A Snapshot from Life

01/26/2011 - Bought my new fish, Cam Newton.

What a Year for Sports!

This past year was a great year for sports. Maybe not for some people... but it was for me.

Most of you know I was a Gator fan, but I was more rooting for Tebow. Last April, a friend and I made an agreement, I'd be an Auburn fan if he would be a Colts fan. And so began my fanhood of an Auburn fan.

Now when it comes to NBA, I have two teams. Some people don't understand this... so let me explain. Back in 2001, my neighbor Anthony, was the first to get me into NBA. He was a Lakers fan, so that's how I became a fan. In 2002, since I am from Florida, I became a Miami Heat fan. And since then, I have had two teams. Now some years, I'll root for one more than the other. Like last year, Lakers made it to the Playoffs. Or this year, I'm rooting for Heat more than the Lakers, since Lakers have now won two years in a row, I want Heat to go all the way. But then again, a threepeat would be sweet!

But like I said, Lakers won the Championship. After a 7 game series, they beat the Boston Celtics!

When basketball was over, James said he wanted to leave the Cavs. I was hoping and crossing fingers he would go to Heat. For many years, it's been a dream for him and Wade to be on the same team. And one night, when I was checking ESPN (most of the time a daily routine), there on the front page, "Lebron joins the Heat". I screamed! No lie, this was one of the best days of my life. Lebron and Dwayne! What a team!

In October, for my 20th birthday, we went to Jacksonville for the Colts and Jags game. That was amazing! After being a fan since 2006, I finally saw my team! I must say, I did start crying when they came running out. But I never thought I would see my team running out like that in my life. What an experince! The whole game was a close one, and at the last 30 seconds, my Colts lost.

October 23rd, I went with my boyfriend to the Auburn vs. LSU game. This was my first college experince, and I must say I like going to a college game more than a Pro. There seems to be more to it. You have the band, traditions (such as the eagle flying around the field), and the fans seem to be more into it. In the end Auburn pulled the win off! War Eagle!

Start of January came, and this meant Playoff and Bowls. On January 8th, Colts played the New York Jets. They ended up losing, but after the year they had, I was just happy they made it to the Playoffs.

January 10th came, this meant the BCS Championship game. Auburn Tigers vs. Oregon Ducks. Auburn won! War Eagle!

Since football is over, basketball begins. As of right now, both Heat and Lakers are second in their conference. Doing pretty good so far.

This year I'm hoping for another good sport year! Go Colts, War Eagle, Go Lakers and Go Heat!

Identified in Christ

The other day, my dad was encouraging me in ways I could mature in. I wasn't in the greatest of moods, so I kinda wanted to cut it short. But, I haven't really been able to stop thinking about what he said.

When hard seasons come my way, most of the time I don't deal with it to well. In 2008, I was going through a tough season with basketball stuff, I got sick and had to go to the doctor a few times because of it. I also fell away from God. Then when we moved here in 2009... what happened? I got sick. I really had a hard time with trusting God, and was very rebellious.
Early 2010 God really did a great work in my life, but I did go thru another storm, I didn't get sick, but I struggled with God for a few days, but then realized he had a great plan.
Then back in November, when my boyfriend broke up with me, I got sick and didn't trust God. It felt like my life was over, and God had ruined my life.  I hate to say it, but this is really how I felt. This was the hardest season I ever went through.

My dad asked me why this keeps happening. I said because I haven't been putting my trust in God, but he also said because I'm looking to be identified by other things. I'm must say I did find joy in being known as "the basketball girl" or "Mark's girlfriend", but you know, that's not how it needs to be. I need to be identified in Christ alone.

I love the song "In Christ Alone". The first verse says "In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace. When fears are stilled, when striving cease. My comforter, my All in All. Here in the love of Christ I stand."
He is the only solid ground! My All in All. He is the only one I need to be identified in.

Paul says in Philippians, "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."
Philippians 3:7-11

Please pray that God will give me guidance through this. I want to be "found in him" and count everything as loss like Paul. He was truly a man after God's own heart. Isn't he a great example on how to serve our amazing God?

Gouda Chicken Salad

This is something I made up myself, so it's my first made up recipe.

Gouda Chicken Salad is made up of;

- One bag of Spinach
- Gouda cheese (but I think next time I'm gonna do smoked gouda)
- Glazed pecans
- Craisins
- 1 12.5 oz can Chicken
- Honey Mustard dressing

It was so good, and my dad (who's not big on just a salad for dinner) really like it.

(Sorry, no picture.)

A Snapshot from Life

01/18/2011 Event of the week; I finally found decaf!

Brown Stew Chicken

For Christmas, my wonderful sister got me the "NBC Sunday Night Football Cookbook". Recipes all done by NFL players, NFL chefs, NFL commentators, Faith Hill, and John Madden. Most of you know I am a sportsaholic, and love football. So I screamed when I opened it.

The first one I did, of course had to be a Colts recipe. And who better than one of my favorite players and defensive end, #93 on the Indianapolis Colts (a.k.a my team), Dwight Freeney (who I saw on October 3, 2010 when we went to see the Colts play the Jacksonville Jags).

Brown Stew Chicken he said is a Jamaican recipe. 

It calls for;

- 2 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken pieces (we used chicken tenders)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black peper
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp all-purpose adobo seasoning
- 1 tsp plus 2 Tbs brown gravy mix
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves. chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper. diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 scallion, chopped
- Vegetable oil for frying

*We could not find adobo seasoning so we Googled a substitute. Here it is;
- 4 Tbs salt
- 3 Tbs onion power
- 3 Tbs garlic power
- 3 Tbs ground black pepper
- 2 Tbs ground oregano
*Also, red peppers were nowhere to be found. So we just used the other half of the green, and it tasted just fine.

In a large bowl, sprinkle chicken with the salt, pepper, thyme, adobo, and 1 tsp of gravy mix. Then add onion, garlic, peppers, tomato, and scallion and toss. This needs to be covered in the fridge for an hour or two.
Once marinated, remove chicken from the bowl and brush all vegetables off, and put them to the side. In a deep pan, head 2 to 3 inches of oil and fry the chicken to golden brown. When done, remove the chicken and place in a skillet and pour veggies on top, along with 1 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil. When heated, turn it down to a lower heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and tender. Once again, remove chicken into a serving bowl. In a small bowl, mix together 2 Tbs of gravy mix and 1 cup of water. Constantly stire, but gradually add in the gravy to the vegetables. Simmer for another 5 minutes, until thickened. Pour over chicken.

We served it on top of rice with cornbread. But Freeney said he does it over rice and beans. Either way, is up to you.

Bon appetit!

(Yes, I had to drink out of my Colts tumbler)

A Snapshot from Life

01/12/2011 My new found love...

Preaching the Gospel to Yourself

Have you ever heard this phrase before? Growing up in a Sovereign Grace chruch, you hear it quite often. But what does it really mean? "Preaching the Gospel to yourself"? Well, think about it. Just because we are Christians, does that mean we don't need the Gospel?
I'll answer for you... yes, you do. We need to be reminded of what Christ did for us everyday! And if you are like me, with all the things going on in the day, you tend to forget.
C.J. Mahaney says in "Cross Centered Life" that we need to preach it to ourselves daily.
On the cd inspired by the little orange book, "Songs for the Cross Centered Life" by Sovereign Grace Music, the cd opens up with the song "the Gospel Song". Even tho it's just over 1 minute long, it tells the Gospel:
♫Holy God, in love, became
Perfect man to bear my blame
On the cross he took my sin
By his death I live again♫
I love that, "By his death I live again"! Isn't that an amazing thought?

Also in the book, C.J. Mahaney gives a few verses that you can memorize and use it to preach the Gospel daily. One that really stands out is Romans 5:6-11 (All scripture I have is from the ESV.)
"6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ
died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person -- though perhaps for a good person one would dare even die -- 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."
Here are some others he gives;
- Isaiah 53:3-6
- Romans 3:23-26
- Romans 8:32-39
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Galatians 2:21
I'd encourage you to at least take one of these, and memorize it. I took the Romans 5:6-11, wrote it on index cards and have it on my wall. Keeps me reminded. I'm doing better than I don't deserve!

2010: A Year In Review

2010... what a year! It sure had it's up and downs. But God did a lot of work in my life.

- Since summer 2008 I was more on the rebellious side. But early 2010, God really turned me around. He opened my eyes and I was able to see that he was in control of things.
- In March, we joined a group of people that were involved in a church plant. God has put church plants on my heart, and I'm not sure if this means that I need to pray for them and support them, or if in the future I will be apart of one. But it was so exciting to be apart of it.
- April 4th, was 1 year since moving to Florida.
- April 27, was the day I said goodbye to braces.
- May came around, my aunt Andrea gave birth to her and Hugo's 3rd, Sabrina. She has truly been a blessing for out family!
- As well in May, a friend converted me to Auburn. So I am now an Auburn Tigers fan!
- Mid July, Kelsey, Josh and I were able to make a trip up to VA since we moved here April '09. It was so good being with friends and family who we missed so much!
- Also in July, I entered a relationship with one of my dear friends at the time. It was an exciting time!
- First week in October, for my 20th birthday, we went to the Colts vs. Jags game. I SAW MY TEAM! It was amazing being there... seeing my Colts! I saw Manning! They did lose at the last few seconds. But we are now making it a tradition to go to that gave every year. GO COLTS!
- October 15, I turned the big 2-0!
- October 23, I went to the Auburn vs. LSU. That was amazing! Auburn WON! War Eagle! (So I saw the National Champs! =) )
- Also in October, God had other plans and brought us to a Sovereign Grace church in Crestview. And we have really enjoyed going, even tho we travel an hour and 15 minutes 2 times a week.
- Start of November, God clearly had other plans for my relationship. It hasn't been easy, but I can see God at work.
- Mid November, I needed to get away for a while, and made my first plane trip alone. I almost missed my plane from Atlanta to Richmond, but other than it wasn't to bad.
- In December, we made the long road trip to VA for Christmas. It was so great being there. And I had my first white Christmas!

2011 has started, and I know that it's gonna be another up and down year, because that's just how life is what you get older. But I also know God is in control! He's got a plan for my life... and I'm excited to see what he is going to unfold.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." ~Jeremiah 29:11

Philippians 4:4-7

This week, I read the book of Philippians. And what a great book it is! God really used Paul in an amazing way!
I really like what Paul said in chapter 4.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Love

This is something that has been on my heart for a while. The past few months, God has been showing me what it means to love someone. This is not just the kinda love you have for a boyfriend or husband. I'm talking about everyone... dads, moms, sisters, brothers, friends, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, along with boyfriends and husbands.

Love isn't just about being around a person, and enjoying their company, or you like who they are as a person, and they don't annoy you... and don't do anything "wrong" and are just perfect! Just a little news flash.... only one is perfect! So if you think someone is perfect, they really aren't. You are probably seeing them for who you want to see them as. God is the only one who is perfect. Love is loving someone for who they really are. Even tho they do things you don't like, or something that annoys you, you still love them. Just think of what Christ did. He came down, to be with us who hated him. He even died for us... took our place on the cross! Now don't get me wrong. I am one of the worse when it comes to loving others. If someone does something against me, or something I think is "against" me, let's just say you don't wanna be on my bad side. And I'm talking little things too. For example, if I ask my brother to fix me a drink, and he says no... well let's just say I don't show him the love he deserves. But do we deserve love after all?

No we don't, but God showed us grace by sending his only son to die in our place... loving us the way we don't deserve.

I like what it says in Matthew 5:43-48;
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rian on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

As believers we must be as Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may descern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." People in the world love one another, right? But we must love even when wrong is being done to us, pray for those who do so! If you get annoyed with some little thing someone is doing, so what! Love them anyways... extend grace to them!

1 Corinthians 13 says;"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoings, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child. I thought like a child, I reasonded like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

This is something I really need to work on. Loving others. If you think about me, please pray that God will give me the grace I need to work on this.

In closing I'd like to leave one more verse. 1 John 4:16."So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
God is love. And what an amazing God he is?!

Hearing and Doing the Word

When we were in VA, I saw a picture GG had with James 1:22 written. My dad has thought us not to just read a verse, but read the verses around it to get the full meaning. So that's what I did.

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger: for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and a keep oneself unstained from the world."
-James 1:19-27 (ESV)
(I looked these scriptures in my dad's ESV study Bible, and orphans and widows is referring to the oppressed.)

Since I have been going thru this storm, I haven't been a doer... I haven't been extending grace to others... or loving them like I should. But this really convicted me. In the ESV study Bible, it says, "1:23-24 Looking intently at his natural face in a mirror and then forgetting what he was like demonstrates the folly of examining oneself in God's "mirror" of the "implanted word" (v.21) and then doing nothing about it (v.22). When one sees imperfections (as when looking in a mirror), common sense says something should be done about it." I want to look in God's "mirror" and do something about it, but only he can give me the grace to do it. This is definitely an EGG.

His Sovereign Will

As some of you know, I've been going thru a hard time the last few months. And I haven't been trusting God like I should. To tell the truth, I've been falling away from him. I feel beat up... mentally and physically, and even at times I feel numb, because of all that has happened really in the last year. I don't get stressed out very easily, but lately, I get stressed out about everything. Same thing that happened to me 2 years ago, when I was getting sick and they thought my appendix erupted, but then the doctors finally said it is probably stress. Well, that has been happening at night again. I haven't felt like myself at all lately.
When we were in VA, I was able to meet a friend for coffee Wednesday night and she was so encouraging! It was one of the best parts of the trip. She is such a dear friend! God really used her to get to my broken heart.
For the next few days I was able to see God at work again. I was able to pray again, and I felt like he was listing for the first time in a long time. And on Sunday, my family went to Kingsway, and how great it was to be with our church family again! It was so encouraging! And worship was amazing! God once again used the song God Moves. And when the first line was sung, I just broke down in tears. "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform." Wow! "He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Deep in His dark and hidden mines, with never-failing skill, He fashions all His bright designs, and works His sovereign will." Never-failing. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it. And he fashions all his bright designs and works his sovereign will. Isn't he amazing? For the first time, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It seems like the storm is passing. I'm not sure how long it's gonna take, but it's starting to.I love the part in the 3rd verse, "The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower." Things are gonna be hard, he allows them to be, but in the end he has a perfect plan for it all.
A new year has began, and I don't know what I'm gonna do, where I'm gonna live, who I'm gonna marry, or what 2011 alone holds. But I do know one thing... he knows. And he is going to work his sovereign will!
I use to think, God has plan A and plan B. And if plan A didn't work, he always had plan B. That is all just a bunch of mumbo jumbo. He has 1 plan, a "bright design", his sovereign will! And he has known about it since the beginning of time. In verse 2 of the song, it says, "O fearful saints new courage take, the clouds that you now dread, are big with mercy and will break, in blassings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace. Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face." A smilling face. See, he knows what's coming, and I can't wait to get there! But then again... he has his perfect timing. Let his will be done!

Happy 2011!

Happy 2011! My family had a wonderful Christmas! We made the long trip to VA on Christmas Eve, and we all vote it was one of our top Christmases. Yes, we got a lot of great stuff, like a Wii. And I got an espresso maker (finally!), NFL Cookbook, Madden 11 for the Wii, Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble cds, a Starbucks cup and coffee to go with my espresso maker, $25 of Starbucks gift cards, Yankee Candles, and so much more. But it was the time spent with family. With my grandfather falling off his deer stand and being in the hospital a few days, God really showed me I need to be greatful for the things I have at this moment. He has been showing me that a lot lately. You don't relize what you have till it's gone. So the best part of my Christmas was spending time with my grandparents, aunt and cousins! I love you all!!!