Leftover Casserole Christian

Amy Anguish

Every now and then I go through the leftovers in my fridge and think, “Mmmm … casserole.” Especially this time of year, when we start to get an evening or two with slightly cooler temperatures. Being a Southern girl, casseroles are obviously a staple, especially the kind with cheese all over the top. However, I’m also the kind of cook who hardly ever uses a cookbook. I’ve taken a casserole to a Church luncheon and been asked the recipe. I literally have to go back and remember exactly what I put in it: some of the leftover chicken, some leftover beans and rice, half a can of cream of chicken soup, some sour cream and salsa, and part of the bag of corn from the freezer. And don’t forget the crumbled tortilla chips and cheese on top. It’s sort of an upgrade on the taco casserole my mama used to make when we were growing up. My family tolerates my cravings for soul food like this, and usually eat their one helping, leaving the leftovers for me. That’s fine with this girl.

So, what does bubbly goodness in a casserole dish have to do with being a Christian? Besides just a good potluck option, it just reminds me of myself. I’m not made of chicken and corn and rice and soup, but I am made up of all my varied experiences. If I hadn’t been a preacher’s kid, I would never have lived as many places as I have, and I definitely wouldn’t know as much about the various locations I use in my stories. If I hadn’t gone through infertility, I wouldn’t be able to write those emotions with as much depth. If I hadn’t had several long-distance relationships, I couldn’t begin to imagine how hard they are. Friends and loved ones lost, various jobs, and so many other things have helped shape me into who I am. God mixes it all together, bakes it for a while (I guess that’s what He’s doing when things get rough), and then I come out as a Christian He can use in even more ways.

We’re not all going to be the same flavor. Just like the above concoction isn’t my husband’s favorite, I could eat it all day. He prefers poppy seed chicken, all covered in crumbled crackers and butter. My children would prefer to just eat fruit and cheese and rice and bread and candy—nothing mixed. God can use each ingredient—each experience in your life—and turn you into something even better, too.

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Follow her at http://abitofanguish.weebly.com or http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor.

You can find Amy’s book on Amazon now!

“Smoothies brought them together, but would the past tear them apart?”

When Chad Manning introduces himself to Jessica Garcia at her favorite smoothie shop, it’s like he stepped out of one of her romance novels. But as she tentatively walks into a relationship with this man of her dreams, secrets from their past threaten to shatter their already fragile bond.  Chad and Jessica must struggle to figure out if their relationship has a chance or if there is nothing between them but a love of smoothies.

Amy, thank you for being my guest today! I love this devotional (and casseroles too)! I am amazed at how God’s amazing wisdom has added the ingredients that make me, me and gotten it just right, even when I couldn’t see how my trials or new “baking” process was going to turn out. Thanks for sharing!

Amy has agreed to give away an ebook copy of her book to one lucky commenter! Winner will be drawn on 10/17/18 at 1 PM EST. If you would like to be entered to win, just leave a comment for Amy and I will mark you down. Good luck!

THE FINE PRINT: CONTEST VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. ONLY US RESIDENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A PAPERBACK COPY. EACH COMMENTER IS ASSIGNED A NUMBER AND THE WINNER IS DRAWN USING RANDOM.ORG. WINNERS WILL HAVE TWO WEEKS FROM THE DATE OF THE DRAWING TO CLAIM THEIR PRIZE.