For the month of December we will be reading through the following passages of scripture. Please join us as we prepare our hearts during this time of year to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

Verse of the Week: Matthew 5:1-12

Read Matthew 5:1-12 

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

What thoughts come to mind as you read the beatitudes? What is difficult about the beatitudes? How do these truths impact your everyday life? 

You Pick 2

We had 4 great sessions this year for our "You Pick 2" meeting. 

Family Devotions

Lori Cole shared some great tips on how to incorporated family devotion time into our everyday lives. 

Devotional Ideas; 

Experiencing God at Home Day by Day: a family devotional 

The Family Project Devotional: Reflecting God's Design in your home. 

Once-A-Day Nurturing Great kids Devotional eBooks: 365 Practical insights for parenting with grace

One Year of Dinner Table Devotions and Discussion Starters 

Healthy Holiday Menu Plans 

Robin Otterstetter shared a lot of great healthy recipes for the holidays and some great tips on how to stay healthy during the holidays. Click here for all of her recipes and handouts. 

Quick and Easy Mommy Fitness 

Michelle Spadafora, owner of Faithful Workouts, shared some great tips on quick and easy workouts. She has workouts and meal plans on her website, www.faithfulworkouts.com. Click here for her "Time Saving Fitness Tips" handout. 

Growth Chart 

Our craft ladies had growth charts for us to create. 

Verse of the Week: Hebrews 12:1-2

Read Hebrews 12: 1-2

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Motherhood, like the Christian faith, is a long-distance marathon(v.1). How can we run our race with endurance, relying on Jesus in the process? Our faith starts and ends with Jesus. How can we practically show others our faith in Him this week?

Give Thanks

I don't know about you but the holidays have snuck up on me this year. I am just now trying to get my self and my family prepared for all the busyness and celebrations that are ahead of us. I really want to focus on not getting stressed out and really enjoying this time of year by spending time with my family and friends. November is such a great time to give thanks for all that we have. No matter what we have going on in our lives there is always, ALWAYS something to thank our amazing Heavenly Father for!!

I love the traditions that each family has during the holidays. They are so personal and every family has something different that they do. I love this idea from Danae. She puts up her Christmas tree on November 3rd, her mothers birthday, and decorates it with burlap ribbon and thanksgiving leaves. She uses that time to remember her mother and honor her memory and legacy. After Thanksgiving she takes down the ribbon and leaves and makes it a "Christmas tree". 

                                                            

We put up a thanksgiving tree as well. A couple of years ago I made the leaves and wrote the names of all our family and added things like church, friends, etc. Each year we have new names and things to add and now that my oldest can add things he is thankful for that makes it really special too.

I love decorating for the holidays. Here are a few of my favorite Thanksgiving decorations.

A burlap runner for my table with Thankful stenciled on with brown paint. 

I wrote the letters G.I.V.E on the white pumpkins and stenciled the letters T.H.A.N.K.S with brown paint onto the ready made bunting. 

This was my favorite project this year. I made the "Happy Fall Y'all" sign with materials that I already had and I love the way it turned out. 

Another great way to focus on being thankful this month is to write something everyday that you are thankful for publicly. Lets saturate social media with positive messages of what and who we are thankful for. It's not to late to start!! 

During our You Pick Two meeting, Robin, shared lots of really great healthy holiday recipes. For all of her recipes and tips click here.

Here are a couple recipes I'm excited to try... 

Roasted sweet potatoes with Dijon mustard and Rosemary

2 medium sweet potatoes(about 1 1/2 lbs)

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 tsp dijon mustard

2 tsp honey

1 tsp minced fresh rosemary or 1/4 tsp dried rosemary, crushed

1/4 tsp each salt and pepper 

Preheat oven to 400. Peel and cut each sweet potato lengthwise into 1/2 in thick wedges; place in a large bowl. Mix remaining ingredients; drizzle over potatoes and toss to coat. Transfer to a greased 15X10X1in baking pan. Roast 25-30 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. 

Creamed spinach and pearl onions 

1/4 cup butter, cubbed

1 pkg (14.4 oz) frozen pearl onions, thawed and drained

2 cups heavy whipping cream 

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

10 oz fresh baby spinach (about 13 cups) 

In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add pearl onions; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until tender. Stir in heavy whipping cream. Bring to a boil; cook 6-8 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Stir in cheese, salt and pepper. Add baby spinach; cook, covered, for 3-5 minutes or until spinach is wilted, stirring occasionally. 

We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!! 

Verse of the Week: II Timothy 1:3-7

Read 2 Timothy 1:7

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you
constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be
filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois
and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to
fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a
spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

What was said about Timothy's grandmother and mother? What influence can godly parents and
grandparents have on their children and grandchildren? What kind of legacy do you want to leave your children? How can you fiercely flourish by embracing v. 7: "God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, and love and self-control"?

Verse of the Week: I Corinthians 12:12-27

Read I Corinthians 12:12-27

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Do you know what your role is in the body of Christ? If so, is it easy for you to accept this role or do you try to do something else? Paul explains that every member of the body has a different role to play but that each member is just as important as the next. Is there someone you know that needs encouragement to embrace their role in the body of Christ? What can you do to encourage them this week? Paul calls us to unity in v. 25. Do you think today's church has unity? Why or why not? What does a church living in unity look like? How can you live in unity with other Christians?

Brunch Recipes

Do you need some ideas on what to bring to MOPS meetings? Or do you need a new brunch recipe for the holidays? We have gathered some of your favorite recipes to share. 

ENJOY! 

Potato Dish: 

Cheesy Potato Casserole

10 cups frozen hash browns

1/4 cup + 2 TBSP butter

1 can cream of chicken soup

12 oz sour cream

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup onions, chopped

2 cups grated cheddar cheese 

1 cup crushed corn flakes 

Preheat oven to 375. Pour 1/2 cup melted butter into 13x9 casserole dish. Add 5 cups hash brown. Mix soup, sour cream, milk and onions in a separate bowl. Pour 1/2 mixture on top of hash browns. Sprinkle 1 cup cheddar cheese on top of mixture. Add remaining hash browns, mixture and cheese in layers. Sprinkle with crushed corn flakes. Drizzle with 2 TBSP melted butter. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until potatoes are soft, not crunchy. You can make the night before and bake in the morning. 

Egg Dish: 

Deviled Eggs
18 eggs 
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1tsp yellow mustard
1 tsp finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp seasoned salt 
1/8 tsp garlic powder
paprika 

Place the eggs in a large pot and add enough water to cover them, heat to boiling. When the water boils, remove the pot from the heat. Keep it covered and let sit for 20 minutes. Drain the hot water and run cold water over the eggs. Let the eggs cool for 10 minutes. Peel the eggs carefully, then slice in half lengthwise. Remove the egg yolks to a medium size bowl. Set the whites on a plate. In the medium bowl, add the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, salt, onion and pepper. Mix well. With a spoon, fill the cavity of each egg white half with the yolk mixture. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Sprinkle with a dash of paprika. 


Easy No Crust Quiche
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup bisquik
2 TBSP melted margarine
3/4 cup diced ham
1 cup grated cheese
3/4 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 tsp salt, dash pepper

Beat eggs well in a large bowl. Add all other ingredients and stir(baking mix remains lumpy-don't over mix). Pour mixture into a greased, 9" glass pie plate (glass or glazed ceramic in necessary). Bake 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Vegetable Dish: 

Robin's Favorite Salad

Romaine or leafy green lettuce

Spinach

Fresh fruit(pears, apples, raspberries, or strawberries)

Crumbled feta cheese

Craisins

Toasted sliced almonds or pecans

Toss the salad with raspberry vinaigrette or homemade balsamic vinaigrette. 

Baked Goods/Creative: 

Pumpkin Bubble-up Bake

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, cubed

2/3 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 cup powdered sugar

2  teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2 cans refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large microwavable bowl, mix cream cheese, pumpkin, powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Microwave uncovered on High 1-2 minute, stirring after each 30 seconds, until softened. Stir until smooth. Set aside icing. Cut each cinnamon roll into 6 pieces; gently stir into pumpkin mixture. Spoon into baking dish. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown around edges and dough is baked through. Let stand 10 minutes. Drizzle icing on top.

Expert Tips-

Like chocolate with your pumpkin? Top with 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips before baking. Bubble-up bakes are best served warm.

Very Moist Banana-Nut Bread (Kathy Osgood)

3/4 cup oleo
1 1/2 c sugar
 1 1/2 cup mashed bananas
2 eggs 
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour 
1 tsp baking soda 
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup buttermilk 
nuts 

In big bowl cream oleo and sugar. Add mashed bananas, eggs and vanilla. Sift in small bowl flour, baking soda and salt. Alternate dry mixture and buttermilk to creamed mixture. Add nuts.
Grease and flour pans. Makes 2 loaf pans.
Bake @ 325°for 1 hour.

Throughout the year we will continue to post your favorite recipes. If you have a recipe(breakfast, brunch, dinner, or dessert) that you would like to share please email us at fbcmopspublicity@outlook.com.