Fancy-Free Friday

"Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands." ~Elisabeth Elliot

Happy Friday to you my friends!  I hope you had a good week!  Today I would like to share a few recipes that you could make for the upcoming 4th of July, or anytime this summer. 

My hubby has planted a garden for the last couple of years now, and if you've ever had home-grown veggies from your own garden, you know there's nothing quite like it.  My husband got his first tomato from the garden a few days ago, and used it to fix a fried egg, country ham and tomato sandwich.  I had to laugh when he took the first bite and exclaimed, "Life is good!" If you've never had tomatoes, fresh from the garden, you just don't know what you're missing.

Okay, so the first recipe is squash casserole, by Paula Deen (The Lady & Sons Too!).  I have made this casserole several times and it is so good.  I took it to a ladies get-together once and they raved about how yummy it was, so I think you will be pleased with it.


Squash Casserole:

2 cups cooked mashed yellow squash (I cooked it in a little olive oil in a skillet till it was soft)
2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup shredded cheese, such as Cheddar or Swiss
1 cup chopped onion (I didn't use onion because Brittany abhors onions)
2 eggs, lightly beaten 
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
Pinch of sugar
6 tablespoons butter (You know if it's Paula Deen, it's gonna have lots of butter)

Place the squash in a large bowl.  Add the cracker crumbs, milk, cheese, and onion, and stir well.  Stir in the eggs, salt, pepper, sugar, and butter, and pour into greased 1-quart casserole dish.  Bake @ 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  That's it!  Trust me, if you love squash, you will love this recipe!



Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob:

4 to 6 ears of corn, or however many will fit in your oven (keep it in the husk because it holds in the moisture)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place corn directly on oven rack and roast for 30 minutes, or until soft
Peel back husk and silks, add butter, salt and pepper

I found this recipe by Tyler Florence.  I have not tried it yet, but I am a huge fan of roasted corn on the cob.  I remember eating it as a child when it was cooked in the ashes of a campfire.  Oh, it was so good!  Here's a link to the recipe I found online: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/oven-roasted-corn-on-the-cob-recipe/index.html



Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

1/2 gallon milk
5 eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup chocolate/cocoa (or you can always use fruit too if you don't want chocolate)
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt

Heat milk on medium heat until warm.  Combine eggs, sugar and salt in a separate bowl.  Add chocolate or fruit.  Add all ingredients to warmed milk.  Add vanilla.  Place in ice cream freezer.  Add enough milk to fill freezer.  Homemade ice cream is one of the best things about summertime!  This recipe comes from one of my husband's cousins. Enjoy! 


Until next time my friends, be blessed!  Have a great weekend and stay cool!

Pearl of the Day: Life's A Dance

Welcome back dear friends!  Happy Thursday to you! I hope you got a chance to read the first part of Brittany's story yesterday.  Today she shares how she has grown through those challenges and difficulties. Please feel free to leave her a comment in the comment section below.  I'm sure she would appreciate any encouragement you would like to share with her.  Thanks my friends!

And now, the conclusion......

"For a while I thought that was the end of the story.  I thought the same things would keep repeating over and over.  But thankfully, in this case at least, I was wrong.  That story took place about four or five years ago, after our dog chewed up my first pair of hearing aids.  And because they are so expensive, I wasn't able to get another pair for a while.  So, during that time, life was pretty bleak, as I'm sure you can tell from the previous story.

Thankfully, I'm not the same person I was then.  I've grown a lot, (not necessarily in inches) and I've learned a lot as well.  Despite how hard it is to deal with hearing impairment, which I know is even more difficult for those who are completely deaf, it has, and continues, to teach me a great deal.  There are many things I doubt I would have learned otherwise.  And I think, for the most part, I've come to accept that this is who I am.  Just as having hazel eyes are a part of me, so this is too.  Of course, that doesn't make it any less difficult, and some days I still get discouraged, angry even, and all those stupid questions come flying at me again.  So, I get mad, and sometimes I feel like crying, but then I remember all the things it's taught me.  I let go and move on.  Now I'm even able to appreciate my hearing loss, in a way, thinking of it as a sort of strange blessing.  Because even though I don't have all the answers, and I probably never will, that's okay.  God does.  If He wants me to know, He'll tell me.  I'll just have to be content with that.  Most of the time it's easier said than done, but I'm trying.

Having to deal with hearing loss has helped to shape me into the person I am today.  It's made me more compassionate and given me an understanding of others who are hearing impaired.  The kind of understanding that can only come from personal experience.  It's helped me be more patient with those who struggle with similar issues.  And though I probably won't ever master this one, it's helped me see that sometimes things happen that I may never know the reason for.  All I can do is try my best to accept that God allowed it for a reason, that He'll get me through the tough stuff, as long as I seek Him.  He'll give me the strength to make it.  I'll even be able to enjoy the scenery along the way, though sometimes I think I fail at that.  But that's okay, because I'm still learning.  I'm learning more and more how to deal with it.  Learning that it's okay to let others know that I can't hear them.  It's okay to ask them to speak up or repeat themselves.  And I'm learning that sometimes I will inevitably encounter people who are ignorant and don't understand.  I have to realize that it's not my fault when someone makes mean, inconsiderate comments or remarks.  I have to try my best not to let it affect me.  I know the things they say aren't true.  They're just being immature and need to grow up.  I won't waste my time on them.  There are more important things to spend time thinking about.

Finally, I'm learning that it isn't so much about the final outcome as much as it is about the journey and the lessons I learn along the way, and the things God is teaching me.  I'm learning not to get so caught up in my problems and where I'm at right now, that I miss out on His many blessings.  It's a long trip, so I may as well try to enjoy myself along the way."


This brings us to the end of Brittany's story.  I hope it has been a blessing to you my friends.  I am so very proud of the young woman Brittany has become.  She has inspired and encouraged me as I've watched her grow over the years.  There have been many difficulties, but there have also been many blessings.  I am one very blessed mama!

The time Brittany spoke of where our dog chewed up one of her hearing aids was one of those situations where the realization of what happened makes you feel physically sick.  We were sitting in the living room watching a movie, when I happened to hear this crunching noise.  I immediately looked under the coffee table only to discover our dog, Zoe, chewing on something.  I asked Brittany where her hearing aids were, and as she looked over at the coffee table, I could feel this horrible sense of dread come over me as I immediately knew what Zoe was chewing on.  I quickly bent down to grab the hearing aid from the dog.  Thankfully she had only chewed on one, but the damage had already been done, and although it wasn't completely destroyed, it was beyond repair.  The look on Brittany's face could only be described as one of deep regret.  She started apologizing profusely for leaving her hearing aids on the coffee table, and I knew she was truly sorry, but all I could do was cry.  I knew how hard it had been, financially, for us to get those hearing aids because our insurance did not cover the cost.  We were already struggling financially, so when I saw how damaged the hearing aid was, I knew there was no way we were going to be able to get another one anytime soon.  I walked in my bedroom where my husband was, feeling completely and totally overwhelmed in knowing that we would not be able to buy a replacement hearing aid, which meant Brittany would not have the hearing assistance she needed.  My husband immediately asked me what was wrong when he saw how upset I was.  I told him what had happened and he came over and held me until the tears stopped.  We were not able to get Brittany a new set of hearing aids for about a year, and even in that short amount of time, the cost had increased significantly.  It's really sad that people pay a tremendous amount of money to have insurance, yet the cost of something like hearing aids, which are desperately needed for the hearing impaired, are not covered.  Something needs to change.

Although we all struggle with different challenges in this life, each of our stories are important.  Every chapter of our lives matter.  The challenges we go through are what has shaped us and helped to make us the person we are today.  We are not alone in the things we go through.  We may often times feel that way, but God is always there.  Until next time my friends, be blessed!

"Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing those you hold well." ~Josh Billings

"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood." ~Helen Keller

Pearl of the Day: Feeling Alone, Even in a Crowd

 "The hopeful man sees success where others see failure, sunshine where others see shadows and storm." ~O.S. Marsden

Hello my bloggy friends!  It's finally Wednesday and I get to share my baby's post today!  I know, I know, she's twenty, but she's still my baby, and always will be.  I asked Brittany if she would guest post on my blog about three weeks ago because I really felt like her story needed to be told.  I will be breaking her story up into two separate posts, so make sure to come back Thursday for the conclusion.

Yesterday I filled you in on some of the details of the challenges we've been through with the vision problems and hearing loss.  Today, Brittany will share things from her perspective.  She will share her heart with you and how difficult it's been for her.  I teared up while reading what she wrote.  As hard as I know it's been for her, reading her account of the pain and loneliness she felt makes my heart break for her all over again. 

Her story begins like this......

"I stand amongst a small group of people.  People my age.  People I call friends.  I look from one face to the next, trying to read the expressions I see, trying to figure out which of them is talking.  Someone must have told a joke or said something funny because everyone laughs.  Everyone except me.  Not because I don't think it's funny.  I probably would have.  If I'd heard it.  But I didn't.  In fact, I don't hear anything that's being said.  I just stand here watching everyone else contribute to the conversation, wondering what they're talking about, wondering what's so funny, wondering if they see me at all, or if my lack of hearing makes me invisible to them.

Some of these people, who I call my friends, know.  They know I have hearing loss.  They know I can't tell what's going on. Yet, they make no effort to include me.  They act as though I'm not there at all.  I'm just empty space.  I'm invisible.  I'm trapped inside my own glass bubble, shut out from everyone else.  The sound isn't loud enough to penetrate through this barrier between me and everyone else.  Between me and normal.  I am an outsider.

Since I don't want to seem weird or stupid, I just put on a smile and pretend to look at something out the window.  I find myself actually hoping that no one will talk to me, because, although I really do wish to be included, it's easier to be left alone.  Because I'm afraid.  If someone does talk to me, I won't know what they're saying, and if I have to ask them to repeat themselves more than once, they'll most likely get annoyed, say forget it, walk away.  Talking to me is just not worth the trouble.  I know this all too well.  I've been there many times before.  But most people don't bother at all, so I don't have much to worry about.  To them, I'm the quiet, "shy" girl, who keeps to herself.

At home, in the comfort and safety of my room, I've got so many questions going through my head.  Why me, God?  I don't understand why some people have perfect hearing and others don't.  Why do some people's lives look so easy, while mine is a challenge to get through ordinary things?  Why can't I hear the preacher?  The squeaky bathroom door?  The microwave beeps?  Why can't I hear the birds sing in the morning?  I don't understand and it doesn't make sense.  It gets lonely and depressing.  Having this problem makes everyday conversation difficult.  I dread coming in contact with other people.  I try to stay home as much as possible.  Become depressed.  Lose faith.  I worry that some day I'll lose what hearing I have left.  I feel so alone.  No one knows how I feel.  No one understands.  Every effort to be normal, to be liked, is pointless.  It all fails.  I'm stuck alone.  Forever."

This is where I will close for today.  Please come back tomorrow for the rest of Brittany's story.  Hope is never far away.  Until then my friends, be blessed!


"Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us." ~Samuel Smiles

Pearl of the Day: Turning Our Mess Into A Message

 "It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to go forward with a great desire forever beating at the door of our hearts as we travel toward our distant goal." ~Helen Keller

Good Tuesday to you my friends!  I hope your week is starting off to be a good one!  Yesterday I talked about how each of us has our own unique challenges, or obstacles, that we go through in life.  I shared a little about some of the challenges my older daughter, Brittany, has faced already in her young life.  I would like to take a few minutes in today's message to tell you a little more about those challenges.

Brittany told me one day when she was eight years old, "Mom, I can't see the cow clock."  The way her bed was positioned in her room, she could see the cow clock on the wall in the dining room if she were laying on her bed with her door open.  At first I wasn't sure what she meant, so I asked, "What do you mean, you can't see it?"  She said it was all blurry and she couldn't see it.  She had never had any vision problems up to this point, so this all came as a surprise to me and my husband.  This was the beginning of our journey with these vision problems.  Her vision got so bad that she could not read anything at all, unless I re-typed it in the largest font, which was a 72, and even then it was still difficult.  I am so thankful we were homeschooling, which allowed me to make adjustments to suit our situation.  The vision problems improved slowly over the course of a year after they started, but even after the improvement, her vision did not go back to the way it was before.  She is able to see most things fairly well, but will probably never be able to drive at night, nor can she see in the dark.  She wears glasses to watch t.v. and see things far away, and even then, some of those things still aren't totally clear.  After all the doctors, exams, and tests she went through, and there were many, not one of them could tell us what was wrong or why she was having those problems at the time.  Brittany went to see my optometrist for a yearly eye exam a few years ago, and he seemed to think that the problems she had came from a bout of optic neuritis.  He actually asked us if anything had ever happened with her eyes while he was examining her because he could tell that something had happened.  Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to repair what damage has been done, but I will however, continue to pray for the Great Physician to heal and restore her vision.  He is my Hope, even against all the odds.

As far as the hearing loss I spoke of earlier, that has been a whole other story.  If you've never been through a similar situation, there is no way for me to explain the pain of seeing your child struggle with something like this.  I have wished, more than one time over the years, that I could take the hearing loss on myself and give her my hearing, so she could have normal, healthy hearing.  I have prayed, and prayed, and prayed over the years for God to heal and restore her hearing, all to no avail.  After all that she went through with the vision problems, I felt very angry that God would allow this to happen to her.  I have cried many, many nights because I felt so helpless to be able to help her or to make things better for her.

After many years of struggling with this situation and trying to understand why, I finally came to the conclusion that God has a greater plan for my daughter than what I can see.  Things are not always as they seem.  He can work in and through her situation regardless of the challenges she lives with every day.  He would not have allowed these things to happen, if it were not for her good, and for the good of others whom she may be able to encourage and help one day.  I will continue praying for her hearing to be healed and restored, but I'm also praying that God will use what she has/is going through for His glory.  I want Him to do something beyond our comprehension with these challenges she deals with on a daily basis.  I want what she has gone through to be an encouragement for someone else who may be feeling discouraged and forgotten.

I know I'm her mom, and my opinion may be biased, but I think she is pretty darn amazing in the way she has handled these challenges.  She told me something not too long ago that really made me stop and wonder how in the world she could say that.  She said, "I don't think I would want my hearing back even if I could have it back."  I just looked at her and said, "What?!?!" "Why would you say that???"  She told me that if she had not been through what she had, with the struggles she faced every day, she would not have the understanding and compassion for others who struggle with similar problems.  She would not know how they feel or what it's like to have those challenges in life, if she had not walked it out herself.  She is very passionate in her stand against people being bullied and teased because they are different, no matter what that difference may be.  It bothers her a lot when someone is made fun of or picked on.  She knows how it feels to have someone make fun of you. She knows what it feels like to be ignored.  She knows what a struggle it is to feel left out because you can't hear and keep up with a conversation.  She has handled all of these things so much better than I have.  She inspires me and encourages me.  I am excited about the things that God is going to do in her life.  I know He must have some really big plans for her because of all the challenges she's been through so far.

I will close here today my friends.  Please be sure to stop by tomorrow for Brittany's guest post.  She will share what it's been like to personally walk through this journey so far.  Never underestimate what God has planned for you.  Even when it seems that things are at their worst, God can cause something good to come from it.  He can take our mess and turn it into a message.  Until next time my friends, be blessed!

"Adversity is like a strong wind.  It tears away from us all the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are." ~Arthur Golden 

Pearl of the Day: The Obstacle Course of Life

"Whatever you do, you need courage.  Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.  There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.  To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs.  Peace has it's victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Obstacle courses are not easy things to get through.  They require a great amount of strength and endurance.  We each have a different set of obstacles for our own course in life.  We may be required to run, jump, crawl, climb, swim, and even maintain our balance as we walk through the challenges we face.  The main point of an obstacle course is to test ones abilities, speed, and endurance.  No matter the course, it's something no one else can do for us.  Life can definitely be an exhausting obstacle course to get through at times.

Some of the obstacles we go through are things not everyone will understand, no matter how much explaining we try to do.  Empathy only comes from walking in another person's shoes.  I've learned that there's nothing quite like personal experience to give you a deeper understanding when someone else is going through a similar situation.  Just as I have a deeper understanding and compassion for people who suffer with chronic pain issues because of the challenges of fibromyalgia I live with every day, each of us can relate on a deeper level with others who have been where we are. We all walk through our own unique set of challenges in this life, and having someone there who can relate to you and what you're going through can make all the difference in the world.

My older daughter is an example of someone who has had her share of challenges in the obstacle course of life.  She is only twenty years old, but she has already walked through so many difficult things up to this point.  She was diagnosed with a hearing loss when she was eleven years old, and suffered with serious vision problems before that.  She has a deeper understanding of the challenges this particular obstacle course presents.

As her mama, the things she has gone through have pierced my heart in ways I cannot explain.  I will be sharing a little more about that tomorrow, and she will be sharing some things with you on Wednesday because I have asked her to write a guest post about her journey with hearing loss.  Please be sure to stop back by for that.  Until then my friends, be blessed!


"We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way." ~Gloria Gather

Fancy-Free Friday

Look at the lilies and how they grow.  They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.   And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.  Why do you have so little faith?  And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink.  Don’t worry about such things.  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.  So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. ~Luke 12:27-32 (NLT)

Happy Friday to you my friends!  I hope your week has been a good one!  Today I'll be sharing some of my favorite photos with you, as well as some of my favorite songs and quotes.  I hope you will be blessed and enjoy them!  Have a great weekend!

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were big things." ~Author Unknown

 "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain." Author Unknown

 "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant." ~Robert Louis Stevenson

 "God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me." ~ Author Unknown

"A bend in the road is not the end of the road....unless you fail to make the
 turn." ~ Author Unknown






"You may not be able to make a difference to everyone, but you can make a difference to someone. Don't live your life thinking you don't matter. You do matter! Don't hold back.....pour your life into those people God brings into your life, no matter how long that may be, or what the end result may be. Don't withdraw from life and love because of past hurts. A life worth living is worth loving." ~S. Hastings (me)

"Never take someone for granted, hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you have lost a true diamond while you were too busy collecting stones“ ~ Author Unknown

"We all want to know that we matter, that we're worth fighting for, that when the going gets tough we won't be left by the wayside alone. Jesus thought you were worth dying for. He gave His very life because He loved you and thought you were worth all the pain and suffering He had to endure. No greater love will there ever be than His love for you." ~S. Hastings (me)

 Inspirational Songs:

Check out my playlist for some of my favorite worship songs (listed below): http://pl.st/p/23432018187

*Revelation Song

*Power of Your Love

*I Lift My Hands

*Holy Is The Lord

*Oh How He Loves Us

*Amazing Love

*What Faith Can Do

"Every day may not be good, but there's something good

 in every day."  ~Author Unknown

Until next time my friends, be blessed!  Have a great weekend! 

Pearl of the Day: Just Say No to Assumptions

Don't make assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life. ~Miguel Angel Ruiz

Have you ever assumed something that wasn't true?  Maybe you assumed someone was mad at you, or didn't like you, because they didn't speak to you.  Maybe you went out of your way to help a friend and they didn't respond in the way you wanted, so you assumed they didn't care about you, or that they didn't love you.  Maybe you assumed something about someone else based on what you heard about them.  I've made the mistake of assuming things quite a few times in the past, only to find out later that my assumptions were totally wrong.  When we assume things, we create our own reality based on what we think and how we feel, not necessarily on what is true.  Assuming things can be dangerous and it can cause undo stress and conflict, especially when you react in a negative way based on those assumptions.

How many times have you heard something negative about someone and assumed it was true?  This is another area where assumptions can be dangerous and harmful.  I recall one occasion where a person was telling a story about a situation with some people I knew personally.  Not only was this person telling me their version of the story, but they were telling it to a room full of people.  The story being told was painting a very negative picture of these people.  As I stood there listening to this, I could actually feel myself getting angry because the people being accused were not there to defend themselves.  My sense of wanting to defend them rose up and I spoke out against what this person was saying.  Instead of just assuming that what was being said was true, I later asked the person who was being talked about if there were any truth to what had been said about them.  They told me they never said or did what they had been accused of.  As a matter of fact, they broke down crying because it hurt them so bad to know that someone was saying such unkind, untrue things about them, especially in front of a room full of people.  I knew this person well enough to know that they would tell me the truth, even if they had done what they had been accused of.  Thankfully, in this situation, I didn't just assume what was being said was the truth.

It's best not to make assumptions, or jump to conclusions, in situations where we don't know all the facts.  Don't just assume someone knows how you feel.  It's more likely that they don't have a clue.  We make a huge mistake when we do this.  No one knows how we feel unless we share that with them.

I've learned that the majority of the time, the people we make the assumptions about didn't even know there was a problem.  Many times people have stressful situations going on in their own life and they do not intentionally ignore us.  They may be feeling overwhelmed because of things going on.  I've had that happen to me where I was not intentionally ignoring someone, but that's what they assumed.  At that time I had so much stress in my life and I felt like I was ready to have a melt down.  Sometimes we also assume that just because we would handle something a certain way that we think everyone else should be able to handle it that way. We all handle things differently.  My way is not going to be the same way someone else does things.

Here are some alternatives you can use instead of assuming:  Instead of assuming something you've heard about someone to be true, why not go and talk to that person?  Instead of assuming someone is mad at you because they didn't speak to you, or respond in the way you wanted, why not seek them out and talk with them?  Instead of assuming someone doesn't care because they aren't treating you the way you would like, why not give them the benefit of the doubt and talk to them about how you feel.  It would save us so much confusion, conflict, and drama if we would kick those assumptions to the curb!

I will leave you with a quote by Henry Winkler (Fonzie from Happy Days, for those of us old enough to remember that show): "Assumptions are the termites of relationships."  Until next time my friends, be blessed!

Pearl of the Day: Be An Original

 "If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise." ~Johann von Goethe

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like what you were going through just didn't matter to someone?  Have you ever shared your struggles with someone only to be belittled for how you felt, or have them just brush you off, or even worse criticize you for feeling that way?  I don't know if there's anything worse than feeling like you don't matter......like you aren't important enough for someone to listen to you and try to understand where you're coming from.

We each have our own life and our own unique set of circumstances that we're going through, and we all handle those things differently, so don't let anyone else try to make you feel like what you're going through isn't important.  Your life and your struggles are important.  You matter!  Just because you may not handle things the same way someone else does, doesn't mean you're doing it wrong.

If God wanted us all to be the same, He would have made us that way.  He chose to make us all different and unique.  He chose different colors for our eyes, hair, and our skin.  He chose different personalities for each one of us.  He chose different families for us to be a part of.  He chose each of our lives to be different, yet special.  He even chose each one of us to have a completely different set of fingerprints.  There is no one else on Earth with the same set of fingerprints that you have.  If God chose all those ways to make us different, then why in the world do we think we have to be just like someone else, or do things the way they do?

Stop beating yourself up!  You are not meant to be a cheap copy of someone else.  You were made with a divine purpose by the Creator of the Universe.  He knows you intimately.

Don't be sucked into the lie that you don't matter, or that no one cares.  Once you grasp the truth that you are important and that you matter, you may find that you're no longer drawn to people who don't genuinely care about you.  Life is too short to spend it with people who don't truly care about you.  You were made for so much more than that.

Allow yourself to be who God made you to be.  An original work of art is so much more valuable than a copy.  Until next time my friends, be blessed!

"You were born an original.  Don't die a copy."  ~John Mason

 

Pearl of the Day: Fear Not

  

 I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. ~Nelson Mandela

Fear-- a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.  How many of you struggle with fear?  I'm not talking about the healthy kind of fear that protects us and keeps us from harm, but the fear that can rob you of the freedom and the peace you were meant to walk in, the kind of fear that consumes your thoughts and steals your dreams, the kind of fear that seems to suffocate you and paralyze you.

I have had my fair share of struggles with this monster.  Growing up in an abusive home contributed to a life consumed with fear.  I was fearful of everything as a child, and this unfortunately carried over into the majority of my adult years.  Here are a few examples of how I struggled with fear:  When I was newly married, I was so consumed with fear that many mornings when my husband would get up to go to work I would cling to him and cry, fearful of letting him go, because I was afraid that something would happen to him and he wouldn't come back home.  I loved him so much and I was afraid that he would be taken away from me because of the insecurity and fear I grew up with.  I would also cry and cower in fear each time a severe thunderstorm would come.  I literally feared for my life at times like this.  When I was a child, my mother was so fearful of storms that she would take me and my brother and sit with us inside a closet until the storm was over.  She would jump and grab a hold of us each time the thunder and lightening clapped.  Sometimes she would take us and ride around in the car until the storm was over because she was so afraid that the storm would destroy the trailer we lived in.  Her fear of storms was passed down to me and it consumed me each time one came up.

The fear I felt living in a home full of physical and emotional abuse was carried with me as I was growing up and into my adult years.  After I had children, I decided I would not pass this fear on to them.  I decided it was going to stop with me.  The journey to overcome this fear has not been an easy one by any means, but the freedom that I have now has been well worth it.  Fear is not something that goes away by itself.  It requires determination and diligence to overcome this battle.  It requires a power greater than anything this world can give us.

God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.  The combination of God's power and God's Word helped me overcome a life filled with fears.  I had to constantly speak God's Word aloud, many, many times over the years to get to the place I am now.

My younger daughter had a season, when she was younger, where she felt fearful about some things.....the house catching fire, someone breaking in, sleeping by herself in her room.  I decided that the best way to win this battle was to attack it head on with the Word of God and prayer.  We wrote Scripture verses down on paper and taped them all over her walls.  Each time she felt fearful about anything, she knew to speak those verses aloud, as many times as she felt she needed to, until she felt that fear leave.

If you've ever struggled with fear, you know it is not an easy thing to live with.  The good news is it can be overcome.  God has given us everything we need to be victorious against the spirit of fear.  He is greater than all of your fears. Until next time my friends, be blessed!


*The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control. ~2 Timothy 1:7 (ERV)

*Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world.~ 1 John 4:4 (CEV)

Pearl of the Day: Hard Places=Much Growth

 God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.
   You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
      you find me quiet pools to drink from.
   True to your word,
      you let me catch my breath
      and send me in the right direction.

 Even when the way goes through
      Death Valley,
   I'm not afraid
      when you walk at my side.
   Your trusty shepherd's crook
      makes me feel secure. ~Psalm 23:1-4 (MSG)

How many people do you know who enjoy going through difficulties?  If you're like me, not too many. As a matter of fact, I don't recall anyone in my lifetime saying they enjoyed walking through hurt and pain. No one, that I know of, enjoys feeling pain, whether it be physical or emotional, because, well, it hurts.  Unfortunately, the likelihood of living a life without any pain, or hard places, is pretty much non-existent. We will all have pain and hurt at some point in our lives, but sometimes it feels like we have more than our fair share, doesn't it. 

Those painful things can come out of nowhere.....people may betray us and hurt us, relationships may end, loved ones may pass away, finances may take a turn for the worst, and people or circumstances may change.  Whatever the situation may be, it can be a struggle to walk out our faith during these hard times.

How can something that hurts so bad, work out for good?  I've had many days where I have struggled to understand how things could work out for my good.  When the pain and hurt was fresh, it was hard to think about anything good coming from it, but as time has passed, it has been encouraging to see the growth that has/is coming from these struggles.  It has helped me to see that there has been a reason for what I've gone through.  The pain has been great, but the growth has been greater.

I would like to share a few of those areas where I have grown through the hard places. These may seem like simple things to some, but to me they were major areas of bondage and struggle for me.

*I am valuable and loved.  No matter how other people treat me and no matter what they say about me, God sees me as a treasure. My worth and value come from Him, not other people.

*Always seek God's approval over man's approval.  I've learned you cannot please everyone all the time, and even if you could, you would be miserable yourself because you aren't living your life for you, but for others.  There will be times when God calls you to do something that no one else will understand. That's okay, do it anyway.

*It's okay to say no.  It's okay to stand up for yourself.  Having boundaries is a good thing.  I am not responsible for how others feel, think, act, or for what they say.  That is their stuff and I am not going to carry it.  I am responsible for me and my own feelings, actions, words, and thoughts.

*Walk in truth and integrity, no matter what anyone else is doing. 

*Don't try to pay back evil for evil.  God is well aware of the actions of others and He will take care of things in His way and in His time.

*Happiness is a choice.  The circumstances of my life do not determine my happiness, I do.


These are just a few areas I have grown in.  I have not, by any means, recovered and healed completely from the hurts I've been through in this season, but I am on my way.  I know God will continue to work things out for my good, because that's what He has promised.  I have not enjoyed the pain of this season, but I have come to the conclusion that the growth I've experienced may not have come through any other means, but by that which has transpired.  God knows what it will take for us to move to the next level He has for us.  The hard places may not be where we would choose to go to grow, but in my experience, it's been the most likely place for growth.

I don't know what hard places you've been through or may currently be going through, but please know my friend, that God is there too.  He does have a plan and a purpose for everything we walk through. The hard places will bring much growth if you allow God to work it out for your good.  How do you do that?  Trust Him.  Until next time my friends, be blessed!

The video is from a song called "Blessings", by Laura Story. I hope it blesses you as much as it does me when I listen to it.