Cheesy-Comfort Mac & Cheese

                    

 

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because they stood

the test. That person will receive the crown of life that the Lord 

has promised to those who love Him."  James 1:12

Food for the Palate
Ingredients:

2 cups of dried penne pasta (or elbow)

1/4 cup of butter

1/4 cup of flour

1/2 tsp of onion powder

1/2 tsp of garlic powder

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 cup of milk

1/4 pound of Velveeta cheese, cubed

1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Topping:

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1 tbsp butter

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions: Preheat over to 350F

Grease a baking dish and set aside.

Cook your pasta according to package, making sure you add salt, drain and set aside.

In a saucepan you want to melt the butter and the flour with a whisk for about two minutes. Now add all of your seasonings. Stir until combined. Slowly add in the milk while still whisking. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low sinner for about 2-3 minutes. Add in your Velveeta cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat and then add your cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Fold in your pasta and mix well.  Pour your cheesy pasta into your baking dish. 

Add your topping ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Sprinkle over the top of your casserole and back in oven for 20 minutes. Top it off with chopped parsley. Tasty to the Palate! 

Food for the Soul

Mac & Cheese is the ultimate comfort food to me. This is not something that I usually serve in my house. Let's face it, it isn't the healthiest recipe.  But allow me to indulge in a minute or two of feeling sorry for myself. 

I received my MRI results yesterday on my spine and it wasn't the news I had hoped for. I had hoped that the extreme back pain, lack of mobility, along with the paralysis in my foot I have been experiencing for several months now would have been something that was fixable. The last thing you want to hear is a diagnosis of an uncurable degenerative disease. So, as I left my doctor's office and they arranged for long-term pain management, I had to pull over and process my thoughts before continuing home.

Sitting alone in my car, I turned off the music and took a deep breath and allowed myself to feel pity... for about three minutes! Then I was reminded that, first of all, I was not alone in my car. God was with me. Hmm, I don't remember inviting Him to my pity party. But there He was reminding me about how I always say that the Book of James is one of my favorites to study. And as I was pondering that thought, I was reminded of James 1:12 which says, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because they stood the test. That person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." 

No one wants to hear that the pain you are experiencing will, over time, get worse. To hear that there isn't anything that can be done other that "pain management" doesn't seem to have a hopeful outlook for one's future. But as I sat in my car and meditated on James 1:12, I was reminded that with God by my side, I would be able to endure whatever this earthly life decided to bring my way. Suddenly I could feel my pity-party coming to an end. It was time to look to God and allow Him to use this trial to strengthen and grow me.

A. W. Tozer said; "What then are we to do about our problems? We must learn to live with them until such a time as God delivers us from them. We must pray for grace to endure them without murmuring. Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting. They harm us only when we resist them or endure them unwillingly." Boy, that's a pretty powerful quote that is, well, 100% truth!

So how do we face our problems and live with them until God delivers us from them? How do we pray for grace to endure them without murmuring? How do we keep our problems from harming us? It is never easy to receive disappointing news, regardless of what our struggles are, but Scripture gives us the secret to "enduring" them when they do come and try to wreak havoc in our lives. Hebrews 12:2-3 tells us how; "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up."

Regardless of what diagnosis, struggle, hardship or grief comes our way, we know that God allows things to happen for a reason. Whether or not we understand His reasons isn't the heart of the issue. We must keep our mind and spirit focused on Him. Psalm 106:1 says, "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."  Before Jesus endured the cross on our behalf, He cried out to God in heaven; "Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine." Luke 22:42

There are a lot more people with diagnoses that far greater and life impacting than mine. And there are others whose lives are turned upside down and out of control due to tragic circumstances, and no one would blame them in they enlisted in a lifetime of pity. But that doesn't help anything. In fact, if we receive the wisdom from the above quote of Tozer, we know that pity will only make things worse and ultimately harm us. 

Unwanted news happens all over the world every second of the day. As God's beloved children, we must remember that He is good, loving, merciful and full of grace. Instead of doubting His amazing attributes, we need to learn to trust Him.

No one can take my trust in God away from me and no one can take it away from you. We can give it away to lies of this sinful world or we can press on and look forward to the time we receive our crown of life! So, it is ok to have a pity-party, for a few minutes. But don't allow yourself to stay there very long because God has plans for everything that He allows to come our way in this life, and it all has the power to bring us close to Him and more like Jesus.

By the way, I made this dish for a potluck. I know better than to leave it in my fridge. Besides, my pity-party has been cancelled for today! Satisfying to the Soul!