Celebrate Life!

Well, I've been thinking about this recent conference I was able to attend back in October of this year, I was incredibly blessed to be able to listen to the hearts of several women of faith while in Sacramento, Ca.  
While each one of them had a completely different life story to tell, they all centered around their undying love for Jesus.  They shared of hardships and trials and even some of the tears and pain that occurred in their lives and how they had been brought through these trials to be able to see the triumphs and victories over these times to believe and see what lies ahead in their brilliant futures.  Each one of their stories ran over several years of their life where they had their ups and downs.  Sometimes just when things started to look up…their world came to a crashing halt! Then, when it seemed as if all they wanted to do was give up, they rose to learn from their past and push on toward their future.
Philippians 3:13-14 -- Now, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to 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 us.

I mean, have you ever felt like that?  Most of us have.  But, in truth, as it says in the scripture, in this life we will face trials….but take heart HE has overcome the world! 


Christine Caine was probably one of my favorites that weekend.  I love how she spoke on ‘a plague of frogs.’ I seen that scripture in a whole new aspect that day.
Christine shared that we are important – each and every one of us --  and God knows and cares from each and every one of His children.  It doesn't matter where we live or where we were born, we are more than just a number in the system, we all have a name and are fearfully and wonderfully made!  Whether we grew up and lived with our birth parents or if you've been adopted or if you live in a child care center somewhere...you are more than just a number in this big world....you have a name and you matter...and you are loved!
It says in Jeremiah 29:11, “’I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord…”  God’s got a plan, a purpose and a destiny for you!
I am fearfully and wonderfully made! 
Ephesians 2:10 -- 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.

How are you going to live without your fear?  You don’t have to be defined by your issues?  Christ knows your name and who you are.  I can't wait to dive into Christine's newest book, "Undaunted," and learning more through her writing as well. 

Isaiah 49:1 -- Listen to me, all you in distant lands!  Pay attention, you who are far away!
The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.

Psalm 139: 1-24 --  www.biblegateway.com

O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

² You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

³ You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

⁴ You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

⁵ You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

You’re wanted!!!  You were made for more! The truth will make you free!

Galatians 5:1 --So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Angie Smith spoke about fear, and who doesn't have some kind of fear in their life, right?  Angie shared about fears through the voice of Hagar, and how when Hagar was sent off with Ishmael they face trials, their faith was tested but even  where human provision may have run out, the ‘well’ is always there and God was always with them helping with there needs. Hagar
   Genesis 21:8-21


Angie spoke about Psalm 139 today and the impact on this chapter in her life.

Angie told her story about here daughter and each of their births.  She opened with her twin daughters and how she had them figured to be the best babies in the world.  She had no trouble taking these angels to the store and out and about.  Although, her next child came to be the complete opposite.  "She's a negotiator" Angie said.  As she told the story about telling her daughter that if she would quit sucking her thumb for 2 weeks, she would take her to Toys R Us and buy her anything she wanted for not sucking her thumb for 2 weeks!  All in all and to quote "a very funny story" her daughter agreed to the proposition.  Well, 5 minutes later Angie found her daughter in her room sucking her thumb. When she asked her about their deal just earlier, her daughter turned to her saying, "eh...I'll just get it for Christmas."  Kids!

Now Angie told us of her cute little stories of her girls but she left one story for the end.  Her next little baby girl.  A little girl who halfway through her pregnancy, the doctors had advised Angie to 'end her pregnancy.'  They told Angie and Scott that their baby girl wasn't developing like she should be, she didn't have a pancreas, she didn't have 4 chambers in her heart and there were two other organs missing.  Knowing how strong Angie and Scott felt about the human life growing inside of her they trusted God and they continued to full term against the wishes of the doctors.  By their next appointment, the doctors were amazed about how much progress the baby had made.  Her organs had been developing and she had 4 chambers in her heart.  Angie made it to deliver her baby girl.  Although she was weak and small, they were aloud to hold their precious and beautiful baby girl for a couple hours on the day of her birth.  And even through they only had a few hours with her, she said that they would have a lifetime of memories  for as long as she'd lived that day, and they would never have traded that day of anything.  They loved and cherished every moment they had spent with their precious and beautiful daughter.

God sees you different than you see yourself. 

                                                There is hope beyond where you are right now.

Sheila Walsh is always amazing to hear and a blessing her hear her thoughts and teachings.  She spoke from Romans Chapter 12, identifying that there is ‘nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ.’  
   
   It’s not about who you are,     
   it’s about whose you are!      

         I am a daughter 
                of the 
                                                           King of Kings!



Shannon Ethridge graced us with her presence as she shared that God is more than sufficient to meet ALL of OUR needs! 



Shannon's life story was incredible to be able to listen to her heart as she  told her story.

I just want to break down some of my favorite quotes spoken by Shannon this day, they pretty much say it all about surrending your life over to God and letting go.  Knowing that we are going to make mistakes and even though we may fail at times, God is there to embrace us and pick us back up and dust us off.  

• Let God woo you and pursue you
  
• Embrace your bridegroom“

• Loving Jesus without limits!”

Even, the one of the few men (Ken Davis) that we there shared a few good points, 

1 – To believe with all of your heart that God is the author of ALL YOUR JOY!  
2 – To believe with all your heart that perfection is not a requirement! AND 
3 – To believe with all your heart that He will NEVER let you down!

My Favorite Fall Recipe!

 Okay, so I love it when Fall comes around, cooler weather, changing colors, warm sweaters and scarves, jeans and cute boots.  But mostly, that’s when the pumpkins come back.  The Pumpkin Spice Latte’s and all things pumpkin flavored.  Well, I came across this recipe last Fall and I’ve made it a couple of times since and it has had some amazing reviews.  It’s also really simple and easy to make, and a must to make when the “Fall Season” rolls around!  I’ve made it with fresh pumpkin and canned pumpkin as well, both are amazing! 

So here it is…   

 

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread!

Ingredients:

2 cans pumpkin ( or 4 cups fresh pumpkin)
1 cup oil
4 eggs
2/3 cup water
3 cups sugar
3-1/2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tablespoon nutmeg
1-1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cloves
3 tsp cinnamon
Add chocolate chips (or nuts)

 

Directions:

Cream eggs and sugar together.

 

Add pumpkin, oil and water.

 

Combine flour, baking soda, nutmeg, salt, cloves, cinnamon. Then, add into pumpkin mixture.

 

Add in chocolate chips.

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until you can insert and toothpick/knife and it comes out clean. 
This is where baking the bread can get a little bit tricky just because baking times can vary with this bread. I tend to bake the bread for an extra 10-15 minutes (depending on how full the pans are) 

Makes 2-3 loaves

Enjoy!!!!! 

My Favorite Finds

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Well, I don't know about you but there's something about Fall that makes me crave something pumpkin flavored everyday! :-) I came across this recipe and I just had to try it out.  Being as it's Fall and 'tis the season of these wonderful pumpkin cravings, I figured it was worth a try.  With no surprise they came out AMAZING!  It's quick and easy and in less than an hour you have amazing pumpkin cookies that fill your home with that great "Fall" pumpkin smell.  

Ingredients:  butter, sugar, brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, canned pumpkin, semisweet chocolate chips

 

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup canned pumpkin
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:


In a bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.


Beat in egg and vanilla.

 
Combine the flour, oats, baking soda and cinnamon;

 
Alternate mixing in Flour Mixture and Pumpkin....

 
Fold in chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonful's onto greased baking sheets.

Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Let Cool for 5 minutes and remove and cool completely on wire rack

 
AND....Enjoy!!!! :-)

Makes approx: 4 dozen

It is well....

One thing remains....

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me...

With these words in mind, as we are thinking of three small numbers with a powerful impact when spoken. 9-1-1.  These numbers have always been used in case of an emergency.  If something traumatic had happened we would pick up the phone and and dial these three numbers...9-1-1.  We get emergency personnel on the other line asking 'what our emergency is?' In 2001 we added another remembrance, we associate these numbers with a date, a date that we may never forget, a date when everyone was changed. We will remember that, Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me.

Reflect.  Another word we use to describe events or ourselves. We reflect on what happened in the our past and we look in the mirror and reflect on our self and what we see looking back at us.  Although, we do have to move on, we leave our past is behind us and we press on toward the future.  We can turn this around, to remembering the all the good that came after this event.  Remembering the people coming together and never forgetting the people affected by this and the people serving our country, the firefighters who risked their lives to save people from the destruction.  Thank you to all who have served and helped out.  We will remember!  Remembering once again, Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me.

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:14 NLT)
As we reflect on those who have stepped out in love and kindness for our country, we know that we can do anything that we set our hearts and minds to, because with God on our side, whom shall we fear.  We remember all Christ did for us and how much we can do for Him.  How much we can share His love and mercy and goodness, to those who need to hear.
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

For many of us on the West Coast, we woke up to the news around 6am.  The news that our country was forever changed.  The news of a tragic event that took place in on the East Coast in New York.  As we watched the planes fly into the towers from our television screens, and our tears stinging our eyes we stood in awe of what was occurring at that very moment.  Thinking, what can I do but pray.  Pray for the victims, pray for the families involved...just pray.

I remember getting ready and going to class that day.  I had a 8am geography class. I remember walking into my class where everyone had looked and felt like I did.  It was a large class, but instead of class our professor had turned on the news to watch for the length of the class period.  It was silence in the class as we sat their listening to what had just happened just 2 hours ago.  Thinking once again....Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me.


Since, September 11, 2001, since America was changed, since such tragedy occurred....we came together.  We came together as a nation to stand up for our country.  As people all over our nation were on their knees in prayer. People were finding a way to serve in their own community, even if they were miles and miles away from New York, it was as if this tragic event took place in their own backyard.
We held prayer and candlelight services, we held community car washes where all donations were send to the needs of New York.  We came together.  Together to serve. To do something for someone else.  What can you do to help someone else today?  To make a difference in someone else's life.  To be the hands and feet of God, to share the love of Christ to those we come into contact with.  Because this LOVE, it should be shared...it needs to be shared.  There are so many people out in this world who need to know that God's love never fails, never gives up and it never runs out on you and me!


As an added note, I found this video on YouTube.  What a great song!

Snack Time!

#1 Cake-batter snickerdoodles

Time for some BAKING!!!

Well...sometimes don't you just crave something sweet? I totally do at times!  Most of our sweet cravings come from when we aren't wanting to eat a lot of sweets, right?  Usually when we're dieting?  Well here are some "sweet tooth' cravings 'with' and 'without' a lot of sugar in them.

I've wandered through Pinterest a few times....okay maybe more than a few times, (totally addicting site, what can I say), but there's some great ideas out there.  I first found these cake-batter snicker-doodles, and while I've seen them before, I really just had to try them this time.  

That, and I was having a group get together for facial one night and I wanted to have some snacks available.  I also didn't want to be in the kitchen all-day preparing them.  So I found these four snacks that I literally made in under 2 hours. Which wasn't a huge chunk out out of my day and at least let me get some of my work done that I needed to do to prepare for my skin care class that night. 

#1: Cake-batter Snicker-doodles - they were really simple to make when you just want to whip us a late night snack.

#2 Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Then I wanted to make something that consisted of peanut butter and chocolate, something that tends to be a craving a little more often. What can I say...

#2:  Chocolate and Peanut Butter Sqaures - defiantly an amazing treat! 
         Chocolate + Peanut Butter = Awesomeness! 
Defiantly enjoyed by everyone!




Well, I thought after these two sugar-packed recipes I should go for something a little more on the healthy side. So I tried recipe number 3.

#3 Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

#3: Chocolate chip cookie dough dip - AND YES! It actually is a HEALTHY snack!  You would never believe that it was, because you could pretty much sit down and eat the whole bowl of it. I took it to one of my parties and it defiantly was the hit of the night.  I served it  with graham crackers to spread the cookie dough.





Next, I really wanted to try another HEALTHY food, with brings me to....

Banana, Applesauce, Raisin Cookies

#4:  Banana, applesauce, raisin cookies - 

Yes, those are pretty much the main ingredients in this recipe. Plus, they are totally and completely sugar-free.  And if you're looking for a pretty decent sugar-free snack to quench your sweet tooth than this would be a good choice for you. 
About half the people I gave these to really enjoyed these cookies; although, on the other hand the other half of us thought the taste was okay, but couldn't get past the texture and chewiness of the cookie.   Maybe these cookies can be re-worked a little, for some of us. :-)

These were great fast and easy snacks and treats to prepare when you don't really want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and fun to make as well.   

Grace and Peace, 

Dreams!

                         DREAMS! 

Now that's a great word, just by itself!  But, for a small word it can provide an amazing and huge impact on our life.

Have you ever had a dream? Yes, many of us have!  We dream at night and then there are those little daydreams through out the course of the day that can sometimes happen, right?  We think about things that we would love to have and be, if we only had the time or we were in a different place in our life, right?  Sometimes we tend to give up on our dreams a little to quickly, right?  But, really.....we don't have to. No, we don't have to give up on our dreams! And Yes, we can achieve anything we set our hearts and minds to.

It may be a difficult process but it could be worth it, when find out what we're really supposed to be doing.  If we don't attempt to go for our dreams, we may never know what could or would have happened.
What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve!  God has given us the ability to dream...to dream BIG!  God has plans for each and everyone one of our lives.  Now...how are we going to pursue these great things planned for us.  Like it says in Jeremiah 29:11 -- 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.  Our hope is in the Lord because He gives us that hope for our futures.  

We all strive to be successful, because let's face it...success and achieving your goal is HUGE!  But, Success is a Journey, not a Destination! To achieve success we have to take this amazing journey that keeps us moving.  We just don't stop at a destination, we eventually keep going and move on.  We just don't sit in one spot and not do anything.  We need to be always moving forward toward the next goal once we reach the previous one.
As we go through life we find that 'life' is a series of choices, and we all have choices in life that we make.
Is your life a joyful noise to the Lord?  Sing your dreams, share your dreams with others around you.  Is your smile glorifying God's name?  Do you bring joy?  Can people see your dreams with you?  If you let people in on your dreams, they can help you achieve them.  So go out there and BE JESUS to those who surround you!  Show the love of Christ through your smile and through your actions....let those people see Jesus through you!

Make a list of 25 dreams...what you would like to have, do and be, if you could have, do and be whatever you wanted/needed. Make a book, cut out pictures and watch your dreams come to life.
{in no specific order -- I just want to see my dreams be accomplished :)  Then look back and see all the things you've checked off, maybe then you'll have to start a new book; because you've accomplished everything from your previous book.

Meet and marry my future husband! :-)
Be a mom
Be debt-free
Be able to buy my dream house with my future family
Travel!!!
Be able to sponsor a child full-time through a sponsorship program
Tithe regularly
Become an actress in movies, tv and Theatre - Extra in Christian Mingle
Become a journalist and work for a newspaper/magazine -- Created Evoke Magazine
Publish a book and be an author of many books
Buy a car
Be able to share God's Word with anybody that I come in contact with boldly and confidently. -- Working on stepping out of my comfort zone. 
Go on a missions trip
Participate in Christian Theatre
Live in another state
Visit every state --- almost done
Visit every Continent  -- America, Central America -- done
Graduate from a University
Have an Internship
Sing in front of a large audience
Act in front of a large audience 
Create and Write my own blog
Go on a road trip with friends
Learn to play the guitar -- getting closer

Clothed with Strength and Dignity

Happy Birthday U.S.A.

Happy Independence Day!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Happy Birthday to the United States of America!!!

Each one of these are different phrases we use to describe our celebration of our country's birthday.  When you stop to think about it, this day is more than just a day of BBQ's and Fireworks...it's a day of FREEDOM.  A day set aside celebrate the freedom that we have in this country.  A freedom that gives us the freedom to have a relationship with Christ with out having to hide it.  A freedom to tell others about the love that Christ has to offer them.  To study the Word of God, to pray...to not have to hide.  

Life, Liberty, Speech, Press, and Religion, we have all of these freedoms and rights in this country, but the freedom to choose Jesus Christ as our Savior and to worship God through out our lives, is the best kind of freedom that is ever given to us because no one can ever take it from you, no matter what.


“So if the Son has set you free, you will be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

The following video is one that I came across while search for this song. Someone put together from the Rebecca St. James song, "America." As the song was written back in 2006 for the National Day of Prayer, this is just a reminder to be praying for our Nation everyday, and Honoring God for what He has provided us here.  Giving us the freedom through His Son.

So I just wanted to stop and say, Thank you!  Thank you to all who have served our country! And, Remember!  Remember what this country was founded on!  Remember the path that is provided for you!  Remember the plans God has for you!

REMEMBER!!!

                                        

Thank you and GRACE AND PEACE to you all,

When exposed to the light....darkness has to flee

                                  

This morning I was listening to an inspirational message, and let me tell you, I've done my best to make these daily messages a part of my morning, but in the last couple of months, I've missed more than a few messages, and I've really missed that I missed these calls.  Now getting back into the habit of listening to these daily inspirational messages I know why I truly enjoy and become motivated and inspired every time I listen to one of these amazing and inspiring leaders on these calls. 

Today's message came from the heart of Amber.  She shared about relationships.  I love this because relationships are truly what we were made for...what we were created for.  Our very existence is built around relationships. A relationship with Christ!  Our relationships with the people in our life! Everything starts with self-less thinking and it's bigger than just you.  When we think about benefiting others and how we can grow in our relationships we are leading with love, from the heart.

In today's message, Amber shared from an issue that had been discussed from Focus on the Family (a radio show on the Christian radio station).  In this, she shared how 1 in 3 women can struggle with depression, and how more women are medicated now than they were years ago.  In the past, women used to go out, get together at parties, talk, shop, have coffee, can food together.  Where as years ago, not every house had air conditioning, women were more apt to get out of the house and be social.  But now, there is so much keeping women inside, television, air-conditioning, modern conveniences, etc.  There are more women hiding away.  We need to get those women back out on the social scene, because women need their friends. We need to be able to have our 'girls night out', to be able to talk and share, because let's face it, we can't talk to men about everything!  If we spill out all of our word vomit about our lives all over men, all they're likely to hear is blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...  Which, is why we need our girlfriends to talk to, we need someone who understands what we're going through and will listen and help us.  If we keep everything inside, it'll just build up. But, it we expose it to the light, darkness has no choice but to flee!  

Ephesians 5:8-13 9 (NIV)--> For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

Performing "Girlfriends" at a Women's Conference

We can get together with our friends for 'girls night out' once in while just to be able to hang out and chat and be able to be vulnerable with one another, talk about our lives, share....so we don't let things build up, so we don't feel alone.  Sometimes all we need is to feel loved and know that we are not alone.  Then maybe we may find that someone else may have been through the same thing we have. 

We can make people feel good, make them feel happy!  Because it's your choice to be happy....so be happy!!! Show love!!!

Find your friends that you can talk to, those friends that will help build you up, and not tear you down.  You know that you will become like the five women you around around the most, so good friends can be so valuable to each an everyone of us.  

This message also reminded me of a skit/monologue I've shared before.  It's called, 'Girlfriends.'  It talks about how women need their friends, and how important it is for us to have our friends in our lives, whether we're married our single, we need our friends in our lives to be able to talk to.  We need someone to talk to, laugh with, give advice/get advice from, cry with and pray with.   Don't be afraid to be open and vulnerable with a friend.  The more you open up with your friends, the more you can share and open up and help them open up to our wonderful Father in Heaven.   

These are some of the verses I came across as I was reading into the message I heard today.  Sometimes I just love the way The Message Bible reads, as I share with you...

1 John 1:5 (msg) -- This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.

^{Matthew 5:14-16 (msg) --} "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Grace and Peace,