Guest Post

The Love Language of Cooking

August 26, 2021 by Ellen Leave a Comment

Today’s guest writer is my friend Mitzi Neely from Peacefully Imperfect. I love how Mitzi weaves tales of love and faith in with her oh, so good recipes! AND: We are “twinsies” who share the same birthday! Enjoy!

As a little girl, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. Besides telling stories and sharing giggles, much of what we did was centered around faith, family, and food. My sister and I used to say that our school cafeteria would have the best food in the world if our grandmothers were the chief cooks! Can I get an amen?

As I reflect on my time with them, I remember my grandparents as a great source of joy. They lived simple, productive lives and were strong people, rooted in Jesus. They distanced themselves from drama. They were frugal and didn’t spend what they didn’t have. And they loved their family and their neighbors.

Those time-honored qualities are laced in legacy. My grands may have had less on the material side of things than some, but the formula for creating a godly family was more important. With each one, it was always God first, family second, job third, and so on. They possessed beautiful, giving hearts and had spirits to match. More than anything, I saw them model extraordinary love and kindness to everyone they met. I’m thankful for their influence in my life.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15

Some of my earliest memories in the kitchen were helping my grandmothers make a dewberry cobbler, banana pudding, or meatloaf. Along with my mom and mother-in-law, they had a huge influence on my life, both in the kitchen and as a wife and mother. They were models for Christ-like living, savored the family unit, and taught me that cooking was more than combining ingredients. For me, cooking is a language of love, an act of service, and a space to create comfort on any given day.

I am an avid cook who loves to bring joy to others through a good meal. I appreciate my time in the kitchen and consider it a sanctuary to restore, refresh, and refuel my soul. When it’s filled with the hustle and bustle of family and friends, it’s the perfect place for genuine fellowship where memories are created and time treasured.

As a way of sharing those memories, I am pleased to announce a new project, Zizi’s Kitchen, to be published in late October 2021. Zizi’s Kitchen was designed to help you create your own special moments around your table. It’s a place where hearts gather in faith-full fellowship alongside amazing recipes to build lasting memories with those you treasure most. I pray you enjoy your time together and whisper your thanks to God for His abundant love and unfailing promises.

Blessings to you,

Mitzi

To speak her Love Language to us, Mitzi is sharing one of her favorite recipes! Enjoy!

PARTY POTATOES

1 bag 32 oz. Southern Style Hashbrowns (little cubes, not shredded)

1 pint whipping cream

2-3 cups Colby/Monterey Jack grated cheese

Salt and pepper

Parsley

1 1/2 sticks melted margarine

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray a 9×13 casserole with Pam on bottom and sides of dish.

Place potatoes in dish; pour whipping cream over top of potatoes; sprinkle salt and pepper over potatoes, and grated cheese. Pour melted margarine over cheese and sprinkle with parsley.

Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes covered; cook uncovered for another 30-45 minutes until done.

Absolutely delicious! Always requested! Subject to rave reviews! ENJOY!

Mitzi Neely is known for encouraging and inspiring people of all ages through her teachings on grace, love, joy, and peace.

Her primary goal is to use her gifts and talents as God leads, always waiting patiently before turning to the right or to the left, listening for His voice saying “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Mitzi’s heart is to lighten your load, while conveying her message that nobody’s perfect. Her desire when she speaks, sings, creates, or instructs is honesty and transparency, such that God receives glory and honor. She is the founder and ministry leader of Peacefully Imperfect and is the author of A Thankful Heart: 30 Days to the Grateful Life, Dwell in the Psalms, and JOY for Everyday Life. Mitzi is also the assistant superintendent of an East Texas school district.

She and her husband, Jerry reside in Longview and enjoy their family and friends when they aren’t working on the farm or tending to school.

Follow Mitzi at peacefullyimperfect.net because the joy of the journey is learning His word together.

The Gift of Notice

October 31, 2019 by Ellen 9 Comments

{My guest today is my dear friend Carmen Horne, author of Out of Words: 31 Prayers of Hope for Your Hurting Heart. Carmen and I met years ago, in an online writer’s group. We have shared our writing journeys and encouraged each other along the way. What I love about Carmen is her compassion and her desire to minister to women, by guiding them to see life through a new lens. Sometimes a small change in perspective is all you need to see things in a different and better way. A way filled with hope!}

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There is a scene in my favorite movie, Hope Floats, where we find Travis and Justin Mattise sitting on the porch after the funeral of Travis’ grandmother. Travis’ mom abandoned him early, and he just buried his beloved grandma. He is pondering where he will fit in this new normal with his Aunt Birdee and cousin Bernice.

As Travis holds a telegram from his mom, pain and uncertainty are written all over his face. Bernice has Aunt Birdee. Who will he have? Alone and feeling invisible, Travis asks Justin, “Aren’t you going inside to say hi?” and Justin answers, “Don’t you know? I came over to say hi to you.”

One of the greatest gifts we can give someone is the gift of notice.

The gift of notice is costly. It requires us to look beyond ourselves and recognize the contribution of others or the pain they endure. Jesus was a giver of notice:

But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.” When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. Luke 8:46-47 NASB

The crowd dismissed her. She was one person in a sea of people. We know her as the woman with an issue of blood. Jesus knew her as a daughter. He recognized her touch even when He didn’t see her face. She did not go unnoticed by Jesus. We don’t either.

[tweetthis]We don’t go unnoticed by Jesus.[/tweetthis]

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans 8: 29-20 NLT

“Our circumstances can make us feel deserted. When we are facing uncertain times, we long to feel God’s presence. We may feel alone and invisible, but we are never truly alone — Jehovah Shammah — God is there.” Out of Words, page 49 and 83.

Knowing in our head that God is always near is one thing, but recognizing His presence in the midst of our turmoil is harder. I think we miss it because most often, His comfort and provision come in the form of those He places in our path.

How can we give the gift of notice to those around us?

Pay attention. This is a hard one. Most of us will only accomplish this with prayer and intentionality. Life is busy, and we have our issues too. But, that never stopped Jesus. On His way to the most important three days of His life, He helped those that were in His path. A prayer for our day should include, Help me notice those in need around me, Lord.
Say thank you. The housekeeper in the restroom, the checker at WalMart, the waiter that fills our glass, and our husband that plugs in our phone to charge.
Meet needs. We have all heard the saying that we might be the answer to someone’s prayer. I can guarantee we are.

Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow” when the money’s right there in your pocket. Proverbs 3: 27-28 MSG

God knew us in advance and will orchestrate circumstances to meet our needs. He notices, and He asks us to give the gift of notice to those around us.

Carmen Horne is an author, Board Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach, and speaker who uses her gifts to encourage women. She is passionate about supporting women through life’s challenges as they learn to change their perspective on the unexpected. Her new book is Out of Words: 31 Prayers of Hope for Your Hurting Heart.

At the ripe old age of 16, the Bayou State native married her high-school sweetheart. They have one beautiful daughter. Carmen is a dark chocolate nibbler and beach sitter. But her favorite activities are those she participates in as a wife and mom.