My house has golden windows. You see my bedroom windows face the rising sun, and each morning the reflects off my windows and appear to be made of gold, even from the inside. Each morning when I see this I smile. It is such a gift from God! It is such a parallel to my life. In the past I have been guilty of envy in a big way! I would look at how a person or family appeared from the outside (the distant golden windows) and compare that image to the reality of my own life (normal windows), which was less than desirable.

I praise God that I have been set free from that!  Not only have I been set free from the envy and self-focus. But my life has been transformed! Now, what you see is what you get in my family! Golden windows inside and out!   We appear happy and loving on the outside, and that’s how we treat each other even when there is no one else around. Ed sums it up best when he says “I love my little life!” I love my little life too! God is so sweet to give us all this peace that only comes through Him. The big secret? Contentment! We have learned to be content in any circumstance, to accept both the good and the bad from God. Though often what we consider bad, He uses for amazing good. Contentment is a choice and one that doesn’t always come easily. It does get easier with practice and it is far better for us emotionally, mentally and spiritually than discontent.

Discontent is a destructive thing. It tears marriages and families apart. It causes intense self-focus which in turn causes depression. It causes feelings of “deserving” something. UGH! I hate the word “deserve”.  Ezra had the right idea “What has happened to us is the result of our evil deeds and our great guilt and yet, our God, you have punished us far less than our sins deserved, and have given us a remnant like this” (Ezra 9:13 NIV 1984.) All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), what we deserve is death. Yet God, in His mercy, awoke each of us this morning. Some people seem to take that for granted. I was reading a blog this week and the young author stated that she was so grateful for Jesus and God’s mercy because she knew that tomorrow she would commit the same sins she committed today. I was truly saddened by this sentiment, but it is easy to see how discontent can arise when that is the teaching. People are taught that they are trapped in the same sins day in and day out, powerless to do anything about it. Or worse, taught that there isn’t any sin, that under Christ everything is permissible and yet their heart tells a much different story.

When read in it’s entirety, the Bible tells us a much different story however.  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)  What kind of horrible, sadistic God would tell us to be perfect if we couldn’t!? Would you tell your child that you expected them to do something that you knew was impossible? Why then are people taught that we will always be stuck in our sins? I could give you a whole “conspiracy theory” about our tithes, but lets give history the benefit of the doubt and just say that humans often choose what is easy over what is right. Over time what was once just easy has come to be seen as what is right.

Choosing contentment is not easy, but it is right.  Recognize that it is a choice! You are not stuck, you can lay down your sins and become more like Christ. This is also not easy, but it is right. Laying down sin is not a “work”, it is done out of love. Children imitate their heroes, they want to be just like them. If Christ was truly your hero you would want to imitate him, be just like him. Maybe hero worship sounds a bit too childish for you, but we must become like children in order to enter the Kingdom. (Mt 18:3) Worship God, make Him your hero, emulate Him, set aside your desires and make His desires your own.  It is not easy, but it IS right.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lived by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. (John 3:20-21)

I have often wondered about Pharaoh in this account. Was the Pharaoh who summoned Moses in the middle of the night the same man who rejected all of God’s previous instructions to let the Hebrews go, or was he a young man (or perhaps even a boy) who had just lost his father and oldest brother suddenly making him Pharaoh. Who out of desperate grief sent the Hebrews away, and then out of an equally desperate desire for vengeance perused them into the desert.

The Hebrews were spared from this most terrible of plagues, but God gave them something to do in order to be saved. We learned as children that they were instructed to slaughter a lamb and place some of the blood on the door frames to their houses. The death angel would see the blood and “pass over” those houses. The Hebrews were NOT guaranteed this pass over UNLESS they obeyed God’s instructions. We are not told that some disobeyed, like we are elsewhere in Exodus. That leads me to believe that there was 100% compliance, but who could blame them! After all, there had been 9 previous plagues and they endured the first 3 (blood, frogs and gnats) along with the Egyptians before God made a distinction between Goshen and Egypt.

Last night we had our Sedar dinner and as I was getting ready for bed I began to think about the plight of the Hebrews that night. Exodus 12:42 tells us that God kept vigil that night to bring His people out Egypt. I don’t think the Hebrews got much sleep either. I can imagine them clearly. The adults huddled together whispering, watching, and praying. The youngest children asleep, not knowing what that night was to hold. The older children trying to sleep, but sensing the tension in their parents, whimpering and unable to drift off. Perhaps the oldest children were told ahead of time what God had said He would do that night.

My church keeps vigil on this night, some signing up for times of prayer, others praying as God leads. Personally, I am in the “as God leads” group. I was up during the night several times in prayer. My mind wandered back to another Passover night many years ago, to another man who also spent a sleepless night praying. This man knew that the following day would be his last. He knew he would be executed, though he committed no crime. He ate the Passover lamb with his friends, then the next day he would become the Passover lamb for the entire world. He ate the unleavened bread and drank the red wine of Passover, then his body would become the bread and his blood would become the wine. He would tell his friends that if they loved him they would obey his commands (John 14:15 and John 14:23-24.) Just like the Hebrews had to obey the instructions of God in order to be saved, this man told his friends they must obey his instructions to be saved.

This week the majority of Christians will celebrate the empty tomb. And that is a GLORIOUS thing!  But that man, all alone, on his knees that Passover night will be all but forgotten. Our culture doesn’t like to contemplate the bad thing in life.  But the Passover lamb MUST be slaughtered, that is a command of God.  If not for the slaughter, there would be no body to put in the tomb, making the empty tomb a moot point. And even though the Passover lamb has been slaughtered, we still must obey in order to be saved.

“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am Coming back to you.’  If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

I have told you now before  it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming.  He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. (John 14:28 28-31a NIV)

Alaska Seafood Pizza

1 recipe pizza crust
3/4 cup crab meat (I used imitation crab)
3/4 cup tiny shrimp (I found frozen medium shrimp that was on sale)
1 can chunked pineapple
2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese
2 cups grated white Cheddar cheese

Make dough according to the recipe directions.  Press into pan.  Top with crab, shrimp, pineapple, Mozzarella and Cheddar cheese.
Bake at 350º for 30 minutes.

Pizza Carbonara

1 recipe pizza dough

1 pound bacon

2 cups white sauce

1 teaspoon chicken bullion granules

1 onion

2 cloves garlic

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1 pound Monterey Jack cheese

6 green onions, sliced (white and green parts)

Make dough according to recipe directions.  While the dough is rising, make the white sauce with a few variations.  Add the onion and garlic to the butter as it is melting and saute until the onion is translucent.   Then add the bullion granules when you add the milk.  Finally add the Parmesan while the sauce is thickening.  Next, cook the bacon until it is crispy, then crumble it after it cools.

Press dough into pan and top with the sauce.  Sprinkle the cheese over the sauce, then top with the crumbled bacon and green onions.   Bake at 350 for 30 minutes and let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Reuben Pizza

1 recipe pizza dough

1 bottle thousand island salad dressing

2 cups sauerkraut

1 pound corned beef- either sliced from a roast of from the deli section- cut into pieces

1 pound swiss cheese, shredded

Make dough according to recipe directions.  Press dough into pan and with a fork all over to keep it from getting too puffy, which makes the toppings difficult to get on.  Remove from oven and carefully spread the salad dressing over the crust (the burn on my wrist is nearly healed).  Top with cheese and corned beef.  “Sprinkle” with sauerkraut… sprinkle isn’t a good word, but the idea is to evenly distribute the sauerkraut so it isn’t in big clumps.  Return to oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted.  If you overbake, the meat and the sauerkraut will be dried out.  Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Beef and Cheddar Pizza

1 recipe pizza dough

2 cups white sauce

6 sliced American cheese

1 cup mayo

a squrit or two mustard

Adobo

1 pound ground beef (actually used a very small roast sliced very thin)

3 cups cheddar cheese

1 medium onion

Make dough according to directions.  Make white sauce according to recipe, melt in the American cheese.  Once the cheese is melted add the mayo, mustard and Adobo (to taste).  Cook beef and onions together in a skillet.  Press dough into pan top with sauce meat and cheese.  I would add mushrooms too if my husband wasn’t home.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, let cool 5 – 10 minutes before serving.

Meatball Pizza

1 recipe pizza dough

1 bag frozen meatballs

2-3 cups spaghetti sauce

3 cups mozzarella cheese

1 cup Parmesan cheese

Make dough according to recipe.  While it is rising cut meatballs into quarters (they were much easier to eat when they were cut.)  Press dough into pan. Top with sauce, mozzarella, meatballs and Parmesan.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Let cool 10 minutes before cutting.

Pesto Pizza

1 recipe pizza dough

1 8oz. jar pesto

1 to 1 1/2 cups asiago cheese

1 cup feta cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese

1 can diced tomatoes (or 2 fresh tomatoes diced)

Make dough according to directions.  Press into pan.  Stir pesto very well and spread over dough.  Sprinkle with mozzarella, feta and asiago.  Top with tomatoes.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, let sit for 5 minutes before cutting.  Serve and enjoy.  Mmmm pesto!

This idea came from another local pizza place.  I was looking at take-out menus for inspiration and thought this sounded good.  My husband took 2 bites and said “This is really good!” and Monday morning Ed (while eating leftover pizza for breakfast) described it as “Awesome!”  If you don’t like garlic though you may want to skip this one. But my family is of the opinion that there is no such thing as too much garlic.

Chicken Scampi Pizza

1 recipe pizza dough

about 16 breaded chicken fingers, diced (you could also use diced cooked chicken)

1/2 cup butter

3-4 medium cloves garlic, minced (or put through a press)

4 cups mozzarella cheese

1 cup Parmesan cheese

Adobo seasoning

Make dough according to recipe. Press into pan.  Melt butter in a small sauce pan add garlic and cook for a few moments until fragrant.  Brush top of dough with garlic butter. Add chicken to remaining garlic butter and toss to coat (add more butter if you need it.)  Dump contents of pan onto dough.  Arrange chicken evenly over the surface.  Top with mozzarella and Parmesan.  Sprinkle Adobo over the whole surface.  Bake 350 for 30 minutes, let cool briefly before cutting.

Odds and Ends Cheese Pizza

1 recipe pizza dough

1 jar spaghetti sauce

3-4 cups cheese, grated- I used cheddar, American, Parmesan and mozzarella

Adobo Seasoning

Make dough according to recipe directions.  Press into pan.  Top with sauce and cheeses. Sprinkle with Adobo.   Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Let cool about 10 minutes.  You will want this one to cool a bit longer to let the cheese set slightly so it stays on the crust.