Resurrection Rolls

HAPPY EASTER!! I am SO entirely thrilled to give you to my sister for the day. She is a young woman, a whole whopping 18 years old that has the biggest heart for Christ. She has been SUCH an inspiration to me throughout my walk with Christ. 

 

I will hand it over to her now :)  

 

My name is Taylar (I am the one on the left)! I am Tiffany's (bride) little sister! I really wanted to share this idea on the blog that I found on Pinterest... so here it goes and I hope you enjoy!!! :]

 

 

With it being Easter, this is an opportunity for you and your family to start a new tradition! These are called Resurrection Rolls!! Each ingredient represents something used to prepare Christs body for burial!

Resurrection Rolls

-Large Marshmallows

-Melted Butter (less than 1/2 a stick)

-A Mixture of Cinnamon and Sugar

-A Can of refrigerated Crescent Rolls

1. First open the can of crescent rolls and separate them into triangles. (This represents the linen for covering the dead)
2. Dip and roll one marshmallow representing Christ's body) into the melted butter(The butter represents the oil used for anointing the dead body)
3. Then roll the marshmallow into the cinnamon and sugar mixture (The mixture represents the spices used in preparing the body for burial)
4. Place the marshmallow in the center of one triangle. Fold the crescent around the marshmallow and tightly pinch the edges together leaving no openings. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
5. place the tray in the oven (which represents the tomb)  and bake according to the package directions. Close the "tomb" and wait...

... when it is time to open the "tomb" the marshmallow has disappeared!! When cooking the marshmallow melts away and all remaining is the puffed crescent roll, just like Christ rose from the dead, all that remained was the linen burial wrappings.

I have had these a couple times and they are both tasty and teach about Christ rising again!!! :] Have a wonderful Easter celebrating how our savior died just for us and rose again! Our wonderful King died for us... what a huge blessing to know that we are saved from sin and are forgiven time and time again!! :]

~Taylar

Heart Shaped Buttermilk Biscuits

 

 

If you were a part of my husband's family you would know that his grandma makes the best biscuits around town so his family thinks. Let me just tell you that nothing compares to grandma's cooking in their opinion.

 

I have been married to my hubby for 7 years now and for 7 years I have been trying to come close to her biscuits & gravy. Not only is her biscuits & gravy "the best" but so is her yams & sugar cookies at Christmas. My hubby has let me know that I just about got the yams right and now....the biscuits and gravy thanks to this recipe!

 

whew, thought I'd never even come close. Everytime I'd make biscuits and gravy my husband would remind me that "ya, they are ok but nothing like Grandma Veda's."

 

Here is the recipe! Delicious, flakey and SUPER easy. No yeast and no waiting time for them to rise. Just make & bake!

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoon  salt
• 6 tablespoons butter, cold, and cut into little cubes
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• A little bit of extra flour when you flatten your dough out

 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450° F
2. In a medium bowl and using a wooden or big plastic  spoon, combine all dry ingredients.
3. Using fork, add butter cubes into the dry ingredients. Blend, without over blending, butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles course meal.
4. Add the buttermilk slowly, and stir until the mixture is just combined. It will still be someone dry, but should hold together when pressed.
5. Dump dough mixture out onto a slightly floured board.
6. Using your hands, gently pat the dough out until it is approximately 1/2 inch thick. Do not over handle the dough and do not use a rolling pin... simply flatten the disc out with your hands.
7. Starting at the very edge, use a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut the biscuits. (You should get 10 biscuits from this recipe).
8. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, with sides of each biscuit touching another.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly brown on the top.
10. Remove from the oven and brush with the 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
11. Serve warm with a butter and honey or gravy.

 

Recipe adapted and changed from DineandDish.net

 

 

 

 

 

Good Friday

source

I am so honored that I get to share with you what today means for you and I.  This is the day that we remember the death of our Savior Jesus Christ on the Hill of Calvary. 

Yesterday was the day that is known as Maundy Thursday, which is the day that Christ had the Passover dinner with his disciples (also known as the last supper).  I want to begin with scripture from the book of Matthew the night before Jesus' death to give you an insight into what he was feeling leading up to that day.

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

You can see that Jesus knew what was coming for him.  He knew that his purpose on this earth was to ultimately be crucified on the cross to atone (pay) for the sins of all of humanity.  He knew that he would suffer humiliation and incredible pain through torture.  In his earthly body he feared this pain and felt incredibly overwhelmed by what was about to take place.  He had surrounded himself with his closest of friends and asked them not to leave him or fall asleep in his time of vulnerability.  He even asked the Lord his Father to take this fate from him, to spare him from what he knew was coming but ultimately he said to his Father, "not what I want but what your will is for me."  This is so striking to me because I can't even begin to imagine the stress and terror of knowing that I am about to die a painful death and ultimately feel the weight of the sins of all of humanity on my shoulders.

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Two more times he asked his Father to spare him from what was about to come.  Then came the betrayal from one of his own friends...

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[d]Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

He then went before the high priest before all of the elders were gathered.  Everyone was looking for false evidence against him so that they could put him to death but no one could find any.  Then one man accused him of saying something lofty...

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[e] 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.

Then they began to mock him...

67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

Following this, he was betrayed by his good friend Peter...

74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Judas then realizes the weight of his betrayal against Jesus and admits that he was wrong but no one cares.  He ends up hanging himself...

27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

Jesus then stood before Pilate the governor who asked him if he was indeed Jesus King of the Jews but he refused to answer.  Pilate would pardon one prisoner as was the tradition.  His wife even told him “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." The crowd was rowdy and continued to push for the crucifixion of Jesus the Messiah.  

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

They mocked and humiliated him further...

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

They forced him to carry his wooden cross to the top of the hill...

 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Messiah breathes his last breaths...

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[h] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[i] 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[j] went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Jesus was then buried in a tomb and a large heavy stone was rolled in front.

This is what we know as good Friday.  Why do we call this painful, dark day "good"??  Because we know that it took the blood of Jesus to pay for each and every one of our lives so that we could be saved the misery of spending eternity separated from the Lord because of our sin.  When the curtain of the temple tore in two, we were no longer separated from a personal relationship with God the Father.  Before Christ's death, only the high priest was allowed to approach God for the atonement of the people's sins, and he had to go through a process of cleansing and bring a blood offering.  He was the middle man between common people like us and the King of Kings.  The moment Christ died, the barrier was removed. We are now free to speak with and have our own personal relationship with the Lord or Father!

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Psalm 30:12 

That my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.  Lord my God, I will praise you forever!

{Guest Post} Why people don't need him.

My name is Lauren McGuire and I am an Army brat who has settled in the South with my husband and three kids.  After working in a corporate environment for several years we began to hear God calling me to a new season.   I started a blog around a small business that God planted in my heart and a year and a half later, I had baby #3. I left my corporate job of 8 years to focus on my family and whatever God decided to do with this blog/small business.  Originally my writing focused on style and closet organization but, like most creative processes, it has morphed into writing about what I love.  You'll see style posts, closet and organization ideas, family posts and posts where I share my heart on what God is speaking to me about in the moment.  I love organizing, I love dressing up, and I love Jesus.  I hope you'll have a visit and be encouraged!

Form and Function By Lauren

Why People Don't Need Him
 

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Mathew 5:20, NIV

I'm reading through Mathew right now and am in the place where Jesus famously launches His earthly ministry - The Sermon on the Mount.  He begins with the beatitudes of "Blessed are the" ...notarity, moves through being Salt and Light and then hits us with this:  He is the fulfillment of the law AND we have to do better than the Pharisees and Teachers of the law or we'll miss it entirely.

The law was the description of perfect, godly living.  It describes the impossible tasks around being holy.  The Pharisees and Teachers were the cream of the crop in their day who had committed their lives to studying the law and becoming experts on it.  You would think this pursuit would make them holy, humble, but often Jesus points out how greatly flawed they actually are.  They lacked humility and trust. They were too bound by human entrapment's (power, leadership, affluence, knowledge and education) to humble themselves before Jesus.  They were caught up in their own mini-kingdom to receive the kingdom of heaven.

It got me thinking, what mini-kingdoms do we get caught up in?  Why do people now, as well as when Jesus walked with them, say they don't need Him?

Our kingdoms don't have to be sprawling to be traps.  You don't have to be the CEO of a major company to feel like you have a kingdom.  The lure of leadership and affluence can be found in the the big fish in small pond scenarios of the everyday - leader of a small/medium/large business, a volunteer organization (PTA anyone?), a book club.  Leaders of homes and children as well as adults and movements.  A person can get so enamored with leading that they don't see the need for Christ.

Then there are the multiple other detractors from need: church hurt and hypocrisy, childhood wounds, pride, distraction, busyness, lack of worth, etc.  Not to mention the S word (sin - lots of people think they are pretty good and don't need forgiveness) and the fact that the bible takes a pretty strong stance on some social issues that are pretty hotly debated in our present culture.

So how can I, as a Christian, overcome these obstacles?

I can't.

(whhhooo, did she just say that?!)

I can't.  Only God can.  Only God calls.  Only Jesus saves.  All I can do is live out my faith the best I can, keeping a posture of humility, being broken and remade.  Humble and pliable. Ready to love and forgive.  I can build relationships with others to bridge the cultural gap between believers and non-believers.  I can take risks and be vulnerable with my heart knowing that my worth is deeply rooted in Jesus rather than in the opinions and affections of others.  Then I can share Him, lovingly, gently, hopefully humbly.  And let Him do the hard work of changing hearts.

Fruits of the Spirit {Series} Faithfulness

 

Welcome back friends to week three of the Fruits of the Spirit series.

If you want, you can go back and read about Kindness and Goodness.

This week I want to touch on Faithfulness.

Galatians 5:22-23

New International Version (NIV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

faithful·ness n.

Synonyms: faithful, loyal, true, constant, fast¹, steadfast, staunch¹
These adjectives mean adhering firmly and devotedly to someone or something that elicits or demands one's fidelity. Faithful and loyal both suggest undeviating attachment, though loyal applies more often to political allegiance

Being Faithful is an action. It means that we stand up for what we believe. Being faithful is making the decision to follow God and not the world. If we can be faithful to a specific television series and never miss an episode, why can't we be faithful to the Lord? What about being faithful to friends and family or a specific sports team? Doesn't God deserve all of us and not just what we want to allow?

 

Having Faith can move mountains, but exercising the fruit of faithfulness is part of our daily character. Having faith and portraying faithfulness is a sign of obedience to our Lord. Showing signs of obedience we will be rewarded.

 

For example. The story of Noah. We all know the story of Noah's Ark right? {Genesis 6}God told Noah to build an Ark, collect two of each species and bring his family on board. Because God found Noah's heart pure and obedient he and his family would be spared from Gods wrath on the corrupt world. Every time you see a rainbow, remember that God is faithful.

 

Another example of Faithfulness. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (cool names!) You can read more details about their story in Daniel 3:8-28. But they were 3 slaves/prisoners to King Nebuchadnezzar. The King wanted everyone to worship him. These 3 men wouldn't bow. So the King ordered them into a fire to burn. The men prayed to the One and ONLY God, they were faithful. God delivered them from their transgressor. God rewards faithful obedience!

 

 

 

 

What are you consumed with?

Let this be a reminder to be consumed by God and not by worldy posessions. I know as women, it's hard not to love all the clothes, shoes and make-up or for me it's home decor. To be honest sometimes I let decorating consume all my time. I constantly have to take a step back and re-evaluate where all my time is going to. What consumes your time consumes your heart.

God wants all of us. All of our hearts. Not half our hearts but whole hearts. When our mind is elsewhere he doesn't have all of our heart, We must be careful that our hobbies and earthly posessions don't take the place of God in our hearts. When we choose those things over God time and time again they become idols in our lives. An idol doesn't have to be a statue of a fake god, just something that consumes us. Even blogging, the computer, our phones or ipads can become idols. Thats where most of our free time goes isn't it.

I encourage you to replace some of your time that you would typically spend doing those things and just have a time of worship and prayer.


Let our hearts be on fire for Jesus and not money.

Of course God wants to bless us with nice things and the money to be able to buy what we love, but we must also be careful that money doesn't take the place of God. I know that sounds silly but sometimes we can desire more money over more intimacy with God.

When we focus on the things of God and make his kingdom business our main concern her will reward us and make our priorities His.

Praise God for caring about the tiniest details and desires in our lives.

So what are you consumed with? Jesus' unfailing love or earthly posessions?



God is for Me

I have had a hard time with this. Friends that just leave. People you don't talk to anymore. Makes you wonder, what am I doing wrong?

And then I think to myself. God removed them for a reason.

God has bigger plans for me.

I do not care who is against me because guess who is still on my side?

God is.

Source

Colored Deviled Eggs

With Easter right around the corner I figured I'd roll with that & give you my colored deviled eggs.

I love Easter. Easter has the best candy. And I mean it's 2nd Thanksgiving with the best food. At least in my world.

But Easter is a biiiit more than just the food & the goodies. It's about the wondrous resurrection of the Jesus Christ. Hallelejuah!!

Last year these were a hit - well at least with the kids. And me!

Ingredients

• 12 eggs
• 1/3 cup Mayo
• 2 TBS Relish
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• Paprika
• Vinegar
• Water
• Food Coloring

Instructions

• Boil eggs
• Peel & cut eggs to remove yolk & put to the side
• Add cold water, 1 tsp vinegar, & food coloring (make as many different colors as you want)
• Soak eggs for as long as you want, if you want a pastel color for less time or a bold color for more time
• Remove from water & let sit to dry
• Smash together the yolk, mayo, relish & mustard in a plastic zip lock bag
• Cut a corner out of the bottom of the zip lock & squeeze into each half of dried colored egg!
• Add paprika to the top of the egg for garnishing

Pesto Chicken Grilled Cheese



Ingredients:
Bread of your choice.
Monterey Jack Cheese
Thin Chicken Breasts {cooked}
Pesto Sauce
Parmesan Cheese
Butter
Cooking Spray {Pam}
S/P to taste

Directions:
Cook chicken breasts before you start your Grilled Cheese. Grate your cheese..or cheat by purchasing already shredded cheese...ain't no shame in that. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Sprinkle or dip buttered bread side in the Parmesan Cheese. {This will cook a cheesy crunchy shell}

Layer ingredients. Bread, Chicken, small amount of Pesto {like if your were adding mayo to a sammy}MJ cheese, then top with bread. Grill on the stove top until all cheese is melted and bread is browned.


These were so yummy!! They taste just like a Sammy I get from Piazza Del Pane. I will warn you...you may belched Pesto sauce all evening. But it will be so worth it!

DIY Easy Chalkboard Frame

I have been dying to do a chalkboard craft for the longest and I have finally gotten around to it!  This was super easy... a few materials and about 10 minutes (a half hour if you include drying time) and I have a frame that I am excited to put in my home!

Supplies:
1) Any picture frame with a hard removable back (not cardboard or one with a missing back)
2) Spray paint in any color
3) Chalkboard paint (I got my Rustoleum Chalkboard spray paint from WalMart for $3.97

First take apart your frame carefully and follow the directions on the spray paint can to paint 

your frame.

Next take the back off of your frame and spray or paint on your chalkboard paint.  The spray was fairly thin so I did several coats but it dried quickly.

Bonus: It's always nice to have a buddy to keep you company!

When everything has dried, put your frame together and write away!

BBQ Chicken Nachos

This is an easy recipe for a quick snack, lunch, or dinner for those nights when you still have yet to go grocery shopping for the week or just don't have a lot of time. In my case, it was anything I could find in the pantry and fridge to put together for lunch.

Here's what you need:
Chicken Breast (cubed) (I happened to have the Tyson Grilled Ready Cubed Chicken Breast bag)
Shredded Cheese
Taco Chips (I happened to have Tostitos Hint of Lime)
Your favorite BBQ or hot sauce

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.

Begin cooking the chicken in a pan with the BBQ sauce until heated thoroughly.

Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.

Spread chips over baking sheet with foil.

Sprinkle layer of shredded cheese over chips.

Once chicken is heated, spread over chips and cheese.

Top with cheese again.

(Add any other ingredients that YOU like in your nachos!)

Cook for 10  minutes and.. DONE!

Easy. Good. Fast.

Happy Thursday friends! Rejoice in the Lord and be glad this is a day HE has made!

Fruits of the Spirit {Series} Goodness

Welcome backs friends. Last week I started the Fruits of the Spirit series with you.

 

Galatians 5:22-23

New International Version (NIV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We talked about Kindness already. Today I want to talk about Goodness.

 

Definition of Goodness:

1. the state or quality of being good.

2. moral excellence; virtue.

3. kindly feeling; kindness; generosity.

4. excellence of quality: goodness of workmanship. 

5. the best part of anything; essence; strength.

 

Kindness, Love and Goodness go hand in hand with each other. Loving is being kind. Being kind is being good. Allowing Goodness to live through you is a powerful fruit to bear. Living a good life can bring people in your life to God. He is the Vine, we are the branches. Our lives bear much fruit. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NIV

 

How many people do you think are watching us as Christians? If I stop and think about it...what I say and post on social media can lead to or push someone away from Christ. Just by my own personal actions. If I am not operating off Goodness, how good is my fruit? Pretty bitter.

The world tells us it is okay to do something if it feels good. Hey it must be good right, it feels good, nobody is getting hurt. For example...Pre-marital sex, partying, drinking, gossip and many other worldly activities that is sociably OK. Goodness comes from a place in our hearts. It comes from a focus on God and not a focus on what the world tells us is good. Goodness is a fruit of the spirit, because it takes effort to cultivate.
 

Well why would we want to be good? Because God is good to us!

Psalms 145:9-13

⁹ The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.¹⁰ All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.¹¹ They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
¹² so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.^[b]

 

If we serve a Good God, we ought to be Good disciples. Be the branches he intends us to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How big do you see God?

Have you ever really thought about how BIG God really is? I think a lot of people but God into a box.

The size of the box that you put God in will be the size of your miracles. Same with your faith! If you have small faith then you will recieve small things. Wow that is some revelation right there! Also, the size of your faith does NOT determine how big God really is. ALL things are possible through Christ!

Jesus is wanting us to step out of our comfort zones and believe BIG! God shouldn't be put into a square box or even percieved as the little plastic Jesus sitting on someone's dashboard. A plastic Jesus is always there and never moving. Our faith is what moves God in our lives. For example, we tithe, putting our faith in God that he will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing over us because we are tithers. Put pressure on the word. Expect great things and declare his blessings in your life. But, remember GOD IS BIG!

You can't ever box God up. He is a miracle worker that hardly ever works in normal ways. The King of Kings never settles for what we perceive as normal here on earth. He always goes above and beyond in his blessing. That is all for His glory. He loves for us to be able to show everyone that nobody else can take credit for our amazing blessings but Him.

That is why we have to take god out of the cookie cutter form and let His work be done.

Don't confine Him in forms either. He is a BIG God with BIG miracles and an even bigger love for us.

He performs those miracles out of the love that He has for us. How amazing is that? He does it because He wants to, not because He has to.

So, let God be a big God in your life. Not conformed to any size, but allow him to be HUGE and work in huge ways.



Marriage: Modeling to Your Kids

This week I am focusing on being the example to your kids as husband & wife. How do you want your kids to view your marriage? And just marriage in general. You want marriage to be a positive thing, something they cannot wait to do, something that they will treasure, love & respect their future spouse. They watch our every move & what they grow up with will ultimately be how they perceive marriage. 

Part One: Respect
Part Two: Forgive
Part Three: Leader
Part Four: Love 

Our pastor said at our ceremony - Model to your kids what it looks like to have a good marriage, that is one of the best things you can do for your kids future spouse. They pick up every word and action you do. Show them that marriage even though tough and difficult at some points can be the biggest blessing of your life. 

As the wives & mothers a verse to live by for your daughters
2 Titus 2:4-5 -- Then they (older women) can train the younger women to love their husbands & children, to be self controlled & pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the Word of God. 

As husbands & the fathers a verse to live by for you sons
2 Titus 2:6-7 -- Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. 

Another verse God put on my heart this week through one of my studies
Proverbs 22:6 -- Train a child in the way he should go, & when he is old he will not turn from it. 

 

Jesus Calling

Today I want to share with you my devotional for today.  It is from the book Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, and has a devotional for each day.  If you have this book you may have already read it!  It hit home with me and I'll explain why after I share it with you.  It says...

"Listen to the love song that I am continually singing to you. 

I take great delight in you... I rejoice over you with singing.  

the voices of the world are a cacophony of chaos, pulling you this 

way and that.  Don't listen to those voices; challenge them with 

My Word.  Learn to take minibreaks from the world, finding a place 

to be still in Mu Presence and listen to My voice.  There is immense

 hidden treasure to be found through listening to Me.  

Though I pour out blessings upon you always, some of My richest 

blessings have to be actively sought.  I love to reveal Myself to you, 

and your seeking heart opens you up to receive more of My disclosure.  

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock 

and the door will be opened to you."

Zephaniah 3:17 

The Lord your God is in your midst;

he is a warrior who can deliver.

He takes great delight in you;

he renews you by his love;

he shouts for joy over you.”

This is special to me for a couple of reasons.  First of all, it echoes what we have talked about several times in the past and that is that we need to not listen to the voices around us that lead us away from the Lord's peace!

This also hit home because this is exactly what I had to do this past week!  My little one is teething and man oh man has he been Grouchy (with a capital G!).  After two particularly hard and fussy days I realized that I needed a break and that what I really needed was to spend some time with my Father.  I had been neglecting my spiritual life, not even really talking with the Lord until I was in bed and my prayers were usually cut short by me falling asleep from exhaustion!  I really felt the void from not spending that one on one time with him.  I needed one of those "minibreaks"! I called my mom and she was able to come over for about an hour while I ran across the street to Starbucks with my Bible and Beth Moore study in hand.  About 40 minutes in the word with no distractions and things started to feel lighter in my world again!  I love that it says, "Some of my richest blessings have to be actively sought."  I needed to MAKE that time for him.  I needed to actively seek him and it was so worth it!  Now it makes me think, what am I missing out on?  What blessings does he long to pour out on me that I'm missing because I'm not actively seeking him?  Something to think about... 

Blessings!