Rest & Recharge

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, LORD, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. – Luke 10:38-42 KJV

What a picture of us at times. Both women. We are a busy people. Striving to please other busy people. Martha was busy doing things. Things that are necessary, essential to everyday life. Good deeds that we all must do, dictate, or divide to keep households, workforces, and communities moving forward. The problem with her tasks at this particular time was her focus. She was so distracted by the to-do list and engrossed in chores, she failed to rest in the presence of her friend and Lord. Whereas, Mary was focused on Jesus. Mary knew the importance of savoring the moment and hearing His Word. Martha missed the opportunity to trade the good deeds for the best deed – worshipping Christ. Peace, understanding, and comfort come to us as we sit at the feet of Jesus. Sure, we must check-off the mundane and exhausting daily chores. But we must also not forget where we can rest and recharge – knelt in the presence of our Savior. 

Hospitality is one of my favorite gifts. I love having company and the bustle of a full home. I love food, friendship, and fun. I also know what it is like to take on this feat without resting and recharging before I serve others. An event that should be exciting and enjoyable becomes a dreadful display of my procrastination, exhaustion, and obsession. I fail to seek His guidance, knowledge, and provision while plowing full-steam ahead into a calling to serve and uplift others. Those times are when I see Martha’s reflection while busily shining the windows. I see her frustration when I’m too empty to fill others. I see the missed opportunity of resting and recharging myself as Mary did. God has called us to do Godly things. Are we a religious person doing religious things? Or a Godly person doing Godly things? For us to effectively answer God’s call to do His things, we must first trade the good things for the best thing – resting and recharging at the feet of Jesus.

Summer is Right Around the Corner

Oh, from the excitement and bustle of the kids winding down the school year, I can tell one of my favorite seasons is right around the corner: Summer! The calendar is clearer, the hustle is slower, and the days are longer! This is such a fun season to enjoy with family and friends. But it is also a season we tend to slack on our spiritual journey. We find it easy to cut back our quiet time with God when we cut back our daily responsibilities and routines. This season of rest is also a season we get to enjoy some of God’s most beautiful masterpieces like the sunset over the ocean during a family vacation. The lush green grass during a moment of sweet tea and friendship on the front porch swing. The rustling of water over moss covered stones during a float down the river. The sound of crickets and frogs competing for attention during a star-filled night. Or the innocent laughter of children playing in the backyard treehouse. These grand moments are reminders that He is still present during the lazy days of summertime. They serve as reminders to pause, praise His wonderful works, and seek His presence every day with our whole heart. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV) As we crank up the fun this summer, let’s not forget about our dedication to drawing closer to Him during Bible study, prayer time, and family devotionals. The moments we spend with friends and family are great opportunities to weave His beautiful creation with His wondrous Word. Take the time to share His Word while enjoying His workmanship. Below are some reminders of fun activities and parks close to home plus a fun way to create on-the-go snacks together. Enjoy both as you soak up the sweet summertime and His lovely, fun-filled creation.

Fun things to do around Cleburne County:

· Nocculula Falls in Gadsden

· Cheaha State Park

· Pinhoiti Trail

· Talladega National Forrest

· Heflin PARD Events

· Chief Ladiga Trail

· Anniston Museum of Natural History

· Bike Trail at Choccolocco Park in Oxford

· Little River Canyon in Gadsden

Fun Trail Mix Recipe:

• 2 cups Nuts such as almonds, peanuts, or cashews

• 1 cup Seeds such as sunflower or pumpkin
• 1 cup Dried Fruit such as cranberries, raisins, banana or pineapple
• 1 cup of the Fun Stuff such as pretzels, popcorn, dark chocolate or M&Ms
• 1 tsp of Spice such as sea salt, cinnamon, or nutmeg

Mix your favorite ingredients in a bowl & hit the trails!

Small Victories (recipe included)

I’m not sure if any of you have ever tried to change your food choices to reflect a healthier lifestyle or to drop a few pounds. I have. I begin every Monday. (hehe) I’m not sure what happens inside my brain, but it seems that bad food choices look more delicious and are listed as my taste bud’s speed dial. It is such a difficult task to get started and stay on track. I have had the opportunity of being determined enough to lose a few nagging pounds. And it feels great. The best thing to do during the difficult times is to focus on small victories, such as passing up the French fries for a side salad. I know that sounds minimal, but in the moment that is a huge hurdle for me. French fries are my favorite! These small victories such as overcoming temptation, cinching up the belt a little tighter, or sliding into last year’s jeans are called non-scale victories in weight loss and lifestyle change forums. These NSV are what keep you motivated until you see the big victory on the scale. 

Often in our spiritual lives, we are waiting to see a big victory. Whether that looks like a clear PET scan, a loved one filling the empty place on the pew beside you, or a struggling child laying down her addictions and returning home. Waiting for that victory can become exhausting, discouraging, and frustrating. The same that rings true in a weight loss journey is true in a spiritual journey, we must gain momentum and encouragement by seeking small victories during the process. Even as Elijah prayed, faithful that God would send rain, he gained encouragement by noticing the small things. Small victories. Small clouds that encouraged him to press on, continue praying, and look toward the victory.

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not. – 1 Kings 18:44 KJV

You may be praying for a big victory in your life right now. I know my family is. We are praying for complete healing for my husband’s mother. Not sure how God will answer that prayer, we continue to trust His Will and focus on the small victories. Those small victories may look like more time in her presence, makeshift beauty sessions, days filled with sunny skies, or belly laughs with her granddaughters. However God blesses us, we will be forever grateful and continue pressing on, praying earnestly, and looking forward to the next little victory. 

And if you are looking for a small victory in your food choice lifestyle change, try this yummy recipe. It will be a winner for your weeknight dinner planning. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

TURKEY STUFFED PEPPERS

• 4 medium bell peppers (cut in half) 
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 lb ground turkey

• 2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 cup black beans (Rinsed)
• 1 cup salsa (I like chunky)
• 1 cup brown rice, cooked
• 1 cup shredded cheese, Mexican blend

Spray casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place peppers onto dish. Heat oil in a skillet and cook onion and garlic until translucent. Add turkey and seasonings. Once meat is browned, add black beans, salsa and brown rice. (For lower carb count, omit rice or serve the rice as optional side dish.) Spoon evenly into each pepper half. Cover and bake for 40 minutes, uncover and add shredded cheese on top of each stuffed pepper. Bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

#1 On The List

Have you ever gotten your priorities out of whack?

Well, I am chief at getting into those slumps.

I procrastinate. I preoccupy. I piddle. Whatever I can do to not do, I do.

 

Unfortunately, at times, that laggardness has seeped into my spiritual life.

My passion to pursue His Will is slow, sluggish, set aside.

And its consequences are evident in every aspect of my life.

My heart heavy. My mind cluttered. My soul shattered.

When I shake out of my funk. Come to myself.

Seek God. Put Him first. Make Him my priority.

The consequences will also be evident in every aspect of my life.

My heart healed. My mind clear. My soul satisfied.

pri·or·i·ty: the fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important. (Google)

Job is a great example of prioritizing the desire to seek God’s Will and ways daily.

Job was Satan’s #1 target because God was Job’s #1 priority.

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. – Job 1:1 KJV

Job was able to walk uprightly and abstain from evil because he consistently reverenced and sought to please God. He was able to decipher between God’s leading and Satan’s temptations because daily he served, praised, and conversed with God, the standard of goodness.  

Prioritize life. Place God first. Persistently seek His Will.

Life gets crazy. Oh, how I know. I refresh, restructure, and reprioritize daily.

Here’s a method I use to arrange my day. Give it a try…

I call it my Hi-5 list.

Every day, I list my TOP 5 must-dos. These may include running to the post office, calling to make an appointment, dropping by the bank, grabbing a birthday gift, or popping in to see a healing friend. I find getting five tasks completed is better than unsuccessfully juggling twenty. Move the less important tasks to the #2-#5 slots on the next day. But #1 on the daily list must be serving, praising, and conversing with God as Job did.

When quiet time with God is my #1 priority, the consequences are evident in every aspect of my life.

My heart healed. My mind clear. My soul satisfied.

She’s not the enemy.

Yes. I spend time on social media. I like to know what is going on in your lives. I like to connect. Unfortunately, most of that time I spend trying to fathom the imaginary line that runs right down the center of our nation. Every viral post displays that everyone is either for something or against it. Harshly conversing. Constantly trying to persuade the other to cross the line to their side. I am ALL FOR standing up for what you believe in when it aligns with the Word of God. When it is a Biblical truth.

One thing I have noticed is we have forgotten who the enemy is. Our enemy is not the girl who found herself alone, broken with an unplanned child developing in her womb, mulling over her wrong decisions. Looking in every direction and finding no help. Our enemy is not the man down the street with the dirty needle in his arm flushing away his guilt, shame, and hurt. It is not the friend who never returns our calls or invites us to her event. It is not our spouse who took our conversation out of context. It is not the woman who sits on the opposite pew sneering as we enter the sanctuary. Our enemy is Satan. The one scheming. Roaring. Devouring our families, relationships, and joy. We are fighting the wrong battle. Our battle is against THE enemy not each other. And that battle is not ours to fight.

Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. – 2 Chronicles 20:15

The real enemy wants to distract us from our military duties. Our position in the army of God is not to declare and battle the wrong enemy. It to stand strong. To serve. To care. To point others to Him.

He wins. We win.

Spiritual Immunity

This week in my Microbiology class, we learned about opportunistic pathogens. Pathogens are organisms that cause disease. Opportunistic pathogens are organisms that ordinarily do not cause disease but can become pathogenic given certain circumstances such as age, immunosuppression, debilitated conditions, or broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. These opportunities allow the organism to become infectious due to the host’s weakened immune system.

Sin. Sin is pathogenic. Sin is opportunistic. When our spirit is weakened, sin becomes more infectious and disastrous. Like our bodies fight off infections by building a strong immune system, our spirit must be strong to ward off sinful desires. We strengthen our spiritual immunity as we improve and nourish our daily walk with God.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. – Galatians 5:16 KJV

As we walk in the spirit, the strength and wisdom we obtain through Him overpowers the opportunities for sin to flourish. His still small voice convicts our hearts to resist. His relentless mercy provides ways to escape. His amazing grace encourages our will to proceed.

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – Psalm 73:26 KJV

Physically, we do everything in our power to resist an infection or disease. My husband eats an orange every night hoping the “vitamin C” will protect him from “the cold”. Spiritually, we often leave ourselves defenseless against the enemy’s attacks and temptations. Providing every opportunity for sin to take root and destroy our lives.

How is our walk? Is it close enough to hear His guiding whisper? Is it close enough to see His escape route? Is it close enough to feel His unfailing grace? Take a moment today to allow Him to reveal our distance and draw us closer. Allow Him to strengthen our spiritual walk and immunity. When we give God our weakness, He will give us His strength.

R.E.S.T. Up Warrior

My youngest daughter can fall asleep faster than anyone I have ever seen. Right in the middle of a conversation, she will check out. This past Monday was proof of that. The first day back to school battled with her Christmas vacation habit of pulling all-nighters. One minute we were casually talking. The next minute, I look over, and she is in solid slumber. She fought a great fight that day, but in the end her body begged for rest.

Like myself, I’m sure your daily schedule if full of want-tos, must-dos, and do-i-have-tos. To add to the congestion, this time of year we poke in other activities in extra slots to fulfill our New Year resolutions. Most of the time what we remove are the moments of rest. Fellow warrior for the Kingdom of Christ, like my sweet daughter, we need rest. Of course we need actual sleep, but we also need spiritual rest. Cessation. Renewal. Serenity.

When we exercise (like I’m an expert), rest is important in the overall process of building strength, endurance, and muscle. It is a key element that cannot be removed. It is substantial in reaching our wellness goals. As a Christian, we must include rest along with movement to reach our goal of “going and making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things [Christ] has commanded us.” (the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20) Our spiritual well-being requires this rest like our bodies beg physical sleep in order to function properly. Rest is a gift that was given to us. A gift of reflection, restoration, and refreshment. A gift that equips us for the movement that waits ahead. Make a resolution to add R.E.S.T. to your daily agenda this year. Don’t neglect to appreciate this much needed gift. Rest up warrior.

R – Read God’s Word daily.

E – Enjoy God’s conversation through prayer.

S – Savor God’s promises in scripture.

T – Trust in Him.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest. – Matthew 11:28 KJV

Hot Cocoa Gift Jar

Fun & Cozy Gift Idea

• Jelly Jars
• ¼ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 2 tablespoons Sugar
• ¼ cup Chocolate Morsels
• Mini Marshmallows
• Christmas Sprinkles

Add cocoa powder to the jar. Then add the layer of sugar. Add chocolate morsels. Top with mini marshmallows mixed with Christmas sprinkles to fill the jar. Replace lid. Tie a ribbon around the jar with a note that reads:

Remove marshmallows and set aside. Add jar contents to 4 cups of boiling milk. Stir the mixture until dissolved. Ladle into mugs and top with marshmallows. Enjoy the thrill of a cozy moment with those you love.

The Thrill of Hope

How exciting this season is! The sparkle in the eyes of our children, the outpouring of love to our community, the twinkling lights illuminating our town, the cozy gatherings of our loved ones… I love every aspect of it. The most exciting: the reminder that Jesus came to bring HOPE. Hope to all of us.

I’m so thankful that I have HOPE. Assured Hope. I love that I can call on my God to provide comfort during times of grief, provision during times of lack, and direction during times of uncertainty. Not only does that Hope provide the love, security, and guidance we seek daily, the sure HOPE in Christ solidifies our eternal relationship with our Almighty God. Before that Holy Night when God sent His Perfect Son to redeem mankind, laws provided uncertain hope. Because we know hopelessness, we can rejoice in the Hope of Christ. The Hope that overcame all evil and sin. The Hope that bridged the gap between man and God. The Hope that secured our salvation. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

This Christmas season we, the weary world, can rejoice. On that Holy Night, Hope was brought into the world. May the thrill of Hope bring rejoicing and gratitude to your heart this Christmas season.

“A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” – O Holy Night

Traveling Light

I love to travel. It’s so exciting to anticipate an upcoming trip. As usual, I always procrastinate when it comes to the packing duty. The night before, I am stuffing my suitcase and scrambling to remember the necessities. How about you? Are you an early packer or last-minute shover? Although I last minute pack, I strategically pack. One thing I refrain from is paying baggage fees! I have been to many destinations with only a carry on. I prefer to use that $50+ on souvenirs, excursions, or a nice dinner. I prefer traveling light. Less hassle. Less money.

I also desire to be a traveling light. We are commanded to do so in Matthew 5:14-16: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)

Traveling to fun places around the world is exciting, relaxing, and rewarding. But the traveling we do on an everyday basis is even more rewarding when we shine brightly for Him. Daily we encounter people who are lonely, sad, and lost. They are wandering around in the dark looking for a light. We have the opportunity to share the Light who overcomes the darkness. We read in the headlines every day of neighbors who end their marriage, friendships, or life. Darkness looms over their life. It makes me question how I travel daily. Am I smothering out His light with my negativity, procrastination, or unawareness? Am I missing opportunities to bring life, hope, and relief to my community? Am I consistently beginning my day with prayer, asking God to help me be His traveling light? Shamefully I must admit I miss many opportunities to shine brightly. How about you? Are you a traveling light? Together, let’s rekindle the flame, seek revival, and shine brighter. Our desire to shine His light will overcome the darkness in our community. Be His traveling light.

My favorite tips for Traveling Light:

• Roll, don’t fold

• Make a list

• Layer your clothing

• Wear the same pants with different tops

• Add cotton balls soaked with makeup remover, etc to a zip bags to decrease cosmetic bottles

• If you didn’t need it any this week, you probably won’t need it this trip

• Pack similar colors to decrease need for numerous shoes

• Add jewelry to socks to prevent damage and increase space

• Decide what you will do with the money you save on baggage fees