On My Heart: Our Powerful Prayers

Do you grow weary in your prayers at times?
Tired of waiting for answers,
sometimes even doubting if there will be answers?
At least, the answers that we're longing for.

I do, so often ... it is hard to wait,
heart-breaking hard.

But just maybe, there is a bigger picture.
Bigger even than our prayers,
bigger than what we have in mind.

"We need to crawl out of our smaller story
so we can see all that 
God is up to in us and around us."  
(Susie Larson)

Just maybe, God is in the midst of
writing a story more beautiful
than we can even imagine ...
and it requires waiting, and it requires
our passionate, faithful prayers.

"... my heartbreak, and your heartbreak,
they're meant to inspire passionate prayers
in us and through us
because God is working ALL things
together for His purposes."
(Susie Larson)

Lord, may I be faithful to pray;
may I never give up ...
may I listen and learn from You as I wait;
may I surrender to Your much greater plans,
and may I give You praise all my days.

On My Heart: Growing Our Roots in Him

What is

needed to grow roots?

Does it take a lot
of work and effort
on the part of the plant?

Do we view plants
in great turmoil and strain
as their roots push down
through the soil?
Does spring bring stress
and pain as we watch
our gardens grow?

But the opposite is true,
for peace is what we see.

And it is the same
for us -
what is needed is

just keeping the soil 
of our hearts healthy,
ready to soak in

His life-giving words -

being still, resting,
looking up to the Son -

letting Him do

His work

in our hearts.

It can be springtime
in our hearts

all year round -

as we grow our roots

into Him.

Digital Scrapbooking: Wrapping up January

My digital scrapbooking needed to be set aside for a few months, as life has been extra busy since my father passed away on Jan. 11, 2018. But in recent weeks, I've taken the time to pause, and to collect the photos from January. Here are three of the eleven pages I've scrapbooking for January 2018 ... a record of God's care for us during that time of loss and also that time of celebrating the life of my father. So much to thank God for in the midst of our grief, and also a joy to have my Siebert family here from the east and west coasts, as well as most of our children and grandchildren.

Note: Most of the page templates and digital products that I use are purchased from Digital Project Life. About six years ago I switched from paper scrapbooking, and took some online lessons from Digital Scrapper to learn how to digital scrapbook using Photoshop Elements. (You can also click here for some great tutorials on the Digital Project Life website - maybe a quicker way to learn than the site that I used six years ago.) Also, besides being able to share my completed pages online, I also print them out at home in 8x8 inch size to fit in the albums that I purchase from Michael's.

Cranberry Chicken Wraps

If you've been by my blog very much this year 2018, you've probably noticed that I've been writing a bit less often. I've needed to give a lot of my attention and time to caring for my father's estate, as he passed away on Jan. 11. Amidst the grieving of having both of my parents gone now, I've had many things to care for on their behalf. But ... good progress is being made, spring is coming (my favorite!), and maybe I'll even have the joy of writing here more often in the coming weeks? We will just wait and see; it is all in God's hands on what He has for us to focus on during the different seasons of our lives.

But here I am today, with a recipe post! This is so good, I don't know why I wait so long with having this on the menu. If I remember correctly, one of my daughters (thanks, Cristy!) served this while we were visiting her in TX, and that is when I added this Taste of Home recipe to my collection. Good for any time of the year!

Click on the "Source: tasteofhome.com" link (below) to print.

Cranberry Chicken Wraps

Source: tasteofhome.com

Course: Lunch Sandwiches/Wraps

Main Ingredient: Chicken

Cook Time: 20 min

Total Time: 20 min

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• ¹⁄₄ cup dried cranberries
• 3 tablespoons feta cheese crumbled
• ¹⁄₈ teaspoon rosemary, dried crushed
• ¹⁄₈ teaspoon pepper
• 2 whole wheat tortillas (8 inches) room temperature
• ¹⁄₂ cup baby spinach fresh
• 1 cup chicken breast, cooked shredded
• 1 cup apple chopped
• ¹⁄₄ cup Miracle Whip + 2 teaspoons, divided

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine the chicken, apple, 1/4 cup Miracle Whip, cranberries, feta cheese, rosemary and pepper. Spread remaining Miracle Whip over tortillas. Top with chicken mixture and spinach. Roll up and secure with toothpicks. Yield: 2 servings.

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On My Heart: Within

A new week

and new opportunities

to pull up close -

and it cannot get any closer

than this ...

"And this is the secret:

Christ lives in you."

(from Col. 1:27)

A reminder of our

greatest privilege - so close,

within, wherever we go,

whatever we go through

this week. Today.

God with us; 

His Spirit in us.

Closer than any other;

His Presence.

(A photo from this morning - gathering together with our Cru Omaha team ... enjoying His presence with us, together.)