To Busy To Put God 1st

I love God! Point blank, period. However, when reflecting on my relationship with Him, I have to admit that He is not always my first priority or better yet, I allow other things/situations to take priority over Him. I don’t mean to, but I get distracted. I get busy. I forget about Him. I sometimes wait to call on Him until I’m at the end when He should have been called on first. So, I often find myself asking, “How can I allow Him to be the first priority in my life so that I turn to Him first. How can I have a personal, lifelong, obedient relationship with Him?

Thanks to my wonderful husband, who is always coming up with suggestions and techniques to help me stay in a place of obedience and strengthening my relationship with Jesus, has been partnering with me in the Master Life series (a bible study that helps you to become a better disciple). Today in my quiet time, God made one thing clear to me-again. He is the needful thing.

Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)
 38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Many of us, especially us women, are like Martha- concerned with details. We are distracted by house cleaning, cooking, rearing children, meeting our husbands needs, PTA, work, etc. But He is the only one thing worth being concerned about. Don’t miss understand. He knows you have to take care all those things. However, He needs to be 1st, and He will show you have to get all those things done and still have a little time for yourself. But it starts with giving Him His time first.
Once we get distracted we slowly push God out of our life. We then feel bad because we know we are not studying and spending time in His presence like we should. We then start to feel like we are not worthy or have what it takes to even live a life according to Him.
On my prayer call last night, we focused on Philippians 1:6, TLB. "And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns."
Do not worry, continue to press toward a personal, lifelong, obedient relationship with Him. When you fall short, pick up and start again. Remember, He who started a good work in you will continue to help you grow in Him.

His Ride & Live Chick (ATVing in Aruba)

So Jason and I might just add a whole new definition to the term adventurous. We love experiencing new things. When we saw the ATV tour that was offered we jumped on it and I was down for the ride.

I must really love and trust this man because here we are, at it again (ATVing that is) going up a rocky mountain. Thank you Jesus for always being with us and for my angles of protection.

Eating In Aruba At El Gaucho

 

I am a self-professed foodie. Eating and exploring new places to eat is one of me and Jason’s favorite things to do. So, of course we did a lot of it in Aruba. We met several people while in Aruba who all said that we had to go to El Gaucho. “It’s a little expensive, but you got to try it,” they said.

On our last night in Aruba we decided to dine at El Gaucho to see what the rave was about.

Man-o-man-o-my!!! They had the biggest, juiciest steaks ever. At first, I likened it to Morton’s, but the more I think about it. It has Morton’s beat. Just look at this steak. It would make a cowboy proud or cowgirl.

I am almost ashamed to say that I eat like a hungry, working man. In the voice of my little cousin who is in pre-school. “I made a happy plate.”

Miss Aubrey Is Eating Good

This is a typical meal for Miss Aubrey. It makes me feel so good to see that my baby eats healthy nutritious meals.

This totally organic meal consist of apples, blueberries, broccoli, brown rice and ground beef.    

Snack Time

Organic apples, carrots, and crackers (not organic, but they are wheat).

Walk It Out Aubrey

Aubrey is on the move now. Somebody help me. LOL!! Just kidding, it is a wonderful joy to have the opportunity to see her grow and explore the world around her. I am so blessed that the Lord entrusted me with the apple of His eye to guide on this earth.

Living Without the Mask

Just a few years ago, you could not have gotten me to post a pic of myself in this state. Not that I am a big make-up wearer, but this pic reveals a true natural state for myself, both spiritually and naturally. This is me not hiding behind make-up, clothes, hair do and any other thing we, especially us women, hide behind.

In my upcoming book, “In Search of True Beauty,” I talk about finding beauty from the inside out. Read an excerpt below:
 “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD…” (Psalm 27:4 AMP). When we come in contact with Him, we come in contact with real beauty.  2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror, the glory or beauty of the Lord, are being transformed into THE SAME IMAGE…, just as from the Lord” (AMP). And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
Notice the two scriptures referenced above, “unveiled face” or “Nothing between us and God.” Before we can put on the “veils” of God’s true beauty, we must take all other “veils” off.  In other words, before we can put on His beauty, we Have to come clean, “Will the real you please stand up?”  Take off the mask.  We must remove all of our false sense of security (the make-up/clothes), all of our defenses, all the things we have put our confidence in (people/possessions), all the reasons we feel insecure- take down the walls.  This is when we can see Him in all of His beauty, and that’s when we shall be changed!

Are you living without the mask?

“In Search of True Beauty” will be out this fall.

Natural Deodorant, The Secret is OUT

I am crazy over organic and natural products. We have to treat the outside of our bodies the same way we treat the inside. Today, I thought I would share with you my favorite natural deodorant. It took awhile, but I finally found Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant. It has been my “secret,” without the bad stuff, for the last three years or so. 

Before I started using Arm & Hammer, I tried Tom’s of Maine and Body Satin by Melaleuca. Although, many people will swear by Tom’s of Maine (I do love some of their products) and Melaleuca, I found that they told my “secret” way too often. To be honesty, during my transition from other deodorants to a natural one I did have to carry the deodorant around with me for while until my body adjusted. It’s not perfect, but I feel confident that I am protected and I have peace of mind it’s the better stuff.

Affording it

I general buy A&H Essentials at Publix when they are on the buy 1 get 1 free. I actually have not seen a coupon for it yet. But the b1g1 is a great deal.

Why you should make the change

Most deodorants and antiperspirants have:

Parabens- has been found to play a major role in inducing cancer and disrupting the endocrine system.

Aluminum- has been found to lead to cancer or neurological problems (Alzheimer’s disease).