{Life's Been Busy....}

Can A Momma Get An "Amen"?

I mean, life has been ...crazy...

I've totally been slacking & apologize for those of you who keep up with my blog, Facebook page etc.

Not only does life get crazy with having an almost one year old, a just turned two year old, a 5 month preggo body & the daily activities of *life* .. But we recently all caught a bug of some sort & were all sick and in the hospital (besides the hubs) ... let me tell you how NOT FUN that was. . . . . . it wasn't fun, at ALL. :)

So, I'm going to try to get back in the routine of things. I like having a window of opportunity to share the gospel in any way, to chat about things we have in common, to pray for each other in times of joy and heartache and to just be able to have that bond of being sisters in Christ.

I'll share my devotions that I did today with you. This was a humbling thought for me. Especially because I've known this verse since I was a little girl. I've heard it countless times, read it many times, it's in a kids song ... I mean, the majority of us know this verse ... BUT ... do we * L I V E * this verse? Truly... do we?

Think about it ... ;)

Praying for each one of you!

Linds

{Initial Outfitters}

Wanted to share with you some FABULOUS deals online right now. All the items below are discounted! You can catch some great steals right now! Check them out and let me know if you have any questions!

Linds

proverbs30.1@gmail.com

http://www.initialoutfitters.net/shop/productdetail.aspx?prod=JN0392

WAS $70
NOW $49

http://www.initialoutfitters.net/shop/productdetail.aspx?prod=JN0496-0200

WAS $29
NOW $20

http://www.initialoutfitters.net/shop/productdetail.aspx?prod=GG0084-0800

WAS $39
NOW $27

http://www.initialoutfitters.net/shop/productdetail.aspx?prod=JB0383-0100

WAS $16
NOW $11

http://www.initialoutfitters.net/shop/productdetail.aspx?prod=KA0002-0500

WAS $21
NOW $10

http://www.initialoutfitters.net/shop/productdetail.aspx?prod=EH0051-0100

WAS $36
NOW $18



There are even MORE fabulous deals!
Just click on the link below to see!

http://www.initialoutfitters.net/shop/catalog.aspx

{Guest Post | Lauren Faye}

[1 Corinthians 9:16]

“When you arrive in heaven, I wonder if Christ might say, "Because of you, others are here today. Wanna meet 'em?" –Max Lucado

I posted the Max Lucado quote to my Facebook this past week when I saw it on someone else’s.  It stopped me in my tracks when I read it.  I sat back and really thought about that question.  If I were to go to Heaven right now, would I look around and see anyone who is there because of me?  Is there anyone who will walk the streets of gold with me because I shared the gospel to them?

Last night, I read the verse from 1 Corinthians where Paul tells us that preaching the gospel gives us no ground for boasting.  He says that it is a NECESSITY laid upon us.  I thought about this in relation to the quote by Max Lucado.  If it is a necessity that we preach the gospel, then there is no question that there should be people in our presence in Heaven there because of us.

We are not “encouraged” to preach the gospel.  It is not a suggestion.  It is a commandment.  It is necessary to fulfill the role as followers of Christ.  If we have truly been saved, our lives have been changed, and it is our duty to share that with those around us, so that they may come to know Jesus, too.

Though sharing the gospel and witnessing with your testimony is the best way to share God’s word, we can do so in our everyday lives, everywhere we go, too.  We are called to be changed people.  Our every move should be a reflection of the change God made in our hearts.  The way we respond to that coworker, the attitude we have toward the work we have to do, the way we speak to one another.  One of my favorite quotes used to be on the back of an FCA tshirt and said “Witness always.  Use words if you have to.”

We should be a reflection of who Christ is every single minute of every day.  It is an absolute NECESSITY that we are.  Because I don’t know about you, but when I get to Heaven I want to see a crowd so thick that I can’t see through them of people who are there because of me.

{Lauren Faye Bond, Guest Post}

{Quick Cake}

Quick Cake

1 C. Sugar
1 1/2 C. Flour
1/2 Tsp. Salt

{Mix together and reserve 1/3 cup of this mixture...}

Add to the bowl:

1 C. Milk

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

2 Tsp. Cinnamon

{Mix that together, pour in a baking dish & top with the 1/3 cup of reserved mixture...

Pop it in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes... super easy, yummy!}

*Picture to come when it's done baking!

{...From The Heart...}

How's your attitude in doing God's will and not your will? 

Are you doing it "from the heart"? 

Willingly?

{Planting |MY| Seed...}

{Best Chicken Parmesan}

Ingredients:

3-4 Small Chicken Breasts

1 C. Buttermilk

2 Eggs

2 C. Italian Panko Bread Crumbs (Yes, you can use regular bread crumbs, but the crust won't be as good & fluffy or crisp as you'll get it with panko...)

1/2 -1 C. Flour

1/2 C. Butter (Or oil of your choice)

S & P

Angel Hair Pasta, Cooked

Favorite Homemade or Store Bought Pasta Sauce

Cast Iron Skillet

*My hubby doesn't like the normal tomato sauce, so I make Alfredo 

sauce for his pasta & for the top of his chicken.

Directions:

Get three bowls big enough to fit your chicken in. In one, put your flour & season it with salt and pepper. In the next, place your whisked eggs and buttermilk, combine well. In the third add your panko. Lay out your chicken on a cutting board and pound it out, thin. After this, add your butter or oil to your cast iron skillet and heat on medium.  

Next, add your chicken breasts (one at a time) to your flour mixture, egg & buttermilk, then last your panko. After repeating the process with each chicken breast - plop it in your hot skillet! Cook until golden brown on each side and then pop it in the oven (350 Degrees) for 10 - 15 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken. Just make sure it is cooked through.

Cook your pasta and heat up or make your pasta sauce.

When your chicken is almost done, take the skillet out of the oven and put your pasta sauce on the chicken then your grated parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and cook for five more minutes until cheese is melted.

Serve with your pasta, a veggie & some yummy garlic bread!

Enjoy, Linds

{The Richest Life Ever... FOR FREE!}

Are you living the rich life you have been 

given by GOD, to the fullest?

{Why Me?}

Have you ever had the feeling that you are always at the receiving end of bad things? Ever been so frustrated that you simply wanted to scream, “Why ME?” Maybe the problem is not that things are going bad but that they just don’t seem to be going right! You are not paranoid but sometimes you are quite sure that you can hear the devil speaking to you: “You are healed, are you? So, why are you still in so much pain? God should provide your needs but you can barely make ends meet! 

Let's not forget this verse....


Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 


If we are truly thinking about the reality of the "pain" and "tribulations" we go through in life... God has a plan for those tribulations, He knew you were going to go through the struggles you may be going through right now... But, isn't there always something or someone that has is much worse than we do?

*Count your blessings, name them one by one....*

I think the book of Job is such a picture of the average Christians life. We live our lives doing what we know is right and then because we are in the world, we are subject to the side effects of sin. Those being sickness, financial ruin, etc... Some of these things are out of our control - such as unexpected health issues. Most of the time, it just happens. But it is all in our attitude and how we choose to walk it out. 

{By faith or by fear...} 

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

By faith keeping focused that our Heavenly Father is leading us, even in the unknown areas... HE desires to lead us! Or by fear, allowing us to be paralyzed by or circumstances and not moving at all. The grand thing is, that in the "big picture" of life - It won't even matter when we get to Heaven what has happened here. That is when we will finally be in perfect health, no more financial worries and no more grief, pain or fear! It's all about enduring, just like Job did and hanging in there, even when it seems to be the end, there's always a happy ending when Jesus is involved. But, not just settling at enduring the hard times - striving to have that faith we should have & live out the testimony we should while here on this "sick" earth....

So, determine in your heart right now to live out your life in FAITH, with faith - everything - trusting in our Saviour & knowing He will provide and He desires for us to place our burdens on Him... 

Question is - are you walking with Him? Do you have that relationship to go to Christ and just pour out your heart, your desires, your needs? 

He already knows what they are....

But - we must be willing to have the relationship.

Don't be a "why me" ....
Be thankful, have faith & count your blessings ....

Psalm 55:22

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

{A Servant's Heart.. Do You Have One?}

How is my *SeRVaNT'S HeaRT* doing?

 Do I have one at all? 

How can I be more of a servant for CHRIST?

 Putting Christ before myself, following HIS will - not mine... 

and then putting others before myself....

{Your Words, Your Conversations}

Are the words coming out of your mouth glorifying God?

What about the conversations with your spouse? Your friends? Your kids? What you say on Facebook? Through Texting? Would you say and have the conversations you're having if He was PHYSICALLY next to you?

{Pray Without Ceasing....}

Am I REALLY, truly - praying withOUT ceasing?

Not just when I need or want something or am struggling in life... 

but always? In everything? 

INDULGE in prayer with our Heavenly Father?

{Pasta Carbonara With Sauteed Chicken}

Ingredients:

12 ounces, weight Pasta, Any Variety

3-4 sautéed chicken breasts, sliced

8 pieces Thick Cut Bacon, diced Small

½ whole Medium Onion, Diced Small

2 cloves Garlic, Minced

3 whole Eggs

¾ cups Finely Grated Parmesan

¾ cups Heavy Cream

Salt & Plenty Of Black Pepper

½ cups chopped broccoli, cooked

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions.

While the pasta is cooking, sauté the chicken in a few tablespoons of butter… I use a cast iron skillet for this. When the chicken is cooked, remove it, then fry the bacon until just barely crisp. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels. Pour off all of the bacon grease, but don’t clean the pan. Return the pan to the stove over medium-low heat and throw in the onions and garlic. Cook until golden brown. Set aside.

In a bowl, mix together eggs, Parmesan, cream, and salt and pepper until smooth.

When the pasta is done, reserve a cup or two of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and place it in a bowl. While the pasta is still really hot, slowly drizzle in the egg mixture, stirring the pasta the whole time. The sauce will become thick and should coat the pasta. Splash in a little hot pasta water if needed for consistency.

Halfway through, add the cooked broccoli, bacon, and sautéed onion/garlic. Finish adding the sauce, stirring until it’s all combined.

Serve immediately with extra Parmesan. Delish!

{Devo.A.Day}

How do we really feel about this verse? 

Are we truly living this way as Paul did?

{Homemade Meat Spaghetti Sauce}

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium chopped onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cans diced tomatoes, chopped
• 1  can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 tablespoon basil
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• salt and pepper
• 
  

Directions:

In cast iron skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and garlic until meat is brown.

Drain the fat, if necessary ...Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
Reduce to simmer for an hour or plop it in your slow cooker and let simmer all day...

the longer, the better.... ;)

{Go Ye Into All The World...}

Mark 16:15

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

Matthew 5:16

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Where is your "world" ...

are you letting your *light* shine ...

{Magic Cookie Bars}

Magic Cookie Bars

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 (14 ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 cups semisweet chocolate chops

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Coat a 9x13 baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.

Combine the graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan.  Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture.  Layer evening with chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts.  Press firmly down with a fork.  Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cur into bars or diamonds.  Store covered at room temperature.

(I snapped the photo right before putting the yummy-ness in the oven!)

{Armour Of God}

God Is Providing His Armour That We Need So Desperately...

Are We Willing To Put It On?

{Psalms 150:6}

{1 Peter 1:16}