Britt Nicole | Watch and Win!

An AMAZING video!  I just had to share it here on my blog as well!!! Check it out!

"Gold" (Britt Nicole)


Britt Nicole | Watch and Win!

No Secrets!

No Secrets.  I love listening and reading to devotionals and this video devotional is by Rebecca St. James. Where there are no secrets there are no lies.”  Well, what does that really mean? No Secrets.  Have you ever really thought about it? And, what does it mean to ‘live a life with ‘no secrets’’ in this world?' It can mean being openly honest with people.  Allowing the people involved in your life to know what you are really about.  Especially when it comes to our faith and beliefs.  We want to be able to have people really see what we are about in the way that we live.  By living pure lives in how we think, act and speak.  Sometimes we may only be the only Jesus that some people come in contact with, so if we live to be “like Christ”  and let our “God light” shine bright, we can be that positive influence in so many people’s lives in a world that may not be positive all the time. 

What about these words?  Faith, Hope and Love.  What is Faith?  What is hope?  What is Love? What is it that you hope for or find hope in?  What do you put your Faith in?  What do you find Love in?  Is it true love? Is it pure?  Some of the many questions that can go through the minds of people on a daily basis.  So how can you deal with all the questions that fill your mind.  Sometimes…your mind can overwhelm you.   I’ve recently been studying on prayer, it’s kind of therapeutic about how much taking time to pray can keep your mind at ease.  Not only that, but prayer enhances our relationship with Christ.  When we keep God, “clued in” on our lives, we stayed “in touch” to what His plans our for us.  We can’t keep ‘secrets’ from God, He knows us better than we know ourselves.  When we open up and we’re honest, our trust circle develops better and we know who we can go to for help.  Like I’ve read so many times, the five people you surround yourself with the most are the ones whom you will most likely take on a similar likeness/attitudes.  So surround yourself with positive people who are going to lift you up rather than tear you down. People you can talk to, related to and be open and honest with, people who you don’t hold ‘secrets’ from, and you’ll learn so much about yourself and others when you open yourself up to so much more in your life. 

Shine brightly for Christ!

Grace and Peace

Let my life be the Proof of Your Love!

Well, I think it’s here! What you may ask?  Winter…finally!  Yay!  After a long warm, summer….it’s finally starting to cool off, and yes…even rain a bit.  I have been waiting for this as the Pumpkin Spice and Caramel Brulee latte’s have come back at Starbucks and and everyone talking about being able to wear their “Fall” and “Winter” outfits (sweaters, boots, hats, scarves, etc).  While I’m sitting here in California just waiting for the next season to arrive, since it seems like it has hit everywhere else but right here.  Let’s just say 100 degree days in the early Autumn made it seem like Winter would never come. Really made me want to take that short escape back to Indiana for the amazing ‘cooler’ weather they had from what I can remember from living back there.  But now as the new year has come upon us the upper 20 degree weather has come upon us. 
As I am sitting here thinking about what I wanted to write this afternoon…I was thinking about the title of this blog.  Listening to the radio at the same time, I started thinking about the song, Proof of Your Love, from the band For King and Country.  In the past couple months the song that has been playing on the radio several times.  I mean just the chorus of this song is simply awesome and amazing and has me singing along all the time!  I was so blessed to be able to attend a for King and Country concert a couple months ago at a local concert. They were amazing!!! From their awesome stage presence and singing with a passion in their soul to being able to share the wonderful message that God had laid on their hearts that night!  They are as incredible live as they are on the radio, and so on fire for Christ during their concerts.
Which brings me to what you may be asking, what is the proof of your love?  It’s living for God, but it’s so much more than that as well.  It’s living fully devoted and sold out to Christ.  There’s a saying that says generally speaking, to live your life so on fire for God that anytime someone were to speak bad about you, nobody would believe them. Isn’t that completely the truth though?  We’ve all been hurt by people we’ve trusted and we learn to forgive them. If we stand for what we believe in and lead pure lives, even though we may slip we know we can get right back up again, forgiving those who hurt us and living the PROOF OF GOD’S LOVE!!! Being love and showing love!!!  Be the light that shines to everyone.   You never know, you may be the only Jesus that some people see, so live for Him in everything you do.

"…let my life be the proof, the proof of your love
let my life look like you and what you’re made of
how you lived
how you died
love is a sacrifice
so let my life be the proof, the proof of your love…” (4 King and Country)
We were blessed again by being able to hear the amazing song styling’s of Jason Castro.  Another amazing concert piece and message from him. 
Just being able to listen to the stories of their life, whether they are at home or on the road, they can relate to so many people who may have similar issues.
“…This is only a mountain, You don’t have to find your way around it, Tell it to move, it’ll move, Tell it to fall, it’ll fall
This is only a moment, You don’t have to let your fear control it, Tell it to move, it’ll move, Tell it to fall, it’ll fall…” (Jason Castro)
I remember traveling with my drama team in college and we would always save a portion of our time we had to share for a personal testimony by one of our team members.  There were times we weren’t totally sure who was going to speak until we actually got to where we were going to be and God told us who needed to be addressing the crowd that night. Even our dramatic pieces were changed a lot just because of where we felt we were being led once we got there.  But, ultimately, where ever we went we wanted those watching us to see Christ in our lives while we were with them.  We wanted our lives to show the proof of God’s love in what we were sharing.  So many times we left those “performances” completely changed and humbled after sharing with people, praying with people and just listening to their stories as well.
Acts 20:24 - 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.

Shelli and Me after the concert that night!!!

Today I Dare to Be….

I love listening to inspirational messages and there happens to be a great daily inspirational message I have found so to be incredibly uplifting and motivational.  This person was talking about the blessings that come from our lives we live.  She refers to a prayer from the Bible in the book of Isaiah, where she talked about how we are to bloom where we are planted and how to prepare ourselves for what is coming up.  We may see ourselves somewhere completely different but we were put in this specific position for a reason, most likely to learn from our experience’s and grow from where we are. If we continue to “bloom” where we are “planted” then we can see we are growing continually.  We can look back at the “blessings” we saw from the circumstances and the challenges we faced.  It’s like the song Blessings says…                              'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
                                       What if Your healing comes through tears
               What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
                                 What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
She moved on to gratitude.  When she was talking about being grateful she reminded me of something I read a few months ago from a "dare to be" challenge. Challenging yourself to dare to be grateful for what you have and where you are in your life. Fits right in with here message.  Love it!  What are you daring to be today, this week, this month?  More grateful, more confident, better listener….we can always think of something we want to be better in our lives.  Something that can help us be more aware of our surroundings and what is happening all around us and not just in our “immediate world.”  Big things are constantly going on and no matter where we are we can do something to help, whether in our small community town or out in the big city or maybe in another country.  If we dare to step out of our comfort zones then we can make a difference.  We can be the voice to the voiceless and help the helpless.

And when you learn what you need to learn things will begin to happen...when your ready! Sometimes we feel we're ready but this is so true "are we really ready?" Have we actually learned everything from our circumstances to be able to help others where we once were, so we can inspire them?  Hmmm...something to really think about, right?  If we’re patient then things will eventually happen.  I know it seems to take forever, right?  I totally agree with that one, patience is defiantly a struggle for me all the time, but when I put my trust in the my Heavenly Father with it all…then I know I can have the strength to make it through anything.  

I love that she referred to Jeremiah 29:11. One of my favorites verses that can get me through so much. Knowing that God has His plans laid out for me. Probably why I have it in my signature in my emails. What a great reminder. :-) “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.”

The message ended with this quote, ‘Be thankful and enjoy the ride!’ :-)  I loved this, and it’s totally true, when were being thankful for what we have and what we've been through, whether we’ve gone through the good or the bad, if were thankful for all circumstances we have grown through so much and have learned through it all.  Then we can enjoy the ride without all the worries.

Be Thankful!

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!