Crockpot Chili…And A Recipe For Happiness
What would you say brings you happiness? Wealth? Your family? Good health? A rewarding career? Beautiful surroundings? I would imagine these would be among the most popular answers. I imagine too that many of us have several or even all of these things, yet true and sustaining happiness stills eludes us.
We all know happiness can be temperamental and fleeting. We are satisfied momentarily by the good things in our lives until we start thinking about how a little more of this, or a little less of that would REALLY make us happy. We start to play the “if only” game. “If only I made a little more money.” “If only my husband understood me better.” “If only I can reach 20,000 likes on facebook.” Sound familiar? How many times have we started a day off feeling all is right with the world until we hear that our best landed our dream job, or she got engaged and that is something that you have been hoping and praying for. Or perhaps your friend posts yet another slideshow of her beautiful family on their beautifully expensive vacation. Before you waste any more time chasing happiness, let’s take a look at what King Solomon had to say about this topic. By today’s standards King Solomon was a trillionaire. In fact, historians report that he was probably one of the wealthiest and wisest rulers to ever walk the earth. King Solomon surrounded himself with all the luxuries money could buy and denied himself nothing. He had over 700 wives, over 300 concubines, and everything he could have ever wanted and more (aside from perhaps enough sleep). He still however, felt something was missing. When he came to the end of his life, this is what he had to say:
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Sounds impossible doesn’t it? To have everything and still not be satisfied? When he looked around at everything he had, and everything he had created, he realized that it was not the money and material things, or the power and conquests that brought meaning to his life. He discovered that when he turned away from God he no longer had the peace, self-fulfillment and happiness he once knew. Most of us at some point in our lives have walked away from God, or what we knew is right, to go fulfill a need or a pleasure that we believed would satisfy us. It’s only later, after the excitement of our momentary pleasure wears off, do we go back to feeling empty. God has promised us something better. In psalm 37-4 it says “delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart”. Sometimes we think we know what will makes us happy but God says he knows us better than we know ourselves and therefore knows what would truly make us happy. I wonder how many of us can say “thank God, I didn’t get what I asked for!” I know I have! He knows exactly what people to bring into our lives, what husband, what job, etc, will make us happy and fulfill us. He also promises to give us peace that surpasses all understanding, which come to think of it, just may be where “happiness” lies, in our peace. The peace we feel even through the tough times. The peace we feel in His promise to take our tragedy and loss and “make all things work together for good”.
So the recipe for happiness is don’t chase after happiness. Or money, or people, but to chase after God instead and watch him fulfill his promise of giving you the desires of your heart.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Crockpot Chili
Erin Porter- 1 lb. Organic grass fed ground beef
- 2 cans Fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 can Baked beans
- 1 bag Diced carrots or zucchini I try to add veggies wherever I can
- 1 can Black beans
- 1 pkg Wick Fowlers 2 Alarm Chili Kit Don't use the Flour to keep Kaufmann 2
Brown ground beef and drain before putting in the crockpot.
Add about half of the seasonings from each packet (except for the corn masa flour – disregard)
Drain beans and the remaining ingredients to the crock pot. Stir and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
Top with mozzarella or yogurt cheese if you’d like.
For more Eat Pray Get Well snack ideas click here.
