New Blog.

I recently have decided to dedicate an entire blog to the conversations that I have. You can read about it here:

http://smalltalkandthosewhomakeit.blogspot.com

With taking missions this semester and the new opportunities that I am being given I thought it would be a fun experiment to show people my struggles with sharing the gospel as well as share the wheres, the hows and the whos I tend to interact with.

Enjoy!

Freezer Cooking Day Wednesday

Tonight, I do not have small group. It's a blessing really as many of the family's I am working with have been sick. So instead, my roommate and I decided to make pancakes for dinner and have a reading party. In addition I will be cooking and freezing some meals for the next week or so.

On the Menu:

PB and J- in grape and strawberry varieties
Tuna Sandwiches- instead of using mayo I will be using dressing.
Brown Bag Burritos (with a twist of turkey instead of ground beef)
Pancakes- whats left over I will freeze.
Baked Ziti   well actually it's baked pasta.

So excited for freezer cooking day!

My menu for the next couple of weeks include these as well as some items that I already have in the freezer.

Pleasing

This whole week I have been faced with the idea of who am I pleasing.

It started on Tuesday sitting across from a friend telling how much I wish I could just but my pride "won't let me". The reality is that I am making a choice not to change. I am choosing the way that seems easier and instantly gratifying although I know in my head and heart that I am suppose to make a different choice.

The next night my student small discussed the heart that drives us to make decisions. I had a bunch of ethics class reruns going on my head. I knew that I should make decisions based out of of obedience. I knew my choices should reflect a heart that has been forgiven, accepted and covered by grace. Instead, I was still selfishly believing that I knew better.

Finally yesterday came. Thursdays are my long days. I have such mixed emotions about them. I start my day at 6 a.m and generally go until 9 p.m. It's a long day with about 3 hours of break in the middle. I tend to get a lot done whether going to the post office, getting school supplies, reading and other things. When I got to my last job, I was still thinking about what it means to live a life that is pleasing to God. The woman that I worked for had a list of things that her children needed to do (i.e. pick up the playroom, pick up the shoes and so on) before they could play.

I woke up the 3 year old twins about 3:40 and this was the conversation:
Me: Before we play, we have to clean up a little.
Sammy: Why?
Me: Because cleaning up will make your Mommy happy.
Macey: And she will give us hugs and kisses?
Me: Well, she will do that anyway because she loves you guys. But we are going to clean up because it will make her smile.

I, in no way, want to endorse that we have to do things in order to get God to love us. But the conversation mirrors the relationship that we should have. We do things not because it will make God love us more or less. We do it because we want to make Him happy. We want to please him. I desperately want to please me parents. I attempt good grades and try to be wise with my money. Not because if I fail they will love me any differently but because when I do those things it reflects on them and how they invested in me. The way that I want to please God should echo in the way that I want to please them. 

I don't know best. But I can make the choice to lay down what pride I have and live a life that is pleasing to Him.

"So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light." Colossians 1:10-12

A Billion Reasons Why

I love Kristen Billerbeck. Easily one of my favorite authors. He mix of reality and God make for fun and fast reads. This book A Billion Reasons Why was not a let down. I loved how Billerbeck mentions Glee, Justin Beiber and much more made this book interesting without too much trying.

Katie is about to get engaged to a safe and somewhat boring man but still has feeling for a college sweetheart, who also happens to be a billionaire. This book speaks very indirectly to trusting in God when it comes to relationships.  One of my favorite quotes of the book was, "No one who truly understands grace will tell a person their sin is beyond it" (252).  It is such a  wonderful statement that shows that people can move on from their past and  be in grace of God, living a life that please him.

I have never been let down by Billerbeck and this book was no exception. I think she has redefined Christian romance in a good way. It was a wonderful winter read and comes highly recommended (along with all of her other books as well).

Cooking Adventures

Tonight I cooked. I love cooking. Tonight I made an Italian dish, salad and bread.

The dish is called Everything Italian. It is so good!

Here's the recipe:
1 box your choice of pasta. I used penne in this.
1 jar of meat suace
1 8 ounce can of ricotta cheese
1 bag of shredded cheese (Mozzarella or Italian mix will work)
1 pound of meat. I used turkey.

Brown meat and cook pasta. Pre-heat over to 425. In a 9x9 inch pan layer the ingredients. First layer pasta, second layer meat, third layer sauce, fourth layer ricotta cheese then a handful of the shredded cheese. Continue to layer until there is no more room. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cheese is brown on top.

It is one of my favorites to cook and since my apartment always has pasta and sauce the whole meal for two cost about 10 dollars.




Looking forward to next weekends adventure!

Goals 2011

I am generally not a person who sets new years resolutions or long term goals in general. I like the short term- easy to see results method. In most cases, it's good for me. I set a time limit on when my room should be clean, laundry should be done, homework finished. It's a good plan. However, I am coming to realize that small steps towards a big goal are still steps. Even when I get frustrated and want to quit or fail. It's what I do after that.


So in an effort to make some changes, I have a list of goals (reasonably set so I can actually achieve them) which I will now share with the blogging world so that maybe I can have some form accountability.

1. Eat healthier. It seems like this is a common NYR but I have been experimenting over the last year and find that when I eat healthier I have more energy, more drive, less down days. It sounds cliche but I am sure that when Daniel told the king's helper that they would only eat fruits and vegetables because it was glorifying to God....God knew what he was doing when. It's what our bodies were created for. To glorify God. It's still something that I am praying for strength about because... it's hard. Lets face it. Deliverance is never an easy process. The Israelites complained that being in Egypt would be better than being the desert. I would rather be held captive by something I know brings "comfort, joy, pleasure" then actually turn to God who although has proven faithful I am still unable to trust in.

2. Spend more time with my roommates. One of my roommates is crazy. The other is quiet. It's hard when the polar opposites make me what to run in my room and hide. But I am coming to realize that God can teach me through either roommate. There are lessons that need to be learnt and bonds that need to be made. I have failed at this miserably in the past. It's time to start pouring my life into the ones that live closest to me.

3. Find something to do where I can share the gospel. No seriously. I haven't decided what yet but I need to figure out something. Right now I am praying. But I am almost think it's time to start acting as well.

That's it so far. I have minor goals such as keeping things cleaner and making sure that I get everything do but that's what post-it notes are for. In the middle of all of those daily, minor goals, maybe I can squeeze one or tow of my major goals in and celebrate the freedom, friendship and salvation that has been given to me by a great and mighty God.

Where Hearts are Free- Golden Parsons

The story is set in Philadelphia 1681. It revolves around Bridget Barrington and the Clavell family. The book deals with how in spite of all odds and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, love and faith in God finally triumph.

I usually love to read. I can finish a book quickly and enjoy about 85 percent of what I pick up. Where Hearts are Free was a different story. I got the book about 3 months ago. It has taken me three months to read it. I pick it from Book Sneeze.com because I liked the cover. Call me stupid but I do think that a books cover has a lot to do with whether or not I will like it. I assumed that I would like this one. That it would take me back to my youth when I use to devour books like these. Perhaps this is just a lesson that I must read the entire series seeing as this was the last book. Or maybe this book is just another proof that I have grown up.

The main character Bridget, is a bit whiny and selfish and I didn't actually start to like her until the end of the story. That aside, that book seemed predictable and boring. I knew what was going to happen. I knew that despite the authors attempt to put barriers between Bridget and her love they would end up together in the end... with a little bit of God thrown in there.

I suppose this book will teach me a lesson not to pick a book simply because of it's cover. The cover may have been appealing but the storyline left much to be desired.

I got this book for free from booksneeze.com. I’m not required to give a positive review.