Friday Fast & Easy Meals- Italian

I love pasta every now and then but the old me liked it all the time. Now I just crave it every once in a while. I make a completely legit lasagna. It's one of the few things that I always feel confident in making but in its original form it is not the healthiest for a weeknight dinner. This recipe could still be lightened up some but this is a pretty big change from the original and it had a great and hit the spot for my craving. I also love it because it still leaves a lot of room for your own spin on it. You can add any veggies you want in the sauce from spinach to squash to mushrooms to onions. Seriously tons of room to personalize. 

EASY VEGGIE LASAGNA

1- jar any kind of sauce ( this can be homemade or store bought)

1 lb 93 % lean ground turkey

2 large zucchini

Italian seasoning ( any kind you have on hand. I like to keep a small jar of ricatoni's bread dip seasoning on hand and use that)

1 small container part skim ricotta

1 small container parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups of part skim shredded mozzarella

Cook the turkey until browned. Add in sauce. While meat is cooking mix the ricotta and the Parmesan in a bowl and add a teaspoon of any kind of Italian seasoning. Mix well. When the sauce is ready take half and put on the bottom of the pan. Then add a layer of medium sliced zucchini sliced long ways like a big lasagna noodle. You'll need 5 or so to cover the sauce. Then add half the ricotta mix spread out over the zucchini. Then add the rest of the sauce and repeat the process one more time. Add enough mozzarella to cover the top of the lasagna which is about the amount listed. Bake at 350 for about 35-40 min until bubbly. Serve with a chopped kale salad as a side! 

Friday Fast & Easy Meals- Snacks

I am not sure what category to put this in but we have started to make our own peanut butter. A few things about this...it's so easy as in you don't have to do anything to it other than press blend and let it go for about 5 min. Second of all we have only made it one time so I am sure there is more tweaking to be done and I can update if something dramatic changes. I will attach the recipe below from Pinch of Yum and also give you some of my notes on the process:

1.) It may take longer than 5 min. If it does do not panic. You want it to go until it is smooth however long that takes probably depends on your quality of food processor. There will be a point where you think this is a joke and it is not going to work. Hang in there. BE patient.
2.) I bought 2 canisters of great value brand unsalted peanuts. It needed some salt so I added about a teaspoon in the mix and the end and mixed for another 30 sec or so. Next time I will do half and half as in get half unsalted and half salted.
3.) I added 2 tablespoons of honey per the recipe and have stored it in the fridge. It is not AS creamy as traditional peanut butter but it is good and it is still plenty spreadable. If you wan it to be a tad more creamy you could add some oil but we have personally been happy with no extra oil added.

We have 3 out of 4 people who drink smoothies any given day of the week so we go through a lot of peanut butter. It is a big help to us and its a more natural way to go. Once you get used to the more stripped down taste nothing is better. I love the more natural taste of it and it feels good knowing I am feeding something great to my kids who are slowly getting used to it. Enjoy!!

Homemade Peanut Butter

Remembering...it's a good thing

Life is not the mountain tops its the walking in between----Ben Rector ( I like You)

I like to listen to pandora when I do the dishes. For some reason it makes the task more bearable and for occasions like that I need light and fun music. We heard a guy named Ben Rector open at a concert we attended a few years ago and his music kind of stuck with me. It's goofy and catchy. He has a song called I Like You and it played a few days ago while doing housework and there was this line that just stuck out to me. I went back and replayed it and was like yes. I love that. This time of the year I am always more deeply pondering things and doing a gut check. I don't want the fact that I went through a hard thing to make me bitter or sad. I want it to change me...for the better and more than that I want it to keep changing me . I want to honor my mom and all those that have stood by us with the way that I think, act and love because she would not love it if it was still all about her or me for that matter. But because I am human those things are all easier said than done. Therefore a good ole fashioned gut check comes in handy when I need to remember what is most important.

That line from the song rolled around in my head and heart for a few days till it hit me as to why it made such an impact. Before I lost my mom my faith walk was pretty unencumbered and on the easier side I would say. My faith was still a more immature faith. I hate to say that but looking back that's the way it was and honestly that is OK. We all start somewhere and grow at different paces on our journey. It's not a bad thing. I lived a lot more for the mountain top moments at that time in my life. I banked a lot of my worth or others on the ability to have those moments like they were all we really needed. I wanted to move from peak to peak and drift the rest of the time. I don't think I even knew at the time what it meant to walk in the in between. However, when I went through this trial in my life one of the biggest things I learned is that when the lights dim and the big moments subside is where we are really found. It's what and how we choose to pick up and walk in those moments that get to the nitty gritty of who we are. It shows how bright HIS light is in you. And for the record if it's not as bright as you had hoped HE can remedy that and he WILL because you will need HIM and he will be THERE. I know I certainly needed God in a big way.

The past four years really but especially the last year God has pulled us away from some familiar things and familiar people and pushed me WAY out of my comfort zone in several areas. Some days I am still not sure what to do with all of it but I guess that is really the point of this whole thing called life. Who does know what to do with it. I've just gently felt led by the spirit to keep walking. One foot in front of the other like it's been since the beginning of time. As long as we live this won't be the last hard thing for me or for you or those we love.

It's hard to put everything that has happened the last 4 years into words but the main idea is to just continue to encourage anyone else and myself to continue to be the kind of person who embraces and dare I say loves the walking in between which sometimes or a lot of the times involves uncertainty and just some very tough stuff for all of us. The walking in-between is the every day chance we have to get stuff done if we are willing to risk it and let go of holding out for those once coveted mountain top moments. I just felt like the idea of walking in between was a beautiful thought at this time reflecting back on the past 4 years as a tribute to our mom. This time has taught me what it looks like to be a better friend, wife, mother and follower of Jesus. Not wasting days waiting on big moments but walking forward with purpose and in deed and full of heart. Making the most of the days we have here in this world. No longer reserving parts of myself or faith for the biggest moments but arguably for the smallest ones and the every day ones. Not wondering IF we all have something to offer to the situations going on in the world to day but knowing that we absolutely DO have something to offer even if that something is a hug or encouraging word. Its so amazingly simple yet so powerful. That's where we have a real chance to speak into lives, love really well, serve without abandon. It looks different for us all but those are the moments that will be remembered. There is no right or wrong way to walk in the in between as long as you are walking and not waiting. So here's to me and you walking fearlessly and with an extra dose of compassion and understanding as we could all use a little bit more of that these days.

This is my personal evolvement and I know I don't speak for everyone going through a hurt or recovering from a hurt. It looks different on everyone but these words were just on my heart heading into tomorrow. Thanks for loving us through the past four years if you have had a hand in that. We are forever grateful and still remember every act of kindness that has been done for our family. I still miss her a lot. So do a lot of other people. What a beautiful thing it is to be able to remember her and how great she was. Not because she was perfect but because she was ours and we loved her so.

Looking for Lovely-Week 1-Day 1

This is a new study out by Annie Downs who is an author out of Nashville. I love her stories and personal touches laced throughout this study which if you buy the study guide you will get a feel for. It makes it so real. Like she is not only writing about looking for lovely but she is actively doing this in her life. Week 1 is rooted in the book of Romans and it where we will camp and come back to periodically. Go ahead and turn in your bible to

Romans 5: 3-5. Once you get there it will be familiar to you and if it is not then after this week it will be familiar to you. Either way that's a great thing! 

In this week the author seeks to really bring some life to the scripture in Romans and put a little more oomph behind it and dig in a little deeper. But the quick version for you to hide in your heart is below.

Suffering----Perseverance-----Character-----Hope

Do not roll your eyes at me if you were about to because you do not want to hear that suffering can bring about goodness. I know it is a stinky thing to think about but it is really true. I do not say that as a person that hasn't had struggles. Some of the hardest days in my life have birthed some of the best moments, memories and characteristics that I have today. And the thing is that as long as I live each season I go through that tests me will bring about more of the same. 

Back to the main purpose of the title of this book though is that these little moments we collect as we are suffering or in the midst of a tough season can be the smallest of things that produce the biggest amount of hope. They can be the things that shift our eyes from the seen (obvious) to the unseen        ( things that are there we just weren't looking in the right place). These little moments (of lovely) can shift our perspective. Once we can shift our perspective we have a chance at this whole suffering thing and not only getting through it but thriving. 

Week 1-Day 1-Peace

She talks about in this first day how to move into the perseverance part of this equation and mainly it boils down to one simple word. PEACE. And her explanation of what looking for lovely has to do with perseverance is perfect.

"Whats the role of beauty in perseverance? Spoiler alert:its a big one. If you are going to finish the brave/challenging/hard thing that God has called you to do , you have to look for the lovely moments. But you also have to decide that persevering and finishing are worth it. Your belief that persevering matters. That is you finish versus quit you will be glad you did."

What does perseverance mean to you?

Why does it matter?

What is a current situation you are in that is requiring you to persevere?

Look Up James 1:4 to see what the benefit is of letting perseverance "finish its work" in your life?

Open to Romans 5:1-5 (think about YOUR answer to these questions)

What is the first thing that Paul says we have after faith?

Why is it important? 

"Without peace we cannot persevere. We will run out of energy and stamina and the ability to look for lovely."

Looking for lovely is not about just the beauty of something although that does help it is about looking for God. Looking for and at all the glorious things that he has done and taking a moment to really grasp and hold onto that long enough to see that beauty up close. 

She has a great explanation of peace I think that I will detail below:

"The peace mentioned in verse 1 , is the peace that comes from salvation through Jesus Christ. It's like the baseline peace we can carry with us at all times-because of Jesus, we have peace with God, and we can have peace in God, too. But this peace means two different things. Peace WITH God is a gift given to us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. He died so we may be righteous before God. We can be with God because we are forgiven. That is peace WITH God. Peace IN God is a choice we make again and again--something we choose to grab onto. We need both. Peace with God gives us permission to ask and pursue peace in God.." 

Think of a time you have felt peace before?

What would it look like for you to have peace in your life every day. 

To find peace you must stop for a moment and slow down. Maybe a few minutes of deep breathing or meditation or just putting our lives on hold ( all of it) for 5 minutes a few times a day. We have to be able to take a step back and ask God into our day to give us the peace we are seeking. 

Open to John 14:27 and read that verse and highlight it in your bible and maybe even make it a note card you put up where you will see it most. It is important. 

Peace fights against trouble and fear. Is there a situation today that is both troubling and fear filled for you? IT is OK if it is. Maybe you are here in this spot reading this post for a reason today. Put a name to what is troubling you and making you afraid. Once you name it then you can begin to get more of a grip on what is keeping you from this peace. This comes down to your heart. Are you in a spot where you can fully trust God in the good and the bad but especially if things are falling apart around you. Can you lean into his word and his promises and feel his peace wash over you? If not start defining what is getting in your way and start to pray specifically that those barriers would be removed so that you can be on the road to a more trusting relationship with our heavenly Father to open the door of that peace to be able to start to wash over you. 

******Anything copied directly from the book is in quotations. There is so much information in each day that it seems like a lot to throw out there all at once. We are on no timeline so I want to do 1 day at a time each week and work through it separate. I want to soak up as much of this study as I can and hope you do too. 

Friday Fast & Easy Meals-Breakfast

All about the smoothie!!!! For a long time now I have wanted to be able to do smoothies for breakfast. For a lot of reasons....but mainly because it is easy! When you are fixing breakfast for kids, filling everyone's lunch boxes and trying to get ready to tackle the day it is super easy to just put breakfast for yourself on the back burner. However, if you are trying to lose weight it is not the best decision. You will get hungry and when that happens to me I just binge. I snack and eat more than I would have eaten had I just had a good balanced breakfast. I have not liked every one I have made but I have tried different things. For me I like things with chocolate and peanut butter more than fruity ones so this is the favorite that I make right now. 

1 tablespoon peanut butter ( I use Jif Natural smooth)

3 tablespoon rolled oats ( I just buy wal mart brand)

1 cup baby spinach leaves (I buy a bag and freeze and pull out as needed because it is easier to crush up)

1 banana

6-7 large size dark chocolate chips

1/4 cup milk ( I use 1% but use any kind)

1/4 cup water or as much as you need to add

Add the oatmeal first and grind up so it is not super grainy but it packs some punch as far as keeping you full. Then add the other ingredients and grind up. At the end I like to add some ice and grind up a bit more. I like it really really cold and I like to drink it with a straw. 

Friday Fast & Easy Friday Meals- Chicken

I love BBQ chicken but the pre made sauces are full of more sugar than I would like so I have been looking for a cleaner version just to further prove to myself that food that is healthy can be and is good!!! This sauce is wonderful. I tried to put it together and then put straight in the crock pot instead of cooking it like directions stated and while the taste was still the same the thickness was lacking. MY suggestions for this recipe are to cook according to directions and THEN once it cools put chicken breast in the cock pot and cover with sauce. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8. It is not necessary to add anything extra in. 

****I added half tsp of red pepper instead of a whole. Just keep in mind the level of spicy your family likes or does not like. The link is below to the full BBQ recipe. 

Clean Eating BBQ Sauce

Friday Fast & Easy Meals- Pork

One thing I love is BBQ type anything but when you get it at a BBQ place and go to heat it up the next day I always feel like it is greasy and sometimes fatty. This is a great solution and if you like spicy this is for you as is. If you do not then cut the amount of adobo peppers in half until you get a feel for how spicy it will be then you can adjust from there. ALSO, please note that I use either 2 Diet Cokes or 2 Coke Zeros depending on what I have on hand.

I have made this recipe several times and there are many things I love about it. Just to name a few is you can make this and serve it tons of different ways, you can stretch it out over several meals or feed a crowd super easily AND the most importantly you can put this in the crock pot and leave it and the only thing you have to do at the end is take off any fat IF there was any on the pork shoulder to begin with and shred it. I use my stand mixer to shred all meat these days and it has simplified life so very much.

Some of the ways you can serve this pork:

-Over a sweet potato with some green onion, dab of plain greek yogurt and anything else you like on a loaded potato.
-On a whole wheat bun served up with baked sweet potato chips or roasted sweet potato chunks and broccoli.
-In a quesadilla with some pepper jack or cheddar jack cheese and green onion and top with some greek yogurt to replace sour cream.
-In a taco with anything you like on it.
-Over a salad. A big plate of mixed greens with some BBQ on top.

That being said all you have left to do is click the link below give it a try. I promise you will like it!!!!!!!!


Crock Pot Pork

Friday Fast & Easy Meals-Breakfast

I have been looking for ways to incorporate more greek yogurt in recipes as a replacement for heavier items. This one was a great one to try and super easy. In this recipe I used whole wheat flour because that is all I usually keep on hand. I do not feel like it changed anything for me but I am also used to using it all the time. Use whatever you keep on hand. I loved these and was even able to get my kids to eat them which I felt was a score!! Follow the link below.... and enjoy.

Strawberry Greek Yogurt Muffins

Friday Fast & Easy Meals-American

Tuna is not something that I have ever given much credit to other than to say that I don't like the smell when the can is opened so I just knew I could not make a meal out of it. However, I got short on ingredients one night and had some on hand and had seen someone else post about making some and theirs looked good. All of that together convinced me to give it a try and I have to say they were really good!! Easy, cheap and great tasting!! A triple threat. Here is a recipe below that you can use and feel free to leave out the spicy if you like. The great thing about these recipes is you can modify as needed how it works for you. Try them and see what you think! The link is below. I would serve this with a salad and sweet potato for super easy sides. Enjoy!

Tasty Tuna Cakes

Open Your Bible- Week 7

We have made it!! This is the last installment from the Open Your Bible study guide. This has been a really great study. It has challenged me and I hope you too! It has shown me that my bible is not only relevant to me today, tomorrow and the next but it is a vital part of learning and growing in the spirit.

The last week talks all about SHARING the TRUTH. I want to shout that from the roof tops because the truth is that all this good stuff we learned to be true over the past few months about our bible is not just for US. It is for everyone and everyone should have the opportunity to know such joy and peace that comes from knowing the God that is in the pages of scripture and what he did for us that allows us to live and walk in freedom, love, grace and glory.

A few things to think about is that now you have all this great information it would be easier to just keep it to yourself but I am challenging you to reach out to one person. That person that seems discouraged or is going through a tough time. You do not have to cram a bible at them and say I need to tell you what I just learned to get your point across. In fact it is just the opposite. Take what you learned and go love people around you really well. So well that they see the Spirit reflected in the way you talk, love and walk with them through whatever they are facing.

I am also challenging us all to keep this going. Pick up your bible every day and read!!! Once I end a study I am so on fire and filled up and I tend to let it fizzle for a while before picking back up. Please don't let that happen....again I am preaching more to myself than anyone. We literally have the ability to directly impact people and lives with the knowledge we have.

And thirdly I would say just pray more for God to make you bold in being his child. Whatever that looks like just pray for boldness and obedience. Sometimes that is taking dinner to a friend going through a tough time when you have a lot going on and God puts it on your heart to do that. I take that as an urging that he needs you to stop and sit for a minute with this person. A phone call or a card. I pray where ever he leads we are willing to follow....every day of our lives.

My husband is a big music guy and one of his many favorites is Mumford and Sons. They have a song called awake and these lines echo in my head. Where we choose to invest is where our hearts are. I pray we can invest together in each other, in our community and in loving each other well! It has been an absolute pleasure sweet friends  xoxo -Bri

In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
And where you invest your love, you invest your life

Awake my soul
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker

Open Your Bible- Week 6

This week is about living in truth. The basic gist of this whole week is living in community. I feel like this is a hot topic right now with all the political and social ordeals swirling about. How do we live in community with others? What does that require of us?

The author opens the study this week by saying this about community in Hebrews 10:19

"The context of this passage shows a community of believers made up of both Jews and Gentiles. That was groundbreaking business at the time. If Jesus was their admission into this faith community, shouldn't this also define who is welcome in our community of faith?"

The areas of discussion this week are:
Reach Up
Reach Down
Remind Each Other
Close Your Bible (What?!?)

REACH UP
When I say mentor who comes to your mind? If I had to guess all of us have that one person or people that we look up to. They may be older or they may be younger. You just know that this is the person that if you need help is there and they will know "just what to do or say". It feels SO good to have those people in our lives. WHO is that for you? Are you that person for someone else? How would things have been differently had you not had that person for advice and counsel? Here is the kicker of a question we all knew was coming. Have you ever been that person for someone and as they called you just ignored the call because of the investment of time and energy you knew was about to need to be extended? That is tough and if we are all honest sometimes we may have done that to someone or had this done to us. Folks, we cannot take this type of relationship lightly. We will all be in one of the two positions at some point or another and NOTHING hear me say that is more important than loving our neighbors. I am sorry but nothing trumps that. We have one goal in this life and that is to love others.

The truth is we were meant to form these types of relationships. We were meant to reach UP to those who have walked before us. Those who have lived through things we have not. The bible tells us that we do not have to go this life alone. We were meant for this deeper community whether we are walking through something simple or severe I guarantee there is someone around you who has been there and done that. Not in a bragging way but someone you can reach your hand up to and say pull me up too! Tell me what I need to know to get through this season. It is ok for our lives to be personal but it doesn't all have to be so private. We are all running towards the same goals and though our struggles are different NONE of them are new. How does this look in your life? Who mentors you? Who do you mentor? Who do you see around you that may need help reaching up? You can only come to these relationships through fostering a sense of community and being willing to share experiences with one another. Reaching up and out is not a sign of weakness or defeat it is a victory cry that you really get what this life is all about. It is about rallying your people and saying let's do this!

Open Your Bible and take a look at the suggested scriptures about Reaching Up
Proverbs 13:20
Proverbs 27:17
Hebrews 13:17
James 5:16

REACH DOWN
"Jesus modeled reaching down for us his entire life. It isn't an act of condescension, judgement or pity and it isn't an offer based on one's faith status. It is the hand of Christ simply saying "Let me help."

Reaching down is being hospitable. We take the time to allow other people into our lives and our spaces even the messy parts. We have a chance to show unconditional love. What we have to offer others is not hinged on what they have or do not have.

Read Luke 14:13-14 & contemplate these questions
What does Jesus teach us about extending invitations?
Is there anyone you're currently reaching down to or could be?
What have you learned that could benefit someone else?
What has stopped you from reaching down in the past? Fear that you did not have anything to offer? That you were too young or too old?

Something that I have heard discussed many times is how Paul uses the language older and younger when he speaks of a mentoring type relationship. Many times age does bring a perspective and a wisdom that younger people just don't have BUT it doesn't mean that has to be the case. We are not taking about a certain number here. We are just talking about someone mentoring a person who is younger in their faith than you are. That will look different for all of us because we are all at different points in our walk.

Open Your Bible and read these passages about sharing our time, energy and resources with others. Make notes and think about how it applies to you.
Proverbs  22:6
Romans 10:15
Romans 12:13
2 Corinthians 2:14
1 John 4:21

The authors share their top 3 reaching down stories that happens in scriptures and I will list those for you to read and dig in deeper to see the connections that happened.

Jethro and Moses Exodus 18:1, 5-27
What was unexpected about this exchange?
Moses was already an established leader of Israel when this happened. What does this tell you about our need for mentorship?
Was the exchange successful and what does it teach us?

Elizabeth and Mary Luke 1:39-56
What are the similarities in their situations?
How important are similarities and differences in a mentor relationship?
What does this tell us about how God uses reaching up and down to prepare and bring forth leaders?

Paul and Timothy 1 Timothy: 1:1-2, 12-17
How does Paul refer to Timothy?
What is Paul telling Timothy in verses 12-16.

What sticks out to you through all of these examples? WHO sticks out to you in your own life? What can you do to be more aware of opportunities to reach down?

Remind Each Other
If  you are like me what comes to mind is that moment when my kids are literally screaming like banshees in Target (yes I still shop there...thats a whole other conversation) and someone so sweetly offers up the idea that I will miss this phase. My blood pressure is raised and I have less than an ounce of patience left and I might be loosing hair as we speak but yes....I will miss this. If you are a mama of littles as I call them you get that a lot. It is true and so well intentioned and we just can't take it for what it is sometimes. Outside our community it feels like maybe we are being talked at or down to and not to.

However, inside the community of faith these words have an undertone of love and peace and are meant to be a strategically placed life preserver rather. Have you ever just gotten a random text or scripture on a super hard day? How did it make you feel? Certainly it did not make you mad. It reminded you of something you already knew and somehow in that moment just lifted your spirits. Right? Are you afraid to remind people?

One of our love languages with one another that we are in community with should be regularly exchanging scripture. The scriptures are for all of us and for all times and there is nothing wrong with reminding each other of that. Sometimes the burdens get too heavy and we can't see past them to what we know is right there so when someone reminds us it shifts our perspective and we can see over or around that burden.

Open you bible to 2 Peter 1:12-15
Is the writer delivering new information or reminding them of what they already know?
According to the second half of verse 13, what is the reminder intended to do?
Why is it important to reiterate gospel truths?

When we spend time together as a community in small group, sunday school class or around tables and in homes we have intimate relationships that allow us the ability to speak life giving words into tough situations. The things that seem so cliche coming from a stranger carry a different meaning with those we "do life" with. They have the ability to anchor us in the truth that we already know.

While I cannot abide for your or your for me we can encourage and champion one another to stay the course. Stay firmly rooted in the life giving words of the scriptures and the communities in which we invest in and invest in us. Commit to put that fear or whatever is getting in your way and sharing these truths with others on a daily basis.

Close Your Bible
This is exactly as it sounds. Sometimes we can spend so much time in the word and in prayer to prepare us to go out and do good things that we miss what is going on around us. Have you ever been so busy doing things and sometimes even church related things that you missed a person in need or an obvious opportunity to help? The writer of the bible study said that once she missed an entire season of one of her close friends being sick because she spent so much time reading, writing and praying. Granted she does that for a job but it is a lesson for all of us and the overall big picture applies. I want to be involved in church and so many other things but I also want to leave a little room for the Holy Spirit to lead me as well. That requires some time in my schedule each week for where ever he leads and a willingness to just go and live out the scriptures I love so much.

Sometimes we are just more comfortable in the pages of scripture where we do not have to make ourselves vulnerable to anyone or anything. Sometimes when you offer help it may be turned down and maybe when you listen you will be burdened with others problems. We hurt and rejoice together so that feeling you have is how it is supposed to be. That is living in deep community with people. It is real and it is not always pretty but what is beautiful is the picture it paints of us going pulling up beside one another to listen, love, serve and commune in whatever that looks like. That is living our faith out loud except sometimes we don't even speak a word for the point to come across loud and clear.

Open Your Bible Week 5- Part 4 (Last Installment)

If you have been following along great! If not you may want to check out the other 3 parts that go along with this 4 part series on abiding. Today as we wrap up we will be looking at how abiding in truth makes us new and wrapping it up with a few words again as we end each section with on returning in prayer. The authors of this study will continue to drive this point home.

The study this week begins by saying once we approach, engage and apply truth it its time to set a pace. It is time to make God's word no longer "what we do" but "who we are." Last time we looked at Mary of Bethany and we learn from her interactions with Jesus that there is such a thing as active stillness. That means going to where ever Jesus is and knowing that we need that relationship more than we need anything else. In that hoping and waiting our spirit is refreshed. So how does renewal com from that and what about it makes us new?

Open your bible to John 15:1-4
What happens to branches that do not produce fruit?
What happens to every branch that produces fruit?
Circle the word every above. Does that make you uncomfortable?

What are we talking about here? We are talking about pruning. Don't we prune even the things that are growing well? Even if just a snip here and there. We do because it will make it grow even better. It will be a better producer.

"The vine dresser does not leave any branch untouched, but if we are abiding, He renews us. He lovingly and expertly pares us back so that we will be even more fruitful.

Open your bible to Isaiah 5:1-6
Read through the passage called Song of the Vineyard and think on these questions.
Who is the owner?
Who does the vineyard represent?
When his well kept vineyard doesn't produce what does the owner do?

Abiding in truth transforms us-it makes us new creations. (2 Cor 5:17) Pruning isn't always removing good for better or bad for good. Rather in any case pruning is an act of preservation.

The authors ask you to read the following passages and mediate on them:
John 16:33- What 2 promises does Jesus make?
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 underlining and circling the promises

Finally, we always end with prayer. It is not surprise. It is one of the easiest ways for us to commune with our Father but one that so often just easily gets put off to the side. Abiding in prayer just simply means returning.... returning daily no matter what the circumstances look like in your life. God does not care about what you have or have not done he cares for YOU. He wants YOU. He pursues YOU.

David is described as a man after God's own heart not because he lived a perfect life but because he RETURNED. Even when the chips were down and the circumstances were bleak for him. He returned in prayer. He came daily to abide in prayer. For all the things he did that were not so great he got one of the most important things in this life we live right. Prayer is one of the keys to living out a daily walk in relationship to our Father.

Friday Fast & Easy Meals- American

One of the easiest things in the world to fix is a sloppy joe. Kids love it and adults for the most part love it but that stuff in the can just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I am FAR FAR from perfect but when I see an opportunity for an easy swap to something homemade as far as a sauce or spice is concerned I take it. Any little bit of pre processed stuff you can cut out is great and again it is an EASY one which is the most important thing to remember.

I found this recipe on Gracious Pantry. It is a newer go to site for me. I did not use the recipe exactly as it is but I will post the modifications I made and the original recipe and you can play with it and see what you think! Serve this up with a salad and a sweet potato on a whole wheat bun and dinner is served! Link to the recipe is right below. 

Sloppy Joes

***The changes I made were that I did not have organic ketchup on hand. However, I do buy the Heinz simply. If you read the ingredients it only has a few things in there. Also, my husband despises green peppers and in general is not a big fan of peppers in dishes at all so I just left it off all together. On the spice portion it has a full tablespoon for each listed. I did not do quite a FULL tablespoon. I did about a half of each and then mixed and taste tested. I added a tad bit more but not the full tbsp recommended. You can do however you choose though. Follow the recipe exact and make changes next time if needed or take the modifications. It is rare that I ever just take and follow a recipe as it is but you may always follow one. No right or wrong way to approach this one. The taste is excellent and you won't miss the manwich can. 

Open Your Bible Week 5- Part 3

Abiding means remaining in truth. Remaining in HIM is a way of life. We are not to be behind or in front of but IN HIM. Just saying that is like a drop the mic moment. It is so true and it is the way we are meant to live. Fully invested in remaining in HIM. What does that look like and what does that even mean? Let's see what this week's study has in store.

When we go to put this into practical application for our lives it may be a bit difficult to even picture or put a finger on what remaining is because it is so opposite of how we live our lives most of the time. Always on the go from one place to another for this and that. Some of us moving frequently to different houses or even different cities. We like to explore and make an adventure out of this life we live. Sometimes we don't even really know what or where to call home because our time is so divided and frantic. Time and life pushes us further forward but Jesus is urging us just to stay a while.

A great way to get an up close look at this concept is to go back to Mary Magdalene. The writer of this bible study says that Mary Magdalene is her favorite remain-er of the bible. Much like the other Mary she clings tight to Jesus and his words. She continually goes after the Lord and holds on to his promise no matter what the situation looks like.

Open your bible to John 20. Read verse 1 and then 11-16 and answer a few questions.
When does this story take place and what was her reaction when she cannot find Jesus?

I got a sense of her being panicked and frantic wouldn't you say with all the weeping going on. I almost can feel for her that pit in her stomach that must have been there just not knowing where Jesus was. HE was genuinely her home base in all the craziness of her life. She remained in him so well that when he wasn't in her line of vision that she panicked. She felt like she wasn't even sure where to go next. She remained in HIM time after time even when things around her changed.

The writer of the study says this:
I wonder if Mary Magdalene would correct me if she knew how often I misread that famous "abide" passage in John 15 as delivering a mandate to fruitfulness, a command to produce. Because if I look at the passage more closely, I see the true command is to remain.

Read John 15:4
The point the author is trying to drive home is that you cannot do anything apart from HIM. When you remain steady in the word and promise for your life in all circumstances you will be fruitful. You will naturally grow and fruit will naturally be produced as a by product of you remaining.

The study provides the following verses below for you to read and copy down. Taking special note of the instructions to stay close to Jesus and what it teaches us about what it looks like to remain.

John 8:31
John 10:27
John 13:35
Colossians 3:1-2

Some of these verses I would read in a few different translations to help you sort it out as far as what you put down for these answers for yourself.

The main point of this week is this. Do WE feel so much like Jesus is our home that when we stray away that we do not know what to do? Or are we just walking around adding in a little here and there but for the most part thinking we have got this whole thing figured out and not even realizing when we are far from home. What are we remaining in? If it's not Jesus then chances are the fruit we are producing is the wrong kind or short lived. Not fruit that will live on forever in the generations to come. Mary Magdalene sought Jesus because HE was her home. Many times when we think of home it is a way of defining who we are and where we came from. It gives other things in our lives meaning and not the other way around.

Jesus Christ is and should be our home in this crazy busy world and in the words of bible is one place we can surely encounter HIM. Remaining in truth does not mean an occasional visit or a bible on a shelf or even 10 bibles on a shelf. IF you are like us we have several around but are we using them? It is life well lived when you return every day to the words that give you life, hope, encouragement, truth that we need to hear. When we faithfully return it helps us to remain in HIS presence.

Friday Fast & Easy Meals-Asian

I love a meal that I can literally throw together with very minimal ingredients and very little effort on a weeknight. Not only is this whole meal beyond easy to put together it is cost effective for even a super large family. It is filling AND it offers variety because you can literally sub in any veggies that sound good to you, are on super sale at one of the local stores or come straight from your own garden which saves you even more!

Quick & Easy Stir Fry

2-3 chicken breasts 

•  Make adjustments depending on how many you need to feed and how large the chicken breasts are. This is for about 4. Two meals that evening and we both have lunch for the next day)

1 1/2 cups of soy sauce

• I use a good bit of the low sodium soy sauce and I think this is one thing you would benefit from buying in bulk. It's super to have on hand and really versatile. 

2 Tablespoons Minced Garlic

2 shakes of ground ginger 

• I do not use fresh. I just use the powder kind.

Take the soy sauce, garlic and ground ginger and mix in a gallon Ziploc baggie. Reserve a few tablespoons of marinade for cooking. Add the chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge but you could marinate longer for even more taste. Once you are ready to cook remove from the bag and cut into bite size pieces and throw into a pan to cook until done. I like to add a splash of olive oil and a little of the juice I reserved from when I mixed the marinade. 

Serve the chicken over brown rice, broccoli florets and steamed carrots. I like to buy frozen veggies. They are so easy to dump in a bowl with 2-3 tablespoons of water and steam. I also cook my rice in the microwave. I just use the wal mart brand brown rice. It could not get easier or quicker to throw it together. When buying broccoli I will throw in to look for a brand or bag that says broccoli FLORETS. If it does not specify you get half florets and half stems. You may like them but we do not love the stems so that is just a side note. 

To top off this dish once I get everything all mixed in the bowl ready to serve I put a few splashes of soy sauce over the top to get some extra flavor on the veggies and rice.

Open Your Bible- Week 5- Part 2

Abiding means resting in truth. This week we will talk about this topic and idea that rest is actually a good thing. I know you just did a double take and are already thinking of things you have to do and just got nervous that I even said the word rest. It is ok. You will be ok.

Have you ever thought about how truly busy we as a culture are? As my kids get older I realize that more and more things keep creeping in and those moments when I thought the days would never end and sometimes did laundry because I was bored while the kids were napping are long behind us and it is a fight to keep some time set aside to stop for a moment. Oddly enough sometimes I even feel guilty for carving out some sacred moments for us just to have nothing to do. How about you? Do you ever have that guilt over declining an invite or skipping out on being somewhere just so you can have some peace? 

I would argue that for some of us especially in the younger generations we do not even really know what it means to truly rest. That is a scary but very true thought. We think of resting as having all the amenities of tv, phone, computers. ipods etc. You name it and as long as we have that we can "rest". The thing is Jesus had an idea of what rest was to look like and I think our picture of it is way off base. We don't like to think of rest as just being quiet and being alone and stripped down to the basics. That is scary. What happens in your mind when things are quiet and still? Do you have a hard time quieting those thoughts of you being lazy and unproductive? 

This portion of the devotional brought up the idea that maybe we have a hard time resting in God's truth because it would mean in large part forfeiting OUR plans. We do not want to be so stilled that we hear what God is speaking into our hearts that would derail where we are headed. That we are too busy and too overworked and striving too hard. Resting means handing the reins over and losing my control. That is what a a lot of it boils down to. We think that we have the ultimate control over our schedules and lose sight of the fact that we have a creator that has a plan and a really good one at that if we will just listen. It's just hard to listen if we can't be still. 

Open your bible to Luke 10:38-42 and read. Do you see some resemblances to your life? Which one are you....Mary or Martha?

See what Jesus has to say to Martha in verses 41-42. That verse puts me straight in my place and makes me pay attention. 

It isn't that Martha was doing anything bad. In fact the things she did were good and fine but that doesn't change that there was something better that she could have been doing. Sitting and listening to Jesus should have taken priority. It is what was BEST at the moment. We all have those spaces in our lives where we could stand to lay down something that is good for something better or best. 

An excerpt from the book:

Andrew Murray, a prolific  minister in South Africa in the 19th century, wrote an entire book about abiding. In it he says this: "Ye are the branches-You need be nothing more. You need not for one single moment of the day take on the responsibility of the vine. You need not leave the place of entire dependence and unbounded confidence."

What speaks to you from this quote? Does it reinforce the idea that REST is important and crucial to abiding? As we wrap up this week I want to throw some challenges out there that we all have places and spaces to improve in this area. Take one area where you just really have a hard time letting go and instead of doing that each day take 5-10 minutes of that time and just sit on your couch or on your porch or wherever you feel at peace and just pray. Ask God to show you his will for your life. To direct you and to give you peace and guidance for decisions you have made or ones that need to be made soon. 

I love this song Breathe by Jonny Diaz . Take a listen to the words. It nails what we are talking about and really resonates with me. I think if you just click the link it will take you to the you tube video. 

https://youtu.be/hnjeMwxFuBA

Step Outside...Your Comfort Zone

It is a beautiful day and I want to encourage you to go outside and enjoy this day in some way or another. While you are at it I also encourage you to step outside that comfort zone you have created for yourself physically and mentally. It's ok! We all do this and I think it is great to establish boundaries and know where we best flourish and function on a daily basis but I also know that sometimes it is good to step outside those boundaries. You may discover a whole new world of something you are good at or have a passion for. The point is that if you never try you will never know!

It can be scary and intimidating and if we can choose comfortable and familiar it is just easier right? But is it the best? Sometimes we have to step outside of something we know is good to find something that may be better for us! The thing with stepping out is that sometimes we will fail and sometimes it just won't be our thing but at least we know. Then next time we go in a different direction and try again. Pick yourself up and dust off and keep moving forward.

If we let fear rule we stay where we are and if we stay where we are we may miss out on some of the biggest blessings. For me I am putting this into practice in a big way and I am just waiting. Waiting to see how it all pans out. Is it scary?? You bet!! Do I want to fail?? No! If I do not try though I will always wonder what if I had done that. Life is too short for that kind of thinking.

Next Saturday I will be spending the day with a few hundred other women getting certified to teach REFIT! Seriously, me standing in front of a room full of people leading and encouraging them to reach new goals. That scares the pants off of me but I am doing it. I feel that nudge and that calling to share this with others. I have a message that needs to be sent out and this is one way to do it. God is leading and I am following HIM right out of my comfortable spot. Who knows if I will be any good. Who knows how far or big this will get. I just don't know what plans he has for this little dream of mine but I know he has plans so I go.

Where are you going to go today, this week or this year? What ways do you plan to step outside your comfort zone. Whether it's something big or as small as just taking a hike in the woods when you hate all things nature or go on a walk and you haven't worked out in a year. Do something that challenges you today. Whatever that looks like. Start somewhere and take a friend along. Share the journey. Have a blessed Saturday!

Friday Fast & Easy Meals-Italian

I try really hard to make sure the recipes I post are ones that I have made myself. That they are lightened up, easy AND still taste good. I just want to reiterate I do not follow the eliminating food groups or just counting fat or carbs or anything like that. I try and eat cleaner and follow probably as of right now a 60/40 split with the goal to eventually get to about a 80/20 split between balancing clean eating and enjoying life a little too. The majority of my not clean eating now comes from snacks that I still buy pre made and could really be making at home but just haven't worked up to it yet and gotten on a weekly routine of making snacks for the week. I said that to say for me I eat pasta from time to time but everyone is different so do what works for you. However, if pasta is on your ok to eat list then you will want to add this recipe to your list.

Most recipes I find are so overcomplicated with so I end up omitting a lot of things and specialty ingredients because nobody has time for that on a weeknight. This one is simple from the get go and I loved it just as it was. I love Alfredo every once in a while and this a great way to have a lighter version but still feel like you are indulging. If you know what Ricatoni's is then you know another great way to up the ante with this recipe would be to copycat their version and add sauteed mushrooms and peas tossed with a tiny bit of olive oil and if you need some meat added into the dish like my husband does add a little grilled chicken chopped over the top. I also substitute whole wheat fettuccine.

It does not happen often but I actually have made this recipe more than once and have not changed any of the ingredients. It is a solid choice for Alfredo stand in and I hope that you enjoy it as well. Any time I just use a recipe exactly as it is I will just add the link for it at the bottom so proper credit is given where it is due!

Add a big garden salad and you can eliminate the need for bread as a side. I know it is tempting but that is a slippery slope for me. I love bread so if I make it I will end up eating ten times more than I need to. If you are like me just skip it and make the big salad and enjoy!!

http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/skinny-fettuccine-alfredo-recipe/

Open Your Bible- Week 5-Part 1

Last week I wrote a devotional to follow up to a sermon I was trying to make more applicable to myself and help me put words into action. The word that came to my heart was abide. It is not a word I use on a regular basis but it seemed to fit so well so I used it and centered the devotional around it last week.

Fast forward to this Sunday morning in class. One of the first questions that was asked was what does it mean to abide in Christ. I thought ok well that is weird but we will roll with it. I spoke up with a few comments on the word and class went on. Our text in class was John 15. If you have not read John 15 you should. One guess on the most frequently used word.........

I get home yesterday afternoon and I open to Week 5 of Open Your Bible and the topic is ABIDE in Truth. And the first text referenced was none other than John 15 which is what we talked about all through class. 

If ever there was a message from God that I needed to listen up it would certainly be now. There is no coincidence that I had this word on my heart for a week straight. It just isn't and you will not convince me otherwise. I think that God has plans for this word in my life and I happen to think maybe it is a word for someone else out there tonight too. Maybe you don't even know it but here it is. With that out of the way we will dive in. This is a subject that God has entrusted to me and made apparent that it is super important so we will break this one week of study into 4 weeks and look at 4 ways to abide and let each one sink in individually. This week is introduction.

Week 5- Abide in Truth

When we abide in Jesus there is a deep and intimate knowledge. We have an actual relationship with HIM. We learn to lean in and trust him, walk with him daily and lean on his ways and wisdom and not our own. In the middle of trusting, leaning and walking we are transformed. There is this connection that you can feel deep down. One of my favorite lines straight from the study book is this..."When we abide in Jesus, we become more like him." Talk about goals....that is one I would like to aim for. 

Tonight we are just talking about abiding in general and there is no better place to start than John. So open your bible to John 15:1-8 and read the verses. Make notes and make some observations. Some observations they asked you to look at in the study guide are below:

What two verbs does Jesus use repeatedly? Compare the two words in multiple translations?

Read verse 4 and copy down the exact command.

Read verse 5 and write down the promise Jesus spoke if we obey his command?

I know you may be thinking that if you are a long time Christian especially that you have heard this lesson over and over. Let me tell you that I have NEVER read it and let it soak in the way these ladies presented it. I beg you to take another look at it and travel this road with us because there are some words in store for us all. 

If the verbs you picked above (or some version of them) were producing and abiding then you would be correct. Which comes first? Good question except that we know the answer.....have you ever tried to reverse the process? Has it ever been more important to you to produce fruit than to abide in the vine? The answer to me for these few questions is a resounding YES. I have tried to reverse the process and sometimes I do want to just have something produced without the time and effort that is required to put into the process. I get so wrapped up in the have to have it now mentality that we are all surrounded by all day every day. I forget that sometimes the very best things are ones that I have to wait for. I want so badly to slow down and trust God enough to let him handle all my circumstances and not just the ones I see fit to turn over to him. 

What does it mean to you to abide and what does it look like? The words that came to the minds of the authors of this study were rest, remain, renew and return. 

Abiding means Rest- means we need to actually be still long enough in this crazy jam packed schedule filled world we have created to just let everything fall silent and know that God knows best for us and we do not. Maybe if we quiet our agenda and put it on hold long enough for God to get a foothold we wouldn't feel so fretful over schedules and plans because we know we paused long enough to feel like God had a say or a hand in what direction we are headed.

Abiding means Remaining-the best way to have a relationship with Jesus is to stay close. No matter what we are going through whether it be a good time or a bad time. We need to remain close to the heart of Jesus in all seasons of our lives. 

Abiding means Renewing-every time we come back we are refreshed. His word is made new within us each and every time we allow time for it in our lives.

Abiding means Returning-Sometimes we have experiences or seasons that we don't think make us very flattering or a good candidate for what God has to offer. Guess what? It makes us even more desirable when we choose to return time and time again and lay our good and our bad at the feet of Jesus and thank him for it all because it is shaping us into the person he wants us to be. 

This week the goal is to just pray about this word. Pray that God will show you what he wants it to look like in your life and pray that a desire is sparked to walk through these next 4 weeks learning to abide in HIM.

I took a page in my study guide and a page in my prayer journal this week and wrote in big letters what is below. I look at it a few times a day and am just spending the week meditating on that. I hope you will get a spot set aside and do the same. 

Abide

Rest

Remain

Renew

Return

Friday Fast & Easy Meals-Asian

This one is a favorite of mine! I love the flavors and it seems like a fancier meal but it really is not so don't get scared away by lettuce wraps.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

1 lb ground turkey
1/2 onion chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
3 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp ground ginger
lettuce

****The rice wine vinegar and sesame oil is found near the asian/chinese section at wall mart. These will last long time and you will use them for more dishes than you realize once you have them on hand.

Brown the turkey and onion together in the olive oil. Once browned add all the other ingredients and mix well. When ready scoop into the lettuce leaves that you have washed and add a dash of siracha sauce on top for some kick if you want. Sirachca is a another item that comes in really handy and it does not take much at all to add just a little bit of a kick.

This is great as an appetizer if alone but if you plan to use as a main meal then my suggestion is to serve it with brown rice and add a dash of soy sauce in the rice. Then think about this super side listed below! Simple and cheap addition to round of the meal.

Asian Roasted Carrots and Broccoli

1 bag frozen broccoli
1/2 small bag of baby carrots
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp rice wine vinegar
3 cloves garlic
1 tbsp olive oil

In a pan add broccoli, carrots, olive oil and garlic along with a few splashes of water and steam the veggies on low. Once they are soft enough to your liking mix in soy sauce and rice wine vinegar and toss around. Let simmer for a few minutes on low to soak up the flavor. You would also sub in zucchini which everyone has a ton of when garden time rolls around. And again if you want a dash of Siracha to bring a kick then add that in as well but remember less is more. It can be potent.

Trust God

The words that Frank used in his lesson Sunday have just rolled around in my head and my heart over the past few days. I know his words made an impact on many because I have seen many others post on this subject. His lesson was based around an intention he set for himself this year and really challenged us as a congregation to set for ourselves as well.

Trust God No Matter What, No Matter What Trust God

These words kind of flow off the tongue and sound so beautiful but as most of us know we live in the real world and the real world is messy and tough and just downright painful sometimes and for some of us most of the time if we are being totally honest. He made it clear that he understood that and he wasn't saying this as a person who hasn't seen and been privy to many of those moments where trust gets tested and the times get real. He gets it and we as humans get it don't we? Those hard moments that you get a lump in your throat and think....THIS is what I am trusting God for? THIS moment right here? How, why, what? Even as I type this I can think of those moments in my life and they all to quickly come rushing back as I get tears in my eyes. I bet you have some that come to the surface as well. Through the tears though I know that those times I chose to trust God in he never failed me. He gave me what I needed daily to get through them and to help me grow. He is so good and if we want a sure bet to place our trust in God is it. He will never fail us.

I guess the intent of this post is not to dwell on those times that the trust part came into play so much as to see what it would look like or take for us to live every day with that mantra. This looks at it from a slightly different angle that he took Sunday.

So from there we are left with what next? What is it going to look like to TRUST GOD in a no matter what kind of way? What is it that he is asking you and me to TRUST him for today? In the past? We have plenty of scriptures that tell us where we need to place our trust and why. We know them and for most of us those are written on our hearts but when times get tough we still have a tough time relating the scripture to the real life question we have, decision that needs to be made or turmoil that we are going through at the time.

Today I came across a word that I felt like summed up what he is asking us to do in one word and kind of connected the dots for me. That word is ABIDE. If I had done that thing at the beginning of the year where I picked a word I think this would have been my word. Even just saying it gives me a peace. Abide basically means to remain. So when we abide in Christ we remain in him. I mean that sounds easy enough but what does that require from us? It requires an authentic relationship with Christ. This looks like someone who is constantly placing his or her trust in God by talking daily to him through prayer and just casual talking to God like you do your friends. I know that it may seem weird or odd (especially) if you are in the car but just talk to him. Sometimes I talk out loud with my kids in the car and they get so confused asking who I am talking to. I just say mommy is praying and talking to God. They don't get it now really but one day they will appreciate those moments....hopefully. God is our ultimate advisor and although you won't get an audible answer I guarantee if you look around you will get answers to what you are looking for. Through a person who says exactly what you need to hear to just a little God-wink is what I call them. God has so many ways of communicating things to us if our hearts are open and we are abiding in him.

One article that I read on this subject said its like being inseparable when you are abiding in Christ and that you are a visible extension of HIM. Think of your best friend in the world and how you can't wait to text that person when something good happens and likewise when something bad happens. They are almost an extension of you in a way. If someone wants to know something and they know you are that good of friends they may ask you something about the other person and usually you can answer that question. Because you know each other so well! That is the kind of relationship I believe it takes to TRUST GOD the way that we were challenged to trust. God has to be our default in all times and all situations not just the tough ones. When we are happy, when we are sad and all the times in between. So when those moments come that are tough to swallow and tough to bear we literally have Christ shining through us because we are so strong in the spirit and we have no doubt that we are trusting him wholeheartedly and that trust will bring us closer to him and his will for our lives.

That is powerful stuff to me and I pray to you too. I wax and wane like anyone else but this week has inspired me to go back to my prayer journal. Every so often I take a break from it thinking I have this whole relationship with God thing nailed which is absolutely the most absurd but I am human and sometimes we think we have just "got this down". The truth is I don't and we don't. We have to choose to abide in Him every day of our lives. When he is in us (really in us) those decisions we pray over, those answers we so desperately seek and those quiet moments that hurt so much will all be satisfied. Our needs will be met and we will so clearly hear in our hearts that it is going to be ok and all we have to do is

Trust God No Matter What, No Matter What Trust God

Today as I think about all my friends who are going through hard things I just challenge you like I challenged myself this week to find what way works for you to help you ABIDE in HIM. For you it may not be a prayer journal but seek out what speaks to you and engages you. It may be post it notes of scriptures all around your house that when you see them it prompts a conversation. It may be a physical prayer partner. Someone you spend real time in prayer with every week. Whatever it is....I urge you to seek out what will bring you to this abiding type relationship with Christ and ultimately lead to the trust we want to have and Christ so lovingly wants for us. 

Next Best Step

I woke up this morning with this phrase on my mind. It pertains to your fitness and your every day life in general. I think so many times we get bogged down when trying to decide where to start and when to start and looking for the perfect moment. The best advice that I can give you is to just take the next BEST step. Notice I did not say the absolute perfect step but the best possible step for you in whatever situation. No day is going to be ideal for starting something new or fitting in your fitness time but you just asses the day and what you have available and see what your next move is keeping your ultimate goals in the back of your mind.

The journey looks different for all of us and I think we just tend to think that we need to know every step and what is coming next. You know what.....we have to just have a little more faith (I am talking to all of us myself included). To know that all we have to do is just take the next step and then once we take that one look around and see where the next one should be takes some pressure off of us. We are just going to baby step our way through the process and before we know it we look around and there is a whole lot of good things happening.

It makes the changes seem more manageable when you are just taking them bit by bit and piece by piece. If you just think about the next best move or next best thing to work on or the next goal you have for yourself you will be less likely to get discouraged and you will be more likely to start and try something new!

For example if you do not do any physical activity currently the next best step for you may be walking to the mailbox 2 times today. Out and back that many times would be more than you did yesterday. It may also be that you are not going to have that 2nd or 3rd coke you usually have each day. If you have been walking it may be that you pass 3 more mailboxes before you turn around instead of saying I plan to add another whole mile. Just take the next reasonable smallish leap and just do something for yourself and your health. Small decisions made with some intention will lead to big results that will stick around and be with you for the long run. Seize the day today and decide what next step you plan to take on your journey to wellness.

Friday Fast & Easy Meals-Fish

As promised here are some great tips for incorporating fish into your meal plans and making it pretty affordable and super easy! The first thing you have to remember when you are going to use fish is that to use it on a consistent basis you are not going to be going to the seafood counter and buying fresh every time. There is nothing wrong with that it will just get expensive really fast and will not be something that is attainable or sustainable for everyone's budget. I used to think naively that was the only way you could buy fish.

The first tip is to buy FROZEN. Do your research on what brands are best but also just use your best judgment. If you read and believe everything out there you would never put anything in your mouth so just use a filter with what you read. I like to buy at publix when they have a BOGO on their frozen fish. You just have to look at the ad each week to check and see. Another option and probably the most reasonable instead of sale watching is to go to Costco or Sams once a month and buy in bulk. We like to keep salmon and usually a white fish on hand like Mahi or something like that. It will usually be packaged individual so you would only pull out what you need for each meal. For us we will typically pull out 3 because our kids do not eat it and it gives us each a piece for dinner and then one left over for Trey's lunch the next day. Stretch it out by only having once piece each and filling in with nutritious sides.

When cooking fish I have learned that really less is more as far as flavor and prep work. Pull it out the morning of that you plan to use it and let it defrost in the fridge and then in the sink in cool water after you get home. When you take it out of the package just gently pat it dry and then think about what flavors you like and go from there. A dab of olive oil is always a start and then you can just go super simple with salt and pepper. You can do olive oil with a few shakes of lemon pepper seasoning. You can do olive oil & just lemon juice or olive oil and italian seasoning. The possibilities are endless but whatever you do just don't go overboard with doctoring it. For salmon I also like to add a fresh green pesto mix that is in the cold section over near the hummus at Wal Mart. Garlic and olive oil work well. Olive oil and Lawry's seasoning also works well. Really I promise that you can do this. Just think about what flavors you like as far as herbs and spices and start with a base of the olive oil and then add one to two things max to flavor it and just experiment.

It is best to start in a hot oven around 400 and then once it cooks for 10 minutes or so to turn the oven off and about the time it cools off it will be cooked to perfection. You are really looking for the fish to be flaky and opaque. I have learned again with the actual oven time that less is more. It needs to be done but not overdone. Take into consideration if your oven cooks fast or slow and add 5 minutes or so if its slow and also take into consideration how thick the piece of meat is. It is a good idea to put down a piece of foil and then spray with cooking oil and put the fish on that to make clean up easy and ensure that it does not stick and become a jumbled up mess.

I know that there is not one specific recipe in here but I wanted to introduce the idea that fish can be more than just an occasional item on the menu. It is great for you and it is SO SO easy and you can serve up with a baked sweet potato and steamed broccoli (that you pull out of the freezer) or ANY veggie that you have in the freezer and you have literally the easiest dinner EVER. Just some food for thought!

Equipment Top Picks

Getting started with working out does not mean that you need a ton of fancy workout equipment. Having said that there are a few things that I think are beneficial if you want to get into doing some easy on your body toning. If you are going to spend money my top three suggestions are:

stability ball
1 set ot 3 lb weights (for total beginner) and 1 set of 5 lb weights (for someone who is beginning again)
yoga mat

Stability Ball
These are great for getting in work without putting a ton of stress on your body with getting up and down off the floor. You can do all exercises just as you would on the floor for abs, arms, back and you can even do modified push ups on the ball that are a bit easier on your wrists. If you search youtube there are plenty of videos that are all about stability ball workouts.

Weights
A small set of weights is perfect for getting in some toning and getting used to having weights in your hands. You can do high number of reps and get good with your form with light weights. There are so many beginner videos for hand weights that you will have plenty to choose from. If you have never used weights take this time to watch yourself in the mirror as you do the exercises to see your form. As you progress to heavier the form is going to become KEY! Not only so you work the correct muscle groups but so you do not injure yourself.

Yoga Mat
Do not get scared! I do not love yoga although it would probably be beneficial for me. My uses for a yoga mat are more simple. If you are doing a stability ball workout they help anchor the ball so you do not slip around as much. If you are doing exercise on the floor instead of a ball it stays in place better than just using a towel.


I am sure you are wondering how much you are going to have to spend and I am happy to say it won't be much! We were in 5 below last weekend and I noticed that they have weights! Anywhere from 115 lbs and they have smaller kettle bells as well. The prices are perfect for the beginner just needing something basic. The smaller weights were only a few dollars a piece compared to Target or Wal Mart where even smaller ones are $5-$8 each. As you move into heavier weights places like a Sports Re Sell store is the way to go. You typically pay a flat rate per pound. Still better than purchasing brand new.

I also highly recommend places like TJ Maxx. You can get stability balls and yoga mats for around $9.99 typically. Just keep it watched and they will usually have them in stock.

Monday Devotional-Open Your Bible Week 4

We have come to the more practical application of the study and this is where the rubber really meets the road. We are applying what we know to be true in our heads and our hearts. Connecting the dots here and putting all of this goodness into action is going to require me and you to put into this process maybe a little more than you have up to this point but I promise that it will be worth it!

What do you think of when you are asked to “apply” something?  What does it look like to take the scriptures and put them into practice? These are a few things to think on as you go through the steps listed below for applying scripture.

This weeks study opens by looking at 2 Peter 1:3-8 and I feel like it sets the stage for the fact that although we have all we need and that God is already at work within us that we should still make efforts to supplement our faith is the wording the NASB used.

When applying truth you need to look at 4 ways to do so:

1.     Appropriately

2.     Responsibly

3.     Permanently

4.     Prayerfully (all roads lead to prayer and drive this point home in this study)

What does it look like to apply truth Appropriately?

Appropriately means that when we open our bibles to read scriptures or a book of the bible that we go into the reading asking what does this mean. Not what does this mean for me or to me but what does this passage say about God. Sometimes we approach reading as a one stop shop. We walk up to the bible and open it and then decide what encouragement we need for the day and let that be our take away. We do not want to get too bogged down in details and we do not want to read too much into it. We will never be able to really “see” where God is in the scriptures if we don’t ever consider him. Just let that sink in for a moment.

Some tips to make sure you are appropriately applying scripture are to always read the few verses before and the few verses after. Don’t just take 1 verse and pull it out and say aha I found what I needed today.

To keep it all in context you should investigate and this is where that digging deeper comes into the scenario. See who is speaking. Who are they speaking to? What is happening in this text? Any major events or main people? You can also look at different translations of the bible on your phone or pick up a couple of different translations to study from. You can pick a more literal translation and a more thought for thought translation that puts it into more simplified terms and words.

What does it look like to apply truth Responsibly?

This section gets a little tricky and even a little tough at the beginning because we all KNOW how the scripture is intended to be used but I would be willing to bet many of us myself included at some point have used it wrongly and wielded its power to tear someone down over a poor choice of words they used, a bad decision they made or feelings they hurt that we feel we need to make restitution for. We are humans and we do make mistakes so we have to acknowledge that icky part of it. The good news is the scriptures are so much bigger than our mistakes and misuse if we are willing to open our bible and look for God instead of a way to win an argument for ourselves or someone else.

If you remember the last week we touched on treating the bible and the scriptures with reverence. The words hold a lot of power and we have to make sure we are using them for good and for what they are intended instead of personal use.

Open your bible to Ephesians 4:1-6 and read about what Paul valued and count how many times he uses the word ONE. Do you see what he was getting at? We are not to be in a community of believers and be of the attitude that it is every man for himself. It is actually the exact opposite. It is very much EVERY man for EACH other yesterday, today and tomorrow. That will always be our goal is take others along with us.

Open your bible to Romans 14:19 and see what followers of Jesus are called to pursue? If you walked away with a PEACE written in big letters with circles around it then you would be correct!! We are to pursue peace and we are to build one another up. Our one goal is to share the gospel and its not a very good story to share if all people see is fighting to keep one another down.

Open your bible to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and see that it is specifically laid out for us when it comes to how we are to be using scripture and just a hint it is probably not how you and I use it the most so take note and let this sink in so tomorrow can be a new day for us both. We are to use the scriptures for teaching, training and reproof (not injuring but building). When we focus on these uses we all become a little kinder and a little less US focused and a little more Jesus focused since after all he is the life, the way and the truth….not myself.  

What does it look like to apply truth Permanently?

This section shed some light on a story that I have heard a million times and it just never hit me the same as it hit me today as I was preparing to do the write up. 

Open Your Bible and read (really read like you do not know it) Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus in the wilderness open and vulnerable without much defense or so you think. What did he have to defeat Satan? Nailed it! He had scripture after scripture as a defense to block every temptation that was hurled his way. He straight up scriptured Satan right out of there. Do you like how I made that word up? Seriously, this should be so encouraging right now that you jump up and down because the words that Jesus used are words we have access to as well. We too can memorize these scriptures. Commit them to heart and commit them to memory and when we need them and come up against whatever the adversary looks like that day we just need to close our eyes and start letting the words speak for us. We need no other defense.  These words have the same power for us as for Jesus!

Open Your Bible and Read and make notes on the following scriptures dealing with God’s word on our hearts

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Deuteronomy 11:18

Joshua 1:8-9

Psalm 119:9-11

Proverbs 2:1-5

Memorizing scripture is a great way to know God’s word permanently.  Below are some ways to start committing scriptures to memory.

·      Write it over and over until you have it memorized.

·      Get a post it and jot down a few verses and stick it in front of the sink in the bathroom or kitchen sink and keep it there till its memorized and then replace it with new ones.

·      Save it as a lock screen on your phone because we all know we look at our phones a thousand times a day.

What does it look like to apply truth Prayerfully?

This is something that we touch on every week as we close out the session and if it has not become clear to you yet then it will. I think the authors added this in because they know our nature to forget.

This week and every week in this section we are really just talking about the fact that we need to be praying in a way that we are saying we want God’s will to be done.  We want his words to be in us and we want them to be lived out through us. We are asking the Holy Spirit to help us in this and come along side us in this study and to guide us and give us wisdom.

I hope you enjoy this week because I sure did! Good stuff in there. As always if you have any questions or want to get the actual study book I can get you the info. If you have any prayer requests I would love to pray with you so feel free to message me.