To The Young Girls

As I scan the Sunday morning crowd while singing old hymns, shaking hands and giving hugs, I see a girl.
She isn't just one girl but a group of girls that can relate to a single identification, a stereotype even...

She is the young girl who is struggling to get through the awfully awkward years of middle school or she is even still fighting to get through high school. Those years are the most crucial in her life. This is the time where she is trying to discover who she is, what she wants, & who she wants to become, all the while trying to live up to the worlds standards.

I just wanted to take the time to tell you...

that no matter what this crazy world or even your peers say, you are perfect just the way you are. 

You are the daughter of The King. 

He made you in His image.

He loves you, and that's the ONLY thing that matters. 

This phase of life is the shortest & it will be over soon enough. 

Keep your head high, be proud & let your light shine.

There is nothing more beautiful than a modest & humble Christian girl or woman. 

The color of your hair, the style of your clothes, & the amount of makeup you wear means absolutely NOTHING.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 KJV)

What Jesus is saying here is that we shouldn't worry about earthly things that wont last beyond this world.
We should be putting our heart into building up the kingdom of God & our treasures in heaven.


So relax. 
All God asks you to be is a light. 
Be kind, love others even if they don't love you. 
Show humility & give praise to God. 
Be modest in all ways. 
Be genuine, keep your word & keep your words nice. 
In all things that you do, do them for His glory.

~

You should also take the time to study Proverbs 31.
This is the chapter for US!
This is the Christian example of a godly woman.
A virtuous woman.

So You Wanna Play Tennis...

So you wanna play tennis. 

You wanna play in doubles. You've known your whole life that you wanted to play in a huge tournament one day, but now seems like the right time. And about this same time you get asked to play on someones team. They are just like you. They have always wanted to play, but up until now it never felt like the right thing to do. Well since you've never played a match of tennis in your life, you know that you both have a lot of training ahead; Cardio, agility, endurance, you & your team mate need to practice communication for every situation and most importantly you need to build faith in them. Of course trust is already there because they never would have asked you to play on their team and you never would have accepted the offer if you didn't trust them. But its a whole new game now. There is so much more at stake because this is a real competition with a huge reward. You have to have faith in your partner, that no matter what, they wont let the ball fly past them, and by chance they accidentally do, you know they did everything in their power to try & stop it. That they will come out with skinned knees & elbows from diving to try & save that ball. And you have to be willing to do the same. But all of this training isn't going to happen over night. No one becomes a pro tennis player by just thinking about it. You cant show up to opening day of the tournament without any practice or clue as to what is going on.

This is EXACTLY what being engaged should be like.

Just like training for a sport you have never played before, you have to give things up & take on new things. Being engaged is your "training period." You need to give up the crazy parties, bad friends, & selfishness and say hello to nights at home, compromise, & investing time & energy into a real life long relationship that truly matters.

You can't keep doing the things you were when you were single or just dating. Its time to focus & build for the future. You don't just get a ring or a "yes" & then go about your same ways. 

This is a milestone & a turning point.

You shouldn't continue to live a lifestyle that is unhealthy all the way up until the day you say "I do." 
 

Marriage is 100% a new playing field & people who don't treat it as something special & something to prepare for, will falter. 

How much do you really know about your partner?
 Is God number one in their life or do they even have a relationship with Him? Do they want children? Do they want church to play a big role in the family life? Do y'all pray together? Do they know their role as a husband or wife? Do they think its okay to still participate in activities that are inappropriate? Do they not see what is wrong with those things & why they are unhealthy for a committed relationship? Do they have dreams, goals, aspirations, the will power to make them all happen? Or do they expect to just coast by? Do y'all share the same financial goals? Or are they content with the bare minimum? Or maybe you need to see your true potential & they can help you get there?

This is all stuff that you need to discuss & work on in this time of engagement.

The sooner you begin to build this way of life the more ahead in the game you will be & the less issues you will have after you say "I do." You have got to be on the same page as your partner & for the areas that you don't agree, that is where Compromise comes in to play! 
The sooner you learn this virtuous trait, the better off you will be.

I will give you another clue into the world of marriage. NEVER underestimate what the world CAN & WILL throw at you! Just like a tennis ball being served by the other team, it is a never ending battle between your marriage & all the hits this world throws at you. 

THE BEST tennis racket = The Bible!
THE BEST Warm-up exercise = Prayer!
THE BEST coach/trainer = GOD!



Pick your team mate wisely, start training & get ready to skin up your knees, elbows & even a little face.

Chilly Weather = Chili For Dinner

Thought I would share my super easy & super yummy chili recipe! 

Chili is the one thing I can't pass up using canned veggies/beans... I love fresh veggies & beans BUT if you have ever worked with dry beans, you know preparation is lengthy & annoying and considering my recipe has 3 different kind of beans, I'll just pop open some cans! 

Also, McCormick seasoning packets are MSG free so they are basically just the perfect blend of seasonings in a packet! Yay!! 

Ingredients:

1 can dark red kidney beans

1 can light red kidney beans

1 can chili beans (in a chili sauce)

1 can Rotel Chili Fixins

1 can sweet whole kernel corn

1 packet of McCormick chili seasonings

1 8oz block of cream cheese 

1 pound ground beef (I use 90/10)

1 bag of Fritos

Tub of sour cream 

Shredded cheese of your choice

Directions:

Open cream cheese & place near burner so it will soften

Open all cans

Go ahead & drain the corn & kidney beans

**Don't drain the chili beans**

Cook meat, drain if needed

Mix meat, corn, beans, rotel, seasoning, & cream cheese together in pot!

** I cut the cream cheese into smaller pieces so it will melt easier.

Simmer & stir every few minutes. 

Like always with chili, the longer it simmers, the better it tastes but 20 minutes is usually enough if you're limited on time...

Top with cheddar cheese & sour cream, scoop with Fritos! Yummmmaaay!! 

Enjoy!! :) 

To Those Who Are Bitter...

I understand that not everyone has had success in the area of marriage... people change, do bad things and a lot of times just give up and forget what they once had... I'm not writing this to point fingers or tell anyone that its their fault that their marriage didn't work out. 

I am however, writing this to stand up for the newlyweds who keep getting put down. 

Taking your negative experiences with marriage & patronizing those who are giving it an honest shot, by making snide comments or blatantly saying  

"you will never make it." is not only rude & a nasty display of your bitterness but it's a blast in Gods face. You're telling God that he didn't know what he was doing when he designed & created marriage, that His will isn't good enough for anyone.

I have heard it all & I know my friends & family who have been recently married have heard similar, if not, the same...

"You're too young!"

"You don't know what love is..."

"You have so much to get out of your system.."

"You're making a mistake!"

"Just wait til he cheats"

or we are chastised for the way we operate our marriage...

"Girl, dont be doing his laundry"

"You seriously cook dinner for him every night?" 

"Man, you should tell her you're going! Don't ask"

"Y'all don't need to talk about everything"

"Girl, the man isnt "the head", he don't own you!"

"Girl, you aint a dog, you don't need to submit to him"

I could go on & on...

Maybe if young love saw more old love ...

Love that has made it through the wringer and continues to endure the world & make it through every storm. Love that doesn't just wimp out when things get the slightest bit tough... love that follows Gods instructions for a healthy marriage. These examples would provide more hope & confidence for those just starting out.

It takes work! Lots of work! 

I know the majority of today's generation doesn't know what that is but that isn't just their fault... they only know what they were raised by.

For the minority who do know what hard work is & have genuine examples of old love to look up to, we are trying! With our eye on the prize, we have no regrets for missing out on what the world has to offer outside of marriage. 

We don't have any care to indulge in the things that aren't an investment to our future & our hearts. 

We aren't here forever & we don't have the time or heart to waste on lonely drunk nights, meaningless multiple partners, & fake friends. 

You know, the stuff  you say "we are missing out on" or "need to get out of out system."

We have a desire to obey His will & guard our hearts, our minds, & our bodies. To fulfill His command to get married & be faithful to one another. To be fruitful & multiply, to raise children in the ways of the Lord. 

We know that with Gods example we can make it!

Marriage should mimic Gods love & commitment to the church (His people). Gods patience, mercy, forgiveness, love, & intimacy He has for His people. This is exactly what we need to strive for in our daily journey in a life long marriage. God gave us all He had, and time & time again we hurt Him, and yet He still accepts us back when we have gone astray, forgives us, loves us & helps us every day. And He doesn't just tell us to get married & then leave us hanging, either... He gave us all the instructions we need in His word. Us women don't submit because we are week-minded or lazy & our husbands don't take charge as the head of the family because they are power hungry monsters. We take up these roles because He tells us to, along with many other guidelines. Its worked for hundreds of years... I don't see why we should change it now.

We have no greater example than His.

So instead of attempting to crush our dreams of a healthy life long marriage or tell us our way (Gods way) is wrong, I ask you to dig deep, change your attitude & take the lessons you learned & help others to not make the same mistakes as you and/or your partner did. Being a positive reinforcement for us. Taking your negative & making it a positive by glorifying God through it all & helping those who are trying, that is the blessing He needs you to be.

Being bitter & negative is only doing the work of Satan & wasting time.

To those who are trying - Keep on keepn' on! You've got this!

Romans 8:31

Whats shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Stuffed Pork Chops

This recipe was inspired by another recipe that I would have used if I could have found the jalapeno bacon it called for... but I improvised & this recipe has fresh ingredients, which I love even more! :)

Ingredients
4 butterflied pork chops
Garlic salt
Pepper
Tooth picks

Stuffing Ingredients
Block of Smoked Gouda (found at Sams)
3-5 Jalapenos
Bacon

The stuffing is dictated by what flavor you like the most... I cooked 10 pieces of bacon, Diced 2 HUGE jalapenos, & cut the cheese into chunks that came to about 1/2 cup. You can give or take any of these ingredients to achieve the flavor you prefer... I achieved a perfect blend of all 3...

-Cook the bacon (crispy), place on a plate (with napkin) to cool & let grease drip off.
-Dice the jalapenos. (Fine)
-Cut Gouda..

-Place bacon in a zip-lock bag & crush/crumble into small pieces.

-In a small pot or sauce pan, mix all 3 ingredients & place on a very low simmer. As cheese begins to melt, stir until jalapenos & bacon are covered.

-You will get a gooey consistency. Turn off stove...

-Rinse chops & pat dry with a paper towel.

-Spoon stuffing into butterflied chops, place on a pan or large plate.

-Keep chops closed by using the tooth picks (I used 3 on each).

-Season both sides of chops with garlic salt & pepper. (I also stuffed a few extra chunks of cheese on the edges ... we love cheese!) lol

And a close up...

We grilled ours over charcoal. If you think the stuffing will drip out, cook on foil.

You can grill with gas or you can bake them for 40 minutes at 375. Cover pork chops with foil until the last 5-10 minutes. (Always cut into pork chops to make sure it's fully cooked!)

We served ours with salad & garlic butter steamed carrots! We also made jalapeño poppers with the 2 left over peppers to keep from wasting! (Sooo good!) 

The Romans Road To Salvation

This here is just a refresher on the Romans Road. It may be an older technique for winning souls for Christ, but it is still one of the best.

Romans

Chapter 3, Verse 23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Chapter 3, Verse 10

As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one:

Chapter 5, Verse 12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Chapter 6, Verse 23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Chapter 5, Verse 8

But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ dies for us.

Chapter 10, Verse 9-10

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with thine heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Chapter 10, Verse 13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Chapter 10, Verse 17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

You Are What You Eat!

First off
 I would like to say that I am no saint in the food area! I love pie, an occasional Coca Cola or Root beer & Lord knows I have been supporting Taco Bell hard core this past month! Those Grilled Stuffed Nachos are off the chain!! lol

Eating healthy has never been hard for me... I was raised on fruits & veggies. I thought Sprite was the only soda for years & I believed McDonald's was the only place that had it. I also thought McDonald's only served Sprite & hot fudge sundaes! (That's all we ever got from there!) Ha ha! & Craker Barrell was the only place we went to dinner. Sweet tea, Milk, lemonade, coffee & OJ were the only beverages found in our house on a regular basis. I've maybe had 5 lunchables in my whole life & 3 have been because of hunting season. I never had Hamburger Helper or a Pop Tart until I was 18 & moved out!

 I was obsessed with yogurt & Cole-slaw at the age of 3. I vaguely remember my birthdays under 6 but I 100% remember a birthday party of mine where all I wanted was Cole-slaw & that's all I ate!! My siblings & I must be the only kids in our generation that like oatmeal, cream of wheat, plain cornflakes with honey & frosted mini wheat cereal. Grapefruit was another breakfast tradition! I remember multiple occasions where us kids were running the neighborhood with muscadine grapes & sugar cane... munching away!! In our world fried platinos, fresh cream corn & sweet potatoes were desserts. Apple sauce was always served with dinner and 90% of the time there was a melon, avocado or tomato cut up on the table. Honey-do, crenshaw melon, papaya & mango...So Good!! Oh & we all loved dried fruit... even prunes, I actually have some at my house now...

I cherish all of these things & hope I can instill this love for good food in my kids. It breaks my heart to hear someone say they don't like a vegetable or fruit... They are really a gift from God!!
I would rather have steamed squash over cake & ice cream any day!!

Through my research (I have done A LOT), I have developed a guideline (Which is broken occasionally but with self control. That's why its a guideline, not a rule)... If God didn't make it that way... it can't be good for you! This kind of falls in the line of "Clean Eating" Which is THE BEST lifestyle you can implement. Its not a diet, its a whole life changing reform. Its the only eating plan that makes any sense! Of course all things need to be eaten in moderation even when eating clean (Shrimp/lobster, milk, & cream cheese... things naturally high in cholesterol & saturated fat. We need a little of both but we have to stay in control). I wouldn't really even say cheese was a "Clean" food but its not unhealthy. With this being said, I'm not a party pooper ... I believe in enjoying life & sometimes you need a juicy burger & fries from Steak N Shake to do that... lol but I, maybe have 2 all year & will sometimes pick sushi over a burger, & sushi is beyond healthy & clean! I really love the 80/20 rule... If you eat 6 small meals all 7 days then 20% would be 8.2 meals that you can indulge, but I wouldn't make the whole meal an indulgence... i.e.: If you eat Chick Fil A, get the fried chicken but opt for fruit & a water on the side...

If you ever hardcore eat clean, you will feel like crap for the first few days... your body is freaking out! But I promise if you push through, there is victory in the form of energy, better complexion & great mood!! I truly feel that I think more clear when I eat healthy!

If you ever stray from hardcore clean eating, you will pay for it... Again, your body is freaking out!! Things like Doritos may have never bothered you before but that's because your body was used to eating junk. Now its living free of harsh chemicals & finally being the best it can be & then BAM, you hit it with an atomic bomb!

Now, I am 100% against sugar substitutes, hormones, antibiotics, MSG & other preservatives....     I get a lot of negative feedback from a lot of people for not drinking diet drinks or even chewing gum made with aspartame(Why? I have no clue.. its my choice, there's always water, Bubble Yum & Tic Tacs). Say what you will but we didn't always know how bad asbestos or smoking cigarettes is/was but with growing technology we have proof that both kill slowly & painfully... why is this generation so ignorant to new research? Even if embalming fluid wasn't harmful, it still grosses me out to know that it's what we preserve the dead with & every time you chew a piece of Extra or Wrigley, you have embalming fluid in your mouth, seeping to your eyes, sinuses, brain & blood stream! What happened to good ole fashioned sugar?? What's 5 calories compared to 0 with deadly effects? Are we that demented that we would rather kill ourselves early just as long as we are thin while alive? And then no one is succeeding at losing weight on a "no sugar" diet because of all the other negative effects it has on the body that in turn, still keeps the weight on. Instead of checking the nutrition facts so much, check the ingredients section & Google all of these names you cant pronounce!

 Do your OWN research before you eat anything you are unsure of & when you start a new "diet", research what will happen if you eliminate that food group or nutrient!! Its not about being paranoid, its about being informed!!

My last point & I will leave it at this...

Many will make a valid point about how expensive eating healthy is. Please look up the prices of heart surgery, dialysis, chemotherapy & all of these other medical procedures that are needed as a result of poor diet. I would rather pay more for good food my whole life, feel great all the time & live longer.