Menu Monday

Back to school means back to menus. Yes, Jill, we have eaten frozen pizza's over break :).
Monday- Amy's Day: Tuna melts, mac and cheese, Caesar salad, applesauce
Tuesday- Tandoori Chicken(new recipe), cauliflower, rice, blue cheese popovers,(new recipe)
Wednesday-Sausages, salad, sweet potato wedges, butter bread
Thursday Ann's Birthday meal: Pigs in a blanket, mac and cheese, salad, fresh fruit, Brownies
Friday: Ann's Slumber Party: Pizza, Oreo cookie dessert, veggie tray, fruit tray
Saturday: vegetable soup

funny

Rocki Stillson has a blog that my wife and I have enjoyed. Her testimony of God's grace and forgiveness is truly inspirational.

However a recent post made us both laugh hysterically.

See it here.

joe

New verse, new comments

As I have thought about this verse throughout my christian lifetime it has carried different significance. Isnt that the wonder of the Word of God? We can read a verse, then reread it and have different thoughts illuminated by the Holy Spirit within us.

WOW. If you like mysteries......then that is right up your alley.

Now for the next verse;

Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

The word PRESS used to mean something specific for me for much of my lifetime. Of course it is basketball related. A "press" is used by the defense to dictate the tempo of the game or to create turnovers which can lead to easy baskets. There is no "resting while pressing".... that was a phrase I used a lot as a coach. *SMILE* . Hopefully you can see the easy transition to our christian walk...

however... I have been led down different significant paths as I read this verse lately....

Goal.... win.... prize... all these definitely speak to me as former athlete and now as "poser" athlete! Yet.... still not .... quite.......fully..... now.......here it is......

.....HEAVENWARD in christ jesus....I am sorry to say I have missed this significance for much of my lifetime....

As I continue to learn how PRIDE and self worship prevents me from loving my savior intimately;

He teaches me that He has called me HEAVENWARD. Not to fix my eyes on these troubling times and treacherous waves (alas Peter). Not to fix my eyes on these temporary prizes and comforts. And certainly not to look elsewhere for answers for my needs for He is my Creator and He knows exactly what I need.

He teaches me that these years in this rented body (temple) which houses a soul that was bought with a heavy price.... are truly short.

and He loves me enough to keep saying, "Joe I am your Father and I know you need me and I know you are scared and I know you dont understand but you must trust me...I am preparing a place for you which is more than you can imagine..."

Oh Father, please continue to put your hand under my chin..... lift up my face so that my eyes may look heavenward.

Do you all feel his fingers under your chin??? I do and it is the best feeling in the world.

Heavenward...

looking up,
joe

Pray for Stellan

Please find it in your day to pray for sweet miracle baby Stellan. You can find him at my side bar- mck mama. He is definitely a mckmiracle already, but is now in the hospital fighting for his life with RSV.

Toy Explosion

We just finished our 4th Christmas celebration and our house looks like a toy store explosion. Actually, it looks better than in past years. With the kids getting older, their gifts get more "sophisticated". We had a great Christmas and were able to spend time with those we love so much. We were also able to spend time reflecting on the real reason for all this celebrating: the birth of our sweet savior. As a mom, I always think of Mary so much leading up to Christmas day. Being pregnant, riding a donkey and traveling 100 miles pregnant-ughh! Yet she treasured all these things, and was scared, but obedient.
As I was driving to work on Christmas eve, I was thinking and praying about how I didn't feel I was in the "spirit" of the season. I thought back to the night we watched "The Nativity Story" as a family(excellent movie). There were so many teachable moments with the kids that night, but God taught me an important lesson. As I watched as God spoke to Joseph and told him to flee Bethlehem for Egypt, I realized that God has spoken to me that same way and continues to. Wow- the same God that spoke to Mary and Joseph speaks to me-if I will listen! That is amazing and so humbling.
If you know me at all you know that I tear up easily- so as I realize this driving down Carmel Drive to work I start to cry. I end up in my van in the parking lot trying to compose myself before heading in to work, praying like everyday, asking God to help me be a blessing to others I come in contact with.

Have you ever been in a real dark room? The kind where you cant see your hand even when you hold it right in front of your face?

Then there is a light... either through the bottom of the door.. or a lit match or something which allows there to be light. Isnt it amazing how the light overcomes the darkness?

The light.... it ..... WINS. Allegorically speaking light wins over dark all the time.

We (as christians) are the Light of the world.

I love this picture Christ paints for us....

Help me, O Lord, to be the brightest light I can.

joe

Christmas Cookies

Another tradition we have in the Bennett household is to deliver cookies to all of our neighbors. (Even the ones we don't talk to much-according to Ann). We packed the kids up in the van since it was below 0 windchill and drove them from house to house. If the weather is nice we walk it with the stroller or wagon full of treats. We fill up tins, ziploc containers, or like this year, pretty bags, full of a variety of cookies and goodies homemade for the holidays. Most of our neighbors have come to expect it now, and some even give the kids a gift back. One house gave the boys $3. each. The girls were too cold and didn't go up- they went to ALL the rest. It was cute watching the kids run up and down to each of the houses, they have fun doing it. Hopefully a good memory for them all, I know it is for me.