In Psalm 147:4, God counts the stars (humans have not been able to do that!) and calls them by name. Verse 5 then declares, “Great is the Lord and of great power; His understanding is infinite.”
Before GPS (the modern global satellite navigation system), planes had crew members—flight navigators—whose job was to use a process known as “celestial navigation” as a way to navigate long distances. “Celestial,” as it was called, used an instrument (a sextant) to look at certain heavenly bodies, such as stars, planets, the moon, and the sun. By using math and almanac tables, the navigator could determine the plane’s position. Today, GPS can compute a plane’s position at the speed of light!
I have long been intrigued by the use of celestial navigation—to the point of making the study of it somewhat of a hobby. What fascinates me is that this ancient (but still usable) method—using God’s astronomy—is still accurate to within a minute of a plane’s actual GPS-computed position. To this retired airline pilot, that’s impressive!
Genesis 1:16 speaks of the two great lights (the sun and the moon) that God created. Then, in what is almost an understatement, Scripture adds, “God made the stars also.” As I would look through the cockpit window (my front-row seat to viewing sky, clouds, stars, and more), it never ceased to amaze me that God perfectly placed each star in such a way that navigators from years gone by could use them as pre-GPS locators.
Be encouraged today as you think of this infinitely great Creator God who “determines the number of the stars” and “gives to all of them their names” (Psalm 147:4). He knows you; He loves you; He understands you; He is thinking of you; He cares about you; and He knows your name.
To learn more about celestial navigation, I invite you to read “How Things Work,” which I wrote several years ago for Smithsonian’s Air and Space Magazine. You may click here to read the article.
When our new favorite kitchen appliance meets a “Come on Over” recipe, the result is a Friday Favorite with a bonus! Your response to our new “Friday Favorites” posts has blown us away, so consider this combo an expression of our gratitude!
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase an item/items through clicking on a link, I will receive, at no additional cost to you, a commission from the seller.
For me, the air fryer is best described as “microwave meets crock pot” (and no, that is not truly an accurate description, but it’s how I view it). First, the negatives:
It’s large (but not huge). I keep ours on the kitchen counter because I have space to do so and because, right now, we are using it almost daily. As you’ll see below, the size is also one of its benefits.
The bell on the timer is not very loud. In fact, it is the same single “ring” as the half-past-the-hour chime on our antique clock, so I don’t always recognize that my food is done if I’m working in another room! I wish it were a little louder, but at least it’s a pleasant tone!
The one we chose is not digital, and I think some would like that. I personally like turning the knob to the time and temperature settings.
And now the positives (for your sake, I’ll only post the top six; there are many pluses for us):
It’s large enough to hold quite a bit of food. The 3.4-quart version that I have linked to throughout this post is the one we purchased. It’s the perfect size for the two of us. We had company earlier this week, and I think this one can easily prepare food for four people (or even more). The little mini skewers and rack are just that: “mini,” so I’m not sure that using those would do more than small portions for up to four.
I love NOT cooking with oil. Yes, you can use cooking spray in the basket or on the food itself, but unless it’s absolutely necessary, I’d skip it! Per the description on Amazon: “The Secura 3 2-Liter 3 4 Qt Electric Hot Air Fryer uses hot air in combination with high-speed air circulation (rapid hot air) and a top grill to prepare a variety of tasty dishes in a healthy, fast, and easy way.”
The time it takes to “preheat” (even to 400 degrees) is roughly three minutes!
Clean up is a breeze. I simply follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and use a paper towel or soft cloth to wipe out any excess, then I wash it (gently…no abrasives or scratchy sponges), dry it, and put the basket back in until next time!
It’s versatile…and comes with quick and easy recipes. It’s NOT just for French fries (as often thought or as often pictured). So far, we’ve made: sausage and hash browns for breakfast (straight from the freezer); bratwurst; grilled-cheese sandwiches; chicken-and-veggies shishkebabs; mixed veggies; chicken breasts; hard-boiled eggs, etc.
Yes, you read that right: hard-boiled eggs—without a drop of water and done to perfection. After a five-minute cold-water bath following the required time in the air fryer, I tapped the shells to crack them, and…true story…they slid right off!
Pricing:
We went with a 3.4-quart size, middle-range on pricing. HOWEVER…at least on my Amazon account, the Secura Air Fryer (which we purchased for its great reviews, ease of delivery, price, features…after many, many comparisons and much price watching) is currently 51% off at the time of this posting. So may I encourage you to purchase ASAP? It made the higher-priced one much more affordable for a “kitchen extra” that I more wanted than needed! So that’s why I’m posting now. But in all honesty, I’d even pay full price for this one, now that I’ve seen its benefits!
This past Monday, we had a college student over for the evening, and we did brats in the air fryer. Here’s how I cooked five of them:
Set temperature at 400 degrees
Set timer for 14 minutes: that’s 3 minutes to preheat, 1 minute to place the brats, 10 minutes of actual cooking time
Place up to six brats in bottom of basket
Check at five minutes; turn brats over if desired (but it wasn’t necessary)
Remove from basket (when timer sounds)…and enjoy!
Yep, it’s that easy! Done to perfection: no pink inside; slightly “crispy” outside; delicious!
I served the brats with this easy “Come on Over” recipe:
“Come on Over” Pasta Salad
Prep time: 30 minutes-ish Serves: 6 (or more!) From the kitchen of Brenda Henderson
Ingredients:
4 cups tri-color rotini pasta
3/4 cup diced onion (2 slices diced into small cubes)
3/4 cup diced celery (3 stalks diced into small cubes)
3/4 cup diced carrots (approx. 20 baby carrots diced into small cubes)
3/4 cup diced green pepper (1 small pepper diced into small cubes)
1 1/2 tsp lemon pepper
8-10 Tbsp Olive Garden Italian Salad dressing
Directions:
Prepare rotini pasta as directed on package. For me, I boil about four cups of water, add pasta, cook about 10-11 minutes (until soft, but not mushy). Then I strain off the hot water and transfer the pasta into a new bowl that has cold water in it (it’s worth washing one extra bowl!). Then I place it in the fridge until everything else is ready.
While brats are cooking, dice onion, celery, carrots and green pepper.
Place diced veggies in large bowl. Add 1/2 tsp of the lemon pepper and 4 Tbsp of the Olive Garden Italian Salad dressing. Stir to mix well.
Add the chilled (and fully drained) pasta to the veggies. Add the remaining lemon pepper and Italian dressing. Stir well (but don’t “smoosh” the pasta).
Garnish with sliced or whole green olives.
To keep leftovers or to make the day before, simply store covered in refrigerator. You may need to add a little extra dressing to freshen it up a bit!
Serving Ideas:
Serve as the primary side dish with air fryer brats. Add chips and salsa to spice up the meal and to add a little “crunch.”
Serve as the main entree by adding cubed ham or summer sausage. Serves with crackers.
Serve a scoop-sized portion on a bed of lettuce and serve with a lunch-meat sandwich.
Include other veggies that your family and/or guests enjoy!
Be sure to join us back here on Monday for a devotional challenge from “The Captain’s Corner!”
Hundreds of you are new to the blog in the past few years, and it’s time for a brief update on where you can find us and why we’ve chosen these platforms for sharing what we love to do. At the bottom of this post, you’ll find more about who “we” are!
This is where it all began. Our website is where you’ll find our blog, updates on our books (along with links for where to purchase them), and recipes for casual and easy entertaining.
The primary focus of our blog posts is practical Christian living—translating what we hear in sermons, learn in Bible studies, and read in Scripture into real-life applications and lessons.
Our tagline says it all: Ideas and Resources for Everyday Christian Living
You may subscribe to the blog posts to receive them in your Inbox. Be assured that we will never spam you or send you anything but our latest posts.
Every morning at 6:45, you’ll find a brief (2- to 5-minute) devotional challenge centered around a verse or passage of Scripture.
These are not designed to replace your personal time with God or your study of His Word. We share them to start your day with biblical truth, to encourage you when you need a quick verse to dwell on, and to whet your appetite for further and deeper study of Scripture.
You may subscribe to the morning devotionals by clicking the “Subscribe” button available on each video. To receive an e-mail notification when the new devotionals post, simply “ring the bell” (i.e., click the bell) next to the “Subscribe” button.
Instagram provides an outlet for Brenda’s love of photography. Through Instagram, she shares “Scripture Pictures,” which are primarily verses or biblically related quotations integrated with shareable photos.
These photos and others are posted to encourage and provide a source of inspiration and meditation throughout the week.
Be sure to “follow” the Basket Petals account to see our latest posts.
On our Facebook page, we often share links to our latest blog posts, offer words of encouragement, and continue our primary goal of providing ideas and resources for everyday Christian living.
Occasionally, Brenda will “Go Live” on Facebook, sharing “Girl Talk” over coffee and Scripture.
Be sure to “Like” or “Follow” the page to get the latest updates in your Facebook feed.
As for who “we” are…
“Captain Joe” and Brenda Henderson
The “bio” in our books says it best:
Brenda (Strohbehn) Henderson launched her faith-based blog, Petals from the Basket, in March 2012. As a woman who married for the first time at the age of fifty-five, Brenda brings a unique insight to the needs, joys, and concerns of women of all ages and from every marital status.
Joe Henderson, a retired international airline pilot, is lovingly called “Captain Joe” by all who know him well. Joe has joined Brenda in her love for writing and frequently contributes to their blog via “The Captain’s Corner,” where he intertwines his familiarity with the airline industry with practical biblical lessons.
The Hendersons reside in South Carolina, where they are active in their local church and enjoy writing, traveling, spending time with family, entertaining, and cheering on the Notre Dame football team!
Podcasts were something my friends listened to. I was unfamiliar with the podcasts’ value, so rather than take the time to find out, I just wrote them off as “mini sermons” or “abbreviated lessons” on various topics that I didn’t think I was interested in.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase an item/items through clicking on a link, I will receive, at no additional cost to you, a commission from the seller.
Notice that the first paragraph was written in the past tense. In last week’s “Friday Favorites” post (which you may read later by clicking here), I told you how much we enjoy our Echo Dot (“Alexa”). Because my siblings and I gave the Echo Dot to our mom for Mother’s Day, each time I call her I try to give her new ideas on how to get the most from “Alexa’s” abilities.
Enter: podcasts. My mom’s vision issues prohibit her reading an actual hard copy of a book, so audio books, sermon recordings, music, etc., are a true blessing to her. Since Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth is one of her favorite Christian authors, I decided to see if Mom could listen to a podcast or one of Nancy’s radio programs via Alexa.
The Revive Our Hearts broadcasts are not only available to my mom and others; they are now a part of my morning routine! The listening options are nearly limitless, and you may find them by clicking here. The topics center on practical Christian living and Bible study, and I find myself eager to keep listening and learning via this method! I can listen while I wash dishes, prepare dinner, fold clothes, or while I sit with my feet propped up while I drink my morning coffee in the sun room.
Filling my mind with truths graciously and truthfully shared from God’s Word is always a favorite worth sharing—whether it’s Friday or not!
If some random person came up and asked to
borrow my car, I would say no. If a friend asked, I’d probably hand her the
keys. (Notice the word probably! I do have a few friends who should
probably not be trusted with my keys!)
If a stranger handed me her Christmas list, I’d hand it back to her. If my family members handed me theirs, I’d joyfully provide what I could from the lists.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name” (Psalm 91:14, KJV).
When I read today’s promise, I can’t help
but be overcome with gratitude for the personal nature of our amazing God. He
longs to have a relationship with us that is close, genuine, and lasting. When
there is a bond between people, there are also the benefits of trust, love, and
frequent interaction.
As you study the names of God—and I urge you to do that if you haven’t already—you will see His character qualities revealed, thereby deepening your understanding of Who He is. Your love for Him will grow as your knowledge of Him increases!
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Joe and I are sharing our devotionals from the month of June (taken from our devotional book,Pages of Promises) on our YouTube channel this month. We invite you to join us there as well! Our 2- to 5-minute devotionals post every day at 6:45 a.m. This post is taken from the June 1 devotional in the book and was the featured devotional on the YouTube channel this morning.
