Friday, April 27, 2018
Simple Country Catholic: Beans and Mush Recipe
Simple Country Catholic: Beans and Mush Recipe: Sounds yummy, right?! I love me some beans and cornbread! No one else in this family shares this love. I came up with an easy version....
Beans and Mush Recipe
Sounds yummy, right?!
I love me some beans and cornbread!
No one else in this family shares this love.
I came up with an easy version. Cornbread is time consuming so I substituted mush, or corn grits or the fancy word, polenta..whatever you want to call it...it's yummy.
1 can great northern beans NOT drained
1/2 cup prepared mush
2 T. chopped onion
Ketchup to taste (2 T)
Salt if needed
2 T. sugar (optional) I like it sweet. Maybe use maple syrup or honey? Haven't tried that yet.
Heat beans in pan. Then mix all the ingredients together.
A go to breakfast for me is warm grits and maple syrup. I feel so southern when I eat it!
Will you dare to try this?
Comment below.
I love me some beans and cornbread!
No one else in this family shares this love.
I came up with an easy version. Cornbread is time consuming so I substituted mush, or corn grits or the fancy word, polenta..whatever you want to call it...it's yummy.
Beans and Mush Recipe
1 can great northern beans NOT drained
1/2 cup prepared mush
2 T. chopped onion
Ketchup to taste (2 T)
Salt if needed
2 T. sugar (optional) I like it sweet. Maybe use maple syrup or honey? Haven't tried that yet.
Heat beans in pan. Then mix all the ingredients together.
 |
| This is grits, mush, polenta, corn meal. I ate the beans and mush too fast to take a pic! |
A go to breakfast for me is warm grits and maple syrup. I feel so southern when I eat it!
Will you dare to try this?
Comment below.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Redemptive Suffering
This is a reflection of today's scriptural reading.
Corinthians 12:9 "...My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
St. Paul had some kind of affliction, we are not sure what it was, but it was a thorn for him. God allowed him this suffering but gave him the grace to endure. Suffering either makes us run to God or away from Him.
It's not fun.
But there's hope, it can be used for good. Suffering is a superpower everyone has if they discover its value.
Unite our sufferings with Christ's sufferings on the Cross and you will see suffering in a whole new light.
What are our sufferings? Sickness, not making ends meant, seeing loved ones make bad decisions, drama you don't want to be a part of, physical ailments, car problems, addictions, raising children, carrying the burden of others. Simply put, living life on Earth.
What is redemptive suffering? It is 'offering it up'. We Catholics have a coined phrase "offer it up for the poor souls". Which really means 'quit complaining, suck it up, there's people in purgatory that need your prayers'. "Offer it up" has been used by millions of Catholic moms over the years to shut their kids up because they scrapped their knee on a rock. Or maybe when a daughter has a collarbone that looks funny and you really don't want to take them to the emergency room....just sayin'...
Don't waste your suffering. Use it to help others. We are all called to serve and be like saints, holy people of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "...God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." Read the first chapter in 2 Corinthians. It's a good one on value of suffering.
One of my favorite role models, St. Therese, the little flower. My 2nd daughter has her namesake. She lost her mother at a young age and had tuberculosis. No one knew she was sick for a long time. She quietly suffered. She died at a young age. She was ever cheerful and knew the value of redemptive suffering.
https://www.littleflower.org/therese/reflections/st-therese-on-suffering/
How do you use your suffering?
Do you wallow in self pity? Does everyone around you know your problems? Do you complain and moan?
Take Narcotics Anonymous for example, WOW what a way to share your sufferings with others. The sole purpose of the group is to share in each others sufferings. The sufferings they endure helps another. Their example reaches and teaches others in a more profound way because they have 'been there, done that'.
Share your experiences so that others my reap the benefits of your sufferings.
Jesus did this. He used his sufferings for our benefit. He was beaten, whipped, carried the cross, had thorns plunged in his head, was nailed, cut with a sword, DIED and came alive again all to teach us a better way. His sufferings give us hope that this life is only temporary. The 3rd heaven awaits! (2 Corinthians 12:2, it's just really our belief of regular heaven).
Then there's Miss Knee. Miss Knee doesn't understand the concept of redemptive suffering. I tell her to offer it up on our runs but SHE DOESN'T LISTEN! My game plan already is to offer it up. I have someone in mind I want to offer this up for. I'm hoping thru my sufferings that my prayer will be answered.
Suffering in this world is inevitable. No one can escape it but there's hope. We have another world waiting for us that promises no suffering. Your attitude on suffering can change your entire outlook on life. Embrace the suffering, unite it with Christ, offer it up as a prayer for someone else who is suffering.
Corinthians 12:9 "...My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
St. Paul had some kind of affliction, we are not sure what it was, but it was a thorn for him. God allowed him this suffering but gave him the grace to endure. Suffering either makes us run to God or away from Him.
What's your superpower? SUFFERING!
We all suffer.It's not fun.
But there's hope, it can be used for good. Suffering is a superpower everyone has if they discover its value.
Unite our sufferings with Christ's sufferings on the Cross and you will see suffering in a whole new light.
What are our sufferings? Sickness, not making ends meant, seeing loved ones make bad decisions, drama you don't want to be a part of, physical ailments, car problems, addictions, raising children, carrying the burden of others. Simply put, living life on Earth.
 |
| This is what my redemptive suffering looks like, not pretty! |
So. Much. Suffering.
There is so much suffering. The world's problems can be overwhelming. I have chosen to live a more simple life or in other words 'buried my head in the country sand'. I can't do the news. I look online to a few stories that are of interest and get overwhelmed with sadness. Then there's social media. I'm about to quit it, but it has become almost a tool of necessity for communication that it would be like living without a telephone. I'm saddened on how everyone has to give their opinion and you have to choose one side or another. It gives me stress and anxiety. But then someone out of the blue contacts you, you haven't talked to them in 25 years so it makes it all worth staying plugged in. There's seeing your friend's kids pictures and keeping in touch with family. I'll offer up the drama to keep connected with my favorite people.Don't waste your suffering. Use it to help others. We are all called to serve and be like saints, holy people of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "...God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." Read the first chapter in 2 Corinthians. It's a good one on value of suffering.
St. Therese of Liseux
One of my favorite role models, St. Therese, the little flower. My 2nd daughter has her namesake. She lost her mother at a young age and had tuberculosis. No one knew she was sick for a long time. She quietly suffered. She died at a young age. She was ever cheerful and knew the value of redemptive suffering.https://www.littleflower.org/therese/reflections/st-therese-on-suffering/
How do you use your suffering?
Do you wallow in self pity? Does everyone around you know your problems? Do you complain and moan?
Take Narcotics Anonymous for example, WOW what a way to share your sufferings with others. The sole purpose of the group is to share in each others sufferings. The sufferings they endure helps another. Their example reaches and teaches others in a more profound way because they have 'been there, done that'.
Share your experiences so that others my reap the benefits of your sufferings.
Jesus Suffered
Jesus did this. He used his sufferings for our benefit. He was beaten, whipped, carried the cross, had thorns plunged in his head, was nailed, cut with a sword, DIED and came alive again all to teach us a better way. His sufferings give us hope that this life is only temporary. The 3rd heaven awaits! (2 Corinthians 12:2, it's just really our belief of regular heaven).Miss Knee
Sufferings are sometimes innocent or by our own making. For example, I thought it would be a good idea in January to sign up for a half marathon. It's this Saturday (it's April). I'm missing my teenage daughter's track meet and have to get back in time for another daughter's school play. Didn't know all of this in January.Then there's Miss Knee. Miss Knee doesn't understand the concept of redemptive suffering. I tell her to offer it up on our runs but SHE DOESN'T LISTEN! My game plan already is to offer it up. I have someone in mind I want to offer this up for. I'm hoping thru my sufferings that my prayer will be answered.
 |
| Miss Knee, she is not nice. |
Suffering in this world is inevitable. No one can escape it but there's hope. We have another world waiting for us that promises no suffering. Your attitude on suffering can change your entire outlook on life. Embrace the suffering, unite it with Christ, offer it up as a prayer for someone else who is suffering.
What can you offer up today?
Comment below.
Comment below.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Simple Country Catholic: Simple Snow
Simple Country Catholic: Simple Snow: The older I get, the more I love snow. I know. It's weird. We have had plenty of snow this winter. Over the kids' spring break, it...
Simple Snow
The older I get, the more I love snow. I know. It's weird.
We have had plenty of snow this winter. Over the kids' spring break, it was like God just dumped the snow right on our house. Some areas measured 6 inches, others 12. Many facebook complainers.
I embraced it.
We are a family that doesn't have the luxury of vacations unless it's visiting family members. Maybe an occasional camping trip or short get weekend getaway within a few hours drive. So, no Florida warm weather for us. This snow provided a good 4 days of outside playtime. This snow was
AHH-MAZING! My 8 year old said "March snow is WAYYY better than December snow." Yep, it sure is. We were building snowmen and ginormous snow forts. The snow stuck like glue. It was awesome.
The last day when the snow melted, the boys went out in the morning and played and by the end of the day were wearing shorts. That's Midwest weather for you.
One HUGE benefit of snow is that it covers all the trash. I went running the other day and to pass the time I counted 72 beer bottles/cans on a 2 mile stretch. Drinking and driving is not only dangerous but SOOO 1980's. Besides, who doesn't recycle anymore?
Snow is referenced in the Bible a few times. A snowy morning and melting by the end of the day reminds me manna in the dessert. How quickly it ends if we don't devour it when it's there. My favorite snow Bible quote is:
Snow is a simple beauty. We can complain, or embrace it. Nothing makes you feel more youthful than a good snowball fight or making angels in the snow.
Life is all perspective. What do you see? Last week when I was running, I went in crazy, beast mode and decided to tackle a hill, rather a small Indiana mountain. I looked down the valley and should have seen a beautiful ravine with a small creek but all I saw was mounds of trash thrown over the side of the road that had trickled down over the years. There's no way anyone could get down there to pick up all that garbage. It gave me the thought, what do you see? the beauty in everything or the ugliness? I would like to admit I just saw beauty but I didn't. My thought was I wish it would snow to cover up all the ugliness. What do we cover up all our ugliness with? Do we have a contrite heart or is it red as scarlet? Do we see others as scarlet or as white as snow? God forgives us but do we forgive those who hurt us or just cover them up with snow.
The snow will melt and what will you have? A clean heart or a dirty ravine?
Comment below.
We have had plenty of snow this winter. Over the kids' spring break, it was like God just dumped the snow right on our house. Some areas measured 6 inches, others 12. Many facebook complainers.
I embraced it.
 |
| Steelers Snowmen |
AHH-MAZING! My 8 year old said "March snow is WAYYY better than December snow." Yep, it sure is. We were building snowmen and ginormous snow forts. The snow stuck like glue. It was awesome.
 |
| Someone declared a snowball fight! |
The last day when the snow melted, the boys went out in the morning and played and by the end of the day were wearing shorts. That's Midwest weather for you.
One HUGE benefit of snow is that it covers all the trash. I went running the other day and to pass the time I counted 72 beer bottles/cans on a 2 mile stretch. Drinking and driving is not only dangerous but SOOO 1980's. Besides, who doesn't recycle anymore?
Snow is referenced in the Bible a few times. A snowy morning and melting by the end of the day reminds me manna in the dessert. How quickly it ends if we don't devour it when it's there. My favorite snow Bible quote is:
Psalm 51:7
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
Every time I hear this verse, I think of a certain Priest that would sing this during Lent. Psalm 51 is traditionally called the "Miserere" or the "Repentent's Prayer." God does not call perfect people to lead his church, but imperfect people who are repentant. We don't repent just one time, but over and over and over. David, he was a dude that kept messing up, but had a contrite heart. I should frequent the sacrament of confession more than I do, I know I should take advantage of the free therapy session of forgiveness!
Create in me a new heart, AKA conversion. Conversion isn't just a one time affair, we are constantly being converted. In order to continue conversion, one must seek God more in prayer, scripture, books and embrace the beauty entrusted to us, even cold snow.
And there's this one:
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
I am hearing a call again for constant conversion, penance and humility.
Boy, can you tell I just came off Lent?
This one is a good one for women to strive for, it is the description of the ideal woman.
Proverbs 31:20-21
"She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet."
For all her household is clothed with scarlet."
I'll try to be more like her.
Life is all perspective. What do you see? Last week when I was running, I went in crazy, beast mode and decided to tackle a hill, rather a small Indiana mountain. I looked down the valley and should have seen a beautiful ravine with a small creek but all I saw was mounds of trash thrown over the side of the road that had trickled down over the years. There's no way anyone could get down there to pick up all that garbage. It gave me the thought, what do you see? the beauty in everything or the ugliness? I would like to admit I just saw beauty but I didn't. My thought was I wish it would snow to cover up all the ugliness. What do we cover up all our ugliness with? Do we have a contrite heart or is it red as scarlet? Do we see others as scarlet or as white as snow? God forgives us but do we forgive those who hurt us or just cover them up with snow.
The snow will melt and what will you have? A clean heart or a dirty ravine?
Comment below.
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