Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

Jeremiah 29:11 -  I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

I love that I have the privilege of talking to the Creator of the universe as often as I want.  He cares.  He listens.  He responds.  I repeat.

Grand Canyon

Hold me by Jamie Grace, LOVE this song! This just describes so much how I can just run at anytime to my Heavenly Father anytime I need to.  I can remember driving back to California from Indiana and driving through the beautiful scenery and while going through New Mexico and Arizona and listening to worship music on my car stereo.  Just driving and watching the wonderful creations that the amazing Creator of the universe created so long ago.  I mean, what a masterpiece!!!  I mean I know you're supposed to really pay attention when you drive but I seriously was more in awe of the amazing colors around me! :-) There are so many places through out the world that can leave a person in awe of the magnificent creation in front of us! If God can do create such beautiful scenery...how much more will he do us us as His children?

I love the way these verses are written out of The Message Bible, from Matthew 6:25-34.

^25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

Sometimes we need to realize that God's got our back and learn to relax in the mission of being God's child.

 ^27-29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

If you don't like the image you see looking back at you in the mirror then find your God mirror and see how Jesus see's you...YOU are perfection!!!

^30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

You are fearfully and wonderfully-made by the skilled hand of an amazing God who loves us more that anything!

³⁴"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. 

When times seem that toughest we know what we have to do, probably the hardest thing of all, to surrender.  To surrender everything.  To lay it all down before our Father in Heaven because we can never do it by ourselves, but with God...we can get through anything, because He is the one that holds us.  He is by our side with His arms wide open!  

**Here's the official video for "Hold Me" from Jamie Grace!

Taco Chili

Fun with recipes!!!

This is an amazing recipe!  Especially on a cold, rainy day or when you just want something easy to make and be able to make use of your crock pot.  :-)
Good for parties, as it will feed many people.  Serve it up with some corn bread or french bread as well.  I've changed up this recipe several times by adding pretty much what I felt like adding.  I usually use what I have in the pantry, which is why this recipe is so great to use, because most of the time the majority (if not all) of the ingredients you will have in your house pantry.  Have fun with this recipe and ENJOY!!! :-)

Taco Chili

Ingredients


1 lb ground beef or turkey meat (I prefer turkey meat)
1 (15 ½-ounce) can pinto beans, drained 
1 (15 ½-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ½-ounce) can black beans, drained
1 (15 ¼-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (14 ½-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (1 1/4-ounce) package taco seasoning mix (optional)
Corn chips, for serving
Sour cream, for garnish
Grated cheese, for garnish
Season to taste--I use a mixture of seasoning of pretty much whatever I feel like ;)  (thyme, oregano, bay leaves, basil) --variety is good! ;-) 


Directions
Brown the ground beef skillet and season meat; drain the excess fat, then transfer the browned beef to a large slow cooker or a stockpot. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, taco seasoning and cook in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or simmer over low heat for about 1 hour in a pot on the stove. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, cheese.

What are you waiting for?

So you want to change to the world? What are you waiting for?  


Probably one of the most challenging questions for us to answer, right?  As this month I have read so much about human trafficking and how so much of the world is affected by it.  I can't help but wonder, as my heart cries out for these girls who are taken and sold, what can I do to help?  It's been on my heart for several years now since I first heard about this cause, and it's astonishing how this is not only happening overseas but right here in our own states.  The United States is probably one of the largest grounds for human trafficking existence.  There are many victims who are crying out for freedom out there.  If we can be aware of our surrounding and aware of what is happening in our own country, we can be looking to see what we can do about it.

As Galatians 3:26 says that, 'For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.'

I just love the words to this song by Natalie Grant (What are you waiting for?)  The words to the song just make you really stop and think about, is there a different you can make?  Sometimes I get that overwhelming feeling, So sad those faces on TV, If I tried to make a difference would it help anyway...

Do you ever look at those faces your see on TV or in a video and wonder, what can you do?  Well starting off what are your gifts?  Are you gifted in prayer?  Do you long to go out into the community and get your hands dirty?  Where are you being called to serve? There are so many areas to serve in.

But then I stop and to myself I say So you wanna change the world What are you waiting for You say you're gonna start right now What are you waiting for it only takes once voice So come on now and shout it out Give a little more What are you waiting for...
Isn't it so true?  It really only takes one of us to speak up, just one to take a stand and say I want to do something...I want to be involved!  


Then there's time we just don't know if we can do it by ourselves, I mean, we're just one person.  You can always find someone else who holds a similar interest and passion for serving as you.  Get involved in your local church or local mission group.  Sometimes I feel a little helpless Seems like I can't do a thing But anything is possible just you wait and see Good things happen if you just believe... 
BUT, that's right ANYTHING is POSSIBLE with God on our side.  
Someday somehow I'm Gonna take that step Cause time is ticking away Right here right now Before it's too late Gonna face tomorrow today....
When we take a stand, things start to happen!  Are you up for the challenge?


My challenge I want to end with is what can each one of us do for each one of our communities we live in.  Where can we start to make a difference?  It's not about being well known or it may not even seem like a real big deal to some, but the smallest of things we can do can sometimes make a huge impact in the world.  

************************************************

I found this video about a year ago, though it may be a little graphic and some points in the video, it points out that girls like this just need some one to believe in them, to offer a helping hand, to be shown love.                 

                 

**More information can be found about Human Trafficking from www.abolitioninternation.org  (The Home Foundation) about ways to get involved and host events.

I don’t need easy, just possible!

I just love the movie ‘Soul Surfer’ and being able to watch how Bethany Hamilton works through her struggles and accomplished what she set out to do.  I was listening to an inspirational message the other day by Kali Deblander Brigham and she was talking about the movie Soul Surfer and how she finally was able to watch it and about how motivational and inspirational it was.  She had talked about an anagram for POSSIBLE that she came up with from watching the movie, and I loved this so much I just had to share it.
                                                      
Practice – being consistent in good days and bad, staying on track.
Others – focusing on other people takes your mind off of your own struggles, and places it on someone else.
Support – by having people around us who challenge us and push us to move forward, because they see our potential.
Seeing the Big Picture – by Bethany challenging herself she was taken around the world to Thailand to help people there.  She was meant for more, she was stepping out of her comfort zone and seeing more.
Innovative – Learning and learning a new way to do things.  You have to keep learning and sometimes re-learn.  Bethany had to learn again how to duck dive so she can get to the waves faster and more efficiently.  She had to keep trying no matter how difficult it was for her.
Believe – she believed in what she was doing by believing and having faith that ‘with God, all things are possible!’
Love – what you do. Love the Lord with all your heart with all your mind and with all your strength.  With all the talk about the Passion 2012 conferences, you can really see (or hear about) people coming back from there with a greater love and passion!
Embrace – what makes you different, unique and special!!!  Where is your passion?


Bethany’s passion for LOVING her Heavenly Father with all her heart, mind and soul allowed her to fulfill her passion of surfing.  Even only having one arm she was able to BELIEVE  and EMBRACE what made her different from other people and pull from the SUPPORT of OTHER people around her.  She was able to PRACTICE until she was able to get up on her board and duck dive.  She was able to SEE the big picture as she traveled to Thailand with World Vision.  And, she was able to be INNOVATIVE in how she was learning all over again to surf on a whole new level.

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

In the Message Bible it reads from verses 10-14, “I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. “

This past summer a  couple of us did a skit at a church where we had to ‘learn to surf.’  We had to rely on others to help us and guide us in the proper procedures so we weren’t injured.  Just how we learn to rely on Christ to get us through difficult situations in our lives. 

Learning to Surf in a VBS skit this past summer! :)

                                                                                         
                                                                                       

New Year!

Welcome to 2012!

Searching for Gold Coins!

New Years Eve was so much fun. Running/driving around Modesto doing challenges and searching for gold coins to collect and bring back for an Amazing Race game that was planned out. We were singing, playing games at Fun works, playing Monopoly with the dice rigged at 7 :) digging in the dirt, breaking ice bags open, eating roasted crickets and getting people to play in our air band at Denny's. I couldn't even begin to remember exactly everything we did, but we were out for 3-4 hours on our Amazing Race! It was a great end to 2011 being able to spend the evening with friends laughing and playing games. When midnight came, the annual new years eve bash in New York was on and someday I'll get to be in Times Square for the Live celebration one day! :-)


Love watching the New Years Eve Celebration every year.  Being able to see midnight come all over the world and then finally here on the West Coast.  It must be amazing to be in Times Square in NYC at midnight.  Granted it might be crowded but it would be a lot of fun! :)  Just visiting New York in the Spring was an amazing adventure!  To see the city lit up at night is simply gorgous! :)