Hello everyone!
'Tis the season for goodwill, cheer, and celebrating Jesus. Or it was a couple days ago. I was super busy and missed the Christmas post, but that's okay.
Celebration of Jesus never really ends, does it? I hope you'll continue to celebrate Him with me in the new year.
And on that note, I just wanted to take time to tell you something I'm planning for next year.
I'm going to be doing the "Read Through the Bible in a Year" challenge. I'm also going to be posting my reading and my thoughts on my reading every day on here.
Woohoo!
I'm excited about this! No. Really. I'm excited. But I'm also nervous. Doing a blog post every day for a year is absolutely daunting. What if I miss a day? What if I read my Bible and I have nothing to say? No thoughts? No input? No questions? (Okay, that's not likely but you see where I'm going with this.)
It doesn't mean that I won't post other things. There could be days when I do two blog posts. Or I could just include some other things in the daily post. We'll have to see how that goes.
Anyway, I just wanted to give you a quick update on what I have planned for the new year.
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, filled with cheer, family, friends, good food, and some nice gifts, remembering, of course, that God already gave us the best gift of all: His Son, Jesus.
I hope you all have an absolutely fabulous New Year.
I'll see you in 2018!
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Who's In Charge?
Hello friends! I hope you've all had a very good week. I actually debated for a while about whether or not I should post this, but it kept nagging me, so here we are.
Okay. By now, most of you reading should know what topics I like to talk about on my blog. It's mostly biblical with some books, movies, and recipes thrown in from time to time. Occasionally I'll talk about my personal stuff, but not always. And if you've noticed, I never talk about politics. And that's true everywhere. I don't like to talk politics.
But today, we're going to talk...you guessed it! Politics.
Stop groaning. It'll be fine. I think.
This country is a mess. There. I said it. There is so much "us against them" mentality that it makes me sick. Republicans vs Democrats. Rich vs poor. White against black. Men vs women. Gay vs straight.
Americans vs Americans.
Christians vs Christians.
People vs people.
Matthew 7:12 - So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
But you know what the real struggle is?
People vs God.
Do you know why?
Satan vs people.
Because
Satan vs God.
That's the real reason all this stuff is going on. Now, you may be saying "But some people..." "But he..." "But she..." "But they..." and on and on and on.
Stop. Wait. Think.
The originally struggle was when Satan tried to wrestle control from God because he wanted to be God. But he failed. Because he could never succeed. And he knows it. And that's why he wants all this finger pointing to go on.
Because it keeps the focus off of him.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
When we focus on blaming everyone else, we forget who the real enemy is. Yes. I said enemy. When we focus on the protest instead of the issues, we lose sight of what's really important.
John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and and destroy. I come so that they may have life and have it abundantly.
It's important to care about people. Even if you disagree with them. We're supposed to pray for them. Even them. Especially them.
Matthew 5:44 - But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...
It's important to care about inequality. We're supposed to pray for those effected by it. On both sides. Because the oppressors are just as afflicted by the enemy as those who are oppressed.
Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
It's important to care about violence. We're supposed to pray for those effected by it. Both those who are the cause of the violence and those who are victimized by it are victims of the enemy.
Hebrews 10:30 - For we know him who said "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."
It's important to pray for those who have been elected to a government office. Even if you disagree with them. Especially if you disagree with them. Pray that God will touch their hearts and that they will follow His will. Pray that He will give them wisdom so that they will not be deceived by Satan.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I won't say it doesn't matter who is in charge. Because it does.
In this nation, and in our lives, it matters who is in charge.
God is in charge.
But are we behaving as though that is true?
James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Okay. By now, most of you reading should know what topics I like to talk about on my blog. It's mostly biblical with some books, movies, and recipes thrown in from time to time. Occasionally I'll talk about my personal stuff, but not always. And if you've noticed, I never talk about politics. And that's true everywhere. I don't like to talk politics.
But today, we're going to talk...you guessed it! Politics.
Stop groaning. It'll be fine. I think.
This country is a mess. There. I said it. There is so much "us against them" mentality that it makes me sick. Republicans vs Democrats. Rich vs poor. White against black. Men vs women. Gay vs straight.
Americans vs Americans.
Christians vs Christians.
People vs people.
Matthew 7:12 - So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
But you know what the real struggle is?
People vs God.
Do you know why?
Satan vs people.
Because
Satan vs God.
That's the real reason all this stuff is going on. Now, you may be saying "But some people..." "But he..." "But she..." "But they..." and on and on and on.
Stop. Wait. Think.
The originally struggle was when Satan tried to wrestle control from God because he wanted to be God. But he failed. Because he could never succeed. And he knows it. And that's why he wants all this finger pointing to go on.
Because it keeps the focus off of him.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
When we focus on blaming everyone else, we forget who the real enemy is. Yes. I said enemy. When we focus on the protest instead of the issues, we lose sight of what's really important.
John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and and destroy. I come so that they may have life and have it abundantly.
It's important to care about people. Even if you disagree with them. We're supposed to pray for them. Even them. Especially them.
Matthew 5:44 - But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...
It's important to care about inequality. We're supposed to pray for those effected by it. On both sides. Because the oppressors are just as afflicted by the enemy as those who are oppressed.
Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
It's important to care about violence. We're supposed to pray for those effected by it. Both those who are the cause of the violence and those who are victimized by it are victims of the enemy.
Hebrews 10:30 - For we know him who said "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."
It's important to pray for those who have been elected to a government office. Even if you disagree with them. Especially if you disagree with them. Pray that God will touch their hearts and that they will follow His will. Pray that He will give them wisdom so that they will not be deceived by Satan.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I won't say it doesn't matter who is in charge. Because it does.
In this nation, and in our lives, it matters who is in charge.
God is in charge.
But are we behaving as though that is true?
James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Reignite
Hello friends!
So, I've been struggling a bit with the format of this blog, when it dawned on me that the format doesn't really matter. As long as I use this blog to serve God, that's what truly matters. So, going forward, there won't always be book/movie recommendations or recipes. I will certainly include them (or make a separate post for them) when I have one to share, but that is not, and has never been the main focus of this blog.
With that out of the way...on with today's topic!
When you're in church and God speaks to you and you realize that all the passion that should be lit up inside of you sometimes dims to just the tiniest ember, and there are days, weeks, even months, when you aren't even sure how to ignite it again.
And this time, when God speaks, you listen, because you recognize that He's right. As He always is. You've let other things take your focus away from Him, and His purpose in your life. You let the little day-to-day annoyances detract from your passion until you're not even sure you can stir it up again.
God showed me how I had been focusing on so many other things that I'd let them consume me until the thought of being wholly consumed by God is a distant memory. A very distant memory. And I realized that I don't want to be like that. There will always be things to do. We can't ignore the everyday things, or the important tasks on our to-do list. But what I realized this week is that we have to organize our priorities so that God comes first. And the only way we can prioritize God first is by reigniting the passion we had when He first awoke us from darkness.
How you wanted to serve Him every moment? Remember the dreams He awoke in you? Remember the passion of being in His presence and how you thought "I could do only this for the rest of my life."?
Sometimes I would wonder what happened to that feeling. Did God take it away? Of course not. Did it walk away? No. Maybe you lost it. Did I leave it at church? Maybe, and if so, stop doing that!
Okay. I'll get serious again. This week, God has really been convicting me about the time I spend with Him, and the way I spend time with Him. He's been dealing with me about how hurried my prayers can be. And it all relates back to passion. When I'm not passionate about being in God's presence, even when I want to spend time with Him, it can often mean that I'm rushing through my prayers, or even drifting off mid-conversation to think about things on my to-do list.
Well, I don't think there is one answer that will fit everybody. For me, the ember sparked because of a worship song and a human drama video, respectively. But that's my thing. Some songs just speak to me. I'll link them both at the bottom so you can listen just in case it sparks your passion.
But if music isn't your thing, if human drama videos don't touch you, then I recommend just taking a few extra moments to spend in God's presence today. Do that even if you enjoy these videos. You can even do it on your lunch break. Just close your eyes, focus on God, and remember that dream He put in your heart so long ago, remember how it felt to be consumed by Him when He first called you out of the darkness, and pray for Him to reignite your passion for Him and for His calling in your life.
Mark 12:30 - And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Romans 12:10-13 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Philippians 3:14-16 - I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
So, I've been struggling a bit with the format of this blog, when it dawned on me that the format doesn't really matter. As long as I use this blog to serve God, that's what truly matters. So, going forward, there won't always be book/movie recommendations or recipes. I will certainly include them (or make a separate post for them) when I have one to share, but that is not, and has never been the main focus of this blog.
With that out of the way...on with today's topic!
Sometimes God speaks to you, and you blink your eyes as though you've been asleep.
And you wonder "What happened to me?"
That happened to me this week.
Remember how desperate you felt for His presence?
Sometimes I would wonder what happened to that feeling. Did God take it away? Of course not. Did it walk away? No. Maybe you lost it. Did I leave it at church? Maybe, and if so, stop doing that!
Okay. I'll get serious again. This week, God has really been convicting me about the time I spend with Him, and the way I spend time with Him. He's been dealing with me about how hurried my prayers can be. And it all relates back to passion. When I'm not passionate about being in God's presence, even when I want to spend time with Him, it can often mean that I'm rushing through my prayers, or even drifting off mid-conversation to think about things on my to-do list.
So, how do we reignite the passion?
But if music isn't your thing, if human drama videos don't touch you, then I recommend just taking a few extra moments to spend in God's presence today. Do that even if you enjoy these videos. You can even do it on your lunch break. Just close your eyes, focus on God, and remember that dream He put in your heart so long ago, remember how it felt to be consumed by Him when He first called you out of the darkness, and pray for Him to reignite your passion for Him and for His calling in your life.
Mark 12:30 - And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Romans 12:10-13 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Philippians 3:14-16 - I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
True Joy
Hello friends! I hope you're all having a wonderful day.
It's the monsoon season here in Arizona, so we've had quite a bit of rain lately. It's so nice. I love living in the desert, but sometimes I really miss rain. It's really cloudy here today, though the rain hasn't started yet.
The rain has caused a bit of nostalgia for me. I grew up in a place with a lot of greenery and rain, and it's strange sometimes not to have that where I live now. The nostalgia has caused me to think about my life a lot, and I wondered...
Do we ever really stop reevaluating our lives?
Do we ever stop learning about ourselves?
This week has been amazing for learning things about myself. I've been reevaluating my priorities, and, while I'm not done yet, I think I may finally be getting myself together. Of course, sometimes that's exactly when God likes to shake us up a bit, but I'm okay with that. God and I have talked about a lot of things this week, and I finally feel like my priorities are in order. I've been filled with so much joy this week that I don't even know how to express it.
But David did. The book of Psalms is my favorite book in the Bible, so today I want to share some of my favorite Psalms about joy.
Psalm 5:11 - But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You.
Psalm 16:11 - You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
The line I highlighted is one of my favorites, and it's well worth remembering. True joy is only found in God's presence. That's where I want to stay, no matter where I am or what I'm doing.
Psalm 27:6 - And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; And I will offer in His tent sacrifices shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Psalm 32:11 - Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for all joy, all you who are upright in heart.
51:12 - Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.
There are so many Psalms it would take a book just to list the ones that are about joy, or rejoicing, so I won't list them all here. Whenever I find myself needing encouragement, I turn to the Psalms, so I encourage you all to read some of them for yourselves.
In the interest of Bible study, I searched long and hard for a study about King David. I finally found one. I've been reading a great book: Facing Your Giants, by Max Lucado. As it leads you on a journey through David's life, it details ways that we can face our own giants, whatever they may be. I'm really enjoying it and it's helpful to apply it to my own life. Plus, it's a great study about David's life-from lowly shepherd boy onward.
I just love sharing book recommendations with all of you. I also enjoy sharing movie recommendations.
Lately, I've been watching When Calls the Heart. I'd already seen season 1, but it had been so long that I'd forgotten everything that happened. I'm now almost caught up through season 3. I know there are more seasons, but I don't think I can watch the rest of them yet, which makes me so sad! Somehow, in America, we're always a couple years behind on Canadian TV shows. I have this same issue with Heartland.
In the grand scheme of things, this is still a tiny issue, however, and my week has simply been filled with too much joy to be down about it.
I hope you all have a marvelous week! Until next time, friends!
It's the monsoon season here in Arizona, so we've had quite a bit of rain lately. It's so nice. I love living in the desert, but sometimes I really miss rain. It's really cloudy here today, though the rain hasn't started yet.
The rain has caused a bit of nostalgia for me. I grew up in a place with a lot of greenery and rain, and it's strange sometimes not to have that where I live now. The nostalgia has caused me to think about my life a lot, and I wondered...
Do we ever really stop reevaluating our lives?
Do we ever stop learning about ourselves?
This week has been amazing for learning things about myself. I've been reevaluating my priorities, and, while I'm not done yet, I think I may finally be getting myself together. Of course, sometimes that's exactly when God likes to shake us up a bit, but I'm okay with that. God and I have talked about a lot of things this week, and I finally feel like my priorities are in order. I've been filled with so much joy this week that I don't even know how to express it.
But David did. The book of Psalms is my favorite book in the Bible, so today I want to share some of my favorite Psalms about joy.
Psalm 5:11 - But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You.
Psalm 16:11 - You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
The line I highlighted is one of my favorites, and it's well worth remembering. True joy is only found in God's presence. That's where I want to stay, no matter where I am or what I'm doing.
Psalm 27:6 - And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; And I will offer in His tent sacrifices shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Psalm 32:11 - Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for all joy, all you who are upright in heart.
51:12 - Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.
There are so many Psalms it would take a book just to list the ones that are about joy, or rejoicing, so I won't list them all here. Whenever I find myself needing encouragement, I turn to the Psalms, so I encourage you all to read some of them for yourselves.
In the interest of Bible study, I searched long and hard for a study about King David. I finally found one. I've been reading a great book: Facing Your Giants, by Max Lucado. As it leads you on a journey through David's life, it details ways that we can face our own giants, whatever they may be. I'm really enjoying it and it's helpful to apply it to my own life. Plus, it's a great study about David's life-from lowly shepherd boy onward.
I just love sharing book recommendations with all of you. I also enjoy sharing movie recommendations.
Lately, I've been watching When Calls the Heart. I'd already seen season 1, but it had been so long that I'd forgotten everything that happened. I'm now almost caught up through season 3. I know there are more seasons, but I don't think I can watch the rest of them yet, which makes me so sad! Somehow, in America, we're always a couple years behind on Canadian TV shows. I have this same issue with Heartland.
In the grand scheme of things, this is still a tiny issue, however, and my week has simply been filled with too much joy to be down about it.
I hope you all have a marvelous week! Until next time, friends!
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Blessings
Hello all! I hope you're having a fantastic week! My post today isn't going to be a profound lesson, rather, it's just going to be a light reminder.
What's New
So, the first new thing this week is that I'll be moving blog posts from being strictly on Fridays. The reason? I got a promotion at work! Yay! This is the second time the position has come open, and this time I was chosen. My hours have changed, and my days may not be consistent like they were, so I will just post when I can. I wanted so badly to have a specific day, but for now that won't be the case. It'll just have to be a surprise!
I officially started the new position this week. It's been fun learning all the new stuff, and I'm still super excited! Y'all, I can't even begin to explain how God has blessed me. And that's our topic today: blessings.
Testament Talk
God blesses his people. Sometimes, we aren't even aware of the blessings, while at other times they're glaringly obvious. Sometimes, the blessings aren't what we expected, but we can still see God's hand in it. Sometimes, God's blessings even come in the form of a "No," in answer to our questions, and it's only much later that we can see that.
I want to encourage you today not to give up on your dreams, or your vision. Even if your circumstances look bleak right now, keep standing strong. Most of all, keep seeking, praising, and following God. He will never lead you astray, and His blessings are sure to follow you.
Phillipians 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 1:1-3 - Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers.
What's Cookin'
Since it's getting warmer as we roll into summer, I wanted to share one of my favorite summer recipes: Strawberry Soup. I had a version of this at a special alumni event at my college several years ago, and I searched and searched until I found a great recipe. For this one, sometimes I add yogurt, and sometimes not. I always add a little sugar to mine, because cold strawberry soup is better when it's sweet.
I love this recipe because it can either be a healthier lunch, a sweet dessert, or an appetizer. It's so versatile!
If you have a favorite strawberry soup recipe, let us all know in the comments what variations you've tried.
Book Nook
This week's book is Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson. I'm a huge fan of the Anne of Green Gables series, so when I found there was a prequel book telling all about Anne's life before she arrived at Green Gables, I had to get it. Thankfully, my library had one copy. One! I'm almost halfway done, and it's amazing. Anne is adorable and precocious. She's very mature for her age, even though she still likes to slip into her dreamworld as often as she can.
If you enjoy the L.M. Montgomery series, I highly recommend finding out what happened to Anne before her books.
Film Watch
Speaking of Anne of Green Gables, this week that's our film recommendation too. This time, I'm recommending an old movie. The 1930s black and white Anne of Green Gables movie starring, no joke, Anne Shirley. No. Seriously. That's the actress's name. Look her up if you think I'm joking.
It's actually my favorite version of the movie, even though I really like Megan Follow's portrayal of Anne in the 1985 remake.
Weekly Reflection
Overall, this has been an amazing week. I'm so excited about my new job, and so thankful for God's many blessings, those He's already given me, and the many more He has planned. It's turning out to be a great year so far, and I'm excited for the rest of it. I know there will be bumps in the road, but God's mercies and blessings far outweigh any defeats we may experience. Keep holding on, is my advice. You'll make it.
What's New
So, the first new thing this week is that I'll be moving blog posts from being strictly on Fridays. The reason? I got a promotion at work! Yay! This is the second time the position has come open, and this time I was chosen. My hours have changed, and my days may not be consistent like they were, so I will just post when I can. I wanted so badly to have a specific day, but for now that won't be the case. It'll just have to be a surprise!
I officially started the new position this week. It's been fun learning all the new stuff, and I'm still super excited! Y'all, I can't even begin to explain how God has blessed me. And that's our topic today: blessings.
Testament Talk
God blesses his people. Sometimes, we aren't even aware of the blessings, while at other times they're glaringly obvious. Sometimes, the blessings aren't what we expected, but we can still see God's hand in it. Sometimes, God's blessings even come in the form of a "No," in answer to our questions, and it's only much later that we can see that.
I want to encourage you today not to give up on your dreams, or your vision. Even if your circumstances look bleak right now, keep standing strong. Most of all, keep seeking, praising, and following God. He will never lead you astray, and His blessings are sure to follow you.
Phillipians 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 1:1-3 - Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers.
What's Cookin'
Since it's getting warmer as we roll into summer, I wanted to share one of my favorite summer recipes: Strawberry Soup. I had a version of this at a special alumni event at my college several years ago, and I searched and searched until I found a great recipe. For this one, sometimes I add yogurt, and sometimes not. I always add a little sugar to mine, because cold strawberry soup is better when it's sweet.
I love this recipe because it can either be a healthier lunch, a sweet dessert, or an appetizer. It's so versatile!
If you have a favorite strawberry soup recipe, let us all know in the comments what variations you've tried.
Book Nook
This week's book is Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson. I'm a huge fan of the Anne of Green Gables series, so when I found there was a prequel book telling all about Anne's life before she arrived at Green Gables, I had to get it. Thankfully, my library had one copy. One! I'm almost halfway done, and it's amazing. Anne is adorable and precocious. She's very mature for her age, even though she still likes to slip into her dreamworld as often as she can.
If you enjoy the L.M. Montgomery series, I highly recommend finding out what happened to Anne before her books.
Film Watch
Speaking of Anne of Green Gables, this week that's our film recommendation too. This time, I'm recommending an old movie. The 1930s black and white Anne of Green Gables movie starring, no joke, Anne Shirley. No. Seriously. That's the actress's name. Look her up if you think I'm joking.
It's actually my favorite version of the movie, even though I really like Megan Follow's portrayal of Anne in the 1985 remake.
Weekly Reflection
Overall, this has been an amazing week. I'm so excited about my new job, and so thankful for God's many blessings, those He's already given me, and the many more He has planned. It's turning out to be a great year so far, and I'm excited for the rest of it. I know there will be bumps in the road, but God's mercies and blessings far outweigh any defeats we may experience. Keep holding on, is my advice. You'll make it.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Pressing On Against the Pressure
Hello, all! I hope you're all having a lovely week.
What's New
What's New
So, if you remember from my last post, I was going to start trying to wake up an hour earlier to have time, especially when I have to work, to spend with God in the mornings. Today I want to discuss the results of my experiment.
So, for the past few weeks, I've been trying to wake up at 5am in order to have extra time in the mornings to read my Bible and to spend in prayer before I have to go to work. On days that I work, it hasn't been as difficult to wake up an hour earlier, because I know if I close my eyes and go back to sleep, I might be late for work. On my days off, it's been a little harder, because I feel like I could use the extra sleep. Therefore, waking up earlier has been hit or miss, especially since my biggest issue is actually going to bed earlier. My body isn't used to it, and sometimes I feel like I haven't had enough sleep.
On the days when I do wake up at 5am, though, wow! It's absolutely amazing. I get to see the sunrise, and I get to hit my knees in prayer before I do anything else. The house is quiet, and still, and it's so peaceful. I enjoy those moments more than I could ever explain.
I hit a snag last week, though, because I was having trouble falling asleep early enough, and still getting up at 5 am. So, when I awoke, I was incredibly tired, and cranky, and last weekend was just incredibly stressful because of it.
So, in a stroke of genius, I took the pressure off of myself. I set my alarm back to 6 am for work, and when I awoke at 5:30, I made myself get out of bed. I felt more rested, and on my day off yesterday, I actually didn't set an alarm, and I slept in until 7.
Long story short, I needed rest, and I allowed myself some time to take it. My alarm is set back at 5 am for now, though, and I will continue with my experiment, and one day my sleep schedule will regulate, and I'll be used to going to bed earlier and waking up earlier.
Testament Talk
So, since I've been talking about time and sleep in today's post, I'm going to continue on that train of thought with pressure.
Pressure comes from everywhere. People always seem to have expectations of us. There's a demand to meet, and sometimes exceed, those expectations.
Our family puts pressure on us.
Our job puts pressure on us.
Our friends put pressure on us.
Our church puts pressure on us.
Our clubs put pressure on us.
But the worst kind of pressure is the kind that we put on ourselves.
Why is that the worst? Because our expectations of ourselves are always unrealistic. Always. Because we expect ourselves to meet everyone else's expectations and then we take it further and add some of our own.
We have to earn more. Do better. Be more social. Exercise more. Read more. Catch up on that show your friend loves.
And I'm not saying these are bad things. It's not bad to be social, or exercise, or get up earlier, or read books (I would never say that).
I'm saying that sometimes, after we've met everyone else's expectations, we need to be careful about placing further expectations on ourselves. Sometimes we just need to give ourselves a break.
But what does this have to do with the Bible? I'm getting there.
I have a question for you. Just one.
What does God expect from us, and do our expectations line up with His?
Okay. That was a two-part question, but still only one question. If our expectation for ourselves don't line up with God's expectations, we need to take a step back, and reevaluate our lives. This is something I need to do too, so if this is you, you are not alone. Never alone.
So now I can hear you asking: what's the solution? I don't think there is a perfect solution. We will always have expectations from ourselves and other people. And we can't always ignore them.
But something I'm learning is that not everything I need or want to do is important. Take a minute and read that again. Not everything I need or want to do is important.
Important is defined as: "of great significance or value; likely to have a profound effect on success, survival, or well-being."
So, not everything we want or need to do is important in relation to God's eternal kingdom. Not everything we want or need to do is important to our success, survival, or well-being.
And that's a really significant distinction. We don't have to do everything. There will never be enough time. What we do need to do is make sure that we keep what's really important in focus. It's okay to have things we enjoy. It's okay to go to work. And it's okay to go to church activities. But they shouldn't take up every second of our time. Yes. Even the church activities. It's good to be plugged in to your church, but it is possible to overdo it with activities and be totally disconnected from God.
So, one of my big issues is that I want to read everything. Well, almost everything. But pretty much everything. And that puts an unnecessary pressure on me (I've talked about this before). So, I have to constantly remind myself that books are not the most important thing. That it won't matter in the long run if I've read 2 or 2,000 books.
So, I will continue working on my schedule, and making more time for what's really important. If you need encouragement to do the same, post a comment down below.
Here's a quick recipe for you. Pair this parmesan crusted chicken with butter noodles, and some veggies and you'll have a delicious meal! We actually substituted corn flake crumbs for the bread crumbs and it turned out really well.
Book Nook
I have been reading so many books lately, it's hard to know which one to pick. It doesn't help that I didn't like some of the books I've read in the past couple weeks. At the risk of boring you all, I'm going to recommend another cozy mystery. I think I'm almost finished with the mystery kick, so hopefully I'll have a different genre soon.
This week's recommendation is Do or Diner, a Comfort Food mystery, by Christine Wenger. Trixie moves to her aunt's small town in New York to escape her cheating ex-husband. She takes over her aunt's diner, and makes lots of new friends, including the local deputy. Of course, there's a murder, and she helps investigate. Surprisingly, the romance isn't a main factor in this series either, even though it's there.
The main point of the series is the food. Mysteries and food. Two of my favorite things wrapped up in one tiny book. Plus, this is a short series. I think there are 5 books in total, so it wouldn't take someone long to read all of them if they enjoyed the series.
I have the 5th one checked out from the library right now. I'm just waiting for a chance to read it. I have too many books out again. Sniffle.
Film Watch
This week, my movie recommendation is Rogue One: A Star Wars story. Yes. I am a huge nerd. No. I don't care if you judge me.
Rogue One is set just before Episode IV: A New Hope.The main character, Jyn Erso, is an unlikely hero, who is sent to retrieve the blueprints for the Death Star, which her father helped to create. There are plenty of new characters, as well as familiar ones.
If you're not a Star Wars fan, most of that didn't make sense. And that's okay. You can watch Rogue One even if you've never seen any of the other Star Wars movies, and still understand the plot. I do recommend watching all of the other movies, though.
Weekly Reflection
Overall, this week has been pretty good. Last week wasn't, but that's okay. I'm going to keep pressing on anyway.
If you have any thoughts about anything in this post, I'd love to hear them! Just leave your thoughts in the comment section below. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!
So, for the past few weeks, I've been trying to wake up at 5am in order to have extra time in the mornings to read my Bible and to spend in prayer before I have to go to work. On days that I work, it hasn't been as difficult to wake up an hour earlier, because I know if I close my eyes and go back to sleep, I might be late for work. On my days off, it's been a little harder, because I feel like I could use the extra sleep. Therefore, waking up earlier has been hit or miss, especially since my biggest issue is actually going to bed earlier. My body isn't used to it, and sometimes I feel like I haven't had enough sleep.
On the days when I do wake up at 5am, though, wow! It's absolutely amazing. I get to see the sunrise, and I get to hit my knees in prayer before I do anything else. The house is quiet, and still, and it's so peaceful. I enjoy those moments more than I could ever explain.
I hit a snag last week, though, because I was having trouble falling asleep early enough, and still getting up at 5 am. So, when I awoke, I was incredibly tired, and cranky, and last weekend was just incredibly stressful because of it.
So, in a stroke of genius, I took the pressure off of myself. I set my alarm back to 6 am for work, and when I awoke at 5:30, I made myself get out of bed. I felt more rested, and on my day off yesterday, I actually didn't set an alarm, and I slept in until 7.
Long story short, I needed rest, and I allowed myself some time to take it. My alarm is set back at 5 am for now, though, and I will continue with my experiment, and one day my sleep schedule will regulate, and I'll be used to going to bed earlier and waking up earlier.
Testament Talk
So, since I've been talking about time and sleep in today's post, I'm going to continue on that train of thought with pressure.
Pressure comes from everywhere. People always seem to have expectations of us. There's a demand to meet, and sometimes exceed, those expectations.
Our family puts pressure on us.
Our job puts pressure on us.
Our friends put pressure on us.
Our church puts pressure on us.
Our clubs put pressure on us.
But the worst kind of pressure is the kind that we put on ourselves.
Why is that the worst? Because our expectations of ourselves are always unrealistic. Always. Because we expect ourselves to meet everyone else's expectations and then we take it further and add some of our own.
We have to earn more. Do better. Be more social. Exercise more. Read more. Catch up on that show your friend loves.
And I'm not saying these are bad things. It's not bad to be social, or exercise, or get up earlier, or read books (I would never say that).
I'm saying that sometimes, after we've met everyone else's expectations, we need to be careful about placing further expectations on ourselves. Sometimes we just need to give ourselves a break.
But what does this have to do with the Bible? I'm getting there.
I have a question for you. Just one.
What does God expect from us, and do our expectations line up with His?
Okay. That was a two-part question, but still only one question. If our expectation for ourselves don't line up with God's expectations, we need to take a step back, and reevaluate our lives. This is something I need to do too, so if this is you, you are not alone. Never alone.
So now I can hear you asking: what's the solution? I don't think there is a perfect solution. We will always have expectations from ourselves and other people. And we can't always ignore them.
But something I'm learning is that not everything I need or want to do is important. Take a minute and read that again. Not everything I need or want to do is important.
Important is defined as: "of great significance or value; likely to have a profound effect on success, survival, or well-being."
So, not everything we want or need to do is important in relation to God's eternal kingdom. Not everything we want or need to do is important to our success, survival, or well-being.
And that's a really significant distinction. We don't have to do everything. There will never be enough time. What we do need to do is make sure that we keep what's really important in focus. It's okay to have things we enjoy. It's okay to go to work. And it's okay to go to church activities. But they shouldn't take up every second of our time. Yes. Even the church activities. It's good to be plugged in to your church, but it is possible to overdo it with activities and be totally disconnected from God.
So, one of my big issues is that I want to read everything. Well, almost everything. But pretty much everything. And that puts an unnecessary pressure on me (I've talked about this before). So, I have to constantly remind myself that books are not the most important thing. That it won't matter in the long run if I've read 2 or 2,000 books.
So, I will continue working on my schedule, and making more time for what's really important. If you need encouragement to do the same, post a comment down below.
Mark 12:30-31: "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."
Micah 6:8: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Psalm 119: 1-5: Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
What's Cookin'
Here's a quick recipe for you. Pair this parmesan crusted chicken with butter noodles, and some veggies and you'll have a delicious meal! We actually substituted corn flake crumbs for the bread crumbs and it turned out really well.
Book Nook
I have been reading so many books lately, it's hard to know which one to pick. It doesn't help that I didn't like some of the books I've read in the past couple weeks. At the risk of boring you all, I'm going to recommend another cozy mystery. I think I'm almost finished with the mystery kick, so hopefully I'll have a different genre soon.
This week's recommendation is Do or Diner, a Comfort Food mystery, by Christine Wenger. Trixie moves to her aunt's small town in New York to escape her cheating ex-husband. She takes over her aunt's diner, and makes lots of new friends, including the local deputy. Of course, there's a murder, and she helps investigate. Surprisingly, the romance isn't a main factor in this series either, even though it's there.
The main point of the series is the food. Mysteries and food. Two of my favorite things wrapped up in one tiny book. Plus, this is a short series. I think there are 5 books in total, so it wouldn't take someone long to read all of them if they enjoyed the series.
I have the 5th one checked out from the library right now. I'm just waiting for a chance to read it. I have too many books out again. Sniffle.
Film Watch
This week, my movie recommendation is Rogue One: A Star Wars story. Yes. I am a huge nerd. No. I don't care if you judge me.
Rogue One is set just before Episode IV: A New Hope.The main character, Jyn Erso, is an unlikely hero, who is sent to retrieve the blueprints for the Death Star, which her father helped to create. There are plenty of new characters, as well as familiar ones.
If you're not a Star Wars fan, most of that didn't make sense. And that's okay. You can watch Rogue One even if you've never seen any of the other Star Wars movies, and still understand the plot. I do recommend watching all of the other movies, though.
Weekly Reflection
Overall, this week has been pretty good. Last week wasn't, but that's okay. I'm going to keep pressing on anyway.
If you have any thoughts about anything in this post, I'd love to hear them! Just leave your thoughts in the comment section below. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!
Friday, April 14, 2017
Spend Your Time Wisely
Hello all! I hope you've all had a fabulous week. Are you all ready for the weekend? I've already had my weekend, as I have to work tomorrow, but that's okay.
What's New
I've been trying to work on my schedule a little bit lately. I'm trying to make sure I have a little time to do everything. What prompted this? I realized that I've been spending too much time reading. No. Wait. That sentence came out wrong. I realized that I've been neglecting some of my other interests. For instance, when I finally played one of my video games for the first time in months, and it made my day a lot better. I know. It doesn't take much to make me happy. In addition, I realized that I haven't been spending as much time with God as I need to. So, it's not just about the video games. I'm trying to schedule in more God time, and more me time, so that I have more of a balance.
Testament Talk
So, on that note, I should obviously talk about making time for God. So, that's exactly what I'm going to do. Personally, I find it harder to make time for God in the afternoons and evenings, when so many other things are demanding my attention. So, it's my personal plan to get up a little earlier in the mornings to have extra time during that part of the day to devote to God in prayer, Bible study, and praise and worship. I'll let you know how it goes.
It's important to spend time with God each day, and not only on Sundays. But in our daily lives and busy schedules, with so many other things (many necessary, others not) demanding (yes, I mean demanding) our attention, it seems harder and harder to make time for God. Yet, really, He should be our first priority. Nothing is more important than our relationship with Him, because He should be our everything. We have to make an effort to put Him first. And that's the key word, isn't it? Effort. He wants us to turn to Him and talk to Him about everything, but we have to make the effort.
And I'm not going to pretend that some days it isn't an effort to try to make the time, especially when it's a really busy day with work, family, chores, and trying to squeeze in that tiny bit of "me time." But making the effort, even when it seems like we're too busy, is important, because it can make the difference between a good day and a bad day. That's why I'm planning to schedule in my God-time in the mornings. Starting my day with a good breakfast and God-time instead of a good breakfast and anything else-time, will ensure that even if my day doesn't go smoothly, at least my attitude should be better.
When do you schedule in your God-time?
What's Cookin'
Mom found a delicious recipe for Yorkshire Pudding, and after a couple adjustments, we find that it's our favorite. It's the closest I've had since I was in England, and I'm delighted that we finally got it right. It goes well with roast, or fried chicken, or by itself with a little bit of honey drizzled on it for dessert. And since I'm American, I don't know if that's wrong to do, but it certainly tasted good!
Book Nook
This week's book recommendation is the first book in the Book Retreat mystery series by Ellory Adams: Murder in the Mystery Suite. It's a cozy mystery set in rural Virginia, in a castle that was shipped brick by brick from England in order to become a retreat for bibliophiles. The main character, Jane, is the mother of twin boys, she's conservative, fun, but also no-nonsense, compassionate, family-oriented, and she isn't off flirting with every man she comes across. Sorry. That's a big issue with me apparently. The way the main character behaves can make me love or hate a book.
Anyway, when a guest at Storyton Hall is murdered, Jane and her staff assist with the investigation, always giving all relevant information to the police, and never hindering the investigation. This is something else I really liked. The investigator is not only competent, he's polite, and recognizes Jane's authority inside the hotel, and doesn't discourage her help or act high and mighty.
There are also lots of book references, and even a Star Wars reference, which I just loved!
In addition, there is a great plot twist that I don't dare give away, but this isn't just a typical cozy mystery. There's a big family secret, and...oops. I almost spoiled it for you! So, go read the book if you like mysteries at all. And even if you don't normally, you might find this book interesting, even if you don't love it like I did.
Film Watch
This week's film recommendation has to be Father Brown. It's a really neat British mystery show, based on a series of books, written by G.K. Chesterton, which, unfortunately, I haven't read yet. The series follows Father Brown as he helps investigate murders. It has a whole cast of interesting characters who assist him, with a variety of backgrounds. For the most part, he gets along with the local law enforcement, which I like too.
Weekly Reflection
Overall, this has been a pretty good week. There were a few downs, but it was mostly ups. I learned that I have to start managing my time more wisely, and that spending time with God is the most important thing.
Well, I'm off to get my laundry folded and put away so that I can have a little me time before my next scheduled task. I hope you all have a very blessed weekend. Until next time!
What's New
I've been trying to work on my schedule a little bit lately. I'm trying to make sure I have a little time to do everything. What prompted this? I realized that I've been spending too much time reading. No. Wait. That sentence came out wrong. I realized that I've been neglecting some of my other interests. For instance, when I finally played one of my video games for the first time in months, and it made my day a lot better. I know. It doesn't take much to make me happy. In addition, I realized that I haven't been spending as much time with God as I need to. So, it's not just about the video games. I'm trying to schedule in more God time, and more me time, so that I have more of a balance.
Testament Talk
So, on that note, I should obviously talk about making time for God. So, that's exactly what I'm going to do. Personally, I find it harder to make time for God in the afternoons and evenings, when so many other things are demanding my attention. So, it's my personal plan to get up a little earlier in the mornings to have extra time during that part of the day to devote to God in prayer, Bible study, and praise and worship. I'll let you know how it goes.
It's important to spend time with God each day, and not only on Sundays. But in our daily lives and busy schedules, with so many other things (many necessary, others not) demanding (yes, I mean demanding) our attention, it seems harder and harder to make time for God. Yet, really, He should be our first priority. Nothing is more important than our relationship with Him, because He should be our everything. We have to make an effort to put Him first. And that's the key word, isn't it? Effort. He wants us to turn to Him and talk to Him about everything, but we have to make the effort.
And I'm not going to pretend that some days it isn't an effort to try to make the time, especially when it's a really busy day with work, family, chores, and trying to squeeze in that tiny bit of "me time." But making the effort, even when it seems like we're too busy, is important, because it can make the difference between a good day and a bad day. That's why I'm planning to schedule in my God-time in the mornings. Starting my day with a good breakfast and God-time instead of a good breakfast and anything else-time, will ensure that even if my day doesn't go smoothly, at least my attitude should be better.
When do you schedule in your God-time?
What's Cookin'
Mom found a delicious recipe for Yorkshire Pudding, and after a couple adjustments, we find that it's our favorite. It's the closest I've had since I was in England, and I'm delighted that we finally got it right. It goes well with roast, or fried chicken, or by itself with a little bit of honey drizzled on it for dessert. And since I'm American, I don't know if that's wrong to do, but it certainly tasted good!
Book Nook
This week's book recommendation is the first book in the Book Retreat mystery series by Ellory Adams: Murder in the Mystery Suite. It's a cozy mystery set in rural Virginia, in a castle that was shipped brick by brick from England in order to become a retreat for bibliophiles. The main character, Jane, is the mother of twin boys, she's conservative, fun, but also no-nonsense, compassionate, family-oriented, and she isn't off flirting with every man she comes across. Sorry. That's a big issue with me apparently. The way the main character behaves can make me love or hate a book.
Anyway, when a guest at Storyton Hall is murdered, Jane and her staff assist with the investigation, always giving all relevant information to the police, and never hindering the investigation. This is something else I really liked. The investigator is not only competent, he's polite, and recognizes Jane's authority inside the hotel, and doesn't discourage her help or act high and mighty.
There are also lots of book references, and even a Star Wars reference, which I just loved!
In addition, there is a great plot twist that I don't dare give away, but this isn't just a typical cozy mystery. There's a big family secret, and...oops. I almost spoiled it for you! So, go read the book if you like mysteries at all. And even if you don't normally, you might find this book interesting, even if you don't love it like I did.
Film Watch
This week's film recommendation has to be Father Brown. It's a really neat British mystery show, based on a series of books, written by G.K. Chesterton, which, unfortunately, I haven't read yet. The series follows Father Brown as he helps investigate murders. It has a whole cast of interesting characters who assist him, with a variety of backgrounds. For the most part, he gets along with the local law enforcement, which I like too.
Weekly Reflection
Overall, this has been a pretty good week. There were a few downs, but it was mostly ups. I learned that I have to start managing my time more wisely, and that spending time with God is the most important thing.
Well, I'm off to get my laundry folded and put away so that I can have a little me time before my next scheduled task. I hope you all have a very blessed weekend. Until next time!
Friday, March 31, 2017
It'll All Work Out
Hello all! I hope you're having a great week, and if not, I hope something in this blog makes you smile, so that your week gets better.
What's New
I had to take my cats to the vet this week. One had blood in his stool (youngest) and the other has been licking the fur off his hind legs (oldest). Too much information? I hope not.
For the youngest, we're all pretty sure it was just a change of diet and constipation. He's fine.
For the oldest, the vet took some blood samples to test, but was pretty sure it was allergies, so gave him an allergy shot. The blood work came back, and there's nothing wrong with him, which is good news. Also, after the allergy shot, the hair on his back legs is growing back and the sores he'd made by licking so much are healing up. He also, is now fine.
So, it was quite the stressful week, for more reasons than this, but it's all working out.
Testament Talk
Speaking of things working out, with everything that went on this week, I was reminded, that through it all, God is always with us. His mercy endures forever, and his love abounds, and His timing is perfect. Things don't always happen when we want them to, but if it's meant to be, if it's His will, it will work out when it's meant to. So, we shouldn't give up. We can just keep our focus on God and trust that He'll handle it. We can just rest, knowing that He'll take care of us.
What's Cookin'
Our recipe this week is one I got a long time ago. I can't remember where, as the Internet wasn't as big when I first made it, but I found it online today. One day, I needed a really quick and delicious dip for a party, so I turned to this one. Simple, quick, delicious cheese dip. It makes 2.5 cups, so it's good for small parties. You can always double the recipe for larger parties.
It's a memoir of a woman who leaves her home, her friends, and her family after a divorce, and moves to the other side of the United States to "find herself." She ends up falling in love with Martha's Vineyard, and decides to stay. She tells her adventures very well, and keeps readers engaged with funny stories, pictures, and recipes. Delicious recipes.
She also has a blog. If you like this book or any of her other books, you should check out her blog too. She shares great stories, recipes, tips for homemaking, and, of course, pictures!
Film Watch
As I'm currently watching Heartland, I'll recommend that. It's the story of a multi-generational family living on the family ranch (Heartland), in Canada. Amy Fleming works with horses the way her mother taught her, using a unique style that gets her a lot of recognition, and brings many clients with troubled horses to her "clinics." While the story is mainly about her and the horses, it also focuses on the whole family, her grandpa, her sister, and her father, who add a lot of drama and different situations to the story.
I'm currently on season 8, so it's hard to find stuff to say that won't be a huge spoiler. If you like family dramas, horses, rodeos, or ranches, you'll probably like this show.
As I sit watching Heartland, I'm reminded of how much I love the countryside. I'm reminded of the vast, open spaces that exist in the world, and how few and far between they seem now. I'm reminded that even though I don't have far to go to hike in the mountains, it's not the same in this urban environment, and sometimes this show makes me miss the rural places where I grew up, and even makes me think fondly on the farm we had when I was a pre-teen.
Weekly Reflection
Overall, this week was pretty stressful, but I survived. God took care of me, and reminded me that there was less reason to stress than I originally thought. I'm so glad that I can turn to Him when things are going great, or when they're going wrong. My life would be so much more stressful without Him.
I need to get back to my knitting now. I'm trying to make a scarf, and it's harder than I thought, mostly because it has to be so long. Still, I can do it!
I hope you got something from my blog today, but even if you didn't, thanks for reading to the end. I hope you all have a great weekend!
What's New
I had to take my cats to the vet this week. One had blood in his stool (youngest) and the other has been licking the fur off his hind legs (oldest). Too much information? I hope not.
For the youngest, we're all pretty sure it was just a change of diet and constipation. He's fine.
For the oldest, the vet took some blood samples to test, but was pretty sure it was allergies, so gave him an allergy shot. The blood work came back, and there's nothing wrong with him, which is good news. Also, after the allergy shot, the hair on his back legs is growing back and the sores he'd made by licking so much are healing up. He also, is now fine.
So, it was quite the stressful week, for more reasons than this, but it's all working out.
Testament Talk
Speaking of things working out, with everything that went on this week, I was reminded, that through it all, God is always with us. His mercy endures forever, and his love abounds, and His timing is perfect. Things don't always happen when we want them to, but if it's meant to be, if it's His will, it will work out when it's meant to. So, we shouldn't give up. We can just keep our focus on God and trust that He'll handle it. We can just rest, knowing that He'll take care of us.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30
What's Cookin'
Our recipe this week is one I got a long time ago. I can't remember where, as the Internet wasn't as big when I first made it, but I found it online today. One day, I needed a really quick and delicious dip for a party, so I turned to this one. Simple, quick, delicious cheese dip. It makes 2.5 cups, so it's good for small parties. You can always double the recipe for larger parties.
Velveeta Salsa Dip
1 lb. (16 ounces) Velveeta Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut up
1 cup Thick ‘N chunky salsa
First, mix the Velveeta and salsa in medium microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 5 minutes or until Velveeta is melted, stirring after 3 minutes. Then serve hot with assorted cut up vegetables, Ritz Toasted chips, or tortilla chips.
That's all you need to make a delicious dip. I know it isn't very healthy, but I feel it's okay to indulge every once in a while, especially for parties.
Book Nook
The book I want to talk about this week is Martha's Vineyard: Isle of Dreams by Susan Branch. It's inspiring, with recipes and pictures and a great story of travel and rediscovering yourself.Book Nook
It's a memoir of a woman who leaves her home, her friends, and her family after a divorce, and moves to the other side of the United States to "find herself." She ends up falling in love with Martha's Vineyard, and decides to stay. She tells her adventures very well, and keeps readers engaged with funny stories, pictures, and recipes. Delicious recipes.
She also has a blog. If you like this book or any of her other books, you should check out her blog too. She shares great stories, recipes, tips for homemaking, and, of course, pictures!
Film Watch
As I'm currently watching Heartland, I'll recommend that. It's the story of a multi-generational family living on the family ranch (Heartland), in Canada. Amy Fleming works with horses the way her mother taught her, using a unique style that gets her a lot of recognition, and brings many clients with troubled horses to her "clinics." While the story is mainly about her and the horses, it also focuses on the whole family, her grandpa, her sister, and her father, who add a lot of drama and different situations to the story.
I'm currently on season 8, so it's hard to find stuff to say that won't be a huge spoiler. If you like family dramas, horses, rodeos, or ranches, you'll probably like this show.
As I sit watching Heartland, I'm reminded of how much I love the countryside. I'm reminded of the vast, open spaces that exist in the world, and how few and far between they seem now. I'm reminded that even though I don't have far to go to hike in the mountains, it's not the same in this urban environment, and sometimes this show makes me miss the rural places where I grew up, and even makes me think fondly on the farm we had when I was a pre-teen.
Weekly Reflection
Overall, this week was pretty stressful, but I survived. God took care of me, and reminded me that there was less reason to stress than I originally thought. I'm so glad that I can turn to Him when things are going great, or when they're going wrong. My life would be so much more stressful without Him.
I need to get back to my knitting now. I'm trying to make a scarf, and it's harder than I thought, mostly because it has to be so long. Still, I can do it!
I hope you got something from my blog today, but even if you didn't, thanks for reading to the end. I hope you all have a great weekend!
Friday, March 17, 2017
New Growth
Hello all! I hope you've had a splendid week! Today's title is just in time for Spring!
What's New
I guess there hasn't been a lot of new stuff going on lately. I've been reading lots of books, working, going to church, and watching movies, just like always.
One new thing about the blog: I was going to try to post every week, but with the new format of the blog, I don't think it will be possible. So, I'm just going to post when I can. Hopefully, I'll be able to post every two weeks, but I can't promise that.
I am still planning to post on Fridays, so look for new posts then.
One thing I want to share this week is this quote: "Everyone had to grow into themselves before they could offer anything." - Susan Branch, Martha's Vineyard: Isle of Dreams
Testament Talk
And with that quote, I'm going to go straight into Testament Talk.
Now, you may be thinking "What does that quote have to do with the Bible?" but hear me out.
We have a lot to offer God. Each of us. No matter how young, or incapable we seem, God can always use us. But sometimes we aren't ready. Sometimes we can't serve as other people serve because we aren't at their level. We may always have a different purpose from other people. And we have to grow into ourselves first. That doesn't mean we can't serve God along the way, but sometimes it takes awhile for us to grow into ourselves and only once we do can we truly fulfill our life's dream, our passion, and only then can God use us for our true purpose.
So, don't think that you're too young to accomplish something. Don't think that you'll never do something. Keep dreaming. Give your dreams to God, and serve Him all the while, accumulating experience, and growing into the person He knows you can be. Then, once you grow into yourself, once you reach the place you need to be to achieve your dream, I'm sure you'll look back and see that you really accomplished a lot along the way, including dreams you weren't even sure you had at the time.
With that said, I'll leave you with this verse: 1Timothy 4:12 - "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
What's Cookin'
I really enjoy learning about different cultures and that especially includes the food. Since I'm learning Japanese, I find myself often curious about Japanese culture and food. I found this recipe online for Rice Balls, and it turned out pretty well, although no one in my family really liked the seaweed (nori), but that could be because I got the wrong kind too.
If you like rice, or have been interested in finding a recipe to make rice balls (onigiri) then I recommend this recipe.
Book Nook
I finally read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, and I have to say I'm just blown away! I read the Great Illustrated Classics version as a child, and then read Little Men, and was baffled that the writing styles were so different. Well, now I know why! So now I've read the original, full story, and it's just as good as I hoped it would be.
The story of the four March sisters and their trials and lessons as they grow from "little women" to full-fledged women, is at times comical, heartwarming, sad, and inspiring. I loved every peek into their lives as they grew, persevered, succeeded, failed, fell in love, and had grand adventures.
This is a must-read, I think, for anyone.
Film Watch
This week's film recommendation is Courageous, starring Ken Bevel and Alex Kendrick.
I've been thinking a lot lately about police officers and my heart goes out to the ones who are truly in their jobs to help people. They put their lives on the line to protect, and get very little thanks for it.
What I particularly like about this movie is the way they portray the trials and temptations of police officers and how, in any situation, leaning on God can bring not only comfort, but a renewed sense of purpose.
Weekly Reflection
The past few weeks had their ups and downs, but I've never been more grateful that our God is merciful, and that His love sustains us no matter what. I've had an enjoyable few weeks, filled with books, knitting, movies, and all the usual things, as well as some unusual ones.
What's New
I guess there hasn't been a lot of new stuff going on lately. I've been reading lots of books, working, going to church, and watching movies, just like always.
One new thing about the blog: I was going to try to post every week, but with the new format of the blog, I don't think it will be possible. So, I'm just going to post when I can. Hopefully, I'll be able to post every two weeks, but I can't promise that.
I am still planning to post on Fridays, so look for new posts then.
One thing I want to share this week is this quote: "Everyone had to grow into themselves before they could offer anything." - Susan Branch, Martha's Vineyard: Isle of Dreams
Testament Talk
And with that quote, I'm going to go straight into Testament Talk.
Now, you may be thinking "What does that quote have to do with the Bible?" but hear me out.
We have a lot to offer God. Each of us. No matter how young, or incapable we seem, God can always use us. But sometimes we aren't ready. Sometimes we can't serve as other people serve because we aren't at their level. We may always have a different purpose from other people. And we have to grow into ourselves first. That doesn't mean we can't serve God along the way, but sometimes it takes awhile for us to grow into ourselves and only once we do can we truly fulfill our life's dream, our passion, and only then can God use us for our true purpose.
So, don't think that you're too young to accomplish something. Don't think that you'll never do something. Keep dreaming. Give your dreams to God, and serve Him all the while, accumulating experience, and growing into the person He knows you can be. Then, once you grow into yourself, once you reach the place you need to be to achieve your dream, I'm sure you'll look back and see that you really accomplished a lot along the way, including dreams you weren't even sure you had at the time.
With that said, I'll leave you with this verse: 1Timothy 4:12 - "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
What's Cookin'
I really enjoy learning about different cultures and that especially includes the food. Since I'm learning Japanese, I find myself often curious about Japanese culture and food. I found this recipe online for Rice Balls, and it turned out pretty well, although no one in my family really liked the seaweed (nori), but that could be because I got the wrong kind too.
If you like rice, or have been interested in finding a recipe to make rice balls (onigiri) then I recommend this recipe.
Book Nook
I finally read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, and I have to say I'm just blown away! I read the Great Illustrated Classics version as a child, and then read Little Men, and was baffled that the writing styles were so different. Well, now I know why! So now I've read the original, full story, and it's just as good as I hoped it would be.
The story of the four March sisters and their trials and lessons as they grow from "little women" to full-fledged women, is at times comical, heartwarming, sad, and inspiring. I loved every peek into their lives as they grew, persevered, succeeded, failed, fell in love, and had grand adventures.
This is a must-read, I think, for anyone.
Film Watch
This week's film recommendation is Courageous, starring Ken Bevel and Alex Kendrick.
I've been thinking a lot lately about police officers and my heart goes out to the ones who are truly in their jobs to help people. They put their lives on the line to protect, and get very little thanks for it.
What I particularly like about this movie is the way they portray the trials and temptations of police officers and how, in any situation, leaning on God can bring not only comfort, but a renewed sense of purpose.
Weekly Reflection
The past few weeks had their ups and downs, but I've never been more grateful that our God is merciful, and that His love sustains us no matter what. I've had an enjoyable few weeks, filled with books, knitting, movies, and all the usual things, as well as some unusual ones.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Creativity Abounds
Hello everyone! I hope you're all well. Thank you for opening my blog and reading my new post. I hope you enjoy this week's new content, and that you find something worth sticking around for.
What's New
I've been learning to knit. Even when it's frustrating because I'm doing it wrong, it's still very relaxing. I enjoy creating things from nothing. It's amazing that something new can be made just from a ball of yarn. So far, I've only played around with a few patterns, making bookmarks and potholders. I want to practice with a few more patterns before I try to make a scarf, but right now that's my goal. To make a scarf. After that, I'll set my sights higher, like a sweater or a blanket, but I'm trying to dream big while still thinking small, in steps. Maybe one of these days I'll be brave enough to post some pictures of my projects, but for now I'm still too shy.
In addition, I've been rediscovering my love of beautiful words. I've been reading a few classic books where the words just flow on the page, but in addition to that, I also read poetry this week, which I haven't done in a while.
Testament Talk
Speaking of poetry, my favorite book of the Bible is the Psalms. Something about the book is both inspiring and relaxing for me. It's no coincidence that my favorite Psalm is also the shortest Psalm. That makes it easier to remember, but it also has a powerful message in just a few words.
Psalm 117 - Praise the Lord, all nations! Laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
Wow. All nations should praise God and revere Him because His love and kindness and generosity and faithfulness and His mercies are so great toward us. His truth lasts forever! That's an amazing verse, to me. It says so much with so few words.
What's Cookin'
Poetry always makes me feel creative, and so has learning to knit, so this week I'm going to share another of my cooking creations.
*Variation: Use Oregano instead of Basil
*Variation: Slice 2-3 deboned chicken breasts into small pieces; cook in skillet until browned; add to pasta mixture.
*For more cheese, serve with grated Parmesan
Book Nook
Since my Testament Talk was about the Psalms, I feel it's only right to recommend my favorite poetry book. I often have a hard time choosing my favorite poet, so I prefer books that have a selection from many different poets. This was a book that that I had to read for a class in college, and it quickly jumped to the top of my favorite poetry list.
Before you can make the decision about whether or not this book will be for you, I should disclose that the Victorian era is my favorite. I like several things about it, including the poetry and literature. After all, Sherlock Holmes is from Victorian England.
So, even though it may be cheating to recommend and anthology, I will anyway. I encourage you to read The Penguin Book of Victorian Verse, edited with an introduction and notes by Daniel Karlin, with poems from Wordsworth, Browning, Tennyson, and many more.
Film Watch
This week's recommendation is Downton Abbey. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but I kept trying and after I made it past the first 3 episodes, I was hooked! It's a drama, and it definitely leans more towards the soap opera end sometimes, but it's mostly a good, interesting, if occasionally predictable, historical drama.
If you've had a hard time getting into it, I recommend trying again if you're at all interested in historical dramas.
Weekly Reflection
This week was a good one. I went thrift store shopping with my mom, which is always fun. I made good progress in reading all the books I checked out from the library, and I've been good about not checking out more until I read them. I still have some out, but several are short, and I'm trying to just focus on making steady, albeit sometimes slow, progress on one book at a time. We'll see how long that lasts.
Because we went shopping, I also cleaned out my closet and got some of my old clothes ready to donate, and shifted some things around to make more room.
My room feels cleaner, and tidier and I haven't even vacuumed yet!
But maybe that's boring for you to read, so I'll stop here. I hope you all have a very blessed week!
What's New
I've been learning to knit. Even when it's frustrating because I'm doing it wrong, it's still very relaxing. I enjoy creating things from nothing. It's amazing that something new can be made just from a ball of yarn. So far, I've only played around with a few patterns, making bookmarks and potholders. I want to practice with a few more patterns before I try to make a scarf, but right now that's my goal. To make a scarf. After that, I'll set my sights higher, like a sweater or a blanket, but I'm trying to dream big while still thinking small, in steps. Maybe one of these days I'll be brave enough to post some pictures of my projects, but for now I'm still too shy.
In addition, I've been rediscovering my love of beautiful words. I've been reading a few classic books where the words just flow on the page, but in addition to that, I also read poetry this week, which I haven't done in a while.
Testament Talk
Speaking of poetry, my favorite book of the Bible is the Psalms. Something about the book is both inspiring and relaxing for me. It's no coincidence that my favorite Psalm is also the shortest Psalm. That makes it easier to remember, but it also has a powerful message in just a few words.
Psalm 117 - Praise the Lord, all nations! Laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
Wow. All nations should praise God and revere Him because His love and kindness and generosity and faithfulness and His mercies are so great toward us. His truth lasts forever! That's an amazing verse, to me. It says so much with so few words.
What's Cookin'
Poetry always makes me feel creative, and so has learning to knit, so this week I'm going to share another of my cooking creations.
Sarah’s
Pasta Casserole
Ingredients
- · 1 box uncooked penne pasta (I prefer one called penne rigate)
- · 1 jar Traditional Old-World Style Ragu sauce
- · 1 pound shredded Mozzarella
- · 1 regular bag of shredded parmesan
- · Dried Basil flakes
- Preheat oven to 350
- Boil half the box of penne pasta (a little salt with keep it from sticking to the pan).
- Put 1/2 pound of mozzarella, 1 jar Ragu, and 1/2 bag shredded Parmesan in a large mixing bowl (I use glass because the Ragu will stain plastic.)
- Add a few shakes of basil (to taste; I usually shake the jar 4-5 times.)
- Less is better if you're not sure how much you like.
- Mix ingredients gently with a large spoon until cheese is covered with Ragu.
- When pasta is tender, drain, and add to the cheese mixture.
- Mix pasta until completely covered with sauce.
- Place pasta mixture into a deep casserole dish
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and a little more shredded Parmesan (about a handful) on top.
- Bake in the oven for 30 minutes - until all cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling.
- Because each oven is different, cook times may vary.
*Variation: Use a bag of shredded 6 cheese variety instead of just Parmesan
*Variation: Use Oregano instead of Basil
*Variation: Slice 2-3 deboned chicken breasts into small pieces; cook in skillet until browned; add to pasta mixture.
*For more cheese, serve with grated Parmesan
Book Nook
Since my Testament Talk was about the Psalms, I feel it's only right to recommend my favorite poetry book. I often have a hard time choosing my favorite poet, so I prefer books that have a selection from many different poets. This was a book that that I had to read for a class in college, and it quickly jumped to the top of my favorite poetry list.
Before you can make the decision about whether or not this book will be for you, I should disclose that the Victorian era is my favorite. I like several things about it, including the poetry and literature. After all, Sherlock Holmes is from Victorian England.
So, even though it may be cheating to recommend and anthology, I will anyway. I encourage you to read The Penguin Book of Victorian Verse, edited with an introduction and notes by Daniel Karlin, with poems from Wordsworth, Browning, Tennyson, and many more.
This week's recommendation is Downton Abbey. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but I kept trying and after I made it past the first 3 episodes, I was hooked! It's a drama, and it definitely leans more towards the soap opera end sometimes, but it's mostly a good, interesting, if occasionally predictable, historical drama.
If you've had a hard time getting into it, I recommend trying again if you're at all interested in historical dramas.
Weekly Reflection
This week was a good one. I went thrift store shopping with my mom, which is always fun. I made good progress in reading all the books I checked out from the library, and I've been good about not checking out more until I read them. I still have some out, but several are short, and I'm trying to just focus on making steady, albeit sometimes slow, progress on one book at a time. We'll see how long that lasts.
Because we went shopping, I also cleaned out my closet and got some of my old clothes ready to donate, and shifted some things around to make more room.
My room feels cleaner, and tidier and I haven't even vacuumed yet!
But maybe that's boring for you to read, so I'll stop here. I hope you all have a very blessed week!
Friday, January 27, 2017
A New Perspective
Hello friends! It's been a while since my last post, in part because I've been trying to figure out how I really want my posts to be formatted. I mentioned a few posts ago that there would be some changes. I just hadn't realized that they would be such major changes. Now that I've figured out what I want from this blog, and what I want to share with all of you, I've made quite a few changes and added new content. I'm super excited, and hope you enjoy this new, improved blog of mine!
What's New?
This is the place I will talk about what's new in my life, or with this blog in general. If I'm planning a vacation or hiatus from my blog, this is where I will tell you.
As you can see, the formatting of the blog is different. I've changed the background and the font, and I've added some brand new content.
Also, I rode the local metro system for the first time. I've been on local buses before, but it was a completely different experience riding the metro downtown. There were lots of interesting and strange people. I think a person could ride the metro from one end of the line to the other and write a whole book in that time with such interesting people for inspiration. On this same trip, my mom and I went to an English pub for lunch. It was my first time at an English pub in America. I had the fish and chips, and they were delicious! It was, unfortunately, more like an American sports bar, so that was a little disappointing. Overall though, the whole experience was great!
Testament Talk
In keeping with the purpose of this blog, I will still be doing a Biblical reflection. However, it will only be one section of each blog post, unless I have something special to share, in which case I will make a post just about that topic.
It's a continuous process, learning about oneself. I've been rediscovering myself a lot lately, and I'm excited to share some of the changes I'm making. Something I've gotten a new perspective on in the past few weeks is Satan's power.
Satan is called the adversary for a reason. He is the enemy. But he is not God's equal. He is not God's match. If you've read the book of Revelation, you know that it only has one ending: Satan loses. Badly. That's because he is not God. He is not God's counterpart, or his equal. He has limitations.
Sometimes I forget that Satan is not all-powerful. He has limitations and weaknesses. This is a topic in the book I'm reading with my girlfriends called Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirrer.
So, what are those limitations?
What's New?
This is the place I will talk about what's new in my life, or with this blog in general. If I'm planning a vacation or hiatus from my blog, this is where I will tell you.
As you can see, the formatting of the blog is different. I've changed the background and the font, and I've added some brand new content.
Also, I rode the local metro system for the first time. I've been on local buses before, but it was a completely different experience riding the metro downtown. There were lots of interesting and strange people. I think a person could ride the metro from one end of the line to the other and write a whole book in that time with such interesting people for inspiration. On this same trip, my mom and I went to an English pub for lunch. It was my first time at an English pub in America. I had the fish and chips, and they were delicious! It was, unfortunately, more like an American sports bar, so that was a little disappointing. Overall though, the whole experience was great!
Testament Talk
In keeping with the purpose of this blog, I will still be doing a Biblical reflection. However, it will only be one section of each blog post, unless I have something special to share, in which case I will make a post just about that topic.
It's a continuous process, learning about oneself. I've been rediscovering myself a lot lately, and I'm excited to share some of the changes I'm making. Something I've gotten a new perspective on in the past few weeks is Satan's power.
Satan is called the adversary for a reason. He is the enemy. But he is not God's equal. He is not God's match. If you've read the book of Revelation, you know that it only has one ending: Satan loses. Badly. That's because he is not God. He is not God's counterpart, or his equal. He has limitations.
Sometimes I forget that Satan is not all-powerful. He has limitations and weaknesses. This is a topic in the book I'm reading with my girlfriends called Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirrer.
So, what are those limitations?
1. He is not omniscient.
*He cannot read our minds or know our thoughts.
2. He is not omnipresent.
*Even though it sometimes feels like it, he isn't everywhere.
3. He is not all-powerful.
*Satan is restricted in what he is allowed to do. He is allowed to tempt us, but when God speaks, even Satan and his followers obey.
This was something I really needed a reminder of, and now I'm sharing it with you. The next time it feels like Satan is hitting us with everything he's got, we just have to remember that in order to hit him back effectively, we first have to hit our knees in prayer.
What's Cookin'
This is where I will share a recipe, share a helpful kitchen tip, or talk about a great restaurant I enjoyed. Sometimes I may link to the site where I found a recipe, or share the book I where I read it. Sometimes it will be one of my own recipes, and I'm especially happy to share those. I'm rediscovering my love of cooking, and I have so many recipes stored away that I want to try. I'm hoping that not only will my What's Cookin' corner be a place for you to find tasty recipes, but that it will also motivate me to cook (and to eat) more. Yum!
Today's recipe is a very simple one that I created myself (though I'm probably not the first one). I love hot chocolate, but the packaged hot chocolate mix that you make with water hurts my stomach a lot, so I had to come up with something easier on my stomach that was just as, if not more, delicious. Hot chocolate is a winter necessity. This was not optional.
Simple Hot Chocolate
1. Pour milk into a microwaveable mug.
2. Add your preferred chocolate syrup to taste.
3. Microwave approximately 2 minutes, depending on your temperature preferences.
*You might be able to substitute chocolate powder for the syrup if you prefer. If anyone tries this, let me know how it turns out.
Book Nook
This is where I will recommend a book, either one that I love or one I'm currently reading. I love to read, so I'm very excited to share these with you!
This week, I'm going to recommend Fervent by Priscilla Shirer. I'm really enjoying it. It's relevant, pertinent, and I'm really learning a lot. If you're looking to revamp your prayer life, I highly recommend this book.
Film Watch
For my film watch corner, I will share a movie that I really like, either an old favorite or a new one I watched during the week. It may even match with my Testament Talk but it won't always. There are great faith-based movies, and I can't wait to recommend my favorites, but I like other movies and TV shows too, so I will recommend some secular films too. Prepare to be inundated with old black and white film recommendations!
Recently, I watched the movie Sully starring Tom Hanks, and I absolutely re commend that you watch it. It was historical, dramatic, heart-wrenching, and wonderful all at once. It is a heavier story than I normally enjoy, but Tom Hanks always gives such an amazing performance, so I made an exception.
It's the true story of Chesley Sullenberger, who landed his damaged plane on the Hudson river, thus saving the lives of the flight's passengers and crew, and the investigation and backlash as his actions came under scrutiny.
There is so much more that I could say, but I won't. The hardest part of the recommendation sections will be not giving away any spoilers...
Weekly Reflection
I'm excited that I finally got my blog formatted properly. I've had to retype this post several times because Blogger has done some reformatting when it goes live, for some weird reason I've yet to figure out. I'm excited to share more of my life with all of you. I hope you enjoy the book, movie, and recipe recommendations. One day I may add in more sections if I have other things to share. Overall, the past couple weeks have been wonderful! I got to have a whole girls' day with my mom, I learned how to ride the metro, and I ate great food at not one but 2 new restaurants. I've read lots of great books, and watched mostly good movies. My job is going well, and I love my church.
I am so very blessed.
As always, I will end with a Bible verse:
Romans 15:13 - 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.
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