Just came across this girl and I LOVE HER!!! She totally squashes self-rejection and really taps into speaking life over yourself. This is so so huge. If the enemy is going to get me its in this arena. Take thoughts captive, yes I know. Oh now that's a good blog topic for a later date!
Anyway, liked this video :) Reminded me of Psalm118:24, This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
So basically I'm just super pumped about InstaCollage and have nothing better to take pictures of! Exciting I know! This pretty much describes my typical day fitting in quick meals and a quick workout. Get up grab pre-made breakfast. Teach a tennis lesson. Workout in my room. Yes, on a beach towel, a fan going, and using the stop watch on my phone. Foam roller always close at hand. LOVE that thing!
Workout was: Squats, pushups, and sit ups. start with 2 reps and increase 2 each round. So 2, 4, 6...for 15 mins. I got up to 20 reps. had that goal in my head and went up to 16 mins, forgot to look at my phone. Quick mile jog outside tracked on RunKeeper app. 25 min workout. Sweet!
Actually I was super sweaty and rushing to make lunch and shower before heading to the gym to train. Pulled it off.
Lunch was: Sun dried tom basil wrap (100 cals so crazy), 2 brown scrambled eggs, couple pinches of mozzarella cheese, broccoli lightly steamed, red onion, and some salsa. New fave dish!
Brought protein mix with me to make shake at gym between clients. Stop at store on way home to grab din. I am pretty worn out by now. In and out of the store, make din and back off to gym. One late night a week training a super sweet lady.
Dinner was: Salmon, Spaghetti Squash, and homemade sweet potato fries.
day over heading home.
Okay I can't lie. This pic was after late night the week before. I looked more like a wreck prolly after a day like this one :) Everyone seemd to be having a rough day including sweet Linda. There was no picture taking this day but we did laugh it out and have a great workout!
Wanted to update with a pic of the short hair. It's already growing so fast!!
So a whole day off in the middle of the week with no plans or commitments. Hope everyone has enjoyed the day dedicated to freedom :) Mine consisted of a long jog, painting nails, and baking with gilmore girls on in the backround. Bliss!! I have been wanting to experiment with some stuff for a while. These turned out super yummy and I'm not sure I remember exactly how much of everything I put in the recipe. Best part of this.. didn't have to make a trip to the store and used what I had!
2 mashed bananas
3 brown eggs
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
1/4 cup coconut flakes
1 cup coconut flour
3 Tbsp carob powder
1 tea baking soda
1 tea baking powder
3 Tbsp coconut oil
white chocolate chips
-mash the bananas
-throw in eggs, walnuts, coconut flakes
-sift in coconut flour, carob powder, baking soda and powder
-add melted coconut oil
-mix
-spoon into liners
-add white chocolate chips
Bake 350 20-25 mins
So the white chocolate chips were not as cool as I thought. Would have been cooler if they were melted and like drizzled on. I mean that would look like profess. ha. seriously yum and def healthy. Yeah, i'd say healthy.
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So I have secretly wanted to know how to cook *good* for like ever! My nannie gave me this pic last time I saw her. She used to let me make a huge mess in the kitchen and I LOVED it! hehehehe i think I'm 3 here. Going to have to call and talk to nannie now she will get a kick I put this in my blog!
Lord, Free us from the unhealthy habbit of only thinking about ourselves! There is only one place where we are right with God, and that is IN Christ Jesus. We are perfect only in Christ, not in the best we have done. God did it for us. I know no greater love. Step into those shoes and begin to pray for whoever God puts in your path. hmmm. the inner life of prayer. That quiet place with the Lord is the BEST!
Are we prepared to purposely disregard ourselves and to laung out into the priestly work of prayer? The continual inner-searching we do in an effort to see if we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, sickly type of Christianity, not the vigorous and simply life of a child of God. -Oswald Chambers
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness and into his wonderful light. 1peter2:9
We haven't met in a while! The busyness of life I guess. Def have once again run myself into the ground before taking a step back. This time I have learned, ha really!! Last week I went back to Illinois to visit my family. Dad has been going through a health battle with kidney cancer. Being so far has been harder than I realised. At first I wanted to tune all that out and go about life as usual. I will 'feel' later, right now I have stuff to do. You might know how that goes!? At any rate, I'm so so grateful for the chance to stop and spend some much needed time.
In the midst of spending hours at the hospital it was shockingly restful and I actually had some fun! Of course taking pictures along the way :)
Before chemo started we took a trip to the zoo. My sis had to leave the next day to work her biggest event of the year, River Fest. She is a trip, I just adore my little sister to peices. Even though she is loud and yells at me sometimes haha!!
Cheeky, Daddy, and Me at the zoo
Bears
Penguins
Mom and I went to see cheeks do her thing. They gave her a golf cart and she was for sure in charge and running the show like a star.
St. Charles River
So then we watched these dogs dive! yeah! Strangest thing, Dock Dogs they are called. They measure what dog can dive the farthest.
DOT DOG
Mama and I at river fest
That was cool. Now I had a bit of a wait in the airport trying to get back to Texas. Spending a whole day waiting to fly stand by and not getting on was worth it. I got to see my BFF and spend one more night on valley!
Ian and I at the airport
Basically I have the coolest, sweetest aunt ever! She met me at the airport the next morning, at 4am, to fly with me back to Texas. We couldn't get on to houston so we got to fly FIRST CLASS to DENVER! I was freaking out! And so wishing I would have done my hair for the occasion :/
Aunt Whitney and I sitting first class :D
That was short lived. Got to see the rockies only from the plane window. Right back on another plane. I was so hoping to get out and explore. Gods timing is perfect. I will wait on that one.
Thats the end of my photo journey back to the home base. I love you family and I miss you more than you know!!!
Well they were gluten-free until I added 1/2 cup of oats to the mix. Those could be left out. Found this recipe and changed a few things, they turned out delish! I get confused the way they tell you to mix stuff in a certian order, so I just throw it in a bowl and hope it turnes out. Whatev! Mash the bananas first. Put melted coconut oil in last. Just throw the rest in there :)
Recipe: 3 ripe mashed bananas 3/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup (could decrease amount and use agave nectar) 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk 2 Tbsp lemon juice 1 1/2 tea cinnamon 1 cup organic flax seed meal 3 cup wheat-free gluten-free whole grain oat flour 2 tea baking soda 1/2 tea sea salt 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup rolled oats 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
mix it up and fill liners to rim (makes about 15 muffins)
Have you heard of this South American wheat free, gluten free 'supergrain'!? Basically it's awesome! It contains more protein than any other grain, and provides all the essential amino acids. It taste good and is easy to digest. Cooks just like rice, takes about 15 mins.
I have been putting it in my salads. This one is organic greens, cherry tomatoes, brown cage free egg whites, red onion, cucumber, and organic inca red quinoa. What dressing did I use? Either an all natural balsamic vinegar, or all natural honey dijon. (Working on making them from scratch)
Add it to chicken and veges! I stir fried my veges (orange bell pepper, broccoli, and white onion) in a soy sauce replacement made from a coconut tree. Its organic, low in sodium, a source of 17 amino acids(protein), vitamins, minerals, low in cals, gluten-free, and dairy free. Raw Coconut Aminos soy-free seasoning sauce. Score!!!
For the past couple years I have followed a reading that a church in Chicago sends out via email. Here is the link if you are interested. It continues to ground me in the word and I'm beyond thankful and in awe of the Lord working in my life, AT ALL TIMES! I started writing this post back in January, and it has been on my heart to wrap up the thoughts. Fitting seeing as the past week I have decided to lay off the workouts and rest. I want to walk and not run... that dixie chicks song 'Cowboy Take Me Away' seems to be my heart beat the past couple weeks. Being in the fitness industry I find myself getting easily wrapped up in serving an image. Forming the physique can easily take priority over anything else in my life. Yes it's about being fit and the rest will follow, but lets be honest... most of us care about our image and looks to some degree. Not to say that being healthy and working toward fitness achievements is right/wrong, it's not about that. I can tell I'm getting burnt out and overtraining is about to set in. Our body is the temple of the holy spirit and we are called to honor God with our body, not honor our body as God. Time to rest, recover and spend time at the Lords feet. Put others before myself. Pour out not of myself and my strength but out of overflow received from the Father. Then just maybe my dixie chicks tune will change and I'll be 'Ready to Run' ;) Seeing as I have already gone off on a different avenue it would be a good time to dive into the original topic...
This teaching I believe reveals the contrast between what the world grabs for us to walk in and what walking in the fullness/wholeness/whatever of Christ is. (enter whatever super spiritual word works best there) Yes, I am being super spiritual...deal with it! The point is, our culture is grabbing for our attention into a fantasy world. We can so easily give our hearts to other 'lovers' and indulge in temporary satisfaction to fill the desires of our hearts. I'm def guilty of getting sucked into all the 'virtual life' that can take the place of real living and real relationships. How much time do we really spend on facebook, following or favorite twitter stars, and trying to make our own story appear exciting and glorious to the cyber community? I want to share how extremely challenged and encouraged I am by this concept. Seems like the deeper I get in His word the more it reveals the contrast of how I live and what I seek does not always match what it looks like to truly seek and live in His kingdom. The scripture after all says; seek His kingdom above all else...
Some QUESTIONS and A TRUTH that made me evaluate my walk:
1. How important is it for you to have the majority on your side?
2. Would you still follow even if there weren't many people in the crowd?
3. Why do you believe some people feel you have to be on TV, on the radio, have a massive twitter following, be published, etc to have a legitimate voice?
4. How does the life of Christ contrast with a culture that seeks to make a name for themselves?
*That is a tough question!
5. Jesus is not impressed with the number of followers.
*That is a tough truth!
For reference sake, the scriptures:
John 7:1-24 (NLT)
After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters and Jesus' brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can't become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world! For even his brothers didn't believe in him
Jesus replied, “Now is no the time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can't hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I'm not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.
But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, through secretly, staying out of public view. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He's a good man, but others said, He's nothing but a fraud who deceives the people. But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.
Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn't been trained?” they asked.
So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who speak from themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”
The crowd replied, “You're demon possessed! Who's trying to kill you?”
Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses' law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
More Scripture:
So Jesus said, When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me-he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” Then many who heard him say these things believed in him. Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:28-32
“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father – and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” John8:49-50
Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, 'He is our God,' but you don't even know him, I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad. The people said, “You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “ I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple. John8:54-59
SO WHAT IS THIS SAYING? Well, it's safe to say God was not impressed with just the number of followers. Despite what happened Jesus didn't flinch. The crowd who followed Jesus thinned out. The fickle followers of Jesus were sifted out by some difficult teaching, yet the 12 decided to stay (John 6:66) Jesus had to deal with some of the stuff that we do walking with Christ. One would be fading crowds. The second is serious misunderstandings from his own brothers! From their perspective they saw Jesus as a public servant and thought since the crowd left maybe he could save the situation and gain some followers. There seems to be a difference between being a fan and being a disciple. The scripture says you are truly a disciple if you remain faithful to the teaching. It's one thing to be a fan of Jesus, press the “like” button for Jesus on facebook and another to become a disciple. Jesus wants us to stand for the truth, live in the truth, his sons and daughters to be set free by HIS GRACE, and not worry about the number of the crowd.
PRAYER
Then they suggest to pray this. Honestly I had to take a step back and ask myself, can I pray that from my heart? Not to say you have to have a script to talk to God. Learning to pray in His will is what counts I would say. And being real with God, let him handle the ugly. He really does turn the bitterness into something sweet. So yeah, could you honestly pray something along these lines? Dear Father, we recognize that we live in a culture that is more concerned with the praise of men rather than the praise of God. Help us not to shrink back from proclaiming and demonstrating new life in Christ. May you and your truth be our majority. Continue your great work of weakening all the desires we have to make a name for ourselves. May we know the joys of being your servants and give you all the glory. Most importantly, give us a desire to know you better. We believe that Jesus is the Christ and that we have true life in his name. Amen.
WHAT I TAKE FROM ALL THIS is to be confident in the Lord. What I have to offer and what anyone that is seeking the will of God has to offer is of IMMEASURABLE VALUE! Don't shrink back, but let the light shine. Even in weakness, most of all in weakness. That is where His strength is made perfect. No matter what the number of the following and who is watching, stand for the truth. He will guide me and lift me up, no need to strive to make a name for myself. Be humble, get low to end up high. Seek to exalt His name. He alone is worthy. Walking in humility is glorious, and somehow does attract attention. (John8:50) It's not just something that works for you or doesn't work for you. It's a gift to receive life in Christ and you chose to receive it or ignore it. Or watch as others receive theirs and be envious of it, or even mock it. We are given this glorious gift of life from God and we get to watch as it all unfolds. There is a cost though. It costs giving up your life to receive true life. I have seen people with so little have so much more joy and happiness than those with fame and fortune. Each day we can choose to seek Christ or seek our own fame and fortune. As we follow Jesus every promise He has made us will come to pass. Gosh, that makes me thankful. My business is His business.
The Lord has a forgiving, loving, passionate heart toward us, with an amazing love story waiting to be told. I am going to start calling myself a hopeful romantic, just decided!
Writing this made me want to listen to an old fave! Seriously..i wanna walk and not run...
Pinapple Chicken:Marinaded the chicken in some pinapple juice. Baked it...yum!
Pinapple and Veges: Stirfired some veges with cut up pinapple. Added a splash of water and the pinapple created some juice. Broccoli, orange bell pepper, bean sprouts, and ginger root. Ginger Root is good for digestion...check it out! I wanted to add some Braggs Liquid Amino's but didn't have any! boo
Sweet Potato Fries: Tossed in lil bit of olive oil, cinnamon, basil, lil sea salt. Baked em at 450, 20 mins...AMAZING!! I was sorta worried about that combo...but def recommend.
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live. Isaiah55:3
Not only live but grow in Grace and Power and Beauty- the true Beauty, the Beauty of Holiness. Reach ever forward after the things of My Kingdom. In the animal world the very form of an animal alters to enable it to reach that upon which it delights to feed. So reaching after the treasures of My Kingdom your whole nature becomes changed, so that you can best enjoy and receive the wonders of that Kingdom. Dwell on these truths.
This is from basically the best little black book ever, God Calling by A.J. Russell.
Lasting change happens from the inside out. JESUS I NEED YOUR PRESENCE more than anything, COME overtake every-part-of-me!
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