Your Friday 4-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): Mustard-Maple Glazed Turkey Meatballs. This recipe is on deck for the next time I entertain with a buffet of finger foods. Sounds deliciously unexpected.

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): The Changing Room of Grace. Oh, how I love this by Sharon Hodde Miller! "...before the vulnerable uncovering of a hard truth, we should do everything in our power to cover, to honor, to love." Yes, yes, YES! "Before." But not "instead of." We need BOTH grace AND truth.

Dessert (just for fun): Food carving is so fascinating to me. Wish I were this talented.

Coffee (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly): Bittersweet is the practice of believing that we really do need both the bitter and the sweet, and that a life of nothing but sweetness rots both your teeth and your soul... Sweet is nice enough, but bittersweet is beautiful, nuanced, full of depth and complexity... when life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow. --Shauna Niequist

Your Friday 4-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): Orange-Rosemary Seared Salmon. YUM! I'm excited to try this.

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): Reignite Your Prayer Life. This is good advice from Don Whitney for all Christians, whether or not our prayer lives are currently healthy. 

Dessert (just for fun): Well, this is pretty crazy. Who knew pipe cleaners could add up to all of this?

Coffee (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly): "...the glorious presence of God in heaven fills heaven with love as the sun, placed in the midst of the visible heavens in a clear day, fills the world with light." ~Jonathan Edwards

Your Friday 4-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): Paleo Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread. This sounds rather fabulous, does it not?

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): When You're Weak and Needy by Christine Hoover. Encouragement to the souls of those of us who are weak and needy every single day. (Hint: all of the humans. So.)

Dessert (just for fun): This was my Halloween costume last year. Sorta seemed not optional, you know? #don'twasteyourwhitehair It still makes me giggle. But it also makes me glad I'll be traveling tomorrow, because I have no clue how I would have topped this this year. ;-)

Coffee (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly): God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." ~Hebrews 13:5

Your Friday 4-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): This seems worth a try. Cauliflower Buns.

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): What God Thinks About You. A glorious piece by John Rinehart.

Dessert (just for fun): I love this.

Coffee (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly): I believe with all my heart that God's Story has a happy ending... But not yet... Not necessarily yet. ~Elisabeth Elliot

Jeremiah 29:11~ "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Our ultimate happy ending. It really has nothing at all to do with what happens here on earth. It's all about the promise of eternity with Christ. Amen.

Your Friday 4-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic by Faith Gorsky. I've seen this recipe (or similar ones) posted many times, and I'm curious, but I've never tried it. I need to try it. You try it too, and let me know what you think if you beat me to it. ;-)

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): Consumerism Keeps Us Fed and Starving by Gloria Furman. Wise and convicting.

Dessert (just for fun): This is crazy town.

Coffee (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly): Christian mothers, your child may be far away from the sheltering home, voyaging on the stormy sea, or dwelling in some distant climate beyond your voice. But he is still within the reach of the mightiest power a mother can wield – the power of prayer! And although you cannot throw around him your maternal arms to shield him from the evil of the world, you can invest him with your wrestling believing petitions, and secure on his behalf the Arm which encircles the globe, and is mighty to save. Oh that the Church of God may be filled with such praying mothers! --Octavius Winslow

Your Friday 4-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): Roasted Tomato Basil and Rice Soup  This sounds utterly divine, especially with quinoa in place of the rice.

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): Do You Have a Healthy or Superficial Relationship with God? I found this from Erik Raymond to be both challenging and encouraging.

Dessert (just for fun): Ok. Full disclosure: I'm not even gonna pretend that I plan to try this, but it sure was fun to watch. :-)

Coffee (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly):

Your Friday 4-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): Slow Cooker Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili. I haven't tried this one yet, but it comes from Gina over at Skinny Taste, so I'm sure it's perfect. She's my favorite. (Have I mentioned that before?)

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): The Weakness of Ruth is Greater than the Strength of Samson-- J.D. Greear with a beautiful perspective on one of my favorite books of the Bible, sweet (but powerful) little Ruth.

Dessert (just for fun): It's comin'. Y'all ready? (I am.)

Coffee (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly): "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness." --Isaiah 65: 17-18

Your Friday 4-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): Grilled Avocado Halves with Cumin-Spiced Quinoa and Black Bean Salad. This sounds delicious. And also gives me lots of ideas. :-D

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): God, You've Got the Wrong Guy-- Tim Challies with wise counsel on a topic I'm guessing everyone has struggled with at some point (or daily if we're all being honest...)

Dessert (just for fun): Ridiculously adorable dog catching soccer balls. 

Coffee (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly): "Simple-minded trust in a big God beats big-minded thoughts of a small God every single time." --Jared C. Wilson

Your Friday Four-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): Sriracha Caviar. I cannot wait to try this!

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): Organic Food, Essential Oils, and the Gospel of Grace by Stacy Reaoch. Good perspective on important (but not *of first importance*) topics.

Dessert (just for fun): You have to watch this at least twice so that you can focus on the Mom and the baby separately. But really you should probably watch it about 17 times. It doesn't get less awesome with repetition.

Coffee (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly): Grateful to Ray Ortlund for posting this gem over at TGC. The Exuberant Goodness of the Creator.

Your Friday Four-Course Meal

Appetizer (a quick bite): Whipped Coconut Cream. Gina over at Skinny Taste is one of my favorites. I use many of her recipes exactly as she presents them, and I've adapted a few others just slightly with great results. (I plan to try this with stevia instead of sugar.) 

Entree (something to chew on for awhile): You're Not That Busy I love this from Jenna Lusk at The Village Church. 

Dessert (just for fun): These bad lip readings are never not funny to me.

Coffee: (sip and savor slowly and repeatedly): John 1:16-- "For from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace." So amazing.