This year we, Orlando, are going to have outdoor ice skating! And to this woman who grew up ice skating and skiing that’s music to my ears. I’ve been desiring to ice skate for over a year. Light up UCF is…

Orlando’s newest and most affordable holiday tradition offering the area’s biggest free holiday light show, free outdoor Holiday Film Festival and Orlando’s only outdoor skating rink. Open daily from November 14 until January 2. Come early and skate late. Parking is Free and skating tickets are just $10 and can be purchased at the UCF Arena Box Office or in advance at www.lightupucf.com.

This starts Friday so make your plans now! I’ll definitely be going.

Mike preached on “Gospel-Centered Labor” this week.  He used Colossians 3:22-26 to show that whatever work we do, we should do it unto the Lord.  I love the quote that he used from Abraham Kuyper.  “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!”.  Because all things are God’s, He is the One that we should be serving in our work.  I loved the idea of walking into my place of work and realizing that this place is claimed for Christ.  That He is redeeming it for Himelf, and He is using me to advance His reign in that place. 

Just over 50 years after the African-American Civil Rights Movement started Tuesday night our country witnessed an historic event as the first black American was voted in as our 44th president. I admit I was emotional.

Despite who you voted for let’s be praying for our president-elect and our president during this time of transition and during this hard economic time. This is a hard time for our country and despite things looking, feeling and being bleak we need to remember that God is ALWAYS in control.

Saucy Steak Skillet from Valerie Enlow

1 lb round steak (or cube steak), cut into pieces
¼ cup flour
1 Tbsp oil
1 large onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 can (16 oz) whole potatoes, drain and reserve liquid
¼ cup catsup
1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 tsp bell pepper flakes
½ tsp marjoram
1 tsp instant beef bouillon
¼ tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen Italian green beans
1 jar (2 oz) sliced pimento, drained

Coat beef pieces with flour, pound into beef.  Brown in oil in 10” skillet, push beef to side.  Cook and stir onion in oil until tender, drain.  Add enough water to reserved potato liquid to measure 1 cup.  Mix potato liquid, catsup, Worsestershire sauce, pepper flakes, boullion, salt, marjoram and pepper.  Pour on beef and onion.  Heat to boiling, reduce heat.  Cover and simmer until beef is tender – 1 ¼ - 1 ½ hours.

Rinse frozen beans under running water to separate.  Add potatoes, beans and pimento to skillet.  Heat to boiling, reduce heat.  Cover and simmer until beans are tender: 10 – 14 minutes.

“In between one place and another, we’re vulnerable to the discomfort of our transitory state. If the trip is long or taxing, at odd mile markers our restlessness overrides expectation, or even drifts into despair. When trouble comes we may wonder why we ever embarked at all - or simply stop short of our intended destination, insisting (like the Israelites east of Jordan) that the spot we’ve settled for is adequate enough, thank you. The best of all journeys may be a hard road to a good place; perhaps fully experiencing the hard, unpredictable road helps us to recognize the good place when we arrive…”

This is the first section of Leigh McLeroy’s book entitled The Beautiful Ache. It is a fantastic book that I highly recommend. The subtitle of the book is “Finding the God Who Satisfies When Life Does Not.” And life doesn’t satisfy, sometimes I think that it does, but the satisfaction is always fleeting. I really like the quote above, mostly because I see so much of myself in it. I am so like the Israelites sometimes, camping out where I am… telling God, “okay this looks good, I’ve got it from here.” Instead of letting Him lead me to better (though most likely harder) places.

I was privileged to have the opportunity to hear Leigh McLeroy speak at a retreat with women from Reformed Theological Seminary this past weekend. She is a really cool lady and a fantastic speaker and writer. Check out her website at www.wednesdaywords.com.