WAYS TO COPE WHEN YOU ARE A TIRED MOM

Even candy bar makers understand there will be those days!
Check out the link to my article below written for The Mom Initiative this month.

http://www.themominitiative.com/2016/05/23/one-tired-mom/

While you are there sign up to be part of a blog that encourages you in your walk as a Mom.

Blessings on your day!
Beth

FIRE ALARM FORGIVENESS

My husband was blind. He lost his eyesight in his early twenties from complications of diabetes. Many a night as a young bride I would serve him what I called “burnt offerings.”

The beauty of this was he would eat the food (if it wasn’t burned too badly). I was forgiven for my mistake.

He knew he was in for mystery treat when the smoke alarm went off!

 

We discovered in the midst of overdone food, parts were still edible.

Something good can come from something bad.

God uses trials and tribulations to perfect His will in our lives.

The story of Joseph found in Genesis is an example of a man who truly understood the value of trials. His brothers were so mean to him and did deplorable things, but he declared: “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good.” (Genesis 50:20) He knew in his heart that whatever came his way was from the hand of God. Do you possess that kind of faith?

How often do we look at trials and blame others, or remain angry for a long time because of what someone else has done or said to us? Scripture tells us in Isaiah 45:7 – “I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I, YAHWEH, do all these things.”

It’s important to remember that God is sovereign, completely in control of all things (good or bad) and always has our best interests at heart. As God, He is the cause and end of all things. Hard to grasp the concept that even the bad things in our life are for our good, isn’t it? Ephesians 5:17 tells us, “Don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Just as my husband had to trust my cooking, even when the meal wasn’t perfect we need to TRUST God in the outcome (lessons learned) of trials in our lives.

Here’s a little recipe to ENJOY!

 

 

 

NO FIRE ALARM CHILI (mild flavored)

INGREDIENTS

1 pound ground beef

1 can (15 oz.) ManwichÒ Original Sloppy Joes Sauce

1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes - drained

 

1 can (15 oz.) low sodium spaghetti sauce

1 (15 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup diced onions

1 can (15 oz.) Mexican style corn

2 teaspoons chili powder

½ teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

 

DIRECTIONS

Cook ground beef in a large skillet until browned and crumbled. Drain.

Add additional ingredients and simmer for 15 -20 minutes. Stirring occasionally.

 

OPTIONAL COOKING METHOD: Place in slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours.

HELPFUL HINTS

Serving Suggestion: Top with grated cheese and sour cream. Have tortilla chips ready for dipping!

Menu Idea: Add Cole slaw and/corn bread to the menu. YUM!

Add a citrus flavored beverage and your taste buds will dance!

A MOTHERS SPEECH

Check out Beth's guest blog post today from The Mom Initiative

http://www.themominitiative.com/2016/04/20/a-mothers-speech/?mc_cid=bedf546a42&mc_eid=ff5c31c1a7

5 REASONS TO SERVE OTHERS

Dishtowel Ministry 

I love dishtowels. I treasure the ones my mother and grandmother stitched with cute kitchen designs – hand designed and made with love!  It’s been 39 years since my bridal shower and I treasure the gifts of dishtowels I received as a new bride.

My favorite are the plain large white flour sack type.  These are the ones I use every day and they have nothing on them but stains.  They hang in my kitchen pantry ready for service at a moment’s notice.

Then there are those I keep for company. They are the pretty ones. I use them to line or cover a bread basket or I drape them over a serving table to add color and beauty. These have their own special storage spot.  I keep them away from the main kitchen area because I don’t want them used to wipe up spills or get stained.  I want to keep them nice!

When Christ washed the disciples feet. He used a towel of some sort that might possibly have resembled a dishtowel.

 “Jesus poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.”  John 13:5

By washing feet Jesus was setting an example and telling us to serve others.

Reading John 13 – I discovered some things that that will help us to work at serving others.

·        Serving Others Might Be Necessary
In Bible times, people walked through streets of dirt, sand, and mud. There was a need for feet washing. Sometimes we need to serve others because they have a genuine need and we are the means that God has planned to fill that need.

·        Serving Others Might Require Humility
Washing people’s feet in Bible times was common but usually a servant did the duty. In these verses it was Jesus who was washing the disciples’ feet. Jesus humbled himself at every opportunity. We are supposed to serve others with humility. Nothing or nobody should be beneath us to offer the gift of service to someone in need.

·        Serving Others Might be a Dirty Job
Serving others isn’t always comfortable. I don’t imagine the disciples had pleasant smelling feet for Jesus to wash. Many were fishermen! Just think of those smells – my first response is EWE — YUK!

·        Serving Others Might Require Our Complete Attention
When Jesus washed the disciple’s feet He didn’t do a half-hearted job. I’m sure he got all the dirt off and washed them with tender loving care. When we serve others, we need to put our best efforts into it as well.

·        Serving Others Might Take Time
Jesus didn’t just wash one of the disciple’s feet, he washed them all. He took time to care for each and every one. When we serve others, it will take an investment of our time.

CONCLUSION

I’d really like to work harder to follow Christ’s example in the area of serving others. How about you?

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14

Are you using your best dishtowels when serving others?

Scripture References are from the New Living Translation

Blessings on your day! 

Beth

 

EASTER EXCLAIMED

Colored hard boiled eggs, green wisps of grass, pastel decorations, cellophane wrapped baskets with jelly beans and foiled wrapped eggs, marshmallow peeps and chocolate bunnies.

 

Squeals of delight first thing Sunday morning when little ones discover the goodies left for them by the imaginary Easter bunny.

 

The excitement of wearing new clothes to church to hear the message of the cross. Returning home to a family dinner with traditional mealtime treats – ham cooked to perfection, mom’s secret Cole slaw recipe, hot cross buns, creamy scalloped potatoes, honey glazed carrots, the relish tray with pickles, olives and red apple slices and cupcakes, cookies or a whole cake decorated to represent the holiday in the shape of a bunny or a cross. FAMILY gathered together.

Growing up, Easter was anticipated as the holiday celebrated to honor Christ’s death and resurrection.

Our school system didn’t call it Spring break, they called it Easter vacation because we took time off school, to plan, prepare and participate in the true gospel meaning of Easter.

 

So much has changed over time. Now we are cautioned to be politically correct, be careful how we say what we believe. It is so sad that ‘influence of tolerance’ no longer includes a Christian’s right to share their faith openly and honestly without being criticized or persecuted. It seems everyone else can do it, but believers in Jesus Christ shouldn’t.

Take a moment to listen to this beautiful song “It’s About the Cross” sung by the Ball Brothers that simply shares the true meaning of Easter.

 

https://youtu.be/TYSJj-EHAAk

 

 

My prayer for you this coming weekend is that you’ll be blessed by God’s presence and the significance of what Easter truly means?

 

Blessings and Love - Beth

 

BROKEN LASAGNA - A BEAUTIFUL MESS

Lasagna is comfort food at its finest in traditional Italian homes. This slow cooker version is an easy rendition and a must try. (I am making this very recipe for a surprise birthday party this weekend.)

 

Complete with Parmesan, mozzarella, ricotta cheese and NO BOILING the lasagna noodles makes this recipe a snap!

 

INGREDIENTS

1 pound bulk Italian sausage (sweet or hot depending on your preference)

1 pound ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped to equal close to 1 cup

OPTIONAL – ¾ cup finely diced green pepper

2 cans (24 ounces each) Italian style tomato sauce

1 can (14.5 ounce) finely diced tomatoes

2 teaspoons dried basil leaves

½ teaspoon salt

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 container (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese (or use cottage cheese)

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (yes, the one in the round cardboard can) or freshly grated if you choose

15 uncooked lasagna noodles

 

DIRECTIONS

·       Cook sausage, hamburger and onion in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in tomato sauce, basil and salt.

·       Mix 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and the ricotta (or cottage cheese) and parmesan cheese together. (Refrigerate remaining shredded mozzarella cheese while lasagna cooks.)

·       LAYER ONE

Spoon one fourth of the sausage/hamburger meat mix into a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker.

Top with 5 uncooked lasagna noodles broken into pieces to fit. (See photo above.)

Spread half the cheese mixture and one fourth the meat mixture over the first layer of broken lasagna noodles.

·       LAYER TWO

Add 5 noodles, remaining cheese mixture and one fourth meat mixture.

·       LAYER THREE

Create the last (top) layer with remaining 5 lasagna noodles and the rest of the meat mixture. IMPORTANT: Cover the top layer of noodles completely with sauce to prevent drying while cooking.

·       Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours until noodles are tender. Don’t overcook as it can burn. It’s okay to leave it on the warm setting for at least two to three hours if it is done at the 4 hour timeframe.

(I use my programmable slow cooker if I am not going to be home to watch it closely. I set it for 5 hours and then it automatically turns it to the warm setting. This works great!)

·       10 minutes before serving sprinkle top of lasagna with remaining mozzarella cheese.

·       Cover and let stand until cheese has melted.

·       Cut into pieces or scoop with a large spoon onto serving plate.

 

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS

·       If you have precooked the beef/sausage remove from freezer, thaw slightly in microwave and add to recipe. (I always precook and freeze my meats such as ground beef, Italian sausage, ground turkey or pork and chicken breasts. Saves time and cleanup when preparing the actual meal.)

·       Use dried basil leaves (not ground basil) to provide the best flavor. The leaves cook better in the slow cooker.

·       Link sausage can be used if bulk isn’t available. Just squeeze the sausage from the casing and cook.

·       Dress up this dish with something as simple as fresh parsley. Sprinkle on lightly just before serving.

 

MENU IDEA

Serve with a fresh tossed salad. Offer a variety of dressings.

Garlic Texas Toast compliments this meal perfectly.

Bake a citrus flavored Poke-Cake to round out the flavors of this meal.

 

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION

Things happen that can shatter our lives into pieces.

 

Understand that whatever you are walking through God is present in the midst of it all.

 

Like the meat sauce in our recipe today that wraps itself around the broken pieces of lasagna noodles so they turn out right when the cooking process is complete. Know that God is working in you, stirring up events, putting pieces together and preparing you to be ready when the time is right – to serve Him and give Him glory.

 

God wraps His love around you and perfects in you His plan and purpose for your life. 

 

Lives that seem broken can turn out to be a beautiful mess in the end.

 

God the Master Chef has a recipe to produce in you a rich and flavorful life!

 

Psalm 34:8-9 New International Version

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.

 

Have a blessed week!

Beth Bergren

http://www.bethbergren.com

References

·Cross Referenc

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS - The Significance of a Tree

By Beth Bergren

At Mom’s Table Homemaking Mentoring Ministry

www.bethbergren.com

My parent’s most memorable arguments happened while putting up the Christmas tree.  I remember one Christmas we went out and purchased a tree as a family.  When attempting to put the tree in the metal stand my mother kept telling my dad that it needed to be shorter.  After 4 or 5 attempts to make it to her liking, in and out of the stand – he cut off the top of the tree and replied in an irritated, questioning voice,

“Is that short enough?”

Needless to say we piled in the car to go and get another tree.

My mom was very meticulous when decorating the tree.  Every colored light needed to be spaced just right and the silvery sparkling tinsel needed to be precariously strung strand by strand.  You don’t want to know the argument that ensued one year because of tinsel. Her attention to detail made those trees exquisite.

When the tree was finally decorated we would lounge on the couch and chairs around the tree at night with just the lights on and listen to Perry Como’s Christmas album as he sang and told the Bible story of the First Christmas in his rich, deep, and soothing voice.

  Check this out on

YouTube: http://youtu.be/Tif_kvkqMxE?list=PLD1B9D7742D22A71B

What could be the spiritual significance of a tree?

The star represents the light that led the Wiseman to the baby boy born that first Christmas morn (Matthew 2:1-12) and the Light of the World (Jesus) who came to save the world from the darkness of sin. (John 8:12)

The core or center of the tree represents the cross on which Jesus died.    (I Peter 2:24)

The branches are His arms stretched wide on that cross welcoming all of us to believe in Him as He covered our sins with His blood. (I John 1:7)

The gifts beneath the tree represent the gift of the Christ Child born that day so long ago in Bethlehem and the free gift of eternal life He gives to those who believe on His name.

(Romans 6:23)

This Christmas as you bask in the glow of the light from a radiant tree – think for a moment what Christ did for you?

Replace the stresses of life with the truth of God’s love.

My prayer is that you will experience the joy of Jesus this Christmas and

HE becomes precious to you all year long.

Merry Christmas – Beth Bergren