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Hi Ladies! What an encouragement this “Meal Ministry” testimony is to me. I have a feeling you will love it has much as I do. Please help me welcome Lori…

Lori and her husband Kevin have been married for over 27 years and have 3 sons, Sean (26), Dave (24), and Jordan(20). ” As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” -Joshua 24:15 Here is the sweet letter I received from Lori a few days ago:

Please e-mail me at JMNehrenz@me.com to be a guest blogger on Meal Ministry Mondays. I would love to show off your love for the Lord and His people! 

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Please help me welcome our fellow Sister-in-Christ, Lisa! What an amazing life-song she sings…

Lisa and her daughter

I am a follower of Jesus Christ and know that without HIM, I am NOTHING. I live in the Pacific NW with my sweet hubby of 20 years, two very fun teenagers and our little dappled dachshund. I have always loved making things, but after I became a mom myself, I found that I enjoyed crafting gifts EVEN more. There is so much excitement in starting with a few details and bringing it all together…especially when textured paper and ribbon are involved! Growing up in Europe as the child of missionaries to the military, I watched my mom create amazing things with what she had. Most things were handmade. It is the skills I learned from her that I use in all my creative endeavors. I love making simple gifts that have a story, a memory or a special meaning. Recycling and repurposing as much as possible and finding a great bargain are on the list of my favorite things! Most of my days are filled with taking care of my family…avoiding laundry at all costs {except for laundry day which is my Mundane Monday!}, taking meals to people, entertaining and being extremely grateful to God for every day of life.

HOSPITALITY IS…a meal to go

Showing hospitality by taking meals to people when they are sick, have had surgery or just need a little extra tlc when life gets overwhelming can be such a JOY! Sometimes it is easy to become so focused on our own families that it becomes difficult to think of others around us who are in need of our encouragement and help.

There have been PLENTY of times in my life when I have been taken under the wings of others and have been shown mercy. It is still a blessing thinking back to so many times others have cared for me and for my family. I can’t help but to think of how it feels to be taken care of. It is one of the best feelings in the world! 

When I think of hospitality, I think of the root word “hospital”. So, I looked it up…just for fun. I know we are all familiar with what a hospital is, but my old 1963 edition of Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines it as follows: “a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young, an institution where the sick or injured are given medical or surgical care.”

While we are most likely not giving medical or surgical care, taking a meal to someone is comforting beyond words and it is always appreciated and welcome. For those of you who may struggle having people in your homes, this is the perfect alternative for you! 

If your palms are starting to sweat, hold on. Showing hospitality to others does not mean fancy schmancy. It does not have to be homemade and it certainly does not have to be a complete meal…unless you signed up for it. If you did commit and are feeling like it is more than you bargained for, ask a friend to help. Maybe you can split the meal. 


What is the first thing you do after you commit to taking a dinner to someone? Do you start to stress and wish you would have never offered? Do you ask a friend to trade dates in hope that the recipient will no longer be in need when it rolls around to your turn? Anyway you look at it, it can be a daunting task, to not only need to fix your family dinner but somebody elses family as well!

I think my favorite binder is the “MEALS TO GO” binder. It has made taking meals to people so easy…and might I add…FUN! I am not even kidding! Taking the guess work out of what to prepare and take allows me to make quick decisions and spend a little extra time embellishing it. It is a great way to pamper people and I no longer feel like I am just doing crafts “to do” crafts, but it allows me to be a little creative while being able to share with those who are in need!
Here is what works for me, but I would love to hear what works for you. Others ideas are always welcome and appreciated!!! I think we all enjoy hearing how other people do things!

BINDER ORGANIZATION:

Label your binder

The first page has the list of meals I choose from…if your recepient loves something in particular that you are aware of it makes it even easier to decide!
Keep this list simple and doable. If it is a chicken from Costco, a loaf of bread, bag-o-salad and lemonade, write it down. If it is a box of cereal, milk and bread write it down. This has to be what works for YOU! If it is having a pizza delivered write the phone number down so that you can call and have it DELIVERED! Are we all on the same page? Onward we go!

Each Meal has a complete list of what I will be taking to make it a “meal”.

I would encourage you to come up with one menu for each season…start with one meal that will be a JOY to make! 


The next page has the recipes, so I am not spending all my time flippin’ through different binders trying to track down what I need to make dinner.



Have you ever thought about taking breakfast the evening before? This is AWESOME. You can deliver it in the evening after your evening has “settled” down and it might be a very welcome change for one VERY happy recipient. You may want to try it!

While we have been talking about “meals to go”, I wanted to make sure that I mentioned this: there are certainly seasons in our lives where helping others is easier than others. Showing hospitality is nurturing. It is showing you care. Simple as that.

A few of my favorite things I have received as a “bedridden Momma” are: {1}a little bag with a card, a peppermint plant and a box of tea, {2}a bottle of sparkling water and a fresh lemon, {3}a bag of epsom salts etc. Even a sleeve of Saltine crackers and 7 UP is something you could keep on hand to deliver when the need arises!

So, as we have all been given the gift of TODAY, I hope that you, too, will find JOY in showing hospitality in a very real way wheather it be a meal, a note or a cup of lemonade!

Happy May!

Lisa, thank you so very much for the amazing tips. Your packaging is so beautiful! It is such a blessing to know other women share the gifts of hospitality and mercy.  Love to you, Janelle 

Please click here to visit Lisa’s Blog at The Pearson Family Blogspot!

Please e-mail me at JMNehrenz@me.com to be a guest blogger on Meal Ministry Mondays. I would love to show off your love for the Lord and His people! 

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I am participating at Living Well Wednesdays and Titus 2sdays!

For more inspiring stories please click on the button below.

Gina and her husband

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God”
Titus 2:3-5

I am a 47 year old Christ follower who desires to glorify and serve God in any way I can. I grew up in a Christian home and was introduced to Jesus at a very early age. At 20 years old I left home to attend Bible College in hopes of preparing for full-time ministry. I met my husband while I was in college and he was in seminary. We have been married for 22 years, and have been in some type of full time ministry for most of that time. We have two children: Brianna is 20 years old and a Jr. in college, and Caleb is 17 years old and will graduate this year from high school.

I have had a burden to find ways to encourage women since I was about 29 or 30! It has grown over the years as I found myself, at times, looking around for older women I could spend time with, and there were very few who were making themselves available. I would often read the passages about what we are supposed to be and do as women and read any book I could get my hands on that dealt with Titus 2, discipleship or mentoring. As a result of my praying and asking the Lord if there was anything more I could be doing to reach out, I felt led to start a blog. My vision was that I might be able to reach out to the women at the college, by writing and sharing Biblical truths. I had no idea that what God had in store for me would reach way beyond the campus where I live! I now have the privilege of writing and reaching out to a couple hundred women a day, through my blog and monthly at The Internet Cafe.

My husband is an ordained pastor, has a masters degree in sports medicine, and a masters in theology. I have a degree in Bible, and have been a stay at home mom for 20 years. God has combined these gifts and decided that our family would live life with college students. We live on a college campus where Brian is a faculty member and athletic director/trainer and we are both on staff. It has been a perfect fit for us! My first love and priority is being a wife and mother, keeping my home in order, and then living life with students, and serving anyone that happens to come to my door. Much, if not most of our ministry takes place in the kitchen! It includes serving alot of coffee and hot chocolate, fun and easy meals, and as many desserts as possible! College students regularly drop by our home to talk, do homework, relax, and EAT!

I jokingly refer to myself as “the old lady”. The title of my blog (Chats With An ‘Old Lady’) came from the fact that even though I am not really that “old”, because I live with 19-21 year olds, I am the “old lady” on campus. That, and the fact that I love the Titus 2 model and am learning how to be an “older woman”. Someone told me once that I am an “old lady wanna be”! I know they were joking, but I have to tell you that they are absolutely right! I am sensing such an urgency to “step up to the plate” and get involved in the lives of women as the Lord leads. I believe that now is the time! Things are getting worse. Satan is fighting hard. I want to be one that holds up the stop sign! To warn them. To point them in the right direction! And that is what my life revolves around.

God led me to Janelle’s blog, and I not only fell in love with the yummy, practical recipes, but I fell in love with Janelle and her heart to serve people from her kitchen. I guess I see her as a “kindred spirit”, since so much of what I do is from my own kitchen! I regularly consult Janelle’s blog for creative ideas for meals. She never lets me down!!!

Gina’s Daughter Brianna making my “Better than a Hug Cake”.

We do have “regularly scheduled” planned events in our home for the students. One of them is “pancake night”-a night when we open our home from about 6-11:00 PM and I serve pancakes with all the toppings. The students love it and look forward to a time to take a break from studying. And of course the always love to eat! I love to have groups of girls in my home, and over the years have hosted “dorm meetings” here, a time for the girls in the dorm come over and have a meeting and then I serve them some fun, yummy snacks. But most of our ministry is relaxed and spontaneous. They know we are here and that they can come over for coffee or a meal, and they are always welcome. Many nights our couches and kitchen table are lined with students with laptops on their laps, playing on facebook and doing homework!

Please be so kind to welcome our fellow Sister and Christ, Ann (all the way from Australia)! She has been so kind to share a beautiful testimony of how we can give under any of life’s circumstances.


You will see how Ann’s story reminded me of my own…Could this be coincidence or a “God thing”? I will let you decide 🙂

Ann is a homeschool mother of seven children. She lives in Australia in a forest setting she calls her ‘Eight Acres of Eden’ where koalas live in the gum trees and the sub-tropical climate allows them to grow their own bananas.

  

Ann believes that homes, family and hospitality are inter-twined’. Hospitality is a way of life and is part of their Family Vision Statement. ‘Learning to serve others is what hospitality is all’ about says Ann. But it’s not just about learning how to set a table or cook a lavish meal. I don’t want hospitality to be a checklist or a process; I want my children to know that people are more important than the preparations and this is what we do together as a family – look after people.

Ann has been married for over 20 years and in that time, people from all walks of life have been welcomed into their home. There have been different ‘seasons of hospitality’ but the kitchen has always been a ‘base of operations’ for ministry to others. I am thrilled when I see my teenage daughter, says Ann, ‘ making one of her special desserts for the family and setting aside a portion to take across the road to our widowed neighbour.’


If you have a willing heart and say to God ‘Lord send us people’ – well you better be prepared! I prayed that prayer as a young married wife and God answered – not always in the way I had imagined and not always at times which were convenient for me!’


Tea and Honey Sandwiches’ is one of Ann’s real life stories and a lesson about hospitality and humility that took place in New Zealand where Ann lived until moving to Australia in 2002.


You can read more of Ann’s hospitality stories at her blog eightacresofeden.com where she shares about raising beautiful children in a beautiful place’ and all that she takes delight in as a Christian wife, mother and homemaker.

“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”-Luke 21:1-4

Tea and Honey Sandwiches: A Hospitality Story

‘Is it okay to wash hands?’ The young woman with a European accent and oil stained hands had come to the back door of the church building where the Sunday creche was in full swing. She had come to the right place for help that morning. A sink with hot water, a towel and meeting a young mother who just happened to be married to a mechanic. She explained their predicament. They had broken down right outside the church on their way north. They were in New Zealand as agricultural exchange students and today was their day off and they were traveling to the hot pools. They were too far from their farm to expect their hosts to come and rescue them. It was also a Sunday and many garages were closed.

I told her to wait for a moment and went back into church to find my husband. He was sitting in the middle of a row near the front and the Pastor had just commenced his sermon. Never mind, I was now on a mission to help these stranded Danes!

Husband found three Danish girls and one young American guy (another exchange student from the same farm) with their second hand car – an old Austin, funnily enough the guy’s name was Austin and we are fairly certain that he bought it for the name rather than its mechanical dependability! The car needed some work to get it back on the road and then the realization of what I had set in motion that day dawned. ‘I’ve offered to tow them home after church and fix their car and suggested they come for lunch.’ You have? But….’ Before I could respond, my husband had disappeared back into church with Austin who taken up the invitation of joining him for the rest of the service! I still try to imagine what it what have looked like had he taken the three Danish girls into the service instead!

On the trip home with our two year old son strapped in his car seat sharing the back seat with two friendly Danish girls my mind was fixed on what I was going to offer these people for lunch. It was not that I had forgotten to do the grocery shopping that week. We had not shopped for food because we had no money and the pantry was literally bare.

You see, I had taken a step of faith and given up my career to follow the desire that God had placed on my heart to be a full time stay at home mum. My second baby was due in just a few months. We had to leave the desirable seaside city we were living in as we could no longer afford the rents and my husband could not find work. We still owned a home in the North Island and had rented it out prior to my ‘career move’. At least we would have a roof over our heads and hopefully my husband would find work again in the small town we had left. The last of our savings were spent on the move home.

It was good to be home but we were now in a predicament. No job was forthcoming and we had found out that because I chose to leave my post there was no entitlement to any benefits for six weeks from the time of application. We had no income at all. I had already been in touch with the bank, the power and telephone companies as deadlines for payments approached. And now we had run out of food and my husband had invited home for lunch a bunch of overseas students!

I invited the students into our home and my husband and Austin began working on the broken down Austin! The girls seemed very happy to be in our home. They told us all about their time in New Zealand and about their lives in Denmark. To be truthful I was not taking it all in, I was so focused on what I could feed them with and no boy had strolled past recently with loaves and fishes! But God had brought these people to my doorstep and it was lunch time!

But the cupboard was not entirely bare. There was a loaf of sandwich bread and a jar of honey – a welcome home gift from a beekeeper friend. I knew it was there but I had thought I could not possibly just serve up bread and honey sandwiches to our guests. But this is what God laid on my heart to do. To use all that I had left to bless these strangers. We had tea and some milk left so I brewed a pot of tea to serve with the sandwiches. I made an apology for not having coffee or sugar but there was sweet honey available.

And do you know what happened? They absolutely loved the sandwiches and declared how wonderful it was to taste real New Zealand honey! They kept on thanking us for our kindness. My husband managed to get their car running again and when they offered to pay for the work and forward the money to us he turned it down. We were in desperate need of money but we knew that this was the right thing to do. They insisted on giving my little boy the lollies they had brought with them for their trip and showered him with sweets and lollipops. They were able to resume their journey and as they left ‘Thank you’ and ‘We will never forget you’ was ringing in our ears.

Sixteen years have passed and I have never forgotten the Danish students (and Austin the American) that we brought home that day. It was an important lesson in hospitality and humility. I learned that even when it seems we have nothing to offer that God still expects us to reach out and help others. That you do not need to cook a fancy meal or offer five different choices of special teas. That sometimes just a humble plate of honey sandwiches and a pot of hot tea served with love can minister to the people God places in your path. To give unconditionally and not expect any kind of reward.

The following week amazing things did start to happen. People at church began blessing us – bringing us groceries and I learned how to swallow my pride and just say thank you and allow God to work through His people to help us out in our time of need. We never went hungry and that jar of honey seemed to last an extraordinarily long amount of time. There was still honey in the jar when after a few weeks my husband found employment. I was feeling just a little bit like a certain widow in the Bible who fed Elijah with the last of her flour and oil. Do you remember that story. As a result of her willingness to use what she had, her son was raised back to life!

Since that time God has sent us many more people over the years. Friends, strangers and just last week Canadians! Some just came for tea or to spot koalas! Others shared in more substantial meals as God enabled and my kitchen abilities improved and for some we were able to offer significant help in their time of need and distress. I need to save those stories for other posts but our tea and honey hospitality experience is still one of my sweetest memories. I pray that it has encouraged you, especially if you are feeling that you do not have much to offer. A willing heart, an open home, sharing the talents that God has blessed you with and reaching out to those God places across your path. This is what hospitality is all about!

With Love and Joy,
Ann

I felt a connection with Ann’s testimony because it was during the time my husband lost his job (for 1 1/2 years) that God led me to my meal ministry. During that time I began cooking dinner twice a week for a man who had severe MS and lived alone. We had NO income, a new baby (#3), and an awful economy giving us little promise. God used this man to help ME…I got tremendous joy out of this ministry. For a few moments during the week I forgot all about our monetary stress and got to feel God work through me to help someone else. God is so amazing.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you Ann.. Even though we are miles and miles away from one another, I feel so close to you because of our faith in Jesus. It is so beautiful to see how God has used you to serve others and your family! 
Love to you, Janelle

I am participating in Titus Tuesdays and 2 Tasty Tuesdays- Please check these wonderful sites out for more delicious recipes from fellow bloggers! YUM!

Mem and me at her house for lunch after our ladies bible study

It is an absolute joy for me to introduce Mem Luton…my sister-in-Christ, valued friend, heart-felt bible study leader, encourager, and yes…fellow “foodie” (this girl can cook Thai food like no one else!). Mem is pure at heart, shares God’s love with everyone she meets, radiates joy, has a passion for life, and has the kindest smile. Her testimony is one of the most unique testimonies I have ever heard. When I ever feel “not prepared”, “not good enough” or insecure about anything I try to accomplish in my life, I think of Mem. I am reminded of all of the obstacles she has had to overcome living in a “foreign” country, how much she puts herself out there for the Lord dispite language barriers, how she had to get used to a completely different culture, and how she has had to lean on God for strength in so many ways. Did you catch that she is my bible study leader? Yes….incredible for someone who has only lived in the United States for 10 years and was born Buddhist. God is that good. I am so blessed to have this sweet woman in my life…I could go on for days about how much I love her but will let her take it from here…

She is “Comfy in her Kitchen!”

leading bible study at our church; “Stepping Up” by Beth Moore.

Mem cooked a delicious Thai meal this year for our  bible study over at Courtney’s house (www.womenlivingwell.org)

PERSONAL TESTIMONY

By: Mem Luton

“And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men.”—Col. 3:23

Cooking is like an art for me. Although there’s a lot of hard work involved, it’s more than just rewarding, especially when I see people enjoying what I’ve prepared and wanting more. I never dreamed when I came to America ten years ago that I would be as heavily involved in cooking Thai food as I am now, nor that there would be as many people who like my cooking as has turned out to be the case. I began learning to cook “American style” after I got married, but experimented with new recipes I was coming up with for Thai food at the same time. (Fortunately, I have a family here who are always eager to be my willing guinea pigs). This is one of the reasons why it has been such a delight to know Janelle Nehrenz, with whom I have so much in common. She not only loves the Lord, but also enjoys cooking as much as I do. As a full-time housewife and a stay-at-home mother of four, I experience a great deal of fulfillment and satisfaction in life. Nevertheless, I have also found it very fulfilling to have people over for dinner and to minister to others out of my home.

I enjoy cooking, not only for my family, but also for my friends at church and at the school where my children attend. Since I became an American citizen, one of the things that I have come to love about this country is the fact that here I am free to still be who I am while being an American at the same time. Consequently, while being fiercely loyal to the United States and the American flag, I enjoy introducing people to what is best from my former life in Thailand as well. Most important of all, it has been my desire to model the new life I now have in Jesus Christ ever since the day I surrendered my life to Him before I left Thailand. Considering my Buddhist background, however, people often find it surprising to learn just how I became a Christian in the first place.

I was born the youngest of 7 children in a strong Buddhist family in southern Thailand. My father was the second richest man in the area, but I never saw those riches. By the time I was born, my father had lost everything. He and mother were separated before I was born, so one of my greatest desires was for a loving father and a happy family.

I almost died at birth because there was no doctor. My father just happened to be home that day and delivered me despite having no experience. When the local midwife discovered how badly he had performed the delivery, she said that both my mother and I were lucky to be alive. That would not be the only time I almost died.

Soon after I was born we lost our house, and my mother and I moved in with my grandmother who lived deep in the jungles of southern Thailand. We had no electricity or running water, and lived in very primitive conditions, but it was a lot of fun for me. I loved seeing the elephants, watching the monkeys in the trees, and being able to swim in the nearby river, but I always had to watch out for alligators. One time when I was 4, I was bitten by a cobra while walking through the jungle. My leg began swelling greatly and I began to fall into the “death sleep.” My brother ran as fast as he could with me in his arms to a village to get help but was told there was not much hope. Cobra bites are usually fatal, but somehow I recovered instantly. Some people said it was a miracle.

My great-grandmother belonged to royalty, but fell from grace when she married a commoner. Her daughter (my grandmother) continued to teach us to speak the cultured Thai dialect anyway, even though we were poor. She always took me to the temple and taught me in the ways of Buddha—that good deeds were important to atone for past sins and go to heaven. One day in the temple I saw several pictures of hell showing lost souls suffering in the fire and being tortured by demons. I was so terrified that I devoted myself to doing good deeds and being a good person so that I would not go there when I died.

When I was eight, my grandmother died. She had a servant’s heart, was deeply loved by all who knew her, and was very devoted to Buddha. Her funeral was very sad for me, because I had no way to know if she was in heaven. To add to our grief, someone cheated my mother out of the property my grandmother planned to give her. My father had left us nothing, and my grandmother’s death now left us penniless. Most of my brothers and sisters had moved to Bangkok to find work, so my mother and I moved there too.

In Bangkok, I determined to do my best in school so that I might somehow regain the riches and prestige that had once belonged to my family. I let people see only the bright side of my past and tried to hide our poverty. As a result, I became very skilled at lying, and would fight anyone who provoked me. I boasted about how rich my father was and about my great-grandmother’s famous royal name of “Nahtnakorn.”

I also became a thief. If there was something pretty in a store, “I came; I saw; I took.” I first stole a toy ring, but my conscience bothered me because of what my grandmother taught me. After a few days, however, my guilt feelings faded, and the next time I stole something, it was easier. One time I stole a pair of shoes in a Buddhist temple, but those pictures I had seen of people burning in hell so bothered me that I returned them. From then on I only stole “little” things—like money out of pay telephones. My soul felt unclean. I was happy-looking on the outside, but very unhappy on the inside. I had no assurance that I would ever go to heaven, because I just could not become the kind of “good person” that deserved to go there. Thai people believe that babies are born clean and develop bad behavior only because of outside influence. But no one had ever taught me to lie or steal. Yet these had become regular habits. I wondered if I could ever earn my way to heaven. Just how many good deeds would it take to atone for my sins?

Praying to Buddha brought no satisfaction for me, because our prayers were not even in the Thai language. I wondered, “If Buddha is God, why is he dead and if his idol is alive, why can’t he eat the food we place before him?” We continued making offerings to idols, but were terrified of demons and erected a spirit house for them to live in. We burned incense daily, but nothing seemed to take away our fear of them. I will only say that my family’s experience with demonic spirits has been real and terrifying.

To satisfy them once, my mother gave me away to her sister who was a practicing medium and conducted séances. I had become very sick, and my mother believed that the spirits wanted her to give me to my aunt to raise. It was only when I suddenly recovered that my mother changed her mind and took me back. God had miraculously showed up to save my life again—this time from a life in the occult. Little did I know at the time that on the other side of the world a woman was praying for me every day for 50 years—even before I was born—that God would protect me and that I would be saved. I would not discover this until many years later after I got married. 

This woman was Edna Luton, my mother-in-law.

My oldest sister was largely responsible for providing for the family. In the absence of a father, she imposed discipline, which we hated. We feared her and called her the “black witch.” Therefore, I was surprised when I came home one day and saw her showing love and telling the family about Jesus. An American missionary had told her about Jesus, and now she was telling us about Him. She said that, according to the Bible, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but that God loved me, sent His perfect son to die on the cross for me, and wanted to become my Heavenly Father. Not having even seen my earthly father more than twice in my life, these words flooded my soul with hope and joy. She shared John 3:16 with me and told how Jesus paid my sin’s penalty and that I could invite Him into my heart through prayer. Without hesitation, I eagerly prayed asking Jesus to come into my life, forgive me, and give me eternal life. I had no reservation about leaving Buddhism to become a Christian or, as the Bible says, a child of God. And, best of all, it was all free!—not something I had to earn or work for. I knew then that I wanted to be a missionary and tell others about Jesus.

Unfortunately, I had little follow-up or discipleship for two years until I was 14 years old when an American school teacher was invited to help with the ministry. He not only taught us the importance of Lordship, but he showed us how to memorize and meditate on God’s Word, how to have a daily quiet time, and how to put the Word into practice. He continues today helping me grow as a Christian. He’s my husband—Bryan Luton.

Living the Christian life was fun for me. I was taken out of school to live in the ministry center, which my sister and brother-in-law had set up in our house, and I was constantly surrounded by short term missionaries from America who came to help with the ministry. When my brother-in-law and sister moved back to America, however, I felt devastated and alone. I was about to learn two very painful lessons—that we must walk by faith, not by sight, and that my worst enemy was my own pride, which resisted God’s grace.

Feeling very alone now, I decided to go back to school and complete my high school education. I began making many friends among unbelievers and, although I knew better, I began dating an unbeliever, thinking that I could win him to the Lord. I neglected God’s Word, because it was too convicting, and I stopped going to church. Instead of influencing my friends for Christ, they were influencing me. I was letting go of God, but God did not let go of me. Time after time, God protected me from destructive temptations because of His mercy and the prayers of His people.

Longing for the fellowship that I had once enjoyed with the Lord, I accepted an offer to enroll in a Bible training college. God “showed up” again and provided my expenses. I now spent most of my time in God’s Word. Verses I had memorized years earlier ministered to me again with a new freshness, especially Romans 8. Reading, meditating and applying this chapter marked the turning point in my Christian life: There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. I prayed a prayer of genuine repentance, and the joy of my salvation returned. I set Jesus apart as Lord of my life, and this time surrendered ownership rights of my life to Him. I began making restitution to those from whom I had stolen, and I began confessing and asking forgiveness of those to whom I had told lies. This also meant forgiving those who had wronged me, even if they don’t apologize. I was learning to be a doer of the word, not a forgetful hearer, and to walk by faith, not by sight.

I am far from what I once was, but I am also far from what I hope some day to be. God continues to expose my areas of weakness (and often uses my own children to do so). But because of the assurance I have from God’s Word, I have no fear of where I will spend eternity when I die. I have something now I always wanted but never had—a Father—a loving “Heavenly Father,” who is more than any earthly father could ever be. It’s also no longer important to me that my earthly father was rich, because my Heavenly Father has given me riches in Christ. It’s no longer important to me that my great-grandmother had belonged to royalty, because I am a child of the King of Kings. And I also have the joy of a stable family, not just my husband and children, but the family of God. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ lives in me.—Gal. 2:20

Mem has been so kind to share with us her very own Spring Roll recipe! You will never taste Spring Rolls better than these. I have to tell you Ladies this (I am giggling)…I was at the grocery store today and I brought with me Mem’s recipe. I was a little bewildered at some of the ingredients so I called her. She said “Janelle, why don’t you let me bring the ingredients over to your house…better yet, why don’t you let me stay and help you make them!?”So, sure enough an hour later we were at my house making this delicious recipe together! What sweet fellowship…I am one lucky girl to have such kind people in my life. So, here we are…

Mem’s Thai Spring Roll Recipe Adventure

Spring Roll wrappers are a bit thinner than wonton/egg roll wrappers- 

but you mayuse whatever you are able to find, Mem suggests this kind.

This is a sweet and sour dipping sauce -Mem pours it in a serving

 dish and adds a squeeze of lime juice to it…She purchases this at 

“World Market”If you cannot find this particular brand, you may use any 

sweet and sour sauce.

These are “bean threads” that Mem purchases at an Asian store.

 You may use rice noodles or bean spouts if you wish.

In a food processor, chop raw chicken- isn’t that interesting? I love it!

This is what it looks like…

Then she adds about a Tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 tsp of cajun 

powder to the chicken and lets it marinate while she prepares the other parts

 of the recipe

Just a simple Cajun seasoning you find anywhere

boil the noodles (or bean threads) until tender- this does not 

take long!

Mem with my daughter. They have a special bond 

(and both appreciate pretty shoes! lol).

chop carrots and green onion

Add about a Tablespoon of the green onion mixture to the chicken 

and mix it up

Then, in a wok heated on medium high with peanut oil add the 

chicken and the carrots, onions, and pre-chopped cabbage. Press down 

on the chicken with a spatula and stir…continue this pattern until cooked through.

Let the water out of the boiling noodles

Then add the noodles and additional Tbsp of soy sauce to the chicken mixture and 
stir well.

Take the Spring Roll wrappers out of the package and wet slightly

 with water

A quick video on how to roll up the Spring Rolls…

Cover in a damp cloth 

Roll em up! 

In the same wok (but cleaned out of course), I heat more peanut oil (appx 2 cups) on med-high to high heat and fry the Spring Rolls for about 1 1/2 mins per side until lightly golden. Then, place on a paper towel in a colander and let them dry before serving on serving dish.

Whala! Serve with a side of delicious sweet and sour dipping sauce.

You may also cut them at an angle for a smaller bite-sized portion

Mem’s Thai Spring Roll Recipe
(makes 24)

1 package of spring roll wraps
2 chicken breasts (processed/chopped raw)
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup pre-chopped cabbage (slaw)
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 (2 oz) package of glass noodles (bean threads)
1 tsp cajun seasoning (or just cayenne)
2 Tbsp soy (separated)
2 1/4 cups peanut oil (1/4 cup to stir fry chicken; 2 cups to fry spring rolls)
(sweet and sour sauce/ juice of 1/2 a lime- for dipping)

Boil water in a small saucepan; add noodles, cook until tender, drain and cut up into 2 inch pieces. Chop carrots and green onions; set aside. Rinse raw chicken and place in food processor-chop well. Open processor and add 1 Tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tsp cajun seasoning, and 1 Tbsp of chopped carrots and green onions to raw chicken, stir. Heat wok and 1/4 cup oil on med-high. When hot, stir fry chicken, and all of the carrots, green onions and add additional Tbsp of soy sauce together. Press down on chicken with spatula, then stir…continue this motion until cooked through. Add noodles and stir.

Rolling
(see youtube video above)
Take spring roll pastry out of package sprinkle with water. Wet dish cloth with water and wrap pastry in it. Carefully peel one pastry at a time. Lay out one pastry and place a heaping tsp of chicken mixture at the bottom corner. Roll bottom corner over chicken mixture. Roll the right corner in, then left corner in, then roll up into finished. Do this until ingredients are gone.

Frying

Heat 2 cups oil in wok (or fry daddy) and place 4-6 spring rolls in at a time. Fry for appx 1 1/2 mins per side then flip over. Fry until lightly golden. Place paper towels in a colander, drain, and serve on serving platter.

Sauce

Mem suggests purchasing Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce from “World Market”, however any sweet and sour will do. She squeezes the juice of 1/2 a lime into about 1 cup of sauce.

Thank you Mem for sharing your testimony and delicious recipe with all of us! 
Love to you,
Janelle 

Questions for Mem? Please e-mail me at JMNehrenz@me.com and I will forward them to her! She is praying for you and is willing to help through her testimony! 

I am participating in Titus Tuesdays and 2 Tasty Tuesdays- Please check these wonderful sites out for more delicious recipes from fellow bloggers! YUM!

“Ministry Monday” Chocolate Chip Cookies For Jesus

I have to be honest with you Ladies…when God called me to have a recipe blog I wondered when I could give Him the glory He so richly deserved. How could I fit the Lord Almighty in amongst Party Punch and Pot Roast?  I remember praying, “Dear God, there are other women out there who blog about marriage, missions, child rearing, YOU! Why then, do you want me to blog about recipes?!” Then, as faithful as he ALWAYS is…He made Himself known on my blog…ehh hem…His blog…. 

So, of course…I am crying with tears of joy as I introduce to you another Sister-In-Christ, Ingrid…please show her God’s love by offering her encouragement today! 

Ingrid is a Christian wife and mother of 3 boys. God has placed her and her family in an inner-city home in Minnesota. She seeks to love and serve her neighbors and is outward in her faith by showing them Jesus’s work in action. In January 2011 she traveled to Ethiopia to meet more brothers and sisters in Christ (look at the amazing photos she took during her trip at www.12knotheel.blogspot.com). To see more of Ingrid’s ministry, visit reachinghiskids.blogspot.com!  

For years I have used the standard Nestle Toll House recipe but to honor Comfy in the Kitchen I decided to try Janelle’s chocolate chip cookie recipe and deliver a few to my neighbors today. First, I printed out the recipe with her handy-dandy print button located at the bottom of each post. Then I put it in my notebook where all my printed recipes are located. A good portion of those recipes are from Comfy in the Kitchen.

(Comfy’s FIRST cookbook! Isn’t this so sweet? What a beautiful smile) A few weeks ago, when my 9 year old was suffering from cabin fever (I live in Minnesota) and needed something to do, I asked him to make a cover for my notebook.

Then I sent a text to Chuck. I have known this young man since he was 6. He is now 18 and 6’5″! He LOVES my cookies. For 9 years he lived 3 houses away. Whenever I baked cookies I would turn on the exhaust fan and before too long I would hear a knock at the door and Chuck would be standing there with a BIG grin, “You baking cookies?!”

Here’s a helpful hint: If you buy the 72 oz. bag from Costco or Sam’s Club you definitely save money!