Cinnamon Sugar Oatmeal Cookies

Cinnamon Sugar Oatmeal Cookies
A little recipe of mine :)

Oven Temp: 375 F  Bake Time: 8-10 minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 C Flour
1 1/2 C Rolled Oats
1/2 C Butter, softened (1 stick)
1 C Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1 t Vanilla
1/4 C Skim Milk
1/2 t Sea Salt
1/4 t Baking Soda
1/2 t Cinnamon
Sugar and Cinnamon to roll cookies in before baking.

In small bowl, stir Flour, Sea Salt, Baking Soda and Cinnamon together.
In large bowl, beat together Butter and Brown Sugar until light and fluffy. Then mix in Egg and Vanilla. Add milk. Mix in Flour mixture from small bowl. Then stir the Oats into the mixture. Now if you would like you can add nuts or raisins or anything you like to the mixture or you can leave it plain. (I personally like mine without the extras!)
Next roll 2 t of dough into sugar and cinnamon mixture and drop onto ungreased cookie sheet!
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in oven at 375F
Wait 1 minute before taking off cookie sheet place on cookie rack to cool.
Enjoy!

The Land of If Only

"I am always content with that which happens,

for I think that which God chooses is better than what I choose"

-Ephictetus

Tonight, I went back to a book I was given a couple years ago by a dear friend. Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. I encourage all women to read it. It is "a woman's guide to finding contentment". I will be sharing several things I learned from it tonight.

"If we are to find contentment in the midst of trial and uncertainty, we must accept our situation as being purposely allowed into our lives by a personal and loving God. For most of us, this begins by refusing to contract the If Only disease."

-Linda Dillow

We don't see the whole picture like God does.

"Did I not tell you that If you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

John 11:40 (emphasis mine)

Just like the story of Lazarus...Martha wanted Lazarus to be saved from death; Jesus wanted Lazarus to be triumphant over death.

"If Only" usually starts from a real problem and instead of focusing on God and being thankful for what we have, we focus only on the problem. This leads you down the road to The Land of If Only.

Our faith is very important to God. He wants us to trust Him no matter what our circumstances may be. We need to be willing to accept whatever God has for us.

I challenge you to write down what God has done for you in the past and keep it handy. Next time you feel like exiting into The Land of If Only; grab it, read it, thank God for those things and trust God with every situation because you know that He has a plan for your life that is completely unique and purposely planned.

Father God, forgive me for complaining and wishing for things that I do not need. I no longer want to dwell on the If Onlys, I want to focus on You. Make me wise and content with what I know and not anxious about what I don't know.

In Jesus' Name, I ask these things.

Re-Energizing My Words

It's Sunday and it is my weekly re-energize. Time for extreme prayer, stillness and worship. Our church in Nashville was on a series called "Words with Friends" a couple years ago and I wrote down these notes I found and it has had me thinking about the words I speak. Not only that I speak to others but also to myself. There is power in positive words. I wanted to share a few points so that we can ponder them.

WORDS AFFECT MY FRIENDSHIPS

WORDS AFFECT MY FEELINGS

WORDS AFFECT MY FAMILY

WORDS AFFECT MY HEALTH

WORDS AFFECT MY WEALTH

WORDS AFFECT MY FAITH

WORDS AFFECT MY FUTURE

Isn't it crazy how our words affect everything in our lives? Focusing on the positive is what God tells us to do in Philippians 4:8.

"8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

I want to speak truth. I want to speak things into existence. For what we say we will believe. So many times, the devil gets me to feel like a failure and I talk down myself. Thinking I am a "loser". But that is not what God says about us. We are His children and He loves us. Why would Jesus come to earth and die on a cross for us if He didn't love us? Just to do it? I think not. We are called to love others and love ourselves. The phrase "All you need is love" has a lot of truth in it. Love is what we are called to do and love comes in all sorts of ways. Serving others is showing love. Praying for others is showing love. Teaching others is showing love and the list goes on and on. He gives us so many ways to share His love with the world.

I challenge you to put these thoughts into practice. Every day you have so many opportunities to NOT allow your mouth to speak with sarcasm or with anger and to be honest and speak with a controlled tongue.

"Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one."

Matthew 5:7

Go out and serve. Allow yourself to be blessed by our Father.

"May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24

What Are You Waiting For?

Walk On The Water

Crosby, Josh; Muckala, Dan; Waddell, Brittany Nicole;

You look around, and staring back at you

Another wave of doubt, will it pull you under? You wonder

What if I'm overtaken? What if I never make it?

What if no one's there? Will You hear my prayer?

When you take that first step into the unknown

You know that He won't let you go

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?

Your insecurities, they try to hold to you

But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move

Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too

So get out, and let your fear fall to the ground

No time to waste, don't wait, and don't you turn around and miss out

Everything you were made for, I know you're not sure

So you play it safe, you try to run away

If you take that first step into the unknown

He won't let you go

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?

Your insecurities, they try to hold to you

But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move

Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water too

Step out, even when it's storming

Step out, even when you're broken

Step out, even when your heart is telling you

Telling you to give up

Step out, when your hope is stolen

Step out, when you can't see where you're going

You don't have to be afraid

So what are you waiting, what are you waiting for?

So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?

Your insecurities try to hold to you

You know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move

Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water

Walk on the water, too

Singing this, reading this makes me want to live past my fears. To say no to the world and follow God. Saying this and doing this are two completely different things. I know I want to live a God-centered life and except His love for me every day, but I find it difficult to live a God-centered life when I live in fear. This journey to be free from myself is so hard. I have found that I am a very selfish person. I focus on myself, my problems, my fears, my looks, my feeling and my thoughts. I always like to share my story and my opinion. Why am I so interested in my life? Because I fear the unknown so I want to tell others and myself what I do know, so it makes me feel more comfortable. Maybe comfort isn't what I need right now...maybe I need to be uncomfortable to draw me close to God and to find comfort in Him alone. I run to so many other things to get away from my fears and get my mind off my worries. Is this sweeping them under the rug? Why yes, take a look at this incredibly huge hill that this rug is trying to hide? I can't control my emotions and fears myself, I need the help from God. I ask for it but I don't see that I receive it or maybe I take it but then drop it on the way out. Life gets in the way and causes life to be a challenge. What an adventure this is!

I don't know what else to do but keep praying and spending time with God. Also, to face my fears and trust God with them. Way easier said than done, but I will be free from myself. Christ died for this and I have no reason to live in fear. I've found it's habit and that it's a good excuse if I don't feel like doing something. If I panic I won't do it and I'll feel sick so I won't have to do something. This, my friends, is laziness. If you are reading this, I do ask for your prayers that I will not be lazy and that God will give me the strength I need to face my fears and let God help me conquer them. Through God ALL things are possible and I believe this wholeheartedly. Now that I've written this, I feel like going and facing my fears right now! I wish I could find a way to stay this close to God at all times throughout the day. I have read to memorize scripture verses so I can say them throughout the day and that will help keep my focus on God. I will be trying to do this over the next several days and see how it goes! :) I am so excited to see how it'll work and how close I will get to our Father through all of this craziness!

What am I waiting for?

It's time to live fearlessly!

Matthew 19:26

"But Jesus looked at them and said,

'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"

Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

John 14:1

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Trust in God; trust also in me"

Jeremiah 29:11,12

"'For I know the plans I have for you,'

declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.'"

What Paul is Teaching Me

Philippians 1:12-14 "Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear."

This verse is talking about Paul's imprisonment for Christ's sake, it furthered the kingdom. It opened up a freedom for those who were Christians to speak up. He had already gone to prison for this reason and was showing how God can use hard times for the glory of His Kingdom.
I also thought when meditating on this verse that imprisonment can be imprisonment to anxiety or fear, to money or work, to pornography or relationships. God can use all things to glorify Him. We turn away from these things for Christ and allow Him to lead our lives and that is a victory in His name because we cannot be free from these things without Him.

"For me to, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith," Philippians 1:21-25

Oh how Paul must have longed to be with Christ in Heaven, in perfection. He says to die is gain and it most certainly is! To be with our Father in Heaven is what we all desire. There will be no more pain, no more fear, no more tears. We will rejoice and praise our God forever! But Paul said He would rather help those around Him so that they can become true followers of God together. This to me is mature thinking. He was thinking of others and not of himself. He was convinced of this and knew that he would remain on earth to help those around Him so that they would also have the opportunity to be with God. We are to "not only believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Phil. 1:29)

In Philippians 2, I can't help but think, Would I be able to risk death for the work of Christ? At this point in my life I have not been challenged with these things of people and having to stand up against someone who is blaspheming my God. Only on TV have I seen such things and with that I can just turn it off. I think back to the time of Cassie Barnell in 1999. She was asked at gunpoint to deny Christ and she wouldn't. Michael W Smith has a song called "This is Your Time" that was inspired by this horrible crime.

The lyrics begin like this:

It was a test we could all hope to pass
But none of us would want to take
Faced with choice to deny God and live
For her there was one choice to make

What if tomorrow
What if today
Faced with the Question
Oh, What would you say?

This is a tough thing to do and I pray that I would have the strength to stand up for Christ if I was faced with that same question.

What would you say?

Meetings in the Secret Place

Matthew 6:6
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you"

Our Father tells us to go into your room, your closet, your inner room to pray to Him. Finding a place with no distractions is hard, especially these days. I also get distracted very easily. I've been trying to find a place that has no distractions. Having two dogs that want to whine, bark and play when you want quiet time with God doesn't help this. Also, if you live in an apartment, you know how you can hear everyone that lives above you? that walks down the breezeway? In all of this I'm going to find the perfect place to meet with God. I think this is very important because we as humans and in modern times are so distracted with our phones, social networking and our happiness in materialistic things. I am definitely not against any of these things (obviously) but I do find it very important to put God first in your life. First one you talk to in the morning and the last you talk to at night. The Beginning and the End. The Start and the Finish of your day. I find this hard because I tend to put my husband in first or myself. Then my job and then my dogs and then if I have time I'll worship God in secret. This happens because I have a faulty focus. I need to look through God's lens and not mine. To have a clear lens I need to learn how to focus on the things He tells me to in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

I encourage you today to go and find your secret place to meet with God! Whether it be in a closet, in your room or somewhere else. Wherever you choose to meet with God be sure there are no distractions and where you can openly praise and worship Our God!

Secret Place
Rachael Lampa
Brent Bourgeois/Chris Rodriguez

You are my Father, I am Your child.
Will You hold me in Your arms
Just a little while
And let me know how much You care for me?
There’s no other place in this world
I’d rather be.
And when I fall down on my knees and pray,
My heart is captured when I hear You say:

“Come with Me My child to the secret place.
I love you, I love you, I love you, oh.
Come and find your rest in the secret place.
I love you, I love you, I love you

Everywhere I turn, everything I see
Reminds me of the joy that You bring to me;
And I...I need You so don’t let me go.
Touch me with Your healing hand.
Tell me that You understand.
When I falter, when I lose my way,
You shine Your light on me and I hear You say:

“Come with Me My child to the secret place.
I love you, I love you, I love you, oh.
Come and find your rest in a secret place.
I love you, I love you, I love you.”

And when I fall down on my knees and pray,
My heart is captured when I hear You say:
Come with Me, Come with Me
Just a little while...

God's Love For Me is Mind Boggling

This writing will probably seem choppy but this is how my mind is processing...but these are my thoughts; they might be a whirlwind of thoughts, but still they are what keeps me loving God more and more every day.

Today, I finished reading the newest book in a series of books I've been reading since I was eleven years old. (What an amazing ending to this book in this continuing series!) I have learned so much of God's Holy and Perfect Love through these books! I think it's amazing how God can use so many things to speak to us and teach us!

I realized today how much God is pursuing us. This is a great example of God's love for us, that He pursues us! He shows us continually how much He loves us and wants us to love Him the same, He desires that from us. But, He also loves us enough that He gives us free will to decide. What kind of love would it be if it were forced? It wouldn't be true. God loves us not because He has to, but because He wants to! This truly excites me and just knowing this brings my love for God on a deeper level. Knowing how much He truly loves me even though I sin against Him is just mind boggling.

I also feel encouraged today by this verse, "I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget to help you. I have swept away your sins like the morning mists. I have scattered your offenses like the clouds. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." Isaiah 44:21b-22 NLT

So many times in life I feel like God is not helping me. I say things to Him like, "Yeah, You could help me get out of this if You really wanted to!" But really God knows what we can handle and He knows how strong and close we can become to Him through the valleys if we trust Him. He loves us so much that He sees us saddened and He doesn't like it but then He knows how strong we can become and close to Him we will become so He keeps encouraging us to stay on the path that is the straight and narrow.
God also is on a completely different timing scale. "A day to our Father is like a thousand years and a thousand years a day" I might feel as though this is taking "forever" to get through a hard time but really it's just a passing moment in the grand adventure of eternity.
God loves us so much that He paid the highest price for us. Therefore, He deserves all of our worship and all of our praise and all of our lives.

May the Glory be to God Forever and Ever.