Here is what the Lord put on my heart. (I hope I at least get points for cooking-term-cleverness!)
In The Raw
- A post for LeAnn-
I was thinking about a piece of raw chicken. Pretty gross to sight, and if eaten in that form, it could cause some serious illness and discomfort! However, after a meeting with a mallet, a dip in the marinade, followed by a seasoned dredge and a friendly fryin’- that raw piece of chicken, becomes a tantalizing sight of delectable mouth watering goodness! How about a raw potato? Funny looking on the outside- talk about dimples in the wrong places- brown, misshapen, and if left alone too long or too far from its root, leaves it susceptible to rotting, spores and disaster! But… after a nice wash, a little slicing, and a visit from its friends- pepper, salt, onion, chive, sour cream, and cheddar- that potato is now every emotional woman’s, cozy comforter of yummy bliss! See, anything raw usually goes through a hard, sometimes painful process of preparation, before its final product can actually be realized…
Well, like that raw piece of chicken, I had to go through my own process of preparation. (I will be forever a work in progress).
Strained by the events of my life- an 11 year breakup, a family suicide, and a relentless desire to fight the addictions of my friends and relatives- I found myself completely
wedged between my control and His. So I started and
sifting through the purpose of life. God gave me a
fresh slice of reality when He showed me in what a
raw form I really was. I was
raised in a church, new all the Bible verses, and said the sinner’s prayer at the age of 5! Yet, I had no real
juicy fruit that said I was truly saved and surrendered to a Savior! My life was
crumbled by a relationship, I had a heart that needed
defrosting, and a
diced view of what being a Christ-ian really was-
raw and
rare form to say the least. ..
At this very broken stage of His processing, I finally started to ask questions...I knew I had a purpose, I remembered how
sweet it was to serve Him when I was
ripe, and I revisited the things I used to love to do that were
savory and
rich. I had already received my Bachelors degree in Hospitality Management, and I knew I had a
zesty passion for women and cooking. The Creator of my life’s recipe, gently brought me through the process from raw to realized, by showing me my own desperate need to get out of ritual and into real relationship with Him. Like the potato, He
grated my heart, and I came back to Him. Frustrated for some time, I wanted to use the gifts He gave me; planning, cooking, serving, decorating, singing (sometimes) - Yet, I had no real forum or outlet to do so. I understood these were gifts for His Kingdom when He brought me a Godly wonderful husband (of ten months), who
melts my heart daily and eats more than he sleeps :-). With two humongous, spicy Italian families… I now had my forum... By the Gracious Hand of God, He helped me plan- a Bridesmaid luncheon for 20 (13 bridesmaids- go big or go home :0), a wedding shower for 150, a ceremony for 400, a church reception for 200, and an evening reception for 300- all with favors, programs, and specials touches pointing to His glory! I went back to the church I grew up in, and started looking for ways to serve. He showed me many… From planning a prison ministry banquet to cooking for convalescents, He has been so gracious to
thaw my heart enough to see the need. What I found to be the biggest blessing was ministering to the minister-ers. In a program that reaches the addicted, (which He has allowed me to lead in- which makes perfect sense after considering the raw process of addiction now turned passion, mission of mine) God put it on my heart to give the man that cooks every Thursday night, for 130 people, an opportunity to ‘
chill.’ Humbly, he feeds our congregation, out of his pocket every Thursday and Sunday, without complaint and often unrecognized.
Stirred by the sacrifice of this man, I decided to make a
heaping roaster full of
creamy chicken paprikash one Thursday! To my delight, the congregation
squeezed every last drop out of that roaster and many begged me to do it again! It truly was humbling. Although I did enjoy cooking for them, the true blessing was in giving the ‘cooking man’ a break and seeing him eat something that someone else made, with a grateful smile on his face. A Blessing Indeed!
So with that, you now know the
stir-fry of my heart.
½ cup- creativity, ½ cup-ability to plan, ¾ cup craze for cooking, + 1 cup yearning to encourage women about the importance of eternal focus + a Whole Bag of Desire to bring Glory to our Father= My heart!
I may have not had any huge ministry developments, but I know He has given me heart, desire, and creativity for His glory. This conference would help me learn so much and make available so many helpful resources. I truly would be so blessed, thankful, and humbled by the opportunity.
“Taste and see that He is good!” Psalm 34:8
My Favorite. Psalm 34:3
She Speaks is an awesome opportunity for women to realize and learn what God truly has for their lives. I have never been there but the information and testimonies about this conference is incredible-
click here for more!
I WAS A CHURCH GOING GOOD GIRL, WITH A PHARISEE HEART!
A Post For Karen
A big thank you to you, your staff, and Cecil Murphy for the blessing of these much needed scholarships! I have only recently fallen into a speaking desire, and that is because it has been pointed out to me by some of my loved and respected mentors. Thankful that they have allowed me to lead the teen girls for the last three years, and to now teach the women Bible studies on occasion, these experiences have truly started to shape and feed this desire. However, at a young age, the Lord did put His desires in my heart. Crazy to only me, but I knew when I was five years old and asking “Jeshush in my heart during our traditional Spaghetti Sunday,” (we are Italian and I still have a lisp) that He would do great things…and with my life at that. I will say- similar to the prodigal, I ran the wrong way for a long time…Thankfully, I could never escape the plan He already had for my life… Please help me learn, utilize, and develop the gifts God has so graciously, and I mean that, so very graciously has put on my heart. If I can share/put in your hands and hearts, what He has put in mine, you would never give it back to me… He is so good…
Fear and shame for a long time, kept me 28 years quiet! By the grace of God, He has opened my heart and mouth to swiftly get me through ‘The Transition.’ From world to Righteous, He has changed how I live. It is my desire to reach the women in ‘The Transition…’ That could be any age, any sector of life- the ‘Transition’ is, that point when a woman comes to full realization that she is ready to truly live with an eternal focus and a God-centered perspective (we may profess for a long time, that we are ‘Christian’ women, yet truly many still have to make this transition.) He drove a passion down deep into my heart- I, for a long time, sat comfortable knowing that I said the ‘magic’ sinner’s prayer, which guaranteed my seat on the bus to heaven! When the Lord finally revealed my life of ritual instead of real relationship to me, it was at a time that the world truly had my attention. Not to lack humility, but I was a pretty popular girl, I had my own small business (still have but with a better attitude :0), and a really cool boyfriend (so I thought) Anywho, this added up to much in the eyes of my peers. I was a church going good girl, with a Pharisee heart! Hence my passion… I broke up with that boyfriend, lost many friends, and was finally ready to get right. My transition started. Thankfully, my beautiful Jesus revealed my ugly heart to me, and I cried for three days.
I knew all the Bible verses, I talked all the lingo, hey- I even shared a time or two about how to be a Christian, “just say this prayer… “What I was gravely missing, was a life altering real encounter with a Risen Savior! Wow… I needed relationship in the worst way- and so do many of the teen girls I work with now, and sadly some of their ritual driven momma’s! (Not to be judgmental).
Gratefully, I have now been married ten joy filled months, and I have even more so seen my ugly heart in the reflection of my husband’s predominantly God-centered one. The transition from single and slipping by, to married and accountable is a rough one filled with humility, grace and mercy. This is when the Lord put something on my heart. In learning more about relationship with Him, how to be a wife, and how I had changed from worldview to WORDview- Over a three year period, He did the changing while showing me every step along the way (and we are still walking). I noticed that so many of my ‘Christian sisters’ may have unconsciously accepted actually being proclaiming ‘Magic Prayer Say-ers.’ We all have fallen underneath the umbrella of ‘safe because I know I am going to Heaven’ living. My passion is to stir urgency in our behavior. Purposefully living with eternity as our focus- for our families, our friends, at work, everyday! I pray to share this vision by creating/speaking/writing about a curriculum the Lord put on my heart.
(Should copyright this- another reason the conference would sure be a blessing;-)
My idea is— ‘Molding Modern Mary’s’ (Jesus mother, and Mary of Mary and Martha)
An in depth look at how to be intimate, obedient, and transparent, out of devotion to the heart of Jesus- A thorough understanding on the lives of these women and how to apply their principles to our modern day…Making being ‘Mary’s’ cool to every generation of ‘transitioning’ women-prepared teen girls with character, homemakers with spunk, delighted to be servants of the King, in love with a Savior that intended to have an intimate relationship with us- The problem- I have no idea how to get this going! He does and that is why, since the first scholarship came out, I have created my first blog, wrote many a’ stories, applied to all the scholarships offered so far and am continuously learning how to manage a small business, finish paying for my recent schooling- A Master Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University (thank you Abba), while providing, by the grace of God, all we need while my husband cannot work as he is now in his schooling. I share all of that to illustrate this.
Here is the Recipe of My Heart:
½ cup- creativity, ½ cup-ability to speak, ¾ cup craze for hospitality, + 1 cup over flowing with a yearning desire to encourage women about the importance of eternal focus + a Whole Bag of Longing to bring Glory to our Father= My heart!
I have been an avid Proverbs 31 Ministries fan for quite some time. Within the last few months I have read your magazines at lightning speed, with a yearning heart to one day be one of its articles authors… I have downloaded your ministries principles and carry them in my purse as an inspiration for the one day that I will… Well, the one day that I will write a book, speak at a conference, teach a cooking or workout class, write a cook book, sing with my husband, or at all follow through on what Christ has called me to do.
The She Speaks Conference will help me understand how to fine tune (and tone down):
My ministry ideas (I have many), network with Sisters who share these passions,
Learn how to write with focus, speak with precision, and above all else, how to accurately-
REFLECT HIS GLORY & SPREAD HIS STORY…
This conference would help me learn so much and make available so many helpful resources. I truly would be so blessed, thankful, and humbled by the opportunity.
So thankful for your careful consideration and the offer of this blessing. I will be praying for you, your staff, and the hearts of the applicants. Thank you again.
Psalm 34:3
