Sometimes my musings come out in recipes:)

Greek Souvlaki Yumminess

    I love grilling in the summer.  Let me take that back, I love when Andy grills what I want to eat in the summer:).  I actually make this recipe in the house but I thought I would take it up a notch and make it on the grill...or ask Andy to make it on the grill after I get everything prepared.  

Marinade:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 tbs lemon juice

1 tbs oregano

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

(Make extra marinade or keep some to the side for veggies...don't mix with the meat because that is dangerous and gross:))

Place all ingredients in a bowl or ziploc bag and marinate in the refrigerator for an hour.

Cook chicken on the grill to internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Skewers:

Cherry tomatoes

2-4 Squash and zucchini

2 onions

Marinate veggies and skewer.  Cook on grill until tender.

Grill whole wheat pita bread briefly to warm.  

When all items come off the grill, take veggies off the skewer, give chicken a rough chop and combine in a bowl.  Add 1/2-1 container of Feta cheese and stir together (I like feta...so I add a lot.  You can also get reduced fat).

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe:

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

1 container of plain greek yogurt

1 tablespoon of dill weed, dried

1 tbs lemon juice

2 tbs olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1 tbs red wine vinegar

Combine all and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Assemble pitas with items from the grill and tzatziki sauce.  Some people add lettuce to their pitas, I do not prefer it.  Hope you enjoy!

God's Timing

God's Timing

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,

    I wait for God my Savior;

    my God will hear me.

--Micah 7:7

Life is full of waiting.  It is in these times that we are reminded of how little control we have.  Anxiety breeds itself in the unknown.  Often times we find ourselves thinking and thinking our way into the hopes that we want...and we forget that God has our best in mind.  And get this...our plans may not be the best for us!  Crazy, I know.  

Rest in this verse this morning.  That we can watch in hope for the Lord, we can wait on Him...because He hears us.  So often, I find myself anxious in the "process" of life.  The process is where all of the waiting happens.  But when we get to the other side of the process, we find that God was changing us.  We are better because of the different processes that we experience in life.  If God handed us everything we wanted, we would be spoiled brats without a need to draw closer to Him.  We do the same for our kids.  We look out for their best interest because we love them and want them to succeed.  

God wants the same for us, but His success is not bound by our earthly measures.  So if you, like me, are in a process this morning.  Rest in the fact that once you are on the other side, His ways will become more clear.  This process will not last forever.

Hold My Hand

Copyright Lannie Ott 2004

So here's a little song I wrote.  Excuse the sound quality and the door slamming from my child coming inside...but this is a musing from my soul... I wrote this song for a friend who had been through some tough times.  Today, it speaks to me...

It Is Well With My Soul

"When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll.

Whatever my lot thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul"

--Horation Spafford

     It is a hymn I have sang for years.  Blow right through it without a thought...until I get to the last verse about Jesus coming through the clouds.  I can dig that.  But this morning...this first verse hit my heart like never before.  A month ago, I lost a baby.  Wasn't planning on being pregnant, but the excitement set in...and then it was ripped away from me.  How could a God who loves me and has the best in mind for me....how could he do this.  And on top of that...we are trying to sell our house...and nothing is happening!  And to top it off, a week after I lost my baby...my parent's house burned to the ground.  I read the book of Job that night...all the way through.  

    And it hit me this morning...when I am at peace, it is easy to say that it is well with my soul.  But pain comes my way and I want to be mad at God. In knowing the back story of this hymn, the author lost his financial status due to fire, sent his family on a boat ahead of him to Europe and the ship sank killing his four girls but his wife survived, and then his only that he and his wife had after the boat sinking died of scarlet fever.  My life certainly feels like that right now..whether mine is as bad in the eyes of others or not.  The pain is real and it is huge in my heart.  But this morning, I continue to realize that I have little control over my life.  And without Jesus, it would never be well with my soul in the sorrowful times.  I can't imagine the life where I did not have Jesus to hold this pain...a life where it would never be well with my soul.  

   Whatever my lot, Jesus, it is well...it is well with my soul.

    Welcome to the new blog!  I am constantly in awe of what God is teaching me on a daily basis and thought that maybe blogging about it would inspire others and just remind me of how God daily redeems my  life.  Today I read Proverbs 19:21 which says "We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails" (MSG).  Isn't that so true?  As a mom, I have dreams for my kids, as a wife, I plan our future...and all for what? I spend so much time worrying about the future and God is in control of it regardless of the countless hours I stay awake in worry.  When bad things happen, we tend to  blame him instead of realizing that he makes good out of all things.  We serve a good God that knows what is best for us....even when it hurts.  I just needed to remind myself of that today.
    On a different note, I will be posting some videos of songs I have written and words God has put on my heart  for a reason.  I hope they bring peace, comfort, and remind you of the love that God has for you.  Stay tuned for a video in the next few days.  Love to you all.