How to Brown Sausages in a Crockpot
Today, when we return from church, dinner will be ready. I started it moments ago. If you have a source of sausages (bratwurst etc.) that you like, this method may work for you:
- Put down a layer of potatoes. Any kind: little red potatoes, bakers, today I used chunks of yam.
- Lay the sausages in along the sides of the crockpot, kind of circular. Keeping as much as possible in contact with the side of the appliance, they can go all the way up the side.
- Fill in the center with remaining vegetables.
- Cook on high, around 3 hours.
It's almost like fast food!
Who Meets Your Children's Needs?
Hosea 13:As they had their pasture, they became satisfied,
And being satisfied, their heart became proud;
Therefore they forgot Me.
from the New American Standard Bible
As the mother of adult children, this passage, and others like it, become particularly meaningful. If I step in and take care of every need, will I in effect be deterring my children from seeking the Lord? Will I in fact be interfering with their growing in relationship with Him?
What is it that I really want for my kids?
The best of what the world has to offer or the best that God has to offer?
Sometimes not helping is the most helpful thing we can do.
Riveting Question: Dating, Courting, or Something Else?
Dating, Courting, or Something Else?It was inevitable, not that we haven't been thinking about it for a long time, that with two lovely high school daughters we would eventually have to face this question.
Pop on over and leave your thoughts.
Study Bible Aimed at Families
The Family Foundations Study Bible: Bringing God's Word Home (
NKJV TRANSLATION)
Too often when people have questions or concerns about their family they run to books instead of the Word of God, which is the first place they should be going. The Family Foundations Study Bible helps families apply God's Word to their family life by addressing a multitude of situations and circumstances that are common in the life of a Christian family. It provides parents with biblical tools and resources to help their families grow spiritually.
Includes application helps and as many family devotion notes as most families will use.
Personally I have not used this, but I love that it is New King James, which is the only translation my daughters will use, and it's encouraging families. Let me know if you try it.
Spiritual Gifts Definitions
Written by one of our pastors, for use with the High School Awana club, these are the best Spiritual Gifts definitions I've seen.
- Evangelism: sharing the message of the "good news" of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- Pastoring: shepherding a local church by leading, feeding, and guiding believers in God's Word.
- Teaching: instructing the truth of the Word of God so that it can be understood.
- Helps: providing practical ministry assistance to those in need; used of deacons.
- Wisdom: the ability to apply the truths of God's Word to everyday situations.
- Knowledge: the ability to learn, understand and memorize the Word of God.
- Faith: trusting God and His Word, even in the face of obstacles and uncertainty.
- Exhortation: the ability to encourage other believers with God's Word as a motivation for right living.
- Giving: sharing of one's wealth and possessions to bless and benefit another.
- Leading: spiritual oversight/ruling over a local church body; often applies to elders or bishops.
- Mercy: having and/or showing compassion (God's love) for those who are hurting or suffering.
- Administration: Applying spiritual decisions to practical matters within the body; used of deacons.
- Ministry: Serving others in practical ways which help them to grow spiritually; used of deacons.
From this list, based on the original Greek, are you able to identify the Spirit at work through you? How about your kids?
Scripture Memory
Charity Grace, one of my favorite blogs -- don't ask me why, I just feel comfortable there --, has a recent post on
helping young children with scripture memory.
In the attending comments, I said:
AWANA has been a tool the Lord has used in an awesome way to quickly mature a family who already was in the midst of parenting before even being saved.
I'm not sure that everyone realizes that AWANA goes all the way through High School, and the High School material is a wonderful discipleship program. Every week there is a Bible study covering serious topics, and during the four years the students read the entire Bible.
My daughters have learned, and I think this is the heart of what CG is saying, that practice needs to occur on a DAILY basis, especially to lock it into long-term memory. What could be more important?
