Our pastor is doing a series on being real. Here is his message through an e-note:

Pastor Dennis Rouse:

REAL: Authenticity
Have you ever wondered why people in the church seem so disconnected from those outside the church? Do you, yourself, feel uncomfortable around lost people – not quite sure how to interact with them? The problem is that all too often, once we start going to church, we stop being real. We tend to get caught up in our little church world, doing churchy activities, hanging out with other churchy people and speaking with churchy language. We start withdrawing from the world and become completely disconnected. So much so, that many of us have completely forgotten how to connect in any meaningful way with the lost.

In a well-intentioned but misdirected attempt to become more like Christ, we have, in reality, become more like Church. Simply put, we’ve become religious. But let’s face it, the whole reason Jesus came was not to teach us how to be more religious. Rather, He came to reveal a real God to the world. Jesus didn’t spend most of His time in “church”, but in the world, amongst real people.

One of the enemy’s best tactics in his war against God’s kingdom has been the substitution of religiosity for true relationship with God. If we’re not careful, we can allow this religious spirit to take over our lives and destroy the impact God intends us to have on the lost. Rather than being loving and real, people that operate under a religious spirit are hypocritical, image-conscious, position-conscious, legalistic, pretentious, dogmatic, covetous or judgmental – usually all of the above. Beware of these things!

Church is not about being religious; it’s about equipping people to share the gospel with others effectively – just what we cannot do if we’re being religious. You see, when we invite someone to accept Christ, we’re inviting them to be like us. So, we have to ask ourselves whether our lifestyles are inviting people to a religion or a relationship. Jesus’ whole lifestyle was built around relating authentically to lost people and introducing them to the principles of God’s love and reconciliation. He did this naturally, without pretense and without being religious.

If you want to be a REAL kind of Christian, begin by realizing that the most important thing you can do in this life is lead someone to Christ. God has given ALL of us the ministry of reconciliation. Next, invest real time with your unchurched/unsaved neighbors. As you do so, understand that authenticity begins by demonstrating real love that says to the other person, “I really care about you.” Finally, know that the more real you are with others, the more open they are to hear what you have to say. Be real and be ready, when the time comes, to give an answer for your hope.

This week, I challenge you to go out and engage with someone in your world – in your neighborhood or at your job. Invite them into your life. Have a real conversation that opens their heart to you, to Christ in you. Live a life that doesn’t stand in the way of the sinner, but one that leads them to the Lord!

I have made this for many people in my family and it is my absolute favorite lasagna recipe. I got it from Kraft and it is easy and simply delicious.
Here are a few tips:

You can use low fat ricotta, cheeses and lean or extra lean ground beef to make this healthier. I use wal-mart brand oven ready lasagna noodles. I spray the foil with Pam cooking spray. I also use Prego garden combination spaghetti sauce. One it is lower in fat and two it has lots of veggies so my kids will eat it and not realize it is packed with veggies it also is the best tasting sauce to me without breaking the bank. I also add garlic salt when I am cooking my ground beef just to give it some more seasoning. I know this works because my friends husband is pretty picky about his food and he cleaned his plate of my spaghetti. My friend got my cooking tips for how I make it and that is it garlic salt in the meat and in the cooking of the pasta along with extra virgin olive oil and prego spaghetti sauce. Now back to the lasagna. I hope you enjoy and it is absolutely delicious and easy!

Simply Lasagana

Ingredients:

1 container of ricotta cheese (15 oz)

2 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup of fresh parmesan cheese

1 egg lightly beaten

1 jar of spaghetti sauce

1 1b of cooked ground beef

uncooked lasagna noodles (3-4 noodles per layer)

1 cup of water

Making the lasagna:

Preheat the oven on 350*

Mix ricotta cheese, 1 ¼ mozzarella cheese, ¼ parmesan cheese and egg until well blended

After ground beef is cooked, pour spaghetti sauce into the pan, pour 1 cup of water into spaghetti sauce jar and shake it up and add to meat sauce. (The meat sauce will be runny at first but the water helps the noodles to cook so the finished product will not be runny).

Add 1 cup of meat sauce to the bottom of the 13 X 9 inch pan (noodles will not stick by doing this step)

Add 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture and meat sauce. Repeat 2 more times or until you run out of room. Top with remaining meat sauce.

Sprinkle remaining cheeses. Cover with greased foil and bake for 45 minutes or until cooked.

Remove foil and bake additional 15 minutes until bubbling. Let it cool for 15 minutes than serve.

Serves 12

I believe this is the title of this book by Ann Nolan. I heard it on the radio. It sounded interesting. She was saying that moms always put everyone else first and not themselves. I was just thinking about this yesterday and talking with a friend. We do put everyone else first. The laundry, the kids, husbands, chores, volunteering at your child’s school. It is hard not to. I do take a little time out everyday just to eat lunch and chill while Peanut is napping. I may watch a favorite TV show or something. I am also starting to get back to getting on the treadmill. I did it for a while then I got sick and you know the drill. She said let your time be personal to you whether that is listening the radio, taking a nap, reading a book or taking a walk. I sometimes will take a longer shower just to pray, sing and be by myself for 5 more minutes.

Also get your husband involved by taking date nights as a couple without the kids just to rekindle that relationship. Husband and I are using a little of our stimulus package money from the IRS to stay in a hotel, go to a movie and go to dinner for our anniversary. We have not been on a date since Valentines. This is all local but we wanted to to do something special just the two of us. I am looking forward to it. We are not taking a vacation because are trying to pay off our debt but we wanted to do something for us.

What do you do to get a little mommy time to yourself?