So Long 2013.....

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As we come to a close of yet another year, for many, myself included, it is a time of reflection.  As I sit and think back to all that 2013 entailed, I can’t help but be thankful that God spared me another year and allowed me to experience life again this year.

2013 was a year full of blessings, grace, love, laughs and… heartache. 

I can’t help but rejoice at the start of a NEW YEAR!!  For the past 6 months, I have been in a stormy fire;  being molded and shaped into something new in Christ.  I have experienced some things that I never thought I’d face and through those storms, I realized that there were things deep within me that God needed to change.  The changes have been painful but as I sit here and reflect, they have been WORTH it!! 

I am entering in the new year with expectancy….with a heart overflowing, pressing on to the things God has before me.  

Tweet: "I don't consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what's behind & pressing toward what's ahead. Phil3:13

May God pour out His blessings over YOU in 2014!!

A little look back through 2013 – 

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Walking Free From Fear

Recently, I attended a ladies meeting at a friend’s house where she was speaking on fear.  I had been walking through a storm for several weeks before this meeting and kept crying out to God for help.  During those weeks, He would speak to me ever so quietly and I knew He was there with me as I faced this testing time in my life but what was an already dark place just seemed to be getting darker.  Before I went to the meeting God spoke to me and said “when things are out of control all around you – LET GO and let ME!“

Honestly, I don’t think I have ever realized how much I have struggled with fear until that night.  Now, I am totally aware that fear affects people in different ways and that we all experience different variances of fear – it could be fear of something HUGE or fear of something small (like me, I am terrified of spiders).  As my friend spoke, her words intertwined with what the Lord had been speaking to my heart over the past 3 weeks. 

Fear of rejection……Parenting out of fear……Allowing fear to suffocate areas in my marriage….. how many lost opportunities or clouded decisions had I made in my life because I was consumed in fear?!?  

But, not anymore…..nope!  I am DONE letting fear control me and my decisions…..did you hear me?  D-O-N-E!!!  I was able to stand up from that time with my Sisters in Christ and feel FREE-er than I have felt in years.  I know that trials will come (and honestly I’m still walking through the one I was before the meeting) but I am confident that God will lead me down the path HE has for me for He has not given me a spirit of fear but of POWER, LOVE and a SOUND MIND!!  

Will you join me?  Ask God to examine your heart and reveal to you areas in your own life that fear consumes you.  Write them down.  Pray over it and if led, RIP IT TO SHREDS (this is what I did that night)…..stand up and walk down the path of FREEDOM God has for you, too!!

What Are You Thinking?!?

Do you realize that every thought that enters your mind doesn't have to be "thought" upon?  Not all thoughts come from God or even ourselves.  The 'father of lies' (aka: Satan) likes to whisper things in our ears.

Do you also realize that Y-O-U control which thoughts you think on?  The Bible says to think on things that are true, noble, right,  pure, lovely, admirable,  excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8)

I had to remind myself of these truths this morning as I was working out.  See, for the past few months I have been getting up earlier than "necessary" in order to spend time in the Word.  (I've only been able to do this with God's help - cause by nature, I am NOT a morning person)  I've been trying to incorporate working out back into my daily routines but with our new schedule, I haven't been able to figure out how to work it in during the evenings.  After some prayer and consideration [and inspiration from a FB friend], I decided I would aim to get up early and workout in the mornings.

So, my morning schedule is like this.....get up, workout, shower, eat, study the Word then everything else.  This morning while I was jogging away on the treadmill at 5:45am ~ I felt condemnation that I wasn't studying the Word first.  I know that God should get our "first fruits" and I truly enjoy my time with Him in the mornings but because I know in my heart that if I get up at 5:30 am and head downstairs to read the Word, I will quickly end up in Dreamworld 101.

I had some internal back and forth before I simply said aloud, "Just because I choose to study the Word AFTER I work out and shower, does NOT mean I am not putting God first.  I will honor Him in song while I run on this treadmill."  I was letting the Father of LIES know that I was NOT going to be condemned for working out......I was NOT going to think on that thought.

Although, what time I work out isn't a life altering situation or very serious in matter; the same thing happens in the most serious of situations.  Don't fall for the lies of the enemy!!  Feeling unworthy?  Unloved?  Overwhelmed?  Take those whispered thoughts in your mind and examine them with the Word, dear friend, and I promise you will find the Truth.  You are a wonderful creation made in HIS image ~ God's, that is!!

Thankful for Open Doors

I am so thankful today for open doors!  You know those divine connections that God allows us to make with other people or those opportunities that come across when we know there was no other way than God just connecting them together....THOSE open doors!  I am ever so thankful that God cares enough about lil ol me that He would knit my life together in such an awesome way and provide those connections for me in every aspect of my life.  Whether it be in my home life, my working environment, friendships, blogging, or just an awesome opportunity.....God is just simply awesome and I'm so thankful for those doors that He opens [and honestly for the doors that He shuts...because of what He is saving me from]! 

I know thy works: behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it;…. Rev. 3:8 

What are you thankful for today?

Homemade Shower Cleaner

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I wanted to share this awesome recipe for shower cleaner again. I had someone ask me for it recently so I thought I would pull it back up and share again.  I still use it and LOVE it.  It is seriously one of the best things I've ever used and costs pennies to make.  My updates are in pink! :0)

Original post:
I have been cleaning a few houses here and there to earn some extra cash and have been in search of something to help clean the glass shower doors.  I have tried numerous products and combinations of chemicals (which probably weren't all very healthy).  When I found this recipe on Pinterest - I was leery but wanted to give it a shot since I had all of the ingredients at home.  

Let me tell you - this is the most AWESOMELY amazing concoction EVER!!!  I highly recommend it but will go ahead and tell you that it works best when the vinegar is still warm and I have found it isn't the kind of thing you can mix up and store -you have to mix what you need and use it right then - but even with that it is still awesome.

Here's the recipe -

Heat up some vinegar (I used a cup of vinegar and nuked it for 2 minutes). Then pour it in your spray bottle, add an equal amount of blue Dawn (the website comments were pretty specific about getting the blue kind Update:  use the non-concentrated kind), shake gently, and voila! Spray on your shower door, shower & bath tub and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, wipe with a clean, dry rag then rinse with water.  Once dried, I like to finish up with Windex. 

Grandma's Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili

Although it isn't my grandma's recipe, this was definitely yummy enough to call hers.  We had this for dinner last night and it will definitely be added to the list of the family favorites AND it is super easy! 

Ingredients

• 1 (19 ounce) can black bean soup
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (16 ounce) can vegetarian baked beans
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chopped tomatoes in puree
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained (I left out the corn due to an allergy)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili powder, or to taste (I only used 1/2 teaspoon because my family isn't 'in' to super spicy foods)
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley (I substituted a teaspoon of 'Italian Seasoning' in for this and the next 2 ingredients)
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried basil

Directions

1. In a slow cooker, combine black bean soup, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, baked beans, tomatoes, corn, onion, bell pepper and celery. Season with garlic, chili powder, parsley, oregano and basil. Cook for at least two hours on High.

Stepping Outside Your Box in Faith

Stepping Out in Faith

I'm thankful for what I've learned while 'outside of my box' over the years and wanted to share a few examples of what God has shown me 'outside of my box' with you...

1.  When you step outside of your box, God is ALWAYS there to meet you.  I think so many times we stay in our boxes out of fear.  Fear of this and that and everything in between but also fear that God may not be there but I'm here to tell you He is ALWAYS there.  Yes, He is there with you inside that box BUT He is there in an indescribable more powerful way outside of your box  Think about Peter when he stepped out of the boat - Hello, he WALKED on water with Jesus!!  {Matthew 14:22-33}

2.  It doesn't matter what people think.  This goes back to the fear issue of staying in your box...caring what people think.  If God is nudging you out of that box, then by all means ~ break free!  He has something better waiting for you outside the box than He ever did inside of it.

3.  Don't go back IN the box.  This is a personal struggle of mine.  Several times I have broken free from my box and had AWESOMELY AMAZING experiences with the Lord but then when things calm down...I head right back in the box.  How awesome would it be for me (or you) to be able to stay out of the box every day?

That is my goal....to try to stay out of my box.  To sometimes be uncomfortable but to be pressing on to the things that God has for me and to submit each of my days to Him.

What about you?  Have you stepped outside your box lately??