Be strong and courageous

Be strong and courageous!  In the bible these words are found in ten different verses, four of which were in the first chapter of the book I just finished reading.  I think that God is trying to tell me something, what do you think?  But God, I don't feel strong and courageous, I feel weak and cowardly.  I know I need to have courage to say and do what God wants me to.  I need to have strength  and courage to endure the trials he lets my way.  I also need strength and courage to finish the bible in 90 days.  I know there will be setbacks, there will be trials, Satan will be there trying to push me away, but God says;

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,

for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

God will be with me wherever I go!  He will give me that strength, that courage.  I need to learn to STOP, PRAY, and then TALK!  God will give me the words when I tell someone about him, he will help me find the time to read, he will get me through the trials.  TOGETHER YOU AND I CAN BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS because God is with us wherever we go. 

Forever Changing,

Liz

Easy Peanut Butter Cream Pie

Today I am linking up with Comfy in the Kitchen!  Here is an easy Peanut Butter Pie recipe, hope you enjoy!

1 Graham Pie Crust               2 pkg Vanilla pudding

1/2 cup peanut butter                      1 tub cool whip

1 1/4 cup milk

Mix peanut butter and milk in a bowl until well blended.  Add dry pudding mixes, mix well.  Stir in half cool whip.  Spoon over pie crust.  Top with remaining cool whip.  Refrigerate 3 hours before serving.

I'm also linking with Raising Homemakers!

Forever Changing,

Liz

Things



"If anyone has material possessions

and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him,

how can the love of God be in him?"
1 John 3:17

Do you find this verse hard?  I do.  It's not that I don't want to help someone in need.  It's just that well, if it's something that cost a lot or I worked really hard to get, I don't want them to break or lose it.  Sometimes it depends on the person too.  If I have let them use something before and something happened to it, then why should I let them again?  Then I have to think, how hard did Jesus work?  He suffered and died for me, and I am sure he would do it all again for me.  I break his heart daily.  How many chances has he gave me?  Yet I still get lost sometimes.  How many more chances will I ask for?  And yet I know he will once again open his arms wide and invite me back.  No matter what!  This verse asks a question, how can the love of God be in him?  Didn't I just say I wanted to let God's light shine through me?  I need this reminder.  I need to let go of  these material possessions.  So what if it does get broken or lost.  I didn't NEED it, and if it is something I need I know God will provide me with it.   

Forever Changing,
Liz

Cleaning

Today I decided to clean my room, a task I have put off for far to long.  As I was pulling everything out of the closet and going through all the clothes, shoes, and other stuff I found (yikes).  I started thinking about all of the "cleaning" that God has done in my life.  It took a while for me to get the room done and halfway through I was thinking "Why did I even start this!"  I am so glad that God does not say that about me.  The things that God has "pulled" out are many.  I know that God is not nearly done with me either, it is scary to think how big a task that is! 

"Wash away all my iniquity  and cleanse me from my sin". -Psalm 51:2

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity." -Psalm 51:7-9

I know, hard as I try, my room will get messy again.  I also know that I will sin again and God will again be there to clean up my mess!  Have you thought about cleaning lately?

Forever Changing,
Liz

Friends

Being a mom, a teen mom, one of the things that changed were my friends.  I'm not saying that they walked away or anything, it's just that in an instant my priorities changed.  I didn't care so much what I was going to wear but was concerned what my baby was going to wear.  My idea of a great evening was snuggling with my husband and baby, theirs was going out for a fun night away from family.  I didn't lose them forever, I still talk to most of my close high school friends and I am connecting to more and more as they are now starting to build families.   It is just that you tend to want to be around people that have things in common with you so God brought me different friends.  God brings people in your life to help get you through the things that you are facing.  I look back at all of the people God has brought into my life and some I know why God brought them to me, some I don't.  Some he allowed to teach me, some to help me through the tough time, some are my "rocks", while others God is still working on me with.  Everyone has a purpose, sometime it is hard to see what mine might be sometimes.  As I continue to read through the bible in 90 days it is becoming clear to me that I can't help in all the ways God wants me to unless I know his word.  I know that I can affect the people I meet and I want everyone to see Jesus through me.  The more I know and GROW, the brighter God's light can shine.  I think the more I shine, the more people he will bring in my life.

 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1

Forever Changing,

Liz

Are you listening

Tonight my son decided to give my husband a back rub!  He was so funny doing all different kinds of rubs trying to get the lotion in (the elephant, the bike, the piano, etc...).  It just reminded me of how everyone learns so differently.  I know that some people like to read, some like to be read to, some need lots of visuals, etc...  But have you ever thought about how you learn from God?  Some people may be able to hear Gods word and listen.  Not me, I learn the hard way. I need something to happen, usually it's something bad.  I am like the crowd of five thousand, they had just witnessed Jesus feed all of the people with 5 loafs of bread and 2 fish, yet then;

"So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that

we may see it and believe you?  What will you do? -John 6:30

God can try to tell me something and I ignore it.  I wait, maybe I'm not hearing it right!  That can't be what he is talking about.  I do it again and God tries to teach me again.  Again I fail.  Finally he says " Okay Liz, let me do it this way!"  Then I learn and  answer, "Why God, did you have to do it this way, I would have listened?"   So maybe if I would just listen to God the first time, then I could spare some of the heartache. 
I will leave you with this, from a new book I am reading The Shelter of God's Promises  by Sheila Walsh,
As you reflect on your life, I pray that you can say with absolute confidence that although there have been many turns in the road, God used every bend to bring you under the shelter of who He is.

Forever Changing,
Liz

Not me!

I remember when I was little I would alway hide behind my dad's leg whenever someone tried to talk to me.  I was a shy kid and have really not changed much.  I am not someone that can just go up to anyone and start a conversation.  I wait. I observe.  I hope someone will come up to me.  Once I get to know someone I am fine, its easy, but have always wished that I might be able to be that person.  I read in Exodus a couple of days ago (and just keep thinking about it) how when God told Moses that he was to go back to Egypt to free his people, he said

"...I am slow of speech and tongue" - Exodus 4:10  and

"..Oh Lord, please send someone else to do it" -Exodus 4:13

I know how Moses felt, I don't know what I would have said to God.  I can only imagine though, that it would have sounded a lot like what Moses did say.  So what did God do for Moses?  He told Moses that he could tell his brother, Aaron, what to say and then he would speak for him!  God made a way for him!  I think that after a while Moses felt more comfortable with the people and began to speak more and more to them, but God gave him that time.  I feel like that is what God is doing with my blog.  He is giving me that out, a way to talk without being uncomfortable.  Will I ever be that person that can just walk up to anyone?  I am not sure, but I know that this is what God is telling me to do right now.  What does God want you to do to help you GROW?

Today I am linking up with Women Living Well!

Forever Changing,
Liz

Daily bread

Sometimes I feel defeated.  I was baptized the first week in December, and since have missed church 3 times.  The first was a planned family thing for Christmas.  Then for the last two weeks we have been passing our sickness back and forth here.  Just when I start feeling better, I get it again. 

Tonight I decided to read ahead in my 90 day challenge (because I don't feel like moving around) and this verse is really sticking out to me.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from

heaven for you.  The people are to go out each day

and gather enough for that day..." - Exodus 16-4

I feel that is what God is doing for me right now!  He brought this challenge to me so that I could get my daily bread.  Even though the devil is trying really hard to steal me away again, God has used this challenge to bring me closer.  This is a big deal for me.  I have never even thought of reading the bible like a novel, but it makes sense for me to do it like this.  It's great for me because I am one of those people who will sit and read a whole book in a day because I can not put it down.  Thank you God for helping me take one day at a time in my journey to grow closer to you!

Forever Changing,
Liz

Change

I do not ask for mighty words

to leave the crowd impressed.

Just grant my life may ring so true

my neighbor shall be blessed.

-Author unknown

I love this poem, it really makes me think.  What do others see when they look at me?  Do they, can they see how God is working in me?  There are way to many (to many to count) times that I could have let God's light shine through me and I didn't.  I know that I can't change those times but, I can start from here and try to be the person God wants me to be.  Sometimes it's hard to change, especially when you are around people that knew your old ways.  Maybe it's more important that I show them how I changed, how I am growing, to show them what they are missing!  I NEED to let them know they can change too.  I can talk, and  talk, and talk, and write all I want but it takes ACTION for someone to believe you.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 

This then is how we know that we belong to the truth,

and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence" -1 John 3:18-19

Forever Changing,

Liz

Fellowship

When my husband was in Africa, he went to a church there.  He was amazed, they were there for about three hours, no one there really caring about the time or that they were there that long.  They had nowhere else to go.  They devoted Sunday to God. 
I can't tell you how many times sitting in a church I watched the clock when I was younger.  I wanted to be able to say, "Oh yeah, I'm a christian, I go to church on Sundays"   With that in mind I think about these next few verses;

church in Africa

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7

I need fellowship.  I need to see people with the same vision as me.  I need accountability.  I need refueled!  When I get up on Sunday and  feel like there are a thousand things to do and maybe I should skip just this once, I have to think about the people that I talk to at church.  Maybe someone has been waiting all week just to have that fellowship with me.  Maybe I need that one person to smile at me and let me know that I have encouraged them that week.  Maybe God is really wanting me to hear the message.  At my church we have lunch after the service every week and I know that I sometimes get more out of that time than the message.  If everyone ran out of the door every week than I would be missing some great fellowship.  It might be easier for me to fall away, to get off track.  I am so thankful that we get to have this time together (and all the other times we get together) and I don't want to rush it!  Help me Lord to make the most of my fellowship time this year.

Forever Changing,
Liz

Got Money?

Sometimes I think that the hardest thing about being a teen mom was that we really had no time to save up money, to build that cushion, just in case!  It's not that we didn't work, we had jobs, it's just that well we were self-centered.  It was our money and we could spend it right?  Turns out that paying for "everything" as a teen is not quite the same thing as supporting yourself, your family.  We were immature, so when we didn't like a job we quit.  We always managed, but never managed to get ahead.  With a second child at 18, and then a third at 22, I think we kinda gave up along the way.  Now I always worry about money and my husband always says "It will work out, God will provide!"  I have to say though, we are not poor either.  Not to long ago we had a message at church.  Did you know; if you keep food in a refrigerator, clothes in a closet, sleep in a bed, and have a roof, you are richer than 75% of the world? That if you make more than $10,066 per year, you are in the richest 16% of the world?

So here is my verse for today, "Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil." -Proverbs 15:16

  God will turn on a light when you are in the dark, but you still have to watch where you are going!  So when God gives us something we will "watch" what we are doing with it and leave the rest to God. Maybe this is God's way of keeping me grounded, centered on him.  I don't need wealth with turmoil, I need GOD!

Forever Changing,
Liz

What will you give me?

I am not sure about anyone else but my children were so good this holiday season!  They were helping each other with loads of laundry, cleaning their rooms, and even taking turns.  One day while my girls were being extra nice, I dared to ask them why they had decided to be so nice to each other.  Their answer, simply put, was that they were all getting new toys and they wanted to play with them.  They know the meaning of Christmas and really like to give to others during this time of year, but with all three of their birthdays in December and Christmas they do get a few toys.  Of course my reply was that of most moms, "you should do just because you love each other!"
A few days later we had this verse in bible study;

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men"

 -Colossians 3:23 

We talked about when someone asks you to do something, you should do it as if it were God asking you to do it.  Wow, I think this is a great verse for anyone, especially ME! There are a lot of things as a wife, mother, and even as a christian that I would rather not do but have to and sometimes I complain.  Sometimes I even have a hard time doing the things that I know God is convicting me of!  However I know;

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" -Proverbs 17:22 

Please Lord, help me to have a cheerful heart for you while I work!

Forever Changing,
Liz

Reflection

As I reflect over the past year the thing that stands out in my mind the most was staring out of the back of an ambulance on my way to have emergency surgery on my throat!  What a couple of months that was, the doctor did the surgery and then I was on strict orders, "Liquid diet, NO pop!"  until the following surgery.  After the second surgery the doctor said I could go on a soft diet, still no pop, no bread, and no red meat!  In an instant I went from being able to have whatever I liked to almost nothing.  Did he know that all I drank was Mt Dew?  What was I going to do without it?  I love bread, going from bread with almost every meal to nothing, what was he thinking?  The first week was so bad.  All I could think about was eating and boy did I have a headache!  I wasn't allowed to have all of those things that I loved, couldn't imagine what I would do if I couldn't have them, still here I was alive, still able to enjoy my family yet complaining about all of the things that I couldn't have!  Now I know why people fast.  I pulled out the pictures of all the children my husband had taken when he was in Africa.  They were so excited to get beans, to get a piece of candy!  I prayed for those children, for everyone really, that didn't know where their next meal would come from.  I thanked God every time that I heard my stomach that I was able to go to the store and get special food that I could eat!  I lost 20pounds! God sure has a way of taking something that we think is bad and turning it into something Great right?  I am challenging myself this year to look at those not so great moments and say "Ok God, I may not know right now what you want me to get out of this but I am ready for it!"  It will be a challenge for sure!

Forever Changing,

Liz

My word for this year!

My word for this year is GROW!  Grow closer to God, read the bible more.  Grow closer to my family, take time for each family member to really listen to them and do things with them that they enjoy!  Grow closer to friends, invite people over and stop worrying that everything has to be perfect first.  Grow gardens, spend time outside! Plant a garden, plant some flowers, add mint to the side of my house, have fun with it!  My word is GROW!

Forever Changing,
Liz

The start of something new!

Here I sit on the first day of 2011 wondering what made me create this blog.  Something in my heart is just saying it is the right thing to do.  So now the question is, should I talk about being a teen wife and mother, my walk with God and where he is leading me, or just about what happens day to day?  I guess I will just have to see where God is leading me to go with this!  I know it is going to be an awesome journey and I am excited to have something to look back and see where I was at any one point this year! 

I have always considered myself to be a christian.  I went to church when I was little, got married in a church, and if anyone asked I could always answer with, "Oh yeah, I go to church at..."  even though I think I would maybe would show up on a Sunday, 4 or 5 times a year, after we got married!  Obviously getting pregnant at 16, my walk with Christ was very far from where it should have been.  My husband was not raised in a church and to me, I just wanted to be with him.  Our marriage at such a young age showed how immature we both were.  We had lots of ups and downs during the first part of our marriage, the good times were really good and the bad times, well, were bad!  One night I decided to leave and when my husband came to talk to me, my friend's boyfriend that I was staying with sucker punched him and broke his jaw!

That really was the low point!  I thought that it was all my fault and couldn't stand to see him in pain, his mouth was wired shut for six weeks.  During that time we really evaluated where we were and where we wanted to be/go in life.  Both of us realized that we could not do anything without the help of God!  We started going to a great church that we both liked and could related to the people there.  It wasn't one of those churches that let you do whatever you want, this church follows the bible and wants you to grow.  They understand that your not going to change overnight and don't push you to do anything, but they pray for you and lead by example of what is like to truly walk with Christ in your life(Titus 2 comes to mind)!  Little by little God convicts you to change for the better and they help hold you accountable for what you are doing!  At first it was really hard for me.  Are they judging me, should I be doing what they are, what if I do something wrong, will they kick me out?  I have really learned that all they want is for me to be happy and see growth, just as Jesus does.  Some people take a long time on something they are working on, but as long as you are working to become closer to him that's what really matters!



My husband and I with my
head covering on!

 Since we started going there (about 3 years) both of us have been baptized, my husband has went on a mission trip to help build an orphanage in Africa, I have started wearing a head covering (1 Corinthians 11), we decided to start homeschooling our children, and we both have really started studying God's word and trying to put the things that God has laid on our hearts into practice!  Sometimes it is not easy at all, but I know that we are doing the right thing and that is the most important thing for our family!

I know that the first steps are always the hardest ones to take and to look back at where we were just a short time ago, I am so proud that we could tear down the walls and really let God in and take over our life!  It is a truly wonderful feeling to have a husband who follows God, prays for our family, and leads us on our journey!

I will end with this today,  this week I will be starting the Bible in 90 challenge over at http://www.momstoolbox.com/blog/bible-in-90-days-reading-schedule/  Wish me luck!

Forever Changing,
Liz