Do you feel like things are out of control in the world?
Yesterday, I sent my husband to Sam’s for a few items. It wasn’t busy but the shelves were cleaned out. He called me to let me know and I really wasn’t surprised.
People are panicking over getting the Coronavirus when according to the CDC, “so far there have been at least 36 million flu illnesses this season alone” (cdc.gov). There may have been some closings of schools over the number of children with the flu, but we don’t see people panicking over it.
Last year, I got the flu shot and still ended up with the flu! It was the worst! I did my best to prepare but all my preparation did not stop me from getting the flu.
We cannot control what is going on around us. We can take the necessary precautions, gather our resources, and prepare but ultimately, we are not in control.
I have often put prayer off as the last resort whenever I am in the middle of a crisis, but prayer should be our “go-to” instead of our last resort.
God says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).
The words that resonate with me are, “…after you have done everything, to stand.”
When should we stand?
Stand before, after, and during the crisis.
God will do for us as we stand! Friends, take your position today, trust God, and give yourself permission to stand!
I pray this song by Britt Nicole blesses you and brings you comfort!
Growing up in a small town, we had two local grocery stores. I remember my mom checking the Weekly Grocery Ads in the local paper and working on her grocery list for the week. We lived on a budget so, mom would always check the sales.
I know I am dating myself a bit here, but when I was young we collected green stamps. The grocery store rewarded customers for loyalty by handing out a long strip of green stamps after they checked out their groceries. We licked and pasted them in a blank book and when it was filled up, we could take the filled green stamp books to the S&H Redemption Store for household items. Fun memories!
I don’t know about you, but I like saving money on groceries. With a little bit of planning, we can shop on a budget and make some tasty meals for our family. For more recipes, check out my favorite recipes.
Tasty Tips
So, what’s for dinner? If you have leftovers, my family loves this pulled pork over baked potatoes. Also, if you want to mix up a batch of barbecue rub to use in your Summer barbecues here is a link to a quick recipe.
Tasty Tuesday Dishes
Crock Pot Pulled Pork
1 pork butt/pork shoulder roast 4-5 lbs
Salt, pepper, & garlic powder
Barbecue rub (I use McCormick Seasoning Mix)
1 8 oz Coke or Dr. Pepper
½ cup of water
Your favorite barbecue sauce (optional)
1. Rub the pork roast with the seasoning and place in the crockpot.
2. Pour the Coke or Dr. Pepper and the water over the pork and cook on high 4-5 hours or on low 7-8 hours.
3. The meat will be very tender. Using 2 forks, shred the pork and place back in the juices.
4. Add your favorite barbecue sauce and cook for an additional 30-60 minutes if desired.
5. Serve on wheat buns with coleslaw.
Quick and Easy Coleslaw Recipe
1 bag of classic coleslaw
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 bottle Kraft coleslaw dressing
1 apple, peeled, cored, julienne
½ cup craisins
Mix the coleslaw, dressing, apple, and craisins. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Let sit for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
My son came to my bedroom door.
I heard his feet coming down the hallway, so I was already somewhat awake.
He had gotten sick in the night and wanted to let me know. I quickly got up out of the bed and cleaned him and his bed up the best I could. He didn’t care about those things, all he wanted was me beside him.
I had to make room for him in my bed.
I, just like my son have felt sick, worried, upset, overwhelmed, and without peace. When I should be calling out to God, I spend too much time settling for these feelings.
I love that my son came looking for me when he felt sick.
Jesus loves us to call out to Him in the same way. We can desire to have more of God in our lives, but we must make room for Him.
I have learned to make room for him in my daily life by reading and studying His Word. I am not talking about reading through the Bible. I am talking about studying and dwelling on the Word. The more we make room for God, the more his presence will be there.
Not only that but we also know, “That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:20).
The Psalmist says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
We only need to make room for God, and he will draw near to us!
Make room for Him today!
