December 23, 2024

Tamale Pie

May 29, 2013 by

I wanted to share a recipe by my friend Irene Ladd.  I haven’t tried this yet, but it looks delicious!!

TAMALE PIE

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 1/2 pounds lean shredded beef
1 (29 ounce) can tomato puree
1 small can of enchilada sauce
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups whole kernel corn (drained & rinsed)
1 (4 ouncez) can diced green chilies
1 package of chili seasoning
4 ounces shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheese


Directions:

Saute onions, and then add garlic last minute in olive or coconut oil.  Add the shredded beef and reduce heat.

Stir in tomato puree and enchilada sauce.  Simmer for 1 minute.  Add chili seasoning package. Stir and simmer for about 10 minutes on low.  Add in beans, corn, and green chilies; simmer while preparing Tamale crust.

Tamale Crust

Ingredients:

2 cups masa harina

½ cup salted butter, cold and diced into pieces

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups hot water

Directions:

In a food processor or mixing bowl, mix together masa harina, baking soda, and salt; cut in butter.  The mixture will resemble coarse crumbs.  Stir in hot water.

Divide mixture into 8 Ramekin cups and add about 1/2 cup of chili mixture; top with cheese and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Top with chopped green onions, chopped cilantro, and sour cream.

*****

 

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Girls with Swords: Chapter 10 – “Sword of Light – Overcoming Satan’s Designs” (pgs. 156-159)

May 28, 2013 by

Who: Satan

What: His schemes, plots, tactics

When: ALL THE TIME

Where: In your home, in your family, in your neighborhood, in your city, in your state, in our country, in the world. In essence: EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE he can find a way in.

Why: To divide us from God and each other

How:  The isolation tactics of guilt, judgment, shame, and suspicion (pg. 156)

Reading through the above list may seem daunting and a bit scary to you. In one sense, I hope it is. I say that because if you do not understand the reality of Satan working in this world, you will not prepare yourself. You will not be ready for the battles that will eventually come your way, if they haven’t already. When these battles come, they are a prime opportunity for Satan to try to wiggle his way into your life. But if you know his tactics…if you know his schemes…if you know where he can target your weaknesses…you can better prepare yourself NOW.

Our author presents three methods of countering Satan’s attacks – love, power, and a sound mind.

Love

“Hate lives in the dark; love lives in the light ” (pg. 157).

Biblical love is something that is impossible for us to achieve on our own. Thankfully, we have a Lord who is capable and wants to work through us to show that love to our broken world. He wants us to seek Him. He wants to teach us what true love really is. We get a glimpse of it in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (HCSB)

Taking this one step further, we are not called to just love our spouse or family in this way.

And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these (Mark 12:31 MSG)

The first commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second is to love others (some translations say “your neighbor”) as yourself. Humans, generally, are a pretty selfish bunch. We are pretty self-centered and pursue what pleases our own selves to the detriment of others. Jesus is saying in this passage that we are to love everyone around us (no exclusions) as much as we love ourselves.

When we walk in love, in the light, our perspective changes. We are no longer looking for the things someone did to wrong us or the ways in which someone should pay us back. When we walk in light, when we are “Jesus with skin on” to those around us, we defeat Satan’s schemes. He cannot do his dirty work through us when we love every person we come into contact with. The light snuffs out the darkness. Strongholds are broken, relationships are restored, trust is rebuilt, Satan flees, and the Lord rejoices!

But, I must restate again… we cannot do it on our own. We must seek God to learn how to live out this type of love. Study His Word and let Him show you how to love others as yourself. Ask Him for answers and He will give them.

Power

“You are his prized possession, redeemed to proclaim all that he did when he called you out of a life of darkness to live forever in the glory of his light. That’s the power of your testimony” (pg. 158).

The second way we counter Satan’s attacks is by knowing our position with God. Satan tries to divide us from God. He attempts to make us think that we are not worthy or good enough. He uses our past sins against us however he can. But, ladies, we must remember that we are descendants of a ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession’ (1 Peter 2:9). We were called out of darkness to proclaim the glorious riches that we know exist in Jesus Christ our Lord. The power of the Holy Spirit resides within each of us, as believers, to do His work here on earth. We must seek Him and allow that power to work in and through us to effect change in our world. Ultimately, our #1 assignment is to be an ambassador for Christ and to let His Will be done in our lives.

Assignment.jpg

Sound Mind

“The Word of God has the power to renew your mind and change it from unsound to sound” (pg. 158).

One of the ways Satan attacks us is through our mind. Our thoughts can wreak havoc, breeding a multitude of negative thoughts before we even know what happened! Lately, I have felt so distressed with the events of our world. I was bogged down in the misery, tragedy, and ugliness of the events that surrounded me. Day after day, I would read another news story about a tragic event in the world and my thoughts would spiral. Thankfully, my Lord (and some good friends!) helped me through this time. It does not take long; Satan will use any trick in his arsenal to try to get you. He will target you however he can.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. Romans 12:2 NLT, emphasis added

This is my life verse. God brings it to my attention quite often. I constantly need to remind myself that I need to change my mindset. I need to counter Satan’s attacks by centering my thoughts on God and His Truth. When our minds are filled with God’s Word, we can immediately wield it against Satan’s attacks.

Love, Power, and a Sound Mind. It all comes back to God’s Word. Satan wants to divide us from God. We must stand firm and wield our weapon of truth and light in the midst of these attacks.

*****

Let’s Pray: Father, Your Word is Holy and True. We know that Satan wants to defeat us. He wants to destroy our relationship with you. Thankfully, Lord, we know that the ultimate victory is already won. Strengthen us in our daily walk, Lord. Help us live out a bold faith. Give us courage and strength to face the attacks when they happen and to turn immediately to You for wisdom and discernment. We thank You that we can come to You at any time, with any need, and we know that You will hear it and answer it in Your perfect timing. Thank you, Father. We love You and praise Your Holy Name. Amen.

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Girls with Swords: Chapter 9 – “New and Ancient Paths” / “Change Environments” (pgs 142-147)

May 21, 2013 by

New and Ancient Paths

But my people have left me to worship the Big Lie. They’ve gotten off the track, the old, well-worn trail, And now bushwhack through underbrush in a tangle of roots and vines. (Jeremiah 18:15 MSG)

Ouch! I don’t know about you, but this picture of being tangled up in roots and vines and trying to plow through on my own does not sound very pleasant. But such is what happens when we leave the path and seek our own interests and desires instead of God’s. This isn’t anything new. We as humans have been doing it for centuries. But, let me ask you this…isn’t it time that we get back on the well-worn trail, the path that leads to holiness and righteousness? The path that leads to LIFE? Isn’t it time to make a new way, to let God lead us down difficult paths even if we do not understand them because we KNOW that HE does?

Are you stuck? Do you not know where your path is? Do you have trouble seeing how you can get over the mountain that faces you?  Sister, God always provides the answer to our entanglements.  “Just as a machete clears paths in the wild, the sword of God’s Word has the power to sever what entangles us” (pg. 142, emphasis mine).  Take it to the bank.  It is a promise. You might be facing a mountain right now. It may be something of your own doing or it may be something God has allowed in your life for a divine purpose.  Whatever the reason, you must know that the Word of God will light your path every step of the way. Your path may seem confusing and senseless to you but it makes complete sense to God because He sees the whole picture. He knows it all because He is sovereign. With God, we have the chance to walk in a new and living way.

By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. (Hebrews 10:20)

If you want to know what to do next, go to His Word.  Pray.  Talk with Him.  LISTEN.  WAIT.  He will speak to you but you must give Him the opportunity!  “Through the power of His Word, He makes a way where there seemed to be no way.” (pg. 145)

Change Environments

I am going to quote an entire paragraph from this section because it really spoke to me and I think it is so very important!

Sometimes you need to make a radical environmental change – turn off your television, get off the Internet, and hang up the phone. When all these voices are silenced, you have a chance to quiet yourself as well. However, this isn’t an invitation to meditate on a deeper revelation of YOU but to experience a deeper revelation of HIM.

When Jesus came in and cleared the decks of your life, the enemy did not disappear; he just moved aside. He was not gone; he was simply out of sight, watching for an opportunity to reestablish himself. To avoid a hostile reinvasion, you must firmly establish a new lifestyle and environment (pg. 146, emphasis mine).

Wow, right? In order to forge our way and return to the ancient path, it might be necessary to make a radical change to our current life. Remember, we are called to be IN the world but not OF the world (1 John 2:15-17). What changes do you need to make today in order to return to the ancient path…to be a trailblazer like Jesus? This section was very convicting for me and I know I need to spend some time in prayer to see what my Lord would have me do. It is very difficult to change our environment, especially when we are comfortable. But God does not really want us to be comfortable. He wants us on a mission, to reach the lost and hopeless, to be trailblazers for His Kingdom.

What does it mean to you to be a trailblazer?

TRAILBLAZER.JPG

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Holy Word. Thank You for teaching us and convicting us, guiding us and leading us. Continue to show us the way we should go, to be trailblazers for Your Kingdom. Help us to make environmental changes where You want us to, even if those changes are difficult, Lord. Give us strength and courage to push through our entanglements, leaning on You every step of the way. You alone know all and are Sovereign. We can trust in You. Thank You, Father, for Your love. We love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Girls With Swords: Chapter 8 – “Sword Words” (pgs 126-129)

May 14, 2013 by

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34)

God’s love is limitless. It overflows in abundance. Our author says on page 126 that “… because out of the abundance of God’s heart, he spoke the universe of galaxies into existence.” He spoke the world into existence! This power lives within us through the Holy Spirit when we proclaim Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives (Acts 1:7-8). Did you know that? The Word, this Power, knows no boundary. It is available to anyone, anywhere.

With that said, I have some questions for you.

Have you unleashed God’s power in your life?

When we truly have something to say, God finds a way to interpret it for all who need to hear.
When we yield ourselves to speak His words by the power of His Spirit, astonishing things can happen (pg. 128).

Will you choose to use your words in a way that removes yourself from the picture and glorifies God? (pg. 128)

For far too long the Word has been interpreted rather than proclaimed. We have gotten into the habit of passing it through the filter of human experiences, social preferences, current prejudices, and the limited counsel of the human mind rather than simply declaring what was so powerfully and eternally spoken and recorded. We’ve interpreted the gospel rather than expressed it (pg. 129, emphasis mine).

Will you speak in your flawed manner or tell of His flawless works? (pg. 128)

Our God Most High is triumphant. His glorious love and wondrous mercy know no bounds.
The gift of salvation is through faith in Him alone, and all who seek Him find grace and hope (pg. 128).

Will you be part of a unified voice by allowing His Spirit to fill you? (pg. 128)

Unifying ourselves with our Father’s purposes and language will initiate or begin anew God’s plan and unify a people around His purpose (pg. 129).

It was out of this love for us that He sent His one and only begotten Son to die a sinner’s death on a rugged cross. That kind of love is beyond human understanding. I find myself wanting to understand the ‘whys’ and the ‘hows’ so often! But, in my limited human understanding, I know it is impossible. As Lisa Bevere states on page 129, “it takes faith to declare a language we do not understand.” I have to trust that God is who He says He is. I have to trust in His sovereignty. I have to trust in His goodness. I have to trust even when I do have questions and I do not understand why things happen. I have to believe in God as my Father, who wants to hear my questions and concerns. He wants to hear from me. He wants me to turn to Him and study His language, our SWORD, His Holy Word. Through it, He will guide and direct me and answer those questions and soothe those doubts.

Because He is GOD.

GOD IS LOVE.

GOD IS GOOD. ALL THE TIME. EVERY TIME.

When we root ourselves in God, in His Word, our sword grows stronger. It finds substance (pg. 129). We are able to stand firm with confidence.

Have you thought about the answers to those questions I posed above? What are your answers? Be honest! Have a conversation with the Lord about them. They are not easy to own up to. But, God already knows the innermost parts of us. We just need to recognize it in ourselves, too, so we can work on whatever needs fixin‘! We are all just a work-in-progress til the day we meet our Savior face to face. Oh what a day that will be!

Let’s Pray:

Father, your Word is perfect. You speak truth and light into a dark world. Help us to shine brightly for your Kingdom in our sphere of influence. Convict us where we need to be convicted and help us own up to the things that may be hindering our growth. Our only desire is to follow You, Lord, wherever You lead us. We love You so much! In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

At Home with GCH: Homemade Body Scrub

May 8, 2013 by

We all know, as women, that Body Scrubs can be expensive; ranging anywhere from $10 to $50+ per bottle!  How about if I show you a way to make a Homemade Body Scrub that costs far less than you would pay for retail?  It’s easy, of course, and it works like a charm!  Why spend top dollar for a product that you can make at home; one that works beautifully!  The proof is in the pictures below.

Homemade Body Scrub

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Sea Salt

1/2 cup Shampoo (I use the 99-cent brand)

 

 

Directions:

Mix both ingredients together in a small bowl until well blended.

 Ingredients_Mixed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s it!  Apply the scrub to a part of your body that is dry or scaly, and needs rejuvenating!  You will definitely see, and feel, a huge difference in your skin after application!  Your skin will not only feel softer, but look a lot younger, too!  It’s definitely a keeper in my bath routine!  I hope you will love it as much as I do!

I hope you will give this a try, and then let me know what you thought of it!  I’m all about things that are EASY, and Cost-Effective!  This recipe definitely fits the bill for both!

 Before_After

 

 

Happy Scrubbing!

Christi

*****

If you would like to send an email to Christi in regards to this recipe, you can email her at:

 Christi@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , ,

Girls with Swords – Chapter 7: Water / Fire (pgs. 106-111)

May 7, 2013 by

Day 2 of our Anniversary Celebration!

In honor of our 1-year Anniverary Celebration, we have chosen several prizes for giveaways this week to thank YOU for blessing us so much throughout this last year!  If it weren’t for our dear Sisters, YOU, we wouldn’t be here!  So from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for all you do to bless our ministry!  We Appreciate You!!

Day 2 — This particular prize is one that I have personal experience with.  I implemented this prize in my life last year, and found it to be a lot more than I ever expected from it.  I grew in so many ways in my life, personally, emotionally, spiritually!  I would highly recommend it to anyone!!  But today, we want to bless you with it!  What is it, you ask???

TODAY’S GIVEAWAY IS A FREE ONE-HOUR SESSION WITH CHRISTIAN LIFE COACH MEGAN SMIDT!!  

GL header

Megan has offered this gift to YOU because she truly cares about women!  She wants to see women strong, healthy, living their lives intentionally!  Able to give all they have to our Lord & Savior!  So with that, ONE lucky winner will be chosen at the end of today!

How do you enter for this fabulous prize???  All you have to do is read today’s blog by Jennifer, and then leave a comment about something that spoke to you from her blog!  That’s it!!  Pretty easy, huh?

DEADLINE FOR ALL COMMENTS TO BE POSTED IS 8PM CST TODAY.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY PAGE ON MAY 11th.  

 

Now, on with our study!!! 🙂

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Isaiah 43:1-2

This section of our book speaks of the trials we will go through in our lives (the water and the fire) and how this refinement helps to forge us into the women God created us to be. Refinement is painful. I am not going to sit here and lie to you, my dear sisters. But these trials will strengthen us and, in turn, help us to forge the sword we will ultimately wield – the Word of God.

The troubles we face in this world are either self-inflicted or God-ordained. As humans, we have a tendency to get ourselves into trouble and God will let us face the consequences of our decisions. But, He will ultimately turn our poor decision making for good. He is always good. Always. He wants us to have the best life possible; the life He created us to walk. I think we tend to get caught up in trying to put out the daily fires on our own instead of focusing our attention on the One who wants to put them out for us.

The trials and afflictions we will face are but a blink of an eye from an eternal standpoint. We do not have God’s viewpoint. The things with which we struggle seem too impossible, too heartbreaking, and too hard sometimes. It is just plain tough to see past the pain in front of our eyes. Believe me, I know.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

This verse is so very hard to grasp, isn’t it? It is for me. I have to ask God to help me focus on the unseen. It is too easy to focus and become consumed with what is seen, the temporary afflictions that dampen our light and make us doubt our faith. By His grace, His strength, and His power, I can and will do it. Every day, I realize how much I need Jesus…more and more and more.

Friends, God is our Source of power. He is our Source of strength. He is trustworthy. He is good. Always. No matter what you are facing today, God is with you and He loves you so very much. Turn your pain over to Him. Talk to Him. He will help you through it. Turn to His Word. Let it heal your soul. Let His promises soak into your being.

When we are weak…He is strong.

When we are powerless…He is power-full.

When we feel unloved…He loves us unconditionally.

What affliction are you struggling with today that you need to bring to God’s feet?

_______________

Let’s Pray:

Father, this world brings many troubles. Please help us to focus on YOU at all times, so that when trouble does come our way, we will be ready, sword in hand, to defend against the attack. Strengthen our resolve and help us face the pain we may be hiding. Help us to bring our troubles to You and not be held in bondage to our afflictions any longer. Give us fresh eyes to see our troubles from an eternal perspective. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Girlfriends Coffee Hour!!!

May 5, 2013 by

GCH_Anniversary

 

Woo Hoo!! Happy Anniversary to GCH!!!

1-year ago today, Girlfriends Coffee Hour published its first LIVE Online Bible Study on this website! We had just a few women sign-up for that study, and we had a blast!

Today, GCH, as we all so fondly call it, is now in 150+ Countries across the globe!! Never in a million years would I have ever dreamed that God could use a simple housewife from Southeast Wisconsin to help spread the Gospel!! Many times, I had to be reminded God’s God This!!  Don’t ever think that God can’t use just ordinary people!!  He can, and He will, if you let Him!!

Today, we have 20 women on our Ministry Leadership Team, who help keep this ministry functioning on a daily basis! Thank God, because there is no way this housewife from Wisconsin could do this on her own! I am so very BLESSED by this amazing Team of women who give so graciously of their time, prayers, support, and LOVE!! Truly without these women …. wow!

God has blessed this ministry in so many ways. Each day we dedicate GCH to Him in our prayers, and we give Him thanks for all that He has done, and continues to do.

The scripture that God gave us for this ministry is Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) “…as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” In this ministry, we are blessed to sharpen each other. We are blessed to hold each other accountable to building our relationship with our Heavenly Father, and being the Leaders that He has called us all to be! We are blessed to have such a Sisterhood in this ministry, where faith, friends, and fellowship flourish in our Fellowship & Study Groups!

I give God all praise, honor, and glory, for Girlfriends Coffee Hour! I hope you will help us celebrate this week! We will be giving away some amazing prizes this week in honor of our anniversary! Stay tuned … on Monday (tomorrow) we will announce the first prize!! These prizes are going to bless your socks off!!

Be sure to leave a comment below to let us know how GCH has been a blessing in YOUR life! We’d love to hear from you!

Thank You ALL so very much for joining us this last year! We hope to see you around for many more years to come!!

May the Good Lord Bless You,

Christi Wilson
Founder of Girlfriends Coffee Hour

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH, Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Girls With Swords: Chapter 6 – “The Enemy’s Target” – “The Original Warrior” (pgs 84-90)

April 30, 2013 by

war·ri·or
/ˈwôrēər/
Noun: (esp. in former times) A brave or experienced soldier or fighter.
Synonyms: fighter – soldier – combatant

I am reading through a Chronological Bible with my church this year. We are currently reading about David and I was drawn to a study note in my Life Application Study Bible as it relates to this section of our book. Here it is verbatim:

David surrounded himself with great warriors, the best of the Israelite army. What qualities made them worthy to be David’s warriors and servants? (1) They had practiced long and hard to perfect their skills (with bow, sling, and spear); (2) they were mentally tough and determined (“fierce as lions”); (3) they were physically in shape (“as swift as deer”); (4) they were dedicated to serving God and David. Weak leaders are easily threatened by competent subordinates, but strong leaders surround themselves with the best. They are not intimidated by able and competent followers. (1 Chronicles 12:1-7, note 12:1ff)

Now, although this passage is referring more to the actual men who fought in the battles, I feel that this passage can be applied to us as women warriors today.

  1. We must study the Word, delight in it, meditate on it day and night (Psalms 1:2). It must soak into our being and become a part of who we are and who we want to portray to this world. We should strive to draw into God’s presence every single day so that we can strengthen ourselves for whatever battles lay ahead of us.
  2. Studying the Word, our s(word) gives us strength and courage. It drives out fear. It helps us move forward when God gives us that nudge to do what we know we must do. It helps us to be tough and to stand strong against the attacks of the enemy.
  3. God wants us to lay aside all of our desires and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him (Romans 12:1), to put all of our energy and focus at His feet and trust Him to guide us where we need to be.
  4. By studying the Word and placing our trust in God, we are pronouncing with undivided loyalty that we will serve the Lord and Him alone.

Girlfriends, warriors are not hired; they are called. David had an elite group of men fighting with him. They were not soldiers, hired to do a particular job. They were called to the task. Do you know that…”You are at once a daughter and a warrior” (page 86)? There is no separation between the two. If you are a part of God’s family—a part of His army—then you are one of His warriors. I think many of us are scared to be warriors, though. We want to just “get by.” But, I am challenging you today. It is time to rise up!

Are you not moving forward with something God is calling you to do? DO IT!

Is fear preventing you from living the glorious life God has planned for you?

FEAR_GWS_Ch6

Having trouble forgiving someone who hurt you deeply? TAKE YOUR BURDEN TO THE LORD. LET HIM HAVE IT. AND FORGIVE.

Ladies, our Lord needs His warrior daughters. Whatever your problem, take it to Him. Soak in His Living Word and let Him speak to you. He will guide you…if you let Him.

Let’s Pray: Father God, help us to rise up as the warrior daughters You created us to be! We know that Your perfect love casts out all of our fears. Help us to claim this promise from Your Word today and place our trust fully in You. Whatever each of these ladies is facing today, Father, I pray that You speak directly to her heart, show her the next step she should take. Surround her with Your comforting and loving presence. I know how much You love every single one of us, Lord. Help us to live the glorious lives You designed us to live. In Jesus mighty name, I pray, AMEN!

Just DO IT!

Jennifer

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At Home with GCH: “Painted” Mason Jars

April 24, 2013 by

I LOVE Mason Jars….there I said it!  It’s off my chest now! 🙂  Mason jars can be so much FUN!    I’ve seen them used for organizing pantries, for holding green smoothies, drill holes in the lid to put a straw in and use it as a drinking glass, change jars, cookie jars, pasta jars, and so much more!  All of those ideas seemed pretty understandable…. But, then I saw this next idea, and I got excited!

I’m so excited to show you this next project!  When I first saw it on Pinterest, I thought “NO WAY….Painted Mason Jars??”  But oh my goodness, just wait until you see just how beautiful this project turns out!

So let’s get to work!

 

Here is what you will need for this project:  Jar Paint_Ingredients

1 clear glass Mason Jar

½ cup of Elmer’s Glue

5 -10 drops of your favorite food coloring (depending on how dark you want the color)

1-inch paint brush

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jar Paint_Step 1

Directions:

Stir the glue and food coloring together until well blended.  Grab your favorite 1-inch paint brush and then start painting the glue onto the jar.  After the whole jar is covered, set the jar aside and allow drying, and then watch what happens!          

 

The fun part of this project is that you are not limited to just one color!  Once the jar has dried with the first color, mix up more “paint” using a different food color.  Using a smaller brush, you can take this 2nd color and draw all kinds of squiggly lines, or geometric designs, or circles, or whatever you want onto the jar.  Once again, after you’ve painted the jar, set aside to allow drying.  If you want to add a 3rd color…you know what to do now! 

Then to finalize this project, find some amazingly beautiful flowers and viola…you have a perfect homemade vase to hold your beautiful flowers…or whatever else you want to use these jars for.  I love the flowers because, well, I just love fresh flowers, and the jars and flowers together make for a beautiful centerpiece.  If you want, you can use three different jar sizes…make them all different colors and then use as a centerpiece on your table!

Jar Paint_AFTER

Now that you know what you can do with JARS, don’t throw away your old jars.  Save those mayonnaise or pickle jars, and turn them into something beautiful.  I’m sure a friend would love to receive one of these amazingly beautiful jars filled with flowers or candy, or … or … or.  The possibilities are endless!

If you have been following my blog for any length of time, you know that I like projects that are simple!  You can’t get much simpler than this for a beautiful set of jars or a centerpiece!

I’d love to see YOUR projects!  You can email your pictures to me at Christi@girlfriendscoffeehour.com.

Happy Painting!

Christi

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*Cleaning Tip 1:  Wash your brush out with water as soon as you are finished painting your jar.

**Cleaning Tip 2: As your jars are drying, you will see some of the glue slide down the jar, onto the countertop or whatever you are placing the jars on to dry.  USE PAPER TOWELS TO WIPE THIS UP.  Otherwise, whatever you use will get stained with the food coloring.  (Don’t ask me how I know this!!)   🙂

 

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Girls With Swords: Chapter 5 – “Who Was Responsible for the Cross?” (pgs 66-72)

April 23, 2013 by

“Isaiah and David prophesied that God’s chosen people would kill his one and only begotten Son. The religious leaders thought that by killing God’s Son they would get to steal his inheritance.” (pg 67)

None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified The Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8)

“What blindsided each and every ruler of that age? They could not see the transforming and triumphant power of the Cross.” (pg 67)

Do you see the transforming and triumphant power of the Cross?

Do you live a transformed and triumphant life?

Do you live fully believing that Christ died for you?

Can you accept that truth into your heart and  truly, without a doubt, believe it? It is one thing to know about the Cross and what happened that day in Calvary. It is one thing to know what the Cross represents—freedom, forgiveness, love, mercy, redemption, among others. But do you live in a way that your life represents this knowledge? Have you accepted this as your own truth, that Christ died for YOU?  YOU, the single momma trying to make ends meet. YOU, the woman who cannot have kids. YOU, the woman who carries shame from her past. YOU, the woman who has a hard time forgiving. He died for YOU, for me, for every single one of us; regardless of anything that has happened in our lives. No matter what we have done, it was finished on that Cross.

Live triumphantly knowing that you are loved. You are wanted. You are known. You cannot do this life on your own. You cannot forgive on your own. You cannot move through the hardship and pain of your past on your own. You were not made to. If you are wondering why you struggle so much with a stronghold in your life, ask yourself: have I let God into this place? Have I allowed Him to work on my heart in this area? Christ will not barge His way into your life. He must be invited in. If your finances are a mess, you must invite Him in so that you and He can work on fixing what is broken. If your marriage is on the verge of separation or divorce, you must let Him in so that He can help you restore all that lays in shambles.

He is the only One who can do it. And He desires to fix your brokenness even more than you. He wants you to be whole. Let Him in. Let Him do His work. He is the only One who can do it.

I feel like there is this thinking in our society that we must fix our problems on our own, by our own power and might. We do a pretty good job of seeing other peoples’ problems, and how to fix those…but when it comes to our own lives, it is not so easy. We get defensive, we struggle, we read book after book trying to fix ourselves. But, have you fully turned this area of your life over to Christ? Have you let Him in to do the work He needs to do in your heart?

“Because of Him (Christ), we no longer exist in Adam. We live in Christ and are seated with him as we walk on earth.” (pg 69)

Transformation is not an easy process. But, we have a new life because of the Cross. We no longer walk in sin and death. “We were saved, forgiven, healed, loved, graced, empowered, and restored “in Christ”” (pg 71). “It was the dead tree that brought us all back to life” (pg 72). You must know and understand— you were already transformed because of the Cross. The question is – have you accepted it? Are you living it?

Let’s Pray:

Father God, the Cross represents so many things, but ultimately it shows us Your unfailing LOVE and GRACE toward us. We are triumphant because of the Cross. Help us to live triumphantly in You every day on this Earth. For those areas of our lives that we have not let You into, today we turn it over to You. Help us fix what is broken. Show us a new way. Guide us into the triumphant and abundant life that You have already prepared for us. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Live transformed and triumphant,

Jennifer

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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