Note To Self: God Is...

One of the biggest misconceptions we have as Christians is that we use our senses to gauge whether or not God is really good. In the middle of a circumstance where all things seem dark and possibly even hopeless, it's hard to be "in awe" of a glorious God. Truthfully it is our lack of trust that God has it all covered and taken care of that dims our eyes to His radiating beauty and glory.

NOTE TO SELF: 

God is still, and always will be God.

I find so often that every time I begin to feel as though I am falling apart at the seams, God always swoops in to save me from myself. It's not life that is swallowing me, it's my thoughts, feelings, and reactions to life that messes me all up. You have to watch out for all that because it will sneak up on you and kill you! Seriously! Every moment is a choice. A choice to believe and trust God to be God or a choice to handle it yourself. Whether we would like to admit it or not we have ALL been there, probably much more than we care to acknowledge. It's not until things start to feel like they are falling apart or spiraling out of your control that you even realize you just might have grabbed those reigns from God and assumed control after all. WHAT??? I thought I WAS letting God handle it! Apparently not. Apparently I wavered in my trust, subconsciously thinking I could handle it or do it better even. Excitement stirring, adrenaline rushing, creativity flowing....yep I can do this. It all quickly goes sour as  t h i n g  a f t e r   t  h  i  n  g    l  o  o  s  e  s   i t s e l f  from your grip of control and suddenly you don't feel like "you can do it" anymore. In fact, you begin to feel like you might drown. Unfortunately it doesn't end there. Panic sets in and we begin to try harder to fix it all. After all "fixing it" is what we do. That's our department, our area of expertise. Right? LAUGH!!!! Oh such a sad people we can be. We ask for God's help, He comes, we feel like everything is going great, so great that before we know it we have moved God out of our way and taken over managing it all....I'm hearing a voice much like the sound and attitude of the little bratty girl Varuka from Willy Wonky and the Chocolate Factory. Her smug, loud mouth, bratty behavior bust out into song and dance...it's all playing in my head. Ha! LAUGHABLE we are. We do the same thing. "...it's MINE and I want it NOW!" The sweet sound of a hostile takeover covered up by our love for God and excitement to move forward. Eeeek! Sounds pretty bad. But wait that's not it! After this cycle, after things fall apart, after we get to drowning status, that's when we call out for God's help and start the whole thing over again.

In the end there is a lesson to be learned here.

Plaster sticky notes all over yourself 

that will help remind you of one simple truth:

"GOD IS STILL, 

AND ALWAYS WILL BE 

GOD."

The End.

Fun With Food...

For about a week now I have only had a taste for a handful of dishes. I have literally eaten the same rice dish with slight ingredient variations EVERYDAY and loved every bite, every time! I decided to have some fun taking pictures too and wanted to share them with you. Some of it normal and the rest are Art In My Eyes...LOL! Hope you enjoy....check out my earlier blog post "Recipes Round Up" for the recipes to go with these pictures. 

Loves and Food Hugs,

Christina

My Famous All Natural 

Berry Ginger Cool Lime Refresher

I'm Totally Veggies About Rice!!!!

A Pot of Soup goes a long way....throw in some freshly minced garlic and you have got yourself some All-Natural Germ-Fighting-Feel-Better-By-Morning Yum-In-A-Bowl 

Kids Request: Cinnamon Raisin Toast, Scrambled Eggs, and Homestyle Potatoes for Breakfast for Dinner

GRAPES ARE GOOOOOD!!! 

Going First...

I have been studying the scriptures, looking at the lives and examples of these people God saw fit to tell me about. What I have come to understand and really sink my mind into is how God covered every possible experience I have had and will ever have. As I come to Him, confused by things I face in life, He points me to His word and begins to show me how I can overcome. You see, God called me to be an Overcomer! With every obstacle that stands in my way there is an example of someone who also faced an obstacle and overcame. 

I have often looked at myself as someone who has to go First. God has me walk through circumstances, that produce experiences, that train, equip, and grow me, allowing me to be an example for others of How To Overcome. By experiencing First Hand certain situations, I am then able to articulate a message God is trying to show His people. I "Get It" and then show you so you will "Get It". This is all a part of God's call on my life to be an "Awakener" of His people. Someone has to go first before they can take anyone else anywhere. You cannot lead people where you yourself have never been. That does not disqualify a leader from having to trust solely on God WHILE leading, but rather proves the responsibility and mandate leaders must carry in order to be effective. 

Jesus Christ is a perfect example of a leader who went First. He is the Ultimate Leader! His life depicts that of a man who can honestly sympathize and empathize with everything we could possibly ever face. He suffered, He loved, He laughed, He cried, He lived, He died, and He OVERCAME unto eternal life. Within His short 33 years on this earth, He covered EVERYTHING so He could show US how to OVERCOME! God, in His graciousness, humbled Himself from His exalted position to that of a man of flesh, just so He could tell you, "I went through that and here I stand. Follow me and I will show you how to go through and overcome and stand with me on the other side." WOW!!!!!

Not only did God give us Jesus, but He equipped us with tools, examples, testimonies of other people who Experienced Life and through the power of God, Overcame. Mistakes were made, tempers were lost, melt downs and break downs happened, lives were taken, hope seemed a forged memory, and suffering proceeded with each generation, BUT IN THE END GOD HAS THE GLORY! I can look at the life of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Noah, Job, Esther, Anna, Simeon, Peter, and Paul, among countless others. I can see what they experienced, the feelings they had, the anxieties, the pressures, the doubts, the fears, I see it all. What stands out ABOVE all of that is GOD, His hand, His mercy, His love, His peace, His joy, His nature, His character, His compassion, His fire, HIM! He stands out above all of it. He provides a message of hope that if I stick in the game, if I keep trusting in Him especially when my senses scream Run, that He WILL have the Victory in my life. 

Why would I believe anything else? It's all over and throughout this Book! It's hidden within lines, translations, and words. Even when I get inspired by something, God throws another inspiration in there like He had a special secret tucked away just to wow me with later. THAT right there is LOVE!!!! 

I join with all the people who went FIRST! I sit among them. They went first for me and I will go first for you so that you can go first and the Kingdom of God will prevail!!! In Jesus Name...AMEN!

Loves and Hugs Peeps...Hope you got inspired!

~Christina~

"Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." (1Cor 1:3; Phil 1:2)

Recipe Roundup...

We are almost a week in our 21 Day Daniel's Fast and I haven't gone quite as Raw as I had hoped, but it's been pretty great. I have been stuck on this particular rice dish every day (sorry no pics yet, I'll take one next time I make it). Here are some great, super easy, recipes that make me happy...lol! Anyone could make these they are that simple and will make for a Happy Faster! :)


Recipe 1
Ingredients:
Jasmine or Basmati Rice (you can also use Brown) Cooked and Chilled
Diced Cucumbers
Diced Tomatoes (Cherry, Roma, or the Vine Rippened one are best to use)
Olive or Grapeseed Oil
Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
Cracked Pepper
Ancho Chilli Pepper
Garlic Powder or Fresh Chopped Garlic Cloves
Fresh squeezed 1/2 lemon and 1/2 lime

Instructions:
Heat fry pan, add oil and heat slightly, add chilled rice (as much as you want to eat, but keep in mind the quantity increases when adding other ingredients).
Stir rice and add seasonings and squeezed citrus.
Add in diced veggies, more seasoning and squeezed citrus and stir
Pour in a dish and eat it all up!


Recipe 2
Smoothie Recipe:
1/2 Cup Frozen Mango
1/4 Cup Frozen Bluberry
1/4 Cup Frozen Strawberry
Freshly Grated Ginger Root (as much or as little depending on how much you like ginger)
Almond Milk (fill over fruit)
Agave (optional, can drizzle in)
Blend, Serve, Eat with a Spoon and finish with a Straw!


Recipe 3
Ingredients:
Potatoes
Fresh Baby Spinach
Fresh Arugula
Cherry, Roma, or Vine Tomatoes
Optinal Extras:
Mushrooms
Peppers
Onions
Cucumbers
Broccoli

Instructions:
Lightly pan fry small chopped potatoes (skin on), season with salt and pepper.
(Add in extra ingredients that need longer to cook: onions, peppers)
Once potatoes are nearly done, add in spinach and stir then last add in diced tomatoes.
Stir and Serve.



Recipe 4
(I often use frozen because we always have frozen veggies in the freezer, but fresh is fine too)

Lightly Steamed Broccoli, cauliflower, and Baby Carrots
Cooked Rice
Cooked Black Beans, Kidney Beans, Navy Beans

You can make it as seasoned or as unseasoned as you desire. It's seems to be easier for inexperienced Fasters to season their foods more and that is totally fine.



Recipe 5
Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:
Big Romaine Leaves OR Big Red/Green Leaves
Hummus or Dressing or Salsa (Optional)
Load with your favorite veggies inside, dice them or chop them up, they can be cooked or uncooked whatever you want.
If using hummus, spread on leaves before adding veggies.
If using dressing or salsa, drizzle on after adding veggies.
Roll up like tacos or taquitos and Enjoy!


Recipe 6
Soup It Up!

Ingredients:
Whatever you like thrown in a pot. Longer cooking veggies go first then add in according to beggie cooking needs. If you want a quicker meal use already cooked or canned items. But if you have a little more time, fresher is always better.

I often use Garden Veggie Vegan Bouillan Cubes as a base (Gluten Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free, All Veggies, Helathy and no chemicals)

And I will usually throw in a can of diced tomatoes to make it even more hearty.

It can be All Veggie or add in Cooked Rice Or Cooked Quinoa Pasta.


Recipe 7
Oatmeal

Quick oats, hot water, frozen fruit

Pick your fav frozen fruit, let sit in a bowl in the fridge overnight, (Optional: add a few drizzles of Agave). Stir and pour in oatmeal.



Recipe 8
Speghetti

Ingredients:
Use Brown Rice Pasta or Quinoa Pasta (boil according to package directions)
Canned Crushed Tomaotes (for you prefer a more hearty sauce add in a can of tomato paste)
***for all my canned items, if you search you can find some without additives and chemicals

Homemade Sauce:
Heat some olive oil in a deep pan or pot with a lid
Add in chopped onions (I keep mine big so I can take them out later since my family doesn't like onions)
*Optional, gives good flavor, add in chopped peppers
Add in finely chopped garlic cloves or keep pieces big to take out later
Add crushed tomatoes
Add seasonings: salt, pepper, cilantro, parsley, oregano, Italian seasonings, ancho chili pepper, red pepper, etc.
Simmer with lid on for about 30 minutes. Add to cooked pasta. Serve and Enjoy!



Ok that's all for now! I'll post more later. Feel free to post some of your own favorite recipes on here as well. I love recipe sharing! Take a recipe, tailor it to fit your taste buds, and eat happy!

Post surgery Update: Endovenous Ablation using VNUS Closure Procedure
I had my left leg done last month and this past Thursday I had my right leg done. I had my own expectations for this second time round and yeah it was not what I thought! Lol! It hurt more afterwards on the day of, them second day it hurt less. I took the bandages off about 12am this morning and it was much more swollen then last time. It's different because I don't feel I have a stronger leg to depend on this time round, but all in all I'm doing great! I'm taking hardly any pain meds which is far different from popping the, every 4-6hours last time. I also enjoy being on the fast during this time, which I believe is responsible for how great I am feeling post recovery. I watched some YouTube videos of what the actual surgery looks like and it's a bigger deal seeing it like that than I had led myself to believe. It's a real surgery with blood and swelling! Haha! Although it is minimally invasive compared to other methods and other surgeries, the reality hit me a bit more after watching. I didn't cry or anything though. Lol! If you are curious, look up the procedure on YouTube. There are different variations of the Abalation Procedures, but it will give you a general idea.

Other than that, God is A-Brew-n' some things in me lately that I'm sure will be pouring out soon here.

Loves and Hugs,
Christina

Is It Possible?

I have been reading in the book of Job recently and have adapted an interesting perception, something I had not taken into account before. Job suffered. That is very clear. According to scripture we know Job to have been a perfect man before the suffering. Not perfect in the sense of being completely sinless because the Bible teaches that every person falls short of God's standard of perfection (Rom 3:23). Job's perfection was without blame of any moral failure from a human point of view. Still this speaks highly of his character, integrity, and standing, plus he was wealthy, so obviously he was on a right track in his life. We also know that God "allowed" Satan to afflict Job to "test" him. Satan, always looking for a way to rub something in God's face, and while some people do fail certain tests and areas of life at times, God still wins! The Bible as well as experience proves such. 


Something began to occur to me though as I took a deeper look. Firstly, I wonder what happened in between Job 2:9-10 and Job 3. Job started with hushing his wife's foolish conclusions which were contrary to God's character, as she questioned his continued integrity in the midst of this seemingly ridiculous onset of suffering. After being visited by his friends and days of sitting in silence together he proceeds to curse the day he was born. I found that quite interesting. Satan's attempts are obvious to me, but it was after Job's friends showed up that his language took a different turn. The tragic happenings, physical torment, and pressure from his wife didn't push the beginning of his hostile reactions until his friends came to visit....very curious don't you think? The same friends that then began to advise him on their own assumptions and conclusions of the "Why's" of his sufferings. 


That wasn't even the meat of this revelation though...

As Job begins to speak from a place of mental and physical anguish; basically beginning to react; what Job is most faced with, and possibly the reason for the break of silence into the beginning of the reactions, is the shaking of his theology and understanding thus far of God Himself. You see, Job began to examine this situation, these happenings based off of his previous understanding of why one would suffer. It was his own basic presupposition, that God always blesses the righteous and afflicts the wicked, that was proving faulty, given his "on track" life. He thought himself to be in right standing with God, not a wretched sinner deserving of such horrific experiences. Regardless of what he did experience, he had not renounced God, which was the reaction Satan was trying to prove to God would happen. Job must conclude that his theology has to be wrong because he cannot put what he believes to be true of God together with what is happening to him. Job reacts in hostile ways at times, even exaggerating untrue and virtually blasphemous sayings, but always turns back to God and never renounces God. Incredible I might add!


My conclusion to this is: Is it possible that God allowed Job to go through these experiences to break the mold of his presupposed theology of his understanding of God? Was God providing an opportunity for Job's theology and understanding to be enlarged and increased THROUGH his suffering? God always has reasons for everything (Eccl. 3:1). Although Job dealt with all that he did, he was pushed to seek God more. Our fleshly desire is to understand WHY! It is when we do not know the answer to something pertaining to us that we begin to panic, allowing doubt and fear to settle in. God saw through Satan's failed attempts to throw something in His face, instead taking advantage of an opportunity to Enlarge, Increase, and Stretch Job's understanding of Him. It is this very perspective that has refueled me to stop questioning and needing to fulfill my fleshly desire to know WHY! Don't get me wrong...I did not say this would be an easy thing to stop doing, just that it pushes me to push past my fleshly desires..."walking after the spirit and not the flesh". 


If God wants to expand my view of Him, it must be in a way so completely opposite of comfortable-to-my-flesh. My flesh is what cannot contain Him, my spirit is what needs to grow stronger in Him, and overcoming the obstacles set before me is what allows for the stretching, increasing, and enlarging to occur. 


Break the molds of my understanding Oh God, that I might receive more of who You are. I said I wanted to walk with You as did those who walked with You before me. You graciously make way for that through each and every one of my experiences. I WILL Trust in You Always even though what I see and feel may seem opposite of what I know. I will Trust!!!




~Christina~




Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."


Isaiah 12:2
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation."


Psalms 34:1
"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Thankful...

I've never been more thankful in my life than I am right now for every opportunity of reprieve in my life. I am literally filled with joy even though I know it's only a moment until the next thing I must face. I may even be facing other things simultaneously, but reprieve in one area, a moment to breathe in just one area, is a huge load off. All I can do is think of God's amazing goodness right now. I am moved by His shows of affection for me. How could I have ever doubted Him, even the teeniest bit? Has He ever failed anyone in the Bible? NOPE! Has He ever failed me? NOPE! So why when things begin to shake around me do I think the ground is gonna fall? And if it does fall, wouldn't He catch me anyways? Trust! Gotta have it! 

"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." (Psalm 91:2 KJV)

"And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." (Psalm 9:10 KJV)

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40:1-3 KJV)

Learning To Trust...

Learning to trust God in all things is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to face. It's a simple biblical principal and key to walking with Him successfully. Not a worldly success that defines how someone views my relationship with Him, but a spiritual success with an outcome that speaks... "My servant in whom I'm well pleased". When all else fails around me I have one goal with one objective: Trust in the Lord and Follow His statutes; in that He will be pleased with me.

I came across a message recently that spoke of desiring God's WILL more than His POWER. I would not put myself in the latter category however it's quite possible I have unknowingly done so. To pursue God's Will above all else means to Trust in Him regardless of what I see or feel. Emotions are such a black thick tar sometimes against all reason. Emotions become the ruler of man more than anything else I know of. I have been easily overtaken by the flipped switch of emotion, easily set off track from the course, reacted outside of myself over some of the dumbest things! How can you pursue God's will if you are the one getting in the way with your out of control emotions...I want it my way, that way looks better, this is too hard I'll just do it that way instead. Have you ever thought any of those things? Well I have! It's not something I want to blurt out loud..."Hey people, I have trust issues, with God!" No I can't say that seems like a comfortable thing to say, but it's truer than I would like it to be.

Oh how I want to easily trust God. Oh how I want to stop allowing life to overwhelm me. Oh how I want to really and truthfully lean completely on God and rest in Him like He beckons us to. Ugh! Why can't I just be a perfect daughter to my Father? Have you ever felt like such a bad child? I went through my teenage years knowingly being rebellious. I just didn't want to do what my parent wanted me to. I wanted to do what I wanted..."leave me be and let me do my thang!" If my parent had done that, I'm quite sure I would be dead. Oh how God has delivered me from the hands of death because of my stubbornness and distrust in His Will.

Sorry, emotion just hit pretty hard at this moment. Just the awareness of my ugly flaws...I don't like this ugly person who hides in me. She comes out during times of struggle. I hate her as a matter of fact. I hate the ugliness of my flesh that rises up against me...but wait what about that scripture that says, "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places." I am in the wrong battle!!! I'm in the wrong battle! Instead of fighting against myself and my own will, I need to be warring against these principalities that are trying to come in and distract me from pursuing my purpose and reaching the promise.

Oh Lord, I know not why I keep ending up here, but what I do know is that YOUR LOVE IS GREATER, YOUR LOVE IS STRONGER, YOUR POWER IS MIGHTIER, AND IF I TRUST YOU AND DESIRE YOUR WILL, EVERYTHING ELSE WILL LINE UP AND I WILL REACH THE PROMISE!

If that is your hearts cry, join in prayer with me.
Father, right now we ask that You teach us to rest in You. We pray that when challenges are set before us, we look to You first, that we are not swayed by emotion and our own will, but walk by the moving of the Holy Spirit towards and in Your Will. You are God and we are not! You alone are God! Forgive me for ever trying to take over that role from You. Forgive me for allowing my flesh to be the stronger. Help me Lord, because without You I Cannot! Without You God, I cannot and am not! I need You every day, every hour, every moment. Cleanse and purify my heart continuously that I may Be pleasing unto You. If I do not please you in areas show me so I can change. Thank You Father for loving me and patiently guiding me through life to accomplish Your purposes. I pray that be my hearts desire. You know and see my heart more than I even know it. You God are my heart! I look to You! I love You! In Jesus Name I bind any strongholds and ploys of the enemy against me in my life, against my family, against my ministry. You said in Your word God that No Weapons formed against me would prosper. I know that even though I see the arrows coming at me that I can bank on Your word and trust that You will never fail me, Your words never fail! I pray that angels would be released to make a border of protection against me, my family, my house, my friends and family, my church, my kids school, everywhere we go and everywhere we are. You are God Only over all things and no enemy, no device formed, no curse spoken, no evil can beset that which Your hands are over. Help me God to walk in boldness! I will not walk in fear which causes me to be overwhelmed. I will only trust in You with ALL of me. Cover me Lord, for You are my covering. Protect me Lord, for You are my protection. Counsel me Oh Lord, for You are my counselor. Teach me Lord, for You are my teacher. I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. I am a Conquerer through You Jesus Christ who strengthens me. All things are possible through You God. Let me not ever ever ever forget who You are and what You have done and what You are doing! You are Master, You are Lord, You are Savior, You are King, YOU ARE GOD!!! In Jesus Mighty Name...Amen and So Be it!


Loves and Hugs!

Believe God to Be God!

(Call me a slacker...I have struggled to find balance for about a week now, but I'm getting back on track so here it goes...)


Have you ever encountered that feeling of wanting to give up? This is something I have hit on before, but adding in a fresh perspective. The feeling usually arises when we feel overwhelmed by what's around us. This can be life, this can be ministry, this can be anything. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" and the rest of us struggle to hold on before being blown away or crushed under the pressure. The thing is though, what are we running away from exacty? Are we Running away from responsibility, commitments, pressures, life? To run away is simply to give up on a thing. If we are giving up What is it, or better Who is it we are giving up on?

Could it be that all this time we thought our feelings created a desire to run away from or give up on WHAT was causing us to feel overwhelmed.? If it's ministry, then we want to step away or "step down" as so many call it, lessen responsibility, pull back from what we give ourselves to and how much of ourselves we give. If it's life, well maybe we give up on living it one way and decide to live it another, or maybe it's more serious and we just want to give up all together and cease to exist.

What if it wasn't the WHAT, but the WHO? What if the underlying truth to the desire to run or give up was really directed towards God? Is it possible that what we are really saying, but rarely admitt to is that we Give Up On God because we don't like what we are seeing and feeling? Everything in us tells us to book it and high tail it outta here as fast as possible, but that is only because we are convinced we are running from the thing. Surely God meant for us to move forward right?

No, we run and give up because we stop believing God to be God. We doubt and fear and cannot control a dang thing! We feel more than uncomfortable, overstretched, overworked, stressed out, on the verge of some mental breakdown or mental exhaustion or emotional fatigue...(hehe these words are making me laugh, but this is serious here!)

"Issac new the same God who was leading him had also led his father Abraham (Gen. 26:24). Jacob realized his God was also the 'God of Abraham and Issac' (Gen 35:12). Joseph understood that God's activity in his life was building upon what God had already done through his forefathers "Abraham, Issac, and Jacob" (Gen. 48:15). When God commissioned Moses to deliver the Israelites, Moses did not assume God was just beginning to implement his plan (Exo. 3:15). When Moses prepared his people to finally enter the Promised Land, he recalled with them all that God had done for them over the previous years...Whenever Paul explained why he was leading his people the way he was, he reviewed the story of how God had worked in his life (Acts 22:1-21; 24:10-21; 26:1-23)."

The key here is Learning to Just Believe God to be God...that's it! Why do you think God repeated throughout the scripture that saying about being "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob"? It wasn't a cool way to say His name. It was a reminder for His people, for us today that no matter what is going on around us God is still God. He was God to Abraham and He is God to You! He showed Himself faithful and remains faithful still. He is God! We either believe He is or we don't. We can't change our minds according to our feelings. We must change our feelings according to God!


Love ya all,
Christina