The Best Way to Make Hard-Cooked Eggs

May 31, 2023May 31, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

The Home Front

Once I discovered the best way to make hard-cooked eggs, I’ve never looked back. I spend a lot of time making hard boiled eggs, but I don’t boil them anymore. What cooking method do I use instead? Steaming. If you want your hard-cooked eggs to peel easily, steaming is hands down the best way to do it. The shells slip right off the eggs with no effort.

Have you ever had a bowl full of hard-boiled eggs that you needed to peel for deviled eggs? If so, then you know they are maddening to peel! The shells break into tiny pieces, cling to the egg, and almost never come off easily. I’ve had to eat or toss many an egg because the whites had pit marks all over from difficult peeling. If you are a creature of habit, this might sound like an odd method to cook eggs, but it couldn’t be any simpler. All you need is a steamer basket, a saucepan with a lid, and a timer.

Jamie holding plate with eggs — Click here to find Jamie Tarence’s delicious deviled eggs recipe. Read how Tarence started Family Savvy here.

Here’s how to make hard-steamed eggs.

Insert a steamer basket into a saucepan.
Add water until it starts to peep through the steamer basket holes.
Bring water to a boil.
Add eggs to the steamer basket, being careful not to burn yourself.
Place a lid on the saucepan.
Turn the heat down so that the water gently simmers, medium-low or low on most burners.
Set the timer to 16 minutes.
When the timer goes off, lift the steamer basket and eggs from the saucepan.
Let cool for 60 seconds, rinse with cold water or place in ice water.

You can allow the eggs to sit for about half an hour, or you can refrigerate until you’re ready to peel them. The shells will come off easier than you can imagine.

My technique for peeling hard-cooked eggs. Gently tap the egg all over until tiny cracks cover the surface. Then hold the egg under running water and start peeling, gently squeezing the egg if needed to make it “pop” out of the shell.

How to use hard-cooked eggs. You can use hard-cooked eggs for cobb salad, egg salad, and avocado toast. My personal favorite way to use them is for my “Wicked Deviled Eggs” recipe on the Family Savvy blog since it’s perfect for summer.

-Jamie Tarence

www.familysavvy.com

May 31, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Young Diverse Loving Couple Ea 475620025

Special Feature

How would your spouse describe you? Would the portrayal match your expectations and how others see you? Can living for Christ affect your reputation?

How Does Your Spouse See You? Most people want commendable words spoken of them, especially from their spouses. Try this: Ask your mate to share three words to describe you. Agree upfront not to get upset, pout, or start an argument. Words like amazing, caring, loyal, and helpful may produce good reactions. Negative emotions may surface with words like bitter, rude, selfish, or judgmental. Receive their response in love and embrace it as an opportunity for growth. Use this feedback to reflect on how past behaviors might have established undesirable views about your character. As Christians, our conduct should display the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We may not like it, but our spouse sees our unpleasant side. At times, they seem to know us better than we know ourselves. As rearview and side mirrors reveal blind spots when driving, our spouses can help us see the hidden things in our character- good and bad. We should respect their viewpoint and ask Christ to continue to conform us to His image.

How Does God See You? God, the Father, sees His children as valuable. Like your spouse, He uses words to describe you as well. You are God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). He calls you friend (John 15:15). You are “holy and beloved” (Colossians 3:12 ESV). Our actions may not always live up to God’s view of us. However, we can be certain that He will change our character as we obey and live for Him.

Which One? What would you choose if you had to choose between wealth and a good reputation? Having wealth is beneficial. Being a person of integrity is priceless. An admirable character is more valuable than being a billionaire. Proverbs 22:1 ESV declares, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” So, what is in a name? The answer to this question depends on two things: how well we live and how well we finish. As Christians, “we are ambassadors for Christ…” (2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV). Let us represent Him in a way that brings honor and glory to His name.

-Vanessa Jones

Vice President & Co-founder of Biblical Marriage Institute

BiblicalMarriageInstitute.org

@biblicalmarriageinstitute

May 31, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

bigstock Resurrection Light Cross Sha 472768017

Encouraging Word

In John 14:6, Jesus states that He is the only way to God. Not one of many, but the one and only way! What qualifies Him to make such a bold statement? What makes Him so special? How is He unique? Why are Christians so dogmatic in professing this? Well, I’m glad you asked.

1. Jesus came to reveal God. Reveal means to make known; allow something to be seen.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word…and the Word was God.”
John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory….”
Hebrews 1:3, “and He is…the exact representation of His nature…”
Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God…”

Jesus came to show us God!

2. Jesus came to provide forgiveness for our sins. We all need forgiveness, for we all have sinned. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. For all have sinned (Romans 3:23). For the wages (result) of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Only Jesus can forgive our sins.

Matthew 1:21, “…and you shall call Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
John 1:29, “…Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
II Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf…”
I John 4:10, “…He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins.”

Forgiveness for sin can only be found in Jesus!

3. Jesus came to show us how to live. We are to “follow Christ.”

Matthew 16:24, “Then Jesus said to His disciples.…follow Me.”
Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of faith…”
I Peter 2:21, “…leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”
John 13:15, “For I gave an example that you should do as I did to you.”
Romans 8:29, “…He also predestined (us) to become conformed to the image of His Son…”

Remember the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) emphasis? If we follow Christ, He will show us how to live! Why Jesus? Because Jesus is the Messiah! His is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. I pray that you have made Him your Lord and Savior!

-Tony Cooper

Former Exec. Director, Jimmie Hale Mission

May 31, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Are We There Yet?

The American Village in Montevallo has a new summer program for 2023 that has a special focus on spies and family fun! Visitors will be able to take part in a linear story that will be offered twice each day, beginning at 11 a.m., and then again at 1 p.m. The American Village will also offer a whole host of other vignettes that can be seen before, during, and after this linear portion, which allows families to have a full day of entertainment.

Image of screen with audience — The American Village, 3727 Highway 119, Montevallo, 35115, is a great place to have educational fun this summer.

Hidden Heroes- A Revolutionary Spy Adventure. Visitors will be drawn into the world of George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring and learn about all of the interesting ways that secret information is being sent. They will be entrusted with a secret message to deliver to the local Apothecary. The message is revealed, but unfortunately guests are captured by redcoats and detained! In the end, however, they are saved (come and see just how this happens); and once safely in the encampment, the secret information is handed over to a Continental Army soldier so that a warning can be given. Now that the visitors have risked their lives behind the scenes, are they willing to step upon the battlefield and join the army?

Photo of group looking at screen — Save the date for the American Arts & Crafts Fair on June 2-3, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the American Village.

In addition to Washington’s Spy Adventure, guests of the American Village can also experience other summer vignettes including:

Patterns of Industry (18th Century Clothing)
Puppet Show
18th Century Justice
Games on the Green
Meet a Famous Patriot (Martha Washington, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Phillis Wheatley, Samuel Adams, or Thomas Paine)
Apothecary
Keeping the Home Fires Burning
Tavern Table Games

Summer admission is $11 adults, $10 youth, $9 seniors and free to children 4 and under, veterans and active military. Hours of operation are Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except July 4-5). Learn more at www.americanvillage.org. †

May 31, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Mission Makers

Whether a person lacks food, clothing, or other resources, The Grace Place seeks to meet their needs for God’s glory. The Bessemer, Ala. ministry has a simple mission. “We exist to gather resources and give them away for the glory of God,” explains The Grace Place Director Jason Leight.

The Grace Place volunteers packing food — The Grace Place, located at 1030 Powder Plant Road, Bessemer, 35022, is open on Tuesdays and Thursday from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The ministry mainly distributes food and clothing, but they also give away household items to people who are in need due to house fires, storm damage, and more, says Leight. The pastor at Eastern Valley Baptist Church, Leight has been the director of The Grace Place for almost three years. He has been involved in ministry in the Bessemer area for 25 years. “I was called by a friend of mine asking if I’d be interested in leading the organization during Covid-19.” He passionately jumped in and helped The Grace Place continue its mission safely continue its mission and grow to meet the demand brought by the pandemic.

The Leight Family — The Grace Place’s Jason Leight is a native of the Bessemer area. He and his wife, Crystal have three sons: Finn, Tuck, and Tate.

Leight shares that the ministry mainly operated with non-perishable food items since they didn’t have a refrigerator. Due to increased demand, Leight started to look for a used refrigerator to meet the growing need of the community but felt the Lord tell him to wait. Sharon White, a volunteer of The Grace Place, went to be with the Lord in April. She requested that her friends and family donate to The Grace Place in her memory. “A few donations started coming in and then more and more,” explains Leight. He reached out to the family to share his gratitude and thought that the donations could go straight to purchasing the much-needed refrigerator. “I thought the donations might pay for a quarter or half of the cost, but they exceeded the needed amount, and I was able to buy an even bigger refrigerator,” exclaims Leight.

The Grace Place is always looking for volunteers like Sharon White was. “Volunteers make The Grace Place happen,” Leight shares. The process to become a volunteer is simple. “There are so many ways to volunteer here including online work, sorting donations, and more.” To learn more, visit www.thegraceplaceonline.com.

-Melissa Armstrong

May 30, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Miracle Moments

Brought to you by: Community Partner Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham

We were homeschooling our children, had built a great life in Texas and were actively serving a church we loved. But then, one day, God called us to do something really hard for us. He asked us to sell our possessions, drastically uproot, and follow in faith as He was pointing us to Russia and Poland to serve as missionaries.

We pushed our flat screen TV to the donation pile, and it was hard. We set aside the meticulously outlined baseball plans for our sons, and it was hard. We left warm, familiar Texas and landed in bitterly cold, unfamiliar Russia, and it was hard. We didn’t always get it right, but this step in obedience resulted in God working to refine us, and as He did, others were pointed to Him. In 2016, we returned to the US with our three grown children. Our youngest was beginning college and we were balancing pastoring a church in Dallas and a great teaching career through a private, Christian school.

Then, we received a letter. It was a Christmas letter from a children’s home and, penned by one of the girls who lived there, was her response to the question, “What do I want for Christmas?” Her response was, “I want to feel better about myself.” It was then, God pointed us to our next mission field assignment – houseparenting. The refining work He had done in us from Dallas to Russia to Poland, it refined our response to this next step in faith. This time, we had learned how to welcome the fact that it would be hard. We heavily researched over 100 ministries. Out of the piles and piles of information, God brought Big Oak Ranch to the top of our list. We had a desire to serve where the hope of Jesus is the center, where there were individual family homes and support through shared organizational values. So, we sold everything once again, and moved to Ala. We have never been more confident that God has called us in this exact time, to this exact home, with the specific girls we have the honor of raising. He continues to refine us in this mission work and our girls get a front row seat.

The pasts of every child at Big Oak have been hard, to say the least. But we are now able to teach them what God can do through those hard times. He has shown it to us and we get to point them to Christ as He shows it to them too. Seeing our grown biological children, our parents and extended families welcome our girls into the family as well, seeing their relationships unfold in beautiful ways, it’s shown us that, yes following in faith is often hard, but it’s also a sight to behold when obedience meets the miraculous power of God.

-Doyle and Karen Fletcher

Houseparents, Big Oak Ranch

May 30, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

In the Judaic tradition, there are two annual events that commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from oppression. Passover observes their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt, and Purim celebrates their deliverance from a genocidal plot in Persia. Remembering God’s deliverance from slavery or oppression is deeply embedded in the salvation history of God’s people, and it is a theme continued in the ministry of Jesus. Whenever God rescues people in dramatic and historic form, we should “tell our children and our children’s children.”

Free at Last Cover — *Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem* is available for purchase at Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts in Alabaster.

On June 19th, 1865, the still enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were informed that they were free, ending centuries of government sanctioned bondage, assault, cruelty, molestation, and oppression. In keeping with the tradition of remembering what God has done, Free at Last (Union Square Kids) is a beautifully illustrated children’s book about the day freedom finally came to Galveston – a day which our nation now celebrates as Juneteenth. Along with the impressive illustrations by Alex Bostic, the text by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle poetically tells the story of their deliverance from evil. Here is a passage about how the men and women rejoiced when they learned of their freedom. “Some went to the nearest place of the Lord- to some hollow place in the brush or to a clearing in a grove where folk gathered ‘neath a still standing tree and sang, “Thank you, Jesus, for delivering me.”

Whenever anyone proclaims good news to the poor, liberates the captive, or rescues those who are oppressed, they are echoing the ministry of Jesus and heralding the gospel as Jesus himself defined it. The end of slavery in 1865 was such an echo, and it is right and just to remember how God heard the cry of his people. Free at Last is a beautiful way of telling our children and our children’s children what God has done.

-Darrel Holcombe, Owner

Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts

Colonial Promenade, Alabaster

www.sanctuarychristianbooksandgifts.com

205-663-2370

May 30, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Best Books

Is it your goal to gain fresh revelation and insight from God’s Word this year? Or perhaps you have been praying…

for your family to be ignited with a passion to carry out the Great Commission
to witness your loved ones dive into God’s Word, know God more intimately, & have a clearer understanding of Scripture
to move out of a spiritual dry spell & regain the joy of living for Christ

The Readable Bible Cover — Learn more about *The Readable Bible* here.

If so, we’re excited to share with you a new Bible translation that can help you understand Scripture and draw closer to God like never before! The Readable Bible is designed to be an accessible, non-intimidating way to engage with Scripture. The easy-to-read format and modern language makes this the perfect Bible for your loved ones who may be hesitant to pick up an older translation. Even those who have studied God’s Word for decades will gain deeper insight from this new modern-day translation.

The Readable Bible Chart inside — Here is a look inside at one of the charts found in *The Readable Bible*.

The visual formatting along with the charts, maps, and graphics reinforce reading comprehension and aid in the retention of information. No longer will you find yourself skimming lengthy and difficult-to-understand Scriptures. Instead, this unique format will create a desire to absorb and comprehend every sentence. Encourage a fresh vigor for God’s Word in your family, church groups, or even your personal study by using The Readable Bible! †

May 30, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Parenting Points

Doubts and questions from kids about faith are usually something that can strike fear into the heart of every parent. For the questions, the fear is not knowing the right answer. We dread having to explain that when it comes to faith, there are many things which we don’t have clear answers. For doubts, the fear is that our children will choose not to believe and walk with Jesus.

When these questions arise, our response to our kids is very important. Many likely grew up in church environments where we could not ask questions, express concerns, and wrestle with doubts. We were told to believe because that is what we should believe. For many children, these responses slammed the door on further conversation. Faith was defined as a place of clear canned answers that should be accepted without further conversation. These slamming-the-door responses to our kids do more harm than good. Research has shown that doubt is an important part of a child’s personal faith journey. Each person needs to wrestle with what they believe so that the faith that they have been taught from their parents can become their faith. Frequently, this happens through conversations involving questions and doubts.

In discussing effective faith transmission from parents to their kids, Duffy Robbins writes, “helping students to develop a real-life faith means helping students to flesh out their faith…to be put in a position that forces them to experience and explore their own faith in God.” Through doubts and questions, children are given the space to wrestle with their faith. In these moments, their faith can be strengthened even if the answers to the questions are that “we cannot understand God and His ways completely, but we know we can trust His heart to be faithful to us.” We need to create a safe space for their questions and doubts and be real with them about our struggles to believe and questions along the way. We can be faithful conversation partners for our kids as we seek to walk this road of faith together. Maybe our prayer for ourselves and our kids should be less for specific answers and like the man with the demon-possessed boy: “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24 ESV). Our God meets us and our children amid our questions and doubts. We may find that His presence and power is better than the best answers we may desire.

-Dr. Ben Birdsong

Missions Minister at Christ Church Birmingham

Writer and Speaker

www.benbirdsong.com

Duffy Robbins, The Ministry of Nurture: A Youth Workers Guide to Discipling Teenagers (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1990), 160.

May 31, 2023May 30, 2023 by Laurie Stroud

Edu Extra Evening Courses offer flexiblity to go deeper hodges chapel image

Education Extra

Beeson Divinity School of Samford University will begin offering evening courses this fall for those who want to work towards a degree but desire greater flexibility in the pursuit of their studies. Students can work toward a masters-level theological degree in the evenings without interrupting their daytime commitments. Church members seeking to learn and grow in the faith as well as those serving in vocational ministry who desire further biblical and theological training are ideal candidates for the program.

Beeson courses are taught by world-class scholars devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ and dedicated to equipping followers of Christ for faithful service through the gospel. Graduate-level seminary course offerings for the evening program will include classes such as Old Testament Theology, New Testament Theology, Christian History and Doctrine, and Spiritual Formation. “We’re excited to offer this new opportunity for believers who want to learn and grow in their understanding of the word of God, the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, and their devotion to Christ,” said Dr. Tom Fuller, associate dean of Beeson Divinity School, adding, “Beeson is committed to strengthening the gospel witness and ministries of churches, beginning right here in the greater Birmingham area. We pray the Lord will use these evening courses to do that.”

Each course meets once a week for two and a half hours over a 14-week term. Students may apply as degree-seeking students to pursue the Master of Arts of Theological Studies (M.A.T.S) or Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. Those applying to the M.Div. program will be required to take several courses offered only in the daytime as well. The Master of Arts in Theological Studies (M.A.T.S.) is Beeson’s most versatile degree program, designed to provide a deeper understanding of the content of the Christian faith. Through courses in biblical and theological studies, as well as elective courses, students gain a foundational understanding of the theological disciplines for their personal enrichment and growth as well as their ministry and service to the local church. To learn more and apply to study at Beeson, visit www.beesondivinity.com/ad/evenings.

-Emily Knight

Beeson Divinity School

The Best Way to Make Hard-Cooked Eggs

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