Reading : Waiting Here For You

Excited to be starting this Advent journey. My hope is that we see more in this busy holiday season besides the rush or wait for Christmas. It's so much more! There is such a beautiful lesson to be learned in Advent and waiting on the Lord that can strengthen us and give us Hope even as we wait for His return. And lately with what is happening all around us, that's exactly what the enemy of our souls wants to steal.. Our hope. But He is our Hope and I believe that this devotional journey by Louie Giglio will help us cling to that. 

All bundled up

... and ready to give!  Best Christmas present idea ever.  Especially if it centers, slows down and offers some perspective on the season that we've been missing... "Waiting Here For You" an Advent devotional by Louie Giglio that we can journey through together. 
Believing to really see Jesus and be present in this beautiful season of hope and expectancy.  

Nice touch.. a little piece of chocolate and felt ribbon.  

Encouragement

November State of Mind

Having fun practicing hand-lettering and doodling.  The perfectionist in me is slowly dying as I force myself to enjoy this illustrated journaling journey I have started on.  So used to using my tablet and mac that this is very difficult for me to enjoy.. but I am trying! Teaching myself to enjoy the discipline of this.  Are you like me, do you struggle in perfection? 

God is Within Her

Vellum hand lettering inserts that are bringing a lot of colour to my bible! Love this verse. Now if only I had a manicure! 

Because They Feared and Obeyed God Above All

Thousands of years before the women’s liberation movement, or anyone ever heard of Gloria Steinem, the ancient biblical stories in Scripture never stereotyped or portrayed women as weak. Yes, we know that the average woman is weaker physically than men, but they are not weaker spiritually, mentally, or emotionally. Think of Deborah, Jael, Esther, or Ruth. Think of Mary (any one of the Marys will do), Martha, Priscilla, or Philip’s four daughters.

This past year, the highest rated commercial shown during the Super Bowl wasn’t one by Go-Daddy or Budweiser. It was a commercial that asked the question, “What would it look like to do something ‘like a girl’?” Several young people were filmed doing the first thing that came to mind when asked to “run like a girl, throw like a girl, fight like a girl.” It wasn’t too surprising when they jogged daintily in place, or flailed their bent wrists in a lame fight, or awkwardly flung their arm to throw an imaginary ball. All of them deliberately looked silly, weak, distracted.

Look at the heroic women in Scripture—their examples of integrity, bravery, and wit. Read the gripping story in Exodus of Moses’ mother, Jochebed; his sister, Miriam; and the Jewish midwives Shiphrah and Puah (their names forever recorded for us to honor).

Exodus 1:17 tells us that because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They were women who would stand to defy the commands of Pharaoh of Egypt and save a son, who would rescue a nation, which would bring us our Messiah, who would save the world. Because they feared God, they were strong mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.
It is worth noting that Pharaoh’s decree was, “If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live” (Exodus 1:16 NLT). In his eyes, letting every daughter live would never be a threat to his kingdom. He had no concept of female bravery or empathy. Little did he know that to fight like a girl, stand like a girl, think like a girl, would be the beginning of the undoing of the might of his Egypt.

To fight the good fight and run the race set before us—whether we are in the kitchen, in the classroom, in the boardroom, in the courtroom, or in the mission field—means we are not insignificant, nor an afterthought in the mind of God. My dear sisters, mothers, and daughters: Pharaoh may have misjudged women, but let’s not misjudge ourselves.

Let every daughter live, and run, and fight, and love, and live like the girl God made you to be! Don’t think the Bible is about men, for men, while women stand by in cute outfits and cheer. It is about women as well, and the part we have to play in this great unfolding drama.

These words from the great apostle Paul were written to Timothy, a young man who first learned the Scriptures—not at his father’s knee, but on the lap of his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8).

Remember, Israel’s first deliverer was not a man in flowing robes and a long beard. It was a slave woman, a mother named Jochebed, in average clothing, shedding tears, and showing miraculous courage.

Today, the world, the church, and the family need the influence of women who will fear and obey God above all.

"When did doing something 'like a girl' become an insult?" - By Cathe Laurie

Stress much?

God's word is the best way to defeat anxiety, worry and stress. 

Pick up your sword, read these aloud and speak TRUTH to the fear: 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE.

Romans 15:13 May the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in HOPE.

Proverbs 3:5-6 TRUST in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and HE WILL make straight your paths.
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who LOVE GOD all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Phil 4:13 I CAN do all things THROUGH HIM who strengthens me.

Col 3:15 And let the PEACE of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And BE THANKFUL.

Scripture Meditation

It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. -Galatians 5:1

Do it .. Now is the Time

I don’t know what it is you are waiting for but I have a feeling that for some of you TODAY is the day to simply step out and do it.  This was super encouraging for me and I hope it does the same for you. 

"We often miss our moment because we are waiting for the perfect moment.

The moment the planets will align.
The moment every “I” is dotted and every “T” is crossed.
The moment we have 3 more confirmations to back up the 10 we already have.
The moment everyone approves.
The moment all the money comes through.
The moment everyone is on board.
The moment when we are qualified enough.
The moment when we are experienced enough.
The moment we are connected enough.
The moment we have prayed enough.
The moment we have fasted enough.

We are not sure when that moment is but it is always in some future time.
It is always not quite now.
Not yet.

The moment when we, who are not yet enough and don’t have enough, will somehow be enough, do enough, and have enough.

Let me be clear – we will never be enough.
We will never be...
Smart enough
Talented enough
Resourced enough
Perfect enough
Connected enough
Knowledgeable enough

We are not meant to be.

That is why we serve the God that is MORE THAN ENOUGH – El Shaddai

Let's not be like Pharoah when Moses asked him; "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile"(Exodus 8:9).

Instead of answering “RIGHT NOW, THIS MINUTE, TODAY" he answered, "TOMORROW"(Exodus 8:10).

Why would that man want to spend one more night with those frogs?

What are you putting off until the tomorrow that never comes because you simply will not step out today?

Do it

Make that call
Try out for that team
Apologize
Volunteer
Give
Enroll in that course
Say yes to that friendship
Cut off those negative voices
Confront that person
Deal with that addiction
Be honest

Now is the time!" 

-Christine Caine

Pear "Tea" for Scarlett's Cough

Got introduced to this Chinese herbalist recently.  I went in with wide-eyed wonder, past the bins and containers of what looked like mulch, bark, mushrooms, sea creatures, oddities and teas. Felt like I was back in Hong Kong.   Amazing experience.  I learned so much and was blown away at all the knowledge and techniques he used.  We went specifically because Scarlett had a cough that keeps coming back but I sat and had a consultation too.  There's so much I will be posting about his time with me, my adrenals and all that.  It was amazing.  No wonder it's been around so long.  

But back to her cough.  Horrible, makes you cringe every time you hear it.  It hurts.  Here are the things he told us to do and what to avoid.  And can I say, it worked.  Completely.  So grateful for this healthy, natural consultant I have now.  I think he's gonna be one of my best friends.  

He recommended that I buy organic pears and make a tea for her to drink till the cough goes away.  No medicine, no side-effects.. just fruit! Did I say I heart this guy?  He's speaking my heart language. Healing through food! swoon.  

He also suggested that we also eliminate the following: Watermelon and Bananas.  What? Seriously, we had been consuming watermelon daily for the last week, as it was on sale and the incessant begging from Scarlett broke me and I strayed away from my "eat seasonally and locally" motto which we really try to uphold.  Go figure. Ok.  Avoid that when you have a cough.  Who knew?  The Chinese herbalist, that's who. 

So, we cut that out and started making this "TEA" which I will now forever keep in my wellness artisanal.  

 PEAR TEA 

(for healing coughs and respiration issues)

4-6 Organic Pears, quartered and cored Fresh water to cover

Place pears in a non-reactive saucepan and cover with water, about an inch.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a low simmer for 40 minutes.Strain and drink while warm. 

Keep any left over in fridge and you can drink this warmed up or at room temp.  


It's that simple! Not quite a tea, but a steeping and reduction.  

I would totally encourage anyone to get a relationship going with a Chinese Herbalist.  The wisdom is amazing.  It's usually a blend of "tea" that is prescribed, made of herbs, barks, twigs and whatever else.  Very curious blend.  The cost is the cost of the tea, there is no 
consultation fee. 


Disclaimer: This is what worked for us.  I am not a doctor and don't claim anything beyond our own experience.  

Love this view

Confession

I might been known to sneak and  clip tree branches for forcing in winter and lilac blooms in spring.  And this is why. 

So easy to do.  Just remember to smash the cut end of the branches with a hammer.  I believe this allows them to really suck up the water and come to life. 

#sorrynotsorry #toobeautiful #springinthedeadofwinter #ScarlettGiulia