follow Jesus – Meghan E White

My Wonderful Church Family

June 1, 2023June 1, 2023 meghanewhite

My church family is amazing. They have poured into us during this difficult time of Tom’s hospitalization and sickness. As soon as they got word of Tom being in the ICU, the phone calls and texts started pouring in. They were ready to storm the hospital and lay hands on Tom.

Since coming to the hospital was not ideal, my brothers and sisters in Christ stormed the gates of heaven on Tom’s behalf. While in the ICU I’d receive a text letting me know they were praying. Their words were faith filled, saying things like, “God’s going to heal Tom” “God is faithful” “Healing is His hobby”.

It was so encouraging as everything we saw looked like death. They have stood in the gap for us and they continue to do so. Our pastor and his wife have been supportive and willing to help us, and our whole church family is praying for us. I want to give honor to this very special group of believers that I call not just friends, but family. Here are just a few of my church peeps that I want to give a shout out to.

Sharon is a pillar of the church and a faithful prayer warrior. She has sent us the most beautiful letters filled with scriptures, encouragement, and hope. She regularly calls and asks for updates. She is a blessing who has weathered her own storms, yet is full of faith.

My sweet friend Hawah called me while Tom was in the ICU as she was getting ready to leave the country. She took the time to reach out and encourage us as she was preparing for a long trip overseas. Incredible woman.

Joyce is the perfect name for a woman filled with joy. She is an encourager and every single time we talk, or she texts, she reminds me of God’s faithfulness. Her reassurance is so comforting.

Koffi is a faithful prayer warrior. Originally from Gambia, he’s around six foot five with a booming voice. When Koffi prays I feel like I just experienced God’s presence. He prays with confidence, authority, and humility.

Koffi called me the first week Tom was home from the hospital. He said in his thick accent, “How is my brother Tom doing?” Then he went on to tell me that he’d been praying for us all day, and that the Holy Spirit impressed on him to pray for us at that moment over the phone. I put the phone on speaker so Tom could hear as Koffi sang a hymn, “There is Power in the Blood”. Then he began to pray a powerful prayer for Tom.

A couple weeks ago, Koffi and Joyce, who is also from Gambia, showed up at our house with donuts and prayer. Since Tom was sleeping we stayed outside. Koffi wanted to pray, so the three of us huddled on the sidewalk as Koffi called out to God for healing. It was beautiful.

I share these stories to give glory to God, and to give thanks to some very special people in our lives. When we haven’t had the words to pray, our amazing church family has prayed. They stand in the gap for us, and they keep standing.

My church family has shown me what love looks like. What humility and sacrifice is. I have so much to learn from these precious people. What an example they are to me. I am grateful. Thank you God for this loving group of believers. Bless each and every one of them for their steadfastness.

And thank each of you who have prayed for Tom. Our battle is not over, and every prayer matters. Thank you!

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:12-13

Love you all,

Meghan

Photo credit: Meghan E. White

Food

Mississippi Pot Roast

March 29, 2023 meghanewhite

I love a simple dinner that just happens to be delicious. Mississippi pot roast is tender, flavorful, and no fuss. With just five ingredients, it can’t be any easier. Place everything in the crock pot and walk away for eight hours. It’s that easy. Make some mashed potatoes to go along with the wonderful gravy that results from meat, butter, and au jus cooking all day. Dinner is served.

The pepperoncinis add a nice, yet subtle, flavor. I like to add some of the pepperoncini juice to the slow cooker, but you don’t have to. Ranch dressing and au jus make the roast so tasty. If you want a super easy and super flavorful roast, give Mississippi pot roast a try. My family loves this recipe and I think you will too.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Mississippi Pot Roast

Ingredients

1 chuck roast (2 to 4 lbs.)

1 packet ranch dressing mix

1 packet au jus gravy mix

4 tablespoons butter

4 to 6 pepperoncinis

Instructions

Place the chuck roast in the slow cooker. Sprinkle ranch dressing mix and au jus gravy mix over the top of the roast. Put the butter and pepperoncinis on top of the mixes.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
Shred with forks and serve over mashed potatoes with the delicious gravy. Enjoy!

Notes

*Add a little of the juice from the pepperoncini jar for some added flavor.

*Use as little or as many pepperoncinis as you like.

*No water or liquid is needed. The juices from the meat and the butter will make plenty of gravy.

Nature

Save the Monarchs

January 21, 2023 meghanewhite

Hello to you! It’s been a while since I’ve written a post. I allowed myself an extended break, and it was delightful. No social media, no blogging, no regrets. I highly recommend social media breaks. I will write about social media another time. Today it’s all about monarch butterflies because they are beautiful, and important, and make me happy.

Right around Christmas the temperatures dropped to below freezing, which doesn’t happen often in Southeast Texas. I noticed a few monarch caterpillars on the milkweed in the garden, and then had the crazy idea to dig up the plants and bring them inside to save the caterpillars. So we dug up two milkweed plants, put them in buckets, and brought them to the safety of our dining room. A few caterpillars were placed in a terrarium. Monarch caterpillars eat the sole diet of milkweed, so there was no concern over caterpillars escaping.

We kept them inside for about a week until the weather warmed up. I would daily check the branches for new caterpillars, and they just kept showing up. There were fifteen total between the terrarium and the plants. I love all things nature, and plants, and animals, and butterflies, so this was fun for me. We felt like we were running a monarch rescue.

The caterpillars have been outside since the new year doing well. We went to a local nursery in hopes of finding milkweed to feed our ever growing caterpillar family. The nursery gave us a dozen milkweed plants for free since they were about to throw them in the dumpster. Definitely God’s providence.

Our first butterfly emerged the other day. I felt like a proud parent as it stayed on my fingers for a while drying out its wings. There are currently nine chrysalises, or chrysalides (not sure on the correct plural for butterfly cocoons) waiting to become lovely butterflies. I am enjoying every moment of watching these precious little creatures grow up.

The reason I am nerding out over monarchs is they remind me of my creator. Every stage of a caterpillar from egg to butterfly reflect God’s glory. There is no mistake or randomness in caterpillars or butterflies. They serve an important purpose to help with pollination of the vast majority of the world’s flowering plants. Monarchs are kind of a big deal. All butterflies are a big deal. Only God would make pollinators so beautiful.

As I watch each stage of the caterpillars I am blown away that everything they need is inside of them. No human can do that, only God, our magnificent Creator, can create something so remarkable. Nature brings me solace in a hurting world. I am comforted knowing God made it all, and He has the final say.

God cares for all of His creation. He cares for you too. There is nothing too hard for our awesome God! Nothing! Whatever is concerning you today, give it Him. God loves you so much.

And I love you too.

Meghan

Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3

If you need prayer send your requests to meghanewhiteauthor@gmail.com

Family

The Big Five-Oh!

November 30, 2022 meghanewhite

Here’s where it all began for me. My first professional photo shoot. A photographer was going door to door, and my mom agreed to have my two-month old photos taken. The photographer positioned my chubby little arms in different poses. I was a very calm baby so I cooperated. The pictures are some of the few baby pictures I’ve got. I am the fourth of five children, and we were lucky to have any pictures from childhood at all. When I was young parents did not chronicle every single moment of a child’s life. You got the highlights and that was good enough.

I am fifty years old as of Thursday, November 24th, 2022. My birthday just happened to land on Thanksgiving this year. I celebrated by having a delicious turkey dinner with all the fantastic sides. It was a low key day, and I loved it. I am a pretty low key kind of a person. I don’t enjoy a lot of attention, so a chill day with my family is a dream day.

Back to turning half a century old. I suppose I should feel bad, or sad about aging, but I don’t. I feel good. Actually, I feel great. I still feel like myself, but better. Not better because I am so wonderful. I am comfortable in my skin, even if it’s a bit more wrinkly. I am just grateful for this life God has given me. My pastor used to say, “That breath you just took, you can thank God for that.”

My life is in God’s hands. He has already decided when my life will end. He has not given me the knowledge of an exact date. I am to trust Him, and know that He has a plan for me. So I do my best to trust Him, but I’m not always good at it. I am a planner and not knowing the future has tested my faith time and time again. The Lord knows this about me, and graciously walks me through my challenges, fears, and doubts. He is faithful, even when I am not.

I’m still breathing as of this writing, and God is not done with me yet. It could be tomorrow when He calls me home, maybe another ten years. Or maybe in fifty years! Which seems so strange. On that day, will I hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,”? That’s my prayer, but I fall short often. Thank God for His amazing grace.

For some, turning fifty means it’s all downhill from here. The best years are over. I disagree. I’m just getting started. I’m ready for what’s next. I know who holds my future. I know who will carry me through every trial. I know who will never ever leave me. His name is Jesus. He is my Lord and Savior. Thank you Jesus for saving my life, and giving me hope. Thank you for my birthday. Thank you for today, and each day you have blessed me with. I don’t want to waste what You have given to me. Life is a beautiful gift.

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. James 4:14, NASB

From one vapor to another, have a great day.

Love you all,

Meghan

Food

Cheeseburger Sliders

September 28, 2022 meghanewhite

Sometimes a cheeseburger just hits the spot, and these sliders are no exception. They may be small, but still pack a punch with loads of flavor. Big things can come in little packages. Like the great taste of a savory burger with melted cheddar cheese delivered in a smaller size. This means you can eat more of them.

These sliders are simple, delicious, and a great way to feed a group, like your family. Any leftovers are easy to heat up. I decided to use the classic ketchup and mustard combo on some of the sliders, and chipotle aioli on the others for a spicy option. Both are so tasty! You can customize the burgers to your liking. Here is how I made them. Enjoy!

Happy Eating!

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Cheeseburger Sliders

Yield: 24

Ingredients

2 lbs. ground beef

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. black pepper

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. onion powder

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 to 2 onions, diced

24 Hawaiian rolls, or slider rolls

12 slices medium cheddar cheese

1 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 Tbsp. sesame seeds

Optional toppings:

ketchup

mustard

chipotle aioli sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°.
In a 15 x 10 inch baking pan, place the ground beef, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well with your hands. Press the beef mixture evenly into the bottom of the baking dish, to fill the pan. Bake the ground beef in the oven for 20 minutes.
While the beef is in the oven, cook onions over medium heat in a skillet with a little oil until the onions are translucent.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment or foil. Place the rolls on the baking sheet. Slice them in half, cutting the tops off, and placing them to the side.
Put ketchup and mustard on half of the roll bottoms, and chipotle aioli sauce on the other half.
Cut the cooked beef in half, and place each half on the two separate slider roll bottoms.
Spread the cooked onion on top of the cooked beef halves, then place 6 slices of cheddar cheese across the top of each half.
Place the roll tops on the cheese. Brush melted butter across the rolls. Sprinkle sesame seeds evenly over the butter.
Cook the sliders in a 350° oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the rolls are browned.
Slice into individual sliders. Enjoy!

Notes:

*After the beef is cooked, take it out of the baking dish and place it on some paper towels to absorb some of the fat. Do this before you place it on the roll bottoms. This will help the rolls from getting soggy.

* The ketchup, mustard, and aioli are not required. You can just as easily leave those out, but I highly recommend a little topping. It adds another delicious component.