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Last night at my bible study we discussed our "patterns" for the upcoming year. It might sound a little different, but one thing that they have been focusing on at church is getting rid of setting goals. Goals can be tough. While they are great in many ways, sometimes they can be unrealistic and hard to achieve, and occasionally they can leave you feeling defeated and disappointed. We talked about how beginning a new year shouldn't be about setting goals for oneself that you aren't sure whether or not you'll reach, but about changing and gaining patterns. For example, if you say you're a night owl, but you've never tried to adjust your routine and become a morning person, of course that is the pattern that your body is used to. We discussed how picking a word to focus on for the year can be helpful when it comes to changing your patterns and your lifestyle. It can help you remember what to focus on, and help your focus remain on Him.
My two words for the year are patience and community.

Patience in waiting on God to show me the path for my life. Patience in the hardships. Patience in waiting for the right job. Patience in waiting on the perfect timing for marriage to Sean. Patience in making moves and improving myself.

Community will remind me to branch out and meet new people. It will help me remember that God didn't create me to sit alone and only have my family and Sean as my friends, but he made me for a purpose. He made me to be a friend to others, and for others to be a friend to me when I need them. Community will help my relationships grow and thrive.

What are your words and patterns for 2015?

Word of Choice.

Last night at my bible study we discussed our "patterns" for the upcoming year. It might sound a little different, but one thing t...
Thursday, January 22, 2015
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Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
At the beginning of every New Year I seem to make the same resolution... Read my bible daily. Pray more. Genuinely study the gospel. Have faith. Talk to God. Trust. Experience joy, regardless.

I'm reading two bible studies right now that I am becoming more obsessed with every day. One of them is called Restless; it's not as much a bible study as it is a "how to" when it comes to coping with your wants, needs, and God's plan for your life. It is a life changing book. I have felt so restless over the last year. Restless in terms of wanting the hardships to be over. Restless in waiting for the perfect job and opportunity to come my way. Restless in terms of my relationship and the next step we need to take. Restless in wondering if my personal dreams line up with God's dreams for me. This book has taught me that it's not about what I want for myself, but what God wants me to do for His kingdom.

"What if we took pieces of our lives (no matter what the world says they are worth) and began to use them to help others flourish for the sake of Christ? All of a sudden our motives would narrow to contain more of God and others, and less of us." - Restless

Trust.

The other bible study book I'm reading is the book I am studying in my E-Group, Becoming Myself. It is about knowing that God is greater than anything in this world. That when you surrender your life to him, and let him write your story, it is going to be way more amazing than anything you could ever narrate yourself. It focuses on relinquishing fear and anxiety, and gaining faith. It has moved me in so many ways. I've always dealt with anxiety, over stupid things like fear that my family will get hurt in some crazy way, or over my future. Becoming Myself teaches me that we shouldn't fear the unknown, because God knows all.

"You probably know what you have been afraid to entrust to God. When we surrender our fear, we are offering it to Jesus. We are saying "This fear is too much fear for me to bear. I give it to you because I believe you are good and worthy of my trust." When we actively, by faith, lay down our fears at the feet or Jesus, we pick up his love in return. It is an uneven trade, a heavenly exchange." - Becoming Myself

Faith.

It sounds silly, but when I read these books I get this bizarre feeling in my stomach. It's a mix between wanting to burst out laughing, and getting butterflies. I've always felt this way, and I've always thought it was so strange. It wasn't until recently that I realized what this feeling is... it's joy. It's joy and happiness that bubbles up inside me when I realize that I have nothing to worry about. God is in control. How awesome is that? God has my life planned out!! Now I am embracing this feeling. I love it and I can't wait to see what journey I am taken on with this fresh perspective.

Cheers to 2015!

Becoming My (Restless) Self.

Saturday, January 10, 2015
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(Sigh) I have a little case of the blues. It was just one of those days I guess. I miss my boyfriend so much, I'm facing a lot of worry about this hardship with his family, I feel like I'm stuck in a rut when it comes to job applications, and I'm a tad confused and overwhelmed about where my future is headed. Sorry that I'm such a downer, but the unknown is confusing.
When you've had a bad day there's nothing better than a little comfort food. It soothes the soul, makes you full and sleepy, and (most of all) erases your worry about things you can't change. If you follow me on Instagram you've probably noticed that I've been continuously feasting on this little treat I like to call blueberry crisp! It's gluten free, full of the perfect amount of sweetness and crunch, and it's extremely cozy and delicious on a dreary winter day.

Earlier this year my mom read a new novel called Bread & Wine and she loved it so much she bought me a copy. Not only is it a heart warming take on why eating around the table with friends and family is so important, but it's also full of mainly gluten free recipes.

The other night I tried the first recipe in the book, blueberry crisp, and became addicted! Here's my "Trendy Lindy" remix of the Bread & Wine original...


WHAT YOU NEED:
4 cups of blueberries (may substitute blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, etc.)
1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup raw pecans
1/2 cup almond meal
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

(For more flavor I added...)
1/4 cup brown sugar (two 1/8 cups)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

 WHAT YOU DO:
Pour the blueberries into a deep pan or baking dish. Sprinkle 1/8 cup of brown sugar over the top of the blueberries.

Mix the crisp ingredients together, including the cinnamon and the second 1/8 cup of brown sugar. Pour the topping over the berries.

Bake at 350 degrees 35 to 45 minutes, or up to 10 minutes longer if fruit is frozen, until fruit is bubbling and the topping is crisp and golden. Put a big scoop into a bowl, top with vanilla ice cream if you want to indulge, and enjoy!
What's your favorite comfort food recipe?

The Blues.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014
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Well, last week was hard.

As you know, I have been dating my amazing and adorable boyfriend for over four years now. I can't express how much he means to me. He makes me smile every single day, he treats me way better than I deserve, he's my best friend, my person, and I look forward to a long, long life with him by my side.
When Sean and I first started dating I was curious and excited by the difference in our families. My family coming from a background of North Carolina mountains and Mississippi backyards, and his Italian-Irish roots branching from New Jersey, New York, and Italy and Ireland themselves. After lots of heaping helpings of secret spaghetti sauce, dinners around the table, trips to the Jersey shore, Beech Mountain and Myrtle Beach, apple sauce and sauerkraut, long car rides and heartfelt hugs, I became even more attached to his family. His parents, aunts, uncles and cousins are some of the most loving people I've ever met. They are the ones who have raised him to be the guy that I love so much.
      
Back in October Sean's dad came down with a horrible cough and cold. He took multiple trips to his doctor through November, Thanksgiving, December and Christmas, and all they kept saying was that he had pneumonia and his lungs were filling up with fluid. Well, when the cough never went away even though he was on antibiotics, the doctors were stumped. They couldn't figure out what was causing him to feel so bad. 

This past Friday Sean's dad had a surgery scheduled where they went into his lungs to see what was causing him to have these awful symptoms. Sean, his mom and I sat in the waiting room with bated breath, anxiously anticipating the arrival of the doctor. A lady pulled us into a private room in the corner of the nicest hospital in uptown Charlotte and the lung surgeon came gently into the room.

The news was not what anyone expected... Sean's dad, on January 10th, 2014, was diagnosed with lung cancer. He's as healthy as a horse, and only 2% of non-smokers get it, but for some reason God chose him. We are still not yet sure what type we are facing, but either way it is a surreal thing to process. Sometimes it is difficult to understand why things happen the way that they do.

The only thing that I know will help get Sean's dad and his family through all of this is faith. God heals and works miracles and we have to trust that he will provide. The upcoming months and years are going to be tough, but I know we will get through it together with unfailing love.
For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear!" - Hebrews 13:5

Faith & Love.

Monday, January 13, 2014
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How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was awesome! Plenty of delicious food, pajamas, and lazy afternoons. I have so, so much to be thankful for! A loving family, an amazing boyfriend, a roof over my head, freedom, great friends, safety, clean clothes, home cooked meals, hot water... the list goes on and on! Aren't we blessed?

One thing that I want to focus on this holiday season is the fact that I wouldn't have anything if God didn't give it to me. He gives and he takes away, and he is so generous! I hate to break it to you...but you don't actually "own" anything that you have! Nope, it's really not yours. He provided it! Isn't that a crazy perspective for Christmas time? We're really lucky, you guys! So over the next few weeks I want to give more than I get! I want to help people have an amazing holiday, and I want to focus on the real "reason for the season!"

Here are some pictures from my family time & Thanksgiving feast...

Doesn't that look like fun? Relaxing with my friends and family is always the perfect recipe for happiness! What do you have to be thankful for and what are your ideas for giving back? I would love some suggestions!

Also, here's a quick preview of my patriotic street style post coming tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Thankful.

Monday, December 2, 2013
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