December 25, 2024

Oven-Roasted Pork Chops with Lemon-Caper Sauce

October 9, 2015 by
Pork Chop with Capers
Where others have a sweet tooth, I have a sour tooth.  I’ve been known to use only vinegar, and skip the oil, when dressing my salad.  I eat cornichons like other people eat bonbons.  So when I saw this recipe for Oven-Roasted Pork Chops with Lemon-Caper Sauce , I knew I was going to like it.
Using a recipe from my “Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook”, I skipped the step of brining my pork chops, mostly because I didn’t read the recipe far enough in advance to do it before dinner. They came out fine without it, and were very juicy. These were easy, quick, and nearly fool-proof. They were tart and tangy (but not puckery, so if you are not a sour-lover like me, you won’t be put off.) 
 
Oven-Roasted Pork Chops with Lemon-Caper Sauce
(adapted from The Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook)
 
Ingredients:
  • 4 pork chops, about 1+1/2 inches thick, trimmed of excess fat
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 medium shallot, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup juice from 2 lemons
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat, and brown the pork chops on one side, for about 2 minutes. Flip and brown the other side, another 2 minutes.
  2. Transfer the chops to a foil-lined baking sheet, or large, wide baking dish (so they aren’t crowded or touching each other.) Roast in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 140 to 145 degrees on a thermometer, about 15 minutes, turning them over halfway through the cooking time. Remove from the oven, place on a platter, and cover with aluminum foil. Let them rest for about 5 minutes, and check to make sure the internal temperature has reached 150 degrees.
  3. While the chops are in the oven, add the shallot to the skillet you cooked the pork chops in, and cook over medium heat until softened, about 30 seconds.
  4. Increase the heat and add the broth, stirring to scrape up any bits stuck to the pan. Add the lemon juice and capers and cook until the sauce reduces to about 1/3 cup, about 4 minutes.
  5. Off the heat, whisk in the butter, and pour over the pork chops.
Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

To view even more of Dana’s unique recipe, you can visit her at Frugal Girlmet

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Forever, O Lord

October 9, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven
[standing firm and unchangeable].
Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation;
You have established the earth, and it stands [securely].
Psalms 119:89-90

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Listen to a beautiful chorus to help us memorize this passage….

Forever, oh, Lord
Your Word is settled in heaven
Your faithfulness, Lord
Continues to all generations
Your covenant magnified
Exalted along with Your holy name
Rejoicing in promises
I meditate on Your righteous ways
I lift up my hands and praise the power of Your command
Forever, O Lord, Your Word shall stand
Forever, O Lord, Your Word shall stand
Integrity Hosanna! Music
written by David Morris

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Just Be Held

October 9, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on
And when you’re tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There’s freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go

So when you’re on your knees and answers seem so far away
You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place
I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm
You’ll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the Cross
You’ll know I always have and I always will
And not a tear is wasted
In time, you’ll understand
I’m painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

Lift your hands, lift your eyes
In the storm is where you’ll find Me
And where you are, I’ll hold your heart
I’ll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who won’t let go

Casting Crowns
Songwriters: John Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, Matthew West

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

I talk to people about life on a regular basis, and most times those conversations revolve around the times when life is not so great.  Life gets overwhelming, it gets busy, it gets hard.  And we find ourselves in a place where we may not feel as strong as we would like.

I have heard the verse, “Be still and know that I am God”(Psalm 46:10) used time and time again.  But I have asked myself <and God>: “What are we are supposed to be doing while we are being still.”  This song answers that question—we are supposed to just be held.  We are supposed to let ourselves be wrapped in God’s love and find rest.  We are supposed to remind ourselves that we don’t have to keep trying to hold on. Like the song says, He is on the throne holding our lives together, and He will hold us.

I urge you to take comfort in these words….

Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place;
I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held….  

Ladies, remember Who is holding you, remember Who sits on the throne.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Heavenly Father, we cannot hold our world alone…life gets too much to handle at times, but it is never too much for You to handle.  Thank You for holding us.  In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Reassurance

October 8, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Forever, O Lord,
Your Word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations;
You established the earth, and it stands.
Psalms 119:89-90 NASB

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Nothing is more permanent than the Word of God.  The Word of God is constant and unchanging.  1 Peter 1:25a HCSB tells us “But the Word of the Lord endures forever.” God’s Word is firmly settled in Heaven forever! It is not an opinion. 2 Timothy 3:16a ESV says “All Scripture is breathed out by God”—our God who reigns from Heaven above.

Psalm 89:2b makes the faithfulness of God’s Word very clear.

You establish Your faithfulness in the heavens (HCSB)
Your faithfulness is as enduring as the Heavens (NLT)

God’s Word is settled in Heaven and His faithfulness is as enduring as the Heavens.  That constant stability reassures me.

God’s Word doesn’t vary by culture.  It is applied the same way to all societies.  The settled Word of God was, and still is today, a demonstration of His faithfulness that extends across ALL generations.  Not some, not a few, not most – ALL generations. puts it like this: ”

Therefore know [without any doubt] and understand
that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God,
Who is keeping His covenant and His [steadfast] lovingkindness
to a thousand generations.
Deuteronomy 7:9 AMP

The truth of God is absolute.  Isn’t that the most reassuring thing you have heard?  It is unchanging in nature, applies equally to all, and cannot be challenged.  I love this quote from Chuck Smith:

“If you find yourself arguing with the Word, you’re wrong.”
(click here to read the entire article)

Look at the world today…everything is being challenged.  Nothing is constant.  We live in an unstable world.  But these two verses point our minds heavenward so that we use Heaven as our Anchor to hold us steady.  Matthew Henry paraphrased Isaiah 40:6 like this: “All flesh is grass but the Word of the Lord endures forever.”  Forever—that is our Anchor.  And that, my friends, is what I call reassurance.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Father, thank You so much for the reassurance Your faithfulness and unchanging nature give us.  Thank You for the hope we find in knowing Your Word is settled in Heaven and continues through all generations. Thank You for providing us with a steady anchor in the midst of the storms of this world. In Your Holy name we pray -Amen, it is so!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

His Word Endures

October 7, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Your Word, O Lord, is eternal it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues through all generations,
You established the earth and it endures.
Psalms 119:89-90

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

The word of God is eternal.  All things shall pass away but the Word of God stands firm.

Long ago I learned from Your statutes that You established them to last forever.
Psalm 119:152

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the Word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8

The Word of God stands forever.  All created life is frail and weak and will ultimately come to an end (see Psalms 103:15-16).  God does not do things to please us but to please Himself.  He does that for the glory of God to be manifested as we stand trusting in His Word and it comes to pass in our lives.  Loved ones, the Word of God is truth and nothing can compare with it.  Men will say words and and break their promise but with our God what He says He shall do.  He is not man to lie nor son of man to change his mind (Numbers 23:19). When He says, “I shall neither leave you nor forsake you…” (Deuteronomy 31:6), He means it.

Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will never pass away.
Matthew 24:35

For all men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field,
the grass withers and the flowers fall
but the Word of the Lord stands forever.
1 Peter 1:24-25

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word that stands firm eternally.  May this Word be firm also in our lives eternally that we sin not against You.  Thank You for the privilege to be called Your very own.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The More I Seek You

October 7, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The more I seek You
The more I find You
The more I find You
The more I love You

I wanna sit at Your feet
Drink from the cup in Your hand
Lay back against You and breathe, feel your heart beat
This love is so deep, it’s more than I can stand
I melt in Your peace, it’s overwhelming

Christ For The Nations Worship
written by Zac Neese

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Seeking God can be done in any number of ways; such as,

  • reading the Scriptures (Psalm 119:2)
  • singing praises (Psalms 104:33-34)
  • praying (Jeremiah 29:11)
  • times of worship (corporate and personal) (Psalm 63:1)
  • calling upon Him (Isaiah 55:6)

But, no matter how you seek God, it is ‘all your heart’ that is required.

But if…you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him
if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God….
1 Chronicles 22:19

And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord,
the God of their fathers,
with all their heart….
2 Chronicles 15:12

So, as we seek Him—whether through our prayers, our praises, our thanksgiving, our study of His Word—our whole heart must be engaged.

And another thing that I do believe is required as we seek Him is quiet—actual physical-absence-of-distracting-noise quiet.

Our Lord recognized His need for quiet.  If He, in His perfect sinless life, needed quiet time alone to seek His Father…we do too and even more so!  His example speaks clearly to us.

And in the morning, long before daylight,
He got up and went out to a deserted place,
and there He prayed.
Mark 1:35

…and great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities.
But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Luke 5:15, 16

Along with quietness in our surroundings, perhaps even more important is quietness in our hearts.  This is something that I believe each of us yearns for and, truly, can only be found as we seek Him.  There is an incomparable quietness that we are promised as we trust in our Lord.

Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him;
Psalm 37:7

Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10

Come to Me,
all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened,
and I will cause you to rest.
Matthew 11:28

I love those that love Me; and those that seek Me diligently shall find Me.
Proverbs 8:17

As you seek Him, my friends, He will be found…He promises!

Then you will call upon Me,
and you will come and pray to Me,
and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12 and 13 AMP

{before you go any further, may i suggest that you take a
few moments to simply seek Your God and be found in His Presence}

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Spoken Word

October 6, 2015 by

Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations;
You established the earth, and it stands.

Psalms 119:89-90

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Growing up in a small town, nothing is ever hidden for long.  People love to talk.  They often do not realize their words can hurt and cause irreparable damage to others.  No one knew (other than one or two) my secret.  But I felt I needed to tell my brother and sister-in-law when I found out they were letting their daughter spend the night at my parent’s home and her sleep in the bed with my dad.  Little did I know when I did share with them that my sister-in-law would go around telling everyone in the town I had lived in.  I was trying to protect my niece…not hurt mom and dad.  Mom asked me about it, and I told her I told my brother to protect my niece; and she was angry.

Was I wrong?  I don’t think so.  It did, however, change a few things.  Dad did say he was sorry for what he had done to me, but said he would never have hurt my niece.  How was I to trust that?  I pray he never did.   The secret was out and I did not have to hide that any longer.  What did hurt though was the words my sister-in-law spread.  My brother and she are no longer married due to some other things, but I believe God is just and merciful in all situations, because He said we are not to exact revenge on others.

Genesis chapter 1 tells us how God created everything with His spoken Word.  He spoke and it was.  And in just six days.  Genesis 2 tells us God rested on the seventh day. After He rested He created man, Adam, in His own image.  Can you imagine how lovely Adam was?  Perfect in every way.  Then God gave Adam charge over the Garden of Eden.  From the beginning of time God has given us work to do.  And He also gave us rules.

But the LORD God warned him,
“You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden
— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.
Genesis 2:17
Adam did not have a problem obeying.  God then created Eve, from Adam’s rib, to be a helpmate in the perfect world God created and placed them in. God fellowshipped with Adam and Eve…walking with them and talking with them everyday.  Then a serpent entered the scene.  He thought he would tempt the woman with the fruit growing on the tree in the middle of the garden—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
He was very sly.  He told Eve she would not die and made her look at the fruit and observe how appetizing it looked.  He also told her she would have knowledge just like God of good and evil.  We do not know what truly enticed her to eat, but the serpent caused her to look at the fruit and want it.  Then she shared with Adam after he observed that she did not die.
God gave them consequences for disobeying.  He knew they would but He was disappointed all the same.  Their disobedience (as well as our own sin) has separated us from God.
 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 
Father, we thank You for telling us You love us. Thank You for grafting us into Your Kingdom when we accepted Your Son, Jesus, in our hearts.  Send Your Holy Spirit to show us when we stray and go off course.  Let us seek Your Word, grow Your Word in our hearts and be able to share Your love and grace with everyone…even family.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , ,

Faithful Promises

October 5, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.
Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
as enduring as the earth You created.
Psalms 119:89-90

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

The thing I love about God’s Word is that no matter how I am feeling, no matter what is going on around me, no matter what other people say, and no matter what my mind or eyes see God’s promises take rank over all of it.

God’s promise is always true. Sometimes it is hard to see this, but it is true. You know, when bad things happen God does not cause them.  He is a good God, therefore, He is incapable of doing wrong or bad.  He can only do good. It is hard for us to understand because we, as humans, can do both. However, God is not like us in this aspect.  He can only do good.

Let me say it again, He can ONLY do good.

God’s word says that He has come to give us life and that He has come to give us that life abundantly (John 10:10).  Here are a few of my favorite promises:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you.
Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart
and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29

And this same God who takes care of me
will supply all your needs from His glorious riches,
which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart.
And the peace I give is a gift the world can’t give.
So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27

Knowing God’s promises isn’t enough…we have to believe them no matter what.

Hebrews 10: 23 (my favorite verse) says,
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,
for God can be trusted to keep His promise.”

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How Majestic Is Your Name

October 5, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

O Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth
O Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth

O Lord, we praise Your name
O Lord, we magnify Your name
Prince of peace, mighty God
O Lord, God Almighty

O Lord, we praise Your name
O Lord, we magnify Your name
O Lord, we praise Your name
O Lord, we magnify Your name

Prince of peace, mighty God
O Lord, God Almighty
Prince of peace, mighty God
O Lord, God Almighty
We magnify Your name

Sandi Patty along with the Nashville String Machine Orchestra
written by Michael W. Smith

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

O Lord, our Lord, How majestic and glorious and excellent
is Your name in all the earth!
You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.
Psalm 8:1 AMP

O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:9 NASB

As many of you know, we moved from Colorado to Missouri this summer. Adjusting has been a struggle for me. I miss the beauty of the mountains, the hiking trails, and spending time in nature.  However, I have found a couple of nearby walking trails.  Last week as I was admiring the majestic towering trees, this song popped into my head and stuck.  So y’all know me 😉 I was off to do some research….

Majestic refers to being “impressive or beautiful in a dignified or inspiring way” (thefreedictionary.com). Other definitions include: “of lofty dignity or imposing aspect; stately; grand; beautiful”.

In order to put it into a Biblical perspective, I searched for verses describing God as majestic.  Job 25:5 NLT tells us that God is more glorious, more majestic than the moon.  Psalm 76:4 NLT says “You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains.”  (This verse really caught my attention.)  Psalm 93:4 HCSB states “Greater than the roar of many waters— the mighty breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is majestic.”  And Exodus 15:11 NASB asks “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?”

Stop for a minute and think about this:

nothing and no one can compare to the majesty of our God

Nothing!  Not even my beloved mountains.  No where in Heaven or on earth will you find anyone or anything as majestic as Him. Wow!  Then I came across Psalm 145:5 NLT

I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.

We are called to meditate on His majestic splendor.  I realized that God’s glorious majesty surrounds me—no matter where I am.  And, as I admire the beauty of my surroundings, it gives me pause to meditate on His majesty and proclaim

“O, Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth”
and praise His Holy Name!

Lord, How majestic is Your name—impressive, beautiful, and inspiring us to praise You and magnify Your name.   We cannot even begin to know just how majestic You are.  The things we believe to be beautiful  do not even begin to compare to You.   But I thank You for sharing brief glimpses of Your majesty to me through my surroundings and for reminding me that Your majesty always surrounds me, if I choose to see it.  In Your name, I pray – Amen, it is so!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Faithful

October 4, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Forever, O Lord,
Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable].
Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation;
Psalms 119:89-90

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

You know my future
like You knew my past
Your word concerning me
was made to last forever

I know Your Word is Your integrity
And that You’ll do
just what You said You would
You are faithful

Heaven and earth will pass away
But Your Word will remain
Your Word will remain faithful
Though all I have is stripped away
To You I remain
To You I remain faithful

I know that Your love is forever strong
And I will sing about it
All day long, forever

I know that there is
no one else like You
No one else can do the things You do
You are faithful

Hillsong United

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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