Author: meghanewhite

Jesus, Worship

Basking in His Presence

meghanewhite

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Each spring a question mark butterfly shows up in the evenings by my pool. It will flutter around really fast and then briefly land on the tile. At first the wings stay closed and then the pretty wings open and lay flat. This pattern repeats itself until the sun goes down. Sometimes the butterfly lands on me, which I love.

Butterflies are cold-blooded. They cannot regulate their body temperature. They need the sun for warmth. When a butterfly opens its wings it’s basking in the sun. Their body temperature needs to be warm enough to fly. If a butterfly’s body temperature is too low it cannot fly. My little butterfly friend is just getting filled up for the night so it can fly.

We cannot fly without the Son.

Basking is relaxing in the warmth of the sun. In order to do that you need to stop for a minute. Close your eyes. Feel the warmness on your face and just breathe. Can you feel it? Doesn’t that feel awesome?

Do you ever stop and bask in the presence of Jesus? Stop everything and just experience His amazing presence. Let Him fill you up. Just worship Him. Spend some time with Him without asking for anything.

We are needy. Humans are weak and need help constantly. Jesus is the Savior, and the answer to everything. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The only way to the Father is Jesus. He made all things.

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. John 1:3, NASB

King David desired nothing more than to be in the Lord’s presence. No wonder David is called “a man after God’s own heart”. We can learn a lot about the presence of the Lord and how to worship Him from David.

I have asked one thing from the Lord;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the Lord
and seeking Him in His temple. Psalm 27:4, HCSB

Jesus is beautiful. There is no one like Him, and there never will be. We can gaze upon His beauty. How do we do that?

We need to stop all the noise for a few minutes. Find a quiet place. It does not have to be fancy. A closet, hallway, patio, or a car. It’s about who we are seeking, not the location we are in. Jesus is not limited to church walls. He’s everywhere.

Focusing on Jesus takes our eyes off of our problems. It’s not all about us. It’s all about Him.

Take some time each week and bask in the life giving presence of the Lord. Don’t use this time to ask for anything. Instead, just be with Him. Worship Jesus. Open your arms. Lay back. Let the Son give you the warmth you need to fly.

Love you all,

Meghan

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The outside of this butterfly is vastly different than the inside. There are two small marks that resemble a question mark, thus the name question mark butterfly.

Family

Brotherly Love

meghanewhite

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“We’re best bros!”

Joshua’s words were a loving reminder to his big brother Dylan that no matter what, they had each other’s backs. This was something Joshua would say often, when they were still little. When I could still protect them from so much.

These two precious boys, now young men, are my heartbeat. If they hurt, I hurt. If they succeed, I rejoice with them. The love they have for each other is no accident.

Dylan was six when Joshua was born. It was a little rough for Dylan at first, having to share Mom and Dad after a good long stretch of being the prince. Now there were two princes. His jealousy didn’t last long once he felt the responsibility of being the oldest. Dylan rose to the occasion.

Joshua looks up to his protective loving big bro. They have had their fights over the years but the anger never lasts. Now that Dylan is an adult, and Joshua is a teenager they don’t fight. They may get on each other’s nerves from time to time, but they don’t have huge arguments. It’s the grace of God.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1, NIV

I have always prayed for my boys and I always will. Several years ago I began praying Psalm 133 over my children. I wanted them to have a good strong relationship that would last their entire lives. My boys don’t know I pray that exact verse over them. It’s one of my many little mom secrets.

I don’t brag about my kids very often. I probably should a lot more. I am sharing this special love they have for each other to brag about God and His goodness and faithfulness. The bond my boys share is a gift from the Father. I count it as one of my many blessings.

My pastor used to say, “There are only two things you take with you to heaven, your relationships and your character.”

His wise words come to mind so often. When my boys spend time together, and look out for one another, it’s like having a tiny piece of heaven to enjoy right here on Earth.

Thank you Father for these two incredible young men.

Thank you Father for the love they have for Jesus.

Thank you Father for the love they have for one another.

How good and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robes.

It is as if the dew of Hermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
    even life forevermore.

Psalm 133, NIV

Love you all,

Meghan

Food

Pico De Gallo and Chips

meghanewhite

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When I go to a Mexican restaurant I fill up on chips and salsa before I ever get my entree. I can easily make a meal out of chips and salsa. I just can’t help myself.

Make this fresh flavorful pico de gallo right at home. It is very easy and so delicious. I make big batches of this salsa during the summer when I’ve got plenty of tomatoes from the garden.

The chips are so simple. No frying. Just a quick sheet pan of tortillas in the oven. Easy peasy.

Enjoy this super simple delightful chips and salsa recipe.

Happy Eating!

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food,” Genesis 1:29

Pico De Gallo

2 to 3 medium tomatoes, finely diced

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 small fresh jalapeno, finely chopped

1 clove of chopped garlic

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

½ tsp. salt

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Season to taste with additional jalapeno and salt. 

Notes: I prefer to use the food processor for the jalapenos. I recommend using a small amount of jalapeno at first. Let it sit for a while, taste it, then add more jalapeno if you like. 

Baked Tortilla Chips

12 6-inch corn tortillas

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush both sides of the tortillas with oil. Stack the tortillas and cut the pile into sixths to make chips. Spread the chips in a single layer on two large baking sheets and season with salt. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Rotate the baking sheets halfway through cooking.

Notes: Use a thin baking sheet. The chips will come out crispier. 

Obedience

Waiting Tables for the Lord

meghanewhite

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In the darkness of the early morning a school bus is getting ready for the A.M. bus route. The bus driver does the required vehicle inspection to ensure safety for the children. Part of the driver’s normal routine is to pray for each child that will ride that bus. This time of prayer is of course not a mandate, but this is no regular driver. This bus driver is my dear friend Wendy.

My amazing friend Wendy inspires me. No, this was not her childhood dream. She did not graduate college with a bus driving degree, not that you can. Yet Wendy loves driving the school bus. And even more than that, she loves the children.

Most of the children who ride Wendy’s bus, about 75%, have no dad in their life. It is no coincidence that Wendy is their bus driver. She is friendly, talks with them, lets them know they matter, and yes, prays for them. One little girl recently told Wendy that she wished she could spend the entire day with her.

My friend is being used mightily by God in a place that she never dreamt of as a ministry opportunity, yet it is. God placed Wendy on that bus to bless those precious children. Her obedience and faith encourage me greatly.

Someone needs to wait on tables.

The early disciples were busy doing God’s work by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. They were so busy that they did not have time to hand out much needed food to the widows. The Grecian Jew widows were being overlooked in the daily food distribution. (Acts 6:1)

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:2-4, NIV

Seven men were chosen to handle the food distribution to the widows. Stephen was among those men. You can read more about Stephen in Acts 7. Clearly the disciples knew this was important work because they asked for those “full of the Spirit and wisdom”. And everyone was in agreement with this proposal of these few men taking over the food distribution, or “wait tables”.

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip,Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. Acts 6:5-6, NIV

I love the obedience of these seven men to do a seemingly lesser task of waiting tables. There is a lot more glory in committing your time and energy to prayer and ministry. It just sounds flashier, but it’s not. Both are important. It does not mean that the seven chosen to distribute food weren’t praying or ministering, or that the disciples did not care about the widows. There is plenty of different Kingdom work to do, and it all matters.

I pray you are encouraged to be used by God right where you are at, right now. Whether it’s a job, or a neighborhood, or a church, or a ministry, or your own family, or fill in the blank. It may not be exciting. It may not be flashy, but God has you there for a reason. You may not always be there, but today you are. He’s got Kingdom work for each of us to do, and it may involve waiting on tables. I’m ready, are you?

Love you all,

Meghan

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV

Heavenly Father,

Your name is above every name. Thank you for including us in Your work here on Earth. Shine Your beautiful light through us no matter what You are asking us to do. No task is too small in Your Kingdom. All glory, honor, and praise to You, Father God.

In Jesus name,

Amen