many pressures. Our commitments to faithfulness, family values and faith are all under constant assault. We can’t fight this alone. We simply must pray together.
    
    For Good Measure...Pray for peace:
    The song puts it this way, “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.” Let peace begin with you, in prayer, and in your home. “Lord make me an instrument of your peace…” Amen.
    
    -All Pro Dad (Tony Dungy)

Top Notch Weekend

Two of my absolute best friends came to visit Nathan and I in Athens. We ate a little Mexican (of course) and told stories for hours (big surprise).

The next day Nathan and I joined the girls in ATL for one of my dear Samford friend's wedding. The wedding was just wonderful and it was so heart warming to be reunited with some of my closest friends from Samford(sadly didn't manage to snap a picture with them). Such a special time.

The weekend wrapped up with a wonderful service at Perimeter followed by lots and lots of college stories and fun memories over a delicious summer meal prepared by my parents (divine).

After seeing the girls off to Birmingham, Nathan and I enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship with my parents (sadly Adam was tied up due to GoldRush starting the next day).

It was such a special weekend, one that will go down in the books as a "Top Notch Weekend."

Samford friends-You truly are the most wonderful friends I could ask for. Such God-fearing women who are down to earth yet driven and dependable. Whenever we are together it feels as though no time has passed. You are all such blessings. I am so humbled and grateful to call you friends.

Now some photos from the weekend...

Cali N Titos: Athens, Ga.

Sweet college friends.

Wedding Date. Husband.

Mr. and Mrs. Landis. Husband and Wife.

Amy and Ben. First Dance.

Sisters. Alpha Delta Pi. (Photo Credit: Nathan)

Love. No other explanation.

Growing in Grace

A  few weeks ago, Matt Currie (6^th-12^th grade youth pastor) preached at Redeemer about the rich young ruler. It is one of those controversial passages; however, he unpacked and dissected it in an impeccable manor. I could easily post my notes from that sermon because it was so good, but we will save most of that for another date.

I digress...

Growing in Grace. As soon as Matt uttered those words I first thought “hmm…” and secondly “that’s my desire.”

Since then I have wanted to dig a little deeper into the word “grace.” In the Christian community it can often just be a buzzword that gets thrown in sentences and is used rather often. I began to question what grace means universally as well as what it means for me personally.

Grace.

- Grace is God’s forgiving mercy.

- Every moment of our life is based on Grace-when we forget that we lose joy.

- Grace is where our hope and joy is found.

Grace is often used as a benediction and even as a greeting in the scriptures (“grace and peace to you…”) It is also used throughout other parts of the Word in a range of contexts. These are some pretty powerful verses in scripture which focus on the essence of Grace...

From his fullness we have all received Grace upon Grace.

John 1:16

But if it is by Grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise Grace would no longer be Grace.

Romans 11:6  

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the Grace of God and the free gift by the Grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

Romans 5:15 

For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:19-21

Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by Grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:5

May I never forget…
- His Grace is sufficient for me, for us (2 Corinthians 12:9)

- I, we are called by his Grace (Galations 1:15)

- I, we are saved by his Grace (Ephesians 2:8)

As this filthy sinner continues to Grow in Grace and grapple with its depth and personal meaning, I leave you with these word from Philippians 1: 2, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Uncontainable Excitement

It's true, no better words can explain my feelings ..."uncontainable excitement." Even as I am typing my face is beaming because some of my bests are Athens/ATL bound this weekend. It has been over a month since we have seen each other. Texts, skype dates and phone calls simply don't cut it with these girls. I am grateful for these blessings in my life.

Four years ago when I was Samford bound not knowing a soul, the Lord was simply smiling as he knew the friendships that would develop in the "Magic City," Birmingham, Ala. His plan never ceases to amaze me and I never want to take for granted these gifts in my life. God you are so faithful.

Lace, Soul Sister and Rooms...I don't tell you enough how much I love you and am so thankful for you.

She is now Mrs. Farris...

Just a few photos from Ashley and Jesse's Wedding on Friday...

Ashley, her MOH Abby, and Mrs. Clark

The stunning bride.

Ashley and Jesse

Some of my Favorites.

Belated 4th of July Post

John Adams to Abigail in a letter on July 3,1776 regarding the Fourth of July...

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

What a wonderful worship service on Sunday as they read aloud this quote and we proceeded to worship God Almighty not only for the freedom we have in this country but for our deliverence because of HIS grace and mercy.

As we too often take for granted our freedom, we also forget what it is we truly deserve but have not received because of what HE did in our place. Just as our soldiers fight for our constant freedom, Jesus paid the ultimate penalty for our freedom. May the words written in 2 Corinthians 5:21 always be at the forefront of our mind...

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (ESV)