Looking Up: A Guest Post by Janet McHenry

Audio By Carbonatix

This week, I’d like to feature a wonderful author and dear friend of mine, Janet McHenry. This holiday letter from her is chock-full of holiday gift ideas, recipes, and more. Enjoy!

Dear friends,

What are you pondering this Christmas season?

• How you’ll get a tree and the house all decorated?
• How you’ll buy and fix a ton of food?
• How you’ll pay for a slew of presents . . . and get them wrapped on time?

There was one woman who also pondered a lot: Mary. Let’s remember a few things:

• The Holy God had chosen her, a virgin, to give birth to His one and only Son, Jesus.
• She walked or rode a donkey 75 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem in her ninth month of pregnancy.
• She gave birth to Jesus in what was probably a cave.
• An angel chorus announced Jesus’s birth.
• And shepherds came to visit (picture: hundreds of sheep peeking into that cave).

The scripture tells us, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19 NIV, my emphasis).

I love that word, pondered. And I loved it even more upon learning it means “to throw together” in the Greek. All those thoughts running wild in Mary’s head: baby, angels, shepherds . . . 

and perhaps, “Now how do I nurse a baby?”.

So . . . that pondering thing we are all doing right now–the throwing together of decorating ideas and concerns about family tensions and the expense and work of presents and such?

Well, we can just throw those ponderings (and ourselves) at the foot of our Savior and trust him for the details.

Because . . .

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,

The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” ~Isiah 9:6 KJV

And because the government (as well as everything else) is upon his shoulder, the Prince of Peace can reign in my heart . . . even when things seemingly still need to be thrown together.

Christmas blessings!

Janet McHenry

FOOD FUN

Okay, friends, ‘tis the time to make fun hors d’oeuvres, isn’t it? Since I have weaned myself off sugar and simple carbs, I thought I’d rally up some keto recipes to share with you. 

TACO NESTS

Ingredients: 

• 1 pound ground beef: crumbled, cooked with taco flavoring, drained (I used 1 rounded tablespoon of McCormick Taco Seasoning.)
• Grated Mexican cheese mix
• 1 large onion, sliced in 1/2 slices

Directions: 

• Heat oven to 425 degrees
• Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper
• Sprinkle a little cheese in three-inch circles
• Place one onion ring on each circle of cheese
• Fill the onion ring with the cooked taco meat
• Sprinkle additional cheese on top
• Bake until cheese melts
• Let them cool a minute or so, then place on a platter and watch them disappear!

Makes about 2 dozen

NOTE: I make them flat on a baking sheet, but to make the alternative in the photo, melt five-inch circles of cheese separately on the parchment-covered cookie sheet. When they come out of the oven, slip them carefully into muffin tins until cool to make a cup out of the cheese. Then you can fill it with any taco-type fillings such as the meat, beans, cheese, avocado, tomato, and sour cream or salsa.

JALAPENO POPPERS

This appetizer recipe is from my brother Pete, who is an amazing cook.

Ingredients:

• 1 dozen large, fresh jalapenos
• 1 8-oz package block cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 pound of thin bacon
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Using rubber gloves, wash and de-seed jalapenos, then slice then in half, lengthwise.
• Set aside 12 slices of bacon. Cook the rest of the bacon until crisp, then crumble it into bits.
• In a medium bowl thoroughly mix cream cheese, bacon bits, and a generous amount of cheese.
• Slice the remaining slices of uncooked bacon in half.
• Stuff the jalapeno halves with the cream cheese mixture.
• Wrap the jalapenos snugly with a half-slice of the bacon.
• Set the filled jalapenos facing up, on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
• Bake 1 to 1-1/2 hours, watching carefully until the bacon is crispy.
• Let them cool a few minutes, then place on a platter and watch them disappear!

Makes 24

SMOKED DEVILED EGGS

This is an extra from brother Pete! Genius!

Directions:

• Smoke uncooked eggs on the barbecue for 90-120 minutes at about 210 degrees.
• Immediately immerse eggs in bowl with cold water and lots of ice. Wait 15 minutes, then peel.
• Slice eggs lengthwise in half.
• Scoop out yolks into a medium bowl, mash, and mix with mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, a bit of prepared mustard, and ground pepper.
• Scoop filling back into eggs (you can use a pastry bag for uniformity) and top with a bit of paprika.

CHRISTMAS BITES

Get your kids or grandkids to help you assemble these!

Ingredients: 

• 2 T. olive oil
• 2 T. balsamic vinegar (your choice of flavor)
• 1/4 T. dried oregano
• 1/4 t. salt
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 20 grape tomatoes
• 40 fresh basil leaves
• 20 mini fresh mozzarella balls
• Wooden skewers about 6 inches in length

Directions: 

• In large bowl whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Add the mozzarella balls and stir.
• Thread onto skewers in this order: basil leaf, mozzarella ball, basil leaf, tomato.

Makes 20

CHEX MIX

And for the non-keto crowd, my family recipe for Chex Mix that will surpass any other because . . . hello . . . BACON!

Ingredients: 

• 1 large box Rice Chex
• 1 large box Corn Chex
• 1 box Wheat Chex (only comes one size)
• 2 15-oz. cans potato sticks
• 16-oz. package pretzel sticks
• 16 oz. peanuts
• 1 c. bacon grease
• 1 c. butter
• 1 T. Tobasco sauce
• 2 T. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 t. onion salt
• 1 t. garlic salt
• 1 t. seasoned salt

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• In small saucepan melt together the butter, bacon grease, sauces, and salts.
• In two large roasting pans evenly mix the Chex cereals, potato and pretzel sticks, and peanuts.
• Stir melted mix together and evenly pour over the Chex mix in the pans. Stir mix with two large spatulas.
• Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Cool completely in pans before storing in sealed containers.

Makes 8 gallons of Chex mix.

NOTE: Put this in pretty tins or glass canisters for a hostess gift!

HOLIDAY HUGS

I’ve been keeping my eye out for unique, helpful gifts this year that aren’t too expensive. When you’ve got 30 names on your list, you’ve got to plan carefully. (Some prices are from Black Friday sales.)

Four-way cable for tech devices

Every once in a while I’ll forget a cord I need to plug in something. I got this so I could just keep it in my suitcase. $8

Travel case for cables

This will hold that cable, plus a couple other similar things. $7

Pride and Prejudice coin purse

This is adorable. I ordered one for a book launch giveaway, and the recipient loved it. There is also a larger wallet size. $9 and $20

Portland Leather (anything)

I’ve ordered toiletry bags for men for the guys in my family. They are beautifully made. Anything from this site would be a lovely gift, and at this writing, there was a 30% off coupon for Black Friday. There are lovely products for women too; a cross-body bag would be cool! And isn’t this laptop sleeve gorgeous? $56

Travel clear makeup bag

I’m repeating this suggestion of a few months ago because I LOVE this product. It holds all my toiletries and my makeup. I bought an extra for my jewelry when I’m going to a conference and need to be fancy (I pack each day’s jewelry items in separate pull-tie bags. It is VERY well-made, and I also love that it sits well on a bathroom sink counter and that I can see everything in it. $20

Bluetooth beanie

I think teen boys and active young adult men would like this beanie that has a built-in bluetooth they could connect to their phone. $19

Adidas sandal

Kids like these, and they’re made in all kinds of sizes. Athletes especially wear them after their games, so they’re not wearing their game shoes going to/coming from a game–even basketball players in the dead of winter, LOL. $15-$20

Friend mug

This just makes me smile. There’s one for a sister too. $10

52 Prayers of Blessing for Women

This beautiful, leatherette-bound book would bless any woman in your life. Written by my dear, late friend, Lucinda Secrest McDowell, it offers insightful prayers that truly will inspire a closer connection to God. She died last year a month after her cancer diagnosis, and her book released this fall .

Fighting Words game

My sister Nan was always great about finding the latest game to bring to family gatherings at Christmas, so I know she’d be proud of me for finding this fun game. You roll the dice and then quickly try to create a crossword puzzle out of it. I got one for my 97-year-old mom because she can’t see the fine print of crossword puzzles anymore, and this is something she could play on her own. $24

Herd Mentality game

This is called an “udderly hilarious board game,” and I had to pick this one . . . because of, you know, The Rancher (although he raises beef, not dairy cattle). You flip over a question and try to guess what your friends and family are thinking. If you’re the odd one out, you get the pink cow. LOL. But I think I’d like strawberry flavored milk!

A Few More Places to Find
Christmas Treasures: 

• eBay: Look on eBay for items first. You can find brand-new items in original packaging. And you’re supporting folks with cottage businesses.
  
• Craft fairs: Support your local folks at craft fairs.
  
• Small businesses: Retailers often rely on Christmas sales for 50 percent of their annual income. Shop local! I love our local ones: Sierra Valley Home Center, Lombardi Mercantile, and the Loyalton Thrift Store–which is where I’m headed in an hour for the big Christmas sale! Fun! I love thrifting!

BOOK BUDDIES

Or . . . there are some really great books that have been released!

The first is Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn. I met Robin at the Mount Hermon Writers Conference in the early 1990s. She and I became part of a group of writers called One Heart, praying for each other’s families and writing ventures over many years.

While Robin has written over 100 books, I particularly loved her Sisterchicks books about women friends who traveled to wonderful places together. So I was delighted to see what I hope is just the first of many more similar kinds of books. In this book two young women travel together to Africa with emotional baggage (don’t we all have a little of that?). Any sisterchick of yours will love this.

The other lovely author I’d love to share with you this month is LaTan Roland Murphy, whose most recent book is His Strength, Her Joy: Finding God-Powered Fulfillment. I love that Latan uses chunks of scripture for her chapters, which include sections titled “Let’s Look Again,” “Let’s Gather His Strength,” and “Let’s Get Stronger”–to summarize teachings, provide scripture references for study, and guide reader reflection and discussion opportunities. It would be perfect for small groups.

I met Latan in person for the first time this summer at a writer’s conference. We had a dear mutual friend in Jennifer Kennedy Dean (who passed away in 2019), and we were just drawn together so easily. I just love how rich conversation can knit souls together forever!

WRITERLY

Or . . . here’s a gift idea for you, family members, and friends . . . my newest book,

Looking Up: Finding Joy as You Read and Pray Through the Bible 365 Daily Devotions (Our Daily Bread Publications).

This is ideal for anyone who . . .

• Wants to read through the Bible in a year.
• Wants to have a companion book that helps you find joy in those Bible readings that seem obscure.
• Wants to learn how to pray scripture.
• Wants a little joy infusion each day of the year.
• Or just has about five minutes a day to get a bite of God’s Word for the day ahead.

Or . . . for any of my books that you might like personalized, you can go to MY STORE!

Sometimes Christmas comes early!

Last month at the West Coast Christian Writers Conference I was awarded this Goldie Award called God’s Word Is Alive . . . 

“For an author who has published an excellent Bible study, devotional, or book that brings the Bible to life in a unique way.” 

I was stunned and humbled. I just pray God is glorified through whatever I say, do, or even think.

Additional Resources

Journal Through the Bible in 2024

Have you ever wanted to read through the Bible but found yourself giving up? Or even worse, you read the chapters and at the end question how they apply to your life. Tricia Goyer understands. For years she felt frustrated that she couldn’t stick to her commitment to read God’s Word all the way through. Things changed when she found a doable plan and wrote out a daily prayer. Tricia’s heart changed. Her life did, too.

God can bring real transformation into your heart and life when you daily commit to reading your Bible and praying through God’s Word. Praying through the Bible in One Year offers a guided reading plan and a daily prayer starter to help you make God’s Word applicable to your life. Discover the inspiration for real-life transformation.

Purchase a copy of Praying Through the Bible in One Year HERE.