Fear Factor

People suffer from all kinds of phobias and their fears can be debilitating. I think I have a phobia of masks, there is just something creepy about being able to see a person's eyes without being able to see their expression surrounding them. Whether our fears are legit or not, one thing is for sure, fear is not from God. Satan can and will use our fears to keep us from taking the chance, stepping out in faith and reaching out to do something the Lord wants us to do. When we find ourselves not making a choice or doing something solely because we are afraid to, we can be pretty sure it is a choice or an action that the Lord wants us to do and that Satan is behind the fear.

And boy is Satan good at convincing us that our fears are real. How many times have we passed on witnessing to someone we felt the Lord leading us to talk to just because we were afraid of what they would say or think? I mean, seriously, what's the worst that could happen? They call us Jesus freaks or Bible thumpers? So many times I have felt the "urge" to speak to or reach out to someone in need only to have it justified in my mind that I really have nothing to offer, that it wouldn't be safe or that I would make someone uncomfortable. How many times have I passed on the opportunity to be the "hands and feet" of Jesus?

So, the next time I hear that gentle voice urging me to share the good news, offer to help or simply send a note of encouragement I'm going to try my best to do it and ignore the sneaky rationalizing hiss of the one who wants nothing more than for me to miss the blessings of God.

Something not scary at all is what's for dinner tonight, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo with rice and a salad.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
1 lb andouille sausage*, cut into 1/4 inch slices
4 skinned, bone-in chicken breasts
vegetable oil
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
2 celery ribs, sliced
2 quarts hot water
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp Creole seasoning
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 to 1 tsp hot sauce
4 green onions, sliced
File powder (optional)
Hot cooked rice

Cook sausage in a Dutch oven over med. heat, stirring constantly until browned. Drain on paper towels. Cook chicken breast in same pot over med. heat 5 minutes or until browned. Remove and place on paper towels. Add about 1/4 cup oil to pot then flour and cook over med heat stirring constantly, 20 to 25 minutes or until "roux" is chocolate colored. Stir in onion, bell pepper and celery, cook stirring often, until tender. Gradually add 2 quarts hot water and bring mixture to a boil; add chicken, garlic, and next 5 ingredients. Reduce heat to low and simmer stirring occasionally 1 hour. Remove chicken and let cool. Add sausage to gumbo, cook 30 minutes. Stir in green onions, cook 30 more minutes. Bone chicken and cut meat into strips; return chicken to gumbo and simmer 5 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaves. Remove gumbo from heat and sprinkle with file powder (found in the spice section). Serve over hot cooked rice and with a tossed salad.

*I use smoked sausage instead of the andouille sausage because it is less spicy. I also use less Creole seasoning and hot sauce for the kids' sake.