Mid-Week Advent Inspiration
“May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13
The traditional church calendar begins with the season of Advent. It marks for us a season of anticipation. We anticipate the coming of the Christ child at Christmas, but we look forward to the return of Christ in His Second Coming.
Advent begins with the theme of hope. I am glad we begin the season leading into Christmas talking about hope, for I am not sure I could ever get joy, peace, and love without hope.
I have come to define hope as the mindset that our lives are shaped by God’s love and not by our fears.
Hope is the reminder that God is a God who keeps promises. Some of us needed to be given that assurance in this season. God is faithful.
One Christmas, Santa brought my oldest son a ride-on train. It made train noises as it went in circles along the track. He was five years old and the engineer of his own train.
Until it caught on fire. After a couple of laps, there was smoke. Then sparks came out of the side. Next was a flame. I knocked Jaden off the train, picked it up, ran it outside, and threw it in the yard.
Luckily, Santa got the train at Toys R Us and we got a refund. I believe we bought some legos.
Favorite Holiday Recipes
You know, if you have been serving something as part of Christmas tradition for thirty years, it has to be good!
Beth’s Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
Ingredients
1 lb Sausage, hot ground
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 tsp Onion powder
1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 1/4 cups Bisquick baking mix
1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese
8 oz Cream cheese
Instructions
In a large glass mixing bowl, combine ground sausage, softened cream cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
Once combined, add in Bisquick baking mix in batches until well combined. Again, I recommend using your hands to make it easier.
Add in shredded cheddar cheese and mix with your hands until combined.
Next, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line 1-2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Begin forming 2 tablespoon size balls with your hands and place them on your baking sheet evenly spaced apart.
Bake your sausage balls in the oven for 22-25 minutes or until they are a light golden brown.
Beth Weikel
Mid-week Humor