Today’s Scripture:
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you… – 2 Timothy 1:6, NIV.
Today’s Word:
I believe that God has planted seeds of greatness on the inside of every one of us. We all have dreams and desires, things we want to accomplish; things we want to see changed. But so many times, life has a way of stealing our dreams. We go through disappointments, face adversity, things don’t turn out as we would like. Too often, people just end up settling for second best. But God doesn’t want us to settle for second best. He wants us to be determined, press on, and pursue the greatness that’s on the inside. We should never let “good enough” be good enough!
I want to encourage you today to stir yourself up and get your fire back. Start speaking victory over your future. If one dream has died, dream another dream. Put yourself in a positive, faith-filled environment. Get around people of excellence who live passionately. Fan the flame that is in you so you can move forward into all God has in store for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father, I come to You today giving You my disappointments, setbacks, hurts and broken dreams. I ask that You restore my passion and vision for the future. Let Your flame burn brightly in me now and forevermore in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Posted by Victoria Osteen on 10/2/2012
Everyone has defining moments in their lives; experiences that shape who we are and our perspective on the world. We can have defining moments in our relationships, in our careers, and with God.
All throughout our lives, God draws us to Himself in various ways. He chose us long before we ever chose Him, and He is constantly calling us to His heart. In defining moments with God, He reveals Himself to us and empowers us to live the life of victory He has planned.
I’ve had many defining moments in my life when I knew God was speaking directly to my heart. I remember one evening back when I was in college. I was studying with a friend at her kitchen table when I overheard a conversation between her mother and her aunt on the other side of the room. They were discussing the Bible, and as they talked about a particular passage of scripture, it stood out so strongly to me that it was like they were shouting across the room, even though they weren’t.
“Did you hear that?” I enthusiastically asked my friend.
“Hear what?” she said, looking up from her notes. “What are you talking about, Victoria? I didn’t hear a thing.”
“You didn’t hear that scripture about how God wants us to really understand His love and be passionate about it?” I was amazed that she hadn’t noticed the conversation across the room.
She shook her head and looked back to her notes. Meanwhile, I sat there in awe. Those words were so clear; I felt that God was speaking directly to me in a very special way. Those words came alive in my heart in a way I hadn’t experienced before. It was a defining moment in my life when I knew God was drawing me to Himself.
Right now, I believe God is drawing you to Himself in a special way, too. You can probably look back over your life and see His defining moments speaking to your heart. Meditate on those times. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself in a fresh, new way. Look for His hand guiding and directing you and allow Him to reveal His love and goodness to you!
“He reveals deep and secret things…” (Daniel 2:22, NKJV)
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Processed foods are popular because they’re convenient, even though we all know junk food is bad for us. Families with children are particularly susceptible to the lure of processed foods because they are so pressed for time. But while they’re fine on occasion, the easy, cheap calories in processed foods are damaging our health and it’s best to avoid them whenever possible. Here’s a look at the very worst offenders.
SODA – Regular sodas are loaded with sugar and, with little to no nutritional value, should only be consumed very infrequently. But what’s surprising is that diet soda drinkers are actually more likely to develop metabolic syndrome and in some studies appear more likely to gain weight. While the causes aren’t clear, one thing we know for certain is that there’s nothing wrong with an old-fashioned glass of water, which keeps the body hydrated, and promotes better digestion, and protects tissue and organs.
Does diet soda cause weight gain?
MARGARINE – Think of stick margarine as a big block of trans fat — hydrogenated oil helps liquid oils to be solid at room temperature, and is a key ingredient in margarine. Trans fat adversely affects both good and bad cholesterol, not to mention increasing triglycerides, lipoprotein, and inflammation. For buttery goodness, go with the real thing, or opt for a flavorful olive oil.
Boost flavor with herbed compound butter.
POTATO CHIPS – Nobody thinks potato chips are good for you, but according to a very broad study of obesity published in the New England Journal of Medicine, no single food contributed more to obesity than potato chips. It may seem strange that a food that’s not a sweet would top the list, but potato chips are a food that people just naturally overeat.
FRENCH FRIES – A small serving of french fries has about 275 calories and nearly 15 grams of fat, but the real issue is the nearly 4 grams of trans fat in a single serving. For a healthier option, try simple roast potatoes or homemade oven fries.
BLENDED COFFEE DRINKS – A grande vanilla frappuccino from Starbucks without whipped cream has 300 calories. The same amount of black coffee has five calories. Better to get your caffeine fix without getting your sweets fix. But if you must feed your sweet tooth, you would actually get less calories from drinking a cup of coffee and eating some fudge.
The 10 most expensive ways to enjoy coffee.
MICROWAVE POPCORN – Popcorn is often touted as a healthy snack option, but beware since lots of name-brand microwave popcorn is actually full of trans fat —one brand has 5 grams of trans fat per serving (even more than margarine). Microwave popcorn can also be packed with sodium. Don’t skip the popcorn all together, but consider buying a plain variety and adding your own flavors, or reading the label very carefully before you buy.
Make healthier popcorn
HOT DOGS – This one hurts because hot dogs are a personal favorite. But even if you can put what parts of the animal are actually in them out of your mind, one hot dog still has 20 percent of your daily recommended intake of sodium and is loaded with saturated fat to boot.
For a healthier alternative, try veggie dogs
PROCESSED CHEESE DIP – Two tablespoons of Cheez Whiz have 90 calories. That compares favorably with something like mayonnaise, but whereas two tablespoons of mayo is more than enough, the amount of Cheez Whiz you eat with something like nachos is a lot more than two tablespoons. It’s also loaded with fat and sodium.
Try these 7 ways to add veggies to your mac and cheese
GROCERY STORE COOKIES – Sugary and loaded with fat, these high-calorie cookies aren’t completely awful for you if you stick to the serving size. Three cookies come in around 160 calories (or over 50 calories each) with about 8 grams of fat. But the thing is, are you really only going to eat three chocolate chip cookies?
For a healthier alternative with whole grains and fruit, try oatmeal cranberry cookies
DOUGHNUTS – I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that these aren’t very good for you. A single glazed donut has about 260 calories and 14 grams of fat, including 30 percent of your daily allowance of saturated fat. Though many kinds are now free of them, donuts frequently contain trans fats too.
Try whole wheat banana muffins for a healthier breakfast choice
BACON – Look, I don’t want to diss a fave, but bacon is a processed meat that’s loaded with fat, saturated fat, and sodium. Just 2 strips of bacon have 12 percent of your DV sodium! Most bacon also contains nitrates and other preservatives.
For a healthier take on bacon, try green salad with pears, bacon, and homemade buttermilk dressing
FROZEN DINNERS – Not all frozen dinners are created equal, and the processed food industry is rife with “health washing.” Keep in mind that many brands serve up salty, fatty dishes, and “healthier” options may have questionable additives and ingredients, or compensate for a loss of other flavors with loads of sodium.
Shop smart: what to look for in a healthy frozen meal
GIANT FAST FOOD HAMBURGERS – Hamburgers are getting bigger and bigger, but here we’ll stick with the modestly enormous BK Double Whopper which has 990 calories, 2.5 grams trans fat, 195 milligrams cholesterol, and 1,520 milligrams sodium. Yum?
Make it healthier: 11 healthy twists on junk food classics
BOLOGNA – Just 2 slices of bologna have over 600mg of sodium which is over 20 percent of the recommended daily value. Even worse is that bologna is most often marketed to kids. Steer clear of this salty, preservative-filled mystery meat.
Try roast turkey instead
NON DAIRY CREAMER – Made with partially hydrogenated oil, most non-dairy creamers contain trans fat. The label will tell you otherwise, but only because the serving size is miniscule — 1 teaspoon. I’d need at least 10 teaspoons for my morning coffee! Stick to alternative milks like soy and nut if you can’t have dairy.
Copyright © 2012 Spanfeller Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Daily Meal ® is a registered trademark of Spanfeller Media Group, Inc
Oct 1
This gallery contains 6 photos.
As we all know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and “The Rays Of Sunshine” has turned Pink! In support of the many women and men who have fought and are fighting the fight; my prayers are with you and your families. May God continue to bless, heal and comfort each of you MIGHTILY! Stay Strong […]
Happy Fall, y’all! This is one of my favorite times of year to Decorate! Decorate! Decorate! The changing of the leaves, the crisp cool air and the Fall nights growing longer and longer with each passing day. The sheer thought is getting me all gitty and excited inside. Oh how I love this time of year. Anywho, Today my friends I discovered a niffy craft idea of a pumpkin wreath made out of mesh. This wreath would transition perfectly on any door from the beginning of Fall all the way to Thanksgiving. So without further a due here’s how you can make one or two or three of your very own. Happy Crafting!
Here’s What You Need:
We attached our latch hook canvas to the hoop using wire and trimmed the ends to give us a base for our pumpkin.
Roll approximately 10 inches of mesh and cut. Make this into a little roll.
Twist 1/2 of a orange pipe cleaner around the middle of your roll to create a bow-type object. Make sure the pipe cleaner is super tight. Then, thread the pipe cleaner through the holes in your canvas and twist on the back. You won’t need to put one through every single hole, just keep adding to the wreath until it fills in.
Keep going, you’re almost done.
When your wreath is as full as you’d like, add the stem and leaves with the rest of your mesh. Voila! Hang on your door and enjoy 🙂
Source: Fleur de lis and Footbal
I don’t have to explain to you why sleep is important. Our bodies were designed with an innate need for daily, deep rest and relaxation. It refreshes and rejuvenates us for the day ahead. However, many people suffer through night after night of disruptive sleep. If that’s you, here are a few tips to help you get your zzz’s.
Wind Down With The Sun
Tap into your natural circadian rhythms with the rising and setting of the sun. When the sun goes down, let that be your cue to begin to wind down as well. Of course, you don’t have to hit the sack immediately, but begin to quiet your body. Wind down with some light reading or relaxing on your porch. Keep high-energy and mentally complex activities for the daylight hours.
Make Your Bedroom The Room For Rest
The bedroom isn’t your entertainment room, office or study. Or at least it shouldn’t be. When you have it outfitted with televisions and laptops, it’s easy to get distracted from sleep. Remove any unnecessary items from your bedroom and make it a place mainly for relaxation.
Let Pets Sleep In Their Own Bed
I will catch some flak for this, but there’s scientific research to back it up. If you have trouble sleeping and you share your bed with a pet, there’s a good chance Fluffy is the cause. From night roaming, scratching to acting out their own dreams, pets are moving around and waking you up far more often than you realize. According to WebMD, dogs can be trained to sleep in their own beds, and cats… well, it’s best to leave them outside the bedroom.
Don’t Eat Too Much So Close To Bedtime
When it’s time to sleep, your body prefers to do just that and not much else. When you eat too much right before bed, your body is working hard to digest all that food and it can’t concentrate on preparing itself for sleep. So, do your body a favor and create a gap between dinner time and bedtime; experts suggest about three hours.
Pray, Meditate and Clear Your Mind
When it’s time to sleep, your body prefers to do just that and not much else. When you eat too much right before bed, your body is working hard to digest all that food and it can’t concentrate on preparing itself for sleep. So, do your body a favor and create a gap between dinner time and bedtime; experts suggest about three hours.
Copyright © Beliefnet, Inc. and/or its licensors. All rights reserved.
Read: Philippians 4:6-9
While I was visiting Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, two trees caught my attention. Though the leaves on the surrounding trees were not moving, the leaves of these trees were fluttering with just the slightest hint of a breeze. I pointed them out to my wife, and she told me they were called quaking aspens. I was struck by the visual effect of those shaking leaves. While all the other trees appeared calm and steady, the quaking aspen leaves shook, even with only the faintest breeze.
Sometimes I feel like a quaking aspen. People around me seem to be moving through life without issues or concerns, apparently steady and secure, while even the slightest issue can unsettle my heart. I see others and marvel at their calm and wonder why my own life can so easily be filled with turbulence. Thankfully, the Scriptures remind me that genuine, steadying calm can be found in the presence of God. Paul wrote, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thess. 3:16). Not only does God offer peace, He Himself is the Lord of peace.
When we enter the disturbing, unsettling seasons of life, it is good to know that real peace is available in the God of all peace.
Today’s Scripture:
What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? – Romans 3:3, NIV.
Today’s Word:
Have the opinions of other people caused you to water down your dreams? There will always be critics and naysayers in life. It’s not what’s said about you that affects your life, but what you say and believe about yourself.
One of the most important things you can learn is that other people don’t have to believe in you in order for your dreams to come to pass. Other people don’t set the limits for your life—you do. In Romans 3:3, the Apostle Paul is saying, “It doesn’t matter if other people don’t believe. Their unbelief is not going to keep me from believing in my dreams.” When God puts a promise in your heart, it’s not up to other people to bring it to pass, it’s up to you! You don’t need everyone to validate you. You have to follow the voice of God for yourself and allow Him to order your steps.
Remember, God sees the hidden treasures that you’ve had buried on the inside of you. He wants to bring those treasures out and make your dreams reality! As you get rid of old, defeated thoughts and replace them with what God says about you, you will remove the limits and live the abundant life God has in store for you!
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to see Your goodness in my life. Today, I take off the limits and embrace the dreams You’ve placed in my heart. Empower me by Your Spirit to fulfill Your plan for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Posted by Joel Osteen on 9/28/2012
My grandfather on my dad’s side was a very good, hard-working man. But, Granddaddy didn’t have any kind of spiritual upbringing. None of his relatives knew anything about God. My father was the first one in the family to come to know the Lord when he was just seventeen years old. Granddaddy Osteen was a very quiet, reserved man. My father shared his faith with Granddaddy many times, but he just wouldn’t hear it. He said, “John, when I’m dead, I’m dead like a dog. Just roll me over in the ditch.”
My father would say, “No, Daddy. You’ve got to live on somewhere after the stars fall like autumn leaves.”
But it just went in one ear and out the other. It didn’t have any effect on Granddaddy. Year after year went by. One Sunday, my father was up in the pulpit at the church he pastored at that time. Granddaddy walked in that church for the first time ever and sat down on the back row. My father was so thrilled! It was a dream come true. Then, right in the middle of his message, Granddaddy got up, walked down the aisle and stood at the altar, interrupting the whole service. He said, “John, I’m finishing today what I started over 40 years ago.”
Daddy said, “What do you mean?”
Granddaddy told how when he was in his early 20’s, he was out in the woods and a huge blizzard unexpectedly blew in. He got lost. He walked for hours and hours in temperatures below zero. He couldn’t see anything. Night fell and he was lost in the dark and cold, all alone. He was sure that he was going to freeze to death. His body was starting to shut down and he got very sleepy. He was about to lie down in the snow, but before he did, under his breath he said, “God, if You will spare my life and help me make it through this storm, then I’ll serve You.” Granddaddy lay down in the snow expecting it to be the end. The next morning, he woke up just as warm as toast. Somehow God had kept him alive. He said, “John, I’ve put this off for 40 years, but today I’m going to make good on the promise that I made to God.”
My grandfather never missed another Sunday at that church. One day they asked him to become an usher. You would have thought they had asked him to become the President of the United States! He was so proud, so excited. Granddaddy only owned one suit. When he died, that was the suit he was buried in. In the pockets, there were church bulletins and church offering envelopes and tracts from the church where he had served.
How many people, like my grandfather, have made a promise to God? “God, if You will help me through this tough time, then I’ll serve You…God, if You will give me this job, then I’ll get back in church…God, if You will help me pass this college course…God, if You will show me mercy.” God did His part. My question is, “Have you done yours?” Have you made good on the promise that you made to God? If not, don’t put it off any longer. It’s not too late to forgive. It’s not too late to get back in church. It’s not too late to pursue a dream. It’s your time to fulfill your promise to God because He is faithful, and He will fulfill every promise He’s made to you!
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”(Proverbs 3:3, NIV)
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
My husband refuses to call them that. Changed it to "Party potatoes ".
Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you!! I have eaten these before, however I made your recipe and not only
Lovely blog you haave here
I Am Lady Fab 