Bible Journaling: Joshua 1:9

Sometimes I need a simple reminder that I can be strong and courageous because I know that God is with me. Just as Joshua encouraged the Israelites as they were getting ready to move into the Promised Land I can also be encouraged. With God with me I have no reason not to be strong and courageous. I belong to him, so I am safe, no matter what the world throws at me.

Bible Journaling: 1 Corinthians 14:33

There are moments in life that feel like they're full of chaos. We all need some peace. When I am able to focus I can remember who is the best way to peace. God is that.

1 Corinthians 14:33 says: "for God is not a God of disorder but of peace."

The context of the verse is when people come together for teaching and community worship. God will send messages and more than one person may speak, but it is not a time for everyone to talk at once and in a constant stream. It is time for learning from those who are teaching. It is not a time for chaos, but for peace.

And I believe that this is the same in my life. 

When I feel like I am being called all different ways and my mind is going a million miles and I haven't stopped moving in what feels like years I remember God's peace. I focus on Him and what he has done in my life. I remember where he has calmed me, slowed me down and changed my ways of thinking. 

And I know that he can do it again. 

It doesn't make the chaos disappear but it makes it easy to handle. With my mind at ease and God on my side I can take on anything.

Where do you go when life gets crazy?

Bible Journaling: Psalm 19:14

Anger and bitterness can seep into our lives and take over our minds. When unexpected life troubles come the first thing damaged is our minds. The thoughts and feelings that we hold can suddenly become so negative that there is no escape from the pain that we continue to hold one to.

But there is a choice to change the way we think. It comes with a concentration on God's word and his presence in life. Learning how to be grateful for the good and moving past the bad as it comes. 

When I find myself in a spiral of negative thinking it effect my entire day and spreads out to others around me. It changes the dynamic of the day. But I have to change my mind. It takes practice but I have been learning how to change the way I look at the world. I purposely seek out good thoughts and great memories to change how my day flows. I concentrate on the words I say to be uplifting and encouraging instead of a downpour of negativity.

What can help is remembering that God is here and to look at this verse:

          "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

                   by pleasing in your sight,

                   Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

                                                                  -Psalms 19:14

If my thoughts are surrounded by anger or bitterness or sadness they are not pleasing to God. My thoughts effect my words and my prayers and if they're anchored in negativity I'm doing a disservice to everyone, my family, God and myself. Instead I'm trying to stick to a positive outlook and view the good and be the good on hopes that my words and prayers will be pleasing to God.

What's for Dinner?- One Pan Chicken, Potatoes and Veggies

This is one my favorite go to meals for an easy nights dinner. And it's a family pleaser. Everyone eats it, without complaints and always asks for seconds. 

Even the three year old.

This recipe is surprisingly easy to make and can be adjusted according to taste without taking away from the delicious end result.

The ingredients are pretty basic:

Potatoes- typically one medium potato per person hat will be eating.

Frozen Veggies- Pick a bag of whatever pleases you. For this time I used a bag of spring mix veggies but I've also used broccoli or cauliflower and green beans and even zucchini. The Spring Mix Veggies were a combo of squashes.

Bone-in, Skin-on Chicken- We typically use either thighs or drumsticks as I can usually find these on sale at our local grocery store.

Salt and Pepper

Now to the cooking! Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 X 13 baking dish with spray.

Wash and cut your potatoes into bite sized pieces. Skin is optional. I leave the skins on to make prep faster. After chopping place potatoes in pan. Lightly salt potatoes.

Layer desired veggies over potatoes and salt.

Right here is my secret ingredients: Garlic Salt and Lemon Pepper. I use this to season my chicken.

Place chicken skin side up (I used thighs) on top of potatoes and veggies. Season with Garlic Salt and Lemon Pepper as desired. Put in oven and leave there to roast for about an hour or until skin begins to crisp and chicken is cooked through.

As the chicken cooks, its juices will cook the potatoes and veggies softening them up and adding flavor.

And what's left is a delicious meal that had minimal prep and is what I consider a dinner success.

Enjoy! If you try it and like it I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment letting me know how your dinner turned out.

Bible Journaling: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

In a world full of negative everything to have a reminder to look for the good in life is a great thing. It's so easy to be caught up in where everything is wrong or unfair or awful. When we do this we miss out on all the good that is around.

To find at least one good thing every single day has been a goal that I've had for myself for 2016. I started on January 1st and every single morning I have reflected on the day before and picked out at least one good thing that happened the day before. I too easily will focus on anything that makes me unhappy or my life difficult  but to take a moment to find at least one good thing has helped change my perspective this year. That, even in moments of difficulty or frustration, there is something good in each and everyday. And that one thing is something to be thankful for.

Doing this has also enabled me to view life in a more positive way. And for me that's the best part, to be able to see things in a better light and realize it's not all so bad.

Which brings me to this verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The verse states: "Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for that is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

There will always be difficult times. There will always be reasons to be upset and angry. But more so, there are always things to be thankful for, to rejoice over. How wonderful is it to be able to pray to God and be thankful for something everyday instead of lamenting about what is not right! 

And now I'm grateful for my list. It has nearly 11 months of good things that I can look back on to remind me that there is good in everyday. It's exactly what I need.

Bible Journaling: Deuteronomy 30:19

The choices we make in life do not just effect us. That seems to be something we don't always realize. Our choices stretch out beyond us and into our friends and family. It can even carry on as it expands out from person to person. So, how do we make good choices that can effect ourselves and others in positive ways? 

Looking at Deuteronomy 30, Moses has been talking for multiple chapters to the people of Israel. He is preparing for his death and knows that soon the people will be heading into the Promised Land. Living with these people for the 40 years he has seen how finicky people are. He is letting them know how important it is to be obedient to God. He wants them to see that their choices today can have an effect on generations to come. And throughout history there was a lot of emphasis on the next generation, on descendants and keeping bloodlines alive. 

Here in Deuteronomy 30:19, Moses is  keeping very simple. You can choose life or death for you and your family. It says. "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children will live." (emphasis mine)

Choosing life means choosing God. And when we make healthy choices we teach healthy choices to our children. It carries down. So if I choose God and am continually obedient to him, I'm showing that to my kids, my future generation, how to. And hopefully, they will see and make healthy choices for themselves. My hope is that they will choose God for themselves. And this love of God will carry down through my family, generation after generation.

So, I will choose life. I choose God. I choose life over death for me and my children. 

Deuteronomy 30:20 says "and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

God promises life when we choose Him.

Bible Journaling: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything. 

In Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 it says:

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

And there are perfect moments for each of these things, they can not be rushed or avoided. And the truth is people rarely have perfect timing. But there is a time for everything. And we just have to let it happen.