Pinterest - Round Three

Source: ourbestbites.com via Angela on Pinterest

Here is what I tried this week. In Cooking I tried zucchini fries. They were good however not something I would like to eat often. This is what mine looked like

Source: budgetgourmetmom.com via Angela on Pinterest

This smoothie was next. Smoothies are always easy. I love them because I would rather drink my meals than eat them.This one is seriously good! I was not sure since it was milk (I use Rice milk with vanilla), peanut butter, strawberries, and banana. But YUM! Give it a try.

Source: creativitybycrystal.blogspot.com via Angela on Pinterest

This is a great idea to help me with organization this year. My tabs read differently. However, I am hoping it will help me stay more organized in the things that are more important. I am using it some too as a prayer journal of sorts. It is a great idea. We will see how it goes as the year goes on.

Six Months of Generous Giving - $25 Amazon.com Giftcard for you and also a Friend

We are so honored if Refresh My Soul Ministries has blessed you in any way. It is just a little place for one girl to express herself freely. I write thought better than I can ever express it in speech. We are blessed if it has helped anyone grow closer to Christ at all.

With that said, we feel lead to do a six month period of giving to you all. Each month starting this month til June we will be hosting some sort of give away. It will be during random times during the month and different things.

This month we want to do a dual giveaway. You can win an Amazon.com gift card in the amount of $25 dollars for yourself and one also for a friend. To enter I would like you to leave a comment telling us what you would do with your gift card and who you would chose to give the other to and why. Maybe it is a friend in need, maybe a friend who has blessed you. Entries can come in until Next Saturday the 14th at midnight. Sunday afternoon the 15th I will announce the winner.

Here is the deal, I will read your comments to my children about the friend you chose to give the other gift card too. Whichever one they pick will be the winner. (Most other contests I will just do random drawings.)

So share the contest, spread the word. Let's be generous toward one another!

James Week Nine - Walk It Out

Well this has been a fun adventure as we explored James together. I just love digging deep in God's word. Thanks for joining in. Please join us for the next study on 1/9 over Psalm 119. A new year and a new study to help us renew our minds by saturating our hearts with His word.

James has been so packed with great stuff. Over and over it has challenged me to trust God in all things.

Verses 1-6 go on to state that all truth will eventually come out. It is condemning those who live as if this earth is all there is. When we live that way we are very selfish and overindulgent. However, as believers we have a hope that our treasure is in Heaven, an inheritance waiting for us. This earth and everything here is only temporary. It is not even ours. The earth and everything in it is God's. We must not forget this. We must live with open hands, not grasping anything too tightly. We must also live with open hearts, intentionally loving others well. We should not take advantage of those who are weak, poor, or challenged.

Verses 7-12 encourages us to be patient for the coming of the Lord is near. We must take hope in that while life here is hard. But this is only temporary, what is to come is going to be amazing. We must learn to be patient as we wait on HIM.

The verses encourage us to look at the prophets and how they were steadfast. They patiently endured. They suffered all kinds of troubles but their hope was in the Lord where ours should be also. While we wait we should not judge others or grumble. God is coming our hearts must stay fixed and focused on this.

Then we are encouraged to look to Job and God's purposes there. Job was able to say He knows His redeemer lives before the cross, how much more should we be able to see it on this side of the cross? We are reminded that God is compassionate and merciful.

Then we are told to simply state what we mean. Our yes should be yes and no should be no. We do not need to swear by anything else.

Verses 13-20 conclude this way.
These are practical answers to questions for living out life. I love how James is so practical. I also love that these things are to be done within community. We need to depend on one another. God made us for community. I also love the emphasis there is on prayer. We must take note that prayer is very powerful.

Then it ends with the advice that if we restore a wanderer from the faith it will save his soul and cover a multitude of sins. We must keep our eyes open for those wanderers.

1-What has been the most challenging thing you discovered through this study of James?
2-Are you involved in community currently? Do you practice life with community? Why or why not?
3-Do you consider the power of prayer in every situation?
4-What encouragement can you take from keeping our eyes fixed on our lasting inheritance in Heaven?

Pinterest - Round Two

Source: aspottedpony.com via Angela on Pinterest

Again, here is the sock curl. Last time I posted a pic of what it did to my hair. Not super impressed however I tried it again with damper hair. It worked real well this time. I also put my pony tale higher up on my head. Here is a pic of what it looked like in the morning.

This week I also tried this great beef broccoli crock pot meal. I have to be honest too. I am not a great cook or do I really enjoy cooking. I am testing these things to see how they turn out for someone like me. So far it has not been terrible.

Source: laaloosh.com via Angela on Pinterest

It was really good. It got six thumbs up out of eight. However, those missing two thumbs rarely go up. This is mine.

Source: myrecipes.com via Angela on Pinterest

I also made this desert which was so incredible. Unfortunately it has lots of butter and brown sugar. Not something I need to eat much of. However they are really good! Since I am not much of a cook I believe if I can do these recipes most anyone sure can too! Here is a picture of mine.

Fear of Transitions - Learning to be Content in All Things

It is really strange to type this now but I am feeling a bit afraid because I seem to be phasing out of my health battle. I fought it so fiercely when it appeared again but now that I have learned to embrace it and trust God through it coming of out if is now frightening.

Why? First I think partly it is because I have now become comfortable with what is going on. I have surrendered it to the Lord. I am okay at the place He has had me in. It is a place that I am so often forced to return too with no prior warning.

Yet at this moment it is seeming to lift again. I feel like I can breathe and feel some light at the end of this thing. Maybe it is in my head but the last few days I have felt much stronger than I have in a long time. This is so good and what I longed for and prayed for but now that it is becoming reality I am unsure.

Second, it hurts to get your hopes up to only fall back in soon. Yet I am learning to take each day as a gift the strong days and weak days. Both are a gift. God is so good either way. He is always sustaining us.

Third, I fear moving out of this constant struggle will give me freedom to wander. I pray He binds my heart to Himself so I will stay close. Prosperity is a big test and harder than being in great need. I see my desperation and know my great need. I never want to forget that.

Fourth, this time in this weakness has really birthed a passion in me for those who are in my situation. I want to help others understand how to best minister to us and in my strength minister to them.

Fifth, this phase if I am truly coming out of it takes more discipline because it means I now need to condition my body little by little again in better health by working out.

No matter, what I do know that like Paul, God is teaching me to be content in all circumstances. This Lyme may remain in my body and pull me back down or flare up again but for now I am receiving some healing again and I cannot worry about what tomorrow will bring. I know that now things are looking up.

Paul went through so many crazy life events but he knew God was training Him in contentment in them. So I must trust the same. I have not been through all Paul has been through but there are other thorns as well that will work to keep me humble. Thorns that may or may not be removed though I plead continually for them to be. I must walk, trust, and be content. Our Father only allows what is for our good and His glory in the end. I trust that.

Now, I will continue on this health course I am on. I think these naturals antibiotics and supplements and better eating has contributed greatly to what is happening. All things God uses. I like this biotic silver a lot. I have a week left on it. So we will see what happens. No matter what my hope is in Him not health. For I know my "normal" in this area will be variable and not like anyone else.


^"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."~Philippians 4:11-12

Book Review: Healing is a Choice by Steve Arterburn

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

First, I must say I am a little biased toward Steve Arterburn, Every Man's Battle and Every Woman's Battle were amazing books. Also he founded the Women of Faith conferences which I think is also an amazing resource for women. Women s ministry is near and dear to my heart. I breathe it and pray it. I desire women to grow in the word wherever they are in their walk so whoever is able to pull that off deserves my respect. So going in I was a little unbiased.

Also, I was a little skeptical of this book because of the title. So those two thoughts going in are conflicting. I have heard so many times the false statement that I can "will" myself physically well which is a lie. God is in control.  However I really did enjoy this book. It was full of the wisdom I expected it to have. Healing was really about emotional healing in this book.

He lays out 10 different lies that we tell ourselves to prevent our emotional healing. Then provides truth that will set us free. He also shares many great stories from his own life and the lives of others. This book also comes with a workbook attached to it. It was really informative and if someone is ready to really heal and work through their issues this book would prove to be a very helpful part of that process.

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon here.

Psalm 119 Study - How it will work

I am so excited to have you join us on this study of God's word! It will be a fruitful study that will grow us greatly in HIM. It will renew our minds and give us a greater passion for His word. I am praying you will be greatly blessed by His word and a fire will burn in your bones for it.

I will post the study on Monday's starting January 9th. You have the week to read the section and comment. Please leave comments because we learn so much more from one another. I would love for us to do this to enhance our study together.

Each week we will just look at a section at a time. I encourage you to get a special notebook and make note of Scriptures you can pray for yourself, others, and us as we study. This notebook will be nice as well to keep record of how God answers these prayers. As we write out some Scriptures it will benefit you to memorize those that just stand out to you personally.

If you are looking to be free this year and passionate about His word then join us! It will be a great adventure and it will only take as much time as you want to invest in it.