~The One About Student Ministry~

Recently, at the beginning of the fall, I jumped on board to help lead with the other student leaders at church, specifically the high-school girls, on Wednesday nights. But, little did I know this journey had a huge purpose. I never would of imagined how God was going to move in our hearts....in my heart.

During the last couple months I have stepped completely out of my comfort Christianity zone. I say that because I have always been comfortable just leading women my age or in their early twenties; encouraging them, loving on them, pouring into them, and discipling those new women in the faith, but student ministry was a bit of a uncomfortable place in the church for me because well honestly...how does one relate? I have forgotten how it was to be where they are now...or maybe it was because I remember my life at their age and its a place I wasn't sure I honestly wanted to revisit.

Since coming on board it has been absolutely one of the most rewarding opportunities ever for me in my walk so far, BUT it also has been one of the most challenging and faith testing times that I have ever experienced. God has stretched my faith in more ways that I could of imagined each week, shaken up my spirit, healed parts of my heart that have never healed, and has rebroken places in my heart that healed wrong to begin with. He has also revealed to me areas in my life that still needs purifying and sanctifying and areas of my heart that had these huge walls up that needed to be wrecked and completely taken down.

In the last couple weeks I have told several people that if you want your faith rocked and shaken up, step out and become a student leader at your church, but honestly now come to think of it...just step out of your comfort Christianity and help lead, disciple and teach a group of people His Word that other wise you wouldn't of.

Because ultimately the teacher....always becomes the student.

I have learned SO MUCH over the course of this fall semester so far, and not just because of the amount of studying and lesson planning that we have all put into it, although that is HUGE, but because God ultimately had a purpose, and I am incredibly thankful to the Lord for the purpose. I am also so very grateful for the dear friend who kept pursing me to help her lead and to be apart of this amazing ministry and for the Holy Spirit who kept poking and prodding my heart and would not stop until I said, "Yes Lord!" I now have an absolutely special place in my heart for each and every girl in our group on Wednesday nights. For each awesome win on the drill team. For each success on that test that they were so worried about. For every soccer practice they had to run late to. For their faces that light up when they talk about their chorus team and the high note they have been working on that they hit just right. For the friends and family who we never see, but hear about who they love with all their hearts. For each burden they carry daily. For each hard trial they face. For every rejection they have to endure. For the obstacles they are going through. For those who doubt and question, and still in need of His precious gift of salvation, and for every praise and prayer request that they so willingly want to lift up each week. Yes. There is such a tender and special place set aside just for them in my heart because I see that 15 year old high-school me in them and I so desperately want them to know God's love, mercy and grace in such a real and tangible way...

and I know the other leaders feel absolutely the exact same way too. 

So I thank each of them, leaders too, because they have no idea how instrumental they are being just by their presence each week in my life. We think that we are being used by God in the students lives to make a difference, to disciple, and pour into them His truth, but WOW how God is using them to do just the exact same thing in my life.

Although, this journey is just getting started and each week me and some of the other leaders are finding ourselves at times like we are just so unequipped to lead and doubting our capabilities I am learning this week specifically to just be encouraged that we are merely just the vessels. The seed planters. The obedient hearts and the willing servants who said, "Yes Lord!" to the calling to lead these precious souls. What an honor it is to help pour into, disciple, mentor and teach this generation that is rising up in the ways of the Lord, and in turn also raising up men and women with a passion and a purpose and after His heart in each of us leaders.

So on ending thoughts with this blog post I just want to encourage you, whoever is reading this today, to step out of your comfort Christianity zone.

Serve someone, bless someone, lead someone, teach someone, share with someone, engage someone, disciple someone, pray with someone, love someone...and ultimately just be someone who says,"Yes Lord!",..and watch Him move in ways you would have never imagined.



Blessings <3

What's all this debate Church?!?

(This post is written just as much for me to listen and read as any other follower of Christ.)

I just got to share a little something that has been on my heart the past week or two in light of all that is going on with the same sex marriage debates, and some other hot topics in the current media. What I cant seem to understand is how are we gonna sit up in our homes that are filled with gossip, debauchery, pornography, wives not submitting to their husbands, husbands disrespecting their wives, lust, hate, divided families, divorce and adultery and then we going to try and stand up and tell the homosexuals to sit down!?! I know what the Bible teaches....it is SIN...so are the other things I just listed.

"You hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."- Matt 7:5 

I mean seriously? Who are we?!! We have not arrived, and we are not the standard. Jesus is.

Christ tells us in His sermon on the mount given in the book of Matthew that if we even lust after another then we have committed adultery in our hearts, and if we are even angry with our brother we are liable for judgment. Matt 5-7

We are out here running around like dagum Pharisees and picketing for pro-life causes, and holding up all these signs, and we have mothers sitting at home carrying around the guilt and pain of their past mistakes. Where are all the Christians embracing those women who walk out of the abortion clinics after emptying their wombs? Instead of us wrapping our arms around them our hands are too busy tied up trying to fight it and call out their sin. Instead of the first to be in line to adopt the millions of children waiting for a family we are posting on social media our rights and defenses and using platforms to promote morals on the matter when we are not even doing anything to help, embrace or show the love of Christ.

Just like we are all out here picketing against same sex marriages and having these "Support to keep Amendment 1" signs boldly placed front and center in our yards, but walk up inside of our homes and see they are far from perfect. Our marriages are not Christ centered. Sometimes Jesus is no where to be found except for on Sundays.

Non-Christians are probably sitting up in their homes flabbergasted, wondering who really is this God WE say we love and claim as Lord and Savior.

I think we have been trying so hard to be so ethically right, so morally and politically correct in the streets, on social media, and in our communities and towns that we will go to the extreme to fight a cause and take a stand of defense and not be what Christ ultimately has called us to be. To be love. To be Jesus and to share His precious Gospel message to those who are perishing.

The bible says, "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." 1 Corin 13:2

Let me be clear, I am not saying that we should just sit back and let matters fall where they may in our government. Let us be walked all over, drenched and then hung out to dry, or that we should never take a stand against injustice. I am simply saying we should not be so quick to call out sin in others, and to be so quick to stand up when we are the first ones that need to just go ahead and sit right back down and to study to shew thyself approved. 2Tim 2:15

I got lots more to say on so many issues, but I am not the standard either. Only Jesus is, so I will challenge all of us, myself included, to search and examine our hearts, and to allow God to truly search and examine our hearts as well, so we will not be so quick to cast that first stone. 

Let us humble ourselves....for we all need His grace.



SN:  I also want to add and make clear as well that we ARE to show others their sin and where they have fallen short because scripture clearly tells us to, but we must show them how they have failed God's moral law with a purpose for them to see their need for forgivess and to lead them into a relationship with Christ for the unsaved. For the born again it should be our purpose to point out their sin in order for them to approach the throne of grace in confidence and with humility at the same time in order for them to seek His forgiveness and receive restoration. Ultimately though, we should do it all with LOVE not out of pride, arrogance or with a self righteousness spirit or attitide. So easy to get caught up with self when we see the sufferings of our world and the broken and evilness, and to forget we were just as in desperate need of saving and forgiveness, and yet still need it. ♡

LEGACY

So this week has basically started and its already been bittersweet so far. Within the last couple of days we have celebrated new life, mourned death, and in turn celebrated eternal life! Through all of these sweet bitter sweet events one word has really been echoing in my mind.

the word Legacy

This word comes to mind when I think about the passing of my husband's sweet grandfather and I think about what a tremendous legacy he left behind. The legacy of love, faithfulness, servant-hood and Christ for his family and friends. Legacy also comes to mind when I think about my girlfriends who recently gave birth this week to their precious newborns. These tiny little beings are just getting started in this big ole world and will one day leave their own little legacy's behind. (If they are anything like their mother I know they will leave such a sweet and beautiful mark on this world.)

Legacy

I have been thinking about my legacy this week. The mark I will leave behind for my children and grand-children, and my family and friends. Man, that's some deep stuff when you think about it.

Singer Nicole Nordeman has a beautiful song out called "Legacy" (It's not new, a few years old now). If you have never heard it please youtube, itune, icloud it...however you download media these days....just listen to it. Because it's beautiful. The chorus says this, "I want to leave a legacy, how will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering. A child of mercy and grace, who blessed your name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy."

I don't know about you, but that's the kind of legacy I'd love to leave behind. To leave this kind of mark on my family, children and friends, neighbors and people who knew me. The mark that I choose to love. That I pointed them to Christ, and that I loved mercy and was gracious to others. That I blessed and glorified His name unashamed and without apologizing for it.

How beautiful!

I pray that in those moments where I choose not to love or to be gracious to others or moments where I struggled to find mercy that I will be reminded of the legacy that I want to leave behind...because I want it all to reflect Him.

What about you? What type of legacy do you want to leave behind?

Share and comment your thoughts.

~Mommy and Me~

For all the moms who went to bed tonight wondering if they did a good enough job at loving on and raising their little ones today any day...this one is for you. You are doing great mama! 

Keep up the great work!  

~Mommy and Me~

Burdened and weary is she, she drawls a bath for her little mini me.
As tiny hands splash in the rising suds, water turns to a cloudy mud.

She catches her reflection before the water drains. A sweet summer hope,
has turned to a wondering autumn rain.

With tear-filled eyes she towels him dry, and turns her cheek before he can see her cry.

She tucks him in tight, and turns out the light. Forgetting once
again to help him say his prayers this night.

She walks out of his room and softly closes the door and then looses it
and inches her way down towards the floor.

It was then that she heard his sweet little voice whisper and say...

God, I love you and thank you for this day today.

I had a fun time with mommy, but we always have fun.
Let me tell you all the fun things we have done.

First we stayed in our pajamas, most of the day,
but honestly I kind of like it that way.

We pretended we were inside, sick with the flu, and then we hopped on our
broom horses and galloped away to the land of Cock a doodle do.

Mommy told the best stories, and we both loved watching cartoons.
She even shared some of her chocolate candy before lunch this afternoon.

After our lunch of nothing, but pickles and cheese we went out side to climb a few trees.
We then played a couple rounds of hide and go seek, and I loved it when she
splashed with me in the creek.

Mommy is the best because she let me muddy up my pajamas outside, and
then we built a popsicle fort and made our very own slip n slide.

We came inside late and she made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner.
I finished my plate first, mommy said I was the winner!

She brought me upstairs after dinner for my bath,
and I had fun watching her giggle as I turned into a sea giraffe.

But, I noticed something was not quite right after the water begun to drain.
I saw a few tears fall from her cheeks and they left a little stain.

I am not sure what happened or why she is so sad,
because today God was seriously the best day I ever had!

So please hug my mom tight, and dry her cheeks for me
because tomorrow is another fun day, another fun day with just mommy and me!

So mommy, yes you mommy, whoever, wherever you are. I hope you read this poem 
and it touched your weary heart. Just know that our children don't expect much from us. 
They just want all of our unconditional love, our presence and our trust. <3

~ by: Corey Travaglini

For purpose...on purpose!

Within the last couple weeks God has really been showing me so much how He equips each of His people with differ gifts, desires and talents within His Church to function properly, and to carry out His will, work and purpose in the world. I stand amazed!

I mean seriously think about it.....

We have teachers, and preachers. Leaders, and entrepreneurs. Managers, business owners, organizers, and book keepers. Writers, and bankers. Care takers and hospitality workers. Prayer warriors, the mentors, bible scholars, artist and the musicians. We have entertainers, the comedians, the merciful and wise. The techie's, custodians,sub-contractors, and equipment handlers. There is always the encouragers, administrators, the humble and the healers. We have the discerners, and the givers. People who prophesize and people who evangelize. The protectors, the peace makers, the money handlers, the cookers, the homemakers, the bloggers, the crafters....

....I could go on for days.

Isn't it amazing all the different people in the Church that God uses?! 1 Corinthians tells us "we have different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit, and different kinds of service, but the same Lord." We all have something so different and unique to us to give to serve our one great God!

What gifts or talents or desires has God given you or equipped you with? Are you using those to help build up your local church? Your communities? This world? God has given you and gifted you with purpose....on purpose. You have something to give. You serve a purpose in this world. You have been given a gift(s), a talent(s), passions, desires and dreams.

Don't keep them to yourself.

If you are not sure what you have or God has given you.....pray about them! Ask God to reveal them to you and make them firm and known. Also, seek out the spiritual leaders, mentors and the prayer warriors in your church to pray over you and to help guide you in knowing what special and unique gifts, talents and passions God has given and equipped you with or what area of service He is calling you to serve Him in. Also, just volunteer somewhere! Anywhere in the church, and in your community. God will show you what you have a passion for if you just step out and serve Him somewhere.

Lastly, We need you! We need what God has given you to help build up the Church and to carry out His will. Don't ever think you have nothing to give....you have so much to give because God made you and created you for PURPOSE on purpose and He has given us so much through CHRIST!


So let Him use you. On purpose!

We all serve a purpose. We all have something to give.

1 Corinthians 12

Blessings!
<3

THE BIG 29! But, what will 30 look like?!?!

So I will be turning the big 29 next month! Yikes!!! It will be my last year of my twenties and I'll be stepping out into a new chapter of life. THIRTY! #getitgirl But what will that look like?!?!

The last few weeks  I have really been thinking so much about this new chapter in my life I will be stepping into next year. I have been reflecting and thinking so much about what the last 9 years in my twenties looked like and what I want  the next 10 years in my thirties to look like and ultimately be.

The last 10 years have been an incredibly journey for me. I have served my country in the military, I rededicated my life to Christ, I became a wife, we bought and built our first home, I became a mom....twice. I became a stay at home mom. I have cultivated some amazing friendships, rekindled ones from past, and most importantly I have grown so much deeper in my walk with Christ. Now, these are some of the ups of the last decade, of course there have been moments of heartache, pain, loss and downs to go with those ups, but to save space and tears, I'll refrain from posting those. 

Ultimately, I feel like I have accomplished some pretty great and neat things this last decade. God has been faithful and has blessed me beyond measure. I look back over these last 9 years and all I can say is, It' is totes a God thing and couldn't do any of it with out His grace and provision.  It has been a blessed ride.

But, I can't help but focus my attention on those people who have helped me along the way. Those people who poured into my life, and without them I don't think I would be the woman, wife and mom I am today. More than anything, I think about the women in my life who helped me grow in my relationship with Jesus. Those women, who modeled for me what a woman after God's heart truly looks like. Those mother's who took the time to pull me under their wing and show me the ropes of a Godly motherhood. Those wives who were open, honest and guided me into biblical wife-hood. Those women who were and still are my mentors. 

I feel like that is the next chapter for me.

I am entering into this chapter in life where I am going to be that mentor to that young woman. That young me. I am going to be that mom who takes the new mom under the wing. The wife who nurtures the new bride. The woman who mentors the younger women. So what does that mean? 

 I recently had the privilege and honor to connect with a young woman a couple weeks ago on this subject. She is entering into wife-hood soon. She will make one amazing Godly wife. She is so special, and God truly has His hand on her and it is such a joy to see her entering into this new chapter. So thankful to witness it! Recently she wrote a blog post about the type of woman she wants to become. Her words rocked the core of my heart. It touched me so much. She writes...

"As I prepare for and plan a wedding, apply for jobs, and prepare to be the Godly wife Jesus has called me to be, there is nothing sweeter than learning from these women who have been there and want the best for me. Watching the way they love their husbands, watching the things they've taught their children, watching the way they invest their time and energy... it's been one of the sweetest gifts. That's the kind of woman I want to become."

This is what being a mentor is.

 I think so deeply about her words when I read this. I think about how my actions are noticed. How I nurture and teach my children and how that is seen. How I love my husband and how that is shown. The type of woman I am for Him and in the world. Does His light shine enough? What type of example am I leading? Am I being what God has called me to be in these areas? 

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ~ Titus 2:3-5 

I will be first to admit I fail in these areas...daily. But, I thank God for His grace, direction, guidance, His word and His Spirit that convicts and gently nudges when I am off track. I am thankful for the women and spiritual mentors in my life that have pointed me towards His word. That have turned me towards the cross when I wanted to turn towards the world. I pray I can be half the mentor that they were/are to me. I pray that I can honor God and bring Him glory in these ares of my life so that His light can shine and I can be the example, leader and mentor He has called me to be. Will you join me in prayer for this too?

So, I feel the call on my life is to be a mentor to the younger women and to women who are entering these stages of life. I am far from perfect but, I know the struggles, the fears, worries and challenges young women face. I know how it feels to ultimately need a woman's guidance and spiritual advice. How it feels to grasp at straws trying to be this picture perfect Proverbs 31 woman,  and fail. How you feel you are doing everything right, but all wrong at the same time in motherhood. Those days where you don't want to love your husband much less yourself, and how I am so thankful for those women who took time to pour His truth on those days into my life. 

So this next chapter in life for me among other things God has called me to be,  a wife and mom myself....will be to be a mentor to younger women and women who are entering into those next amazing stages of life; wife-hood and mother-hood.  To pour His truth into them and to help guide them in His will for them. I thank every single woman and spiritual leader who has been this for me this last almost decade, and please do not stop now. Keep pouring and loving and encouraging me and other women who are now being new mentors too. We need you still. Never stop mentoring us. 

So I'm turning the big 29 and 30 is looking amazing! I am pumped, eager and willing and ready for all that God has prepared and planned for me as a wife, a mom, a friend, God's child, and mentor. 

Lastly, I am excited or those ladies who are looking for a spiritual mentor/mother. I encourage you to pray that God will lead you to one. You need one.  Pray for her too because she needs you to pour into!

Just a little side note: please don't hold us up on a pedal-stool though. We want to lead by example, and be the Titus 2 woman God has called us to be. We want to honor and glorify Him with our lives, but we are human and we mess up too. We make mistakes and we are perfectly imperfect just like you are in Christ. We will be there to guide you in these new stages of life, and pour His truth into your lives, but we need guidance too at times. If there is something we are both stumped about....we can approach His Word, and soak in His truth together. <3

"I Thirst"

The words, "I thirst" have been echoing in my mind lately. Maybe because its getting hot out and I find myself more thirsty than in the cold months, or maybe its just because the Lord is impressing on my heart something He wants to tell me.The Spirit leads me to the latter. I know Jesus uttered those words on the cross right before he gave up His Spirit. I've read that so many times in scripture and never really gave it much thought. But, tonight I can't get it out of my head...and It is consuming my heart. I opened my Bible and read John 19:28. This is the scripture reference to Christs thirst on the cross. I also read the passages leading up to and surrounding it, and then dug deeper as I always tend to do. I stand in awe once again of His word tonight!

I learned that...Christ thirsted for us! Yes medically speaking he was thirsty from laboring on the cross, from the immense amount of blood loss, from enduring horrible lashings and the brutality before, and just from carrying His wooden cross up the hill of Calvary, but why if His thirst was just based on a medical need that it was recorded before and prophesied in Psalms 69:21?!?! Everything in scripture should not be just looked over. It is placed in there for a soul purpose. I've learned tonight...that Christ truly thirsted for us. God thirsted for a relationship with humanity. The weight of our sin on the cross left Jesus' heart bone dry. He was broken bread and poured out wine for us. He emptied His cup dry. He was thirsty. He thirsted for us.

I am so thankful beyond words that our Christ thirsted for us. May we always thirst after Him! After His righteousness, goodness, mercy, love, His people, His word, His wisdom and His Son Jesus, and I am so grateful that when we come to His fountain thirsty and draw from His well, we can drink from it over and over and over...because it will NEVER be dry. 

~God thirsts that we may thirst for Him. If the last word, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” reveals the suffering of man without God, these words—“I thirst”—reveal the suffering of God without man. He thirsts for our sake.~ PC

For every Mom :)

Early this morning I received a text message from my mother on her break at work that said, "Happy MOTHER's day baby....I think you are a Wonderful Mother....I know you will do better than I did....Love you with ALL my Heart....and then some." There was something so special about receiving a text from my mom on my second mother's day ever, but at the same time I was saddened that she said the words, "I know you will do better than I did."

I saw a quote one time that read, 

“There's no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one.”

How true! There is NO PERFECT MOTHER! But there is a perfect God! 

This mother's day if you are finding yourself looking back at your motherhood journey whether it's been years or just a few months, and you're thinking there were things you know now that you wish you would've done, or not done, or opportunities you missed out on. Maybe things you should've said, but didn't, or things you said and shouldn't. Those times you should of been there. Tears you should of been the one to catch. Maybe there were those days when you felt like you were too hard, too stressed out, too emotional, too pushy, too overbearing, and too much of an annoyance to your kids. Or the times where you felt like you didn't pray over enough, laugh enough, talk enough, celebrate enough, or have fun enough with your kids. Maybe there were times you were late, and there were times you forgot. Or maybe you just flat out felt like you failed at being a mom miserably. Well...I have some good news!

THIS MOTHER'S DAY....give the best gift to yourself any mother can give......GRACE.

There is NO PERFECT MOM....there is only a perfect God. Rest in that! Rest in His love, perfection, grace and care. Forgive yourself...and give yourself Grace...and think about all the million of ways you  were  are a good mom!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

No to GMO!! My conversion.

What do I feed my toddler for breakfast this morning? I ask myself this question as I stand at our pantry door staring at shelves that have lied to me and my family. These shelves are filled with some of my favorite foods that I grew up on, that I sincerely enjoyed eating and couldn't wait to pass on the joy of these foods to my kids one day that my parent's fed me and my brother growing up. I am also mad that they have lied to my parents. I stare at nothing but tainted love. It's like that feeling you get when you find out that your best friend or someone you have trusted, and loved has been completely fake your whole friendship, and lying to you because of an agenda they were after. "Your sick, grossed out, mad, angry, frustrated, but still have tons of questions." This has been an almost 29 year fake friendship with food, even food I thought was healthy to me and my family. It has lied to me. I'm done!

Two days ago....

...I sat at my computer and saw a news feed pop up (I don't even think this person is on my friends list) asking families, "how much do they spend on groceries a week?" I was seriously appalled at the fact that people were commenting back they were spending $250-$300 a week. Some were even higher than that. Other's were saying they had no idea they just a lot $1000 a month for food. I kept reading through the comments about this all natural, organic, non gmo (genetically modified organism) lifestyle and I'm like seriously you guys...come on! It's just food. Eat right, make healthier food choices etc. After thinking that, and literally picking my jaw up off the floor at the same time I took to my fb page to ask,"what the deal is with all this all natural, organic, non-gmo lifestyle?" This lifestyle has people getting second jobs so they can afford to shop all natural, or sell their home and move to an area with a ton of land to do their own farming, or build a garden out in their backyard or do some radical sweep of their whole house and throw out everything that is deem to be "poison". That's cray, cray! I thought..."that's radical, extremist stuff!" People on my page we're commenting left and right, and I honestly loved what they had to say, I just was still not 100% sold. I kept thinking, it's just the latest trend, the newest fad to be "organic". It will all pass over in another year or two and then on to the next fad in dieting, or food craze. Ultimately, "ain't nobody got time for that!"

Now this was 2 days ago.

Today, I'm staring at my pantry and as I'm getting more and more mad at Monsanto (I'll explain who that is in a moment), and their "agenda" and the crap they are doing to Farmers, and my family table, and my kids I decided to grab the one box that I think might be the safest for my son to ingest which is, "Cheerios". That's sad.

Here I have been feeding my children items I think that are healthy because of portion sizes, or because it says No High Fructose Corn Syrup, or because it says natural ingredients, but I miss read the fine print that says, "with artificial flavors". We cut back a few month's ago on buying frozen Stouffer's dinners when my hubbies blood pressure shot up, and the amount of bloating on us both because of excessive sodium levels. I thought that was an awesome health food choice! Yay! When we heard about processed foods a while back and how unhealthy they are, we tried to limit them and switched to Lean Cuisines for a bit, and did cut out frozen pizzas, and I always encourage fresh veggies and fruit at every meal time. But, these veggies and fruit in our local super markets (unless its organic) is covered with pesticides, some with herbicides......straight up poison. Sickening! Some of the food ingredients we allow in our country are banned in other countries! Why?!?

A Lot of people have been asking me over last couple days, "what does GMO stand for?"

 "Genetically Modified Organism. These are plant or meat products that have had their DNA artificially altered by genes from other plants, animals, viruses, or bacteria, in order to produce foreign compounds in that food. These genetic alterations occur in a laboratory and are not found in nature. This technology is also called “gene technology,” “recombinant DNA technology,” or “genetic engineering.”

Basically, it's Fake food.

One of the replies I made on my fb post to a friend a couple days ago was, "maybe one day I'll come join you mom's on the other side of the "all natural" fence," as I kind of chuckled to myself.

This was just 2 days ago.

Today I feel like Saul Paul on the road to Damascus when he had his conversion. He was literally persecuting the Christians just before his divine encounter with the Lord. He was this huge sold out Pharisee, and a merciless persecutor of the Church. I feel like that is how I have been with all this "organic, all natural lifestyle" to my friends and family. I AM SORRY! I want to run not walk over to your side of the fence!

I stayed up majority of the night researching one of the companies, "Monsanto" that is the culprit of all this poison. They are evil, and they have an agenda and they are a powerhouse that seems they can not be overthrown. So it is up to us to take action of our pantries and refrigerators, where we shop, our food tables, what we ingest, and what we feed our families,  It is up to us to educate ourselves, read labels, know where specific ingredients come from...because they definitely will not do it for us.

It's crazy how all of this has came about just this past week that our Pastor preached on "Physical Transformation" from the study we are doing at church and in our lifegroups. Between that, the fb post, the older gentlemen I met at a volunteer drive last night, and I know prayers from friends, is just what I needed to get myself as well as my families physical health's on the right track, and be accountable to. Even when I thought I was doing just that this whole time.  I know this new conversion will take time to adjust, and to learn and to educate myself along the way. It will not be overnight that we completely change every single little eating habit that we have ever made. But, at least its a step in right direction.

If you like me, are interested, but skeptical and don't know where to start...start by watching this oscar winning documentary called Food Inc on Netflix. Hubby and I were up till 1am last night watching it. If you have not seen it I sincerely encourage you to do so! It explains so much, and will make you disgusted with so much, but grab some tissues.


I'm going to clean out my pantry now.


Thank you for the prayers and all the gmo, natural, organic info friends! 




*ps. This is a serious silent holocaust going on. The poison in these foods are slowly killing us all. We jokingly say all the time, "don't drink the koolaid", but we already are without knowing.

YOU OWE ME!!

So our church just started this 50 day Transformation study. A 50 day spiritual, physical, mental, vocational, financial transformation. This past Sunday we kicked off the study with our Pastor preaching on Luke chapter 15. The Prodigal Son story. Prob one of my fave parables Jesus ever taught on because it hits home on so many levels! I looked up the term "prodigal" in the dictionary, just to get a little bit better understanding of the term, and it is defined as,"someone who wastefully or recklessly spends his money."

But, let's be honest here...we have all in someway shape or form been some what of a prodigal employee, wife, husband, child, and friend. Who wastes their time on petty things....like worry. Who has been reckless in their relationships, or has loved recklessly those people who we know are just not good for us, and I know I can admit that I have been wasteful with my talents and gifts, keeping them to myself when I could of been using them to bless others. I could go on, and on...but truth is we all have had/now have an area where we can relate to the prodigal son.

With that being said, our Pastor pointed out two things this past Sunday while preaching on that parable that Jesus taught. They keep echoing in my heart, and I keep processing it over and over in my brain this week. "Entitled says, "You owe me! Entrusted says: "I owe you." The prodigal son was completely reckless and wasteful with his inheritance that he felt so entitled to...not entrusted with.

I tell you. This study is only in day 4 well...going on day 5, and we have 45 more days left. God is already SHOWING UP. In our life group on Wednesday night we all agreed that this study is kind of like a 12 step program. The first step is you have to "Admit", and I admit I am in dire need of Transformation.

One area in particular I know is my ATTITUDE.

It need's a HUGE transformation.

God has shown me that I have walked around with this entitled attitude, just like the prodigal son. I think overtime sometimes we as, believers, can become so complacent in our walks, next thing you know your quenching the spirit...and you start being reckless in your relationship with God.

My attitude has been so reckless.

I love God, I love loving on His people, I enjoy so much serving Him and others, I love pouring His truth into others, and earnestly seeking and studying His word, but along the way doing all those things I have without even realizing it have begun to build up this attitude of "God, You owe me!" Ouch!

"God, I'll love on that person that I don't want to, but YOU OWE ME!"
"God, I'll forgive that person, but YOU OWE ME!"
"God, I'll stretch myself and give my money, BUT YOU OWE ME!"
"God, I'll serve in this specific ministry, BUT YOU OWE ME!"
"God, I'll befriend her/him, BUT YOU OWE ME!"

What?!?!? Truth is...we do not owe God a darn thing. Who exactly do we think we are? We are broken, silly little people...who are in desperate need of a Saviour's love, forgiveness, mercy and grace DAILY. Yes we are capable of GREAT, and absolutely unbelievably AMAZING things, but our abilities, money, talents, gift, blessings, and even people that are placed in our lives are all entrusted to us and given to us by our CREATOR, we are not entitled to them.

Our attitudes should look something like this...

"God, I'll love on that person, because "I owe you, and love you and your word says to love your people."
"God, I'll forgive that person, because "I owe you, for you have so graciously forgiven me."
"God, I'll stretch myself and give my money, because "I owe you, and your word says that if we test you in this area, you will open the flood gates of heaven and pour out blessings amongst us."
"God, I'll serve in this specific ministry, because, "I owe you, for my special gifts, talents and unique abilities you have blessed me with are not entitled to me...they are entrusted to me and I will use them to serve others."
"God, I'll befriend that person, because "I owe you, and Jesus was hated by many, but a friend to all."

I encourage you...if this sounds like you, as it did me...please do this 50 days Transformation journey with us. Like our Pastor said before..."you don't have to join our church, get called out, raise your right hand, come down front, or even ever come back to our church after these 45 days are up."...lol something like that. Just come and do this one journey with us and watch God move in real and tangible ways in our hearts, homes and lives.

Real Transformation starts from the inside out....


I am so ready for God to do just that....are you?

When You Look At The Cross....

When You Look at the Cross....

When you look at the Cross what do you see?
I see two pieces of wood that were once a tree.

When you examine the Cross what do you find?
I find Calvary was a place that was not so kind.

When you think about the Cross what do you imagine?
I imagine a man that endured it with such intense passion.

When you observe the Cross what do you note?
I note there is a tugging on my heart, and a lump in my throat.

When you examine the Cross what do you conclude?
I conclude that the path that I'm walking is very much askewed.

When you glimpse at the Cross what do you bear in mind?
That my sin has made me lost. That my eyes are so blind.

When you contemplate the Cross what do you view?
I view that my life is uncertain, I trust He can make it new.

When you survey the Cross what do you decide?
I decide that, after all, not just a good man died.

When you consider the Cross what do you deem to be?
That Christ came to die, and to set the captives free.

When you gaze at the Cross what else do you see?
I see a perfect Savior who shed His blood for you and for me.

When you remember the Cross what do you recall?
He paid the debt. "It is finished", once and for all!

by: Corey Travaglini

Thank you Lord for that bittersweet Good Friday a couple thousand years ago. Thank you for enduring the Cross, for paying a debt I could not pay, and for saving a complete wretch like me. I love you. 

How beautiful.....

How beautiful are my daughter's feet! So blessed by them this evening....let me explain...

She takes her feet and kicks them rapidly, and then grabs her precious little toes with her tiny hands. I cup her feet into my own hands and give them little kisses and she just grins and grins. I wiggle her little pinky toe and her face just lights up. I sit back and smile as I continue to watch her playing with her newly discovered little body part, and as I'm watching my mind starts to wonder about her little feet and where in fact they will go some day. I wonder...what purpose will they serve in this great big world? Will they be running the halls of a emergency room, or will they be standing in front of a chalkboard dry erase board as she writes mathematical equations, scientific definitions, or teaching a child to write his name for the first time. I wonder what floors will they walk on, and what cities and countries will she step foot in? Will her feet have rhythm? Will they learn how to 2 step or do the cupid shuffle? Will they be beautifully wrapped up in ballerina shoes, or will she wear combat boots like I did? Oh, what will her toe nail polish of choice be, and will she love high heels, or will she be more of a flip flop girl?  I wonder if she will love running barefoot and fancy free in the summer grass, or the spring rain, and what size will they grow into? 

But, most of all...will her feet bring the Good News? The Good News of Jesus? Will they run as fast as they can carrying her towards the arms of such a sweet Savior? Will her feet dance as she worships her Lord? Will they be quick to help those in need and will they be ready to serve Him in a moment's notice? I wonder when they get tired, what will they be tired from? I pray that they are tired at the end of the day from serving and loving on those who are weak and need a hand, and from pacing the floors in her home as she serves joyfully her family with every single step. Will they be willing to go places that no one else will go, and will they be ready and willing to always go comfort a friend? 

How beautiful are my daughter's feet.

I pray that God's word will always be the lamp unto them, and that they long to be planted firmly in Christ, on the solid rock of Jesus, and when she get's to heaven one day, I simply can not wait for her feet to be standing on His Holy Ground. <3

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” Romans 10:15

My Eulogy

Last night our Pastor in our life group asked us a pretty thought provoking question that has been echoing in my mind all night, "what would people say about you at your funeral and about the life you lived here on earth?"

Ultimately...what would your Eulogy entail...or what would you like for it to entail?

...and so it got me thinking...

Would they say she was a woman of great faith? Or a woman who doubted God quite often? A mother who sacrificed a career to stay home with her kids or a stay at home mom who stayed too busy...too busy for her kids? A wife who prayed and encouraged her husband daily, or one that caused him many burdens? A friend who forgave and loved at all times, or one who hardly ever reached out? A giver more than a taker? A defender of God's Word or one who misused it in vain? A Christian who was sold out for Jesus, or just only on Sundays and special occasions? What about one who served others out of a cheerful willingness or one that served out of grumbling? The girl who knew her worth was found in Christ alone or in what Glamour magazine and what Vogue said, and lastly, would they say she was a person who loved God with all her heart?

and so I started thinking some more....what would I want people to say about me? What would my Eulogy entail? So this is what I came up with...

My Eulogy

We are gathered here today to celebrate the homecoming and the life of Corey Travaglini. A humble woman of great faith who truly was the Proverbs 31 and the Titus 2 woman. Corey, was a stay at home mom who loved her kids and wanted them to know the love of Jesus more than anything. She poured that into them daily. She was such an encourager of the word to her family and honored, respected and loved her husband and children deeply. Her husband, Nick, said "she was always uplifting me, building me up and was such an amazing helpmate. She really was the hands and feet of Jesus in our home." Corey, always put her family first.

Corey, was a kind, compassionate woman who lived life with arms wide open and in complete and absolute abandon to God. She was a woman of virtue who practiced patience and was quick to forgive others when they wronged her. She loved to laugh, and could find the beauty, laughter and the sunny side in just about anything. She had such a big heart for women and for people in general, and she wanted them to know more than anything where their worth was found. That is was found in Jesus and not in what this world says it sound be found in. She struggled greatly with this same thing and wanted to make it an aim in her struggle to encourage others in this as well.

Many of Corey's friends would say,"Corey, was the best friend I ever had! She was always there when I needed her. She was a shoulder to soak your tears on, to lean on, and always knew how to cheer us up with laughter and her quirky sense of humor." Corey loved making friends, and she befriended those that desperately needed a friend, because she said that Jesus was a friend to all and the greatest friend she ever had. She was just so easy to be friends with. She forgave quickly, was so honest, trustworthy and would keep other's accountable for she desperately wanted accountability herself.

Lastly, Corey, was a godly woman who was completely sold out for Christ. She hungered and truly thirsted for righteousness and His truth. She was a defender of God's word and absolutely loved to study it. She prayed her way through any and all things, and was always giving thanks in all things. Her passion was for God's truth, His love and the Gospel. She wanted to be used by God so much to do great things for His kingdom. She ultimately wanted everyone to know who Jesus was and to reach as many people as she could for Him.

In closing, Corey, leaves us with a legacy of love, of great faith, with a zeal and a zest for life and a hunger to love God more, your children more, your spouse more...people more. The desire to let the light of Jesus just radiate the world and to keep running this race called life with endurance and with absolute hope in Christ.


These are my heart's greatest desires...this is what I hope my eulogy would entail one day! I'm not perfect and fail daily at all these things and then some, but I am a work in progress and so thankful that God is not finished with me yet. He is moment by moment guiding me and daily molding me into the woman, wife, mother and friend that He wants me to be, that He has called me to be and that I long to be. I pray that one day when God calls me home...He calls me faithful and says, "Corey, well done my precious daughter".

Writing this Eulogy has been such an eye opener and has actually been much needed. It is a reminder to what I need to focus on more in life and what I need to make more time for.

What would your eulogy entail? What are your heart's desires? Feel free to write your own, and share! I would love to read it!


"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Storm Pax...what a gift!

                  "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be white as snow." Psalm 51:7

I don't know about you guys...but I absolutely loved being snowed in this week. When the snow was falling I was soaking it all in and enjoying being cooped up so warm and cozy inside with coffee in hand, and enjoying looking out the window and just watching it all fall with my loves! It was absolutely beautiful and so breathtaking. It was suppose to be a snow storm of some sort...the media called it Storm Pax, but boy...was it more of a gift to me than any storm. I loved watching as the blanket of snow covered our backyard in just mere hours. I kept taking pictures every hour, literally on the hour, so we could see the difference in hours past, and it was just so wonderful to enjoy this time with our son because it was his first snow he would get to experience. My heart was so full those three days watching his little face light up every time he would run to the back door and then I would giggle my heart out as he would press his nose and lips up against the cold glass...breathing in and out, creating little nose and lip prints. I couldn't help but wonder to myself what he thought of all of this? It was also so sweet seeing my husband and him for the first time running out into our front yard laughing and catching snowflakes on their gloves and tongue's. Growing up my mother always told me when it snowed "it was the angel's shedding their wings." I can remember catching a snowflake on my tongue, and being so excited because I was tasting a little something from heaven. I always loved believing that...and I still to this day love to believe that.

But, something else occurred during this particular white winter wonderland we had in Charlotte this past week. Something that I have been needing for a while. So much has happened in such a short amount of time that has left me emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed and just longing for Jesus to fill me up again. I just dealt with the passing of my dear sweet Grandmother last month, who is also my first grandparent to pass, and I have been heartbroken for my Grandfather who was her soul-mate for almost 60 years that has been so broken hearted to no longer have his best-friend. I have also had family members who have been in and out of the hospital and just people I know who are in need of healing. We also just had our second little miracle a few months back and although she has brought so much more joy to our home and increased the love in our hearts by ten fold it has been an adjustment period on us all and to say it hasn't even a little bit...I'd be totally lying. So with all of this I haven't had time to truly stop, to really soak in God's goodness or really even His word in a while.  So I needed a bit of freshness, an newness if you will....my spirit was just yearning for Jesus. So it did my spirit so good to have Storm Pax pass our way...because God met me right in the midst of it.

The snow was a perfect reminder to me that God is who He says He is, that in Christ there is always freshness, and newness of life, and that He longs to wash our crimson stained sins white as snow. How marvelous is it that the same God who loves us and created us is the same God who sends the rain, forms the clouds, stretches the skies, and send's the sweetest, white snowfall?!? Glory!

This week was so needed and I could not be more thankful to God for this week! I caught myself several times this week singing the words, "Jesus paid it all...all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow"....this same white color of snow that fell from the sky He made, and covered my back yard He created. If that doesn't bring someone a freshness in the spirit and a revival to their soul...then I truly don't know what will.

On ending thoughts, Storm Pax was such a gift for me this week. I know for some it was an unfortunate time. There were many without power, and stranded for hours and days in places other than their own home, and my heart and prayers truly went out to those people, but I needed a freshness and a newness in my spirit...a little revival and just time with the Lord and time with my sweet little family, and I am so thankful that He chose to reveal Himself to me through His creation, and to revive my spirit through this beautiful snow He sent....

.....it truly did give me a freshness and newness in my spirit, and it was a beautiful reminder to me that what a price He paid to wash my sins white as snow.

Storm Pax 2014, Charlotte, NC 

Thank you Lord!



ps. Thank you Grandma for shedding your wings this week. :)




"Jesus paid it all, 
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, 
He washed it white as snow." 

Intimate

How well do you know your children? Well enough that you know your first born has a double toenail on his left big toe...one that he has had since the day he was born, or that one small freckle that looks like a pin dot underneath his right nipple. What about his right ear...the way it curves and is shaped at the top or his double crown which reminds you of your Dad's side of the family. That he loves peanut butter and jelly, but only on a pita bread. Loves to drink milk, but only if its at room temperature, and you know exactly who his favorite characters are on Sesame Street. What about your other children or your knew little addition to your family? Even if they have only been on this earth and in your arms for 12 weeks you still know them as if they had been here a hundred years. You know exactly the shape of their birthmark, and can pick their fingers and toes out of a crowd any day. You know their cries, their whimpers and you have already somewhat of a pretty good idea of what type of personality they are going to have later.

Oh, and we can not even begin to describe how much we love them! How much love our hearts can seriously hold for our dear children. How we would give up anything, even our lives to protect them!

Isn't it amazing how much us mothers, and fathers (if your reading) loves our children? How much we know them as well? When I think about how much I love my children and how much I so intimately know about my children that no one else knows...I can't help but think about how much my God loves me and how much he knows about me that no one else knows.

In Jeremiah 1:5 it says before He formed us in our mother's womb...He knew us. Psalm 139:1-3 talks about God knowing when we sit and when we rise. Luke 12:7 tells us that He knows the numbers of hair's on our head. Jeremiah 29:11 says He knows the plans He has for us and in John 3:16 and Romans 5:8, He loved us so much that He gave His Son to die for us while we were still sinners!

Oh how His word is just filled with so much truths about how much our God loves us and knows us...because He created us. The Creator always knows His work, and loves His work. Every detail of it. He knows what makes us laugh, what makes us cry, our joys, and our sorrows. He knows the dark and hidden places of our heart, the broken pieces of our lives, and the things done in secret. He knows our thoughts, our motives, our intentions, our insecurities and our failures....and yet He wanted us and loves us still.

I don't know about you...but when I truly think on these things it gives me such an overwhelming since of awe on how much my God personally and intimately knows and loves me. He knows the things that I would be ashamed if people only knew about me and what I've done. But, so thankful we have a Creator who is never ashamed of His masterpiece or His handiwork. So thankful for a God where there is "no guilt, shame or condemnation for those who are found in His son Jesus." -Romans 8:1, and thankful for a Savior who loves us with an everlasting love. -Jeremiah 31:3.

And guess what?!?!  He desires for us to intimately know Him!! The God of the universe...who owns the sky and knows the stars by name wants us to know His heart, and know His character. To know what breaks His heart, and what brings Him sorrow. To know what brings Him great joy, and what gives Him glory and honor.

To know Him and to ultimately make Him known.

Do you do you strive to do that as a follower of Christ? I will admit that I have often times failed in getting to know my God more. But, I want to encourage you to make it a habit of spending time with our God.That we get to know Him as much, and if not more than we know our own children. That we intimately spend time in His word daily, and get to truly know His heart...

...so we can make Him known!

Also, if your reading this and not a follower of Christ please know there is a God that desires to meet you right where you are at. Who loves you so much and wants you to know Him! Please reach out to me because I'd love to get to know you and your heart :)

 Let 2014 be the year that you start to intimately get to know the heart and mind of a God that loves and intimately knows you already.




"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

BELIEVE 2014!

As I reflect back on 2013 even though overall it was one blessed year I can still definitely see and remember their were areas of a constant struggle or time of testing; In mine and Nick's finances, in giving ourselves away, in our relationship with each other, at Nick's job, transitioning from a working mother to a stay at home one, and adapting to us being a family of 4. More than anything though, I look back and see moments where I lacked truly believing God for all things and in all things and moments where I had completely distrusted Him.

My heart aches to think about those moments. To think that the One who blessed me with all the highs in 2013 I lacked belief in and the One who was with me in all the lows of 2013 I had distrusted.

As I was thinking about my word for 2014 God laid upon my heart this scripture found in Luke 1:45

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"  


My word for 2014 is "Believe". This new year I am going to not just merely live God's word, but believe it and stand on it.

I am going to....

Believe that... "He truly does makes all things new." Revelation 21:5

Believe that... "He has plans for me, which will not cause harm, but plans to prosper me, to give me hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Believe that..."God will supply all my needs." Philippians 4:19

Believe that..."I am the apple of His eye." Psalm 17:8

Believe that..."All things work together for my good." Romans 8:28

Believe that..."I really can do all things through Christ strength." Philippians 4:13

Believe that..."He is my refuge and ever present help in trouble."  Psalm 46: 1-3

Believe that..."Nothing can separate His love for me in Christ." Romans 8:38-39

Believe that..."He will not fail me." Deuteronomy 31:8


I look back on 2013 and see where these are areas that I have questioned Him at times, and doubted Him. I am worn out from trying to do things in my own strength. I am exhausted with trying to control certain aspects of my life. I am drained from stressing out about finances and if we will make next month's mortgage payment, and I am especially tired of second guessing His love for me when I fall short or when I have moments of weakness.

I know I can stand on and rest in His promise that "nothing can separate His love for me."

I know this...but do I truly flat out believe it?

At the end of 2014...I want to be confident in knowing that I did believe my God. I trusted Him with everything....big and small, good or bad. I want to be the girl that God says, "blessed is she who has believed that I would fulfill My promises to her!"

I am so excited to see what 2014 has in store for Nick and I this year. I am so excited to see friendships grow deeper, for us to celebrate our 5th anniversary, to see my children accomplish new milestones and more importantly to believe in Christ like never before!!



HAPPY  2014!!


May this be a year of many blessings and true BELIEVING!