Posted by: s2sheathertabers on: December 22, 2011
I’m a mom of 5. I cherish quiet time. So every morning, my wonderful husband loads up the 4 big kids to take them to school and he takes our 3 year old with him. This gives me about 45 minutes every morning to take a hot bath, have some quiet time, and prepare for my day. After dropping the kids at school, my husband goes through the McDonald’s drive-thru to get me a Coke. He knows how much I love my morning Coke… it’s my version of coffee. And every morning, there’s a handful of ladies that work the drive-thru who know my 3 year old and think she’s the cutest little girl on the planet…and I have to agree. So they talk to her and she blows kisses to them and sometimes they even give her extra happy meal toys. She comes home so happy every morning and that makes this momma’s heart happy.
So, as I made my list of people I wanted to make buckets of Christmas cookies for… the McDonald’s ladies crossed my mind. What an easy way to bless someone and thank them for blessing us? But that made me think… who else have I missed? There are a number of people in my life who I have come to rely on that I don’t know personally… the trash man, the mail lady, the crossing guards. There are so many people that I can bless without leaving my house! I encourage you to ask God how you can bless someone this Christmas… someone that doesn’t usually make your list. God fed the multitudes with a little basket of bread and fish. You never know what He will do with a small bucket of cookies.
Posted by: s2sheathertabers on: December 12, 2011
The baby in the manger doesn’t care if there are no gifts under the tree.
He gave me the gift of eternal life, anyway.
The baby in the manger doesn’t care if there is no snow.
He warms my heart, anyway.
The baby in the manger doesn’t care that I’m not out shopping in the hustle and bustle.
He’s happy to have quiet time with me, anyway.
The baby in the manger doesn’t mind that I often complain about my pain.
He brings healing to me, anyway.
The baby in the manger doesn’t fret over my broken relationships.
He offers restoration, anyway.
The baby in the manger doesn’t wish for more than He has.
He gave His all, anyway.
Posted by: s2sheathertabers on: December 5, 2011
You know that feeling, don’t you? That feeling you get when it’s cold and dreary otuside, but you’ve just finished a bowl (or two) or warm, delicious soup. That feeling of being warmed from the inside out. That feeling of comfort and contentment. It’s warm soup belly.
God’s Word is our spiritual soup. As we face a cold and dreary world, the Bread of Life warms our hearts and transforms us from the inside out. He gives us that “warm soup belly” feeling that brings us comfort and contentment… yet has us craving more.
If your current life situations have you shuddering from the cold, I encourage you to warm up with the Word today. And here’s a great recipe for a great potato soup that will most certainly give you that physical warm soup belly feeling…
Baked Potato Soup in the Crockpot:
Wash and dice 5 lbs large potatoes, do not peel, place in crock pot
Add 8 cups of chicken broth, 2 tbs minced garlic, 1 large diced yellow onion
Cook on high for 6 hours or on low for 10 hours
Then…
Use a potato masher to finish mashing potatoes in the crockpot
Melt 16 oz of cream cheese slightly in the microwave and stir into crockpot mixture
Stir every 10-15 minutes until soup is well blended
Salt & pepper to taste
Serve up with shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, bacon and sour cream. DELICIOUS!!!
Posted by: s2sheathertabers on: November 23, 2011
After a long day of decorating the house, grocery shopping and caring for a sick child, I treated myself to a nice, long soak in the jacuzzi tub tonight. There’s nothing like a hot bath to ease your body and there’s a certain satisfaction in wiping off the day and watching it roll down the drain. After drying off, I pulled out my favorite pair of satin pajamas. Girls, we’re talking about the softest, silkiest leopard print button-up pajama shirt with matching pants you’ve ever seen. So comfortable. So classy. So pretty. So…. smelly? That’s right. My beautiful pajamas smelled horrible! Why? Apparently with all the hustle and bustle around the house over the past few weeks, these pajamas must have been in a load of laundry that sat in the washing machine too long. I know you’re all familiar with that mildewy, musty, icky smell that I’m talking about. As fast as I pulled that pajama shirt over my head, I pulled it back off and reached for a comfy t-shirt instead. Clothes that sit too long after getting wet STINK.
It suddenly occurred to me that our Christian walk can be the same way, if we’re not careful. We get washed in the Holy Spirit. We receive a downpour of blessings. We drench ourselves in the Word. And then we sit. We grow stagnant. And ladies… sometimes we even begin to stink!
With the holidays approaching, let us take this reminder to not overlook our relationship with Jesus. Don’t leave it where it is. Don’t forget about it. Don’t think, “I’ll come back to this later.” The most well-groomed, prettiest, biggest Bible carrying, satin leopard print wearing Christian is not very effective to a lost world if she stinks!
Posted by: s2sheathertabers on: November 17, 2011
By Heather Tabors
I have a three year old daughter who is growing more and more independent and strong-willed every day. I’m sure you can relate if you’ve ever had a toddler in your life. The other night I got her into her jammies and brushed her teeth and then we knelt together beside her bed to pray, as goes our nightly routine. At the end of our prayer, we closed with, “Thank you for dying on the cross. I love you, Jesus. Amen.” … just like we do every night. But this night, there was something a little different going on in my daughter’s heart and mind. As we closed in prayer, Maddie pointed to the large, ornate, iron cross that I hung on her nursery wall when we moved into our home last year. I’m ashamed to admit that this cross had been nothing more than a decoration in our home until that night. Upon closing our prayer, my sweet little girl pointed to the cross and said, “Mommy, I have to touch the cross of Jesus.” Being familiar with toddler stall tactics, I continued trying to usher her into her bed, but she’d have nothing to do with it. “No, Mommy!” she said, pointing again to the beautiful cross. “I HAVE to touch the cross of Jesus.” Knowing that I wasn’t going to win this battle, I lifted her up and watched her chubby little hand reach out and with one pudgy little finger, she touched the cross of Jesus. With a smile she looked at me and said, “Thank you, Mommy.” A flood of emotions rushed over me. “No, thank you, baby,” I said as I tucked her into bed. Thank you, for reminding me of the urgency I should have to touch the cross of Jesus. When was the last time I had felt any urgency to reach out to my Lord? Thank you, for showing me the value of lifting someone else up to touch the cross of Jesus. When was the last time I went out of my way at all to bring someone to the cross? We tend to get caught up in our routines, our daily rituals… we easily forget the sacrafice made on that cross and we view it as nothing more than a decoration. Dear friends, it’s time to touch the cross of Jesus.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
Posted by: s2sheathertabers on: November 15, 2011
By Heather Tabers
How many times have I made a promise to someone, and then broken it? It’s usually not for selfish reasons, or lack of motivation, that I break my promises. I’m just a people pleaser…. so I have the unfortunate tendency to promise someone that I’ll do something and then I fall short of the ability to complete the task. I meant to do it… I just couldn’t. I’m so grateful that our God has not only made numerous promises to us… but He has the ability to hold true to His Word… and He has a track record to prove that He’s trustworthy to do what He says He will do.
So what is it that you need?
Are you worn out? God promises rest!
“Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~Matt 11:28
Do you feel defeated? God promises victory!
“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” ~Romans 8:37
Are you nervous or anxious? God promises peace!
“But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” ~Proverbs 1:33
Are you confused, unsure, not knowing which way to go? God gives us direction!
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” ~Psalm 32:8
Are you searching for God? He promises you’ll find Him!
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” ~Proverbs 8:17
There are so many more promises from God. Some sources say there are over 3,000 promises in the Bible! No matter what problem you are currently facing, God has a solution. And He promises that He will do what He says He will do! How awesome is our God?!?! I’ve started a Promises journal, recording every verse I find that God promises something to me and I would encourage you to do the same. When circumstances surround you that seem bleak, there’s nothing more comforting than to read a written promise to you from the King.
Posted by: sister2sisterfbcw on: November 5, 2011
By Heather Tabers
If you google “surviving the holidays”, you’ll find tips for every group of people imaginable- diabetics, single women, divorcees, addicts, parents of special-needs kids, skiing enthusiasts, people watching their budget, people watching their weight, people with anxiety issues, fashionistas, bakers, and home decorators, to name but a few. Most of us, no doubt, fit into at least one of those categories. But how do we approach the holidays… and not only “surive” but make the most of the holidays, as Christian women??? Here’s some help…
1) Lay your expectations at the cross. My Thanksgiving table never looks like a Norman Rockwell painting and that’s ok. Let it go. Don’t strive for perfection as you prepare for the holidays. Ask God what He wants to do with your special day! He’ll blow you away!
2) Pray for your people. We all have people- people at work, in our family, in our neighborhood- that don’t know the Lord. Holidays are a GREAT time and a perfect opportunity for loving on our people. Begin praying now for divine appointments with these people and opportunities to share Christ with them. Ask Him now who He wants you to reach.
3) Keep your focus on Christ. It’s really easy to get distracted with everything that makes the holidays so fun. Don’t forget why and WHO you’re celebrating.
4) Make a date night with Jesus. With all the baking, shopping, wrapping, cleaning, packing and decorating that needs to be done, it’s easy to overwhelm your calendar. Make sure you schedule yourself some time with the Lover of Your Soul. After all, it’s Him we are celebrating.
5) Be thankful. Don’t just say the words, show it generously through your actions. Give to the less fortunate, help in a soup kitchen, send a shoe box of toys to a child in another country, invite a widow over for dinner, bring gifts to an orphanage, babysit for a single mom, send a card to a soldier over seas, visit a veteran in the hospital. And then continue doing such things after the holidays are over.
Posted by: s2sheathertabers on: October 19, 2011
I have a friend. A very good friend. OK, she’s my BFF. And we’ve been friends for 12 years. We’ve been through EVERYTHING together. In the past 12 years, together, we’ve welcomed 7 more children into our lives, moved 18 times in 3 states, divorced, remarried, left the ministry, returned to the ministry, became a pastor’s wife, gotten new jobs, gotten fired from jobs, quit jobs, buried loved ones, clung to loved ones diagnosed with cancer, fought with family, made up with family, started new hobbies, and learned new things… together. And no matter what has been going on in each other’s lives, we’ve always been faithful to remind each other, “It’s ok… God has a plan.” Together, we’ve anxiously awaited births and weddings and moves and ministry opportunities. We’ve waited for God to heal us, deliver us, redeem us, comfort us and use us. Together.
Yesterday morning was different. As my friend and I began texting back and forth with 3 states in between us, she shared a struggle that she is currently facing and instinctively I started to reply, “God has a plan”… but God stopped me. Before I could finish texting those words God clearly said to me, “My plan is already underway.”
Yes, God has a plan for our future. But God has a plan for our right-now. Our right-now was once our future. Where we are is someplace that once upon a time, we couldn’t have imagined. If I need hope that God has a plan for my future, I need only to read Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” If I want PROOF that God has a plan for my future, I only need to look at my past and see what He has brought me from and what God has brought me to.
Sweet sisters, God hasn’t forgotten you. He isn’t waiting to do something with your life. His plan for you is already underway. You’re living it out right now. And yes, there are greater things yet to come. Thank Him. Praise Him. He loves you and you are His.
Posted by: s2sheathertabers on: October 6, 2011
With the leaves changing colors, I can’t help but get excited about baking all our delicious fall favorites including this recipe for a hearty potato soup. We jokingly call it “Heart Attack Soup” at our house and when you read the list of ingredients, you’ll know why. This is a great meal to throw together in the crock pot before church! Enjoy, my friends!
HEART ATTACK SOUP
1 Large bag hash browns (I buy the kind with the onions and green peppers chopped and mixed in it)
1/2 lb of bacon, or more if you feel daring
1 pkg breakfast sausage (cooked and crumbled)
small container sour cream
1 box velveeta cheese
2 cups cheddar cheese
2 cans cream of chicken
3 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp salt
Cook bacon, drain, crumble and set aside.
Cook sausage, drain, crumble and set aside.
In crock pot add: milk, cream of chicken, butter, salt, pepper, Velveeta, sour cream, and hash browns. Simmer 1 hour. Add meats ( bacon/sausage) and cheddar cheese.
Top with extra cheddar, sour cream and/or chopped green onions before serving.
This will make a crock pot full of soup. The longer it sits on low in the crock pot the thicker it will get.
Posted by: s2sheathertabers on: September 26, 2011
I love date night. There’s nothing more special to me than dressing up, leaving the kids and the dirty dishes behind, and going out to dinner with my husband. It makes our marriage feel fresh and new and it’s as if we fall in love all over again. We put on our best clothes, we go to a nice restaurant, we eat like civilized human beings… it’s the opposite of the world of chicken nuggets and sweat pants and cleaning up spills that we live in every day. We give each other our best and we enjoy this precious alone time… together. I love date night. I crave this time. I put it on the calendar and circle it with a big red heart. How much more does God want a date night with each of us? He loves us in our everyday world. He still pursues us when we’ve forgotten Him. He still has compassion for us when we cry out to Him. But when is the last time we gave Him our best? When is the last time we set time aside just to lavish our love upon Him? Our King loves us with an unconditional love. So ladies, it’s time to fall in love with Jesus all over again.
