Forged in the Fire of Suffering

Faith

Suffering. There is something revealing about it. Something about visceral pain that says to the inner man, “Wake up and pay attention!” Something about feeling helpless in a waiting room that makes you realize how helpless you were before you ever got there.

We don’t ask to suffer, but it comes anyway—and when it does, you discover *for real* what you are made of and who you trust.

It’s been almost a week since our sweet nephew was involved in a devastating car accident that left him comatose and paralyzed with a severe brain injury. My heart is aching, at times, even breaking for my precious sister and her family. Words fail me. I put myself in my sister’s place. More hurt.  I find myself asking God for signs … *any sign*, if I’m honest, that says “I’m here. I’m doing something.”

We pray. We sing. We trust—we hope—and we wait.

Wait for an answer that will help us make sense of what seems senseless. Wait for the next MRI, wait for a glimpse of what God is asking of us. Wait for clear direction. Oh, the wait is excruciating.

This is a hard, hard road.

Last night, as I cried with one of my sisters on the phone, it occurred to me that I need to look beyond where Bobby is and begin to look at where my family is. There is so much more to the story than what social media can tell. Isn’t that always the case?

We are a large family… and we’ve been through a lot.  We love each other fiercely. But honestly? I’ve never seen my family like this. I’ve never seen such love, such unity, such hope. But then, we’ve never been so full of grief before.

Like most extended families, ours has struggled. Divorce, faithlessness, heartache. Prodigals. We’ve felt all of it, but nothing has done in our hearts what Bobby’s injury is doing. Nothing has come close.

God is using Bobby’s suffering to bring a supernatural healing, one that is being forged in the fires of suffering.

While we wait for Bobby’s healing, I give God thanks for getting our attention and reminding us of what really matters.

It’s love.

Because of Bobby, it’s bubbling to the surface in our family, in our community and in the larger body of Christ.

We trust in the goodness of God and know that He is working, even now. Not only is He healing Bobby, he is healing us.

That’s part of the miracle. While we wait the next step with Bobby, we will keep walking this out together. For that, I am grateful. I am grateful for the outpouring of prayer and love that is being shown to my family. I’m thankful that because of Christ, we do not fear death. I’m thankful to know that God is capable of performing heart surgery (you know, the soul kind) even while is holding and healing Bobby.

I’m thankful for you, Jesus. We praise you in this storm. Thank you that You’re fighting on our behalf. Thank you for the miracles we are already seeing—and ones we have yet to see.

 “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'”
2 Chronicles 20:17

#miraclesforBobby #prayforBobbyAsa #faith #jesuspeople #webelieve #godhasthis #thebusymom #heidistjohn

Good Thing My Pastor is Reading His Bible

Current Events, Faith

It’s 3:35 pm, and after a day of setbacks and frustrations, I finally opened my Bible to write today’s passage. James 1:5 is all about asking God for wisdom. Wisdom, I think, was telling me to ask God for His help at 6am instead of 2:30 p.m. today.
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Have you noticed how hard the devil works to keep God’s people from becoming students of the Word?
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I have. I think it’s by design. I think the devil knows that a Christian who isn’t in the Word is weak. I think satan is smarter than I give him credit for most of the time.
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I can only speak for my own “quiet time,” but I have a feeling I’m not alone when I say that every day, I fight with the enemy of my soul for time alone with the One who made me. I fight my flesh to spend time in the Bible. I go to war just to prioritize prayer over parenting.
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There’s always something that disguises itself as being more important.
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Laundry calls. Kids argue. Phone rings. To-do list presses harder.
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“I don’t ‘need’ to read the Bible today,” I lie to myself.
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And so, after a compulsory prayer, I turn my attention to more important, more urgent matters. School. Social media. Housework. Bills. Oil change. Grocery store. Meal prep. Bedtime. Start again tomorrow.
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After days of this, (sometimes months… if I’m really honest), I notice my ability to discern good from evil has been compromised. Little by little, my spiritual eyes grow dim. >>Maybe God doesn’t really care about this and that. Less controversy, please. More peace.<< Yes. Peace is what I want most. The demands of a culture that stands in stark opposition to what God says is right makes even the most seasoned warrior prone to discouragement, I tell myself—as I glance in the direction of my Bible.
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“Good thing my pastor is reading his Bible so he can tell me what I need to know on Sunday,” said a generation of Christians in crisis.

Finding Purpose in Pain

Faith, ,

This life can be so hard. I remember sitting with a precious woman who had a 2nd trimester abortion in 1974. We cried together as she shared about her ongoing battle with grief and regret. She still grieves for her baby—and for all the babies who have been horrendously taken from the safety of their mother’s wombs since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973.

As she walks out her story, she is finding hope, healing and forgiveness—but still. It hurts. Long after the abortion, memories linger.  Like all of us who struggle with the consequences of sinful choices, the temptation to suffer in silence is great. Satan whispers, “You are beyond God’s reach.” Don’t believe it. Nothing is beyond His reach. God wants your life to sing of His faithfulness and redemption. Redeemed people allow their souls to breathe in God’s inner healing and allow His spirit meets us in the midst of our pain.

I remember another night, Jay and I had dinner with a dear couple who were nearing the end of watching their precious father succumb to Alzheimers. Tears flowed as we prayed for God’s peace to flood their hearts and home.

That same evening, I received the news that an amazing young husband had lost his battle with brain cancer. Even in their suffering, his family shared their story. They wrote on Facebook about what it’s like to feel God’s presence in ways they never dreamed. Reading their story reminded me again that this world is not our home. It encouraged me to keep walking. Keep praying. Keep trusting.

Trusting God when things are going well is one thing—trusting Him when things are hard is another.

As a woman who has experienced great suffering, I can tell you that my suffering has become my sermon. Why? Because like the people whose stories I shared briefly about here, I have learned that God uses even, no—especially suffering to bring about His purposes.

No one can minister to a woman who is considering abortion like a woman who lives with the regret of choosing one herself. I can’t touch the heart of that mom who is losing her husband to cancer like a woman who has walked that road and found God in the midst of her suffering. The woman who has been abused knows how to intercede for a victim of abuse in a significant way. There is power in the testimony of those who walk through suffering and use it to bring glory to the One who holds all things in His hands.

We may not be immune to suffering, but we do not need to fear it, either.

We do not need to be afraid, because we know that God’s heart toward us is always, ever, only good. Listen to these words from David:

GOD is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
(Psalm 103:8-11 MSG)

As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is His love for those who fear Him. That’s our God. He does not waste anything. No bad decision, no illness, no suffering. He uses it all.

Your pain has a purpose. It is to glorify God.

“Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory” (Psalm 50:15 NLT).

I promise you—when I sit with a woman who is crippled by anxiety and plagued by nightmares from her past, God is getting glory. Why? Because I found God in the midst of my own struggle. He was there—and His redemptive work in my life has become my lifesong.

Does this make our suffering easy? No. But knowing that God is work behind the scenes brings purpose to pain. God will use whatever He wants to show off His glory: heaven and earth. Nations and presidents. Broken people.

Broken people? Hey wait! That’s me! It makes my heart come alive with hope to know that God wants to use even my pain and struggle. On the days when you don’t have the strength to fight, remember this: God is at work. You’re beautiful to the One who made you. You were made to sing a song of the redeemed. You are more than what is hurting you. You belong to God—and He is making all things new.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

 

5 Traits of a Strong Marriage, Because It’s Worth It

Marriage

We’re just gearing up for my speaking season here, which is always pretty challenging.  We meet ourselves coming and going for 4 months or so.  More than once, we’ve had a little hiccup at home when my husband reminds me that it has been a while since we had spent “quality” time together.  Sometimes I cringe.  Just one.more.thing. that I need to put on my to-do list.  I feel burdened.  Yeah.  I said that.  I’ll tell you the truth: balancing marriage and motherhood is not for the faint-of-heart.

But your family, your marriage is worth it.  Let me say it again: it’s worth it. Worth investing in. Worth fighting for. Worth every ounce of energy you can muster.

The truth is that our marriage is the most precious component of our home life.  Neglect it, and the whole family suffers.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: marriage needs to come before mothering.  

Before we get into books and schedules and the busy fall routines, let’s remind ourselves: our marriages matter.

It matters.  It matters to your children and to your grandchildren. It matters for the generations that will come after you.  Truth is: your children have a better chance of staying married if you stay married.  It matters.  They’re more important than homeschooling, busy mom.

Over the past 25 years, I’ve been blessed to know some amazing families. I’ve seen them weather some pretty harsh storms, too. While there is no formula for a strong family, there are some common traits that make a family strong.  The biggest one? Strong families have strong marriages. Strong marriage—strong family.

5 Traits of a Happily Married Couple

  1. Strong married couples spend time together.
    They realize that time is a commodity, just like any other, and they spend it on each other whenever possible. Working on the yard together, doing a project around the house, working out, reading, cooking—or just being.  Happy marriages require an investment of time.
  2. They have a spiritual commitment to the marriage.
    “For better or for worse” means something to couples who go the distance. They don’t give up when times are hard. They forgive each other. They have a sense of commitment that goes beyond today’s cultural norms.
  3. They solve problems together in a crisis.
    Rather than finger-pointing and manipulation, they put their heads together in times of crisis.  They recognize that their spouse is not the enemy—and they keep their eyes fixed what’s ahead, not what’s behind.
  4. They value sexual intimacy and fidelity.
    Inside a happy marriage, sex is not a one-sided pursuit. It’s a shared commitment.  A commitment to protect the marriage through nurturing sexual fulfillment and to keep the marriage free from anything that might damage trust or break faith.
  5. They communicate well with each other.
    Proverbs says, “Right words spoken in the right time are like apples of gold in a silver setting.” A strong marriage is marked by a commitment to good communication.  Happy couples can talk to each other about anything—even hard things, and do it in love.  Let love be your aim.

Your marriage is worth it.

A Union of Two Forgivers

Marriage

two-forgivers-heidistjohn

It’s been said that “A good marriage is the union of two forgivers.” I couldn’t agree more. I know that my husband forgives me every day. Little things that I could’ve said better, mostly. 🙂 It’s amazing to me how I can be the most inconsiderate to the ones I love the most.

Over the years I’ve spoken to many moms about this, and it seems it’s a common struggle. Sometimes it’s easier to be kind to the woman at WalMart than it is to our own family. After all, the woman at the store might just haul off and kick me if I’m rude to her, right?! 🙂

I think we easily take our most precious relationships for granted, because we feel the most comfortable with the ones with whom our relationships are the most secure.

Do you need to be forgiven? Ask for it. Do you need to forgive? Don’t put it off.

Today, let’s purpose to TELL our husbands how much we love them. Remind your husband about those qualities in him that you love and admire. Flirt with him. <3 Invite him to bed for a change. Believe me, he’ll love you for it!

It’s never too late to invest in your marriage.
It’s never too late to forgive.

And it’s never to late to be forgiven.

Creamy Butternut Squash Bisque

Recipes,

Creamy Butternut Squash Bisque

So, my friend Durenda was here for Thanksgiving with her family.

See?

That's what friends are for

This is me watching her cook dinner in my kitchen. 😉 (Yep. I’m that kind of friend.)

Anyway.

There are a lot of things I love about her—but one is that she knows how to cook! I have always wondered how to make butternut squash soup—and she shared her recipe with me. I now feel like I can do it myself. This soup has a wonderful, creamy texture and the flavor is out of this world. In fact, it was so good, we made it two weeks later for the Tyndale team when they came out for a few days of meetings. There may or may not be bisque in the book now. 🙂

You’ll love this more if you have an immersion blender. The one Durenda is using above didn’t survive our initial foray … so I bought this one. Yep—this one is better: Kitchen Aid immersion blender has a larger blade and two speeds. It’s amazing.

Don’t forget to top it with more cheese. Cheese makes everything better.

Thanks, Durenda!

This recipe serves eight. I have doubled it both times we made it — so if you’re serving a crowd, be sure to double it!

Enjoy xoxo
Heidi

Print
Creamy Butternut Squash Bisque

Serves 8

Creamy Butternut Squash Bisque

Creamy, delicious and a great way to feed a crowd! Perfect for a cold winter night.

Ingredients

  • 1 2 1/2 pound butternut squash (or 1 pkg from Costco of cubed winter squash)
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 large carrots, coarsely chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 large Braeburn or Gala apples, peeled, cored and chopped
  • 5 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups apple juice
  • 2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, coarsely chopped
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 6 oz smoked Gouda or smoked cheddar, finely shredded
  • {optional} toppings - crumbled bacon, smoked paprika

Instructions

  1. Peel, seed and cube butternut squash
  2. In 6-qt Dutch oven, melt butter over med-high heat.
  3. Add squash, onion, carrot, celery and garlic
  4. Cook, stirring frequently, until veggies are tender
  5. Add apples, broth, cider and peppers
  6. Bring to a boil; reduce heat
  7. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until veggies and apples are tender
  8. Allow to cool slightly
  9. Using an immersion blender, puree while in pot. You can also puree in a blender, in smaller batches.
  10. Blend in sour cream
  11. Blend in smoked Gouda
http://heidistjohn.com/blog/recipes/creamy-butternut-squash-bisque

For my fellow visual learners — here are a few pictures from our bisquey adventure:

 

This is my faithful friend showing me that I don't have to be afraid of butternut squash. Veggie Tales may or may not have affected my ability to cut up butternut squash. Turns out... once you peel it and seed it, it's not that hard. :)
This is my faithful friend showing me that I don’t have to be afraid of butternut squash. Veggie Tales may or may not have affected my ability to cut up butternut squash. Turns out… once you peel it and seed it, it’s not that hard. 🙂
Saute veggies in butter until they are tender
Saute veggies in butter until they are tender; add apples

 

Cover with broth and apple cider. Let it cook for about 25 minutes. It's okay if your mouth starts watering.
Cover with broth and apple cider. Let it cook for about 25 minutes. It’s okay if your mouth starts watering. The chipotle peppers give it a wonderful smoky flavor and  a little kick, too!

 

Using an immersion blender, puree mixuture. Add sour cream when bisque is smooth.
Using an immersion blender, puree mixture. Add sour cream when bisque is smooth.

 

Add a bunch of smoked Gouda. Mmmmmm. You won't be sorry if you add more.
Add a bunch of smoked Gouda. Mmmmmm. You won’t be sorry if you add more.

 

Got this at Costco. I may or may not have had extra. :)
Got this at Costco. I may or may not have had extra. 🙂

 

Enjoy!

Northwest Seafood Chowder

Recipes,

It’s that time of year again—time to snuggle in your favorite snuggling spot with a bowl of piping hot chowder and binge-watch your favorite Christmas movies. (It’s a Wonderful Life wins for me.) This is also the time of year for having kids come home and hopefully, bring a guest or two with them. You know me, I love a houseful, and this meal is a crowd-pleaser.

Northwest Seafood Chowder

We are pacific northwest people—and as such–we like all things salmon – okay – and shrimp. Okay. We like it all.

I discovered that my favorite chicken provider (hail, Zaycon!) also contracts with local fishermen for NW salmon so I decided to give it a try. It came vacuum sealed and it’s wonderful! After we knew we loved the salmon, I decided to try Zaycon cod and eventually, wild Argentine red shrimp (yum!). All this seafood comes frozen and ready to use from Zaycon. Check it out—and have wonderful seafood in your freezer all year!

Give it a try and let me know what you think! My hunch is that you’re going to love it.

From one busy mom to another,
heidi

Print
Northwest Seafood Chowder

1 hour

Cook Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

2 hours

serves 15

1.5 cup

Northwest Seafood Chowder

Ingredients

  • 1 cup celery
  • 1 cup red pepper
  • 1 cup onion
  • 2 cloves garlic (or from a jar is fine)
  • 30 oz chicken broth (about 3 cans)
  • 2 cups peeled, diced potatoes (can mix red and russet)
  • 2 cups shredded carrots (hello, food processor!)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 2 cans creamed corn
  • 1 can sweet corn
  • 4 cups half-and-half
  • 5 sprigs fresh dill, stems removed (dried will work too)
  • 4 cups fully cooked salmon
  • 1 cup cod
  • 2 cups frozen shrimp, tail off
  • 1/4 cup flour in chicken broth for thickener

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, saute celery, onion, red pepper and garlic in butter until the vegetables are tender.
  2. Add broth, potatoes, carrots, salt, pepper and de-stemmed dill
  3. Bring to a boil
  4. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 40 minutes or until the vegetables are nearly tender.
  5. AT THE END:
  6. Stir in the corn, cream, salmon, cod and shrimp.
  7. To thicken - whip flour with 1/2 cup chicken broth and add to hot soup, stirring slowly
  8. Simmer for 15 minutes or until heated through.
  9. Add whatever dill is left and stir gently
http://heidistjohn.com/blog/recipes/northwest-seafood-chowder

ZayconFresh