Just Breathe

Jesus Lives

Have you ever stopped to wonder what your life would be like if Jesus hadn't been raised from the dead?  Our faith would be pointless.  Our hope for eternal life would be non-existent.  There would be no escape from our sins.  I believe life would be followed by eternal damnation.  We would have no personal, intimate relationship with God.  Our lives would be empty and have no purpose, and we would have no reason to be happy.  Pretty sad and hopeless, right?

That's why Easter is so important; it brings us hope.  Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be delivered from our sins...from death.  ("I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25)  The bodily resurrection of Jesus is proof that He was who He claimed to be - the Son of God.  God sent His Son to die so that we might live.  (John 3:16)

Jesus knew the price of sin was death.  He knew we were the source of that sin.  He couldn't bear the thought of eternity without us, so He chose to die for us.  It wasn't nails that held Jesus on that cross; it was His love for us.  He took our place on the cross to give us a place in Heaven...to give us a relationship with God, the Father.  "I love you" could not be said in a better way.

Jesus suffered and died for us, yet death could not hold Him down.  He is risen!  He lives!

Many of us know about God, but that's not the same as "knowing" God.  So I ask you, have you accepted this precious gift of Jesus?  All you have to do is believe and accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior.  He's done the rest.  He's already taken your place because He loves you so much.  Won't you please just take His hand?

"...He is risen; He is not here."
Mark 16:6

Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta

My daughter, Janna really loves the Cajun Chicken Pasta you get at Chili's.  So I went in search of a copycat recipe, and this is what I came up with.

Now mind you, it doesn't really taste anything like Chili's, but my family fell in love with it, and the rest is history!  Hope you like it as much as they do! :)

Ingredients:

2 Boneless-Skinless Chicken Breasts
3 - 14.5 oz. cans of Chicken Broth (I use low sodium)
1 T. Minced Garlic
1 – 16 oz. box of Penne Pasta
2 cups of Baby Spinach  
3 slices of Thin Pepper Jack Cheese
3 slices of Velveeta Cheese
2 – 15 oz. Jars of Alfredo Sauce (I use Light)
Tony’s Creole Seasoning (to taste)
Black Pepper (to taste)
Cooking Spray
Slow Cooker Liners (Optional – but oh what a lifesaver!)


Directions:

1.  Cover slow cooker insert with liner (optional), or spray well with cooking spray;
2.  Put chicken in the slow cooker, add the chicken broth and garlic;
3.  Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours (depending on your crockot);
4.  During the last 30 minutes of cooking, add the pasta;
5.  Stir pasta well, and make sure the broth is covering it;
6.  Remove chicken, shred with a fork, and put back in crockpot on top of pasta;
7.  Just before serving, add the spinach and the cheese.  Let the spinach wilt and the cheese melt;
8.  Add the Alfredo sauce and the seasonings, mix well, and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Just Breathe

Be Still

Life  can sometimes be overwhelming, and we simply forget to breathe.  Maybe life’s  not going how you planned, or you’re just having a bad day. Stop –  take a breath – think of just one thing you’re grateful for today.  Breathe in God’s peace, and start over – refresh your mind.

 It’s my wish that you will find even a  moment to “be still” and just breathe.

 

"Be still and know that I am God..."
Psalm 46:10