Easy Cheesy Taco Casserole (slow cooker)

I wanted to share a recipe that has become a quick favorite in my house. 

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef, cooked and drained
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can of corn, drained
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 package or about 3-4 cups of Mexican/Fiesta blend cheese
1/2 cup milk
2 cups uncooked quick rice
1/4 cup taco sauce
About 2 1/2 cups of water

Turn the slow cooker on high.  First you put the rice in the bottom, add the milk and water.  Stir to make sure nothing gets stuck to the bottom.  Then add the corn, the tomatoes (don't drain the tomatoes), the taco seasoning, taco sauce and the browned beef.  Stir it all up again.  It doesn't look very appetizing right now but trust me, it is delicious when done.  Top with your cheese.  Cover and cook on high for about 2-3 hours (or until rice is done) or on low for 4-5 hours (or until rice is done).  The cheese will be melted and there should be little runny liquid.  It will be a thick sauce.  Let me know if you try this!

Wondering About Evangelism

Evangelism or sharing the gospel in an attempt to save another person's soul.  So what does it mean?

To me, personally, I don't enjoy evangelism.  It makes me uncomfortable because I am shy, quiet, and I hate to feel like I am making someone else uncomfortable or awkward.  I also don't enjoy the feeling of trying to tell someone else how to live and believe.  That just isn't me.  Some people would call me a bad Christian for not wanting to spread the good news.  It isn't that I don't want to spread the good news, but I don't see what good it does to leave impersonal pamphlets everywhere I go and witness to people who'd rather pick their nose than listen to me. 

Scare tactics don't work either.  Some denominations and groups of people are totally into the scare tactic method.  That is a useless method.  My thought on that is... what makes you think you are going to scare them by threatening them with things they don't even believe in?  If they don't yet believe in Heaven, eternal damnation and Jesus Christ, how is it going to scare them?  And then, if you do scare them into something, what kind of faith is built on fear?  Not a sturdy one, that's for certain!

So, here I am, trying to figure out how to witness to people when I don't like approaching people, I am awkward during conversations and I don't want to alienate someone.  My first and biggest thought is that I can witness through action, not words necessarily.  What do I mean?

Show them what good Christ can do for you and in your life.  Don't shove it down their throats.  Don't make it uncomfortable and awkward, just show them.  I am a very service-minded person.  I would rather serve than preach.  It's just how I am.  I hope to be able to show people what Christ has done for me and can do for them.  Show them that I am a good-hearted person, that I can give of myself without thinking of a payment or reward, that I can be their friend without me trying to save their soul right away.  And that if they want to talk about God's love and salvation, they can come to me and I will be there for them.


Another thing I have had on my mind has been quite a conflict.  I have always believed that good people, saved or not, go to heaven.  But lately, my mind had been battling with itself.  Very good and kind people are atheists- the people who have turned against God and shunned Him, saying He does not exist.  Well, I've never really thought that atheists can ever get into heaven.  So now my mind it at battle in trying to determine which I believe in more.  That good, kind people (saved or not) will absolutely go to heaven or that atheists, no matter how good, will go to hell for their blasphemy.  It is a conflict and neither outcome is one I particularly like.  Then it comes back to witnessing and trying to lead them towards God.  It's a lot for me to digest and I can't figure out where I fit into all of this!

Can someone offer me advice?  I feel like I'm drowning under the weight of these questions.

The continuation of trials and tribulations

I got an email a few days ago that I did not get the job.  I need the job as my mother and I are in a tigh money situation and I made some mistakes upon getting my first job, including maxing out a credit card.  I am in some deep debt and wanting to get married in the next couple of years, I don't feel right bringing that debt into my marriage if I can avoid it.  When I do get married, I hope to be a housewife more than anything but I am in college.  I want to have a back-up plan because you never know what can happen.

I am still praying for a job.  I want to crawl out from under the debt and help my mom with our living situation.  I need to help her since it is just us two.

Please keep me in your prayers.
Please keep me in your prayers because I am dealing with some other stuff, stuff I won't mention really, but it is difficult and is making it harder for me to keep things in perspective.

Peace and love.

Praying!

I am praying very hard that God provides me with a job very soon. Since my mom and I moved out on our own again, money has been incredibly tight. Small money blessings have come in, like a refund check from my car insurance for a fault on their part. So, I will be able to get some groceries with that. But otherwise, I really need a job and soon!

I just applied for a job that would be perfect for me. Right pay, right hours, right conditions. But I had to do a voice audition on the phone and I'm pretty sure I failed it horribly. It gave you 30 seconds to answer each question and I'm pretty sure it cut me off a full 15 seconds too early on the 2nd question and then I was flustered and didn't even register the last question and whimpered pitifully into the recording. I'm hoping my other answers and the rest of the application were enough they might at least give me an interview. The problem for me has always been getting the interview. The last 3 jobs I had, I was always offered the job on the spot at the end of the interview. I feel confident that interview means a good chance of getting the job.

If anyone reads this blog, please pray for me!

Thanks!
Peace and love,
Elisabeth

Update!

Wow, it has been a long time! I wonder if anyone still reads this thing...?

Anywho, a lot has happened since I last posted. The biggest thing being that my mom and her new husband have decided they are not as compatible as originally thought- they are in the process of a divorce. A lesson learned on why courting/engagement should last a little longer than three months, I think. It might not have been so bad if they had known each other before they got engaged but it was literally four months from meeting each other to the wedding day. That's not a lot of time!

So, my mother and I have found a nice apartment. The ceilings are high, we each have our own bathroom and the neighborhood is small. I love this place. I especially love that there is a higher population of elderly- they are so sweet and always wave at anybody who passes by. Even the kids here are quiet, well-mannered and peaceful. It's great.

I have not been able to acquire anymore skirts yet- I still haven't found a job either. I am working on it but it just feels like that blessing may never come. I am in school now though, furthering my education and learning the art of hospitality and business. I would love one day to be able to open my own restaurant! That's what I am studying to do.

I have material stashed away that I intend to make a skirt out of soon. Just an incredibly simple skirt to match my large wardrobe of earthy, brown shirts.

Another big thing that may happen in the future is that my mother and I may end up moving back east. We hail from Ohio and all my family are there. I miss them so much! We may rest in Pennsylvania, Pittburgh to be exact. It is close to the family but far enough away. Plus, that area of the country is slightly more accustomed to an Amish population. I love the Amish and being around them- so peaceful and tranquil. Sometimes I consider joining them but not sure if I ever really could. We'd move to Pennsylvania because my mom has exhausted all the hospitals in Columbus- some she would never work at again but I think she would just like a different environment to explore rather than go back to the same old, same old.

Well, that's about it for now, really.
I will try to update this more often!
In the meantime, I am praying that the Lord will provide me with the right employment opportunity; He has really come through for us lately in terms of helping us secure a place to live and be able to afford it and get by comfortably rather than struggling. I can only pray He will help me with finding a job soon too.

God Bless!

Friday!

I like Fridays. I got to spend a little time with my mother this morning and that was nice. We did a little shopping and she bought me a new shirt. She also gave me some money she owed me for a project and gave me some grocery money. My dear mother also helped me decide on my new glasses. When I originally tried them on, I wasn't sure but they fit my wider-than-average face perfectly. So, her intense encouragement and excitement that they flattered my face was very nice. I am glad. I was debating intensely with myself about choosing function over style. My insurance would only cover certain frames, so my choices were limited unless I wanted to pay out hundreds of dollars I don't have. So, she helped me make that decision and I should get them sometime next week. Now I'm very excited, I will be able to see properly! (When I got to Arizona in September, my old ones broke so I've been wearing my weak back-up pair for 6 months.)

I went shopping by myself too. I got a nice storage bin for my bathroom. My only closet space in this house is a teeny, tiny little 2ft thing. So, I'm relieved to get that. I also got a bit of fabric for a project I'm working on for myself. See, while I have a purse, it isn't quite big enough and I can't put it on my shoulder. Since I am a larger person, conventional messenger purses don't work or aren't comfortable for me. So, I'm making my own. I found some linen fabric. I'm hoping it comes out alright but as long as it doesn't fall apart, I'm not horribly concerned about how it looks.

I might be able to finish it tonight and if I do, I will post some pictures tomorrow (assuming it's nice enough for photos!)

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend!
Elisabeth

Headcoverings galore!

I found a website of head coverings through another blog. Again, won't name it so as to avoid causing trouble.

They had some really pretty head coverings to order. And some left me a little confused. I wasn't sure how a thin band of fabric, 2 inches wide, could constitute a proper Christian head covering. That seems more like a fashion statement to me. Vanity instead of modesty. Especially when it comes in fashion designer prints!

For me, personally, a modest Christian head covering is something of a plain, single color (white, cream, brown, black, maybe blue, pink, green, etc.). I don't care for prints as I think it draws too much attention to my head and hair. I like plain, simple colors in a mostly neutral tone. Though as my 'wardrobe' of head coverings builds up, I may find I like or even need some in other colors like blues, greens, reds or yellows. For now, I'm only wearing a black scarf.

So, it got me wondering.... what does a head covering mean to you? What does it need to be, consist of or what have you? Does it need to be a plain, single, neutral color? Or do you prefer fun, sassy prints? Do you cover your entire hair? Wear a thin headband style? A kerchief style? Traditional Amish-style kapp? I look forward to possibly getting some opinions on this one.

God bless!
Elisabeth