what we deserve & sweet potatoes

Hey friends! We had the launch of our church this past weekend and I'm slowly catching up on all things internet. Today is a sweet treat though because my friend Heather from Heather's Dish has an amazing recipe! Enjoy and make sure you check out the Naptime Diaries New Year Sale before it's over! 

My husband and I have turned into "those people." You know, the ones that sit back and talk about "kids these days" don't appreciate things the way we did, they feel entitled and narcissistic in ways we would never have dreamed of. "Kids these days" don't have respect for authority or the world order or the church or elders or whatever. These dang kids! Oh, and by the way, we're only 30. Still kids ourselves. 

The other day I was stewing on this for really no apparent reason when suddenly my son woke up from his nap early. "Dang it! Don't I deserve some peace and quiet to eat in peace? Don't I deserve to be able to make a quick meal without an interruption? Don't I deserve to have some chocolate after every meal and snack? I mean I work hard. REALLY hard. Don't I deserve...?!"

Suddenly it hit me. No. I don't deserve any of it. I don't deserve the beautiful marriage, the incredible husband, the healthy and smart and adorable little boy. I don't deserve the house we live in, the cars we drive, the dogs we have. I don't deserve to have the entire world at my fingertips. I don't deserve to pick and choose every little morsel that goes in my mouth. I don't deserve the unconscionable and never-ending love and grace of a Savior who laid down his life for me. I deserve nothing. 

And yet. I love Habakkuk 3:18 that starts off with, "And yet God..." Those three words change everything. I deserve nothing, AND YET GOD still delivers. He still brings me up out of the unfathomably dark places. He still gives his love and grace, his Word, his Spirit, his son Jesus even when every entitled statement in the world has been choked out. He loves us, he loves me, still. 

This place of truly understanding grace is, unfortunately, not one that I comprehend to the point that it's like breathing - it's not an unconscious understanding. I still have to stop, think about the fact that regardless of all the "good things" I do, it's still all done out of a sinful heart. I have to come to that place where true reflection happens and grace hits my heart like a ton of bricks. Like the verse in 'Amazing Grace' says, "The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope endures, He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures." If I lost everything and everyone I have, God is still my portion. He is still my everything. And God is so so very good, truly truly all the time.

Kind of heavy for a post with a chip recipe at the bottom, right? But here's where it comes together for me: I don't deserve to be picky about what I eat. I don't deserve to have the income to be able to buy whatever I want at the store. I don't deserve to have a body that is healthy. AND YET GOD has given me these resources to glorify Him. So I stop being picky about what I eat, I stop spending tons of money at the store, and I eat foods that will nourish this body well. I stop and I thank God for his graciousness and ask for the strength to use this voice and this money and this body to honor Him. I don't deserve any of it, but I am so very grateful.

These chips, you guys, are seriously amazing. They're a quick and healthy snack that you can truly season however you want. They're something you can make with or without kiddos (just be super careful when you're slicing!), and they can quell the snack monster like no one's business. Enjoy!

HEALTHY MICROWAVE SWEET POTATO CHIPS

Ingredients:

• 1 large sweet potato (it helps if it's long and skinny)
• nonstick cooking spray
• 2 teaspoons of your seasoning of choice (I love the Creole seasoning in the picture above, but you can honestly use whatever you love! Just salt, pepper and garlic powder is great too!)

Directions:

1. VERY thinly slice the sweet potatoes. A mandolin (I got mine at Walmart for a cool $7) works best for this for uniformity purposes, but please PLEASE be careful if you use one. They are super sharp!
2. Arrange the sweet potato slices on a microwave-safe plate.
3. Spray lightly with nonstick spray, then sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of your seasonings.
4. Turn the rounds over and repeat with the cooking spray and seasoning.
5. Microwave for 10 minutes at 60% power.
6. Carefully turn the rounds over again, then microwave for another 5-7 minutes at 70% power. 
7. Open the microwave door and walk away for 10 minutes. You want both the chips and the plate to be cool enough to handle!
8. Enjoy!