Feeling Thankful...

Colossians 3:15-17

¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

I just wanted to write up a quick post today about how I've been feeling the last few days... The big word that sums it up? Thankful.

God has been doing so many amazing things in my life and in our home. I just can't help but tell it! : )

Psalm 9:1-2

¹I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

²I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

I've been reading a great book that deals a lot with just trusting the Lord, resting in Him and His plans. There is no better place to be. It has been wonderful to see Him work and see His blessings.

Psalm 105:1-3

¹O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

²Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

³Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

I just want to thank the Lord--for everything. He's causing my family and I to grow in every circumstance. Thank you!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

¹⁸In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

And, of course, I'm ever thankful for the most special gift ever given--celebrated especially this weekend.

John 3:16-17

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Ephesians 2:1-9

¹And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

³Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

⁷That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

: )

What are you thankful for today?

~Page

Easter Dinner

This recipe is brought to us by my sister, Hannah. As an aspiring gourmet chef who is pretty brilliant in the kitchen, she never ceases to please the bellies of all who partake in her fabulous meals! This meal is NO exception, in fact I'm craving it right now!! (Thanks Hannah :-P )

Are you trying to figure out an exceptional Easter dinner? Then look no further!! Read this recipe, jot down the ingredients and then make a mad dash to the store!! It will be sure to impress your family, guests and all who have the privilege of eating it. This meal would make the perfect "special occasion" dinner."

SlowCooked Lamb Shanks with Roasted Almond, Parsley and Lemon Gremolata

This recipe comes from one of my favorite chefs, Tom Kime. I find his food to be comforting and elegant as well as down right delicious! If you ever have company to impress this is surely the meal to do it with! Lamb is one of my all time favorite meats to prepare. It has a tangy somewhat earthy flavor that makes one savor each and every tender bite! My mouth is watering already! Make sure you have plenty of time to prepare this decadent meal...as the cooking time is quite a bit, but the end result is worth it!

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

4 trimmed lamb shanks

2 T. Olive Oil

4 garlic cloves, halved, green shoot removed

1 dried chile, crushed

3 sprigs rosemary

6 ripe plum tomatoes

2 large onions, sliced

4 strips orange zest

2 bay leaves

1 tsp. brown sugar

Generous 1/3c red cooking wine

2 1/4 c water

2 c. prepared white or brown rice

Salt & Pepper

Gremolata: ( Gremolata or gremolada is a chopped herb condiment typically made of lemon zest, garlic, and parsley. )

¾ c blanched skinless almonds

2 garlic cloves

Zest of 2 lemons

Small bunch or flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*. Season the meat well with salt and pepper. Heat a little oil in a skillet. Add the meat and brown for 3 minutes on all sides, remove from the heat. Chop the garlic, chile, and rosemary together. Set aside.

Cut the tomatoes in half and spoon out the seeds. With the skin side in your hand grate the flesh on a cheese grater to form a rough tomato pulp. The skin will be left in your hand.

Remove the meat from the skillet and add a little more oil. Return to the heat and add the garlic, chile, and rosemary and fry for 2 minutes until fragrant and aromatic. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Season with salt and pepper.

Return the meat to the skillet with the orange zest, bay leaves, sugar, tomato pulp, wine and water.

Cover the dish, place on the stove and bring to a simmer. Then transfer to the preheated oven and cook for an additional 2 ½ hours, basting regularly.

Meanwhile make the Gremolata. Roast the almonds in the oven until golden brown. Finely chop the garlic…chop very finely since this will be eaten raw. Add the cooled almonds and the lemon zest. When ready to serve, chop the parsley, add to the gremolata.

Place a good amount of prepared rice on each plate followed by a succulent lamb shank then scatter the gremolata over the lamb and the rest of the plate. Serve with a salad of choice and Enjoy!

Marinated Baked Ricotta with Roasted Vegetables in a Lemon and Basil Dressing

This salad is so light and refreshing. All the flavors mingle well and the outcome is incredibly delightful! I love serving this salad with the roasted lamb shanks posted above. Both dishes compliment each other beautifully. Try either recipe to impress some picky eaters or catch up on some brownie points. ; )

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

2 whole ricotta cheeses, 7 ounces each

2 medium sweet potatoes, washed and cut into cubes

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes

2 fennel bulbs

½ c pine nuts or slivered almonds

2 handfuls mixed bitter and peppery salad greens…I love arugula!

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Marinade for ricotta:

½ red chile

3 T. olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

Dressing:

½ garlic clove finely chopped

Pinch of salt

Small bunch of basil, roughly chopped, plus extra for garnish

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

4 T. olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400*. For the marinade, seed and finely chop the chile, then mix with the olive oil and lemon juice. Add the whole ricotta cheese to the marinade. Turn the cheeses regularly in the mixture.

Season the cubes of sweet potato with a little oil and salt and pepper. Place in a roasting pan and roast in the oven for about 20 minute, until caramelized and golden.

Roast the butternut squash in the same way, until golden brown and caramelized. Halve the fennel bulbs, removing the tough outside layer, cut each half into thin wedges.

Dry-roast the nuts of choice on a separate baking sheet until golden brown in color.

For the dressing, crush the garlic with the salt to a fine puree. Place the garlic and most of the chopped basil in a food processor and blend to a paste. Add the lemon juice and zest and work until smooth, stir in the olive oil. Check the seasoning. It should be sharp and a bit salt to work with the sweetness of the vegetables.

Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the whole ricotta cheeses and brown on one side for 2-3 minutes on one side. Gently turn over- if they’re too fragile to turn just brown on one side. Scatter the fennel around the skillet, season well with salt and pepper, and transfer to the oven for 5 minutes.

When the sweet potato and squash are cooked (they should be soft to the point of a knife), let cool slightly, then place in a bowl and dress with two-thirds of the basil dressing. Add the salad greens, tearing any that are too big. Tear in the extra basil leaves. Add the fennel and then gently break in the ricotta cheese. Mix together lightly to avoid it turning to a pulp.

Place salad mixture on each plate pour remaining dressing over the salad and garnish with some torn herbs and roasted nuts. The cheese and the roasted vegetables complement each other brilliantly, and are brought to life by the tangy dressing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We hope you enjoy this extraordinary Easter menu, pair it with your favorite dessert and you'll have quite the feast!

Enjoy this guest post? Head over to her Food Blog for more amazing recipes at http://raesgourmet.blogspot.com/

Wishing everyone a blessed weekend thinking on the REAL reason for Easter, our Saviour's glorious resurrection from a death on Calvary's cross for all mankind! Praise God for the shed blood of Christ that has the power to wash our sins away!

~Lauren

The One Way of Salvation, C.H. Spurgeon

Acts 15:11 "But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

So, I had it all planned out what I was gonna post today--but I just couldn't get a peace about it. And this is where I ended up... : )

765. The One Way of Salvation

This is a great message by C.H. Spurgeon titled "The One Way of Salvation". Someone is supposed to see this today--please don't wait to accept the wonderful, free salvation offered by the Lord.

Romans 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

~Page

Creamy Caramel Dip!!!!

(photo courtesy of Taste of Home)

I LOOOOOOVE this recipe, in fact - I'm craving it right now!! It's cool, creamy and absolutely delicious!! I love to serve it with apples and strawberries, and every time I make this for a party - it's ALWAYS a huge hit! I think this is the perfect addition to any Summer BBQ or get together. It's light, fresh, and ....somewhat healthy? Ok, the dip is completely UN-healthy, but the fruit is good for you anyway! ;-D Try it and let me know what you think!!! Oh and just so you know, this stuff goes FAST - I would recommend making a double batch just in case. ;-)

~Creamy Caramel Dip~

Ingredients

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
• Assorted fresh fruit

Directions

• In a bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Add the sour cream, vanilla, lemon juice, milk and pudding mix, beating well after each addition.
• Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Serve as a dip for fruit. Yield: 3-1/2 cups

Enjoy!!

~Lauren

What Guys Think About Modesty - (Modesty Part II)

‎"We are to be people who are different & distinctly different, not self righteously distinct, but humbly distinct for our brothers who are saved, for the lost yet to be saved, & ultimately for the SAVIOR who SAVED us."


Ladies, we pray this is a blessing to you and cautions all of us to dress in such a way that brings glory to the Lord!

~Lauren & Page

Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss "Spring Jacket Refashion"

Ok--so, if there is a blog I LOVE to follow--it's Julie's "Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss". She is an uber creative, wonderful christian woman. Her creativity just kills me...

Seriously--if you've never visited her blog, I just want to prepare you... IT ROCKS!! You won't wanna stop looking at all of the great crafts, whether large or small. Hhhhmmm... What I'd give to step in her house and just look around!! : )

Anyways--when I saw one of her latest posts, "Spring Jacket Refashion"--I just had to share it with you all! The makeover made my heart swoon... So cute, so easy, super chic!

"The before"

Click here to check it out!

You'll love it--no doubt!

~Page

1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS

Such a great devotion about the importance of forgiveness!!! Devotions from Pastor Thomas Smith, St Clair MO

UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS Devotion for April 04, 2011 "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him." Genesis 37:3, 4. What causes the kind of violence and acts of hatred that are so common in our culture? Even among family members, heinous crimes are becoming more commonplace. What causes the malicious treatment often witnessed among professing Christians? The story of Joseph and his brothers has at least one answer to these questions. The ill treatment of Joseph by his brothers was the result of pent up resentment and bitterness. Joseph had reported some of his brothers' mischief to their father. Then they were jealous over Jacob's preferential treatment of Joseph. Added to that, they resented the dreams that Joseph shared with them. One thing led to another, and eventually they sold him into a life of slavery. Afterwards, they lied to their father, causing him to believe Joseph was dead. Thus, they sentenced their father to a life of grief. All of this behavior serves to teach us the way ill feelings can compound. It is doubtful that the bitter brothers would have banished their younger brother to a life of slavery after only one issue of disagreement with him. But what often happens is that one issue that is not resolved becomes the ingredient that future conflicts are mixed with. With each added bit of envy or anger, the hatred only grows stronger. If the brothers had been diligent in confessing and reconciling with each individual occurrence, it is highly improbable the eventual separation would have ever materialized. The damaging results of envy, bitterness, and unresolved conflicts are real and they are serious. When we allow resentment or envy to reside in our hearts, it will eventually cause great hurt. It will harm us as well as others. Even small differences, which we might think are unimportant, if they are not dealt with properly, can contribute to very serious problems. All of us have been hurt, or have had things happen to us that we just do not understand. Unresolved conflicts can be the ammunition Satan uses to destroy. The only way to avoid being corrupted by bitterness is to forgive others in the same way our Savior has forgiven us.