Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

It's been quite a year. There have been so many ups and a few downs, but there has always been time to read a good book! I usually read two or three books a week, and that has been both exercise for my mind and good for my soul. It's so difficult for me to pick my favorite books of the year - that's like telling the dozens of others that they're not worthy. And I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. Instead, I chose seven books that were just what I needed when I needed it, and my favorite sentence or two from each one. Hoepfully they will encourage you to read even more in the coming year, like they did for me. Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose. "Inventing a workable code from scratch is a tall order. Today's cryptographers (who create codes, as opposed to cryptoanalysists, who break them) are fortunate enough to work for intelligence agencies able to draw on many decades of institutional experience. [Benjamin] Tallmage had no such luck. H...

One of the best ways to spark conversation, get to know each other, reflect on the past and look forward to the future is by asking questions. And the end of the year is the perfect time to ask those questions. I made this stack for our youth group, so they can be a little introspective about the past year before we gear up for a new lesson series through Genesis. After coming up with about 50 questions, I created a single card in my design program and duplicated it to fill the page. Then I duplicated the page and changed the writing on each card. My questions are everything from the best lesson you learned this year to most embarrassing moment to what one creative thing do you want to do in the coming year. It's fun to think about the teens and what their answers might be, but it's also very serious when I think about them asking me the same questions. The pages are printed on card stock and cut out around the outside of the design box. My prayer is that we'll be able to u...

I'm so excited to start my new 2023 planner! I started it - and finished it - several weeks ago, so it's been like money burning a hole in my pocket. Yep, I'm that kind of excited about planners, and my planner in particular. My 2022 planner was huge - just larger than 8.5x11 inches. It didn't fit in my purse well, and it added weight to my computer bag. I loved it, but it was a little unwieldy. The binder of my new one is 6x7.5 inches, so it will actually fit in my purse. A huge plus. I'm definitely ready to leave a little sparkle all over the new year! All the parts and pages come from Hobby Lobby's agenda52 line, so they all coordinate. I'm able to get the entire year in one book, which is also phenomenal. Each month starts with a page with notes, holidays, special occasions and birthdays. I can transfer our church birthday/anniversary calendars here so I'll be up to date. All I needed for embellishments were a few small January-themed stickers. The r...

Grazing boards are all the rage at parties now, while some of us have been eating at parties this way for years. We were cool and trendy ... and didn't even know it. The idea is to fill a small plate with a few items from the board at a time. Then you can sample everything, mingle, talk and return for more. But you don't have to go anywhere to enjoy a great, healthy grazing board. With a little planning and preparation, you can fill your plate this New Year's Eve and not regret it on the first day of the new year.  Finger foods are a great place to start. Remember that you're eating a bit before going back, or eating straight off the board if you want, so the less messy the better! Here are 10 categories of healthy food to start with. 1. Fruit - grapes, berries, sliced kiwi 2. Veggies - grape tomatoes, green beans, carrots and cucumber 3. Cheese - low-sodium and high protein varieties like mozzarella, blue cheese and feta 4. Chips - sweet potato chips, organic and multi...

I pray that your Christmas weekend was filled with celebration, time with loved ones and worship with your church family. This Advent and Christmas have been very different than any of the past few years, and it is my wish that you've created some new traditions and memories that you will remember forever. But now it's Monday. The day after Christmas. What are we supposed to do now? Do we go back to the way we were before? Is it just another work day? I hope not. It's easy to look back at the Christmas season, wistfully sigh that it's past and forge on to the end of the year. We pack up decorations, file away our Christmas cards and start planning our New Year's Eve party. All the hope, joy and peace of Advent can get wrapped in tissue paper and stored for several months, if we're not careful. This isn't how it's supposed to be. We're supposed to come out the other side of Christmas ... well, different. And there were in the same country shepherds ab...

For just a few dollars and with a handful of ingredients, you can put together one of the most addictive cookie dips ever. Make sure no one goes at it with a spoon, although I wouldn't blame them for trying! A couple of hints before you get started: Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before you try to mix in the other ingredients. It won't be smooth if it's the least bit cold. Use a stand mixer for the entire process, as it will take a few minutes to get everything combined well. Refrigerate the dip and keep it cold until you're ready to eat it. Don't keep it for more than a couple of days or the ingredients will begin to separate. This probably won't be a problem, though, because it will be devoured - I promise. Ingredients: 1 box (5) Christmas Tree Cakes 8oz cream cheese, room temperature 1 tsp vanilla 16oz extra creamy Cool Whip 1/3 cup milk Christmas sprinkles! 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine cakes, cream cheese and vanilla until mixe...

For some strange reason, it just doesn't feel like the Christmas season. Maybe it's because we haven't completely decorated at our house yet. Or because we just received our first Christmas card last night. Or because we've been so busy with life that December happened before we were really ready. Or there's no snow. What's Christmas without snow? You may be in the same heart condition I am. There are circumstances or people or stuff standing between you and the true joy of Christ's birth. You want to enjoy the season, but you just can't quite get there. The wonder and the excitement are under there somewhere, they're just buried under a whole lot of other stuff. If this sounds like you, fear not! There is so much to believe in right now, today, this minute, that can change your heart and help you press on with joy and hope. 1. Believe that the Lord loves you endlessly and perfectly. When we're overwhelmed and struggling, the last thing we want...

One of the staples of any Christmas kitchen is fresh-baked cookies. There are so many great recipes to choose from, and you could probably make a different one every day and still want more! While you're in a cookie-baking and gifting mood, whip up some of this lovely eggnog dip to have alongside your favorite cookies. You can store it in an air-tight container for up to two weeks, so make enough to share! Ingredients: 8oz cream cheese, room temperature 1/2 cup eggnog, room temperature 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp rum extract 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 2 cups powdered sugar, packed 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese until soft and completely smooth. Don't let there be any clumps - beat it as long as you can or the finished texture will be lumpy. 2. Mix in the vanilla, rum extract, cinnamon and nutmeg until combined. 3. Beat in the eggnog until the texture is creamy and smooth. 4. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Be prepared to add more or less dependi...

If I had to choose between sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, I'll pick sweet potatoes every time. They're more flavorful, have a better texture and can be used in many more tasty ways. Maybe this is why they're a staple at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  As you're preparing your holiday menu over the next few weeks, add in this amazing slow cooker recipe. And trust me, you'll want to try it (maybe more than once) between now and Christmas. I'm just saying. Ingredients: 6 large sweet potatoes 1/2 cup brown sugar 4 Tbsp butter 2 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice 1 Tbsp vanilla 2 Tbsp water 1 tsp salt 1/2 bag of mini marshmallows Pecan halves for garnish 1. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Place them in the slow cooker. 2. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl.  3. Add brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, water and salt. Mix well. 4. Pour mixture over potatoes in slow cooker and stir until completely coated. 5. Cook on high for 4-5 hours ...