Say His Name

Have you ever thought about hearing the sound of your own name?  How it makes you feel when someone says it out loud?  What feelings it invokes? Does it make you feel seen?

Puff up a little, stand a little taller?

I think there is power in hearing our own name spoken out loud. Like we own that name. People see us and know us.

When someone speaks my name to tell me something, for some reason, they really get my attention. I know that they know who I am and whatever it is that they want, they are speaking it straight to me.

It makes me feel special for someone to know my name and remember it.
{and this is coming from the girl that is horrible at remembering names!}

I never gave much thought to this-until recently.

It says in the Bible that our names are written on the palms of God's hands. Maybe that's because He knows too the importance of being called by name.
 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands...Is 49:16

I was reading something about speaking your child's name to them. Like "Keeli, I love you and think you are special" this tells her I am talking only to her, and affirming who she is.

Affirmed. Maybe that's why I like it. It is one of my love languages. So if in some way, being known by hearing my own name spoken is affirming, then no wonder I'm partial to it.

Did you know there is power in speaking Jesus' name?

Say it out loud-right now. Jesus.


It can calm the crazies inside of us.Gives us peace when it seems impossible. And hope that will make us keep moving forward.

I heard a story of someone getting devastating news and the only thing the people around them could think to say was Jesus, over and over. Something miraculous happened to this person, their breathing slowed down, their anxiety left them and they were filled with other-worldly peace. Just at the sound of his name.


So, next time you are hurting, scared, confused or just aren't sure what to say. Will you try it? Say His Name. Jesus. And He will meet you there.

Philippians 2:9,10 " Therefore God exalted him to the highest place, and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth."

God Bless you Friends!!


                                          Emily who hosts Imperfect Prose has written a book on battling eating
                                        disorders. Would you consider buying a copy to donate to your church                                                          
                                         or school library? Or maybe for someone you know?
                                                       








Linking up with Imperfect Prose, God Bumps and God Incidences, Thought Provoking Thursdays, Women Living Well, WFW, Hearts 4 Home Thursdays, Life In Bloom

Workout Musings

Source

While working out the other day I took my eyes off of the instructor on the video, because I thought, I've done this enough I know what to do, it's only when I looked up again a little bit later, did I realize that I was doing something completely different than what the instructor was doing and didn't even hear him say move on to the next move.

I realized that I do that in my own life sometimes. I take my eyes off  God and that's when self-doubt, bad attitudes, and self sufficiency creeps in.

Even if it's just briefly, that's enough time for the devil to swoop in and starting planting his lies. He loves to whisper when our guard is down. He's been around long enough to pick up on the signs of complacency.

Thankfully, I'm starting to realize a little quicker when I'm doing this and start looking up a little faster.

I'm slowly moving from believing in to believing. And living like I believe and am truly set FREE.

Hebrews 12:1,2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slow us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."

Isn't is funny how something you can gather such deep thoughts in the middle of a workout? Well, maybe not that deep, but something to think about at least.

Good thing it was just the warm up:)






Linking up with my friends at::  Thought Provoking Thursday, Life In Bloom, Hearts 4 Home Thursday, Beautiful Thursdays, Faith Filled Friday

You Will Be An Oak

WeHeartIt

Isaiah 61:1-4

"The Spirit of the Lord is on {you} because the Lord has anointed {you} to preach good news to

the poor. He has sent {you}to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim for the captives and

 release from darkness for the prisoners. To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of

vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve..to bestow on

them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment

of praise instead of a spirit of despair. {You} will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of

the Lord for the display of his splendor. You will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long

devastated You will renew the ruined cites that have been devastated..."

parenthesis are mine to personalize this verse.

I'm the girl that's fought the battle of not good enough, and low self esteem and depression. It's gotten me involved with an abusive boyfriend, friends that weren't friends, yo yo dieting-going back and forth between, need to lose a few and needing to gain a few, and pregnant at the ripe ol age of 21 and married before I finished college.

I caused myself a lot of pain, along with those around me that truly cared about me

I haven't licked my old demons completely...yet. But the difference between me now and me then, is that I have put my life completely in God's hands. I live to please Him in all I say and do. I'm not perfect, and so I'm thankful there's an ever abundant source of grace when I mess up royally. But I bring it to Him now instead of trying to figure things out on my own. I don't live by what "feels" right anymore.

 I often wondered if I really messed things up so much that God couldn't use me.

Over the past year, God had been showing me that He can use my story, He can use me. If I let Him. Just like it says in these verses He will use it to free me from captivity, and bring me out of darkness.

Vengeance is the Lords, not mine, even though I wish it were sometimes :) 

I can comfort those that mourn and tell them of God's promises to turn beauty from our ashes. He will turn my morning into gladness. And my despair into praise.

We can be so planted in His word, an oak of righteousness, that we will display the splendor of the Lord to all that see us. Strong like an oak? That sounds pretty good to me. No longer defeated by my circumstances, yes please!

These verses speak to me because of their promise to restore the places where my heart has been broken.  God promises to use everything, good and bad, to heal me and maybe use it to bless others. 

That's pretty cool, huh?

Linked With::  Soli Deo Gloria Party,  On Your Heart Tuesday, Imperfect Prose, God Bumps and God Incidences, WLWW, HomeMaking Wed, Encourage One Another

Willing To Get Dirty Is The Beauty Of Parenting

This week I got the opportunity to take a field trip to Des Moines, which is the capital of Iowa. When we first arrived I thought it was some type of embassy. I have never seen a capital look this nice. My picture doesn't really capture all it's elegance. That sucker is made up of mostly Gold! Inside and out.

Oh Boy, is she ever excited!!!!

The kids descend. The Capital never knew what hit it.

Look at all that gold! Mostly it's trimmed in 24k gold and some is plating and some is painted 

A lot of money went into this building -it's beautiful

Supreme Court Room

Judges Seats in the Supreme Court room. All of those panels were hand carved by one man. The kids were checking out his handy work 

Hand Carved Mahogany Wood Paneling

                             

I just really liked this saying 

Doesn't she look thrilled?! Maybe she's still half asleep, I'm sure she's not BORED! 

Case of the dresses the First Ladies-Governors Wives- wore the day their husband were inaugurated.

If you look close, they all have the same face. It was too time consuming to give them their own :) 

These stairs are made of granite, and the stairs railing Mahogany wood, with Ivory at the bottom 

Original lighting, gas flame 

 This is the view of the very top. If you look about half way down you will see a little railing that goes all the way around. We walked up 4 or 5 flights of the most narrow winding staircase I have ever been on in my life. You seriously got dizzy going up and had to look up ever so often.  After coming down, our legs were shaking and jello-like. They still hurt.

View of the top of the State Senate House .

This room was rebuilt due to a fire that broke out and had to be completely rebuilt. Before it looked almost exactly like the House of Rep.

                        

 Crystal Chandeliars made in Czechoslovakia-  Senate House

                          

Beautiful Murals-House of Rep

The lower picture is of the early settlers to the area. The top is a mural that is supposed to move when you do, creepy. Their eyes will follow you and so will a couple of their feet.

                              The drinking fountain that they used when it was first built. They put a block of ice underneath and ran a pipe up so that it came out, and they would have drinking cups that everyone shared! gross!                                                                      
                               

We really enjoyed the tour, it may have been a little long and too much info, but I'm glad we did it.

                               
                             


                                                                 

On to the second part of the field trip!! The Living History Farm. They served us a picnic lunch and then they took us back in time to the days when the land was first settled by Indians up to modern times now. They walk you through, ugh, took about 2 hours and we didn't even finish. I was so tired by this time though, I didn't care.

Not sure about these bad boys, but Keeli said take their picture, so I did.

The Oxen they used to plow their land, cause they are so big and mighty. {Not the actual Oxen}

I thought I was on the set of Little House on the Prairie. I was half looking for Maw and Paw to come walking out of the General Store.

I didn't get too many pictures by this time, my battery was dying and I was tired 

They did a good job replicating what life was life back then, I was definitely born in the right time period. I'm too soft to have made it back then 

Oh, to be a pig. By the end of this trip I was as dirty as one.

I had dirt in every part of me and was blowing out of my nose for 2 days. That's what you get when you ride behind a tractor that throws it back up in your face with it's huge tires. 

So much walking!!! and so the wrong shoes :(  We got home took baths and went to bed, by 7:30pm, well I may have stayed up a little later but not by much. We were tuckered out to say the least.

Fun memories were made and a fun time had by all, and I learned a lot about this new state we've moved to. I came here not even knowing where it was located on the state map, now I know about how it was settled, and evolved. 

There's a saying here called "Iowa Nice," I'm coming to realize how true that statement is.

Have a blessed weekend!!



p.s. I didn't edit any pics,cause I'm lazy like that. They are as is straight from the camera.

Gypsy Mama- Perspective Change

On Friday's over at The Gypsy Mama, she encourages you to write for 5 minutes-free of editing, backtracking, and no over thinking. She gives the prompt and you write.  It's a lovely freeing writing exercise that I love to join in with when I get the chance.

This week's prompt: Perspective

Let's begin shall we?

Perspective- Boy was mine changed this morning all through a simple email from my husband. He was letting me know about an event taking place on Monday that he would be going to, to support a fellow co worker and friend. This friend lost his son to a boating accident around this time last year and his parents are donating a bench to be placed in their grandson's memory in front of his elementary school on Monday.  Trey wanted to go to show his support, and I love him for that.

I've been crying like a baby since receiving the email. Tears won't stop flowing. It gave me my perspective change, one that I probably needed. I've been praying and worrying so much about our own future, mainly financially because of dang house that won't sell.

In light of losing a child though, this house is pretty trivial. What our friends wouldn't give to have our worries and have their child back.  Nothing can compare to that kind of loss. It's heart breaking.  One day our house will sell-or not, but it's just a house, and so what if money gets tight God has always provided everything we need.

I'm looking at my own problems a little differently now.

~Stop~

I may have went over by one or two minutes lost track of time there.  Can't wait to read what others are going to write!

Join me?

(In)Courage and DaySpring Product Review-Wall Art

I love getting things in the mail!!! I'm like a kid at Christmas, and when that mail comes in the form of a big brown package..well even better!

And look at what I got....

I was lucky enough to be able to review not one but two items from DaySpring and (In)courage home decor collection. The beautiful Abide in Him above is one of them. I can't stop looking at it :) The word Abide seems to stop me in my tracks. And the beautiful brown wrought iron color doesn't hurt either.

Abide, it's something that keeps coming round. In the songs I hear, scripture I read and now, in home decor. Think someone is trying to tell me something?

Life doesn't go like we plan. But learning to abide in Him will get us through the rough-go of it.

I'm learning to Abide as we are trying to sell a house in a state we no longer live in. The Lord knows how much longer we can afford to keep it on the market before decisions will be made that affect our financial future forever.

I'm learning to Abide as new friendships are made in our new home, God is showing me how to reach out and not be afraid. To not look back at past friendship blunders unless it's to learn. He knows I have a tendency to look back and then get stuck and wonder if I really can do things differently.

I'm learning that Abide means to trust Him, be quiet, and be still when everything around me seems to be falling apart at break neck speed and my words and actions don't seem to do anything to make things better.

Abide in Him wall decor is a good reminder for me, to lean hard in Him when I just want to fall apart and have a big 'feel sorry for me party,' would it be a good reminder for you too? And it doesn't look half bad on the wall, or leaning against a shelf, on a mantle {if I had one}.

I haven't yet decided where to put these Iron Wall Art pieces, that's why the nails are still attached to them, I know if I take them off, they will get lost, so there they hang. Or maybe I should give one away?

If you would like one for your own home, DaySpring is offering it on sale at $20 off the original price through the month of May!

Or maybe you would like this one

I really like this 

Isn't this our daily prayer? Lord Bless this Home and all the people that live here, protect us and guide us. 

This is more of silver in color, but you can't tell because I have it propped up in my window and the sun is casting a shadow on it, but it will look beautiful on my wall, only I can't decide...living room or kitchen? What do you think?

{This too is on sale for $24.99 that's $20 off the original price through the month of May!!}

Linking with::  Studio JRU

I was given this wall art from the Dayspring (in)spired line of products in exchange for a review. Although I was given a free product, all opinions are all my own. This disclosure is in accordance to the FTC guidelines.

What's Defining Your Worth?

Deuteronomy 2:3 "You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn North." {nasb}

As I am finishing up 60 days of the craziest workout I've ever done, Insanity. I'm wondering what are my real reasons for putting myself through such joint suffering, I think I'm gonna die pain? And did I mention I developed Turf Toe?? Constantly sore abs, thighs, and calf's?

Is it too look good? Feel good? To be skinny? To beat the battle of the bulge once and for all?
For as long as I can remember how I looked, {or how much I weighed} is how I often thought people used to determine if I was a person worth getting to know. We all look at the outward appearances of people and without meaning to make assumptions and judgments...good or bad.

For me I thought if I had put on weight then, of course other people noticed, how could they not? They were probably thinking wow, she's really packed it on. Or my gosh did you see how BIG her butt is now? :)

I've thought things like, your not good enough unless your _____ size.  I've felt uncomfortable in my own skin and I really believed that people liked me based on whether or not I was fat or skinny!

I've let my weight define my personal worth, and that's crazy!

I came across Made to Crave on Lysa Terkeurst's website last year, and it spoke straight  to me. I'm not saying that everyone that is overweight has a spiritual issue, you may just need to move more, or cut back.

You may not connect food and your emotions at all. But I do. Big time! And then when I started to see those issues reflecting into own my kids eating habits and their own weight, then for me it was time to get to the core of my problem.

Food was my pacifier. I turned to it when things got hard. Chocolate gives me that momentary awww of comfort. It satisfies, but only for a moment, then you need another piece and another piece until you've gone through the whole bag and the only thing you are left with is a hurting tummy and guilt over what you just did. So, of course you hide the evidence, so that way no one else knows and they can't shame you either.  Plus, if no one sees you eating that candy  bag bar, it doesn't really count, does it? :) Self -Control, oh how I lack thee.

I know, I know, it was bad.

Her book isn't a weight loss book, it's a book about her own journey to lose weight and her connection she made between eating too many Chef Boyardi pizzas and not trusting God when things got wonky. For me, that connection made sense. Too often I try to handle things on my own, and it never works.

Instead of turning to prayer and scripture to soothe my stressed out soul I was turning to chocolate and pizza. These help momentarily but they aren't permanent fixes. God is. I started to realize how much of my worth was tied up into how much I weighed. That God loves me regardless of how much I weigh, but that He doesn't want to see me dependent on anything else but Him either. He made me for more than to do battle with food!

In 2Cor 12:9-10 we are told to turn to Him when we are weak and weary and He will give us strength. That when we are weak He will be strong for us. Not a piece of chocolate or a bag of Doritos.
To cast all of our fears and anxiety on Him, not on cookie dough.

I didn't realize how much of an emotional eater I was until these last couple of years. Chocolate when I'm sad or stressed, something salty AND chocolaty when I'm stressed or anxious or pmsing. Something sweet after every meal? yes please! And the pants grew bigger. And I wondered why. The extra weight made me uncomfortable and made me want to hide out instead of enjoying life.

WeHeartIt

This book has shown me that I don't want to spend the rest of my life fighting this battle. I want to defeat it once and for all. I want to leave a healthy legacy to my kids along with a rich spiritual one.

In Exodus 16:2-4 the Israelites made food their god, they grumbled against God and eventually they spent 40 years wandering in a desert. Ouch. Lord, help me if I spend the next 40 years doing battle with this.

Some Lies I believed
I used to buy into the lie that if I took time to work out then I was taking away from time with the kids and I would feel guilty through the whole thing. But you know what, there is NO condemnation and guilt for those that call themselves Christ's children.

I used to also buy into the lie that those who worked out and watched everything they ate were being vain and not living life. When really I was the one not living, because I was being held captive by food and was uncomfortable in my own skin.  A brownie was becoming more important than peace about how I felt about how I looked.

And yet there is still one more lie and excuse I bought into, I'm married! It doesn't matter anymore. oohhh, that's a bad one. Cause ask any man, well your man, what he thinks about this. I'm sure he'll be nice about it and say "Oh, it doesn't matter what you look like, I still love you" and this is probably true, but come on, men are visual beings. It makes them proud when we look good and feel good about ourselves. We stand a little taller, and so do they :)

So all of this to say that, I'm not where I want to be, but I'm not where I was, and this is a good thing, in body and mind. For me it's been a spiritual journey as much as it's been a physical one. I've stumbled along the way, and had a few do-overs, but God is faithful to meet me where I'm at and let me try again. And you know what, each time I feel myself growing more and more in His strength. When faced with a healthy option or a melt in your mouth, but I'll make you do a thousand squats to work me off food choice, I'm getting better at choosing the healthy choice.

I'll take it one choice, one day at a time. And give myself grace when I do mess up. And look to God to define me not the scale.

I've decided to take a couple days to give my body a break from all the pounding and then start over. Yep, can't believe I am, but I am. I going to keep going and probably won't stop, at least the working out part, doing Insanity over and over doesn't appeal to me much. I think eventually my body would do an all out revolt.

What about you friend? Do you have a different battle that is defining you, maybe yours isn't with food, but something else, like tobacco, alcohol, relationships, money, clothes, even our kids.  Is there something that has taken the number one spot in your life besides God?


I have circled this mountain long enough, it's time to put a fork in it. How about you?




Linking up with::  Women Living Well Wed, Imperfect Prose, Word Filled Wed, God Bumps & God Incidences, Beautiful Thursdays, Hearts 4Home Thurs, Thought Provoking Thursday, Proverbs 31 Thurs, Life in Bloom, Faith Filled Fridays

Pinterest Goodies

I love, love, love Pinterest. I have found the most amazing recipes, hair-do ideas, home decorating and tons of other stuff on there. I love to see what other people pin and what inspires them.

Here are a couple of neat money saving  ideas that I have found through Pinterest, that I wanted to share. I've tried them myself, so I know they work!!

First is the Homemade Biore Strip :) You gotta love those little strips, who knew looking good would hurt so bad! These babies hurt when you take them off, but boy do they work and are they pricey.

When I saw that you could do a homemade version and it still works just as well, well I had to try it out for myself. And what's funny, not haha funny, but ironic funny, is that they previewed this on The Dr.'s yesterday as a good alternative to the ones you buy at the store.

You Need:

Unflavored Gelatin

Milk

That's it!!

Mix 1 Tbl of Gelatin and 1Tbl of milk in a bowl, stir it around, and then microwave for 10 seconds. Let it cool off a tad. Then take a brush {preferably a clean one :)} or do what I did and use your fingers and smear it on the areas that you get blackheads.  Your nose, chin, cheeks, forehead. 

Then let it dry completely. It will feel like you are wearing some type of plastic contraption on your face. Try not to laugh, or smile, or talk. Just don't do anything! Then, when dry, peel that sucker off and gaze at all the grossness it just pulled out. 

I noticed more hair on it than anything, what can I say, I'm hairy. But I'm not sure if I got the mixture thick enough. My husband tried it out too and said the same thing. We had some really smooth faces if nothing else. But I'm eager to try again. When The Dr.'s did it, they has some pretty grody results, so it must work, right?

          On to the next thing...                                                                         

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Need::
3 Tbl Borax
3Tbl Washing Soda
2-4 squirts of Dawn or Joy
4 Cps of Boiling Hot Water
1 Milk Jug

Using a funnel I poured all of the ingredients into an old milk carton, very slowly. Your using boiling hot water and pouring it into a plastic jug. The jug seems to want to spit the water back at you. So be careful!

Once everything is added, carefully give it a swirl to mix everything together.

You only need 1/8 cup a load!! This lasted for close to a month. And worked Great!

Some instructions said to fill the rest of the jug up with cold water, and if you did this it would last a lot longer, but I liked it super concentrated. My kids get clothes dirtyyy. Half of what they eat ends up on their clothes, so I need something good to get those greasy food stains out, and this does.

Finally the good stuff. Breakfast Cookies. With Chocolate...

These are a perfect way to start the day, mainly because they have chocolate in them:) Hey, I'm just being honest. Studies show, that if you eat chocolate for breakfast, then you won't crave it the rest of the day, because you are satisfied. I promise, I heard that somewhere  {probably The Dr's}and I'm not just making it up so that I have a good excuse to start my day with a cookie.  Google it if you don't believe me :)

You can add so many good things to this and the kids will eat it just because of the chocolate chips, and so will I.

What You Need::

3 Cups of White Whole Wheat Flour

2 Cups of Old-Fashioned Oatmeal
1 tsp of Baking Soda

1 tsp of Cinnamon

1 tsp of Salt

2 eggs
1tsp vanilla

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup applesauce {optional}

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 stick of softened or melted butter

1/8 cup of oat bran {optional}

add in's:: chocolate chips, coconut, dried fruit or whatever suits your fancy

Mix your dry ingredients. In a separate bowl mix your wet. Then make a well in your dry ingredients and add the wet into this well. Start mixing until fully combined, then add your add-ins

Preheat your oven to 350. Drop by teaspoon fulls onto a baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 12-15 until lightly browned. Try not to eat them all, and save some for breakfast!

Have any good Pinterest finds? Please share, I will try most anything once.

Sharing with:: Studiojru, Weekend Whatever, Weekend Wander, Saturday Show and Tell