Garbage In, Garbage Out

This year has started a whole new way of living for me. 

As I've mentioned before, I've been exercising each morning with a group of sister-friends (they are more that just girlfriends). We have set and been praying and encouraging each other through our 30 days goals. Even more importantly we've started doing the online Bible study "Made to Crave" offered through Proverbs 31 Ministries. 

You see I'm working on improving the health and well being of my physical body but more importantly I need to and am focusing on the health of my spiritual life. As a Christian, I know that my body, my life are not my own. 

You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. I Corinthians 6:19b -20 (NLT)

God paid the ultimate price, the death of His beloved Son, so that I may be made clean through the shedding of His blood. It is my desire, to bring honor and glory to God by being used for His will in the plan He has for my life.

The reality (not excuse) is that I'm still a sinner and each day I struggle with the temptations of this world but the more time I spend in God's Word and in prayer I realize that I can be MORE through the power He has bestowed on me through His Son. In the learning of how to be MORE, the Holy Spirit has been convicting me on certain areas of my life that need to be changed.

Most of us are familiar with the saying "garbage in, garbage out." To me, it means that if something of inferior quality is put into something, the result will be a product of inferior quality. Well this applies  to every area of my life. If I eat donuts all day, the result will be a growing waistline. If I fill my mind with questionable information, then my mind will be filled with questionable information. Whatever we take in - body, mind, spirit - will ultimately be reflected on the outside through our words and actions.

The first part of the verse mentioned previously says this:

Don't you realize that you body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God. I Corinthians 6:19a 

and again the last part of verse 20

So you must honor God with your body (NLT) 

Imagine if someone you greatly admired said they were coming to visit your home. I'm sure there would be a mad rush of activity to make your home and family "acceptable" for that person's arrival. How much more should our bodies/lives be acceptable for the Holy Spirit to abide in us. 

So, this brings me to a big change I've made. You may not seem it as big but I do. 

Since,  I was very young I've had the kind of imagination that can create story lines. I remember being in my room, drawing a house plan on a piece of paper and acting out a whole story in my head (hmmm, I guess we know where Emily inherited her imagination). Needless to say, I like watching television because lets face it is mini stories. But television has changed over the years and the most popular style of show now is reality TV and I'll be honest in telling you that  I've been sucked into watching these too. I could give you a list of what I've watched but that isn't really that important. Let's face it most of these shows thrive on showing us the train wrecks occurring in these people's lives via bad behavior, cursing, treating people badly, gossiping, etc. When I first started watching them, I felt okay about it I know what "not to do". However, toward the end of last year, I started to think about this a little more. Why do I want to watch a show that thrives on the chaos of someone else's life? What do I gain from that? Why do I want to watch people hurt each other intentionally? Why do I want to hear the language that comes from their mouths? Then, I applied it to my home. If someone came in the room would I turn the channel? Would I want my children to watch it with me? Would I want those people I love to act the way they are? My answer was "no". So, why was I filling my mind with it?

You see I'm a "real housewife" living in the state of New Jersey but I want to be known for the love and respect I have not only for others but my God. Sooner or later, filling my mind with this information would start showing up in my life and I don't want that. 

So, the first of the year I stopped watching reality TV. I'll be honest it hasn't been easy! It's like any other thing you try and give up, like chocolate, hard to do. There are times when I've turned on the TV, nothings on and as I surf the channels I see a marathon is playing but in the moment I ask God to give me the power to not give into the temptation. 

This is an area that I've personally had to change and each day I'm feeling convicted in other areas of my life. What I have to remember is that I need to keep the garbage out so that which is good can permeate and be seen through me via my actions and my words. Will I do everything right? Absolutely not! But I will measure those things I bring into my life to what God ask of me in His Word. 

And now, my dear brothers and sisters, one final things: Fix your thoughts on that is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable, Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Philippians 4:8 

You see I want to be able to have a heart filled with Him so that my life, my words, my actions will be pleasing to Him. 

As always, thanks for stopping by!

A Surprise Read

By now you either know from experience or just from reading my blog that I have a wonderful, creative, imaginative, funny son! 

Matt can be very predictable. He loves to be home and prefers not going anywhere (he is a true homebody), no matter how much homework he is given it is always "so hard" and seems to take forever, when it comes to topics that interest him he will impart his knowledge on you whether you want to hear it or not......oh and he loves his Xbox, DS and Kindle (for games of course). 

Last Friday when I went to pick up the kid's from school, I noticed that Matt's teacher had posted the classes persuasive essays on the wall outside their classroom. 

I have to say for a split second I experience a moment of panic. Oh, what is my boy going to try and persuade people of. The thoughts were whirling in my head: revolt against homework, play Xbox all day, never go to school. 

Imagine my surprise when I read the title "Church is Fun". Oh, did I fail to mention how much Matt loves God. Most of the time his love of God is heard in his prayers but this was in written form and the picture he drew was priceless.

According to Matthew, this is why "Church is Fun":

"I want you to come to my church. First, you'll learn about Jesus. You will learn how he died, suffered and how he paid the price for us to be free.

Second, there will be games in Sunday School. There are going to be races. There are snowball fights made out of paper and ball games. I hope you could come to my church."

When I read this, I was overwhelmed by how much our church has effected my son. He knows the real reason for going - Jesus - but as a kid he relates to the the fun part of church. You see not only does Matt attend Sunday School but also Upstreet which is our children's church. Upstreet is run by a wonderful man, Joe Hegedus, who has a heart for teaching our kids about Jesus. We are so very thankful for all he does to expose our kids to God and His love for them.

So, my panic was replaced with joy. God is in Matt's heart and mind and is someone he wants to share with others. This essay is a small glimpse of that fact.

Oh, if you would like, you are always welcome to come to our church. After all, "Church is Fun."

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Snow Ball Fight!!!!!

Well not really a snowball fight. It is more like a snowball piling.

Today I was able to go into the elementary classes at my children's school and collect a snow fall estimate from each student for the winter bulletin board mentioned in my previous post One Week - Two Boards. Each student was able to guess how many inches of snow will fall cumulatively from tomorrow (January 25th) until February 28th. 

There were some very interesting guesses the most outrageous being 1,000,000 inches. Would never want to live where snow fell in that amount. Yes, the student was allowed to submit a second, more reasonable guess.

I took all of the snowballs and "piled" them according to class starting with the Kindergarten class right next to the snowman leading to the 6th grade at the far end of the board after the yard stick. There were a few students missing so a snowball has been left for them to complete upon their return to class next week.

The kids seemed excited to participate in this poll and make reasonable guesses especially when the mention of a "reward" was made for the correct guess/guesses or the one/ones closest to the true snow fall amount. 

I've never been more excited to monitor snow fall! When the poll is completed, I will post about the winner/winners.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

"Wow! This is Really Good?"

Such an unassuming little casserole when you look at this picture. However, this little casserole caused quite a stir at dinner last night. 

Originally I was planning it for tonight, Friday. Although a quick recipe, Emily was scheduled to have a baskeball game and by the time we would get home, I wasn't sure I wanted to put forth any effort on dinner. In the late morning, Emily called saying the game was cancelled and they were just going to do a practice. Practice goes from the end of school until 4:30 and we are usually home by 5 so, I changed gears and decided to give this little casserole a try. 

I found this recipe for Sloppy Joe Casserole via Pinterest at the website Cravings of a Lunatic. 

The original recipe calls for making it in a 9x13 baking dish. I know my family and that is just way too much for us 4 who are not big leftover eater. So, I went against my rule of always making a recipe exactly as is the first time and halved the recipe. Thankfully this adjustment did not lead to any quirkly measurements. Our casserole was made in an 8x8 baking dish.

I followed the recipe just as it was outlined and once assembled placed it in a 350 degree oven for 12 minutes. At the end of the alloted time, I checked and the top dough was not at all browning. So, I continued to bake it until it was which I believe ended up being a total of 25 minutes. Because the timing seemed so off, I did check the crescent roll wrapper just to see the normal baking time for the rolls. They are actually baked at 375 for 10 - 12 minutes. I tell you this so if you do make this casserole you will not be shocked if at the end of the alloted cooking time it is still not browned and you need to bake it longer. The next time I make this I am going to bake it at 375 for the 12 minutes watching to see if that temp works better.

The kids and I ate around 6. Matthew loved it an actually had a small second portion. Emily, well she is my against meat child so she said it was "okay". Dave came home around 8 and reheated a portion in the microwave. He is the one who said "Wow! This is really good!" When he is that pleased with a meal, you know that it is one that is going to be made again.

So go ahead and try it whether it be the full 9x13 or 8x8 portion and let me know what you think. I know we will be eating this again.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

5 a.m.! Are you Crazy?

If you know me personally or follow me on Facebook you know that I've become very regimented in the last 3+ months when it comes to going to the gym. Yes, I'm at the gym weekdays at 5 a.m.

You see I've gone through several workout cycles in the last 6 years. During that time, I've had gym memberships and utilized two excellent personal trainers! Sadly, I'm a bit of an extremist when it comes to meeting goals. Working out and a strict diet is an area where this extremist cycle once again reared its ugly head. When I wasn't able to attain a happy medium of working out, eating healthy and just living, I gave up thinking I couldn't make it work. 

It was just before my birthday last September that God blessed me with the inspiration of a good friend, who has become more of a sister in these last 5 months. Her name is Jen. She attends my church, is a mother of 4 young children (2 of which she is homeschooling), an amazing wife, tends to her parents and is a child of God! This is only a mere snippet of who she is, I could go on and on. Jen started on a weight loss journey last year first tackling the area of food and then exercise. Each week at church, I saw her shrinking in physical size but growing in, what I would say, peace and contentment. 

For many years, I've always wanted someone to work out with. Last August, just before my 46th birthday, Jen had started walking and working out in a local park with a group of people from our church. I can't tell you if I asked her or she offered for me to come along but needless to say on my birthday I  found myself walking my town's track early Sunday morning with one of the people from the workout group and planning to meet Jen and the other's the following day. This began our journey.

Now, in the summer the sun is up nice and early and due to work schedules a 5 a.m. workout session was the plan. Up until mid-October Jen and I were walking the park. As for the gym, I joined it first knowing that I didn't want to stop the workout I had become accustom to the last month. I remember the morning I told Jen I had joined the gym. I was afraid our time together was going to be over but no, the next day Jen told me she had gone ahead and joined the gym. We did have a few more walks in the park but as the temps changed we took our work out into Blink Fitness!

I can't tell how it happened but slowly we assembled a group of ladies joining us in our early workout regiment. These ladies are Angie, Jen, Kim, Adina, and just recently we've added Serina, Jenny and her mother Jen. Yes, that makes four Jennifer's but they are all unique and beautiful individuals. 

As we have been working out together these last few months, our personal relationships with each other have been growing. Our greatest common bond being our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are daughter's of the King and sister's in Christ. We try to encourage and motivate each other to press on. 

Its funny though because our little group of "Blinkers" were becoming known. Okay, so I post every morning that I am at the gym. Why? To encourage others to work out too. But those post seemed to be creating conversations everywhere I was going. These conversations made me start thinking about our group and its purpose. I knew what we were about and how we were encouraging and helping each other beyond just the physical aspect of working out but as Christian's were we showing what our true purpose is?  Yes, we were growing together but in my heart I was feeling that God desired us to be MORE. 

This pricking from God to be MORE was solidified when our group was brought up in a devotional time on New Year's Eve. It was in a good way. We are at the gym at 5 a.m. and not every day are we jumping up with joy to get out of bed at that time to workout even though we know it is to our benefit. As Paul talks about "pressing on" in the Christian walk, even when all is against us, we are pressing on to get to the gym. During this devotional time, I was able to let others (church family) know how this group is so much more, how relationships are being developed and we are encouraging each other not only physically but spiritually. Although I have to say, I was a little "caught in the headlights" when we were brought up in this devotional, I thank that person because I think God was using him to say, "be MORE!!"

As God was working on me, He was working on Jen too, who was away visiting family for two very longs weeks (we really missed her). It may have been the first day she was back with us, that she asked me as we were on the treadmills alone. "what do you think of us as a group doing an online Bible study together?" I was all for it, this is what God had for us to be MORE, and so when the others joined us we proposed it and it it was a unanimous "yes". 

This week we started the "Made to Crave" Bible study being offered through Proverbs 31 Ministries. Before this started though, we set 30 day goals that we can encourage and pray each other through. 

The reason I am writing all of this is to tell you how blessed I am that God put Jen and each one of these wonderful sisters in my life. You see with their help and encouragement, God is helping me to grow closer to Him and be used in the way He desires. These relationships are open, honest and transparent and I praise God for that too. We are growing daily, praying each other through the  circumstances we face. Through these ladies, God is showing me what His family is like and I am so grateful and blessed.

So, although getting up to be at the gym isn't always fun, I know when I get there my sisters are waiting for me and that right beside us is our Father God. 

As always, thanks for stopping by!