Tasty Bites: Teriyaki Grilled Chicken Thighs and Pan-Roasted Asparagus with Sesame Ginger Sauce

By Beth V

While we still have those ingredients from last week’s Asian Lettuce Wraps, let’s make another delicious Asian-inspired dish. The marinade for this chicken is delicious and easy to throw together. While my husband was grilling the chicken, I put together a side dish that complements it nicely -  pan-roasted asparagus with sesame-ginger sauce. Grilling is a great way to welcome the warmer weather of spring. I hope the readers here have at least begun to see some hints of spring! Here in the South, spring is in full-swing. For those of you further North,  maybe grilling will at least help you feel like spring is on its way

Start by combining ½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup sugar, 1 ½ tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1 minced garlic clove and ¾ teaspoon ground ginger (or 1 tablespoon of freshly minced ginger - see last week‘s post for a great video on how to use fresh ginger) in a gallon-size zipper bag. Throw in 1-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs. I recommend thighs because they hold up so well to grilling. Thighs are super-flavorful and they stay nice and tender. They do not dry out like boneless, skinless breasts sometimes do. Squish the bag around to evenly distribute the marinade. Squeeze out the air so every surface is in contact with the flavors and then stick it back in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

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One Word At A Time: Treasure

By Ginny (MAD21)

"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." (Matthew 6:21, The Message)

I believe every family should make a list of what is most important to them. Husbands and wives need to have a list needs and things they value just between the two of them, but there also needs to be one for the family as a whole. The list should be kept somewhere it will be seen every day, in our Bibles, on our refrigerators... Somewhere we can see it as a reminder. I know if I get to the point when I am overwhelmed, my priorities are out of balance.

I believe it's important to periodically look at how our family is spending our time and money. These are both easy to measure and will quickly show you what things you spend the most on. It holds us accountable to our family's priorities. I never want to look back and regret what we chose to do with our lives.

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Praying For God's Will

By Pat

I was talking to a friend of mine a few days ago, and he told me about an old friend of his who had recently fallen on hard times and serious health issues. It was to the point that his friend was not expected to pull through, but miraculously, he did and is now recovering. Many people had been praying for this man, and yet my friend told me that when his friend's health crisis took a turn for the better, he was shocked.

I admit I have often felt that my prayers have fallen on deaf ears. I have some serious issues that I am presently facing, and am praying for various friends and family and their problems as well. So often it seems to be in vain-but could it be because I pray for my will to be done rather than God's? I allow myself to forget that just because a prayer seems to go unanswered doesn't make it so. God is Sovereign...He is all-knowing, perfect. And if we give our cares to Him and ask that they be answered HIS way, be will never be disappointed. The only expectation we should have when we go to God in prayer is the expectation that our prayer will be heard and answered. Maybe not today, and maybe not the way we want, but it WILL be answered, God's way. Failing to approach prayer in this way minimizes our trust in God.

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God Is... Truth

By Jason S (Connecting to Impact)

Truth is such a sticky subject these days. We're not supposed to believe that there are absolutes, that there is no such thing as one truth, just your truth and my truth.

At points you feel like it's another verse to "Old McDonald's Farm" –here a truth, there a truth, everywhere a truth, truth.

E-I-E-I-Oh my (sorry, couldn't help myself).

If we believe the Bible and trust God, then we cannot buy into this relative truth and subjective morality phenomenon.  If we say we trust in Jesus as Savior, but in another breath say "all roads lead to God" then we aren't talking about the God revealed in scripture and we teeter on a shaky foundation.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Narrow-minded as that may sound, there is great comfort in knowing the truth (and sharing it). We cannot succumb to the whims of the world because while it's nice that we get to experience God's love and truth, there's a whole world that needs to experience the same.

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Fingerprint Friday: Flowers From Daddy

By Ginny (MAD21)

There is one particular day during the year that our girls get very excited. It's a time when they get their Daddy all to themselves.

Once a year our church has a dance party for little girls and their Daddys. Our girls put on their prettiest dresses, and Daddy wears a dress shirt and jacket. But one of the many things they love about this night are the flowers that Daddy buys for them. He makes sure that they each get flowers in their favorite colors, and are just the right size for their little wrists. The giggles they produce are priceless.

It's another example of how Daddy is covered in God's fingerprints.

Fellow blogger Beki at The Rusted Chain has a really great weekly post she does every Friday called "Fingerprint Friday." We are to look around and see where we can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Anywhere? Go find out where Beki saw God this week, and be sure to check out the other bloggers who linked their stories as well.