28Sep

Your Will, Your Way

“You can go your own way, go your own way”, sings Fleetwood Mac. The song rings in my mind as it was used a few years back in National Car Rental TV ads.

 

Yup. That’s what this world tells you.

 

Go your own way.

Do what makes you feel happy.

The world is your oyster.

WYW (Whatever You Want)

 

As a disciple of Christ I want His will to be done in my life. Yes to YOUR will Lord is a consistent prayer of mine. I’ve recently come to discover hidden in the dark recesses of my heart, in a tucked away-cobwebbed corner was a sign that said, “YOUR WILL, My Way”. Those two avenues travel in completely different directions. To bring myself into alignment, I have repented. Jesus has shed light in that dark corner and His light has permeated my ME-ness.

 

You know ME-ness.

 

What I want. What I don’t want. What I’m willing to do. How much I’m willing tolerate. What won’t cause me too much inconvenience. What works within my schedule.

 

I. I. I.

 

Me. Me. Me.

 

Can you relate? Ever suffer from of case of ME-ness?

 

Enough of self. Self take a knee and bow down to GREATER is HE!

 

With clean hands and a pure heart, I say yes Your Will and Your Way.

 

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10

 

Then ME crept up a little again. And a second time, I asked if I could have my way.

 

Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying,

“O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it,

Your will be done.”

Matthew 26:42

 

He gently answered, [bctt tweet=”“Instead of trying to pray it away, pray that MY grace will carry you through”.”]

 

So again I had to declare, YOUR WILL, YOUR WAY. My best-laid plan of my way, gives way to the Lord directing my steps

 

 

A man’s heart plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

 

Plans with my husband, plans for my children, plans for my ministry, plans for this blog, plans for my future…

 

There are many plans in a man’s heart,

Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21

 

I really did think I was being obedient to walking out His will. And while that was mostly true, I really desired for His will to be deliver in the way I wanted. I was committed to His will but I wanted it to come dressed in wrapping paper and a bow of my choosing. But what if the gift comes wrapped in newspaper or brown paper bags. Will we receive it or reject it?

 

Yes to YOUR WILL and Yes to YOUR WAY.  While the light that permeated my ME-ness was piercing, sharp and cut right through me like a laser, I give thanks that He loves me enough to expose my hidden me so that HE is free to BE.

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with others sharing the Good News Purposeful Faith

25Sep

Vegetable Fried Rice

Leftover Rice? CHECK.

 

Odds and Ends of Veggies? CHECK.

 

Looks like you’ve got most of what you need to quickly prepare a batch of this tasty fried rice. So save yourself a trip to the Chinese Takeout and make your own at home.  Pair this with my Broccoli In Garlic Sauce for a satisfying meal.

 

Vegetable Fried Rice

 

3 cups cooked brown rice

2 TBSP grapeseed oil

2 Tbsp sesame oil

1 onion peeled and diced

1 bunch scallions chopped

1 cup peas and chopped carrots (lightly steamed)

1/2 cup broccoli chopped

1 cup cabbage thinly sliced

2-3 TBSP soy sauce

1 TBSP ginger grated

 

Preheat a large skillet or wok to medium heat. Add grapeseed oil in the wok. Add onion and stir-fry 5 minutes. Add cabbage stir fry 3 minutes. Add broccoli, peas and carrots and stir-fry 2 minutes more. Add the ginger. Add sesame oil then the rice. Next add the soy sauce. Stir to combine flavors. Top with scallion and serve.

 

This recipe is super flexible.  Add whatever veggie you have on hand.  You can also add any protein you desire.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with Plant-Based Potluck Party

23Sep

Scriptures For LIVING FULLY Mind, Body & Spirit

Indeed it is God’s desire that you be in health and prosper even as your soul prospers. Jesus came that YOU may have LIFE and have it more abundantly and you experience the abundant life when you properly nourish your mind, your body and your spirit.

 

What are you to do when?

 

~Toxic thoughts run rampant

~You eat one slice of cake and reach for a second

~You forego your exercise

~You stay up late on social media knowing you have to wake up early

~You spend 2 hours watching TV but only 5 minutes on devotions

 

Yup, those days will occur. But we can take a proactive approach. We can arm ourselves so those days are the exception and not the rule. And we arm ourselves with the Word.

 

We STAND ON TRUTH.

 

When your flesh wants to pull you in that direction, meditate on these verses to stay firmly rooted and planted in Him. We hide these words in our hearts so that we don’t sin against Him. So dive in and feast on this nourishing sustenance. Here are some of my favorite scriptures for living fully mind, body & spirit.

 

MIND

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

 

Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.

Psalm 26:2

 

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26:3

 

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

Mark 12:30

 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2:5

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

 

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

Deuteronomy 30:19

 

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

 

 

BODY

 

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

 

“And God said, behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.”

Genesis 1:29

 

He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26

 

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11

 

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

 

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

3 John 1:2

 

Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.

Jeremiah 33:6

 

 

SPIRIT

 

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4:23-24

 

So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:14-16

 

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

 

 The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:17

 

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Luke 2:40

 

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:5-6

 

 

What are some of your favorite scriptures for living FULLY mind, body and spirit?

 

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Grace & Truth Dance With Jesus

21Sep

God’s Glory

From the Dictionary of Theology:

In the Old Testament the word for “glory” is the Hebrew word   כָּבֹוד “kabowd” which carries the idea of heaviness and weight.  In the New Testament the Greek word is δόξα “doxa” which carries the idea of opinion, judgment, estimate, splendor, brightness, etc. It is used to speak of great honor, praise, value, wonder, and splendor. Glory is spoken of in reference to people and God.  Glory is given by God and also is a manifestation of God’s greatness and presence that is awesome to behold.

 

But to really define glory virtually impossible. It’s the sum of WHO God is, WHAT He is and WHAT He does. How can that all be summed up in a neat one-sentence definition?

 

Weigh of Glory

 

Personally, I’ve come to know God’s glory to be the external, present, manifestation of His presence in my life and all around me. For me, it is sensing, seeing and feeling his character and attributes manifested spiritually and physically. God’s glory is the FULL sum of who He is and what He does. When basking in His glory I am completely consumed, feeling as if my heart may nearly burst from being FULL of His love and His light. 

 

God’s glory is The Lord of the Universe putting Himself on display for us to see and experience. And everywhere we look and in everything we do, His glory is evident, if we have eyes to see.

 

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

 

Jesus himself is the express image of God’s glory. He is the sum of God’s character, attributes and actions all wrapped up in human form.

 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

 

As Jesus is the express image of God’s glory, our lives should reflect His glory. As true disciples and followers of Christ we ought to be a tangible representation of His truth, love and grace in all the earth. As He takes us from glory to glory, we in turn ought to give Him more glory. Our demonstrations of praise, worship and love for mankind give Him glory.

 

Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.

1 Chronicles 16:24

 

DSC_0003

 

Oh God that we would have eyes to see and ears to hear; to immerse ourselves in the weight of your glory. For it to completely envelope us like a cloak of fog in the UK.

Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting,

and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:34

 

 

DSC_0004

 

Oh Lord that we your people would bask in your glory, that we would be so completely saturated by it. That we would absorb its life sustaining nutrients and that we would then reflect its brilliance.

Arise, shine; For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1

 

Basking in Glory

 

Join me in basking in His glory.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

16Sep

Homemade Body Butter

Your Skin.

 

The largest organ in your body.

 

As it directly interacts with the elements your skin protects, allows you to process sensations and helps regulate your body temperature.

 

Though our skin may seem resilient, it is quite sensitive to light, temperature and what’s applied to it topically. Even our clothing can irritate the skin. So we should take great caution as to what we apply to our largest organ.

 

Most commercial skincare products contain ingredients that are harmful to the skin. When using these products our skin can become dry, scaly, rashy, patchy, and more. Many soaps contain harsh detergents and many lotions contains oils that clog the pores. And what’s put on the skin is absorbed into the skin. While it has to travel through several layers, much of what is applied to the skin does make its way into the bloodstream.

 

Properly nourish your skin by applying natural products to it. I used to purchase expensive body butter from a local company until I learned to whip up my own; though I still purchase soap from them because I believe in what they are doing and want to support local business.

 

Whip up a batch of this all-natural, good for you body butter. Everyone in my household uses this mixture from head to toe; yes in our hair too! Many of the ingredients can be purchased from your natural food store, food co-op or online.

 

Homemade Body Butter

 

1 Pint Raw Shea Butter

½ cup Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

5 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Few Drops of Essential Oil

 

Place all ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Mix on low with a kitchen hand mixer until smooth. Slowly slather all over and WHOOSAH!

 

I use essential oils and fragrance oils from Brambleberry and NOW.

 

For more on skincare, also see the post titled:

GET RID OF IT

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

14Sep

Great Expectations

My big thinking gets roped in by pragmatism.

 

My expectation gets corralled by practicality.

 

My self-doubt squeezes the life out of hope.

 

I know this about myself and I can admit it. I know when and how that seed took root, germinated and grew. Over the years its been fed and watered. A child filled with expectation that wasn’t met, led to an adult who closely guarded herself; shielding herself from the disappointment of being let down yet again. So no expectation became the baseline as a means of self-preservation, albeit a false sense of security.

 

Years ago I heard a woman at church say, [bctt tweet=”“Never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations.””] This simple yet profound statement resonates so deeply with me. Bit by bit God has been chipping away at my limited expectation. Inch by inch, layer by layer, I’m giving way to self to release the power of God at work in me to will and to do for His good pleasure.

 

Let God arise with GREAT EXPECTATIONS!

 

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.

Luke 1:45

 

In her book #BEMORE Author Sandi Krakowski says, “Expectation is something God wove into our very being. The power of expectation is a gift from God. It is hope, the promise, the faith He asked us to place in Him.”

 

My hope in Him believes that:

 

~He will answer my prayers that align with His will

~He will continue to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom

~I will see and experience more of His glory

~Goodness, mercy and favor shall follow me all the days of my life

~Out of my obedience He will prosper me and I will be a good success

 

I’m daring to trust God in places where I’ve never been. I’m asking God to surprise me. I am filled with great expectations.

 

With great expectations:

 

~I see my children having grown in wisdom and in stature

~I see my husband and I walking hand in hand on the beach wearing white linen in our old age

~I see myself inspiring the hearts of women around the globe.

 

What are you waiting in expectation for?

 

Expect greatness.

 

Expect the unexpected.

 

Expect God to surprise you.

 

Expect God to blow your mind.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

Breaking News!!!!!!

When God is trying to cement a truth in your heart, He will confirm His word. Sunday night after I wrote this post, right as I was about to fall asleep I opened the Book #BEMORE. I just happen to be on secret #40 which is LIVE BIG, DREAM BIG. She goes on to express what used to be my reality, “Too often we keep our lives smaller so we won’t be disappointed. We minimize our goals so we are less likely to fail.”
Yup, that was my old way of thinking but not any more.
Then this morning I rose to do my morning devotions and began a book called the 40-Day Surrender Fast by Dr. Celeste Owens. Wouldn’t you know, the title of Day 1 is Expect The Unexpected. 
I am in awe of God and eagerly anticipate with great expectation the wonderous works He’ll perform in my life.
Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News #LifeGivingLinkup Purposeful Faith

09Sep

Health Benefits That Pack A Punch

Warm

 

Peppery

 

Tangy

 

The backbone of any good curry.

 

Used for centuries as a dye.

 

TURMERIC

 

Turmeric, the yellow root with a jab and hook that can knock inflammation right out of the body, is powered by curcumin.

 

Curcumin, the chemical compound that gives turmeric its yellow color, packs a POWER punch.

 

Anti-inflammatory

 

Anti-oxidant

 

Anti-free radical

 

From a boil to a toothache, turmeric has been used for years to treat many conditions.

 

When paired with ginger, turmeric makes beans more easily digestible. When paired with pepper, curcumin’s power is more readily available for the body to use (bioavailability).
 

In studies its been proven to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

 

Studies continue to be conducted to determine its effectiveness in treating diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s.

 

In its fresh root form, it can be hard to find depending on what part of the world you live in. In the US, occasionally Whole Foods carries it. I’ve also seen it in Asian supermarkets.

 

2015-08-31 23.34.19

 

 

I generally take my turmeric in powder form. I purchase organic turmeric powder from my local food co-op. I place the powder in empty capsules or I added the powder to my smoothies. I also cooking Indian food at least once a week and turmeric is in there for sure.

 

[bctt tweet=”Try your hand at this Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie and release turmeric’s power to do its thing.”] These are health benefits that pack a punch.

 

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SMOOTHIE

 

1 Cup Coconut Water

4 Ice Cubes

½ Mango peeled and diced

½ Cup Pineapple

2 Leaves with stem Bok Choy

½ in X ½ in piece Ginger

¼ tsp turmeric  

 

Blend all ingredients in HIGH SPEED blender until smooth.

 

Enjoy!

 

Anti-inflammatory smoothie

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

07Sep

Into The Thick Of It

To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness in and health, to love, cherish and to honor til death do us part.

 

It’s easy to hold when your sex drive is high and your spouse is giving it up daily.

 

Everyone is happy when times are better, bills are paid and food is plentiful.

 

Richer days are appreciated when two incomes are flowing and income is steady.

 

When both parties are in good health, the world is theirs for the taking.

 

What then becomes of the marriage when the storms of life hit?

 

How do you feel about your spouse when you are into the thick of it?

 

The most immediate, fleshly reaction is to probably resist your spouse instead of fiercely clinging to them.

 

It’s difficult to hold when you know a spouse has been unfaithful.

 

It’s challenging when being married delivers more worse days than best and you are like two ships passing in the night.

 

The tension is palatable when accounts are overdrawn and credit cards are to their limits.

 

How do you cope with a spouse that is sick? The drug addicted or pornography addict spouse? The mental ill or the physical ill spouse?

 

When these times occur feelings of love can turn to hate and some may even consider to death do us part by their own hand.

 

If you’ve ever felt that way, can I get an amen?! If you feel this way right now just stick with me for a few more lines.

 

I would venture to say your spouse has probably had to deal with some of YOUR mess too.

 

[bctt tweet=”Maturity in marriage calls for one to relent. For another to repent. For one to say, “I’m sorry”.”]

 

For one to determine not to walk away. For one to forgive.

 

Thank GOD….

 

Our agape love for Christ enables us to do virtually the impossible.

 

When HIS love floods our hearts we are able to love those who have mistreated us, betrayed us, and berated us including our spouses.

 

I give thanks for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, teaching, direction and the power that supersedes the flesh. My husband works MOST of the time. He works 2 jobs, 7 days a week and has done so for 12 years now. Over the years I’ve prayed for family time today. Well last week he was off work so I had that family time that I so diligently prayed for….BUT….his presence interrupts “MY” flow. He asked the children to do tasks in the middle of homework time, he let them play video games on a school night (cringe), he’s made us leave out later in the morning, though we were still on time for school.

 

Yes I was all up in my feelings. Again, but GOD! The Holy Spirit bought my own prayers for family time back to my remembrance. So the flesh had to bow down while the spirit rejoiced and gave thanks for answered prayers.

 

When your prayers are answered, be ready to receive them.

 

This weekend I was in Marshall’s with my husband and children. At the checkout we had laughs with the cashier as she tried to understand how all these shabby chic wall collage items were going into a man cave. My husband left before me to load the children in the car and the cashier asked me,

 

“You really love him don’t you?”

 

To which I replied,

 

“Mmm, yes. That’s my MAN. I love him. I do. I do indeed”

 

My marriage has faced many days of the worse and it seemed that better wasn’t even on the horizon. With no examples of marriage, we came into our union reckless and unprepared. Based on what we’d seen growing up, our solution was to battle it out. We were two rams with locked horns. But we had to learn marriage and self-centeredness are incompatible.

 

[bctt tweet=”True love is not self-seeking. It gives and gives and gives some more.”]

 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

Happy to be running into the thick of it securely tied to MY MAN as we run life’s two legged race together.

 

[bctt tweet=”There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage. ~Martin Luther 1566″]

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Life Fully!

 

Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News #LifeGivingLinkup, Purposeful Faith, #Grace&Truth, #DanceWithJesus

04Sep

The Power of YES

“Don’t!”

“Stop!”

“No!”

 

Words uttered way too easily, way too often, especially when you’ve got a toddler around who you are really trying to protect.

 

But what if….

 

Just what if I gave myself a Hall Pass to YES.

 

There is such control in the “NO”.

 

There is such power in the “NO”, though it’s really just a fraud.

 

Liberty is released in the “YES!”

 

Chain are broken with the resounding YES.

 

YES to giving myself permission to BE the person God created me to be.

 

YES to living fully in this moment, not wallowing in the past or living a fantasy of the future but FULLY present.

 

YES to giving my husband room to parent the Father way without interfering.

 

YES to nurturing my children’s unique personalities and proclivities even if theirs are different than mine.

 

YES to BEING MORE and not shrinking and retreating back into the safety and false security of my box.

 

YES to delightfully obeying Christ since I say I follow Him.

 

YES to moving forward even when feeling afraid.

 

Oh the places you’ll go when you give God your YES.

 

Unshackled, the power of YES is ready to flow uninhibited.

 

In a booming voice, with a resounding shout, I say, “YES!”

 

Happy to connect with other in this Five Minute Friday free write on the word YES.

Also connecting hearts with these friends sharing the Good News #DanceWithJesus, Grace & Truth

 

 

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