Greek Chicken Pitas (slow cooker)

Greek Chicken Pitas 

with Cucumber Dill Greek Yogurt

Ingredients:

Pita pockets/gyro bread

3-4 chicken breasts

1 1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning

1/2 tsp oregano

1/4 tsp ground allspice

tsp minced garlic

1/2 green pepper (sliced)

1/2 red pepper (sliced)

1/2 white onion (sliced)
Oikos Cucumber Dill dip carton

Directions:

Place chicken in slow cooker and sprinkle with garlic and spices.  Cook on low (6-8 hours) or high (3-4 hours). During last hours place sliced veggies on top of chicken.  ( you can add them at the beginning but they will be a little mushier)

Serve in pita pockets or gyro bread with lettuce, fresh sliced tomatoes, cucumber, onion  and Oikos Cucumber Dill yogurt dip

Devotional

Paul In Athens

 

          One thing I like to do from time to time for my family is to really bring the bible to life!  I've found that a common consequence from our ultra-busy lifestyles is the inevitable separation of ourselves from the reality of biblical history. In other words, its hard to remember that Jesus was a real person who really walked around modern day Israel when we live in rural America and are just trying to remember what is on our grocery list that we left taped to the fridge because we are in a hurry and can't be late ONE MORE TIME for karate!  See what I mean?

       So, when at all possible, I try to help my family, and myself, make a connection between the stories of the historical figures in the bible with our 21st century lives today.  And usually, food plays a major role in these faith-filled associations! And for tonight's lesson, we're going GREEK! 

           Greece was a well-known country in ancient times, just like it is today.  The apostle Paul spent a lot of time preaching to the Greeks in Athens as we will see in Acts 17.  On this occasion, Paul had observed during his time in Athens that the people there were eager to worship but ignorant as to who to give their worship to.  In fact, they had even built an idol to "A name-less God"!  They didn't know who the God was, they just felt like they should worship someone!  Seem bizarre to anyone else?  But apparently, this was the way of life in Greece at that time.  So Paul, during his journey,  pleaded with the Greeks to see that the God that they were searching for was the one true God, the God Jesus called "Abba" or "father".  Take a look at his plea to the people of Athens below.....

 

   "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything.  Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.  From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.  God did this so they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from anyone of us.  For in him we live and move and have our being.  As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" - Acts 17:24-28

       If we are really honest with ourselves, we might admit that we too need to be reminded of this from time to time.  That we are here for more than just work and daily duties.  We were born at this specific time, for a very specific reason and it is a calling we can only find when we look past ourselves and seek the one whom created us and calls us his children.  In a sense, modern day America is not that different from ancient Greece.  And Paul's message rings just as true today as it did over 2000 years ago.  Listed below are some questions to answer as a family to help you remember that the same God that Paul pleaded with the Greeks to recognize and give proper worship to is the same loving God that wants to draw near to us in our lives!  I've also included some maps of Paul's missionary journeys through ancient Greece!


1.)  If God does not live in temples built by human hands, where does he live?
      A-He lives anywhere and everywhere; but, his favorite dwelling place is in our hearts.
2.)  If God does not need anything from us, why are we called to serve him?
      A- God can do ANYTHING he wants to do....period!  But, he likes to work through his people.  Not because he needs us or for his sake, but for our sake...because he knows how it molds and changes us!  
3.)  What does the verse mean when it says "God did this so they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him" ?
     A-God is revealing himself through every situation in our lives, good and bad, so we will be drawn closer to him throughout different circumstances we encounter and experience.  He is CONSTANTLY using the occurrences in our lives to bring us closer to him!

We were born for a specific reason at this specific time!  Pray as a family that God can every day reveal HIS will in your lives individually and as a family. God bless you this week!