It's Worth The Wait

I'm a type of person that learns a lesson not only through my own personal life experiences but I also learn by watching others. I believe that there is a reason why God sets boundaries. He doesn't set them to keep you or I from having fun but to rather protect us. Everything has some sort of boundary around it, so we shouldn't step over that boundary. When we do step over, we are putting ourselves into danger and heartache. One thing that God has given us boundaries on is sex. God created sex to be good. He created sex for a husband and wife in marriage. Not before marriage, not with a "lover", multiple people, or etc. Only for a married man and woman. The reason why I am writing this blog is because I have seen the hurt in many people who have stepped out of those boundaries, whether it was up to them or not. I don't judge them, I pray for them. I don't think I am a better person because I am waiting until I am married before I have sex, because I have my own struggles and I haven't been tempted by sexual temptations. Sex was created to be good, it was created to bring a bond between a husband and a wife. It wasn't created for evil purposes. But what do you mean? How is sex evil?

• People are being sold and abused to satisfy someone's "needs".
• It's creating these bonds that should never have been created.
• I believe that all children (no matter how they were conceived) are blessings, but what is evil is when that child is aborted because the parents weren't ready or when a parent chooses not to be apart of that child's life.
• What is evil is when girls and even some guys, believe that the only way they can receive love is to give themselves away.
• It's evil when young children are being raped and molested for someone else's pleasure.
• Sex is evil when it used to manipulate someone  to believing that there only worth and value comes from performing for others.

My heart is sad for those who have fallen in this trap. I am not judging, because it is not my job and I have made my own mistakes. However, I want you to know that I do love and care for you way to much to see you hurting. Despite what you or I have done, God loves us with an everlasting love. He wants the best for you and I. He doesn't want you to stay stuck where you are, He'll help you. The crazy wonderful awesome thing about God is that He is the God of new beginnings of every day, every hour, every minute and every second, because of Jesus, we are a new creation! We are overcomers, we don't have to let our past define who we are. 

Eat That: Homemade Dinner Rolls

What can I say, these dinner rolls are so delicious and easy to make! I adapted this recipe from http://www.laurainthekitchen.com/recipes/dinner-rolls/ ,but I did make a few changes.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups of all purpose flour 
• 1 envelope of active dry yeast 
• 1/3 cup of granulated sugar 
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/3 cup of butter, soften at room temperature. 
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 tablespoons of melted butter to brush on top of baked rolls.

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large microwavable bowl, melt the 1/3 cup of butter in the microwave for about 15 seconds.
2. Add the milk to the butter, microwave for 30 seconds. Stir the butter and milk together and then microwave for another 30 seconds.
3. Sprinkle the yeast into the milk and butter mixture and let it proof for about 10 minutes.
4. Add the egg yolks, sugar, salt and one cup of the flour into the milk and butter mixture and stir with a wooden spoon.
5. Add 2nd cup of flour and stir.
6. Add your third cup of flour and stir.
7. With the remaining 4th cup of  flour, flour your work surface and dump the dough and start kneading. Knead the dough until it is nice and smooth..
8. Take another large bowl and grease it with olive oil, vegetable oil or cooking spray. Form the dough into a ball and place it in the oiled bowl, grease the top and sides of the dough with a little oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and place it somewhere warm to rise for an hour or until doubled in size.
9. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch the dough down and cut and shape into 12 rolls, put the rolls onto a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish or large cookie sheet.
10. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for another hour.
11. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 375*F.
12. Bake the rolls for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown and brush the rolls with the 3 tablespoons of melted butter and serve immediately!

 NOTE:

•  If you go to the website where I got this recipe from, you will see that she makes the dough in a mixer. I tried this but I found that the dough got to dry and that I wasted flour.
• Also, I think that this is best eaten right before you want to serve them as I find that they do get dense while they cool. 

My 2014 Prayer

"You crown the year with goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance." - Psalm 65:11

Happy New Year! What happened to 2013? It seemed to have just flown by! I hope that 2014 is the best year that has ever happened to you!


My dear family and friends,
I pray that 2014 is a year filled with God's blessings and favor. I hope that all of you succeed in your goals and resolutions, and that all your dreams come true. Don't bring any regrets into the year. Be strong, self-confident and most of all know that you are loved. Be a better person this new year, then you were last year. I pray that any broken relationship will be mended and restored. I pray that this year brings smile, joy and laughter to your life. Most of all, I pray that you know how much God loves you, and that you can see and understand God's goodness and grace.

My dear future husband,         
We are one year closer to meeting and spending the rest of our lives together! My prayer for you this year is that you know how much you are loved by our Father. I pray that you are blessed and given His favor this new year. I pray you have the strength to wait and hold on and to keep your loving eyes only on me. I pray you have the courage to be brave and to have faith when trials arise. I pray that when people say things against that you have the ability to show them grace and forgiveness. I pray that you will have the honesty and integrity to stand up for the truth. I pray that you have the boldness to share your faith, so that just one more life will be changed by God's love and amazing grace. I pray that you have the compassion to help those who are hurting. I pray that you are happy and joyful so that when anyone sees you that they too become happy and joyful. I pray that you are hard working, preparing yourself to be married and raise children. I pray that throughout this year that you can enjoy life. I pray that you can make forever memories with your family and friends  Most of all my prayer is that you know how much I will love you and that I'm praying for you. While I'm praying these things for you, I am also praying these things for myself. 

Because Of Jesus

Because of Jesus:

• We Are Healed             
• Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24
• We Have a Hope and a Future
• Jeremiah 29:11
• We Are Cleansed
• Ezekiel 36:25
• We Are Friends of Christ       
• John 15:1
• We Are Witnesses of God's Power          
•  Acts 1:8
• We Are Apostles                                                             
• Romans 1:5
• We Are Saints                                                               
•   Romans 1:7
• We Are Not Condemned by God                                  
•  Romans 8:1
• We Are Joint-Heirs with Christ                                    
•  Romans 8:17
• We Are Conquerors                                                        
• Romans 8:37
• We Are the Temple of the Holy Spirit                      
• 1 Corinthians 6:19
• We Are the Glory of God                                           
•  1 Corinthians 11:7
• We Are Standing by Faith                                             
• 2 Corinthians 1:24
• We Are Triumphant in Christ                                       
• 2 Corinthians 2:14
• We Are the Fragrance of Christ                                   
• 2 Corinthians 2:15
• We Are the Epistles of Christ                                     
• 2 Corinthians 3:3
• We Are Sufficient                                                         
• 2 Corinthians 3:5
• We Are Ministers of the New Covenant                    
• 2 Corinthians 3:6
• We Are Free                                                                 
• 2 Corinthians 3:17
• We Are A New Creation                                              
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• We Are the Righteousness of God                             
• 2 Corinthians 5:21
• We Are A Heir of Abraham's Promise                     
•  Galatians 3:29
• We Are God's Children                                                
• Galatians 4:7
• We Are Blessed with Every Spiritual Blessing           
•  Ephesians 1:3
• We Are Accepted                                                           
• Ephesians 1:6
• We Are Redeemed                                                         
• Ephesians 1:7
• We Are Appointed                                                        
• Ephesians 1:22
• We Are Alive                                                                
• Ephesians 2:5
• We Are Sitting with Christ in The Heavenly Realms  
• Ephesians 2:6
• We Are God's Handiwork                                             
• Ephesians 2:10
• We Are Members of God's Household                         
• Ephesians 2:19
• We Have Citizenship in Heaven
• Philippians 3:20
• We Have The Peace of God
• Philippians 4:7
• We Have Our Needs Met
• Philippians 4:19
• We Are Delivered                                                         
• Colossians 1:13
• We Are Forgiven                                                          
• Colossians 1:14
• We Are Complete                                                          
• Colossians 2:10
• We Are Hidden with Christ                                           
• Colossians 3:3
• We Are the Image of God                                            
• Colossians 3:10 
• We Are the Children of Light and Day                        
• 1 Thessalonians 5:5
• We Are Chosen                                                             
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13
• We Are Called with a Holy Calling                              
• 2 Timothy 1:9
• We Are Good Soldiers of Jesus Christ                         
•  2 Timothy 2:3
• We Are Justified                                                            
• Titus 3:7
• We Are Sanctified                                                         
• Hebrews 2:11
• We Are Chosen People, Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation and God's Special Possession                                                 
• 1 Peter 2:9
• We Are Without Need                                                  
•  2 Peter 1:3
• We Are Partakers in the Divine Nature                        
• 2 Peter 1:4
• We Are Anointed                                                          
• 1 John 2:20
• We Are Promised to Have Eternal Life                        
• 1 John 2:25
• We Are Born of God                                                     
• 1 John 2:29
• We Are Like Jesus                                                        
• 1 John 4:17
• We Are Kings and Priests                                             
• Revelations 1:6                  

America the Beautiful!

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as his heritage!" - Psalm 33:12

Happy Birthday America! I love this beautiful country. So blessed to live in a country where I am able to have a voice!  So thankful for every soldier who has fought or is fighting for our country so that we be free. Thankful for our forefathers who had the courage to come to this sweet land! Thankful for Jesus, who gave us the ultimate freedom! God bless America, my home sweet home. The land of the free and the home of the brave! 

Like Joseph

Joseph was hated by his brothers. He was sold, betrayed and was accused of something that he did not do. He was also forgotten. Like Joseph, we too in life will face difficulties that will overwhelm us. Do I think that God makes us go through struggles or hurtful situations? No! The thief came to KILL, STEAL and DESTROY! (John 10:10) But look at what God did for Joseph, he took that situation that must have broken Joseph's heart, and made him second in command throughout all of Egypt! Because of those trials, Joseph was able to save his family from the famine. Jesus came to give us life! (John 10:10)

Different translations of John 10:10 say:

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (NIV)

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (NKJV)

"A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." (The Message)

"The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (NLT)

 ^"A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need." (GW)

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).(AMP)

"A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good." (ERV)

"The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest."

"The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life." (NLV)

"The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance." (The Voice)

"The thief comes only to steal the sheep and to kill them and spoil them. I have come so that people may live and that they may enjoy life to the full." (WE)

Whatever the devil meant for harm, remember that God will make it for your good!

What are you running too?

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." - Proverbs 18:10

At times in our life, we can feel lost, confused, desperate and alone.  We run and try to find things that give us comfort, but later on it just leaves us with pain and heartache. Some run to drugs, some run to alcohol, some run to food, some run to guys, some run to girls, some run to money and some just run away. Yes, those things may fill  a void temporarily and give us a little sense of "peace and comfort" ,but in the end it will make you feel hopeless and empty. However, thankfully there is someone whose arms are  always wide open and His name is Jesus. He is there waiting for you, He is ready to deliever you from all of that pain and self-shame. Run to Him and you will be safe.

What are you running too?