Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

There's nothing worse than having to start a conversation with a confession, but here we go. One of my goals for the new year was to read more books. We bought three new bookshelves last fall, and I filled two of the three large shelves on one with the books I own that I haven't read yet. It really put my book collection into perspective because I desperately want to know what is written inside each and every one of them.  That's why it's so difficult for me to choose what book I want to read next. I feel like choosing one of them tells the rest of them that they're less worthy. It breaks my heart. The moment 2022 began, I knew I wanted to reread Priscilla Shirer's book Fervent, which goes with the War Room movie. I can't think of a better way to start the year than by rewriting my prayer strategy for my prayer closet/war room. If you haven't read this book, seen the movie or both, do it. We all need a battle plan! For Christmas, a friend gave me John Ma

So. I turned the page in my planner this week and it said February at the top. I flipped back for a minute, then turned it again, and it still said February. I'mm not exactly sure how that happened, but it's right there in black and white. And red. And pink. And a little bit of purple.   I've determined in my heart to make this month all about love: God's love, love for my husband and my family, love for the church, Jesus' love being so deep that He willingly laid His life down for me. My study verses will be 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and the surrounding passages. I want to become love, just like Jesus was. Love isn't a feeling or an emotion. Love throughout the Bible is a verb, an action word. Paul wrote that you can have everything in the world, but if you're not acting with love as your motivation, you have nothing. I want to weave love through everything I do and say this month, lifting others up and sharing the truth about the Lord, who loves them even more

The only time I can get all four dogs to sit still and look pretty for a picture is when I'm holding food in my hand. The attitude you can see on their faces is from their unswerving desire to eat this entire plate of pupcakes. And because they're healthy and (apparently) yummy, they did get to eat the entire plate of pupcakes. I think the plate might also have been licked clean, but there is no evidence of that left. But at least they didn't eat the plate, too. Ingredients for pupcakes: 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1 banana 1 egg 1/2 tsp baking soda 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a mini muffin tin with nonstick spray. 2. Mash the banana with a fork. Mix in the egg. 3. Stir in peanut butter and baking soda until smooth. 4. Spoon batter evenly in the muffin tin.  5. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes. Tops will spring back when pressed. 6. Cool completely on a wire rack, then try keeping them away from your dog, which definitely won't happen. 

This motivational planner spread is incredibly special to me already, and it's not even Monday yet! Last week I interviewed for and was offered the job of executive director for our convention and visitors bureau, and I couldn't be more excited! My first full week as director may mean I need some encouragement from my planner. Each journal block of this layout has alternating washi tape that coordinates with the inspirational stickers I chose. All from the same sticker book, the flowers and phrases all go together in a beautiful, neutral palette. I love how elegant they are and how pretty they are without loud colors or bright images. We all need encouragement and motivation at times during our week, and our planner is just one place we can put Scripture, quotes, our favorite flowers or just a color or pattern that we love. What ways can you encourage yourself - and others - in your planner, your work space, your home, at church this week? Let's get creative and lift each o

It hurts to admit this, and I will probably be shunned by those who love me, but I'm not a big fan of burgers. There. I've said it, and it's out there.  It's probably because I've had too many dry, tasteless, crumbly burgers in my lifetime. But when they're made to be juicy and full of flavor, I'll gladly eat those burgers! These quarter-pound patties are marinated in pineapple juice, making them absolutely wonderful. Grilled inside or outside, they're definitely burgers I would eat any day of the week. Ingredients: 1lb ground sirloin 8 1/2oz can sliced pineapple 1 cup BBQ sauce 1. Shape ground sirloin into four 1/4-pound burgers. Place them in a small baking dish.  2. In a small bowl, combine the juice from the pineapple and the BBQ sauce.  3. Pour the marinade over the four burgers and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. 4. Heat grill pan to medium-high heat and spray with non-stick spray. 5. Remove the burgers from the marinade and arrang

There are so many amazing Christians in the world who are sharing their faith in many different ways. As I look through social media and online resources, there are countless Scriptures, photos and quotes that are posted to uplift, encourage and convict our hearts. Here are some of my favorite faith quotes I've read recently: Ask God to bless your work. Don't ask Him to do the work for you. Sometimes God will put you in a battle empty handed so that when you do get the victory, you'll it was Him, not you. I don't have to be able to see how God will do it or why God will do it. I just have to believe that He will do it. I am not in control, but I am deeply loved by the God who is. You don't have to be afraid of the unknown. It is unknown only to you. God is well aware of where you are of every step He is asking you to take. On my bad days, I seek God. On my good days, I thank God. On my great days, I praise God. Every day, I need God and am grateful He is always here

Did you know that you're a limited edition? I know I am. There is only one of me in the whole, wide world, which may very possibly be a good thing... I usually apply the term "limited edition" to books, though, so that's the theme of my planner pages this week. The Happy Planner's Bookish sticker book has all these amazing images, banners and journal blocks, and they're already color coordinated - yay! Less thinking for me! One of my goals for the year is to read more books, so this spread is wildly appropriate. And sometimes it's the small details, like the tiny banners hanging on every day's borders, that make the biggest difference. I have several major events and opportunities happening this week, so I covet your prayers. I can't wait to document their answers on this week's planner pages. Maybe that sleeping puppy on Friday's block will even wake up long enough to rejoice in God's goodness with me. Have a wonderful week, my friends

I honestly don't have words to describe how beautiful the property looks under the new-fallen snow. I'll just leave these pictures here for today and pray you'll get the same peace from this winter wonderland as I do. Have a wonderful weekend!

We've probably read Romans 6 dozens of times, heard messages preached on it, had verses from it read at baptisms and done Bible studies on sin, death and grace. Paul's words stand just as strongly today as they did when they were written so many generations ago. So you've read this passage, but have you ever read it backwards? There are certain words in Scripture that should jump out at you and make you wonder why they're there. Words like therefore, for, likewise, neither and then should always point you back to the verse right before it. Then it's like a road map back to the original thought.  So, for example, let's start with Romans 6:14 -  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. This is a popular verse, one that people will quote as a stand-alone verse, but the word "for" being used twice should make you stop and think. For what? For often means "because," so because of something, sin will

There is very little in the craft world that makes me happier than stickers. I've had this delight since I was a little girl - there was nothing that motivated me faster than the promise of stickers as my reward for doing chores and practicing music after school. The huge stack of sticker books I still have from my growing-up years. Maybe that's why this sticker book stood out like a blinking neon sign the moment I walked into Goodwill last week. Our store has a new display rack for kids' books - which I also love - and the cover of the book definitely caught my eye. Stickers! Blank stickers. Pages and pages of pre-cut shapes on white sticker paper. I might as well have left the building right then. I had found the hidden treasure I needed for that visit. I was already picturing which stamp sets I wanted to use with each page of stickers. While some people would draw or sketch or something with pen or charcoal or something equally artsy, I was leaning toward ink and stamps.

 

Anybody can pull a box of mix out of the pantry and whip up some waffles, right? They'll taste pretty good, especially when they're swimming in syrup. You might even add some fruit to the top and sprinkle them with powdered sugar. But what if I told you that with just seven ingredients and some pecans, you can make waffles from scratch that are dense, tasty and perfect without adding anything to them at all? Curious? Then let's begin. Ingredients:  2 eggs 1 1/2 cups milk 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 cups flour 3 tsp baking powder 1 tsp sugar 1 pinch salt Pecans - halves + 1/2 cup chopped 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add eggs, milk and oil. Mix on medium speed until completely combined and smooth. 2. Add flour, baking powder, sugar and salt, then mix on medium-high speed until combined. Mix in 1/2 cup chopped pecans. 3. Pour the mixture into your waffle maker by the ladle-full. This amount made four large waffles in my hotel-style waffle maker. Serve topped with pecan halves,

When I get something in my brain, it's usually there for a while, for better or worse. I fell in love with this Print & Pray set from Illustrated Faith the moment it came out. I have whatever the opposite of a green thumb is, so looking at pictures of succulents and cactus are the best option. I love it for this second full week of January in my planner, and I can't wait to spend seven days with it. It's been a while since I used a planner with weekly layouts instead of daily spreads, so I couldn't wait to use Like Flowers in the Desert over two full pages. All of the images are fussy cut, so I can choose how thick or thin the white outline is, if I kept one at all. By the way, that terrarium at the top is possibly the prettiest thing I have ever seen. The fun part of designing my own planner layouts is experimenting with layering, outlining, arrangements and color combinations. I like being able to keep my faith right there in front of me all week, like I will this

These are the intent faces of dogs who have absolutely no idea what's going on. They are arguably the cutest faces in the entire world, but these boys will blindly follow me anywhere. Molly, on the other hand, is a free spirit who will pay attention when she feels like it. If then. But when something unusual happens, they're all ears. Literally. Look at those Great Dane ears! Also note the addition of a third black-and-white tuxedo dog. Tiny dog appears when something out of the ordinary is taking place. It's like magic. However, the addition of the tiny dog also means the largest dog will vacate the premises. There is nothing outside this window worth writing home about. She's just patrolling and avoiding the energy of the others. The tiny dog is also incredibly curious and protective of me, so when the big dog does something, she thinks she has to do it, too. She takes her responsibilities very seriously. And now, back to the action. The mini Frisbees were from a boot