Be Brave!

Some encouragement and motivation for the day!

Make a difference

ME...Really? 

Music Video:  "Be One" Natalie Grant 

I love our coffee chats here!  It's been on my heart and mind lately that there is so much to out there.  I love writing down my ideas but I just don't want to be one that writes about doing something. I want to be one that gets out there and does something.  I love the newest song from Natalie Grant, "Be One".  There is a world out there that is hurting and falling apart.  Something has to be done.  It has to start somewhere.  Whether it is something big or even something that may seem small to us. 

Stand up and make a difference in a world that doesn't know, in a world full of people who just need to believe. 

That girl down the street or that guy in the next town over. The neighboring family. You never know who you can inspire or teach. You don't have to be this great theologian to teach someone about Jesus. Your relationship with Jesus can speak more powerful than a loudspeaker just by the way you live your life. 

In the world today, there's so much crime and violence happening it's hard to see the 'good' in things.  Then, there's all the talk from...let's face it...people who speak out of pure ignorance and who just like to hear themselves talk on subjects they have no understanding about.  It can feel that we are just not ever going to be heard.  This is where we need to stand up in the midst of everything going on and stand firm to our faith.   

The Bible says it all! Stating clearly the good and bad, the rights and wrongs. 

Spending time daily in God's Word helps us understand this huge book also. Let's face it, it's not the easiest book to sit and read especially when you get to all that genealogy stuff. Although it's that genealogy stuff that tells us "who" we came from. It's our family tree. 

Reading the Old Testament and seeing how it all came to be and then reading the New Testament and seeing it all play out and how we are saved by grace. 

I started this devotional app called First5.  It's amazing!  You can set an alarm so it goes off first thing in the morning and you can spend those first 5 minutes when you wake up with God.  

Telling the world this is extremely important.  Like the song says, it's time to get our hands dirty because there's a whole lot of hurting going on in this world. You may not fully have your pain taken away, but knowing Christ you can find understanding and joy in your life.  

What are some ways that you can get out and help your community?  

What if we invited a couple friends to help us out?  We just might make this world a little better, one outreach at a time. 

Blessings,

Embracing my Quiet Time...An Invitation...

Embracing my quiet time with God each day

The More I Seek You - Kari Jobe

The more I seek You,The more I find You
The more I find You, the more I love You

I want to sit at Your feet

Drink from the cup in Your hand.

Lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heart beat

This love is so deep, its more than I can stand

I melt in Your peace, its overwhelming

I love when I get to hear amazing music and lyrics. To be able to turn on the radio and be uplifted by positive and encouraging music.  Which is why I love this song from Kari Jobe, The More I Seek You.  What a great way to enter into our quiet time with these lyrics.  I want to sit at Your feet drink from the cup in Your hand.  Lay back against You and breathe...The more I seek You, the more I find You.  

I wanted to start this blogging challenge to keep a daily check on my quiet time with God and to have others be able to join in and embrace their quiet time as well.  I want to be able to post inspirational thought and scriptures for anyone out there. 

Starting at the beginning. I want to start with an invitation.  Inviting God into my quiet time and presence.  

So, here's my invitation I created...

To:         My Father, God

For:        To dedicate time together to reflect and listen. 

When:    Daily

Where:   My Heart

Why:      To enhance our relationship 

What do I need to bring:  my Bible, journal, pen, coffee/tea, 

                                  listening ears, a open heart and mind. 

So, today I was flipping through my Bible and I stumbled once again on reading Psalm 139.  I've read this several times, but it's always inspirational every time I read this.  
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  What if we just paused a minute to really listen and comprehend those words that are told to us.  In just a small sentence there is so much wisdom.  
Psalm 139:14 (KJV) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psalm 139:14 (NLT) Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

Reflection time

To know that God created every part of me for a purpose. He knows my name.
Which reminds me of another song from Francessa Battistelli. This is probably my favorite verse. 

I'm not meant to just stay quiet

I'm meant to be a lion

I'll roar beyond a song

With every moment that I've got

True to who You are

You saw my heart

and made

Something out of nothing

I am created for a purpose. The purpose to spread the good news of Christ and to tell the world about the amazing relationship that is out there. I love to be able to share this through Christian skits and music. It's a huge passion of mine. This stretches me beyond my personal comfort zone and challenges me each and every time I can do this. 

So not only are we fearfully and wonderfully made, but He also knows our name. 

What do you enjoy about your quiet time each day?

How can we support each other in having our quiet time each day with our God?

Grace and Peace,

Heart of Christmas

(December's blog post)


Music Video:  The Heart of Christmas. 

It’s that time of year again.  December…and even crazier, it’s almost over.  Most often, that one word can strike you with terror, just because of how busy you can get at this time.  So much on our to-do lists to take care of.  What if we just took a moment to stop, sit still and soak it all in.  I mean really take in the “Reason for the Season”. 
                                Jesus! 

It’s why we all are here in the first place, right?  It’s because of His birth, His death, His resurrection that we are able to have a fresh new beginning with our Father in Heaven.  It’s the reason we believe and want to share with others about this amazing event while we are here on earth, waiting for Christ’s return for His followers. 

We all face good and bad times. Sometimes we feel that sense of why is this happening to me?  Why did I have to go through this?  It’s knowing that in every good and bad situation we are faced with, Our God knows how to use us in each and every situation we have been through.  It’s hard sometimes to wonder what that reason is really for, but knowing that there is a greater plan for our lives even if we don’t know what it may be yet. 


I love the music from Matthew West.  One song, The Heart of Christmas, from the movie The Heart of Christmas, tells the story of a family through their journey with their son at St. Jude Children’s Hospital and the life they had dealing with treatments.  Dealing with so much with their young son and having to get through life in general.  It’s so great how their family, friends, new friends and even strangers pulled together to help this family out.  To be a voice, to lend a hand, to pray for them.

So what's your favorite thing to do during this amazing season?  How do you show the Heart of Christmas to those around you?

Greater love....

Today as we reflect on Veteran's Day, we remember those who have served our country in some form or another.  They gave up their lifestyle with their family and friends to defend our rights.  While few have made it home, back to their families, many have lost their life in service.
We are forever grateful for those who have served and have given their lives to serve.  

As we remember those people we are reminded of how much God loves us as well.  To have a Heavenly Father who would give up His Only Son; so that we may be free and forgiven from our sins, so that we may live forever in eternity with Him.  John 3:16 says that, God loved the world so much.  
Can we even fathom how much those words that mean, so much, in this verse?      Someone who loves every part of everyone.   No matter who they are or what they have done.  Sometimes I think we think we know how that feels, but sometimes I think we don't even know the half of how that really feels to love that much.  (The way God loves us).  It's that close, eternal, infinite love that we can come as close to as we can to show that kind of love.  
We strive to be like Christ.  To show love to our fellow people in this world.  We have God's Word to help guide us in that love.  A love letter to us to share with the people we come into contact with in this world.  So because God sent His Son to save us, we have so much freedom and a reason to share our faith with others.
And, we want to thank those who have served and fought for our rights to be able to keep sharing our faith and God's Word.  Because we have these people in our lives we have the freedom to keep sharing openly about our Christ.

I saw this verse earlier today......

John 15:13 (NLT) There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:11-15 (MSG)  “I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.

Keep on sharing Christ's love with everyone in this world.

Blessings, 

A Taste of Pumpkin…

So I LOVE when Fall comes around!  Which means...all things pumpkin start to come back. Yay!  From Pumpkin Spice Latte's, Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Cookies, and many more wonderful food to make with pumpkin.

Anyway,  the other day I tried a recipe for Pumpkin Spice no-bake cookies. They were amazing!  Just the right hint of pumpkin spice for great flavor.

They were super easy and fun to make and before I knew it I had nearly 3 dozen cookies made to share. 

Once I placed them on the cookie sheet they were nearly set up and ready in 5 minutes, and I don’t think I even waited the entire 5 minutes to try one.

These are a great afternoon snack or evening dessert treat.

They can be stored in a freezer bag for the freezer to keep on hand for later as well. 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup milk
1 large box instant vanilla pudding or ((2) small boxes) 

   AND add 1 TBSP pumpkin pie spice
3.5 cups quick cooking oats
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:

In a saucepan, combine sugars, butter and milk.  Bring to boil.  Boil for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Add in pudding mix(with pumpkin pie spice), stir to combine completely.  Add in vanilla and oats.  Stir to combine and let stand for 5 minutes.  Drop by rounded tablespoonful’s onto waxed paper.  Allow to cool completely.  Store in air tight container.

Makes 2-3 dozen cookies!

ENJOY!!! 

What’s your favorite thing about Fall?

Blessings!

 

In a single moment…

As we reflect on this day; 13 years ago, we are reminded that we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  The past is in the past, the future is unknown and the present is a gift.  Appreciate the gift that is given to you and love on those that you have to share it with.  Never miss the opportunity to show love to someone close to you and around you. 
Everyone out there in this world is fighting a battle of some kind.  Whether it may seem large or small, it is significant to the person engaged in it.  Sometimes all we can do is offer our time to spend with someone.  A hug, a smile or simply ‘I’m thinking about you and I’m praying for you,’ can ease the heart and mind of someone who is hurting. 

Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Hope.  One single word can bring forth so much joy  and peace in our life.  The fact that we do know that we have hope through our faith in Jesus, that God is on our side and He is always with us. 
In a single moment, everything in our world can be flipped upside down. Even knowing that, we can rest in knowing that with Christ in our life, the best is yet to come.  God gave us His Word.  His love letter to us. To study, to live, to love and to share.  We have that very truth written down right in front of us.  It’s available to us, freely, through-out our country.  Sometimes we tend to take advantage of the freedom we have to worship Our God, Our Father.  Then I stop to think about those in other countries who have been persecuted daily just for carrying a Bible with them.

We have so much available to us, how can we put our resources and capability to use in our life to share with those around us? 
Christ came to Earth not to be served but to serve, our hearts and attitudes need to be reflecting that of Christ.   Christ came so that we may have eternal life by entering into a personal relationship with Him.  That we could be united as one.  Philippians 2:1-5 says that, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves,  Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interest of others.  Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus.”

Our attitude.  Those two words are huge right there.  How do we have the attitude of Christ? One, by spending time in the Word of God.  The more we are in the Word, the more we are susceptible to hear God speak to us in our life.  Two, by being around other Christians that can build you up.  Get involved in a Bible believing church, a small group and surround yourself with those who are there for you to build you up, pray for you, answer questions you have.  Be united with those around you so that you can be one as you share the love of Christ to this world.  When we are united with each other, we show the world that we stand strong together in our faith and in all we do.  When one of us hurt, we all hurt.  We are there for each other, because we are apart of a family, an eternal family, a family of God.
Three, Prayer.  Prayer is powerful.  It’s that quiet time that we have one-on-one with Our God.   Prayer is a significant part to our attitude to be like Christ in everything we do.  Being in God’s Word, being apart of a united body of believers and having a dedicated prayer life are essential parts to who we are in Christ and can give us the strength to share with those we meet along our journey. 
Christ showed us His love for us as He laid down His life for us on the cross that day many years ago.  There is no greater love than laying down your life for someone else.  It’s putting others first, it’s sharing, it’s being united as one.  How can you motivate others? How can we motivate the people in this world to know and believe what we hold so tightly to in our heart and soul?

Even though terrible tragedies happen, just as with the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, as well as many others.  We will always remember the ones who lost their lives, and even the ones who came to Christ in the midst of all the tragedies in the world.  We must continue to share the good news of Christ.  You never know who you will come into contact with and who needs to know that there is a life greater than this one when you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Have a blessed day! Be thankful, be grateful and have an attitude of Christ in everything you do.

Blessings,

Green Bean Summer Salad

Green Bean Summer Salad

So I found this recipe through Instagram.  It was posted by Candace Cameron Bure on instagram.  This is from the food network. So  I decided to look it up and try it. So here it is, the recipe for:  Green Bean Summer Salad.  

I've included the food network link above, but here is what I adapted to make it here as well.

Ingredients:

Salt

1 bag Fresh or Frozen Green Beans

1 cup Feta Cheese

1 cup Cherry Tomato's, sliced in half

2 tablespoons chopped Red Onion

1/2 cup Slivered Almonds

3 tablespoons Olive Oil

2 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar

2 tablespoons Chopped Fresh Basil (I used dried basil)

1 Large Clove Garlic, minced

Ground Black Pepper

Enjoy!

Created for a purpose!

Psalms 139:13-14You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible, is Psalms 139.  One that I can can turn to quite often for comfort and assurance.

You were designed, created and filled with plenty of purpose and promises for your life.  As much as you may not believe it at times… you were made with a purpose. 
There are many Bible verses that we can turn to to know that we are loved and chosen for a purpose in our life.  Although sometimes we may not fully see or understand these verses until we come and sit down quietly; open up the God’s Word and listen to that still yet small voice that is telling us that we are important, strong, precious and forgiven. 

I have been blessed to be able to work with children through out the week at my job.  Many of these children have autism, down syndrome or cerebral palsy.  Some have epilepsy and are susceptible to seizures.  One thing that they all have in common with other children as well, is that they were all created for a unique purpose.  They were all chosen to have a powerful impact on the world through each and every one of their gifts that they have.  I am blessed to be able to learn so much from  these children everyday I am with them.
Although; at times, their attention spans may be short, when you can catch their attention for just a short moment to teach them something or share a story with them, it’s incredible at the feedback they have to share back with you.  They all have something to say. Some will communicate very well, while others are non-verbal.  That doesn’t mean that each child doesn’t get their point across and are heard.
Every day is different for these kids.  I’ve come to learn that a variety of teaching methods are incredibly great to have on hand.  What may work one time may not necessarily work another time or it might.  Sometime you never know until that day.  It all depends on the type of day that they are having as to what teaching method we are using that day.  We love challenges, we love the kids and love to learn as we go. 

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

I love working with the children and have discovered a greater passion for teaching more than ever. 
I am so thankful for the chance and the opportunity to be able to work in a Christian environment and grow in faith and spirituality more and more each day.  

Psalms 139:1-24 – O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.  You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!  I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.  To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.  You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.  They cannot be numbered!  I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!  And when I wake up, you are still with me! O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!  Get out of my life, you murderers!  They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?  Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Blessings,

Life’s tough…

Natalie Grant:  In The End
Time for another Coffee Chat, so grab a cup of coffee…or tea if you prefer.

Sometimes we tend to get really tired of hearing the old cliché ‘life is hard but God is good,’ right?  Let’s face it, life is hard, really hard sometimes.  When it seems as if we have nothing left to give or no where else to turn God is always there for us.  Even though times are tough, just remember, we win in the end!
Being overlooked in life can be frustrating and difficult, but knowing that we are handpicked  by God makes a difference.  Knowing that I have a God who loves me and appreciates me; unconditionally, He made me who I am and He gives me the strength daily to get through anything I come across.  Faith is amazing!  It’s believing without seeing and it makes the impossible…possible!  It’s through faith that we have been saved.  Saved by grace from a multitude of sins.  All because we are loved so much by our God.  A God who gave His only Son to give us eternal life, if we just believe. 

When we fully believe and enter into a relationship with Christ, we our changed for eternity.  With every challenge we face and every obstacle that comes our way that seems hard.  We know we can get through it with God on our side. 
As followers of Christ we will have our challenges, we will have several questions and we will shed a few tears, okay let’s be honest…we shed a lot of tears through out our life but we always have open arms to run to when things get difficult.  Just remember we don’t have to do anything by ourselves again if we just let go. 

I love the chorus to the song, In The End from Natalie Grants album, Hurricane.  “There's coming a day the sun will always shine
He's gonna wipe away every tear from your eyes
Hold on my brother, things are gonna better
You're gonna smile again Cause we win in the end”
What’s your favorite song that get’s you through tough times?  Maybe you have a favorite Bible verse?  Would love to hear your thoughts!

Blessings,