Inside Out

So here's what I know.... I know every woman young and old desire to feel beautiful. I don't think there is anything wrong with that at all! God created us woman different then He created men.

I don't think that's the problem, I think the problem is what we consider beauty. 

All throughout God's word He speaks of this inner beauty and how beauty is found from within and yet we as woman spend more time and money getting ourselves together outwardly then we do inwardly.

What if for one day we were inside out, what would people see? Would you look dry and dehydrated? Would you look all put together? Would people see Jesus?

As I ask you, I ask myself these questions as well. Yes, our hearts are wicked naturally but the amount I spend worrying about what I look like could be spent praying for a sister, it could be spent lifting up a sin I have within my own heart or it could be spent worshiping our King.

Don't mistake me sweet sister you shouldn't walk around looking half dead and you should comb your hair and brush your teeth. But what our focus should be on is God's kingdom and not outward beauty.

I'll share a secret and hope you don't pass judgment; I spend a lot of time worrying about what I look like. Yes I do my makeup in the car and it only takes me 30 minutes to get ready but my mind is so consumed on outward beauty that my focus is rarely on the kingdom of the Lord. 

My soul is eternal, others souls are eternal and that's where my focus should be rather then something like these fleshly bodies that will soon fade away. 

It's easy to get caught up in what shape we're in, or how our hair looks, or even what clothes were wearing but none of that matters because God.... He looks at the heart ♡

So sweet friend, what does your heart look like closing in 2014? If it looks like mine, can I just encourage you to ask the Lord to help your focus be more about the inner beauty rather then the outward that will soon fade away. And friend, when it fades away don't worry others will still see you as beautiful because the inner beauty (Jesus) will shine through.

Happy Day After Christmas

In years past the day and days after Christmas were always hard for me. Christmas was never what I expected or hyped it up to be. Even when I got the presents that I asked for it never truly satisfied my innermost being. If you're like me then depression waits for its opportunity to rear it's ugly head at any chance it gets.

This time of year is great for so many reasons but the greatest is the fact that others are searching for what they're missing and what has not brought them fulfillment. Just as God's working, His enemy is also.  He is looking to destroy families,  and cause loss and destruction during this season. This time of year I bet makes him angry that most of the whole world is signing songs about Jesus whether they know it or not. I believe that because of this, that scoundrel fights back harder.

The days after Christmas for some are the most emptiest times around. We live with a twisted hope that we can fill our emptiness with stuff, stuff that fades away such as relationships, a glass of alcohol, a temporary high, a new anything, even the fact that we can give to others. Some of those things are good such as giving to others or maybe even a healthy relationship but friends none of those fills the void that we have in our hearts. So when it's all said and done and the lights and decor come down that emptiness remains the same.

Remember this friend although this season will shortly be gone, God will never be gone. His unfailing word tells us that He remains the same forevermore! See, years before I didn't know this truth and even if you do know this truth it can often be twisted by the enemy and hard to live it out in our lives. Stay in your word friend don't lose hope or sight of the great light that is still within this world, the One who has taken residence in the life of the person who has invited Him in ♡

The Heart of a Sojourner

Revelation 8:13 NLT

Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.”

Two weeks ago I plopped myself on my bed and I cried. I felt a displacement in my heart and uneasy. I had spent some time out and about and I was saddened by what I seen. No one smiled or said hello, everyone was honking at one another and then to top it off every store and restaurant in town's windows read "Happy Holiday's" and "Seasons Greetings". Santa's face in every store, and of course all the gift ideas flashing at you with a sign that reads in red SALE ENDS TODAY! Urging you to shop....

I know, I know, you think I'm the Christmas grinch by now and I'm sorry if you do.

 I really do love Christmas and let me tell you why. It's the time I get to spend my best friends birthday with my loved ones. I get to reflect on what a special night it was that the God of this universe sent His Son to be like you and me, to walk through life as we do, to experience and relate to all that we go through each day. He knew life on earth wasn't going to be a glorious life and He knew death would be involved to atone for the sins of the world. I get to whisper those things into my kids' hearts everyday but there is something special about the time we celebrate those truths with the world.

People around this time of year become more curious about Jesus and who He was and is to this world and I love that. The rich who are normally greedy offer money and gifts to charities and my kids get to shine and be different then the millions of kids around the world, who wait for santa to bring them gifts Christmas morning. I love that every year since I have been born the woman in my family sit around a table and make tamales and the past 7 years have been my favorite because we laugh with joy and talk about how good God is. I do, I love Christmas but just not the reasons this world loves Christmas....

As I laid on my bed with my face in my pillow I felt discouraged. I asked the Lord if He'd please speak truth into why I was feeling like this. Of course He did! He is faithful.

My sweet Father reminded me that this is not my home. He reminded me that I was just a sojourner passing through.

I was relieved to know I wasn't a grinch or a grouchy christian full of legalistic ways.

The bible tells us that we are not of this world and that this is not our home. The moment we unpack our bags and reside permanently is the day we should Fear the wrath of God.

Friend, did you read the scripture up top? Read it again....

Don't make this place your home, don't grow weary in doing good and don't lose hope that our King is coming to take us home.

Oh and don't be a grinch. You as a believer have the best reason to celebrate the birthday of your best friend!  :-)

Faith Says Yes While Fear Doubts

There are days I see the depths of my heart and that little sneak peek scares me.... Some might say that they are good but the bible tells us that not one man is good. Knowing our Lord, we know He doesn't want us to know that so that we might become sad and depressed at the way we view ourselves but rather He wants us to truly see our great need for Him.

You know what's amazing?... It's the fact that God sees my heart right now, He hears every thought that passes through my head and yet He loves me.

Through this Christmas season the Lord has really brought up the obedience of Mary's heart to me. Let me just say Mary is no more important to the kingdom of God then we are. Jesus declares in His gospels that His mother and brothers are those that do the will of God :-)

Nevertheless,  I do not want to take away the fact that God seen faith in Mary's heart, a faith that pleased Him. I'm certain Mary doubted God at times and I'm certain her thoughts were not always good because again the bible declares that the only one good is God alone :-)

The thing that I am loving and soaking in about this woman of God is that she said yes to the unknown. She didn't ask for the game plan, she didn't even doubt the word that the angel Gabriel gave her. She simply responded: I am the Lord's servant. May everything you said about me come true.

Boy, do I always want to give that answer when the Lord asks me to do something. Often my answer is "Lord are you sure that's you?" Or "but God what will happen next?" To be honest I think my response is one more like Zechariah.  You know when the angel Gabriel went to him to deliver the message from God announcing he and Elizabeth will have a son in such late age and that they were to call him John, also known as John the baptist. :-) Zachariah doubted God's plan and we see how he was unable to speak from that moment on until God's will came to pass when John was born....

I say friends, let's learn a lesson from the saints and God's goodness. Let's declare right when we wake up each morning that we will trust all that God is asking of us.

Now, we know we will never be the mother to the Savior of the world but we will be asked to do things by God. Things that we don't know why He is asking us to do. I believe our answer should not reflect the details but the source. God's word is always true and we know that His plans are good for us and not evil so what's there to fear?

Maybe God's asking you to help a family in need this season or maybe he is asking you to make a meal for the poor or wounded. Maybe the Lord is calling some of you to walk away from a career or even let go of an unhealthy relationship. Whatever the case may be you can trust Him. ♡ For the Lord is good and always doing a good thing.

Fairy Tales Gone Bad

Last week I was driving through a town I spent a short amount of time living in. I've lived in my home town my entire life except I did spend a year in a town that never felt like home. Which was the town I was in that morning.

For most of us we are not born into a Christian family or at least a family who is truly seeking after the heart of God. That only means that for most of us we have experienced alot of heartache because of stupid choices we have made. So you can understand me when I say I wasn't in a good place before I found Jesus. My stupid choices led me to a place in my life I thought I'd never be, a place where growing up I never dreamed of.

My dreams consisted of a husband who loved me and our many children and a family that enjoyed being and doing what families do and down that path hoping we'd find Jesus together. I lived thinking that although I wasn't serving the Lord, surely He would make things right in my fairy tale.
I shortly found out that bad choices paid consequences and my fairy tale wasn't a fairy tale, it was really a nightmare that I couldn't drink away or wake up from.

I share all this to give you a backdrop of the place I drove past, the place I called home for a year but that was just it's name. It really felt like HELL, a place that was far away from God.

There was a time in my life I couldn't drive past it without feeling sick and trying to block out memories of hurts and struggles. It definitely was not a memorial of great rememberance but rather a place of sadness and heartache, a place I would try everything to do to block out.....

God does some amazing things in our lives when we fully seek after Him. He with His amazing love takes our deep heart hurts and turns them into blessings. He takes our memories and turns them into memorial stones.

That place that was once hell on earth is now a place of memorial.  That place that felt so far from the Lord was where I found Him ♡ From the depths of my soul I cried out in utter misery and pain. My sin made me sick, my choices and shame drew me to the foot of the cross. He heard my heart and reached out and delivered me from this world of chaos that I had created!

Last week as I drove past that house I raised my hands and said "praise you Jesus, you are a good God". My parents and I were able to reflect where I was and where I am now. Rags for riches and ashes for beauty.

Sweet friends, nothing I have done has made me who I am today, it is all HIM. I simply humbled myself and cried out to the living God for help.

Today if you have a memorial stone of a place where Jesus saved you, then friend you have a reason to be joyful and walk in peace!!

Maybe today you find yourself in that place called hell on earth in which I once lived in. May I encourage you to cry out from the depths of your soul. I know He will rescue, redeem and restore your soul.

Surely The one true God desires for all to be saved! Do you desire to be saved!?

Now instead of a fairy tale I live in the reality that I was a princess who needed to be rescued and loved. And truly I am loved by a king who is everything I need Him to be. In return how can I not offer my entire self back to Him.

Oh The Distractions

It's been about a month since I have done what the Lord called me to do. What have I been doing you ask? I wish I could say I started on the devotional book the Lord has placed on my heart to write. I wish I could say I was in another country feeding starving children, or even say I was in God's word day in and day out. Sorry friends I must be real. I have been distracted....

Have you ever heard the voice of the Lord so clearly in your life that you knew exactly what His calling was for you? I have. I guess that's why when things didn't look the way I thought they should look I freaked out. You see once I heard the word of the Lord I set a plan as to how things should look. Saying "okay Lord, you can drive but I'm telling you exactly how to get there and by the way you get to rest in the back seat whenever I feel like I want to drive." Silly me. My plans only left me discouraged when they didn't come to pass.

Sometimes God calls us to something that doesn't happen over night or even in 6 weeks, sometimes it takes 40 years. And don't forget we have an enemy who doesn't want the plans of the Lord to prevail in our life because that means war against the kingdom of hell.... He will look for many ways to distract you and I and cause us to lose focus on all that the Lord has for us. He will tell us that we didn't hear God correctly and in time this may even cause us to believe the father of all lies.

I'm so thankful for sweet friends that the Lord sends during our moments of discouragement and distraction.

God's plan was laid out for you and I before the foundations of the earth. Sweet friend, don't lose hope or give up. Don't let the enemy distract you with stupid things that don't benefit the kingdom of God!

I'm happy to say I have began writting again and even started up the ladies bible study that He has called me to facilitate. Today as I am reflecting on the past 6 weeks I see how even in my dark moments and distracted times He was still doing a good thing. Even in my moments of what looks like I have failed He has been merciful and gracious. We serve a good God!

So may I ask you friend, are you distracted from God's plan He has for you? If so, today is a great day to accept His mecry and forgiveness and get right back on track!

The Privlage To Suffer For Him ♡

One of my favorite people in the bible besides Jesus is Paul. Paul had a radical transformation take place in his life when the Lord removed the blinders from Paul's eyes..... Okay maybe I like him so much because that's how Jesus saved me too.

In this scripture Paul is writting from a prison cell sending a letter of encouragement to other brothers in the faith. I love this for so many reasons but 2 stand out the most. First thing is I love how he counts it a privlage to suffer for Christ. Since when do we rejoice in that? So often I am such a weenie I am ready to throw in the towel when life gets hard. I love how they rejoiced in there suffering and I love how even from a jail cell he was encouraging others. Paul had the gift of encouragement and nothing was going to stop him from using his gifts to further the kingdom of God.

Secondly,  I love how he declares that we are all in this struggle together. Don't you just ever feel like you are the only christian who suffers and struggles?  I do. Why is that? The enemy wants us to believe this stupid lie because then we begin to isolate ourselves and then we will be prone to give up. Paul also states that He has struggled and is in the midst of a struggle. Although Paul was in a prison cell struggling he still was working for the kingdom of the Lord!

Do you see why I love Paul. He encourages me.

He encourages me to rejoice in my suffering and to thank God for allowinge me to suffer all in the name of Christ. He also encourages me to preserve in my struggles no matter what I am going through. Lately from my blog posts you may have been able to tell that I am struggling,  and that's ok. Some days are harder then others, but tonight I am encouraged by Paul. I am uplifted in my faith knowing that no matter what, I will serve my king.

Can I encourage you tonight to read God's word. It has some amazing truths that will uplift, encourage and edify you in your walk. God gave these examples to us so that we can learn and grow from our brothers and sisters from times before us. It's history. :-)

A Continual Work

So here it goes... Truth is I have struggled typing out anything on this page. For 2 weeks I have cried at least one time each day. My heart is truly broken. Being a Christian I have tried to find every reason for this. "I must have sin in my life, I must be doing something wrong, maybe I made the wrong choice, maybe I didn't hear His voice". These are all things that have gone through my head trying to pin point simply why my heart hurts.

Why do we always need answers?  Why can't we ever just trust that no matter what's going on it is because the Lord is doing something and not just anything but something that will be for our good and His glory ♡

If my life truly as I claim it to be, is in the hands of God why do I kick and scream when He begins to dig deep in my heart and begin to change things about me?

And ya know, it's not always easy to feel pain, it's not always easy to have your heart exposed and touched. We as believers like to hide our ugliness, that's why often we don't like to get close to one another because then they'll see just what lies in there.

Oh but here is the thing, we are all broken people who need a perfect Savior to rescue and save us. And not just save us but we need to allow Him to do continual heart surgery when He knows it's necessary.

Now let me just say I am undergoing heart surgery right now and I am feeling every pull and tug. Being honest I thought about giving up and screaming from the operating table that it didn't feel fair that I needed to go through this. But then I realized that Jesus went through something much more trying then I'll ever walk through. It wasn't fair that a perfect God gave His life for a sinner like me. But He did and He loves me, He loves me enough to not give up on me. Even when I cry to Him angry and confused He loves me ♡

He loves you too. I just want to encourage anyone who may be going through a difficult time to not give up. When the enemy is whispering doubt in your ear cling tight to Jesus. Remember just where it is the Lord delivered you from and remember that you know you never want to enter that place ever again. The enemy always has a way of making our past without God look glamorous, oh but friends it was hell on earth which is why we cried to God to rescue us. And He did! I am thankful that He loves me enough to never give up on me. I am thankful that I stand before Him and all He sees is the masterpiece He has created.  Why would I give up and quit on a God whose love is indescribable? I wouldn't and I won't!

May you allow the Lord to refine, change and transform your life in whichever way He knows is right.

Love your sister who is Sweetly Broken! :-)

His Masterpiece

Have you ever felt like God was finished with you? Maybe it's just me but I know I have seasons of drought and seasons where I don't feel anything. It's been 10 days since I have blogged and that is simply because I have been in a dry desert seeking after God. I'm in a season where I can't see what's ahead at all. A season where it's time for testing and laboring rather then reaping the benefits of fruit that God brings. Honestly,  it's frustrating, it at times can be depressing.

That may surprise you to hear me say but I think that is a problem in Christianity.  We think if we're not in a season of bearing fruit then we're either not saved or God must be finished with using us. I am growing to realize that there is always a season for everything and no matter what season it is God is doing something with me His masterpiece.

I must trust that during my season of drought and during my season of brokenness and sadness the Lord is using it to do the things He needs to do to me so that I can do the things He planned for me long ago.

Can I encourage you today to embrace every season that you are in. Keep hanging on to the faith we have in His promise To Use everything For His glory and our good.

Today as I am in the desert I am resting in the shelter of covering He is providing for me while I continue to walk into the next season. Friends we serve a good God even when everything around us is not good. :-)


Ephesians 2:10 NLT

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

If I Were To Be Honest....

I have found that it is my hardest moments where I feel like I'm going to snap that I am the most honest with God...

This past week I noticed little seeds of bitterness and anger being thrown my way and to be honest I wasn't sure where they had planted or if they had taken root. I noticed I was really snappy and quick to anger yet had no clue what was going on.

Today during my moment of snapping after being picked at all week I finally blew up. It was the sound of a huge hot air balloon being popped... it wasn't pretty,  I wasn't pretty and I puked up every last bit of dark anger that had crept into my heart. You see, when the Lord tells us not to go to bed angry it's for a reason. Truly we are to search our hearts each night before bed because when we lay down angry or with un-forgiveness in our hearts it takes root :-/ During my moment of snapping I was able to work it out with the Lord, I opened up and was honest with how I was feeling even letting out some ugly stuff about a certain person. No, none of you reading this ;-)

I had shared things with the Lord that I really didn't know were there. You see being a single mom of 3 children is not easy and it was during my honest moment with the Lord He revealed to me why I was so angry.

It's rough walking the narrow path and if it was easy friends everyone would be on it. It's seriously a choice we make not just daily but momentarily. There is always paths to take that look and seem better but we know deep inside they lead down a dark path.

That's how I look at my singleness anyway. There are moments when temptation come that I just want to throw in the towel and say "enough, I can't do this" or times I think about how easy it would be to just accept second best in a husband and father for my kids.

To be honest if I sat here and said it was easy being 28 and single trying to live pure I'd be telling you a big fat lie. ITS HARD!! There are moments when paying bills, taking out the trash, doing dishes, homeschooling kids, being a taxi and doing yard work gets old. The pressure caves in and I want to fold. Times when I scream out to the Lord "how much longer until I see your promises Lord? I don't see the big picture, help me to understand.
 It's during those moments when I hear his words echoing in my heart like today. "Desiree, I see the big picture,  I know what's to come, hold on a little bit longer my promises are really coming."
 Then this scripture came to mind.
Romans 8:25 NLT

But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.

So I will wait patiently and confidently knowing that in God's perfect timing His promises will come to pass. In the mean time growing in patience and long suffering is a good thing. ;-) by the way you do realize when growing in these areas we must actually go through things that cause us to be patient and long suffering right?...

Remember sweet friends before you rest your head open your heart up to the Lord, ask Him to search your heart and remove anything that is unclean in there. Also don't go to sleep angry at your spouse be thankful for them and give them a hug and a kiss goodnight.

And again if I were to be honest the hardest day serving the Lord is 1,000 times better then 1 minute apart from Him. I wouldn't trade this narrow path for any straight path out there. ;-)

Rest well my friends!

Apple Butter For My Dad

It calls for;

• 5 cups of apple pulp
• 3 cups of sugar
• 1 tbs Allspice
• 1 tbs cloves
• 1 1/2 tbs cinnamon
• Half of a lemon juice squeezed in 

1. I peeled each apple then took the core out

2. I chopped it up into pieces about the size of a quarter

3. I placed all of those pieces in my slow cooker (crock pot) on low

4. I immediately added in all the spices, sugar and lemon juice.

I stirred it occasionally throughout the entire time.

5. After 1 hour I took the slow cooker from low to high for 2-3 full hours. (Yours may be different)

What you are looking for is to see a thick dark brown spread something like this

This was the final outcome in the container ready for my dad to enjoy it. It made more then this container however,  this was just my dad's ;-)

My First Attempt At Canning

Simple Strawberry Jam, seriously guys it was not hard but it did cause for some work because it was my first time. This is not my own recipe but I do plan on perfecting my own probably to make it a little healthier. I don't think 7 cups of sugar is in my clean eating diet lol. Anyways I'd like to encourage you to try it, it was delicious. ;-)

Things you will need;

• A box of canning mason jars with lids
• Jar grabber
• Wide-mouth funnel
• A canning pan with rack (Walmart $19.97)

All of these can be found in the canning aisle at any store but I found Walmart was the cheapest. 

5 cups hulled mashed strawberries
7 cups sugar
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 49g package powdered fruit pectin

1. Place 8 or 9 8-ounce mason jars in a large hot water bath canner (or pot). Cover with water and bring to a simmer.
2. Simmer center lids in separate saucepan full of water.
3. Place mashed strawberries and lemon juice in a separate pot. Stir in pectin until dissolved. Bring strawberries to a strong boil.
4. Add sugar (measure beforehand so you can add it all at once), then return mixture to a full (violent) boil that can’t be stirred down. Boil hard for 1 minute 15 seconds.
5. Skim foam off the top.
6. Remove one jar at a time from the simmering water. Pour water back into the pot. Using a wide-mouth funnel, fill each jar with jam, being careful to keep the liquid/fruit ratio consistent. Fill jars so that they have 1/4-inch of space at the top.
7. Run a knife down the side of the jar to get rid of air bubbles.
8. Wipe rim of jar with a wet cloth to remove any residue or stickiness.
9. Remove center lid from simmering water and position it on top.
10. Put screw bands on jars, but do not overtighten!
11. Repeat with all jars, then place jars on canning rack and lower into the water.
12. Place lid on canner, then bring water to a full boil. Boil hard for 10 to 12 minutes.
13. Turn off heat and allow jars to remain in hot water for an addition five minutes.
14. Remove jars from water using a jar lifter, and allow them to sit undisturbed for 24 hours.
15. After 24 hours, remove screw bands and check the seal of the jars. Center lids should have no give whatsoever. If any seals are compromised, store those jars in the fridge.

      

Folly Is Bound Up In Their Hearts Too

We have all seen it, We go into a store and see a child screaming on the floor for something and we create a judgment that they are spoiled rotten by their parents. We see a teenager acting out or being snooty and automatically assume her parents always let her act like that and they must not have any rules in their house...

I know I have made these judgments in the past. And before I move forward I must say that yes our parenting reflects in our children.  But what if we were always judged in that same standard. For instance every time we messed up someone was there to be critical and judgmental. And Every time we sinned whether behind closed doors or in front of the world everyone looked at God our Father and said "oh ya, he stinks as a parent. "

As I was dealing with sin issues with my two younger children I was so upset with them. I just could not believe they were choosing to make the choices they did. I created all these reasons in my head and blamed myself for their actions. And although my parenting will reflect through my kids I was forgetting the fact that they too are sinners and Just like my sin needs to be dealt with I knew I needed to deal with the sin issues that were in their hearts as well. As I waited to cool off I heard the Lord speak. He reminded me that they have sin bound up within their hearts and just like me they are learning and growing....

After I disciplined them I went to visit them in their rooms to let them know how much I loved them. I prayed with them about their sin issue and we hugged. Through the foolishness of my children I seen myself as well. I realized just how loved I am by my Heavenly Father and how He will continue to discipline me along this journey to teach me His ways and to keep me from harm.

I'd like to ad that although it is not always easy to face these issues of sin in our children's lives it is definitely better to have it revealed then hidden. I am glad the Lord loves us enough to reveal what needs to be fixed instead of turning his head away as if He doesn't see what's going on, because that's not love...

Running but Going Nowhere

There are some people who can just speak truth into your life, my little brother is one of them for me. The other day he tagged me in an article blog titled "Signs You May Be Addicted To Business". Was he insisting I am addicted to being busy? He sure was.

I have said this before and I will share again, I have always been a go getter. A woman who loves adventure. A few years ago when the Lord told me to "Be Still" for 2 years I thought I was going to die to be honest lol. I pictured myself trying to run and the Lord holding me by my shirt, my legs were moving but I was going nowhere.

I am still like this at times ya know. The bible tells us in Proverbs 16:9
A man in his heart makes his plans, but the Lord determines his steps.

I am so glad the Lord is sovereign and determines my steps because who knows where my crazy plans would take me and my family. I know the God of Peace created me a go getter and with zeal for life, all to be used for His glory. Sometimes I get too excited and too busy to remember that He is the God of Peace. The God who loves the quiet time He gets to whisper sweet nuggets of truth in our life. The God who wants nothing else before Him and the God who knows our human bodies need rest for many different reasons.

I am thankful I have people in my life that can lovingly speak truth to me. They know I love the Lord with every ounce of my being and I am prone to wander and place idols before our Lord. Being busy is an Idol for me. It is something I place in my heart that keeps me from that deep most intimate relationship with God. I must remember that the Lord also rested once His work was complete. I must follow after His commands and rest as well. It is needed, and it is good to rest. When I do rest I love it, I am refreshed and at peace with whatever is going on.

Today if you know your business is an idol in your life that is keeping you from hearing the voice of the Lord may I encourage you? Take sometime each day even if it is 15 minutes away from your phone, your computer, your husbands, your kids and even the duties and responsibilities we hold as godly woman and rest at the feet of Jesus. Surely the Lord desires our hearts much more then our works....

The accuser

Last week I had a challenging week full of changes and shortcomings. I started out my new season of being at home with my children, which I must say I am in complete joy and peace with. I guess maybe that is why I didn't understand why I had so many shortcomings. Why was I making those same stupid choices I made when I was not a believer? Why was that old Desiree coming out trying to roar?

Anyway as my week went on and I continued to analyze my heart I kept hearing the voice of my accuser, I kept hearing condemnation day and night, even in my dreams. It was frustrating and for all my brothers and sisters in Christ I know you know this voice well. 

As I was sitting in church Sunday feeling unworthy to even be there I heard the voice of the Lord saying "I am your defense! I have paid the price for your sins and not just yours but  for the entire world as well!

I immediately seen a court case in my head where I seen satan my accuser standing before God the Father shouting aloud all of my sins that I had committed that week, laughing and claiming how unworthy I was. Then I seen Jesus my defense stand before me and told my accuser to be quiet. He said you were there the day that I took the beating for her sins, you were there the day my blood and life paid the price so that she could have everlasting life....

My accuser shut up!!!

From that moment on I sat in church knowing that He paid it all. In Christ I stand before God the Father cleansed of all my sin and white as snow. It is nothing I have done but His work alone. Maybe you had a week like I had, maybe you lost your temper a few times, maybe you thought bad things about someone and maybe you ran back into a sin that the Lord delivered you from. And if so I am certain your accuser was in your ear all weekend. Friend its a new week! Gods mercies are new everyday! Does this mean because we live off of grace we can go on sinning? NO! However we wont be perfect until Christ returns. So on the days your accuser is wearing you down look to Jesus as your defense in court. He paid it all!

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
                                         2 Corinthians 5:21

Does God Really Know Me?

I recently had a person ask me "Does God really know each of us individually and does He really care about what takes place in our lives?" Of course my answer was YES! However my beleif doesnt make up the mind of someone who lacks faith. I went on to proclaim that God's word tells me so. He asked if I believed in God's word and again my answer was a big YES....

Over the past couple of days I have ran what he said through my mind. I asked myself "how is it I beleive  and he doesn't?" I came to the conclusion that the Lord's sovereign hand and mercy is upon my life and I will rejoice because the blinders have been lifted off of my eyes. The one thing that I find so amazing is that even though the Lord does not have to give me nuggets of truth showing me he cares, He does. I love that about him. :-) Let me share a quick story.

My children Have never gone to a public school ever, they went to a christian school and then over the past 2 years have been home schooled through an awesome charter school. My son has an IEP through the school district and they offer him the services that he needs. Any who I felt led by the Lord to allow him to go to public school for his first year of kindergarten (this was huge for me). As he has almost finished up his first week of school I have realized that prayer is what is going to get me through this and prayer is what will help me and get me through homeschooling my girls (Because apart from Him I can do nothing). My prayer everyday has been that my son would meet a christian kid. A little boy that he could be buddies with and not be influenced in a negative way.

All week there has been nothing, no sign of new friends except today. Isaiah said there was a little boy who has been asking to be his friend, I felt  peace and  I was encouraging my son to be his pal. When I seen the little boy tonight at back to school night I had that same sense of peace that Isaiah could hangout with him and it would be a good thing. Okay, to wrap up this story as we were leaving tonight  we ran into the family of the little boy in whom was befriending Isaiah and to my amazement they are friends to my brother in law and sister. They attend a local Calvary Chapel and are an amazing family who follows after Jesus. At that moment Isaiah and his new little buddy connected well! Boy was I blown away! God heard my prayers and answered then according to His will and purpose.

So often as moms we want to fix our kids and their situations because they are our babies and when they hurt we hurt. But remember they are His babies first and He loves them more then we do. I think often living as a control freak we take control over our families and don't truly rely on the Lord to do what He wants to do. What a testimony this is for my family, showing us that God cares!!! He is a God of detail and love. His promises are true and real. We recite scripture and read it so nonchalantly yet I don't think we realize just how amazing this God is that we serve. This God in whom calls us friend and son or daughter.

Isaiah is radically loved by His Father in Heaven, Isaiah is known by his maker, and Gods thoughts are always good for Isaiah. And dear friend they are not just on and for Isaiah, they are on and for you and me as well. We serve an indescribable God in whom we can not even fathom.

so to my friend who is struggling with faith and believing in whom you are in Christ Jesus, would you rest in the promises of His word that tell you just how much He loves you.

I wanted to leave you with words from God for you:

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; They outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake you are still with me!

                                                                                                        Psalm 139:17-18

You made all the inner most parts of my body and knit me together in my Mothers womb

                                                                                                         Psalm 139:13

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

                                                       Psalm 139 139:15-16

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

                                                   Jeremiah 29:11

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are ever before me.

                                            Isaiah 49:15-16

Baked Potato Casserole

Okay, so most of you who know me know that I try to eat pretty good and clean. And I am not a fan of bacon, however my children are. Sometimes I do let them eat stuff like this. I had 20 extra baked potatoes from yesterday so I needed to do something with them. This was the something I did. :-) and no I am not going to eat this but it did smell good while it was cooking ;-)
It's super simple and easy....

• 8 potatoes already baked then once they cool slice them up like chips and place them on the bottom of the pan
• Next slice a few pieces of butter and place on the potatoes
• Then place the one lb. Bacon already cooked (to preference) all on the top of the potatoes
• Then place cheese all across the top
• Then place the one head of cut up steamed brocoli all across the top
• And if you want add some more cheese.
• Finally bake it for about 20 minutes in the oven at 350°

Oh and you can add sour cream and green onion when it's served

That's it friends,  it's super simple and unhealthy lol, please don't eat like this every day. Enjoy!

Be The Kind Of Woman...

I don't know about you but I know I can not make it through my day without Jesus. Friend do you know you Have an enemy who seeks to destroy you and your family. Now, I do not want to give him any credit because he deserves none. However, I do want to make you aware of him.

We all want to be a difference maker. We all as woman want be a light in our work places and of course in our homes. We can do none of these things without Jesus. So often we try to do all of these great things in our own strength and we fail... I know this because this is something from time to time I try. (Silly me) Of course the enemy is not scared of me in my own strength because I have none. I do know though that he is completely fearful and trembles at the Lord's strength.

Today and everyday I want to shake this world around me with the love of Jesus. I pray that this is your heart as well. Don't forget Jesus before your feet hit the floor. Make Him part of your routine in the morning. Wake up an extra 20 minutes early to read and ask for His power and strength to get through your day. Pray over your home and your children, they too are apart of this great battle we are in. Jesus says in John 15:5;

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them will
 produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Friend, today and everyday would you invite Jesus into your day and spend time with Him before you get up. When you do this you will be the Kind of woman who is known by the enemy of making a difference for the kingdom of the Lord!

Santa Fe Zucchini Boats

I am in a clean eating challenge with  http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/BRITTANYKOLBECK and this was a dinner meal on the menu. It was delicious!

INGREDIENTS
{For the filling}

· 12 oz 93% lean ground turkey

· 3/4 cups canned black beans, rinsed and drained

· 3/4 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen

· 1 hot pickled serrano pepper, chopped (or jalepeño) more to taste

· 1 large diced tomato

· 1 cloves garlic, minced

· 1/4 cup chopped onion

· 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

· 1 tsp cumin

· Himalayan salt to taste

 {For the zucchini}

• 5 medium zucchini (7 oz each), cut in half lengthwise

• 1/2 cup jarred mild salsa

• 15 tbsp shredded reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese

 DIRECTIONS

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Preheat oven to 400°F.

 Using a small spoon, hollow out the center of the zucchini halves, leaving 1/4-inch thick shell on each half. Chop the scooped out flesh of the zucchini in small pieces and set aside 3/4 of a cup to add to the turkey filling, (squeeze excess water with a paper towel) discarding the rest or save to use in another recipe. Drop zucchini halves in boiling water and cook 1 minute. Remove from water.

 In a large skillet brown the turkey and season with salt. When the turkey is browned, add onion, garlic, black beans, cilantro, serrano pepper, diced tomatoes, reserved zucchini and cumin. Mix well and simmer on low, covered for 20 minutes. Remove lid, add corn and simmer an additional 5 minutes or until all the liquid reduces.

Place the salsa in the bottom of a large baking dish (or two medium size dishes) and place the hollowed out zucchini cut side up in the dish. Using a spoon, fill the hollowed zucchini boats dividing the filling equally, about 1/3 cup in each, pressing firmly. Top each with 1 1/2 tablespoons of shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes until cheese is melted and cooked all the way through.

Sweetly Broken

If I were to tell you that serving the Lord has been a walk in the park I'd be lying. However, I must tell you that choosing to follow after His will daily is the best choice that I have ever made.

There have been moments on this journey the past 7 years where I felt like I was not going to make it. The heart surgery that the Lord was taking me through seemed to hard to bare and yet I sit here writing on this blog declaring His goodness even through the darkest moments of my life.

My heart was broken when my family broke a part, I truly thought I would spend the rest of my life with my husband. It's crazy to think that just 4 years ago  I walked through the biggest storm of my life a day and days to come after where I felt as if I couldn't get up and walk or even function. My heart was broken, I was broken... How could these plans of mine have failed. Surely the Lords goodness was going to put my plans back together again. To my surprise He didn't. As a matter of fact the days and weeks to come and even that year got harder and harder and my heart didn't seem to feel any better.

People and their opinions and advice only made me more and more bitter and angry as if they really knew what I was going through. During that time that I was broken the Lord was still doing a good work, as a matter of fact the best work that could have ever happened to me. I realized that the Lord had allowed my brokenness to bring me and my life to a place of complete surrender and submission. I was learning what it was like to be sweetly broken wholly surrendered. Being honest there were plenty of days I didn't feel his hand over me and there were days I felt depressed and miserable but because feelings are just fickle I knew deep within He was there. That storm that had flooded my life was bigger then I probably seen and that was because He never left me during the most difficult times. He remained my source of breathe when I couldn't breathe and the moments I couldn't get up off of my knees He was the one who gave me the strength to get back up and continue walking...

Friend we do not ever know why the Lord calls us to certain things or allows us to go through hardship but what we do know is that He is using it all for His glory and our good. I can not sit here and say that I know exactly why He allowed me to go through that storm but what I do know is He has turned all of it for good. 4 months after my family was broken the Lord gave me my life scripture of Genesis 50:20 He told me that He had always and would always have angels ascending and descending on my behalf and He told me that He was going to use my brokenness for His glory and my good and sweet friends He surely has!

Maybe as you read this you are thinking of the great storm that you are in right now and you find yourself wondering "why?" May I just encourage you to keep your faith. Even when you can not see or feel Him I want you to know He is there, He has been there and He will ALWAYS be there! Think of Joseph who did nothing wrong and yet he was sold into slavery by his own brothers and then thrown into a prison cell for years. He did nothing to deserve what he had to face and yet the Lord is sovereign and all knowing and those trials and the suffering he endured were not in vain. God had a plan and just like He had a plan for the life of Joseph He also has a great plan for you and I. Friend, would you say today  regardless of what is to come that you will choose to follow after the heart of God!

When We Skip Our TAWG

Wow, I had a busy week. It has been non stop each day filled with birthday parties, reunions, family activities, cleaning, laundry and dropping off and picking up. I am exhausted to say the least. I am a busy woman and I am okay with that, however there comes a point when we all need rest.

Ever since I was a little girl I can remember looking for my next adventure hoping to be able to go for a cruise or get out of the house. Let's just say I am still that way. Now that I am an adult and my little ones are not so little we get to get up and go a lot. Today as I am feeling so tired I am reflecting on how I got to this point of exhaustion....

As I looked back on the past 5 days I realized I lacked something. I lacked my time alone with the Lord. I read my bible everyday, I prayed and went to church. But I have realized I never set time aside to sit in the presence of my creator. The fact that we have the opportunity everyday to enter into the Holy of Holies and meet with our creator is amazing. The other night at bible study we were talking about and learning how there are 3 types of believers. You have the Outer Court believer (saved but never experience's a meaningful relationship with Christ)  the Holy Place believer (lives off of feelings and emotions rather then the Lords will) and finally the Holy of Holies believer ( They seek after and rest in the presence of the Lord just as the Lord designed it to be). Overall I know where my relationship with the Lord is and there is no other place I would rather be then in the presence of my Savior. When I am there I have peace and contentment. When I have met with Him then my faith is strengthened because I know who He is and I see that He is faithful!

We have an enemy (hoping you know this) Who seeks to destroy you and I. He of course can not do this as we walk in the victory and strength of Jesus. He knows this but he also has tricks that he uses to cause us to weaken and become tired and distracted so he can come in for the kill....

So what  distracts you from entering into the presence of the Lord on a daily basis? Is it your job? Your kids? Your husbands? Crafts? shopping? your phone? your business?.. Just like I answered what distracts me only you can answer this for you, remember to be honest, this way you can confess your idols and cast them before the Lord.

I realized that over the past 5 days I had been distracted. Yes, a time filled with a nephew I have not seen in 11 years and a time filled with a French exchange student and yes even time spent with my children is wonderful. As all of these things are definitely a gift from God I must never place them before my time with Him and I must take a moment to rest just as the Lord commands in commandment number 4. He knows what we need which is why He commanded it.

As I make my way along this journey unto the promise land I am learning and always growing. Today I will take heed to what the Lord has whispered in my ear. I'd also like to encourage you to be certain that you do not place anything before your time alone with the Lord, you need it! I need it! May we realize that nothing not even our own children should be placed before Him!

Out From The Land Of Slavery

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.                                                                                                                                Exodus 20:2

Did you know that when the bible mentions Egypt it is a picture of the world. Many times when we hear that people such as Abraham went to Egypt for things it is a picture of him entering the world to receive something.

Just yesterday I was able to get a glimpse back into my life before I was saved, a time when I was caught in the slavery of this world. So often as I have been on this journey to the promise land of rest I forget just how ugly life use to be. I forget that I was a slave to so many things of this world.

Life is good serving the Lord, even on the hard days I know I have been set free. Why is it then that we seem to look back or try and go back as if there is something good for us there? If there was anything good there then the Lord would have allowed us to stay and would have had no reason to set us free from the slavery we were in. I think of the Israelites and their journey.... We Christians easily comment on their life and how silly and stupid they were to have been so whiny and rebellious. Which they were, I agree! However we too are the same. When our journey to the promise land gets tough we begin to whine and cry. Sometimes we even act out in rebellion because we are angry or we don’t understand. Just like the Lord was doing something in the lives of the Israelites each time they faced trials and struggles, He is doing the same in ours lives as well.

Yesterday, I went looking to the world for an answer to a problem I had. I have been praying about something and I lost trust in my Father that He would provide for this need. I believed the lies of the enemy that the Lord wasn't going to work it out. How silly right? Anyway, I went to the world and got bit. God took me from this very thing and as I got a glimpse of it I remembered why it was the Lord delivered me.

Can I encourage you today? Don’t look back into the land of slavery that you were delivered from. Even on your hardest day it is still better then what you came from. When you feel tempted to even think of those days of the world, remind yourself of this scripture;

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing; Forgetting the past and looking forward on what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling.
                                                                            Philippians 3:13


Stay focused friend He is faithful and HE WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL!

Living Water

I do not know about you but for many years I labored in vain. I gave so much of my life to this world. I tried my hardest to live the "American Dream". I had a list of things I needed to achieve and have in order to be happy and content. I'd work more, buy more and was trying so hard to be a better me. I bought self help books and was trying to unlock the key and meaning to life. I looked for it in my family and that even failed me. No matter where I looked I still found nothing to fill the void in my heart. I just felt more and more empty. Finally I came to a place where I said "there must be more then this to life, otherwise life just isn't worth living!" Yes I had thoughts of suicide and I already was walking in self destructive behaviors such as an eating disorder and engaging in alcohol to the point of no remembrance.
 This world lies to us and convinces us that things and ourselves can bring satisfaction, I am here to tell you they don't! True satisfaction come's from the one who offers living water. Water, that will cause us to never grow thirsty again. This water will cause us to not want to drink from the fountain of this world that for many years has ripped us off. Rather this water brings contentment and a life that will last into eternity.
I just feel like someone needs to know that they can freely come and drink from the fountain of living water and be forgiven In Christ Jesus! The enemy has beaten you up long enough, you do not have to take the beating any longer. You don't have to hide behind the lies of this world. It is okay to accept that you or anyone else can not bring you happiness and satisfaction! To my friend who is sick and tired of being sick and tired then this invitation is for you.

"Come You to the water you who thirst and you'll thirst no more!" -Jesus

A Few New Recipe's

It is so important to feed our Spirit. Just like our flesh needs food to keep alive so does our Spirit. Never forget that...... Just as I feed my Spirit the good stuff (God's word) I too like to take care of this body the Lord has given me temporarily.  I am finding new ways to feed my family clean and healthy. I wanted to share these with you. I know often we think it's more expensive to eat healthy but we don't always have to eat the most expensive products out there to eat right. For instance a lot of these items I already had in my home as I pick up when I go to the store at the beginning of the week. Here is a delicious shrimp cocktail minus the jalapeño (kid friendly)
http://www.orovillecrossfit.com/paleo-recipe-of-the-day-mexican-shrimp-cocktail/

Below is what I made last night. A friend shared this recipe with me.

Turkey Chili  

Serves 6-8 

(1 Cup Serving)

1 lb. Lean Ground Turkey

½ a medium yellow onion

2-4 tsp minced garlic

2 tbsp. Chili powder

2 tbsp. Cumin

2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (Caution for Heat)

1 tbsp. organic tomato paste

1 roasted red & yellow pepper cut & diced

3-4 cans of white beans no sodium

14 oz. of organic tomato puree

Seriously guys I am a single mom so I know what it's like to live on a budget, or to watch what I spend.  Each meal probably cost me 10-13 bucks

Happy eating friends

You Can't Take My Joy Devil

Have you ever woken up and just felt blah? Not that you had done anything wrong but you just felt yourself in a funk... That is how I work up on this beautiful Monday. Over this weekend I definitely felt the enemy begin his attack. I clung to God's word and reminded myself that I live by faith not by sight. As I was trying to get out of my house to enjoy the day with my kids it was as if the grouchiness got worse. Then I even found myself getting grouchier because I was grouchy lol.... So by now you can imagine that my hormones are raging. I was finding every reason to justify how I was feeling, I thought about what I was dealing with, I thought about the fact that I had a lot on my plate and that I was a woman and had every right to feel this way....

Why was I so bothered by the fact that I was being robbed of my morning then? If you have ever experienced God's joy and peace then you know that you don't ever want to live with out it. That's how I feel anyway. I know that No matter what I am facing or up against in this life I have a reason to sing in the rain and dance in the storm. I know I have an inward reason to feel that everlasting joy that the bible speaks about. That is why I was feeling so bothered why I didn't have peace and joy. 

I finally made it out of my house which was a great thing, however I still couldn't shake the grouchiness. Finally I heard the Lord say "pray to me, ask me to take this away". The light went off in my brain and I said "kids let's pray." I asked the Lord to take this ugliness and oppression that I was feeling away, and allow me to have a day filled with joy so that I can shine for Jesus to my kids, our French student who is living with us and as well as the people who I would come across throughout this beautiful Monday. Friends within moments I felt a weight lifted off of my shoulders, I felt peace and joy again and it felt great!!!

The Lord tells us that whatever we ask in His name it will be given to us and I believe this to be true. I do not believe in name it and claim it or that if you ask to be rich then you shall have it. Rather Jesus was speaking of heavenly things such as wisdom and knowledge and things that will glorify our Father in heaven. The enemy is out to steal kill and destroy and that goes for stealing our joy to destroy our day and our relationships around us. My children seen my ugliness and they seen how I was restless this morning and that my morning lacked peace and joy. I can not take back how I acted while I chose to walk in my flesh. I am so thankful for the Lord's whisper and reminder that I needed Him to fight this spiritual battle for me. I needed the Lord to send His angel's to fight off the enemy who was attacking me. I am blessed to have  a French student living with us for 3 weeks, however the enemy doesn't like that the Lord has opened up the opportunity to share the gospel with a girl who has never heard the truth before.I  realize that she is watching our lives and through our lives she can see Jesus shining through, or she can see us not walking in the Spirit and see our flesh.

Sisters do not let the enemy steal your peace and joy which is a gift from the Father. You have every reason to wake up in the morning and sing praises to the king and thank Him for another day, even in the midst of a storm. I am so thankful the Lord delivered me from that ugly funk this morning. My children, our French student and myself  had a Spirit filled joyful day. We smiled and waved to so many people and we gave thanks to the Lord for every good thing even our parking spots we found at the beach. We serve a good God! To God be the Glory!

Baptized By My Son

 The other day I was swimming with my children. We were just laughing having a great time. I felt Isaiah grab me and try and dunk me under the water, I did not know what he was doing. Then I heard him say mom, you are baptized In Jesus name lol. This photo reminded me of what he was doing. Happy to know that those are the games he chooses to to play. Have a blessed weekend everyone!

A Promise For Your Family

I dropped my daughter off at her first small group bible study last night. As I drove away I felt a sense of overwhelming joy. The Lord impressed upon my heart how blessed I am that there is a young woman 22 years old who has the desire to pour out into my daughter.....

So often we look around at this world we live in and it's hard not to think of all the negative. Everyday it seems as though some teen or young adult has committed a mass murder and or killed someone from a drunk driving accident. It's unlikely to hear that young woman and men are choosing to stay pure until marriage. And it seems as though this world even encourages drugs in any form we'd like them in to call them acceptable. For mothers with young children and pre-teens this can be disturbing and discouraging. The only hope I have ever found in raising my children is in Christ Jesus. I am grateful for the promise in Proverbs 22:6 NLT "Direct your children onto the right path , and when they are older, they will not leave." 

This is a good promise sisters! This means that all of our days pouring into our children and raising them right in Jesus will not be empty. They will follow after the ways of the Lord.

This young lady who is disciplining my daughter and 2 other girls has been poured into herself. Her parents or someone special in her life raised her and directed her in the right path. Someone took the time to invest in her life and because of this she is now answering the call to pour out and direct other young children.  It is a beautiful thing. Pondering what I seen last night a few things were placed on my heart;

1. To the parent or guardian raising their children on that right path, don't give up! Keep encouraging, leading by example and teaching them the ways of the Lord. Don't stop the family devotionals and don't start compromising with this world. The enemy and this world want to rob you of your children! Stand strong in Christ Jesus! You will see the fruit of your labor and the mercy our Father will show your family.

and,

2. What can we do to use the gifts God has given us to pour out into people around us? I realize everyone has different dynamics in their family and not every family can and will serve in the same way. That is the cool thing about our Lord. He created each family different, How can you or your family use what the Lord has given you to serve and pour out into others around you?

and lastly,

3. Rejoice in the victories you see in your children's lives.... It has been a prayer of mine that as Amaya come's to the age of accountability I have asked the Lord That she grows in Him. I have asked that she would fall in love with Jesus in her own relationship with Him. I am seeing Him slowly lovingly show her just who He is. For that I will rejoice!

Sweet Sister do not lose heart in raising your sons and daughters and don't believe the lie that you are too busy or unequipped to reach out to others. In your own strength this is impossible but with God all things are possible!

What Is Too Much Caffeine?

I was chatting with a few mothers this weekend about caffeine and how some mothers freely offer it to their children and others don't all together. I was surprised as I seen 3 children all under the age of 10 in a store drinking an adult size cold coffee. As I was sharing this with these gals they began to express their surprise with the trend now a days for our young teens to want a certain coffee drink all the time. I have an 11 year old who will often ask to go to this coffee house to get a treat. Hmmm, I remember despising the smell of coffee as a young child. Matter of fact my when my parents brewed their daily pot coffee the smell of it made me sick. The left over grinds on the counter reminded me of the bitterness I felt for coffee lol. Kids were not supposed to like the smell right? So why is it now that this new generation of kids has a love for coffee. Has a trend and style to drink coffee turned into an addiction? We know ladies that coffee is addicting. I sadly love my cup or 2 I drink a day. The smell of it makes me smile. I wanted to share a few reasons kids maybe should not drink too much caffeine through coffee and or soft drinks as well as eat it through chocolate. I, in no means want to tell you how to raise your children and tell you what is right or wrong because I as a mom am so far from perfect. If were to be honest, I would tell you my son loved Soda and sneaks sips of my coffee here and there. However becoming more aware that its not good for his health is driving me to encourage drinking less of the sugary caffeinated items and encourage and pump in more water. I must say it is working with consistency.

Too much caffeine in kids can have these side affects.

• jitteriness and nervousness
• upset stomach
• headaches
• difficulty concentrating
• difficulty sleeping
• increased heart rate
• increased blood pressure    

That's just a few ways that caffeine is affecting our children when they consume too much of it. If children are half our size and consume the same amount of caffeine that we do, what does that look like for their overall health? One fun fact I found in my research is that caffeine DOES NOT stunt growth. No research has proof to that statement. People who are short such as myself can place no blame on caffeine. We simply were created this short by our beautiful Creator. 

Just in case you were wondering...

1 chocolate bar contains 70 mg

1 cup of coffee contains 95 mg

1 cup of soda 12 fl oz contains

 29-34 mg

Amazing Love How Can It Be That You My God Should Die For Me

I am filled with complete overwhelming joy of the love that Jesus displays for me daily. Yet as I reflect the life He led and the choice He made to save me I become speechless. So often we speak of the cross and we proclaim that a Savior died for our sins yet I am not sure we go to the great length of comprehending just what He did for us.

Last night I was blessed to sit down with 2 sisters and read through the crucifixion as well as watch a scene that can only act out the horrendous death that our Lord went through for you and for me. As I was reading through what took place and all that our Lord was going through the thing that stuck out to me the most was when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus said this:
"Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." Luke 22:42
Wow! I was blown away and speechless! Jesus knew what was ahead of Him. He knew the cup of suffering He was about to drink and yet the love He had for you and I caused Him to drink that cup of suffering. Jesus realized that you and I were found unrighteous in the sight of God. Jesus understood that if He didn't die and atone for our sins that we could never stand in the presence of God.

Amazing love how can it be that you my God should die for me...

Jesus made the choice that He loved us enough to die to His self that we might have eternal life.That my friends is the standard of perfection and we all know that none of us even on our best day can live to that standard. You and I are sinners, we in our flesh can not meet the standard of perfection no matter how hard we try. In our sin God loves us enough to offer a way that we can commune and be in His presence. Sweet friend would you take a moment today and thank the Lord that you are loved. Not just this feeling of love that we humans throw around but the agape love that left His perfect home and drank from a cup of suffering that we could not even comprehend. This is love! You are loved! Would you accept this free gift of love and salvation today. Would you go forth and share this great love that Jesus has not just for you and I but for the entire world as well.

The Unlovable

I am not sure how you were raised but in my home I know for certain my brothers were taught to treat woman with respect and kindness. We too as woman were taught to offer that same respect back. I know that living in 2014 it doesn't always look like that. There are so many hurting and lost people that they don't respect anyone or even themselves. For most people they walk around with a sense of entitlement to everything, They want respect but wont give it, they expect kindness but don't offer it and they think that everyone and everything should be offered to them just because.... Do you know anyone like this? Maybe there is no one in your close circle who act or treat you without respect but I know you run into them at the store or on the road. They're the ones who cut you off and then throw their hands in the air as if you did something wrong. They're  the ones who allow the door to slam on you rather then holding it open for you. We call these people the unlovable.
 
    I call them the unlovable because truly it's hard to love these people who are mean and unkind. If we were to be really honest we'd admit we want to scream back and sometimes we'd even want to show them the same amount of disrespect as they have shown to us.
This morning someone cut me off, stole the parking spot I was going to pull into and then slammed the door in my face. Talk about a triple whammy! I was speechless. In my flesh I was ready to give this person common courtesy and respect 101, and then I felt the Holy Spirit close my mouth. No doubt I was frustrated but quickly Because of the Spirit I realized that I too am the unlovable....
It was in my ugliest moments and darkest days where the Lord reached me where I was and loved me. He not only loved me then in my ugliest but He has never stopped offering and showing me love as I still have my moments of being unlovable.

    Jesus won us over by His love that He displayed on the cross. He gave Himself for us when we were still sinners in our darkest and ugliest moments. His love drew us to Him. I think that as we display God's love to the unlovable they too will be won over by this great love. A love that love's unconditionally and with no bounds. I came to the conclusion that I have a lot to learn from Jesus and with out Him I can do no good thing. I am so thankful that the more I hangout with Him the more I'll look like Him.
John 15:12
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. :-)

Kombucha Anyone?

Kombucha anyone? I love the taste of kombucha, however I have found that there are many who don't. Kombucha is a Chinese probiotic drink that has so many health benefits for us. I have even drank a fruit kombucha smoothie, yum! Its a great way to pump probiotics into your kiddos. Some great health benefits that come along with kombucha are:

• Increase of metabolism
• Detoxify the liver
• Improve digestion
• Rebuilds the connective tissue- helps with arthritis, gout, asthma and rheumatism
• Cancer prevention
• Reduces blood pressure
• Relieves headaches and migraines
• Improves eyesight
• Eczema and skin clear up

And the list goes on friends. I challenge you to bring kombucha into your home and see if your health improves. If you have any recipes you'd like to share using kombucha please do in the comment box below :-)