Blog – Page 2 – His Mercy is New

Your Wounds Become A Gift…

“Your wounds become the gift that you share with the world.” – Edie Wadsworth

I’ve worn so many hats over the years. Wife. Mama. Homeschool mom. Music major. Kindergarten teacher. Music teacher. Piano teacher. Friend. Blogger. Daughter of the King.

But one word I would never have used to describe myself before would be dreamer. I always wanted to be a mom and a teacher growing up. Those “dreams” were fulfilled in so many ways, you might say. But in all my wildest dreams I never imagined the valleys, the heartache, the years of not being myself, the panic that sets in for no apparent reason, the struggle, the hopelessness. I certainly never imagined sharing any of that and God allowing those wounds to be gifts for the world.

But when I started blogging about my struggles I found a passion for stirring HOPE with my words. And over the last 2 years God has taken me on another journey full of ups and downs. Getting healthy. Coming off anti-depressants. Eating better. Exercising. Using oils & supplements all day everyday. Losing 53 pounds. Crying so many tears that were stopped up all those years on meds. Being scared to death of my own emotions. Learning what it means to be healthy physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Seeking help. Finding mentors. Seeing God work in ways I never expected.

These days I do have dreams. And you know what?! I am watching my dreams come true before my very eyes. I dream of being emotionally strong & healthy. I dream of others finding hope when they read my words. I dream of paying off debt with my paycheck. I dream of paying for more mission trips and more vacations and being so generous with what we’ve been given. I dream of clinging to a confidence in Christ so strong that I can look back and not even remember the insecurities that used to plague me. I dream of freedom. Emotional freedom. Physical freedom to live a full life. Financial freedom. Abundant life. I am dreaming big these days.

What wounds do you have that you’re scared to speak aloud? I dare you to let your wounds become the gift you share with the world. I dare you to dream.

Come dream with me…

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The Testing Makes Us Strong…

“Blessed are those who strength is in You, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage. When they walk through the valley of weeping, they dig deep to find a pleasant pool where others find only pain. They grow stronger and stronger with every step forward…” Psalm 84:5-6 (NKJV and Passion Translation)

Oh that we could be the joy seekers instead of seeing only pain!! That’s the journey I’m on…and it is a journey. No place of perfection and no path without heartache & trial here on this earth…but oh that we could remember God is making us stronger through it all. That we can love better, serve better, and live lives of freedom and abundant life. For His glory. May it be so, Lord.

The testing is what makes us strong. – Edie Wadsworth

P.S. If you aren’t watching Edie’s morning mentor videos, take a listen while you cook or clean the house. Listen to this one from last week, this is the video I got today’s quote from.

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Simple Five Ingredient Smoothie

On my journey toward wellness, which includes 53 pounds weight loss, I have been having a smoothie for one of my meals for probably a year now. (You can read more about my weight loss journey here.) Now, before you tune me out, know that I am not very adventurous in the kitchen. I’m a pretty picky eater. I don’t want to add 57 ingredients to one dish (or one blender.) I find something I like and stick with it.

So if you are looking for a super fancy smoothie recipes, this is not the one for you!

I use a Ninja Blender that I got from Amazon years ago and love it. It is a great blender if you’re not quite ready to take the Vitamix leap. I also use the INDIVIDUAL cups you can get with this and only make enough smoothie for myself! We do make blenders full sometimes but most of my family likes different things in their smoothies so we do them individually.

The big debate in our home is MILK or OJ in the smoothie. I prefer the citrus flavor, but half of my family prefers the creamier milk version. You choose what you like best!

Ingredients:

1/2 banana
frozen berries (about 1/2 cup)
large handful spinach (add a little more each time until you get used to it)
plain greek yogurt (about 1/4 cup)
splash OJ (or milk, just enough liquid to make it the consistency you like!)

Toss it all in the blender and blend! Voila! Super easy. Usually I blend once in my individual cup, open the lid and stuff some more fruit and spinach in it to fill it up even more.

What is your favorite EASY and HEALTHY meal?? I would love some new ideas for dinner!

My Ninja Blender

If you want to see the blender I have, here is a picture & link along with the individual cups! So convenient!

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That fear is not from God…

Dear one,

That fear, the worry, the anxiety, the hopelessness…none of that is from God. He doesn’t give us a spirit of fear. The enemy is prowling around seeking those he can devour. BUT GOD. God gives us POWER, LOVE and a SOUND MIND. If we know that fear & worry & anxiety & hopelessness is from the enemy, we’ve got to do battle. I don’t know about you but I’m not going to let the enemy win. I’m not going down without a fight. Better yet, because of the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within me I HAVE VICTORY. I’m not actually going down at all. I know the end of the story. We are overcomers because of the blood of Jesus.

So get up today, friends, and preach the POWER of the gospel to your own heart. Turn this verse into your Scriptural affirmation for today: God has not given me a spirit of fear, but He is giving me POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND MIND. I am claiming His truth and walking in the spirit and standing on the promises of God! Who is with me??!!

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In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day

I just finished this book and you need to read it. Yes, you do.

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day was written by Mark Batterson. He is the same author of The Circle Maker which I also loved. Now I think I want to read all his books!

Don’t let the title of this book turn you off. I thought it was an odd title. Until I read the book. Now the title just FIRES ME UP to do BATTLE with the enemy and stop letting my fears & insecurities get the best of me!

This book is based on an obscure story in the Bible, one that I did not remember, about a man named Benaiah, in 2 Samuel, chased a lion into a pit and killed it.

Now, pretty crazy, huh!? But, write a book about it?

Y’all. If you struggle with fear, calling, insecurity, chasing dreams or just living life to the fullest, you need this book!

“God is in the business of strategically placing us in the right place at the right time. A sense of destiny is our birthright as followers of Christ. God is awfully good at getting us where He wants us to go. But here’s the catch: The right place often seems like the wrong place, and the right time often seems like the wrong time.

Encountering a lion in the wild is typically a bad thing…”

But God used this lion in this man’s life to lead him to his calling.

“What sets lion catchers apart isn’t the outcome. It’s the courage to chase God-sized dreams. Lion chasers don’t let their fears or doubts keep them from doing what God has called them to do.”

“Don’t let mental lions keep you from experiencing everything God has to offer. The greatest breakthroughs in your life will happen when you push through the fear. The defining moments will double as the scariest decisions. But you’ve got to face those fears and begin the process of unlearning them.”

“It took a setback to get us where God wanted us to go. It took a God-ordained opportunity that came as a really well-disguised problem.”

Anyone else getting pumped up like I am? God takes what we see as PROBLEMS and turns them into OPPORTUNITIES. Why don’t we trust Him? We’ve seen Him do this time and time and time again!

Our biggest problems start looking like our greatest opportunities.

I had a wise friend tell me recently to not run from the suffering or the hurt, but to embrace it, because God will do His greatest work in my heart through it.

Isn’t that a beautiful thought? That God will use what hurts to make us who He wants us to be and bring Himself glory!??

“Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God.”

It’s about our focus. Are we zooming in on the problem? Or are we allowing God to mold us, prune us, sanctify us. We must focus on HIM and not the problem. Let HIM do HIS THING.

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