Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

When you're not sure what the future holds...God does! When things don't seem to be holding together...God is! When human strength can't handle it...God can! The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2 When the flesh won't even face the circumstances...God will! When you may not see how everything will work out...God sees! When peace seems a million miles away...God has it! Truly my soul waitheth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.  Psalm 62:1-2 When the day begins to unravel...God ties the knot! When uncertainty attacks your heart...God fights back! When the road ahead seems dark...God lights the way. Because isn't it all about Him?

You know your moving date is close when your phone and Internet are disconnected! That's the stage we're at this week, so you won't see updated Daily Devotions until next weekend. I encourage you to keep up with your Bible reading, though, by giving you the schedule to read on your own. Monday: Acts 14-16 Tuesday: Acts 17-19 Wednesday: Acts 20-23 Thursday: Acts 24-28 Friday: Romans 1-4 Saturday: Romans 5-8 Sunday: Romans 9-12 Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for loading the truck at the end of the week. We're running out of time to do everything we'd like, but never running out of God's blessings!

Anyone who looks at my rose bush right now can tell that it's got issues. I would never have called it full and healthy before, but it's definitely seen better days. Fall and the colder weather are taking their toll and it's just been pruned back for the winter. Someone who doesn't know anything about plants, or roses in particular, might think this little bush is past its usefulness and rip it out. They don't notice the new, pink leaves that are coming through and green shoots that are replacing the old, weary stalks. Without the understanding of this rose bush's potential, watering and feeding it would seem pointless. Someone without knowledge and understanding wouldn't put in the time and effort to make this beautiful little plant bloom in cascades of blossoms in the spring. Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thine getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when ...

If your mind is anything like mine, it's probably working overtime, all day, every day. We put our brains into overdrive trying to think, plan, understand and figure out all the little details of life. In truth, this is completely unnecessary. We expend large amounts of energy on some pretty unproductive thinking. 10 Things To Stop Thinking About: 1. What other people think of how you believe, think, speak or act. 2. What the future holds. 3. Things that have happened in the past. 4. What the world considers important, necessary or entertaining. 5. The boundaries you have set up for yourself, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and even physically. 6. Comparisons you make between yourself and other Christian women. 7. The what-if's in life that we're completely unable to control. 8. Some imaginary perfect life that has nothing to do with the way God designed you. 9. Worries over mistakes that you've made. 10. All the things that you don't have...

It's less than two months until Thanksgiving Day. We've set aside an entire day of our year just for naming all of the things we're thankful for. But what about this weekend? Are we supposed to set aside our thanks until an appointed day? I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 116:17-19 Make this a weekend of thanksgiving, regardless of the time of year. We can find a never-ending list of blessings to thank God for, from the shiny pinwheels by the sidewalk to the family you'll wake up to tomorrow. Make the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise the Lord!

For a while this summer I was addicted to avocado. They were fairly inexpensive at one of our local grocery stores, so I picked up a few several times over the warmer months. I also quickly learned the art of distinguishing a ripe avocado from one about to go bad. (The squishiness gives it away.) I also discovered that you shouldn't buy more avocados than you'll eat in a couple of days. (Yes, I learned this the hard way.) This was my favorite concoction from my avocado experiments. Super easy with the help of some prepackaged veggies, and so deliciously lovely. Ingredients: 2 ripe avocados, halved and diced 1 7-oz package of pico de gallo drizzle of olive oil course ground black pepper to taste 1. Halve, core and dice two ripe avocados into a large bowl. 2. Add the package of pico de gallo. You can also create your own with tomato, onions and oil. 3. Drizzle with about 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil. 4. Season to taste with course ground bla...

We're now one step closer to our move date - we've had our yard sale! On a chilly October morning, we laid out the excess stuff from our home onto tables in the driveway. Then we let people come by, look through it, and buy it for their own home. It's a really weird concept if you think about it. You assign a value to the things you own, and then hope that other people see that same value. We pass on our leftovers with the hopes of making profit and giving someone else a joy - and a bargain. The hardest part of the yard sale experience is in choosing those prices. While some things you price just to be rid of them, others have a little more meaning in your heart. You've lived with those items, seen them every day and made them a part of your life. All of a sudden you wonder how you could ever part with that "thing." The next thing you know half of your sale items are back inside because you've refused to let go. Lay not up for yourselves treasures ...