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! :) 




Recipe FUN!!!



Breakfast Casserole for Christmas morning! :-)

     I love cooking and baking!  I found a great cookbook that I absolutely love to use.
     There's some amazing and delicious recipes in this book and everyone of them I've made have been keepers.  :-)
     There's some great everyday of the year recipes and some great ones to make during the holiday season as well.


I made breakfast this year for Christmas morning from my wonderful Point of Grace cookbook. I made a very delicious pull-apart bread that complemented my breakfast casserole I made very well. Defiantly two more recipes that are keepers! :-)


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Pull-Apart Bread!  :-)

This is a great recipe for breakfast when you are have guests staying with you, having company over for breakfast, or if you just want something easy to make for your family to give you a great breakfast!  It's really easy also!  You can prepare it the night before and take it out in the morning and put it straight into the oven for 30-40 minutes.  While that is baking.  You can brew the coffee and set the table up.  You can put out some fruit (whatever is in season) to go with this casserole as well, for a little added sweetness. :-)  This recipe also goes good with a Pull-Apart Bread for a little bit of sweetness to breakfast as well! (which comes from the back of the frozen Bridgeford Bread Rolls)

Breakfast Casserole

<!  6 Slices white bread

<!  1 pound mild sausage

<!  6 eggs

<!  12 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, graded

<   2 cups half and half

<!  ½ t. salt

<!  ½ t. pepper

<!  1 t. dry mustard

     1.  Trim crusts from bread.
2.  Butter bread and cut into fourths.

     3.  Line bottom of 9x13 dish with bread.

     4.  Brown sausage and drain well.

     5.  Sprinkle sausage over bread.
6.  Top with cheese.
7.  Beat eggs and add remaining ingredients.
8.  Cover and chill for 8 hours or overnight.
9.  Bake for 20-25 minutes on 350 – starting in a cold oven (not preheated).

Serves 10-12.

**Optional**you can use Texas Toast (whole slices) and line the bottom of the dish as well.  If you want you can add 4 more eggs to make up for the extra bread added.  Both ways still make a great breakfast casserole.

**if it looks like the casserole needs to bake longer, try adding 5-10 to the baking time.

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

It's Christmas! Time to be with loved ones and enjoy just being with each other.  It was a beautiful Christmas morning in California this year with family and friends, and a beautiful drive over to the bay area to spend Christmas day with more family.

CHRISTmas Morning!

Christmas Eve was yet another amazing experience as we went out to serve the community again this year.  Showing love to those around us.  People who were just merely hungry were so incredibly grateful for the cheeseburgers and waters we had for them.  This time we put them inside a knit hat so at least they would be able to keep their heads warm when it's cold outside.  Among the 10 of us that went out, we were able to split up again in a couple cars and go in separate directions to be able to reach out to more people.  Being able to show someone else a little bit of love, or do something for someone else can really help someone realize that there are people out there that care about them.  Which is why I love listening to K-Love radio everyday.  They have this thing called, Make a difference Monday, where it's a day to go out and do something for someone else.  Make a difference in someone's life, smile at everyone you come into contact with.  When you surround yourself with positive people you yourself will be more positive.  Remember...you will be like the five people you are around the most!  

We were able to attend a Christmas Eve services this year, at it was amazing!  As we opened up singing Christmas Carols that evening the pastor talked about a video that was taken about a flash mob down in Southern California.  They played the video and it was so amazing as you watched this video clip of people singing and people surrounding them in the mall and listening.  You can see some were enjoying the experience and some weren't quite sure what was going on.  (flash mob video below)

Luke 2:  13-20

    Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

    So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

‘twas the week before Christmas…

     Baking cookies, church Christmas party, time spend with Mary Kay friends, Caroling around the neighborhood, setting up a a Christmas booth for Mary Kay at a local store, shopping trips, reaching out to people in our neighborhood this season and a fabulous Christmas Eve service!  Just a little description about all that’s being going on this week!  And, it’s been so great!!!
    The week was busy, but so full of many blessings.  Spending time with people and even meeting new people and new friends.  I just wish I could have squeezed in time to finish my Christmas Cards….maybe next week and they’ll be New Years cards. 


Last night there was a great movie on TV.  It was called, ‘The Perfect Gift.’ The movie depicted a young girl who had so much go wrong with her life in the past year, that she had pretty much given up on being happy during the Christmas season.  Even when her birthday fell on Christmas (which was all she cared about) she just knew everyone had Christmas plans and she would never be able to have a birthday party ON her birthday.  When she meets a handyman who is doing some work at the local church, he teaches her more than she could ever imagine about what the ‘true’ meaning of Christmas is and why we celebrate Christmas.  As she learns and grows, she shares what she learned from this man with her class.  She really did receive the perfect gift! 

I love these lyrics to the song, “Happy Birthday Jesus.”  I’ve heard it a long time ago as a child and every year it just reminds me even more that Jesus is the Reason for the Season and why we Celebrate CHRISTmas!

Happy Birthday To You
happy Birthday To You
happy Birthday Dear Jesus
happy Birthday To You.

Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Tinsel And Lights
and The Presents Are Nice
but The Real Gift Is You.

Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Carols And Bells
make The Holiday Swell
and it's All About You
Happy Birthday Jesus
Jesus I Love You!

Listen….

I absolutely love this part of the year!  When Autumn is ending and Winter is approaching.  Listening to Christmas songs while decorating the tree/house, drinking hot chocolate apple cider and making Christmas cookies all while making/creating your Christmas cards to send out. 

One of my all-time favorite Christmas songs to listen to is Breath of Heaven; Mary’s Song (Amy Grant version). I just love the words to this song!  It’s so poetic to imagine what this young girl, Mary, had went through as she was carrying the child of God.  Even getting a little bit more creative, I even wrote a monologue drama to Mary’s Song, and performed it at my church one year.  Where another year I pulled together an interpretive movement that went with the Breath of Heaven song to perform and share.  To be able to put yourself in Mary’s shoes or sandal's and to think about what she may have went through on her amazing journey.   What were her thoughts before and after she found out she was pregnant.  And, how she became a safe, healthy and empowered woman of God!

Maybe this is a little bit what Mary felt like after finding out she would be the one to carry God’s Son…                                                                         

A little alone and scared, but incredibly happy at the same time, all while wondering, why me, why would my great and almighty God choose me of all women!  Probably pacing back and forth trying to figure this whole thing out. :)  I mean here she is, a young girl about to be married to the love of her life when she discovers she is carrying the God’s Son.  Wow! What an amazing yet scary feeling that must have been.  I’m  sure she did a lot of thinking about what people were saying about her, what she was going to tell people, what her family was going to think…and wait, how is Joseph going to react to this news?
     If you could imagine just sitting alone in your room as a teenage girl, just being told that you were going to bear a son.  Can you imagine the thoughts that would be going through your head alone.  You’re so innocent.  You’re a good girl, and here you are about to have a child.  Have you moved yet?  would you break down in tears?  Would you turn up your stereo speakers?  Would you grab your journal and spill it all out on paper to document every detail of this moment and what you are feeling at this very moment?  There’s a plethora of things that any young girl would do if she heard the news that Mary did.  The importance is how do you react to what God is telling you to do.  Sometimes we are just meant to listen!  Listen to the still voice that is calling us.  Calling us to a greater purpose.  Calling us to be THE ONE!  The one to be more, the one to do something, the one to just be quiet and listen to our Heavenly Father call us to be more than we could ever imagine we could be.


   Mary listened!  She sat quietly and just listened!  She was even able to go and visit her cousin Elizabeth.  What better way to have this whole situation explained to you than from an older and wiser women, about what is happening to her.  Another woman who was to bear a child.  A mentor.  To be able to sit and chat with someone who has been through a similar situation.  As Elizabeth was so excited that Mary had come to visit her.  She told her: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  I’m sure she was incredibly blessed by the time she has with Elizabeth as she made her way home to Joseph. 
   An ordinary girl had been used to bring forth the Messiah.  “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be to me as you have said.” 

   You know, it’s so wonderfully amazing how we can feel completely safe God’s arms and with his arms are wrapped around me….I AM a SAFE, Healthy and EMPOWERED Woman of God…..and with God….all things are possible!
(Scripture used from Luke 1:26-56)
 

The harvest is great….

“He gave them this charge:  ‘What a huge harvest!’ And how few the harvest hands.  So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands.  (Luke 10:2)

Serving….
     This topic always makes me think about a quote I read about by Helen Keller.  “Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much,”  Isn’t that so true?  When we all come together for one purpose we can accomplish so much more.  We can cover so much more ground as we spread the good news of Christ. 

Acts 20:24 says, ‘But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. ‘

     This past week my church was talking about becoming more outward focused.  We were talking about different ways we could reach out to the community and showing people that they are loved.  With the ongoing holiday season and people running around constantly through out the day, it’s good to take just a couple minutes and tell someone that, “you are loved".   You are loved by someone, you are loved by our Father in Heaven, you are loved more than you could ever know.  No matter where you have been in life no matter how much you think you have messed up.  Even when you feel you are in the biggest crisis of your life and feel totally and completely unloved….YOU ARE LOVED! 
     If I could just tell someone just three words.  If I had the chance to tell someone I knew a long time ago that I lost contact with, someone that was led astray and has completely lost all hope and belief.  I would want to tell them that they are loved!  That they are 100% completely loved by an amazingly God, who loves us just the way we are when we come to Him.
     So, this past Sunday, we split into groups and we went out into our community.  We grabbed some cheeseburgers from McDonalds and some cases of water as we went where God led us to go.  As we drove around Modesto we found many people on the streets who were just merely hungry.  They were so grateful to receive a single cheeseburger.  And, on that cheeseburger were the words ‘You Are Loved!’  No attachment to who we were, just three short words that proclaim a powerful message!  A message of hope, an assurance of faith that someone out there does care about them.  They really don’t have to know who we are or where we come from, all that matters is that they have realized that someone cares and loves them.

      When people who are really hungry realized that there is someone passing out food they will come to you.  As we were out we discovered two people huddled among some steps to a building downtown to say warm.  As we pulled up we had asked them if were hungry and would like a cheeseburger. Thrilled as they were, another homeless person came over from across the street after seeing we had food for him as well, all were extremely grateful while offering their sincere gratitude for what we had offered them.  Even those we asked that were just sitting on a street corner or by the side of the highway if they were hungry, some said they had just eaten and as we gave cheeseburgers to the people around the corner from them, even those previous people we asked were grateful by what they saw.  Who knows, maybe we planted a seed somewhere and they can pay it forward sometime.  Speaking of paying it forward, one of our groups had given cheeseburgers to a couple sitting on the road, but these people actually already had food in their bags, and as the group was getting ready to pull away those people called another couple over and gave them their cheeseburgers, probably knowing that they were just as hungry and needed food as well. At one point we discovered a group of 8 people huddled over a small fire pit in the park to on the cold night ahead of them, 8 people who had no other place to go but to be in a dark park, who were so grateful for warm food being offered to them.  So what are we waiting for? There are so many people out there searching for something, anything.  What are we going to do about it?

     While in a worship service one Sunday the message was about serving and going out into our community and ‘being the church.’ Well at the end of the message we sang the song “Dirty” from Audio Adrenaline.  Just simply listening to these lyrics bring up such a good point about serving and ‘being the church’.  It’s about putting ourselves aside and focusing on what’s out in our community backyard and what can be done.  Sure there’s third world countries all over the world, but so much of that is right in our own communities.  People hurting, hungry and abused.  Even human trafficking has even been a huge issue in our surrounding communities.  What are we waiting for?  Are you willing to step out and get your hands dirty?  There is so much “need” out there….what are WE going to do about it????

"Dirty"
Tired of being clean, sick of being proper
I wanna live among the beggars
And dig out in the dirt
Step outside the walls we built to protect us
Don't be afraid to get some mud on your face
Come on, come on everybody
Come on, come on and serve someone

Let's get dirty, let's get used
No matter where you come from
If you're beaten up or bruised
Let's get foolish - let's get free
Free to be the one thing you were meant to be
Let's get dirty

You might get a bruise or some blisters on your fingers
You might start a question and wonder what it's worth
You may slip and fall from the burdens that you carry
But you can't have this treasure
'til you dig it from the dirt
Come on, come on everybody
Come on, come on and serve someone

Come on, come on, everybody
Come on, come on, serve somebody
Come on, come on, everybody
Come on, come on, serve somebody