Happy Thanksgiving!

No matter where you go, what you do, or whom you are with, I pray you have a blessed day, filled with peace and joy.

We have so much for which we should be thankful!

May our hearts be filled with gratitude today!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lead Me to the Rock That is Higher Than I

From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2

Life demands from us.

Oftentimes, life demands more than we think we can give or handle.

When our hearts and minds and souls
are overwhelmed,
may God lead us to Him!

May we be led to the One who is

higher, wiser, stronger, bigger, holier, and better than we are.

We are finite.
We are small.
We are weak.
We are sinners.

BUT GOD, our GOD, is able to help us.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

Hope Comes from God

Hope. It anchors our souls. It is what holds us steady. It’s what keeps us from falling into complete discouragement at times.

When we are feeling down and out, we need hope. We need something to shine that light at the end of the tunnel. Hope gives us strength to carry on and look towards better and brighter things.

However, when circumstances in life are gloomy, it seems hard to have hope. We look at our circumstances and think, “How in the world can this change? How will this get any better?” Then we sink down into our little holes and hide from life.

The reason we lose hope is because we are looking at our circumstances. Think about it. Do dismal situations and desperate scenarios bring hope? No. They don’t.

It’s hard to find light
when you are looking at darkness.

When we stare our problems in the face, wishing to find hope, we may actually lose hope. We will continue to get more and more discouraged as we see the heartache, the trial, and the insufficiencies.

Hope is not found in our circumstances.
Hope is found in God.

God is the Giver of hope, not our circumstances.

God is the One who has the ability to change our circumstances.

God is the One who loves us and desires good things for us.

God is the One who wants us to trust Him and rest in Him.

God is the One who has all wisdom and knowledge and power for our situation.

God is the One who is working in us to will and to do His good pleasure.

God does not change.

Our circumstances will continue to bring unexpected bumps into our lives, but God is the constant in our lives. He is always there, always ready to help carry our burdens, hear our prayers, and help us, if we would just let Him.

Do you need hope today?

Don’t look to your circumstances.
Look to God!

For in You, O Lord, I hope;
You will hear, O Lord my God.
Psalm 38:15

Dear Homemaker, You Are Valued

Dear Homemaker,

Please read this slowly:

You. Are. Valued.

What you do has value.

The words you speak have value.

Your sphere of work has value.

The people you are raising have value.

Where you live, breathe, dream, labor, toil, and rest has value.

Your act of sacrifice has value.

Your labors of love have value.

Your love for your husband has value.

Your concern for your children has value.

The people you invite into your home have value.

Your organization has value.

Your cleanliness has value.

Your meal-making has value.

Your errand-running has value.

Your transportation services have value.

Your medical services have value.

Everything you are and
everything you do has value.

God created you with value!

Don’t let this world and its voices tell you otherwise.

Don’t let the struggles of your day drag you down into the pit.

Remember that you are in the
most valuable place with
the most valuable people
on the face of this earth.

You have the privilege of serving in an arena God established as sacred and holy from the beginning – the home.

Homemaker, never forget:

You. Are. Valued.

BBQ Chicken Chili

Well, after all of that talk about stress, I’m hungry! ~wink~
It’s time for a good, Fall recipe!

I love chili. I have a few good recipes I like to use:

White Chicken Chili
Heather’s Chili
Chicken Chili

And now… BBQ Chicken Chili!

My husband loves BBQ sauce, and he loves chili, so I figured he would LOVE this chili. Yep, he does!

My favorite BBQ sauce right now is Stubbs Signature BBQ Sauce. I buy it at Costco.

If you are worried your children won’t like the BBQ side to this chili, you can set aside a portion of chili before you add the BBQ sauce. Then just add a smaller amount of BBQ sauce to your chili pot.

BBQ Chicken Chili
Original Recipe found here
Printable Version

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red onion (or cooking onion), diced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons smoked (or regular) paprika
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
pinch of red pepper flakes
12 oz cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, shredded
12-oz jar roasted red peppers in water, drained and chopped
1 1/2 cups (1 15 oz. can) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups (1 15 oz. can) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
3 cups chicken broth
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
Cheddar cheese, for topping
Cilantro, for topping

Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil, onion, jalapeño, and garlic.  Sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.

Add the paprika, chili powder, cumin, black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes.  Stir and cook for a few more minutes.

Add the chicken, red peppers, beans, chicken broth, tomatoes, and BBQ sauce. Stir.

Cover the pot. Lower the heat to medium low, and cook for 30 minutes. Stir a couple times during the cooking duration, if desired.

Ladle the chili into bowls and top with cheddar cheese and cilantro.

YUM!