Days of Waiting

by Julia Houck

“Mommy, I just want to get married and be a mom like you,” my little six-year-old said, wrapping her arms around my neck and laying her head on my chest. I bent down quietly and kissed the top of her head, saying nothing for a moment; I just prayed silently to the Lord asking Him for wisdom. I was thankful for her honest confession, but something about it concerned me.

“That’s not a bad thing, sweetheart,” I began, “But right now you just need to enjoy being a little girl. You’re only six. What you need to focus on is being happy and content just where God has you—right now. You can enjoy the wonderful things He allows you to experience every beautiful day.”

You see, happiness, fulfillment, and joy, do not come from self-discovery, or attaining long-sought goals, or even marrying the perfect man and having beautiful children. Perfect joy—perfect peace comes from be-

ing settled in the sunshine of God’s favor and finding your joy by trusting Him alone. (Isaiah 26:3) What I was trying to communicate to my young daughter is stated so perfectly in Psalm 16:11: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” above: my mother and I right: we are engaged!

I hugged her close and sent her off to continue playing dolls with her younger sister. As I stood to return to my task of folding the heap of laundry on the couch, I prayed again, asking the Lord for wisdom to know how to help my little girl to simply trust Him and obey.

It was difficult for me to relate to her desire at such a young age. As a young girl at the prompting of my older sister, I had signed in blood (or more practically, red pen) a note stating I would never get married. My daddy kept that little naive promise tucked away for years in his sock drawer. I would often pull it out to remind myself of my “solemn promise” while dusting my parents’ bedroom furniture. will before the desire to be married even awoke in my heart. As I entered college, I had no desire to date around. I prayed earnestly that the Lord would allow the first man I dated to “be the one.”

and this was one of those prayers. After the first broken relationship, many years of waiting after graduation, and then another broken relationship, I resorted to being the “Baptist nun” of the Christian camp where I was serving. Once again, I had to surrender my desires and allow the Lord to be the One from whom I found my joy. I had to “rest in the sunshine of God’s favor.”

But… I had a mother who knew the growing desire of my heart to be a loving wife and momma. She also knew that those desires were from the Lord and not from seeking for self-satisfaction or gratification. I had a mother who knew how to commune through earnest faithful prayers to her Heavenly Father on my behalf. Her journals from the summer that I met my future husband were a beautiful unfolding of specific answers to her prayers as she recorded how the Lord brought my husband and me together.

We met at the Christian camp where I was serving. He was a teen sponsor and I was the camp hostess. Our conversations were brief and our interaction that week was very limited. But, as a result of the conversations we did have, Nathan recognized that we had common beliefs and foundational desires. During his week there, he worked very hard around the camp. He also demonstrated a very sweet relationship with his mother who had accompanied him as a sponsor. These traits brought him to the attention of my mother who began to pray that perhaps the Lord would bring the two of us together. Her heart’s desire and prayer focus for years had been the Lord’s provision of a godly husband for me. I am forever grateful to her for her faithful prayers on my behalf; the richness and joy that I experience in my marriage now, is a result of my mother’s faithful prayers.

She was not the only one who had thought perhaps the Lord might put the two of us together. That week, Nathan’s assistant Pastor approached my parents privately and “put in a good word” on Nathan’s behalf. The Lord was also working in Nathan’s heart, he was interested in the idea of the two of us getting to know one another but was concerned about the effectiveness of a long-distance relationship. I was in Wisconsin and he would be returning to Pennsylvania. We were both older and had been through some difficult rela-

tionships in the past. He did not want to risk hurting me by trying to grow a relationship under these challenging circumstances. This concern weighed on him during the week as he wrestled with it in his heart before the Lord.

At the end of the week, just before making the 18hour drive home with a van full of tired teenagers, Nathan stepped out in faith and asked my dad for permission to correspond with me. Without hesitation, my father agreed and even encouraged him to do so.

That weekend my father told me of his conversation with Nathan the last night of camp. At first, I was very scared, I did not want to put in the time and vulnerability required to develop a relationship, only to be disappointed and hurt again. I was nearing my thirtieth birthday and I was ready for some stability above: Nathan tearing up my childhood note. right: our wedding day.

in my heart and life. I immediately called my sister and asked her to pray with me that the Lord would guide in this matter. We prayed together that the Lord would give clear direction early in the relationship. We prayed that, if the Lord wanted me to continue correspondence with Nathan, that he would write to me of his desire within two weeks.

Even in that request the Lord tested my faith and patience. It was not until 11 pm on the final day of those two weeks that I received an email from Nathan asking if we could correspond with one another to see if the Lord would bring us together as husband and wife. I was relieved to receive his letter and with such a clear answer to my prayers I went into the relationship confident that the Lord was leading and directing.

The Lord guided and directed so clearly through the following months as we corresponded. There were no doubts. As the relationship progressed, peace was felt in each parental heart. The Lord truly brought us together. I marvel now at how perfectly we are paired, only God could create two people who fit so well together.

above: I love him so much. right: our beautiful family.

We are perfectly paired, but like any couple, we each possess our own imperfections. Despite our faults and sometimes disagreements, my mother’s journals and specific answers to prayer confirm in my heart over and over again that I am married to the one man God had me for! This Truth gives me such peace in my marriage as I know I am fulfilling God’s plan for my life. As my mother would lovingly remind me during days of waiting discouragement, “there only has to be one young man.” It was simply the practice of resting in the Lord until He brought us together. Our story proves to me every day that, “every good and perfect gift is from Above.” (James 1:17) Though we fail, though we change, by God’s grace, He has remained our center and He remains unchangeable.

My mother’s devotional journal said it beautifully, as she reflected on the Scriptural truth that we are “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16). We are strengthened to go on, we are strengthened to go up, we are strengthened to go down, and we are strengthened to sit still. The Lord is our strength in every stage in our life, and our As I arranged the folded laundry into the basket, I prayed quietly again, entreating my Shepherd to help me trust Him as I seek to teach my children to rest in Him for every circumstance in which they find themselves. I could hear the happy chatter of my girls caring for their little dolls. I thought of how vital it is for me to teach them now to “Trust in the Lord with all their hearts and not to lean on their own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5-6) And also how they must realize the deceptiveness of their own feelings or what they believe their hearts to be saying. (Jeremiah 17:9) The Lord does give light to our paths (Psalm 119:105) and has a direction for our steps (Psalm 37:23). I must realize “Prayer is the key to heaven, and faith unlocks the door.” (Robert L. Sande)

Right now, my little six-year-old must relish each day of her childhood. As she grows and matures, I have the opportunity as her mother to give her the greatest assurance of her discovery of God’s will. To teach her to pray and to pray for her.

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by Robin Cook

Cook 2 Flourish

Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta Serves 4

• 1.5 lb. organic chicken breasts (about 3 chicken breasts), seasoned to taste • 1/2- 1 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 1/2- 1 cup organic chicken broth • 1/2 cup onion, diced • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 3/4 cup frozen peas • 1 cup packed organic kale, thinly sliced

Sauce: • 8 cup cauliflower florets • 1 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 1/2 cup organic chicken broth • 1/4 cup regular or dairy free parmesan, divided • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Plus: 2 cups dry penne lentil pasta* 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced (or dried) 1. Grease a skillet with ½-1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and place the chicken breasts in the skillet. Turn the heat to medium and season the chicken to taste with spices like sea salt, pepper, garlic and parsley or thyme.

Add 1/2 cup chicken broth and cover, adding more liquid as needed. Turn the chicken to lightly brown on both sides and cook until juices run clear and the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

2. While the chicken is cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil with a steamer basket and steam the cauliflower until it is tender enough to purée. Reserve the water once it is steamed.

3. Transfer the chicken breasts to a plate to rest for a few minutes. If the skillet is dry, add a little chicken broth and saute the onion and garlic until softened after about 4-5 minutes. Add in the peas to defrost and lightly wilt the kale for 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat.

4. Chop the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces (or to your liking), and add them back into the skillet with the veggies. Put the lid on to keep it warm.

5. Transfer the cauliflower to a blender. Remove the steamer basket in the pot, and add additional water to boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the 2 cups of dry pasta.

Cook pasta according to the package’s directions.

6. In a blender, purée the cauliflower, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, ½ cup chicken broth, 2 Tablespoons of parmesan, sea salt, pepper and garlic powder. It should become like thin mashed potatoes or a gravy consistency.

7. Pour the cream sauce into the skillet with the chicken and veggies. Stir in the parsley and pasta once it is drained. Garnish with the remaining parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve!

*Note: If using lentil or garbanzo bean pasta, it can be helpful to drain the pasta once cooked then rinse off any foam and drain it again before eating.

Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara

Serves 4

• 2 lb. organic boneless, skinless chicken thighs, seasoned to taste • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided • 1 Tablespoon Italian herb seasoning • 3-5 garlic cloves, minced • 1 onion, sliced • 8 oz. organic button mushrooms, quartered • 3 Tablespoons basil leaves, divided • 1 cup black olives, sliced (optional) • 2 (24 oz) jars organic marinara sauce (no sugar added) • 3/4 - 1 cup water • 1-2 packages gluten free spaghetti noodles, cooked • Regular or dairy free parmesan, optional to garnish

Directions:

1. Before adding the chicken to the slow cooker, pour 1 Tablespoon of the olive oil into a skillet on medium heat and place the chicken in the pan. Season the chicken to taste with spices like sea salt, pepper, garlic powder and parsley. Lightly brown the chicken on both sides. Turn off the heat and transfer the chicken to a slow cooker.

2. Turn the slow cooker on low with the chicken in it, and add the remaining olive oil, Italian herb seasoning (I use one that is all herbs- no salt or MSG added), garlic, onion, mushrooms, 2 Tablespoons of torn basil, olives, both jars of marinara and water. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

3. Cook pasta according to the package directions, or use cooked spaghetti squash or zoodles, then serve the chicken marinara on top. Garnish with parmesan and fresh basil leaves, if desired.

Southwest Fajitas & Spaghetti Squash Serves 4

Fajitas:

• 4 organic chicken breasts • 2 Italian peppers sliced • 1 onion, sliced • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon garlic powder • 1 tablespoon taco spice • 1 jar (24 oz) mild or medium salsa • 24 oz. water

Cilantro Lime Spaghetti Squash:

• 8 cups spaghetti squash, cooked • 1/2 cup BPA free canned black or pinto beans • 1 Tablespoon melted coconut oil • 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper • Organic lime zest, optional • 1/2 cup organic cilantro, chopped and divided • 1/4 cup sprouted pumpkin seeds

Directions:

1. In a slow cooker, place the chicken, peppers, onion, spices, salsa and water and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

2. In a large glass bowl, scoop out the hot squash “pasta” and add in the beans. If the squash is cold, scoop it out into a skillet, add the beans and warm them up on the stove before proceeding.

3. In a small bowl, stir together the oil, lime juice, garlic, salt, pepper and lime zest. Pour the dressing over the squash and beans. Add in the cilantro, then toss.

4. Plate the squash, then top with the fajitas. Garnish with pumpkin seeds and additional cilantro, if desired. Enjoy!