She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

Proverbs 31:25

A Beautiful Role

"The essence of a woman is beauty. She is meant to be the incarnation-our experience in human form-of a captivating God. A God who invites us.

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters...Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the riches of fare. (Isaiah 55:1-2)

Beauty is what the world longs to experience from a woman. We know that. Somewhere deep down, we know it to be true. Most of our shame comes from this knowing and feeling that we have failed here. So listen to this: beauty is an essence that dwells in EVERY woman. It was given to her by God and it was given to you. Surely you would agree that God is nothing if not beautiful. All around us his creation shouts of his beauty. The sound of a brook, a quiet beach, the sun streaming from a billowing cloud. As Sam Weil wrote, 'The beauty of the world is almost the only way by which we can allow God to penetrate us...' Beauty capitvates the senses in order to obtain permission to pass straight to the soul. God has given this beauty to every woman, it is our core. It is who we are and who we long to be and one of the most glorious ways we bear the image of God in a broken and often ugly world."

I just wanted to share this with my sisters this morning. I think it's a beautiful thing that we are the human form of a captivating God. We represent His beauty and mystery. I love to relish in this fact and am so thankful not only for it but that it was shown to me. It makes me feel more beautiful ever to know this ;)

(Eldridge, 131 & 132)

Mmm mmm! Delish Recipes ;D

Hi all! I have a great recipe here for these cold winter days that will really hit the spot. We LOVED it and I had it whipped up in no time! Everything was in the bowl and ready to go before the noodles had even finished boiling and the best part is, it was easy on our wallet ;) So here you go, enjoy!

Chicken & Spinach Pasta Bake

8 oz uncooked rigatoni
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 an onion-chopped
1 (10 oz) pack of frozen spinach
3 cups, cooked shredded chicken breasts (I used chunk chicken in a can to save time & $$. It took 2-12.5 oz cans)
1 (14 oz) can italian-style diced tomatoes, drained
1 (8 oz) container Philadelphia chive & onion cream cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare rigatoni according to package directions. Cook your onions in skillet over med high heat until tender and put in mixing bowl. Drain chopped spinach, well, pressing between paper towels to make sure it's pretty well dry. Add the rest of the ingredients (except for mozzarella) into bowl and mix. Spoon mixture into casserole dish and sprinkle mozzarella on top. Bake covered for 30 minutes then uncover and bake for 15 more minutes or until bubbly.

Disruptive Honesty

Don't let the title of this post fool you, just keep reading ;)

I think it's safe to say that it's a pretty common thought to see Jesus as this untouchable and perfect person. We probably envision him as we see him paintings. As this dreamy, whimsical, angelic man. And yes, I think it's a beautiful image but I think it causes us to not be able to relate to him as much as we could. It's a little intimidating, right? Well, I've been reading this incredible book called, "Beautiful Outlaw; Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus" and it is THE most incredible book. It has helped me to see Jesus for who he really is. Playful and fun, honest and real. I'd like to share a little bit from the chapter about his disruptive honesty. I just love it...

To come to know Jesus intimately, as he is, as he wants to be known, is to release a redemptive landslide in your life. What if at this moment you have terminal cancer, but don't know it. The disease is silently ravaging your body while precious days slip by in which you could be taking action. Now-what if your doctor knew but didn't want to tell you because it would inconvenience him? You'd sue him for malpractice. What if your family knew and didn't tell you because "they didn't want to upset you"? You would be furious. Don't you see how incredibly important it is to know the truth? Well, we can always count on Jesus to tell us the truth. Sometimes he's playful; sometimes he's fierce; the next moment he's generous. This is the beauty of disruptive honesty, you can count on him to to tell you the truth in the best possible way for you to hear it because you need to hear it. We love his honesty when he goes gunning for the Pharisees in Matthew 23:15 but when he turns his sights on us we begin to squirm, something in us gets offended. The world is stone drunk, and raging at Jesus because he's trying to keep us from taking the car. Who is being unreasonable? The spirit of our day is a soft acceptance of everything-except deep conviction in anything. This is where Jesus will suddenly confront the world as a great rock confronts the river flowing ever downhill. He is immovable. Conviction might be a matter of personal opinion, but truth is like a great mountain, solid and immovable whether we like it or even acknowledge it. Chritianity is not a set of convictions-it is a truth. The most offensive thing imaginable.
And Jesus is a rock alright. "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" (Rom. 9:33). A rock is offensive in your shoe because it is an inconvenience. If we said, "Away with all rocks!" we would wish the planet right out from under our feet. But a rock is also the only refuge from the raging seas. The shipwrecked soul doesn't curse the rock because it is immovable; he clings to it, weeping for gratitiude. Remember-when Jesus tells us the truth, he doesn't say, "You are on your own now. Deal with it." He offers us a way out. As John said, "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (1:17). Truth and grace. Anytime Jesus pulls the rug out from under us, he extends his hand to lift us to a place of refuge.

(Beautiful Outlaw)

Elf on a Shelf

So I was chatting with my girl Nat today and she shared with me the cutest Christmas idea for the little ones! Stop me if you've heard of it...elf on a shelf?! I'm sure it's already a tradition for many families but if you've never heard of it, you may want to try it with your kiddos this year for fun :D The concept goes a little something like this...get a cute little elf and put it up on the shelf and tell the kids he's santa's helper from the north pole and he's come to your house to be santa's eyes and ears. They observe for santa, letting him know who's naughty and who's nice, hehe! And they don't stay in just one spot, elves like to play games and are very mischevious so they don't stay in one spot for long! When the kids aren't looking you take the elf and move him somewhere different. A fun idea is to put him in the freezer for them to find, since it reminds the elf of the north pole ;) hang him from the fan, or put him on the couch holding the remote, haha! The creativity is limitless, it'll be fun playing hide and seek with the elf. And after Christmas of course the elf "goes back to the north pole with santa" until next year. I love it! Nat was cracking me up with ideas to do with your elf. This was my fave, get a dry erase marker and draw mustaches on all the faces in your frames around the living room, what a mischievous elf ;) Take funny pictures of your elf and once developed, switch out pictures in frames with pictures of the elf, he likes pictures of himself, hehe! A good spot for your elf would be in front of an open book, maybe even a Christmas book! Like I said, the ideas are never ending. I was cracking UP looking at all the things different people did with their elf, here are some of my favorites...

What child doesn't love milk? When they go to get some out of the fridge, the look on their face would be priceless!

Mom painted the kid's noses red while they were asleep, haha!!

Have fun with your elf on a shelf!! I can't wait to do this someday with my kiddies ;D And let's not forget the real reason for the season everyone, the birth of our savior and friend, Jesus Christ!

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Idols

My precious sis sent me a study on Hosea. I'm only 3 days in and am already getting so much out of it. Today I looked at chapter 2 and did some soul searching on idolatry. Although I don't worship any little handheld wooden idols like we've read about in the Bibe (yes, I left out the "L", it's my Bibe, always has been. Haha!) I can safely say that I can be accused of having an idolatrous heart toward Him because I give too much attention to other things. Boy, was that an eye opener. I thought I was safe since I don't worship those wooden religious relics BUT Idols can be anything from someone you love so much to music, clothes, money or power. What do you spend too much time on aside from God. That very well could be your idol. Anyway, after my conviction of the realization that I idolize my husband more than my Father at times, I was directed to some familiar scripture that I love & can relate to my new found conviction.

"Therefore I will block her path with thorn bushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them." Hosea 2:6,7

When I read this, I see "chase after her lovers" and the word "lovers" as a form of idolatry. What do you chase after? Money? Popularity? The finer things/labels? Love? Poor Gomer (the woman for whom these verses were inspired) She was chasing after lovers, clothes, food and drink. You see it to this very day, I know I'm guilty of having a few idols myself. For example, when you do finally get that coach purse you've been wanting all year, does it bring you happiness? Of course it does! But, do you not agree that eventually that purse ends up in the back of your closet? Material things are fleeting! It only brings temporary happiness-->"She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them." Your "idols" don't bring you true soul quenching love, satisfying you to your very core forever and ever. Don't you long for this? I feel like it's in our very make up, in every fiber, the desire to feel truly satisfied, fulfilled and loved. These verses might seem a little harsh but just consider it for a moment. He is purposely thwarting our efforts to find a life apart from Him. He does this in order to wear us out, to get us to turn back to Him in thirsty longing.

He then begins to woo us. Which is exactly what happened to me and I'm willing to bet has happened to EVERY single person who believes.

"Therefore I am going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her." Hosea 2:14

The moment this happens is the most beautiful, indescribable (there are literally no words) thing that will ever happen to you. These are not empty words, they are living and true and have happened time and time again to His children all over the world. Can I get a AMEN? Haha!

"In that day," declares the Lord, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master...'

"I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion." Hosea 2:16, 19

THIS is what I long for. Reading this, experiencing this firsthand is what I was made for. My sister said it well after her travels ," I'm grateful that my true home is where I've yet to set my feet :)" I'm thankful for this conviction today. I will begin to try my hardest not to put any other idols before Him.

"Those who cling to idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Jonah 2:8

Tamar

Hello everyone! This morning, I read from Tamar's story and would just like to share a little. "Her story has it all: mysterious deaths, deceptive relatives, mistaken identities, hidden babies, even a woman sentenced to burn at the stake!" At one point in my life, it never interested me to pick up my Bible because I thought I'd be bored to death reading about facts and historical figures. No no no, don't be fooled as I was! It is filled to the brim with excitement and intrigue. Her story can be found at the end of Genesis 37, I encourage you to read it for yourself. To sum it up, this poor young woman is married off to Judah's son. Judah was a mean and stubborn old man. Her husband was put to death in his evil ways and she was handed off to his brother (customary of the Levirate tradition) who was also struck dead for the same reason. They were horrible husbands, poor Tamar. After a series of events, not in her favor of course, and over a period of time, she took matters into her own hands. She disguised herself and tricked Judah (the stubborn man, her father-in-law) using her feminine ways to become pregnant with his offspring. And yes, this is a story introduced to me through "Really Bad Girls of the Bible" so bear with me ;) Get to know her and her story before you judge her actions. She was an emotionally abused, grossly ignored woman who'd been through hell and back who was desperate for a child, the child she felt she deserved after everything she'd been through. She was an honorable woman who made one bad decision. But that's the tricky thing about God's grace and master plan, everything happens for a reason friends and when this story comes full circle, a savior is born. Anyway, once he finds out she is pregnant, as his daughter in law and part of his family, he demands she be put to death. But clever Tamar isn't going down so easily. "she sent a message to her father in law. "I am pregnant by the man who owns these," she said. Gen 38:25 You see, she had asked for his seal and staff at the moment of um...how to put this nicely....conception. It was his payment to her. These were items of great importance and identity to the man who owned them at the time and he had given them to her as she had asked (that's what you get Judah!) and finally, for once, Judah did the right thing. When the seal and staff were shown to him, he recognized them and acknowledged them, admitting his wrong doing. In the Bible, he even admits "she is more right than I am". She eventually gave birth to twins, how like God to replace Judah's two sons with twin boys through all of this.

Lesson learned: "The Lord uses her in spite of her sin. That's the hook we hang our hope on, sisters. Not in 'getting it right,' but in knowing that although we get it wrong over and over, consistently, even blatantly, God's power to accomplish his will is not limited to our meager efforts. We are made for one purpose: to worship and glorify God. Our challenge is to stop trying to make things work out for our good and let God work things out for His good and perfect will through us." Which is always in our best interest to begin with, am I right? ;)