Wouldn’t it be amazing if church was held outdoors? Or if every church was actually a large observatory? I always want to break past the walls and through the ceiling during worship. His love is too great to be contained in such a small place. I want to see it overflow! So thankful that worship isn’t only for a moment on a Sunday.
Blessings!
There is something beautiful that is learned throughout parenthood. As the years pass by you learn James 1:2-4 intimately.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
{James 1:2-4 ESV} {emphasis mine}
Those first few years when you’re struggling just to change diapers can tear you down. You’re balancing being an adequate spouse and a decent parent. And let’s not forget all the new mommy friends you feel you must appease at playgroups. You’re learning that it’s not all about you. That now you have a small life to take care of. Becoming a servant of God to a helpless little child is very humbling. And can be frustrating. But we need to remember, remember, remember James.
Count it all joy…
There was a time in our marriage when we had a couple small children and lots of friends with young ones also. Yet we stood out like a sore thumb. Every. Single. Friend we had had either lost a child or had a child with a lifelong disease. And I was so incredibly blessed by just knowing them. What they may not know is they were able to minister to me by the way they were living. They were able to count it all joy. They knew how quickly life can be taken away or how quickly news from a doctor can turn your life upside down. And because of the crosses they had to carry I was encouraged to “count it all joy”.
I am not here to discourage you. To make you feel like you have to do it all. No. Christ is the only One who can do all things and through Him we can, also. We are to trust that it is all for Him and not for our glory. If your child is acting up in a store then that is an opportunity for you to minister to your child. Not to roll your eyes and get upset. How you interact with your little one that day may encourage another passerby. Though you may think that person is staring at you for being a ‘bad mom’ or a ‘pushover’. Please don’t worry about what they think. Worry about what God thinks. Worry about how your words and actions will effect your child. Fill their ears with grace, not with anger.
I’m not perfect at this. I get angry. Yet I know that God has chiseled away a heart that was extremely more callous than it is now. Each moment we have to choose to not take for granted. Choose to be fully there. Fully present. Immerse yourself in what God wants you to do and not what the world wants you to do or what you want to do. Pray for a changed heart to be more like His.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
{James 1:5 ESV}
When an older woman tells me to ‘enjoy every moment’ I am encouraged and reminded. That sweet older woman has regrets. I have no doubt she dreams of being a young mother again. Wishing there were moments she could re-do. At the end we all will have regrets. But minimize those regrets now by not standing by and allowing these precious moments to pass by right under your nose. “Count it all joy…” Write it down. Write so that when you’re older you can pass on your wisdom to your children and to other young mothers. So that you can laugh at the memories you made. So that you can go back and read how awesome young motherhood was. The laughter and the hardships. Because when you look back you’re going to miss those times you were walking through a store with three children hanging off the cart, one trailing behind and one eating all the puffs from the new container you just picked from the shelf. You’ll glance over and see a young mother aggravated with her children and you’ll want to encourage her because you love her and don’t want her to carry regret. You’ll tell her to “Count it all joy…”
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 ESV}
Blessings!
Let me start out by saying I normally would not have read “Start Something That Matters.” It’s just not my kind of book. Not that I haven’t dreamed about starting some sort of ministry, but I definitely would never call myself an entrepreneur. I leave that title to my husband and he wears it proudly. Start Something That Matters was written by Blake Mycoskie, the creator of TOMS. You can learn more about them here.
So I started the book hesitantly but it surpassed any expectation I may have had. It easily became one of my favorite books. The encouragement. The transparency. It was so refreshing. It’s definitely not a typical business-advice kind of book. This goes beyond the business world and dives into serving others and making your life worth more than dollar signs. And it is full of humor. It’s also full of names. Watch where you step cause they are droppin’ like flies. Let me tell ya, I am not a fan of name droppers at all. Unless you’re lifting up the name of Jesus I could care less about who you know. But the stories he fills this book with. The obstacles all of these amazing companies have overcome. It makes me want to ‘start something that matters.’ Or even to ‘join in on something that matters.’ I will definitely be forcing encouraging my husband to read this! And nowadays there are so many people who are ready to break away and start their own businesses. SSTM is a great source of encouragement in a world that seems overpacked with small businesses already. You can make a difference.
I was beyond excited when I received the book in the mail. And honestly I was surprised. They were thoughtful enough to send me a book to review and also one to giveaway. And let me tell ya, whoever wins this book is going to be blessed! Be prepared to be on fire to start something! Your brain will be reeling as you fly through this book. So yes, today we have a giveaway! Enter below for your chance to win “Start Something That Matters”. And…….
A $20 gift card to TOMS! You can then choose your own size and style and be a part of the giving. And let’s be real, these shoes aren’t cheap, so anything to help you get a pair so you can encourage others to support this inspiring company. Get involved and help place shoes on the feet of a child who otherwise would be exposed to the dangers of his environment.
You can comment up to four times!
1. What would you get with your TOMS gift card?
2. Subscribe to the email list and leave a comment saying you did. { top right of this page ^ }
3. Like Eucharisteo on Facebook and leave a comment saying you did.
4. Follow Eucharisteo on Twitter and, again, leave a comment saying you did.
I will draw a name on January 27th and announce the winner that day! My best to all of you!
Blessings!
This simple salad has been a staple during the Daniel Fast for me. It’s very filling and very nutritious. A love of sushi helps. The ingredients are all a kind of use-however-much-you-want. It’s like making any kind of salad. Use less or more of what you like.
Ingredients
a sheet of nori
one avocado
cooked quinoa
1t dark sesame oil
2T tamari
hot sauce {the photo above is from pre-Daniel Fast and I used sriracha, but that is not allowed on the fast as it has sugar and such}
Simply put about a cup of quinoa in a bowl and add the tamari and sesame oil. Stir together. Add diced avocado and a sheet of shredded Nori. I just ripped it but I have used scissors before. You can use half an avocado or a whole avocado depending on size and how hungry you are. Then add a few drops of hot sauce and enjoy! This dish is simply devine! A great switch up from the normal day to day meals. Although, after almost 21 days I’m getting kind of tired of it.
I hope this helps you on your fast!
Blessings!
When was the last time you received something in the mail that was hand written? I bet your heart leapt a little when you saw handwriting among all the bills stuffed within your post box. Maybe it was colorful? {those are the best!} A birthday card? A surprise letter from a friend far away? Whatever it was it more than likely made your day. And, if you’re like me, you still have it. I don’t keep emails. They’re so easily sent back and forth and with little thought. But a card or a letter. Well now, those take time, money and thought. Those tell me that somebody was thinking of little me. That I was heavy in their thoughts that day. And that feeling of worth is desperately needed nowadays by all of us.
We so easily throw our thoughts out there on social media, whether people care or not. And comments come in, whether they are welcome or not. We’ve all tried to delete comments or emails that, after a few seconds of thought, we regretted sending. A handwritten something takes time. You’re thinking about what you’re going to write as you go to the store and pick out the card. As you find a pen. As you take a seat and write the recipients name. You even have time to review what you’ve written as you wait for the postman. Time, all this time, spent on one person who is probably longing for a feeling of recognition.
Bless someone today and write to them. You could easily use a piece of notebook paper. Or you could go a little farther and send a beautiful heartfelt card. Dayspring has a wonderful selection of cards you can choose from. They also have a great card club, the Heart Connection Card Club, at a great deal. Which gives you time to think ahead of who you can send cards to. And a fantastic card organizer! The rare times I’ve actually had blank cards in the house I usually toss them in a drawer and don’t find them again til years later. This organizer will easily keep me up to date on birthdays and able to send loved ones notes on a whim without having to tear the house apart. And can I be honest? I don’t like the cards at the grocery store. They’re so plain. But something filled with His word, now that’s beautiful.
So here below you can see what you get with the Heart Connection Card Club.
{Card Organizer}
{Many collections of cards to choose from}
{The organizer has inserts that help you to keep track of birthdays and important dates}
{Wonderful accordion type organizer to keep you on top and ahead so you can bless your friends and family}
So today I’m sending a card to a dear friend of mine from back home. She is planning a mission trip to Haiti this spring with her entire family. My husband and I have a heart for Haiti and are excited to be partnering with her in this mission. I’m also excited and praying about who the Lord wants me to bless next.
Take time today and set out to bless someone who has been on your heart this week. You have no idea how drastically you can improve someones day by taking time for them. And please, remember to pray before and while you are writing that the Spirit may give you the words that will touch this special soul.
Blessings!
